For the past three weeks, the US has dealt with the chaos of not having a Speaker of the House of Representatives after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted, by his own party, largely for backing Ukraine assistance, a coup which was supported by every single democratic member of congress.
Without a Speaker, Congress cannot vote on any legislation, including on Democrat President Joe Biden's "urgent' initiatives to send assistance to Ukraine and Israel.
However, as of Tuesday, a new Speaker has been chosen: Congressman Mike Johnson. Johnson, an attorney from Louisiana, is an outspoken MAGA Republican, a supporter of President Donald Trump who believes that the 2020 Presidential elections were illegally falsified to prevent Trump's re-election.
On the matter of Ukraine, Johnson's views are well known.
Though when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Johnson expressed strong support "for the Ukrainian people," and voted in favor of the initial Lend Lease Act, he subsequently voted against Ukraine in all six House votes to give assistance to Ukraine.
This past August, Johnson wrote on X: "Bribery is specifically listed as one of the three causes for impeachment in our Constitution. Viktor Shokin [a former Ukrainian prosecutor] believes Joe Biden engaged in bribery to cover his son’s corrupt dealings in Ukraine. And we believe it, too. We WILL get to the bottom of this."
In February, Johnson questioned if the "Ukrainian government is being entirely forthcoming and transparent about the use of this massive sum of taxpayer resources."
‘Great News That This Is Finally Happening’ – Ukraine at War Update for April 23
Earlier the same month, Johnson referred to Biden's trip to Kyiv as being "a staggering disregard for the first priorities of his own country," continuing that Biden was "Shunning the people of East Palestine, OH," where a natural disaster had just taken place by "visiting Ukraine to promise endless amounts of American taxpayer dollars," something he considered to be "a terrible mistake."
Polling shows that a majority of Republicans oppose additional aid for Ukraine. Johnson, who represents strongly Republican Louisiana Congressional District 4, meaning that Johnson need not fear being beaten by a more balanced, pro-Ukraine candidate from the left, as 60% of voters will vote for him.
In such a strongly partisan district, this means that the only risk that Johnson runs is being outdone, by a right-wing candidate, in the primaries.
To avoid this, Johnson wins by being as far right as possible.
Given the Republican's strong opposition to Pres. Joe Biden, as the US Presidential Elections are little more than a year away, it is unlikely that Johnson will allow the House of Representatives to vote on the aid package for Ukraine that Biden has requested.
In the calculation of many Republicans, obstructing Biden from being able to realize his plans will count against the President, something they hope will give Republicans an electoral advantage.
As one Washington insider told Kyiv Post, if perhaps Johnson would allow a vote on Ukraine, "the last guy [Kevin McCarthy] got fired for a floor vote on Ukraine," so if the new Speaker allows a Ukraine vote to go to the floor and "it passes with more D votes than R votes," then Johnson "gets fired as Speaker."
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments (6)
Let’s give the man a chance and see what he can do. A caretaker speaker for the next two years could do fine - look at old Joe.
Here is the latest news from Washington D just posted in the US.
" New House Speaker Meets Biden to Discuss Funding Requests
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who was largely unknown a week ago, said the US would not abandon Ukraine, and that a Russian victory there would embolden not only Russia, but China regarding Taiwan. He added, however, that Ukraine aid would require more accountability on money already spent. "
This is not bad news for Ukraine. It's common sense, and the author of this article is misleading readers.
Let's be clear about one thing...trump is no friend to Ukraine.
Let's review...trump will backstab Ukraine. trump is working on his "24 hrs. plan" through backdoor deals with russia. trump's idol reagan did the same...backdoor deal with Iran. In this case, the better deal will be russia will be allowed to keep ALL current occupied Ukrainian land and Ukraine government will be forced to accept it under trump presidency.
October 2007: trump said putin’s doing a great job
December 2011: trump praised putin’s “intelligence” and “no-nonsense way” in his book “Time to Get Tough.”
June 2013: trump wonders if putin will be his “new best friend”
October 2013: trump says putin is outsmarting the US
October 2013: trump says putin is outsmarting the US
Oct. 11, 2015: trump says they had good ratings together
Nov. 10, 2015: trump reiterates that he and putin “were stablemates”
Dec. 17, 2015: trump returns putin’s praise
Dec. 18, 2015: trump defends against allegations putin has ordered the killings of journalists
Feb. 17, : trump says he’d be “crazy” to disavow putin’s praise
April 28: trump says maybe they’ll get along
July 29 2023: trump calls for conditioning Ukraine aid on congressional Biden probes. Ironically enough, trump was impeached already for having blackmailed Ukraine the first time by holding aid.
https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/28/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-quotes/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/politics/trump-putin-russia-timeline/
jack griffin, newsmax is not reputable, it is a pro russia pro trump propaganda outlet just like oan, gab, truth social, fox, breitbart, infowars, vk, rt, pravda, fort russ, sputnik, politnavigator and such.
The "MAJORITY" of republicans DO NOT support Ukraine..."Some 52% of Democrats backed arming Ukraine in the most recent poll, down from 61% in May. Among Republicans, support for sending weapons to Kyiv fell to 35% from 39% in May."
35% is NOT A MAJORITY.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-public-support-declines-arming-ukraine-reutersipsos-2023-10-05/
As a Ukrainian, I can no longer support my nation's war effort. When the idiot president zelenskyy supports an apartheid terrorist state who continues to bully it's neighbor YET condemns russia for doing the same to us, that does it for me.
As for this trumptard "jack griffin" it would be great if the folks at The Kyiv Post can take just five minutes from their very busy schedule of shilling for Israel and block this emotionally disturbed multi account troll...no one here uses profanity or insults but him and The Kyiv Post is ok with this.
The Kyiv Post has become a rag of a tabloid. Like jack griffins comments, they all stink.
Ukrainians are targeted for torture, death, rape, while we live in abundance.
Listening just now to Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, i thought of two of the many commandments of our hearts (i am not Jewish, but we share these commandments)
Not to stand idly by when another is in danger.
Try Not to insult, injure, harm another by your words.
These stand as arguments against cheap and hateful politicization in our hearts, and for extending our hand.
russian strategy has been to use lies, disinformation, discord, to stir up rage at one another.
Please cease politicizing instead of extending your hand. We outside Ukraine are not assisting ourselves or anyone by narcissistic self interest, and especially our petty hates, over all else.