UPDATED Jones promises he will consider voting Republican in the Senate

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill



BY MALLORY SHELBOURNE - 12/17/17 09:36 AM EST

Sen.-elect Doug Jones (D-Ala.) on Sunday said he will “of course” consider voting with Republicans on certain issues once he is sworn in to the upper chamber. He also pledged to look for areas where he can work across the aisle.

“Of course I do,” Jones told CNN’s “State of the Union” when asked if he will have to weigh voting with Republicans due to his state Alabama’s strong Republican base.

-snip-

“I’m going to talk to people on both sides of the aisle, try to figure out what I think is in the best interest of my state and in the country,” Jones told Jake Tapper. But the Alabama Democrat said he should not be expected to vote with either party uniformly.

“Now, don’t expect me to vote solidly for Republicans or Democrats,” he said.



Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/365308-jones-of-course-i-need-to-consider-voting-with-republicans

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Update:

Jones: 'I don’t think that the president ought to resign at this point'

BY MALLORY SHELBOURNE - 12/17/17 10:17 AM EST

Sen.-elect Doug Jones (D-Ala.) on Sunday said he does not believe President Trump should resign from office “at this point” over sexual misconduct accusations.

“I don’t think that the president ought to resign at this point,” Jones told CNN’s “State of the Union.” We’ll see how things go. But certainly those allegations are not new and he was elected with those allegations at front center.”

Jones noted that the sexual misconduct accusations made against the president came to light prior to his election victory last year.

“You know, Jake where I am on that right now is that those allegations were made before the election. And so people had an opportunity to judge before that election. I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues. Let’s get on with the real issues that are facing the people of this country right now.”

The senator-elect’s response comes after multiple Democratic senators have said Trump should resign due to sexual misconduct allegations. Lawmakers in both parties have resigned in recent weeks over alleged inappropriate behavior.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/365317-jones-i-dont-think-that-the-president-ought-to-resign-at-this-point

[DURHAM D]

1. So...

[lark]

2. Meat for the masses in AL.

Just like donald was going to put in a revenue neutral (it's not) tax plan that didn't favor the rich. HA! Lies, all lies. This may just be politically expedient talk from Jones. At least, we know 100% he's a million times better than Moore and won't be voting to legalize rape.

[Salviati]

5. And I even expect him to follow through on it every once in a while.

I mean he's representing Alabama after all, not a state on the Left Coast. But as long as he's mostly with us when it counts, he's miles ahead of any republican, including susan collins and bob corker, let alone roy moore...

[lark]

11. Exactly!

This is a great illustration of not letting the perfect interfere with the good when it comes to candidates. In AL Jones winning is so much better than good, it's great!

[Bradical79]

20. Take what we can get there.

If not for high turnout of black women, Alabama would have elected a pedophile who votes with Trump 99% of the time. It's bad. Really need to focus on anti-voter supression efforts for that state and cultivate a sense of pride in being Democratic voters.

[Salviati]

21. And while it's important that we don't set the purity bar too high...

I think we also need to not set the appreciation bar too low. I'm sure that he will be better than the charlatan pedophile that was his opponent, but I also have no doubt that he will be better than any given republican currently in congress. By a country mile. He may not vote exactly the way I want him to, but I'm sure he'll vote the way I'd like a lot more often than any republican would.

[doc03]

3. Another Joe Manchin nt

[Fullduplexxx]

4. As lousy as manchin is .it is still better to have a dem in that chair

[Salviati]

6. absolutely.

Hell, I'd even take joe lieberman over any republican in the current congress.

[doc03]

7. I agree. Do you know Don Blankenship coal CEO and

criminal is running against Joe Manchin. I suppose he will get the backing of Gov. Jim Justice another coal CEO that was elected as a Democrat then switched to Republican.

[GreenEyedLefty]

8. At least he's promising an effort at bipartisanship.

That's how shit gets done.

[estefanyo]

9. 'on certain issues" left out of the headline

The point is to get retweets and generate outrage and clicks.
Every Democrat has voted with Republicans "on certain issues". Nobody sides against the other party on 100% of bills.

[Bleacher Creature]

26. But if those words were included, what would we have left to be outraged about?? NT

[EL34x4]

10. Doug Jones won only because Roy Moore was just too loathsome even for Alabama.

650,000 Trump voters stayed home allowing a massive get-out-the-vote effort for Jones to succeed.

Thank you Alabama for doing the right thing but if anyone thinks Alabama suddenly became a bastion of progressive values, well... There's still a little bit to go.

If Jones wants to be more than just a placeholder, expect he'll vote as a blue dog.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. And interestingly

with this year's legislative session being so horrid and crises-driven, the Blue Dogs managed to hold with the rest of the Democratic caucus much more than any time in the past.

[Kaleva]

13. Compare the # of votes Moore got in 2012 for a seat on the state supreme court....

to what he got in the recent election. About a 400,000 vote drop off.

[BlueWI]

31. He's got a six year term.

So I hope it's six years of voting his conscience rather than half measures to please Republican voters.

[EL34x4]

36. No he didn't. He's only there for the balance of Sessions' term which ends January 2021

He'll be up for reelection in November 2020.

[BlueWI]

38. Didn't know that. Quick turnaround.

[kwalter66]

40. Hence

Special Election.

[MaryMagdaline]

14. Smart political statement

If McConnell thought he would vote his way on the tax bill, he would seat him now.

[NurseJackie]

15. We are VERY FORTUNATE to have him! Congratulations and WELCOME to Doug Jones!!

[yardwork]

16. Awwwww.... is this worrying some purists?

[Cryptoad]

17. DAmn,,,, knew i should have voted for O Roy

geeeez!

[mvd]

18. Ok I don't expect him to be a Sanders or Warren or Merkley

But there are some issues that can be popular even in Alabama - strong social security, a livable wage, a Medicare buy in possibility, and more. Also, I hope he applies the same reasoning to Democrats accused of sexual harrassment! I will give him a chance.

[bluestarone]

19. smart comment for him to make

We need bipartisanship. Especially in Alabama to keep this seat in 2020

[mvd]

23. The problem with that is..

the Repukes show no overtures of bipartisanship. It's a one way street. Also, they are nuts. It's hard to have bipartisanship with so much bad Republican policy.

[47of74]

34. I am DONE with bipartisanship

That got us nothing in the past and made us look like weak willed and spineless idiots, and it's part of the reason why we have that orange fuck squatting in the White House now. If we ever regain power I say fuck bipartisanship. We go in with pliers and blowtorches and do what needs to be done. If the Republicans want to come along fine but we should never again kowtow to them just so we can feel good and pat ourselves on the back about being bipartisan. And do it no matter how loud they and their shitstream media allies complain.

[Voltaire2]

35. yes lets see what we can work on together with the fascist theocratic corrupt bastards

maybe we could meet them half way on the road to one party rule? That would just be 3/4 party rule. Excellent! When they slash medicare by a hideous amount to pay for their fucked up tax bill, why we can get half of those cuts back!

[TeamPooka]

22. Just sending a message for re-election back to AL. It's okay folks. Don't panic.

[sarcasmo]

24. Sad.

[BannonsLiver]

25. Yes, I agree

It would have been sad if Moore had won.

[LanternWaste]

37. That people think this anything other than an applause line. Yes... sad indeed.

That people think this anything other than an applause line. Yes... sad indeed.

[DBoon]

27. given a choice between the authoritarian racist neo-fascist republicans

and a Democrat who doesn't always vote the way I wish

The Democrat always gets my support

[Doodley]

28. I have argued that it was right for Al Franken to resign, but Franken was forced to

stand down in part to help Democrats win Alabama. The least Doug Jones should do in return is to agree with those calling for an ethics investigation into the allegations against Trump.

[RelativelyJones]

29. Any DEM senatorial vote from AL is manna from heaven.

[Politicub]

30. Sigh

..

[underthematrix]

32. Let's get the Alabama election certified and Jones in the US Senate

The Republicans are a criminal enterprise so Jones should step gingerly as he seems to be doing.

I expect Democrats to gain control of both the House and Senate by mid-2018

[Voltaire2]

33. well at least he is nominally a democrat.

[apnu]

39. They all say this in the beginning.

Every politician, both Democrats and Republicans who are in the <whatever>-elect phase say things like "I will work across the aisle" and other non-committal noises.