October 24, 2022

Republicans Are Supporting Putin/Saudi Arabia In Return for Help In Nov Election

We have all heard how Republicans have been signaling that if they control Congress, they will begin to oppose US support for Ukraine.

Kevin McCarthy’s Threatens To Cut Ukraine Aid At A Vital Moment

Support for Ukraine is shifting among Republicans

In return, Russia and Saudi Arabia have further cut oil supplies the November election when inflation started to moderate in order to spike gas prices and increase inflation to aid Republicans:

Saudi Arabia pushed other OPEC nations into oil cut, White House claims
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/white-house-pushes-back-saudi-claim-oil-cut-was-purely-economic-2022-10-13/

What does Saudi Arabia get out of this? More oil friendly policies such as roll backs efforts to promote fuel efficiency and support for cuts in oil production to aid the oil industry similar to US policy under Trump:

Special Report: Trump told Saudi: Cut oil supply or lose U.S. military support - sources
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-trump-saudi-specialreport/special-report-trump-told-saudi-cut-oil-supply-or-lose-u-s-military-support-sources-idUSKBN22C1V4

Trump finalizes rollback of Obama-era vehicle fuel efficiency standards
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-autos-emissions/trump-finalizes-rollback-of-obama-era-vehicle-fuel-efficiency-standards-idUSKBN21I25S

So, you have Republicans willing to actively support a US adversary in Russia and US dependence on foreign oil, including Russia, in order to win elections by signaling to Russia that they will oppose support for Ukraine. In return, Russia and Saudi Arabia will make effort to increase oil prices near the election to improve Republican chances of controlling Congress with Republicans blaming Biden, and giving Putin and Saudi Arabia a free pass. and echoing Russian talking points in the right wing media.

It is unethical, unpatriotic and treasonous, but Trump showed that this works and with a vast right wing media apparatus to run interference, Republicans can blatantly coordinate with forces hostile to interest of Americans. If Republicans control Congress, and Russia wins in Ukraine, Republicans will happily sell out Europe, which will underscore that the U.S. in unreliable as an ally. Thus, Russia can continue to expand and threaten Europe.

Likewise, as Republicans oppose fuel efficiency standards and work with oil producing countries to increase US dependence on oil, the oil industry will reward Republicans with millions in campaign support, which does not include the value of support provided by Russia and Saudi Arabia.