War Democrats

Or the anti-war hawks.

For almost all my life I have lived in what is essentially a one-party state.

Oh, we have the occasional Republican governor and even senator, but for decades now, at the level of Congressman or woman, the Democrat primary is where the rep is elected.

The Democrats mostly define themselves as "Progressive." 

What does that mean?

According to Merriam-Webster, a progressive is one believing in moderate political change and especially social improvement by governmental action

Lot of room there for discussion, but essentially it is a claim to be the good guys in the body politic.

My rep, Jim McGovern, might feel himself to personify that, and he probably wants his constituents to buy into it judging from his occasional newsletter missives. 

His emails to clients tell of the good things he has done for us. Nothing wrong with that, though I suppose Republican solons blow their own horns in the same manner.

There was a question I did wish to ask him. Actually two.

The first time I contacted him on February 17 of this year was to ask him what he was doing about ending our support of genocide in Yemen. To date, I have not received an answer. One might call my inquiry a loaded question. Fair enough, but it is my belief that mass murder is on in the southern end of that peninsula and it is being propagated by outsiders to the north.

There is disagreement on the matter with a piece up at Defense One website with the title, Blame Houthis, Not Saudis, for Lingering Yemen War, White House Says.

One should not necessarily infer that Representative McGovern agrees with that, but he is a party guy and from my limited experience, does not go out of his way to deviate from the accepted policy.

My next inquiry was a reply to his March 15 constituent email about how Big Oil is scamming us. I replied to him, Why don’t you come out against the administration pushing the war in Ukraine?

I was shocked that he did reply and what he replied on March 17

He avers that Putin is absolute evil, more or less, and the administration is stepping up to the plate.

"In response to this, the Biden administration requested billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine, and I stood together with my colleagues to vote in favor of sending these federal funds for refugee and humanitarian assistance through our domestic funding bill. The package Congress sent to President Biden's desk included $13.6 billion in military, humanitarian, and economic aid for the people of Ukraine."

There it is. Representative answered a question that was not asked.

.

It is probable that Jim never saw my letter and some staffer just hit reply on the formulaic Ukraine response that is on a digital file somewhere.

McGovern and staff probably suspect that a majority of the voters agree with him and any response that is received at headquarters is supportive of more and faster on Ukraine, and they are mostly right.

The occasional dissident can easily be ignored. 

They are right.

I received another email from my rep:

“Let me be clear: for decades, I have been a strong part of the peace movement. I have spent my life trying to avoid senseless wars and U.S. military intervention—whether in Central America, Iraq or Afghanistan. I do not want this conflict to become another excuse to send more blank checks to the Pentagon or to pad the pockets of defense contractors. But this is Putin's war and his war alone. He can end it today if he wants to. Instead, he has chosen not to negotiate and to continue to inflict pain on innocent people.

Putin doesn't care if he creates a global food crisis. Ukraine is considered one of the breadbaskets of the world because it exports wheat, maize, sunflower oil and many other products. It provides important food to relief organizations like the World Food Program. Putin's deliberate targeting of food supplies has resulted in rising prices, and that in turn means that hunger is on the rise.”

If the man sincerely believes this, he is detached from reality. The checks are already on their way.

Queen Elizabeth I famously said, ‘I have no desire to make windows into men’s souls.’ Jim has no problem saying he knows what animates Putin.

There is one an untruth in the email, “he has chosen not to negotiate.” Actually, Russia has met with Ukraine in Turkey. How sincerely is a question, but they have met.

What animates the American government to stay in Europe against the interests of its people?

My senators, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren are likely similar in outlook.

I emailed Sen. Warren and received a boilerplate warmongering response.

Markey, generously considered a lightweight, responded with an email that basically said I'm here for you and love you, but had nothing about Ukraine. Anyway, google him and he is on the team.

My rep and senators are all for the war, and not at all calling for negotiations and working toward peace.

It has not exactly been a sea change, but we have seen over time the Democrats become more hawkish, 

The Democrats started more or less acquiescing in war measures decades ago. It was not easy. We have John Kerry's I voted for before I voted against, or whatever. They seemed to be worried a bit about how the base would react.

Now, they are full on in the battle. 

Now, They are War Democrats.

As an addendum, how did my guy vote on the ADDITIONAL UKRAINE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022?

Mr. “I do not want this conflict to become another excuse to send more blank checks to the Pentagon or to pad the pockets of defense contractors” Voted in the affirmative.

Res ipsa loquitur.