I put his name in capital letters because he will always stand 10 feet taller than Putin or any of those who try to smother democracy and the freedom of people to live their lives. I have to admit I always thought he was foolish to go back to Russia, because I knew that eventually Putin would have him killed, just like he has so many others. But it was what he wanted and like all of us he had the right of free choice.
My condolences go out to his family and the people of Russia. They lost a good man at the hands of a bad one. A very poor trade.
A Russian voice:
There are still people out here who will not give up the fight.
I have been thinking about the FBI informant who was found to be working for Russia. I have to wonder if Mike Johnson should be investigated for Russian ties. He is certainly acting to Putin's benefit.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"I have to wonder if Mike Johnson should be investigated for
Russian ties."
It would not be logical for the Russians to pay (or coördinate) with Johnson when he's already supporting them for free.
(For much the same reason they never collaborated with Trump during their support of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, and probably won't do so this time either. Not to mention that they find him to be erratic and unreliable.)
________________________________
Speaking of whom: It took several days but on Monday Trump finally managed to say something about the murder of Alexei Navalny. Not surprisingly, he managed to make it about himself. (There is, for instance, no condemnation nor even criticism of Russia nor of Putin.) Quoting from the Trump (attributed) post on his own 'social network':
“The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and
more aware of what is happening in our Country. It is a slow,
steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians,
Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to
destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly
Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE
ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024.”
(No, I don't follow Trump on his proprietary network; I got the quote from NBCNews)
ReplyDeletePost Script:
"…when he's already supporting them for free."
We should remember that Mike Johnson was a dark horse, fall back option for Speaker, an emergency compromise choice right up to the week in which he suddenly emerged as a contender, after the first three likely prospects sequentially demonstrated an inability to win 218 votes. The Russians wouldn't have known to throw support to him. And after Johnson displayed his fealty to the MAGA caucus there would have been no reason to contact an asset that was working for free.
And after Johnson displayed his fealty to the MAGA caucus there would have been no reason to contact an asset that was working for free.
ReplyDeleteSo a traitor all on his own.
ReplyDeleteWell… "traitor" customarily implies he had an allegiance that he's betrayed. (And then, of course, there are the strictly statutory definitions, which I take to not be at issue here.) I've not noticed any historical allegiance Johnson has demonstrated other than to his own personal political advancement.
(Of course, he has taken various oaths of office over the years.)
ReplyDeleteChanging subjects just a little….
The Biden administration is said to be "leaning towards" supplying the relatively long range (max range 170/190 miles, depending on payload carried) MGM140s (a/k/a ATACMs) to Ukraine once we manage to overcome the Trumpkan/Republican blockade of assistance to Ukraine (if we manage to overcome that Trumpkan/Republican blockade). NBCNews The first ones will necessarily have to be shipped by our allies who have some in stock. We'll backfill from there to start of with. Later they expect to ship new builds direct to Ukraine.
This may be a case too little, too late. Or, this may be a case of trying to buck up Ukrainian morale with dreams that'll never be realized. But I hope not. And, of course, the problems with actually carrying through on good intentions before November (well, actually January when the new House gets seated) are glaringly obvious right now.
Of course, he has taken various oaths of office over the years.
ReplyDeleteWhich really mean nothing, as aid to Ukraine would help in our security. An oath to support the constitution is an oath to stand up for democracy. He could have had a border deal, he didn't really want one.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe Russian pilot who defected back in August, bringing his Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine along with him, has been found shot dead in an underground parking garage in Alicante, Spain, multiple shots. DWNews
Somebody told Russian intelligence what his new identity was. That person needs to be found.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Russian intelligence… It turns out that Alexander Smirnov, the source for much of the 'information' about Hunter Biden currently being bandied about by the House impeachment committee (trying to tie Hunter's supposed sins to his father) is double agent working for Russian intelligence. And most of what he had to tell the Republicans turns out to be Russian bullshit agitprop.
The Trumpkan/Republicans in the House are not much fazed by this revelation (not yet anyway) and are enthusiastically formulating brand new conspiracy theories that might survive this disclosure and permit them to keep up the their 'investigation' for the purpose of impeaching Joe Biden.
ReplyDeleteGen. Valery Gerasimov appears to have been found. Reuters Alive and well.
ReplyDelete"Ukraine said it destroyed another Russian fighter jet on
Wednesday, bringing its kill streak to seven in one week."
BusinessInsider
The Trumpkan/Republicans in the House are not much fazed by this revelation (not yet anyway) and are enthusiastically formulating brand new conspiracy theories that might survive this disclosure and permit them to keep up the their 'investigation' for the purpose of impeaching Joe Biden.
ReplyDeleteA lesson learned from Donald Trump, double down on stupid. Hey, the American people either aren't paying attention or they don't care because they support the idiocy that is the current Republican Party, aka Donald Trump. So why not go for it?
Speaking of stupid, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are people.
ReplyDeleteGen. Valery Gerasimov appears to have been found.
ReplyDeleteDang.
ReplyDelete"…the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos
are people."
And one of the judges, in a concurring opinion, was somewhat injudicious and explicitly tied the ruling to the mandates of his fundie Christer religion. But, that little problem notwithstanding…
The ruling already has the earmarks of another 'win' the Bible Thumpers are going to regret, much like Dobbs v. Jackson which overruled Roe v Wade.
________________________________
Meantime… Some House Republicans are starting to mumble about a possible year-long 'continuing resolution' to keep the government funded. Politico That's an unusual position for them. I'd havta guess they're afraid of what they perceive as a developing adverse voter reaction to their persistent inability to get anything done, and so this time they want to avoid a government shutdown (at risk for the first week of March). They wanna put that off until after the next election cycle. (But that's just one faction of a highly factioned Trumpkan/Republican House contingent. No sign the high-MAGA crowd or Mike Johnson will be onboard for such a concession to reality.)
ReplyDeleteMore rumors on that year-long 'continuing resolution' talk coming from House Republicans:
Seems the mumblers are members of the Semi-Trumpkin 'Freedom Caucus', and they want a whole passel of 'policy riders' to go along with that, plus some draconian spending cuts. This thing ain't goin' nowhere I don't think.
ReplyDeleteAnother rumor's circulating that the Democrats will have a discharge petition (re: aid to Ukraine) ready to circulate for signatures when the House returns from their vacation on March 1st (which is a Friday, meaning a lot of 'em won't be back until the following Monday).
I am hearing that there are still some real Republican voters left who are not at all happy with the Trumpkin Republican Party getting in bed with Putin. They are saying they will vote for anyone but Trump, even Biden.
ReplyDeleteI am also hearing about some people who were trying to have children via IVF contemplating moving out of Alabama.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, back in Ukraine, the losses for Russia pile up as they gain ground. As you say, Russia is quite happy to suffer heavy losses for little gain.
ReplyDeleteIt also appears that Ukraine has yet to run out of ammunition for their Himars systems. One never knows where they will strike.
ReplyDelete"Russia is quite happy to suffer heavy losses for little gain."
Putin's happy 'nuff anyway. The Russian people may be less happy than he, but they do seem largely willing to go along.
"Ukraine has yet to run out of ammunition for their Himars
systems."
But to date they've only been provided short to medium range ammo. (Although, when the longer range stuff does arrive I s'pect we'll only hear 'bout it after they're used in combat.)
________________________________
"They are saying they will vote for anyone but Trump, even
Biden."
I'm beginning to think we might know fairly early in the campaign season where this next election is going. (Absent an embarrassing public 'senior moment' on Biden's part between now and November.) The dedicated Trumpkins are irredeemable. The anti-Trump contingent seems almost as fixed, and the 'swing' voters will probably sort out early.
________________________________
The Ukrainians have taken down yet another A-50 reconnaissance plane (the Russian version of an AWACS, although shorter range). They're said to have used a reconfigured Patriot missile.
The Ukrainians have taken down yet another A-50 reconnaissance plane (the Russian version of an AWACS, although shorter range). They're said to have used a reconfigured Patriot missile.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it! I was just going to post about that. I am hearing that what Ukraine did was reconfigure an old Soviet missile to use in a Patriot system. Don't know if that is true or not. The plane was apparently taken down in Russian territory.
Ukraine is saying they used an S-200 system to shoot down the A-50.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"…they used an S-200 system…"
Seems 'bout right, Cold War relics on either side of that contact. (I wonder how many more S-200s the Ukrainians can pull up out of mothballs across the old Warsaw Pact nations now in NATO. They do have range--300 km or so--i.e. ~190 miles.)
________________________________
Rumors of a House procedural maneuver to force a floor vote on Ukrainian aid in spite of Speaker Johnson's blockade are still proliferating. It's still gotta be considered a long shot, but the talk won't go away, desperation maybe. Meanwhile, they got a week to find a patch to avoid the first tranche of a rolling government shutdown. And they're out in recess for all of that week. Means Johnson's gotta have a bill ready to go to the floor when the 1st of the month rolls 'round. I don't think he'll make it. Guess we'll know soon 'nuff.
Biden is to meet with the leaders of Congress; Schumer, McConnell, Johnson and Jeffries on Tuesday. I would love to be a fly on the wall for that meeting.
ReplyDeleteApparently Putin isn't satisfied with tossing people in jail for speaking out against the "Special Military Operation" he has also passed a law allowing the government to confiscate people's property if they so much as whisper something against the government.
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps the main purpose is the refill the government coffers.
ReplyDelete"…Schumer, McConnell, Johnson and Jeffries on Tuesday."
Probably not what Johnson had in mind back when he was demanding a face-to-face meeting with Biden.
________________________________
"Or perhaps the main purpose is the refill the government coffers."
Probably the main purpose is to shut people up, and/or dissuade them from coming back. Lotta people who made a successful run for the border before Putin could have them picked up are finding out they got nothing to go back to. Anything they didn't take with 'em is confiscated.
Probably the main purpose is to shut people up...
ReplyDeleteYou're probably right.
It looks like Russia lost 2 more fighter jets. Bad month all around for Russian aviation. Not too good for their convoys either. But they are still advancing, if ever so slowly.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile Putin's puppet, Mike Johnson, seems intent on stonewalling aid for Ukraine. I wonder if we can bring back tar and feathering?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"It looks like Russia lost 2 more fighter jets."
And Ukraine lost two more villages just west of Avdiivka.
________________________________
"Mike Johnson, seems intent on stonewalling aid for Ukraine."
Yeah, I'd noticed that too. I'm hoping to discover that the Biden administration has been successful in courting enough Republican House members this week to make that 'discharge petition' maneuver work. (It vary rarely does work, but it's lookin' to be our best hope at the moment. There's another even rarer arcane maneuver known as calling the 'previous question' that might be employed, but that's an even longer shot than a discharge petition.) If they've got the votes to sustain a discharge petition they'll probably want to spring that on Johnson coming out of a blind start. (It won't be an actual surprise, considering the background chatter that's been devoted to the subject, but it'll be better if Johnson doesn't know what the head count is, or who's signing up against him, until he's suddenly faced with it, hopefully as a 'fait accompli'. Never know, there may be enough Republicans who aren't running for reëlection to maybe pull it off. Best chance is probably just after they get the government shutdown handled, (assuming they get the government shutdown handled). Two weeks maybe?)
I'm hoping to discover that the Biden administration has been successful in courting enough Republican House members this week to make that 'discharge petition' maneuver work.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping to discover that there are still Republicans out there who are willing to stand up and do the right thing, without any input from Biden. I know, I know, it seems like a long shot, but hope springs eternal.
I was a little heartened to see that there appeared to be Republican voters in Michigan who were willing to get out and vote against Trump in the primary. While Haley lost, the margin seemed slimmer than if Trump were the all around most popular candidate.
ReplyDeleteI was also disappointed at the efforts by those who seem to prioritize Gaza over their adopted country in their choice for a Democratic candidate. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict should have been solved long ago. That it hasn't is on those extremists on both sides of the issue. The moderates, like here, have not been strong enough to shut them up.
If you want to influence Israel, you have to maintain contact.
ReplyDeleteThe Biden administration has leaked the news that they are considering arming Ukraine out of U.S. stockpiles without congressional authorization of supplemental funds to replenish the depleted stockpiles (which is what that $60 billion is supposed to cover). NBCNews
I rather doubt they're actually considering that, but the news will probably get a whole bunch of average Americans (not paying attention types of Americans) to finally notice that the money's actually going to weapons manufacturers here in The States and not really going across the ocean to Ukraine. Probably a strategic leak of something they do not, in fact, intend to do.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mitch McConnell has announced his resignation as Senate Minority Leader effective end of this term (January 2025). He's immediately a lame duck. The scramble to be the new Senate Republican leader is on as of now.
ReplyDelete"…I know, it seems like a long shot…"
They're followers by nature (otherwise they wouldn't be following Mike Johnson against their own better judgment); they need a leader. Biden's the other choice it would seem. If he doesn't work 'em behind the scenes they probably won't ever come around. (Unlikely to be enough of 'em come around even if he works 'em well. Likely Ukraine will have to hold out 'til November, maybe January, if they can.)
The Biden administration has leaked the news that they are considering arming Ukraine out of U.S. stockpiles...
ReplyDeleteMaybe they have some expiring ammunition laying around they need to get rid of anyway...
I rather doubt they're actually considering that, but the news will probably get a whole bunch of average Americans (not paying attention types of Americans) to finally notice that the money's actually going to weapons manufacturers here in The States...
Nah, Americans are totally clueless. Unless they actually work at the plants manufacturing the ammunition. But my guess is those people support the effort to arm Ukraine anyway.
The scramble to be the new Senate Republican leader is on as of now.
ReplyDeleteI have no real liking for Mitch McConnell. He is part of why we are where we are now in our politics. He was instrumental in creating the right leaning Supreme Court we have now. But I don't know that what comes after him will be any better. Considering how the Republicans pander to Trump and the extreme right I doubt I will like whoever comes after McConnell.
Speaking of the Supreme Court it appears they are going to hear the Trump immunity appeal case. That should be interesting.
ReplyDelete"Americans are totally clueless."
As are many of the Trumpkan/Republicans in Congress (enough anyway) who will immediately take the Biden administration to task for depleting America's weapons stocks and our 'readiness', thus widely publicizing the fact the money's not actually going overseas.
ReplyDelete…they are going to hear the Trump immunity appeal case."
I expect they will see to it that they the trial gets delayed until after the November election, maybe after the new administration takes office in January 2025.
ReplyDelete"But I don't know that what comes after him will be any better."
But they may be, probably will be, less deviously clever, less effective.
ReplyDeleteMike Johnson has managed to put off his government shutdown deadlines of March 1st and 8th to new dates of March 8th and 22nd, respectively. He doesn't seem to be getting any closer to avoiding a shutdown. (Bought himself some time though.)
In total Russia has lost 13 planes in an 11 day period. These are the fighters that can carry the gliding bombs.
ReplyDeleteUkraine has managed to push back the Russians in a couple of places. Not far but at least they are standing firm.
Kudos to the many Russians who went to Navalny's funeral despite the threat of possible arrest.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't seem to be getting any closer to avoiding a shutdown. (Bought himself some time though.)
ReplyDeleteMaybe he needs to start working with Democrats.
ReplyDeleteJohnson already had to go to the Democrats to get enough votes to to pass his short extension. This is not a promising start on getting enough Republican votes to pass a budget. (And Trump won't want him passing a final budget the Democrats might vote for, so he's not in a good spot. Johnson that is, not Trump, who happens to be leading Biden by four points in the latest NYT poll. Four points ahead seems to be fairly good spot for Trump to be in.)
Minnesota is one of the primary states on super Tuesday. I am consider voting a Republican ticket to vote for Nikki Haley. A friend, whom I had lunch with today, said she was considering the same thing.
ReplyDeleteUkraine seems to have done a good job of downing Russian planes, they are up to 15 losses now since mid February. Coincidentally Russia's offensive seems to be stalling.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"I am consider voting a Republican ticket to vote for Nikki
Haley."
I had thought about doing the same thing. (The last Republican I voted for was Texas Senator Ted Cruz, against Trump in the 2016 primary; Cruz was the only one left standing by the time it got to my state) But, the state Trumpkan/Republican party canceled their participation in the state primaries and anointed Trump the winner here, so that saved me from having to break my pledge to not vote for another Republican 'til they repent for Trump.
________________________________
"Ukraine seems to have done a good job of downing Russian
planes…"
Plus they been getting in some fairly long-range strikes against Russian assets. Put a couple of drones into St. Petersburg, for instance.
I hesitate to vote a Republican primary only in the sense that here you have to say you support the Republican platform.
ReplyDeleteI do actually support Nikki Haley. While I don't agree with her stance on all issues I feel she is a normal candidate who does seem to support some things I do, like the US military. She has also had the courage to stand up to Trump. A critical issue in my book.
I have always supported the person, not the party.
ReplyDeleteUkraine seems to have snookered Russia into thinking they had air superiority when in fact they were merely redeploying their air defenses. It cost Russia quite a few planes.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking the Russians had gotten 'overeager' to take advantage of the Ukrainians' being forced into a defensive posture in the war (largely due to the lack of logistical support from the United States) and had brought their air assets too close to the front lines, in an effort to move those front lines back onto the Ukrainian defenders.
ReplyDelete"…here you have to say you support the Republican platform."
A meaningless anachronism. The Republican Party did not produce a platform for the 2020 presidential elections and had not produced a party platform since then. Can't be forced to support a party platform that does not currently exist.
ReplyDeleteToday, March 4th, is the day Donald Trump was originally scheduled to go on trial on federal criminal charges for attempting to subvert the 2020 presidential election. There seems to be an irony in there somewhere.
The trial is currently delayed indefinitely pending permission from the Supreme Trumpkins to conduct said trial, or even to allow the prosecutor (Special Counsel Jack Smith) to engage in trial preparation.
ReplyDeleteUkraine claims to have sunk another Russian warship in the Black Sea. AssociatedPress
(Plus, yesterday they claimed a debilitating hit on a Russian railroad bridge across the Volga river, deep into Russia.)
I did end up voting for Nikki Haley. My friend did the same. It won't do any good, but it was the only thing I could do to protest against Donald Trump. I did have qualms about even suggesting that I support the current Republican Party, but I still believe in the old Republican values of fiscal conservatism and maintaining our national security through our alliances, such as NATO, and standing up to someone like Putin.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA review of the morning news reveals no significant surprises in yesterday's voting.
"I did end up voting for Nikki Haley."
You got your vote in just under the wire. Looks like it was Nikki Haley's last day in the race (WaPo), but that's not a surprise.
ReplyDeleteState of the Union speech: Unabashedly and unapologetically political. I think the Democratic voters will like it. Biden tended to slur his speech a bit, but he often has that problem when he's working hard at suppressing his stutter. I don't know how much people will focus on that.
The Republicans who attended mostly weren't even there. Just bags in their chairs who looked like congressmen.
Biden got through it well enough but I wasn't too impressed.
ReplyDeleteRepublican Response: My first thought was that she must have majored in Drama at college. Nope. Political Science and then law school. (She shoulda lost the frozen smile when talking about crime and death and the horrors of immigration and evils of liberals. Maybe some drama classes might have helped there.)
I did notice the slurry speech. I put it down to not just trying to control the stutter but also giving a very emotional speech.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the delivery he made some good points and gave a strong speech in support of democracy.
Marjorie Taylor Green was an annoyance not a factor in the night.
But maybe it is my bias against the wackos that makes me say that.
I fell asleep during the Republican rebuttal.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe 'mini' government funding shutdown that had been threatened for today has failed to deliver. Partial funding for the current fiscal year has been negotiated for a "non-filibuster" vote in the Senate tonight (over five months into the fiscal year).
It's worth noting that the package already cleared the House of Representatives on a bi-partisan vote that received more Democratic votes than Trumpkan/Republican votes. (Good chance Mike Johnson will have to pay soon for relying on Democrats to pass his budget bills, but not today.)
Next budget deadline, with the rest of the annual budget (and the larger and more controversial portion) is currently set for the 22nd--two weeks from today.
ReplyDeleteThen comes the showdown over funding for Ukraine. Maybe Biden can drum up the few Republican votes needed to support a 'discharge petition' and force a floor vote on that measure in the House, maybe not. We'll probably know by the end of the month.
ReplyDeleteCurious behavior from the mainstream media: Biden was interviewed on MSNBC yesterday, and ResponsibleStatecraft puts it:
"President Biden warned the Israeli government that an
assault on Rafah would cross a red line, but then immediately
undermined that message with contradictory statements.
"The president stressed that the “defense of Israel is still
crucial, so there’s no red lines [where] I’m going to cut off all
weapons” and he said, “I’m never going to leave Israel.” Biden
did not spell out what consequences, if any, the Israeli
government would face if it crossed the red line…"
So, Biden used the term "red line" then immediately repudiated the term. None of that is particularly curious. But I've been noticing reports all morning that Biden supposedly said an assault on Rafah would be a 'red line' of some sort, but almost none of them mention that he immediately corrected himself on that.
Quite curious.
Possibly some of the media would like there to be that "red line"?
ReplyDeleteBiden is caught between a rock and a hard place. He will never please everyone on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. No one can.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBack here at the ranch I had the strongest desire to egg someone's truck today. I was following someone who had painted a "Trump for President in 2024" sign on the back of his tailgate. Under that he had put "Because we want to make America greater again."
ReplyDeleteIdiot.
Maybe Biden can drum up the few Republican votes needed to support a 'discharge petition' and force a floor vote on that measure in the House, maybe not.
ReplyDeleteThey had an intelligence briefing reporting on the threat of AI and also what will happen if Ukraine doesn't get the help it needs. One can only hope that there are still some intelligent people to listen. Mike Johnson is obviously not one of them.
Canada is sending Ukraine 80,000 decommissioned CRV7 ground to air rockets. While old the Ukrainians will find a way to put them to good use.
ReplyDeleteCanada puts America to shame.
ReplyDelete"Possibly some of the media would like there to be that
'red line'?"
Possible. For various reasons the latest Arab/Israeli bloodbath ain't currently drawing the public attention their advertising department would like to see.
________________________________
"Ukrainians will find a way to put them to good use."
I'm given to understand that the Ukrainians already have some launch pods for those things. (They're improvements to the Hydra rockets the U.S.A. once used and they use the same launch pods.)
________________________________
The Ukrainians have hit two more Russian fuel depots in Russia overnight. DWNews Both were known to have caught fire, but the extent of damage has not yet been assessed.
I just can't get into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as much as Ukraine I think because I am exhausted from a conflict that seems never ending. Both sides are so dug in.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad thing for those in that region who just want to have a decent life instead of continually fighting.
The Ukrainians have hit two more Russian fuel depots in Russia overnight.
ReplyDeleteI think they are busy preparing for something.
ReplyDelete"I am exhausted from a conflict that seems never ending."
Plus there are no 'good guys' who warrant more than the most grudging of support. There's Netanyahu and his Likud coalition on the one side, and then there's Hamas on the other.
________________________________
"The White House is expected to announce as soon as
Tuesday that it will send a new package of weapons worth
$300 million to Ukraine, and it will include a number of Army
Tactical Missile Systems, according to U.S. officials with
knowledge of the discussions.
"The package will include a number of the Anti-Personnel/
Anti-Materiel, or APAM, an older version of the long-range
ATACMS, which travels 100 miles and carries warheads
containing hundreds of cluster bomblets, according to one of
the officials. All were granted anonymity to speak ahead of an
announcement.
"The tranche will also include additional rounds for the
155mm howitzers and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket
System, according to that official and one other U.S. official."
Politico
And then there were 218. Another Republican Congressman is leaving. Ken Black of Colorado has announced he is leaving Congress at the end of next week.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete219 Republicans + 213 Democrats = 432 Congressmen.
217 required for a majority.
218 Republicans + 213 Democrats = 431 Congressmen.
216 required for a majority.
This actually makes it statistically a little easier on Mike Johnson. He now has one less vote he absolutely must get.
(A special election to fill this safely 'red' congressional seat is expected in June, although the Democratic governor of Colorado can stretch it out until maybe late July.)
________________________________
"The day after seriously damaging Lukoil's…NORSI refinery, a
Ukrainian drone [actually, four (4) Ukrainian drones] attacked
Rosneft's Ryazan oil refinery, Russia's seventh largest, 180 km
(110 miles) from Moscow."
Reuters
Apparently there was major damage. And there were additional attacks on another Russian refinery, but they seemingly didn't get through.
________________________________
"The Kremlin has fired its top naval commander, the biggest
fallout yet from a series of devastating attacks by Ukraine on
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, according to a Ukrainian and a
Western official.
Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, the head of the Russian Navy for the
past five years, was removed from command and replaced by
the head of the Russia’s Northern Fleet. (Adm. Aleksandr A.
Moiseyev)"
NYT
This actually makes it statistically a little easier on Mike Johnson.
ReplyDeleteOr it means that there only needs to be 3 crossover Republocans instead of 4 for some reasonable bills...assuming they have all Democratic votes.
Apparently there was major damage.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing there will be more of that.
It sounds like Mike Johnson will be a little lonely at the upcoming GOP retreat. Less than half of GOP House members have RSVP'd. They are still ticked off over the Speakership debacle and not too thrilled with the location, which was moved from Florida.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"Or it means that there only needs to be 3 crossover
Republocans…[sic]
Not quite:
"219 Republicans + 213 Democrats = 432 Congressmen.
"217 required for a majority."
219 - 217 = They need three 'cross-over" votes
"218 Republicans + 213 Democrats = 431 Congressmen.
"216 required for a majority.
218 - 216 = Still need three.
ReplyDeleteDischarge petitions on foreign military aid (two versions) are now, as of today, being circulated for signatures in the House of Representatives. WashingtonPost The Senate approved version of support for Ukraine/Israel/Taiwan (plus money and legislation for our southern border) has received 180 signatures in less than twenty-four hours.
Some members of the House have cooked up their own version that they've started circulating as an alternative, but it's picked up less than fifteen signatures as of yet.
Either version, it's a direct challenge to Mike Johnson's decision to sit on the foreign military aid. And it looks like it's on already.
(Two points: First, I'm somewhat surprised they've started that already, before the second government shutdown deadline now eight days away--midnight on the 22nd. And second, a successful discharge petition will need 218 votes, not some lesser number. 218 is a majority of the actual voting seats in the House, including those now vacant. So the Democrats need all of their people to sign plus five (5) Republicans. After that it can pass or fail on a majority of House members present and voting. Johnson might try various procedural gimmicks to delay or avoid the vote even after a discharge petition reaches its 218 vote threshold, but procedural tricks will only play out so far.)
ReplyDelete…nine days away--midnight on the 22nd.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe Senate approved version of support for Ukraine/Israel/Taiwan (plus money and legislation for our southern border) has received 180 signatures in less than twenty-four hours.
ReplyDeleteI can only hope they dig up some more.
Trump has already made it clear that he will cut funding to Ukraine if he is elected.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Or it means that there only needs to be 3 crossover
ReplyDeleteRepublocans…[sic]
I was thinking about voting. Erroneously.
And second, a successful discharge petition will need 218 votes, not some lesser number. 218 is a majority of the actual voting seats in the House, including those now vacant. So the Democrats need all of their people to sign plus five (5) Republicans.
I would like to see more than 5 Republicans support aid for Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteI seem to have been referencing a post that's not there.
Never mind.
ReplyDelete"I would like to see more than 5 Republicans support aid for
Ukraine."
That'd make me happy as well. That would help restore my faltering faith in the strength of our republic.
ReplyDeleteThe German parliament has teed up discussion of legislation authorizing provision of the Taurus missile to Ukraine. This in spite of the German Chancellor remarks earlier this week in which he doubled down on his refusal to provide the Taurus to Ukraine--categorically rejected the notion. It seems the Bundestag may have other ideas and may be willing to force the issue. DWNews
ReplyDeleteThe Bundestag motion to authorize Taurus missiles for Ukraine ↑↑ came to an unceremonious end. Vote was 190 in favor and 495 opposed. DWNews I don't reckon they'll be trying that again.
I seem to have been referencing a post that's not there.
ReplyDeleteI deleted it because my reasoning was based on a lack of understanding the number of votes needed to pass a bill in the House.
Huh! Worked this time. This morning that wouldn't post for some reason.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the UK has come up with a laser that works for air defense for minimal cost. Nice.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"It sounds like the UK has come up with a laser that works…"
It's at the demo stage; it's not operational yet.
We've already got one that's been demonstrated from an installation on a mid sized Navy ship, couple of years back.
But, yes, it is good to see the Brits making progress along those lines as well.
Gonna havta come up with some sort of defense that's cheaper than a Patriot missile for handling cheaper, slower targets.
(We also have a naval "Phalanx" anti-aircraft gun that costs about $3-4 thousand per shot which I've thought ought to be convertible to use on land. It could be mounted on back of mid-sized truck.)
ReplyDeleteMike Johnson is feeling the heat.
Interviewed by Politico reporters at that half full Trumpkan "retreat", Johnson claimed to be crafting his own plan to put Ukrainian and Israeli aid bills on the floor.
(Second Politico article, same subject.
ReplyDeleteI happened to pass back over that first Politico article I cited yesterday afternoon and discovered it has been substantially re-written since I posted the link (and the re-write has not been acknowledged). However, my conclusion remains the same.
Johnson is feeling the heat.
Johnson is feeling the heat.
ReplyDeleteHe should be. There are still some Republicans, both elected and who vote, who do not like or support Putin. They still support their country.
Gerasimov. Is he or isn't he? Alive or dead? At least one Russian vlogger is questioning the veracity of those videos supposedly showing Gerasimov going about his duties, giving medals and conferring with other officers aboard a plane flying over Rostov-on-Don. It was all of the green grass outside the plane window over Rostov that had him wondering. He is from there and said that this time of year it is usually white, not green.
ReplyDeleteMaybe an early spring due to climate change?
Or maybe some creative editing?
ReplyDeleteMaybe he eloped with Kate Middleton?
(I'm already tired of navigating past headlines about Kate Middleton.)
ReplyDelete"A first vessel delivering aid to the battered Gaza Strip has
fully unloaded, depositing 200 tons of food, water and
supplies at the starving enclave, and inaugurating a human-
itarian sea corridor from Cyprus.
"Videos posted online show a crane transferring crates from
the barge onto trucks on a custom-built jetty.
"A second vessel was already being loaded in the Cypriot port
of Larnaca…
"The drop off marks an initial success for the new maritime
corridor, which the WCK and Spanish NGO Open Arms opened
this week with the support of various EU and Arab govern- ments."
Politico.EU
First noting that the ship was carrying American private charitable relief (as is the second one already being loaded in Cyprus), I would suggest the Biden administration rethink that 'pier' that Biden has ordered our military to build into Gaza. He ought to publicly throw our support behind this one instead, as it's already up and running.
(I'm already tired of navigating past headlines about Kate Middleton.)
ReplyDeleteCelebrity hunting is alive and well in both the UK and the US. In our case it is usually Taylor Swift that gets the obsessive attention. Shades of Princess Diana.
Mike Pence has finally woken up, better late than never I guess, and has stated he will not endorse Donald Trump for President. Something all of our elected Republican officials should be doing. But obviously that ain't gonna happen.
ReplyDeleteSure and Kate made CNN. So much for hard news I guess.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteLooks like potential trouble developing on the March 22nd funding rush:
"[Friday]…Republicans rejected a Democratic offer to
funnel $1.56 billion in additional funding to secure the border
— a request that comes as border officials are bracing for a
surge this spring as the weather warms. *** The standoff
raises the stakes that we could see yet another continuing
resolution for DHS.
"'This means less agents to secure our border, less officers to
protect the traveling public, less people to go after drug
traffickers than today, less detention beds than today, as well
as diminished capacity to respond to disasters, cybersecurity
incidents and national security threats'."
Politico
We've seen Trumpkan/Republicans refuse to fund border security before, just here recently. Looks like Mike Johnson's still refusing to allow it. He's got 'til Friday to work this out.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on the above ↑
"Senior House GOP aides…only [realized] at ‛the eleventh
hour’ how bad a CR would be."
Politico
So, now that word's leaked out about them balking on funding border security once again, negotiations are suddenly back on to fund Homeland Security along with the rest of the stuff needs funding.
...and Donald Trump has said he cannot find the money to pay the $465 million he owes. And so it goes in Trumpland.
ReplyDelete... and Putin says he has been re-elected in a landslide victory. And so it goes in fantasyland.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"Donald Trump has said he cannot find the money to pay the
$465 million he owes."
What his lawyers have actually said is he can't find a surety who'll post that large a bond for him on credit against whatever collateral he's been willing to offer them.
(They also said he doesn't have $1 billion in cash (or cash equivalents). But that's a sum considerably higher than he owes on the judgment.)
I also suspect that Trump has refused to accept personally responsibility for the price of a bond, whereas he's currently personally responsible for the amount of the judgment.
________________________________
I suspect Putin was reëlected by comfortable margin, although probably something less than the 87% publicized by the Russian government. I was expecting a reported return of just over 90% for Putin.
I was rather more dismayed to notice that Putin was congratulated on his win by the Indian government (joining Iran, China, and North Korea in issuing congratulations). Indian President Modi is showing a disturbing affinity for autocracy. I think we need to reëxamine our relationship there.
The conventional wisdom seems to be that we need India to help counter China. And so we have to put up with Modi's persistent drift towards authoritarianism.
I suspect India needs us to help them counter China rather more than we need them. And we ought to begin acting accordingly.
ReplyDeleteChuck Schumer and Mike Johnson have jointly announced a deal to fund Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year. I haven't seen the terms, but preliminary indications are that Johnson folded and gave Schumer the extra funds he was looking for. TheHill
ReplyDeleteAnd so the showdown over aid to Ukraine begins….
It will be interesting to see if Trump and Johnson's stance on Ukraine will affect how some Trump supporters vote. There are some signs that people are torn. They have voted for and support Trump but they also strongly support Ukraine.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete"There are some signs that people are torn."
You seem to forget Trump's 2016 campaign. He would merely take both sides of an issue that split his Trumpkins, pro and con (occasionally taking both sides in the same FoxNews interview, confident that they'd not call him on it). Then he would trust his Trumpkins to pretend to believe the answer that allowed them to vote for him and to discount his answer that didn't comfort them. Seldom was that trust misplaced.
There's no reason to believe that trick won't still work just as well in 2024. The secret is that the Trumpkins' main problem is with modern America, not with funding Ukraine. The war to restore their imaginary 1950's, pre civil-rights era America is the single most important part of their agenda. And along the way back to their imaginary 1950s America they expect to take their revenge on the rest of us for the intervening 70 years. The rest is just details, window dressing. It can be changed out for a new display tomorrow, as the need arises.
(Johnson just needs a story that'll play in his safe Louisiana district. He's probably good there with just about anything he dreams up to tell 'em.)
_________________________
Post Script:
Back to Trump's half-billion dollar bond…. He's got 'til the 25th to post that bond. He declared failure a week early, and he's not ranting back at the hilarity that's erupted on other (not Trump owned) social media. Not his customary style.
I think he's just trying to negotiate it down. And he went at it a week early to give the negotiations some time to bear fruit.
_________________________
Side Note:
Ron DeSantis came in 3rd in the Florida presidential primary (4%), behind Trump (1st--81%) and Nikki Haley (2nd--14%). And also 3rd in Arizona (2%); Trump (1st--76%), Haley (2nd--20%).
ReplyDeleteRussian government spokesmen have gone on record describing their war against Ukraine as a real "war". Putin hasn't breathed the word himself yet, but looks like it's only a matter of time. Reuters
Side Note: The count on that discharge petition is up to 191 today. Still need 218, so we're 29 short.
It's been a huge news day today.
ReplyDeleteWe have a large terrorist attack in Moscow, claimed by ISIS. The number of dead has reached 60 and wounded around 100. Strange, I know, but I never think of terror attacks happening in Russia, despite that horrendous attack a number of years ago where so many people were taken hostage. Yet, Russia does have a problem with ISIS. The Ukraine war has overshadowed other issues Russia has, I guess.
Our dysfunctional House has passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill, leading to the cheerleaders for chaos, as represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, to move that Mike Johnson be removed as Speaker. Now the question is, who will vote to remove him? At least one Democrat, who was interviewed by CNN, has said he will not vote to remove him for doing the right thing. Will other Democrats follow suit? Will Democrats vote to save one of the worst Speakers in history? At least IMHO. Time will tell.
And Catherine, Princess of Wales, has come out with the news that she has cancer. I hope for the best for her and that the press leaves her alone to deal with this serious issue, along with her family, in peace.
It sounds like some Democrats are signaling that they would vote to save Mike Johnson if he puts Ukraine funding to a vote.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe Democrats have very little incentive to run Johnson out of office just now. He's already a short-timer. His Republican caucus is already in disarray. And he's already relying on significant Democratic support to get stuff through the House (which means they have significant input on what gets passed--he's gotta negotiate it with them). And he's already flinched on aid to Ukraine, feeling the heat there. (Trying to figure out how he can limit his damage there, but he seems to have accepted it as inevitable.) Assuming aid for Ukraine goes forward shortly…. I can't see it gets much better for them until they get a majority in the House.
Speaking of which, Johnson's majority is shortly down to one vote. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin is retiring early, on the 19th of April I think it is. I hope he signs the discharge petition before he goes. His signature will remain valid even after he's resigned, until a new member is sworn into his seat and that'll be Jan 3rd.
ReplyDeleteI notice that Putin's government is trying strenuously to discover a tie between the ISIS attack and Ukraine. (Probably to divert attention from the fact that we warned them something like this was imminent, and Putin personally blasted us for 'provocations' and 'incitement' against Russia.)
Yeah, I saw that about Russia trying to blame Ukraine. It was inevitable. Perhaps Putin should be more concerned with the rumors going around that it was a false flag operation. People are saying the metal detectors at the venue were turned off.
ReplyDeleteEven if that is not true the fact that this is circling means there are problems out there for Putin.
I don't know how they got the guns in unless they just went in guns blazing. I have only seen footage of them inside, not coming in.
Or did the reason the Russian government ignore our warning was to let the attack go forward as another excuse for another mobilization?