Arizona Democratic Congressional Reaction to the Russian Threats to Invade Ukraine

 Over the past 24 hours, Vladimir Putin's intentions toward Ukraine have become clearer with his announcement yesterday that he was recognizing two eastern (separatist influenced) Ukrainian regions (Luhansk and Donetsk) as independent breakaway republics. Putin has already sent forces there. Approximately 150,000 Russian troops are massed on the Russian and Belarus borders with Ukraine.

Mr. Putin also confirmed his desire to reincorporate Ukraine (or at least have a friendly government with close ties) into Russia.

The Biden/Harris Administration and its N.A.T.O. allies have reacted with sanctions against Russia and the two Ukrainian breakaway regions. They continue to send aid to Ukraine and have shifted forces to Poland and the Baltic States (N.A.T.O.) members.

Please watch President Biden's comments to the nation earlier today.

It is gratifying to have a President that will stand up to Putin instead of of a fifth columnist-Vichy ex Chief Executive (Mr. Trump) who called Putin's moves into Ukraine "genius" and said that the situation would be different if the 2020 election had not been rigged against him.

Most of  Arizona's Democratic Congressional Delegation has posted statements on social media supporting the stance of the Biden/Harris Administration toward Russia.

Senator and Naval Aviator/Astronaut Mark Kelly posted:

https://twitter.com/SenMarkKelly/status/1496190460511072265

 

CD-7 Representative and Iraq War Veteran Ruben Gallego issued several posts on social media including:

https://twitter.com/RepRubenGallego/status/1496222193629511684

https://twitter.com/RepRubenGallego/status/1496222196330647552

https://twitter.com/RepRubenGallego/status/1496222199698571265

https://twitter.com/RepRubenGallego/status/1496222202441748481

Current CD-1 Representative Thomas O'Halleran issued a statement, writing:

“I am horrified by the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in invading the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The United States and its Allies must move swiftly and immediately with the strongest of sanctions against Russia. Any aggressive actions taken by Russian separatists in the Donbas should be looked upon as an attack by the Kremlin against a sovereign nation and further violation of the Minsk agreements and international law. We must support Ukraine economically and continue to defend its democracy, as we have done for decades. This conflict could very well lead to countless deaths of women, children, and Ukrainian families, and the sanctity of democracies in Eastern Europe and around the world. I pray that ceasefire comes quickly.”

 

CD-9 Representative and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton posted:

https://twitter.com/RepGregStanton/status/1495949289306087430

 

New Congressional One District Candidate Ginger Sykes Torres issued a statement that read:

“Like many Arizonans in Congressional District 1, I am troubled by the events occurring in Europe. The United States should continue to work together with the international community to exhaust all diplomatic options as they pertain to the threat of Russian aggression against Ukraine. However, diplomacy must be matched with the promise of swift deterrence through economic sanctions, weapons distribution to Ukraine, and immense pressure from the international community. Above all else, protecting the lives of innocent civilians is paramount.

“In Congress, I would commit to ongoing crippling sanctions against Russia, members of its government, and Vladamir Putin if necessary. I will always vote to hold any foreign power in check that seeks to disrupt the sovereignty of a democratic nation. This cannot be a partisan issue.

“We must make clear to the world that the United States and our allies will not tolerate a regression to the short-sighted 20th-century conquests that resulted in two World Wars and global instability. There must always be consequences for the international community’s bad actors. In Congress, I will live by that creed every moment I serve.”

Ukraine must not become the next Czechoslovakia. Those two breakaway republics, if at all possible, must not be allowed to become the next Sudetenland.

Furthermore, the United States and the west have to take their stand and show unified strength here (via massive sanctions and isolating Russia)or Mr. Putin may eventually eye the Baltic States (that are N.A.T.O. members) next to pull back into the old Imperial and Soviet Russian orbits.

Do not repeat the mistakes of Britain and France toward Italy and Germany in the 1930's.

Everyone knows how that worked out.

The Democratic Nations need to show again that collective security has a backbone.

 

Editorial Cartoon with Mr. Clemmons/Twain

 

Historical Rankings of the Presidents

 On this President's Day, please check out Siena College's rankings of the Nation's Chief Executives from Washington to Trump.

Photo from Amazon.

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/presidents-ranked-worst-best/

Editorial Cartoons for the Week

 

Brooks and Capehart from February 18, 2022

 

There is Bipartisanship in Washington D.C. ; Unfortunately it does not Include Build Back Better or Voting Rights

Photo from NPR.

Apparently, small ball is just as prevalent in Washington D.C. as it is in baseball.

While the big headline bills of Build Back Better, increased voting rights, immigration reform, and justice reform languish (for now,) other less "controversial" (to Republicans) and vitally important bills are garnering widespread support.

According to reporting by NBC News, Congress and the Biden/Harris Administration appear to be ready to either consider, conclude, approve and sign off on legislation to:

• Renew the Violence Against Women Act.
• End the practice of making sexual assault and harassment victims go through arbitration.
• Do away with the United States Postal Service requirement to pay benefits a decade in advance.
• Forbid insider trading among members of Congress.
• Make the country more competitive with China (this may serve as an additional job creating supplement to the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed last year.)
• Ensure that no one launches steal the election efforts following Presidential Elections by reforming the Electoral Count Act.

Are all these bills perfect?

No.

For example, the Violence Against Women Act renewal left out the provision of forbidding abusers from having access to firearms.

The bill is still significant and important to victims for the other provisions that remained.

The other legislative measures are also vitally important and will help move the country forward and improve people's lives.

That is not to say the Democrats should not continue to fight for a version of Build Back Better, Voting Rights, Immigration Reform, and Justice Reform.

It is astounding that many Republicans would be against measures that would:

• Extend the child tax credit.
• Provide for Universal Pre K.
• Provide cleaner forms of energy and sustainability options.
• Expand access to affordable health care.
• Expand voting access.
• Provide DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship.
• Create a data base for bad cops.

Hopefully, some version of these larger pieces of legislation will find its way to President Biden's desk before the elections in November.

They would be good of the country and the people.

Republicans Calling January 6 "Legitimate Political Discourse" is Another Reason Children Should Be Exposed to More Literature and History in Schools

Photo from Education Week

The former party of Lincoln, still officially known as the Republican Party has continued its transformation into an Authoritarian It Can Happen Here Entity that would make 1984's George Orwell cringe.

After decades of catering to white grievance to win the Southern bloc and scare suburban residents in battleground states, the party, as previous Blog for Arizona articles have noted, has accelerated its transformation to a minority rule-apartheid party that denies knowledge (mainly history and science,) promotes and enables big lies (The election was stolen from Donald Trump and the COVID vaccine is the Mark of the Beast,) and looks for any way to suppress the vote and maintain power (the 2000 Presidential Election for example.)

The Republican National Committee (RNC) Statement of February 4, 2022 censuring Lynne Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their participation in the January 6, 2021 House Select Investigation Committee on the domestic terrorist attack on the Nations Capitol demonstrates another example of the Orwellian twists the former Party of Lincoln has employed to feed a false narrative to its base in a quest to increase power in the 2022 elections.

In their statement, the RNC said that Cheney, Kinzinger, and the Democrats on the January 6 Committee were conducting an investigation that resulted in the “persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”

According to reporting by the New York Times, Republican Party officials like Mitch McConnell, Mitt Romney, and Bill Cassidy (all Senators whose members are in statewide races this year) tried to clarify the statement, saying it did not apply to the rioters.

Well, who does the statement apply to then?

Who is getting persecuted?

Kevin McCarthy who had that phone call with Trump when the rioters wanted to hang Mike Pence?

Jim Jordan who had at least one phone call with Trump that day?

Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, or Mo Brooks who may have been involved in the planning of the January 6 events?

Trumps lawyers and Executive Branch appointees, some of whom are taking advantage of fifth amendment protections against self incrimination during Committee questioning?

These individuals and the rioters that followed their alt reality sirens do not seem like ordinary citizens who are being persecuted while conducting legitimate political discourse.

These seem like criminals who have been caught committing serious crimes called treason and sedition.

What this says about Republican Efforts to Ban Books and Curtail the Study of History?

When Republicans try spreading this fecal matter about January 6, 2022, it should make people realize why they are trying to ban books and curtail the study of history.

Think about it.

How much easier would it be to have a society that did not read thought provoking books like Orwell or Huxley or Bradbury or Clemens or Hawthorne or Atwood?

How uncomplicated would ruling become if the people had no true sense of the nation's past or the dark episodes in the country's history that demand recognition and addressing?

In Arizona for example, there are legislative efforts to restrict what children can read, mandates to how history should be taught (how can you not blame the Nazi's for the Holocaust or the South for slavery,) and discrimination against membersof the LGBTQ community in school athletic programs.

There are similar efforts across other Republican controlled states across the country.

When members of the former Party of Lincoln are trying to paint January 6, 2022 as an event where "ordinary citizens (were) engaged in legitimate political discourse,” is it any wonder that Republicans are supporting efforts stifling the development of young minds.

That is why it is vital that children are exposed to more literature and history in schools, not less.

An informed and well educated populace is the best weapon against these odious voices of reactionism and the big lies.

Everyone that believes in the value of a good public education should contact their local leaders and call on them to stop these Orwellian designs to indoctrinate children by promoting ignorance instead of scientific, cultural, and historical literacy.

If these leaders do not listen, the November elections are only nine and a half months away.