The Adulation of a Murderous Thug

George Rebane

With the horrendous historical preambles of Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, the world now knows that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is a murderous thug.  What our Left misses or means to misinform is the manner in which many of us on the Right assess Putin’s geo-strategic actions, especially when compared in the same arena to the sophomoric efforts of Team Bumblebrain.

To assess Putin’s strategy, concerning his latest effort to expand Russia’s borders and sphere of influence, with attributes such as clever, shrewd, adroit, and even brilliant has no bearing on the man’s character, values, mores, or any other trait laudable by the international community.  A scoundrel can be all these things without ever being mistaken for a person of high principles and moral character.  To the discerning, assessment can be and has always been received and rendered as independent of adulation.

It is in their political desperation that the Democrats have revived their fabricated Russia Collusion hoax to again paint Trump as a Putin toady.  Their dumb-as-doorknobs lamestream trumpets have dutifully picked up the chorus, and when reporting on the matter, even FN has had trouble always making the distinction between assessment and adulation.  But Democrats can count on their lightly-read minions to lap up the ‘new evidence’ that Trump has always been subservient to the Slav with dirty pictures of him.  Lakoff (q.v.) would approve of such posturing as maintenance of the established TDS frame.

Comments

[Paul Emery]

George

Trump refers to Putins invasion as a “smart move” by sending “the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen” to the area. Do you agree with Trump that Putins military in Ukraine is a "peace force"?

Also do you think Trump should be the next President of the United States?

Here's Trumps quote "Trump said he saw the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis on TV “and I said: ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine … Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”

The former US president said that the Russian president had made a “smart move” by sending “the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen” to the area."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/23/trump-putin-genius-russia-ukraine-crisis

[George Rebane]

PaulE 1154am - You misquoted Trump. On purpose? Tsk, tsk.

“But here’s a guy that says, you know, ‘I’m gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent’ – he used the word ‘independent’ – ‘and we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna help keep peace.’ You gotta say that’s pretty savvy.”

[Gregory]

Trump was critiquing the geopolitical chess match in real time. Compared to Biden's moves, Putin's were really smart.
Punchy is just punching.

[fish]

Posted by: Paul Emery | 28 February 2022 at 11:54 AM

All Punch really cares about is the second question.

Also do you think Trump should be the next President of the United States?

Were you to answer "correctly" you would be reminded daily by your friend.

[Gregory]

Also do you think Trump should be the next President of the United States?

The correct answer: only if he wins the requisite numbers of Electors in a fair election contest in all states.

[Paul Emery]

George

GMy quote was accurate. Did you follow the link I provided? He openly applauds Putins move and calls it "pretty savvy"

Here's full total quote as published by the Guardian and a link:

:Trump said he saw the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis on TV “and I said: ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine … Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”

The former US president said that the Russian president had made a “smart move” by sending “the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen” to the area.
Biden imposes sanctions on company behind Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline – as it happened
Read more

Trump, a long-term admirer of Putin who was impeached over allegations he threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine unless it could help damage the reputation of Joe Biden, praised the Russian president’s moves while also claiming that they would not have happened if he was still president.

“Here’s a guy who’s very savvy … I know him very well,” Trump said of Putin while talking to the The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. “Very, very well. By the way, this never would have happened with us. Had I been in office, not even thinkable. This would never have happened.

“But here’s a guy that says, you know, ‘I’m gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent’ – he used the word ‘independent’ – ‘and we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna help keep peace.’ You gotta say that’s pretty savvy.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/23/trump-putin-genius-russia-ukraine-crisis

[scenes]

Gregory: "Punchy is just punching."

It's hard to tell if he's just a shit-stirrer or if he's just that stupid.

The currently referenced quote (over and over again) is from this...

https://www.clayandbuck.com/president-trump-with-cb-from-mar-a-lago/

The pertinent bit starts at 2:00

Paul: "Did you follow the link I provided?"

Dude, your link is a quote of a quote of a transcription. Your research skills need some work. Listen to the show. Get back to the adults. Clean the yard up around your trailer, it'll be a bad fire season.

[Paul Emery]

The quote is from the Guardian scenes, a credible journalistic source. Are you saying they altered the quote?

[scenes]

I'm saying that it's a quote of a quote of a transcription.

Get your news from the source, and the source ain't a text file somewhere, it's an audio interview.

So, no, it's not credible. They're editorializing, just like you always do newsman.

[Paul Emery]

Scenes

This is fron the source scenes. Can you tell me what's different from the Guardian, a credible news source.

"PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, what went wrong was a rigged election and what went wrong is a candidate that shouldn’t be there and a man that has no concept of what he’s doing. I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, “This is genius.” Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful. (sarcastic)

So, Putin is now saying, “It’s independent,” a large section of Ukraine. I said, “How smart is that?” And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s strongest peace force… We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right. No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy… I know him very well. Very, very well.

By the way, this never would have happened with us. Had I been in office, not even thinkable. This would never have happened. But here’s a guy that says, you know, “I’m gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent,” he used the word “independent,” “and we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna help keep peace.” You gotta say that’s pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didn’t have one for that. No, it’s very sad. Very sad."

https://www.clayandbuck.com/president-trump-with-cb-from-mar-a-lago/

[scenes]

That's not the source (at least you're in the right site for once).

It's a transcription. It has the relationship to reality that sheet music does to performance.

Listen to the clip and tell us what 'Oh, that's wonderful' means to you.

[scenes]

George, I see that the EU, UK, Australia, have banned Radio Sputnik and Russia Today. Can't have any wrongthink going on.

It's interesting to compare different sources.

https://www.youtube.com/c/FoxNews/videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/RT/videos

Which one looks like news? which looks like a whole bunch of editorials written by a hivemind?

Personally I'm getting tired of being told what to think by everyone. It's like Paul's use of editorials pretending to be news.

Most people seem to get an endorphin rush, I mostly get irritated.

[Paul Emery]

So scenes ands George you are not disputing what Trump said but you have a different interpretation based on your evaluation of his theaterics when he said it.

Does that mean that anytime anyone on this blog quotes from a transcription it is not valid unless they listen to the original recording? Are you willing to apply that standard to all the RR's that contribute here whenever they quote
Biden for example?

[Bill Tozer]

Paul is that dumb. It was great scheme Putin came up with, all the right propaganda words. Call the Army invasion a “peace keeping force” , declare parts of Ukraine “independent states”, call them freedom fighters if you like. Then flood the zone. Ya, Putin is going to keep the peace alright.

I agree. Send all those Russian tanks to our Southern border to lend us a hand. Biden don’t know squat about protecting our southern border. That is a no-brainer. Biden is stupid, stupid, stupid.
Imagine having another Katrina somewhere in the southeast or Atlantic coast and sending the National Guard down to the hurricane zone a few days advance…and when the storm hits and time to evacuate thousands still stranded, Biden pulls the Guard out first. FIRST!
That is exactly Joe Shit for Brains did in Afghanistan. Biggest US embarrassment since the Bay of Pigs. Civilians clinging to the outside of planes as falling to there deaths. Reminds me of the jumpers and bodies falling/ blown out out the upper floors of the Twin Towers.

BTW, a short time after 9/11, I had a chat with a gentleman. He, in hushed downs feeling me out, said the 9/11 attack was genius, pause. I agreed! Pure genius to use fully filled with jet fuel commercial jetliners, not for hostage taking, but to use as a missile. A big firebomb missile. Nobody would be looking for the kind incoming from an enemy. Plan was genius, thinking outside the box, and cheap to pull off only using a couple dozen operatives. The man was relieved he could finally find someone to talk to. It was an unspoken taboo considering the grounds were still smoking a month later.

PS: I have never praised the character or buddied up of the friggin camel jockey raghead terrorist who should be castrated without pain relievers, then shot with bullets rolled in pig fat and coated then with dog hair. At the time, I said I would Fly 10,000 Miles to Smoke a Camel. Either I am an Islamaphobic or, option two, I am a Islamic Terrorist. Which one? Only two choices. Yes or no!

But nuance is kind of hard for Punchy to carry around in his noggin. And as Punchy himself once replied to me a few years ago, he does not do sarcasm well. Or maybe he said he goes not do satire well. Nor humor for that matter. Or irony.
No room in the thinker. It does not compute, impossible to reconcile, impossible to penetrate. Broken thinker syndrome, Left side of brain disabled.

“What, are you saying…….?” Heavens no! Whatever gave your that idea?
“I don’t understand. Speak in coherent words so we can understand.” I am well aware
that you do not, cannot, and will not understand.
“Yes or no! Yes or No!” How about both. How about neither. How about what’s behind Door #3. .

Hey Punchy, have you finished licking the dead skin off of Biden’s scrotum yet? (That’s for Walt.). RIP Brother.

[Paul Emery]

Bill

So it's back to for ya. Why didn't Trump pull us out like he promised he would ? He had four years to do it and Biden did it in six months with minimal casualties compared to the thousands that came before him due to Bush, Obama and Trump.

Would you prefer that we never left?

[Scott O]

Paul - "...Biden did it in six months with minimal casualties..."
Those were NEEDLESS casualties, moron.
Biden lied and US soldiers died.
Needlessly.

[Bill Tozer]

Yep, there is always that 1/3 to 40% that think Biden is the Bees Knees.

NOT ON TRUMP’S WATCH
This is one of the more striking poll results I have seen in a long time:

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/02/not-on-trumps-watch.php

[Paul Emery]

Scott
Were the thousands of others that died under Bush, Obama and Trump also needless. Who knows how many would have died if we stayed. So why didn't your guy Trump pull out like he promised?

[Paul Emery]

You're changing the topic to polls Bill. You can't handle the conversation about swhat an idiot your guy Trump is. Polls swing back and forth as you always posted.

[fish]

Posted by: Paul Emery | 28 February 2022 at 04:45 PM

Polls swing back and forth as you always posted.

Then why do you constantly obsess over them Punch?

[Don Bessee]

Creepy grampa joe is causing inflation across the world but wont do the most obvious thing to fix it -

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2022/02/28/alaska-gov-dunleavy-our-oil-is-cleaner-than-russias-we-can-supply-ourselves-and-allies-if-were-allowed-to-by-biden/

;-)

[Scott O]

from Paul: "As long as we're killing people, why not needlessly kill a few more?"
I'm sure they were unimportant people, so it don't matter, anyway.
Paul's idea of morality is breathtaking. I can see how the volk stood by while their leaders slaughtered millions. "Hey - someone will probably kill them, so what's the big deal?"

[Bill Tozer]

scott # 5:21 PM.

That is exactly George Soros's reasoning when, as a youth, assisted the Nazi's confiscate the Jews' proprrty. If it wasn't him, then it would be somebody else.

When Soros crashed the English pound and Sngapore (or Thailand's ?) currency and broke the bank, resulting in billions of profit and causing untold suffering and poverty for millions, Soros said if it wasn't him, then it would be someone else who would exploit the vulnerabilities.

Millions left destitute, including goverments.

[Paul Emery]

Don't have a clue what you're talking about Scott-Afganistan?

I was opposed to that war from the start and didn't vote for Obama 2nd term because of that and other things. Your Republican guy Bush is who got us in there. How about the thousands that were killed on both sides because of him?

You attributed a quote to me that I never said. That's pretty low but what I have come to expect. Prove me wrong bu showing the source .

Why didn't your guy Trump pull us out as he promised SCott? You didn't complain about that.

[scenes]

Paul: "Does that mean that anytime anyone on this blog quotes from a transcription it is not valid unless they listen to the original recording?"

You know, that's probably a fair statement for interviews. It's much less true in a stand-up speech, especially from people who can't speak off the cuff like Obama or Biden.

Another example of needing an audio recording is the inevitable hidden mics since everyone is a superspy what with cell phones and all.

I think it's fair to use a transcript from a highly scripted deal like the State of the Union.

This business of 'that's wonderful' is an excellent example of how the truth can be twisted by modern 'news' organizations, nearly all of which are propaganda houses.

[Don Bessee]

Sure waving that ignorant flag today @@557 LOL

;-)

[scenes]

In terms of 'thug', which really draws from the stranglin' murderer bands in India, I'd say that another name for a successful thug is 'statesman' or 'conqueror' or 'founder'.

Sometimes it takes a while to improve your PR game.

Role-playing Paul for a sec, was the 2003 invasion of Iraq more or less justifiable than the 2022 invasion of Ukraine?

[Paul Emery]

From Republican Chris Christie non the less

""How can anyone with any understanding of the world call Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine 'genius' and 'very savvy' as we watch him unite the rest of the world against Russia in nearly an instant?" Christie asked on Twitter.

"Putin has two choices now: an unwinnable occupation of Ukraine after leveling the country and murdering its hero President (if that is even achievable) or a humiliating retreat," Christie wrote. "Yeah, that’s 'genius' and 'very savvy' alright. No walking that back. History is watching."

https://twitter.com/GovChristie/status/1498395612835991553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1498395612835991553%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rawstory.com%2Fchris-christie-trump-2656809940%2F

[scenes]

Paul: "Why didn't your guy Trump pull us out as he promised Scott?"

That actually strikes me as a fair question and is a Trump failure. Biden's problem wasn't the pull-out (evidently he's not the pull-out king, h/t to Portlandia) but how it was conducted. His fault? I doubt he planned it, he just went with some sleek and well-fed senior officers.

Which brings me to my point. It seems to me that a real downfall in the system, probably pushing 100 years old now, is the takeover of federal government *policy* by bureaucrats. These guys you elect are barely running the show and a somewhat populist takeover by an outsider (Trump) mostly resulted in a coup from within the government itself. My guess (it's nothing but that really) is that The Resistance resulted in a big step-up in this dominance by the unelected, those ties still exist within the organization and the people involved are emboldened.

Using this model, Trump represented a chance for success or failure in bringing them to heel. He was unable to and that is his real failure. It's probably too late now, especially as the monitoring and mass manipulation of the population really amps up.

[scenes]

re: Paul Emery@6:14PM

So let's say Trump is wrong as it turns out, it'll take years to see. The Russians don't get a lot for a little (which is Trump's point).

So he's wrong.

What's the sin? Why post so much about it?

[Don Bessee]

The ruble is worth 7 tenths of a cent now -

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2022/02/28/ruble-hits-record-low-as-russia-sanctions-take-hold/

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

The Guardian is legitimate news source? Sure, they are a respected source, just about as respected as you find Raw Story or Huff-n-Puff Farting Post.
According to the Brits, the Guardian is the most left leaning of the British newsstand rags, followed by the Independent, which amazingly enough, does some actual journalism between lefty rants and slants with their anti-Brexit position, but still does some good deep dives now and then. The Daily Mall is a good all around news source. breaking things like the Lyman Middle School substitute teacher abusing school children in some place across the pond called Grass Valley, CA

Chris Christy, Bill Kristol, Dick Cheney’s daughter, the National Review, Rand Paul, The Walrus John Bolton, the Federalist…all have different opinions on foreign policy, as does the Defense Department has their internal disagreements, some quite vocal with their views, yet follow the chain of command. Heck, we lost Maddog the Monk Warrior due to a disagreement with Trump over troop pull outs in Syria and Iraq.
If I recall, Paul, you were quite opposed to the pull outs in Northern Iraq and Syria because of our moral duty to protect the Kurds from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the Turks, ISIS, and some other factions in the area.

Both parties have their hawks and doves, as does the USA has its hawks and doves, regardless of political party…except of course for the true libertarians.

Chris Christie, once a rising star is now, like Jeff Flake and others, are looking for a home. So is Tulsi G, the liberal congresswoman who quit her position on the DNC committee to vote and campaign for Bernie instead of Hillary.

It has always surprised me when a Presidential election is decided by foreign policy and National Security issue to an extent. I don’t know why it surprises me with all the domestic issues to debate, but in uncertain times, foreign policy becomes a game changer.

A good President will have a hawk from DoD sit down and call in the diplomatic core (Sec of State) and have them battle it out, airing strongly each differing opinions passionately to win the argument. The President takes it all in. Chris Christy got shut out of the Trump Administration, but was one the translation team, hoping to be the DOJ for Trump. He just did not cut the mustard for Trump’s standards for that position. Probably would have made a weak DOJ. He is a scorned man. So is Romney hoping to be Trump’s Sec of State.
———-
Governor Ronald Reagan told a story how in heated cabinet debates, he would sit back and watch the jelly bean jar. You can tell a lot about a person by the jelly bean jar. So,Ed would carefully pick out only the black ones to eat, some would grab a handful and shove them into their mouths, some would pick the bright colors and eat them one by one slowly. Reagan found it humorous offering the department heads engaged in a yelling match with jelly beans stuck to their teeth and tempers rising, each trying to convince the governor that their advice is best.

[Don Bessee]

So keep paying vlad and enrich those mutha mullahs when we could flood the world with cheap energy is the line from the left and NPR -

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/02/28/npr-lifting-sanctions-against-irans-oil-flow-could-lower-energy-prices-for-americans/

;-)

[scenes]

re: BillT@7:01PM

You have to wonder why a career politician would ever make a good cabinet secretary. Besides the lack of raw ability they typically have, they don't have the background in that area. Often times it's a payoff of course.

A tricky thing would be to find a knowledgeable person who wasn't beholden to the existing establishment in that area. Even then I would think they would be manipulated by the lifers who are actually in control.

[Don Bessee]

Creepy grampa joe leading from the basement eh, as if anyone believes that crap. So she is basically saying its all his fault -

He is somebody who has been leading this effort behind the scenes for months,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during the daily briefing when asked about the president’s low public profile over the weekend even as Putin escalated his invasion into Ukraine.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/02/28/white-house-boasts-joe-biden-leading-opposition-against-vladimir-putin-behind-the-scenes/

;-)

[Don Bessee]

Amazing that lerch would have actually said it -

An Inconvenient War

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cartoons-slideshow

;-)

[Paul Emery]

Bill

The guardian printed Trumps word for word exactly as he spoke them. Whats your problem with that. Thats what legitimate press does.

What's your problem with that? They actually provided a link to the original source. What more can they do?

“Here’s a guy who’s very savvy … I know him very well,” Trump said of Putin while talking to the The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show. “Very, very well. By the way, this never would have happened with us. Had I been in office, not even thinkable. This would never have happened.

[Bill Tozer]

Paul.

It was not the contents of the transcript that I questioned/objected to. It was your flippantly saying The Guardian is a CREDIBLE news sources, at if that is true and we should take that as a given. Think you said credible not once but twice.

Sure, the National Inquirer broke the John Edwards love child story, but I don’t call them a credible source either. At least I don’t say it as a matter of fact.

So, messenger aside, let’s listen to the message. But first, it was GREAT that young Buck Sexton got Trump to come on the Buck-Clay show and aired the audio interview. Without listening to the audio with the voice cadence and tones, the letters on a page do not fully capture how this or that which was said in voice.
You have never understood Trump’s humor, sarcasm, wit, or context. I cannot help you. If Trump thought Putin was playing Biden & Co like a fiddle, I have to agree.

Scenes and fish and Scott O keep telling you to listen to the full audio and you keep sending links to the transcript. Call me skeptical, but me thinks that you can’t sit through the audio for two minutes nor ever intend to. So, what we have here is an old fashioned Mexican standoff.

As far as Afghanistan is concerned, I could write the longest essay ever written answering all your questions pre and post Trump, but I simply do not care to tonight. Maybe tomorrow, maybe never. It would be another exercise in futility.

Readers Digest version on one simple but huge point. It’s not the withdraw of troops from Afghanistan (Obama lead the biggest drawdown of GIs from that shithole), but rather Paul, it was the way it was conducted by Joe Biden. He promised no Vietnam like imagines of the US Embassy roof in Saigon, but he ordered and commanded much worse. They way the Afghan withdraw was handled is and shall remain a national embarrassment for decades to come.

To Repeat if case you do not understand, either by choice or you are simply unable to grasp this: We all knew for years we would be winding down in Afghanistan. A given. When the time came, Biden fucked up big time. Our Allies who have been with us over there through thick and thin for 20 friggin years woke up one day and the American soldiers were gone. The Afghan army wakes up and the Americans are gone, as was their air cover. No air cover for the Afghan army, long time no come see. This was BEFORE one non-military US citizen or Afghan refugee was evacuated.

Civilians first, military last. In Dementia Joe’s world and evidenced by his orders as Commander-in-Chief, he relied foolishly on his own arrogance, disregarding all advisors and plans and make it military comes out first, civilians last.

He was/is like a captain and crew that were the FIRST to leave the ship, not the last.

In other words it’s not what you said, it’s how you said it. :) And like the Trump sobering all over Putin’s boots, it is not what Trump said, it’s how he said it. And he meant it that Putin was pulling off at brilliant PR strategy (at the time) and Biden is stupid at the time and stupid today.

[Scott O]

from Paul - "Don't have a clue what you're talking about..."
Now you're starting get real, Paul. Embrace it - own it!
You see? Honesty is always the best policy.
Keep this up and you'll be a new man!
The sun will shine more brightly and your step will be more lively!
You can do this, Paul!
We're with you on this one, ol buddy!

[Gregory]

The legit press doesn't edit out the context, Punch.

[Don Bessee]

Cracks in the base for vlad -

"Let me present an apology on behalf of all Russians not able to prevent this conflict," Russia's Oleg Anisimov reportedly said at the closing plenary meeting. Those who see what is happening "fail to find any justification for the attack on Ukraine," he added.

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/russian-official-apologizes-for-ukraine-invasion-at-ipcc-meeting-201410559.html

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Trump Vindicated: Germany to FINALLY Pay NATO Spending Requirements

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2022/02/28/trump-vindicated-germany-to-finally-pay-its-nato-spending-requirements/

[Mikel]

Paul has got to be a complete dumb s or he does what he does to get a rise out of the others who comment here. He hates Trump so much that he could never sit and listen to the actual words and understand the sarcasm that is inherent within a Trump speech. I kinda understand this as I am unable to listen to the scratching fingernails on a chalkboard that comes out of Hillary Clinton’s pie hole. Apparently Hillary said the same dumb s thing about what Trump said of Putin as Paul is saying.

Paul, here is a clue for you… when a transcript of a speech is made the emotional context is lost. So you are free to let your silly brain interpret the transcript to fit your preconceived notion of what was said.

Carry on….

[fish]

Scenes and fish and Scott O keep telling you to listen to the full audio and you keep sending links to the transcript.

One point of clarification.....I never suggested that Punch listen to anything. Punch is the prototypical Non Player Character.....a rhetorical Slam Man if you will. Completely inured to anything other than his daily dose of 110 proof TrumpHate™......which is fine.....I certainly enjoyed and may get to enjoy again my HillaryHate.

Carry on.

[fish]

Just not the same around here with Walt gone! Had considered strongly attending his service but had an online job interview…..that incidentally went really, really poorly….at exactly that time.

Anyway, I hope it was a lovely service! The big lug is going to be missed!

[scenes]

DonB quote: "fail to find any justification for the attack on Ukraine,"

That's just plain disingenuous.

Of course there are, the question is whether they are sufficient to the action. Probably not. I could (uselessly) guess what the Russian plans actually are, but it's unclear if they'll benefit in the long run. Given the relentless call for action in the US and European press the Pachinko Machine of War(tm) is loose and who knows where we'll end up. Given the realignment coming up, this might be the end of US hegemony, but who knows. It was a thing that was always going to end ungracefully.

re: Trump (or Putin). It occurred to me this morning that there's a personality type, musicians and women almost always fall under this, that view history and large scale events as the work of an individual. Trump. Putin. Hitler. Henry VIII. It's a matter of story-telling mostly and is more satisfying than the slippery issues of history-in-the-large. US politics? Trump (boo!), Obama (yay!), Michelle and her beautiful arms. UK? Diana (ooooh), Harry and the US trollop, Queen Elizabeth. English history? Henry VIII and palace politics. Ancient history? Boring, nothing to hang your hat on.

The interesting thing is The Deplorables, The Woke, Russian nationalism and fears, the Chinese breaking out to the world at large. Less sexy a topic, more meaningful.

[Bill Tozer]

Sorry fish that I included you with those who were encouraging Paulie What A Cracker to listen to the audio. I am a worm. To balance the books and at great personal sacrifice, I will drop my claim to My Gal and you can have her all to yourself.

It’s not like I really had the final say in the matter, anyway. You had been sneaking disrespectfully behind my back and making your move on My Gal anyway…for years! She is all yours. There, the books are balanced ( I humbly hope and beseech) and I have atoned for my being flat wrong as rightly pointed out by your tactful point of clarification. ;).

It is a sad state of affairs when sloppy seconds (formerly My Gal) is the best the Democrats have. No biggie. I wish her well. Besides, I have a new My Gal. Younger, prettier, smarter, and you can listen to her voice without tearing the flesh off your skull. Tulsi, the Russian agent, is my new My Gal. Keep your hands off her, Mr. Fish.

[fish]

Posted by: Bill Tozer | 01 March 2022 at 07:29 AM

Sorry fish that I included you with those who were encouraging Paulie What A Cracker to listen to the audio.

No worries William.....it's the kind of thing that PunchyBot might reference in the future....just want to make sure the "official record" is accurate.

[Scott O]

re Don 10:25 - Looks like Navalny will have a new cell mate.

[scenes]

Scotto@8:01AM

Speaking of speech.

"Public statements at demonstrations and on social media that approve of the Russian Federation's ongoing attack on Ukraine or express support for the leadership of Russia can now be considered a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in prison, Czech Prosecutor-General Igor Stříž said in a press release today. "Article 17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms enshrines freedom of speech at the constitutional level," the press release says.

"Everybody has the right to express their views in the way they see fit. However, freedom of speech also has its limits in a democratic state governed by the rule of law," Stříž said.

If someone in public - not just at a demonstration, but also on the Internet - agrees with, expresses support for, or supports the leaders of Russia, then that person could, under certain conditions, be committing the criminal offense either of approving of a felony, or of denying, questioning, approving and justifying genocide. By law, such offenses are punishable by imprisonment for up to a year in the case of approving of a felony, or for anywhere between six months to three years in the case of approving of genocide. "

https://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-prosecutor-general-says-expressing-approval-and-support-for-russia-apos-s-attack-on-ukraine-could-be-a-felony

[scenes]

"We're waging an all-out economic and financial war on Russia," Le Maire told France Info radio. "We will cause the collapse of the Russian economy."

and then, probably, somebody got to him.

"Le Maire later told French news agency AFP he had misspoken and that the term "war" was not compatible with France's efforts to de-escalate tensions surrounding the Ukraine conflict."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/french-minister-declares-economic-war-on-russia-and-then-beats-a-retreat/ar-AAUsLeQ

The West seems so eager to push energy into this system that I would suggest checking out your stock of bottled water and dried beans.

[Bill Tozer]

@8:15 am

It has been a easy smooth transition from crushing the Freedom Truckers in Canada to the same tactics employed by the Western World to squash and punish Putin’s aggression.

When the Security Chief of Canada announced that they in the coming months will search out and find every single person that voiced support of the Freedom Truckers, I thought about the parallels with the Truckers and our the FBI setting up offices in LA and around the country to find every single person who was at the Capitol Building/grounds on Jan. 6. The Big Chill.

First, your hit them in the pocket book by freezing their bank accounts, have teams scouring social media in case you liked a comment, and prosecute them to the fullest extend of the law…whether one was involved or not. Arrest them and have them rot in jail without charges formerly filed. Make sure they are too afraid to every post anything on-line again. Then unleash the doxxing teams to make their lives a living hell for having wrong thoughts. Make their children, spouses, and employers’ lives hell by encouraging the wave of doxxers to keep doing what they are doing.

Which brings us to Russia-Ukraine. We see the same tactics, but on a world wide scale…out in the open. Things (Orwellian) we have been warning about, things we have been warned about. The Empire strike back. Confiscate their assets, ban them from social media, erase them, hit them ‘six ways to Sunday.’ They have many ways to skin a cat and pounds of flesh will never satisfy their insatiable appetite for more pounds of flesh.

Disclaimer. All the above in NOT taking a side for or against Putin or Ukraine or sanctions or even Big Brother. It is an observation that the tactics used against any/all opposition (real or imagined) to the Empire has more than brought out from behind the curtain into the broad daylight for all to see. Banning Trump for life on Twitter is one example, throwing the Jan 6 rioters in the pokey and having them languish there for a year without bail, seizing businesses of the Canadian truckers that are not related to and independent of their trucking business or even the trucking industry in general…on and on it goes.

I used to quote the Japanese saying, “The nail that stands up will be pounded down.” Now, it is the nail that stands up must be pounded down. Oh how they ridiculed and brushed aside those who warned of the Deep State as conspiracy theorists. How shocking it was to the ears of the haters that we, not them, are destroying the faith in our institutions.

Every tool that is being unleashed against Putin ( and rightfully so) has already been unleashed on the Deplorables, aka, the dregs of society. That’s my opinion and I am sticking with it.

[scenes]

re: 8:56AM

A small thing, but noteworthy.

"YouTube is blocking channels connected to Russian state-backed media outlets RT and Sputnik across Europe effective immediately, due to the situation in Ukraine, the company operated by Alphabet’s Google, said on Tuesday."

"The company’s actions follow that of Facebook parent Meta Platforms, which on Monday said it will restrict access to television network RT and news agency Sputnik on its platforms across the European Union. read more

Twitter has also said that it would label tweets containing contents from the Russian state-controlled media and reduce their visibility."

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/01/youtube-to-block-channels-linked-to-russias-rt-and-sputnik-across-europe.html

It might all just be simply Darwinism at the national level. The Chinese model appears to work well and might actually work in places that aren't steeped in ethnonationalism. Once all communications and finances flow through a single gate, there's no telling what you can do with it.

BillT: "Every tool that is being unleashed against Putin ( and rightfully so)"

One problem I see is that the tools appear to be aimed at Russian regime change and/or an expansion of the war. Having the world's largest nuclear arsenal qualitatively changes the nature of the thing and somebody needs to figure out that the Russians need an offramp.

[The Estonian Fox]

BT @ 7:29AM - good to see you now have that proper respect for Tulsi.

Remember - T'NT '24 = Tulsi & Trump for 2024. P & VP in that order.

MAGA = Make 'ar gal awesome.

[scenes]

Worth a read. From the 'Nothing is Real (and nothing to get hung about)' Op-ed Department

(hopefully not posted yet, mea culpa if it has)

David Stockman:

https://www.unz.com/article/the-land-where-history-died-part-1/

and just for fun (from 2019)

https://www.unz.com/ishamir/the-plundering-of-ukraine/

What does it all mean? Your guess is as good as mine.

[Bill Tozer]

@ 9:11 am

There is an intuitive voice in my soul that says to me that just about any story in the headlines from government spokespersons about Putin’s demise and weakness is propaganda, clear and simple. Anything about the current conflict from either side is spin. That is baked Into the cake. It’s only Week One.

We see very little of what is actually coming OUT of Ukraine, but tons of stuff ABOUT Ukraine. Just a little voice talking to me, and yes, I do have voices in my head. I talk to myself to get a second opinion! And almost every major mistake I have made is when I went discarded that little voice….
——-
Russia needs an off-ramp. Indeed. Right now the Banshees are doing for no fly zones and regime change….exactly the very same cries that got us back into Iraq after Desert Storm. Saddam is a bad person. Gassed the Iranians and his own people. Box him in. Declare the skies over Iraq a no fly zone and prepare to go in for regime change…and US blood will be spilled on Ukrainian and perhaps Russian soil.

Got to give BOTH sides an off-ramp. Meaning Putin, of course, but the Western coalition as well. Otherwise, it like we will be spending the next 20 years over there. Putin has nukes. Nobody (hopefully) wants a geo-thermal nuclear war. Nobody wants even one tactical nuke dropped ‘over there’. Well, the likely suspects do.

What we need right now is the Art of the Deal. Toss some saving grace to the despots and let the losers claim a victory. For today, there is no cease fire.

Ironically, we were the ones to keep nukes out of Ukraine’s and promised to defend them instead….with Obama sending pillows and blankets and uniforms to Ukraine, while blocking arms to Kiey. When Trump arrived on the scene, the Ukrainian Department of State /Minister of Foreign Affairs office was located in the US Embassy and we where their State Department. We ran the country from there. We did regime change under the Obama-Biden Administration and all we got back home is stories about a tv comedian and election results.

Funny, it one had a skeptical eye, that person could say, “All roads lead to Russia through Ukraine. I still hold to the belief that the Uranium One story is so much bigger than some can even imagine. Later, gator.

[scenes]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-28-2022

BillT: "We see very little of what is actually coming OUT of Ukraine, but tons of stuff ABOUT Ukraine. "

I see that Mr. Bald and his friend Johnny skeedaddled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcOav_-kkx8

Given the universal nature of cell phones, the situation is highly curated. Welcome to the future.

We are living in the future I'll tell you how I know
I read it in the paper fifteen years ago
We're all driving rocket ships and talking with our minds
And wearing turquoise jewelry and standing in soup lines (J. Prine)

[scenes]

Meanwhile:

"In a few hours, about twenty EU members will send military equipment to Ukraine," EU Council President Charles Michel said in an interview with a group of European media, including ANSA.

"We have to help a people of incredible courage like the Ukrainians resist as long as possible to this attack", Michel added, recalling, among the latest sanctions enforced, the freezing of foreign currency assets and transactions imposed on the European Central Bank. A move "suggested during the European summit on Thursday evening," Michel added

https://www.ansa.it/nuova_europa/en/news/countries/ukraine/2022/02/28/michel-20-eu-countries-ready-to-send-military-equipment_a3397f97-eb50-48d3-9b00-45fabd21f3cb.html

"'Will have to seriously look at Ukraine's request for EU membership', says EU Council chief Charles Michel "
https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/will-have-to-seriously-look-at-ukraines-request-for-eu-membership-says-eu-council-chief-charles-michel

"Shipping Giant Maersk, Visa And Mastercard Halt Key Russia Services"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/03/01/shipping-giant-maersk-visa-and-mastercard-halt-key-russia-servicesheres-the-growing-list-of-companies-responding-to-invasion/?sh=770322a12b41

==================

Two take-aways to me here.

1. Western companies are arms of Western governments. China, etc. should take note. Being dependent on them is a foolish move. Globalism is efficient in the short term but dangerous in the long due to accidental or purposeful interruptions.

2. Everyone is spoiling for a fight. It ties in well with Peter Turchin's notions of historical cycles. The WWII generation is dead, everyone forgot about it, nuclear arms are much more likely to be used than in the 1960s for the same reason , strategic (and other) agreements can drag everyone in (ala WWI), the internet has produced a generation of keyboard kommandos who accelerate popular mood.

But, who knows. Maybe pushing the Russians into a tight corner will result in peace and prosperity.

[scenes]

one last op-ed that makes some interesting points.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2022-03-01/we-havent-always-been-war-eurasia

[George Rebane]

OK, all you military tacticians out there, why are not the columns of trucks and tracks heading toward Kyiv not being attacked.? I had the pleasure of teaching such tactics in the Army to neutralize long lines of vehicles restricted to travel on a single road (coming through the Fulda Gap). The Germans taught us how to take out such columns in Operation Market Garden – you bookend the column in two places with direct or indirect fires (or even mines), and then take your time annihilating the vehicles in the middle. The bookending would be done by shoot-and-scoot Javelin missiles which have 2.5-3 mile range depending on the firing platform. Artillery located 10-15 miles away, variously fuzed with contact and time/VT (air bursts) fuzes would then systematically take out the ‘sitting duck’ vehicles stuck in the middle. From the satellite photos of the columns, the terrain looks very suitable for such attacks. To allow a stopped or slowly moving road-restricted military convoy to survive, and bring troops and fighting vehicles to bear when they get into the suburbs appears to me to be a horrible blunder. I haven’t even heard any of the TV generals being asked about or offer reasons why this obvious tactic has not been used. What am I missing?

[Don Bessee]

Dr R - Today i spent some time checking out new video and pics. USA today had a picture of the tip of the convoy shattered on a highway that had tight trees on both sides. A city block long section was a pile smoldering wreckage of armored vehicles. The interesting thing was some of the russian tracks had drove onto other vehicles in a bid to escape.

The Antonov airport fight is a factor also in between the column and the capitol.

What was fascinating was the Ukrainians drone use and their very selective hits that created more choke points along the column. A number of mobile anti air carriers and ammunition trucks.

Finally, the eye-opening videos of captured russian conscripts calling home to tell mom they were ok and saying things like they did not even know they were coming here or where they were. They all thought they were just going to train.

That was at the same time the pentagon reporting russian units surrendering without a fight as well as punching holes their own equipment's gas tanks and abandoning equipment and melting away it all fits. Vlads army has more problems than anyone thought.

Then you have the failure to achieve air superiority or kill the Ukrainian air defense.

;-)

[Don Bessee]

Now that's interesting the chechens got rated out by someone in the FSB and they got wiped out -

https://www.foxnews.com/world/chechen-hit-squad-sent-murder-zelenskyy-eliminated

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Dr. Rebane.

What you are missing is it’s been a couple generations or so since opposing armies fought each other on a conventional battlefield. Maybe they are being lured into a flank attack. Maybe there are no longer instructors who were closer to WW2 than they are to today. What is missing is you

The Russian slow moving Bronco convoy been gnawing at me as well. First a three mile long convoy causing a stir, then a 10 mile long convoy, then a two day break, then a 40 mile long convoy ….we can see those sitting ducks from satellite imagery for days now. What am I missing here? The purpose of a military is to win. One side appears without the true will to win. Sloppy, rusty, novices with supply train issues. Supply can’t keep up and the Russian infantry isn’t exactly rolling across the countryside at a high rate of speed.

During the USSR’s time in Afghanistan, the Soviets after awhile stopped using the 18 year old recruits and brought in the 28 year olds. Some tested. Where is Putin going to find those kind of more mature soldiers? It’s not like shelling Georgia. Been awhile since Patton and Rommel met on the battlefield. Odesa still not in Russian control…. that did not go as planned.

If the Russians can advance on Kiey from the southeast, don’t know if Ukraine can stop them and defend Kiey at the same time.

Looks like the Ukrainians are not the only ones fighting for their lives. Putin is too.

Nations shall rise and nations shall fall…

[Don Bessee]

One rat stayed on vlad ship too long -

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/schroeders-staff-quits-ex-german-111253370.html

;-)

[Don Bessee]

The socialist greens are lying their asses off, the active destruction of our energy industry is an unforced error that is damaging everyone one of our friends. Hell even the Germans have switched course but not the creepy grampa joe team who hate Americas working class and makes their lives miserable and financially squeezed by limousine liberals. -

"No," Stefanik said when asked if she bought Psaki's explanation. "Jen Psaki – again, they’re trying to pass the buck and come up with any kind of excuse, and it's really atrocious that they’re saying we need more global energy production, which means dirty energy. If you have American energy it is cleaner energy, by definition because of the innovation of our amazing companies that are leaders around the world."

"This is just another example when Jen Psaki is embarrassing herself and embarrassing the United States on the world stage with how she’s answering these questions," Stefanik added.

Environmental activists and some progressive media have pushed for green solutions in the debate over energy independence – a solution Stefanik and Turner said was not viable.

"The cleanest, healthiest, most prosperous nations on earth are the ones with the most robust fossil fuel industry," Turner said. "And green energy does not replace fossil fuels, it just uses them in a different way. People who do not understand this are either ignorant or have an agenda. The ignorance can be educated, and that is what my organization tries to do. Those with an agenda or a threat to our economy and our national security … they need to be held accountable."

Stefanik said she believes in an "all of the above" approach, which means the use of nuclear, oil and natural gas. She used New York’s moratorium on fracking as an example of one decision that has "devastated" their economy.

"We need to double down on American energy independence rather than the direction this administration is taking us," she concluded.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-admin-accused-embarrassing-energy-agenda

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

nice short clip. The world stands with Ukraine

https://www.facebook.com/groups/442017982919984/permalink/1396166817505091/

[scenes]

Some reasonable words on Ukraine. A Twitter thread.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1498381975022940167.html

I've notice a lot of writing on the lack of Russian airpower. A theory. You are seeing the first war involving high density MANPADS. It could be that the era of manned tactical aircraft is over. Like any weapons system, there was always going to be one too many generations developed.

An interesting talk. David Starkey (who knows about dictators) about V. Putin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he25Rl0fE1c

[scenes]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-1

BillT: " Supply can’t keep up and the Russian infantry isn’t exactly rolling across the countryside at a high rate of speed."

What is a high rate of speed? Dunno for sure. Keep in mind that Gulf War II took Mar. 19 to May 1 to run out against a poor opponent, open territory, complete air superiority. Invasion of Poland was Sept 1 to Oct 6. Russians have the advantage of higher tolerance for casualties. Outrunning infantry is a thing, but the Russian objectives certainly aren't clear to me in my EZ-chair and probably change with changing circumstances.

Noted in my link in prior post:

"Hence my next thought. In a desperate effort to keep the war hidden from the Russian public, framing this as a Donbas operation, Moscow has completely ceded the information environment to Ukraine, which has galvanized morale and support behind Kyiv. Another miscalculation"

The ceding is so total that it makes all of MSM a poor source, aside from the war as sporting event angle.

A thought that I had. I don't doubt that the Russian leadership/V. Putin finds the cultural hegemony of the modern West so objectionable, especially the 'woke' part, that they welcome the isolation. It's also a mechanism for protecting home industries as the double whammy of China for stuff and the US for culture is hard to withstand. Not a primary point of this, but maybe a desired side effect. Would you rather be richer and more dependent? or poorer and more independent? The question a homesteader asks but writ larger. In a sense, maybe war is a form of immune system.

[scenes]

"OK, all you military tacticians out there, why are not the columns of trucks and tracks heading toward Kyiv not being attacked.?"

Just thinking out loud from afar.

Dunno why they aren't being attacked, maybe they are. It isn't like MSM will tell you much aside from feats of derring-do by individual Ukrainians. It could be that the Russians feel reasonably safe due to sweeping the area with Spetsnaz & Friends, they appear to have loaded up on that. I admit that there's bound to be beaucoup choke points on the Road to Kiev, like most anywhere else.

The reason for a big push like that is the interesting point. Panic by the O-7s? Phone call from the meeting rooms in Moscow? Intended as bargaining chip in the negotiations?

The Russians have means, motive, and opportunity and are simply acting like 99% of rulers over the last 5000 years, there's nothing new in the world.

[Don Bessee]

Between her and botox nancy the only memorable thing from creepy grampa joes ramble was the botox jig and peppermint patty admitting dems invite war through weakness -

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/psaki-mocked-pattern-putin-last-invading-ukraine-biden-vice-president-obama

;-)

[scenes]

A question for GeorgeR if he reads down this far.

Given this sort of argument....

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/zoltan-pozsar-warns-russian-sanctions-threaten-dollars-reserve-status
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russia-central-bank-freeze-may-hasten-peak-world-fx-reserves-mike-dolan-2022-03-02/

What'll be the downward push in the value of the USD? What do you think are the best alternative investments?

[Bill Tozer]

Kinda on topic. Russia is mentioned.

Is Europe a continent? Does it matter?

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/nikole-hannah-jones-europe-continent/

[Bill Tozer]

Darn. How I want so for it to be true.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/feb/28/facebook-posts/ghost-kyiv-clip-video-game-not-video-fighting-ukra/

Darn, Punchy said the Guardian was a Credible source. The Guardian was the outfit that ran the story of Snake Island and the 13 brave Ukrainian guards who perished. “Go F yourself.”

Turns out, all are alive, all 72 of the guards who surrendered peacefully and the Russians took them to the mainland unharmed and unarmed to be reunited with their families and countrymen. Darn, I wanted that to be true. Nuts!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/fact-checkers-ukraine-1.6365682

https://www.bbc.com/news/60513452

https://theconversation.com/fake-viral-footage-is-spreading-alongside-the-real-horror-in-ukraine-here-are-5-ways-to-spot-it-177921
————————
So Bill, are you saying the credible Guardian reported it wrong? Here is the link and I quote

“Ukrainian soldiers who died defending an island in the Black Sea from an air and sea bombardment reportedly told an officer on board a Russian navy warship to “go fuck yourself” when asked to surrender.

There were 13 border guards stationed on Snake Island, a roughly 16-hectare (40-acre) rocky island owned by Ukraine that sits about 186 miles (300km) west of Crimea, when Russian troops bombed the island on Thursday.

All 13 soldiers died after refusing to surrender, Ukrainian officials announced.

In his address after the first day of the invasion of his country, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced he would posthumously award all of the soldiers the Hero of Ukraine award.

“All border guards died heroically but did not give up,” Zelenskiy said.

Audio has emerged that is purported to have captured an exchange between Ukrainian border guards on Snake Island and an approaching Russian navy vessel, in which a Russian officer told the Ukrainian forces on the island to “lay down your weapons”.

“So Bill, are you saying The Guardian, a credible source, made it up?”

Bill: “Heavens no, Paul. Where did you ever get that idea? Takes a twisted mind to interpret my comments that way. I agree that the Guardian said, “all 13 soldiers died when they refused to surrender.” I agree the Guardian said that, Paul.

[George Rebane]

scenes 214pm - I know of no better counsel to protect your faith-based money than use it to buy 'real stuff' - real estate, commodities in demand, and ownership of enterprises that make things people will always want. The default is always gold and junk silver if you see the markets start breaking down or your having to move. If you're going to stay put and hunker down, then lay in a larder of non-perishable food, common calibers of ammo, cigarettes/cigars, and a good store of popular liquors. Beside their primary utilities, all of these can be considered as fungible monies when times really get tough.

[Don Bessee]

I guess you could call him the 51st R in the senate -

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2022/03/02/manchin-my-caucus-biden-cant-grasp-that-you-need-fossil-fuels-or-you-end-up-like-germany/

;-)

[scenes]

re: Europe is not a continent.

I guess that, strictly speaking, there are two continents and a few dwarf continents and one ocean. It sure makes geography simpler.

a question (not so hypothetical):

How should the issues of uniforms be handled? No doubt there'll be cases where a civilian-garbed Spetsnaz group will be caught and shot out of hand. OTOH, I suspect that you'll see cell-phone videos of Ukrainian kids running around with AK-47s (or AK-74) running into a BMP. Is there a moral difference, aside from invader/invadee?

re: investment for the apocalypse.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured, although in a sense land title is as faith-based as currency. A pessimist would have highly-leveraged land and then invest the money in more portable goods.

A prediction:

I'm waiting for the first hand-wringing about how there is racial or transgender prejudice in handling refugees. Just you wait.

[Bill Tozer]

@ 06:19 pm
That was quick. Wait over.

"A war within a war": Transgender woman says transphobia and discriminatory laws keeping her hostage in Kyiv during Russian invasion

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transgender-woman-transphobia-russia-ukraine-invasion/

[George Rebane]

scenes 619pm - "... land title is a faith-based currency." If that comes to pass, then all such wealth preserving conversations are moot. You only own what you and yours can physically defend against all comers - truly a Mad Max world without any social contract.

[Bill Tozer]

Junk Silver? Not, let’s clear that up.

In the Mad Max World, when everything is down and cash may or not be accepted, a few silver coins in the emergency box. Not invest in silver, but if you ever needed something for twenty bucks, chances are some would them at face value. Sure, you sold it at a third what it was worth, but it’s Road Warrior vs Humongous time. Like a real emergency…need baby formula or a quart and a half of motor oil. A bit bulky, but a few handfuls of silver dollars in the emergency kit wouldn’t hurt. Pocket change….

The good thing about real estate is you always have a place to go. The bad thing about RE is it is not liquid. If a person could only have one or the another (real estate or liquidity) but not both….

I would need a bunker just to hold my coffee horde. A can of coffee is instant barter for something you need….in those times. Worth its weight in…silver. :). Commodities. Stuff. Stuff you need a whole lot more than you want.

[scenes]

BillT@8:07 "That was quick. Wait over."

lol. I'll say.

"Black Refugee Lives Matter: U.N. urged to act on Ukraine border racism "
https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/black-refugee-lives-matter-u-n-urged-to-act-on-ukraine-border-racism/

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1573628/Russia-Ukraine-black-refugees-racism-border
----

The only bonafide coverage I've seen, from Mr. Johnny FD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mjPy7ROLYs

The issues there are not a bit surprising. Worth a watch to get the flavor of the thing.

OK. Part II of my prediction. Beaucoup GoFundMes and the like raising money for BIPOC and LGBTLMNOP+ folx escaping the Russians, most of which will end up being scooooped away into some grifter pocket.

[scenes]

re: GeorgeR@8:30PM

Well, yeah. It's a thing we might just get to see if the Russians are pushed hard enough. The US political and media class appears to be all about war right now, so you never know. I did like the Congressman calling for a no-fly zone in Ukraine. Now there's a great idea.

It's funny how peoples' contingency planning for disaster usually implies a given level of mayhem. Growing up in the real deal gave you a more expansive view I imagine. Personally, I would expect something more akin to the post-Soviet era in the Eastern Bloc if things went south. I can see the beggar's signs now, 'Will Trade Javascript for Food'.

[scenes]

BillT: "I would need a bunker just to hold my coffee horde"

Not a bad investment. It seems to me that the precious metal deal works well when there's buyers, which implies specific circumstances.

The richest guy in town might be the dude with a giant pile of cigarettes and fish antibiotics.

[Gregory]

"Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"

- Yoda

[Bill Tozer]

Scenes @ 7:21 am

“Prof. Rosalea Hamilton, the founding director of the Institute of Law and Economics in Jamaica, told the conference that one Jamaican student in Ukraine had reported having a “gun pointed at his head” to force him to leave a train, delaying his exit from the country.”

As revealed by Scene’s previous video, it’s women and children first boarding the trains. The Battle of the Sexes does not take into consideration skin pigment. Women and children first. Yes, it’s unfair but some still hold on to the ancient idea of chivalry, you Jamaican misogynistic chauvinistic male pigs.

[scenes]

and the dominoes keep fallin'.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/596693-biden-weighing-sanctions-on-india-over-russian-military-stockpiles

'Ramzan Kadyrov (president of Chechnya) on main russian tv channel: “They imposed sanctions on us… if they keep acting that way we will take the whole Europe and will rule the Europe in the future”'

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-03-03/moldovan-president-says-moldova-applies-for-eu-membership

https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-reverses-ban-praise-ukraine-far-right-forces-2022-2?amp

"NATO & the US needs to start bombing Russian positions in Ukraine & enforcing a no-fly zone over all of Ukrainian air space.
If Putin decides to go nuclear over that, he sure as hell would if we end up having to do it over Germany or France or England.
Call his bluff." - Pam Keith, Democratic Congressional candidate in FL

"If Biden & NATO West won't implement a No Fly Zone, they must provide every available weapon to Ukrainians to do so on their own."
Michael McFaul - Obama Ambassador to Russia

https://americandigest.com/adam-kinzinger-calls-for-no-fly-zone-tantamount-to-war-declaration-on-russia/

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/02/27/breedlove-nato-commander-russia-ukraine-war/

A hoard of coffee is looking good.

[Bill Tozer]

A can of coffee and some tobacco will get you want you need. It’s just a matter of connecting people with what they want.

Did you know that the Bull Durham label has not changed since the Civil War. It was traded a lot between soldiers and townsfolk and ranchers and the old West cowboys. What a plug? What you got for trade? I’ll take two shotgun shells and….a dab of Monkey Butt salve. This Mad Max thing really chaps my hide.

What would Dr. Rebane get for one of those fine jugs of librations from the hooch stash? That would be some real horse trading. Not what one may need, but what one may really want.

[Gregory]

oooops....
https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-russian-general-andrei-sukhovetsky-killed-in-combat-russian-outlets-confirm

[George Rebane]

BillT 926pm - Mr Tozer, coffee would indeed serve, and has done so in the past. My only problem with coffee is what you pointed out - it takes up a lot of storage volume, or better said, it has a low value to storage volume ratio. And it has a short shelf-life unless stored in cans. Nevertheless, it's good to know where I can go to trade ammo for some hard to get coffee.

[Don Bessee]

The gov of GA displayed her comic stylings on comedy central -

Stacey Abrams mocked after comparing herself, progressives to Zelenskyy and Ukraine
Heritage Foundation's John Cooper wrote, 'Should be noted that Ukraine also requires voter

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stacey-abrams-comparing-herself-zelenskyy-ukraine

;-)

[Don Bessee]

Well that could explain a lot simple neglect and cheap chi com tires -

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/how-cheap-chinese-tires-might-explain-russia-s-stalled-40-mile-long-military-convoy-in-ukraine/ar-AAUy5eW?ocid=msedgntp

;-)

[Don Bessee]

Help is showing up -

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/ukraine-conflict-turkey-airlifts-additional-tb2-ucavs-to-ukraine

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/ukraine-conflict-netherlands-to-supply-weapon-locating-radars-to-ukraine

;-)

[scenes]

Hillary on some Maddow show.

“Everybody should ratchet up the pressure,” said Clinton.

“I was disappointed to see that some of the so-called crypto exchanges, not all of them but some of them, are refusing to end transactions with Russia – you know, from some I don’t know, philosophy of libertarianism or whatever.”

It really doesn't matter much, but I like the concept of 'libertarianism or whatever'. It's a brilliant name for a political movement.

[scenes]

See, now here is where it gets interesting.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/quoting-tulsi-gabbard-china-says-us-instigators-of-russia-ukraine-war/ar-AAUyIC3

Luckily we have Joe Biden to lead us through a time of troubles.

[scenes]

Of course, none of this is released without an underlying reason.

"MOSCOW (Reuters) - The head of Russia's foreign intelligence agency said on Thursday it was wrong to speak of a new Cold War between Russia and the West because the situation was already "hot".

"Western politicians and commentators like to call what is happening a 'new cold war.' It seems that historical parallels are not entirely appropriate here," Sergei Naryshkin said on his agency's website.

"If only because in the second half of the 20th century Russia fought with the West on the distant approaches, and now the war has come to the very borders of our Motherland. So for us it is definitely not 'cold', but quite 'hot'"."

https://news.yahoo.com/russian-foreign-spy-chief-says-162728852.html

[scenes]

True? Not true? Kinda true?

"Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened to withdraw Ukraine from the Budapest Agreement, under which the newly independent Ukraine gave up the nuclear arsenal that it inherited from the USSR in exchange for security guarantees.
The head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, has stated that the SVR had obtained intelligence showing that Ukraine was working on building its own nuclear weapons. Naryshkin stressed that President Volodymyr Zelensky's threats to abandon the Budapest Agreement were "not an empty promise"."

https://sputniknews.com/20220303/russian-intelligence-chief-says-intel-showed-ukraine-was-working-on-nukes-us-knew-about-it-1093559308.html

[Don Bessee]

With the conscripts deserting and not having the will to fight a war they did not know about is bad now the officer corps has reason to lose will -

A high-ranking Russian general has been killed during fighting in Ukraine, in what experts say will be a bitter blow for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Andrei Sukhovetsky was the commanding general of the Russian 7th Airborne Division and a deputy commander of the 41st Combined Arms Army, and by far the most senior Russian figure to have died in the conflict so far.

A military source said Maj Gen Sukhovetsky had been killed by a sniper

https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/cm/russian-major-general-andrei-sukhovetsky-195422485.html

;-)

[Bill Tozer]

Ukraine’s Historic Propaganda War

https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/03/ukraines-historic-propaganda-war/?

The Swiss are no longer “neutral”. Probably first time in 200 years. Lots of Russian gold and currencies stashed in those Swiss Banks. Safe no more.

Switzerland! Just when I thought nothing should surprise me….

[scenes]

re: BillT@5:03PM

Good article. It's been interesting watching this all go down. Practically the only news in Western media is either made-up or amazing tales of personal heroism by a Ukrainian or the blowing up of 5 Russian tanks somewhere. There's a full-court press going on.

Probably mentioned before, the real lesson of all this is how corporations worldwide hewed to US political interests...or visa versa. One big machine. The Swiss and Swedes were cool with the Nazis, but this is a different era. Any large country with a brain behind it is well into setting up their own internet substrate, shipping capacity, national airlines, methods for exchanging money, sporting events, etc. It's a lot bigger problem than worrying about the Royal Navy blocking your ports in the Napoleonic era.

Maybe it's just the natural mayhem that occurs when there's a big realignment coming up. Watch China.

Meanwhile...

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-3

https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2022-03-02/russias-war-against-ukraine-day-6

[Don Bessee]

Shelling a nuke plant sure sounds like an intended war crime eh vlad. Bad enough that vlads troops stirred up all the radiation around Chernobyl -

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/europe-s-largest-nuclear-power-plant-on-fire-after-shelling/ar-AAUxvEY?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531

;-)