Hi Steve
Been awhile, the march wasn’t very successful, don’t recall any Russian territory taken, but then again all the interference from Russia to include brexit, Chechnya, Georgia, Moldova….. guess that is fine
wsj.com
snip
Democrats’ sweeping foreign-aid measure providing $110.5 billion for Ukraine, Israel and other global hot spots was blocked by Republicans in an initial procedural vote. Forty-nine senators backed the measure and 51 were against, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) had originally voted in favor, but he changed his vote in order to preserve the right to bring the bill up again. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, also voted against the measure.
In remarks just ahead of the vote, Biden warned that failure by Congress to pass new aid for Ukraine could ultimately lead the U.S. into direct conflict with Russia if it won and continued to march westward. He said the administration is willing to work with Republicans to do “significantly more” on border security to get a deal done while also chiding GOP lawmakers.
“Republicans think they get everything they want, without any bipartisan compromise. That’s not the answer,” Biden said. He accused them of “playing chicken with our national security.”
The White House has warned that the U.S. will be unable to continue providing weapons and equipment to Ukraine if no additional funding is approved by the end of the year.
The defeat on the Senate floor marked a major public blow for backers of Ukraine aid and raised fears that there isn’t enough political will in Congress to pass more assistance, which has topped $100 billion since the war began. But its failure also drew clearer lines on where both parties stand and could set the stage for several weeks of breakneck talks to reach a compromise before Christmas.
snip
wsj.com
By Siobhan Hughes, Matthew Luxmoore, Catherine Lucey
Dec. 6, 2023
Republicans Block Ukraine Aid Bill, Putting New Pressure on Border Talks
GOP demands border measures in exchange for supporting foreign-aid package
snip
Democrats’ sweeping foreign-aid measure providing $110.5 billion for Ukraine, Israel and other global hot spots was blocked by Republicans in an initial procedural vote. Forty-nine senators backed the measure and 51 were against, falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) had originally voted in favor, but he changed his vote in order to preserve the right to bring the bill up again. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, also voted against the measure.
In remarks just ahead of the vote, Biden warned that failure by Congress to pass new aid for Ukraine could ultimately lead the U.S. into direct conflict with Russia if it won and continued to march westward. He said the administration is willing to work with Republicans to do “significantly more” on border security to get a deal done while also chiding GOP lawmakers.
“Republicans think they get everything they want, without any bipartisan compromise. That’s not the answer,” Biden said. He accused them of “playing chicken with our national security.”
The White House has warned that the U.S. will be unable to continue providing weapons and equipment to Ukraine if no additional funding is approved by the end of the year.
The defeat on the Senate floor marked a major public blow for backers of Ukraine aid and raised fears that there isn’t enough political will in Congress to pass more assistance, which has topped $100 billion since the war began. But its failure also drew clearer lines on where both parties stand and could set the stage for several weeks of breakneck talks to reach a compromise before Christmas.
snip