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Polybius

(21,891 posts)
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 07:54 PM Mar 19

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
39 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 Mar 19 OP
Shut up John. Or is that your stroke talking again? paleotn Mar 19 #1
Probably the stroke jfz9580m Mar 19 #21
Paul voted against him because of a personal slight. travelingthrulife Mar 20 #31
Totally agree jfz9580m Mar 20 #33
Probably part of his no vote... paleotn Mar 20 #37
I really had once upon a time thought he was a tad smarter than that. MLWR Mar 19 #2
Of course he did.😡 BlueKota Mar 19 #3
Oh, for fucking fucks sake Fetterman! AZJonnie Mar 19 #4
There is no rule against criticizing a Democratic elected. pat_k Mar 19 #16
Thanks for the clarification :) AZJonnie Mar 20 #36
John Manchin Fetterman strikes again mdbl Mar 19 #5
Wow, what a huge slap in the face to his voters. mountain grammy Mar 19 #6
WHAT Trump 2nd term cabinet nominee WAS qualified for his job???? Jack Valentino Mar 19 #14
But it's Fetterman's friend and we need a DHS director after all. travelingthrulife Mar 20 #32
Senator Fetterman angrychair Mar 19 #7
These posts crack me up FoxNewsSucks Mar 19 #10
100% Fox News has dirt on him. Initech Mar 19 #20
What kind of dirt? flamingdem Mar 20 #23
Whatever it is must be pretty incriminating. Initech Mar 20 #38
I guess the fact he is totally unqualified doesn't matter. Fetterman should resign. He's incompetent. Vinca Mar 19 #8
He should get out of the way so Shapiro can appoint someone who FoxNewsSucks Mar 19 #11
fetterman family values? cruel, violent, bully? nt msongs Mar 19 #9
Mullin is a "friend" Miguelito Loveless Mar 19 #12
I wonder whether Fetterman saw the ad from Mullin's plumber days not fooled Mar 20 #24
Fuck Fetterman. Total fake liberal loser. Martin68 Mar 19 #13
Out of the frying pan into the fire. pat_k Mar 19 #15
hmmmmm, what are the medical odds on a second stroke? niyad Mar 19 #17
Because the anagram for Markwayne is Yam Wanker. usonian Mar 19 #18
This is the final straw. Fuck that guy. Initech Mar 19 #19
His "aye's" on his wallet n/t Cheezoholic Mar 19 #22
Apparently drag queens are having a field day not fooled Mar 20 #25
Floppy Florsheims with saggy sweatpants is a great look for Fetterman Blue Owl Mar 20 #26
What John and his wife did in Braddock, PA and in his pre-stroke time in the legislature were awesome... Botany Mar 20 #27
No, he isn't Polybius Mar 20 #29
He is dead to me. bamagal62 Mar 20 #28
Senator Van Hollen has put forward a plan to increase taxes on the wealthy. everyonematters Mar 20 #30
Trump must have something on Fetterman. yardwork Mar 20 #34
Did he say, "Because I'm a DINO" republianmushroom Mar 20 #35
CNN data expert astounded by stunning collapse of Democrat: 'No doubt' he'll be primaried LetMyPeopleVote Mar 22 #39

jfz9580m

(17,182 posts)
21. Probably the stroke
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 11:06 PM
Mar 19

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

(5,176 posts)
31. Paul voted against him because of a personal slight.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 09:57 AM
Mar 20

Fetterman voted for him because he is his friend.

What the hell kind of Senate decisions are these?

jfz9580m

(17,182 posts)
33. Totally agree
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 10:47 AM
Mar 20

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?

paleotn

(22,204 posts)
37. Probably part of his no vote...
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:34 PM
Mar 20

but then again Paul doesn't seem to be too in synch with the totalitarian bent Pukes have taken under Shitler's reign. He does at least try to stick with his libertarian roots on occasion. Ironically, some of those are the rare times his and our interests coincide. In this case, he's not terribly thrilled with DHS becoming a quasi national Gestapo. Particularly if it's run by a guy he detests. Neither are we on both counts.

AZJonnie

(3,695 posts)
4. Oh, for fucking fucks sake Fetterman!
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:21 PM
Mar 19

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

(13,333 posts)
16. There is no rule against criticizing a Democratic elected.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:17 PM
Mar 19

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


AZJonnie

(3,695 posts)
36. Thanks for the clarification :)
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:31 PM
Mar 20

I try to err on the side of caution when it comes to the ToS, so I didn't rip him as hard as I wanted to

mountain grammy

(29,021 posts)
6. Wow, what a huge slap in the face to his voters.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:33 PM
Mar 19

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

Jack Valentino

(4,996 posts)
14. WHAT Trump 2nd term cabinet nominee WAS qualified for his job????
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:01 PM
Mar 19

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

(5,176 posts)
32. But it's Fetterman's friend and we need a DHS director after all.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 09:59 AM
Mar 20

I don't think we need DHS at all.

angrychair

(12,267 posts)
7. Senator Fetterman
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:57 PM
Mar 19

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

(11,689 posts)
10. These posts crack me up
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:42 PM
Mar 19

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

Initech

(108,728 posts)
20. 100% Fox News has dirt on him.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:40 PM
Mar 19

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

(53,970 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
Mar 19

FoxNewsSucks

(11,689 posts)
11. He should get out of the way so Shapiro can appoint someone who
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:43 PM
Mar 19

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

not fooled

(6,675 posts)
24. I wonder whether Fetterman saw the ad from Mullin's plumber days
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:13 AM
Mar 20

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

(25,226 posts)
18. Because the anagram for Markwayne is Yam Wanker.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:24 PM
Mar 19

Fetterman's brain is a bit scrabbled.

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

not fooled

(6,675 posts)
25. Apparently drag queens are having a field day
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:14 AM
Mar 20

with the "Markwayne" persona.

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

Blue Owl

(59,067 posts)
26. Floppy Florsheims with saggy sweatpants is a great look for Fetterman
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 12:23 AM
Mar 20

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

Botany

(77,309 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
Mar 20

…. 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

(4,142 posts)
30. Senator Van Hollen has put forward a plan to increase taxes on the wealthy.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 08:20 AM
Mar 20

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

yardwork

(69,352 posts)
34. Trump must have something on Fetterman.
Fri Mar 20, 2026, 11:28 AM
Mar 20

This is a Lindsey Graham level of groveling. I don't believe it can all be explained by a stroke or by Fetterman being some kind of maverick. This is a descent into absurdity that is most likely due to Fetterman being threatened by Trump.

Edited to add that for me the tell is that Fetterman is now using MAGAT talking points. He didn't do that before. I think he's being handed a script and told to say this or else.

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,716 posts)
39. CNN data expert astounded by stunning collapse of Democrat: 'No doubt' he'll be primaried
Sun Mar 22, 2026, 04:12 PM
Mar 22

Fetterman will probably not run in 2028. If he does, Fetterman will be primaried

CNN's Harry Enten zeroed in on a Democratic senator who will "no doubt" face a primary challenge, and history suggests he will likely lose.

Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-03-20T18:00:13Z

https://www.rawstory.com/stringr/john-fetterman-democrat

CNN's Harry Enten zeroed in on a Democratic senator who will "no doubt" face a primary challenge, and history suggests he will likely lose.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has seen a stunning reversal in his support from his own party's voters since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2023, and Enten told "CNN News Central" that he has never seen an elected official lose backing so dramatically.

"I would just say that John Fetterman is doing as well with Pennsylvania Democrats as the New York Giants are as liked in the state of Pennsylvania, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania," Enten said. "I mean, just look at this: Among Pennsylvania Democrats and that approval of Fetterman, back in 2023, he was a Democrat, liberal darling. He was at plus-68 points. Look at how low he has fallen, down to minus-40 points. He's down there with the Titanic among Democrats in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and, you know, put a comparison point on it."

"You know, we always talk about how [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer is not well liked by the Democratic base nationwide," Enten added. "Chuck Schumer has a net popularity rating of about minus-two points. He is 38 points more popular than John Fetterman is with Pennsylvania Democrats, and I was also looking at Kyrsten Sinema, who, of course, ended up leaving the Democratic Party in Arizona. She was considerably more popular just before she shifted over than John Fetterman is, at minus-40 points."

Anchor John Berman marveled at Fetterman's drop. "This is 108-point swing," he said, and asked Enten what bearing that might have on his fortunes when he faces re-election in two years.


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