RINGSIDE POLITICS – FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Written by WGSO Producer on February 11, 2021
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Welcome to another edition of Ringside Politics with Jeff Crouere
Today’s Hot Topics:
1) Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was one of six GOP senators who voted Tuesday to uphold the Senate’s authority to hold an impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, taking Republicans aback by reversing the position he took in a vote last month.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday evening, Cassidy also contrasted the “focused, organized” House Democrats arguing for conviction against Trump’s legal team, who he said did a “terrible” job.
The Democratic impeachment managers “relied both upon precedent, the Constitution, and legal scholars. They made a compelling argument,” Cassidy said, according to a pool feed. “President Trump’s team was disorganized. They did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand. And when they talked about it, they kind of glided over it, almost as if they were embarrassed of their arguments.”
2) During a press conference Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki touted the Biden administration’s school reopening plan as “bold and ambitious” even as Republicans criticize it as underwhelming, and experts note its goal may have already been reached.
After calling in December for a “majority of our schools” to reopen in his first 100 days, Biden has since backtracked on his pledge after some health officials said the plan may not be possible.
On Tuesday, Psaki clarified the Biden administration’s goal was for the majority of K-8 schools to open within 100 days for “at least one day a week” adding “hopefully, it’s more.”
3) So much for the mayor’s order requiring masks at Super Bowl parties. Videos went viral on social media, showing throngs of mostly maskless fans and packed sports bars as the clock inside Raymond James Stadium ticked down on a hometown Super Bowl win for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“It is a little frustrating because we have worked so hard,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during an early Monday morning news conference with the Super Bowl Host Committee. “At this point in dealing with COVID-19, there is a level of frustration when you see that.”
Some 200,000 masks were handed out ahead of the game, and “a majority” of people and businesses followed the rules, she said.
4) For the second time this week, Republican senators grilled President Biden’s pick to head the White House budget office over her history of controversial tweets — infuriating critics of the GOP who said the lawmakers were hypocritical for chastising nominee Neera Tanden while failing to speak up about former president Donald Trump’s incendiary tweetstorms now at the center of an impeachment inquiry.
During a heated back-and-forth, Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-La.), known for his colorful expressions, accused Tanden of attacking lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
“You called Senator Sanders everything but an ignorant slut,” he said, evoking the sexist term famously satirized on “Saturday Night Live.”
He asked Tanden nine times in a row whether she meant her tweets when she sent them. Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, didn’t immediately answer the question but then said, “I must have meant them, but I really regret them.”
Today’s Guests:
1) Col. Allen West, Chairman of the Texas Republican Party – calls in the first hour to discuss Biden’s dizzying first weeks in office.
2) Ed Martin, Attorney, Former Chairman of Missouri Republican Party – joins the show to talk about the state of the GOP and political options moving forward.
3) Claston Bernard, Candidate, Second Congressional District of LA – calls in to give an update on his campaign.
4) Josh Bernstein, Ringside All-Star – joins the show to opine with callers and discuss the events of the week.
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