Politics

[Brent in Az]

 

[Brent in Az]

He sums it up pretty well.....

 

[Brent in Az]

Follow the money.......

 

[Ray B]

Follow the money.......

View attachment 554818

I'm not sure this is a valid comparison. Two issues- It would be nice if there was no previous conflict of interest due to all of the financial arrangements between Bidet and Ukraine/Russia. Secondly, I don't see documentation regarding what would be AID- that is something given without expectation of return and equipment transferred as part of a sale. Is the money going to Maui AID or LOANS?

 

[spike.t]

 

[Scott CWO]

If anyone doubts the power of propaganda..........

Send him to the front lines of the war and see how great he thinks it is!

 

[Tanks]

...

The senate minority leader has a great deal of power - not as much as the majority leader - but, nevertheless, considerable political power and influence. McConnel has, throughout his leadership career, been a pragmatist. Bellowing in rage about issues that either can't be fixed or are not worth the political capital of fixing them is alien to his, and frankly the senate's, critical path for getting things done. He is an expert at it. His peers recognize him as such.

McConnel, not the flim flam man from New York, gave us the most conservative court in a hundred years. That is a remarkable accomplishment that will long outlive the chaos brought about by Donald Trump. Pretty good for ole Jack.

With respect to minority leadership and its role, over the last 100 years the republican party has held both houses for only twenty. For twelve years, McConnel has navigated both majority and minority leadership. No one has a better handle on it and that is why his conference voted him the leadership role 37 to 10 over Rick Scott.

He is anything but a weak leader. Because he knows how to use his influence and work the legislative system, he actually gets things done. Indeed, other than executive orders, Trump was dependent upon McConnel to get anything through the senate. Again, SCOTUS nominees were the most publicly noteworthy.

In regard to getting things done, what I do not get from the Trump crowd is this constant desire to fall on their swords for futile actions or causes. All of that without looking at long term consequences or unintended side effects.

It is all one big Kabuki theater.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I am wondering whether Ukraine’s news blackout is in fact not shooting themselves in the foot? The Russians surely know where the attacks are, they are happening to them! And if they were not in the picture, just read the bloggers covering it from the Russian perspective. But what of the Ukrainian perspective? It is all a big secret and that is hardly keeping anyone’s interest. If there is something positive to say why not say it?

 

[NE 7x57]

I am wondering whether Ukraine’s news blackout is in fact not shooting themselves in the foot? The Russians surely know where the attacks are, they are happening to them! And if they were not in the picture, just read the bloggers covering it from the Russian perspective. But what of the Ukrainian perspective? It is all a big secret and that is hardly keeping anyone’s interest. If there is something positive to say why not say it?

Sometimes Russia appears to not know what's going on. The commander on the front might report what's happening truthfully UNLESS it puts him in a bad light and as this information goes up the chain of command reality is continually diluted until at the very top what is reported has little to do with what actually occurred.

 

[Tanks]

I am wondering whether Ukraine’s news blackout is in fact not shooting themselves in the foot? The Russians surely know where the attacks are, they are happening to them! And if they were not in the picture, just read the bloggers covering it from the Russian perspective. But what of the Ukrainian perspective? It is all a big secret and that is hardly keeping anyone’s interest. If there is something positive to say why not say it?

I have a feeling the Ukranians are doing their best not to humiliate Putin with news. Putin still has tactical nukes and there is a possibility that he might use them if the choice comes to losing power (and life of course) and using nukes.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have a feeling the Ukranians are doing their best not to humiliate Putin with news. Putin still has tactical nukes and there is a possibility that he might use them if the choice comes to losing power (and life of course) and using nukes.

The problem with brinkmanship is the brink. It seems to me that somebody better get that call to the negotiating table ready, because once the land bridge is threatened it is a huge deal for both sides. This war needs to end, it was a miscalculation at the beginning and it could be another if it goes too far.

 

[WAB]

The problem with brinkmanship is the brink. It seems to me that somebody better get that call to the negotiating table ready, because once the land bridge is threatened it is a huge deal for both sides. This war needs to end, it was a miscalculation at the beginning and it could be another if it goes too far.

I just don’t see what there is to negotiate. How can we possibly expect Ukraine to give up territory that was illegally seized from them? They hold all the cards at this point. Russian defenses appear brittle, Ukraine my sever their connection to Ukraine before the mud. If they then take out the bridge, the Russians are in for a long winter. Russia can’t admit weakness or defeat, Ukraine won’t give up their claim to illegally seized territory. Where is the negotiated solution?

 

[mdwest]

I have a feeling the Ukranians are doing their best not to humiliate Putin with news. Putin still has tactical nukes and there is a possibility that he might use them if the choice comes to losing power (and life of course) and using nukes.

There is certainly the possibility that Putin would use tactical nukes.. but.. I think that would absolutely spell complete and total disaster for him.. and he has to know that (although I will concede that desperate people do desperate things.. and who knows what he might do if he indeed becomes desperate)..

If Russia thinks the west has turned hard on them in its support of Ukraine.. firing up a tactical nuke would very likely be the ultimate "fuck around and find out" moment for Russia..

Russia already didnt want neighboring nations joining NATO.. watch what happens when a nuke goes live.. there wont be a country touching a western or SW border with Russia that isnt a NATO member within 90 days..

Russia is getting hammered by western munitions and weaponry being used by Ukraine.. watch what happens when a nuke gets touched off... it wont be a handful of aged, old block vintage F16's coming from Norway that Putin has to worry about from that point forward.. it will be several squadrons of much newer 4th and 5th generation fighters and bombers being flown by highly experienced western military pilots to be concerned with... Russia would also see all of its naval assets within a reasonable distance of Ukraine removed from the planet in very short order..

If we assume their military has already been set back at least a decade or two (evidenced by what they are having to pull out of mothballs and units being called up in reserve, etc to fight the current fight) by losses in Ukraine.. think about what happens as soon as a couple of dozen Euro Fighters, a squadron of F22's, and a couple of armored brigades from western countries come onto the scene..

Even worse.. if Putin forces an escalation that brings in actual forces from foreign countries.. think about what happens to the Russian defense industry...

India is far and away the biggest purchaser of Russian arms and munitions (about 24% of their total sales go to India).. Egypt is about 11%.. Algeria about 14%.. Iraq about 4%... I feel almost certain western countries would at a minimum put sanctions in place that make it incredibly painful for these countries to continue to support the Russian military and economy.. and it highly possible that some of those countries would simply walk away from Russian purchases for no other reason that their weapons systems have now been proven to be absolutely inferior and inadequate and they dont want to jeopardize relationships with Germany, Italy, the UK, France, the US, etc..etc..etc..

Again, desperate people do desperate things.. who really knows what Putin would be willing to do if things start getting really dicey for him..

But.. if he has half a brain left in his head, the last thing he wants for himself or for his country (if he really cares about his country at all) is an escalation that brings the west into even deeper support of Ukraine and risks a global rather than regional conflict that Russia cant possibly win.. (doesnt have the resources, doesnt have the allies, doesnt have the capabilities)..

 

[Ray B]

The answer to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia lays with China. At present China could help Russia see the benefits of withdrawing from its endeavors. but China has endeavors of its own to pursue and an open window of opportunity that could close in a year. So China may see advantage to allowing Russia to continue the war, even to escalate it, so that at some point China could jump in and pick up the pieces of the western world.

 

[mdwest]

The answer to negotiations between Ukraine and Russia lays with China. At present China could help Russia see the benefits of withdrawing from its endeavors. but China has endeavors of its own to pursue and an open window of opportunity that could close in a year. So China may see advantage to allowing Russia to continue the war, even to escalate it, so that at some point China could jump in and pick up the pieces of the western world.

China is a another BIG purchaser of Russian defense materials.. about 18% ($5.1B a year).. I would imagine China sees substantial benefit in Russia being further weakened over time by this conflict though..

Contrary to popular belief, China and Russia arent exactly the best of friends.. The Chinese I am sure see a lot of opportunity on the global stage with a weakened Russia playing a supporting role as opposed to Russia being another near-peer to compete with for resources, influence, and power across the developing world..

China also has a number of its own problems to deal with right now.. Its population is aging out at an alarming rate.. while its economy is still growing, it is very clearly fragile and vulnerable from many angles of attack... Were I Chairman Xi, the last thing I would want is to tie a Russian boat anchor around my neck right now..

I might use and abuse the Russians for all of the obvious advantages though, while acting like I was a "friend"..

 

[Wheels]

 

[Red Leg]

The problem with brinkmanship is the brink. It seems to me that somebody better get that call to the negotiating table ready, because once the land bridge is threatened it is a huge deal for both sides. This war needs to end, it was a miscalculation at the beginning and it could be another if it goes too far.

Could not disagree with you more Kevin. Russia is desperately counting on the West to do just what you suggest. To be blunt, Russia needs to loose this war. I suppose Putin could decide to commit personal, national, and cultural suicide through nuclear weapons, but I doubt it.

If this conflict freezes along the current line of contact, then Russia will have won and Ukraine will have lost. Moreover, a decidedly Ukrainian portion of the country - Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will fall under the Kremlin's heel. That should be completely unsatisfactory to the West.

I suspect an eventual deal could be made that cedes a portion of the occupied Donbass to Russia - perhaps after a UN plebiscite. Crimea would perhaps be left in limbo.

But Ukraine is in the process of rupturing he Russian main line of defense in Zaporizhzhia. Assuming any sort of exploitation of that success, the left third of the Russian occupation becomes untenable and Crimea will be under enormous pressure. The correlation of forces have continued to swing Ukraine's way and clearly are accelerating. Putin and his lackey Defense Minister may not realize it, but I assure you his generals do.

Now is the worst time for the West to take counsel of its fears.

 

[cash_tx]

This is interesting to think about from not just a military perspective, but also the larger business and social implications of having a small and differently-minded generation of Zoomers:

 

[WAB]

I just don’t see what there is to negotiate. How can we possibly expect Ukraine to give up territory that was illegally seized from them? They hold all the cards at this point. Russian defenses appear brittle, Ukraine my sever their connection to Ukraine before the mud. If they then take out the bridge, the Russians are in for a long winter. Russia can’t admit weakness or defeat, Ukraine won’t give up their claim to illegally seized territory. Where is the negotiated solution?

I meant to say that Ukraine may sever Russia’s land connection to Crimea before the mud. If they do that, anticipate a large fleet of waterborne drones going after the bridge and bottling up Sevastopol. That makes for a long hard winter if you’re a Russian. I see absolutely no incentive for Ukraine to engage in negotiations. To do so is to signal that they are willing to give up territory illegally seized from them.

Let’s not forget the Ukrainian citizens kidnapped by the Russians. I don’t think ukrain stops until their territory is restored and their citizens are returned.

 

[sestoppelman]

Joe Biden is a dishonorable worthless turd!

SICK! Joe Biden Abruptly Walks Out of Medal of Honor Ceremony Before the Closing Benediction - Humiliates Recipient (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit | by Cristina Laila

Joe Biden on Tuesday abruptly walked out of a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room.

www.thegatewaypundit.com