McCarthey out as Speaker of the House - Bozo the clown on deck

[scombrid]

Hah. Tim Burchette and his “good buddies” George Knapp, Lou Elizondo, Jeremy Corbells, and the rest of the UFO scammers/grifters/conmen he gleefully invited to bullshit Congress. Fucking morons.

 

[lpetrich]

How Speaker Mike Johnson got the supplemental foreign-aid bill passed, and how he got around the more hardline members of his party.

The bill:
H.R.815 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
With $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for Taiwan.

On February 13, 2024, 05:14 AM the bill passed the Senate
D: Y 46, N 2
I: Y 2, N 1
R: Y 22, N 26, nv 1
Ttl: Y 70 N 29 nv 1

The non-R's who voted against it were Bernie Sanders I-VT, Jeff Merkley D-OR, Peter Welch D-VT

But when the bill arrived in the House, it was stalled from opposition to parts of it.

How the House Voted on Foreign Aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan - The New York Times

The Senate passed similar legislation in February. But in the face of distinct bases of opposition to different elements of the legislation, which threatened to tank the package as a whole, Speaker Mike Johnson advanced the foreign aid using a convoluted strategy: It split the package into three parts, each of which received its own vote, added a fourth bill with Republican priorities as a sweetener and melded it all together again once everything passed.

The plan, laid out in a rule that passed on Friday, was concocted to capitalize on the pools of support for each part of the $95 billion package, while preventing opposition to any one piece from taking down all of them.

 

[lpetrich]

H.Res.1160 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8034) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Israel and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8035) making emergency supplemental appropriations to respond to the situation in Ukraine and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8036) making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the Indo-Pacific region and for related expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8038) to authorize the President to impose certain sanctions with respect to Russia and Iran, and for other purposes; and providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 815, with an amendment. | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Yes, that's that resolution's full name.
On Apr 19, 2024, 11:01 AM that resolution passed
R: Y 151, N 55, nv 12
D: Y 165, N 39, nv 9
Ttl: Y 316, N 94, nv 21
The opponents were mainly the left wing of the Democratic Party and the right wing of the Republican Party: a horseshoe vote that brought together AOC and MTG.

 

[lpetrich]

H.R.8035 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
On Apr 20, 2024, 01:48 PM it passed
R: Y 101, N 112, P 1, nv 4
D: Y 210, nv 3
Ttl: Y 311, N 112, P 1, nv 7
Of those present, every Democrat voted for it and a little over half of the Republicans voted against it, including the right wing, the likes of MTG.

Marjorie Taylor Greene: Members Who Vote for Ukraine Aid Have to Join Army

One of the amendments would be to require that any House members who votes in favor of the Ukraine aid bill must join the Ukrainian military.

Two other amendments introduced by Greene to the Ukraine bill are to force Ukraine to close all its bio-laboratories before it receives any more money, and for a report to be carried out before any more funding is sent to prove that "Christian churches in Ukraine are able to operate free from government interference."

Greene also submitted an amendment to the Israel funding package, which would see more than $26 billion in aid, calling for the funds to also be used for the "development of space laser technology on the southwest border."

 

[lpetrich]

H.R.8034 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
On Apr 20, 2024, 01:57 PM it passed
R: Y 193, N 21, nv 4
D: Y 173, N 37, nv 3
Ttl: Y 366, N 58, nv 7
Another horseshoe vote, with the likes of MTG joining the likes of AOC in rejecting it.

For Taiwan:
H.R.8036 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
On Apr 20, 2024, 01:19 PM it passed
R: Y 178, N 34, nv 6
D: Y 207, P 1, nv 5
Ttl: Y 385, N 34, P 1, nv 11
Every present Democrat but Rashida Tlaib voted for it, and she voted "Present". The Republicans against it were mostly the right wing, like MTG.

The rest:
H.R.8038 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): 21st Century Peace through Strength Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Imposes sanctions on several entities, like Iran, also mandates divestment or shutdown of TikTok.

On Apr 20, 2024, 01:12 PM it passed
R: Y 186, N 25, nv 7
D: Y 174, N 33, nv 6
Ttl: Y 360, N 58, nv 13
Yet another horseshoe vote.

 

[lpetrich]

Senate Approves Aid Bill for Ukraine and Israel, Sending It to Biden - The New York Times - "The overwhelming bipartisan vote for the long-stalled $95.3 billion aid package capped a tortured journey for the legislation on Capitol Hill. President Biden is expected to quickly sign it."

Facing vehement opposition from his right flank to aiding Ukraine, Speaker Mike Johnson structured the legislation that way in the House to capture different coalitions of support without allowing opposition to any one element to defeat the whole thing. The majority of House Republicans opposed the aid for Kyiv.

US Senate passes $95bn aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan | US Senate | The Guardian

The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defenses against China.


...
In a move to bolster Republican support, the GOP-controlled House added a provision that would see TikTok blocked in the US unless its Chinese-owned parent company divests from the social media platform within a year. Much of the foreign aid section of the bill mirrors what the Senate passed in February, with the addition of a measure mandating the president seek repayment from Kyiv for roughly $10bn in economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans”, an idea first floated by Donald Trump, who was initially opposed to aiding Ukraine.

The Senate joined these four pieces and voted on them.

On April 23, 2024, 09:10 PM it passed
D: Y 46, N 2
I: Y 2, N 1
R: Y 31, N 15, nv 3
Ttl: Y 79, N 18, nv 3
Bernie Sanders voted against this one also, joined by fellow no voters JM and PW.

 

[lpetrich]

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Johnson's foreign aid package his '3rd betrayal' of American people | Fox News - "'I’m thankful that America gets to see who this man is,' Greene says"

"Everyone hung around to see if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., would introduce her resolution to dump House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La."

But she didn't, instead preferring to sound off about him.

"He did this [expletive] here on the House floor foreign war package that does nothing for America," Greene said.

She even spoke in near Biblical terms about the speaker. Greene didn’t invoke Peter’s three betrayals of Jesus, but she did declare that his advancement of the foreign assistance program as "the third betrayal by Mike Johnson." Greene said the other two were the passage of two major spending bills to avert government shutdowns and a reauthorization of a key law enforcement spying tool known as FISA Section 702.

"I’m thankful that America gets to see who this man is," said Greene. "He’s already a lame duck. If we have the vote today in our conference, he would not be speaker today."

Marjorie Taylor Greene says Mike Johnson needs to resign or be ousted

"He needs to do the right thing, to resign and allow us to move forward in a controlled process. If he doesn't do so, he will be vacated," Greene said in an interview on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo."

When questioned if that meant she would file the motion to vacate, Greene said it was coming "regardless of what Mike Johnson decides to do."

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls on Johnson to resign after foreign aid bills pass: ‘If he doesn’t do so, he will be vacated’ | CNN Politics

“Mike Johnson’s speakership is over. He needs to do the right thing to resign and allow us to move forward in a controlled process. If he doesn’t do so, he will be vacated,” Greene said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

...
Asked why she held off on the motion to vacate on Saturday, Greene claimed Sunday that she’s “been responsible with this the entire time” but suggested that the move will happen.

“All of this was possible because of the betrayals of Mike Johnson,” Greene said.

 

[lpetrich]

Bipartisan outrage boils over at threat to Mike Johnson's speakership - POLITICO

Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Good (R-Va.) were among the eight Republicans who voted to boot McCarthy last year. At the moment, Greene has less public backing for her plan to take down Johnson. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) are backing her gambit and more support could still come. Greene teased that Republicans who win special elections need to be aware of what’s going on in the House, as well.

Yet Johnson’s future may play out differently than last fall, when Democrats’ declined to save McCarthy. Johnson’s moves to keep the government funded and send money to U.S. allies suddenly has Democrats speaking highly of him, creating confidence in both parties they can defeat the coming vote from Greene.

...
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on ABC’s “This Week” that he would vote to table a motion to vacate through the end of this Congress and predicted that Johnson might have a “few progressive Democrats” voting to keep him in his job: “He did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job to the end of this term.”

In another sign of Democrats’ opposition to getting rid of Johnson, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said on “Fox News Sunday” that what Greene, Massie and Gosar are “trying to accomplish by removing the Speaker of the House in this very moment after October 7 would only embolden China, it would only embolden Russia. It would only embolden Iran.”

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Bipartisan outrage boils over at threat to Mike Johnson's speakership - POLITICO

Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Good (R-Va.) were among the eight Republicans who voted to boot McCarthy last year. At the moment, Greene has less public backing for her plan to take down Johnson. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) are backing her gambit and more support could still come. Greene teased that Republicans who win special elections need to be aware of what’s going on in the House, as well.

Yet Johnson’s future may play out differently than last fall, when Democrats’ declined to save McCarthy. Johnson’s moves to keep the government funded and send money to U.S. allies suddenly has Democrats speaking highly of him, creating confidence in both parties they can defeat the coming vote from Greene.

...
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said on ABC’s “This Week” that he would vote to table a motion to vacate through the end of this Congress and predicted that Johnson might have a “few progressive Democrats” voting to keep him in his job: “He did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job to the end of this term.”

In another sign of Democrats’ opposition to getting rid of Johnson, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said on “Fox News Sunday” that what Greene, Massie and Gosar are “trying to accomplish by removing the Speaker of the House in this very moment after October 7 would only embolden China, it would only embolden Russia. It would only embolden Iran.”

Johnson seems willing - so far - to tell the few crazies to go pound salt. I think if he simply resigns the House devolves into more chaos like it did after KMac lost the job. But if the legislation is good the Dems will keep him in power and Moscow Marge can keep pounding salt. The problem is that rational responses and observations don't apply to Moscow Marge and her ilk.

 

[lpetrich]

Completing the humiliation of MTG and her friends: Biden signs foreign aid bill providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine | CNN Politics

GOP senator: Greene ‘dragging our brand down’ | The Hill - Sen. Thom Tillis R-NC

“She is a horrible leader,” Tillis said of Greene, according to audio played on CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.” “She is dragging our brand down. She — not the Democrats — are the biggest risk to us getting back to a majority.”

He added that the Georgia Republican is “uninformed” and “a total waste of time,” per the clip, highlighted my Mediaite.

Dan Crenshaw Accuses Greene of Wanting Russia To Win - a Texas Republican Rep - "Dan Crenshaw Accuses Marjorie Taylor Greene of Wanting GOP to Lose the House: It’s ‘Bullsh*t’"

Marjorie Taylor Greene Rages At Mike Johnson - "‘This BULLSH*T!’ Marjorie Taylor Greene Rages At Mike Johnson After House Passes Ukraine And Israel Aid"

Rep Paul Gosar Backs Motion to Vacate Speaker Johnson - "The motion to vacate the speakership was filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and recently gained the support of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) as Johnson is attempting to push through billions in foreign aid in the House."

Marjorie Taylor Greene Declares MAGA Voters 'Done' With GOP - "Marjorie Taylor Greene Declares MAGA Voters are ‘Done With the Republican Party’ Because Speaker Johnson ‘Totally Sold Us Out’"

 

[lpetrich]

More: Biden signs Ukraine aid, TikTok ban package after Republican battle | Reuters

Trump defends Johnson as Marjorie Taylor Greene pushes to oust speaker | Fox News - "Greene is demanding House Speaker Mike Johnson resign or be removed over $95B foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel"

"Well, look, we have a majority of one, OK?" Trump told radio host John Fredericks on Monday. "It’s not like he can go and do whatever he wants to do. I think he’s a very good person. You know, he stood very strongly with me on NATO when I said NATO has to pay up …It’s a tough situation when you have. I think he’s a very good man. I think he’s trying very hard. And again, we’ve got to have a big election."

...
Trump did praise Johnson for having secured as part of the package that Ukraine would receive more than $9 billion of economic assistance in the form of "forgivable loans."

"We’ve got to election some people in Congress, much more than we have right now," Trump continued. "We have to elect some good senators. Get rid of some of the ones we have now, like Romney and others. And we have to have a big day, and we have to win the presidency. If we don’t win the presidency, I’m telling you I think our country could be finished… We are absolutely a country in decline."