The Congressional Progressive Caucus on Tuesday
withdrew a letter that mildly expressed support for diplomatic
negotiations to end Russia's war on Ukraine as the document's 30
signatories faced a torrent of criticism and hysterical backlash from fellow Democrats, party leaders, and pundits on social media.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the CPC, said in a statement that the letter
addressed to U.S. President Joe Biden "was drafted several months ago,
but unfortunately was released by staff without vetting"—a line that was
widely seen as Jayapal throwing her staff under the bus.
"As
chair of the caucus, I accept responsibility for this," she added.
"Because of the timing, our message is being conflated by some as being
equivalent to the recent statement by Republican Leader McCarthy
threatening an end to aid to Ukraine if Republicans take over."
"The
proximity of these statements," the CPC leader said, "created the
unfortunate appearance that Democrats, who have strongly and unanimously
supported and voted for every package of military, strategic, and
economic assistance to the Ukrainian people, are somehow aligned with
Republicans who seek to pull the plug on American support for President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian forces."
Jayapal said that narrative—peddled by one Democratic leader who Politico granted anonymity to slime their colleagues as Putin apologists—could not be "further from the truth."
"Every
war ends with diplomacy, and this one will too after Ukrainian
victory," Jayapal continued. "The letter sent yesterday, although
restating that basic principle, has been conflated with GOP opposition
to support for the Ukrainians' just defense of their national
sovereignty. As such, it is a distraction at this time and we withdraw
the letter."
[, , ,]
Late Monday, in the face of growing backlash, Jayapal issued a statement
purportedly aimed at "clarifying the position" of the letter, which was
endorsed by a number of peace groups including Just Foreign Policy, Win
Without War, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.
"Let
me be clear: we are united as Democrats in our unequivocal commitment
to supporting Ukraine in their fight for their democracy and freedom in
the face of the illegal and outrageous Russian invasion, and nothing in
the letter advocates for a change in that support," Jayapal said.
"Diplomacy is an important tool that can save lives—but it is just one
tool."
Erik Sperling, the executive director of Just Foreign Policy, toldThe Intercept
Monday night that "the shrill response to this utterly moderate letter
exposes that war proponents are scared of an open debate about the range
of potential approaches to address this escalating conflict."
Jayapal's an idiot -- Mike named her Idiot of the Week -- and there's a lot of stupidity at play here so its hard to know where to start.
But
to start anything, you have to know -- so let's start there.
Yesterday, we noted WSWS's article on this. Today, we note COMMON
DREAMS. And?
THE PROGRESSIVE should just fold
shop. It should just shutter its doors. It claims to be: "A voice for
peace, social justice and common good." Yet if you read it in the last
years, that really comes across like a punch line, doesn't it? They
haven't stood for peace -- or anything -- in forever. They're so fluffy
that they make IN STYLE look like an investigate outlet. They always
have time to rot your brain, but THE PROGRESSIVE has no time to deal
with reality and what happened is reality.
THE NATION?
Joan
Walsh offers "DO WE REALLY HAVE TO CARE ABOUT MISERABLE WHITE PEOPLE?"
No, Joan, we don't have to care one bit about you. Geoffrey Marx,
apparently believing he was contributing to THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER, hands
in "I WANTED A BOYFRIEND. MY LIFE COACH TOLD ME TO BECOME A
COMMODITY." Hairball Dave Zirin jerks off to "Is Portland About to Have
Two Supporter-Owned Soccer Teams?" -- the universal answer being, of
course, come a nuclear war, Dave's scribbles will come off even worse.
John Nichols lands yet again on his knees in front of the DC, fully
ready to demonstrate that he has no gag response with his usual nonsense
that has no weight or meaning.
This was an important moment, The Fraud Squad backing down yet again.
This was an instructive moment.
But you don't know about it if people don't cover it.
THE PROGRESSIVE, THE NATION, IN THESE TIMES and COUNTERPUNCH have elected to ignore it.
Why?
VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Voting matters!!!!
Not if you don't hold politicians accountable. Not if you just vote and then go silent.
Which
is what political parties want. It's natural, they need your vote.
That's all they want. Then leave them alone and let them do the job
they mistakenly believe that they're smart enough to do all on their
own.
They need to be called out and they need to know that this is not acceptable.
We're getting closer to the brink of nuclear war, this is not acceptable.
And it is not acceptable that supposed 'independent' media like THE NATION, et al can't cover this as the big story that it is.
JACOBIN's
worthless. They won't cover it. They've pimped this war all along.
Just like some on the 'socialist' left pimped the Iraq War. A friend
pimped it, self-identified as a Socialist. I told her it was the worst
mistake of her life. She's had some fawning since her death but no real
scholarly piece. When that day comes or when a biography is written
about her that her daughter doesn't screen, they'll have to deal with
her stupidity of calling for the Iraq War.
Ukraine is popular with the Bette Midler crowd on Twitter.
It's not popular with the American people.
The
letter the Fraud Squad issued was weak. But it was also stupid. In
terms of being stupid, the most ignorant part was leaving out the
financial cost. Over $65 billion already pledged, another $50 billion
about to be. The American people do not like that. As the country
suffers from inflation and you can honestly spent $100 at a grocery
store and leave with only two bags (as e-mails to the public account
continue to note), the American people are tired of billions going
overseas.
Many remember that Barack Obama, when
he was president, talked of how Ukraine really wasn't an American
issue, didn't have impact on this country.
It's
a war of choice. We don't need to be involved. And considering the
regime in Ukraine is racist and neo-nazi, we shouldn't be giving them a
dime.
Nor should we have instigated this conflict, but we did.
In one year, our politicians are willing to give over $110 billion to Urkaine?
While we suffer at home?
Progressive caucus, that was the first point you should have made.
Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia Al Sudani
is expected to submit his Cabinet list to Parliament on Thursday for
approval, as squabbles over government posts continue between political
parties.
If
approved, it will end the longest political deadlock over the formation
a new government in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled
Saddam Hussein’s regime.
At its height, that stalemate turned bloody when clashes broke out between Shiite militias
in Baghdad's Green Zone, the heart of government that contains
Parliament and foreign embassies. Dozens of people were killed and
wounded.
BROS is streaming in the US and playing around the world.
Omg Just watched #BrosMovie And i loved it so so much. Very funny and i think @DebraMessing is finally free from Grace 😜😂 Go see it!
The #BrosMovie
finally came out in Australia, and I freaking loved it. I laughed out
loud multiple times, and it was both sexy/romantic, witty, hilarious,
heart-warming and thoughtful. I related to so many situations 😅 @billyeichner is a certified star 🤩 pic.twitter.com/fq5Acmiifh
There's been a non-stop, right-wing attack on the film in the US and
it's an attack on LGBTQ+. You could help prove them wrong by seeing the
film. We'll be writing about that at THIRD so I'll just leave it at
that for right now.
Let's wind down with this from MS. MAGAZINE:
Ms. Memo: This Week in Women's Rights
October 26, 2022
From
the ongoing fight for abortion rights and access, to elections, to the
drive for the Equal Rights Amendment, there are a multitude of battles
to keep up with. In this weekly roundup, find the absolute need-to-know
news for feminists.
Abortion rights protesters at the Tucson Federal Courthouse on July 4, 2022. (Sandy Huffaker / AFP via Getty Images)
BY
ROXY SZAL | A significant portion of young women are already making
plans about where they are willing to live and work based on whether
abortion is protected or banned in states, according to new Ms.
magazine and Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) polling by Lake
Research Partners across the nine battleground states of Arizona,
Florida, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Over
half (53 percent) have had their future plans impacted in some way: 44
percent have either considered moving or are making plans to move to a
state where abortion is protected; 10 percent already have declined a
job in a state where abortions are banned.
Young
women voters of all political leanings—and the people close to them—are
taking actions to control their reproductive lives, regardless of where
they live, such as purchasing or obtaining long-acting birth control,
the morning after pill and abortion pills. Taking these actions in
response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade crosses party lines for young women.
A
third of young women Republicans have procured long-acting birth
control (33 percent), and a quarter (25 percent) have purchased the
morning-after pill.
Three quarters (75 percent) of young women Democrats have taken some sort of action.
Shockingly,
10 percent say they or someone close to them, or their partner or the
partner of someone close to them, already have received sterilization
services in response to the Court’s decision.
Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin on Apple Podcasts + Spotify.
On
today’s show, Dr. Goodwin is joined by experts Danielle Citron and
Jackie Rotman to tackle the issues women face in online spaces — from
privacy to misogyny to censorship of women who use their voices to speak
out, and more. How are women taking on the tech platforms and fighting
back in the face of online harassment, discrimination and censorship?
We hope you'll listen, subscribe, rate and review today!
U.S.
democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of
abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to
skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left
unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political
participation and representation.For 50 years, Ms.
has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and
truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights
Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.