Speaker Jeffries?

If Marjorie Taylor Greene gets her way, this post's title might becoe a reality. CNN reports that while Greene officially filed her motion to vacate before the Easter recess break, she has yet to take the necessary step to force a floor vote, essentially keeping the threat in her back pocket. It's reported that Speaker Mike Jpohnson is keenly aware of the motion, and is factoring it into key decisions he must make - especially about Ukraine aid. That's why, over the two-week Easter recess, Johnson has been quietly working to create a Ukraine strategy.

Democrats have made it known they will save Johnson if he moves a Ukraine bill they can support. But if he moves a bill that is narrower than their demands, or includes wrinkles such as new restrictions on our border with Mexico, he risks putting off both Democrats and right-wing Republicans who are opposed to a dollar more for Ukraine. Plus, adding spending cuts to offset the Ukraine package — as Matt Gaetz and other hardliners want— would prompt stiff Democratic opposition. Meanwhile, Greene is trying to determine where all members, Republican and Democrat, stand on Ukfraine ande on Johnson as Speaker.

Given the microscopically thin advantage Repubklicans have in the House, and the fact that at least a few hard-core, far-right Republican members might very well support a motion to vacate, Democrats may end up with the chance, not to prederve Mr. Johnson's Speakership, but rather to elect a new Speaker - Hakeem Jeffries.

The Little Engine That Can't

In two hours on March 28, the Biden / Harris campaign raised over $25,000,000.00 - $25 million. In the entire month of February, the Trump campaign raised only about $20 million, making it about 0.026 as effective as Dems' efforts.

That doesn't bode well for 45. In order to match his opponents' fundraising successes, Mr. Trump would have to sell over 416,720 God Bless the USA Bibles, or more than 62,650 pairs of Never Surrender sneakers.

The Man Has No Shame

Even a long-lapsed-Catholic-turned-Bhddhist like me is nauseated by Donald's latest pitiful exercise in narcissism.

Can He Do It?

Being a talkative little person (the dad of a dear friend once called it vaccinated with a phonogaph needle), I sometimes have difficulty keeping quiet. Years ago, that same friend bet me I couldn't stay silent for five minutes straight. I only made it to 3 ...

But that's nothing to the struggle with which 45 will be faced in less than three weeks. Today, Judge Juan Marchan imposed a gag order on The Donald, to commence when his trial iin Manhattan begins on April 15.

You Go, Girl

Alaska's Senator Lisa Murkowski, always an independant thinker, has had her fill of 45. Recently, she disclosed she's thinking of leaving the Republican Party altogether, because of Trump's shenanigans.

My Kind of Poll

In his upcoming rematch with Donald Trump, President Biden’s winning 2020 coalition appears to be intact in Pennsylvania. A CNN poll conducted in PA finds Biden leading among women, voters of color, college graduates and independents, and running about even with Trump among voters younger than 35.

Kiss the Carpathians Goodbye

Viktor Orban,  Hungary's prime minister and  amigo of Donald Trump, requires our attention.  Orban spends large amounts of his taxpayers’ money on nationwide billboard and media campaigns with fearmongering disinformation about migrants, LGBT people and European allies.  But wait - there's more.  Orban's political opponents, get only five minutes on public service TV every four years to talk about their hopes for the future of their country.

And still more.  With his two-thirds majority in parliament, Orban has changed Hungary's constitution 13 times.  Orban has taken control of the country’s media, using it to demonize the opposition and to smear imagined enemies. His crackdown on the media is a direct threat to a functioning democracy.

Corruption is widespread in Orban's Hungary, so much so that the EU froze funds to Hungary, as it became evident that EU funds were misused to award contracts to Orban’s allies. While some of those funds were released in December, a sizable amount remains frozen.  In addition, European Union institutions have initiated numerous legal proceedings against the Hungarian government and triggered a mechanism that could ultimately lead to Hungary being stripped of its voting rights in the EU.

The Hungarian government’s alignment with Russia has put the country on a collision course with the rest of the EU over Ukraine. Hungary tried to block EU support to Ukraine and obstructed Sweden’s NATO membership bid. 

What really hits home with Bodhi is that  Orban reportedly has designs on the Carpathian Mountains,  of the sort Putin exercised regarding Ukraine. - a sentimental longing for the region, once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both sides of my family came from the Carpathians, near the city of Uzhgorod.

Democracy is not, you should pardon the pun, free. It requires constant attention,   Hungary demonstrates how one leader can kick-start the deterioration of democracy.  When it comes to government of, by, and for the people, Viktor Orban is no hero. What has happened to Hungary should be a wake-up call for the U.S.

Tikho budt!

That's what one of my бабуся would say when we got too noisy.  Someone should tell 45 he's having the same effect on the campaign for the Presidency.

The more Mr. Trump fails to keep his mouth shut, the more it will cost him in Nov.

Self-Inflicted Wounds

Bodhi's most recent countdown, and the March 25 trial of Donald Trump for attempting to bribe Stormy Daniels, have been interfered with.

It was reported today that the U S Attorney for the Southern Distrct of New York neglected to supply 45's legal team with sufficient discovery materials.

Don't throw in the towel just yet. If Mr. Bragg is able to insist upon no more than the 30 days' delay he proposed, Mr. Trump's trial might still take place well before Memorial Day, and certainly before his (Trump's) coronation at the Republican National Convention this coming July.

Counting Down to Another Goal

Almost a year ago, Manhattan Dstrict Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Donald Trump with 34 felony ounts of falsifying business records in the first degree

Read the charges against Mr. Trump.

A Stellar SOTU

So much for an aging, doddering, cognitively dysfunctional Joe Biden. The President took the worst of his nemeses - Marjorie Taylor Greene, members of the Supreme Court, and the unnamed "my predecessor" - to task for their lack of cooperation and even of interest in improving the lives of Americans.Great speech, Mr. President.

A Super-Tuesday Later

Litte doubt remains about who will be the candidates in November for the Presidency of the United States. In about another 244 days, it'll be Joe Biden vs Donald Trump. Or decency vs arogance, conceit, and hubris.

To quote President Biden: Today, millions of voters across the country made their voices heard — showing that they are ready to fight back against Donald Trump’s extreme plan to take us backwards. He is driven by grievance and grift, focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people. He is determined to destroy our democracy, rip away fundamental freedoms like the ability for women to make their own health care decisions, and pass another round of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy — and he’ll do or say anything to put himself in power. Today's results offer a clear choice; we must not let Trump drag us backwards into the chaos, division, and darkness that defined his term in office.

Counting Down

8 months and change.

That's how long we, the good guys, have to wait for the chance to exile Donald Trump once and for all. Unless you start the count at March 25, 2024 - three weeks and change from this writing, when Mr. Orange goes on trial in Manhattan for attempring to silence Stormy Daniels with a bribe.
Bodhi would welcome any tricks any of you might have up your sleeve in the Saving Our Democracy department ... And be aware that this site's counter will continue to tick every day until the general election on November 5th.