2025-29 -A Blank Canvas

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

60TH PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION CABINET AND CABINET LEVEL CONFIRMATIONS
JON MEADE HUNTSMAN as Secretary of Energy (By Proforma Vote)
TIMOTHY EUGENE SCOTT as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (By Proforma Vote)
NICOLE ROBILOTTO NASON
as Secretary of Transportation (66 Yeay, 33 Nay)
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS STEWART as Director of National Intelligence (By Proforma Vote).
Stewart , in a letter prepared in advance, Stewart tendered a letter of resignation as a member of the House of Representatives. In separate ceremonies, Vice President Haley administered the oath of office to Secretaries  Huntsman,  Scott,  Nason and Director Stewart . The Senate majority leader, Senator Cornyn is expected to schedule more Senate votes in the coming days, confirming the remaining members of the DeSantis Administration.
Meanwhile on the House side of Capitol Hill, Speaker Scalise has extended an invitation to the President to address a joint session of Congress, a date has been scheduled for Wednesday,  February 26, 2025.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Wednesday,  February 5, 2025: The White House announced that President DeSantis has announced that he will nominate Judge Barbara Lagoa to be Attorney General and that Noel Francisco will be his nominee to be Deputu Attorney General,  Lagoa will have the distinction of being the first woman to serve as Attorney General, if confirmed  to do so, since Janet Reno, had that distinction while serving under Bill Clinton during the 1990s. Senate Majority leader,  John Cornyn, applauded
the nomination. If Lagoa does win confirmation, she along with the President as well as BrianMast, Carlos Gimenez, Byron Donalds, Chris Sprowls, Joe Gruters,  Brad Herold and Kayleigh McEnany are all Floridians, this fact means  that this would be the largest concentration of state natives in position of political power, since George W. Bush and his Texas gang, or Ronald Reagan and his California crew. In another developing story, South Carolina Governor,  Henry McMaster, is likely to nsme Tim Scott's replacement within the next day or two.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Thursday, February 6, 2025: Jimmy Kimmel, hosted a surprise guest. Former Vice President, Kamala Harris on his show. While the former Candidate for President in last year's election was more than happy to engage in small talk, regarding her current activities, she would not be drawn on her thoughts of the DeSantis Administration, and when asked by Kimmel if she was considering a run for Governor of California next year. Harris commenced to cackle uncontrollably, before collecting herself and suggested to Kimmel, "Wait and see". On Fox and Friends, the following morning, Brian Kilmeade panned Harris's performance, especially her laughing, "Now we know why America said NO to the former Vice President last year! It's that laugh, amongst other things"

The Palmetto State, gets a new Senator: Friday February 7, 2025: With much fanfare, South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster,  announced at around midday on Friday, his choice to replace Tim Scott as South Carolina's next U.S. Senator, in appointing Catherine Templeton, the Governor stated that "Catherine Templeton, represents the best and the brightest for South Carolinian's", also stating that "She will have the distinction of being South Carolina's first woman Senator. Other names that had been bandied about included Former Congressman and onetime Acting White House Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, as well as Congresswoman Nancy Mace . South Carolina will now have two Senate contests next year, as well as a Governor's contest. Henry McMaster is term limited and speculation concerning a run for Governor by Mick Mulvaney can't be ruled out.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

CNN BREAKING NEWS

PRESIDENT DESANTIS INTENDS TO NOMINATE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE FOR THE 11TH DISTRICT BARBARA LAGOA AS ATTORNEY GENERAL CNN HAS LEARNED

Noel Francisco!
Jake Tapper: This is just in: CNN has just learned that President Ron DeSantis intends to nominate Judge Barbara Lagoa of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th District as his Attorney General. Let's go over quickly to Kaitlan Collins.

Kaitlan Collins: That's right Jake! We just received this News. This is obviously not a big surprise as the President needed someone who can safely sail through the Senate Confirmation. It is interesting to not that Lagoa, if confirmed, would only be the 2nd Woman ever to assume the Office of Attorney General after the late Janet Reno during the Clinton Administration. We're also learning that the President intends to nominate Noel Rodriguez as Deputy Attorney General.
I am told there will a News Announcement tomorrow evening in the East Room of the White House. Back to you!

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Friday, February 7, 2025 -
FOX NEWS ALERT, "this is Bret Baier, Fox News, and this is big! can now confirm that President DeSantis will nominate United States Court Appeals Judge for the 11th District, Barbara Lagoa to the position of Attorney General and Former Solicitor General, Noel Francisco to be Deputy Attorney General.
What many of our viewers will not know, Lagoa is not only the first Hispanic woman nominated to such a high profile position, but Lagoa will be the first Cuban-Hispanic to be selected as Attorney General. She has served on the Florida Supreme court, being appointed in January, 2019 by then Governor Ron DeSantis, in November of that same year, President Trump nominated Lagoa as a Judge on the Court of Appeals out of the 11th District
It had been strongly rumored that Judge Lagoa would be the President's second appointee, particularly after the demolition derby that led to Ted Cruz's withdrawal as the President's nominee. This nomination means that Logoa will be the second Hispanic to be a member of his administration, to other is Carlos Gimenez, who is Secretary of Homeland Security.
We have our White House Correspondent, Peter Doocy, on site, Peter what can you tell our viewer's?
Doocy: Well just a few minutes ago, White House Chief Counsel, Chris Sprowls gave me some background on the deliberations that the President had with Republican leaders as well as his staff, and from what I was told, the President decided last night while in the residence that it would be Barbara Lagoa and there will be a formal announcement in the East Room later today. From what I was also told, the President will also nominate Noel Francisco, formerly Solicitor General to be Deputy General. Back to you Bret.
Baier: Thank you Peter
Well again this is a big event, Barbara Lagoa will become the second woman to be selected as the nation's Attorney General, the last was Janet Reno, who served under Bill Clinton.
Britt Hume, your thoughts.
Hume: "It becomes clear that the Republican party under Ron DeSantis is a lot different from the Republican party that Reagan led, or even the one that George W. Bush led. Just think of this Bret, and as much as Democrats want to suggest that most of DeSantis's appointments of minorities to positions is tokenism It stretches credulity when Byron Donalds, an African American now is holding the most visible position within the administration, that of White House Chief of Staff, that is hardly tokenism. Maybe Democrats might want to consider this, Ron DeSantis is reshaping the Republican party into a more inclusive and dynamic party, with more minorities now moving into the party of Lincoln, and the nomination of Barbara Lagoa, makes it clear that the Democrats don't seem to have the answers, they once thought they did, Brett?
Baier: Well there you have it folks, President DeSantis has asked Barbara Lagoa to be his Attorney General and from what we so far know, she has agreed. Truly a momentous and historic nomination. Now back to our regular programming.
Switched over to CNN (Commercial break in progress)

Other Developments, Special House elections:
Florida-19: Former State Senator, Kathleen Passidomo, for the Republican's and Cindy Banyai, who ran against Byron Donalds in 2020 and 2022.
Florida-21: State Representative Dana Trabulsy, for the Republican's and Corinna Robinson, for the Democrats, in 2022, Robinson ran against Brian Mast.
Florida-28: The Republican field is fluid. The contenders in the primary will include State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez,  Miami Mayor, Francisco X. Suarez and Former Congressman Carlos Curbelo, who lost reelection in 2018 for Florida-26. The Democrat candidate will likely be State Senator, Annette Taddeo

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Both the DCCC and the RCCC have a target list for who they deem are the most likely vulnerable seats; revisions will made, dependent on political realities.
With regards to the Governorship races, the situation is currently fluid.

Inasmuch that the ink has hardly dried on the certification documents on President DeSantis election and while the 2028 presidential election is still in the distance. However, many Democrats sizing up their prospects, with that in mind, it might be a useful exercise to handicap and review a potential Democratic field.

Kamala Harris: The party's nominee in last year's election, cannot be ruled out as possibility, and even if she lost in a landslide, and even if there are those, who will lay blame for the electoral disaster at her feet, she still commands the loyalty of many in her party. If Harris were to throw her hat into the ring. She might, as was the case with Adlai Stevenson in 1956, could be seeking a rematch. Nonetheless the former Vice President has not committed on either another presidential campaign or even a possible run for Governor of California.
Gavin Newsom,  the current Governor of California, is term limited, but cannot be ruled out as a possibility and given the fact he dinged then Governor DeSantis during the 2022 election cycle, he will be tempted to give it a shot, even if fellow Californian, Harris maybe in the mix.
Cory Booker sought the presidential nomination back in 2020, but came up short, he might see 2028 as his year.
Phil Murphy , who's tenure as Governor of New Jersey concludes in January of next year and he will have plenty of time to explore his chances.
Pete Buttigieg, tried for the party's nomination in 2020, but being Mayor of a small city (South Bend) in Indiana, didn't help, nor  did his age or the fact that he was gay. However his stint as Biden's Secretary of Transportation, gives him a claim on experience and the fact he oversaw the infrastructure efforts, ensures that he will be regarded as a serious contender, should he decide to run.
Amy Klobuchar, the former Senator from Minnesota, he ran for the party's presidential nomination in both 2020 and 2024, but her moment may have come and gone.
J.B. Pritzker, his tenure as Governor of Illinois has been deemed a success, he will hope to win the support of Obama.
Westley Moore, the Governor of Maryland, has Obama like qualities, and may hope to catch fire if he decides to run.
Andy Beshear,  the Governor of Kentucky, will be term-limited as of the 2027 off-year election cycle, just in time to throw his hat into the ring. He might have appeal in flyover country. So he can't be ruled out.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Congresswoman elected in 2018, she is regarded as the standard bearer of the Progressive wing of the party, may launch a run, but it is more likely to see election to the Senate, should  Chuck Schumer call it a day.
Other possibilities include Kathy Kochul, the Governor of New York, as well as Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, many will recall that he was the party's Vice presidential nominee last year.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Saturday, February 8 2025
CNN NEWS ALERT
"Hello to our viewer's here in the United States and from around the world, this is Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room: The White House has announced that Secretary of State, Robert O'Brien will be visiting Poland, Ukraine, before flying to Turkey and Israel: The White House stated that Secretary of State, O'Brien will be visiting Poland for a NATO meeting and then will visit Ukraine, then will make a brief stopover in Turkey, before travelling to Israel. This developing story comes on the heels of the other big news story, in which yesterday President DeSantis announced his choice for Attorney General. It appears from what we're hearing and what Kaitlin Collins is reporting. We're going over to the White House, where we have Kaitlin Collins standing by, Kaitlin, what are you hearing?
Collins: Wolf, from what I have so far been told, is that the DeSantis administration wants to kick-start the peace process and get Israel and the Palestinians along with other interested parties around the table, talking instead of shooting at each other. However, Wolf, from what I was told earlier, that O'Brien during the upcoming NATO meeting in Warsaw, will be brought up to speed on the importance of supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.  It is important to add, that the DeSantis administration had expressed reservations on the issue of funding Ukrainian military operations. Wolf back to you.
Blitzer: Thank you Kaitlin. I have with me, in the Situation Room, Scott Jennings, Kirsten Powers and David Urban, welcome to the Situation Room. Before we go to the upcoming trip, let's discuss the other big story of the week, the nomination of Barbara Lagoa as Attorney General, why is this such a big thing? Kirsten, your thoughts.
Powers: I think it's not just the fact that Barbara Lagoa is a woman, her ethnic background and being a Cuban-Hispanic tells us so much about why the President decided to go with her,  but not only that, her legal credentials are beyond reproach and this indicates that DeSantis is not just looking towards next year's midterms, but has his eye very firmly on 2028, the Lagoa nomination tells us that.
Blitzer: Scott? You want to jump in?
Jennings: Yeah, you can't underestimate what the Lagoa nomination has done to the political conversation! How can anyone, even Democrats say anything, that isn't complimentary about Lagoa? Their silence so far, indicates how much worse their political problems have become, it should also be noted that the Senate majority leader, Senator Cornyn has said, and I will quote the following, "This nomination will be fast tracked and Barbara Lagoa will be our next Attorney General within the next week". You contrast these words with the pushback that Cornyn allowed to develop during the Cruz hearings"
Blitzer: David your thoughts?
Urban: Wolf, this President continues to outmaneuver Democrats at every step and they know it and if they are not careful, things could get worse if things keep on going the way they have. The Lagoa situation is just another manifestation of  what is becoming a bigger problem for Democrats. What is worse, is that the President doesn't telegraph he will appoint a woman or a Hispanic before doing so, he just allows the appointment to speak for itself. You contrast this with how Democrats make appointments, as was the case with Joe Biden five years ago saying he'd select a woman to be his Vice President, I think it sent a terrible message, but you still have that party accusing the President of engaging in tokenism!
I think the appointment of Lagoa, is that this President putting Democrats on notice, and saying to them, DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED!
Blitzer: Thank you everyone, the other story that we are covering here at CNN, is the upcoming O'Brien trip, but before that, we will take a break.
(Commercial break), I flick over to Fox News, another Commercial break.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Senate Minority Leader,  Chuck Schumer(D.-New York), Applauds Lagoa nomination.[/i][/b]
In remarks before a press gaggle outside his office, the Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer offered up a few remarks, "I must commend President DeSantis on his selection of not only someone who is hispanic, but also woman to be Attorney General!"
Unidentified Reporter: Senator, have you anything to say, regarding Judge Lagoa's qualifications or her judicial record?
Schumer: I will get back to you on that.

Later that evening on Hannity
Sean Hannity: I wouldn't have believed it, unless I heard it folks, but there you have it! All Schumer had to say about Judge Lagoa's nomination, was her ethnicity and her gender. This is it folks, all Democrats care about is gender or ethnicity and little else, and they wonder why they lost big-time! Well when you have Schumer commenting on our next Attorney General's ethnicity and gender and little else, Democrats haven't learned anything! Next up, what is Dennis Miller's take Schumer's remarks and now that Kamala Harris is living in Montecito, how does she get on with the neigbors? We will be right back after this! (Commercial break).

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Monday, February 10, 2025

DeSantis polling holding steady; Lagoa appointment winning positive reviews from Senator's as she does the rounds on Capitol HillWith the controversy surrounding the Cruz nomination almost forgotten, and the positive vibes surrounding thr nomination of Barbara Lagoa as Attorney General, DeSantis's polling average is remaining stable, and has even ticked up in recent day's. Over the weekend on the various Sunday morning news shows, the main topic of conversation was Barbara Lagoa, on ABC's This Week, hosted by George Stephanoupolos and Chris Christie, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, said the Lagoa nomination "Is a game changer", while over on NBC's Meet The Press,  hosted by Chuck Todd, two Senator's engaged in a verbal sparring match, Senator's  Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, raised concerns on Lagoa's position on Abortion, however Senator Michele Tafoya of Minnesota, suggested that Democrats seemed to be "One trick ponies, focusing on the abstracts, if it's not Abortion,  it's guns with you bunch!"
The White House is expected to unveil a laundry list of items that the President will speak about in his upcoming speech to congress in over two weeks time.
Republican's are expected to hold Florida-19, Florida-21, but Florida-28 could be the most competitive in elections scheduled for April 22.
At NATO meeting in Warsaw, Poland, Secretary of State, Robert O'Brien has reiterated continuing support for Ukraine, in its continuing struggle to eject Russia from that country.
British Prime Minister, Liz Truss will visit Washington on March 3.
JOHN RATCLIFFE,  confirmed as Director of the CIA (71 Aye, 27 Nay).
Ratcliffe,  tendered his resignation as Congressman from Texas 5th congressional district. Governor Greg Abbott has scheduled a Special election for the vacant house for April 12.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025: LAGOA CONFIRMATION HEARINGS WILL COMMENCE ON EITHER MONDAY OR TUESDAY NEXT WEEK, ACCORDING  TO STATEMENT RELEASED BY OFFICE OF THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.
The Senate majority leader,John Cornyn, released a statement, which announced that Judge Lagoa's confirmation hearing  as Attorney General, will commence next week, the statement issued by Cornyn's office, read as follows, "Confirmation hearings on the nomination of Judge Barbara Lagoa  to be the nation's eighty-seventh Attorney General, will commence on either Monday or Tuesday of next week, the hope is that Judge Lagoa will win a speedy and expeditious confirmation as soon as possible".

OFFICE OF FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, RELEASE STATEMENT ANNOUNCING THE DATE OF THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. The office of the nation's 44th President has announced the date of the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Library and Center, on March 23, 2025, which is the 15th Anniversary of his signing the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). The former President's office, confirmed that invitations have been extended to all the President's, past and present.
 President DeSantis during a press conference, discussing problems surrounding Cruz nomination.
 DeSantis, speaks via phone inviting Judge Barbara Lagoa to serve as Attorney General.
 Oval office as it will be under President DeSantis; note the rug is the same used by Reagan and Trump.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

FRANK LUNTZ POLLING, PRETTY MUCH MIRRORS THE POLLING FIGURES ON THE DATA DOWNLOAD SEGMENT OF MTP. However Luntz's extensive polling results indicates, some troubling news for Democrats. Luntz stated, "Democrats are currently occupying a policy vacuum and don't seem to have any kind of coherent initiatives in which they can compete with Republican's, the Balance Budget Amendment and the Border issue from the perspective of the voter's makes sense. Plus, the fact, is that DeSantis's polling indicates he's in a very strong position to get most, if not all of his agenda passed by April 30, which will be the 100 day mark of his administration. This could be the productive period of action for a President since LBJ's Great Society salad day's".
When pressed by Bret Baier, the host of Special Report, on Fox News, what did Luntz's focus groups attribute to DeSantis's unprecedented success so far? Luntz's response was telling, "His can-do optimism, as well as his straight-talking candor! It's these qualities that voter's seem to appreciate...". As for Luntz's bad news for Democrats, "If anything, DeSantis's support amongst rank and file Democrats has only grown since the election day figures, so any Democrat with presidential ambitions,  will have to figure a way to win back these voter's, or the exodus is only gonna continue".
Asked about the polling on MTP, as well as Luntz's findings, DNC chairman,  Tim Ryan, dismissed the results as a "...mere flash in the pan snapshot, I don't believe that these numbers will last...but if they, we will need to have a re-think!".  The White House,  was asked to comment on the latest polling, Communications Director Christina Pushaw,  remarked "We are encouraged and it means, that the American people recognize that the administration and Congress are doing the job that we were sent to do! Bottom line, we are encouraged!"

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Obviously Democrats are attempting to create discord, but it says everything when Rubio , isn't tolerating any kind of nonsense. Maybe Democrats haven't gotten the memo yet, they should ask for it and read it carefully, because it's like they don't understand the math yet.  Just hope that Republicans don't do to Democrats what that party did to the GOP , whilst they controlled things! Well not too much.
WHITE HOUSE HAS CONFIRMED THAT PRESIDENT DESANTIS,  ALONG WITH THE FIRST LADY, HAVE GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INVITATION TO ATTEND OPENING OF PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. THE OFFICES OF FORMER PRESIDENT'S CLINTON, BUSH AND BIDEN HAVE ALSO CORDIALLY ACCEPTED THE INVITATION: NO WORD ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN'S .
However if all four former President's  join both Obama  and President DeSantis at the event, it will mean that there will be six President's past and present in attendance, the greatest number since 2009, at which President Obama's and his three predecessor's gathered in the Oval office.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Hey @SaintStan86 welcome aboard, as "Consultant" , full-time contributor, or part-time contributor, you are more than welcome to participate,  with your presence along with @2016 and others, this TL can only be enriched 🙂

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

I'm inclined to advocate for the construction of a border wall, that way, if Democrats oppose it, as I think they will, just as they are opposed to Voter ID, they should be asked to justify their opposition and not employ their usual attempts of deflection and distortion.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

I'm inclined to advocate for the construction of a border wall, that way, if Democrats oppose it, as I think they will, just as they are opposed to Voter ID, they should be asked to justify their opposition and not employ their usual attempts of deflection and distortion.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2025: FOX NEWS ALERT! FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP,  HAS ACCEPTED FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S INVITATION TO THE OPENING OF THE BARACK OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY ON MARCH 23, 2025. Former President Trump,  to the surprise of many, has accepted  his predecessor's invitation, but he critiqued his successor on Truth Social, "I don't understand why Sleepy Joe Biden is going, since his so-called election was fraudulent and he was never really President! He shouldn't have accepted if he has any class". Democrats were quick to pounce on the former President's remarks. Party chairman, Tim Ryan,  remarked "Trump true to form, proves that if anyone has no class, it's him!" Most Republican's were silent on the former President's latest outburst.

Darren Michael Soto is betting on the idea that he could  defeat Governor Jeanette Nuñez,  it's probably likely its one bet he's gonna lose. His fate is likely to be similar to Charlie Crist's in 2022. If I'm not mistaken, Republican's were enjoying a 498,000 Voter registration advantage at the last count. So Soto could be political road-kill, after Republican's finish with him.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

@2016, I understand everything you say and I can see why Soto of all Democrats,  has thrown his hat into the ring, he reckons that he better than any other member of his party has a reasonable shot at taking out Nuñez . But I factor in one advantage that the Governor possesses that her potential challenger doesn't have. Incumbency, true, it's a double edged sword, but Soto may need to discard some of his party's more extreme policy agenda. If he does, he might be more competitive, but there's a downside, he risks alienating the more doctrinaire members of his party's base. Nuñez , doesn't have such problems,  she can utilize the DeSantis template, the same template that waa used so effectively during the 2024 cycle. My question is this, what winning template will Soto use. What kind of strategy will he employ? Also don't forget the DeSantis factor or it can't be ignored that Florida's former Governor won't intervene on his successors behalf. No doubt the Florida Governor's contest will be the most closely watched during the '26 election cycle. My money is on Nuñez .
Things moved very quickly on the Ambassador front,  the fastest ever, I will wager.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 2025: CNN BREAKING NEWS, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE,  ROBERT O'BRIEN IN ISTANBUL; UNIDENTIFIED SOURCES INDICATE THAT SENIOR MEMBERS OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY WERE ALSO IN ISTANBUL: STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS REFUSED TO COMMENT. "Hello Everyone, this is Wolf Blitzer in the Situation Room, welcome to our viewer's here and around  the world, there is some developments coming out of Istanbul in Turkey, We can't confirm anything, but we have Nic Robertson who is travelling with the Secretary of State, Nic, can you tell us anything that you can share?"
Robertson: Hello Wolf, all I know is that we made a stopover in Istanbul, and the media were kept separate from the Secretary of State, and his party, but from reports I just heard a while ago, that members of the Palestinian Authority were also here in Istanbul. I am afraid I am unable to give you anymore information beyond that. Wolf back to you.
Blitzer: Thank you, Nic. Well folks there you have it, something could be going on, but no body is saying anything. We will keep you posted on any new developments. We will now resume our regular programming.
(Switch over to Fox News).
Note: I am working on what could be a big diplomatic breakthrough regarding Middle East peace and the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. Trying out every scenario where O'Brien and other members of DeSantis's foreign policy team, engage in misdirection that rivals Kissinger secrecy surrounding the opening to China during the 1970s.

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY 14, 2025: IN A JOINT INTERVIEW ON FOX NEWS SPECIAL REPORT,  SENATE MAJORITY LEADER,  JOHN CORNYN (R-TX) AND HOUSE SPEAKER STEVE SCALISE (R-LA), WERE QUIZZED BY BRET BAIER, ON A MULTIPLE OF TOPICS! BAIER INQUIRED ABOUT THE DESANTIS AGENDA, "THAT PROGRESS WILL BE THERE TO SEE". BAIER ASKED SENATOR CORNYN,  THE EXPECTED DATE OF JUDGE LAGOA'S CONFIRMATION,  "BY FEBRUARY, 20 AND NO LATER".. MEANWHILE OVER ON CNN, IN THE 'SITUATION ROOM', HOSTED BY WOLF BLITZER, SENATE MINORITY LEADER, CHUCK SCHUMER (D-N.Y.), VOICED FRUSTRATION, AT THE LACK OF INPUT BY THERE PARTY IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND DIRECTED CRITICISM AT BOTH SENATOR'S KELLY & SINEMA OF ARIZONA.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 2025: WITH DAYS TO GO BEFORE HER CONFIRMATION HEARINGS COMMENCE, BARBARA LAGOA APPEARED ON THE FOX NEWS SUNDAY PROGRAM, FOR A HOUR  LONG 1 ON 1 INTERVIEW. IN THE SECOND SEGMENT OF THE TWO HOUR SPECIAL HOSTED BY SHANNON BREAM, SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA OF ARIZONA, DISCUSSED THE UPCOMING  IMMIGRATION REFORM EFFORT BEING SPEARHEADED BY FLORIDA SENATOR MARCO RUBIO. As for the Lagoa  interview, unlike the contentious Cruz interview on CBS'S  60 Minutes show two weeks ago, Lagoa never put a foot wrong and very much kept to her talking points. Amongst those topics discussed, were the ongoing Border criss, the effort to reform immigration, abortion and the issue of assault weapons, Lagoa pretty much kept to the script. Democrats have so far treated Lagoa with kid gloves, however, there were exceptions to that rule, California Senator Alex Padilla, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, the panel charged with the confirmation process, stated, "Lagoa's seeming  reluctance to respond on the issue of assault weapons or abortion and even the border, suggests to me, she hasn't any real position, except the one which the DeSantis administration echoes and that concerns me!".
On a separate matter, House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), announced that Governor Westley Moore of Maryland, will offer the Democratic response to the President's upcoming speech to Congress.

CHRIS WALLACE,  SPEAKING ON CNN, REMARKED, THAT "CONSIDERING THAT THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE VICE PRESIDENT NIKKI HALEY AS IT'S NEW "BORDER SECURITY CZAR, WE CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION INTEND TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL".
WALLACE ALSO ADDED THE HALEY APPOINTMENT.  "...IS A CLEAR INDICATION THERE IS SOME URGENCY FOR A RESOLUTION,  IT SHOULD BE NOTED HOWEVER, THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REALLY DIDN'T TAKE THE BORDER SITUATION THAT SERIOUSLY AND THIS SHOWS, CONSIDERING HOW JOE BIDEN PUT KAMALA HARRIS IN CHARGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY SITUATION, AND NOT ONCE DID SHE VISIT THE BORDER, EVEN AS THINGS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE".

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Point taken @2016, forgot those negatives, you outlined. But, inasmuch the border situation will have to be resolved, and the speech to congress will need to be manufactured using some imaginative policy stuff and language, that has a dual purpose,  resolve the border situation and be appealing enough to all Hispanics. Punting on the issue, will only have shortlived benefits. Bottom line,
the policy will need to have good political optics. But agreed, moving away from all the bad Trump tone deaf stuff and just embrace all the good stuff.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Can collaborate via our individual email addresses, and by all means consult @SaintStan86. Maybe by studying DeSantis's speech cadence, can get as close to something that might even have some rhetoric flourishes (e.g. LBJ "We shall overcome" or "Let us begin" or even Reagan, "Government is not the solution, Government is the problem" 🙂.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

MONDAY FEBRUARY 17 2025, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN CORNYN HAS SCHEDULED A SERIES OF CONFIRMATION VOTES  FOR EARLY IN THE WEEK: MEANWHILE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL COMMENCE ON TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY 18 2025. JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, BELIEVES THE COMMITTEE WILL CONCLUDE IT'S BUSINESS BY THURSDAY AT THE LATEST, AND THERE LIKELY WILL BE A FULL SENATE VOTE HELD ON JUDGE LAGOA'S NOMINATION ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY IF POSSIBLE.  Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in his remarks, stated "We need an Attorney General in position in a timely manner and I hope that time, will be well before the President's address to Congress, the ranking member, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL.), suggested "There should be no problems during Judge Lagoa's hearings".
SECRETARY OF STATE, ROBERT O'BRIEN, MET IN THE OVAL OFFICE WITH PRESIDENT DESANTIS,  DURING THE PHOTO OP,  THE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE MERELY ENGAGED IN SMALL TALK, SPEAKING MOSTLY ABOUT THE NATO MEETING AND THE SITUATION  IN UKRAINE BUT SAYING VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE TURKISH OR ISRAELI STOPOVERS.

DeSantis and O'Brien  in Oval  office, before O'Brien updates on his first overseas trip as SoS.

Judge Lagoa during the rounds on Capitol prior to her confirmation hearings as Attorney General, she was meeting with fellow
Floridian and Senator Marco Rubio , who will be one of the Senator's introducing her to Senate Judiciary Committee.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

I thought it was the 28th District that Carlos Gimenez had represented 😳

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

   
From top to bottom:
Eric Garcetti, Eleni Kounalakis, Kevin Faulconer, Mike Garcia, Kathryn Barger, Xavier Becerra, Kamala Harris and Hilda Solis.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING, NUMEROUS POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR RACE, ARE ALREADY GEARING UP FOR RUNS. POLLING IN THE GOLDEN GATE, SUGGESTS THAT KAMALA HARRIS WOULD NOT ENJOY UNIVERSAL SUPPORT, SHOULD SHE ATTEMPT A POLITICAL COMBACK. California is suddenly on anyone's mind, who eats, drinks and breathes  politics. And since California is the big enchilada of American politics. All eyes will be on California's Governor's race, and there are various Democrats who will be vying  to replace  term-limited  Governor  Gavin Newsom , they will include Los Angeles  Mayor Eric Garcetti, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis , who will attempt to claim a link to Barack Obama,  due her time as Ambassador to Hungary. Should former Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris , have ideas of making  a comeback, then she might want to consider looking at some recent polling, and she will find that she doesn't enjoy the kind of support from which to launch a potential comeback bid.
Other Democrats who shouldn't be ruled out include Xavier Becerra, who served as Secretary of Health  and  Human  Services under Joe Biden,  and served as Attorney General of California, replacing Kamala Harris in that position in 2017, after serving as a member of the California Congressional delegation for 24 years, and Hilda Solis , former Secretary of Labor under Barack Obama, she served alongside Becerra on the state's congressional delegation. Solis currently sits on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
What can't  be ignored, is there  are a number of Republican's who are encouraged considering that former House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy was elected to the Senate seat once occupied by Dianne Feinstein . Besides McCarthy's success in the Golden state, the huge inroads which DeSantis made in the state, (he carried 44 of the 58 counties) cannot be ignored. Such Republican's as Mike Garcia , who currently represents the 27th, is flirting with a run for the statehouse.  Other names to look out for, will be Kevin Faulconer , who once served as the 36th Mayor of San Diego, and made a bid for the Republican nod for California governor back in '22, but came in third.
Then there's Kathryn Barger,  who currently sits on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) for the fifth district. She could represent a change in the political scheme of things, as she is neither part of the Sacramento or Washington political realm. Another thing of note is her brother John Barger, a onetime Trump . Appointee.
With immigration likely to be dominant issue in the next cycle, Democrats will be hard pressed to explain themselves.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Cornyn , is one crafty customer, scheduling the more contentious confirmation votes, towards the end. Schumer lashing out at Kelly & Sinema for their engagement on fashioning an immigration deal, is very bush league. Guess the Senate minority leader isn't into bipartisanship unless its on his term's. He should get used to the idea, that he's the very junior partner in the current scheme of things.

Next up: The Lagoa confirmation hearings get underway! Heated exchanges between Padilla and Lee on Lagoa's fitness to be Attorney General! Let the fireworks begin!

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Even if the 22nd Amendment was to be repealed, DeSantis might not benefit! If there were a repeal, then then all future President's could seek and serve two terms at a time; the same arrangement exists for Governor's in most states such as Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota. So in which case, DeSantis would still have to step down after eight years, but after a four year interregnum, he could seek the presidency again.
But let's not get carried away. This timeline will just deal with the period between 2025 and 2029.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

Personally I believe DeSantis is less interested in constitutional tinkering, and just wants to be a reformer in the mold of Theodore Roosevelt. Immigration is the big thing in this TL, then the next big thing will likely be healthcare or education. The foreign policy thing, might capture his interest if there was a possibility  of tangible success. So that's how and why I have O'Brien working on the Peace initiative. As the story moves on, little pieces of the puzzle, even one of the reasons behind why DeSantis went with O'Brien in the first place and not Rubio as where everyone, myself included was. Remember O'Brien was Trump's NSC advisor and there could have been stuff behind the scenes he was upto, stuff he merely resumed once he got State. As for the 22nd Amendment, I don't think it could be or will repealed and if so, the caveat would what I suggested at the top of this page, and DeSantis is more focused on the stuff he's doing in this TL.

[PRESIDENT STANTON]

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18 2025: THE CONFIRMATIONHEARINGS ON BARBARA LAGOA'S NOMINATION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL,  BEGAN TODAY, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN,  LINDSEY GRAHAM GAVELED THE COMMITTEE ROOM TO ORDER. GRAHAM RECOGNIZED, RANKING MEMBER DICK DURBIN, WHO ASKED HIS STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD. BOTH SENATOR'S MARCO RUBIO & RICK SCOTT, INTRODUCED JUDGE LAGOA.  LAGOA'S OPENING STATEMENT WAS BOTH CONCISE AND LEFT NO ONE IN ANY DOUBT, THAT SHE WAS PREPARED FOR ANY QUESTION DIRECTED AT HER.
 
Judge  Barbara Lagoa
For most of her time facing the committee, Lagoa effortlessly swatted questions directed at her by the Democrats. It became clear to many of the Democrat committee members that Lagoa was being given free rein to the content of her responses. A heated argument between  Alex Padilla of California and Mike Lee of Utah broke out, on the issue of abortion. Lee , kept saying "Out of order, Senator!" Graham informed Padilla , that his microphone would be shut off, if his tone wasn't in keeping with Senate decorum.
The proceedings for the remaining of her time before the committee was without incident.

POLLING DATA IN ARIZONA COULD SPELL TROUBLE FOR HOBBS. HOWEVER TROUBLE COULD BE BREWING FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE GOLDEN STATE AS WELL. IMMIGRATION MIGHT BE A BIG ISSUE IN ARIZONA,  BUT CALIFORNIA ISN'T IMMUNE,  AS NEW POLLING SUGGESTS DEMOCRATS ARE FACING STRONG HEADWINDS
ON THE QUESTION OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER SECURITY! ALSO A WHOPPING  52% OF CALIFORNIA VOTER'S lARE LOOKING FOR A NEW DIRECTION IN HOW THINGS ARE DONE. .  Democrats "...have largely ignored these issues and weaponizing it to great effect  against Republican's to great effect and then having the media shield them...but now folks want abswers!" quipped Scott Jennings, who once worked for George W. Bush, '...we tried to fix immigration under Bush" Added Jennings and Obama didn't  do anything either! Now we are where we are!" David Gergen, who once worked under two President's of two different parties, Reagan and Clinton,  "To his credit Ron DeSantis has it in his gift to not only fix the border situation, but overhaul and reform our immigration system, and with the exception of both Kelly and Sinema, it appears that Democrats are unwilling or unable to act, if they fail to do so, it will be noticed". Charlie Cook of the Cook Report, stated "Last year Democrats were caught wrong footed by what has become the DeSantis factor and it appears the Immigration issue and Border security has revealed a big gaping vulnerability! And what I can see, they seem unable or unwilling to come up with solutions!" Coolk went onto explain, what has been happening in Arizona, appears to be a contagion, that is infecting the body politic in California!"
Through to what Cook was suggesting, Voter's in California are suddenly waking up and demanding answers of their elected officials.Democrats from their Governor  Gavin Newsom to those who are vying to succeed him in 2026 (Newsom is term limited), they include Lt. Governor, Eleni Kounalakis , as well as Xavier Becerra,  Eric Garcetti and Hilda Solis . Will be forced to answer those questions, even Kamala Harris , should she decide to run, will be in the cross-hairs, after all when she was Vice President, Biden placed her in charge of resolving the problem and nothing was done. Ambitious  Republican's such as Kathryn Barger , along with Kevin Faulconer and Mike Garcia will most certainly capitalize on such a policy vacuum. For the first time in 20 years, Republican's might be able to run the table in California.  "For the most part the GOP have good reason for optimism, considering the success that Kevin McCarthy enjoyed, as well as the inroads that Ron DeSantis ", stated David Urban, who added "....Admittedly there were different issues in the 2024 cycle, but the inability of Democrats to get ahead of both the immigration and Border Security issue,  is seriously hurting their brand".

Next Up: Outwitted by Lagoa, A Democrat registers concerns, that Logoa is a "Trojan Horse" and performs a walkout!

Wednesday February 19 2025, Second day of hearings for the Lagoa , was less dramatic and more weighted on what Lagoa envisaged for the DOJ going forward, and informed the committee, that going forward, that her role going forward would be to enforce existing law's and it was not the DOJ's role to interpret which law's these were. She spoke about how it was her intention, on adhering to "separation of powers, in the execution of her responsibilities. One member of the committee, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Inquired if as Attorney General, would  Lagoa "...thought it was the responsibility of an individual state, to enforce current abortion law, or was it a federal matter, since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade?" Lagoa , cited existing precedent, using the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as an example, stating as follows, "The responsibility of the Department of Justice at the direction of the Attorney General, is to enforce existing law's or judicial rulings...nothing more". For the most part, the remainder of the hearings dealt with matters concerning DOJ oversight of the FBI, and issues of immigration law. Lagoa's responses were rudimentary and she merely referred to existing practices and requirements. At the end of the session, the Committee chairman, Lindsey Graham , made closing statements, following those made by the ranking member, Dick Durbin. Scheduling a final committee vote for the following day. There were minor fireworks when one of the Democrats on the committee, Alex Padilla of California, referred to Lagoa as a "Trojan Horse" and announced he was boycotting the remainder of the hearings.