Speaker Johnson faces blowback after following Trump's directive

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Donald Trump demanded that unqualified loyalists to have access to many of the nation’s most sensitive secrets. House Speaker Mike Johnson acquiesced.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/speaker-johnson-faces-blowback-trumps-directive-rcna156068

Members of the House Intelligence Committee made it painfully clear to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he needed to choose responsibly when filling two vacancies on the panel. The Intelligence Committee has made a deliberate effort to steer clear of partisan food fights lately, and it feared that Johnson would screw this up by imposing rabid ideologues on the panel.....

This week, Johnson nevertheless named Perry and Jackson to the House Intelligence Committee.

Democrats were not pleased. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, for example, called the appointments “a disgrace and a threat to national security.”

But they weren’t alone. The New York Times reported that the House speaker didn’t even bother to give a heads-up to Rep. Mike Turner, the House Intelligence Committee’s Republican chairman, and PunchBowl News reported that Johnson’s move “is causing angst across the Capitol,” adding, “Several members of the committee — Republicans and Democrats — say they worry about the integrity of the panel in the wake of Johnson’s appointment of the pair.”.....

So, why in the world did the House speaker choose two unqualified extremists for the House Intelligence Committee, even after the panel’s members urged him not to? PunchBowl News’ report added this gem:

Johnson told fellow Republican lawmakers and aides that he made the appointments at the behest of Trump, who wanted Jackson and Perry on the panel.

Oh. So, Donald Trump wanted unqualified loyalists to have access to many of the nation’s most sensitive and highly classified secrets, and the House speaker followed the felon’s directive, as if he were an employee of the failed former president instead of Congress’ most powerful member......

And finally, there are broader consequences to keep in mind. The Times’ report added, “The panel has historically operated in a bipartisan manner, and is largely composed of serious-minded lawmakers rather than strident partisans. The break with tradition prompted fears that the intelligence community might pull back on the sensitive national security information it shares with Congress.”

It’s not surprising that Trump wouldn’t care, but Johnson has a responsibility to take such concerns seriously. This week, he failed spectacularly at a basic task.

[flying_wahini]

1. Speaker of the Fraud Johnson must be getting something in return. What is it?

Money?

[JT45242]

3. He gets to be ceremonial monkey holding the wooden hammer

He got nothing except a delay on the next move to vacate

[aggiesal]

8. He wants the VP slot ...

So he'll do whatever Pendejo45 asks of him.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Come on, they're just putting in a direct link from US intelligence to Putin.

[spanone]

4. K&R

[sheshe2]

5. No words.

[Evolve Dammit]

6. Don the Felon Mob Boss owns you. Pathetic spineless suck up Johnson.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. House and Senate Russiapublicans are a threat to the country.

[paleotn]

11. A clear and present danger and should be treated as such.

And we thought Dana Rohrabacher was the extent of Russia's reach. That man belong in supermax. Fucking traitor.

[MotownPgh]

32. Is the DOJ investigating any of them?

We'll never know.

[Harker]

9. Do his ears turn red when he lies? n/t

[Harker]

17. I'd lost track of that pact, given the others he's evidently made.

He's twisted into some pretty ornate knots.

[Harker]

19. Yes. Jawdroppingly weird.

Their oddity can be distracting.

[paleotn]

10. Those secrets are widely known now and not secret.

But in fairness, those in the intel community say letting Congress know anything important is a bad idea since they're favorite pastime is blabbing. Ever find it useful to release secret info? Tell Congress.

[Volaris]

12. It only takes ONE.

And I'm not sure the lunatics were smart enough to include a provision that requires that ONE, to come from the majority party.

Speaker Mike is more dangerous than trump 2.0 would be, because he's the one that will write the script.

[FloridaBlues]

13. Trump knows these idiots will give him the information

Dangerous move Short term speaker Johnson

[ancianita]

14. I hope minority leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to this so that it's in the Congressional Record.

[Martin68]

20. Johnson isn't irresponsible. He's criminally negligent.

[returnee]

31. Who says it's negligence?

More likely just criminal-like treason type criminal. All their communications should monitored. Maybe even a sting operation. Frankly, I cannot see why TSF Convict is not confined somewhere for national security reasons. Someplace like Gitmo.

[Martin68]

34. Good point.

[birdographer]

21. Yes, the Intelligence Committee needs to "pull back"

on what it shares. Like, let's stick to who is ahead on Dancing With The Stars, where Waldo is, whether the Bake-Off recipes are legit, and whether that deli down the street charges more for a Reuben if you are in Congress. Republicans will be fine trying to process all that info.

[progressoid]

22. He deserves a stern tongue lashing.

[Traurigkeit]

23. When Mike approaches St. Peter at the Gate, St. Peter will be pointing to the Down Escalator

[SomedayKindaLove]

24. Unfortunately "blowback" never deters these guy

My biggest fear is Russia will nuke us before the election. Can someone please talk me out of this fear and help me realize I’m just being paranoid? Thanks in advance.

[Blue Owl]

25. Thar he blows, me boys... Thar he blows.....

[LuvLoogie]

26. Fuck the GOPs

They could censure/remove anyone of those fuckwads. Johnson is your Speaker you trumplicker racist cowards.

[edhopper]

27. Are the other GOP members

not compromised by Putin and full well know the new members are. Will they willfully allow our secrets to be compromised by these two. Will they pick Party over Country.

[GreenWave]

28. The Convicted Felon is a private citizen. Yet repugs bestow all their power to him.

Where in the Constitution does it grant such acquiescence?

[BoRaGard]

29. What a spineless toady

Placing a fugging repube felon over America's safety.

[CrispyQ]

30. I don't recall, why did we help save this guy? -nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

33. Speaker Johnson's picks for the Intel Committee: a Trump drug dealer and an Ambien-popping loon.

Link to tweet

[ShazzieB]

35. Oh, Miiiiiiiike....

[vankuria]

36. Just my opinion

I think trump has some juicy tidbits on Mike Johnson and trump is known to hire investigators to get dirt on people. Again, only my opinion but I think Mike has some skeletons in his “closet”, if ya know what I mean.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

37. These two would never qualify for the security clearances needed to clean the bathrooms at the Pentagon

Link to tweet