Surprise! Surprise! Progress in Critterville

Democrats help advance Ukraine, Israel aid in rare rules move | The Hill

The House Rules Committee late Thursday night advanced a package of foreign aid bills — but only with help from Democrats who, in a rare move, supported the procedural vote amid opposition from a trio of hardline Republicans.

The panel voted 9-3 to adopt the rule, which governs debate for the legislation, with Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) opposing the effort.

The successful vote allows the full House to vote on the rule and open debate on three foreign aid bills — sending assistance to Israel, Ukraine and allies in the Indo-Pacific — plus a fourth that includes other national security priorities, such as a TikTok ban.

Rule votes — in committee and on the floor — are typically mundane, party-line occurrences, with the members from the majority party backing the rule and lawmakers in the minority party voting against it. But with conservatives voting against the rule out of opposition to Ukraine aid and the exclusion of border security measures, Democrats crossed the aisle to back the procedural vote.

The rule for the foreign aid legislation allows votes on specific amendments to the Ukraine, Indo-Pacific and national security measures. The Israel bill, however, will not have any amendments considered.

Also included in the rule is language that says if the House approves each of the four bills — they will receive separate floor votes — they will be merged together and sent to the Senate as one package.

Thursday night’s successful rule votes mark a crucial hurdle cleared for the foreign aid package, which has faced intense criticism from hardline Republicans since Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) unveiled the outline for his plan on Monday.

The legislation includes $26.38 billion for Israel, $60.84 billion for Ukraine and $8.12 billion for allies in the Indo-Pacific. The fourth national security bill features a ban of TikTok in the U.S. if the platform’s parent company does not sell it, language to send some of the new Ukraine aid in the form of a loan, and a provision that allows the administration to use seized Russian assets to help cover the costs of Ukrainian reconstruction.

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61 thoughts on “Surprise! Surprise! Progress in Critterville”

  1. and in NYC we have a jury … well, maybe.

    The judge in Trump’s hush money trial is finding it hard to keep personal information about jurors from leaking out, a new poll shows President Biden trailing his rival by double digits in a hot dog eating contest, and workers at a Connecticut bird sanctuary rescued two vultures who got intoxicated after dumpster diving.

  2. Did MAGA Mike actually grow a spine? Is he really going to defy the Trump-led Putin caucus and allow a vote on Ukraine aid?

    Call me suspicious, but hopeful.

  3. Does come as a bit of a surprise, doesn’t it?  Ironically he’s going against the RW of the party and the orange buffoon but is taking away a campaign talking point Dems would be using in November against the House repugs. And the MAGAt wing of their party is probably too stupid to understand that he may be giving them a chance in the Fall and will advance their move to vacate the chair.

  4. MTG now trying to put Russian propaganda in legislation.. This amendment that Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed today to sabotage the Ukraine bill had to come from her Russian handlers. The notion that Hungarians are being persecuted in Ukraine is insane BUT it’s being pushed by both Orban (who was promised a piece of Ukraine by Putin) and the Russian lie machine. I really doubt she or anyone on her staff are monitoring the situation in “Transcarpathian.”

  8. Politico: How Johnson and Biden locked arms on Ukraine

    Biden’s role in turning Johnson around is getting little play because typically Joe’s negotiating style is not to take credit for these things. But this was a classic example of Biden’s decades-long skill at dealing with even the most staunch opponents — “Never question their motives” he always says, “just figure out how far they can go, and get them there”. 

    https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/18/biden-johnson-ukraine-aid-00153237

  9. You’re just a Mr. here, mister.

    Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom and began proceedings for the day.

    “Good morning, Mr. Trump,” he said.

  10. Wow. Sen. Chris Murphy gets nasty on X:

    “Republicans are full of shit when they complain about the border. They killed the tough, bipartisan border security bill because Trump told them to keep the border a mess because it would help him politically.”

  13. 165 Democrats voted with 151 Republicans to allow Speaker Johnson’s foreign aid package to be passed Saturday. Now it’s up to MTG to move for his ouster or not. Trump still hasn’t taken a side.

  14. Addendum to the other day’s one:
     
    Ecce Homo: How One Becomes What One Is (German: Ecce homo: Wie man wird, was man ist) is the last original book written by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche before his death in 1900. It was written in 1888 and was not published until 1908.
    (Let’s get this geist a’zeiting)
    According to one of Nietzsche’s most prominent English translators, Walter Kaufmann, the book offers “Nietzsche’s own interpretation of his development, his works, and his significance.”[1] The book contains several chapters with self-laudatory titles, such as “Why I Am So Wise”, “Why I Am So Clever”, “Why I Write Such Good Books” and “Why I Am a Destiny”. Kaufmann’s Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist notes the internal parallels, in form and language, to Plato’s Apology which documented the Trial of Socrates. In effect, Nietzsche was putting himself on trial with this work, and his sardonic judgments and chapter headings can be seen as mordant, mocking, self-deprecating, or sly.
    Within this work, Nietzsche is self-consciously striving to present a new image of the philosopher and of himself, for example, a philosopher “who is not an Alexandrian academic nor an Apolloniansage, but Dionysian.”[2] On these grounds, Kaufmann considers Ecce Homo a literary work comparable in its artistry to Vincent van Gogh‘s paintings. Nietzsche argues that he is a great philosopher because of his withering assessment of the pious fraud of the entirety of Philosophy which he considered as a retreat from honesty when most necessary, and a cowardly failure to pursue its stated aim to its reasonable end. Nietzsche insists that his suffering is not noble but the expected result of hard inquiry into the deepest recesses of human self-deception, and that by overcoming one’s agonies a person achieves more than any relaxation or accommodation to intellectual difficulties or literal threats. He proclaims the ultimate value of everything that has happened to him (including his father’s early death and his near-blindness – an example of love of Fate or amor fati). Nietzsche’s primary point is that to be “a man” alone is to be actually more than “a Christ”.
     
    One of the main purposes of Ecce Homo was to offer Nietzsche’s own perspective on his work as a philosopher and human being. He wrote: “Under these circumstances I have a duty against which my habits, even more the pride of my instincts, revolt at bottom – namely, to say: Hear me! For I am such and such a person. Above all, do not mistake me for someone else!” Throughout the course of the book, he expounds — in the characteristically hyperbolic style found in his later period (1886–1888) — upon his life as a child, his tastes as an individual, and his vision for humanity. He gives reviews and insights about his various works, including: The Birth of Tragedy, The Untimely Meditations, Human, All Too Human, The Dawn, The Gay Science, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, On the Genealogy of Morality, Twilight of the Idols and The Case of Wagner. The last chapter of Ecce Homo, entitled “Why I Am a Destiny”, is primarily concerned with reiterating Nietzsche’s thoughts on Christianity, corroborating Christianity’s decadence and his ideas as to uncovering Christian morality.
    He signs the book “Dionysus versus the Crucified.”
    @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

    It got me to rolling thru there again….He’s always been reliably good company.

  18. One of the juror’s social media posts says that Trump “actually is the devil,” and the potential juror clarifies that maybe yes, he did post that. The challenge for cause is granted, and the juror is excused.

  19. https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/17/trump-campaign-fundraising-five-percent-00152830

    “In a letter received by Republican digital vendorsthis week, the Trump campaign is asking for down-ballot candidates who use his name, image and likeness in fundraising appeals to give at least 5 percent of the proceeds to the campaign.”
     

    “Beginning tomorrow, we ask that all candidates and committees who choose to use President Trump’s name, image, and likeness split a minimum of 5% of all fundraising solicitations to Trump National Committee JFC. This includes but is not limited to sending to the house file, prospecting vendors, and advertising,” Trump co-campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita wrote in the letter, which is dated April 15.

    They add: “Any split that is higher than 5% will be seen favorably by the RNC and President Trump’s campaign and is routinely reported to the highest levels of leadership within both organizations.”

  20. I’m not sure why it’s such a problem.  You can like or despise someone, but if the receipts are there to convict, you convict; if not, you don’t.  

    It’s about you doing the right thing, no matter your personal views or feelings.

  22. Someone has set themselves on fire for him.  Tell me it’s not a cult. 

    https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-apparently-sets-fire-courthouse-trump-trial/story?id=109433903

    “The man, Maxwell Azzarello, was badly burned and taken to a hospital in critical condition, officials said.”

    “Azzarello took pamphlets out of his backpack and threw them around the park before pulling out a canister, pouring a liquid on himself and lighting himself on fire, Jeffrey Maddrey, NYPD’s Chief of Department, said at a news conference.”

    The pamphlets appeared to be “propaganda-based,” officials said.

    It appeared Azzarello wasn’t targeting any particular person or group, officials said, describing him as a “conspiracy theorist.”

    “Azzarello is from St. Augustine, Florida, and arrived in New York earlier in the week, officials said. It appears he acted alone, officials said.”

    As Taylor’s new song goes, “Florida!! is one hell of a drug.” (not the point of the song, but…)

  23. I don’t know if news sources are legitimate, but I read there’s a lot more “stuff” coming out in the courtroom. It’s mostly emitting from Plumpty’s pants. Apparently people are going to need gas masks. I’m not quoting or linking until I hear from a trusted source but inquiring minds want to know. 
     

  26. Ivy, going to try out El Zun Zun Saturday night.

     
    Pogo, that awesome! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. You’ll be in my stomping grounds in the heart of Cahaba Heights. 

  29. Just now, after denying a slew of ridiculous Trump motions to delay, Judge Merchan said, “We’re going to have opening statements on Monday morning. This trial is starting.”

  30. https://www.newsweek.com/cnn-adam-kinzinger-donald-trump-odor-x-twitter-1853353
    According to CNN Senior Political Commentator and former GOP congressman Adam Kinzinger, the business mogul’s smell is “truly something to behold.”
    Kathy Griffin angered Trump supporters in March after claiming the property tycoon smelled “really bad” when she appeared on The Apprentice in 2010. 
    “One I did because of my dear departed, beloved Joan Rivers. The other one I did because Trump paid me a bunch of money to spend the day with Liza Minnelli and host a challenge.”
    “Liza and I tried to ignore him, but he does smell really bad.”

    Whatever it is, it’s not new.  Maybe he’s rotting from the inside out.  Maybe it’s his fake tanner.

  31. Yep, just a hop, skip and jump from sis’ house in Vestavia.

     
    Pogo, I’ve probably bumped into your sis at Publix!

  32. I’ve heard of the proverbial fart in church that everyone pretends not to notice. But in Court, that’s new. What are they supposed to do with that kind of distraction?!

  34. Media pool report..

    Today’s final moment: Trump stands at the end of a motions hearing and the judge quickly rebukes him.

    “Sir, can you please have a seat,” Justice Merchan said. 

    Trump sits. “Thank you,” says judge, who had not finished what he was saying.

    Not a big deal but illustrates the power reversal this trial is for Trump.

  35. Good on Judge Merchan.  Don’t let that sunovabitch get away with shit.

    Ivy, in all likelihood – that’s one of her go to grocery stores.

    And now, time to pack it up for the weekend and head down to Birmingham to go end my uncle off to whatever comes after.  I am having trouble wrapping my head around the concept that I am now the “patriarch” of the maternal side of my family. I’m not nearly responsible enough for that shit.

    (Is it OK to end two paragraphs with the same expletive?)

  38. “Hush Money Trial” is a weak moniker for what’s going on with this case.  No wonder my maggers are not taking it seriously. 

  40. Reports are that he hates the phrase “hush money” being used, so if it gets under his orange peel…

  41. Good to know. Maybe we can run “Hush-Money-Election-Fraud-Bribery Trial” up the flagpole and see how that flies. 

  42. The flimsy graduation day request is still pending?
     
    I’ve always felt sad for Barron whose father named him after one of his false personas and his mother let him do it.

  45. He did an interview and said he had originally wanted Eric to be named Barron.  This is his last chance to go yo one of his kid’s HS graduations, since it was stated he didn’t make it to anyone else’s.  Would he even show?  Would he work a rally in before/after?  What time of day is the ceremony?   Why is it on a Friday? That seems weird.

  46. Elevator. Harrumph. 

    Kids today don’t know how good they got it.

    Reeking of popcorn and lolly-pop.

  49. NYC to MD, is 4 or 5 hours by car.  If he uses the helipad on tRUMPsky tower he can be there in less than 2 hours. 

  51. 953K views and it’s only been up for 36 minutes.  Adolf wishes he could get that much attention.

  52. “Barron Trump deserves to be accompanied by his father at his high school graduation, just as Donald Trump was accompanied by his father, Fred, at his,” Stone wrote. “Just like every other graduating student in the United States!”

     
    So many holes in that claim, i won’t even.
    Well, just this one. Many high school graduates this year will be missing their father at graduation thanks to the malfeasance of the Donald Trump administration. 

  53. The pic of Fred and Donny to which Stone referred was from Donny’s college graduation.  

  54. they want to evoke such sympathy for a billionaire asshole
     
    wahh wahhh wahhh

    his brand is that of “unsympathetic billionaire asshole”, but i suppose past performance indicates grievance can be transferred successfully 🤷‍♂️

  57. The new Pearl Jam album also just dropped.  It’s much more radio-friendly than the new Swift double album.

  60. A positive cultural development i appreciate is the “little libraries” one might see around neighborhoods mounted on a 6×6” post with a plexiglass door
     
    Maybe i’ll throw some Nietzsche in there when i finish it

    ok, vote blue & keep government out of your private healthcare decisions ✌️

    PSA: if you might be considering setting yourself on fire, maybe try holding a lighter to a finger or toe for as long as you can first so you know how badly that will suck 🫡

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