Day: October 23, 2023

As The Country Runs Out Of Cash

We just had a debacle about the debt limit just a few mere weeks ago and the reports are that it will be even further in debt soon…..and with all this concern over debt and spending our president has almost demanded more cash for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

White House rolled out its proposed $105 billion bill to arm Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The legislation also includes funding for the border and humanitarian assistance. US officials say over $50 billion will go to American weapons manufacturers.

The Biden administration is proposing a massive aid package as it has struggled to get Congress to appropriate more funds for the proxy war in Ukraine. The largest portion of money is for Ukraine at $61.4 billion. The White House wants enough money for Ukraine to fund Kiev through the 2024 election.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the aid as critical to American national security and demanded Congress pass the bill. “This budget request is critical to advancing America’s national security and ensuring the safety of the American people,” Sullivan said. “The world is closely watching what Congress does next.”

Biden announced the legislation in a speech on Thursday night, “American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us in America safe. American values are what make us a partner nation you want to work with.” He continued,”to put all that at risk – we walk away from Ukraine, we turn our backs on Israel – it’s just not worth it. That’s why tomorrow I’m going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs – needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine.”

Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young, explained that nearly half of the money will go to American arms makers. “This supplemental request invests over $50 billion in the American defense industrial base, ensuring our military continues to be the most ready, capable, and best-equipped fighting force the world has ever seen,” she said.

Young claimed that the spending would bolster the American economy and create jobs. However, a study indicated that military spending costs more jobs than it creates.

(antiwar.com)

I have said this many times….why is others problems mean that the US must throw money at them?

I seldom see this kind of urgency when it comes to our social programs.

Why is that?  (Don’t answer that was rhetorical question)

Turn The Page!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Send In The Clowns

Ladies and gentlemen….boys and girls….welcome to the ‘Greatest Sh*t Show On Earth

The Saga of the House continues.

Poor Jordan lost the third round of voting for the speaker….and looks like he will succumb to pressure to bow out while he still has some dignity left….

The third time was most definitely not the charm for Jim Jordan on Friday. The Ohio congressman lost another ballot to become speaker of the House, as the hardline conservative and ally of former President Trump remained unable to overcome opposition from more moderate members of his own party. He lost the support of 25 Republicans Friday, even more than on Tuesday (20) and Wednesday (22), reports the Washington Post. He could afford to lose only four. The House has now been without a speaker since Kevin McCarthy’s ouster on October 3, and there appears to be no end in sight. In the meantime, House business remains in limbo.

Without Jordan brand to stupid what will the House do for leadership?

This is where the term ‘send in the clowns’ makes an appearance.

didn’t take long on Friday after House Republicans rescinded their speaker nomination of Rep. Jim Jordan for volunteers for the job to step forward. Before the day was out, 10 members had said they’re in or seriously considering a run, Axios reports. More than one of them said their reason for running basically is “somebody has to do it.” The next step scheduled is a candidate forum at 6:30pm Monday, and the soonest the full House could vote on a speaker is Tuesday. The last time the House considered actual legislation was Sept. 30, per the Washington Post. The possibilities so far are:

  • Tom Emmer, Minnesota: As majority whip, he holds the third-highest GOP post in the House. And he has the endorsement of the most recently ousted GOP speaker, per USA Today. Emmer “understands what it takes to win and keep a majority,” Kevin McCarthy said.
  • Mike Johnson, Louisiana: The vice chair of the House Republican Conference is spending his weekend on the phone trying to line up support, his spokesperson said. In a letter to GOP colleagues, Johnson said he’d bring the same organizational skills and “team emphasis” to the speakership that he’s employed in his current post, per NOLA.com.
  • Kevin Hern, Oklahoma: He leads the Republican Study Committee, the largest House GOP caucus, with about 170 GOP members. “We need a different type of leader who has a proven track record of success,” Hern said in a statement. He dropped the idea of running for speaker early this month after calling every House Republican to assess support, per USA Today.
  • Byron Donalds, Florida: He brings some built-in support as a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Donalds, who announced his candidacy on X, also ran for the job in January before losing to McCarthy, per the Naples Daily News.
  • Jack Bergman, Michigan: His announcement came instantly. “I’m only in this to do what’s best for our Nation and to steady the ship for the 118th Congress,” Bergman said in a statement.
  • Jodey Arrington, Texas: The House Budget Committee chair said he’s seriously considering running. “Why would somebody run when we’ve witnessed this seemingly tragic process play out?” he wondered, per the Texas Tribune. “But, you know, somebody’s got to run.”
  • Pete Sessions, Texas: The past chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and House Rules Committee bases his sales pitch on his performance in those posts, per the Texas Tribune. Sessions’ office issued a statement saying he “believes he can forge a positive path” and unite the conference.
  • Austin Scott, Georgia: He made his mark by challenging Jordan with a protest candidacy in the conference. Although he lost to Jordan 124-81, Scott said, “There’s a lot of people that appreciated what we did.”
  • Roger Williams, Texas: The chair of the House Small Business Committee said he’s still thinking about running. The Texas Tribune reports he’s a well-liked lawmaker. “We need a speaker for crying out loud,” Williams said. “We’ve got so much happening in the world.”
  • Dan Meuser, Pennsylvania: His candidacy depends what happens in the caucus, Meuser told National Review Online last week. “I’m considering it because I’m not gonna let this kindergarten continue,” he said.

And you thought this was going to be boring….now it will approach absurd.

Will the House have a leader before the Christmas break?

Stay Tuned!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”