WASHINGTON – It was a pretty good show, all in all.
Fireworks were bound to explode Wednesday during the confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-OK, the latest dolt chosen by President-cum-Dictator Donald J. Trump to run the government, this time as secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
Mullin is the choice to replace the deposed secretary, former Republican governor of South Dakota, Kristie Noem, who did such a horrible job during her year in office that even Trump, notoriously beneficent toward those who constantly flatter him and kiss his ring (and other things), couldn’t stomach her any longer.
With Mullin, Trump is looking to replace one incompetent with another. There’s no reason to believe Mullin has any aptitude to run a massive agency, particularly since he has no background in the subject area. But Mullin is an erstwhile MMA fighter, and our president-cum-dictator has, if nothing else, a soft spot in his heart for manful, masculine, manly men.
Still, the choice is a bit curious. Sitting as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee is Sen. Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green, who, as it happens, isn’t exactly palsy-walsy with ol’ Markwayne. In fact, Mullin’s very nomination might be a subtle f-you from el presidente to the celebrated libertarian from Warren County, who occasionally veers from Trumpian orthodoxy, a sin that is never ignored or forgiven.
Some background.
Back in 2017, whilst mowing his lawn, Paul was physically attacked, blindsided, in fact, by a neighbor who took umbrage to some incident real or imagined.
This was not a simple brush-up. It was, in fact, a terrible and uncalled for assault that left Paul with six broken ribs and lung contusions. He suffered breathing difficulties and, to make matters worse, he contracted pneumonia during an extended recovery process.
In other words, this was not a matter to be made light of. Paul was seriously injured and, regardless of what you might think of his politics, merited universal empathy. Fortunately, he recovered.
Mullin, it appears, is not one to extend a hand to a brutally and unnecessarily assaulted individual. Earlier this year, Mullin and Paul differed over an appropriations measure. Paul wanted to amend one of the spending bills, something he frequently seeks to do because of the rising national debt, which just hit $39 trillion. That angered Mullin since any change would likely delay passage of a GOP measure backed by Trump Almighty. Mullin also thought Paul was fooling around with the Farm Bill to enhance the prospects of Kentucky’s burgeoning hemp industry.
So Mullin, for some reason, thought it was his duty to mouth off against a fellow Republican. During a function in Tulsa in February, Mullin said: “Rand Paul’s a freaking snake. And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did. And I told him that to his face.’’
So, it’s understandable that Paul, as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, might seek an explanation from Mullin for his ghastly and stupid comment during his confirmation hearing.
He did not disappoint.
“I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault,” Paul said. “It caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force,’’ Paul said in his opening statement. “You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents. But Sen. Mullin, your constituents are justifiably upset with you.”
And it didn’t stop there. Paul took the opportunity to call Mullin a liar.
“You went on to brag that you’d already told me, to my face, that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie,” Paul said. “You got a chance today. You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today you’ll have your chance.”
Mullin could have chosen from a million ways to defuse the situation and exhibit some remorse. He chose none of them.
“I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character,” Mullin responded. “I did not say I supported it (the assault), I said I understood it. There’s a difference.”
In the end, Paul emerged second best. Rather than stand up for the chair’s character, the other GOP committee members voted to send Mullin’s name to the floor where he is almost sure to be confirmed in the majority Republican chamber. Paul voted no, necessitating one of the panel’s Democrats, Sen. John Fetterman, D-PA, who increasingly appears to be a lost soul, supporting the Mullin nomination.
Appearing on the Fox News program America Reports after the hearing, Paul maintained Mullin is unfit for the job.
“If I wished violence on his family, that wouldn’t be acceptable,’’ Paul said. “And if he says the violence that happened to me where I had six ribs broken, my lung damaged, part of my lung removed, two pneumonias — if he thinks that’s justifiable, and he can readily understand it, I think that makes him unacceptable and unfit to hold office.’’
All of which, of course is a point well taken. Yet, Trump nominated Mullin despite all sorts of warnings, including the hot temper Paul warned about, like the time he challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a fight during a Senate hearing (although, it should be noted, O’Brien supports the Mullin appointment).
It’s not like Mullin is the perfect person for this job. He doesn’t serve on Paul’s committee. He ran a plumbing business before getting involved in politics, which is as good a job as any but it’s hard to see how he has any expertise in an area like airport security or presiding over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which, lord knows, requires a vast overhaul.
And the other Republican members of the committee don’t appear to be concerned about his comments on the Paul assault, once again bowing to Trump, more out of fear than altruism.
And Paul certainly isn’t getting any support from MAGA. A quick view of social media shows public condemnation for the man who got beat up.
This from someone writing on Daily Caller:
“Rand Paul can’t handle being told publicly that he’s a fool. His delusions of grandeur just won’t allow it. This was an embarrassing display on his part, and a steadfast stance by Mullins (sic).
“The truth is, Paul hasn’t represented America First values for a very long time. From his egotistical perspective, it’s been “Me first!” Sorry, Dr. Paul, but it isn’t about you – it never has been. You got your feelings hurt. Get over it and do your job.
“It’s time for Kentucky to wake up and send real leaders who will focus on the needs of the country over their own perceived emotional slights.’’
So, it seems like Mullin will join a long list of Trump appointees who are in over their head, running from a defense secretary, sorry, Department of War secretary, who came to the post after hosting a weekend program on Fox News to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who views her post as Trump’s private attorney rather than an official charged with following the Constitution.
Sometimes it’s hard to kick the feeling that this great nation is in big, big trouble.