In this Jan. 11, 2017 photo, Senator Marco Rubio questions Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson during Tillerson’s confirmation hearing before the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. of Florida as a Senate committee is poised to vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state.
Category: Senator Marco Rubio
US lawmakers call for action on Venezuela food corruption
Venezuelan officials may face U.S. sanctions for profiting from food shortages that have exacerbated hunger in the South American country. The calls by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle come in response to an Associated Press investigation that found trafficking in hard-to-find food has become big business in Venezuela, with the military at the heart of the graft.
Trump’s pick for Secretary of State gets key backing
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, talk to Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson on Capitol Hill in Washington during the inaugural luncheon. Photo / AP Former ExxonMobil chief executive Rex Tillerson’s bid to be the next secretary of state received a major boost when a pair of Republican senators who had expressed consternation about him announced they will vote to confirm him, a move that effectively clears the way for him to win confirmation.
Our View: Watching Trumps words and his ‘words’
Between the critics who take him literally and supporters who take him figuratively, we have arrived at the point where both matter. There are four distinct divisions of time in the constitutional election process: campaign, nomination, transition and administration.
Trump’s Pledge of Quick Action Stymied by Cabinet-in-Waiting
U.S. President Donald Trump formally signs his cabinet nominations into law during the 58th presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20. President Donald Trump vowed to bring swift change to Washington in a fiery inaugural address, yet that promise is colliding with the reality that only two members of his Cabinet cleared the Senate by the end of his first day in office. Unlike his successors Barack Obama and George W. Bush — who each had seven of their cabinet members confirmed on Inauguration Day — Trump saw votes only for Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
As Trump takes the oath, many voters still can’t believe it
On the morning 19 months ago when Donald Trump descended the escalator in his glitzy Manhattan tower, waving to onlookers who lined the rails, many Americans knew little about him beyond that he was very rich and had a thing for firing people on a reality television show. No one can plausibly say they knew that the man who launched his candidacy that day would be elected the nation’s 45th president.
Nikki Haley Set for Confirmation Hearing
Nikki Haley delivers the State of the State in the House chambers at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 20, 2016, in Columbia, South Carolina. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will face the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for her confirmation hearing to be considered as President-elect Donald Trump ‘s choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
Top Palestinian Official: Congress Limited in Push Back to U.N. Resolution
Congress has limited options for responding to a United Nations Security Council resolution critical of Israel, according to a top Palestinian official who spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD. The remarks from Maen Areikat, the chief representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the United States, came as lawmakers rolled out legislation in the aftermath of the December resolution, which describes the West Bank and east Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory and condemns Israeli construction in those areas.
Rubio Still Undecided on Tillerson Vote
Republican senator Marco Rubio told reporters Monday he is still mulling whether to support secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson, a decision that could bode ill for the former Exxon Mobil CEO’s confirmation hopes. The Florida Republican said he’s awaiting responses to written questions to Tillerson following last week’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
Latest to disagree with Trump: His Cabinet nominees
America should not torture. Russia is a menace. A wall at the Mexican border would not be effective.
Rubio cannot back down now
Sen. Marco Rubio questions Rex Tillerson during his confirmation hearing for secretary of state on Wednesday in Washington. Sen. Marco Rubio was far and away the most effective questioner on the GOP side in yesterday’s confirmation hearing for Rex Tillerson for secretary of state.
Trump’s CIA choice to be questioned amid Russia hacking fury-Image1
Donald Trump’s pick to run the CIA faces a Senate confirmation hearing amid a testy standoff between the president-elect and the spy community. Rep. Mike Pompeo, a four-term conservative Kansas Republican, is a member of the House intelligence committee and also served on the partisan committee to investigate the deadly attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.
Trump’s State Dept. nominee aggressive about Russia
Former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson gave a nuanced performance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during today’s confirmation hearings. Tillerson has been nominated to serve as Secretary of State in the Trump administration.
Official: Trump briefed on potentially compromising report
” Top intelligence officials last week told President-elect Donald Trump about an unsubstantiated report that Russia had compromising personal and financial information about him, a U.S. official says. The briefing about the document was first reported by CNN.
Trump briefed on unverified report claiming compromising Russian dossier
Top intelligence officials last week told President-elect Donald Trump about an unsubstantiated report that Russia had compromising personal and financial information about him, a U.S. official said Tuesday. The briefing about the document was first reported by CNN.
At Russia hearing, FBI mum about possible Trump probe
Comey testified at the Senate’s second hearing in a week addressing allegations of Russian election hacking. In late October he angered Democrats when he announced 11 days before the election that the FBI was looking at more emails as part of its investigation of Hillary Clinton.
Senators push IC on whether Russia hacked GOP
For the second time in less than a week, leaders of the intelligence community sat before senators to discuss and defend their conclusion that Russia directed a comprehensive information operations campaign to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Last week, the Senate Armed Services Committee grilled Director of National Intelligence James Clapper; Marcel Lettre, the Defense Department’s under secretary for intelligence; and Michael Rogers, director of the National Security Agency and head of U.S. Cyber Command, about whether the U.S. had responded forcefully enough to Russia to deter future hacking and information operations.
Taiwan leader heads to Americas; US stops set to irk China
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech before traveling to visit Central American allies including a U.S. transit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taouyuan, Taiwan. Tsai pledged to bolster Taiwan’s presence on the international stage on her visit four Central American allies on a trip that includes U.S. transits and looks set to raise China’s ire.
Taiwan leader heads to Americas; US stops set to irk China
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech before traveling to visit Central American allies including a U.S. transit, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taouyuan, Taiwan. Tsai pledged to bolster Taiwan’s presence on the international stage on her visit four Central American allies on a trip that includes U.S. transits and looks set to raise China’s ire.
What are conservatives doing voting to increase debt by $9 trillion?
Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have been adamant – the federal debt is way too high and has got to be tamed fast. Cruz, a Republican from Texas, helped lead the 2013 fight against raising the debt limit , a fight that resulted in a partial government shutdown.
GOP senators introduce bill forcing president’s hand on moving embassy to Jerusalem
Jewish worshippers draped in prayer shawls performing the annual Priestly Blessing during Sukkot at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, Sept. 30, 2015.
Trump to name Lighthizer as trade representative, tap Pence adviser for West Wing
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Robert E. Lighthizer as the U.S. trade representative, a transition official confirmed Monday night, recruiting to his Cabinet a veteran of the Reagan administration who has decades of experience in trade policy and litigation. Lighthizer, whose nomination is expected to be formally announced as early as Tuesday, will join a team of Trump lieutenants charged with fulfilling one the central promises of Trump’s populist candidacy: aggressively confronting China, Mexico and other nations the president-elect believes have been taking advantage of international trade agreements, to the detriment of U.S. workers.
2017 to be year of massive change in Washington
Washington is bracing for a year of breakneck change as President-elect Trump and a new Congress take office with a jam-packed agenda ahead. “Look, I can tell you what I got out of Donald Trump today is, this is a man of action,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan after a post-election meeting.
Not so predictable
A year ago, I wrote a prediction column for 2016 full of myself and greatly detailed scenarios. I was so proud of my concocted narratives that I encouraged readers to clip or save the column to their desktops for later reference.
Collision or collusion? Why a Secretary Romney needs to referee Trump-Putin showdown.
“Russia is our number one geopolitical foe,” was the once alarmist and antiquated view of then-Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012. His successor, 2016 GOP nominee and soon to be President Donald Trump Collision or collusion? Why a Secretary Romney needs to referee Trump-Putin showdown.
Israeli source: UN vote revealed the Obama administration’s true face
“This is the last sting from President Obama. An act that revealed the true face of the Obama administration,” diplomatic sources said in Jerusalem, Saturday night, in response to Friday’s UN Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement activity and labeling it illegal.
Israeli source: UN vote revealed the Obama administration’s true face
“This is the last sting from President Obama. An act that revealed the true face of the Obama administration,” diplomatic sources said in Jerusalem, Saturday night, in response to Friday’s UN Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement activity and labeling it illegal.
Shining a Light on Genocide Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times
It is Christmas week, and mankind is reminded of the promise of the gospel: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This year, however, the darkness seems to have closed in.
Former presidential hopeful Rubio asks Canada to change Super Bowl ad policy
Former Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio is adding his voice to growing calls on Canada’s broadcast regulator to reverse a decision banning the substitution of Canadian ads over big-budget American spots during the Super Bowl. Rubio, alongside fellow Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, has written to Canada’s ambassador in Washington urging Canada to change the policy.
Eugene Robinson:Who in the Gop will stand up to Trump?
President-elect Donald Trump’s victory tour was more than just an opportunity to strut and preen around the country like a peacock with a comb-over. It was a warning to Republican leaders in Congress that Trump intends to be in charge — and that there will be consequences if the party establishment does not fall in line.
The New York Times And Me
I gave up reading The New York Times after getting fed up with its biased reporting and the blatant editorializing in its news pages circa the late eighties and early nineties when the Times did everything it could to bring down the Reagan presidency and demolish the presidency of the elder Bush. Yet in the run-up to this most recent presidential election I found myself reading the Times again, partly because a Facebook correspondent called me out on disparaging the Times’s recent coverage when I was no longer a regular reader and partly because a neighbor asked me to take her paper in while she was away.
What the electors say about efforts to derail Donald Trump
Elector Rex Teter, 59, a teacher and preacher in Pasadena, Texas, received 35,000 e-mails and 200 letters urging him not to support Donald Trump. He won’t change his vote.