As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its second week, the lines are clear. This morning—in America’s time—Russian president Vladimir Putin called French president Emmanuel Macron and talked for an hour and a half. Putin warned that he aimed to take “full control” of Ukraine by diplomatic or military means. He said that he was “prepared to go all the way.”
We are still here. I will see what I can learn and check back in a few hours. Putins remarks to Macron were the ravings of a mad man. MSM didn't do it justice
The statement, that protesters in Russia may be sent to the front in Ukraine, strengthens my view that the initial success of Ukrainians was due to Russia starting the attack with low motivated, poorly trained, and badly equipped soldiers; who's lives they cynically sacrificed. All to achieve the battle-of-Canae-effect: a soft center to give Ukrainians the illusion of success; before sending in the overwhelmingly strong units. Stalin's war on Finland was modeled on the same pattern. Russian losses in the winter war were simply men that Stalin thought he could dispose of. The revival of Stalin is one of Putins major points. Putins grandfather is said to have been chef with Stalin in the years when Ukraine was robbed of all crops and cattle, making feasts for the Russians, while 4 million Ukrainians died from starvation.
Putin should reflect on Stalin’s war on Finland in 1939, shortly after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Agreement. Stalin imagined that little Finland would promptly capitulate. Instead, under the heroic leadership of General Gustav Mannerheim, plucky Finnish snow troops handed the Soviet invaders a sustained bloody nose. Even with major covert support from ‘neutral’ Sweden, Finland could not long hold out against Soviet preponderance. The conclusion of the Winter War obliged Finland to give 9% of its territory to the Soviet Union.
President Zelensky is Ukraine’s Mannerheim [who is considered Finland’s greatest hero ever].The courageous Ukrainian fighters are modern-day ‘Finnish snow troops.’ A major difference is that much of the world is full throated in its support of Ukraine and its opposition to invader Russia. Stalin had a rather humiliating minor ‘win.’ Putin will suffer a humiliating defeat.
Indeed Mannerheim (!) is the Great hero. But we have a difficulty even to think of the callous plan of Stalin: he really sent a lot of his own people to die in the first round, with hardly one rifle per soldier, with summer uniforms in one of the coldest winters ever. The Finns even conquered territory from the Soviet Union, and got over confident. Stalin got rid of enthusiastic socialists, and had time to prepare to fill the sky with bombers, and had less problem to win the last battle. Before the winter war Finland had a civil war between the reds who wanted Finland to be a soviet republic and the white nationalists, who won. The red prisoners were murdered in camps in large numbers, which is still not talked about in Finland. Those who fled to the SU had no better luck. So, Mannerheim was also a mass murderer, but it is hard to see that he could have taken any other decision in the situation. The odds were 80 to 1 in manpower. It was not a minor loss to the Finns, they were paying off considerable sums for many years, and more land than they had gained. - Many things are very different now, like cyber and economic warfare, but I think we might learn from history about Russian leadership of war, how unbelievably cynic and cruel it may be, and Putins mentality is definitely antique.
Judith I once had lunch with the mayor of Helsinki in which we discussed many matters, including the fact that Finland was the only Allied country that continued payment on its WW I debt. On Mannerheim and the 1939 Winter War, I felt fortunate that I had, in the mid-60s, read a book on Sweden Foreign Policy that described in exquisite detail how ‘neutral’ Sweden had provided massive assistance to the brave Finns. Subsequently I read several articles on Mannerheim, who later was president of Finland.
It helps to be 88, have personal experiences, and, hopefully, remember them.
P. S. Through Eisenhower Fellowships I have interacted with a number of Finns and we always mention Mannerheim and the Winter War. I find it interesting that, after Putin’s massive poop drop, the Finns are considering much closer ties with their European neighbors.
P. S. I had lunch with von Ribbentrop’s son (who was a successful investment banker) in the mid-1970s. I thought it untoward to inquire about the Molotov/Ribbentrop Agreement or the Nuremberg Trials.
Woke up very early yesterday morning and turned on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) which was showing Judgement at Nuremburg. May that be the ultimate fate of Putin IF someone hasn't taken him out before then. Now watching Bound to Glory (Woody Guthrie story). Seems particularly a propos.
Judgment at Nuremberg should be shown to all Russian judges as well as the siloviki around Putin and the generals who are implementing Putin’s Gotterdammerung in Ukraine.
Guilt comes early in the process of following a Hitler or Putin. While the Nuremberg Trials were legally controversial then and even now, the International Court of Justice has convicted and jailed some modern-day scum bums.
With an all star cast, you even get Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland. I bought Judgement at Nuremberg and find it reassessing that there can be eventual justice in our world.
Keith, it is wonderful to read your important accounts of your time spent with people in Helsinki and Sweden. I watched part of the Nuremberg trials when I was younger. My parents were Holocaust victims so it’s very emotional. Nothing was better than seeing Erlichman in a glass cage for his trial.
And, to my surprise, a pre-Star Trek William Shatner. Took me a minute to ID him. I read something somewhere that Judy Garland had to fight to get the role, it was argued that she didn't have what it took for such a serious role.
I think you are right. The first wave losses will create a narrative justifying escalation. Carpet bombing cities prior to occupying them is next. We need a no fly zone before this escalates. 1 NATO squadron of F-35’s would prevent a ten million refugee crisis.
I've never been a war hawk or anything close to one. That said, the more I read about Putin and what's happening, I've come around to the view that the European Union, NATO, the U.S, and assorted allies around the world must do much more to stop Putin. In fact, he must be overwhelmingly defeated, or the horrific tragedy we're seeing play out in Ukraine will happen elsewhere. And possibly with the use low-grade, tactical battlefield nukes. I've also accepted the view that Putin was emboldened by the West's timid response to his actions in Georgia, Crimea, and eastern Ukraine.
What should a much more aggressive response look like? I have no idea. But when people the likes of Fiona Hill says we're in World War III and have been for some time, that tells me it's time to accept reality. Noted dissident Garry Kasparov points out today that the U.S. and Britain aren't even doing enough on the sanctions front. https://twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1499795079397052416?s=20&t=fdjLKbef0n_f4rhIHuwxmg
Helping me see the light, so to speak is the brilliant Russia-born journalist Julia Ioffe. To see her latest important commentary, published yesterday, you must subscribe to Puck. I highly recommend that everyone at least take out a free seven-day subscription to read the piece. https://puck.news/europes-9-11/
There are times when escalating the conflict is the only thing left to bring a stop to it. What will it take? I hope that we do something before Kiev is flattened like Aleppo, Homes, or Grozny.
I think you speak for many of us, Michael. I see myself as a pacifist or at least I did. There is no waiting out this madman, Putin. All the negotiations with Hitler and how did that go? Millions dead and a world turned upside down. And did the use of THE BOMB by USA bring us to this moment? The Doomsday Clock is ticking. But I stop there because how can I know the next step.
Thank, Irenie. Figuring out the right steps and their risks has to be extraordinarily vexing. How is Putin stopped if the actions needed incite him to unleash nuclear weapons? A successful uprising against him in Russia would seem to be the best solution. But the odds of that are long.
And the odds are even longer now that Russia has imposed a 15-year prison sentence for anyone who criticizes the war. This is the country that Trumpists love.
The US was grateful, but not surprised, by Europe's unity. Biden and his State Dept. have been taking this issue on diplomatically since he entered the White House. And just a note, the US fought in WWII TOO. We have the same memories and our soldiers died the same ways.
Ted a no fly zone patrolled by NATO F-35s would almost certainly engage Soviet fighters and result in combat. That could prompt a crazed Putin to launch attacks against NATO countries, including, possibly, his arch enemy—the U. S.
The Berlin Air Lift was conducted under a Four-Power-Agreement that assured air access zones that were honored by the Russians throughout this operation.
In Korea, Soviets were piloting MIGs and the U. S. Never publicized this. Soviet pilots were ordered to commit suicide if they were in danger of being captured. Americans could hear the chatter between Russian pilots. The silence on the American/Russian part was a deliberate effort not to escalate Cold War tensions.
There is a marvelous video of American and Russian fighter pilots gathering long after their ‘phony’ war in Korea. They had a rollicking good time with vodka flowing.
Russia does not own Ukrainanian air space, can't we send drones up there to at least distract and misdirect them??? As long as we don't fire on them? Maybe every country can send drones, they could at least fly over the convoy! Can we use satellites in some way, jam their electronics, something?
Thank you for this post which gives us more info on Putin and Ukraine and the connections to Stalin. I was just thinking yesterday about how Ukraine suffered under Stalin.
Thank you Allen for staying with us, sharing this unfolding story. Absolutely Putin is Mad. Insane. Holding you and family in the light. Too crazy to comprehend, isn’t it? Be safe. We await your next report whenever it works for you. And we will have hope. Gratitude.
Interesting. Anabolic steroids to help keep him bulked up and corticosteroid steroids for some sort of inflammatory or respiratory disease. He would be a ticking time bomb.
I've heard references to the possibility of his steroid use, as he apparently has problems with his back. That would explain his "moon face," caused by Cushing's Syndrome, which is a result of steroid use. As for his aggressiveness, that can also go with steroid use - remember TFG after he was hospitalized with Covid and pumped full of steroids? Even more unhinged than "normal".
I think there needs to a public list of high profile narcissits (with diagnosis) so everyone would know those people are unfit for governing anything. Tfg's niece Mary has certainly provided good evidence of her uncle's personality disorder.
Really, though, the fact that millions of Americans, as well as the Republican party, ignored the blinking red lights says something about the sort of person who would have voted for him to begin with. I remember in the '70s when he was evicting elderly tenants from his properties, posing as a Democrat to keep the politicians happy, and I despised him. Nothing changed in his obvious lack of character, to say nothing of the absence of intellect, as he began his political transformation. I remember that when he and Marla Maples divorced, and his comment on settling with her for $1 Million was that she came from a backwater place, and she'd never seen that much money in her life. Then, of course, was his claim that Barack Obama had been born in Kenya, so wasn't qualified to run for President. Flash forward to his traitorous relationship with Putin, and millions voted for him a second time! Nobody had to guess at his mindset - ever. He told everyone exactly what he was. In my opinion, the current debacle is squarely on the shoulders of those who voted for him. His narcissism only explains his obvious disconnect with decency, but it was obvious from day one.
exactly. T said he felt fantastic. duh - that's what heavy doses of steroids do to you. As we're seeing and saw that is very dangerous for those who have Superman delusions.
I have read that he has Parkinson Disease. If so, the meds used are not ideal. It may account for his paranoia, mood swings and aggression. Wait. Are we talking about Putin or Trump?
See NYt article about 4 organizations to donate to: 3-3 Opinion Today: how you can help the people of Ukraine, Direct Relief, Save the Children,,Mercy Corps and International Medical Corps, all 4 have been working in Ukraine. All 4 have received high marks for efficiency and transparency from 2 nonprofits, CharityWatch and Charity Navigator.
Posting this here so that more will see it. I feel it is important.
I am passing this along as a helpful article from the NY Times about how to talk to kids about what is happening in Ukraine. I think this is extremely helpful to those with children. The long link should allow all to read the article even if you do not have an NY Times subscription.
After reading the article and watching Putin's actions his last week, I think there is an inevitability of direct NATO confrontations with Putin. I understand the rational reasoning behind NATO nations' decisions to stay out of Ukraine directly but the reality of Putin's mental status and commitment to slaughter the people of Ukraine and level the functionality of the land and resources are clear indication of his next move - right on in to Poland, Romania, and all nations west of Ukraine. Now that the entire coastal region of Ukraine adds to Russia's sea power. Face the devil now when he's weaker than he will be in 6 months is the only way to save Europe.
Belarus president, Lukashenko, is a dictator with close ties to Putin. "The fact that Belarus, suffering under the boot heel of decades-long dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko, has stood fast by Moscow is hardly a surprise. While much of the world watched Russian troops mass on Ukraine’s borders in the lead-up to invasion, wondering whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would really launch a strategically disastrous invasion, many missed that the Kremlin had already effectively completed its soft annexation of Belarus. Where Minsk once flitted between Moscow and the West, testing waters on both ends and playing both sides off against one another, this new geopolitical era sees Belarus as, essentially, an appendage of the Kremlin’s neo-imperialist designs." https://newrepublic.com/article/165533/belarus-ukraine-putin-alexander-lukashenko
Thank you for the historical details and excellent article. “With a weak-kneed European Union and a Trump administration focused more on trying to steal its own election, the West watched a moment of potential transformational change in Belarus fizzle out, unwilling to muscle Lukashenko from office.” Think of TFG negotiating behind closed doors, making us more unsafe by the minute. War criminals. Backroom negotiations. And atomic weapons in the background. I think of how Hitler could not be stopped for more years than we have.
“The indictment unsealed today shows this office’s commitment to the enforcement of laws intended to hamstring those who would use their wealth to undermine fundamental democratic processes.”
Good idea. there's a guy down in Florida who claims to be rich, he's raised $100 million-plus, and is dead-set on using it to "undermine fundamental democratic processes," which he has already done. So how about arresting him and charging him with being the traitor he is already, huh? Don't go after the little fish, go after the big one all the little ones bow down to.
And make sure Lindsay Graham is in that group of fish that get netted. What a total idiot. We all know that guy in Florida will do whatever he can to destroy this country, but adding insult to injury is something you expect to find in middle school, not coming out of the mouths of our "seasoned" politicians. If Putin turns his wrath on us, Mr. Graham can bear the brunt of that blame in my book...at least today. I am so sick of these inept, uncaring blowhards who think everything they do is above the law and above decency...
Alexander, I empathize with your statements, but the both closeted and homophobic (a condition of self loathing rampant in Fascist Republicans) is not due to insanity.
Most of these minions, be it MTG, Bonner, Gaetz, Hawley, Carlson, et al are simply building their future, their resumes for a future government where they envision being rewarded by high position and regarded as prescient and brave cadre for the ruling Fascist Republican Party of Amerika.
The law, the Bible and the Constitution they envision is being built before our very eyes, stripping core tenets out of our inalienable rights and in short replacing it with Christo-Fascism that as I said earlier has better technology to both distract and surveil us “libtards”.
This is not a few “loudmouths” it is a dedicated well funded cadre of loyal to Fascist ideology traitors.
The style of veiled threats, dog whistling, projection and lies is all part of their game plan and all within the justifiable actions of the Make America Great (Nazi slogan) brought into the political lexicon by Trump in 2016.
I hear the frustration, but it is essential to our success to get really focused on who these people are and what they are doing to overthrow the nation from within.
That guy in Florida? I thought immediately of Ron De Santis, then realized you meant the other destroyer. Out of nowhere De Santis predicts France would surrender to Putin. Stupidity? Bid for attention? Support for TrumPutin? All of those, maybe, but which one primarily?
Ok. We get it. Mostly. Sort of. The So So Single GOP Senator Lindsay Graham is a flip flopping white GOP racist jerk, a gaff machine, an example of the Liberal Conservative LGBT XYZ ABC mixed up almost male of our species, a devoted Tucker Fucker, insecure about most everything secure, a hero to the FOX FIX psychos, a Trump lover, a Roger Ailes glacial anomaly, an internet darling, a boring whack and political cipher, a Putin lover, a Putin hater. a peace loving WW III advocate, a leader in the fascist American Right, a patriotic Patrick Henry, a war criminal, a complete dope, a red nosed poor physical specimen, a total virgin, a true believer, an icon, mission critical to MSM’s thirst for meaningful meaninglessness, a nihilistic Born Again intolerant Jesus lover, a schizoid member of the GOP senate do nothing wing, an Other Directed Exemplar of David Riesman’s invention, the Noble Savage of Brave New World, The Stranger of Albert Camus, born in North Africa, Hitler’s Invisible Man of the Right, Heather’s long sought target of the center, in short, an American Idol and our political hero .. expert at nothing and utterly useless yet infamous, a politician’s politician.
Sandy, how would one go about looking into whether a certain new england private boarding school was a beneficiary in some way of Russian or other dirty oligarchical money? Inquiring minds want to know.
Gifts to the 501(c)3 are public. Blinds are used. Development office probably knows. Deerfield Academy, Phillips Exeter, Milton Academy, Choate, and the weakest of them all know. If you want more - 973.379.4446 iPhone WhatsApp or SIGNAL is better. Chinese money is flowing. Kim was educated in SZ. All the private preps are involved. All are bought.
I’d love to know how many of these Russian oligarchs have been living in our country and funding Repug senate elections for how many years etc ad nauseum.
You captured Lindsay pretty good. What kind of colossal fool makes that kind of threat? Arrogance with a Mike. Then there is Barr doing his revisionist tour.
'It was an astonishing moment… and also an interesting one' (Letter)
It is more than a moment of bearing witness to evil. The unacceptable is happening.
'Russia seizes nuclear plant as fire extinguished' (Washington Post ) In a telephone call with French president Macron this morning, 'Putin warned that he aimed to take “full control” of Ukraine by diplomatic or military means. He said that he was “prepared to go all the way.” (Letter)
Is humanity supposed to accept this? We build a nuclear arsenal, and it protects him. One evil protecting another.
Who are we?
Definition of humanity
1: compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition : the quality or state of being humane
Indeed Fern, who are we? Humans are, in my experience, mostly humane - until we are not. Accepting that there are sociopaths among us who, when in positions of leadership, can do enormous damage, is one step to take. The catastrophe in Ukraine and the disaster unfolding in Russia have at least woken up billions of people to what Putin has become.
We need an ethic of followership strong enough to override such leaders, that resonates with the world as it is now. Humanity has struggled with this for millennia. Abraham, Buddha, Lao-Tzu, Christ, Mohammed, and many more, have tried to give us such an ethic. Such ideas cannot be forced, they must be freely given, and freely accepted. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian and Russian peoples today.
Steve, My heart is warmed by your presence. What we do for and against one another. We are bearing witness to hell on earth, and to grow healing in its midst is what we must do, together.
I think there’s been an astonishing, viral response to Russia’s naked aggression already. I would never have bet on that.
Putin now has two catastrophically difficult problems to manage - Ukraine and Russia. It is becoming close to obvious that Ukraine will “fall”. But the ability to pacify and occupy it will be monumental.
But the current sanctions are going to rip Russia apart. The editor of Medusa, an anti-Putin media entity that closed down yesterday, casually mentioned that his salary had been cut by 1.5 times in the course of an interview. Life is going to be wretchedly bad, perhaps impossible for many Russians, no’s that their leader has become a pariah. And Putin is in the process of losing the oligarchs. In truth, Putin is in a no-win situation.
The problem that could arise is that If Russia now swiftly overwhelms Ukraine and installs a puppet government, those who have issued biting sanctions could lose interest and quietly reverse them in the name of profit.
I think the above scenario possible, but not too likely at this point. The world must maintain the conviction that Putin’s time is over and stick resolutely to that path. As wretched as we all feel towards Ukraine, it is vitally important not to spread the war by a no-fly zone or other aggressive means. At the same time we need to dig deep and help Ukraine as much as possible. And there must develop a clear, orderly and ultra-humane plan to assist the swelling tide of people just like us in every way except that they have been driven from their country.
I don’t think Lindsay Graham’s comment will become a propaganda coup for the Russians. There may be a short-lived effect, but the world shifts frighteningly on its axis daily and it will soon be forgotten. And, though it makes me chagrined to do it, I agree fully with his comment.
And the nuclear threat hangs over all of this. What a cauldron of evil - millions of lives lost or torn up because of one man. It beggars belief.
Kudos to Biden and his steady, firm hand. He is in his element.
1) Yes, firm and steady. I hope you are right that Graham’s remark will have little effect.
2)”The world must maintain the conviction that Putin’s time is over.” Not just him.
Democracy is messy and frustrating, but potentially self-correcting. Fans of strongman rule, you pay close attention to what’s happening. Are you sure you haven’t misjudged trusting someone, anyone, who claims “I alone can fix it” and plays the victim at the same time.
Perhaps, that is your lesson for yourself, Mike. Try it if you haven't and see if you can take the emotion out of it. Those that can, may be the ones who you don't want to have any control over others.
Jet-lagged from a month of being with family in the little blue island of Austin, TX. Prof. Richardson's letter, as always, is profoundly helpful in working through the events of the day.
But what absolutely blows me away is the comments of you, who talk with each other and who enrich my understanding along with helping me feel not so alone in this crazy world. My new granddaughter has a lot ahead of her. Thanks to you all.
I cannot stop thinking about my grandchildren, a two year old and another about to be born. Parents of whom are very much aware of what is going on in the world. It takes a special kind of optimism or realism or acceptance, I don't even know, to bring children into the world today.
Beth, had exactly the same angst this morning. Want to scoop up my little grandkids and take them somewhere safe. But there is nowhere safe. And other little kids lives are being snuffed out in the mad man's bombardments of apartment buildings in Ukraine. Not to mention he is dangling all of us like a mouse to a cat when he plays around with nuclear plants. That in itself is a lethal action against the entire world.
Excellent to get news directly from Ukrainians. 'This is the official website of Ukraine. The information is verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (ukraine@mfa.gov.ua) See link in Allen Hingston's comment or below.
That seems to be a valuable website for minute by minute updates, Allen.
Today at 15:00, as predicted:
“Head of Kherson Regional Administration: the Russian invaders are blocking efforts to create a humanitarian corridor to supply vital humanitarian goods to Kherson city.”
I think the reason we all write is to be on record for what is most important to us. All of us thoughtfully try to describe how we see the world, that includes everyone who’s words appear on my iPad every morning. I wish I could know that future family members and many others will be able to find comfort and inspiration in our reactions to unfolding events. Like most of you, I suppose, I read until I’m inspired to write ✍️, I never have any idea what will come out of my mind, it’s always a revelation to me and a total surprise. I have no doubt that is how Lincoln jotted the note’s for his speech at Gettysburg, off the top of his head and straight from his heart. I send my blessings to all of you especially those who are in harms way 🙏❤️🇺🇦
“ Like most of you, I suppose, I read until I’m inspired to write ✍️, I never have any idea what will come out of my mind, it’s always a revelation to me and a total surprise. “
Not for long if at all now. I just heard on MSNBC/CNN that Ikea is among the corporations that have closed their businesses in Russia. Plus how many Russians right now would be spending money on furniture etc. with the ruble at a historic low, as banks close down and as food shortages become worse. Though there probably are far too many who believe the Russian media propaganda. They're in for a rude awakening fairly soon.
I rely on you to follow the awful story and write about it in a way that doesn't scare the beejeesus out of me. I am so grateful for your work, Heather.
Americans don't realize how important it was to pull out of Afghanistan last year and return to a position of international diplomacy. We must refrain from military engagement that portrays aggression and leads to occupation. We must differentiate ourselves from what Russia is doing, even when it feels like we are not doing enough.
The global economy which developed from the Marshall Plan and led to Nixon's opening the door to China and then peace with Vietnam was bringing the world together in ways that appeared to be a halcyon of peace and cooperation. Clearly, people and countries were left behind, creating fertile soil for conflict. Clearly, the US engaged in old world tactics like supporting dictators who seemed to support us, engaging in military conflicts to change conditions and establish control. These have not been wise, contradicting, compromising, risking and even destroying our ideals of democracy, equal and freedom for all. "We must get the back to the garden" (Joni Mitchell and Crisby Stills Nash & Young) and tend it well.
Thank you, a very good, and lightly worded condemnation of our own role in what Putin is doing today. If I rewind time back from yesterday to 2003 we are/were saturation bombing Badhdad, killing a bunch of Iraqi's that were completely innocent and destroying ancient architecture in a real crime against history.
If I rewind back to 2001 we are saturation bombing innocent Afghan people.
If I rewind back to almost any year since WW II, we are saturation bombing SOMEPLACE on earth for fun and profit.
So, in many ways, Putin just took his que from us and ran with it.
1. Make up a lie, no matter if it is obviously a lie like "weapons of mass destruction" while the weapons inspectors ON THE GROUND are screaming there are none.
2. Invade and destroy a bunch of stuff.
3. Claim victory, although there will never be "victory", just destruction and death.
Why the casual blanket condemnation of America today? Was your mail late or something? I invite you to now change that lens and look at America in the World during those same time periods. A tidbit of recent history. Who has sent the most vaccines to other Countries? Have a good weekend!
Thank you, David, for these truly inspiring words. It IS possible to see imperfections in ourselves and our country, admit to them and insist on doing better, without tearing down what is already good. I love the appeal to folk music. The song writers you mention and many others (I would add Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, etc.) have/had this in their hearts.
"And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the skies, turning into butterflies above our nation/We are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the Devil's bargain, and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden". Crosby, Stills & Nash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25DlXOWmMo&list=RDg25DlXOWmMo&start_radio=1
"After initially opposing Trump’s reach for the presidency, Graham threw in his lot utterly with the former president, who has many possible reasons both to undermine Biden and to keep Putin in power. Perhaps Graham’s comment was intended to help Trump. Or perhaps Graham might have simply made a colossally stupid mistake. Whatever the case, the enormous implications of his statement make it one that would be a mistake to ignore."
Graham IS the colossally stupid mistake! He is not worthy of the title of senator. After turning his back on his best friend, John McCain, and uplifting Trump, his swampy characteristics shone through! Trust him to do something this despicable -- to say something so banal that it plays into Putin's filthy hands!
Not everyone! We need more immigration into South Carolina, those who truly believe in opportunity for all and who walk the talk, so we can elect Senators and Representatives who will work for a true, better democracy. We transplants are simply outnumbered right now! But the tides are slowly changing, Deo gratias.
P.S. I am one of those Darling Yankee transplants:)
You must do what you feel you have to do. My heart aches for you and your loved ones having to make such a hard decision, but you must be practical in the face of what is happening. My most earnest daily prayers are for you and yours to stay safe and out of harm's way. Godspeed and Бог з тобою!
There’s just so much to absorb in what Heather’s yet again unpacked and presented to us so succinctly. Such a stunning series of events in this stunning season. I feel loopy - and terrified - and grateful to those who are defending US and what remains of the free world against enemies foreign and domestic.
I want to know what that number is before Russia herself says stop. To be a heavy weight Russian despot there is no real stopping point. The condemnation worldwide has been submitted. I don’t think standing on the line and spitting at each other will stop the mass murder now underway. Putin the pirate should have nowhere on earth to hide. Where is seal team6?
But Diana, if enough of the sanctions and the seizures of property from his inner circle of oligarchs and military commanders, there is an idea they will turn on him.
Well - that's the hope. But how will his inner circle get near him? He is distancing himself physically from everyone. The sanctions won't make a difference. I say this because the KGB never cared about the well-being of people in the soviet union: people starved and waited in lines for hours for a loaf of bread, a bag of flour, or other sundries; USSR manufactured a famine in Ukraine; anyone who dissented was arrested, killed, tortured or sent to a gulag. Today Russia is arresting and beating up children (Guardian Ukraine live feed). These are the same tactics used by Stalin.
Our only hope is that the sanctions create an uprising in Russia that detracts military attention from Ukraine.
Diana, I believe there will be a revolt from within. The citizens of Russia will rise up as the (illegal in Russia) news spreads, the lines for a slice of bread etc get longer and longer. The inner circle does care about Russia, and will realize that their beloved country has become a place all see as sick and dying. Someone will get to Putin, someone from within.
I hope you are right. But am having some PTSD here....I hoped the same of tfg's inner circle and we had to wait for the post election books to come out to hear how appalled they all were!!!! Meanwhile, tfg is up to his eyeballs in domestic and foreign criminal actions and is making a hundred million dollars out of it. We sit and watch him operate as if we were watching a film!!!!
I have to believe that someone will, all he does is give orders, that’s the weakest link in the chain, it’s always up to others to implement those orders. I have to believe that they are not oblivious to what is happening in their homeland as well as that of their neighbors. All of this pain and suffering is emanating from the ice cold heart of one man. If ever there was a time for a lightening strike from the heavens, this is one.
All of this pain from one man. Who wears a cross around his neck, and claims to protect Christianity. American right wing Christians, how is your cognitive dissonance right about now? Blessed be the peacemakers.
Clearly the EU, UK, US political establishment is currently reacting to Putin, held back with lobbying, planned and paid for by guess who? We all need (not just Ukraine) forceful proactive action and full mobilisation of the Western economic-system to the detriment of Putin's regime. Without this immediate action, to gain the strategic advantage, we will enable Putin to extrapolate, as per Aleppo, Kosovo or other atrocities. Given Putin is a terrorist, by all definitions, controlling us with his evil intentions, why don't we declare him as such and use the terrorist legislation in place, as per ISIS or Al Qaeda, to cut-off all his regime members and associates and undermine his regime?
I had a nasty conversation yesterday with the owner of the kennel where I bring my dog for day care occasionally. Paul developed Guillain Barre syndrome after getting the COVID-19 vaccine and has not been working a lot. Rare, but it does happen.
I asked him how he was - and regretted it quickly. He just ranted on and on about how Biden is screwing up everything and the sanctions Biden was putting into place in Russia were going to hurt Paul’s business. ??Really? People are dying in Ukraine because of the madness of a Russian oligarch and the sanctions will harm your business? Its all about you?
Regardless how Guillain Barre messes up the brain, his rant, to a customer, was way out of line. I grabbed my dog, told him I would not be back -ever - and would be talking about his politics with dog owners whom I know also brought their animals there.
At the dog park later, I fumed. How are we ever going to preserve democracy with the likes of Fox News, Lindsey Graham, Hanick, and the whole Russian propaganda machine? Not to mention the ravings of Putin and a certain former President and the 70+ million Americans who think the world revolves around them? I had read Rebecca Solnit’s analysis of the “information wars” Putin was waging here,(in the Guardian) and felt real rage at those who hate democracy so deeply and would destroy it for their own benefit.
Paul called me last night about 8:00pm to apologize. I listened. Then I gave him both barrels, including the fact that the sanctions would mess with everyone’s business, worldwide, including mine, But more important than that was that the sanctions were about squeezing Putin and his Oligarchs, and about defending the right of a sovereign nation to protect its borders and live in a democracy. And Ukrainians were dying to defend those principles. Time to sacrifice a little for the greater good. And the fact that Paul drives a late model Mercedes was noted - loudly. He wouldn’t understand sacrifice if it bit him in the ass!
I didn’t sleep very well last night but neither did millions of Ukranians- and other Europeans. Not to mention more than a few Russians. Time to go find commenter Allen Hingston’s post and let him know I’m thinking about him and his family. Then look for another doggy day care facility.
A few days ago, I had made a comment regarding how a startling number of my friends and former colleagues we so taken with the authoritarian mindset and their support of Russia (when many of them, as Cold War Veterans, had spent between 4-20 years with USSR/Russia as our enemy). A commenter here explained: They are in a belief state, and no amount of facts or contrary information will get them to believe anything other than what they've taken on as part of their belief structure (noting than many of these folks are also conservative Christian). You can fact folks to the end of the world, and be met with "well, I don't believe that."
Brava! I have run into something similar...and now the Trucker's Convoy. You've done the right thing. I am certain that the Foxies think their self-absorption is justified, but it is a movement that needs correcting quickly! (And if not promoted by oligarchs, it certainly is abetted by them.)
He called to apologize and you gave him both barrels? I understand your initial anger, but am confused about why you didn’t use this call as an opportunity to talk, persuade and perhaps understand. A person dealing with Guillain-Barre is under a lot of stress and dealing with daily pain. Maybe I am not understanding what you mean by “ gave him both barrels”. Maybe you felt his apology was insincere?
I understand Guillain Barre very well - had a colleague die of it 30 years ago. I also understand the problem of chronic pain- I live with it daily.
His apology was more of an attempt to explain his position (I’m sorry but…..) So I explained my position but loudly. Wrong? Maybe. But I vote with my pocketbook so I needed to let him know that his focus on himself and his business was not acceptable to me in the face of obvious suffering in Ukraine and that I was going to take my business elsewhere. That got his attention. And the attention of his brother and his wife, both of whom are co-owners ( they emailed me. ) That started a different conversation which was what I wanted.
Despite Paul’s illness, he can be held accountable for his behavior. I hold myself accountable too and toned myself down this morning when we talked. But if he continues to blame Biden for the recent rise in gas prices and uses the phrase “Let’s go Brandon” to me again, I’m going to call BS on him and his politics and take my business elsewhere.
Thanks for your reply. I understand more of your thinking and the interaction with this man. My response was coming from a place of not wanting us to become as rancorous as many of the anti-Biden, pro-Trump people often are. I can see why an apology accompanied by further comments defending himself is not really an apology.
I do agree, and applaud you for, your willingness to respond initially and forcefully to his comments and am glad you were able to have a better conversation with his co-owners.
Here are some facts from another newsletter by Jamie Dupree, also on sub stack. You can have them on hand for your next conversation with Paul. 😉
DOMESTIC DRILLING. As for GOP criticism that the Biden Administration is making it difficult for new oil and gas exploration at home - Psaki called BS. “There are 9,000 approved oil leases that the oil companies are not tapping into currently,” Psaki said.
FACT CHECK. It might be hard to believe for some, but the Biden Administration actually issued more drilling permits on public lands last year than during the first year of the Trump Administration.
FORECAST. And government experts are predicting that natural gas production will be at an all-time high in the U.S. in 2022. Federal experts see an all-time high for U.S. crude oil production in 2023.
Jamie Dupree authors a column in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and for years was a guest on the Neal Boortz show, so his political bent is somewhat questionable, since he was pretty hard right at the time. I read his column frequently, although I missed this one. I will admit that he has been fairly objective since his AJC column was initiated, but I'm wary of his intentions, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially considering his Pro-Bush-Bomb-Iraq and anti-Democrat stance in the past. Still, I'd be interested in some other interpretations of Biden's actions outlined above, and readily admit that I have no knowledge of his reasoning.
We are still here. I will see what I can learn and check back in a few hours. Putins remarks to Macron were the ravings of a mad man. MSM didn't do it justice
https://www.thedailybeast.com/terrifying-putin-phone-call-warns-worst-is-yet-to-come?via=newsletter&source=DDAfternoon
The statement, that protesters in Russia may be sent to the front in Ukraine, strengthens my view that the initial success of Ukrainians was due to Russia starting the attack with low motivated, poorly trained, and badly equipped soldiers; who's lives they cynically sacrificed. All to achieve the battle-of-Canae-effect: a soft center to give Ukrainians the illusion of success; before sending in the overwhelmingly strong units. Stalin's war on Finland was modeled on the same pattern. Russian losses in the winter war were simply men that Stalin thought he could dispose of. The revival of Stalin is one of Putins major points. Putins grandfather is said to have been chef with Stalin in the years when Ukraine was robbed of all crops and cattle, making feasts for the Russians, while 4 million Ukrainians died from starvation.
I agree with those who have said the comments are a history lesson. Thank you Olof.
Putin should reflect on Stalin’s war on Finland in 1939, shortly after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Agreement. Stalin imagined that little Finland would promptly capitulate. Instead, under the heroic leadership of General Gustav Mannerheim, plucky Finnish snow troops handed the Soviet invaders a sustained bloody nose. Even with major covert support from ‘neutral’ Sweden, Finland could not long hold out against Soviet preponderance. The conclusion of the Winter War obliged Finland to give 9% of its territory to the Soviet Union.
President Zelensky is Ukraine’s Mannerheim [who is considered Finland’s greatest hero ever].The courageous Ukrainian fighters are modern-day ‘Finnish snow troops.’ A major difference is that much of the world is full throated in its support of Ukraine and its opposition to invader Russia. Stalin had a rather humiliating minor ‘win.’ Putin will suffer a humiliating defeat.
Indeed Mannerheim (!) is the Great hero. But we have a difficulty even to think of the callous plan of Stalin: he really sent a lot of his own people to die in the first round, with hardly one rifle per soldier, with summer uniforms in one of the coldest winters ever. The Finns even conquered territory from the Soviet Union, and got over confident. Stalin got rid of enthusiastic socialists, and had time to prepare to fill the sky with bombers, and had less problem to win the last battle. Before the winter war Finland had a civil war between the reds who wanted Finland to be a soviet republic and the white nationalists, who won. The red prisoners were murdered in camps in large numbers, which is still not talked about in Finland. Those who fled to the SU had no better luck. So, Mannerheim was also a mass murderer, but it is hard to see that he could have taken any other decision in the situation. The odds were 80 to 1 in manpower. It was not a minor loss to the Finns, they were paying off considerable sums for many years, and more land than they had gained. - Many things are very different now, like cyber and economic warfare, but I think we might learn from history about Russian leadership of war, how unbelievably cynic and cruel it may be, and Putins mentality is definitely antique.
Whew! Talk about history lessons here....!
Judith I once had lunch with the mayor of Helsinki in which we discussed many matters, including the fact that Finland was the only Allied country that continued payment on its WW I debt. On Mannerheim and the 1939 Winter War, I felt fortunate that I had, in the mid-60s, read a book on Sweden Foreign Policy that described in exquisite detail how ‘neutral’ Sweden had provided massive assistance to the brave Finns. Subsequently I read several articles on Mannerheim, who later was president of Finland.
It helps to be 88, have personal experiences, and, hopefully, remember them.
P. S. Through Eisenhower Fellowships I have interacted with a number of Finns and we always mention Mannerheim and the Winter War. I find it interesting that, after Putin’s massive poop drop, the Finns are considering much closer ties with their European neighbors.
Keith, your life-long experiences are invaluable for informing us on so much. Thank you.
P. S. I had lunch with von Ribbentrop’s son (who was a successful investment banker) in the mid-1970s. I thought it untoward to inquire about the Molotov/Ribbentrop Agreement or the Nuremberg Trials.
Woke up very early yesterday morning and turned on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) which was showing Judgement at Nuremburg. May that be the ultimate fate of Putin IF someone hasn't taken him out before then. Now watching Bound to Glory (Woody Guthrie story). Seems particularly a propos.
Judgment at Nuremberg should be shown to all Russian judges as well as the siloviki around Putin and the generals who are implementing Putin’s Gotterdammerung in Ukraine.
Guilt comes early in the process of following a Hitler or Putin. While the Nuremberg Trials were legally controversial then and even now, the International Court of Justice has convicted and jailed some modern-day scum bums.
With an all star cast, you even get Marlene Dietrich and Judy Garland. I bought Judgement at Nuremberg and find it reassessing that there can be eventual justice in our world.
Keith, it is wonderful to read your important accounts of your time spent with people in Helsinki and Sweden. I watched part of the Nuremberg trials when I was younger. My parents were Holocaust victims so it’s very emotional. Nothing was better than seeing Erlichman in a glass cage for his trial.
And, to my surprise, a pre-Star Trek William Shatner. Took me a minute to ID him. I read something somewhere that Judy Garland had to fight to get the role, it was argued that she didn't have what it took for such a serious role.
let's hope that someone is not an American (see Heather this morning on the subject of Lindsey Graham's "colossally stupid mistake")
5-6 million, more than 4 starved by Stalin.
I think you are right. The first wave losses will create a narrative justifying escalation. Carpet bombing cities prior to occupying them is next. We need a no fly zone before this escalates. 1 NATO squadron of F-35’s would prevent a ten million refugee crisis.
I've never been a war hawk or anything close to one. That said, the more I read about Putin and what's happening, I've come around to the view that the European Union, NATO, the U.S, and assorted allies around the world must do much more to stop Putin. In fact, he must be overwhelmingly defeated, or the horrific tragedy we're seeing play out in Ukraine will happen elsewhere. And possibly with the use low-grade, tactical battlefield nukes. I've also accepted the view that Putin was emboldened by the West's timid response to his actions in Georgia, Crimea, and eastern Ukraine.
What should a much more aggressive response look like? I have no idea. But when people the likes of Fiona Hill says we're in World War III and have been for some time, that tells me it's time to accept reality. Noted dissident Garry Kasparov points out today that the U.S. and Britain aren't even doing enough on the sanctions front. https://twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1499795079397052416?s=20&t=fdjLKbef0n_f4rhIHuwxmg
Helping me see the light, so to speak is the brilliant Russia-born journalist Julia Ioffe. To see her latest important commentary, published yesterday, you must subscribe to Puck. I highly recommend that everyone at least take out a free seven-day subscription to read the piece. https://puck.news/europes-9-11/
There are times when escalating the conflict is the only thing left to bring a stop to it. What will it take? I hope that we do something before Kiev is flattened like Aleppo, Homes, or Grozny.
I think you speak for many of us, Michael. I see myself as a pacifist or at least I did. There is no waiting out this madman, Putin. All the negotiations with Hitler and how did that go? Millions dead and a world turned upside down. And did the use of THE BOMB by USA bring us to this moment? The Doomsday Clock is ticking. But I stop there because how can I know the next step.
Thank, Irenie. Figuring out the right steps and their risks has to be extraordinarily vexing. How is Putin stopped if the actions needed incite him to unleash nuclear weapons? A successful uprising against him in Russia would seem to be the best solution. But the odds of that are long.
And the odds are even longer now that Russia has imposed a 15-year prison sentence for anyone who criticizes the war. This is the country that Trumpists love.
Yes. “The right response” once seemed so easy. Once.
The US was grateful, but not surprised, by Europe's unity. Biden and his State Dept. have been taking this issue on diplomatically since he entered the White House. And just a note, the US fought in WWII TOO. We have the same memories and our soldiers died the same ways.
Ted a no fly zone patrolled by NATO F-35s would almost certainly engage Soviet fighters and result in combat. That could prompt a crazed Putin to launch attacks against NATO countries, including, possibly, his arch enemy—the U. S.
The Berlin Air Lift was conducted under a Four-Power-Agreement that assured air access zones that were honored by the Russians throughout this operation.
In Korea, Soviets were piloting MIGs and the U. S. Never publicized this. Soviet pilots were ordered to commit suicide if they were in danger of being captured. Americans could hear the chatter between Russian pilots. The silence on the American/Russian part was a deliberate effort not to escalate Cold War tensions.
There is a marvelous video of American and Russian fighter pilots gathering long after their ‘phony’ war in Korea. They had a rollicking good time with vodka flowing.
Russians cant shoot what they can not see. That's why we have those stealth fighter bombers.
Russia does not own Ukrainanian air space, can't we send drones up there to at least distract and misdirect them??? As long as we don't fire on them? Maybe every country can send drones, they could at least fly over the convoy! Can we use satellites in some way, jam their electronics, something?
Carpet bombing already occurring.
Heartbreaking. I cant help but think what some of the F 22 and F 35 Pilots are thinking about right now.
And Zelensky has begged for that!!
Thank you for this post which gives us more info on Putin and Ukraine and the connections to Stalin. I was just thinking yesterday about how Ukraine suffered under Stalin.
😥😥😥
Thank you Allen for staying with us, sharing this unfolding story. Absolutely Putin is Mad. Insane. Holding you and family in the light. Too crazy to comprehend, isn’t it? Be safe. We await your next report whenever it works for you. And we will have hope. Gratitude.
Same as above Allen- you're our link to Ukraine-
My Q, will China support a madman?
They have to be able to recognize a madman first. Can they?
Hi Allen. A famous Canadian has you in her thoughts and deeds:
https://twitter.com/PatriciaWightm7/status/1498804235353440259?s=20&t=ZWupJ1r2BwxfTfNPyfZibQ
Wishing you safety!
A wonderful woman. Ranks with Orwell in predicting today
Great pic! Thank you.
Yes, what an image! Speaks volumes.
Love Margaret Atwood! 🇺🇦🇺🇦
Love it! Love her!
Keeping you, yours and all of Ukraine in my heart.
Holding you in our hearts.
Allen, we are here, supporting you in our prayers, watching and waiting.
You're such a brave soul, Allen. Thank you for staying with us on these posts. Here's to all my Ukrainian heros❣️💙💛💙💛💙💛
Allen, again…good to hear from you. Did you hear about the Russian American tycoon who has placed a $1 million bounty on Putin’s head? https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-businessman-puts-1-million-bounty-on-putins-head-2022-3?amp
A $1 billion dollar bounty might actually get the job done. Not sure the $1 million is worth it to the "experts".
I wish he would also extend another million to support the Russian trying to leave and discence within Russia.
Putin's face looks puffy and his eyes look vacant. Massive steroids (that can make one a bit crazy)?
Interesting. Anabolic steroids to help keep him bulked up and corticosteroid steroids for some sort of inflammatory or respiratory disease. He would be a ticking time bomb.
One can only hope he blows up like a balloon and then disintegrates.
I've heard references to the possibility of his steroid use, as he apparently has problems with his back. That would explain his "moon face," caused by Cushing's Syndrome, which is a result of steroid use. As for his aggressiveness, that can also go with steroid use - remember TFG after he was hospitalized with Covid and pumped full of steroids? Even more unhinged than "normal".
Yes. Cortico steroids can make you mean as a snake.
Perhaps but my opinion is that both TFG and Putin are drug addicts. Just my opinion, mind you.
And probably a lot worse. Still, the evil inherent in both doesn't need any supplement. In any event, they shouldn't be taking up space on the planet.
I think there needs to a public list of high profile narcissits (with diagnosis) so everyone would know those people are unfit for governing anything. Tfg's niece Mary has certainly provided good evidence of her uncle's personality disorder.
Really, though, the fact that millions of Americans, as well as the Republican party, ignored the blinking red lights says something about the sort of person who would have voted for him to begin with. I remember in the '70s when he was evicting elderly tenants from his properties, posing as a Democrat to keep the politicians happy, and I despised him. Nothing changed in his obvious lack of character, to say nothing of the absence of intellect, as he began his political transformation. I remember that when he and Marla Maples divorced, and his comment on settling with her for $1 Million was that she came from a backwater place, and she'd never seen that much money in her life. Then, of course, was his claim that Barack Obama had been born in Kenya, so wasn't qualified to run for President. Flash forward to his traitorous relationship with Putin, and millions voted for him a second time! Nobody had to guess at his mindset - ever. He told everyone exactly what he was. In my opinion, the current debacle is squarely on the shoulders of those who voted for him. His narcissism only explains his obvious disconnect with decency, but it was obvious from day one.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
exactly. T said he felt fantastic. duh - that's what heavy doses of steroids do to you. As we're seeing and saw that is very dangerous for those who have Superman delusions.
I have read that he has Parkinson Disease. If so, the meds used are not ideal. It may account for his paranoia, mood swings and aggression. Wait. Are we talking about Putin or Trump?
I've notice the facial change myself. Also, can you say "roid rage"?
Probably a cocktail of drugs….hopefully will make his his heart stop.
Wait...he has a heart???
HA! I doubt it. Okay, let’s say his brain will explode instead!
I think he's deficient in that department too.
😆😆
......A bit?????
irony
Thanks. I have been wondering what's causing his puffed-up appearance and blank stare.
Always so glad to find a post from you here. I check frequently. I wish there were more I could do. You and yours are in our hearts, as you know.
See NYt article about 4 organizations to donate to: 3-3 Opinion Today: how you can help the people of Ukraine, Direct Relief, Save the Children,,Mercy Corps and International Medical Corps, all 4 have been working in Ukraine. All 4 have received high marks for efficiency and transparency from 2 nonprofits, CharityWatch and Charity Navigator.
Doctors Without Borders is there too
And ICRC and World Central Kitchen! So many ways to contribute!
Done!
We quickly sent what we could, but now, what can we do? I want Putin to be stopped!
Thank you, Yes, I’ve been donating to specific organizations so hopefully the people on the ground get the assistance.
Exactly!
Timothy Synder posted this one this morning but it is not rated on any of the sites you mentioned. https://razomforukraine.org/razom-emergency-response/
There are many ways to contribute!
Sadly, Allen, you and yours are on the front line of civilization. May you stay safe and strong.
Posting this here so that more will see it. I feel it is important.
I am passing this along as a helpful article from the NY Times about how to talk to kids about what is happening in Ukraine. I think this is extremely helpful to those with children. The long link should allow all to read the article even if you do not have an NY Times subscription.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/25/well/family/kids-teens-ukraine-russia.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DPDmwfiPsYB4zH9U7IZK5yINgy0y_eWNJMNqRqWf9ox-5ZMgl3VhKzo5LCmIgAJ299j7OPaV4M_sCHW6Eko3itZ3OlKex7yfrls03YbmfsXbjV1Sd1OApvpcR6JVr-i2hYw_zAFLN23IJ7iKgxF9stE2d7ESqLuvLpDh94P8zXLU2Pr1lrBJwKHG3bjtWe6LkfcQ9NCF-gTH134Gs06tk0K8pAde-kbEZmIJyi9O1XXm94L46pBIkzQpzWldhpt73PrB-Nyqmm1oQv5mqVsAULZXdpQiqvKss&smid=url-share
This is important guidance on how to address this in the best interests of our children's mental and emotional wellness.
Thank you Bruce. Important consideration in light of dramatic events during past several days.
Thanks, Bruce! I passed it onto my neighbor who is a school psychologist.
After reading the article and watching Putin's actions his last week, I think there is an inevitability of direct NATO confrontations with Putin. I understand the rational reasoning behind NATO nations' decisions to stay out of Ukraine directly but the reality of Putin's mental status and commitment to slaughter the people of Ukraine and level the functionality of the land and resources are clear indication of his next move - right on in to Poland, Romania, and all nations west of Ukraine. Now that the entire coastal region of Ukraine adds to Russia's sea power. Face the devil now when he's weaker than he will be in 6 months is the only way to save Europe.
I think he will take Belarus also. Stalin had it at one time. They were Idiots for letting Putin Stage there for Ukraine .
Belarus president, Lukashenko, is a dictator with close ties to Putin. "The fact that Belarus, suffering under the boot heel of decades-long dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko, has stood fast by Moscow is hardly a surprise. While much of the world watched Russian troops mass on Ukraine’s borders in the lead-up to invasion, wondering whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would really launch a strategically disastrous invasion, many missed that the Kremlin had already effectively completed its soft annexation of Belarus. Where Minsk once flitted between Moscow and the West, testing waters on both ends and playing both sides off against one another, this new geopolitical era sees Belarus as, essentially, an appendage of the Kremlin’s neo-imperialist designs." https://newrepublic.com/article/165533/belarus-ukraine-putin-alexander-lukashenko
Trump would have handed us over on a Silver Plater . Almost did.
Yes, he tried.
Thank you for the historical details and excellent article. “With a weak-kneed European Union and a Trump administration focused more on trying to steal its own election, the West watched a moment of potential transformational change in Belarus fizzle out, unwilling to muscle Lukashenko from office.” Think of TFG negotiating behind closed doors, making us more unsafe by the minute. War criminals. Backroom negotiations. And atomic weapons in the background. I think of how Hitler could not be stopped for more years than we have.
Yes! Can’t ❤️ this but Putin has no allegiance to any other dicktator…just to himself.
I agree strongly. He is mad. There will be no stopping him if he succeeds in Ukraine.
"Staying calm and standing fast is going to challenge us all." ~ Tom Nichols
https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1499436115723493391?s=20&t=ZWupJ1r2BwxfTfNPyfZibQ
Like the phone calls from drunk relatives.
Allen I am so glad to hear from you. Please know that you and yours are forefront in my mind.
Good morning Allen! Your courage and strength in the face of all this is an inspiration. Thank you for your updates. Please stay safe. ❤️
“The indictment unsealed today shows this office’s commitment to the enforcement of laws intended to hamstring those who would use their wealth to undermine fundamental democratic processes.”
Good idea. there's a guy down in Florida who claims to be rich, he's raised $100 million-plus, and is dead-set on using it to "undermine fundamental democratic processes," which he has already done. So how about arresting him and charging him with being the traitor he is already, huh? Don't go after the little fish, go after the big one all the little ones bow down to.
And make sure Lindsay Graham is in that group of fish that get netted. What a total idiot. We all know that guy in Florida will do whatever he can to destroy this country, but adding insult to injury is something you expect to find in middle school, not coming out of the mouths of our "seasoned" politicians. If Putin turns his wrath on us, Mr. Graham can bear the brunt of that blame in my book...at least today. I am so sick of these inept, uncaring blowhards who think everything they do is above the law and above decency...
Alexander, I empathize with your statements, but the both closeted and homophobic (a condition of self loathing rampant in Fascist Republicans) is not due to insanity.
Most of these minions, be it MTG, Bonner, Gaetz, Hawley, Carlson, et al are simply building their future, their resumes for a future government where they envision being rewarded by high position and regarded as prescient and brave cadre for the ruling Fascist Republican Party of Amerika.
The law, the Bible and the Constitution they envision is being built before our very eyes, stripping core tenets out of our inalienable rights and in short replacing it with Christo-Fascism that as I said earlier has better technology to both distract and surveil us “libtards”.
This is not a few “loudmouths” it is a dedicated well funded cadre of loyal to Fascist ideology traitors.
The style of veiled threats, dog whistling, projection and lies is all part of their game plan and all within the justifiable actions of the Make America Great (Nazi slogan) brought into the political lexicon by Trump in 2016.
I hear the frustration, but it is essential to our success to get really focused on who these people are and what they are doing to overthrow the nation from within.
That guy in Florida? I thought immediately of Ron De Santis, then realized you meant the other destroyer. Out of nowhere De Santis predicts France would surrender to Putin. Stupidity? Bid for attention? Support for TrumPutin? All of those, maybe, but which one primarily?
Add Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, and the list goes on and on!
Who can it be knocking at my door?
Go 'way, don't come 'round here no more
Can't you see that it's late at night?
I'm very tired and I'm not feeling right
All I wish is to be alone
Stay away, don't you invade my home
Best off if you hang outside
Don't come in, I'll only run and hide
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be knocking at my door?
Make no sound, tip-toe across the floor
If he hears, he'll knock all day
I'll be trapped and here I'll have to stay
I've done no harm, I keep to myself
There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health
I like it here with my childhood friend
Here they come, those feelings again!
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Is it the man come to take me away?
Why do they follow me?
It's not the future that I can see
It's just my fantasy, yeah
Ooh, who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
(Oh, wee oh) Who can it, Who can it
(Ooh ooh) Who can it be now?
(Ooh ooh wee) Yeah yeah yeah
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Hay Colin James
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc1Ll-euRSg
Men at Work, whose lyrics are sadly fitting for today.
I have been rediscovering the music of Colin Hay recently, including the brilliant, acoustic “Overkill”.
Ok. We get it. Mostly. Sort of. The So So Single GOP Senator Lindsay Graham is a flip flopping white GOP racist jerk, a gaff machine, an example of the Liberal Conservative LGBT XYZ ABC mixed up almost male of our species, a devoted Tucker Fucker, insecure about most everything secure, a hero to the FOX FIX psychos, a Trump lover, a Roger Ailes glacial anomaly, an internet darling, a boring whack and political cipher, a Putin lover, a Putin hater. a peace loving WW III advocate, a leader in the fascist American Right, a patriotic Patrick Henry, a war criminal, a complete dope, a red nosed poor physical specimen, a total virgin, a true believer, an icon, mission critical to MSM’s thirst for meaningful meaninglessness, a nihilistic Born Again intolerant Jesus lover, a schizoid member of the GOP senate do nothing wing, an Other Directed Exemplar of David Riesman’s invention, the Noble Savage of Brave New World, The Stranger of Albert Camus, born in North Africa, Hitler’s Invisible Man of the Right, Heather’s long sought target of the center, in short, an American Idol and our political hero .. expert at nothing and utterly useless yet infamous, a politician’s politician.
That’s an all-American song c. 2022
Wow! Sandy, that's the best train of thought writing to come from your pen in a long, long time!
Sleepless in Essex.
🌷
Sandy, how would one go about looking into whether a certain new england private boarding school was a beneficiary in some way of Russian or other dirty oligarchical money? Inquiring minds want to know.
Gifts to the 501(c)3 are public. Blinds are used. Development office probably knows. Deerfield Academy, Phillips Exeter, Milton Academy, Choate, and the weakest of them all know. If you want more - 973.379.4446 iPhone WhatsApp or SIGNAL is better. Chinese money is flowing. Kim was educated in SZ. All the private preps are involved. All are bought.
❤️
specifically curious about SPS
which is a 501c3 but how do you find a list of donors???? And what do you do about it , as an employee, if it's concerning?
Yikes.
I’d love to know how many of these Russian oligarchs have been living in our country and funding Repug senate elections for how many years etc ad nauseum.
Foreign money is everywhere. Our CIA knows.
I know the dev directors.
Sullivan & Cromwell knows.
Dang, Sandy. Right on.
You captured Lindsay pretty good. What kind of colossal fool makes that kind of threat? Arrogance with a Mike. Then there is Barr doing his revisionist tour.
Barr makes me sick with his attempts to rewrite his history.
Wonderful, Sandy. Just perfect.
You said it and I was so loving Charleston SC for 3 glorious days of warmth last week. Unfortunately for the rest of us they keep electing him.
Brava, Sandy.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
'It was an astonishing moment… and also an interesting one' (Letter)
It is more than a moment of bearing witness to evil. The unacceptable is happening.
'Russia seizes nuclear plant as fire extinguished' (Washington Post ) In a telephone call with French president Macron this morning, 'Putin warned that he aimed to take “full control” of Ukraine by diplomatic or military means. He said that he was “prepared to go all the way.” (Letter)
Is humanity supposed to accept this? We build a nuclear arsenal, and it protects him. One evil protecting another.
Who are we?
Definition of humanity
1: compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition : the quality or state of being humane
Indeed Fern, who are we? Humans are, in my experience, mostly humane - until we are not. Accepting that there are sociopaths among us who, when in positions of leadership, can do enormous damage, is one step to take. The catastrophe in Ukraine and the disaster unfolding in Russia have at least woken up billions of people to what Putin has become.
We need an ethic of followership strong enough to override such leaders, that resonates with the world as it is now. Humanity has struggled with this for millennia. Abraham, Buddha, Lao-Tzu, Christ, Mohammed, and many more, have tried to give us such an ethic. Such ideas cannot be forced, they must be freely given, and freely accepted. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian and Russian peoples today.
Steve, My heart is warmed by your presence. What we do for and against one another. We are bearing witness to hell on earth, and to grow healing in its midst is what we must do, together.
Can’t ❤️ this, Fern. “Hell on earth” is the operative statement.
🌿
HA! All of a sudden I can ❤️!
That happens to me, too, on my iPad.
"until we are not"
Steve, I wonder what fraction of the time, in reality, we are humane. Globally.
I think there’s been an astonishing, viral response to Russia’s naked aggression already. I would never have bet on that.
Putin now has two catastrophically difficult problems to manage - Ukraine and Russia. It is becoming close to obvious that Ukraine will “fall”. But the ability to pacify and occupy it will be monumental.
But the current sanctions are going to rip Russia apart. The editor of Medusa, an anti-Putin media entity that closed down yesterday, casually mentioned that his salary had been cut by 1.5 times in the course of an interview. Life is going to be wretchedly bad, perhaps impossible for many Russians, no’s that their leader has become a pariah. And Putin is in the process of losing the oligarchs. In truth, Putin is in a no-win situation.
The problem that could arise is that If Russia now swiftly overwhelms Ukraine and installs a puppet government, those who have issued biting sanctions could lose interest and quietly reverse them in the name of profit.
I think the above scenario possible, but not too likely at this point. The world must maintain the conviction that Putin’s time is over and stick resolutely to that path. As wretched as we all feel towards Ukraine, it is vitally important not to spread the war by a no-fly zone or other aggressive means. At the same time we need to dig deep and help Ukraine as much as possible. And there must develop a clear, orderly and ultra-humane plan to assist the swelling tide of people just like us in every way except that they have been driven from their country.
I don’t think Lindsay Graham’s comment will become a propaganda coup for the Russians. There may be a short-lived effect, but the world shifts frighteningly on its axis daily and it will soon be forgotten. And, though it makes me chagrined to do it, I agree fully with his comment.
And the nuclear threat hangs over all of this. What a cauldron of evil - millions of lives lost or torn up because of one man. It beggars belief.
Kudos to Biden and his steady, firm hand. He is in his element.
1) Yes, firm and steady. I hope you are right that Graham’s remark will have little effect.
2)”The world must maintain the conviction that Putin’s time is over.” Not just him.
Democracy is messy and frustrating, but potentially self-correcting. Fans of strongman rule, you pay close attention to what’s happening. Are you sure you haven’t misjudged trusting someone, anyone, who claims “I alone can fix it” and plays the victim at the same time.
Excellent thought. It hadn’t occurred to me that the message needs to be passed on unambiguously.
Hi Fern, go back and take a look at Mr. Poland's most recent photo of the Gettysburg Battlefield.
Only, this time, use your imagination to add all of the wounded and dead young soldiers that were thrown into that Field.
Now, ask yourself: What is being a human really? I mean, remove all the emotion and just think.
Perhaps, that is your lesson for yourself, Mike. Try it if you haven't and see if you can take the emotion out of it. Those that can, may be the ones who you don't want to have any control over others.
Jet-lagged from a month of being with family in the little blue island of Austin, TX. Prof. Richardson's letter, as always, is profoundly helpful in working through the events of the day.
But what absolutely blows me away is the comments of you, who talk with each other and who enrich my understanding along with helping me feel not so alone in this crazy world. My new granddaughter has a lot ahead of her. Thanks to you all.
I cannot stop thinking about my grandchildren, a two year old and another about to be born. Parents of whom are very much aware of what is going on in the world. It takes a special kind of optimism or realism or acceptance, I don't even know, to bring children into the world today.
Beth, had exactly the same angst this morning. Want to scoop up my little grandkids and take them somewhere safe. But there is nowhere safe. And other little kids lives are being snuffed out in the mad man's bombardments of apartment buildings in Ukraine. Not to mention he is dangling all of us like a mouse to a cat when he plays around with nuclear plants. That in itself is a lethal action against the entire world.
❤️
Most of central California is not blue except for college towns like Davis and Chico. That’s what Austin must be like. I love college towns.
A good site from a friend in Maine that I did not know about.https://war.ukraine.ua/
Up to date verified information.
Excellent to get news directly from Ukrainians. 'This is the official website of Ukraine. The information is verified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (ukraine@mfa.gov.ua) See link in Allen Hingston's comment or below.
Thank you, Allen. Link below.
https://war.ukraine.ua/
Thank you, Allen. Accurate information is gold these days. Be well and stay safe.
You are truly unbelievable and huggable.
Thank you Allen and God be with you.
Hi Allen, Would like to know how you and the family are doing, including Lucky and the cats. How many cats and what are their names? Salud! Fern
That seems to be a valuable website for minute by minute updates, Allen.
Today at 15:00, as predicted:
“Head of Kherson Regional Administration: the Russian invaders are blocking efforts to create a humanitarian corridor to supply vital humanitarian goods to Kherson city.”
Thank you, Allen.
“Motto by Bertolt Brecht
In the dark times, will there also be singing? Yes, there will be singing.
About the dark times.”
Thank you Heather for keeping us up to date in these uncertain and upsetting times. I think sleep may not come easily.
When I shop tomorrow
for the impossibilities
I will not buy canned tuna and peas
Instead I will stock up on pens,
pencils, sharpeners and paper,
ice cream and chocolate.
Write your story, friend.
In one hundred years a child might want to read your words. Just like we read yesterday’s Poetry.
I think the reason we all write is to be on record for what is most important to us. All of us thoughtfully try to describe how we see the world, that includes everyone who’s words appear on my iPad every morning. I wish I could know that future family members and many others will be able to find comfort and inspiration in our reactions to unfolding events. Like most of you, I suppose, I read until I’m inspired to write ✍️, I never have any idea what will come out of my mind, it’s always a revelation to me and a total surprise. I have no doubt that is how Lincoln jotted the note’s for his speech at Gettysburg, off the top of his head and straight from his heart. I send my blessings to all of you especially those who are in harms way 🙏❤️🇺🇦
“ Like most of you, I suppose, I read until I’m inspired to write ✍️, I never have any idea what will come out of my mind, it’s always a revelation to me and a total surprise. “
The Russians are frantically stocking up on Ikea wares.... No more Axolotl bookcases to argue about!
Not for long if at all now. I just heard on MSNBC/CNN that Ikea is among the corporations that have closed their businesses in Russia. Plus how many Russians right now would be spending money on furniture etc. with the ruble at a historic low, as banks close down and as food shortages become worse. Though there probably are far too many who believe the Russian media propaganda. They're in for a rude awakening fairly soon.
Yes, for the meatballs.
Ha, ha, ha, Daria.
😉
Too late - unless they arrest them - they're shutting up shop and getting out as fast as they can.
Smart. It’s interesting how many businesses are or have been connected with the Russia and how quickly Putin can expel them.
And how quickly the world turns deadly.
(Too much garlic? Does he shower often enough?)
I rely on you to follow the awful story and write about it in a way that doesn't scare the beejeesus out of me. I am so grateful for your work, Heather.
Americans don't realize how important it was to pull out of Afghanistan last year and return to a position of international diplomacy. We must refrain from military engagement that portrays aggression and leads to occupation. We must differentiate ourselves from what Russia is doing, even when it feels like we are not doing enough.
The global economy which developed from the Marshall Plan and led to Nixon's opening the door to China and then peace with Vietnam was bringing the world together in ways that appeared to be a halcyon of peace and cooperation. Clearly, people and countries were left behind, creating fertile soil for conflict. Clearly, the US engaged in old world tactics like supporting dictators who seemed to support us, engaging in military conflicts to change conditions and establish control. These have not been wise, contradicting, compromising, risking and even destroying our ideals of democracy, equal and freedom for all. "We must get the back to the garden" (Joni Mitchell and Crisby Stills Nash & Young) and tend it well.
David,
Thank you, a very good, and lightly worded condemnation of our own role in what Putin is doing today. If I rewind time back from yesterday to 2003 we are/were saturation bombing Badhdad, killing a bunch of Iraqi's that were completely innocent and destroying ancient architecture in a real crime against history.
If I rewind back to 2001 we are saturation bombing innocent Afghan people.
If I rewind back to almost any year since WW II, we are saturation bombing SOMEPLACE on earth for fun and profit.
So, in many ways, Putin just took his que from us and ran with it.
1. Make up a lie, no matter if it is obviously a lie like "weapons of mass destruction" while the weapons inspectors ON THE GROUND are screaming there are none.
2. Invade and destroy a bunch of stuff.
3. Claim victory, although there will never be "victory", just destruction and death.
Why the casual blanket condemnation of America today? Was your mail late or something? I invite you to now change that lens and look at America in the World during those same time periods. A tidbit of recent history. Who has sent the most vaccines to other Countries? Have a good weekend!
sad but true! "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn . . . "
Thank you, David, for these truly inspiring words. It IS possible to see imperfections in ourselves and our country, admit to them and insist on doing better, without tearing down what is already good. I love the appeal to folk music. The song writers you mention and many others (I would add Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, etc.) have/had this in their hearts.
Closing lyrics of "Woodstock":
"And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the skies, turning into butterflies above our nation/We are stardust, we are golden, we are caught in the Devil's bargain, and we've got to get ourselves back to the garden". Crosby, Stills & Nash https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25DlXOWmMo&list=RDg25DlXOWmMo&start_radio=1
🎶 We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon 🎵
We’ve been playing that song at home
"After initially opposing Trump’s reach for the presidency, Graham threw in his lot utterly with the former president, who has many possible reasons both to undermine Biden and to keep Putin in power. Perhaps Graham’s comment was intended to help Trump. Or perhaps Graham might have simply made a colossally stupid mistake. Whatever the case, the enormous implications of his statement make it one that would be a mistake to ignore."
Graham IS the colossally stupid mistake! He is not worthy of the title of senator. After turning his back on his best friend, John McCain, and uplifting Trump, his swampy characteristics shone through! Trust him to do something this despicable -- to say something so banal that it plays into Putin's filthy hands!
Vive l'Ukraine❣️💙💛💙💛💙💛💙🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏💗🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏l’Ukraine
Graham was probably just drunk, he looks drunk so often
He’s such a weird guy but boy they sure love him in SC.
Not everyone! We need more immigration into South Carolina, those who truly believe in opportunity for all and who walk the talk, so we can elect Senators and Representatives who will work for a true, better democracy. We transplants are simply outnumbered right now! But the tides are slowly changing, Deo gratias.
P.S. I am one of those Darling Yankee transplants:)
After my recent trip to Charleston I’m planning to come back at least once a winter. I love Charleston though I couldn’t stand the summer heat!
Tanya says it is time to go. Maybe tomorrow. We are scared. They could be here in 3 days. Our critters and house will be looked after.
Love to you all and will check in when possible. I will not acknowledge and comments now as too busy
You must do what you feel you have to do. My heart aches for you and your loved ones having to make such a hard decision, but you must be practical in the face of what is happening. My most earnest daily prayers are for you and yours to stay safe and out of harm's way. Godspeed and Бог з тобою!
Allen, I just saw this message from you of eight to nine hours ago. You may be on your way to somewhere. We go with you in spirit. Salud! Fern
Love to you both. Wishing you as much comfort, security and safety as possible. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🚗❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There’s just so much to absorb in what Heather’s yet again unpacked and presented to us so succinctly. Such a stunning series of events in this stunning season. I feel loopy - and terrified - and grateful to those who are defending US and what remains of the free world against enemies foreign and domestic.
I wish the US would impose sanctions on some AMERICAN media outlets too.
😂😂 very nice Marcy!
So… are we really just going to heavily sanction and watch while millions suffer and die? For the ego of one sad angry man? Really?
I want to know what that number is before Russia herself says stop. To be a heavy weight Russian despot there is no real stopping point. The condemnation worldwide has been submitted. I don’t think standing on the line and spitting at each other will stop the mass murder now underway. Putin the pirate should have nowhere on earth to hide. Where is seal team6?
Russia will never stay stop. All we need to do is look at the USSR's handling of people. Putin is of the same cloth.
I'm worried that sanctions won't make a difference -- because they won't affect Putin personally.
But Diana, if enough of the sanctions and the seizures of property from his inner circle of oligarchs and military commanders, there is an idea they will turn on him.
Well - that's the hope. But how will his inner circle get near him? He is distancing himself physically from everyone. The sanctions won't make a difference. I say this because the KGB never cared about the well-being of people in the soviet union: people starved and waited in lines for hours for a loaf of bread, a bag of flour, or other sundries; USSR manufactured a famine in Ukraine; anyone who dissented was arrested, killed, tortured or sent to a gulag. Today Russia is arresting and beating up children (Guardian Ukraine live feed). These are the same tactics used by Stalin.
Our only hope is that the sanctions create an uprising in Russia that detracts military attention from Ukraine.
I hope I'm wrong.
Diana, I believe there will be a revolt from within. The citizens of Russia will rise up as the (illegal in Russia) news spreads, the lines for a slice of bread etc get longer and longer. The inner circle does care about Russia, and will realize that their beloved country has become a place all see as sick and dying. Someone will get to Putin, someone from within.
I hope you are right. But am having some PTSD here....I hoped the same of tfg's inner circle and we had to wait for the post election books to come out to hear how appalled they all were!!!! Meanwhile, tfg is up to his eyeballs in domestic and foreign criminal actions and is making a hundred million dollars out of it. We sit and watch him operate as if we were watching a film!!!!
I have to believe that someone will, all he does is give orders, that’s the weakest link in the chain, it’s always up to others to implement those orders. I have to believe that they are not oblivious to what is happening in their homeland as well as that of their neighbors. All of this pain and suffering is emanating from the ice cold heart of one man. If ever there was a time for a lightening strike from the heavens, this is one.
All of this pain from one man. Who wears a cross around his neck, and claims to protect Christianity. American right wing Christians, how is your cognitive dissonance right about now? Blessed be the peacemakers.
When there’s a will, there’s a way.
Clearly the EU, UK, US political establishment is currently reacting to Putin, held back with lobbying, planned and paid for by guess who? We all need (not just Ukraine) forceful proactive action and full mobilisation of the Western economic-system to the detriment of Putin's regime. Without this immediate action, to gain the strategic advantage, we will enable Putin to extrapolate, as per Aleppo, Kosovo or other atrocities. Given Putin is a terrorist, by all definitions, controlling us with his evil intentions, why don't we declare him as such and use the terrorist legislation in place, as per ISIS or Al Qaeda, to cut-off all his regime members and associates and undermine his regime?
I had a nasty conversation yesterday with the owner of the kennel where I bring my dog for day care occasionally. Paul developed Guillain Barre syndrome after getting the COVID-19 vaccine and has not been working a lot. Rare, but it does happen.
I asked him how he was - and regretted it quickly. He just ranted on and on about how Biden is screwing up everything and the sanctions Biden was putting into place in Russia were going to hurt Paul’s business. ??Really? People are dying in Ukraine because of the madness of a Russian oligarch and the sanctions will harm your business? Its all about you?
Regardless how Guillain Barre messes up the brain, his rant, to a customer, was way out of line. I grabbed my dog, told him I would not be back -ever - and would be talking about his politics with dog owners whom I know also brought their animals there.
At the dog park later, I fumed. How are we ever going to preserve democracy with the likes of Fox News, Lindsey Graham, Hanick, and the whole Russian propaganda machine? Not to mention the ravings of Putin and a certain former President and the 70+ million Americans who think the world revolves around them? I had read Rebecca Solnit’s analysis of the “information wars” Putin was waging here,(in the Guardian) and felt real rage at those who hate democracy so deeply and would destroy it for their own benefit.
Paul called me last night about 8:00pm to apologize. I listened. Then I gave him both barrels, including the fact that the sanctions would mess with everyone’s business, worldwide, including mine, But more important than that was that the sanctions were about squeezing Putin and his Oligarchs, and about defending the right of a sovereign nation to protect its borders and live in a democracy. And Ukrainians were dying to defend those principles. Time to sacrifice a little for the greater good. And the fact that Paul drives a late model Mercedes was noted - loudly. He wouldn’t understand sacrifice if it bit him in the ass!
I didn’t sleep very well last night but neither did millions of Ukranians- and other Europeans. Not to mention more than a few Russians. Time to go find commenter Allen Hingston’s post and let him know I’m thinking about him and his family. Then look for another doggy day care facility.
A few days ago, I had made a comment regarding how a startling number of my friends and former colleagues we so taken with the authoritarian mindset and their support of Russia (when many of them, as Cold War Veterans, had spent between 4-20 years with USSR/Russia as our enemy). A commenter here explained: They are in a belief state, and no amount of facts or contrary information will get them to believe anything other than what they've taken on as part of their belief structure (noting than many of these folks are also conservative Christian). You can fact folks to the end of the world, and be met with "well, I don't believe that."
Brava! I have run into something similar...and now the Trucker's Convoy. You've done the right thing. I am certain that the Foxies think their self-absorption is justified, but it is a movement that needs correcting quickly! (And if not promoted by oligarchs, it certainly is abetted by them.)
He called to apologize and you gave him both barrels? I understand your initial anger, but am confused about why you didn’t use this call as an opportunity to talk, persuade and perhaps understand. A person dealing with Guillain-Barre is under a lot of stress and dealing with daily pain. Maybe I am not understanding what you mean by “ gave him both barrels”. Maybe you felt his apology was insincere?
I understand Guillain Barre very well - had a colleague die of it 30 years ago. I also understand the problem of chronic pain- I live with it daily.
His apology was more of an attempt to explain his position (I’m sorry but…..) So I explained my position but loudly. Wrong? Maybe. But I vote with my pocketbook so I needed to let him know that his focus on himself and his business was not acceptable to me in the face of obvious suffering in Ukraine and that I was going to take my business elsewhere. That got his attention. And the attention of his brother and his wife, both of whom are co-owners ( they emailed me. ) That started a different conversation which was what I wanted.
Despite Paul’s illness, he can be held accountable for his behavior. I hold myself accountable too and toned myself down this morning when we talked. But if he continues to blame Biden for the recent rise in gas prices and uses the phrase “Let’s go Brandon” to me again, I’m going to call BS on him and his politics and take my business elsewhere.
Thanks for your reply. I understand more of your thinking and the interaction with this man. My response was coming from a place of not wanting us to become as rancorous as many of the anti-Biden, pro-Trump people often are. I can see why an apology accompanied by further comments defending himself is not really an apology.
I do agree, and applaud you for, your willingness to respond initially and forcefully to his comments and am glad you were able to have a better conversation with his co-owners.
Here are some facts from another newsletter by Jamie Dupree, also on sub stack. You can have them on hand for your next conversation with Paul. 😉
DOMESTIC DRILLING. As for GOP criticism that the Biden Administration is making it difficult for new oil and gas exploration at home - Psaki called BS. “There are 9,000 approved oil leases that the oil companies are not tapping into currently,” Psaki said.
FACT CHECK. It might be hard to believe for some, but the Biden Administration actually issued more drilling permits on public lands last year than during the first year of the Trump Administration.
FORECAST. And government experts are predicting that natural gas production will be at an all-time high in the U.S. in 2022. Federal experts see an all-time high for U.S. crude oil production in 2023.
https://jamiedupree.substack.com/p/pelosi-backs-russia-oil-cutoff?s=r
Jamie Dupree authors a column in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and for years was a guest on the Neal Boortz show, so his political bent is somewhat questionable, since he was pretty hard right at the time. I read his column frequently, although I missed this one. I will admit that he has been fairly objective since his AJC column was initiated, but I'm wary of his intentions, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, especially considering his Pro-Bush-Bomb-Iraq and anti-Democrat stance in the past. Still, I'd be interested in some other interpretations of Biden's actions outlined above, and readily admit that I have no knowledge of his reasoning.