Politics

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I believe certain things should be made in the US. Look at what happened with the chip shortage, you couldn't find a new car/truck anywhere. Thousands of vehicles sat in parking lots because they didn't have this chip.

So, if China makes so many things for us, does that mean that China can cripple us at any given time? I agree with some of the comments, on why are we helping our enemy get bigger & stronger.

Regarding chips, absolutely vehicles sat at the factories waiting on them. Automobiles have LOTS of chips in them now, not just one. The chip shortage was an overall effect from Covid when everything was in short supply. I don't believe the factories were intentionally holding back, if they were they were ultimately hurting themselves more than their customers.

Having said that, our gov't finally did wake up to how important semiconductor manufacturing is and passed the CHIPS act in 2022. This act incentivized companies, and not just US own semiconductor companies to build factories here in the USA.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Interesting MSM opinion piece that I think sums it up well. It also points out a potential problem four years from now: If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, will he run again in 2028.

I can't bring myself to vote for Trump. But let me tell you why other conservatives can.

In the face of two candidates entirely unfit for the presidency, I will abstain.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Red Leg]

Is Tucker Carlson even relevant anymore?

Elon Musk often seems to be the only person defending true freedom of speech. It seems Europe is determined to remind the rest of us that the US is the only country with a working Bill of Rights..... at least until the left gets it's way here and shuts down anything that does not promote their narrative.

I agree - particularly in the UK at the moment. I am still waiting to see the actual charges that are being filed by France.

It is like Tucker, who I once watched regularly, has been subsumed by some alien conspiracy consciousness. Were it just banana fringe opinions that he wanted to promulgate, then that would be one thing. But whether the war in Ukraine, the economy, corporate governance or a host of other subjects, he spreads absolute falsehoods now as well. His attacks on Nikki Haley were particularly bizarre. By the way, Rush Limbaugh nicknamed Tucker - Chatsworth Osborn, Jr.

Steve Franken as Chatsworth Osborn There is a similarity that is hard to ignore

This whole social media content thing is going to continue to be a problem. I think it has demonstrated that it clearly does have the power to mold public opinion and galvanize action. Some of those opinions and some of those actions can clearly be harmful to the state, the culture, and individuals. I am fairly certain the vast majority of Americans would find chopping the body parts off of children abhorrent were it not for the power of "free speech" exploited by organized activists on social media.

The question of course is who gets to be the hall monitor. I have a feeling a national level @BRICKBURN will be difficult to locate.

 

[PARA45]

Regarding chips, absolutely vehicles sat at the factories waiting on them. Automobiles have LOTS of chips in them now, not just one. The chip shortage was an overall effect from Covid when everything was in short supply. I don't believe the factories were intentionally holding back, if they were they were ultimately hurting themselves more than their customers.

Having said that, our gov't finally did wake up to how important semiconductor manufacturing is and passed the CHIPS act in 2022. This act incentivized companies, and not just US own semiconductor companies to build factories here in the USA.

That is my point, and I understand that COVID was to blame for the shortage. However, if COVID did that to our industry, how about a malicious act from China's part. Again, certain things should be done here in the US, not by our enemy China.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

CEPA Rep Says Ukraine Has Started to Hit Russian Electric Substations

The Center for European Policy Analysis recently held an exclusive press briefing, which Rigzone was invited to.

www.rigzone.com

Ukraine has started to hit Russian electric substations.

That’s what Pavel Luzin, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), said in an exclusive CEPA press briefing held recently, which Rigzone was invited to.

In the briefing, Luzin pointed out that these were “not the biggest electric power facilities but electric network connectors and so on”. He highlighted that a “Russian long-term problem is that the system of electric network is very fragile and … vulnerable”.

Luzin warned in the briefing that “maybe some regions in Russia, especially in the Russian south, will face a lack of electricity this winter”.

He also stated in the briefing that he thinks this upcoming winter “can be the first winter when people on the Russian side will feel more harder times than people on the Ukrainian side because, currently, Russia lost the biggest fuel storage facility in Rostov-on-Don region”.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

That is my point, and I understand that COVID was to blame for the shortage. However, if COVID did that to our industry, how about a malicious act from China's part. Again, certain things should be done here in the US, not by our enemy China.

No argument here, my post was simply to inform that at least in semiconductors the gov't has seen that. A bit late perhaps, but better late than never.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Interesting MSM opinion piece that I think sums it up well. It also points out a potential problem four years from now: If Trump doesn't get elected in 2024, will he run again in 2028.

I can't bring myself to vote for Trump. But let me tell you why other conservatives can.

In the face of two candidates entirely unfit for the presidency, I will abstain.

www.usatoday.com

“He hurt my feelings so I’m not voting for him”

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Candace Owens is another personality that seems to have gone off the rails. I used to listen to her and just like Tucker she’s getting wackier and wackier

 

[Red Leg]

Candace Owens is another personality that seems to have gone off the rails. I used to listen to her and just like Tucker she’s getting wackier and wackier

Sadly yes. This was the latest and worst. Middle Ages inquisition or pogrom sort of crazy stuff.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1825214337306227171

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Sadly yes. This was the latest and worst. Middle Ages sort of stuff.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1825214337306227171

Didn’t even know about that.. Unbelievable.

 

[Datchew]

maybe we're all just still in Plato's cave staring at the wall shadows and Candace, Tucker, and others have left the cave and the world really is run by lizard people and pedos.

Thankfully, I have gin.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

As I only own property in the USA, and can’t vote, I can only express an opinion. I believe that the USA needs a run of Republican government to right the ship. Outside looking in, I believe that you need to elect Trump now and clear him out of the way for a future candidate to grab the reins in 2028 for an additional, hopefully, 12 years of prosperity.

 

[Sheldor]

Honest question here... Is there any value to adding Waltz to the ticket?

MN had ALWAYS voted blue. You don't pick up anything from MN, where they maybe could have from a swing state. His handling of Covid, BLM riots, voting record, spending, increased crime rates, etc will all be so easy to attack.

Is he simply a martyr that they are throwing on the ticket so that they can preserve some "better" candidate in the future? One they actually hope to run successfully in the future?

Beyond pushing their agenda even further to the left, is there any upside to campaign? I'm struggling to see any reasoning on why he was selected. Did he endorse her during her early (failed) presidential run? Outside of the riots, he really doesn't have any National brand/positioning.

What am I missing? Is this a simple way to lose to Trump and blame a bad ticket?

 

[Red Leg]

Honest question here... Is there any value to adding Waltz to the ticket?

MN had ALWAYS voted blue. You don't pick up anything from MN, where they maybe could have from a swing state. His handling of Covid, BLM riots, voting record, spending, increased crime rates, etc will all be so easy to attack.

Is he simply a martyr that they are throwing on the ticket so that they can preserve some "better" candidate in the future? One they actually hope to run successfully in the future?

Beyond pushing their agenda even further to the left, is there any upside to campaign? I'm struggling to see any reasoning on why he was selected. Did he endorse her during her early (failed) presidential run? Outside of the riots, he really doesn't have any National brand/positioning.

What am I missing? Is this a simple way to lose to Trump and blame a bad ticket?

I think they believe that he has two things that enhance their ticket.

First, they believe that he will help hold the blue wall, not just MN; that he will erode whatever progress Trump may be making with union voters particularly.

Second, unlike Shapiro, who I believe would have been an enormous asset to their campaign, he won't anger the infantile pro-Hamas college good timers and committed anti-Israel cells in their base.

Their polling is telling them this will be a turnout election in the swing states. Hence they can't afford to lose any meaningful slice of their base that might sit this one out. They may also believe they will win PA regardless.

I personally think it is a bad strategy. I don't see a Democrat path without Pennsylvania. I am pretty confident Shapiro would have delivered the state handily. If it goes for Harris now, it will be because down ballot Dem candidates overcome Trump turnout.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I agree with the above. Shapiro was a much better choice and though it would have guaranteed PA, it would probably spell disaster in Michigan. By selecting Walz they are assuming it would give them a boost in Michigan, and keep PA at 50/50. Their path to victory is actually very tight and couldn't concede a single state.

 

[BSO Dave]

And I do see a direct connections between black people who depart the Dems and Jewish people in this subject. Go against the mainstream of the group you can be identified with and suddenly that identity comes into question, that’s just stupid.

I'm going to have to agree to disagree with you on this comparison...The consequences of going against the norm for each group are night and day, and that's what makes it so different... I really can't think of a better analogy that the sheep/wolves

And be careful who and what you refer to as stupid... My comments to you were civil, and I presented my point of view without condescension towards yours... I would appreciate it if you would do the same...

or if I were Jewish my reaction to Trump, a non-Jew, making a statement about a fellow Jew not being a real Jew, would be to tell him to go f@(k himself and not vote for him.

I am fairly certain that any Jew who is already committed NOT to vote for Trump is going to be one of those he is referring to anyway, so those votes were never his to lose in the first place....

His record and policy in regard to both Jewish-Americans and Israelis is well-known, well-established pretty damn positive for the Jewish people. In fact, it's the polar opposite of this last Administration and Obama's Administration... Can't be sure of Comrade Kamala's policies towards Israel yet... She will likely flip-flop back and forth several times to see which way the wind blows, while looking the other way when the Pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas idiots are assaulting more Jews here domestically...

If I was an undecided Jewish voter, the choice of who is the better option in regard to the self-defense and preservation of my race would be pretty easy... I'd take my emotions out of it and support the guy with a proven record over a feckless, cackling idiot incapable of having an original intelligent thought...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm going to have to agree to disagree with you on this comparison...The consequences of going against the norm for each group are night and day, and that's what makes it so different... I really can't think of a better analogy that the sheep/wolves

And be careful who and what you refer to as stupid... My comments to you were civil, and I presented my point of view without condescension towards yours... I would appreciate it if you would do the same...



I am fairly certain that any Jew who is already committed NOT to vote for Trump is going to be one of those he is referring to anyway, so those votes were never his to lose in the first place....

His record and policy in regard to both Jewish-Americans and Israelis is well-known, well-established pretty damn positive for the Jewish people. In fact, it's the polar opposite of this last Administration and Obama's Administration... Can't be sure of Comrade Kamala's policies towards Israel yet... She will likely flip-flop back and forth several times to see which way the wind blows, while looking the other way when the Pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas idiots are assaulting more Jews here domestically...

If I was an undecided Jewish voter, the choice of who is the better option in regard to the self-defense and preservation of my race would be pretty easy... I'd take my emotions out of it and support the guy with a proven record over a feckless, cackling idiot incapable of having an original intelligent thought...

The stupid part was aimed at Trump not you. Despite the fact I will vote for him, really a vote against Harris, it's a one word summary of his campaign "strategy."

And yes, agree on taking emotion out of it. That's what the voter should be doing. What Trump should be doing is understanding that, good or bad, unfortunately the reality is for far too many voters is that emotion is a part of the equation and he should you know maybe not do that. But he's simply incapable of that because he has no emotional intelligence himself.

The derogatory comment many here (perhaps not you) about people getting their feelings for being the reason they don't vote for Trump...what's the point? The criticism should be directed at Trump for being a lousy candidate. Virtually any reasonable Republican would be wiping the floor with Harris given the fall of this administration she has been number 2 of.

 

[Pondoro]

Vlad revenges the Kursk attack today with a massive aerial mombardment..

War in Ukraine: Seven killed in 'most massive' Russian air attack, Ukraine says

Russia launched missiles and drones into more than half of Ukraine's regions on Monday.

www.bbc.com

 

[Saul]

If Trump were smart or serious about getting more support from Jewish voters, he would have Ivanka and Jared out there aggressively making the case for him.

 

[Red Leg]

Vlad revenges the Kursk attack today with a massive aerial mombardment..

War in Ukraine: Seven killed in 'most massive' Russian air attack, Ukraine says

Russia launched missiles and drones into more than half of Ukraine's regions on Monday.

www.bbc.com

It was indeed a massive attempt, but hardly revenge. Even assuming some exaggerated reporting by Ukraine air defenses, independent reporting on the war indicates The UA was extremely successful shooting down the barrage. The most dependable of those indicate the successful intercept of 99 of 115 "Kaliber" cruise missiles; 1 of 3 Kinzal hupersonic missiles; 1 of 3 KH 22 balistic missiles, 1 of 6 Iskander ballistic missiles; and 99 of 109 Shahad Iranian designed drones. That is very close to the Ukrainian reporting in the BBC article.

Also, had anything like that number of assets made it into their targets, the international press would be full of casualty count reporting. Instead, their are clips of crashing cruise missiles and drones such as the one in the article.

Assuming the intercept count is generally correct, that represents a success rate (assuming the remainder all hit their targets) of only 15% by the Russians. That strike also clearly represented a maximum effort on their part. I wonder if his commanders will offer Putin and accurate BDA briefing.