Johnson's about-face on Ukraine. My Ex thinks Trump gave him permission

[Nictuku]

I'm not quite sure about that. Why would Trump do that? We all know he kowtows to Putin. It doesn't make sense.

But then, none of it does.

I did read an article yesterday (was posted on DU) about Trump is not going to come to the aid of Johnson if/when they try to kick him out of the Speakership. So maybe that is why Johnson suddenly is supportive for aid to Ukraine.

I also read something a few days ago (again, on DU) about an insider Republican who stated that if they went forward to Vacate Johnson, that several (3?) Republicans will resign immediately thus flipping the House to Democratic control. (Wow.....)

In the end, I'm left scratching my head in puzzlement. I still don't understand why Johnson (right after visiting Trump at Magat Large-oh) agreed to let it come to the floor. Self Preservation (relying on Democrats?) That is also too weird.

Anyone have any better ideas?

[Raven123]

1. Makes me wonder what he heard in those intelligence briefings

[maryellen99]

4. I bet it was something along the lines of Russia not stopping at Ukraine and going after a NATO country soon

Plus his son was just accepted at Annapolis.

[Nictuku]

9. I think this could be a part of it, for sure. He did mention it

It was just so strange to see him speaking the words of common sense, and historical position of US vs Russia.

[OAITW r.2.0]

27. Interesting...Mike's got game in smart geo-politics.

Might explain an awful lot about MJ's motivations.

[Bev54]

37. Whatever concerned him enough to worry about his son going to war. He is going to military college

soon.

[marble falls]

2. I don't think TFG's got the stroke over Congress some people think he does. I think Democrats made it clear ...

... to Johnson regarding 'shut down' and Ukraine, if he did the right thing, Democrats would save his job for him.

[Midnight Writer]

12. I think so, too. Democrats threw him a lifeline.

[Pachamama]

24. Neither does MTG

Her antics are getting old and Johnson isn’t going to be threatened by her anymore.

[marble falls]

36. She can challenge him at any time. The only way she can drop him is if Democrats turn on him the way they ...

... let McCarthy dangle in the wind after he allowed the "investigations" of Joe and Hunter Biden. McCarthy is a snake. Johnson can figure out which side of the toast is buttered.

[brush]

29. I think Dems also made it clear to him that he would go down in history as the one who gave Ukraine to Russia...

and whatever subsequent territorial gains Putin pursues.

Johnson finally got it and said to hell with TSF and MTG's threats.

And as far as trump giving Johnson the ok for Ukraine aid...FUCK NO. He doesn't give a fuck about Ukraine. He wants Putin to win in that war.

[getagrip_already]

3. Beue of the fifth column did a piece on this.....

He thought the little Johnson basically played the Twitter faction, biden, and the dems and took control in one fell swoop.

He thinks we need to keep an eye on him. He may be a McConnell in the making.

Don't know about all of that, but he did play the Twitter faction hard.

[Nictuku]

6. I'm not quite sure I know what you mean

I'm not sure I know what you mean by 'played the Twitter faction' - I'm probably being dense here, but not on purpose! I deleted my twitter account when Elon bought it, and never really followed it closely, so maybe I'm missing something here.

[getagrip_already]

20. Twitter faction.....

Is madge and the other Maga morans who are more interested in their social media impressions than the country.

[Red Mountain]

8. He's said WAY too many stupid things in the past.....

for me to consider him as some sort of bible-thumping Machiavelli.

He's drowning and grasping at straws.

He serves at the pleasure of the Democrats.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. I think some fundie Baptist ministers brought him into the light.

A hearty speech about the godless soviets and how Putin wants to take them back there may have turned Mike.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

7. Pence is livid Trump (currently) doesn't support a total abortion ban. Maybe Johnson is too, and realized

there's no reason to give Trump what he wants re Ukraine if Trump now won't give him what he wants re abortion.

[Nictuku]

13. Ahh, interesting. I hadn't thought of that angle. Thank you!

[Demobrat]

10. As long as Ukraine gets the help they need.

For a moment there I was almost tempted to think maybe MJ had a heart, but nah.

[Nictuku]

14. I know, I've been so upset about this

I follow the invasion of Ukraine closely. My heart is breaking for these brave warriors (and citizens!) and I'm very glad that this has been moved forward (finally!). I did just read that once it is officially passed, the military aid can arrive within days.

[emulatorloo]

11. FWIW Johnson was nodding along w Biden at the SOTU when Biden spoke of aid for Ukraine.

[Nictuku]

16. Yeah, I was watching that very closely

.... although it looked almost as if he was trying to hide his applause from the camera (but then it might just have to do with his ... uh, smaller demeanor and/or form) It is difficult to think of him with grown children, he seems like a kid in so many ways.

I still don't trust him.

Wouldn't it be awesome if somehow MTG went ahead with her threat and somehow the Democrats would manage to vote in Speaker Jeffries ? (because a few Republicans have had enough of this bs?) One Can Dream.

[gab13by13]

15. The last person in the world

to give Johnson permission to pass aid for Ukraine would be Putin's puppet.

I thought the question was sarcasm at first.

[Nictuku]

17. I agree

I can't see Trump doing that. Fortunately my ex and myself are able to have serious and reasonable discussions. He is a news junkie, much more than I am. We did argue about this, many of the same statements made here. He is firmly in that position however, and then we agreed to disagree and went on to the next topic.

He did not win me over with his arguments.

[OAITW r.2.0]

30. Proof will be in Trump's reaction to the Ukraine aid bill. How's he gonna play that?

[Cha]

18. I don't think so. I reao he's seen the polling

in the swing districts that many Rs support Ukraine 🇺🇦.. that makes more sense to me.

[BootinUp]

19. There were 101 votes to pass Ukraine aid from the other side. And just before that

there were 23 willing to sign a discharge petition that would have sent the original 2 month old Senate Bill to the floor, they threatened to do it and Johnson and Trump had to take an alternate plan to the floor.

[Nictuku]

21. In that light, it makes sense

It was going to happen one way or the other. MTG is still calling it a full surrender. I wasn't sure how close (or possible) the Discharge Petition was. There were 23, good! Do you know what the number of signatures required to pass it?

[BootinUp]

22. 218

details

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTaMB3k5Z37OAM8HEMhDtwbLGzwn1wDXSNcoTmXEJbpfbacfp-m0fJGyb36lcNOhgqGO5-bArbibS5a/pubhtml?gid=614612044&single=true

[Pachamama]

23. This was in clear defiance of what Mango Mussolini would want

Had nothing to do with permission.

Johnson clearly read the writing on the wall that he is damned if he does hold the vote on Ukraine - but more damned if he doesn’t.

He got the intelligence briefings - it was chilling and clear.

Will he lose his speakership as a result and have no future politically? Likely. But had he not brought this to vote his name would be forever tied and his name cursed to Ukraine falling and likely Europe and WW3 and US soldiers dying as part of us fighting Russia. History would not be kind to him and his memory.

[DFW]

25. I think he just took out his pocket calculator and did some addition

20 nut cases who will probably vote against me no matter what, and 210 Democrats who might let me serve out the rest of the year in peace as Speaker.

Lemme see, which is the greater number? Well, whaddya know, it's not the 20 nut case Republicans!!

And the rest is history.

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Trump isn't the same snarling, roaring tiger of the past.

He's in court. He has to obey the judge. He isn't in control.

If Mike Johnson sees that, so do others.

Or MJ may have just said "WTF, I don't care." And went rogue.

[live love laugh]

28. Republicans want TikTok bad enough to give $60 B to Ukraine.

They want total control of American media and TikTok on the auction block would give
it to them.

[CousinIT]

31. Trump is the one who demanded that some of the Ukraine money...

…will be in the form of “forgivable” loans - or so I heard on MSNBC when the stuff passed the House. So he probably did give Johnson permission - or he had some input from when Johnson went to kiss his ring again recently. Trump is Speaker of the House right now, essentially.

He and Johnson were also planning what to do in the House if Trump loses - to keep the EC votes from being counted. They were colluding. Trump has operatives still in Congress who will be working to overturn the election if Biden wins.

EDIT:

Right here: https://www.newsweek.com/lindsey-graham-crediting-trump-ukraine-aid-passing-raises-eyebrows-loans-1892592

[._.]

32. Sometimes

Occasionally, the most unexpected people rise to the occasion. I don't know why he changed his mind, I can't make myself trust him, yet anyway. Some think it's the intensive security briefings he gets now. Some think he finally realized he couldn't deal w/the crazy caucus, and has finally decided to run them over. It's all fascinating and horrifying, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Jeezus.

[GenThePerservering]

33. MAGA Mike is weak by nuture and nature

The Dems put the screws on him and he decided he didn't want to be another has-been like McCarthy. Also Large Marge is being steadily neutralized.

[jrandom421]

34. It became personal to him

First, his son was accepted by the Naval Academy. Then, there were the intelligence briefings he got as a member of"the gang of 8". ( Speaker of the House, House minority leader, Senate Majority and Minority leaders, Senate and House Intelligence committee Chairmen and ranking minority member.)

The breifings must have have been eye opening. It's information he's never had access to before.

[okaawhatever]

35. I read an Axios article that explained it was all about the

intelligence the government had. It seems there is evidence Russia won’t stop at Ukraine.

From Axios (also citing NYTimes)

The other three top congressional leaders — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — pushed Johnson on how Russia would expand its war beyond Ukraine absent new weapons. Jeffries called it a "Churchill or Chamberlain moment."
President Biden's national security team, most importantly CIA Director Bill Burns, methodically walked Johnson through the damning intelligence.

https://www.axios.com/2024/04/21/behind-the-curtain-speaker-johnsons-historic-road-to-kyiv-conversion