'They're afraid': Ex-senator flags curious GOP decision that gives the whole game away

Senate Republicans are abdicating their basic oversight powers over President Donald Trump's war in Iran, former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) fumed Monday on MS NOW's "Deadline: White House."

The segment was part of a broader discussion about how even multiple GOP senators, including Rand Paul (R-KY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), have sounded the alarm about the administration's war plans in a new Washington Post article.

"I mean, Claire, they gave away all their power and now they're wondering where their power went," exclaimed anchor Alicia Menendez. "This is the moment. If they will not do it for boots on the ground, if they will not do it in the face of a $50 billion dollar supplemental that flies in the face of the president's campaign, president's own campaign promises, then when will they do it?"

"Well, here's the thing, everybody needs to remember, first and foremost: Democrats don't have enough votes in the U.S. Senate or in the House of Representatives to do what needs to be done. So let's underline that elections matter," McCaskill continued.

"Oh yeah, I'm talking Rand Paul and Murkowski. I agree with you," cut in Menendez.

"So now we're talking about the Republicans," said McCaskill. "Just focus on this for a second. Roger Wicker is chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the United States Senate. He has failed to call a hearing on a war that we are in. Not one hearing. Not one public hearing. What are they afraid of? What is it that's going to be said at a hearing when the TV cameras are on and the American public is listening? What is going to be said that they don't want America to hear?"

"I have never seen anything like this," she continued. "I mean, all through history the Armed Services Committees of the two houses of Congress would always have hearings on any kind of conflict, much less one where they're being asked to fund it to the tune of $200 billion dollars ... it is crazy and it shows the cowardice that has seeped into the bloodstream of Republicans that are elected to Congress under Donald Trump."

"And I think the voters in November — I mean, Lindsey Graham's up for election in November," McCaskill added. "Pay attention, folks, this is crazy. And the only way to really fix it is at the ballot box."

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