This afternoon, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government for 45 days—until just before Thanksgiving—by a vote of 335 to 91. The maneuver was a huge blow to the MAGA caucus that was demanding dramatic cuts to the government, the embrace of their border policies, and elimination of Ukraine aid in exchange for keeping the government open. The measure the House passed had almost none of that. It was a clean continuing resolution to fund the government at 2023 levels for another 45 days…with two important exceptions: it added disaster funding, and it stripped out additional funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
The fig leaf that MTG secured for "no aid to Ukraine" is a shredded one. Remember that there is $300,000,000 in frozen Russian assets that can be used for that purpose, in a pinch.
Thank goodness President Biden has grown hawkish in calling out Kevvy McC and the maga crowd, highlighting their shenanigans. He must continue to do so, without criticizing them but identifying their lethally extremist words and deeds.
Thank you, Heather! I was terrified this would never happen. Kudos to Kevin McCarthy for the courage to do this in spite of threats to his leadership. While we are safe at home tonight, I am so very pleased that the Democratic Caucus will revisit Ukraine 🇺🇦 funding as early as next week. We must remember winter is setting in and the President gave his word that funds would be forthcoming. Perhaps we have chipped a bit of Putin out of our business! You’ve earned a few days off! Quite the debate or more correctly hostage taking coup AVERTED. I will sleep 😴 well tonight! 🕊️
Thank you, Heather. We can breathe a little easier for 45 days. My daughter was worrying about working and not getting paid. This issue needs fixing. I feel sorry for all of the folks that work for the USA and have that constant worry it seems annually. Have a restful night. Hugs
THANK you HEATHER!!..... your letters are sooo EXTREMELY helpful!!.... the explanations... and information....soo VITAL for these times!... KUDOS!.. your AMAZING knowledge and comprehensive notes/documentation!!..
The media today is full of reasonable and accurate statements of progress and of the compromise necessary to govern, not obstruct. The media must continue to do so and it must turn its back on the sound bites of division it has been chasing, mistaking volume for winning.
The fact that 129 Republicans voted for this measure shows that there is still hope for a two party system that can be effective.
It is said that the opposite of love is not hate but indifference. Let's continue to isolate the MAGA extremists until they are reduced to a distant mutter along with their rambling figurehead DJT. Our leaders in Congress must recognize that a party label is one word, while workable policy needs many words spoken by many voices.
The tides seem to be changing Professor ⭐ a reprieve is good for people. Now the DoNothings know that calamity will be laid at their feet if the course isn't corrected.
TY, for your always calming summary Heather, even if it is of yet one more drama-filled MAGA GOP (rhymes with mop) episode. The only real way to rid ourselves of this and get back to being the real trustworthy & confident USA we all grew up in is,..... to VOTE (them out)
Better said by Lucian Truscott of Salon in his excellent piece, just remember,..."There are More of Us than there are of Them". For hope & inspiration on what that means here is the link:
If you don't wish to read it here are just the first & last two paragraphs: "The 14th Amendment isn't going to save us from Donald Trump. Nor is a ruling in New York state that he defrauded multiple banks and insurance companies over a ten-year period. Nor are the 91 charges against him in his four criminal indictments. Nor is another ruling by a New York judge that he raped E. Jean Carroll and is liable for $5 million in civil damages. His base loves him for every scam he pulled, every norm he trashed, every law he broke."
"Even if Republicans wanted to do something to appeal to voters more broadly, they are hamstrung by what we call the Trump base – voters in thrall to the man more than to the party. That base is White, and it's old, compared to voters in general, and they are headed into two decades when this country will get increasingly younger and less and less White."
"This is not a good trend for the Republican Party, because politics is a game of numbers, and the numbers are going against them. It's good news for Democrats that there are more of us than there are of them, but only if we turn out and vote. We can't sit back and let the actuarial tables and the issue of abortion carry the day for us. There is power in numbers only if we exercise it with our votes. It's either that, or we won't have a vote that's worth anything anymore. Stand up and be counted. Vote."
What Liz Cheney said. Appeasement is bad policy, both domestically and abroad.
MTG throwing a tantrum is definitely a win! 🤣🙏🏻🇺🇸
The fig leaf that MTG secured for "no aid to Ukraine" is a shredded one. Remember that there is $300,000,000 in frozen Russian assets that can be used for that purpose, in a pinch.
Score for democracy, diplomacy, and common sense...grateful for saner minds and open hearts
Thank goodness President Biden has grown hawkish in calling out Kevvy McC and the maga crowd, highlighting their shenanigans. He must continue to do so, without criticizing them but identifying their lethally extremist words and deeds.
Thank you, Heather! I was terrified this would never happen. Kudos to Kevin McCarthy for the courage to do this in spite of threats to his leadership. While we are safe at home tonight, I am so very pleased that the Democratic Caucus will revisit Ukraine 🇺🇦 funding as early as next week. We must remember winter is setting in and the President gave his word that funds would be forthcoming. Perhaps we have chipped a bit of Putin out of our business! You’ve earned a few days off! Quite the debate or more correctly hostage taking coup AVERTED. I will sleep 😴 well tonight! 🕊️
Thank you, Heather. We can breathe a little easier for 45 days. My daughter was worrying about working and not getting paid. This issue needs fixing. I feel sorry for all of the folks that work for the USA and have that constant worry it seems annually. Have a restful night. Hugs
THANK you HEATHER!!..... your letters are sooo EXTREMELY helpful!!.... the explanations... and information....soo VITAL for these times!... KUDOS!.. your AMAZING knowledge and comprehensive notes/documentation!!..
Thank you, Dr. Richardson. It is encouraging to see a crack in the wall built by the MAGA extremists.
The media today is full of reasonable and accurate statements of progress and of the compromise necessary to govern, not obstruct. The media must continue to do so and it must turn its back on the sound bites of division it has been chasing, mistaking volume for winning.
The fact that 129 Republicans voted for this measure shows that there is still hope for a two party system that can be effective.
It is said that the opposite of love is not hate but indifference. Let's continue to isolate the MAGA extremists until they are reduced to a distant mutter along with their rambling figurehead DJT. Our leaders in Congress must recognize that a party label is one word, while workable policy needs many words spoken by many voices.
Stunning, isn’t it? How things can happen. How fast change can happen. How about more evidence of sanity and actual governance?
The tides seem to be changing Professor ⭐ a reprieve is good for people. Now the DoNothings know that calamity will be laid at their feet if the course isn't corrected.
TY, for your always calming summary Heather, even if it is of yet one more drama-filled MAGA GOP (rhymes with mop) episode. The only real way to rid ourselves of this and get back to being the real trustworthy & confident USA we all grew up in is,..... to VOTE (them out)
Better said by Lucian Truscott of Salon in his excellent piece, just remember,..."There are More of Us than there are of Them". For hope & inspiration on what that means here is the link:
https://www.salon.com/2023/09/30/there-are-more-of-us-than-there-are-of-them/
If you don't wish to read it here are just the first & last two paragraphs: "The 14th Amendment isn't going to save us from Donald Trump. Nor is a ruling in New York state that he defrauded multiple banks and insurance companies over a ten-year period. Nor are the 91 charges against him in his four criminal indictments. Nor is another ruling by a New York judge that he raped E. Jean Carroll and is liable for $5 million in civil damages. His base loves him for every scam he pulled, every norm he trashed, every law he broke."
"Even if Republicans wanted to do something to appeal to voters more broadly, they are hamstrung by what we call the Trump base – voters in thrall to the man more than to the party. That base is White, and it's old, compared to voters in general, and they are headed into two decades when this country will get increasingly younger and less and less White."
"This is not a good trend for the Republican Party, because politics is a game of numbers, and the numbers are going against them. It's good news for Democrats that there are more of us than there are of them, but only if we turn out and vote. We can't sit back and let the actuarial tables and the issue of abortion carry the day for us. There is power in numbers only if we exercise it with our votes. It's either that, or we won't have a vote that's worth anything anymore. Stand up and be counted. Vote."
It was a nail-biting day, but in the end, governance won.
I like that you inserted the bracketed period at the end of AO-C's quote.
Nice and early,Professor! Good for you....rest on the Sabbath!
Do Republicans not understand that they are Putin's puppets?