patrick.net

*Deleted* Grok was counting bills like "Billboards on Federal Highways" as CRs that had no CR component, when I double checked.

https://notthebee.com/article/maga-land-is-coming-after-matt-walsh-for-defending-thomas-massie-after-trump-signaled-massie-is-excommunicado

Massie is a dye-in-the-wool constitutionalist who actually wants to cut federal spending. Like Sen. Rand Paul (also of Kentucky), the guy doesn't budge when it comes to government waste.

Trump, meanwhile, wants to cut waste, but is also pushing some serious spending proposals of his own.

https://x.com/jeremykauffman/status/1899218225596150028






https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1899301179659546881



Interestingly enough, Trump's usual tactic seems to be failing here.
Trump will usually force his target to the negotiation table by putting them on blast. It works great, say, when he's cutting through the virtue signaling and political correctness to expose the woke grift of his opponents. It also works when dealing with people who are trying to take advantage of America's wealth and generosity, like Panama making special deals with the Chinese to get rich off the canal America built.

But when he tries it on a beloved congressman with the most conservative voting record in Congress ... well, just see the replies on Truth Social itself...

https://nitter.poast.org/RepThomasMassie/status/1899577763981365297#m

remember what i said about Trump before? he never was a cut spending guy, he signed every omnibus that landed on his desk. He will continue the same.

Patrick says

Massie: Once upon a time, I introduced a bill to eliminate the Department of Education.

Everybody: What happened?

Massie: Nothing. But it shows that I'm the real deal, the King of Cuts, The Lance of Liberty, unlike pfffth... that Orange MAGA cult. I feel very fiscally conservative, libertarian even.

Trump: Hours after her appointment, his Sec of Ed lays off half the Department via RIF.

It was a good idea, but Massie didn't have the power to do it. Trump does.

Not intending to be personal here, just liked this one.

I admire people who stand up and speak the truth when the crowd is wrong.

FortwayeAsFuckJoeBiden says

remember what i said about Trump before? he never was a cut spending guy, he signed every omnibus that landed on his desk. He will continue the same.

I'm worried that you're right.

Trump could do the right thing and demand actual spending cuts immediately, in the current CR, but he refuses to do it.

Patrick says

Not intending to be personal here, just liked this one.

Yep, We're just having fun.

Patrick says

Trump could do the right thing and demand actual spending cuts but he refuses to do it.

Trump is doing it the right way - back to seriousness for a moment.

He's doing the death of 1000 cuts, using recission, RIFs, etc. and a whole shitload of lesser known but generally long used tactics with precedence, to get it done. That's what he and his team concluded in the wilderness was the optimal way forward.

It takes a simple majority to get recessions approved permanently; budgets are a helluva fight and have a far higher bar to cross.

The Great Irony being he's using the "Imperial Presidency" or "Supreme Executive" that the Federalist Society have long pushed forward, but are mad Trump is taking advantage of

Numbers USA on Massie



https://grades.numbersusa.com/search/

"Thanks for the money you gave me for being seduced by my big words and no actions! I'm gonna be your new Big Mouth, No Deeds Senator from Kentucky to replace Mitch! Defeat the Uniparty by losing with principles! !"


Massie is the new NeverTrump leader.

Trump has never been tight with spending, but I prefer a measured approach, so let's give him some time and see where we stand wrt deficit in a year or two. Massie will be 10 times better than yurtle the turtle. Numbers USA likely bs. Yurtle certainly didn't vote better than this on immigration:
https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/key-votes/132068/thomas-massie/40/immigration

Not everyone who opposes Trump on a particular issue is his enemy. Trump's got to dial down the vengeance but trust his paranoia. He's doing this, and I think this is why:

I really think that Trump and Musk now know to a gross extent how deep and extensive the corruption is, and it horrifies them. They have to figure out how many congresspeople they can turn to rat out the worst, then get rid of the rest in the midterm elections. The fact that every member of Congress has gone from six figures net worth to eight figures in 4-5 years means that the corruption is universal. This probably includes Massie as well as Paul.

The Numbers USA number are accurate; Massey usually finds a reason to vote no on border enforcement bills.

I'm thoroughly convinced Massie is a Koch Tool to weaken MAGA from the "Right"/"Libertarian" Flank.

When I see Massie being practical for today, not principled for the far off fantasy future, I'll change my mind.

Noticing a pattern among Massie boosters:



A pattern of Massies: Wait till the last minute, make no provision for alternatives, do not work in advance for alternatives, and announce His Great Princuhpuled Stance

10 Print "MAGA: So what Budgets will Massie write that 7 Democrats will also vote for?";
20 Print "Massholes: You want the status quo!"
30 GOTO 10

AmericanKulak says

10 Print "MAGA: So what Budgets will Massie write that 7 Democrats will also vote for?";
20 Print "Massholes: You want the status quo!"
30 GOTO 10

Cool, another guy who remembers Commadore 64 BASIC.

AmericanKulak says

The Numbers USA number are accurate; Massey usually finds a reason to vote no on border enforcement bills.

I can't find any indication that yurtles immigration voting record is more conservative than massies, so that reeks of bs, regardless of whether either of them camln be considered effective. Then add in yurtles open border and aid policy wrt ukraine, and it certainly can't be C vs F. Sure looks like he's being targeted

mell says

I can't find any indication that yurtles immigration voting record is more conservative than massies, so that reeks of bs, regardless of whether either of them camln be considered effective. Then add in yurtles open border and aid policy wrt ukraine, and it certainly can't be C vs F. Sure looks like he's being targeted

If anything is Constitutional, the President declaring an emergency with millions of unknown people crossing it in a year is... guarding the US border.

Not what his Koch Brother donors want, though.

Announce a No vote just before the vote.

Vote No.

Never have an alternative bill to offer.

Proudly make sure everybody knows you voted No. And how princuhpuled and based you are.

Never actually provide an alternative.

Repeat several times a year.

And nothing proves how princuhpuled you are than voting against CRs more often when a Republican is in the WH than you do when a Democrat is.

Massie said Catturd was taking money, yet ran away when asked for evidence a year ago.

AmericanKulak says

A pattern of Massies: Wait till the last minute, make no provision for alternatives, do not work in advance for alternatives, and announce His Great Princuhpuled Stance

Wait till last minute? That's not true.

Massie is 100% consistent on opposing all spending increases and has been for years.

Patrick says

make no provision for alternatives

He also keeps recommending that monster bills get broken up into single-issue bills, and he's right about that too.

Patrick says

https://nitter.poast.org/RepThomasMassie/status/1899577763981365297#m

Exactly as Massie predicted, Democrats will vote for the increased spending. The "conflict" between Dems and Rinos was all bullshit theatrics to maintain the illusion that there are two parties.

There is only the Uniparty of MOAR SPENDING.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/schumer-shutdown-two-ways-can-go

Schumer Caves, Tells Senate Dems He'll Vote For GOP Bill

https://babylonbee.com/news/trump-orders-drone-strike-on-thomas-massie

https://educationdojo.com/recent-posts/

Trump will lose libertarians fast if he goes after the tiny few with some actual principles and sanity. I realize it’s tough getting bills passed when you’re dealing with hundreds of DC swamp creatures, but the worst strategy to use is going after libertarian standard bearers who helped deliver a Trump win in 2024. This was a big public relations f*ckup!

Did everybody find out who Massie's big Open Border Loving, Border Security Hatin', Tariff Despising Donor is?