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President Trump's nomination of Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos to be secretary of education might be the most controversial of his Cabinet picks, and one that Democrats had hopes of blocking in the Senate. But sources in the Senate say that it doesn't look like the Democrats will be able to get enough votes to stop her.

DeVos is seen as a champion of school choice to supporters but as a radical who wants to privatize public education to critics, someone who once called America's public schools "a dead end." Even some school reformers who support education views that are similar to DeVos's have come out against her, questioning her stated desire to help traditional public schools improve.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions had a confirmation hearing for DeVos nearly two weeks ago, which only fueled the opposition to her because she displayed a lack of understanding of some key education issues, including what the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was (though she later sent a letter to a senator trying to clarify her position).

Senate offices have been swamped with calls, emails and letters; the National Education Association said more than a million emails opposing DeVos went to senators through a recent campaign. There are petitions and there have been protests, including Sunday on Capitol Hill. Hundreds of alumni and students from her alma mater, Calvin College, wrote a letter to legislators saying she is unqualified to be education secretary.

On Thursday night, Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., told Rachel Maddow on her MSNBC show that no Democrat will vote to confirm her, and that Democrats were courting Republican votes. As he noted, the Democrats believe they have 48 solid votes; they need 51 to win, a pickup of three Republicans.

But Democratic and Republican sources in the Senate, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of negotiations about the vote, say that DeVos is expected to win approval by the education committee when it votes on Tuesday, and that she will prevail on the floor of the Senate whenever that vote happens.

The sources said that Republican Senate leaders have worked to keep Republicans in the fold to confirm DeVos. There were some Democratic hopes that some Republicans would switch sides on this one confirmation vote.

For example, during the confirmation hearing, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said that DeVos' vision of expanding school choice - charter schools and voucher/voucher-like programs that use public funds to pay for private schools - doesn't work well in rural areas where there aren't other options besides traditional public schools to provide choices other than traditional public schools.

Murkowski hasn't said how she will vote, nor has Maine's senior senator, Susan Collins, who is often said to be more "moderate" than other Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Murkowski is one of five Republican senators on the committee to whom DeVos and family members have given donations; the other four are Sens. Richard Burr, Tim Scott, Bill Cassidy and Todd Young.

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Can Democrats stop Betsy DeVos confirmation? Sources say unlikely - Newsday

Jan. 29, 2017, 12:38 p.m.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. SchumerandDemocrats will introduce legislation as soon as Monday to stop President Trump's actions temporarilybanning refugees and arrivals from certain Muslim countries.

House Democrats are taking similar legislative action, and lawmakers from both chambers will rally Monday evening at the Supreme Court to protest Trump's orders.

"This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American," said Schumer, the New York Democrat, choking up as he stood with immigrants and refugees at a press conferenceSunday. "It must be reversed immediately."

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said House Democratsare exploring legal options, including an amicusbrief in support of the ACLU lawsuit againstthe actions.

The chances of passing a bill through the Republican-controlled Congress are slim, as most GOP leaders and lawmakers have not objected to Trump's ban.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Sunday that while he was personally opposed to a "religious test" on admissions, it was best left to the courts to resolve the issue.

"It's hopefully going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far," McConnell said on ABC's "This Week."

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) expressed his support Friday for Trump's action.

A handful of Republicans, though, are uneasy with Trump's orders, and have spoken against them.

Schumer noted that justfew moreRepublicans would be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold for advancing Senate legislation.

"Maybe we can pass something in Congress," Schumer said. "It's up to Republicans."

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Democrats in Congress drafting legislation to repeal Trump's refugee ban, pressuring GOP for support - Los Angeles Times

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Democrats have done a very good job atone thing since the 2016 presidential election: forgetting about the voters they lost.

Less than 100 days after Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons crushing defeat and Republican capture of the White House, Democrats are hammering the identity politics that lost them the presidency in the first place.

Voters that swung from left to right in staunchly blue states like Michigan and Wisconsin are receiving no reassurance from Democrats that they are seen, heard or cared about.

The Democratic Party rallied around and offered support for the hundreds of thousands of people that came to Washington, D.C. for the Womens March on Washington.

Illegal immigrants from the southern border and migrants from across the sea were embraced as the future of the country. They push the narrative of a civil rights battle that places the priority on non-Americans over Americans.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called President Donald Trumps executive order barring immigrants from certain Middle Eastern countries un-American, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described immigrant families as the promise of America.

These are all good and fine battles for the left, but which one of them addresses their millions of constituents who feel the new Democrats arent focused on them? On their issues?

Blue-collar workers werenegatively impacted by then-President Barack Obamas war on coal and his administrations oppressive regulatory burdensfor eight years. Over 10,000 coal miners lost their jobs just between April 2015 and April 2016. Regulations cost American businesses and taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. Companies cut back on staff to ease the strain, and those that lost their jobsfaced a government that was responsible for this,and offered them federal welfare grants as an apology.

The result of these burdens was a fatal Democratic gubernatorial, House, Senate and White House bleed. Republicans control the most state legislatures since the Civil War. Thirty-three of 50governorships are Republican. The right holds 240 seats in the House of Representatives and 52 in the Senate.

The hundreds of millions of dollars and $1.2 billion,in Clintons case the left spent on these races produced monstrous losses for the party.

Now, instead of reflecting on the partys core problems (like Republicans did after their wallop in 2008), Democrats are hunkering down and latching on to the policy anchors they keep mistaking forlife vests.

Democratic leaders did nothing to stem the violent attacks against Trump supporters in the days and weeks after the election, and now theyre focusing all of their energy on topics that blue-collar workers either dont care about or are negatively impacted by.

Working-class Democrats are staring through the window at a party they are no longer invited to.

The economy is not a sexy topic, and does not ignite the passions like social justice issues do, but its a vital one. It impacts the livelihood and well-being of American families. Those families need to know their party is looking out for them; when they dont hear that anymore, they will start to look for someone whos listening.

President Donald Trump is fulfilling his campaign promises. He killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership; ordered the building of a U.S.-Mexico border wall; stopped immigration from certain countries in the Middle East and Africa; began dismantling the Affordable Care Act; reinstated the ban on American tax dollars paying for abortions overseas,and convinced companies to keep jobs in the U.S.

The left held protests that congested airports and clogged city streets.

Even if you dont agree with him, at least Trump is keeping his promises and paying attention to the Middle America Democrats so quickly forgot.

Democrats stopped putting regular Americans first. Its not surprising that Americans stopped putting the Democratic Party first.

The longer they choose to ignore the oldest part of their base, the higher the likelihood those voters wont be there when Democrats realize their mistake.

Follow Katie onTwitterandFacebook

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Democrats Have Already Forgotten The People That Cost Them The Election - Daily Caller

House Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers was one of the lawmakers who signed the letter. | Getty

Top Democrats on committees with judiciary, homeland security and foreign affairs oversight are demanding an emergency meeting with DHS Secretary John Kelly to discuss President Donald Trumps controversial executive action on refugees.

As ranking members of the committees of jurisdiction for matters of immigration, border security, and admission of refugees, we write to you on an emergency basis to request a meeting to discuss the implementation and guidance concerning the Executive Order, the lawmakers wrote in a letter sent to Kelly on Sunday night, exclusively obtained by POLITICO.

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House Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Homeland Security ranking member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), top Democrat on Judiciarys immigration panel, all signed on to the letter.

Only two days after the Order was signed, it is clear that it has already led to panic and disorder, not to mention protests, they wrote. Lofgren is planning to introduce legislation to roll back the executive action although its unlikely to go anywhere given House Speaker Paul Ryans endorsement of Trumps plan.

The lawmakers are demanding a meeting with Kelly this Wednesday or sooner, saying the circus of legal issues surrounding detained refugees, visa holders and green-card holders make it necessary.

Separately, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) made a personal call to Kelly on Saturday, urging the administration to rescind the order. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her staff have also reached out to Kelly.

Democrats have blasted Trumps executive action banning refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslims countries since it was signed Friday afternoon. Several Democrats joined with tens of thousands of demonstrators to protest the controversial proposal over the weekend, while other lawmakers camped out at international airports in the U.S., trying to help incoming travelers who were unable to enter the country.

The lawmakers also criticized DHS for reports that customs officials werent complying with court orders granting detainees access to legal counsel.

Given the widespread chaos and confusion caused by the order and the issuance of stays last evening concerning the Order by federal courts in New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts, they wrote, it is vital that we meet as soon as possible so that we may provide needed guidance and information to our committees and our constituents.

DHS issued a statement Sunday evening, before the Democrats letter, saying customs agents were taking steps to comply with judicial orders issued over the weekend blocking aspects of Trumps plan and giving lawyers access to detainees.

We are committed to ensuring that all individuals affected by the executive orders, including those affected by the court orders, are being provided all rights afforded under the law, DHS wrote in an unsigned statement.

We are also working closely with airline partners to prevent travelers who would not be granted entry under the executive orders from boarding international flights to the U.S. Therefore, we do not anticipate that further individuals traveling by air to the United States will be affected.

Separately, Kelly issued a statement Sunday night clarifying that green card holders were exempt from Trumps executive action.

House and Senate Democrats plan to protest Trumps executive action during a rally on the Supreme Court steps Monday evening, in between a series of House and Senate votes. Local immigrants and refugees will join Democrats at the rally, which is expected to end with a candlelight vigil.

We look forward to meeting with you in short order so that we can have an open and candid discussion about how the Trump administration arrived at this chaotic place, what you understand the meaning of the Executive Order to be, and what guidance you have offered to your employees and other stakeholders, the Democrats wrote to Kelly.

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House Democrats demand meeting with DHS chief over Trump ban - Politico

By Susan Stamper Brown | January 29, 2017 | 5:30 p.m.

King Solomon once wrote in Proverbs 19:13 that the most annoying sound on the planet was a nagging wife, but obviously, hed never heard what leftists sound like after they lose elections.

Trump Derangement Syndrome will be around for years to come folks, so it might be wise to invest in a good set of earbuds to drown out the whining. Oh, and maybe consider carrying a fire extinguisher in case another anti-Trumper decides to light himself on fire, like the guy in front of Trump Tower who said he did it as an act of protest.

Congressional Democrats showed who they really are by boycotting President Donald Trumps inauguration while fellow Democrat anarchists chucked bricks, shattered glass, ignited fires and destroyed personal property.

Funny thing is, more than 90 percent of D.C. went for Hillary Clinton, so the destruction spree only served to injure their own.

The following day, anti-Trump womens marches also turned a little nasty. They began with what sounded like a menopausal outburst by Madonna who welcomed protesters to the revolution of love and then shot off a series of F-Bombs on live TV.

Madonna also admitted, Yes, Im angry. Yes, Im outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, but I know it wont change anything.

Lovely.

Actress Ashley Judd partnered in the vulgarities which arent fit to post here, but one thing is for sure: Madonnas and Judds clown show inspired lots of people to join the Democratic Party, said no normal person, ever.

I will admit, because of Trumps colorful past, he brought some of this on himself, but thats no excuse for this level of stupidity.

Clinton defended a man charged with raping a 12-year-old-girl. She forced the exclusion of damning evidence that allowed the man to serve only one year for raping and injuring Kathy Shelton, who was made infertile as a result.

I dont think (shes) for women or girls, Shelton said of Clinton in an interview with The Daily Mail.

I think shes lying. I think she said anything she can to get in the campaign and win.

Clinton also publicly smeared multiple women while defending her own man, President Bill Clinton.

Commentators on MSNBC bragged about the crowd size of the womens marches but, as a fellow female, I couldnt help noticing the size of some of the marchers. There is a big difference between crowd numbers and crowd size.

From the TV clips I watched, theres not a lot of cutting back on salt intake and Big Gulps in New York City. Sure, TV cameras always add a few pounds, but not that many.

Some of the footage of the women on bridges was concerning. I recall Rep. Hank Johnson, D-G., lamenting in 2010 the whole island of Guam might tip over due to overpopulation. Someone might want to check the structural integrity of the bridges used during the marches.

I will compliment them for marching. At this point, any cardio will help, but they should also lay off the chocolate bars, like I do when my size 2s get tight. In fact, they should consider marching every day rather than just when Democrats lose elections.

MSNBC said protesters clogged the subways and bus systems. They couldve burned a few extra calories hoofing it to the protest areas. Much of the time the women were immobile, which looked more like a cow auction at the Fort Worth Stockyards than a protest march.

MSNBC said the goal of the marches and speeches was to inspire women to get off the couch and run for office. Just getting off the couch would be a good start. Grazing slowly on smaller portions also helps.

During the marches, MSNBC commentators suggested the outlandish displays were a hint of things to come as the Democratic Party pushes farther left. Obviously, they are clueless these antics are a YUGE! reason why voters handed Trump the presidency.

Susan Stamper Brown writes about culture, politics and current events from her home in Alaska, and is syndicated by Cagle Cartoons. Contact her through Facebook or at [emailprotected]. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are her own.

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Susan Stamper Brown: Democrats' Post-Election Temper-Tantrums Continue - Noozhawk