Waiting for a visit from the Testicles Fairy

There’s a bipartisan Russia-sanctions bill sitting there in the Senate—with 81 co-sponsors—waiting for Sen. John Thune to let it advance. What is Thune waiting for? Trump. 

And what is Trump waiting for? Who knows? Christmas, maybe. Or maybe a visit from the Testicles Fairy. He is about to turn 80—his balls may get lower, but they aren’t going to get bigger without supernatural intervention.

Here is an idea: How about somebody trot on over to Thune’s office and remind him that he is a rather big cheese in the branch of the federal government that actually makes the goddamned laws, and he could, if he liked, go ahead and get that bill passed irrespective of whether the president’s delicate sensibilities are ready for it. With 81 co-sponsors, he could even override a presidential veto.

…

Thune’s branch is right there in Article I, not lurking down in the penumbras. There was a time when Congress—and Americans at large!—were operating under the quaint notion that Congress, the elected lawmakers and representatives, was there to, you know, govern the country, while the president was there to “faithfully execute the laws” instead of ignoring them (I believe this morning marks the 211th day of TikTok operating illegally in the United States because Trump refuses to enforce a law that inconveniences one of his financial benefactors) or illegally trying to supplant Congress’ role in making them.

Kevin D. Williamson, Tacos Kiev: ‘Trump Always Chickens Out,’ Alaska edition.