Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addressed the Munich Security Conference Friday morning on NATO and support for Ukraine. McConnell told the Europeans to look to him and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as well as top Republicans in the House and Senate, saying,
“Republican leaders are committed to a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. We are committed to helping Ukraine. Not because of vague moral arguments or abstractions like the so-called ‘rules-based international order.’ But rather, because America’s own core national interests are at stake. Because our security is interlinked and our economies are intertwined.” McConnell appears to be trying box in McCarthy–who did not go to Munich–from overseas on Ukraine.

McCarthy has said there would be no blank check for Ukraine in the Republican led House of Representatives.

The U.S. has a large bi-partisan delegation at the conference led by Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), former Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and nearly fifty lawmakers, according to Reuters. In contrast, on Thursday current Speaker McCarthy led a Republican delegation inspecting the U.S.-Mexico border at Tuscon, Arixona.

McConnell is making a strong push to try to persuade wavering Republicans and GOP voters to continue robust support and funding for Ukraine. He spoke on the Senate floor on Thursday and appeared on Fox News where he said that defeating Russia in Ukraine is the “single most important event going on in the world right now.”

Mitch McConnell on Fox News: “I’m gonna try to help explain to the American people that defeating the Russians in Ukraine is the single most important event going on in the world right now … there should be a bipartisan support for this.” pic.twitter.com/BJoOcy17iL

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 16, 2023

Full interview:

Excerpt from McConnell’s Senate floor speech on Thursday where he sums up his appeal for the U.S. and NATO to ramp up military spending to prepare for threats of war with Russia and China:

“In the short term, both America and our allies need to serve our own interests by investing in the munitions and weapons systems that will help Ukraine defeat the invasion.

“But this new chapter of realism and resolve cannot end with Ukraine. Because the long-term threats and challenges that we face go much deeper.

“A nuclear-armed Russia poses a threat to the United States and NATO.

“And China poses an even greater threat still to American interests and those of our allies.

“These challenges are multifaceted, they are global, and they are only growing.

“So I look forward to talking to our allies in Munich — both about America’s resolve to lead… and Europe’s responsibility to shoulder more of the load.”

Excerpts from McConnell’s speech at the Munich Security Conference as prepared for delivery:

“Well, good morning, friends.

“Let me start by saying: I am a conservative Republican from America, and I come in peace! Reports about the death of Republican support for strong American leadership in the world have been greatly exaggerated.

“My party’s leaders overwhelmingly support a strong, involved America and a robust trans-Atlantic alliance. Don’t look at Twitter, look at people in power. Look at me and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Look at the top Republicans on the Senate and House committees that handle Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, and Intelligence. Look at the former Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, National Security Advisor, and Director of National Intelligence from the previous Republican Administration.

“Republican leaders are committed to a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. We are committed to helping Ukraine. Not because of vague moral arguments or abstractions like the so-called ‘rules-based international order.’ But rather, because America’s own core national interests are at stake. Because our security is interlinked and our economies are intertwined.

“Popular support for a strong and involved NATO alliance will only be sustained if leaders across the alliance explain clearly and concretely to their own citizens how their nation’s peace and prosperity hangs in the balance.

“This is a case that top Republicans are making in Washington and to the American public on a daily basis. Frankly, some of us find ourselves making this case more often and more plainly than our own President.

…”Now in my view, there is much more America must do to improve our defense capacity: We need to streamline the overly bureaucratic weapons procurement process. We need to make significant investments — quickly — in critical munitions, transformational capability, and the industrial base to provide it.

“To remain the arsenal of democracy, we must also reform how we sell weapons to allies and partners. Our Foreign Military Sales process should not be so painfully slow or vulnerable to passing political whims. These investments and reforms will help America keep supporting Ukraine, rebuild our own stockpiles, and modernize our forces for the even greater challenges to come.

***

“While America steps up our game, we need our European allies to step up yours as well. If I am a true friend, I owe you my candor. If you want to help Ukraine win; if you want NATO to emerge stronger from this conflict; and if you want sustained political support in America for our staying engaged and invested in maintaining a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace… then America’s friends on this continent must mirror the resolve and reciprocate the commitment that you hope to see from us.”

The Wall Street Journal’s Natalie Andrews reported McConnell did use the line about looking to him and McCarthy and not Twitter on Ukraine support, “McConnell in Munich: “My party’s leaders overwhelmingly support a strong, involved America and a robust trans-Atlantic alliance. Don’t look at Twitter, look at people in power. Look at me and Speaker Kevin McCarthy…. Republican leaders are … are committed to helping Ukraine”

McConnell in Munich: “My party’s leaders overwhelmingly support a strong, involved America and a robust trans-Atlantic alliance. Don’t look at Twitter, look at people in power. Look at me and Speaker Kevin McCarthy…. Republican leaders are … are committed to helping Ukraine"

— Natalie Andrews (@natalieandrews) February 17, 2023

The post McConnell Tells Munich Conference Regarding Ukraine Support: “Don’t Look at Twitter, Look at People in Power, Look at Me and Speaker Kevin McCarthy” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Katie Hobbs

A tanker hauling poisonous chemicals, including nitric acid, rolled over on Interstate 10 near Tucson, Arizona, forcing an evacuation of the area and a shelter-in-place warning from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Officials reportedly lifted the shelter-in-place and evacuation warnings and reopened the highway Wednesday evening.

However, some who were in the area are now reportedly “experiencing serious health effects from the fumes.”

Arizona State Senator Justine Wadsack said in a new statement, “I’m hearing from constituents in the area who are currently experiencing respiratory issues, including coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.” Wadsack added, “How on earth do we know that the air quality is currently safe for our residents? Where is Governor Hobbs on this crisis? We need an immediate State of Emergency declared by her office for this area impacted in Southern Arizona. We need medical resources and air quality experts deployed right away.”

The very same people who tried to lock us all in our homes and weak masks for two years, citing what was basically the flu, now say that potentially toxic air is just fine to breathe. What is really going on here?

The Gateway Pundit reported on Wednesday that Immediately after the tanker rolled over, clouds of nitric acid were seen by motorists on the interstate. According to the CDC, “Exposure to nitric acid can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane; it can also cause delayed pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, bronchitis, and dental erosion. Nitric acid is highly corrosive.”

Tanker Spills Toxic Chemicals After Rolling Over, Arizona Interstate Shutdown For Hours

The driver behind the tanker was found dead on the scene.

Senator Wadsack put out a press release on Thursday, calling on Hobbs to take action against this real public health crisis and slamming her for her inaction.

“My constituents are terrified, and we are calling on the Governor to do her job. Public health is in danger, and she’s asleep at the wheel. I will be traveling to this area to assess this situation as soon as possible, and I encourage her to do the same,” said Wadsack.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator @Wadsack4Arizona calls on @GovernorHobbs to Issue an Immediate State of Emergency to Address I-10 Hazardous Chemical Spill pic.twitter.com/ittyPRqXdn

— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) February 16, 2023

Arizona State Representative Rachel Jones joined Wadsack’s demands for action, asking, “Isn’t this something a Governor should address?”

Where exactly is Hobbs on this? My family was hunkered down for the last few days, with many other Tucsonans, not knowing exactly what the dangers were. Isn’t this something a Governor should address? #poorleadership https://t.co/JcjkypldVf

— AZ Representative Rachel Jones (@RJ4arizona) February 16, 2023

This is one of many bizarre and catastrophic events involving a freight vehicle or hazardous chemicals in America this month.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, on February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train hauling carcinogenic chemicals derailed in the small town of East Palestine, Ohio, sending plumes of dangerous gas into the atmosphere during a “controlled release” burn.

“Where Is Pete Buttigieg?” – Ohio Residents Erupt at Town Hall Meeting on Environmental Disaster Following Train Derailment (VIDEO)

The Gateway Pundit reported that days later, Amanda Breshears, who lives 10 miles away from the crash site, found all of her chickens and rooster dead following the “controlled” release of the toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio.

Ohio Woman Finds All of Her Chickens and Rooster Dead 10 Miles from East Palestine Following Mushroom Cloud of Toxic Chemicals Released into Air

The waters in East Palestine, Ohio, are thoroughly polluted with toxic chemicals. Thousands of fish have reportedly been killed by the fallout.

The Gateway Pundit reported that Emergency responders on Monday responded to two more train derailments in Texas and South Carolina.

DEVELOPING: Emergency Officials Responding to Two More Train Derailments – One in South Carolina, Another in Texas (VIDEO)

The Gateway Pundit reported at least six rail cars were derailed yesterday in Van Buren Township near Detroit, Michigan.

ANOTHER TRAIN DERAILMENT: Crews On the Scene in Van Buren Township After Train Derails – At Least 6 Cars Off the Track (VIDEO)

And we reported that a massive fire broke out at a Kissimmee, Florida, nursery supplies warehouse, scorching approximately two acres of plastic planters on Thursday. The flames were reportedly two stories high.

MASSIVE 5-ACRE FIRE Breaks Out at Kissimmee, Florida Warehouse Storing Plastic Plant Pots – Flames Two Stories High – Residents with Breathing Issues told to Stay Inside

All of this, we’re told, is fine, and the air is safe.

Where are the radical left climate change freaks?

Where is the response from our so-called leaders? What’s really going on?

The post AZ State Senator Demands Action From Katie Hobbs After Tanker Rolls Over On Highway, Spills Toxic Chemicals – Residents Reportedly “Experiencing SERIOUS Health Effects From The Fumes” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.