Guess what. If you piss off enough people, you eventually get pissed on. 
Payback Time
Trump primaried senator Cornyn in Texas and trashed Senators Thune, Tillis, and Murkowski. Now he and Secretary of War (aptly named) need their help.
I am please to report the Pentagon chief struggles to shore up support for Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion military budget.
Hegseth Needs Support of Senators He Brushed Off
The Wall Street Journal reports Hegseth Brushed Off Congress for Months. Now He Needs Them for His Budget.
Striding through the halls of Congress with his entourage in tow, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth almost missed Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), dressed inconspicuously in a brown shirt and sneakers, before doubling back to talk.
Murkowski, who voted last year against confirming Hegseth, is one of several Republicans the administration now needs to pass a part of its unprecedented $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget using an expedited process called budget reconciliation. The tactic allows passage of some legislation on a simple-majority vote, making it easier for Republicans to deliver a win for President Trump by bypassing Democrats in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to advance most legislation.
So far, his pitch is falling flat.
“I do not see reconciliation as our tool,” Murkowski said after her brief conversation with Hegseth.
“We need to be legislating,” she added, referring to the Senate. “We need to be appropriating. Reconciliation is not that. Reconciliation is a total bypass.”
Hegseth has spent much of his tenure as Pentagon chief largely snubbing Congress. His appearances before committees on Capitol Hill often turn contentious, frustrating both Republicans and Democrats who say they want more answers on the Iran war, the military’s drug-boat strikes and defense spending. Now, finding himself in need of their help, he has visited Capitol Hill several times in recent days to huddle privately with Republicans to shore up support for Trump’s spending plan.
Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas), who was among the conservatives who met with Hegseth behind closed doors, confirmed the Pentagon chief was “pushing very hard for us in Congress to make that investment” into the military.
While Pfluger and many other Republicans support increased military spending, some aren’t fully persuaded by the Pentagon’s plan and remain frustrated over a long list of issues ranging from the Iran war to the postponement of the signing of a bipartisan housing bill. Also irking several Republicans are the Pentagon’s recent threats to reduce troop levels in Europe and Hegseth’s firing of decorated general officers.
Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.), who was at the meeting, said that Hegseth was “sharp” and laid out a “strong case” for the proposed budget. But while Bacon wants to raise defense spending, he said that Hegseth also needed to address other lawmaker concerns, such as the Pentagon’s recent announcement that it was canceling the deployment of an armored brigade to Poland.
If Hegseth is “weak on NATO, I’ll not support his efforts,” Bacon said. “This will have to be a two-way street.”
The sheer size of Trump’s proposed budget is raising eyebrows. The $1.5 trillion request for the 2027 budget year would be the largest dollar amount in modern history.
With Hegseth’s requests to meet one-on-one with lawmakers coming during a busy time on Capitol Hill, some lawmakers have declined.
Murkowski said she had turned down a request to meet with Hegseth for 20 minutes on Wednesday because it would have conflicted with Trump’s lunch with Republicans at the same time. She expects to speak with a Pentagon official on Thursday, she said.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Penn.), who said Hegseth has asked to meet with him, said he needed more details before swinging behind the reconciliation approach. “They haven’t described what their goal is, where the pay-fors are going to come from,” he said. “Those are important questions to answer.”
In addition to Murkowski, other Republicans who said they oppose reconciliation include Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who chairs the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee.
Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), who was defeated by a Trump-backed primary challenger in May, said he would have to see the details of any reconciliation bill first.
Trump can afford at most three defections. Then vice-president Vance can cast the tiebreaker vote.
Why Cornyn Matters So Much
- Murkowski, Collins, and McConnell have all publicly ruled out reconciliation or are strongly opposed. That already eats up 3 likely defections/absences.
- VP Vance tiebreaker gives them a path to 50 yes votes, but every additional “no” or “present” hurts badly.
- If Cornyn joins Murkowski, Collins, and McConnell it’s all over.
As a lame duck (Cornyn lost his May 2026 primary to Trump-backed Ken Paxton and is leaving at the end of this term), Cornyn has less to lose politically from bucking leadership or the White House.
His vote could switch the math from possible to impossible. And possible assumes there are no other no votes.
Bottom-Line Math Scenario
| Scenario | Likely GOP Yes Votes (w/ McConnell out) | Outcome with Vance Tiebreaker |
|---|---|---|
| Cornyn Yes + minimal other defections | 50–51 | Passes narrowly |
| Cornyn No (joins Collins + Murkowski) | 48–49 | Fails |
| Cornyn Yes but 3+ other no’s | 49 or less | Fails or needs last-minute deals |
Hegseth and the White House know this, which is why outreach is happening. When the Senate returns in mid-July, expect heavy pressure on Cornyn specifically. If he signals openness, it changes the game; if he stays cautious, the appropriators’ preference for regular order will almost certainly win.
Ultimate Irony
The ultimate irony is if Ken Paxton blows up and loses to James Talarico.
The Kalshi betting odds are currently 60% for Paxton. I think it’s more like 55% Paxton, if held today. But I expect the odds to narrow.
Republicans are going to have to spend hundreds on millions of dollars defending a seat Cornyn would have won easily. And Cornyn voted with Trump well over 95 percent of the time.
But Trump demand full loyalty. 95 percent isn’t enough.
Trump speaks out often against Sue Collins. He will get is wish. Collins is highly likely to lose to a weak Democrat Graham Platner.
Senator Tillis, who resigned under pressure by Trump, is guaranteed gone. Trump will be rewarded with a Democrat replacement, Roy Cooper.
So Trump will remove Senators who voted with him 90 percent of the time or more with Senators who will vote with him 30 percent or less.
As I have stated, Trump cares more about loyalty than winning.
Trump will get pissed on in the midterms as a result.
If you piss off enough people, you eventually get pissed on.
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When the Senate returns July 13, hope for “nothing”. It’s the best we can do.
Trump pissed off enough senators that they unanimously voted for recess.
“Congress is the entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.” — Frank Zappa
Hegseth may well be the dumbest defense/war secretary in US history. But never underestimate the US Senate’s readiness to spend billions on stupid wars that were lost before they even started.
again: The US is wasting time and resources in overseas conflicts, National security should be built on domestic strength, specifically by securing our power grid and reducing global oil dependence. We have the technology, tools, solar, wind, advanced battery storage, nuclear power to make this happen.
We have the wrong people in place to make this happen.
Dont be fooled. He has successfully ran off a good chunk of qualified generals and replaced them with unqualified toadies and those who align with his far right beliefs the true believers. Like trump its not about being successful its about control. He has run off a large number of qualified generals who would stand up for the constitution When trump/vance calls the election rigged and such. He will now have the military more likely to back him up.
Trump recently posted that the communist are making their move and he has been preparing for this for a long time.
The subject was dem primaries in new york.
Republicans are worried about losing the senate. Texas congressman introduced bill to overturn 17th amendment. You can gerrymander congressional districts. gets a bit harder to control senate.
.
Without details it’s hard to say why we need such an increase in spending which will only contribute to higher taxes and/or inflation. The warning that an obscene national debt will hurt national security is now here front and center. What’s more, an increase in spending is not going to fix the stupid in the leadership. Taco was warned of the hazards and went ahead anyway. Apparently drones were not on their radar either. We had years of the Russia-Ukraine War to figure that out. Maybe there is a good reason for the increase, like catching up on technology, but that’s still not going to fix the stupid.
Conservative MAGA and America Firsters will never accept an annual $500 million increase to national deficit!!! /s
Oh wait! Nobody in MAGA is actually conservative, or gives a $hit about their children and future generations.
pass the audit first.
no accountability, no one gives a fart
This the same idiot that cancelled vaccinations, had a blow up of flu infections then mandated them back on? What a complete moron.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/pete-hegseth-forced-into-major-u-turn-as-air-force-flu-outbreak-explodes/ar-AA26q20W
booster up, son. this will be your 11th, right? 10 more to go this year!!
Are you mentally retarded?
Nah, it’s just a cunt.
FAFO, probably skipped biology class in HS.
Fresh from Makeup Headquarters, that he recently had installed at the Pentagon, sporting $12,000 paint job.
I think Peter may be trans. Are they Petra now?
He and Byron Noem can share secrets.
Who would have thought back in the days of WWII that a future Defense Secretary would be wearing makeup?
No because a trans chick would do her makeup better and probably run the place tighter too.
My observation in life has been those who are the most vocal homophobic/ religious etc are the ones with skeletons in there closet.
Jerry farwell cant forget good ole larry craig and his wide stance defense.
He didn’t ignore them.
He actively disparaged and derogated them.
Teabagged them, metaphorically.
good
I think Hogsbreath is the worst of the cabinet members. Worse than Blondie, worse than Barbie, worse than the rest of the toadies. Not qualified, disdainful of anyone who isn’t into his whole macho schtick, make War not Love, and no redeeming qualities whatsoever. A freaking civil affairs Army Major – hell I’m about as qualified as him service wise. Maybe more, and I am patently unqualified for that role. I just don’t see that knucklehead convincing the fence sitting Senators he needs to approve a 50% increase in what is already by far the largest of the appropriations bills. Just won’t happen, and if it does, it will be a one and done as the Democratic controlled Congress will reign it back in next year. But hopefully the pissing off this year will indeed get drumpf and Hogsbreath the pissing on they deserve.
Have you seen what the majority of govts are doing around the world? They gearing up.
At some point the US govt is gonna have to invest in military goods, and retrain the US forces as war, in how it’s conducted, has changed. I don’t believe in war but I also know many do, and I’d think it wise at least match who is believed to be the biggest threat.
Right now America can’t even fight Iran, and given how many nations we pissed off throughout the world being the weakest will certainly lead to bad things for America as a whole.
It’s very unfortunate timing, WW3, as our national debt is already too big, and adding more to it will just hasten the monetary collapse. But this is what happens when empires die.
Sure, because spending more than all the next half dozen or so combined is not enough!
Both youand 3blindmice missed the argument.
The spending is moot, for we’ve already spent the wad and its dry.
The point is the world is moving towards greater conflict and being in a position of weakness when you’ve been the king it doesn’t end well.
I’m not even saying if they spent more money that the king will live, but what I can tell you eventually even democratics will sign off when they see their world burning.
With a trillion dollar budget, a low intensity conflict with Iran of a few weeks depleted the magazines. Surely the problem is not money, but too much money.
Maybe $1.5 trillion isn’t enough. Perhaps we need $3 trillion. Or half of GDP. Then we could end Iran’s civilization at will?
America needs to learn from Ukraine about what war is now, and quickly adapt to the new reality.
I have my doubts.
If you think “Ukraine” is doing any of that.
It’s entirely NATO.
Not entirely, as the Ukrainians are doing the dying part.
the dying and the need driven innovation. they’re rewriting the game plan real time because had they not, they would be back as part of the russian empire (ahem, ‘russian federation’) by now.
lol, this is too funny.
we’re too busy on stupid pet vanity projects like golden dome and trump battleships to focus on unglamorous things like drone warfare and new doctrines for the 21st century.
The $800B of FY 26 budget we have is plenty enough to do the necessary improvement if we got rid of stupid expenditures like GD. I’m just hoping those boondoggles die the quick death they should after the current administration egos leave the stage in 2029.
‘Full mission success’: Pentagon says Golden Dome aces first live-intercept test
https://www.firstpost.com/world/full-mission-success-pentagon-says-golden-dome-aces-first-live-intercept-test-14025601.html
“I think Hogsbreath is the worst of the cabinet members. Worse than Blondie, worse than Barbie, worse than the rest of the toadies”
—————————————————-
“I always like to hang around with losers, actually, because it makes me feel better. I hate guys that are very, very successful and you have to listen to their success stories. I like people that like to listen to my success.”
Donald J. Trump at the Saudi-backed Future Investment Initiative (FII) Priority Summit in Miami, February 19, 2025
indeed.
Rubio.
Rubio has a functioning brain even if he is a toadie and a war hawk. Hogsbreath passed on the brain in favor of a triple load of testosterone. If push came to shove I would take Rubio.
lol, cry more about it.
AIPAC stench will hurt candidates for years to come. That’s why they’re downplaying their role in candidacies. Senators should get ahead of this issue by rejecting this defense budget and section 224 (merging U.S. and Israeli procurement and intelligence).
lol, quit yer cryin!
Another case of ‘what goes around comes around’. Don’t count Trump out on this though. The MIC and AIPAC are going to back him and I have no doubt they can get a Democrat like Fetterman on board.
Funny dems call him a traitor is like trump calling a republican a rino. We need less sides. Fetterman has to represent the people of his district to stay elected. Imo we would all be better off if every district was that competitive.
Animal house continues and is not likely to change………..