Whoa! Jon Tester Told Off Rick Scott On The Senate Floor

[babylonsister]

https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/whoa-jon-tester-told-rick-scott-senate


Whoa! Jon Tester Told Off Rick Scott On The Senate Floor
Rick Scott appeared at his job for a couple minutes to block a Veteran's Administration DEPUTY appointment. Jon Tester had words for him. Ahem.
By Joan McCarter — May 27, 2022
Video @ link~


Tensions are understandably high in the Senate right now, with Democrats just about on their last nerve with, well, everything.

So when Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) came to the floor Wednesday afternoon to ask for unanimous consent to approve Dr. Shereef Elnahal to serve as the Veterans Affairs deputy secretary for health and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected, Tester blew, telling Scott: “You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror."

Tester pointed out in his speech that Elnahal had impeccable credentials, currently serving as chief executive officer of University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. That Elnahal had had his hearing in Tester’s Committee on Veterans' Affairs and been approved unanimously. What’s more, Tester said, the need to have the position filled is urgent. “It is no secret that Veterans Heath Administration and health care providers at the VA are going through a challenging time. The VA is continuing to battle the impact of COVID-19 pandemic with veterans cases, hospitalizations, and death on the rise again, and VA staff are dealing with burnout and increasing turnover in our VA system.” The job hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed person in it since January 2017.

So up pops the asshole from Florida to object to the nomination. Not for any real reason—he’s not even on the relevant committee. Just to object. Tester pressed him for a reason, which Scott would not provide, other than mumbling something about not expediting the process and President Joe Biden’s lack of ability to “appoint qualified individuals to serve in important roles.”

Then Scott turned to leave. That’s what really set Tester off.

“I would really appreciate it, Madam Chair, if the senator from Florida would at least stay here rather than walk out the door, turning his back on the American veterans, the people who have served this country, the people who have fought,” Tester said.

“I hope, Madam Chair, that the senator of Florida doesn’t walk in to Memorial Day services and talk about what a great friend he is of our veterans. Cause he is not. All that I’m asking for is to give the VA the tools they need to be able to provide our veterans with the health care that they have earned.”

“This is obstruction at the worst,” he continued, “because this obstruction stops our veterans from getting the health care that they need. You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror.”

As if Rick Scott could be shamed. It at least had to be satisfying for Tester to really tell him off from the floor. It is certainly satisfying to watch.

I recommend every Democrat try that with every Republican when they get a chance. More of this, please.

Republished with permission from Daily Kos.

[sheshe2]

1. Thank you Senator Tester.

[murielm99]

38. If you have not read Tester's book, please do.

It is called "Grounded."

[pandr32]

57. I just ordered it.

[sheshe2]

63. I will!

Thank you, murielm.

[dchill]

2. K&R.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. K & R

[gademocrat7]

4. K&R!

[3auld6phart]

5. Good for him

Putting that gutless skull from Florida in his
place . Another slimy repuke on the take.

[towerbum]

10. good for him ! Rick Scott got a lot of our Medicare's money !

Why is this pos from Floriduh still on the street's , let alone in the damn Senate? FLORIDA need's to get their shit together!

[SharonAnn]

16. And his company was fined MORE THAN ONE BILLION DOLLARS for Medicare fraud

[Captain Zero]

39. I worked for a company that dealt in Medicare Services

And it was always drilled into our heads that if we intentionally defrauded Medicare or Medicaid that WE PERSONALLY could be denied Medicare ! This guy was head of that company and he knowingly defrauded the medicare system. So why was he not jailed and denied Medicare?

[Phoenix61]

6. I'm as hard core liberal as they get.

But how hard is it to rip an asshole who desperately deserves it a new one? Hell, personally, I rather enjoy it. Liberal should mean badass to the bone not spineless. You can’t say you are a defender for the rights of the oppressed and act like a woose. Why do you think all those super hero movies are raking in the bucks? People want/need to feel someone’s got their back. It’s not just the message, it’s the delivery. People want a badass in charge. Dems have got to learn to act the part.
I was a 25 yo, 120 lb female slinging beer in a biker bar. They weren’t allowed to swear when I was behind the bar and they didn’t. I only had to pull one beer one time. See, almost all bar fights start with swearing. No swearing, no fights… no fights, no cops… and everybody has a good time.

[onecaliberal]

7. K&R

[gab13by13]

8. Bottom line, Scott won.

[wnylib]

12. ?

[aggiesal]

21. He blocked the VA Deputy appointment ...

sucks, but as long as the position goes unfilled
Scott wins.

[wnylib]

23. For the moment. Calling out him

and others like him, especially with the current mood of the country toward these bullshitters, will win in the end.

I don't accept defeatism. Keep on fighting.

[aggiesal]

24. Agree n/t

[crickets]

36. +1000000

[drray23]

35. he delayed it. what he did was stop the unanimous vote

so now they have to go through a longer process on the floor on the senate to get him nominated. Its several days' worth. Since they are leaving for two weeks, Scott delayed it by about 3 weeks.
Rand paul pulled the same crap for the Ukraine aid bill. This delayed it by 3 days since senate was in session.

[Captain Zero]

40. Interesting 2 week break right before NRA CONVENTION.

Guess they have to go pick up their bribes and take some time to bank them. This is just some thumb in nose before they do that.

[Lochloosa]

17. WTF

[lastlib]

9. Thank you, Senator Tester!!

And F-U, Rick Scott, who only THINKS he's a Senator. F*ck him with a pitchfork. Old, rusty, manure-encrusted, tetanus-infected pitchfork. With bent tines. Sideways.

[orleans]

11. found this on twitter

&t=5s

[mountain grammy]

34. Wow. Thanks for posting

And thanks to Senator Tester

[czarjak]

42. Scott scoffs. Believe me.

[erronis]

47. Excellent speech by Tester. Thanks.

[sop]

13. Skeletor Scott can now return to Florida and tell his more reactionary constituents he stopped

Biden from appointing a Muslim to head up an agency responsible for patriotic veterans' health care. He'll pick up a ton of votes for his courageous defense of real Americans.

[NoMoreRepugs]

31. This.

[Midnight Writer]

14. Glad to see someone speak up.

We need to make enough of a fuss that we are in the news cycles.

[Cheezoholic]

15. I know there's progresives that don't like Sen. Tester very much

But I'm telling you as someone who lives in a poor rural area, if I ask someone at the breakfast counter at my local diner that at least knows about Sen Tester they buy what he's selling. His message locally, hits some Republican biased nerves around here for the good. Democrats seriously need to find Tester clones throughout the rural center of the country and push them hard. These people are out there but they're not going to go for status quo Dems especially in the house and in local elections. Im telling you I live here in the middle of it. The RW nutjob minority rule. There are people afraid to even mention politics in general because well, it's small towns man. The Dems are underestimating the rural vote available to them if they would just start grassrooting local willing candidates that yes, might be more centrist in our party but they're in our party. Not Manchin shit so don't start. These are the areas the repukes attacked viciously for years. They were once purple if not blue. We need to take them back.

[Lochloosa]

19. This.

[Baked Potato]

20. Agreed.

[oldsoftie]

46. The "all or nothing" crowd will disagree with you. But you're correct.

Most voters are middle of the road. What pushes them one way or another is something they consider "a bridge too far". It could be a total ban on abortion to push them left. Or it could be a total ban on all guns to push them right. Both extreme positions. And both will move some voters. Thats how trump lost; he couldn't keep all his '16 voters. I personally know 6 people who voted for trump who either voted Biden, libertarian or just skipped that vote. All of those choices were against trump. Those people are our there, as you point out.

[Bettie]

53. He votes with the party and respects the platform

he also doesn't spend all his time grandstanding like two others do.

He represents a red state, but he acts like a Democrat and is willing to work with the party rather than being a professional goal-post mover in service to obstruction.

[bahboo]

62. Great info... maybe make this an OP...

folks need to see this.

[andym]

18. Too bad such behavior by senators does not reach public consciousness

There must be some way for more people to know what's going on to make the US government work or nor work as the case may be. Senator Scott is probably just today's GOP-designated senator to throw a monkey wrench into the Biden administration.

[Joinfortmill]

22. 👍

[First Speaker]

25. If Scott looked in the mirror--any mirror--it would explode...

...no conceivable mirror could endure *his* visage for more than a second. Yeah, I know--we're not supposed to comment on people's appearance. Tough. When a thoroughly evil man *looks* like a monster from a horror movie, how can you not mention it...?

[dchill]

27. My belief is that there would be no reflection.

[First Speaker]

32. LOL!

[dchill]

33. Look at it this way:

You'll never see it happen.

[3catwoman3]

37. You beat me to it.

He does have a very wraith-like appearance.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. Bravo Senator Tester,!

[MontanaMama]

28. I love our MT Senator Tester.

He walks a fine line up here and does a good job of it.

[CloudWatcher]

29. Senate Rules

And what kind of insane organization allows delays like this by one individual representative?

The Senate is ridiculous and undemocratic by design, but their rules make it obscene.

[aurora the great]

30. Amen to that

Hats off to you Senator Tester. It is now time for all of our Democratic elected official to do the same. Every day is a new opportunity to drop kick these Republicans through the goal post of life. I am paraphrasing here. We need to speak as one voice bringing this to the attention of every one at every opportunity and do it again. lather, rinse, repeat.I am too full of lousy song lyrics and idioms to carry on. But you get the picture, I know you do. Now is the time for the Democratic Party to do the same.
Good night to you all.

[mrsadm]

41. More of this, please!!!

[Vinca]

43. Now that's what Democrats need to do!

[2naSalit]

44. That's my ONE Senator worthy of his title.

The other is in the top ten recipients of NRA $$ and a 45er extraordinaire.

Good on Tester, it takes a lot for him to get angry so that was the last straw for him. He's been fighting for vets his entire political career.

Scott should have to suffer some consequences for his treachery.

[niyad]

45. KNR

[DFW]

48. What a great, honest, wonderful thing to do.

Tester deserves a LOT of credit for this.

Jon Tester was also one of the first Democratic Senators to apologize to Al Franken for unjustly urging him to resign. He does Montana proud.

[cilla4progress]

49. Too bad the psychopaths

Don't give a shit.

[babylonsister]

51. Screw the psychopaths. If more Dems

called them out like Tester did, they'd hopefully have to give a shit.

[Wounded Bear]

50. We need more of this...repubs have got away with so much bullshit over the years...nt

[Hotler]

52. Selfishness is a cornerstone of the fascist (repug) party and Scott is a pro at it.

I bet he tips only $1.00 when goes out to eat.

[Snackshack]

54. Hmmmm

“with Democrats just about on their last nerve with, well, everything.”

It’s the Dems own fault. They are the majority party but they do not conduct themselves as such.

[fightforfreedom]

55. This is what all the Democrats should do, Good job tester.

[RocRizzo55]

56. Thanks Senator Tester.

Senator Skeletor can go pound sand. Comes in to object to an appointment with no logical reason.
Thanks Senator Tester, for reaming Skeletor a new one. He deserves it.

[vlyons]

58. They cannot stand to see Biden or and Dem have success ever

It is some combination of envy, resentment, and hatred, because Joe Biden defeated Trump, and they lost power. For them, Dems, especially Biden, can never be seen to have accomplished anything good and beneficial, because they so pale in comparison -- and they know it.

Their only purpose is to serve the corporate interests. So F##k us.

[Hoosier_Progressiv]

59. Shame?

Asking a republican to be ashamed, when they have no conscience, is like asking a bird to regret it ate a bug or worm. The birds have no moral compass; it is instinct to eat. What is a republican's excuse?

[bucolic_frolic]

60. Republicans will be caught off guard by the pushback and resort to talking points

[Trust_Reality]

61. Too many Republican politicians are greed, self-serving bastards.

I assume their coach is Moscow Mitch McConnell.

[underpants]

64. JHMFC

Oh no text.