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Polybius

(21,862 posts)
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 07:54 PM 15 hrs ago

Fetterman explains why he crossed party lines to support Mullin for DHS chief

Last edited Fri Mar 20, 2026, 05:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman cast the deciding vote Thursday to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to serve as US Department of Homeland Security secretary, crossing party lines to send President Donald Trump’s nominee to the full Senate for consideration.

He explained in a post on X his decision to join Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in backing the Oklahoma Republican senator to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

“In January, I called on the president to fire Noem—and he did. I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind,” Fetterman wrote.

“We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security,” he continued.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/john-fetterman-mullin-dhs-vote



Since Rand Paul voted No, the vote would have sunk had Fetterman not went along.

Trump's DHS pick Mullin advances by one vote after Sen. Fetterman votes yes
33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Fetterman explains why he crossed party lines to support Mullin for DHS chief (Original Post) Polybius 15 hrs ago OP
Shut up John. Or is that your stroke talking again? paleotn 14 hrs ago #1
Probably the stroke jfz9580m 11 hrs ago #21
Paul voted against him because of a personal slight. travelingthrulife 1 hr ago #31
Totally agree jfz9580m 12 min ago #33
I really had once upon a time thought he was a tad smarter than that. MLWR 14 hrs ago #2
Of course he did.😡 BlueKota 14 hrs ago #3
Oh, for fucking fucks sake Fetterman! AZJonnie 14 hrs ago #4
There is no rule against criticizing a Democratic elected. pat_k 12 hrs ago #16
John Manchin Fetterman strikes again mdbl 14 hrs ago #5
Wow, what a huge slap in the face to his voters. mountain grammy 14 hrs ago #6
WHAT Trump 2nd term cabinet nominee WAS qualified for his job???? Jack Valentino 12 hrs ago #14
But it's Fetterman's friend and we need a DHS director after all. travelingthrulife 1 hr ago #32
Senator Fetterman angrychair 14 hrs ago #7
These posts crack me up FoxNewsSucks 13 hrs ago #10
100% Fox News has dirt on him. Initech 12 hrs ago #20
What kind of dirt? flamingdem 10 hrs ago #23
I guess the fact he is totally unqualified doesn't matter. Fetterman should resign. He's incompetent. Vinca 14 hrs ago #8
He should get out of the way so Shapiro can appoint someone who FoxNewsSucks 13 hrs ago #11
fetterman family values? cruel, violent, bully? nt msongs 13 hrs ago #9
Mullin is a "friend" Miguelito Loveless 13 hrs ago #12
I wonder whether Fetterman saw the ad from Mullin's plumber days not fooled 10 hrs ago #24
Fuck Fetterman. Total fake liberal loser. Martin68 13 hrs ago #13
Out of the frying pan into the fire. pat_k 12 hrs ago #15
hmmmmm, what are the medical odds on a second stroke? niyad 12 hrs ago #17
Because the anagram for Markwayne is Yam Wanker. usonian 12 hrs ago #18
This is the final straw. Fuck that guy. Initech 12 hrs ago #19
His "aye's" on his wallet n/t Cheezoholic 11 hrs ago #22
Apparently drag queens are having a field day not fooled 10 hrs ago #25
Floppy Florsheims with saggy sweatpants is a great look for Fetterman Blue Owl 10 hrs ago #26
What John and his wife did in Braddock, PA and in his pre-stroke time in the legislature were awesome... Botany 10 hrs ago #27
No, he isn't Polybius 5 hrs ago #29
He is dead to me. bamagal62 8 hrs ago #28
Senator Van Hollen has put forward a plan to increase taxes on the wealthy. everyonematters 2 hrs ago #30

jfz9580m

(17,108 posts)
21. Probably the stroke
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 11:06 PM
11 hrs ago

I was watching that DOGE kid and how he decided which grants to drop based solely on what appear to be triggers for thought terminating cliches.

In fairness, that is a flaw in human cognition that most humans are well aware of.

I would normally say that if Rand Paul is a “No” on something I would likelier to be a “yes” on the same thing than not. But that is danger of reductive thinking reducing everything to one factor or metric. In this case or say wrt the marijuana industry I would agree with even Paul. But he is a still a piece of shit.

Quanta Magazine has some interesting pieces I do not understand, but my osmosis one vaguely absorbs something that makes sense:


I do not think the extremely online ( a group my horrible former adminstrator has forced me to join) know any feminists honestly. They know various online personas and that warps their perception of reality, which is sucky enough, but in a differently shaped way and with different dynamics.

Which will further now be afflicted with a flood of similar aw shucksy takes on reality on top of all the other scourges and nuisances imposed by the dominant narratives which espouse “sensibly” extractive, deregulation friendly, mindless hedonism - a “sensibly” suicidal death spiral of extravagant, even ostentatious stupidity. Work in this view of the world exists to be strenuous and pointless and bent towards the least meaningful and positive outcome of all possible ones at least in the net-however unrealistically utopian or rather dystopian it might be to shoot for things with no redeeming value whatsoever.

travelingthrulife

(5,119 posts)
31. Paul voted against him because of a personal slight.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 09:57 AM
1 hr ago

Fetterman voted for him because he is his friend.

What the hell kind of Senate decisions are these?

jfz9580m

(17,108 posts)
33. Totally agree
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 10:47 AM
12 min ago

But that is how kakistocracies are..what else is there to go on often?
I am reduced to decisions like that when I look up technocratic types to try and decide which of these unpromising types is minimally insane. And I make decisions going by things like “writes clunky and insipid opeds in Politico but seems well intentioned and could still, for one of these CS guys, be not as insane as some.”
These are not kakistocrats as they are CS majors. But that field needs a reckoning along with the rest of society.
Nstural scientists, doctors and some legitimate workers aside, the fact that these guys did all this restructuring of society absent any serious public comment, in parallel with Trumpism ramping up, pandemics etc. is a sign that field - so key to social engineering the world needs a reality check. It is never the real scientists who are as bad at math as CS majors and economists.
I think treating most living things as externalities and..The funny thing is how bad at math and science they are in any meaningful sense as they data mine and sell drivel.

How does it sell?

AZJonnie

(3,674 posts)
4. Oh, for fucking fucks sake Fetterman!
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:21 PM
14 hrs ago

Basically he just cast the deciding vote to install this BOZO Mullin.

I know we "must support Dems" per the TOS, but

NOT COOL, man. NOT COOL!

pat_k

(13,308 posts)
16. There is no rule against criticizing a Democratic elected.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:17 PM
12 hrs ago

The support Dems rule is all about elections and the party in general.

No rule against calling for someone to run against a turncoat like Fetterman.

No rule against applauding the actions of someone like NC Chair Anderson Clayton, who awesomely denied Dems who joined Repubs in overriding vetoes (among other things) access to VoteBuilder, helping to sink them.

Do not post support for Republicans or independent/third-party "spoiler" candidates. Do not state that you are not going to vote, or that you will write-in a candidate that is not on the ballot, or that you intend to vote for any candidate other than the official Democratic nominee in any general election where a Democrat is on the ballot. Do not post anything that smears Democrats generally, or that is intended to dissuade people from supporting the Democratic Party or its candidates. Don't argue there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats


mountain grammy

(29,001 posts)
6. Wow, what a huge slap in the face to his voters.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:33 PM
14 hrs ago

. This isn’t a good vote.. Mullen is unqualified and not good for the job. That should at least be a consideration.

Jack Valentino

(4,936 posts)
14. WHAT Trump 2nd term cabinet nominee WAS qualified for his job????
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:01 PM
12 hrs ago

Practically NONE. What they WERE qualified for, was Trump ass-kissing.

Possibly Rubio was qualified , but if so he was the ONLY one--- although I can't approve of anything he's done since getting the job.

travelingthrulife

(5,119 posts)
32. But it's Fetterman's friend and we need a DHS director after all.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 09:59 AM
1 hr ago

I don't think we need DHS at all.

angrychair

(12,231 posts)
7. Senator Fetterman
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:57 PM
14 hrs ago

Is an elected Democrat. We need to listen to him as an elected Democrat is always right and in my opinion should never be questioned because we have to support the big tent and we need Democrats that support Trump because how else can we defeat Trump?

FoxNewsSucks

(11,677 posts)
10. These posts crack me up
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:42 PM
13 hrs ago

I wish it weren't the case that sheeple actually do think that way.

Initech

(108,617 posts)
20. 100% Fox News has dirt on him.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:40 PM
12 hrs ago

And he can go shove that "Trump Derangement Syndrome" straight up his worthless ass. Yes, we fucking hate Donald Trump. Yes, we think he's horrible and dangerous for this country. Yes, he should have been fired and imprisoned years ago, so deal with it, assholes.

The man is never happy. He shits on and destroys everything he touches like a monkey in the zoo. I am so pissed off. This was a slap in the face and a middle finger to us. Fuck Fetterman, fuck Trump, and fuck Markwayne Mullin.

Vinca

(53,888 posts)
8. I guess the fact he is totally unqualified doesn't matter. Fetterman should resign. He's incompetent.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:00 PM
14 hrs ago

FoxNewsSucks

(11,677 posts)
11. He should get out of the way so Shapiro can appoint someone who
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:43 PM
13 hrs ago

will actually support the Democratic Party and OPPOSE the orange piece of shit fascist dictator.

not fooled

(6,664 posts)
24. I wonder whether Fetterman saw the ad from Mullin's plumber days
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:13 AM
10 hrs ago

It was shown on MSNOW yesterday (sorry, can't remember which show). The future senator--spiffily clad in a red shirt bearing the "Mullin Plumbing" logo--demonstrated how to clean your garbage disposal by putting ice into it. His narration was first rate.

While I am all in favor of learning home maintenance tips, nothing evinced "future United States Senator", let alone head of security for the nation.

usonian

(25,012 posts)
18. Because the anagram for Markwayne is Yam Wanker.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:24 PM
12 hrs ago

Fetterman's brain is a bit scrabbled.

That's probably a damn high word score. I haven't checked though.

not fooled

(6,664 posts)
25. Apparently drag queens are having a field day
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:14 AM
10 hrs ago

with the "Markwayne" persona.

There's a silver lining to everything, I guess.

Blue Owl

(58,968 posts)
26. Floppy Florsheims with saggy sweatpants is a great look for Fetterman
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:23 AM
10 hrs ago

Throw on a red baseball cap and it really brings it all together

Botany

(77,207 posts)
27. What John and his wife did in Braddock, PA and in his pre-stroke time in the legislature were awesome...
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:26 AM
10 hrs ago

…. Feeding people, restoring a run down former Steel town, and bringing their powerful presence
for the commons good can’t be taken away but he is now a liability to the people of PA and the
America. The stroke has taken its toll. Is he up for primary this year?

everyonematters

(4,123 posts)
30. Senator Van Hollen has put forward a plan to increase taxes on the wealthy.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 08:20 AM
2 hrs ago

Senator Warren has a housing proposal. Fetterman seems to making his whole purpose in life to antagonize his own base.

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