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58
Vox Libertatis
Requiem for a Dream by Rondal Goldfarb The news today of President Kyle Allred passing away unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm at only 48 years old is a tragedy for not just the people who loved and supported him but signals as well the last dying gasp of the Grand Old Party. For better and worse, at his heart of hearts, President Allred represented the last of a now dead breed, the traditional conservative Republican archetype that believed in limited government, social conservatism, and a strong foreign policy and defense posture that was not afraid to intervene around the world to preserve an inflated ideal of American imperialism disguised as exceptionalism. Allred was a traditional conservative at his core, but he recognized that the road to power was littered with the bodies of failed resistance to President Trump. We have regularly pointed out the on again off again revolving door romance that was President Allred’s relationship with Donald Trump and his loyalist base. One week they were calling each other names in the press, and the next week they were back together, rinse and repeat ad nauseum. Like the bad boy you just can’t shake, Allred knew he needed Trump for his tradionalist message to go anywhere in today’s Republican Party. President Allred was forced to walk a tightrope between competing factions that led to a myriad of often contradictory words and actions. He regularly denounced and campaigned against Trump but nevertheless came around to supporting him in every election he ran in. He decried protectionism but pledged to keep the Trump/Biden tariffs in place. He spoke of fiscal restraint and the need to root out corruption in Medicare but insisted he would not reform the system rapidly speeding towards its demise. President Allred was a politician. What they say is rarely what they do. Nevertheless, we held out some small hope that he would be the chosen one to throw off the shackles of his party's recent authoritarian past and return to an ideal of limited government and free market ideals. And that the choice of Vice President Van Horn would temper his imperialist ambitions. There were fits of promise between the political posturing, but alas they shall not come to pass. Gone is the opportunity for President Allred to manifest his values into actions, and so too is the Party of free trade and limited government. In its wake, President Kyle Van Horn's faction reigns supreme. In his first statement as President he spoke plainly that he is 'not going to be Kyle Allred.' The balance to Allred’s interventionist neoconservatism is now the top of the ticket, projecting noninterventionism back into the mainstream but at the cost of borderline Democratic populism at home. The next four years under the uniparty (Van Horn’s word) in Washington will now instead have riveting debates about exactly how high the minimum wage should be, not if but by how much government should control free enterprise, who is the bigger ally to union bosses, and which who can dance around the looming apocalypse to entitlement programs without acknowledging the elephant in the room. Promises that cannot be kept will be made to disaffected working class Americans across the country while the U.S. Treasury self-immolates as domestic spending propels itself permanently over the fiscal cliff. In the meantime, we wish him godspeed in his pursuit of a fresh and long overdue new direction in foreign policy. President Van Horn’s America First policy will finally get us out of costly foreign entanglements abroad, but promises of reinvesting those dollars here without taking a serious look at the nation’s finances, sets the U.S. up to be more beholden to international financing (including from China) in the future, and at higher interest rates. Perhaps we are wrong and fate will intervene to force President Van Horn to become the fiscal hawk we hoped Allred would ultimately become, but only time will tell. In its wake, America is mourning once again, not just for a President, but for the death of an idea ironically as old as the nation itself, that trusting in the invisible hand of the free market will always yield optimal results. #ChooseFreedom -
34
Sunrise to Sunset Network
The Sunset Statement: President Allred is Dead by: Anthony Clarke Washington DC. - Last night it was announced that President Allred died of a brain aneurysm. He is the first president to die in office since John F. Kennedy and the shortest serving president since William Henry Harrison. The passing of the President is a very sad occasion coming off the recent news about Jimmy Carter. It is unclear what legacy President Allred will leave behind. Vice President Kyle Van Horn took the oath of office last night. Immediately he made it clear that he would not try to be Kyle Allred. With that it was announced that he would withdraw the disputed cabinet nominations at Treasury and Education to appoint his own nominees. Levi Koenig stated on twitter that all current cabinet officers resign. Clearly there is some push from the anti-Ukraine side to immediate give all of Allred's policies the boot. However, I think it is important to remember for the GOP and for Van Horn that Allred was fairly popular so is Ukraine aid. They might be better off long-term trying to find a balance between completing Allred's popular promises and making Kyle Van Horn his own man. It could go a long way in extending this new honeymoon period they have. -
58
Vox Libertatis
The Night-Watchman: Senate Minority Leader Rafael Coleman (D-CO) Interview Transcript Goldie: Hello and welcome to The Night-Watchman, Vox Libertatis’ regular podcast where we parse through representatives' history and records so you don’t have to. Today we have Senate Minority Leader Rafael Coleman, the Democratic leader in the Senate, to hear his take on the opening salvos of the 119th Session. Senator, welcome to the show! Thanks for having me, Goldie! Goldie: Thank you for coming. Let's just dive right into it. What are your initial thoughts on the Republicans' first proposed docket in the Senate? Coleman: I think the choices were interesting. I believe that there are ways to improve the bills and Democrats are committed to that. I think we can do a lot better on minimum wage and the house passed a bill that addresses concerns that Republicans themselves made last term. I would rather see it pass than a blanket $13. Goldie: Your house bill attempts to address the regional concerns of a minimum wage harming businesses in jobs in some more rural and low-cost areas, correct? Walk us through how it works and why you think that is the best way to go? Coleman: Certainly. As a huge number of my Republican colleagues, including the President as a Senator if I'm not mistaken and I could be, but as they all pointed out several times in debate and in the media, sometimes setting a uniform wage floor can cause unintended consequences for some local economies, particularly in areas that don't have the same level of cost of living and where small businesses operate on smaller margins. The PHASE Act creates regional wage tiers based on the cost of living index. It also indexes for inflation and provides support for smaoll businesses. Goldie: Why they insist on championing a $13 blanket wage now is beyond me, especially when House Dems took care to make sure that local impacts were taken into consideration. Coleman: Not by cheapening what we give to America, but by making sure its fair and whats needed based on what it actually costs to live where you work. Goldie: I am definitely hearing you on the argument about a uniform wage floor causing unintended consequences for local economies. But isn't that an argument against a federal minimum wage altogether? Why not just let the states or local governments local governments handle it then, if not the market itself? Coleman: I appreciate your perspective, and it’s a valid question. I agree that local governments know their communities’ economic conditions best, which is why state and local input is built into the PHASE Act’s structure. However, without a federal framework, we risk a patchwork of standards where many areas might lag behind in providing a fair wage, especially in states where political or economic pressures might limit wage growth altogether. The PHASE Act sets a baseline of fairness that adapts to regional costs while still holding us to a national standard of dignity for work. It’s about ensuring no one working full time lives in poverty, regardless of where they live. By allowing flexibility within a federal framework, we give workers and small businesses a sustainable pathway forward, rather than leaving wage decisions solely to market pressures, which sometimes fail to account for the realities working families face. Goldie: You noted your preference for the House proposal, in part, because of a blanket wage like the Republican proposal harming small businesses that operate on small margins, but then their bill is a one, two-punch, not only raising raising labor costs but also mandating businesses comply with e-verify. You were pretty tough on border security during the campaign. So where are you on e-verify and is that on the table for you to reach a final agreement? Have you had any conversations with Republican leaders about a negotiated path forward on minimum wage? Coleman: I'm actually glad you brought this up. There's a lot to unpack here. So first off, Republicans pushing for small businesses to be e-verify compliant and raise labor costs at the same time is a concern for me, it should be a concern for everyone. I mean, E-Verify compliance in itself costs so that may be asking small businesses, especially those that are rural and operate on thin margins, a lot. The PHASE act is a bit more nuanced. It allows businesses adjust wages based on their region’s economic conditions while still giving everyone a fair lift. As for E-Verify, I recognize why secure hiring practices are important, and I was clear while campaigning that securing our border and upholding immigration laws are a huge priority. However, it can be a burden on small businesses. So I'm open to the conversation, my door has always been open, I've been talking wages with Republicans since 2021 when I got here. But I want to see a how we can integrate E-verify in a way that is responsible and balanced and doesn't harm small businesses. I've always been someone that legislated from the middle ground. Goldie: Shifting gears slightly. One thing that was conspicuously absent from the first docket was anything to do with marijuana or criminal justice reform. You started a firestorm of a movement on twitter calling to #LegalizeBy420, courageously declaring that America was ‘far behind on marijuana justice’ and you wanted something passed to legalize it by April 20. That deadline has come and gone without so much as a bill introduced. Could that be part of a deal or what is your plan to make it happen? Coleman: I hate that things require “deals” to get things done. America would be ashamed to know what it takes to pass something. Last session when we passed my education bill in the Senate, we didn't make deals. We passed that bill on its merits and good ideas from Senators from all over the chamber. I think there is a clear mandate on legalizing marijuana and it shouldn't have to be attached to something for those that have the power to docket it to just do it because it's good for the American people. I think what it’s going to take is for Americans to make it clear to Majority Leader Koenig and President Allred that it needs to happen now. Call, write letters, call your Senators, let them know that there is a mandate. I think Florida should also take stock on how their boy is doing and make him answer for it. Goldie: *Claps* Bravo, Mr. Leader. The overwhelming majority of Americans want you to keep championing that cause. But if it doesn't happen through a deal then where is the bill to make it happen? And how do you pitch a stand alone to someone like Senate Majority Leader Koenig of Florida who says that if we legalize marijuana, we'll 'have to legalize everything else'? Coleman: My pitch to him has been primarily economic. There's an overwhelming demand by the public to address weed responsibly, acknowledging its economic potential and equity in how we regulate it. Koenig knows we can design a tightly regulated framework specifically for cannabis. Its less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco and we regulate those. This isn't about opening the doors to crazy drugs that will hurt people, this is about addressing canmabis as a distinct issue and recognizing its economic and social benefits. Colorado’s industry shows us that a well-regulated system can create jobs, generate revenue and improve public health and safety and I'm proud to be from a state that's leading the way. Ultimately, we’re in a representative form of government and its our jobs to represent the interests of our constituents. I'm down to work with Leader Koenig and others to design comprehensive legislation that sets clear limits, rigorous safety protocols and allocates revenue to public health and community investments. Goldie: Absolutely. Legalization is just as much about economic liberty as it is about individual liberty. Keep up the good fight on that, Senator. Another issue facing the Senate is President Allred's Cabinet nominations. One question I had was about the swithcheroo that you supported at Labor. The Teamsters have been longtime supporters of the Democratic Party, but under Sean O’Brien, they declined to endorse your nominee for the first time in 28 years. Why did you support O’Brien for Department of Labor over a long time Civil Rights Commissioner when O’Brien did not support you? Coleman: Not really my style to be upset over something like that. Sean O’Brien is a voice for labor rights, I wasn't going to silence that over an endorsement. I believe that the Labor post should be a voice for workers and for unions, the previous candidate was about as anti-union as you could get. It was an easy choice, honestly. Goldie: I know you and the President are cordial even though you do not agree on everything. Was there any agreement reached between the President and yourself to secure that nomination? Coleman: No. I was just open and honest about how myself and the caucus as a whole felt and he proceeded to make his own choice. I had no expectations on any changes but was happy to see him be flexible. Goldie: Speaking of President Allred and Senate Majority Leader Koenig. Hands Coleman a Venn Diagram Scientists say that Winter is Coming. If the White Walkers massacre the Democratic Party and you are left with no other option but to align yourself with one of the Republican factions to survive, who do you side with and why? Coleman: *laughs hysterically* You and these Venn Diagrams! Its hilarious. One I appreciate this, as a teacher. I really don't know. Not sure how I would fare with any of them. I would probably go Allred though. He's been the easier to work with so far. Goldie: Collaboration is key, or so they say. Do you think you can on day get the President to a yes on ending some of these tariffs that are bleeding American dry or marijuana? Coleman: I hope so. I know him to be somewhat reasonable. I like all Americans expect him to do what's right for the good of us all, not just what matches him Ideologically. Goldie: Speaking of collaboration and doing what's right for the good of us all. What's up with all that drama between you and your colleague Senator Storm last year? Did he cut in front of you in the line to Cups or something? Coleman: Haha. I think things got heated in the course of the campaign across the board with us and others. After Hannah Kahiona won the convention, we all had conversations to cut the beefs and focus on the election. That's what we all did collectively. We cut the BS and got behind our nominee. Goldie: Do you think your caucus is all on the same page still post-election? Or will we have to draw up another Venn Diagram as the session progresses? Coleman: I think everyone has the understanding that we are truly a broad coalition. We may not always agree but we are united in our approach to implement solutions that can truly work for our country. While you could easily compare and contrast our caucuses, America’s best interest will always be what centers our party. Goldie: Appreciate that. With that, we are out of time. Thank you, Mr. Leader, for joining us today! Coleman: Thank you so much, Goldie! Goldie: That was Senate Minority Leader Coleman, one of the sole remaining hopes of freedom for millions of Americans serving time for victimless crimes who says the time for justice is now. As always, the freedom of speech is paramount, and we air our guest's responses and views in their entirety, uncensored and unedited, even when they are wrong. Come join us in a future episode where freedom still reigns, and always remember to choose freedom.
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