Follow-Up on Yesterday's Senate Article

Yesterday I wrote that the swearing-in ceremony for those elected to the United States Senate would take place starting at noon today and that it would be televised on C-Span2...that was all correct.  However, the installment of these 34 senators on the Senate floor, presided by Vice-President Joe Biden in his Constitutionally-mandated role as Senate President, went in groups of four, each senator accompanied by his or her "other" own state's senator and/or others in the Senate, presently serving or retired.  I had recalled seeing sworn-in senators in the past, accompanied by family and close friends, being photographed in a different ceremony...maybe this will also be shown later on one of the C-Span channels, but today immediately following the swearing-in, the Senate began in earnest, starting with speeches by returning Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY) and incoming Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D, NY).  After they finished, it was "morning business" with the two parties alternating between speakers like John Cornyn (R, TX), Dick Durbin (D, IL), and Jerry Moran (R, KS).  Eventually I had to turn off the TV and get ready for work...

Speaking of television and politics, last night I watched some of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow show.  Her main feature story was about the many conflicts of interest that President-Elect Donald Trump has, exemplified by his close business relationship with Indonesia's Speaker of Parliament...who in 2015 was tried on charges that he demanded four billion dollars from a U.S.-based copper mining company in order to secure their mining projects in that nation.  The chief stockholder in the company is now Trump's close advisor on many of his appointments.  And that Indonesian politician, acquitted on a technicality, is now back as their parliament's speaker...and oh, by the way, has assured Trump that the construction in Indonesia of his new golf course and resort is going ahead full steam...

That's what Rachel Maddow was headlining yesterday, from the viewpoint of the political left.  On the political right, I haven't heard from radio talk show host Mark Levin lately as he has been on vacation.  He should be back on the air tonight, though, and it will be interesting to hear his take on things...