Posted on 12/05/2023 5:16:03 PM PST by SeekAndFind
House Speaker Mike Johnson issued an ultimatum to Joe Biden on Tuesday, saying there will be no more funding for Ukraine before the administration works with Congress first to make extensive reforms to the U.S. immigration system, creating an immediate dilemma for Biden.
Now we're talking. The question is, will Johnson stick to his guns?
Johnson's ultimatum was in response to Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young sending a letter to House and Senate leaders on Monday warning that funding for Ukraine would likely run out by the end of the year. Young wrote, in part:
There is no magical pot of funding available to meet this moment. We are out of money—and nearly out of time. Cutting off the flow of U.S. weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories.
Already, our packages of security assistance have become smaller and the deliveries of aid have become more limited. If our assistance stops, it will cause significant issues for Ukraine.
This appears to put Biden between a rock and a hard place, which should be interesting.
Moreover, given the depth of the bitter chasm over border security and immigration reform in Congress, Johnson's ultimatum has teeth. That is, as I suggested, if he stands firm (yours truly said, with images of John Boehner, Paul Ryan, and Mitch McConnell dancing menacingly in his head).
Johnson put it this way:
[Ukraine aid is] dependent upon enactment of transformative change to our nation's border security laws.
The Speaker first floated the idea of linking Ukraine aid and Biden's border disaster in November.
The American people feel very strongly about this, and I do as well. We have things that we can and should do around the world, but we have to take care of our own house first.
As long as the border is wide open, we're opening ourselves up for great threats. And again, it's just a matter of principle that if we're going to take care of a border in Ukraine, we need to take care of America's as well. And I think there's bipartisan support for that idea.
Bingo: "If we're going to take care of a border in Ukraine, we need to take care of America's as well." Name one country on the planet whose leaders — other than the Biden administration, that is —disagree with that statement.
Not to belabor the point, but based on the weak-kneed pattern of the previously-named former Speakers — and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell — I'd venture a bet that a majority of Republican voters (including this one) familiar with Johnson's ultimatum are skeptical as hell.
In other words, Mr. Speaker, words — particularly ultimatums — without actions to back up those words are cheap.
Make that worse than cheap. Why? Because Democrats are like spoiled children. Threaten to punish a spoiled child without following through, and what message does that send to the kid? Exactly.
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Much as I support aid to Ukraine, this is a very reasonable position.
I like this guy.
Mike Johnson, Lindsey Graham, even Mitch McConnell all sounding like Putin Puppets and Putin Puffers. My, has the worm turned.
Biden lumped everything together....Israel Ukraine Taiwan...etc etc. Border funding was for moving people around and paying off cities like NY, Illinoise...not for stopping incoming. And they also want amnesty for those already here.
Good for Johnson. I hope he has staying power.
Tough talk, all for show.
How about extensive immigration reforms AND no more funds for Ukraine?
That works for me.
There are ways for a girl like you to kick in on a personal basis. I'm sure Zelensky will thank you.
What you’re saying makes no sense at all.
Less talk.more action on stopping the invasion would be nice.
this invasion has to stop.
All we need is for those bastards to ENFORCE the existing law. Get rid of that enemy Mayorkas. Arrest invaders wherever they are. Deport them. Lock them up. Fine the hell out of them. Break the families up (if there are any). Don't EVER let those people that are returned and deported to ever enter the USA legally. Ever.
It really isn't hard.
I didn’t read the article.
However, I think I like this guy’s strategy. Its Offensive. Not Defensive. He may be a good Trump allies in future.
That’s because he’s a Russian shill - English is not his first language.
And he’s an a-hole.
We’ll see.
“Mike Johnson, Lindsey Graham, even Mitch McConnell all sounding like Putin Puppets and Putin Puffers. My, has the worm turned.”
Have you been to Ukraine to fight Putin? Or you just like to sit back and have someone else fight and die for you to make you feel better about yourself?
How about ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS currently on the books and turn BIDEN'S BORDER CONCIERGE SERVICE back into the Immigration & Customs ENFORCEMENT and BORDER PATROL as they SHOULD be?!!!!
Nuremberg-style trials for Joe and his minions for aiding and abetting the INVASION at our borders!
“All we need is for those bastards to ENFORCE the existing law.”
It makes sense to you; it makes sense to me; but it makes no sense to the PTB. And therein is the problem: The PTB care not one whit about us, or the country in general. They only care about their agenda.
Why do we conflate two disparate ideas.
Our border needs to be secured and our illegals deported. it has nothing to do with any other country.
Wow the pendulum swings. Democrats were even pitching Ukraine war as a real jobs maker in America, so we're not really wasting that money. They buy American weapons with it, he said.
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