President’s Day 2023

Ron DeSantis on Fox & Friends on Biden's visit to Ukraine: "I and many Americans are thinking to ourselves, Ok, he's very concerned about those borders halfway around the world. He's not done anything to secure our own borders here... we have a lot of problems accumulating here." pic.twitter.com/BEMbKBHtjF

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 20, 2023

One border was crossed in a military invasion. The other is crossed by asylum seekers fleeing oppression and seeking freedom in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Who our “leaders” now tell us are all scared shitless of the people seeking asylum.

Yeah, it’s the same thing. And the GOP spent the day repeating its talking point:

Fox News is now positioning Biden’s show of support for Ukraine as a direct affront to those affected by the train derailment in Ohio.

There’s a narrative being planted here; watch how support for Ukraine is framed as incompatible with US national interests. pic.twitter.com/iIaw708Obk

— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) February 21, 2023

Nancy Mace on Fox News attacks Biden for going to Ukraine on Presidents' Day instead of Ohio and says he was "an embarrassment on the world stage" pic.twitter.com/n6alD5Kd6p

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2023

Even Trump got the memo:

Trump, speaking at a Hilton in Palm Beach, criticizes Biden for going to Ukraine but not Ohio (you might recall that Trump was impeached for trying to extort the Ukrainian government) pic.twitter.com/j2NLOGl51M

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2023

Not that he didn’t get weird:

This is an important point: As DeSantis ramps up his #MAGA bonafides, Trump will lurch deeper into the dark side. The gravity will pull the rest of the GOP with it. https://t.co/8n62jVI8Oz

— Reed Galen (@reedgalen) February 21, 2023

And yet Republicans like MTG complain about big government; while simultaneously demanding Biden override federalism and go to Ohio, where the governor resolutely refuses federal aid.

Speaking of talking points:

New: Ron DeSantis is now repeating Russian propaganda nearly word-for-word, saying Russia won’t go after NATO countries. https://t.co/7Vv8Xg1Q7g

— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) February 20, 2023

On the day of Biden's historic visit to Kiev, one of greater MAGA's most flamboyant useful idiots, MTG, calls for an American Brexit, a dissolution of the United States.

Remarkable how often MAGA finds itself parroting Kremlin talking points, and on this day, President's Day. 1/

— Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) February 20, 2023

Trump's strategy for resolution of the war in Ukraine is to stop supporting Ukraine and compel them to support whatever terms Russia offers, which of course will only be temporary until Russia reloads for the next bite at the apple. https://t.co/anwDFTuprk

— 🕷Dante Atkins🕷 (@DanteAtkins) February 21, 2023

Which brings us back to where we started:

This is a 180º turn from the Republican Party of Reagan and Bush that helped eradicate the Soviet Union and the scourge of totalitarianism from much of Europe. DeSantis, Trump, and most of the GOP have rolled over and bared their bellies to Putin. https://t.co/TtobvAfybz

— Jeff Timmer (@jefftimmer) February 20, 2023

Despite all the Twitter armchair psychoanalysis, I still can’t figure out why that is. Except maybe they think they will be strong man adjacent; but the man who tells you he’s strong isn’t, really. The contrast between Biden and Trump on that point couldn’t be clearer than it was today.

The President of the United States flies overseas, takes a 10 hour train trip, walks through the city while air raid sirens go off.

Meanwhile, Putin cowers on an armored train, scared of everyone in the world including his own people. https://t.co/CHiMi4pNSm

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 20, 2023

And the biggest difference between Putin and Trump? Putin doesn’t keep giving the hangman his neck measurements for the noose:

If anyone in Trump’s family or political orbit actually cared about him, they’d tell him that he has the right to remain silent, that anything he says can and will be used against him in a court of law, and that he has the right to have an attorney with him at all times to stuff… https://t.co/y0KHTR12jc

— George Conway🌻 (@gtconway3d) February 21, 2023

Happy Presidents’ Day! Don’t forget to leave out some milk and classified docs at midnight!

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 21, 2023