In a tense game of chicken, remarkable for its mix of petulance and audacity, congressional Republicans are threatening to halt U.S. aid to Ukraine—guaranteeing a Russian breakthrough and possible victory in that war—unless Democrats help pass a bill that all but locks down America’s Southern border.

If the impasse isn’t resolved by the end of next week, when Congress goes on recess until the new year, the Ukrainian army could run out of ammunition. President Joe Biden could resupply the arsenal from U.S. stockpiles without legislative approval, but the move would be temporary, and the signal sent—that Ukraine, and by implication other allies, can no longer count on U.S. support in a pinch—could be a holiday cork-popper for Russian President Vladimir Putin and all of our other adversaries.

  • Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world
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    Throughout history, conservatives have always supported genocide. Harming the vulnerable brings genuine joy to conservatives. You can see this in their movies, comedy and news media. They thrive on the misery of others.

    Be careful in your dealings with conservatives. They do not value the lives of others the way a normal person does.

    • hh93@lemm.ee
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      The most basic difference between “left” and “right” on the political spectrum is that left-leaning people believe every human is worth the same and should get the same chances while right wing people believe humans are fundamentally different and the ones on the top deserve their place as much as the ones on the bottom.

      That’s also why so many libertarians (or just recently proclaimed anarcho capitalists) are actually right-wing since they believe in unequal distribution of chances and quality of life based on capitalist principles and it’s also why moderates that claim to be neither right nor left usually lean more right

    • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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      Then why are the Democrats supporting genocide? That ain’t Trump’s state department and UN ambassador vetoing a ceasefire.

      The US deputy ambassador, Richard Mills, said the US would not give up on its aim of removing Hamas, explaining America wanted “to break the cycle of unceasing violence so that history does not keep repeating itself”. He said a ceasefire now “would only plant the seeds for the next war because Hamas has no desire to see a durable peace. Our goal should not be to stop the war for today but to stop the war for ever”.

        • pandacoder@lemmy.world
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          I think that’s part of it, but I the government is also using Israel as a proxy, and we do have silicon manufacturing there. The government has a vested military and security interest in Israel (money and power is far more important, the votes are a bonus).

          Unlike all of the other countries in the Middle East, Israel is surrounded only by enemies. Israel can’t turn on the US without a replacement military superpower, so they’re effectively bound to the US for guaranteed protection.

          Example: Despite Iran’s posturing they weren’t going to attack knowing they’d get a military response from the US if they did. They almost certainly could get away with attacking a different country the US isn’t protecting though without anything more than sanctions.

          • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
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            The US can support Israel’s right to exist along with the Palestinians too and could pressure Israel to have a more reserved response that didn’t kill so many Palestinian civilians. And in fact it’s clear many in the administration want this. However as there are definitely ardent Israel supporters that have no empathy for the civilians plight and that have deep pockets and long memories, it appears Biden is very reluctant to offend them right before an election.

            • pandacoder@lemmy.world
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              None of this is mutually exclusive with what I said and you got really close to my point…

              that have no empathy for the civilians plight and that have deep pockets

              I keep seeing everyone talking about only a few groups:

              • those who do not give a shit about/hate Palestinians
              • those who only care about Israel
              • and those who actually give a shit about innocent people not suffering

              I’m not seeing anyone mention the group of people who do not care about Israel as a people either and only want to protect their money and power and view Israel as a tool to do so.

              That last group is currently escaping the headlines which are essentially all about people who are vocally pro-/anti-Israel or pro-/anti-Palestinians and not about the group who care about neither. The last group needs more attention because they will be funding the next war too.

      • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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        I think the issue here, hence why you’re getting dragged, is Democrat ≠ progressive, therefore your comment is a bit of a non sequitur.

        • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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          It is a non sequitur. I just found it odd to scorn conservatives for genocide while not mentioning that Democrats are actively abetting a current one.

          • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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            I think it’s a non sequitur because American Democrats ARE conservatives, as is noted later. With that in mind, the comment chain reads as:

            Them: Conservatives have always supported genocide.

            You: Then why is the other conservative group supporting genocide?

            I believe a significant chunk of the site agrees with you regarding the subject matter, I’m just pointing out why I believe it’s not going over well. Take it or leave it, I’m just trying to provide constructive criticism.

            Edit: shit, i read your comment as “it is not a non sequitur”. I’m too tired, words hard, leaving original comment for posterity.

            • TokenBoomer@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Don’t apologize for being secure enough to apologize. There is so much negativity on here, that you absorb it without realizing. Much love 💕

    • cheesebag@lemmy.world
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      Maybe. Probably some. But I think it’s more accurate to say that for a lot of then, the suffering is acceptable.

      On the Left Right and Center podcast, the conservative Rich Lowry once said it was ridiculous to say Republicans hate children. I think that’s true in the sense of, if you left a baby alone in a room with a Republican, it would be ok. But if that Republican could earn a penny of profit from killing that kid, you better start planning that funeral cause they’re toast.

    • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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      I know! The movie Lady Ballers? Seriously, what the fuck is going on there. I get that comedy often comes at the expense of someone, even if it’s just the comic or a fictional character or situation, but that movie… It’s cruel humor that dehumanizes people and mocks their pain. Anyone who supports it is a rotten person.

  • Bleeping Lobster@lemmy.world
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    Republicans are scumbags. If you’re a republican reading this, ask yourself what it is about your brain that makes you support true evil.

    Do you feel small inside? Like you didn’t get what you wanted from life, so now others should suffer?

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        This is a stupid question, but what is connection of fear-based thinking and not surprising Ukraine or supporting Putin?

        • spaceghotiOP
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          The Republican base is taught to fear. Fear liberals, fear diversity, fear whatever they’re told to fear. A generation ago they were told to fear Russia, so we opposed Russians with all our strength. They’re told the only salve for their fear is a strong leader.

          Now, today, Putin presents himself as a strong leader and suddenly Russia is no longer to be feared but admired. So what that he wants to rebuild the Soviet Union by invading the nations around him? Trump says he’s a good guy, so obviously when he says he’s invading Ukraine for their own good he must be telling the truth.

          They follow anyone who presents themselves as strong and confident because that allays their fears somewhat. And since their current leaders like Russia and don’t like Ukraine, that’s what they’re supporting.

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    Yeah, we have to closely watch the dollars spent on this war, from the very same party that had no problem funding the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and letting them go on indefinitely…and the very same party that used to be so staunchly anti-Russia.

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    Biden has pulled off other victories in the past that we all thought were dead.

    Let’s hope he can do it again.

    • NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social
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      It’s like when your mom used to give you money to buy her a gift for Christmas. Except this time you’d be a treasonous rat-faced fucking traitor and your mom would be a Russian asshole.

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        Every conservative is already a traitor to humanity, so this is kind of on brand. 😇

  • psycho_driver@lemmy.world
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    I’m surprised stopping immigration is so high on the Republicants handlers lists right now, considering there’s not enough people willing to work menial jobs as-is and that doesn’t seem to be changing.

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      They found a loophole. They don’t need adults to do those jobs anymore. Unaccompanied minors aren’t turned away at the border and multiple states are removing child labor laws. Now we have unaccompanied immigrant children working fun time making cars in Ford and GM factories, Cheerios, and all sorts of other things for pennies, all here in the US.

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        They aren’t working for Ford or GM. What the fuck with this? Even if the companies wanted to, the unions wouldn’t stand for it. I’m going to need a reputable source for this.

        Edit: Or downvotes. That’s a perfectly reasonable way to respond to doubt and incredulity.

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          Their example was a bit simplistic. They are working in the supply chain and several other, less unionized, industries like meat packing and processed food.

          • MagicShel@programming.dev
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            What the OC said and this are not at all the same thing. You’re right. They’ll be in B2B companies and construction and food service. But what OC explicitly said was “in Ford and GM factories” and “making cars.”

            It might be fair to say this of any big company who has B2B workers working in their factories. A lot of companies outsource janitorial services for example and could have kids in them. But a company like GM or Ford doesn’t want to get their hands dirty by directly hiring illegals, and the UAW would never stand for an outside company doing work the union could do.

            Of all the defensible examples they could’ve used, those two are the least likely to be implicated. Hence my incredulity. If they have a beef with the auto industry or American automakers, this was the wrong thread to pull them out as the go to bad guy.

    • makyo@lemmy.world
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      The free market / capitalist part of the GOP is dead and gone. They don’t care about labor, the budget, spending, anything - they just care about getting power and keeping power. They also don’t really intend to do anything they claim to care about, it’s all just about fluffing up the base.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      The faction of Republicans that now firmly control the House have ties to Russia. Don’t forget all the stuff we’ve learned in the last 7 years. This isn’t good faith.

  • Haywire@lemm.ee
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    A victory that will solidify China and Russia and embolden them against Taiwan, moving us straight into WW3. A little deterrence could go a long way right now.

      • theotherone@kbin.social
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        Careful. That’s how they want you to think about others. Ruthless means literally without compassion. Now granted, you may need to dig deep in some cases.

  • Alien Nathan Edward@lemm.ee
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    If the impasse isn’t resolved by the end of next week, when Congress goes on recess until the new year

    You ever notice how many of these critical bills come up and the news is like “they have 25 minutes to negotiate before Congress goes on one of its biannual 5 month vacations”? Like, I know the theory is that they’re supposed to spend that time in their districts dealing with their constituents but by show of hands does anyone feel like their congressperson actually gives any sort of a wet shit about them or their district?

    • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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      I’ve said it before. We need to make congress and the supreme court live in their respective buildings during their tenure, like a prison.

  • SoleInvictus@lemmy.world
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    This is what happens when you get locked into having only two major viable political parties. This shit is going to continue unless the American political system is reformed to allow multiple viable parties, for example with ranked-choice or approval voting.

    Both parties Apparently just fucking Republicans will fight against this tooth and nail.

    • Something_Complex@lemmy.world
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      The rest of the world doesn’t have a humongously big arsenal that they can donate the weapons from in order to buy more BC they aren’t the richest economy in the world. Even if the EU had enough between all the countries the lack of central gov really makes it harder

      • pete_the_cat@lemmy.world
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        There are a bunch of countries that have arsenals almost as big as the US. We aren’t the only ones that are able to help, we just love getting involved in other countries conflicts.

        • MutilationWave@lemmy.world
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          The US has more military power than the rest of the top 10 combined. What countries do you think rival the US in terms of military might?

          • Mirshe@lemmy.world
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            In fact, we have so much random bullshit laying around from previous wars that we ship it off to allied nations pretty regularly - then we STILL had so much that we started selling it to random police departments and mercenary outfits in the US with the stipulation that the DoD can just roll up and take it back if they really need it.

    • fluxion@lemmy.world
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      EU is trying to pass $50 billion in aid but US Republicans aren’t the only politicians stroking Putin’s balls

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      If only the US democrats and republicans hasn’t lobbied and pushed for this war to happen.

      Oh I’m sorry. Forgot you can’t say that and we have to pretend Russia woke up one day and decided to invade… Sigh.

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        As an American I can say for sure I don’t give a shit about that war. There is no scenario at all that if situations were reversed we would get the sort of support we’ve given from anyone.

  • Sami_Uso@lemmy.world
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    Maybe Dems shouldn’t have tried to shoehorn Israel funding into that bill if they really gave a shit about Ukraine. Yes we all know Republicans are awful, I’m getting pretty tired of hearing how Dems are “the good guys”.

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      Israel was the way to get Republicans on board. Democrats would have absolutely done Ukraine by itself and they have many times. Republicans are the ones stopping it.

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          Republicans aren’t on board because they want more. Every Republican in the House voted for the bill that sent funds to Israel and cut funding to the IRS, most Democrats voted against it. So Republicans want to fund Israel, Democrats want to fund Ukraine, compromise would be to fund both, right? But Republicans then demanded Conservative Southern border policy changes too, and that is why talks fell apart. That is where we stand now.

        • spaceghotiOP
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          Are you assuming that Republicans are negotiating in good faith? That would be a mistake on your part.

  • PatFusty@lemm.ee
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    Where is EU with their funding? Surely the threat of having a neighboring nation would sway into helping more right? Right?