On Saturday Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and 100 of his fellow republicans finally grew a pair. It was a long time coming. In fact, given recent Congressional history, some observers weren't sure it would ever happen, at least not with this gaggle of fascist performance artists, publicity hungry assholes, and groveling cowards.
Indeed, the MAGA reign of terror appeared to have a death grip on republicans serving in the House, despite their lack of numbers. That ended about 48 hours ago when a Ukraine aid bill passed 311-112. The yeas included 101 republicans. The package passed despite MAGA objections, threats, and bullying that included everything up to and including the removal of Johnson from the speakership, ala Kevin McCarthy.
The MAGA reaction to the House vote was swift and predictably over the top. Democrats helped fuel the fire by waving small Ukrainian flags after the results were announced. Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene led the charge by booing the flag wavers, Colorado Representative, Lauren Boebert yelled at them angrily and Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna grabbed the microphone, despite not being recognized to speak, and yelled, "Put those damn flags away!"
It is unknown if Vladimir Putin was on the phone with any of them at the time.
Greene later posted on social media a video of the pro Ukrainian demonstration and wrote, "Mike Johnson's House of Representatives so proud to work for Ukraine. Not the American people!!!" Boebert wrote, "Such an embarrassing and disgusting show of America LAST politicians." She later added, "You love Ukraine so much get your ass over there and leave America's governing to those who love THIS country!"
Republican Congressman Clay Higgins posted his own video of the democrats waving Ukrainian flags and wrote, "All Democrats waving Ukrainian flags on your house floor when the bill passed sending another 60B of your treasure to fund the war machine. 100% deficit money. Borrowed on the backs of your children. Wake up America."
This sudden concern about deficit spending appeared right after the MAGA Big Kahuna Donald Trump--who didn't give a rat's ass about the deficit and could spend money like a drunken sailor on shore leave--vacated the White House. However, it at least makes a little more sense than what Marjorie Taylor Greene told the media after the vote. She was quoted saying, "This is the sellout of America today. When we had members of Congress in there waving Ukrainian flags on the United States House of Representatives floor while we're doing nothing to secure our border."
The hypocrisy of the statement is breathtaking. It wasn't that long ago Greene, along with other republicans in the House, voted to kill a bill which clamped down hard on immigration. It was authored by conservative republican Senators and Joe Biden had vowed to sign it. Herr Trump wanted it defeated only because it would have robbed him of his most potent campaign issue. In other words when you had a chance to, "do something," to secure the border, Congresswoman you chose to do nothing because pleasing your boss was more important than helping solve the problem.
Yes, at least for now the MAGA tide in Congress seems to be ebbing. Think not? Texas republican Congressman Tony Gonzales appeared on CNN yesterday. When asked if Speaker Mike Johnson will survive after supporting the aid to Ukraine he said simply, "He will survive." That sounds like a man who knows a deal has been struck and Greene will never get the votes to unseat another Speaker. Gonzales, who voted for the bill, then went on to tell the network's Dana Bash, "I serve with some real scumbags."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, also sounds like a man who is tired of being pushed around by Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and the rest of Don Trump's cadre of legislative brown shirts.
4-22-24
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