Really good interview on this morning’s Meet the Press. Senator Graham is as big a Russia hawk as there is, so it’s not a surprise, but it is further evidence of how isolated Trump is on his view of relations with Putin.

http://nbcnews.to/2t1RjHY

Interesting perspective, admittedly from only one member, contrasting the impeachment vote of 1998 with the allegations against the Trump administration.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bob-inglis-donald-trump-bill-clinton-impeachment_us_595b4733e4b05c37bb7fe70b?pil&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

Fascinating bit of original reporting (as far as I can tell, there’s no citation anywhere in this article) by the good folks at electoral-vote.com.  I was surprised at the level of difference between the parties.  Assuming the reporting is accurate, it’s very impressive that the Republican party, as a national party, has the image of law-and-order, when clearly it doesn’t keep its own house in order.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2017/Senate/Maps/Jun26.html#item-7

Analysis from the Washington Post and NPR regarding Kennedy’s future on the court.  If he announces a retirement under President Trump, there is little Democrats can do to prevent the appointment of a further right associate justice to fill his seat.  Obviously, under the current Senate configuration, it is impossible to prevent a confirmation vote as the filibuster has been abolished for Supreme Court nominees.  Even if the vacancy were to occur after the 2018 midterms, the likelihood of Democrats winning three seats and controlling the Senate is extremely low.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-republicans-just-quietly-got-some-very-good-supreme-court-news/ar-BBDG48R?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

http://politi.co/2tiyToj

From Politico: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/06/29/how-rex-tillerson-destroying-state-department-215319

Politico Magazine has an interesting analysis of staffing at the State Department and touches on the implications for America as a world leader. Decisions are made by people who show up and right now, our country is not showing up.

Now play this out throughout the ginormity that is the executive branch over the next three and a half years.  There is a political element in this country that wants to shrink government at any cost and if this is a systemic means to attain that goal it can take a generation to recover.

HuffPost has a solid anaylsis (and not the only one I’ve seen) correctly noting that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is no Senate mastermind. He is a masterful obstructionist, but has not delivered any strategic successes on legislation. This will be a weakness that the Democrats can exploit, as Mitch cannot be an obstructionist if he is the man in charge. Unless he were to oppose the President, which seems unlikely.

The Trumpcare Fight Shows Mitch McConnell Knows Just How Overrated He Is

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mitch-mcconnell-trumpcare-legacy_us_5953fd6be4b0da2c7320be69

Great editorial on the shortcomings of Trump’s approach to being president.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21724392-and-man-oval-office-making-bad-situation-worse-donald-trumps-washington?frsc=dg%7Ce

A woefully under-reported story from Politico a few days ago. The War on Terror has been proceeding under a 2001 Congressional resolution that was written with the intent of going after the 9/11 attackers. Its language has been construed, rightly so, as being so broad as to apply to any international terrorist organization. There are conservative elements that I imagine would welcome a chance to get back to regular order in terms of Congressional roles in a war, although this resolution comes from a hard left Democrat.

House panel votes to force new debate on terror war

http://politi.co/2t5wZqS

This is where I will post articles on politics as well as my thoughts.  I hope you will find this useful or at least entertaining.