“Well, I tell you what, I would do things, but the last thing I want to do is say it right now.”
Yeah, because telling the American people how he would join Putin in attacking Ukraine (he actually thought it was the US that was planning an amphibious landing at Odessa) and admitting he's a traitor won't work for him past the 30% of drooling deplorable morons who are too stupid to realize he's even dumber than they are.
Right now, Trump is literally the only American politician still supporting Putin, as he did in his speech at the Conservative Pricks & Asswipes Convention tonight. If he keeps it up (please do, you motherfucking piece of shit), he'll sink the GOP this fall.
Putin needs to read Roman history: Caligula wasn't murdered by his many enemies; he was assassinated by his Praetorian Guard.
And then we can flush Trump down the same toilet we flush Putin.
Now that we KNOW DumpsterFire was ripping official documents and flushing them, it gives more meaning to all his talk about toilets earlier in his presidency. And @TCinLA - your words - thank you. I’m done with all the being nice bullshit too. I’m not sure Trump is alone in his support for Putin - MTG, Madison Cawthorn (l am still baffled at how such a dumb jackass with hardly a high school diploma and ZERO law or political experience got elected; lets support his democratic challenger), Jim Jordan, Dumbass Broebert in CO, Gaetz - they support Dumpster Fire so they support Putin.
I am in Texas and I didn’t vote for anyone in our legislature or Senators. It’s called gerrymandering and now voter suppression. Mail on ballots APPLICATIONS are getting thrown out. The print is small, the envelope is small, the directions are confusing. The people who need this are elderly and disabled and filling it out wrong. The website that was “promised” to be set up so you can track your application never got off the ground. Early voting ended Friday 2/25. We have some evil bastards running this state. Abbot, Patrick, Paxton, Schaefer, Krause, Hughes, Briscoe Cain and more. But wait! There is more… 😡 FAILED STATE. And we have to worry about the grid failing every time we get bad weather or the wind blows just a little to hard.
Exactly, they have taken over like Putin wishes he could. No election will be fair unless voting rights passed. I can only donate and write so many letters.
This is where I wish Biden would use the Executive pen. States who support partisan electors are NOT democratic… they are leading us down the authoritarian path.
Your description of the overly complicated mail-in voting system here in Texas is spot on. I've been mailing in ballots for almost 9 years and this is the first time I struggled with it. It was deliberately designed to PREVENT people like me from voting.
My husband became a poll watcher for a local candidate. He is watching the disaster unfold in real time. He has a great idea! A YouTube video on how to fill out the mail in application. He said there is a flap people don’t lift and it covers they TDL# and they put their VUID #. Boom! Gets thrown to the “deficit” pile and a voter may or may not find out why. It depends on the people in the ballot board room. Also, ONE person in that room gets to decide if signatures match. This is hurting the republican voters as well but not as much as Dem voters. Dem voters are more likely to ask for mail in and they know that.
Are you unacquainted with federal class action law suits... tie the voting results up in court so NONE of the votes can be verified until reviewed by a NON-PARTISEN NON-POLITICAL AGENDA federally appointed jury...now try imagining the republican whining about an unfair process...
And I live in the district in NC where Madison Cawthorn was elected. Nobody I know (that I know of) voted for him. Between all the gerrymandering that's been going on and his appeal to the people who cling to some notion of a white confederacy, we watched helplessly aghast as he beat a highly qualified candidate.
But every 2 years you have the opportunity to make that change, unlike having to tolerate the wrong person in office for 6 years. It will take more than words to regain the moral code NC should have in its representation. The people of Ukraine are willing to fight and die for their. Get organized. Get others to stand up and speak out. It's all we have left.
Everything you have written proves how essential it is that YOU and others like you VOTE. Nothing will change or get better if those who see the reality of your government stand back and don't fight like hell to change it. Look at the Ukrainians who are fighting to the death to protect and retain their freedom and democracy. The very least you can do is vote to change/protect yours.
Trying to Heart this, Rusty. Suspect the Heart will eventually turn red, but want to make sure you know about it. Well spoken. Thank you. I'm tired of people who either have their heads in the sand or seem to be trying to get other people to give up.
Agreed. The GOP doesn't even have an agenda for 2022 or 2023. They only care about opposition and "owning the libs". They don't care how they get there as long as they win.
What is happening is now forcing them to take a closer look at the Reputincans their party has installed in their states and who have been working at dividing their citizens in the same way that Trump was dividing the NATO nations before we kicked him out of power.
It was not the "American Voter" who elected candidates in Florida and Texas. That would be voters in those states, many of whom are regretting their choices. I'm surprised you don't seem aware of how the American system works.
I was merely parapharasing a quote attributed to H.L. Mencken .... 'No one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people.' Here in Florida, few on the right regret their sticking with the defeated former president and their present governor. They have no idea what is in their interest and what is not. The 'American system' doesn't work in States where gerrymandering has created unrepresentative State legislatures as in Florida and Texas, and elsewhere, too.
The two ex-classmates I know in Florida know exactly why they support regressive polices...one is filthy rich and the other lives in Naples and plays bridge all the time, so also has money. The latter bragged about how she had figured out how to download books for free and I felt compelled to remind her how she was hurting authors. When, despite my pleas, she insisted on talking politics, often in all caps, our conversation ceased. Our last conversation was about something Obama had done and I supplied her with the factual background. She didn't care and this despite being an intelligent educated person.
My last sentence was inappropriate, so my apologies, Jack. May I plead morning as an excuse? I've never liked that Mencken quote, btw. I got his point, but I hate generalities that demean an entire group of people based on some supposed characteristic of a few. It wouldn't be so offensive had he used the word "ignorance" rather than "intelligence". Even humorists don't get a pass on some things.
Unfortunately, Florida voted for Republicans (DeSantis, Rubio, Gaetz) because they continously like to hurt themselves. People who voted against their own best interest amaze me. New Yorkers ,our winter tourist, just make Florida man jokes (we do too! Our family has been in Florida since 1920. Sad to watch.
You know, there are a lot of New Yorkers in Florida and I think they are being persecuted politically; can’t New York just liberate them by annexing Florida?
Laughing so hard I can barely type. KEEPER! Actually, all the New Yorkers in Florida might be part of the problem... but I love your take on the situation. We could start our own sitcom using material provided by commenters here. Imagine the episode where they put a big fence around the T compound....
In Texas, if you want to take more than 7 people to the polls, you have to submit a letter to the polling location and they send it to the Secretary of State for review. So, check on that in your state. Those are great things you are doing! I think going to Community College and 4 year college campuses and registering the young people. They could make a difference and need to be informed of what’s at stake.
Is that "more than 7 people" in total? or "more than 7 people" in a single vehicle trip? How on earth can they track that? Are there Republican operatives stationed in the vicinity of polling places who count & take down license plates? How about if voters are dropped off a block or so away (yes, I understand that walking a block is difficult for some individuals).
Just curious 😈 Do they require approval for “People to the Polls” equally to Republicans as well as Democrats? Or is it just Democrats who have to get “approval”?
Love this thread! Sophia, the things you are doing and sharing are great, and I love that other people are jumping in with things they are doing to help get the vote out. Grabbing some of those.
I'm wondering if you meant "secession" rather than "succession"? I have problems sometimes with words that kind of look and sound alike (I had to turn off autocorrect on my computer- it didn't help at all.) But the thought of Texas seceding triggers lots of amusing thoughts. It had trouble with being admitted in the first place because of the fact that settlers from US were there illegally and took over by means of an illegal war. It has been suggested by some legal minds that if it were to successfully secede, Mexico would get it back. Isn't that interesting to contemplate? Some really fun scenarios. And after the mess when Texas regulation led to nightmare scenarios when their power supply shut down, I suspect that Texans are appreciating the benefits of being part of a more extended connection- pun intended.
Cawthorn is handsome, and probably gets some sympathy votes for his disability from the shallow end of the gene pool; MTG and the others reflect their ignorant constituencies. We can celebrate when Gaetz is finally jailed - just don't understand why that hasn't happened.
It will happen. The wheels of justice turn s-l-o-w-l-y . Look how long it took for the StonyBrook School shooting families to see a bit of justice. Ten years.
Have you noticed how small and close-set MTG and Gaetz's eyes are? I know that phrenology is considered a pseudo-science, but could there actually be some relevance here? Just sayin"
Pompous is horrible! Another one who is supportive of Putin. He thinks because he lost so much weight, he’s fit to run for office. Hope he’s fit enough to be run into the ground!
Pompeo is a legend in his own mind. No appeal whatsoever even as a presidential candidate in his own party. He as much charisma as his now very empty suits.
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA) it upsets me that my friend's granddaughter is engaged to marry his son. I have seen how happy the relatives of my friend are about this upcoming marriage! I haven't seen anything recently from them, so I am not sure they are still my Facebook friends. I have had many friends and family remove me from their Facebook friends. They have bought into the "Big Lie"!
I am so very sorry, Sharon. There is simply nothing that you can do to change their minds. Look at it this way, you expressed your feelings. They rejected them because you aren’t part of the cult who drank the Koolaid. Be proud about what you did. Get with groups of people who think like you and me and let go of those who don’t. I know, it’s hard, but do it to take care of yoirself.
Tfg was always sadly the most inarticulate president ever, as shown by “I would do things …” A fourth grader learning to write reports would get that sentence circled in red.
When students have no idea, they are vague and since death star has to open his mouth and opine on everything, he proves almost daily how brainless he is.
There are still Republicans supporting Putin. Not only present, but past ones, too: Marjorie Taylor-Greene (speaking at a white nationalist conference), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (who said on-camera that Putin is "very savvy," and has "lots of gifts"), and Josh Hawley). The others may not directly support Russia's invasion and Putin, but they're twisting themselves into knots trying to lay blame for the incursion on President Biden's "weakness."
My fervent wish is that president Biden calls them out during his state of the union speech. This kind of treasonous behavior shouldn’t be ignored or condoned.
Lots and lots of traitor footage to show during campaigning. Sometimes I wonder if Democrat's silence on these people has been to give them enough rope so they could trip on it.
Stunning that Trump would say something like “For $2 worth of sanctions he gets a country.” Meaning shrewd transaction. Nothing to do with people living in either country. Other people do not exist, except for him to manipulate.
I just read a thread on LinkedIn started by a post from a far right news group. Kyle Rittenhouse was spewing that he has tried to get an appointment with President Biden who called him something. The bile and hatred from all on the thread for our President and Democrats was shocking.
Couldn’t agree more, but one of the reasons that trump won the nomination and the election in 2016 was the fascination and huge amount of coverage trump got from the media free of charge.
Good thing everything TFG and his buddies say and write is preserved for posterity. He can lie through his teeth but cannot deny the Truth when that too is part of public record and memory.
The Republican Party of racists and sexists doesn’t care about the truth, Irenie. Nor democracy. Nor laws. All they care about is keeping whites, men, straights et al in charge of society. Trump was a lifetime New York Democrat, because that was the thing to be in New York City, and then he joined the party of racism and sexism because he felt a lot more at home with those people.
I’m not worried anymore. The Trump family and Matt Gaetz are definitely going to be indicted. Madison Cawthorne and Josh Hawley and other politicians are at risk of being eliminated from politics because of their participation in the insurrection. A lot of the worst culprits, like Giuliani and Eastman and the other pseudo-lawyers, are in deep shit too. We will see plenty of developments in 2022.
A couple of thoughts: First up which certainly must be in everyone's mind is that tRump can't read. I seriously believe he has a reading disorder. And even if he was capable, his name is not in it so he'd immediately lose interest. (But I get your point, TC!)
Second: this pop into anyone else's mind? When reading that Zelensky instead of being evacuated asked for ammunition, think about 1/6 and how (after spurning his supporters on and saying he'd march with them) tRump ran his fat ass back to his office with the Diet Coke call button and hid in the WH?
And last, I found this latest episode of Politics Girl to be very informative. I am not nearly as bright as most of you readers, her explanations were helpful to me and if anyone watches and finds misinformation, I'd appreciate knowing what it is. I found the second half particularly enlightening
I'm still pushing for Critical Fascist Theory (CFT) to be taught in the schools, but I need your help to build the theory and spread the word. Also, with the Republican Party and Fox News in mind, I'm pushing for "Critical Jackass Theory" (CJT) to be a weekly TV show.
Greg, just wrote a comment about John Oliver's CRT episode on 10-20. Check the show out. My favorite response to the whole nonsense - a sixth grader wrote in that geometry makes him feel uncomfortable and he would like it to be removed from the curriculum.
I agree entirely with the spirit of your comment but I think TFG doesn't want to say anything right now for the simple reason that he has nothing to say. I've never seen any evidence that he can formulate a thought. There are treatments for crazy but you just can't fix stupid.
I hope he runs and is chosen again by the RNC to run for President. He would keep other people who would be a big problem but less offensive externally from winning.
Trump was only saying the same jibber jabber that he spouted for from the time he declared he was a candidate for president! I see no change in what I hear him saying! Trump is a weak bully!
Well said. Love the observation about the Praetorian Guard and their role in assassinations and choosing emperors. Death Star has no idea what he would do except kiss Putin's rear. And I will never look at the letters CPAC in the same way.
Sizzlin TC, sizzlin. Got back on Sunday night and decided to catch up on some coverage from the Conservative Pricks and Asswipes Convention. It’s been difficult containing my glee at how their thunder literally got an ass whoopin’ due to the real news and concern about Ukraine capturing the attention of people around the world. I turned on a local news review and watched one clip of Mr. Trump commenting on the war before his statement about doing things differently. I actually rewatched it to make sure I heard the orange hazard correctly.
“The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he is. The real problem is that our leaders are dumb.”
Herb, your words couldn't ring more true! As horrific as this war is, it has revealed to us the scintillating beauty of the Ukrainian soul and her heroic moral standard, in contrast to the darkness of Putin's diabolical deed. Justice and peace must prevail for these exquisite human beings.
And Heather, thank you for illuminating these truths with your incredible pen. You are such a blessing in our lives.
My friends in Ukraine have posted several funds being collected for the defense of Ukraine. Here is one websites. I'll post the info for the other fund in a separate Reply: https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/
The National Bank of Ukraine has opened a special account to raise funds for the Ukrainian Army. Anyone from any country can donate!
The account is multi-currency. It is opened for transfers of funds from international partners and donors, any person as well as from Ukrainian business and citizens.
🇺🇸
For donations in USD:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
Account: 400807238
383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, USA
Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708
🇬🇧
For donations in GBP:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
Bank of England, London
SWIFT Code: BKENGB2L
Account: 40000982
Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, UK
Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708
🇪🇺
For donations in EUR:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt
SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF
Account: 5040040066
IBAN DE05504000005040040066
Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main,Germany
Thank you for this NPR link. While I’d like to support the Ukrainian army, the link provided above leads to a site in Russian asking for credit card info, which is hard to figure out and trust. I note that the NPR link lists Doctors Without Borders, a group I already trust and support.
Doctors Without Borders doesn’t allow you to pick where your donation should go, but it does allow you to dedicate your contribution in memory or tribute to a person. I chose in tribute to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which I hope will motivate them to provide aid in Ukraine.
... short of boots on the ground, air support, and shooting off missiles. More than providing arms, other resources and imposing sanctions can be counter-productive.
"That we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Ukraine, you have given the world a renewed inspiration for democracy.
And I heard that soldiers from other countries are just going to Ukraine on their own to fight. This way they do not represent a military they just represent the people. If this is true, this is definitely a new paradigm where the people take control over all the capitalist and authoritarians. I'm feeling so much pride for the Ukrainian's being the heroes of democracy. Take note, Americans! Drown out our anti-democracy bullies and their cult followers. Make our voices louder than theirs! Organize marches!
Yes - like people of conscience and Vets at Standing Rock who gathered to support Water Protectors from bebadged thugs defending illegal polluting oil pipelines ...
This, from Chase Iron Eyes of the Lakota People's Law Project (2/26/2022):
"I hope you’re safe and remaining hopeful despite the horrific world events taking place. The Russian invasion of Ukraine highlights once again how important it is for people everywhere to remain sovereign and free of tyranny. My heart goes out to all who are now suffering through another needless, bloody war.
"Perhaps it will lend you some comfort to know that there is good news this week from Standing Rock. This Wednesday, tribal leaders from across the Great Sioux Nation will have an opportunity to sit down with the U.S. Army Civil Works and relay our concerns about the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). After years of our #NoDAPL resistance falling on deaf ears — as highlighted by Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire in our new video, co-produced with the tribe — the Army finally reached out to Standing Rock. This is a potential turning point, though we are keeping our expectations modest."
Watch: In our new video, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire discusses the importance of tribal input and gaining our consent for projects like DAPL:
"We originally expected the Army Corps of Engineers to release its DAPL Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) earlier this month. But that’s now on hold, pending our coming conversation about this dangerous pipeline. This opportunity to have the appropriate government officials really listen to our concerns is long overdue.
"Of course, given the long history of broken promises by the U.S. government to Native People, I take everything with a grain of salt and won’t celebrate prematurely. We must continue to stand ready to protest the EIS, should it eventually be released in any form that doesn’t fully address our concerns.
"Right now, I’m happy to say we have some additional leverage. The meeting with Civil Works will happen against the backdrop of a huge win for Standing Rock in the Supreme Court this past week. Justices shut down DAPL’s attempt to make an end-run around the environmental oversight process.
"Solidarity remains paramount if we are to achieve our goal of ending DAPL once and for all. As people from many nations gathered for our original NoDAPL stand in 2016 and ‘17, Wednesday’s meeting will bring together leaders from throughout the Oceti Sakowin — our Great Sioux Nation. We will, of course, report on the results of that conversation to you. So, please continue to stay with us. We must remain vigilant, united, and ready to act."
Wopila tanka — my deep gratitude to you for your friendship!
... and this, from Bill Latka of Oil & Water Don't Mix:
((Same fight - different faces))
"On Wednesday, February 16th, the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority, the state body charged with overseeing the construction of the Enbridge Line 5 oil tunnel, met in Lansing.
'I can’t lie. It was hard to watch.
"First of all, the three-person body charged ahead and approved a key aspect of the oil tunnel construction - the request for proposal (RFP) - the first step Enbridge needs to begin lining up the contractor that would do the tunnel construction work.
"The board approved the RFP with no debate, and incredulously, one of the three board members was missing! Paul Novak, the one board member concerned with board transparency, missed the meeting as it conflicted with his day job, but the meeting conveniently pressed on anyway. The haphazard meeting process is not oversight - it smacks of rubber-stamping for the oil industry.
"Once again, the Enbridge overlords took center stage as their project manager, Amber Pastoor, was permitted to beam in from Canada to spin their incessant delay as a good thing.
"The only bright spots in the meeting were the public comments calling out the hypocrisy of oversight and the real risks of this tunnel becoming the world’s largest exploding pipe bomb.
"Several citizens highlighted the lunacy of constructing a massive fossil fuel project while the effects of climate change are bearing down on humanity. Watch their comments here. They are correct - to build this tunnel while fossil-fuel-fired floods, fires, hurricanes, and crazy tornado storms are ripping us apart is the definition of insanity."
"I invite you to watch the meeting - especially the public comments - to get ready for this continuing battle for what’s right. Oil & Water Don’t Mix, our partners, and engaged citizens from across Michigan and the nation are up to the task of preventing this tunnel from happening and shutting down America’s most dangerous pipeline before it ruptures into the Great Lakes."
"The actions we take today can protect the Great Lakes for generations. Please consider joining in this work by donating today"
Reminiscent of the Lafayette Escadrille, a WW I French air force unit made up mostly by American volunteers (prior to U.S. entry into the war) and the American volunteers who went to Spain & formed what they called the Abraham Lincoln Brigade to fight the Fascism of Francisco Franco. There may be Americans among those going to Ukraine, perhaps many among them with family ties to Ukraine now & historically, to fight. It's good to know that individuals from other nations are going to Ukraine to support the fight against Putin's forces.
I can add nothing to what HCR has written. She has the situation here exactly right. The Russian troops are running out of food and fuel and are held everywhere. Fierce battles in Kharkiv and Kyiv. I am so proud of our Ukrainian president, the man of the hour. My adopted country is solidly united in opposition.
Many people in Russia are refusing to believe what the are hearing from Ukraine according to my friend Artur. His daughter whom I have known since she was 7 moved with her cat to the Maternity hospital she works at, delivers babies in the day time and then she and her patients move to the bomb shelter at night.
My granddaughter and her friend are still in the lineup at the Polish border. They had caught a ride with a woman and her kids from L'viv. the woman was exhausted so Masha drove the whole way. The woman went back and the girls are looking after the kids.
We are totally safe as there is no way the Russians will get here.
Allen, Latvia is taking in refugees from Ukraine and providing them with food and housing. Your granddaughter could go there. If she is interested, I'll get more details.
Thanks, Allen, for another first-hand report and reassurance that you and your family are safe. I'm going off the grid for a month, visiting friends in the bush north of Whitehorse, YT, but will be praying for you all during that time.
Thank you, Allen for your update. I am sharing your news with my Facebook family! They are all praying for you, your family and country. God bless and keep you! I will be looking for you tomorrow when I sign into HCR's amazing letters to us all! Hugs
Thank you Heather for continuing to put the face of the people to this war. The open communication means the world is witnessing Putin’s heinous crimes in real time. And every lie from critics in USA is heard around the world. We can’t make up the upsurd claims that President Biden is weak, especially by those who are party to supporting Putin’s tyranny, TFG and Rudy, FOxies and repubs who aren’t yet sure which side to take. The world will remember.
I’m from USA, have walked The Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage six times, different routes in France, Spain and Portugal with people from all over the world. Even when we don’t speak the same languages, we walk together and share our lives, our hopes and dreams. And fears. This post was on the American Pilgrims Facebook page posted by a young Camino Pilgrim from Kiev in real time. I’ve removed her name and picture for privacy. 02/25/22:
“MESSAGES FROM A UKRAINIAN PILGRIM 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Xxxxx has recently walked the Camino de Santiago and lives in Kiev. Here are her most recent posts on Instagram:
02/24/2022
I woke up at 5am with explosions and couldn't believe it wasn't a nightmare. How can an independent country be attacked in this way?
I would like to write that I am strong and not afraid, but I am very scared and I cried all day. Tears of helplessness in the face of such brutality. I packed my backpack, but I'm staying home for now. I don't want to run anywhere. THIS IS MY HOMELAND!!! 🇺🇦This is my home and we don't owe anyone anything. I speak Russian, but I don't want to speak this language anymore.
I am very grateful for all the support we are receiving and especially for our brave soldiers who are fighting for our Ukraine, for our freedom and sovereignty.
It's all very scary. I am praying for my family and for my country. 🇺🇦🙏02/25/2022
I am immensely grateful to those people who in these days of war have found strength and courage and are working: doctors, railroad workers, firefighters, drivers, bakers. They are soldiers on an invisible front. All these people keep the city and country alive.
And despite some interruptions, life goes on. There is water, gas, electricity, food. There are loved ones around. There is confidence that Good will prevail over Evil. WE WILL ENDURE, SURVIVE AND WIN. I never thought I'd be so excited to be able to buy bread. 🇺🇦🙏
Trump proves himself increasingly more absurd, increasingly more delusional. His claim that were he in office, Putin would not have invaded, is ludicrous . . . laughable. It is no wonder he has nothing to reveal at this time -- or ever. No one leapt higher than Vladimir Putin when Trump became President of the Electoral College. He knew from the get-go, before a single vote was cast how incompetent Trump would be and how divisive his presidency would prove. He knew well the Trump Effect would be to render us asunder and that thanks to whatever hold he has over Trump - psychological, financial - he would be able to manipulate the puppet strings to a fare-thee-well. Trump would have seen the invasion as payback -- as retribution -- for Zelensky's refusal to be blackmailed. He would have simply bought into Putin's flimsy and bizarre "de-Nazi-fy Ukraine" scenario and let this all happen, in grand obeisance to the wishes of his bromance boyfriend. Thank whatever powers that may be that Joe Biden, in his quiet way, demonstrates strength and leadership.
I said to my husband in 2015-16 during primary debates (remember how the Repubs had 15 candidates?), the only one of these yayhoos who could stand toe to toe with Putin and win was Hillary. She was the only one who really understood who he is. So we know what Putin did to keep this from happening.
Heh. I remember when John Kelly completely surrendered his integrity and honor with that description as he told a bald-faced lie to an audience about Rep. Frederica Wilson. A video surfaced that underscored his lie. He has never apologized to her.
Not to mention that both Putin and Trump, put in the position Zelensky is in, would have been on the first luxury jet out of the country, and very likely Biden would be doing what Z is doing, staying put. I don't revere Biden or like his approach 100% of the time, but I do trust that he has the integrity to stay and continue to quietly lead the people.
President Vladimir V. Putin has ushered in a crisis for his country — in its economy and identity.
The Kremlin is hiding the reality of the country’s attack on Ukraine from its own people, even cracking down on news outlets that call it a “war.”
But the economic carnage and societal turmoil wrought by Mr. Putin’s invasion is becoming increasingly difficult to obscure.
Airlines canceled once-ubiquitous flights to Europe. The Central Bank scrambled to deliver ruble bills as the demand for cash spiked 58-fold. Economists warned of more inflation, greater capital flight and slower growth; and the S&P credit rating agency downgraded Russia to “junk” status.
The emphasis on hiding the war’s true extent was a sign that the Kremlin fears that Russians would disapprove of a violent, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country where many millions of Russians have relatives and friends.
Even so, more public figures with ties to the state spoke out against the war, including a lawmaker in Russia’s rubber-stamp Parliament. Business owners tried to assess the consequences of an economic crisis that appeared already to be beginning, even before sanctions were fully in place.
Russians have been stunned at how quickly the economic impact of the war was being felt. The ruble hit its lowest level ever against the dollar, which traded at about 84 rubles on Saturday compared to 74 a few weeks ago. That sent prices for imports surging, while sanctions on Russia’s largest banks wreaked havoc in the financial markets and new export restrictions promised to scramble supply chains.
“Those who shout that Putin is great and bravo to him are no longer shouting as loud,” said Lalya Sadykova, the owner of a chain of beauty salons in St. Petersburg. “They’re in shock from what is happening, from how quickly prices are changing and how suppliers are stopping deliveries.”
The chief executive of one of Russia’s biggest electronics retailers, DNS, said on Thursday that a supply crunch had forced his chain to raise prices some 30 percent. Days earlier, the chief executive, Dmitri Alekseyev, had posted on Facebook: “For the life of me I can’t understand why Russia needs a war.”
S7, Russia’s second-largest airline, suspended all of its flights to Europe because of airspace closures to Russian companies, an early sign that the cheap and easy travel to the West that middle-class Russians had grown used to could become a thing of the past. Photos of retailers changing or removing their price tags went viral on social media.
“We’re all waiting for what happens next,” said Anastasia Baranova, describing a wave of cancellations on Friday at the hotel she runs in St. Petersburg. “It’s as though the whole country is on pause.”
Even as a vicious battle for Kyiv unfolded on Saturday morning, a Russian Defense Ministry statement about the situation in Ukraine made no mention of the Ukrainian capital or any Russian casualties. The ministry, which typically releases sleek and copious footage daily of the Russian military in action, published no videos of its combat operations in Ukraine.
A hint of the potential opposition came on Saturday when Mikhail Matveyev, a Communist lawmaker who had voted to endorse Mr. Putin’s recognition of the Russian-backed separatist territories, wrote on Twitter that he had been tricked.
“I was voting for peace, and not for war,” he wrote, “and not for Kyiv to be bombed.”
It was a rare crack in the firmament of the Parliament, where dissent over Mr. Putin’s key foreign policy decisions has been virtually nonexistent in recent years. Tatyana Yumasheva, the daughter of former President Boris N. Yeltsin who helped bring Mr. Putin to power, posted an antiwar message on Facebook.
The main determining factor for what comes next, of course, will be what happens on the battlefield in Ukraine — the longer the war lasts and the greater the loss of life and destruction, the more difficult it will be for the Kremlin to cast the war as a limited operation not directed against the Ukrainian people.
Andrei Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, a research organization close to the Russian government, said he believed that the Kremlin expected the fighting to last no more than two weeks.
But if the war does not go according to plan, Mr. Kortunov cautioned, the country could see “serious political consequences and consequences for the popularity of the leadership.”
And beyond the economic impact of the war, many Russians could not yet imagine coming to terms with living in a country that had launched an unprovoked assault on its neighbor. A steady stream of people came to the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow on Friday, bringing flowers. A police officer prevented a woman from also leaving a small sign that said: “Yes to peace.”
We are in the middle of the same takeover on our soil, only by homegrown terrorists. They infiltrated our governments and school boards across the land oppressing our most important rights in a democracy. And they have flagrantly supported putin, even the invasion these past three days. It is our turn to clean up our own country from corporate-owned fascists.
Your description of the New York Times is spot on. Fish wrap indeed. Add the Washington Post to this description. I just got an “alert” from WAPO saying “a pessimistic nation worries about Biden’s leadership and the economy ahead of Tuesday’s state of the union”. Give me a break. It is Biden’s leadership that has coalesced the world and NATO against Russia.
We in the west have an exaggerated view of Russian power. The Russian economy is actually quite small - smaller than Italy’s, France’s or Canada’s. Putin can’t build and sustain the kind of military force necessary to invade and control countries like Ukraine (and perhaps Estonia, or other former SSRs). Especially when faced with the opposition of the US and western Europe. Putin has vastly over-reached.
True, but ... Russia has a weak economic base to support such a large military. However, Putin now controls several thousand nuclear weapons. Backed into a corner, faced with possible failure and loss of power, humiliated -- who knows what he might order? Let's defeat this invasion, but we need a way to let Putin save a little face.
Thinking Biden was weak might have been Putin’s biggest mistake. He certainly underestimated Ukrainian popular resistance and President Zelensky’s courage.
“I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition!”
The NRA et al should be all over that statement in vociferous support of Zelensky and the Ukrainian people’s struggle.
I can’t help but wonder how much the refusal of TFG to acknowledge his loss and the GOP claims that Biden is weak led to Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
Yea where is the vaunted NRA with their “every one should have unlimited assault rifles and ammunition”mantra, you would think this is an opportunity of a lifetime for them. They should be organizing assault weapons and ammunition donations from among their heavily armed members most of whom have way more than they will ever need to defend themselves.
Raging Rudy and despicable Donnie the idjt— you have a heck of a nerve to open your mouths after what you did to Ukraine to try to win re-election. That was your first impeachment. 🇺🇸
Of the many books written about what crooks you are, is AMERICAN OLIGARCHS: THE KUSHNERS AND TRUMPS AND THE MARRIAGE OF MONEY AND POWER by Andrea Bernstein.
The idjt called his buddy a genius. Republican legislators who agreed with him should quit now. Pack up and leave Washington. Your lies have become a joke and you are all traitors.
Thank you for that translation of "hulio". In a couple of the videos folks shared I heard a lot of "Julio" and "Putin" together. I now know what they were saying! I am very glad it wasn't the "Julio" that I thought it was (one of the Deputies I worked with is a "Julio" and is a very fine young deputy.)
Morale of Russian soldiers can’t be very high at this point. Not likely to the point of mutiny, but perhaps enough to make ordinary troops less enthusiastic about killing ethnic and linguistic cousins.
Oh, Tigritsa!! My second Ukrainian word! I wanted to called my Mr. Higgins, "Tigre," when I got him because he is a lovely gingery color with white feet and chin. He is very much a lion (Maine Coon) with a beautiful ruff. Now I know Tigritsa and Huilo Putin. I would also like to expand my Ukrainian and learn how to say "Hello, Ukrainian Friends", "Thank you," and "Courageous Ukrainians for Democracy." Can you help, Allen? ❤️
They have been using Stingers alright the Germans are sending in a resupply. Helicopters are nearly useless for air support at 10,000 ft, the Russians learned that in Afghanistan
And Mr. Higgins sends loving meows. We are so proud of the Ukrainian people and all the democracies that support this new way of handling bullies--together!
As elevated by HCR, Fiona Hill's perspective on the history of Russia and NATO starts about 10 minutes into this panel on Feb. 22, the eve of Putin's invasion into Ukraine:
Excellent! About halfway in, after Fiona Hill has answered a question, brilliantly and at length, the moderator turns to HCR with a question. She demurs and says of Hill: "She's really interesting. You can read me every night."
Thanks so much, Ellie Kona, for sharing this brilliant panel. (Another hour would have been great.) We all know HCR’s voice well, but another great discussion with Fiona Hill is John Heilemann’s podcast Hell and High Water with FH.
THANKS for this! I find Fiona Hill absolutely riveting...so does Heather! You could see her just sitting back and absorbing all of Hill's wisdom, experience, and insight. It is so very valuable (her testimony in the impeachment trial blew me away) and here she really gives some understanding as to how Putin/Russia have come to some of their present actions and mentalities. Understanding that to which you are opposed, even if you find it repulsive, is part and parcel of being an informed citizen. I could listen to Heather & Hill for hours!
Bruce, if you haven't, read Fiona's book "There is Nothing for You Here" It will give further insight into how brilliant she is. Not to take away from Heather who is brilliant in her own field.
Ellie, thank you for posting this link -- in a really short time on stage these two shining stars illuminated huge trends in European and American history. Well worth the watch (I hope they'll find a way to do more of these talks).
Every detail about this is brilliant…the lighting, the candles, the heart and soul of the singers. Absorb it all and let your tears flow, then get back to the business of whatever you can do to support Ukraine.
To everyone concerned about the former president's unwavering support for Putin and Russia, I repeat my post from yesterday:
""Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or of adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." Article III, Section 3, United States Constitution.
“Well, I tell you what, I would do things, but the last thing I want to do is say it right now.”
Yeah, because telling the American people how he would join Putin in attacking Ukraine (he actually thought it was the US that was planning an amphibious landing at Odessa) and admitting he's a traitor won't work for him past the 30% of drooling deplorable morons who are too stupid to realize he's even dumber than they are.
Right now, Trump is literally the only American politician still supporting Putin, as he did in his speech at the Conservative Pricks & Asswipes Convention tonight. If he keeps it up (please do, you motherfucking piece of shit), he'll sink the GOP this fall.
Putin needs to read Roman history: Caligula wasn't murdered by his many enemies; he was assassinated by his Praetorian Guard.
And then we can flush Trump down the same toilet we flush Putin.
I have long paraphrased Michelle Obama’s noble line: “When they go low…….flush.”
Now that we KNOW DumpsterFire was ripping official documents and flushing them, it gives more meaning to all his talk about toilets earlier in his presidency. And @TCinLA - your words - thank you. I’m done with all the being nice bullshit too. I’m not sure Trump is alone in his support for Putin - MTG, Madison Cawthorn (l am still baffled at how such a dumb jackass with hardly a high school diploma and ZERO law or political experience got elected; lets support his democratic challenger), Jim Jordan, Dumbass Broebert in CO, Gaetz - they support Dumpster Fire so they support Putin.
Please do not overestimate the intelligence of the American voter. Look whom they elected, and will re-elect, in Florida and Texas.
I am in Texas and I didn’t vote for anyone in our legislature or Senators. It’s called gerrymandering and now voter suppression. Mail on ballots APPLICATIONS are getting thrown out. The print is small, the envelope is small, the directions are confusing. The people who need this are elderly and disabled and filling it out wrong. The website that was “promised” to be set up so you can track your application never got off the ground. Early voting ended Friday 2/25. We have some evil bastards running this state. Abbot, Patrick, Paxton, Schaefer, Krause, Hughes, Briscoe Cain and more. But wait! There is more… 😡 FAILED STATE. And we have to worry about the grid failing every time we get bad weather or the wind blows just a little to hard.
If it were possible to exchange Florida and Texas for Ukraine, we would come out ahead.
Exactly, they have taken over like Putin wishes he could. No election will be fair unless voting rights passed. I can only donate and write so many letters.
This is where I wish Biden would use the Executive pen. States who support partisan electors are NOT democratic… they are leading us down the authoritarian path.
Your description of the overly complicated mail-in voting system here in Texas is spot on. I've been mailing in ballots for almost 9 years and this is the first time I struggled with it. It was deliberately designed to PREVENT people like me from voting.
My husband became a poll watcher for a local candidate. He is watching the disaster unfold in real time. He has a great idea! A YouTube video on how to fill out the mail in application. He said there is a flap people don’t lift and it covers they TDL# and they put their VUID #. Boom! Gets thrown to the “deficit” pile and a voter may or may not find out why. It depends on the people in the ballot board room. Also, ONE person in that room gets to decide if signatures match. This is hurting the republican voters as well but not as much as Dem voters. Dem voters are more likely to ask for mail in and they know that.
That really should be illegal! Deliberate bastards!
Are you unacquainted with federal class action law suits... tie the voting results up in court so NONE of the votes can be verified until reviewed by a NON-PARTISEN NON-POLITICAL AGENDA federally appointed jury...now try imagining the republican whining about an unfair process...
And I live in the district in NC where Madison Cawthorn was elected. Nobody I know (that I know of) voted for him. Between all the gerrymandering that's been going on and his appeal to the people who cling to some notion of a white confederacy, we watched helplessly aghast as he beat a highly qualified candidate.
But every 2 years you have the opportunity to make that change, unlike having to tolerate the wrong person in office for 6 years. It will take more than words to regain the moral code NC should have in its representation. The people of Ukraine are willing to fight and die for their. Get organized. Get others to stand up and speak out. It's all we have left.
I was raised there, NC was great until Rush the turd set up camp. I remember it happening, same as in Texas.
Everything you have written proves how essential it is that YOU and others like you VOTE. Nothing will change or get better if those who see the reality of your government stand back and don't fight like hell to change it. Look at the Ukrainians who are fighting to the death to protect and retain their freedom and democracy. The very least you can do is vote to change/protect yours.
We are voting and organizing.
We are purple, why they are desperate to shut us up
Trying to Heart this, Rusty. Suspect the Heart will eventually turn red, but want to make sure you know about it. Well spoken. Thank you. I'm tired of people who either have their heads in the sand or seem to be trying to get other people to give up.
Agreed. The GOP doesn't even have an agenda for 2022 or 2023. They only care about opposition and "owning the libs". They don't care how they get there as long as they win.
True in my area
What is happening is now forcing them to take a closer look at the Reputincans their party has installed in their states and who have been working at dividing their citizens in the same way that Trump was dividing the NATO nations before we kicked him out of power.
It was not the "American Voter" who elected candidates in Florida and Texas. That would be voters in those states, many of whom are regretting their choices. I'm surprised you don't seem aware of how the American system works.
I was merely parapharasing a quote attributed to H.L. Mencken .... 'No one ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people.' Here in Florida, few on the right regret their sticking with the defeated former president and their present governor. They have no idea what is in their interest and what is not. The 'American system' doesn't work in States where gerrymandering has created unrepresentative State legislatures as in Florida and Texas, and elsewhere, too.
The two ex-classmates I know in Florida know exactly why they support regressive polices...one is filthy rich and the other lives in Naples and plays bridge all the time, so also has money. The latter bragged about how she had figured out how to download books for free and I felt compelled to remind her how she was hurting authors. When, despite my pleas, she insisted on talking politics, often in all caps, our conversation ceased. Our last conversation was about something Obama had done and I supplied her with the factual background. She didn't care and this despite being an intelligent educated person.
My last sentence was inappropriate, so my apologies, Jack. May I plead morning as an excuse? I've never liked that Mencken quote, btw. I got his point, but I hate generalities that demean an entire group of people based on some supposed characteristic of a few. It wouldn't be so offensive had he used the word "ignorance" rather than "intelligence". Even humorists don't get a pass on some things.
Unfortunately, Florida voted for Republicans (DeSantis, Rubio, Gaetz) because they continously like to hurt themselves. People who voted against their own best interest amaze me. New Yorkers ,our winter tourist, just make Florida man jokes (we do too! Our family has been in Florida since 1920. Sad to watch.
You know, there are a lot of New Yorkers in Florida and I think they are being persecuted politically; can’t New York just liberate them by annexing Florida?
Laughing so hard I can barely type. KEEPER! Actually, all the New Yorkers in Florida might be part of the problem... but I love your take on the situation. We could start our own sitcom using material provided by commenters here. Imagine the episode where they put a big fence around the T compound....
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤣🤣🤣
❤️
In Texas, if you want to take more than 7 people to the polls, you have to submit a letter to the polling location and they send it to the Secretary of State for review. So, check on that in your state. Those are great things you are doing! I think going to Community College and 4 year college campuses and registering the young people. They could make a difference and need to be informed of what’s at stake.
I keep hitting the heart for this, but it's not live at the moment. I think this is a Great Idea.
Is that "more than 7 people" in total? or "more than 7 people" in a single vehicle trip? How on earth can they track that? Are there Republican operatives stationed in the vicinity of polling places who count & take down license plates? How about if voters are dropped off a block or so away (yes, I understand that walking a block is difficult for some individuals).
Just curious 😈 Do they require approval for “People to the Polls” equally to Republicans as well as Democrats? Or is it just Democrats who have to get “approval”?
Maybe you could start some local Democracy Summers. Details here: https://jamieraskin.com/DemocracySummer
Love this thread! Sophia, the things you are doing and sharing are great, and I love that other people are jumping in with things they are doing to help get the vote out. Grabbing some of those.
retain the ALCU for class action law suit in federal court
I am waiting for Texas to vote for succession
I'm wondering if you meant "secession" rather than "succession"? I have problems sometimes with words that kind of look and sound alike (I had to turn off autocorrect on my computer- it didn't help at all.) But the thought of Texas seceding triggers lots of amusing thoughts. It had trouble with being admitted in the first place because of the fact that settlers from US were there illegally and took over by means of an illegal war. It has been suggested by some legal minds that if it were to successfully secede, Mexico would get it back. Isn't that interesting to contemplate? Some really fun scenarios. And after the mess when Texas regulation led to nightmare scenarios when their power supply shut down, I suspect that Texans are appreciating the benefits of being part of a more extended connection- pun intended.
Cawthorn is handsome, and probably gets some sympathy votes for his disability from the shallow end of the gene pool; MTG and the others reflect their ignorant constituencies. We can celebrate when Gaetz is finally jailed - just don't understand why that hasn't happened.
It will happen. The wheels of justice turn s-l-o-w-l-y . Look how long it took for the StonyBrook School shooting families to see a bit of justice. Ten years.
You're right, Jack. I just hope I live to see the viper slithering in a cage.
“shallow end of the gene pool“ 😆😆
Have you noticed how small and close-set MTG and Gaetz's eyes are? I know that phrenology is considered a pseudo-science, but could there actually be some relevance here? Just sayin"
... don't open the closet door, Laurie - you might not be able to close-it again ....
I heard remarks from Pompeo! He has presidential desires!
Pompous is horrible! Another one who is supportive of Putin. He thinks because he lost so much weight, he’s fit to run for office. Hope he’s fit enough to be run into the ground!
Pompeo is a legend in his own mind. No appeal whatsoever even as a presidential candidate in his own party. He as much charisma as his now very empty suits.
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA) it upsets me that my friend's granddaughter is engaged to marry his son. I have seen how happy the relatives of my friend are about this upcoming marriage! I haven't seen anything recently from them, so I am not sure they are still my Facebook friends. I have had many friends and family remove me from their Facebook friends. They have bought into the "Big Lie"!
I am so very sorry, Sharon. There is simply nothing that you can do to change their minds. Look at it this way, you expressed your feelings. They rejected them because you aren’t part of the cult who drank the Koolaid. Be proud about what you did. Get with groups of people who think like you and me and let go of those who don’t. I know, it’s hard, but do it to take care of yoirself.
With plenty of water, no clogging
🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Perfect, Peter! Thank you.
The best!🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Thank you Peter! Best laugh I've had in days!
This is great! I must share it on Facebook.
Haha!
Tfg was always sadly the most inarticulate president ever, as shown by “I would do things …” A fourth grader learning to write reports would get that sentence circled in red.
When students have no idea, they are vague and since death star has to open his mouth and opine on everything, he proves almost daily how brainless he is.
He would....kiss Putin a_s
That would happen after he was done sucking his, ….
Can’t ❤️ this but… yeah!
There are still Republicans supporting Putin. Not only present, but past ones, too: Marjorie Taylor-Greene (speaking at a white nationalist conference), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (who said on-camera that Putin is "very savvy," and has "lots of gifts"), and Josh Hawley). The others may not directly support Russia's invasion and Putin, but they're twisting themselves into knots trying to lay blame for the incursion on President Biden's "weakness."
My fervent wish is that president Biden calls them out during his state of the union speech. This kind of treasonous behavior shouldn’t be ignored or condoned.
Biden uniting the world is OUTSTANDING. Yeah NATO
Lots and lots of traitor footage to show during campaigning. Sometimes I wonder if Democrat's silence on these people has been to give them enough rope so they could trip on it.
Stunning that Trump would say something like “For $2 worth of sanctions he gets a country.” Meaning shrewd transaction. Nothing to do with people living in either country. Other people do not exist, except for him to manipulate.
Too true.
Dems biggest mistake ...playing to nice
Aw come on B. You know you pay out rope for the jerk at the end of it. I know you know that.
I don't know what this means.
Hang, not trip.
Yes.
he's echoing Orban who "said" he did not support the invasion
Pompeo is a pompass.
Why does the media even ask Trump what he thinks? The media should be ignoring and neutralizing his ilk.
Fox Views is NOT the media….
I just read a thread on LinkedIn started by a post from a far right news group. Kyle Rittenhouse was spewing that he has tried to get an appointment with President Biden who called him something. The bile and hatred from all on the thread for our President and Democrats was shocking.
Including the liberal media. They are also guilty of providing Trump free PR- he sells.
Couldn’t agree more, but one of the reasons that trump won the nomination and the election in 2016 was the fascination and huge amount of coverage trump got from the media free of charge.
Good thing everything TFG and his buddies say and write is preserved for posterity. He can lie through his teeth but cannot deny the Truth when that too is part of public record and memory.
The Republican Party of racists and sexists doesn’t care about the truth, Irenie. Nor democracy. Nor laws. All they care about is keeping whites, men, straights et al in charge of society. Trump was a lifetime New York Democrat, because that was the thing to be in New York City, and then he joined the party of racism and sexism because he felt a lot more at home with those people.
Yes, that’s all true. Just hoping TFG and his buddies are found guilty for some of their crimes. Long shot but I can hope.
I’m not worried anymore. The Trump family and Matt Gaetz are definitely going to be indicted. Madison Cawthorne and Josh Hawley and other politicians are at risk of being eliminated from politics because of their participation in the insurrection. A lot of the worst culprits, like Giuliani and Eastman and the other pseudo-lawyers, are in deep shit too. We will see plenty of developments in 2022.
I hope so. That would be Democracy at work.
His stoplight is always red.
Thanks for clarifying what CPAC stands for
HAHA!
🤣
A couple of thoughts: First up which certainly must be in everyone's mind is that tRump can't read. I seriously believe he has a reading disorder. And even if he was capable, his name is not in it so he'd immediately lose interest. (But I get your point, TC!)
Second: this pop into anyone else's mind? When reading that Zelensky instead of being evacuated asked for ammunition, think about 1/6 and how (after spurning his supporters on and saying he'd march with them) tRump ran his fat ass back to his office with the Diet Coke call button and hid in the WH?
And last, I found this latest episode of Politics Girl to be very informative. I am not nearly as bright as most of you readers, her explanations were helpful to me and if anyone watches and finds misinformation, I'd appreciate knowing what it is. I found the second half particularly enlightening
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YA_BOOagZQ
Thank you for your daily posts, TC, they are always worth seeking out and reading. I savor every word and usually reread it a few times!
Also worth mentioning that in contrast to tRump, Pence stayed in the Capitol on 1/6 to finish the work of certifying the election.
Miselle, you can find a lot more from TC at his daily Substack blog:
THAT'S ANOTHER FINE MESS ... Here are the last 3:
IF YOU WANT TO HELP UKRAINE
https://tcinla757.substack.com/p/if-you-want-to-help-ukraine?utm_source=url
*****
PUTIN'S RECKLESS GAMBLE
https://tcinla757.substack.com/p/putins-reckless-gamble?utm_source=url
*****
MORE OPPOSITION TO PUTIN'S WAR
https://tcinla757.substack.com/p/more-opposition-to-putins-war?utm_source=url
Yes! I have always suspected he has a reading issue. Among other issues.
You mean like drugs, incontinence, trouble walking??
Thanks for posting tgevlink to Politics Girl. She is always right on target.
I'm still pushing for Critical Fascist Theory (CFT) to be taught in the schools, but I need your help to build the theory and spread the word. Also, with the Republican Party and Fox News in mind, I'm pushing for "Critical Jackass Theory" (CJT) to be a weekly TV show.
Greg, just wrote a comment about John Oliver's CRT episode on 10-20. Check the show out. My favorite response to the whole nonsense - a sixth grader wrote in that geometry makes him feel uncomfortable and he would like it to be removed from the curriculum.
I mean, isn't the point of geometry divisiveness?
I think you might be referring to fractions . . .
Geez me too! But I took my low B happily
Here is the free textbook: https://9bb6f4fe-ee8e-4700-aaa9-743a55a9437a.filesusr.com/ugd/02ff25_370d387d81714d29bad957ba03cf8e48.pdf
Trump would have held the door open for Putin to stroll into Ukraine.
We must defeat all Republican candidates at the polls. Especially one's like Youngkin, who are Trump wolves in soccer dad fleece.
We the people. Not some praetorian guard.
2022 folks! GOTV. If not a Blue Wave, at least holding the Blue majority status quo. Even that will take a lot of work.
Exactly right!
I agree entirely with the spirit of your comment but I think TFG doesn't want to say anything right now for the simple reason that he has nothing to say. I've never seen any evidence that he can formulate a thought. There are treatments for crazy but you just can't fix stupid.
So true.
I agree!!! My daughter has been worrying that he’ll run and win again. I really think he would lose substantially!!!
I hope he runs and is chosen again by the RNC to run for President. He would keep other people who would be a big problem but less offensive externally from winning.
Trump was only saying the same jibber jabber that he spouted for from the time he declared he was a candidate for president! I see no change in what I hear him saying! Trump is a weak bully!
Well said. Love the observation about the Praetorian Guard and their role in assassinations and choosing emperors. Death Star has no idea what he would do except kiss Putin's rear. And I will never look at the letters CPAC in the same way.
Sizzlin TC, sizzlin. Got back on Sunday night and decided to catch up on some coverage from the Conservative Pricks and Asswipes Convention. It’s been difficult containing my glee at how their thunder literally got an ass whoopin’ due to the real news and concern about Ukraine capturing the attention of people around the world. I turned on a local news review and watched one clip of Mr. Trump commenting on the war before his statement about doing things differently. I actually rewatched it to make sure I heard the orange hazard correctly.
“The problem is not that Putin is smart, which of course he is. The real problem is that our leaders are dumb.”
🙄
C’mon, Christine, it was true from 2016 to 2020, excepting Mark Kelly and Jim Mattis and the few other guard rails, before they were purged. 😉
Please do not overestimate the intelligence of the American voter. Look whom they elected, and will re-elect, in Florida and Texas.
I am ❤️ number 299. Way to go, TC‼️
The world is witnessing an historic, epic struggle. And we must throw everything we can to the Ukrainians to help them defend their country.
Herb, your words couldn't ring more true! As horrific as this war is, it has revealed to us the scintillating beauty of the Ukrainian soul and her heroic moral standard, in contrast to the darkness of Putin's diabolical deed. Justice and peace must prevail for these exquisite human beings.
And Heather, thank you for illuminating these truths with your incredible pen. You are such a blessing in our lives.
I learned how awesome Ukrainians were in 2014. Unstoppable spirit!!! They stayed in the center of Kyiv till the goddamn Russians left!
You are such a beautiful human being
So many in line for my paltry donations; they go to the head of the line
My friends in Ukraine have posted several funds being collected for the defense of Ukraine. Here is one websites. I'll post the info for the other fund in a separate Reply: https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/
The National Bank of Ukraine has opened a special account to raise funds for the Ukrainian Army. Anyone from any country can donate!
The account is multi-currency. It is opened for transfers of funds from international partners and donors, any person as well as from Ukrainian business and citizens.
🇺🇸
For donations in USD:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, New York
SWIFT Code: CHASUS33
Account: 400807238
383 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10179, USA
Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708
🇬🇧
For donations in GBP:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
Bank of England, London
SWIFT Code: BKENGB2L
Account: 40000982
Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH, UK
Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708
🇪🇺
For donations in EUR:
SWIFT Code NBU: NBUA UA UX
DEUTSCHE BUNDESBANK, Frankfurt
SWIFT Code: MARKDEFF
Account: 5040040066
IBAN DE05504000005040040066
Wilhelm-Epsteinn-Strabe 14, 60431 Frankfurt Am Main,Germany
Bank account: UA843000010000000047330992708
Thank you. Just posted on my FB page.
Thanks for this. Shared to Facebook.
Thank you. Shared on Robert Hubbell’s Substack. And he’s going to collect how to help Ukraine in an upcoming newsletter.
How I wish there was a way to send care packages, just to let them know the world cares. In addition to donations of money, of course.
Which agency did you pick?
Still trying to figure this out. May need to wait for PayPal.???
With the internet so scam heavy, I don’t want financial information in the wrong hands. Having Paypal vet a safe place would be helpful
UNICEF is always a safe bet. My heart goes out to the children. They just received $1M from Pandora
“Pandora’s donation is not only timely but also significant in size. When partners like
@PANDORA_Corp
respond quickly to our humanitarian appeal, it helps us to act swiftly and provide assistance for those that need it most. In crises, timing is everything.” https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/conflict-ukraine-pose-immediate-threat-children
I have reshared a list on LinkedIn. Will try to repost here.
Here are 2 links-one for a Ukrainian newspaper in English (to read or subscribe to: https://kyivindependent.com/. And an NPR article how to help Ukraine (It lists various organizations): https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082992947/ukraine-support-help
Thank you for this NPR link. While I’d like to support the Ukrainian army, the link provided above leads to a site in Russian asking for credit card info, which is hard to figure out and trust. I note that the NPR link lists Doctors Without Borders, a group I already trust and support.
Doctors Without Borders doesn’t allow you to pick where your donation should go, but it does allow you to dedicate your contribution in memory or tribute to a person. I chose in tribute to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which I hope will motivate them to provide aid in Ukraine.
Thank you!
Sir, the task is to make “throw everything” operational in real time.
Herb, your succinct comment speaks loudly. May it be heard by many.
... short of boots on the ground, air support, and shooting off missiles. More than providing arms, other resources and imposing sanctions can be counter-productive.
"That we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Ukraine, you have given the world a renewed inspiration for democracy.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/volodymyr-zelensky-ukraine-president/622938/
And I heard that soldiers from other countries are just going to Ukraine on their own to fight. This way they do not represent a military they just represent the people. If this is true, this is definitely a new paradigm where the people take control over all the capitalist and authoritarians. I'm feeling so much pride for the Ukrainian's being the heroes of democracy. Take note, Americans! Drown out our anti-democracy bullies and their cult followers. Make our voices louder than theirs! Organize marches!
Ah, Zelensky set this up and it is now called, The International Legion of Foreigners! https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-international-legion-foreigners-join-fight-2022-2
This is a global act of "We the People!" This is definitely a new paradigm!
Yes - like people of conscience and Vets at Standing Rock who gathered to support Water Protectors from bebadged thugs defending illegal polluting oil pipelines ...
This, from Chase Iron Eyes of the Lakota People's Law Project (2/26/2022):
"I hope you’re safe and remaining hopeful despite the horrific world events taking place. The Russian invasion of Ukraine highlights once again how important it is for people everywhere to remain sovereign and free of tyranny. My heart goes out to all who are now suffering through another needless, bloody war.
"Perhaps it will lend you some comfort to know that there is good news this week from Standing Rock. This Wednesday, tribal leaders from across the Great Sioux Nation will have an opportunity to sit down with the U.S. Army Civil Works and relay our concerns about the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL). After years of our #NoDAPL resistance falling on deaf ears — as highlighted by Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire in our new video, co-produced with the tribe — the Army finally reached out to Standing Rock. This is a potential turning point, though we are keeping our expectations modest."
Watch: In our new video, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire discusses the importance of tribal input and gaining our consent for projects like DAPL:
https://lakotalaw.org/resources/alkire-army-dapl
"We originally expected the Army Corps of Engineers to release its DAPL Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) earlier this month. But that’s now on hold, pending our coming conversation about this dangerous pipeline. This opportunity to have the appropriate government officials really listen to our concerns is long overdue.
"Of course, given the long history of broken promises by the U.S. government to Native People, I take everything with a grain of salt and won’t celebrate prematurely. We must continue to stand ready to protest the EIS, should it eventually be released in any form that doesn’t fully address our concerns.
"Right now, I’m happy to say we have some additional leverage. The meeting with Civil Works will happen against the backdrop of a huge win for Standing Rock in the Supreme Court this past week. Justices shut down DAPL’s attempt to make an end-run around the environmental oversight process.
"Solidarity remains paramount if we are to achieve our goal of ending DAPL once and for all. As people from many nations gathered for our original NoDAPL stand in 2016 and ‘17, Wednesday’s meeting will bring together leaders from throughout the Oceti Sakowin — our Great Sioux Nation. We will, of course, report on the results of that conversation to you. So, please continue to stay with us. We must remain vigilant, united, and ready to act."
Wopila tanka — my deep gratitude to you for your friendship!
Chase Iron Eyes
Co-Director and Lead Counsel
The Lakota People’s Law Project
https://lakotalaw.org
Lakota People's Law Project
547 South 7th Street #149
Bismarck, ND 58504-5859
The Lakota People's Law Project is part of the Romero Institute, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) law and policy center. All donations are tax-deductible.
... and this, from Bill Latka of Oil & Water Don't Mix:
((Same fight - different faces))
"On Wednesday, February 16th, the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority, the state body charged with overseeing the construction of the Enbridge Line 5 oil tunnel, met in Lansing.
'I can’t lie. It was hard to watch.
"First of all, the three-person body charged ahead and approved a key aspect of the oil tunnel construction - the request for proposal (RFP) - the first step Enbridge needs to begin lining up the contractor that would do the tunnel construction work.
"The board approved the RFP with no debate, and incredulously, one of the three board members was missing! Paul Novak, the one board member concerned with board transparency, missed the meeting as it conflicted with his day job, but the meeting conveniently pressed on anyway. The haphazard meeting process is not oversight - it smacks of rubber-stamping for the oil industry.
"Once again, the Enbridge overlords took center stage as their project manager, Amber Pastoor, was permitted to beam in from Canada to spin their incessant delay as a good thing.
"The only bright spots in the meeting were the public comments calling out the hypocrisy of oversight and the real risks of this tunnel becoming the world’s largest exploding pipe bomb.
"Several citizens highlighted the lunacy of constructing a massive fossil fuel project while the effects of climate change are bearing down on humanity. Watch their comments here. They are correct - to build this tunnel while fossil-fuel-fired floods, fires, hurricanes, and crazy tornado storms are ripping us apart is the definition of insanity."
https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/february_2022_meeting_of_mackinac_straits_corridor_authority
"I invite you to watch the meeting - especially the public comments - to get ready for this continuing battle for what’s right. Oil & Water Don’t Mix, our partners, and engaged citizens from across Michigan and the nation are up to the task of preventing this tunnel from happening and shutting down America’s most dangerous pipeline before it ruptures into the Great Lakes."
"The actions we take today can protect the Great Lakes for generations. Please consider joining in this work by donating today"
https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/donate
Thank you for your support.
Bill Latka
Digital Coordinator
Oil & Water Don't Mix
https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org
On board with the LPLP, Kathleen!
Who thinks that Kyle Rittenhouse should take his weapon and his thirst for defending the oppressed to 🇺🇦 Ukraine and put his money where his mouth is?
They do not need cowards!!
I'd question which side he would fight for...
Tell him to put sunflower seeds in his pockets. . . .
Good one, Ruth.
I was thinking the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers may be available these days?
..., uh ... kidding?
Reminiscent of the Lafayette Escadrille, a WW I French air force unit made up mostly by American volunteers (prior to U.S. entry into the war) and the American volunteers who went to Spain & formed what they called the Abraham Lincoln Brigade to fight the Fascism of Francisco Franco. There may be Americans among those going to Ukraine, perhaps many among them with family ties to Ukraine now & historically, to fight. It's good to know that individuals from other nations are going to Ukraine to support the fight against Putin's forces.
good article, thank you
Thank you, Lynell. Excellent article about an unlikely and inspiring hero.
I can add nothing to what HCR has written. She has the situation here exactly right. The Russian troops are running out of food and fuel and are held everywhere. Fierce battles in Kharkiv and Kyiv. I am so proud of our Ukrainian president, the man of the hour. My adopted country is solidly united in opposition.
Many people in Russia are refusing to believe what the are hearing from Ukraine according to my friend Artur. His daughter whom I have known since she was 7 moved with her cat to the Maternity hospital she works at, delivers babies in the day time and then she and her patients move to the bomb shelter at night.
My granddaughter and her friend are still in the lineup at the Polish border. They had caught a ride with a woman and her kids from L'viv. the woman was exhausted so Masha drove the whole way. The woman went back and the girls are looking after the kids.
We are totally safe as there is no way the Russians will get here.
Thank you, Allen, for this report from "inside."
I know I speak for a lot of people here, that we look for your posted updates and are keeping you and all your hold dear in our prayers.
Thank you for your dispatch from the front. May you stay safe, and Ukraine win the day.
Be safe.
Allen, Latvia is taking in refugees from Ukraine and providing them with food and housing. Your granddaughter could go there. If she is interested, I'll get more details.
Trains may be free for Ukrainian refugees.
She has friends in Poland she will stay with. Thank you
It's good to hear that she will be with friends. You and you family have been on my mind.
It is good to hear from you again and that you are safe.
Thanks, Allen, for another first-hand report and reassurance that you and your family are safe. I'm going off the grid for a month, visiting friends in the bush north of Whitehorse, YT, but will be praying for you all during that time.
Thank you, Allen for your update. I am sharing your news with my Facebook family! They are all praying for you, your family and country. God bless and keep you! I will be looking for you tomorrow when I sign into HCR's amazing letters to us all! Hugs
Salud, Allen!
Thank you Heather for continuing to put the face of the people to this war. The open communication means the world is witnessing Putin’s heinous crimes in real time. And every lie from critics in USA is heard around the world. We can’t make up the upsurd claims that President Biden is weak, especially by those who are party to supporting Putin’s tyranny, TFG and Rudy, FOxies and repubs who aren’t yet sure which side to take. The world will remember.
I’m from USA, have walked The Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage six times, different routes in France, Spain and Portugal with people from all over the world. Even when we don’t speak the same languages, we walk together and share our lives, our hopes and dreams. And fears. This post was on the American Pilgrims Facebook page posted by a young Camino Pilgrim from Kiev in real time. I’ve removed her name and picture for privacy. 02/25/22:
“MESSAGES FROM A UKRAINIAN PILGRIM 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Xxxxx has recently walked the Camino de Santiago and lives in Kiev. Here are her most recent posts on Instagram:
02/24/2022
I woke up at 5am with explosions and couldn't believe it wasn't a nightmare. How can an independent country be attacked in this way?
I would like to write that I am strong and not afraid, but I am very scared and I cried all day. Tears of helplessness in the face of such brutality. I packed my backpack, but I'm staying home for now. I don't want to run anywhere. THIS IS MY HOMELAND!!! 🇺🇦This is my home and we don't owe anyone anything. I speak Russian, but I don't want to speak this language anymore.
I am very grateful for all the support we are receiving and especially for our brave soldiers who are fighting for our Ukraine, for our freedom and sovereignty.
It's all very scary. I am praying for my family and for my country. 🇺🇦🙏02/25/2022
I am immensely grateful to those people who in these days of war have found strength and courage and are working: doctors, railroad workers, firefighters, drivers, bakers. They are soldiers on an invisible front. All these people keep the city and country alive.
And despite some interruptions, life goes on. There is water, gas, electricity, food. There are loved ones around. There is confidence that Good will prevail over Evil. WE WILL ENDURE, SURVIVE AND WIN. I never thought I'd be so excited to be able to buy bread. 🇺🇦🙏
#Ukraine #Camino #CaminoDeSantiago”
... blessings - strength - peace ....
🌻❤️❤️
Ultreia to Ukraine, and thank you for sharing this, Irene.
❤️❤️🌻
Thank you Ireni for posting this very touching account.
🌻❤️❤️
Irenie that’s beautiful, it gives me chills, thank you so much 🥰💕
🌻❤️❤️
❤️❤️🌻
Trump proves himself increasingly more absurd, increasingly more delusional. His claim that were he in office, Putin would not have invaded, is ludicrous . . . laughable. It is no wonder he has nothing to reveal at this time -- or ever. No one leapt higher than Vladimir Putin when Trump became President of the Electoral College. He knew from the get-go, before a single vote was cast how incompetent Trump would be and how divisive his presidency would prove. He knew well the Trump Effect would be to render us asunder and that thanks to whatever hold he has over Trump - psychological, financial - he would be able to manipulate the puppet strings to a fare-thee-well. Trump would have seen the invasion as payback -- as retribution -- for Zelensky's refusal to be blackmailed. He would have simply bought into Putin's flimsy and bizarre "de-Nazi-fy Ukraine" scenario and let this all happen, in grand obeisance to the wishes of his bromance boyfriend. Thank whatever powers that may be that Joe Biden, in his quiet way, demonstrates strength and leadership.
I said to my husband in 2015-16 during primary debates (remember how the Repubs had 15 candidates?), the only one of these yayhoos who could stand toe to toe with Putin and win was Hillary. She was the only one who really understood who he is. So we know what Putin did to keep this from happening.
It's still empty vessels that make the most sound.
Heh. I remember when John Kelly completely surrendered his integrity and honor with that description as he told a bald-faced lie to an audience about Rep. Frederica Wilson. A video surfaced that underscored his lie. He has never apologized to her.
Not to mention that both Putin and Trump, put in the position Zelensky is in, would have been on the first luxury jet out of the country, and very likely Biden would be doing what Z is doing, staying put. I don't revere Biden or like his approach 100% of the time, but I do trust that he has the integrity to stay and continue to quietly lead the people.
He would have turned us over to Putie, no shot fired. Waiting for Rupert to wake up. Ha. Somebody needs to de-NAZI-fly the cult.
Putin has bragged that he can buy any Western politician or media person, and he has absolutely done that.
He has indeed
I'm still waiting to hear about his health care plan.
Proof positive that Becky has more than a gnat's memory!
Well said.
Well said!
From the World's Finest Fishwrap (aka the NYT):
President Vladimir V. Putin has ushered in a crisis for his country — in its economy and identity.
The Kremlin is hiding the reality of the country’s attack on Ukraine from its own people, even cracking down on news outlets that call it a “war.”
But the economic carnage and societal turmoil wrought by Mr. Putin’s invasion is becoming increasingly difficult to obscure.
Airlines canceled once-ubiquitous flights to Europe. The Central Bank scrambled to deliver ruble bills as the demand for cash spiked 58-fold. Economists warned of more inflation, greater capital flight and slower growth; and the S&P credit rating agency downgraded Russia to “junk” status.
The emphasis on hiding the war’s true extent was a sign that the Kremlin fears that Russians would disapprove of a violent, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country where many millions of Russians have relatives and friends.
Even so, more public figures with ties to the state spoke out against the war, including a lawmaker in Russia’s rubber-stamp Parliament. Business owners tried to assess the consequences of an economic crisis that appeared already to be beginning, even before sanctions were fully in place.
Russians have been stunned at how quickly the economic impact of the war was being felt. The ruble hit its lowest level ever against the dollar, which traded at about 84 rubles on Saturday compared to 74 a few weeks ago. That sent prices for imports surging, while sanctions on Russia’s largest banks wreaked havoc in the financial markets and new export restrictions promised to scramble supply chains.
“Those who shout that Putin is great and bravo to him are no longer shouting as loud,” said Lalya Sadykova, the owner of a chain of beauty salons in St. Petersburg. “They’re in shock from what is happening, from how quickly prices are changing and how suppliers are stopping deliveries.”
The chief executive of one of Russia’s biggest electronics retailers, DNS, said on Thursday that a supply crunch had forced his chain to raise prices some 30 percent. Days earlier, the chief executive, Dmitri Alekseyev, had posted on Facebook: “For the life of me I can’t understand why Russia needs a war.”
S7, Russia’s second-largest airline, suspended all of its flights to Europe because of airspace closures to Russian companies, an early sign that the cheap and easy travel to the West that middle-class Russians had grown used to could become a thing of the past. Photos of retailers changing or removing their price tags went viral on social media.
“We’re all waiting for what happens next,” said Anastasia Baranova, describing a wave of cancellations on Friday at the hotel she runs in St. Petersburg. “It’s as though the whole country is on pause.”
Even as a vicious battle for Kyiv unfolded on Saturday morning, a Russian Defense Ministry statement about the situation in Ukraine made no mention of the Ukrainian capital or any Russian casualties. The ministry, which typically releases sleek and copious footage daily of the Russian military in action, published no videos of its combat operations in Ukraine.
A hint of the potential opposition came on Saturday when Mikhail Matveyev, a Communist lawmaker who had voted to endorse Mr. Putin’s recognition of the Russian-backed separatist territories, wrote on Twitter that he had been tricked.
“I was voting for peace, and not for war,” he wrote, “and not for Kyiv to be bombed.”
It was a rare crack in the firmament of the Parliament, where dissent over Mr. Putin’s key foreign policy decisions has been virtually nonexistent in recent years. Tatyana Yumasheva, the daughter of former President Boris N. Yeltsin who helped bring Mr. Putin to power, posted an antiwar message on Facebook.
The main determining factor for what comes next, of course, will be what happens on the battlefield in Ukraine — the longer the war lasts and the greater the loss of life and destruction, the more difficult it will be for the Kremlin to cast the war as a limited operation not directed against the Ukrainian people.
Andrei Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, a research organization close to the Russian government, said he believed that the Kremlin expected the fighting to last no more than two weeks.
But if the war does not go according to plan, Mr. Kortunov cautioned, the country could see “serious political consequences and consequences for the popularity of the leadership.”
And beyond the economic impact of the war, many Russians could not yet imagine coming to terms with living in a country that had launched an unprovoked assault on its neighbor. A steady stream of people came to the Ukrainian embassy in Moscow on Friday, bringing flowers. A police officer prevented a woman from also leaving a small sign that said: “Yes to peace.”
Thank you for real news. The time is now, support Ukraine or we are next.
We are in the middle of the same takeover on our soil, only by homegrown terrorists. They infiltrated our governments and school boards across the land oppressing our most important rights in a democracy. And they have flagrantly supported putin, even the invasion these past three days. It is our turn to clean up our own country from corporate-owned fascists.
Way past time. Will history write that we waited too late to rise up?
I agree. Here are 2 links-one for a Ukrainian newspaper in English (to read or subscribe to: https://kyivindependent.com/. And an NPR article how to help Ukraine (It lists various organizations): https://www.npr.org/2022/02/25/1082992947/ukraine-support-help
Your description of the New York Times is spot on. Fish wrap indeed. Add the Washington Post to this description. I just got an “alert” from WAPO saying “a pessimistic nation worries about Biden’s leadership and the economy ahead of Tuesday’s state of the union”. Give me a break. It is Biden’s leadership that has coalesced the world and NATO against Russia.
I recently cancelled my WAPO subscription because of that type of headline.
I'm getting close to doing that.
Unf**kingbelievable
I got it too and I chose not to read it. I will tweet to WaPo about it. Disgusting.
We in the west have an exaggerated view of Russian power. The Russian economy is actually quite small - smaller than Italy’s, France’s or Canada’s. Putin can’t build and sustain the kind of military force necessary to invade and control countries like Ukraine (and perhaps Estonia, or other former SSRs). Especially when faced with the opposition of the US and western Europe. Putin has vastly over-reached.
True, but ... Russia has a weak economic base to support such a large military. However, Putin now controls several thousand nuclear weapons. Backed into a corner, faced with possible failure and loss of power, humiliated -- who knows what he might order? Let's defeat this invasion, but we need a way to let Putin save a little face.
Please Please can't we impeach that dumb bastard one more time and put him and Guiliani behind bars for the traitors they are.
Or just deport them to Russia
Do you really think Russian people on the ground would appreciate or welcome that?
How about a permanent vacation on Mars, instead?
Always consider the greater journey. ✨
Or, those he commanded to follow through on that command?
I'm not sure what comment you are responding to, Angie ... Substack returns me to the top of the page - no time to wade back through it all!!
I'd pick door number 2.
Thank you. My head fills with that Hokie music when tfg is mentioned and now I know where from.
Thinking Biden was weak might have been Putin’s biggest mistake. He certainly underestimated Ukrainian popular resistance and President Zelensky’s courage.
“I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition!”
The NRA et al should be all over that statement in vociferous support of Zelensky and the Ukrainian people’s struggle.
I haven’t heard a word.
NRA corruption at the leadership level has silenced their propaganda machine
great news, Dave!
And you won't.
💯
I can’t help but wonder how much the refusal of TFG to acknowledge his loss and the GOP claims that Biden is weak led to Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
Yep
Yea where is the vaunted NRA with their “every one should have unlimited assault rifles and ammunition”mantra, you would think this is an opportunity of a lifetime for them. They should be organizing assault weapons and ammunition donations from among their heavily armed members most of whom have way more than they will ever need to defend themselves.
Raging Rudy and despicable Donnie the idjt— you have a heck of a nerve to open your mouths after what you did to Ukraine to try to win re-election. That was your first impeachment. 🇺🇸
Of the many books written about what crooks you are, is AMERICAN OLIGARCHS: THE KUSHNERS AND TRUMPS AND THE MARRIAGE OF MONEY AND POWER by Andrea Bernstein.
The idjt called his buddy a genius. Republican legislators who agreed with him should quit now. Pack up and leave Washington. Your lies have become a joke and you are all traitors.
https://wapo.st/3M9hE0o idjt on Putin as a Genius for Invading Ukraine. Free to read.
Again, “trump worship: Go f*ck yourselves.”
In Ukrainian: putin and the trumplican cult, Huilo yourselves!
Thank you for that translation of "hulio". In a couple of the videos folks shared I heard a lot of "Julio" and "Putin" together. I now know what they were saying! I am very glad it wasn't the "Julio" that I thought it was (one of the Deputies I worked with is a "Julio" and is a very fine young deputy.)
Morning, Peter!
Time for us to make them leave in shame!
I always feel grateful for the elegance and sparce power of your words. 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Morale of Russian soldiers can’t be very high at this point. Not likely to the point of mutiny, but perhaps enough to make ordinary troops less enthusiastic about killing ethnic and linguistic cousins.
Wait till they have a formation of helicopters shot out from under them by the Stingers the Germans are giving Ukraine this week.
Is that what we gave the Afghans against Russia in the 80’s? May we add them to an army of drones
I wonder, why Ukraine didn't already have these weapons? Stupid question, or stupid mistake?
They had stingers, don't worry
A blessing to hear your voice, Allen. We’re with you. ❤️ Stay safe.
Good morning Allen! Is Lucky eating? ❤️
Oh, is he ever. He even lets me feed him breakfast now.
Good Boy!
Thank you for posting. I’ve been looking for you and worrying.
Allen, so glad you've let us know you're hanging in there. Stay safe...
Thanks for your check-in. Glad Lucky is doing OK. Apollo and Artemis send purrs.
Bonya, Vovo and Tigritsa send purrs back
Oh, Tigritsa!! My second Ukrainian word! I wanted to called my Mr. Higgins, "Tigre," when I got him because he is a lovely gingery color with white feet and chin. He is very much a lion (Maine Coon) with a beautiful ruff. Now I know Tigritsa and Huilo Putin. I would also like to expand my Ukrainian and learn how to say "Hello, Ukrainian Friends", "Thank you," and "Courageous Ukrainians for Democracy." Can you help, Allen? ❤️
Good to hear from you!
They have been using Stingers alright the Germans are sending in a resupply. Helicopters are nearly useless for air support at 10,000 ft, the Russians learned that in Afghanistan
Glad you could post here Allen. Kiri and I send woofs and prayers. If there is more we can do, let us know.🌻🌻🌻🇺🇦
And Mr. Higgins sends loving meows. We are so proud of the Ukrainian people and all the democracies that support this new way of handling bullies--together!
Money. Remember the Perfect Conversation? You want money from us, sure - there's just one little thing I want you to do first.....
As Allen writes, they already had some but they are "single-use weapons". I understand that Germany will be supplying more.
Yes, brother murder! Wonder what Putin read about that in his bible, and how it is different from killing muslim terrorists.
As elevated by HCR, Fiona Hill's perspective on the history of Russia and NATO starts about 10 minutes into this panel on Feb. 22, the eve of Putin's invasion into Ukraine:
https://twitter.com/PomBella/status/1497676146841821187?s=20&t=VTcRPbjQFfZ95blafJn80w
Excellent! About halfway in, after Fiona Hill has answered a question, brilliantly and at length, the moderator turns to HCR with a question. She demurs and says of Hill: "She's really interesting. You can read me every night."
Thank you, Ellie. Fiona Hill with Heather Cox Richardson! Brilliant! YES!
Thanks so much, Ellie Kona, for sharing this brilliant panel. (Another hour would have been great.) We all know HCR’s voice well, but another great discussion with Fiona Hill is John Heilemann’s podcast Hell and High Water with FH.
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-hell-and-high-water-with-70854991/episode/fiona-hill-88442732/
Thanks for this, Cary.
THANKS for this! I find Fiona Hill absolutely riveting...so does Heather! You could see her just sitting back and absorbing all of Hill's wisdom, experience, and insight. It is so very valuable (her testimony in the impeachment trial blew me away) and here she really gives some understanding as to how Putin/Russia have come to some of their present actions and mentalities. Understanding that to which you are opposed, even if you find it repulsive, is part and parcel of being an informed citizen. I could listen to Heather & Hill for hours!
Bruce, if you haven't, read Fiona's book "There is Nothing for You Here" It will give further insight into how brilliant she is. Not to take away from Heather who is brilliant in her own field.
Oh I know, it does make me want to read it! She's a national/international treasure.
Two absolutely brilliant women, deferring to one another as discussion topics highlighted their diverse expertise.
Refreshing, eh?
Ellie! You always link us up to the greatest, rest of the stories! Ty!
Ellie, thank you for posting this link -- in a really short time on stage these two shining stars illuminated huge trends in European and American history. Well worth the watch (I hope they'll find a way to do more of these talks).
Thank you! This is awesome.
Thank you very much for the link, Ellie. The discussion was riveting, and I've grown to admire Fiona Hill even more.
Sorry the other two comments were deleted, but they duplicated each other, and deleting one deleted both.
Darn bugs in Substack!
Yup. Almost as annoying as Facebook glitches.
Thanks, Ellie.
ICYMI, here's the SNL cold open last night, grab some Kleenex.
https://youtu.be/IjE4_h0t7qI
I am crying and cannot see to type
Allen, I probably missed any update from you today. Please be safe, you and family. 🇺🇦❤️
Every detail about this is brilliant…the lighting, the candles, the heart and soul of the singers. Absorb it all and let your tears flow, then get back to the business of whatever you can do to support Ukraine.
..and The SUNFLOWERS!
🌻🌻🌻
Gratitude. Thank you for sharing this moving and beautiful expression of solidarity. Tears.
Tears...
😭
Wow. Just, wow.
We are all Ukrainians now.
We had better be, or we are next, if chump has a say
To everyone concerned about the former president's unwavering support for Putin and Russia, I repeat my post from yesterday:
""Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or of adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." Article III, Section 3, United States Constitution.
"...or..." such a powerful word.
“I have not yet begun to fight.” -John Paul Jones 1779
“Nuts!” -Gen McAuliffe, 101st Airborne 1944
“Russian Warship, go f_ _k yourself!” -Doomed Ukrainian soldier 2022
“I need ammunition, not a ride.” -President Zelensky 2022
"Put sunflower seeds in your pockets so when you die on Ukrainian soil, flowers will bloom where your corpse is." — Wise Ukrainian Elder (woman!)
As a seed saver and grower, that woman’s plan was quite poignant to me.
Videos (first person and afar) and transcript of Sunflower Seed Woman confronting a Russian soldier:
https://twitter.com/LilRedAnnie/status/1497983577459286021?s=20&t=N4ymv8x6DKC4qx-hdJgv-w
https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1497141607598067714?s=20&t=N4ymv8x6DKC4qx-hdJgv-w
https://twitter.com/peterwsinger/status/1497209231858192389?s=20&t=N4ymv8x6DKC4qx-hdJgv-w
I do hope that someone with poetic and/or songwriting skills makes this sing in our hearts for a long time.