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The rest of the world won’t stand still while Washington resolves its domestic food conflicts. Republicans, and other Americans, need to put aside their childish bickering.
First, we’d like to introduce three new stories. atlantic:
childish argument
2 years ago I wrote my first newsletter of atlantic ocean, Among them, I was worried that the United States was “no longer a serious country.”
Of course we still powerful But seriousness, a priceless discipline and maturity that allows us to discern what is above self-interest, to set aside wild egos and emotionalism, and to act with prudence and self-control. Then we are weak. , poor and remote areas.
When I wrote these words, the world was emerging from the pandemic, but many Americans were still refusing to get vaccinated. Congress was at loggerheads over infrastructure. Russia occupied Crimea. Joe Biden had been elected president, but as I said at the time, “One president cannot sober up an entire nation.” I was pessimistic about America’s future, to say the least.
Today, the situation is even more dire. The Russians are waging an all-out war of conquest in the heart of Europe, but if the Kremlin’s cowards continue to cling to their imperialist delusions, this conflict could engulf the globe. Thousands have died in Armenia and Sudan. And now Israel is at war, suffering the worst surprise attack since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago, killing more Israelis in a single day than ever before in history.
Nevertheless, large parts of America, especially the remnants of the Republican Party (the party whose leaders during the Cold War defined themselves as responsible stewards of U.S. foreign policy) remain childish or insane. It is under the control of certain politics. In these difficult times, the international community needs a sane, tough, and principled America. Fitting for the title of leader of the free world. And in the words of President John F. Kennedy, “We will pay any price, bear any burden, brave any hardship, support any friend, do anything to ensure the survival and success of freedom.” He decided to fight against his enemies.
Instead of Kennedy’s inspiring vision, America has an ignorant and incoherent Donald Trump, the ultimate Republican presidential candidate, a House of Representatives without a speaker, and a people who can’t find Ukraine or Iran on a map. exists as an obvious key to
“I look at the world and all the threats that exist there,” Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Sunday. “So what message are we sending to our adversaries when we can’t govern? When we’re dysfunctional? We don’t even have a Speaker of the House?”
That’s a great question, especially when there is no Speaker in the House of Representatives due to a motion by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida (a totally unscrupulous man who is despised by other House Republicans). With the support of seven right-wing Republican extremists, Gaetz and this “chaotic caucus” (to use Mike Pence’s phrase) are said to be able to vote to force California Rep. Kevin McCarthy to resign. Achieved a historic first record. (For some reason, it was on a CBS program. Let’s face the nation The day after war broke out in Israel, I felt the need to interview Nancy Mace, a member of the anti-McCarthy group. This way Mace was able to get the attention she probably wanted. ) At this point, the two main candidates for the post were Congressman Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio.
The idea of a ridiculous figure like Jim Jordan vying for leadership of the House of Representatives should make every American pause and wonder how America got to such a moment. Jordan is one of Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters, and Trump has already endorsed him for the speakership, but he is also one of the most cynical and vocal members of Congress of both parties. Jordan is just an annoying, scurrying horsefly on many issues (especially when it comes to supporting Trump’s ridiculous claims about presidential power).
But when it comes to issues central to American democracy, he is even more dangerous.
Jordan has consistently been a vocal supporter of President Trump’s claims that the election was stolen.He usually claimed this support with the ploy of “just asking,” but occasionally his mask would slip and he charging Democrats are trying to steal the election. Thomas Joslin, one of the authors of the House’s Jan. 6 committee report, told CNN: “Jim Jordan was deeply involved in Donald Trump’s anti-democratic efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.” Jordan refused to cooperate with the committee and did not respond to subpoenas.
Jordan yesterday threatened another attempt to shut down the government, this time over immigration policy. But more importantly, how can the United States as a nation respond to crises around the world when the Speaker of the House is an election denier and spews conspiracy theories about the current president? this What is the man likely to be wielding the speaker’s gavel when Congress receives electoral votes in the 2024 election?
Mr. Scalise, currently the majority leader, is as close to a “normal” candidate as the Republican Party can produce, and he will probably be a strong candidate. That’s good news. The bad news is that “normal” in this context means that Scalise is just another mainstream Republican. cancel funds “87,000 new IRS employees,” creating a “Committee on Weaponizing the Federal Government Against the Citizen,” and “Holding Prosecutors Accountable.”
The situation is not getting any better in the usually calmer and more thoughtful U.S. Senate. Hundreds of military promotions remain frozen, including the chief of naval operations and many other senior positions, as conflicts erupt around the world. Holding them back is former University of Alabama football coach Tommy Tuberville, who believes U.S. military personnel should be denied abortions and believes the military is too “woke.” , are blaming. (woke up He is now a Republican and a voice for people who are not obvious bigots. )
Meanwhile, the United States has been unable to send ambassadors to several countries, due in part to irresponsible detentions by irresponsible senators. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, like Tuberville, appears to be withholding his post on “woke” grounds, while Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has made diabolical claims about the origins of the coronavirus. He is blocking his appointment due to his unconditional insistence on viewing what appears to be U.S. government documents.
And yesterday, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, in a youthful attempt to turn the war in Israel into a new Republican weapon against U.S. support for Ukraine, tweeted: “Israel is facing an existential crisis. Funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately.” Hawley, like Vance and others, is smart enough to play dumb and disrespect voters. a man. He almost certainly knows — and would hope anyway — that pitting Israel against Ukraine is the wrong choice. (This also whitewashes two situations. For now, Israel has regained some control of the situation, while Ukraine is mired in a large-scale conventional war with a nuclear-armed giant enemy.) It remains stuck.)
The old view that partisan conflicts ended at the water’s edge was never entirely true. America’s right and left have debated foreign policy many times, but once with a serious purpose and understanding that it is for the sake of millions of lives, national security, and ultimately, the survival of humanity. We were discussing. — was in danger. If adults are to remain in the Republican Party, they need to take control of the party and get to work.
President Biden’s foreign policy leadership has been commendable and successful, especially in the Russia war so close to NATO borders. But he can’t and shouldn’t do it alone. The world needs America, and that means all of us.
Related:
today’s news
- Israel has launched heavy airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas’s brutal weekend attacks.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has decided not to run as a Democrat in the 2024 presidential election and plans to run as an independent.
- A man who crashed his car into the Chinese consulate in San Francisco has been shot and killed by police.
See more atlantic
culture break
read. in Madonna: The life of a rebelauthor Mary Gabriel argues that Madonna’s entire life is an exercise in reinventing feminine power.
clock. The Royal Hotel (Currently showing in theaters) We will eliminate all the worries of female travelers.
Play the daily crossword.
P.S.
I’m not the kind of person who can say, “I told you so,” but…oh, I’m kidding, of course I am. In 2022, I wrote about the James Bond film series and said that all talk of casting a black person or a woman as 007 was ridiculous. Created by Ian Fleming, Bond is an ambitious white male elite of Britain’s old establishment, forever frozen in time. In the best works of books and movies, he is a hero who can only be admired with serious reservations.
As an exception, skyfall, I’ve never really been into Daniel Craig movies. They were too emotional and introspective. (I won’t spoil it) Specter But I almost walked away when the movie revealed a plot twist involving the iconic villain Blofeld. ) And now I’m gloating a little: The Bond rumor mill states that Christopher Nolan is in talks with EON Productions and Amazon to direct two Bond films. But he reportedly wants them to be period pieces closer to Fleming’s originals, which would be quite bold. (If you think it’s 1973 Please let me live and die The movie was racist and offensive. Try reading the 1954 novel. If you can find a novel that hasn’t been bowled yet).
If the rumors are true, that’s great, Nolan. Bond doesn’t need to share his feelings over a beer. He needs to save England, the Empire, and the world, perhaps in that order. The last few Bond movies have been very British-accented Bourne movies. In 2023, Bond will still be Bond. Including the parts I don’t like.
— Tom
Catherine Hu contributed to this newsletter.
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