CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH

Greetings. I am a voting constituent in rural west Texas. Quandary of the moment. Will America continue with its role as leader of the free world? Or will we retreat behind a wall of our own making, leaving the world to do as it pleases while we fight amongst ourselves in lives of constant, persistent aggrievement and discord? Those seem to be the stark choices presented. Will we fund and support allies as they fight their wars against oppression and conquest, so we, hopefully, won’t have to? Or will we say Nerts to you, you’re on your own? Quid pro quo baby. Will our Congress rise to the moment and fight for what they know is vital to our and the world’s security? There seem to be small growing signs that the answer will be YES.. During a visit to Kyiv on Friday, a bipartisan delegation of House lawmakers vowed to do their part to pass a national security emergency supplemental bill that includes about $60 billion related to Ukraine and another $35 billion for Israel, the Indo-Pacific and to replenish U.S. weapons stocks. For months, MAGA lawmakers in both the House and Senate have been able to stop more U.S. aid going to Ukraine by pretending to be negotiating in good faith. Now, it seems responsible lawmakers in both chambers are finally realizing that obstructionism is not a means to an end for the MAGA crowd — it is their end. To get national security funding done — or anything else in Congress — leaders in both parties must work against or around them, not with them. National-security-minded Democrats and Republicans must move quickly to pass the full funding through both chambers, using whatever maneuvers it takes. This bill was delayed for four months because House Speaker Mike Johnson and his MAGA allies insisted they would support Ukraine aid only in conjunction with a deal to address the border. But then the big guy came out against that border deal even before it was released — a sure indication their demand for concessions was merely a delay tactic. Poof. If MAGA obstructionists, and this guy, and I quote — “One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump recalled during a SC rally. “I said, ‘You didn’t pay. You’re delinquent.’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.” — start viewing every attempt to protect our national security interests as financially transactional and little more than exercises in chest thumping, how long will America remain America? That’s a fair and legitimate question to ask. Or as Nikki Haley’s husband responded to an attack by your leading draft dodger on his current deployment overseas, “The difference between humans and animals? Animals would never allow the dumbest ones to lead the pack.” Can we please please please prove him wrong about us?