Politics

[Kevin Peacocke]

Can anyone explain to me why Russia is allowed to possess Koenigsberg? (Kaliningrad)

I heard 3-4 months ago that their over land supplies were being restricted and could easily be cut off. It's the strategic naval yards for the Russians, its isolated 1000 miles West of Moscow. It borders Poland and Lithuania, and without it the Russian fleet cannot have sustainable presence in the Baltic and North Seas.

It just seems a logical piece of dirt to deny the Russians, truly crippling their naval capabilities against NATO.

Obviously this would be an escalation since it doesn't border Ukraine, but wouldn't that be the target to seize to cut off Belarus supplying much of Russia's Navy?

 

[Red Leg]

I’m sure this will be hailed as a genius move by the same people that lamented Trump’s criticism of Kemp last month.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4843315-trump-kemp-georgia-feud/

I am not sure I would describe bowing to political necessity as a stroke of genius.

 

[rookhawk]

Regarding "woke" Harley-Davidson and other corporations, you need to understand that there presently isn't much downside to woke in general from a profit perspective.

It comes down to what the left calls racism, and what the sane people call "in group bias". People prefer their own groups. If we call this racist, we can actually measure it. Whites in the USA are the least prone to in-group bias. That is why we really didn't change our buying habits when every commercial excludes whites, replacing them with DEI-focused characters. White's thick-skin and general acceptance of others has been leveraged by all corporations for the past 30 years.

So if you ignore the white population, they still buy your products. The opposite is not true whatsoever, hispanics and blacks have strong in-group preferences and that is why nearly 100% of McDonald's advertisements have featured their ethnicities for the past 30 years.

So, back to woke. Woke is an attempt to placate a market segment that is typically unwilling to buy your products. Whitey is going to buy his chopper, but in HD's situation the average demographic of the 55 year old white-hetero-male is dying out. Thus, HD has nothing to lose by shifting to woke hoping to pick up new customers. They got away with it for the past 15 years without as much as a sneer from their typical customers, because again, whites typically have the least amount of in-group bias. HD's desperate plans included a commitment to electric bikes which is just laughable when you consider their core strengths, but their customers just ignored and avoided that product line. Not a single Hell's Angels chapter complained when HD was doing LGBTQI+ recruitment, supplier outreach, or other "woke" gestures for the past 15 years.

The problem is eventually an activist casts sunshine on a corporation and the gig is up. HD's malfeasance has gone on for decades unchecked by their core customers that were too busy having fun on the open roads. But now we are doing an audit of their practices for the first time in the 21st century and its going to do them in.

Most companies "want it all" and they are willing to disrespect their loyal/core clients in an attempt to get market hegemony. In HD's case, they didn't market to new demographics that "they too can pretend to be outlaws, own big iron, and have freedom on the open roads". Instead, they tried to make gay bikes for gay people and eco bikes for eco people...all while forgetting to onboard the son's and daughter's of the market that supported them the past 100+ years.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

I am not sure I would describe bowing to political necessity as a stroke of genius.

It’s a tongue in cheek comment about Never Trump pearl clutching, not an amazement over political masterpiece.

 

[Brent in Az]

RFK jr. Suspends campaign, endorsing Trump, and blasting the Democrats.
I want to listen to him, but damn, he sounds like someone who gargles with broken glass. Painful to listen to him speak

 

[Brent in Az]

Is Harris or Walz standing up for the Jew's?

 

[Red Leg]

It’s a tongue in cheek comment about Never Trump pearl clutching, not an amazement over political masterpiece.

Well duh. I got the intent the first time.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

Well duh. I got the intent the first time.

Every good artillerist is a trained forward observer!

 

[Red Leg]

Dictatorships just being dictatorial -

Apparently the huge oil product fire in the Rostov region is continuing to spread to include into the edge of the city (sixth day). Russian officials in Moscow stated there is no need for concern, and there will be no evacuation.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1ezk7b8/the_fire_from_the_oil_depot_in_proletarsk_rostov

"Hold my vodka - I got this." I can't imagine running these tanker cars through on the rail line should present any additional problems.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1ezmowq/and_another_point_of_view_of_the_fire_from_the

To their credit, they apparently did bring in reinforcements to help fight the conflagration
.

 

[Saul]

The governor didn’t have anything nice to say about Trump last night so yea, hates a two way street.

Well @Saul, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it and why the drama of obviously feigned sadness and concern? Seemed like a simple, justified, in kind response to the daily personal trashing of Trump by every Dem (including Shapiro during his DNC speech), every RINO and the entire MSM. I’m sure the Harris-Walz team have the best interests in their hearts for the world’s Jewish population and Israel…. Yah right! Anyway, vote your conscience.

“Shapiro, for strictly political reasons, refused to acknowledge that I am the best friend that Israel, and the Jewish people, ever had,” Trump wrote on Truth Social just after midnight, accusing Harris of “hoping in the end” that the nation will fail. “Shapiro has done nothing for Israel, and never will. Comrade Kamala Harris, the Radical Left Marxist who stole the nomination from Crooked Joe, will do even less.”

I don’t see what Trump has said that’s inaccurate. Only one party’s convention had Hamas supporters rioting outside and delegates demanding they be allowed to speak.

Josh Shapiro is not just the Governor of Pennsylvania. Trump refers to him as the “Jewish Governor of Pennsylvania.” That is my point. How many other governors are measured by how much they have “done for Israel?” Trump is as guilty of identity politics as anyone.

And maybe it is because I am a bleeding heart leftie, but I actually do feel for anyone who is so consumed by anger and self-pity. That is hardly an enjoyable existence.

 

[Red Leg]

Josh Shapiro is not just the Governor of Pennsylvania. Trump refers to him as the “Jewish Governor of Pennsylvania.” That is my point. How many other governors are measured by how much they have “done for Israel?” Trump is as guilty of identity politics as anyone.

And maybe it is because I am a bleeding heart leftie, but I actually do feel for anyone who is so consumed by anger and self-pity. That is hardly an enjoyable existence.

Saul, I know you actually do realize why he continues to point to the jilted democrat governor's ethnicity/religion? I will be the first to acknowledge that it clearly isn't working in your case, but it is intended as a reminder to you.

 

[spike.t]

Online shopping anyone

Yemen weapons dealers selling machine guns on X

The traders operate in the capital Sana’a and other areas under control of the Houthis.

www.bbc.com

 

[Saul]

Saul, I know you actually do realize why he continues to point to the jilted democrat governor's ethnicity/religion? I will be the first to acknowledge that it clearly isn't working in your case, but it is intended as a reminder to you.

I can virtually guarantee that this attempt will fall flat with every Jewish voter specifically because there are very few things quite so aggravating as having “Jewish” thrown in front of a person’s name every time they do something. We all know Shapiro is Jewish.

To be fair, I have similar disdain for groups like “Jewish Voice for Peace” who use the Jewish label for it tokenism in support of an Islamist agenda. As if no Jewish people would notice that they cannot even write Hebrew the right way at their protests.

 

[Brent in Az]

RFK jr. Speaking right now at Trump's Phoenix rally. Seems like a good and decent man, who got railroaded by the Dems because he wouldn't toe the party line. Just like Gabbard and Manchin

Hypothetical question.
What if Trump would have had RFK as a running mate?

 

[Pondoro]

What many people do not realize it that the Ukrainian armed forces have had a close relationship with the US and NATO for 20 years and particularly since 2014. Their most promising officers have attended branch officer basic and advanced courses in this country, and many field grade officers are products of the Command and General Staff College and War College. Others have attended similar advanced training in the UK. Many of those same officers and senior NCOs deployed over the years as individual staff support to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Ukrainian units and staffs have participated in or observed almost every major NATO exercise.

On the enlisted front, they have created a professional NCO education system modeled on the US. This was really hitting its stride by 2020. As I have noted here before, the Russian army doesn't really have a professional NCO cadre as we recognize one.

So yes, there are significant professional differences between Russian and Ukrainian military leadership - particularly since 2014.

I should also note that Zelensky has been pretty ruthless in moving out any of the older remaining dead wood once the war began.

This is probably some of the reason the ukrainians have done so well at the battlefield..they have learned the western take of command down the ranks..

The russians do not grasp this..they are stuck in the soviet type command structure with little or no initiative when their commander is taken out..

 

[CZDiesel]

RFK jr. Speaking right now at Trump's Phoenix rally. Seems like a good and decent man, who got railroaded by the Dems because he wouldn't toe the party line. Just like Gabbard and Manchin

Hypothetical question.
What if Trump would have had RFK as a running mate?

Yup but what the heck is up with Fox News feed!!!
One of the most consequential political rallies ever with a Kennedy endorsing and controversial Republican and Fox News fumbles the feed!
The at site producer needs to fired now!,

 

[Pondoro]

I have some conserns about Trump if he should win.. My greatest consern is his ability to handle the Ukraine war.. There is so much at stake here.. If Ukraine should collapse Putin will no doubt eraise it as a nation and make it a part of Russia with a stroke of a pen..albeit with a phony election as Crimea..

Then Europe/NATO will have a major problem..

You americans have to understand this..all western Europe NATO states are now rearming...munition plants are running 24-7 to supply Ukraine needs and to replenish their own ammo stocks..

Major states as Poland and Germany are expanding their armies, etc. etc.

Trump´s earlier demands that Europe should provide more to NATO is happening..and then some..

So..how do you predict Trump will handle Ukraine if he should win and the situation is more or less like now on the battlefield..?

 

[Brent in Az]

Yup but what the heck is up with Fox News feed!!!
One of the most consequential political rallies ever with a Kennedy endorsing and controversial Republican and Fox News fumbles the feed!
The at site producer needs to fired now!,

Im watching it on the Fox Youtube feed, there was some serious static in the beginning

 

[lwaters]

Please do yourself a huge financial favor. For you and your family. Listen to the videos in the links above. You won’t get this from Google. It’s not from Left or Right nut jobs.

The video “ Cashless society” is the most disturbing to me. And it’s coming.

That sucks how will I sell my drugs ? How can I work for unreported income. That would be terrible

 

[John Wasmuth]

They said they were having internet problems.