Politics

[Doubleplay]

@Doubleplay That's what Major News Media tells us.........that Russia, like lemmings, or zombies, will run over the World. Just how they'll do it with an economy smaller than Italy's is a fair question. I think this is simply Western propaganda. Those that I know in Ukraine feel very different then most posting here.....Look at the other side. Another source. You may feel the same, but look...........FWB

For one I try to read and watch every media as much as I can, so that I don't get trapped in an echo chamber like some of the members here.
Two, speaking of propaganda I hope you realize Russians are spending hundreds of million dollars for false information in the US mostly targeting alt right.

 

[Doubleplay]

Two terms that would seem to have relevance here, for me anyway.

Reputation: a widespread belief that someone or something has a particular habit or characteristic.

Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.

From what I have read about John Kelly, he appears to have both of those in ample supply: a solid reputation and strong integrity. I am not sure I have ever thought Trump had either, even dating back to voting for him in 2016 and things such as “Grab’em by the pu$$y.” Well, I guess that’s not true: Trump did have a reputation, and I chose to hold my nose, even back then, something I repeated in 2020.

For those that support him and think the world is out to get him, it is his lack of integrity that makes it easy for me to believe that not all of what is said bad about him can be fictitious. Indeed it would be easier for me to believe it is all true than it is all false, because of his previously demonstrated reputation. Not everyone saying bad things about him can be lying. To believe that just defies common sense.

Listening to those comments attributed to General Kelly? That just reinforces – as though I need anything further – why I won’t hold my nose a third time, if he is the nominee.

And don’t turn this into what Joe Biden is or is not; Biden never had my vote. Trump is the one who should be fighting for my vote, a vote he has made clear he doesn’t feel he needs or wants. Frankly, I’m glad he’s making it easy for me this time.

Well said.
My son is the 4th generation Marine in our family and he served under Kelly as a junior officer.
I'll also never vote for Biden but the day I heard Trump talking non sense about decorated Marines and patriots like Kelly and Mattis and calling John McCain a coward, I decided never to vote for him again not even holding my nose.

 

[Brent in Az]

Has anyone made a serious effort to get Russia and the Ukraine to the negotiating table?

 

[Brent in Az]

The RNC definitely needs an overhaul.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Well said.
My son is the 4th generation Marine in our family and he served under Kelly as a junior officer.
I'll also never vote for Biden but the day I heard Trump talking non sense about decorated Marines and patriots like Kelly and Mattis and calling John McCain a coward, I decided never to vote for him again not even holding my nose.

Thank you for the service of your family sir.

 

[WAB]

The RNC definitely needs an overhaul.

View attachment 585707

More like a clean sweep!

 

[wesheltonj]

The RNC definitely needs an overhaul.

View attachment 585707

No question she needs to go, no plan for vote harvesting, she finally made a push for mail-in ballots. But, replacing her in an election year is just crazy.

 

[Scott CWO]

John Kelley, a former USMC rifleman to 4-Star, has a lifetime history of selfless service to his country - unlike most of his critics on either side of the aisle or his former boss. I can not think of a subject about which I would accept Trump's credibility over Kelley.

One of my employees is a retired SF Sergeant Major who was hand-picked by General Kelley to be Kelley’s highest ranking enlisted man in Afghanistan when Kelley was there. He tells me Kelley is a man of the highest intelligence and honor.

 

[Zambezi]

The State department should have Stephen Kotkin advising them in most matters.

I like his idea of an armistice between Ukraine and Russia like north and South Korea. draw the line and move on

hmmm... so if Canada invaded the USA you'd be ok with them occupying MA, NY and much of the NE USA. Just draw a line and move on (actually I know many would actually be ok with that - blue commie states )

Now we have Ukraine... fug em, they have nothing we need so Russia have at it, take what you want.

Now how about this scenario: Ukraine has the last cobolt or lithium or 90% of the world's gold or diamonds, or {insert your favourite have to have} would you be so eager to abandon them?

So we have a prostitute mindset now...?

Like the old joke (can't recall it now) along the lines of asking your neighbours daughter if she would sleep with you for $1?
No is the answer.
$1M...?
Yes is the answer.
So we have established she is a prostitute, all we are doing now is setting the price.

If Ukraine wants to fight to the last man, to the point where the last dog has explosives strapped to it on a suicide mission then fund them in their fight. IT IS COSTING YOU PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR TO BLUNT AND CRIPPLE YOUR ENEMY (RUSSIA) FOR THE NEXT FEW DECADES. AND NO LOSS OF US LIVES! WHICH IN TURN WILL BOOST YOUR ECONOMY AND MAKE THE PENNIES TURN INTO REAL DOLLARS!!!

If you (not you Altitude Sickness) can't understand that maybe another 4km wide asteroid should take us out as we are doomed as a species.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Zambezi, you made that decision easy. Let’s draw the NE line now.

Your correct each side needs the win. But when neither will give in. In the past, an Armistice has been the least offensive solution.

 

[Zambezi]

Zambezi, you made that decision easy. Let’s draw the NE line now.

Your correct each side needs the win. But when neither will give in. In the past, an Armistice has been the least offensive solution.

An enforced armistice is not an armistice, it is siding with the aggressor against your ally.

To be brutally honest and downright maniacal the longer the war goes on the better for the USA and the US economy. Pushing Russia back 20-30 years is a good thing. Nicking half their markets, a good thing. Being able to concentrate on China and Iran alone, a good thing...

A pulverised Ukraine is going to require rebuilding. I can bet everyone's bottom dollar that if the contracts haven't been signed yet they will be before long: the USA is going to get the lions share of the contracts and/or mineral rights or other party favours to rebuild Ukraine. Much like China is doing to Africa right now. (said in a Chinese accent: we help you now. You sign promissory note. You no pay we take your port/airport/lithium mine/first born... )

This isn't Korea where you have US lives being lost that necessitated a line being drawn. This is geopolitics and more importantly it's business.

 

[Red Leg]

"It boggles my mind that the average Trump supporter seems incapable of grasping such a fundamental national interest. For the umpteenth time, in what world is assisting Russia in its strategic goals in the interests of the United States? Make no mistake, when the republican party cuts (off) aid to Ukraine, they have become an ally of Russia and Vladimir Putin. It sickens me".

You know, I get where you are coming from in general, but I think this is a real stretch because you are essentially calling anyone who disagrees with this position on Ukraine a traitor to America, and that just isnt so.

One doesnt become an 'ally' of Russia and Putin by not giving money and arms to Ukraine.

An ally of Russia would be joining the fight AGAINST Ukraine with Russia or supporting Putin with money and arms.

So I think that position is over the top. Anyway I guess there is always the alternative: vote democrat as apparently you think they are blameless in this and its all the Republicans fault.

I would have thought that form of argument would appeal to you especially. I can pull them up if you wish, but how many times have you declared to me and others that not voting for Trump is the same as voting for Biden? An important aspect of using logical argument is to be logical and consistent in its application.

But this is not complicated. Cutting off US funding for Ukraine is as strategic a strike in favor of Russian goals and objectives as Putin could possibly hope to obtain. There is no weapon in his arsenal, short of nuclear systems, that can do more damage to the armed force of Ukraine in the current struggle. I called no one a traitor. But no action by China or North Korea could be more helpful to Russia in the current conflict. That makes my party a more effective Russian ally than either. It truly disgusts me.

So own it if that is what you want to do. Lay out for me and others the advantages the US will obtain by allying itself with Vladimir Putin in the destruction of Ukraine's hopes to be part of the Western European community.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

 

[Woodcarver]

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[LivingTheDream]

(physical and long term mental) caused by cannibalism

I think many underestimate how ruthless survival will be in such an event.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Draw the armistice line. Ukraine can then start moving towards the west in running the government. Give Ukraine military protection if they follow certain mandates. And in ten years, perhaps they get into NATO.

Russia invaded Ukraine who was NO threat to Russia except in Putin's mentally ill mind. If there is to be a negotiated "peace" and Russia retains ANY Ukranian territory including Crimea, Ukraine IMMEDIATELY becomes a NATO and EU member. No ifs, ands or buts. That's the deal and the West needs to quit allowing Putin to continue to control the narrative. Screw Putin!

 

[Ed Lally]

In 1974+- we had an ice storm in New England that took out many local and regional power lines, many others throughout the northeast, New York and Quebec and much of the associated grid. We watched that first night while transformers melted down and lit up the winter sky. No power for 10 days. Same thing happened in October about 10 years ago when 10” of super wet snow fell on trees which still had their leaves. A small generator, a 500 gallon buried propane tank, a well, two Jotul wood stoves, 10 cords of dry firewood and a large supply of canned food, dried food and necessary accouterments made life easy for our extended family. However, I often wondered during that time and since: what would have happened if that situation was extended for a month. I fear that it would have been the neighbors or others from nearby areas that would have needed and would try to take by force what we had. That would have been a less than pleasant situation.

 

[sestoppelman]

I would have thought that form of argument would appeal to you especially. I can pull them up if you wish, but how many times have you declared to me and others that not voting for Trump is the same as voting for Biden? An important aspect of using logical argument is to be logical and consistent in its application.

But this is not complicated. Cutting off US funding for Ukraine is as strategic a strike in favor of Russian goals and objectives as Putin could possibly hope to obtain. There is no weapon in his arsenal, short of nuclear systems, that can do more damage to the armed force of Ukraine in the current struggle. I called no one a traitor. But no action by China or North Korea could be more helpful to Russia in the current conflict. That makes my party a more effective Russian ally than either. It truly disgusts me.

So own it if that is what you want to do. Lay out for me and others the advantages the US will obtain by allying itself with Vladimir Putin in the destruction of Ukraine's hopes to be part of the Western European community.

I am only saying that being an ally amounts to more than being passive, it requires participation in some form and even if all funding for Ukraine was ended forever, ( highly unlikely despite all the angst over it), that would not make the Republicans allies of Putin, thats my only real point.

To be an ally of Putin would require a joining of some sort, some level of participation. Just not funding Ukraine or anyone else does not automatically make the Republican party allies of Putin.

If you think it does, and apparently you do, thats fine, but I dont as there is no active participation with Putin and wont be.

 

[sestoppelman]

The RNC definitely needs an overhaul.

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Can you believe that we once had as chair that idiot leftie Michael Steele on the lefty shows all the time?
RM aint great but jeez that Steele, he lost his mind.