Biden and McConnell try to sell Republicans on Ukraine, Israel aid
By: Rachel Looker (USA TODAY)
Neoliberals to the rescue! McConnell is trying to breathe new life into Ronnie Raygun and the Axis of Evil. C'mon Mitch, put Freedom Fries back on the Senate menu. C'mon Mitch, tell us again that if we're not with you then we're terrorists. Let's bring back the phony patriotism of sell-out Republicans. Where the hell is libertarian free trade to solve all these worldwide problems. Where the hell is the interconnected global order that Ronnie Raygun lied about, that Slick Willie lied about, that George Bush lied about, that Barrack Obama lied about. Why weren't we told that the peace dividend for ending the Cold War would be perpetual war.
Biden has been following Republicans' screw-the-pooch playbook. That's why the world is burning. Biden has reignited every little Republican money pit created by neoliberals since the end of Vietnam. You know, Mitch McConnell, that over 95 pct of the national debt was created after Ronnie Raygun moved into the White House. We can't afford the TEA Party; they spend money like there's no tomorrow. McConnell watched over the hollowing out of America that took away our tomorrows. Now McConnell is endorsing Biden doubling down on neoliberal skims, scams, swindles, bamboozles, and flimflams.
If Biden wants to be President of the New Soviet Union then he should move to Kiev. That's where the Soviet's live. McConnell could serve as komrad Biden's commissar of propaganda. With friends like Biden and McConnell, the United States doesn't really need enemies.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has found a Republican ally after calling on Congress to pass a funding package as war rages between Israel and Hamas: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Biden requested supplemental funding totaling $106 billion from Congress last week to provide support to Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific and to strengthen U.S. border security.
Hamas, a terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel earlier this month. The ongoing war between Israel and the group has totaled more than 5,000 deaths in Gaza and more than 1,400 in Israel.
Biden's request provides Israel with security assistance, supports Israeli efforts to secure the release of hostages and extends humanitarian assistance, according to the White House. The request also includes aid to Ukraine as it fights Russian attacks.
"I'm generally supportive of the president's approach here and viewing this as a worldwide problem," McConnell said on "Fox News Sunday."
The Senate minority leader will be tasked with rallying his caucus to pass the package, as some Republican senators oppose sending additional aid to Ukraine and other elements of the proposal.
"This is an emergency. It's an emergency that we step up and deal with this axis of evil − China, Russia, Iran − because it's an immediate threat to the U.S.," McConnell said Sunday.
'Two separate conflicts'
Several Republicans have taken issue with Biden's request for funding, voicing concerns about including aid to Ukraine alongside other measures. Some argue aid to different countries should be individually brought to the Senate floor for consideration.
Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas sent a letter to Senate leadership Friday requesting that any federal assistance to Israel not be leveraged for more Ukraine funding. Some GOP lawmakers in both chambers of Congress are growing more skeptical about providing continued aid to the war effort in Ukraine.
"These are two separate conflicts and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line," they wrote.
Seven GOP senators joined in support of the letter, including Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Mike Braun of Indiana, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
"Everyone in Washington knows that tying aid for Ukraine and Israel together will only delay what's urgently needed in Israel's fight against Hamas − which continues to hold Americans hostage," Scott posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter. "That's a fact that cannot be ignored. Both of these issues deserve votes, but we cannot link them."
Vance called Israel and Ukraine separate issues, arguing for separate debates and votes on sending aid to both countries.
"He (Biden) knows Israel is popular, and he knows his Ukraine policy is unpopular. He wants to combine the two. Basically use Israel as political cover for Ukraine," Vance told 21News in Ohio on Saturday.
But McConnell defended the combination of the aid packages on "Face the Nation" Sunday, saying it misses the point to argue that assistance for Ukraine is not helpful to the United States.
"Ukrainians are destroying the army of one of our biggest rivals. I have a hard time finding anything wrong with that," he said, later adding, "The main point I'm trying to make here is you can't just take out part of this − it's an overall effort by the Chinese, the Russians, the Iranians to go after the free world."
Some Republicans, like Hawley, do not want aid going to Palestinians in Gaza because of concerns the money could end up in the hands of Hamas.
"Maybe Joe Biden should take a break from funding Palestinian terrorists and get American hostages back. Just an idea," the Missouri senator posted on X Friday.
What happens next?
It's unclear when this aid will be brought to the Senate floor, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., anticipated moving a package in the next few weeks.
So what happens if the Senate passes the funding package, and it heads to the lower chamber that remains without a speaker? Not much.
The House is paralyzed until they are able to select the next speaker, after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted three weeks ago. The lower chamber cannot take up any legislation without an official leader.
But if they do choose a speaker, the new House leader may only support a version of the supplemental that differs from the version passed in the Senate. That person could want to reduce the funding totals or outright oppose aid to Israel if it's tied to Ukraine.
"That House can't do anything without a speaker, and it's a problem, but I hope it's going to get solved very quickly," McConnell told "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
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Democrats kicking Kevin McCarthy out of the Speaker's chair was one of the best things to happen in a long time. The longer the Speaker's chair remains empty, the better. If Biden's wars aren't funded then peace might actually break out. But Biden and his neoliberal supporters can't allow that to happen. War grift is good for America, after all.
Let's go, Brandon!
Gaetz is a Democrat now?
Serious PD&D plus delusion..
Gaetz didn't have enough Republican votes to remove McCarthy. 8 Republicans and 208 Democrats voted to remove McCarthy. Using your logic, Democrats are now members of the Freedom Caucus.
McCarthy retained an overwhelming majority of Republican votes. Scalise and Jordan were both supported by a majority of Republicans. The Speaker's chair remains empty because Democrats are voting for that.
Well if a highly intelligent person like Nerm says so, then it must be true!
Remember:
WAR IS PEACE
LOVE IS HATE
IGNORANCE IS BLISS!
That may be the bright spot. An end to reckless spending!
Build the wall and an end to reckless spending are polar opposites. No wonder the right is leaderless.
As with the wall, the money has been appropriated and not redirected. So, like Joe said, he has to.
Excellent point!
No-- beyond excellent-- its actually 100% BRILLIANT!!!
(The best-- and quickest-- way to end reckless spending is to shut down the government. Immediately end reckless spending on stupid programs like Social Security, Healthcare, etc. And $$$ to our armed forces is a waste.
What's going to happen will be holding needed spending hostage for worthless crap. Protecting the southern border isn't reckless spending. But that will be held hostage to get economic development aid for every little stone age economy. Biden will agree to some sort of minimal security spending to get boatloads of money for overpriced housing costs that feeds money into rich pockets.
The government has been bailing out banks, Wall Street, insurance companies, and all the other financial bamboozlers since Ronnie Raygun 'saved' the savings & loans. Reagan normalized financial grift. The productive economy has been held hostage ever since.
Do you actually believe that Biden was behind Hamas' recent barbaric attack on Israel?
Surely you must be more intelligent than that!
Do you really believe that ALL democrats are racist?
WTF-- are you calling me a racist?
( Asking for a friend )
I'm sorry i thought we were playing that stupid game where you take a snippet of their comment like.
And then claiming they said something that was never even implied like,
The only difference is i left off the snide little personal attack at the end like.
But i see it's more a comprehension issue, than anything else. maybe you should ask for clarity if you don't understand someone's comment before asking a stupid question.
Biden's response has been to deliberately prolong the war. Biden says Israel has a right to defend itself and then twists Israeli arms to go easy on Gaza. Biden's response to Gaza hasn't been any different than his response to Ukraine: sanctions, blockades, military arms for 'defense', and finger wagging to avoid escalating the war. Ukraine and Israel are supposed to defend themselves but aren't supposed to fight too hard.
Biden will try to buy peace by giving money to Hamas. Since the burden falls onto the shoulders of Americans, Biden doesn't give a shit.
Democrats kicking Kevin McCarthy out of the Speaker's chair
You get dumber every time you say that.
Are you denying that all 208 Democrats in attendance voted to remove Keven McCarthy? Are you denying that no Democrat voted to keep Kevin McCarthy as Speaker?
Democrats can't lie their way out of what they have done. 8 Republicans could not have removed Kevin McCarthy. Removing McCarthy required every Democrat joining the Freedom Caucus. Matt Gaetz is Democrats' poster child now.
[X] It is not the job of Democrats to fix a broken Republican Party. As I said, every time you insinuate that it is you just reveal yourself to be that much dumber than the last time you said it.
Matt Gaetz is Democrats' poster child now.
Lol. Yes, Gaetz has the power to force democrats to bend to his will. In your dreams.
A couple weeks after Jan 6th Kevin McCarthy flew down to Maralago and kissed Trump's ring. THAT is one of the main reasons no Democrat voted for him to keep his speakership.
There is nothing unusual or distressing about that fact. He got his just desserts.
No one suggested that it is the job of Democrats to fix the Republican Party. And claiming the Republican Party is broken is Democrat spin.
Only 6 Democrats voting 'present' would have avoided McCarthy's removal. Democrats deliberately voted to remove McCarthy and leave the House without a Speaker. Apparently Democrats didn't consider the consequences of their political stunt. Now Democrats are afraid to take credit for what they accomplished.
Well, Democrats got exactly what they wanted. McCarthy is out and won't be back as Speaker. So, why are Democrats giving Republicans credit for removing McCarthy?
Didn't Democrats realize that leaving the House without a Speaker would throw Biden under the bus? Haven't Democrats been paying attention to what the Freedom Caucus has been demanding? Matt Gaetz won this one bigly.