460 Comments

Trump's mendacity and treachery has occurred on such a grand scale and is so unprecedented that we lack the words to describe it or the means to respond to it. And Putin's brazen attack at last forces us to become aware how deliberate he has been in trying to sabotage democracy and how effective he has been. Heather- your gift is to be able to show clearly what has been happening- and let the reader draw their own conclusions. Showing rather than telling- so much more effective.

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That's the sign of a true teacher; guide not show. Allow students to take information and make their own conclusions. Hurrah for Dr. Richardson, in all ways the pinnacle of excellence in teaching us all.

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I agree, Heather is a national treasure.

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David, you are absolutely right.

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We have the means to respond: indictment, arrest and prosecution.

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What is the possibility that Russian troops won't be getting paid, or their payment will be a fraction of the value expected, when will they be aware of that, and will that motivate them to desert? Do you think Russian troops in Ukraine are able to access Twitter and online Ukrainian news? Your thoughts anyone?

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That will only apply to soldiers who enlisted mainly for a paycheck. What is being reported, though, is that a lot of the first wave of Russian soldiers were conscripts with little training. Significant numbers of them surrendered quickly. Now we are seeing at least some well-trained soldiers, such as paratroopers. Still, many Russian people seem opposed to attacking their Ukrainian neighbors and relatives, and that likely includes plenty of soldiers. It would reduce their incentive to fight. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/opinion/russia-ukraine-war.html

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Canon fodder is rarely to be paid.

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True. Consider the U.S. government drafting and recruiting soldiers for the Vietnam War. In October 1966, we were paid $88 GROSS per month. (Then, taxes were taken out.) Our pay worked out to be about 11 cents per hour. That was less than 1/10 of the then U.S. minimum wage of $1.25/hour. And, for that 11 cents an hour, you could be shot and killed or have to shoot and kill someone else. (Actually, by the time a soldier was in combat, his pay might rise to 20 cents/hour, about 1/6 of the minimum wage.) Yes, cannon fodder.

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airlines. Long-term memory is in overdrive as well.

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In the 2014 invasion of Ukraine, Russian Army used a lot of units from Dagestan, this way, causalities wouldn't result in anti war protests in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other major population centers.

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Morale is already low in the Russian military. The Russian infantry won’t want to perform urban combat, they won’t want to shoot and kill civilians. Therefore, expect air strikes and artillery to flatten cities like in Homes Syria, Grozny, Chechnya, Georgia, etc.

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Unfortunately, flattening cities is exactly what the Russian army does.

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Yup.

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Thanks for your reply. Your information highlights the crucial need for defensive equipment from the US and Allies to arrive in Kyiv and other cities asap!

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The entire Red Army didn't get paid a single ruble in World War II.

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Great response Richard, I can't think of a better synopsis of Putin's pummeling democracy nor your wonderful description of HCR's letters. Thanks to both Heather and her wonderful letter readers, they keep so many of us sane in a world I no longer recognize.

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Right on. Will it have an affect on Trump supporters? Can Republicans look in the mirror?

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It’s a no brainer. What’s not? What’s not? Why over 70 million of us find him attractive, why Putin has commanded their respect - and so many are fascist. Why? Color bias! Prejudice! Racism… latent white passive or outright violent: racism in America.

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I agree. Trump feeds paranoia, insecurity, need for control.

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Yes. Control of how bad it gets is a form of control for the insecure psychotic white male Russian or fascist Trump Type.

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These males are insecure and clinically insane.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Sophia.

I would say: In America, it is not that our legislators are particularly right leaning or evil. Rather, the far right is where the money comes from. Our legislators, not including a few obvious exceptions like AOC, are mostly just paid representatives of whomever pays them the most.

If the most money is from an Oligarch in Russia who wants them to vote against, say, bringing manufacturing back to America so that we can actually fight a war in the future? Or a coal company that wants to build mines without any internal supports to protect against collapse?

Well, our legislators will do the bidding of the person/entity paying and vote for what that payor wants.

So, I would say that what we are seeing is not chilling because of evil on the part of our legislators. We are just seeing the evolution of representative Democracy in the context of the expense necessary to get in office and stay in office, and, also, of being human.

Let's say you were a legislator Sophia. And a nice gentleman took you and your husband to an expensive dinner, provided good wine, and offered his huge Lake House on the Black Sea for vacation??

What would you do?? Harmless right? That's the beginning Sophia. Harmless.

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Mike: They lack moral compasses and a hefty number of them are greedy, and most certainly, evil.

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And it is easy to groom people with money.

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Possibly in some cases. True evil is awful.

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Huh? THESE LEGISLATORS CHOSE TO TAKE THE MONEY. They KNEW exactly who and what was BUYING THEIR VOTES. They are as culpable as the neo-Nazi , fascist, billionaire instigators that fund them. The Charles KKKoch Gang drew up Citizens United and got it passed with Moscow Mitch’s blessings. The GOP is a crime syndicate and they all need to be expunged and prosecuted.

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yes. agree.

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And another thing: Manafort, Roger Stone — and the rest of “Friedman’s kids”—were an arm of the RNC. Hired guns…And the NRA had a long history of LAUNDERING MONEY donated by Russians.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

"Manafort, Roger Stone — and the rest of 'Friedman’s kids'—were an arm of the RNC. Hired guns…"

Absolutely. Drawing on a past example, consider when 49 years ago repub. Pres. Nixon and SoS Kissinger conspired to overthrow democratically-elected President Salvador Allende in Chile. First, they corrupted the traditionally-apolitical Chilean military forces and then continued to support their terrorizing of the Chilean people. After General Pinochet, et al, had control of the country, Nixon and Kissinger brought in Milton Friedman and "the Chicago Boys" (aka your reference--"Friedman's kids") to design a new capitalist economy--one that was especially friendly to the Nixon regime. Fascists Maximus.

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Are you implying that there are K Strreet Bagmen For Oligarch? Or, the cutouts between corruptible legislators and corporations with established 527 foundations?

(A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of U.S. tax-exempt organization organized under Section 527 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 527). A 527 group is created primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office.)

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Fred, why yes I am!

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A Family member had a favorite saying, ”America has some of the best politicians money can buy!” Sadly…it’s never been more true!

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That's why we need to get big money out of elections, Bob!

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Your argument is valid - and only proves the need for passage of laws prohibiting the dark money within political campaign funding, more transparency in the lobbying industry, and a return to the Fairness Doctrine. We also need to do a better job of requiring political candidates (and their political affiliations) to be held accountable to both their words and actions.

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Tell me this analysis is tongue and cheek and you are smarter than your proposition.

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Tell me you aren't a fucking moron.

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To TC. Thank you. Tell me you do not write vicariously through the experience of others. I admire your intellectual brilliance. I am a 250 lb silverback so I pick my own fruit.

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I hate it when self-important politically-illiterate idiots like you claim you're on our side. It's so embarrassing.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Pat, I have a lot of experience, as I have confronted new technology, people, events of being, well, kind of slow no doubt. I am the first to admit it.

But, what I wrote is not tongue in cheek. Hence, I admit to not being "smart". A long time failing of which I am, in fact, aware.

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It’s as you said three paragraphs are inadequate. I was born in the shadow of a tractor. My mom was born in a barn. Of course I accept you for the good man that you are. Sometimes I take umbrage at splinters of thoughts rather than the whole package. My own education was ended prematurely so I apparently received my degree in Moronistry. Keep on, please.

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Pat, here's to us morons!! The good news is that we are the majority of the human population!!

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100%.

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:-))

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Many of us knew about the similarities on one level but didn't fully grasp the extent and the true dire risks until Putin unleashed his evil on Ukraine. For a few days we saw some Republicans show their true colors until they realized the depth of worldwide condemnation of Putin.

As long as Trump holds sway over the GOP and if they regain power, we now clearly see what they want America to become.

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To me, TFG is just a symptom of a much larger infection of unreality. The real problem is that with SM, a foreign hostile nation can meddle with our politics by manipulating the minds of our fellow citizens. This manipulation manifests itself in who and how those infected vote and respond to identity politics and grow the division and discord unknowingly and knowingly.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

"He is going to prison. Period."

IF Trump goes to prison I will invite you and your husband to my villa on the Black Sea!!!

:-))

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Can I come, too? What about transportation there and back?

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Unless we can revoke the requirements for Secret Service protection for former presidents, TFG will not go to prison. The best we can hope for is strict house arrest in a remote, non-luxurious location. I do have some fond daydreams about him cozying up to Bubba for protection in prison (without any monetary resources), but would happily settle for ignominious isolation.

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GOP is the “Manchurian party”.

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Today, my daughter showed me a video of Russian police literally arresting a woman who looked like she was well into 90’s. She was about 4’10” and was carrying signs in protest. It was hard to watch but I must say the officers were very gentle with her. Nonetheless, it’s ludicrous and I really pray the people in Russia continue to fight back in spite of martial law being introduced to them.

The Jan 6th committee never stops working and boy, am I happy about that! Now we have to see if Garland and his DOJ staff shine the flashlights on TFG and his cronies for good.

.

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Reminds me of the police in Buffalo in 2020: “Martin Gugino, the 75-year-old protester who was pushed by two Buffalo, New York, police officers earlier this month, has a fractured skull and is not able to walk”(https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/06/16/us/martin-gugino-protester-skull/index.html). American rightwingers in official capacities perpetrating violence against a peaceful protester.

I’m also reminded of murders committed by the National Guard at Kent State, the cheers from most Americans that arose in support of those murders, and the impunity enjoyed by the murderers.

Putin is carrying out vicious and unforgivable crimes. He is being rightly condemned for it, and if the EU and America stick with their sanctions against Putin and his favored kleptocrats for several months, he may pay a significant price.

American conservatives, on the other hand, have benefited from their crimes for most of the past 50 years and are now in the process of passing laws to more efficiently suppress Democratic votes and to gain the ability to decide the winners of elections regardless of the vote count, just in case too many Democratic voters manage to get to a voting booth. Republicans have gotten some help from Russian cyber warfare, but they committed many crimes over the past 50 years all by themselves.

Yes, let’s hit Putin hard, but let’s not forget that we have at least 74 million dangerous enemies right here in America, most of whom have guns that are designed primarily for the purpose of killing people. Unfortunately, the Constitution, by design, gives endemic advantages to the 74 million perps who voted for Trump, forcing the 80 million decent human beings who voted for Biden in the hole from the outset.

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I'd like to see the sanctions against Russian oligarchs expanded to block *all* money laundering and secret campaign contributions.

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The Guardian had the story. She's Yelena Osipova, 77, one of the last survivors of the siege of Leningrad, famous artist and activist. She was carrying a neatly-written sign urging soldiers to lay down their arms. She was violently arrested by eight riot police and taken away.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Thank you for saying her name. Yelina Osipova. Yesterday I posted Ukrainian poetry and this is one of the lines: “Let’s start by whispering the names,
 let’s weave together the vocabulary of death…” we must remember. For every protester against war.

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❤️

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Sickening!! The video did not show her being violently arrested. I hate all of this!

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Someone may be sensationalizing her arrest.

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And it is already sensational that she was arrested for holding a poster.

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Can’t ❤️ this but YES!

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Someone intentionally messing with our "Hearts" on this substack?? Tiring...

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❤️

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Agreed. It happens on both sides.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

This is all outrageous. Russians arresting older non-military people and children, citizens of their own country. Dissent. There are so many others we aren’t seeing. Those with signs as their only weapons. Putin is threatened by dissent, he rounds up ordinary unarmed citizens and children. He must not care about PR, as he’s getting the worst possible worldwide, including his own country. Is he like TFG, hearing and believing only the compliments? Both without conscience.

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I’m hoping the cop who spoke to her said, “Sorry, lady, but I gotta do my job.” Maybe even adding, “I’ve got kids.”

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Yep, Jon, that's what the Nazi guards told the folks walking into the Chamber too!

"I've got kids"!

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I didn't mean to suggest that that would absolve him of blame, and I apologize if I gave that impression. (Although I very much doubt that any of the guards in the death camps said anything like that.)

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Who knows what all those guys managed to tell themselves to run the camps. It would have been interesting to have had some NPR interviews with them for sure.

"Yesterday when you gassed 1443 people while keeping careful records and stealing their gold teeth, how did you feel"?

I might skip that segmet actually.

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She is younger than I am!

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Sardinian newspaper account of Yelena Osipova's arrect. Police do not appear to be manhandling her or taking her two signs away from her, at least not in the video. https://www.unionesarda.it/en/world/it-resisted-the-nazi-siege-of-leningrad-which-was-arrested-for-protesting-against-putin39-s-war-kzvdf20m

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I have a friend here whose surname is Ossip. I'll bet it once was Osipova....

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Yes, I did not see anything but kindness when taking Yelena into custody, by the Russian officers.

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Also arrested in Russia were two young girls who were placing flowers at a site set up in support of Ukrain. If I recall correctly, the girls were 7 and 11.

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There were 5 children and their mothers, putting flowers outside the Ukrainian Embassy. The children were put behind bars for several hours (apparently you can only keep children in jail for 3 hours in Russia !!!) before they were released but their mothers are told they may lose custody of all those children. In all of this, I look at the faces of children and cry.

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These acts of nonviolent action covered by media are what turn public opinion against the oppressors and the unjust systems in place. Gandhi, the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement in the USA, including the children arrested and jailed in Alabama...

No to tyrants!

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OMG!!🤬🤬🤬

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I’m with you completely, Marlene!🤬🤯🤬

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So sad!

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It's martial, not Marshall. As in martial=Mars=war-like, and not Marshall=Marshall Plan.

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Thank you for the correction! I certainly meant to type that instead of what I did.

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She wasn't only smiling, she was speaking loudly and clearly to that huge crowd. The police got her under the armpits to take her away, but I got the impression that they know and love her too. I can't help thinking our only hope is that someone in his entourage sees the danger and takes him out. It make take a martyr's courage, but that stage is fast approaching.

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I saw a tweet yesterday where some billionaire oligarch offered a million dollar contract for a hit on Putin. IDK the veracity of it, but it is reasonable considering the sanctions are playing havoc with these oligarchs' lifestyle and that is the way of Organized Crime.

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The question I have, should this be real and should someone succeed in taking Putin out, can this Russian oligarch access funds to pay off the assassin? Would an assassin wait indefinitely for Russian funds to be released?

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I would think such oligarchs have access to millions from non-electronic sources.

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deletedMar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022
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I can't get the heart click to work, but I agree. I didn't want tfg to be murdered but lord help me, I have prayed he'd choke on a "hamberder" many times!!

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Assassination would make death star into a martyr. So my wish has been for him to have a medical incident. As for Putin, assassination is fine with me....maybe a nice cup of tea.

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One nice HOT--very HOT--cup of polonium tea, coming right up! Or perhaps a lovely dusting of Novachok in his underwear? (that's how he attacked Navalny...wouldn't that be poetic justice?)

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I am having trouble with my heart click too!

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I am relieved to hear someone else say this for I have had this same thought for some time!

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Sometimes evil has to be eliminated. One of the observations I have made in terms of people's reaction to death star and his minions, is that they dislike feeling hatred and the wish for someone's death. It's not who decent people are. And it has added to the resentment of that festering monstrous cancer that still infects our country. Personally, I don't feel good about wishing for anyone to die, but I confess that in both cases, I hope it happens.

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I try to comfort myself by not actually praying for a bad end to a bad actor, but only wishing for a "natural death" for tfg.

As for Putin? Naw...I'm hoping he gets what exactly what he so desperately deserves: nice little case of lead poisoning administered by a coterie of top military and a few of his closest "cronies" and following that, the Mussolini treatment.

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Oh the US is already on it, believe me.

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I'm torn in the same way myself. I'm kind of at the point of yelling, "C'mon karma god/goddess of the universe! We haven't got all day! Could you PLEASE do your duty and move these two horrid reprobates on to their next reincarnation ASAP??? We're losing patience and compromising our faith because we're dying down here!!!"

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I’m with you!!! I wish him dead!

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If Putin takes down Ukraine he will gut them under the protection of his nuclear umbrella. Let me say that again, and again, and again until it is realized that must never be allowed. I am not a hawk. I hate war more than you can ever imagine. Sometimes you must grab your musket stand and deliver and put a buffer between the usurper and his victims. This is not theory. I may be damaged goods but we couldn’t stop it in the past and now we can’t let it happen in Ukraine now. This is the future.

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If Ukraine were your mother would you stand and shield her?

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Sophia, Nerve Gas is a reality that no one should have to contemplate, yet here we are.

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I was thinking someone s/could slip poison into his coffee - you know, a taste of his own medicine . . .

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I posted a piece yesterday by blogger Brian Lambert where he said at this point Putin's food-taster may need a food-taster too! Russians throughout history have had a way of deposing their leaders...would that they could muster courage to do that now!

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Maybe a more undetectable, permanent solution would be in order. . . something, anything!!

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He probably drinks tea. Slip it into his samovar.

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Yes, yes, yes! The end is too frightening to think about.

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Some brilliant women's minds are at work here connecting the dots of a global operation to expand wealth and power to the detriment of democracy, particularly since 2014. Following the money will bring all this more and more into focus, identifying how to curb the exploitations as much as we can. Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, ironically taken more seriously in Russian than the U.S., here is a beginning list of these great minds:

Heather Cox Richardson, as with tonight's "Letters from an American" (3/02/2022)

Heather Cox Richardson and Joanne Freeman, "Now & Then Backstage" of 3/01/2022 (only available to paid subscribers; fascinating chat that's even pithier than the podcast in regard to connecting the dots, ostensibly as HCR described in her "paradigm shift" LFAA)

Rebecca Solnit: "It’s time to confront the Trump-Putin network" (cited in HCR's notes)

https://twitter.com/anelsona/status/1499182472080371713?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA

Anne Nelson: Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right

https://twitter.com/anelsona/status/1152595429839822848?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA

Carole Cadwalladr: "The great British Brexit robbery: how our democracy was hijacked" (and cited in HCR's notes)

https://twitter.com/gaisfordsurf/status/1497270746514665479?s=20&t=2vvdK_mleD_qk1an97dbjA

Fiona Hill: https://youtu.be/hZhSEtgtfs4

Jane Mayer: Dark Money

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1024741930/jane-mayer-dark-money-challenge-to-the-election-results

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My gratitude has no bounds to women forming the Peace Room. It starts with history, truth, and the gathering tide of another way to move forward. And as you say, this is a beginning list.

Salud, Ellie! ☮️

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... This too:

World Conferences on Women

https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/intergovernmental-support/world-conferences-on-women#beijing

The United Nations has organized four world conferences on women. These took place in Mexico City in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995. The last was followed by a series of five-year reviews.

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a significant turning point for the global agenda for gender equality. The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries, is an agenda for women’s empowerment and considered the key global policy document on gender equality. It sets strategic objectives and actions for the advancement of women and the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern:

* Women and poverty

* Education and training of women

* Women and health

* Violence against women

* Women and armed conflict

* Women and the economy

* Women in power and decision-making

* Institutional mechanism for the advancement of women

* Human rights of women

* Women and the media

* Women and the environment

* The girl-child

The Beijing conference built on political agreements reached at the three previous global conferences on women, and consolidated five decades of legal advances aimed at securing the equality of women with men in law and in practice. More than 17,000 participants attended, including 6,000 government delegates at the negotiations, along with more than 4,000 accredited NGO representatives, a host of international civil servants and around 4,000 media representatives. A parallel NGO Forum held in Huairou near Beijing also drew some 30,000 participants.

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Thank you for the reminder of Women’s roles in government, change and history. We can add Jeannette Rankin to the long list: “It was on April 2, 1917 that Jeannette Rankin became the first woman in Congress. But within days, she became the target of national scorn for voting against America’s entry into World War I.” Women didn’t yet have the right to vote. https://constitutioncenter.org/amp/blog/on-this-day-jeanette-rankins-history-making-moment

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Ellie, excellent links, but, entirely too much reading!! Although long time readers with a library card may read these links, we need something with more foul language and, at most, one sentence. Maybe even less than a sentence.

Like: "let's go Brandon".

These kinds of catchphrases are what Americans are consuming. Not lengthy articles written by brilliant Ph.D.'s who spent their formative years in the library learning to concentrate and read.

so, let's think up some three sentence catchphrases with foul language and get them out there on twitter!

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The Ukrainians came up with one: “F*** you, Russian warship!” Unfortunately, this does not identify the breadth and depth of moneyed interests worldwide to infiltrate, buy off, and otherwise undermine democracy. We each need to know the role of corporations in regard to our investments, purchases, and employment.

Division of labor: Some do the deep dive, perilously, to research and expose. Others engage messaging and activism.

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Ellie,

It has been made taboo to criticize corporations for: Outsourcing, offshoring, price gauging (like they are doing now), paying CEO's 1000X what the warehouse worker makes, or any aspect of a corporation because:

That is Capitalism. Thaet's whut maeks Amurca GRATE.

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Too bad we forgot that Franklin did not want to allow corporations in the new world. He considered them a danger to democracy. My apologies for no link. Just remember such a statement from a textbook somewhere along the way.

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Hi Mike,

I don't even have time to read my emails - let alone keep up with sound bytes on social media threads - so, I hear you. Still, I question the value and efficacy of foul language to reach hearts or change minds - even if that is all that resonates with some people - rather than sink into the gutter, maybe it is better to raise the frequency and invite more enlightened perspectives.

Language crystallizes the imaginal - so what intent do we want to actualize?

I don't know if this is helpful - here are a few statements I post from time to time - please feel free to use if it seems useful or relevant:

Do you have a home you love, or is this planet just another pit stop on the race track of your life?

Some people love this globe like their own mother - have called it home for thousands of years. In fact, some recognize themselves, and this earth as part of a vast web of life that reaches far beyond the horizons of our world ... a sanctuary of life ... sacred grounds where dreams are born and we, as children of life, are held and nurtured.

When we desecrate these sacred grounds, we rip that web to shreds - pollute the waters, foul the air, strip once fertile soils bare and dump our garbage everywhere - raping the beloved mother of life, destroying the cherished home.

Is that how you treat your mother?

Is that what you want for your home?

*******

Humans were created to care for this garden planet - not to pollute and destroy it. However conflicted we have become among ourselves, we must come to terms with our differences in ways that serve planetary sanity ..., or die ....

For the moment, we still have a choice. That moment will pass. Will we pass with it, or will we choose to heal the wounds and stop the wounding of these treasured grounds?

*******

For insight and inspiration --

especially for those who claim

the Bible as a mandate

to lord over others

in the name of God,

if we haven't cemented our views,

we might do well to review

the last 5 books

of Job

and the last 3 books

of Revelation.

. . . may eyes and ears be opened . . .

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Too many people are informed by fear-based resistance/denial and non-fact based opinion ... false advertising, political spin ... ground truths are easily obscured with so many distractions.

So much superficial sound with so little substance. How often is the deep voice of truth ignored - or not even heard?

So much mis/dis/information. Who cares to see behind the scrim?

Some will fight it to the death (clearly, not just their own.)

I do not want to see another generation of these wars between opposing factions (of every stripe.) The challenges are huge - yet I can't see any way to address effectively other than individual awareness/responsibility.

I don't want to see people crowding the streets, getting heads bashed in, pepper sprayed, murdered, raped - for _any_ supposed reason.

I don't want to see mature individuals of conscience taken down, one way or another by those elements threatened by the mere thought of awakening to see beyond what we believe we know.

I do want to see a world aware ... transcending ignorance and fear ... healing from old wounds ... with love and respect for the whole body of life, the universe that supports that life ....

... peace on earth, good will toward all.

... do I ask too much ...?

See: The Great Law of Peace (New World Roots of American Democracy) by David Yarrow

http://dyarrow.org/indigenous/GreatLawofPeace.htm

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💙💛 Ellie ! My Russian ballet teacher just mentioned International Women’s Day was a big deal in Russia….🤔

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Ellie, you have done it again! Many thanks for all these resources put together! ❤️‍🩹

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Thank you for the links. And I could listen to Fiona Hill all day. Brilliant — and with an accent that pleases my ears even while taking in her disturbing analyses.

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I enjoyed her appearance on Stephen Colbert a few nights ago. She is so intelligent and truthful.

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THE KYIV MILITARY MYSTERY

Since OctobervAmerican military intelligence has highlighted the massive Russian build up of troops and armor along the Ukrainian border. As Russian invasion of Ukraine became imminent, Kyiv and the government of President Zelensky seemed the top priority targets. US and UK military experts agreed that there could be a ‘swift and decisive’ thrust.

President Zelensky, on February 24th spoke heroically of staying in Kyiv as he awaited Russian seizure of his capital city in 24-48 hours. A week later there are reports of ‘40 miles’ of tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks positioned a considerable distance from central Kyiv and that Russia had not achieved ‘air superiority.’

WHAT HAPPENED?

Battle reports from the Kyiv area indicate that the Russians had employed elite units together with units including numerous conscripts against determined Ukrainian resistance. The Russians. Have experienced heavy casualties and have not achieved their anticipated ‘swift and decisive’ objectives.

At first glance, this would seem a David and Goliath battle—the Russians, with a massive, modern military establishment against a hastily-assembled, modestly-trained-and-equipped Ukrainian opponent. Instead we hear of courageous Ukrainian fighting that has consistently turned back Russian attacks with major enemy casualties. Western military experts have pointed out surprising Russian tactical blunders during the early days of this multi-front offensive.

1) Did Putin, on his presumption that Ukrainians would submit supinely, instruct his generals that a swift capture of Kyiv was a sure thing and that he didn’t want massive destruction prior to occupying Ukraine’s capital city?

2) Did the Russian military, faced with launching offensives in multiple areas throughout the Ukraine, fail to have an overwhelming initial force outside Kyiv and elsewhere?

3) Did the Russian military, with months to deploy, un impeded, its forces and to organize its logistics, muck up these preparations?

4) Was the Russian military, upon commencing its military offensive against Kyiv, shocked by the stout defense of the Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and the attendant Russian casualties?

Military analysts with spent months, even years, seeking answers to these questions.

Meanwhile:

1) Kyiv, a week after the Russian invasion, is still held by President Zelensky and his Ukrainian compatriots;

2) The American, Western, and worldwide response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has made him a global pariah and is economically crippling Putin, his oligarchs, and the Russian people.

It appears that Putin belatedly is endeavoring to push his sluggish military machine into high, massive-destruction gear. The Russian military has the capacity to destroy and seize Kyiv and other major Ukrainian urban areas. A sustained occupation of a large country with a 40+ million population is an entirely different and even more vexing challenge.

Longer term, Ukraine will re-merge as a proud sovereign state and Putin will be a dead man crawling.

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You called it

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You were in my mind through the night. Love your input here.

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It's only a question of time before it's "Et Tu Brute". You don't piss off the big money boys for long. Jebus I guess old Vlad never watched The Godfather.

BTW safe well and safe Allen. My puppy, Ryder the Terror sends a woof, woof.

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Allen This takes me back to my 1964 Congo foreign hostage rescue days. I seemed more astute in military intelligence than the Pentagon and CINCSTRIKE because I could better assess the impact of Bakuso/Batatela tribal capabilities, the effectiveness of poison darts by pygmies near Coquilitville, the relative utility of 5 distinct CIA-funded mercenary groups, and other ‘stuff’ that didn’t fit into the Army’s traditional ‘order’ of battle.

When I returned to Rebel-infested Congolese provinces to obtain essential pre-Belgian/American military rescue operation intelligence, I was bemused that the CINCSTRIKE rep in Bukavu gave me his M-16 for me to take into the Kindu battlefield. I was grateful for my ROTC training, where I learned to field strip a .45. In target practice, we used a M-1.

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There are also the reports of Russian soldiers defecting. A pincer movement doesn't work when one arm of the pinch never shows up.

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Maps of Putin's campaign. Goal appears to be Odessa to close off global markets. Seems like UN should impose something like a nofly zone or Berlin style airlift to offload offensive weapons.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/world/europe/ukraine-maps.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20220303&instance_id=54752&nl=the-morning&regi_id=79278305&segment_id=84503&te=1&user_id=0cecef8c2dcc36c65ac2d66f95da2ebd

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Fred. Interesting idea. On Berlin Airlift there were designated flight routes established in the Four-Power-Agreement on Berlin. Though the Soviets harassed American and British planes that flew those routes, they never forced a plane down.

While ‘no fly’ zones have been discussed regarding the Ukraine, any enforcement would almost certainly result in encounters between Allied and Russian aircraft. WW 3? I have a massive humanitarian concern. If normal food supplies are cut off (and water disrupted), I foresee unimaginable hunger and starvation in some of Ukrainian major urban areas.

Would some sort of humanitarian airlift of food and medical supplies be a possibility under auspices of the UN or some other international entity? This is an immediate crisis, as the Russians cut off and occupy major urban areas.

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NGO’s?

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Those certainly where they can come in. Especially when coordinated with good airlifes.

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From my armchair ... Agree, the humanitarian crises are beginning and I can't imagine them coming on greater if sea outlets are closed, say this next week(?). Wondering whether Putin's prior use of nuclear materials to kill individual, (see TC on Fiona Hill), his movement of nuclear weapons into Belarus (?), and engaging vacuum bombs and attacking non-milatary targets (a war on people) might be legitimate pretext for the UN or Euopean nations (especially those in striking distance of future aggression) to demand and defend these lifelines. O4 to demand a ceasefire while UN completes war crimes investigation? Time yet for peacekeeping sources to show up in areas where civilians are being attacked? So many questions from my armchair.

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Re #3, several days ago someone, I no longer recall who but someone with long military experience, said that he had had occasion to observe Russian military war games several years ago and was surprised to see how poorly they performed.

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Now that the Bolshoi won’t be performing outside of Russia, perhaps they can teach the Russian military some basic steps, including buying and maintaining excellent tires, providing timely food and supplies to your troops, and having a program that passes the smell test, especially with conscripts. Reports suggest that currently the vaunted Russian military establishment could do a video sequel to The Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight”

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Russians are great on defense, not so good on offense. Their tactics are crude. They will try to turn Ukraine into Syria, Kyiv into Aleppo, using missiles and artillery. Without air superiority they can’t drop bombs. Missiles are expensive, artillery requires supply lines eventually. The longer it goes on the better for Ukraine. The Russian army is twice as large as Ukraine’s but offense requires twice as many troops as defense. The advantage Russia has is that Kyiv and Kharkiv are close to Russia.

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I wonder if Putin, great defender of Christianity that our evangelicals think he is, will spare the many very beautiful Orthodox churches. Kyiv is full of them. Lviv, too, also Armenian Orthodox. Been there in 2005.

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Carol I read that there is a rift between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and that of Russia. By a miracle St. Paul’s in London survived the Nazi blanket bombing of London. I doubt that churches in beautiful Kyiv will be spared.

As we targeted targets for the first atomic bombing in Japan, a junior officer was able to get historic Kyoto off the target list. It seems unlikely that there is a Russian doing the same with historic Kyiv [which was the starting place of Rus in the 10th century] sites.

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Anybody who didn’t watch Fox and wasn’t in a coma knew most of this stuff. It is so wonderful to know that I wasn’t crazy, that the alternative reality pushed by the republicans was total bull Schitt. It is way past time for reality to rear it’s head again.

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The trump-putin connection was so obvious from the start. The 2016 election was rigged. So many things have been rigged. And, the genocide of Americans with Covid and trumps intentional non-action and idiocy, now, should begin to prove to his cult that his intentions have been to destroy our country from the start...and the party of sedition has marched lock-step with him the entire time. This is truly, a battle of autocracy and democracy. Heads in our government and past government need to...roll, so to speak. Swiftly.

We need to steady ourselves for how the cult will react.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Well I agree with you, and don't at the same time. Trump said something right the other day - that Putin is smart. Putin quite a while back recognized Trump for what he is - a useful idiot. Emphasis on the term "idiot". I do not think Trump was (and is) trying to destroy our country. I just think he has a demented view of what this country ought to be, is very very corrupt and heartless, and is so narcissistic as to be insane with it. So he wants to be president to feed all that. Putin saw the flaws in his character long ago, and I am certain he viewed him as a perfect Trojan horse to inject cancer into our democratic system. That is why he has supported him so much. Trump is corrupt enough to accept, and facilitate, that support. It has worked beyond Putin's dreams I suspect. Just look how poisonous our political discourse is anymore. If the 2022 (and then 2024) elections go as I fear they may, Putin's dreams of a new America will have been realized, and BTW with the willing coordination of the Republican party. A party that has proved over a long period that it is fundamentally corrupt.

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I think I understand your thinking and your point of view. But I wonder if all tyrants whether Putin, Hitler, Mussolini or a Trump-like figure, do have that narcissistic, borderline personality etc. disorder? What do they gain?

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They want to be Kings, Emperors, Tzars. Dictators. And yes, Irenie, they usually have narcissistic disorders so they exhibit little to no empathy or compassion. Everything is an act, a transactional act and the most important thing is what is in it for them. I do think trump and the republics are bent on destroying democracy. We watched it happened for four to 6 years now. They are taking away our rights to vote, STILL across this land.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Good observation. However, a limited vote is not new to democracy. Our own country has had limits on who can vote ever since we were founded, and it is only in more modern times that all citizens can vote. I believe the Republicans think some of our electorate ought not have the right, due to their supposed inability to make good choices (e.g. minorities who supposedly vote for give-aways). I hear that! Except I go the other way - I wonder if some way out there wingnuts should be allowed to vote. After all - their world view is not based on reality. And that is way more dangerous. And it can be mined by the corrupt (indeed it is). In the end though, I realize I would be as bad as they are should I advocate for some litmus test for voting. So instead I want to see free and fair elections where everyone is encouraged to vote, unencumbered by the sophisticated disinformation networks we see so much today, which overwhelmingly benefit the right wing. And let the better ideas win out. Get that, and I am pretty confident the good guys win every time.

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Considering the Oath Keepers instructions to use lethal force against anyone trying to remove TFG from the White House, I have to wonder if any of his supporters will "see the light"?

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Once trump took Covid more seriously, he promoted the development and distribution of the vaccine. When and why did he and his followers turn against the vaccine? Even Biden has praised him for enabling its development. It’s the one positive thing that he could get credit for.

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I suspect that Trump is not the only “KGB” funded operative here. QAnon comes to mind. NRA comes to mind. I’m sure there are many.

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Around April 7, 2020 the news came out that Blacks were dying in larger numbers than whites. He stopped caring about Covid so much after that. Not his base?

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Rupert's propaganda blather. Doubt that they mentioned it, along with a mountain of horrid things. Fox must have a department of "truth" where they decide what their truth is..

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Yes, and how do you interpret McConnell's wooden face during Biden's whole speech -- hatred that Biden's got the upper hand (oh, so slightly)? McConnell never cracked a smile or moved an inch from what I saw. That in itself was a bit scary. What's he going to do?

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Good observation. Better question.

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My thoughts on his face were that he sees the train coming, but can’t get off the tracks.

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Robotic, less than human.

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Exactly. It is not new. But, finally, it will be possible to be heard by new ears.

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If they will listen. None so deaf as those who will not hear.

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There was a Goldie Hawn movie about that. None so blind as those who cannot see. None so deaf as those who ..... :-)

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Tyranol - https://youtu.be/XS9d6h8ZwPU

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Thanks for the smile.

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"The uploader has not made this video available in your country".

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Sorry, it is nothing urgent. Maybe this will help…it is a YouTube video from the Daily Show: Tyranol: The Drug For Conservatives Who Want to Forget They Praised Putin | The Daily Show

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Thanks, I get it. Had a laugh. I had another try, same resujlt. The comments section is cut off.

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Love it!

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❤️

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You need to go directly to YouTube and search Tyranol.

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Got it....very funny.

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Along with hacking the DNC and leaking the emails, Russia hacked the RNC and held them. Looks like compromat to me. So they’re all complicit.

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This should have been front page news since 2016. In front of all our eyes.

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Some don’t believe their lying eyes, or flip to Fox and have the version they want.

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To punish the liars as well, if they’ve committed crimes doing it.

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Bait and switch. Distraction. What are you NOT seeing?

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At least I try, from Wayne Dyer “The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about and refuse to investigate.”

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Perfectly sums up the GQP I know.

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Mein Kampf (Murphy translation) has a section on the big lie that is psychological gold for any wannabe authoritarian.

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'...the Trump-Putin network.” Is that a cliffhanger or not? Did Putin ever have a more pliant puppet? Trump was the shrimp in that arrangement. Have we thought about this before? Oh, no, not sinking the two of them together -- but they were made for each other. This would be much bigger than the sinking of the Titanic. Stay tuned.

PUTIN$$$$$EXODUS/FLEEtoSAFETY and the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IS OPENED FOR BUSINESS

Putin not only unleashed a war on Ukraine he unleashed an economic war on Russia.

Associated Press

‘Putin on Tuesday signed a decree that prohibits taking more than $10,000 worth of foreign currency in cash and “monetary instruments” out of Russia.’

‘The move comes in response to the sanctions the U.S. and allies have imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which this week tanked the ruble and sent Russians flocking to banks and ATMs’

‘Other measures Putin ordered this week included obligating Russian exporters to sell 80% of their revenues in foreign currency, prohibiting Russian residents from providing nonresidents with foreign currency under loan agreements and from depositing foreign currency into foreign bank accounts.’ (MarketWatch) See link below.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/putin-signs-decree-to-prohibit-leaving-russia-with-more-than-10-000-in-foreign-currency-01646176225

‘No country has ever faced this kind of global freeze-out. The implications are hard to predict, but several consequences are already apparent in the form of bank runs and long ATM lines. On Monday, the London stock listings of several Russian banks fell by more than 50 percent. The ruble is trading like a junk cryptocurrency, collapsing more than 30 percent on Monday, and as it weakens, the price of certain imports will rise sharply.'

'Unemployment will soar unless the central bank steps in to print money in order to keep companies afloat, but this will almost certainly cause even worse inflation. To throttle the worst inflationary effects, the Russian central bank doubled its key interest rate to 20 percent; for perspective, that’s higher than the U.S. federal-funds rate has ever been. Businesses are nervous that SWIFT sanctions will shut down international credit-card accounts. In normal times, the worst effects of most depressions aren’t felt for months. This has all happened in the past 72 hours.

Russia’s economic crisis could spark a brain drain. More young Russians are reportedly trying to emigrate. Today’s problems could set the stage for a long-term decline in Russia’s prosperity, as people with the means and motivation to get out move west. Migrants will, however, face a mobility problem: The European Union has closed its airspace to Russian planes and private jets. The country is sealed off—from Western trade, Western travel, and (apart from energy exports) most Western business.’ (Atlantic) See link below

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/03/vladimir-putin-economy-sanctions-swift-fallout/623330/

'Some Russians are getting out, but most don’t have that freedom.'

‘High-speed trains departing Russia for Finland are packed.’

'Until this weekend, the daily high-speed trains from St. Petersburg to Helsinki would typically transport far fewer than the several hundred passengers each could accommodate. But on Saturday, a wave of travelers looking to leave Russia started packing trains destined for Finland.'

“We’ve had full trains from St. Petersburg from Sunday onward,” Topi Simola, the senior vice president of passenger services at Finnish Railways, said in a telephone interview.'

“They are leaving for good,” he said. “You can see that from the luggage they carry.”

‘A Russian who stepped off the train in Helsinki on Tuesday evening told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that many people back home, including friends, were having a difficult time leaving the country because so many Russians do not have passports.’

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/world/europe/trains-russia-finland.html?searchResultPosition=1

…and Ukraine, ‘Russian troops seized the port city of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said, a significant moment in the battle for the south.’

Near the end of excerpts from this article, you will have the opportunity to select among several organizations attending to the needs of the Ukrainian people. If you can, subscribers, the Ukrainians need a lot of help.

‘As the bombing of civilian targets in Ukraine intensified on Wednesday, reports of civilian casualties escalated. It was not immediately possible for The New York Times to provide an independent estimate, and, as is often the case in war zones, reports diverged.’

‘Shelling from heavy artillery, multilaunch rocket systems and airstrikes were responsible for most of the casualties, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office, which is leading the U.N.’s count.’

‘Nearly a million people have left Ukraine, foreshadowing a massive humanitarian crisis’

‘Nearly 1 million refugees have left Ukraine, according to data from UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency. The exodus is set to become Europe’s worst humanitarian crisis in a century, already on par with the number of refugees who were displaced from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in 2015.’

‘If fighting continues, as many as 4 million — roughly 10 percent of the Ukrainian population — could be displaced in the coming weeks, Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, said Monday.’

‘On Sunday, Ylva Johansson, the European Union’s home affairs commissioner, said member nations need to be prepared to support “millions” of Ukrainians in the coming months.’

‘Ukrainians can stay, visa-free, for 90 days in E.U. nations, and under new rules expected to be adopted Thursday, Ukrainian nationals will be eligible for “temporary protection” within the 27-nation bloc for up to three years, depending partly on conditions in Ukraine.’

‘More than 500,000 people had crossed into Poland as of Wednesday. In total, the country is expected to receive up to 1.5 million refugees.’

As the flow of refugees out of Ukraine intensifies, some will stay in Eastern Europe, but others will continue westward to countries like Germany. A train arrived in Berlin on Wednesday, carrying refugees from the Ukrainian-Polish border. There, they found Germans offering water and holding signs offering places to stay.'

'Anna Svitlyk, who arrived in Berlin with her five children after leaving Ukraine over the weekend, said she planned to sleep in a hotel next to the train station that is offering free accommodation for a few days, then make her way to Sweden to wait out the war.'

“Every European country gave us free food, free shelter. We owe them so much and are so grateful,” she told The Washington Post. “But we want to go home.”

How Americans can donate to help people in Ukraine

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/27/ukraine-refugees-photos-videos/s

‘The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opened an investigation on Wednesday into allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed in Ukraine since 2013 and during Russia’s current invasion of the country. The prosecutor, Karim Khan, had previously said that he planned to seek approval from the court’s presidency to launch the investigation, but he said 39 nations had referred allegations to the court, enabling his office to move forward immediately.’ (NYTimes)

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Thanks for writing my morning report. The Russians have taken Kherson. The dog has caught a car. Now we'll see if it can drive.

Friends leaving Zaporizhzhia for Romania today by car. All is well with us. Lucky and cats too

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Dark days, Allen. Things progressing so rapidly. This is what has so many flummoxed. A week now was many months at another time.

Please stay ahead of things. Please prevail.

So many thoughts of Light to you today, Allen.

Salud! ☮️

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Allen, You will flash in and out of my mind today. Please continue to report from the Homefront. I think you know what my wish was. It will return in a day or two. In the meantime, when you get a chance, and if possible, a duet between you and Lucky would be great entertainment. 'I don't get around much anymore!' Salud!❤️🌿❤️🌻

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Very glad to know all is well. Tell Lucky and the cats that Isaac the Cat says hello.🌷

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Remy the Aussie and Piper the schnauzer are in solidarity with Lucky and his people. Woof!

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And Mr. Higgins sends his morning meow.

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Isaac is glad to know he's in good company. Purr.

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Carlo send his greetings as well.

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Artemis and Apollo send purrs and hellos as well.

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'Artemis and Apollo'; Fancy & Schmancy

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Every day you give us means time to assess our values, time to understand the connection between the politics in the US and Putin, time to understand the history of what is happening, and time to look at the future. This is invaluable. If Putin had had his quick attack and victory we would not have had this time and space. Glad the dog got fed and can chase cars. Your posts are part of the narrative that has the world watching. Thank you.

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Roger and I follow your posts and hold you and your family, the people of your country, and President Zelensky firmly in our hearts.

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Mr. Murphy, Irish Wolfhound, Roxie and Buster, Aussies, have volunteered their treats to Lucky, and trust me, that is no small thing.

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It took me a bit longer today to find you! Lots of comments concerning Putin/Trump today. We in the USA are also in a scary place but not like your country today. God bless and keep you, Tanya, Lucky, cats, family and friends safe! So good to hear from you again this morning! Hugs

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Kiri liked this report from you - she yearns to chase garbage trucks (mean mom that I am, she’s not allowed 😜) Griffin and Bilbo the cats send their best too. Grateful, as always, for your sense of humor; stay safe. We are with you. 🇺🇦🌻🇺🇦

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Good morning Allen! ❤️ to you and your family!

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Praying for you and all a safe passage.

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I'll know things are better when Lucky stands up to eat. Glad to see you here for another day. Stay strong....

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In the morning, he gets a hash of chicken rice and buckwheat. He is so busy running around I have to follow him and shove a handful in his mouth if he stands still.

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Very glad to see you still able to post here, Allen, and thank you for your boots on the ground the updates.

Miss Pidgeon (my cat) and I are sending all the good energy to you, Tanya, Lucky, and the cats. Stay safe!

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Allen, You will get help in Poland. Please take care.

'Europe's largest nuclear power plant on fire after Russian attack, says local mayor'

Reuters

'BORODYANKA/LVIV, Ukraine, March 4 (Reuters) - The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest of its kind in Europe, was on fire early on Friday after an attack by Russian troops, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said.'

'There has been fierce fighting between local forces and Russian troops, Dmytro Orlov said in an online post, adding that there had been casualties without giving details.'

'Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian troops were stepping up efforts to seize the plant and had entered the town with tanks.'

"As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire," Orlov said on his Telegram channel, citing what he called a threat to world security. He did not give details.'

'Reuters could not immediately verify the information, including the potential seriousness of any fire.'

'The invasion of Ukraine is entering its ninth day. Thousands are thought to have died or been wounded as the biggest attack on a European state since World War Two unfolds, creating 1 million refugees, hits to Russia's economy, and fears of wider conflict in the West unthought-of for decades.'

'Russia has already captured the defunct Chernobyl plant, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.'

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Saw that. It's 5 am I'm going back to sleep 😴 💤

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Sleep well. Latest update follows:

Latest report from Reuters:

BORODYANKA/LVIV, Ukraine, March 4 (Reuters) - A fire broke out in a training building outside the largest nuclear power plant in Europe during intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, Ukraine's state emergency service said on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant told RIA that background levels of radiation had not changed. Radiation security had been secured, the plant's director told Ukraine 24 TV.

A video feed from the plant southeast of the capital Kyiv appeared to show smoke and flames coming from an unidentified building.

Reuters could not immediately verify the information, including the potential seriousness of any fire.

There has been fierce fighting in the area about 550 km (342 miles) southeast of Kyiv, the mayor of the nearby town of Energodar said in an online post. He said there had been casualties, without giving details.

"As a result of continuous enemy shelling of buildings and units of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is on fire," Mayor Dmytro Orlov said on his Telegram channel. He did not give details.

Early reports of the incident at the power plant sent financial markets in Asia spiralling, with stocks tumbling and oil prices surging further.

Russia has already captured the defunct Chernobyl plant, some 100 km north of Kyiv, which spewed radioactive waste over much of Europe when it melted down in the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986. Some analysts noted the Zaporizhzhia plant is of a different and safer type to Chernobyl.

"Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

"Fire has already broke out ... Russians must IMMEDIATELY cease the fire, allow firefighters, establish a security zone!"

Zaporizhzhia provides more than a fifth of total electricity generated in Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a tweet that it was "aware of reports of shelling" at the power plant and was in contact with Ukrainian authorities about situation.

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Fire is out. Situation under control. Siren in Zhovti Vody at 7 am. Stopped now

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This is the latest I have. It's from the Washington Post:

'Ukraine’s nuclear inspectorate said that Russian forces had captured the plant, which is a key supplier of the country’s electricity. A regional military leader said nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhia site was “ensured as of now,” while local authorities said the fire was extinguished as of 6:20 a.m. local time. Washington and Kyiv said there had been no increase in radiation levels.'

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Good, Allen. Thank you.

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Have all those Stingers and other weapons reached your forces? I read that they have been ordered sent but I never see any follow up. Thank you for keeping us informed, so sorry this is happening.

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Arriving all the time and in use. Thanks

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Allen: keeping you, Tanya, Lucky, and the cats close in my heart. Dulcinea sends her purrs for strength to all of you. 💙💛💙💛💙💛

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Allen, sending you positive thoughts.

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Thanks for your company!

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Moldova and Georgia have asked to joint the EU.

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Fern, as always, useful, detailed, referenced information on the disaster going on in Russia.

As your article notes: "No country has ever faced this kind of global freeze-out. The implications are hard to predict"

Here, I would like to observe that when the world put Germany in a downward economic spiral after WW I, the world paid a big price. We simply DO NOT know if all these sanctions on the common people of Russia, who had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Russian invasion, will lead to.

But, it is very likely to be nothing good.

It might have been better to just gear up and join Ukraine in the war itself instead of smashing common Russians into the economic dirt.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Hi Mike. Along with concerns for the Russian people, victims before the sanctions, think, too, about whether their discomfort would loosen Putin's hold over them. There is, naturally, more to elaborate on concerning this factor. I would also pair it to some degree with a discussion we need to have about Trump's particular contribution to our troubles, which began long before him; I would start with R. Reagan & Co. for that one. Mike, I am mentally tired now - not up to the argument, but I guaranty that we are in for a swampy, corrupt journey through the thievery, manipulation, white supremacy and rigged system of America the Beautiful. In the meantime, Salud, Mike.

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"It might have been better to just gear up and join Ukraine in the war itself instead of smashing common Russians into the economic dirt."

Yes, I'm beginning to think that. Sanctions don't really affect Putin personally, and he doesn't care about the well-being of anyone other than himself, as can be seen by the way he is treating his "slavic brothers" in Ukraine. Never has the Russian government cared about the well-being of its denizens. Throughout Russia's/USSR's history, the government has intentionally starved people, imprisoned or executed anyone who disagrees with it, sent them off to gulags. He will not be swayed by sanctions that harm his citizens.

In Ukraine, Putin is bombing residential areas, hospitals, preschools, and now it appears there are plans to publicly execute anyone who opposes Russia (Guardian Ukraine live feed). It seems that the only way to stop him is to go into Ukraine and attack the Russian army (although I hate to say this because they are people, too). But if we don't, the blitzkrieg against Ukrainians and their buildings will continue until there is nothing salvageable. The country will be destroyed, just as Syria was destroyed. And then Putin will head off to the next "slavic brothers" country.

Russia's abandoned tanks should be destroyed so that they can't be used again. Maybe Ukrainians should be placing cars containing car bombs on the road, so that Russian tanks blow up when they attempt to move the car. Just thinking out loud. . .

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Thank you, Fern! The world has united, standing with Ukraine. May we all do our part, as possible.

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Ashley, I just posted an email from Common Cause to sign a petition urging the Department of Justice to investigate Donald Trump. It is under 'new comments'. Please check it out. Thank you.

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You bet I will!

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I am so glad to hear what you have to say tonight in the face of the atrocities in Ukraine. We can hope this is the beginning of a hosing of all of the conspirators and enablers. It would be extraordinary if the Oligarchical purge in Russia came all the way to our side of the world as well.

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Speaking of conspirators and enablers, I am glad the J6 committee is still chugging along…please, please let DOJ be willing to take on a seditious president !

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It’s my own ignorance, but I’m just realizing how many oligarchs are already here, on boards of museums and arts counsels, huge donors to our cultural centers, and why?? To make Russia palatable to the west. Well, that backfired.

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Oh, please no, don't let the Russian oligarchy into the USA. They'd buddy up with our oligarchy and we already have enough problems with THEM!

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We have Russian oligarchs here as well as our Grown in America ones.

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I don't think that is what Patricia meant.

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Have you checked your mutual funds lately?

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What does that mean?

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A lot of mutual funds have investments in Russian businesses.

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Putin's wars on Ukrainian soil and the US democrat/psyche! Both have been lethal: one in the destruction of lives and well-being, the other in the annihilation of peace of mind and fair process.

That all this is emerging with such clarity now lends a sense of validation to those of us who "knew" how deceptive the Putin-Trump alliance was and continues to be.

The Guardian piece is riveting and affirming. All we need now is the satisfaction of seeing all the players behind bars, whether in the US or through the ICC.

"Additionally, Russian intelligence targeted voter rolls in all 50 states, which is not thought to have had consequences, but demonstrated the reach and ambition of online interference. This weekend, British investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr said on Twitter, 'We failed to acknowledge Russia had staged a military attack on the West. We called it "meddling." We used words like "interference." It wasn’t. It was warfare. We’ve been under military attack for eight years now.'" (Rebecca Solnit, The Guardian)

My deepest thanks, dear Heather, for your focus on these truths!

Vive l'Ukraine! 💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Yes, Rowshan. There are many here in my sphere working like crazy getting $aid to Ukraine. Many getting homes ready to accommodate refugee family when time comes. It’s a humanitarian crisis that is happening so fast. I am so appreciative for Professor Richardson and for her daily slight yank on our focus. It is so easy to get distracted right now. So important that our resolve and energies are aligned. I’m reaching out in every daily encounter with Light.

Salud, Rowshan! ☮️

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Airbnb is setting up homes for refugees through international aid organizations.

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Saw an interview with the CEO of Airbnb yesterday about this. Apparently, this is not the first time that Airbnb has come to the rescue, for people displaced by natural disasters. I had no idea.

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Salud, Christine! People are so beautifully caring!

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The last link in "The Notes"for Rebecca Solnit is required reading and it will be on the test.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/02/time-to-confront-trump-putin-network

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I want to know more about this sentence. Which "left-wing news sources?"

"Stunningly, a number of left-wing news sources and pundits devoted themselves to denying the reality of the intervention and calling those who were hostile to the Putin regime cold-war red-scare right-wingers, as if contemporary Russia was a glorious socialist republic rather than a country ruled by a dictatorial ex-KGB agent with a record of murdering journalists, imprisoning dissenters,..."

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So is the 1/6 Committee just looking at Campaign Staff ? What about perhaps members of Congress, TFG’s Cabinet all them “ Acting People “ ? I saw with my own 2 eyes A Capital Cop/ Guard (?) hold the door open for the Rioters, smiling as he is ushering them in . Everyone involved needs to be held accountable .

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HCR has tied up some ends very nicely as usual and I thank her, but traitor45idjt’s treason is no surprise to anyone paying attention. “Globalism will not win” he said as he embarrassed us at NATO and the UN. The surprise is how the Republican Party fell in line so quickly and thoroughly. Money talks.

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Republican behavior through 2 impeachments was quite a surprise for me.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Especially when the Russians are subsidizing Republic election campaigns.

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It is possible, and I think probable, that AG Garland is receiving actionable information from the 6 January investigation for indicting Trump on charges of attempting to conspire to use seditious means to prevent the orderly transfer of presidential power as stipulated in the Constitution. A new House after the 2022 mid-term election can dissolve today's investigation, but that in no way inhibits AG Garland from a Justice Department investigation. The Justice Department is no friend to Donald Trump since he acted to pervert it as an institution and manipulate its operations. What Trump did to prevent Biden from taking office is fixed in the record and can be acted upon anytime. It makes sense to let the House investigation continue as long as it can and allow information to dribble out, giving the press hundreds of opportunities to keep the events of January 6 alive and present, forcibly if necessary, before the American people. It is also wise perhaps to not give domestic terrorists any pretext to rise up to 'save their monarch.' Once the case against Trump moves to the Department of Justice, it will be out of reach of Congress, and insurrection politics. After the case moves to the Justice Department, Trump will have strong reasons to keep his supporters calm and to work full time on the campaign circuit to not provide more information likely to hang him.

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Your response to my comment is well taken, thanks. The role of of the House investigation is to reveal what the 6 January was and is, in the eyes of the instigators and participants, and as an operation with many parts. The committee can investigate, but not indict. If the findings of the investigation are taken up by Justice, they will be grounds for a criminal charge and the present committee detractors do not want real consequences that will entail. The Mueller investigation was messaged as a witch-hunt because there was no prospect of an indictment of Trump for obstruction of justice. To stop the Trump runaway truck now will require a move to Justice.

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The "Trump/Putin network" that has been obvious to anyone who simply watched Trumps behavior at the Helsinki meeting. It was as if he were joining up with a beloved cousin. But what should have sent shivers up the spine of every person in the "free world" was the secret meeting with Putin - the translator's notes were grabbed by Trump. What kind of "deal" did they make? How did it help make Russia great again? I do not believe that Trump is a willing traitor. I think he has been a useful idiot who has betrayed his country because he thought he could manage his adversary by making deals. The "Art of their Deal" is that Putin is infinitely smarter, actually has decades of real international relations experience. Trump thought it was like re-negotiating a loan on a casino. He was naive and frankly, stupid. On the other hand, Putin could have so much kompromat on Trump that he has become his string puppet. Consider Trump's behavior in America...and then think about how arrogant rich men behave away from home. Read enough about the "Steele Dossier" and you will get the picture.

What will Trumps over-riding long term legacy will be? That of a fool? Idiot? Traitor? Monster responsible for the destruction the post WWII world order?

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I am not sure, Bill. I think trump-putin relations go back much further. Remember Eric and the Russian money they get? Trump wanted to build a tower in Moscow and give a complete floor to Puti? Then good ol Manafort enters, paid by the Mercers and other oligarchs and rigs an election/electors most likely. You know when trump said if he does not win the 2016 election will have been rigged? He always projects his crimes on others. Despite the rigging, he still lost by 3 million or so votes...to a woman!! That is why he was so obsessed with his "numbers" for years. He cannot handle failure. Just like putin.

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Yes, the Russian connection was well established long ago. Beauty contests in Moscow? Why? Trump condos sold to Russian oligarchs wives wanting to give birth here for citizenship. It's like a story out of the very fine series: "The Americans".

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Natasha, I mean, Melania is part of that whole game.

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Bill: the Helsinki meeting put me over the top. I found it treasonous.

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This is much bigger than trump, as we read about Brexit.

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Yes.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

“Today, United States ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield confirmed that Russia has used cluster munitions and vacuum bombs, which are prohibited under the Geneva Conventions establishing limits to deadly weapons, in Ukraine.”

Some balance to that statement.:

Pot? Kettle?

“Does the United States use cluster bombs?

A convention banning the use of cluster bombs has been joined by more than 120 countries who agreed not to use, produce, transfer or stockpile the weapons and to clear them after they've been used. Russia and Ukraine have not joined that convention. Neither has the United States.“

From the Human Rights Watch.

“The Biden administration should recognize that cluster munitions have no role in a modern military, revise its current ill-considered policy, and join the treaty that bans their use.”

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Put land mines on the list, too.

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Thank you lots for this source. We totally need to be aware of it. Will be watching to see further news about addressing this in the US.

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I need a source for this please.

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Did not know this! Thank you.

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Thank you.

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My most recent NYT post, related to an article describing the declining business at Trump-brand hotels:

“I believe that there is a business opportunity for Trump to franchise a series of ‘Trump Tunnel of Horrors.’ Advertising could include his most horrific statements.

Attendance is robust at ‘creationist’ museums, which suggests a substantial evangelical market for TToH.”

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And I wonder if any of the targeted oligarchs own condos in Trump/Kushner properties.

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Donnie Jr. in 2014 stated that Trump properties depended heavily on Russian money. It seems that these properties provided a money laundering machine for the rich Russkis. Often these were ‘no questions asked’ arrangements with ownership hidden through a maze of sleazy corporations.

Donnie’s properties merit vigorous Russian oligarch DOJ and state scrutiny. I believe that laundering criminal money is illegal.

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You betcha!

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Good one, dear Not-Doc Wheelock!

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Merrick Garland, where are you?

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Doing what he needs to do. With patience.

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Hear, hear! The mills of God grind exceeding slow, but they grind exceeding fine.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

A de facto deadline is approaching. Unfortunately, the DOJ cannot proceed as if politics has nothing to do with its activities.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

I think rules do not matter when the crimes are of this magnitude against multiple countries. And the genocide of 900,000+ Americans, due to intentional negligence, cyber-warfare and brainwashing will be undeniable when people look at all the actions of the trump and his comrades committed against our country and other countries.

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David, a deadline may be approaching for the 1/6 committee (and that would be January 2023 if the Republicans take the House). But Biden still has almost three years left in his term. Three years is a long time.

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True, KR, but if the DEMs can't hold the House and take the Senate in November, the last 2 years will seem like forever.

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Agreed! And the last five years have already felt like forever.

On a different note, how are you all doing? My sister-in-law in Rome reports feeling awfully worried, sending what help they can. We have been really hoping we could get “home” this summer, and now, who knows. I feel my Italian getting rustier by the day and miss family so much.

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

Oh, THAT KR! Well how are you doing, Kathy? I guess -- like most folks -- we're waiting and watching and hoping for the best. It seems so much of history since 1989 has just been bearing down on a moment like this, and now here we are. We have to hope that no leader, not even Putin, is crazy enough to commit suicide and take the world down with him, or that at least one of the three people who have to pull the Russian trigger simultaneously says NO! And we're talking about a first strike, in other words, nukes in response to... what? The only rational thing to do about nuclear weapons is for all nations to eliminate them, every last one, then agree to respect existing borders, then eliminate all other military weapons with the possible exception of all-seeing drones so every nation can spy freely and legally on every other nation, then have all nations sign off on it, then distribute the world's wealth fairly and finally open all borders and live in peace and brother/sisterhood forever and ever. Amen. Kathy.... seriously, yes, we're really, really worried. Putin is playing chicken with the world in a grand display of testosterone, knowing that he's the scariest guy on the planet with the power of life or death over all the rest of us. What a rush! Of course, we're over 1,000 miles from Kyiv, but I still hear the soft flutter of deathly wings, even here in Le Marche. There's a NATO listening post with many antennas on the summit of Monte Conero near Ancona that is visible from near our house on a clear day. Boom!

If we're really lucky, our species will survive this, and we will all owe a great debt of gratitude to the Ukrainians who have reminded the world what being human is (supposed to be) all about. I also hope we Americans, yes, who invaded Iraq for no larger a pretext than Russia has relied on to invade Ukraine, will do all we can to reach higher moral ground and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

Oh well, enough. Kathy, I hope you and your family are healthy and that we all have a good future to look forward to.

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Referral to the Justice Dept must come first from the Investigative Committee.

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Yes, Christine, but surely the FBI does not require permission from a House committee to investigate and file charges against insurrectionists.

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We have no idea what the DOJ is doing. But Jamie Raskin made it clear that trump is a major criminal. The reality of the trump/putin alliance, now, is very big for our country and the world to marinate in. That impact combined with this putin invasion will/should make Americans shudder at the reality of how close we came to our utter downfall. And how infiltrated the imposters to our well-being are still here, many we employ....

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Mar 3, 2022·edited Mar 3, 2022

David, Though you’re not addressing me, in my view, sufficient predication has existed for some time to open a criminal investigation of those at the top. That said, I imagine charges won’t be filed unless or until sufficient evidence is gathered to ensure conviction. Still, as I’ve stated elsewhere, criminal investigation tends to focus the mind. And the mind of the country needs to be focused on this because, however important other things are, we nearly are running out the clock on democracy itself.

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