 Blog PostsFriends       | "The Banana States of America?!"But what this means in practical terms is the GOP majority has used parliamentary maneuvers to block votes on amendments to legislation that would likely pass with broad bipartisan support — on outsourcing jobs, immigration, gun safety, disaster relief, Social Security, Medicare, the environment, prescription drug costs, Pell Grants, national security, criminal-justice reform, veterans’ benefits, drinking water, child nutrition and maternal health.Rex Tillerson, the former secretary of state fired by President Trump, now warns that “American citizens are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom.” (Too bad he didn’t say so when he was on the job.) The latest school shooting, this one in Texas, claims 10 lives. Incoming National Rifle Association president Oliver North blames Ritalin. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) blames abortion. Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee observe May 17, the 64th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision banning segregated schools, by debating the judicial nomination of Wendy Vitter, who refused to say whether Brown was properly decided.  Newly appointed presidential lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, who previously disclosed that the president paid hush money to silence a porn actress alleging an affair with him, calls her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, a “pimp.” Avenatti tweets a video of Giuliani in drag. And it’s not as if the Republican majority has been able to come up with an agenda of its own: Of the 172 bills signed into law so far, 142 are noncontroversial “suspension” bills such as post-office namings. Democracy is indeed under threat – from a tyranny of buffoonery. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbank’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-banana-states-of-america/2018/05/21/6ebee614-5d36-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.83269c7d4106  
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