Progressive Dems are blocking the Ukraine discharge petition - link

[Alhena]

House Democratic leadership’s plan to throw its weight behind a discharge petition that would force the Senate supplemental on the floor is running into a progressive roadblock.

Left-wing members upset with the devastating war in Gaza are hesitant to back the petition thanks to $14 billion in unconditional aid that would go to Israel if the proposal is adopted.

For every progressive member who refuses to sign the petition, Democrats need a Republican to fill the void. That’s unlikely given the existence of a competing discharge petition — led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) — that’s gained the support of a number of moderate Republicans and Democrats.

Most progressive lawmakers we spoke with said they were on board with every provision in the Senate foreign aid bill except for Israel. With more than 30,000 Palestinians already dead in the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, these progressives would only support defensive weapons for Israel.

“Sending an additional $14 billion to Israel right now while there’s collective punishment and starvation continues, I don’t support doing that,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) told us.

Reps. Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) also told us they don’t want to give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government more money for weapons.

“The offensive weapons being used in Gaza is where I have really significant reservations,” Casar told us. “That’s why I’m not on it today.”

Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) echoed that sentiment, saying she was fine with most provisions in the petition. She also said Democrats shouldn’t have to bail out Republicans on the issue of foreign aid.

“This is a Republican issue. They have to figure out how to bring it to the floor,” Jayapal told us. “I’m just not inclined to sign on — certainly not at this time.”

Prominent progressive Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) said they were still in the process of reviewing the details of the discharge petition.

https://punchbowl.news/article/progressives-raise-issues-with-discharge-petition/

I am so sick of this. There is always some obstacle or road block to giving Ukrainians what they need to defend themselves. Israel aid is going to pass eventually, and at least the Senate bill gives $9 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Republicans want to cut that humanitarian aid.

[dutch777]

1. So frustrating! Tying controversial items together is just dumb. Have three separate bills- Taiwan, Uk & Israel but

...too late for that now as the Senate has already passed it as a package deal. One could get a deal with the President that aid to Israel will only be released by the Treasury upon ceasefire, substantive infusion of humanitarian aid allowed by Israel or whatever condition. It's a carrot to dangle in front of Bibi for whatever good it would do. REALLY need to get aid to Ukraine!!!!!

[-misanthroptimist]

2. If these issues could be separated, it would be ideal.

But they apparently can't which leaves us with two ugly choices:

1. Support Ukraine and probably avoiding a large war in Europe, while supporting Israel and the carnage they are perpetrating;

2. Not supporting Israel and almost certainly condemning Ukraine to ultimate defeat and almost certainly encouraging Putin to try more land grabs in Europe. It should also be noted that Israel will continue the carnage under this scenario, too - at least for a while.

I vote of "1" above and hope we can rein in Israel some other way.

[Happy Hoosier]

3. Apply pressure. LOTS of it.

This is unacceptable.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

5. The tying of Israel aid to Ukraine aid?

Yeah, that's a really bad fucking decision.

[Happy Hoosier]

8. I'd prefer they were separate issues....

But it does not appear that is in the cards.

Ukraine is at the risk of falling if we do not get them more aid right fucking now.

Israel will continue their assault with or without our aid, so this is a false choice.

[Alhena]

10. Even the Freedom Caucus/Ted Cruz crowd wants aid for Israel, so it WILL pass eventually

the Progressive Caucus needs to be pragmatic enough to recognize that and act based on DC realities.

[Happy Hoosier]

12. Pragmatism is not their strong suit... never has been.

These are the same folks who somehow think that if they are stubborn enough, the world will bend to their will.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

11. So these representative that everyone is mad at

have to decide between supporting one thing they do and one thing they very much do not. And it's THEIR fault they are in this dilemna?

[Happy Hoosier]

14. Yes, it is.

Because the world isn't fucking perfect. And sometimes ya gotta put your big boy undies on and make a compromise.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

15. How about the people that wrote the bill put on their big boy undies

and make a fucking compromise by taking Israel out of the bill and vote on it separately? The world isn't perfect goes both ways, you know.

[Happy Hoosier]

17. Do you actually know how politics works?

The price for Ukraine aid is Israel aid. That's how compromise works. Many on the R side that will support this would rather not send more money to Ukraine. But they will inexchange for Israel aid. Get it?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

18. So Republican votes at the expense of progressive votes. I get it.

They didn't know this would happen when they wrote the bill? Sounds like a shitty whip.

[Happy Hoosier]

21. Because that is how majorities work!

If a bill that can get 100% of Democrats to vote for it can;t get enough R's to vote for it, what the fuck good is it?

In this case, funding Ukraine is important enough to piss off the Purity Police.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

23. But apparently it isn't working this time.

So, who dropped the ball on counting votes? Because that's how politics work. Did the whip not make sure they had the numbers to pass this bill?

Is Ukraine funding important enough to piss off the Israel supporters? Why in fuck's name would we ship BILLIONS to Israel right now? Seriously? To get a few Republican votes? I'm glad someone is standing up saying it's insane. Because it is.

And, again, all your talk of putting on your fucking big boy pants and compromise and how politics work applies to the non-progressives as well as the progressives.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. I've pretty much stayed out of this but why the fuck are we throwing tens of billions at Israel?

They were attacked by terrorists on motorcycles and hang gliders. And yes, it was a disgusting terrorist attack. But is there some threat to the existence of the State of Israel I'm missing here?

This has gone beyond ridiculous.

[Happy Hoosier]

22. Enough so that you are willing to throw Ukraine to Putin?

And you may downplay the Oct 7 attacks, but I can assure you, the Israelis see it in context: of a foe who has sworn to repeat such attacks until every Jew is out of the region.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

25. And in order to stop future attacks

they are bombing and killing 10s of thousands of civilians and basically none of the Hamas leadership because we all know the leaders aren't in Gaza. If they are doing anything, they are giving people reasons to support whatever fills the void when Hamas is gone. Maybe we don't give them billions to continue killing civilians.

[Happy Hoosier]

27. The leaders aren't in Gaza, but the fighters ARE.

I have strong opinions about what should happen in Gaza to facilitate an actual peace, but we are not there yet.

In the meantime, Ukraine hangs on by a thread. A fact that you steadfastly refuse to address. Do you favor abandoning Ukraine in order to get your way on Israel?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

29. I believe I have said that the Ukraine aid should be separated out.

It is shitty politics to make people vote for a thing they want and a thing they vehemently oppose. That nobody saw this coming is shocking to me.

[Voltaire2]

30. I think the 30-1 kill ratio is sufficient revenge,

along with the basic leveling of Gaza, it’s time for Israel to swap hostages, declare victory, and get the fuck out of Gaza. Giving the IDF billions more for weapons is not helpful.

[Happy Hoosier]

31. I don't think it's about revenge.

Or shouldn't be.

It should be about removing Hamas from power. They have deeply embedded themselves in the fabric of Gaza for just this event. This is the fight they wanted.

[Voltaire2]

32. Of course it is. That is just hard to accept and also support.

So instead we imagine other narratives that avoid the unpleasant reality.

When the 10-7 attack happened I was outraged at the brutality and idiocy of the Hamas attack, but I knew also that the retaliation would be exponentially worse. This has been the history of this conflict for decades.

[Happy Hoosier]

33. I think it's a "rip off the band-aid" moment.

IMHO, Hamas MUST be removed from power.

And at that point, I think we need to completely rethink how the Palestinian territories are managed.

I think it will require an international effort. Israel cannot be allowed to continue occupying those lands.

And some folks think t should be an Arab coalition.... but I can't see that happening. Even the UN efforts have been compromised by ties to Hamas.

I think an international coalition needs to take over the territories and act as a security sureity for both Palestine and Israel. And further, we need to actually declare and recognize a Palestinian state. No take-backs. At first, the Palestinian government would have to be curated by the coalition with a transition to self-determination once there is a functioning civil society.

I can;t see a cease-fire with a return to status quo resulting in a repeat in a few years. We need a reset. Now is the time.

[CincyDem]

4. So wait...progressives are holding Ukraine spending hostage...

…until their demands are unilaterally met.

What a concept. Wonder where they got that idea?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

6. So wait...non-progressives are trying to get support for Israel by tying it to Ukraine aid?

What a concept? Wonder where they got that idea?

Separate them out, and Ukraine will get it's aid.

[CincyDem]

7. How about Taiwan. You good with them or you just want to carve out Israel.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

13. Those that don't want to vote for this have made it clear the Israel aid is the issue.

What is unclear about that?

And, in case you haven't noticed, younger voters have a HUGE problem with our policy toward Israel. Younger voters typically vote more progressive. So, you are requiring that these representatives vote for something that their voters don't want. You see no problems with that?

[Happy Hoosier]

16. One more time, slowly....

Politics is about compromise. The way we get Ukraine aid may require doing something else we'd rather not do. But is IS a false choice.

While Ukraine absolutely depends on supplies from the West to fight Russia, Israel will not stop their assault if we withhold aid. So throwing a fucking tantrum over Israel aid will accomplish nothing, except help the Russians in Ukraine.

[CincyDem]

24. Got it. Just Israel. Everyone else...all good.

As said below…all politics is an exercise in compromise. Believe it or not, there actually are voters who want to see the Israel aid package passed too.

And I do see that younger folks have a huge problem with our policy towards Israel. Hopefully they’ll find a viable candidate who’s more sympathetic to their concerns. As I look at the viable choices for POTUS, seems pretty clear that biden’s approach is most aligned with progressive goals…although not entirely.

If these voters get to November and retain their all or nothing approach to their demands, I fear we will all wind up with nothing. In many ways, if feels like the same attitude that Maga in using in the Republican Party. Different all or nothing issue, same all or nothing philosophy.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

26. I get that there are people that want the aid to Israel.

It's not the progressives that aren't voting for it for that reason. They have just as much right to not want it as those that do. Seems like the whip did some shitty vote counting.

[Alhena]

9. Here's the running vote count- several more signatories today - link

https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2024031209?CongressNum=118

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. Backing Putin is a bad move

[RandySF]

28. For fuck's sake.