Excellent analysis today. But I have to add a few comments: I actually like the HR7372 proposed legislation better. ANY amount in the billions is beneficial to Ukraine! What Ukraine leaders did that, in my opinion, was wrong, is that they tried to win back territory taken by Russia in the 2014 war when they took over Crimea. An awful lot of our donated weaponry went to that effort instead of bombarding the encroaching Russian army to the east.
And we Americans should not be paying for the damage done by the IDF under Netanyahu! HE SHOULD! The Israeli citizens who support him should pay for the incredible damage inflicted in Gaza and also the West Bank. The Israeli forces have destroyed 50% (or more) of all the buildings in Gaza: homes, schools, hospital, whole sections of cities in wanton horrific destruction with NOTHING left but rubble and holes in the ground!
I am in total agreement with the World Court that Netanyahu has committed genocide! There is no justification for the killing he has done in retaliation to the Oct. 7th invasion. And even that is suspect: why were the entrances to Gaza left unguarded? I truly think that it was a planned attack and the IDF let it happen exactly so that they could retaliate on steroids!
We can send food and medical supplies but look what's happening? The IDF have to "inspect" every single box in every single truck, and nothing gets in to actually HELP THE PEOPLE! It is so incredibly sad to see the people suffering so greatly, and having to watch their children die!
I tried to call the White House. It is almost impossible. We call our elected leaders...does it do any good? All we can do is to HOPE that it does! They evidently "count" the ayes and the nays, so that's something anyway. And that's what you give us, Jerry, little Feathers of Hope!
Thanks for your kind words and support, Catherine.
But I don't quite understand why you like HR 7372 better. It hasn't passed the Senate, where it would need to go through committee, be subject to debate and amendment, and only then be brought to the floor for debate. So it would take a long time to get to the President's desk. And HR 7372 also includes aid for Israel, though reduced from HR 815's $14 billion to $10.4 billion. But it lacks HR 815's humanitarian assistance for civilians in the Gaza and Ukraine war zones. It also adds some restrictive border policy measures, such as reinstating the disastrous "stay in Mexico" provision. How is it better?
Does it do any good to call our elected leaders? Yes, yes, yes -- a thousand times Yes.
Obviously none of us can claim that my call alone changed the course of history. But our power lies in the strength of our numbers. Representative democracy rests on the assumption that we all take part in the project of self-government. The very act of participating nourishes and strengthens the institutions of our democracy.
With MTG threatening to pull the plug on Speaker Johnson, MAGA just might be on the edge of self-destruction. And with such a narrow margin, plus "moderate" Repubs fed up with MTG & MAGA, there's even a possibility of Hakeem Jeffries taking over - might seem like a bridge too far, but I don't see any Republican who can win support of moderates and MAGAs. So here's hoping MTG pulls the plug, the "do-nothing" Repub congress self-destructs, and a couple sane Repubs (maybe some soon-to-be-retiring) finally take a stand for country over party and vote in Hakeem. Wouldn't that be a kick in the butt for MTG and her Kookie Crew!
Just sayin'
Of course, the delay would seriously hurt Ukraine, but with Dems in control of congress, the aid would flow.
I have no doubt that MAGA, and the whole Republican Party as well, are on the edge of self-destruction. But I doubt it'll be triggered by MTG or a few heroic GOP moderates crossing the aisle to make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker in the waning days of the 118th Congress.
Republican moderates have already missed their chance to reject MAGA. Mr. Jeffries and his team made overtures to them last September, suggesting that one of their own could run for Speaker as a consensus bipartisan candidate. But they chose instead to back a weak right-wing candidate who could put MAGA's face on routine must-pass legislation, believing that the facade of GOP unity would somehow become the real thing. If they wouldn't support a moderate Republican for Speaker, they sure won't be voting for a Democrat.
No, the destruction of MAGA and the Republican Party will result from the hard work our Democratic grass-roots activists across the country are now doing, and will continue doing for the next seven months. With extremists in control of party institutions, traditional Republicans will be powerless to salvage the remnants of the GOP after their historic losses in November.
It's hard to see how either survives very far into 2025, especially when their standard-bearer is a bankrupt felon, 78 years old, who's been twice defeated in national elections, and suffers from diminished mental capacity.
Excellent. Once again, I have shared.
Thank you, Tom
Excellent analysis today. But I have to add a few comments: I actually like the HR7372 proposed legislation better. ANY amount in the billions is beneficial to Ukraine! What Ukraine leaders did that, in my opinion, was wrong, is that they tried to win back territory taken by Russia in the 2014 war when they took over Crimea. An awful lot of our donated weaponry went to that effort instead of bombarding the encroaching Russian army to the east.
And we Americans should not be paying for the damage done by the IDF under Netanyahu! HE SHOULD! The Israeli citizens who support him should pay for the incredible damage inflicted in Gaza and also the West Bank. The Israeli forces have destroyed 50% (or more) of all the buildings in Gaza: homes, schools, hospital, whole sections of cities in wanton horrific destruction with NOTHING left but rubble and holes in the ground!
I am in total agreement with the World Court that Netanyahu has committed genocide! There is no justification for the killing he has done in retaliation to the Oct. 7th invasion. And even that is suspect: why were the entrances to Gaza left unguarded? I truly think that it was a planned attack and the IDF let it happen exactly so that they could retaliate on steroids!
We can send food and medical supplies but look what's happening? The IDF have to "inspect" every single box in every single truck, and nothing gets in to actually HELP THE PEOPLE! It is so incredibly sad to see the people suffering so greatly, and having to watch their children die!
I tried to call the White House. It is almost impossible. We call our elected leaders...does it do any good? All we can do is to HOPE that it does! They evidently "count" the ayes and the nays, so that's something anyway. And that's what you give us, Jerry, little Feathers of Hope!
Thanks for your kind words and support, Catherine.
But I don't quite understand why you like HR 7372 better. It hasn't passed the Senate, where it would need to go through committee, be subject to debate and amendment, and only then be brought to the floor for debate. So it would take a long time to get to the President's desk. And HR 7372 also includes aid for Israel, though reduced from HR 815's $14 billion to $10.4 billion. But it lacks HR 815's humanitarian assistance for civilians in the Gaza and Ukraine war zones. It also adds some restrictive border policy measures, such as reinstating the disastrous "stay in Mexico" provision. How is it better?
Does it do any good to call our elected leaders? Yes, yes, yes -- a thousand times Yes.
Obviously none of us can claim that my call alone changed the course of history. But our power lies in the strength of our numbers. Representative democracy rests on the assumption that we all take part in the project of self-government. The very act of participating nourishes and strengthens the institutions of our democracy.
.
With MTG threatening to pull the plug on Speaker Johnson, MAGA just might be on the edge of self-destruction. And with such a narrow margin, plus "moderate" Repubs fed up with MTG & MAGA, there's even a possibility of Hakeem Jeffries taking over - might seem like a bridge too far, but I don't see any Republican who can win support of moderates and MAGAs. So here's hoping MTG pulls the plug, the "do-nothing" Repub congress self-destructs, and a couple sane Repubs (maybe some soon-to-be-retiring) finally take a stand for country over party and vote in Hakeem. Wouldn't that be a kick in the butt for MTG and her Kookie Crew!
Just sayin'
Of course, the delay would seriously hurt Ukraine, but with Dems in control of congress, the aid would flow.
Hi Abe, good to hear from you.
I have no doubt that MAGA, and the whole Republican Party as well, are on the edge of self-destruction. But I doubt it'll be triggered by MTG or a few heroic GOP moderates crossing the aisle to make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker in the waning days of the 118th Congress.
Republican moderates have already missed their chance to reject MAGA. Mr. Jeffries and his team made overtures to them last September, suggesting that one of their own could run for Speaker as a consensus bipartisan candidate. But they chose instead to back a weak right-wing candidate who could put MAGA's face on routine must-pass legislation, believing that the facade of GOP unity would somehow become the real thing. If they wouldn't support a moderate Republican for Speaker, they sure won't be voting for a Democrat.
No, the destruction of MAGA and the Republican Party will result from the hard work our Democratic grass-roots activists across the country are now doing, and will continue doing for the next seven months. With extremists in control of party institutions, traditional Republicans will be powerless to salvage the remnants of the GOP after their historic losses in November.
It's hard to see how either survives very far into 2025, especially when their standard-bearer is a bankrupt felon, 78 years old, who's been twice defeated in national elections, and suffers from diminished mental capacity.
.
Hi Jerry. Just called all the Reps you listed as well as Mike Johnson. It’s Sunday so I left messages for all of them. Hope it helps.