Budget deal reveals fear and loathing among GOP
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was able to visit Washington in triumph on Wednesday because Senate Republican leaders decided they could not trust their party's new majority in the House to deliver a budget - without delays and drama - that included the help Ukraine needs.
The agreement between top Senate Republicans and House and Senate Democrats on a $1.7 trillion deal to fund the federal government through September reflects the politics of fear - fear that the narrow GOP majority in the House might be unfit to govern and is prepared to engage in reckless brinkmanship in future budget battles.
Republican senators came close to saying as much. "My concern is that a new House, very small majority, new leadership, is going to have to take over, and to have to start from behind?" said Sen.Kevin Cramer (N.D.). "That concerns me. That could have negative consequences."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) underscored the urgency of aid to Ukraine in a speech on the Senate floor in the hours before Zelensky's arrival. The case McConnell made hinted at the divisions in his party between passionate supporters of Ukraine and those influenced by Trumpist America First nationalism.
"The reason that a big bipartisan majority of the American people and a big bipartisan majority in Congress support continuing to assist Ukraine is not primarily about inspiring speeches or a desire to engage in philanthropy," McConnell said. While "the Ukrainian people are courageous and innocent," he added, the "most basic reasons for continuing to help Ukraine degrade and defeat the Russian invaders are cold, hard, practical American interests."
Those final words made clear that, for many Republicans, particularly in the House, the moral argument for supporting a democratic nation against a despotic invader is not a sufficient rationale for U.S. action.
In urging the Senate to "send President Zelensky back to Ukraine" with the assistance his country requires, Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) brought the Republican split to the surface: "I hope that Donald Trump's friendship with [Vladimir] Putin is not motivating House Republicans to turn a blind eye to Ukraine's suffering and desperate need for help."
In fact, by reaching a budget agreement, Senate Republicans might have saved House GOP leader and speaker-hopeful Kevin McCarthy deadly headaches. One Senate Democratic aide said McCarthy was saying a loud "no" publicly while privately welcoming how the deal would allow the new House to get organized and not face a budget showdown in its first months.
McCarthy is still scrambling for right-wing votes to secure the majority he needs to become speaker. So to bring conservative hard-liners to his side, he has been over-the-top in condemning his Senate colleagues.
McCarthy pledged on Twitter on Tuesday that if the Senate approved the new budget, even Republican-authored Senate bills "would be dead on arrival" in the House next year. While expressing support for McCarthy's leadership bid, Cramer shot back in an interview with the Washington Examiner. McCarthy, he said, "can do that if he wants, but it doesn't get him anywhere. I mean, I think it even sounds naive."
Democrats were as eager as Republicans to reach a compromise, create at least some stability in government finances and avert the economic wreckage a budget confrontation could leave in its wake. So while Democrats could brag about domestic spending in the deal for veterans, Pell Grant increases for low-income college students, child care, substance abuse and food assistance, their concessions were substantial, involving what Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called "painful cuts."
Among the Republicans victories: big increases in defense spending and the bill's failure to provide additional money the Biden administration says it needs to combat covid-19. Shamefully, the agreement failed to restore even a pared-down expansion of the poverty-fighting child tax credit.
Still, the negotiations reflect what governing looks like when competing political parties decide that compromise in the name of economic stability and foreign policy responsibility is no vice.
What's alarming is how afraid responsible Republicans are of what 2023 and 2024 will look like with the House in the hands of an erratic majority easily pressured by its right wing and under leadership in a very weak position to resist forces not interested in governing.
Zelensky's visit is a reminder that democracy is worth fighting for and that bravery in the face of what seemed to be insuperable odds can achieve what was once regarded as impossible. It would be a national dereliction of duty if factions within the Republican Party were allowed to endanger all that the Ukrainian people have achieved.
And it will require a quieter, no less important form of bravery to keep our own democracy functioning in the face of extremists willing to risk calamity if that is what it takes for them to win.
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Over half of GOP House members did not attend Zelinsky's speech to Congress last night, and of those that did attend , many stayed seated during the standing ovations for Zelinsky.
The voting has made clear that Democrats don't care about defending this country against foreign invaders.
Biden is well on his way to destroying El Paso. How many more American cities can he ruin in the next two years?
You proud of that ?
We should be supporting ukraine, though there needs to be some accountability instead of blank checks.
Are you proud your party cares more about Ukrainian borders than America’s?
Fuck Ukraine.
Please tell us all what Ukraine provides that we cannot provide for ourselves?
Tell us all how much of a threat the Russians and Putin are when they can't defeat a corrupt third world shithole like Ukraine. The only reason we aren't rolling towards Moscow right now is Russia has nuclear weapons. If Russia has the temerity to attack any NATO country please tell us their chances of not having their asses handed to them.
Let us know how much of what we have given Ukraine will be paid back- with interest, since this give away is exploding the country's debt and inflation.
But at least we know Brandon the Human Fuck Up Machine and Establishment Democrat and Republicans are Zelinskyy's bitch. Zelinskky is already demanding more Patriot missiles- when his troops are still training on the system. Brandon, is already promising the US will support Ukraine in rebuilding. More tax payer money down the never ending pit that is the Ukrainian corrupt cesspool government.
Profiting from this US largesse is the US military industrial contract- which is pissed they can't even keep up with the outrageous demands; and shells for the automated cannons are being built in South Korea. Since everything the US contractors are building is heading straight to Ukraine. The other profiteers will be the politicians, their family members, and friends- as Ukrainian oligarchs hand out campaign contributions and cushy jobs to the unqualified select few to get access to politicians.
Funny how Democrats don't give a fuck about US border security; but are willing to mortgage out country into oblivion for Ukraine.
You proud of that?
Ukraine isn't all about rubles to Americans!
Heil Putin !
Actually, it appears that yes many are.
Still haven't answered the damn question.
What does Ukraine possess that the US so desperately needs?
Can't come up with a good answer? Then we should leave it up to the EU and NATO to sort out. If they can't be bothered; then it means Ukraine isn't worth shit to anyone. Judging by the half hearted interest in Europe; they are more than happy to have us waste our money and resources- so they can internalize their GDP like normal.
Then lay it out. Exactly what is so important in Ukraine that would make the US Government put aside it's massive problems to help them?
Letting your inner fascist out into the open?
That can be the only answer; since no where in my post did I praise Putin.
Can hardly wait for the excuses when Ukraine no longer needs the US and dumps us on our asses. The only question will be how many trillions of tax payer dollars we will have wasted; and how much US military vehicles, weaponry, and equipment we will lose. Seems that we have learned jack shit of nothing from all of our other wars, proxy wars, and foreign affairs disasters.
I dont agree that is the case.
You make it obvious that you do in fact live nowhere near the Southern border and do have very little clue as to what conditions are actually like down here.
For some, ignorance is bliss.
That is what I was replying to, so shove it.
Problem is that you are quoting Sean's comment of #2.0, so why are you directing somebody else's quote as coming from me?