Politics

[Altitude sickness]

 

[flying sailor]

Here's one for you. A guy I worked with went to the same elk camp for many years and they had a "permanent" shitter (elevated toilet seat over a hole dug into the ground). One year, they were going to "rehab" the hole prior to the season. When they lifted the toilet lid, there were a handful of $20 bills in the hole. Some guy had wiped his arse with those bills at one time before the current season. Unbelievable!

Could have been worse- what if he only had quarters and dimes?

 

[flying sailor]

The other thing in that scenario would be if you tried to trade ammo for food? The bastards don't want your .338 WM ammo, they WANT CREEDMOORS! or maybe .243? LOL

OOOh. All the flat shooters.

 

[Altitude sickness]

7 & 8 all written by Madison. seem to be closest to what the states and federal governments are doing now at the southern border. Or not doing at the southern border.

It’s pretty clear in the modern language version of the Federalist papers what the framers intended for states rights. This should be very easy when it gets to the Supreme Court.

Marxist will try to mix in confusion. In one of the papers, It speaks of states getting the entire federal government into a war with Neighboring countries. and then the federal government can step in and exceed states rights.

But they don’t follow existing laws now why would they listen to the constitution or the federalist papers.

 

[Brent in Az]

@Brent in Az
What do you think Trump will do about Ukraine if he wins?
Do you think he'll do anything different?

If Trump was in the Whitehouse right now, I would bet the farm that Russia wouldn't be in the Ukraine.
The minute that Commie Joe was announced as the winner of the Presidential election, world dictators began salivating.
Who better to have in the Whitehouse, then a corrupt buffoon who can be bought?

What will Trump do? He's a wildcard, so it's hard to tell. It will all hinge on having control of the House & Senate. Can we flip the Senate red, snd retain the house?I won't hold my breath.
The first thing I would do is determine what type of support I have in the Senate
My next move would be to call the European allies, and determine who would be willing to make a showing of military strength against the Russians in the Ukraine.
My next move would be to call the Kremlin, and demand Putin to pull out of the Ukraine, or deal with a giant can of thunder.
Let Putin rattle his Sabre with nuclear threats.
If there is such a serious vested interest in the outcome of this war, the Ukraine is going to need help with boots on the ground, and serious hardware. The USA and it's allies are going to have to put military soldiers in harms way.
Tax dollars wont win this war in the end, and it will be all for naught. The Ukrainians will become canon fodder. How many more of them have to die because of the ambitions of a ruthless tyrant?

Personally, I am much more concerned about the middle east, terrorism, and oil. Not to mention the economic issues, and invasion of my homeland.

Disclaimer.
I am not a military strategist, or expert on these issues. It is solely based upon my opinion.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I have been following the discussion on EMP as a doomsday scenario, however wasn’t there, a the sky is going to fall, event in say, the year 2000, that didn’t happen. Live life to the fullest as tomorrow is not guaranteed!

 

[Doubleplay]

If Trump was in the Whitehouse right now, I would bet the farm that Russia wouldn't be in the Ukraine.
The minute that Commie Joe was announced as the winner of the Presidential election, world dictators began salivating.
Who better to have in the Whitehouse, then a corrupt buffoon who can be bought?

What will Trump do? He's a wildcard, so it's hard to tell. It will all hinge on having control of the House & Senate. Can we flip the Senate red, snd retain the house?I won't hold my breath.
The first thing I would do is determine what type of support I have in the Senate
My next move would be to call the European allies, and determine who would be willing to make a showing of military strength against the Russians in the Ukraine.
My next move would be to call the Kremlin, and demand Putin to pull out of the Ukraine, or deal with a giant can of thunder.
Let Putin rattle his Sabre with nuclear threats.
If there is such a serious vested interest in the outcome of this war, the Ukraine is going to need help with boots on the ground, and serious hardware. The USA and it's allies are going to have to put military soldiers in harms way.
Tax dollars wont win this war in the end, and it will be all for naught. The Ukrainians will become canon fodder. How many more of them have to die because of the ambitions of a ruthless tyrant?

Personally, I am much more concerned about the middle east, terrorism, and oil. Not to mention the economic issues, and invasion of my homeland.

Disclaimer.
I am not a military strategist, or expert on these issues. It is solely based upon my opinion.

Understood however not agreed.
IIMHO if he wins, regardless of flipping the senate or retaining the house Trump won't be able to stop the war in a day as he says.
It'll be status quo or he might try to stop funding and let Russia advance because of his grudge with Zelinsky.
But we'll see... if he wins and that's a big if..

 

[Brent in Az]

Understood however not agreed.
IIMHO if he wins, regardless of flipping the senate or retaining the house Trump won't be able to stop the war in a day as he says.
It'll be status quo or he might try to stop funding and let Russia advance because of his grudge with Zelinsky.
But we'll see... if he wins and that's a big if..

Trump needs to put away his inflated ego. Nobody can stop this war in a day except Putin.
Personally, I dont think Trump, or any other Republican, will win this election. I try to remain cautiously optimistic.

 

[Red Leg]

If there is such a serious vested interest in the outcome of this war, the Ukraine is going to need help with boots on the ground, and serious hardware. The USA and it's allies are going to have to put military soldiers in harms way.
Tax dollars wont win this war in the end, and it will be all for naught. The Ukrainians will become canon fodder. How many more of them have to die because of the ambitions of a ruthless tyrant?

They do not want our boots on the ground. They simply want the means to defend their country. In spite of our flawed strategy of providing just enough military aid, they had been doing remarkably well. It is the Russian army largely providing the canon fodder.

The last thing this country or Europe wants is a direct engagement with Russia that could spin out of control instantly. The other last thing we need to do is cut off all support to Ukraine. But tax dollars absolutely can win this war. And it isn't taking very many. What we are providing Ukraine is barely roundoff dollars in an FY 2023 world where the US Government spent $6.1 trillion. It would be the same had France decided to cut off aid to the rebellious colonies in 1780 before the victory at Yorktown (only possible because of the French). We would, like Canada, still be a part of the British Commonwealth.

In Ukraine we would be snatching the defeat of a people simply desiring to be free to chart their on destiny from the jaws of victory - a victory that would be a serious blow to Russia and Sino/Russian strategy for the next several decades.

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 of aid to Ukraine, they have become an ally of Russia and Vladimir Putin. It sickens me.

I agree with @Doubleplay. I am convinced that Trump is far far more interested in his petty grievances than the interests of his country.

 

[Red Leg]

Really good short interview with Stephen Kotkin. He will be suspect to the don't confuse me with evidence or logic crowd. After all, he is probably the leading academic expert on Russia today and has earned world-wide respect. He breathes very rarified air indeed. His three-volume biography of Stalin is going to be definitive. The first two have been published, and I highly recommend them to those who might wish to learn more about the Soviet Union.

In this interview, he talks, I believe with very careful objectivity, to the issue of the Russian "right" to subjugate Ukraine and the notion of Western self-blame. Even if one strongly opposes aid to Ukraine, I would suggest spending the eight minutes to listen to it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1al3tad

Should you have absolutely nothing to do, this is the nearly 3-hour full interview.

 

[Pondoro]

"Coward...God help us"..not my words.. John Kellys..

As an ex.mil. officer it is appaling to hear Trumps views on veterans..jeez..

 

[Red Leg]

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.

 

[John Wasmuth]

If that were true and they had proof of it the MSM and dems would be looping that 24/7365 to make people believe it.

 

[flatwater bill]

@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

 

[Altitude sickness]

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

 

[Red Leg]

If that were true and they had proof of it the MSM and dems would be looping that 24/7365 to make people believe it.

You are absolutely correct. We are left to believe Kelley or Trump. I would simply say for me, that isn't even a contest.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

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.

 

[Red Leg]

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

You are absolutely correct that this war will end in a negotiated settlement of some sort. If for no other reason, neither side has the power to dictate peace on the steps of the other's capitol. That negotiation, however, can result in all sorts of terms.

 

[Altitude sickness]

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.

 

[sestoppelman]

"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.