Zelensky Will Address Congress – What Will the GOP Do? Who Will Even Show Up? (Updated)

The President of Ukraine has, for the first time since Russia started it’s now open (they’ve been fighting by “proxy” since 2014) war to take over a country that wants nothing to do with Russian rule.  Putin fully intended for Zelensky to die right off the bat.  Preferably publicly.  At the very least Putin figured Zelensky would flee the country, and surely had a full-on propaganda campaign ready to roll out to exploit such an action.  Zelensky was in fact offered helped by us and other western nations to get out of Dodge, to get to safety.  He famously responded he didn’t need a ride but needed ammo.

We know how things went after that!

Folks in the west who don’t know their history don’t understand the animus, even hatred of true Ukrainians towards Russia.  Russia was after all created by Ukrainians who stuck out exploring eastward.  Folks keep overlooking that simple fact, and the notion that Ukraine is a creation (and therefor historically part of) Russia stubbornly persists.  But Russia has for centuries suffered from a massive inferiority complex and when it comes to Ukraine, with it’s abundance of resources but especially farmland has repeatedly been cruel and brutal in its repeated attempts to assimilate Ukraine.  To make it nothing more than a Province of Russia.  Repeated, sometimes massive atrocities have been committed against Ukraine and Ukrainians for refusal to bend to Russia’s will.

What we are seeing now is for Ukrainian’s this generations turn to suffer at the hand of Russia.  Given all the corruption in their country, so much (most in fact) of it at the hands of Russians or Ukrainian collaborators with Russia (amply rewarded by the latter) it’s no surprise that, having managed to kick out a Putin puppet government Ukrainians, already angry about the takeover by Russia of eastern parts of their country and Crimea via transplanted Russians “supporting independence” they’d be pissed.  Enough to fight back.

What they lacked in equipment at the start of the war, they made up for with two things.  Resolve to settle things with Russia once and for all (especially when word of Zelensky’s vow to stay right there with them even if it cost him (and his wife) his own life, but just as importantly an awful lot of veterans.  People who’d fought the proxy war on their eastern front.  A place where Russian Army regulars weren’t much in evidence.  I suspect that over the years a realization came about that not only was the well-known corruption in Russia pervasive, but that it affected their military capability.

In any case, the simple yet still courageous and bold to fight back right off the bat screwed Putin’s grand plan from the start.  Sadly, Russia had an incredible stockpile of weapons and gear to bring to bear.  And a dictator who cared no more about the lives of his own troops (or even their in theater commanders) than he did about Ukrainians.  This was never going to be over quickly, but fortunately western nations realized just how much will to fight back existed in Ukraine, that with some training they could put in the field a western style army (much more nimble and effective than the Russian one, built on the old Soviet model) and with some leadership from President Biden formed a solid alliance to get Ukraine the weapons, ammo and training they would need.

I said all that because while even among Putin loving, or at least (to keep from pissing off Trump) tolerant Republicans there was strong support for aid to Ukraine.  That, as anyone reading this knows is not the case anymore.  The GOP is increasingly talking a dangerous game, suggesting we’ve done enough.  That it’s time to hold back on our support, or to make it (echoes of Trump) conditional.  Make no mistake, by “conditional” what they mean is a way out for Putin and for that matter Trump.  To allow for some face-saving (for Putin/Russia, and by extension Trump) settlement to this war.

I for one think this is like the situation we had with Japan during WWII.  Nothing less than unconditional surrender on Russia’s part is acceptable.  We can, as was the case in Japan make efforts AFTER that happens to offer conciliatory gestures if doing so will advance a new and better society there.  But it should be on Ukraine’s terms, or Ukraine with some guidance from the west who will have an enormous task in building a lasting peace.  One in which Ukraine is free and secure, and Russia is unable, much less willing to engage in aggression.  For generations.  Again, the Marshal Plan after WWII is the model.

Right now however this war isn’t over.  It might drag on through the winter and will unless Putin dies (either from his butt cancer, or via assassination by his own honchos) followed by one last Russia major offensive (in every sense of the word) in the spring.  So for now we, the United States has to continue to lead the way in supporting Ukraine with more and ever advanced weapons.  If we back off, the will of other countries will crater and this could, much as you don’t want to imagine must less believe will get even uglier.

Things have however gotten to a point where Zelensky believes he can leave his country for a couple of days without angering his people, or causing a drop in moral of those fighting and suffering.  It’s Christmas too.  More importantly the very political Party making noises about “no more blank checks for Ukraine” is about to take over part of our government.  There is no better place for Zelensky to be tonight, and no better time for him to be standing in front of the United States Congress.  (You can be sure people all over Ukraine will be watching and listening)  Republicans should be FORCED to sit there and look at a man who has shown a greater combination of personal bravery and leadership than any one of them.

If, as I suspect he will Zelensky masters the moment any asshat Republican who, after he’s back in Ukraine takes cheap potshots at him will look very bad indeed.  “Ratioing” on social media will go through the roof.  But it’s worth thinking about how many Republicans will even show up?

There is a Congress Critter from my hometown back in southern Illinois.  I didn’t know him much as he was several years younger but his older sister was a classmate of mine.  Yes, he voted with the Sedition Caucus.  He supports Trump/Trumpism.  I’ve got no use for him, and he and people like him are why I’ll never see my hometown again.  I did call his office a few hours ago however, even though I haven’t even been back to Illinois much less my hometown in three decades now.  I asked the staffer if Mike (Bost) planned to attend Zelensky’s address to Congress and was told a decision hadn’t been made.  With considerable effort I controlled myself.

I explained who I was, where i was from and how I knew his boss. I gave the staffer plenty of details about our hometown, Mike’s older sister (my classmate) and stuff he could use to establish to his boss I was for real.  Who I said I was.  And offered to give my phone number which he said wasn’t necessary.  I then said well, if he wants to get ahold of me his sister can tell him how to get in touch.  (She has my email and phone from days past when we were still in touch) I the, managing to avoid profanity (which might have cause him to hang up) cut loose.  I can’t believe it’s even a question about Mike attending tonight.  I also flat-out said he’d be dishonoring our Marine Corps and his Oath of Office if he didn’t show up – and fully support Ukraine and Zelensky both tonight and moving forward.  The staffer noted his boss had voted for plenty of aid in the past.  I said it should by god continue.  And I told him to tell  his boss I challenged him to again act like a jarhead.  To show leadership in his caucus and demand his colleagues knock off the “we’ve done enough” crap.

The dude was a bit startled but he paid attention.  I think he might even wound up asking his boss “do you actually know this guy?” and if that happens (trust me, Mike will know who I am) tell him what I had to say.

But it saddens me that I even have to question how many Republicans, especially HOUSE Republicans will show up tonight.  And be respectful. Ursula might have to kick me off for saying this but if some asshat pulls a Joe Wilson and shouts out “You Lie” or something similar I hope, I really do that a Democrat walks over and punches him or her in their fat mouth.  Knocks them on their ass.

But how sad is it in this season of hope to know that such a thing is even possible?  And more than a little bit?  If Republicans, and friends/former friends who are Republicans wonder how I can think so little of their increasingly bat-shit insane Party it’s this feeling of dread I have that way too many seats in the house chamber will be empty tonight when the place should be packed to send a message to Putin and the world.  And that even for Republicans who show up someone might toss a rhetorical turd.

And people wonder why I say my own service in the Corps turns out to have not meant a goddamned thing.

(UPDATE) Well, the speech is over and I’ve even watched some commentary.  Here are some takeaways:

• It wasn’t a packed to the gill House chamber but it was pretty full. No doubt Faux Nooz and RWNJ  outlets & talking heads (who talk out of the asshole under their nose) will make snarky comments about the almost empty gallery.  As was noted in pre and post speech coverage for security reasons the gallery would be almost empty.  Not even Congress Critter’s family members would be allowed.  However one section was filled with a Ukrainian delegation, some no doubt from his traveling group and some from the embassy in DC.  And after they shouted “God Bless America!” (Something I’m quite sure will be omitted from conservative news coverage)
• Zelenski gave his speech in English.  He hasn’t mastered our language enough to speak fluently but he could be understood, and he had plenty to say that hit home with Americans and the world.
• Zelensky knows something of American History.  He noted the suffering prior generations of America went through, to gain independence and later to win other wars.  He in effect said “we know you have fought and bled in war for the comfort you have this holiday season.  We Ukrainians are united in our willingness to endure what you’ve endured.  We don’t begrudge you.  In fact, we thank you for helping us get to a point where our future generations can enjoy the same comforts
• Speaking of  history, he noted things most Americans have forgotten if it ever registered in history classes in school past test time.  The battle for Saratoga during the Revolutionary War, something that made the British (as one talking head pointed out) “Hey. These people can fight!”  He made other references including WWII, the Battle of the Bulge and a Christmas where so many on the front lines spend a Christmas dodging enemy fire.  Again he was in effect saying “We Ukrainians understand your people have gone through what we’re going through.” And we thank you for your help in getting us through it.
• Zelensky made it clear – saying “we can handle the weapons you provide, including operating tanks and even planes (kind of a hint on his part that it’s time for us to help him get them) and have plenty of people with the will to do the fighting.  We don’t need American troops – just keep providing the weapons we need and we’ll take care of the fighting. (I think everyone knows he’s not blowing smoke on that one.)
• Zelensky made a point of repeatedly pointing out the bi-partisan (he even tossed in a bicameral reference showing he knows what many an American doesn’t – the word that defines the legislative body we know as Congress.
• Zelensky made a point of saying repeatedly the United States has led the way in getting the free world to support Ukraine.
• Related to the last point, Zelensky gave the United States credit for along with his own country winning the first battle of the war – that of making the world understand how wrong Russia was to start this war and help build the alliance that has strongly supported Ukraine and outright condemned Russia.
• Zelensky laid down a marker for Republicans who want to start being Trumpian and making additional support conditional.  He invoked Iran as a key ally of Russia’s for providing those drones that have been used with devastating effect. (He didn’t spell it out on this one but those drones have hurt civilians far more than being used on battlefield targets)
• Zelensky used the word terrorist more than once.  Not just in linking Iran and Russia either.  He didn’t specifically call Russia a terrorist State in those words but he might as well have.  Again, that puts Republicans who want to suck up to Trump (and Putin) in a more difficult spot than they were earlier today.

In my original article I mentioned hoping Zelensky would master the moment.  Speaking for myself I believe he did.  His speech was directed not just to Congress, but to the American people as well as governments around the world and their people too.  That includes Russia by the way.  Putin might not have watched (although for him it would be like driving past a car wreck without looking) but I’ll bet a lot of his oligarch pals did.  And giving the number of them dying (with increasing frequency it seems) from what I’ve seen referred to as “Tall Building Syndrome” the longer this war that all but the most delusional Russians know can’t be won the better the odds they too will suffer from a bout of TBS “Russian style” and decide that it’s time for Putin to go.

This is life and death for Putin now, and has been for quite a while.  He’s already clearly ill with his cancer.  We don’t know how bad it is.  He’s not showing signs of undergoing chemo so maybe not as bad as we think. (Ok, for some of us…hope?)  But he might be kidding himself about other treatments working when they really aren’t.  His biggest worry is getting killed by his own inner circle.  And if, IF Zelensky’s speech was received around the country and world the way I think and hope it will be, if tomorrow there’s another round of support from world leaders and VIPs in various countries Putin’s oligarch pals are going to be swallowing hard.  There one hope has been using energy to weaken European support for Ukraine.  If Europe more or less says, “We stand with Ukraine and will somehow make it through the winter” Putin is screwed up his cancerous colon.

We shall soon see.