Barbara, i just updated this post to include phone numbers of Republicans to call after Representative Bill Pacrell (D-NJ) posted that a discharge petition is coming.
Last night, I attended a concert given by the Ukrainian National Orchestra. They were superb. We were reminded that the war will be 2 years old tomorrow. Two years of Hell with no end in sight.
Thanks for reminding us that Ukraine is more than just a war-torn hellscape. The country's rich musical heritage is a source of inspiration for their courageous resistance.
Here are links to a couple stories on the subject that I found immensely moving:
I agree with your conclusion about trading Johnson's Speakership for aid to Ukraine but am at a loss to explain why, other than inertia and cowardice, the Democrats haven't made this move.
Dave, I think there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Offering "MAGA Mike" Democratic support is something probably best done in private. And if offered, I expect there'd be a very big ask in return.
The short answer, Eva, is that we are a government of laws, norms and established procedures. No one is empowered to just take money from one place and put it somewhere else without specific authority. The people's representatives in Congress are responsible for allocating expenditures, which is why networks like our's focus on influencing their decisions.
James Madison: " There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual & silent encroachments of those in power than by violent & sudden usurpations"
I just looked on-line with the question: How did the Speaker of the House get so powerful? (I first got photos of actual stereo speakers before I scrolled down--so much for "Bing!") Agree with the other commentators, but want to add this: The US sent monetary aid and actual armaments to Israel without congressional approval, so why can't we at least send arms to Ukraine? Why can't we just send aid and worry about repercussions after the fact? End of problem!
First thing on the agenda when us democrats get both houses: Make some RULE CHANGES!
Catherine, ongoing American aid to Israel has evolved over many decades and is incredibly complex. A large proportion of it is mandated by the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty, brokered by the United States. As one of our very closest allies for the last 75 years, Israel has benefitted from nearly un-questioned bipartisan support in Congress for most of that time.
Ukraine was part of the USSR, and as recently as 15 years ago had a corrupt autocratic government still closely allied with Russia. There really is no "we" that can just send aid to Ukraine without Congress' approval.
Jerry, While I don’t know the details, I understand plans are underway, for March, somehow, via discharge petition, to get some version of the bill released and sent to the floor for discussion and debate and, ultimately, an up or down majority vote.
Thanks, Barbara Jo. I saw the story on Rep. Parcell's X post last night. Can't say I'm surprised. Leader Jeffries was hinting that this was in the works two weeks ago.
"GOVERNMENT OF LAWS"..YES...BUT HERE you have "One man, One person" who is holdIng up HISTORY & thereby causing the death of millions of humans simply because he has been given the POWER to decide, ALL BY HIMSELF, pressured by a few radical influences, to come to a decision??
Alone? He knows he may be gone soon, & in spite of this allows time TO PASS to punish innocent women, men, children...He walks into media with a smile on his face as if nothing is actually wrong!....."OUR SYSTEM NEEDS A BIT OF ADJUSTING, AN OVERHAUL IF SUCH A CONGRESS EXISTS NOW OR EVER AGAIN..... AS NO ONE CAN SAY THAT THIS -ONE MAN DECISION IS CORRECT..NO JUSTICE..HE HOLDS THE POWER OF AN EMPEROR, A PRESIDENT, A LEADER...this one little immature person, not particularly intelligent, not wise, but ARTICULATE..THAT IS ALL!
PLEASE STATE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE...... TELL ALL WHAT IS ACTUALLY MISGUIDED LAW THAT MUST BE ATTENDED TO & CHANGED! No excuse please about law like this...........
Of course this is understood...but we are not existing under a gov. of laws and normal procedures, particularly when there exists those that deny having to serve the law? These skewered representatives in Congress are not responsible, and do not pay mind to allocating anything that would influence them it appears. What can be said about this..those that separate themselves from the world and its suffering from the needless severity in the killing of innocent Ukraine..what can be done with such humans.
Thank you for the encouragement, tips, and tools to make these calls to out-of-district Representatives. I've made more calls in the last 3 weeks than in my entire 76 years.
Jerry, Of course this is understood, yet this method of law is non specific when dealing with those that fail to grasp the unimaginable! The government of laws & norms are dispensable with those that do not abide by them.You know this! There is no responsible Congress that can be influenced in time to save anyones life, here, amongst women, and far off in Ukraine......And to turn the page here, Hamas is not returning anymore hostages for a obvious reason...... They, no doubt, have impregnated the young women hostages!...WHAT WILL BE SAID ABOUT THIS NOW?
Our laws stifle the ability to protect others...Congress in not amenable to anything. To ask them for any sort of support is not possible! We should be able to transfer money taken from someone like Putin and arrive at an answer to provide a dying country what it needs. You cannot depend on a religious right group of humans who refuse to participate in the rights of people and their likely deaths as the result of what they believe exists. Their faith undermines the Freedoms of all who wish to exist with Liberty, as we have.
Suggested action for us?
Barbara, i just updated this post to include phone numbers of Republicans to call after Representative Bill Pacrell (D-NJ) posted that a discharge petition is coming.
.
Last night, I attended a concert given by the Ukrainian National Orchestra. They were superb. We were reminded that the war will be 2 years old tomorrow. Two years of Hell with no end in sight.
Hey Tom,
Thanks for reminding us that Ukraine is more than just a war-torn hellscape. The country's rich musical heritage is a source of inspiration for their courageous resistance.
Here are links to a couple stories on the subject that I found immensely moving:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/09/ukraine-war-russia-music-propaganda/
https://open.substack.com/pub/counteroffensive/p/listen-how-ukrainian-folk-music-threw?r=pwiak&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
I agree with your conclusion about trading Johnson's Speakership for aid to Ukraine but am at a loss to explain why, other than inertia and cowardice, the Democrats haven't made this move.
Dave, I think there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Offering "MAGA Mike" Democratic support is something probably best done in private. And if offered, I expect there'd be a very big ask in return.
.
I hope you're right Jerry, and I have to remind myself regularly that, as Lawrence O'Donnell put it last night, "the politics will not be televised."
TAKE THE MONIES THAT WERE TAKEN FROM PUTIN AND GIVE IT TO UKRAINE..IT IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT SHOULD BE OFFERED TO THEM TODAY...WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?
The short answer, Eva, is that we are a government of laws, norms and established procedures. No one is empowered to just take money from one place and put it somewhere else without specific authority. The people's representatives in Congress are responsible for allocating expenditures, which is why networks like our's focus on influencing their decisions.
James Madison: " There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual & silent encroachments of those in power than by violent & sudden usurpations"
I just looked on-line with the question: How did the Speaker of the House get so powerful? (I first got photos of actual stereo speakers before I scrolled down--so much for "Bing!") Agree with the other commentators, but want to add this: The US sent monetary aid and actual armaments to Israel without congressional approval, so why can't we at least send arms to Ukraine? Why can't we just send aid and worry about repercussions after the fact? End of problem!
First thing on the agenda when us democrats get both houses: Make some RULE CHANGES!
Catherine, ongoing American aid to Israel has evolved over many decades and is incredibly complex. A large proportion of it is mandated by the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty, brokered by the United States. As one of our very closest allies for the last 75 years, Israel has benefitted from nearly un-questioned bipartisan support in Congress for most of that time.
Ukraine was part of the USSR, and as recently as 15 years ago had a corrupt autocratic government still closely allied with Russia. There really is no "we" that can just send aid to Ukraine without Congress' approval.
Jerry, While I don’t know the details, I understand plans are underway, for March, somehow, via discharge petition, to get some version of the bill released and sent to the floor for discussion and debate and, ultimately, an up or down majority vote.
Thanks, Barbara Jo. I saw the story on Rep. Parcell's X post last night. Can't say I'm surprised. Leader Jeffries was hinting that this was in the works two weeks ago.
"GOVERNMENT OF LAWS"..YES...BUT HERE you have "One man, One person" who is holdIng up HISTORY & thereby causing the death of millions of humans simply because he has been given the POWER to decide, ALL BY HIMSELF, pressured by a few radical influences, to come to a decision??
Alone? He knows he may be gone soon, & in spite of this allows time TO PASS to punish innocent women, men, children...He walks into media with a smile on his face as if nothing is actually wrong!....."OUR SYSTEM NEEDS A BIT OF ADJUSTING, AN OVERHAUL IF SUCH A CONGRESS EXISTS NOW OR EVER AGAIN..... AS NO ONE CAN SAY THAT THIS -ONE MAN DECISION IS CORRECT..NO JUSTICE..HE HOLDS THE POWER OF AN EMPEROR, A PRESIDENT, A LEADER...this one little immature person, not particularly intelligent, not wise, but ARTICULATE..THAT IS ALL!
PLEASE STATE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON HERE...... TELL ALL WHAT IS ACTUALLY MISGUIDED LAW THAT MUST BE ATTENDED TO & CHANGED! No excuse please about law like this...........
Of course this is understood...but we are not existing under a gov. of laws and normal procedures, particularly when there exists those that deny having to serve the law? These skewered representatives in Congress are not responsible, and do not pay mind to allocating anything that would influence them it appears. What can be said about this..those that separate themselves from the world and its suffering from the needless severity in the killing of innocent Ukraine..what can be done with such humans.
Thank you for the encouragement, tips, and tools to make these calls to out-of-district Representatives. I've made more calls in the last 3 weeks than in my entire 76 years.
Thanks for pitching in, Jacquie. It's so important. Every call reminds our Representatives that they are serving in the People's house, not their own.
Jerry, Of course this is understood, yet this method of law is non specific when dealing with those that fail to grasp the unimaginable! The government of laws & norms are dispensable with those that do not abide by them.You know this! There is no responsible Congress that can be influenced in time to save anyones life, here, amongst women, and far off in Ukraine......And to turn the page here, Hamas is not returning anymore hostages for a obvious reason...... They, no doubt, have impregnated the young women hostages!...WHAT WILL BE SAID ABOUT THIS NOW?
Our laws stifle the ability to protect others...Congress in not amenable to anything. To ask them for any sort of support is not possible! We should be able to transfer money taken from someone like Putin and arrive at an answer to provide a dying country what it needs. You cannot depend on a religious right group of humans who refuse to participate in the rights of people and their likely deaths as the result of what they believe exists. Their faith undermines the Freedoms of all who wish to exist with Liberty, as we have.