The far right in this country are in league with Putin. Russian citizens are upset with Navalny poisoned and now in prison. Putin wants to stamp out any resistance to his oppressive regime. He finds tRump and his mob useful idiots. I hope our 'intelligence' in this country are paying attention to these trouble makers. It is insane that the twice 'impeached' criminal installed his people into our courts and key positions in government and they have not been removed. This can't be good.
We have entered a new cold war between the forces of democracy and authoritarianism. The biggest difference between the old cold war and this one is that the forces of authoritarianism have now taken over one major political party in the United States.
I am encouraged, despite all the bad news, that Biden and his crew have been successful in bringing back and uniting the Atlantic Alliance. Trump went out of his way to denigrate Germany and France and ignored the rest of Europe in favor of no-records meetings with Putin and going kissy-kissy with dictators, and now in just one year the alliance has come roaring back, stimulated by Putin showing his true colors.
Even Poland, on the edge for years, has taken in well over 50,000 refugees - women and children - from Ukraine, and countries dependent for heating oil from Russia, Germany especially, have cut off their supply. They'd rather be cold than give a pfennig to Russia.
American neo-Nazis and authoritarian supporters, including Trump and Murdoch, have come out publicly beating the drum for Russia, so there's no denying now where the sympathies of the far-right-wing in American politics lie, and they'll be judged on election day this November because of their stupidity, venality and anti-democracy and anti-American stances.
Is it naive to believe that major re-alignments are occurring internationally, and that the GQP has built a stronger case for a Democratic blow-out come November?
Robert, I feel the way forward for the Dems / Progressives is by changing messaging from words to pictures and sound. Our culture has shifted from reading to watching and hearing (especially younger peoples). Example, Your drawings and Inequality movie take complex issues and create clarification and direct experience through images and sound. Photos / videos speed this process up. Example The insurrection at the capital. Fox can spin that they were tourists but people watching videos experience their own feelings (vibrations) and KNOW the truth. Clear Communicators with images can and will change hearts and minds. I feel it may be one of the few ways to influence the millions of people supporting authoritarianism. They are concrete thinkers who feel the world is black and white. Abstract thinkers feel life is shades of gray, complex and interconnected. Contrast clarifies what we want and what we don’t want. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” 🌍
The unprovoked, unjust war against Ukraine is a violation of both international & moral law, just like "W"'s war in Iraq. History, not propaganda instructs. We must support the wise & moral leadership of President Biden.
Some comparisons become a mixed up mess. Autocracies are corrupt and R’s who prefer Putin over democratic leadership are no surprise. Our confused and divided Trump supporters (far right) are as insane a Putin and Trump are.
LOL! I don't think Putin would 'install' tRump in the U.S. either. He is too incompetent and snaky! Who knows what classified information is out there in the world now? I can't believe what the greed heads have done to this country! Helped by a 'Supremely Corrupted Court'!
The Republicans and Trumpers I know are decent folks. I am hopeful that most of them will support Biden's efforts against Putz's (I prefer this name for Putin) immoral invasion of Ukraine.
"Decent folks" would not support "Putin's puppet" & lie about the 2020 elections. "Decent folks" do not support the "Politics without Principle" of the Trump-led GOP. Can you imagine what Putin would do if Trump had been re-elected in 2020?
The people that I am referring to (friends and family) only watch Fox News and only listen to right wing talk radio. These sources create an alternative reality for them where black is white, up is down, all Democrats are bad, Trump is good, etc. Yet they would not hesitate to "give the shirt off their backs" if someone is in trouble or need. This is what I meant by "decent". I should have added "misinformed". But there are many Republicans and Trumpers out there who know better. They are terrible people!
I don't want to imagine what the world would be like if Trump was re-elected in 2020. Too awful to contemplate!
T****ers had many chances to show they are decent...most have not. They continue to watch Fox-not-News, etc. and support the Big Lie...can't fix stupid, Stupid is as stupid does......
It’s weakness. Many should have been put in jail on day one. We should execute traitors. Pierre Laval, (born June 28, 1883, Châteldon, France—died Oct. 15, 1945, Paris), French politician and statesman who led the Vichy government in policies of collaboration with Germany during World War II, for which he was ultimately executed as a traitor to France.
The question becomes will all western NATO nations and their people, including us, commit to sacrifice in order to protect Ukraine? The economic disruption will be great, prices higher and increased inflation. Can our values and commitment to democracy survive these repercussions?
My grandfather was born in Kiev in the late 1800’s, I probably have ancestors living there today. However, even if I don’t, I am more than willing to sacrifice to save this sovereign, democratic country from the claws of an authoritarian dictator.
The world knows that Putin fears democracy and he'll stop at nothing to squash it. If we don’t fight with all our might now, the future of democracies worldwide will be in peril, including ours. A great way to start is to oust any politician who is sympathetic to Putins actions. This is a very scary time for all of us.
My grandmother was from Ukraine too, Susan. And the wife of my oldest friend is also from there and has relatives in towns that are being bombed. It is unconscionable that people in this country are supporting Putin’s aggression.
The UN must eject Putin as a war criminal just like Hitler.
Then the UN must go into all of the Ukraine and return fire with blowing up every missile launched by Russia weather it is launched from within Ukraine or Russia.
Insurrectionists within Ukraine must be jailed and await trial once martial law is no longer needed.
I like your idea, but I don't think the UN has retained enough institutional integrity to pull it off. Hell! US policy has been actively helping undermine it for years.
The USA winger political activist propagandist faction has persuaded Putin that Biden is actually weak and, by extension, that Americans believe he is weak,
Now we see the damage caused by nasty anti-American people getting hold of the minds of the uneducated, unsophisticated, propagandized , economically-pained, easily sorted and directed tv-captured citizens turned against the welfare and safety of the whole nation--those ppl---the mis-guided who actively weaken the reputation and stability of America by voting for the fascist wannabe candidates.
. Rupert Murdoch and his anti-american best buds, spreading the trash dreamed up by the Rethug operatives running things since Reagan--supported by the tv wing of the Rethug Party, own this. The sooner our Democratic leaders understand this and get their stuff together and act to wreck this train going into the station w/o brakes, the sooner we will avoid becoming Russian/Chinese possession. Biden is not weak. He is cautious. He does not want to blow up the world. Despite the nation owning enough military junk to do just that. And some people see this as a weake=ness--damn their souls.
It's too bad Kamala was not elected president 40 years ago, but there is no miracle going to save us from being owned by our traditional foes, who suckered in the wrong/right-wingers to believing they were going to get out of this whole--and owning everything between Adak and northern Maine.
Like drivers going in the opposite direction, I think both paties, Putin and Biden, want to avoid a head on collision. That is, both know there would not be much fighting for if our big weapons are used. Remember tRump's quote? ' "we have nuclear weapons, why not use them?". Yikes!
@Laurie. I reflect on the tremendous investment of treasure and life that the United States put into Afghanistan, arguably for nothing much in return. Wouldn't it be worth as much to prevent a re-creation of the "soviet" empire in Europe? I am into wishful thinking here, but I think the NATO and the United States could actually crush Putin into the ground like a filter cigarette! We could do this with conventional military power and weapons. But only if we were not afraid that his insanity and low self-esteem might push him to push the button... Why did Putin mention his nuclear capability in his speech the other morning? Precisely because he knows the West can make a damp smear out of his vaunted army...
Optics? His Russian subjects are already keen to overthrow him at the first opportunity! They have been rallying by the thousands in recent times. Whether President Biden wants to go into war or not, if we are NATO allies and are helping out NATO countries and it is Putin's plan to go into and take them, the United States is at war. At least that's the way I understand it. No sane person would want to go nuclear. Too bad a true 'surgical strike' can't take him out. There are many millions of civilians in peril. He just doesn't care.
I hope the Russian troops in Ukraine are not carrying tactical nuclear weapons with them. Accidental or unauthorized use is always possible. The US has excellent safeguards, but do the Russians?
We don't have the best safeguards lately. Remember the last 'President'? the one with the 'eyes only' classified information found in toilets ? How could secure nation allow that to get into the oval office? Money is the root of all evils! BTW, I did not imagine that nukes could be portable enough to be carried by troops. What would they use? rocket launchers? LOL!
155 Howitzer shells, about 5 1/2 inches in diameter and 20 inches long had tactical nukes in 1966. Fission bombs made from the plutonium triggers that are designed to set off hydrogen bombs and are in the 10-kiloton range. Slightly heavier than a standard 155 projectile, they come with a special bag 8 powder to fire it off for a range of 12 to 13 miles. We also had the "Honest John" and "little john" rockets back then and the Persing medium range tactical "dial a yield" are in place in Europe. These are what Putin does not want placed in Ukraine as a NATO nation.
Actually Laurie, such weapons exist! They are "tactical" because troops in the field can use them in a battle, while "strategic" nukes are what the President fires at enemy cities and military sites. The tactical nukes produce a smaller explosion, but are still horrible weapons which should never be used.
I'm with William We don't know how stable Putin's brain is. He might just love a head on collision. It's all about power and ego, all the time, and now he's tamed the Rethuglican Party the sky will be the limit.
No doubt he thinks he pulls all the strings here. He is most likely right. I see his pals threatening the lives and well being of USA child-bearing women and gender-complicated young people. Take out the easy pickings first, then move on.........classic....
We have to own hearts and minds here, in America, somehow. We were on our way with the ARA and then BBB, stopped in its tracks by faux arguments. Let’s do the CTC and preschool so women especially can work. We need all hands on deck in this time to join together. And, build a Manhattan Project STAT on fusion. Just get it done. That shuts down many.
Pre-schoolers need their mothers at home, given the scandalous lack of safe and useful preschool care in "facilities." America has truly gone off the rails when they EXPECT mothers of infants and small children to go out to work and leave the kids with not-mothers who are working for the money and dont have the ability or capability to train a child in the way a mother would. Unwanted kids might be better off with an outsider doing the work of raising the next generation of Americans, but the rest of the moms need to be like kangaroo mothers, and letting the kids stay safe " in the pouch" and venturing out rarely tll their eyelids are thick enough to protect their eyes, and their skin developed enough (and covered enough) to prevent sunburn. And definitely they need ear protection in the noisy raucous places some moms chooses to go w/ baby. In a life-and-death war, it's one thing, in a small child's life, it's another.
@MJHooper. I like your presentation here. It is about time we admit our frustration and depression concerning the largest part of the Republican Party cowtowing to Trump. The source of this bootlicking is the force of the primary voters who will take out any competent Republican in favor of any Qanon believer. However, the center, the progressives and the left are the majority of legislators and voters in this country. We have tremendous grounds for optimism. It is critical that we keep a democratic administration in place in this country for the foreseeable future, and for that to happen we need to tap into basic American optimism, activism and action! Let's vocally and financially support our favorite candidates and increase Democratic majorities in Congress.
Sorry, but as much as i like your optimism, Benjamin, I've done election work and my pockets are not deep enough to even "tap into" support. And I've seen at ground level the hate some have for the best of our rational political figures. Propaganda is winning and I'm too old to try to overcome brainwashing of bought and paid for people who have all the cards in their hands. If the majority of legislators and voters were on our side would be one thing, but with the caustic influence of 45's supporters, it's way too much for me to work on. Maybe younger voters can take over now. History repeats itself and I can only hope global warming saves my great-grandchildren from what their great-great grandparents went through in WWII Germany etc.
MJH ; we are expecting our first grandchild. Our daughter said the due date is this October, the month she and her twin brother were born. I was 44 and my husband was 49. Their lives are precious to us. In our 70's we have limited energy to march or engage in rallies and run around knocking on hundreds of doors. But when the opportunity presents itself, I can communicate facts. I will not give up.
MJHooper ; Remember that a significant majority voted President Biden into office. Dark money and dirty tricksters have done some bad things. The filibuster all by itself along with Fox and even some of our 'mainstream media' go with the money. Hopefully the greed heads will see it is not a good time to be in that club. 😕
Remember, Laurie Blair, that 45 thought he could overturn the voters' choice. And that belief cost the nation mightily: the cost of re-recounting votes; the financial burden of refuting winger lies about voting incidents; the pressure put upon the vote counting people, the angst pain and misery of just dealing with all the sorry ppl who contested vote counts. it's a wonder some ticked off Democrat didn't shoot up a voting facility. It just shows how calm and cool the dems can be when under attack six ways from Sunday,
MJH ; Yes, so true! We are criticized for not having any 'strength' because we are less likely to take the low road. Violence is the last resort, and it is not much of a plan at that!
“The jealous and intolerant eye of the Kremlin can distinguish, in the end, only vassals and enemies, and the neighbors of Russia, if they do not wish to be one, must reconcile themselves to being the other.”
I think the Ukraine invasion was partially planned (maybe consciously maybe not) by the ex twice impeached president to keep both he and Putin in power. The timing for now:
1. The invasion starts right before State of the Union, 2022.
2. Gas prices go up. People blame Biden.
3. Inflation caused by corporate greed has people angry.
4. The Con man supports Putin.
5. Fox propaganda is in full gear.
6. Russian state propaganda is in full gear.
7. Republican party supports Putin.
8. American voter suppression is in gear.
9. Mid terms happen and Dems get crushed.
10. Republicans lock in Secretaries of State to over turn votes.
11. 2024 comes and Electoral college SELECTS an authoritarian President.
12. The destruction of Democracy is in play.
13. The Con and Putin are two peas in a pod supporting each other.
1. Citizens stand up and speak out.
2. Check your voter Registration.
3. Be aware of new voter laws in your state designed to suppress your voice and your votes.
Your outline is in keeping with my beliefs, which I commented on with friends for months. I was puzzled about why there was a lack of response by Biden and his cabinet, as I saw your outline unfolding.
It just struck me how similar ol' Vlad the Invader's "consequences they've never seen" language is to ol' Tweety's "never seen before" verbal tick he seems to utter in every speech. Just sayin.'
DZK, I have observed the same for months. tRump and Putin have a mutual admiration society going. Putin benefits from a useful idiot in the U.S. and trump gets reelected with Putin's help, and stays out of jail. It doesn't appear that Biden and his cabinet have taken this into consideration or if they have, they haven't focused the public's attention on it.
There were 15 countries in the former soviet union - I am pretty sure that none of them want to go back. If Putin persists in trying to put together a new Russian empire it will be continuous war AND China will soon part ways with him. Can you imagine they would want a new empire to their west?
Eadie Sharron; I wonder what would be gained from focusing the public's attention on it. I am no genius on strategy, but can't help but notice right wingers like tRump and Ted Cruz out there talking about bringing truckers to Washington DC to mess things up. If they have been so ineffective at pursuing these people, or at least shutting them up at Fox and other platforms, how can they gain from focusing attention on them?
Well, a lot of Biden's success rests with public opinion. There have been glaring opportunities where republicans in name only have demeaned Biden and the democratic party. For example, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham spew their poison 24/7. Republicans have recognized we're in a messaging war, while Democrats are AWOL. Educating the public on issues that might seem time wasters and unimportant pay off big when used strategically. Going into red districts and explaining what's at stake can pay off handsomely. Local elections matter. They hold the keys to Presidential elections and not focusing on the Big Lie and all the other small ones in my opinion is the wrong way to go. When the public is behind you, you can accomplish almost anything. That's why tRump is still not in jail and continues to get away with his traitorous acts.
I have been saying for months now that Putin and tRump are in a symbiotic relationship, not to mention a mutual admiration society. They both have enormous benefits at stake, if the other wins. tRump gets to be President and a get out of jail card and Putin restores the Soviet Union to its fame and glory. That's why I believe these two malignant forces have been coordinating their efforts.
Trouble is, the people who need their brains washed and dried in fresh air will never see the light and admit the nation is in peril b/c of their support of the unsupportable. They will find a way to blame the dems when they watch the nuke clouds passing overhead. May their souls burn for their support of the destruction of as much as the world as will be caught in this evil cupidity.
Well done on what is a clearly-written, incisive and inclusive breakdown and explication of where we are on this post 2-22-22 day in our increasingly-turbulent modern history.
I believe that much of the trouble we're having in maintaining our liberal and constitutional republic reflects aftershocks of having a seriously deranged man as President and prime political fundraiser. Trump's tenure not only brought dangerous fringe elements out into the open and gave them a dangerous level of credibility but recent events have shown that MAGA-ness and the anti-vaxx frenzy has stretched beyond our borders and into not only our normally-placid neighbor to the north but has buttressed similar forces in Western Europe.
It's at times of muddled disarray that porto-dictators like Putin and Xi start to itch with expansionist ideas, both in expanding national borders and in expanding their iron grip over errant populations (e.g. the ancient Muslim indigenous nationalities in Xinjiang).
And this may be just the beginning of a new period of major national and global instability. Sane minds, like yours, Dr. Reich, are needed more than ever and it would behoove all of us of like mind to help further your efforts to bring clarity - and sanity - into our lives and futures.
Robert, I'd really like to see a Monday-morning-quarterback sort of analysis of what would have occurred if the West, especially the US, had simply accepted (with the necessary diplomatic doubletalk) Putin's demands made in December. Basically a promise to keep Ukraine out of NATO, and to remove NATO forces from the Eastern Bloc countries that joined NATO in 1997.
None of Putin's demands would have resulted in a foreseeable war, or damaged economies. May even have reduced tensions in that area. But such a concession would certainly start an "Another Munich" chant and a multimedia "Biden Loses Face" enterprise. So now we have a new "over there" war which includes one combatant, Russia, that has the capability to bring it "over here", unlike the Taliban, Iraq, and North Vietnam. But, we'd rather lose Ukraine than lose face.
Lose the forest for the trees? Robert's point number 8. What does Putin actually want? You play checkers, he plays the game of "Risk."
Ans. 1. Personal wealth. Increases in oil prices skyrocket the Russian economy and thus his personal wealth. Some people believe he is already the richest person in the world and is primarily motivated by love of money.
2. Reunification of the former Soviet Union. Think Crimea, Georgia, Chechnya. Ukraine is an object lesson for the Baltic states, for the several "stans."
3. Development of his "cult of personality." Think Stalin. War against a common foe unifies Russia. He is adept at using "special ops" techniques using false narratives.
4. Development of a Russian racial identity. Listen to what he says. Jews can't in his opinion, be Russians. Probably same for a number of other ethnic minorities within Russia, but consider the Balkans.
I think that Putz is simply a "deranged" person who is no longer able to think rationally. That is why we have difficulty trying to figure out what he "wants".
I don't think it's a good idea. But Ukraine's sovereignty remains mostly in tact, and much more importantly, it might have helped to keep The Ukraine itself
in tact - a likelihood that is rapidly diminishing. Let's face it, we don't have much luck getting out of a war once involved. Plus we have to prevent mass starvation in Afghanistan, and not much time to do it.
I believe he would just use other reasons for the invasion. He promised to provide for the ”denazification” of Ukraine. He claimed Ukraine is waging genocide against the 2 breakaway regions.
What you suggest may have delayed him but I don't think it would stop him. He's determined to rebuild the Soviet empire.
I wonder how many defense and NATO secrets were acquired by putin during trump's administration during his private conversations with trump and his toadies.
Rather than trashing a country or province divided by ethnicities, why not just let the people living there decide who they would rather be allied to and respect their decision? This impending war will exacerbate CO2 emissions and material demands. Oh how I wish for the sudden overnight disappearance of fossil fuels, the driver of military adventures.
The security of American democracy is being shredded by fascist wannabes. They are here. We also need to slam the door on Russia aggression. War has been declared. That’s how it starts. We and the world should not think at all about ourselves. Sacrifice is needed. Let’s toughen up. Americans that want to keep their freedom and democracy need to show up at the Capital by the millions and yank these people out of office. Now is the time to show we also mean business. There is no gray area. Problem is, Biden is still trying to maintain status quo. I give him credit for what appears to be a coalition. Certainly better than Bush’s go it alone tough talk that blew up in our faces. Robert I don’t know how large your base is but we can start with you and your leader ship should you choose to organize a major protest. A physical protest. Now’s the time. Biden has already taken American troops off the table. I understand him saying that but it’s pure political because he essentially is giving Putin a blank check. I was in Vietnam and I understand war can get very nasty but in every sense of the word we are at war and we need to step up and get assertive. Aggression is being shoved down our throat on many fronts
Troops are off the table, but strenuously backing asymmetric warfare isn't. Study how the Afghans beat 'em! I'm sure there are a lot of Chechens out there that would enjoy havin' another go at "Ivan," as well. Is there any way of stirrin' s@@t among the Georgians? Besides, have the EU or the Brits made such a commitment? I'm asking, here. I don't know. The news has been strangely quiet about them. They're a lot closer to the front lines than we are. Besides, ol' Vlad the Invader swore he had no intention of - well - invading, anyhow. Biden could just up and say "I lied to Putin!" That wouldn't be a problem for a Q-publican!
This war was under construction for a long time. It was clear during 2017-2020. Americans must join together to ensure these neo-CommunistFascists understand Americans can and will be strong, across party and race. Reading the book Hitler’s friends is very revealing. Unmasking Putin’s friends will be important. In the meantime, it looks like hard lessons ahead with imperfect solutions. Prepare your victory gardens.
DZK ; It seems that he and his friends want to do some harm to our strength as a Democracy.. It is weakened by things like the filibuster that make the U.S. ineffective at governing itself. Our courts are taken over by bad actors, too.
Sadly likely. It was troubling to read the Bret Stephens NYT piece yesterday, albeit revealing. Many equate muscle with intelligence. Thank God Biden was elected along with House and Senate majorities, as thin as they are.
A note on messaging. The description of western government structures as "liberal democracy" is of course academically correct. However, living as I do in Trump country, that label now serves to drive conservatives toward Putin. They function on hair trigger, knee jerk labeling, and calling anything "liberal" makes it evil by definition. It's idiotic, but true. I live in a "community" with ever-widening division. The right here is of course blaming Biden for Putin's invasion, and trying to stoke that anger on social media. I don't see any path away from the accelerating division. There is no rational thought or objective analysis from the far right; only propaganda. If it were framed as "Putin vs. democracy", that might sell better here. Liberal democracy is a losing message in red country.
The far right in this country are in league with Putin. Russian citizens are upset with Navalny poisoned and now in prison. Putin wants to stamp out any resistance to his oppressive regime. He finds tRump and his mob useful idiots. I hope our 'intelligence' in this country are paying attention to these trouble makers. It is insane that the twice 'impeached' criminal installed his people into our courts and key positions in government and they have not been removed. This can't be good.
We have entered a new cold war between the forces of democracy and authoritarianism. The biggest difference between the old cold war and this one is that the forces of authoritarianism have now taken over one major political party in the United States.
I am encouraged, despite all the bad news, that Biden and his crew have been successful in bringing back and uniting the Atlantic Alliance. Trump went out of his way to denigrate Germany and France and ignored the rest of Europe in favor of no-records meetings with Putin and going kissy-kissy with dictators, and now in just one year the alliance has come roaring back, stimulated by Putin showing his true colors.
Even Poland, on the edge for years, has taken in well over 50,000 refugees - women and children - from Ukraine, and countries dependent for heating oil from Russia, Germany especially, have cut off their supply. They'd rather be cold than give a pfennig to Russia.
American neo-Nazis and authoritarian supporters, including Trump and Murdoch, have come out publicly beating the drum for Russia, so there's no denying now where the sympathies of the far-right-wing in American politics lie, and they'll be judged on election day this November because of their stupidity, venality and anti-democracy and anti-American stances.
Is it naive to believe that major re-alignments are occurring internationally, and that the GQP has built a stronger case for a Democratic blow-out come November?
Unless the Repugs are successful in blocking the votes!? It can't be legal for states to mess with Federal elections. What will stop them?
Robert, I feel the way forward for the Dems / Progressives is by changing messaging from words to pictures and sound. Our culture has shifted from reading to watching and hearing (especially younger peoples). Example, Your drawings and Inequality movie take complex issues and create clarification and direct experience through images and sound. Photos / videos speed this process up. Example The insurrection at the capital. Fox can spin that they were tourists but people watching videos experience their own feelings (vibrations) and KNOW the truth. Clear Communicators with images can and will change hearts and minds. I feel it may be one of the few ways to influence the millions of people supporting authoritarianism. They are concrete thinkers who feel the world is black and white. Abstract thinkers feel life is shades of gray, complex and interconnected. Contrast clarifies what we want and what we don’t want. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” 🌍
Unbelievable and sad.
heartbreakingly sad, hopefully reversible...
Apparently Republicans prefer Putin to Biden.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/23/republicans-view-putin-more-favorably-than-they-do-leading-democrats/
The unprovoked, unjust war against Ukraine is a violation of both international & moral law, just like "W"'s war in Iraq. History, not propaganda instructs. We must support the wise & moral leadership of President Biden.
Some comparisons become a mixed up mess. Autocracies are corrupt and R’s who prefer Putin over democratic leadership are no surprise. Our confused and divided Trump supporters (far right) are as insane a Putin and Trump are.
Maybe they should move to Russia then.
Paula B. ; They should take their 'fearless' leader with them.
The Russians would never let "fearless" leader into their country. They are not that dumb!
LOL! I don't think Putin would 'install' tRump in the U.S. either. He is too incompetent and snaky! Who knows what classified information is out there in the world now? I can't believe what the greed heads have done to this country! Helped by a 'Supremely Corrupted Court'!
I hope their stocks take a big hit.
no maybe about it...deport them.
The Republicans and Trumpers I know are decent folks. I am hopeful that most of them will support Biden's efforts against Putz's (I prefer this name for Putin) immoral invasion of Ukraine.
"Decent folks" would not support "Putin's puppet" & lie about the 2020 elections. "Decent folks" do not support the "Politics without Principle" of the Trump-led GOP. Can you imagine what Putin would do if Trump had been re-elected in 2020?
The people that I am referring to (friends and family) only watch Fox News and only listen to right wing talk radio. These sources create an alternative reality for them where black is white, up is down, all Democrats are bad, Trump is good, etc. Yet they would not hesitate to "give the shirt off their backs" if someone is in trouble or need. This is what I meant by "decent". I should have added "misinformed". But there are many Republicans and Trumpers out there who know better. They are terrible people!
I don't want to imagine what the world would be like if Trump was re-elected in 2020. Too awful to contemplate!
The first time Trump crossed Putin it would be over. Wouldn't take long.
T****ers had many chances to show they are decent...most have not. They continue to watch Fox-not-News, etc. and support the Big Lie...can't fix stupid, Stupid is as stupid does......
Tim ; the problem with the word Putz is that Putin is anything but a putz. He is quite competent and capable.
It’s weakness. Many should have been put in jail on day one. We should execute traitors. Pierre Laval, (born June 28, 1883, Châteldon, France—died Oct. 15, 1945, Paris), French politician and statesman who led the Vichy government in policies of collaboration with Germany during World War II, for which he was ultimately executed as a traitor to France.
The question becomes will all western NATO nations and their people, including us, commit to sacrifice in order to protect Ukraine? The economic disruption will be great, prices higher and increased inflation. Can our values and commitment to democracy survive these repercussions?
My grandfather was born in Kiev in the late 1800’s, I probably have ancestors living there today. However, even if I don’t, I am more than willing to sacrifice to save this sovereign, democratic country from the claws of an authoritarian dictator.
The world knows that Putin fears democracy and he'll stop at nothing to squash it. If we don’t fight with all our might now, the future of democracies worldwide will be in peril, including ours. A great way to start is to oust any politician who is sympathetic to Putins actions. This is a very scary time for all of us.
My grandmother was from Ukraine too, Susan. And the wife of my oldest friend is also from there and has relatives in towns that are being bombed. It is unconscionable that people in this country are supporting Putin’s aggression.
I pray that their family is safe from this horrific attack on their country.
Me too. It’s very scary.
The UN must eject Putin as a war criminal just like Hitler.
Then the UN must go into all of the Ukraine and return fire with blowing up every missile launched by Russia weather it is launched from within Ukraine or Russia.
Insurrectionists within Ukraine must be jailed and await trial once martial law is no longer needed.
Putin = Hitler and sanctions won’t stop him.
I like your idea, but I don't think the UN has retained enough institutional integrity to pull it off. Hell! US policy has been actively helping undermine it for years.
By Republicans, most likely.
Bullseye! (And "conservative" Dems, if memory serves.)
Now we see the results of propaganda.
The USA winger political activist propagandist faction has persuaded Putin that Biden is actually weak and, by extension, that Americans believe he is weak,
Now we see the damage caused by nasty anti-American people getting hold of the minds of the uneducated, unsophisticated, propagandized , economically-pained, easily sorted and directed tv-captured citizens turned against the welfare and safety of the whole nation--those ppl---the mis-guided who actively weaken the reputation and stability of America by voting for the fascist wannabe candidates.
. Rupert Murdoch and his anti-american best buds, spreading the trash dreamed up by the Rethug operatives running things since Reagan--supported by the tv wing of the Rethug Party, own this. The sooner our Democratic leaders understand this and get their stuff together and act to wreck this train going into the station w/o brakes, the sooner we will avoid becoming Russian/Chinese possession. Biden is not weak. He is cautious. He does not want to blow up the world. Despite the nation owning enough military junk to do just that. And some people see this as a weake=ness--damn their souls.
It's too bad Kamala was not elected president 40 years ago, but there is no miracle going to save us from being owned by our traditional foes, who suckered in the wrong/right-wingers to believing they were going to get out of this whole--and owning everything between Adak and northern Maine.
Like drivers going in the opposite direction, I think both paties, Putin and Biden, want to avoid a head on collision. That is, both know there would not be much fighting for if our big weapons are used. Remember tRump's quote? ' "we have nuclear weapons, why not use them?". Yikes!
I hope you are right but I don't have great confidence right now in Putin's judgement.
William Cash ; Terrible! But if nuclear war is waged, what will be left? Restoration of the Soviet would be impossible.
You are thinking rationally.
I am hoping that Putin would like to continue to enjoy his big hacienda on the hill.
Reagan bombed Gaddafi's luxury homes and changed his international policies...
@William Cash. Does rationality work up against insanity?
Not at all. We have to depend on Putin not going too far and hope what we do reels him in a little.
I'm not a player in this. Glad of it too.
I could be a victim like so many others, though. Including my family.
@Laurie. I reflect on the tremendous investment of treasure and life that the United States put into Afghanistan, arguably for nothing much in return. Wouldn't it be worth as much to prevent a re-creation of the "soviet" empire in Europe? I am into wishful thinking here, but I think the NATO and the United States could actually crush Putin into the ground like a filter cigarette! We could do this with conventional military power and weapons. But only if we were not afraid that his insanity and low self-esteem might push him to push the button... Why did Putin mention his nuclear capability in his speech the other morning? Precisely because he knows the West can make a damp smear out of his vaunted army...
Maybe he has a death wish because he will 'lose face' whatever he does.
Optics? His Russian subjects are already keen to overthrow him at the first opportunity! They have been rallying by the thousands in recent times. Whether President Biden wants to go into war or not, if we are NATO allies and are helping out NATO countries and it is Putin's plan to go into and take them, the United States is at war. At least that's the way I understand it. No sane person would want to go nuclear. Too bad a true 'surgical strike' can't take him out. There are many millions of civilians in peril. He just doesn't care.
I hope the Russian troops in Ukraine are not carrying tactical nuclear weapons with them. Accidental or unauthorized use is always possible. The US has excellent safeguards, but do the Russians?
It may not matter , they are plowing through Chernobyl and churning it up with their ordinance
My God! Don't they know there is still lots of radioactive contamination there? They will stir it up by blasting the area. What a bunch of fools!
What they can't see, can't be too threatening, can it?
We don't have the best safeguards lately. Remember the last 'President'? the one with the 'eyes only' classified information found in toilets ? How could secure nation allow that to get into the oval office? Money is the root of all evils! BTW, I did not imagine that nukes could be portable enough to be carried by troops. What would they use? rocket launchers? LOL!
There are also nuclear cannon shells.
Are cannons really that small and portable?
155 Howitzer shells, about 5 1/2 inches in diameter and 20 inches long had tactical nukes in 1966. Fission bombs made from the plutonium triggers that are designed to set off hydrogen bombs and are in the 10-kiloton range. Slightly heavier than a standard 155 projectile, they come with a special bag 8 powder to fire it off for a range of 12 to 13 miles. We also had the "Honest John" and "little john" rockets back then and the Persing medium range tactical "dial a yield" are in place in Europe. These are what Putin does not want placed in Ukraine as a NATO nation.
The cannon aren't, but some of them, big ones, can throw a shell 20 mi.
Actually Laurie, such weapons exist! They are "tactical" because troops in the field can use them in a battle, while "strategic" nukes are what the President fires at enemy cities and military sites. The tactical nukes produce a smaller explosion, but are still horrible weapons which should never be used.
Tim ; I believe that.
Sorry, I need to read your comments more carefully.
I'm with William We don't know how stable Putin's brain is. He might just love a head on collision. It's all about power and ego, all the time, and now he's tamed the Rethuglican Party the sky will be the limit.
No doubt he thinks he pulls all the strings here. He is most likely right. I see his pals threatening the lives and well being of USA child-bearing women and gender-complicated young people. Take out the easy pickings first, then move on.........classic....
We have to own hearts and minds here, in America, somehow. We were on our way with the ARA and then BBB, stopped in its tracks by faux arguments. Let’s do the CTC and preschool so women especially can work. We need all hands on deck in this time to join together. And, build a Manhattan Project STAT on fusion. Just get it done. That shuts down many.
Pre-schoolers need their mothers at home, given the scandalous lack of safe and useful preschool care in "facilities." America has truly gone off the rails when they EXPECT mothers of infants and small children to go out to work and leave the kids with not-mothers who are working for the money and dont have the ability or capability to train a child in the way a mother would. Unwanted kids might be better off with an outsider doing the work of raising the next generation of Americans, but the rest of the moms need to be like kangaroo mothers, and letting the kids stay safe " in the pouch" and venturing out rarely tll their eyelids are thick enough to protect their eyes, and their skin developed enough (and covered enough) to prevent sunburn. And definitely they need ear protection in the noisy raucous places some moms chooses to go w/ baby. In a life-and-death war, it's one thing, in a small child's life, it's another.
@MJHooper. I like your presentation here. It is about time we admit our frustration and depression concerning the largest part of the Republican Party cowtowing to Trump. The source of this bootlicking is the force of the primary voters who will take out any competent Republican in favor of any Qanon believer. However, the center, the progressives and the left are the majority of legislators and voters in this country. We have tremendous grounds for optimism. It is critical that we keep a democratic administration in place in this country for the foreseeable future, and for that to happen we need to tap into basic American optimism, activism and action! Let's vocally and financially support our favorite candidates and increase Democratic majorities in Congress.
Sorry, but as much as i like your optimism, Benjamin, I've done election work and my pockets are not deep enough to even "tap into" support. And I've seen at ground level the hate some have for the best of our rational political figures. Propaganda is winning and I'm too old to try to overcome brainwashing of bought and paid for people who have all the cards in their hands. If the majority of legislators and voters were on our side would be one thing, but with the caustic influence of 45's supporters, it's way too much for me to work on. Maybe younger voters can take over now. History repeats itself and I can only hope global warming saves my great-grandchildren from what their great-great grandparents went through in WWII Germany etc.
MJH ; we are expecting our first grandchild. Our daughter said the due date is this October, the month she and her twin brother were born. I was 44 and my husband was 49. Their lives are precious to us. In our 70's we have limited energy to march or engage in rallies and run around knocking on hundreds of doors. But when the opportunity presents itself, I can communicate facts. I will not give up.
Good for you, Laurie Blair. You young people are our foot soldiers of the rebellion.
MJ Hooper ; I think young for 70 years old, I guess. Lots of us older and wiser voters! We have been around, and it's not our first rodeo!
MJHooper ; Remember that a significant majority voted President Biden into office. Dark money and dirty tricksters have done some bad things. The filibuster all by itself along with Fox and even some of our 'mainstream media' go with the money. Hopefully the greed heads will see it is not a good time to be in that club. 😕
Remember, Laurie Blair, that 45 thought he could overturn the voters' choice. And that belief cost the nation mightily: the cost of re-recounting votes; the financial burden of refuting winger lies about voting incidents; the pressure put upon the vote counting people, the angst pain and misery of just dealing with all the sorry ppl who contested vote counts. it's a wonder some ticked off Democrat didn't shoot up a voting facility. It just shows how calm and cool the dems can be when under attack six ways from Sunday,
MJH ; Yes, so true! We are criticized for not having any 'strength' because we are less likely to take the low road. Violence is the last resort, and it is not much of a plan at that!
That is hopeful, Benjamin R. Stockton.
Haven't been able to say it as well. You nailed it and I'm going to share your post.
“The jealous and intolerant eye of the Kremlin can distinguish, in the end, only vassals and enemies, and the neighbors of Russia, if they do not wish to be one, must reconcile themselves to being the other.”
— George Kennan
I think the Ukraine invasion was partially planned (maybe consciously maybe not) by the ex twice impeached president to keep both he and Putin in power. The timing for now:
1. The invasion starts right before State of the Union, 2022.
2. Gas prices go up. People blame Biden.
3. Inflation caused by corporate greed has people angry.
4. The Con man supports Putin.
5. Fox propaganda is in full gear.
6. Russian state propaganda is in full gear.
7. Republican party supports Putin.
8. American voter suppression is in gear.
9. Mid terms happen and Dems get crushed.
10. Republicans lock in Secretaries of State to over turn votes.
11. 2024 comes and Electoral college SELECTS an authoritarian President.
12. The destruction of Democracy is in play.
13. The Con and Putin are two peas in a pod supporting each other.
1. Citizens stand up and speak out.
2. Check your voter Registration.
3. Be aware of new voter laws in your state designed to suppress your voice and your votes.
4. Tell your family and friends.
5. Vote Blue down ballot.
6. Stand and support Democracy.
7. Be Kind to yourself and help people.
Your outline is in keeping with my beliefs, which I commented on with friends for months. I was puzzled about why there was a lack of response by Biden and his cabinet, as I saw your outline unfolding.
Help register Democrats. https://www.fieldteam6.org/
Someone send this to Biden! This ticks all the boxes! We are screwed!
@Scott. Be activist and be optimistic that most of your litany can be avoided! Holy shit that is scary....
It just struck me how similar ol' Vlad the Invader's "consequences they've never seen" language is to ol' Tweety's "never seen before" verbal tick he seems to utter in every speech. Just sayin.'
DZK, I have observed the same for months. tRump and Putin have a mutual admiration society going. Putin benefits from a useful idiot in the U.S. and trump gets reelected with Putin's help, and stays out of jail. It doesn't appear that Biden and his cabinet have taken this into consideration or if they have, they haven't focused the public's attention on it.
The term "soul mates" comes to mind.
tRump would love to be a Putin, even if he is no Putin. 'President for life'!?
Scary! There may be a much bigger plan than taking a few small countries along with Ukraine.
There were 15 countries in the former soviet union - I am pretty sure that none of them want to go back. If Putin persists in trying to put together a new Russian empire it will be continuous war AND China will soon part ways with him. Can you imagine they would want a new empire to their west?
Both are deranged persons.
You mean, "soul-less mates."
Eadie Sharron; I wonder what would be gained from focusing the public's attention on it. I am no genius on strategy, but can't help but notice right wingers like tRump and Ted Cruz out there talking about bringing truckers to Washington DC to mess things up. If they have been so ineffective at pursuing these people, or at least shutting them up at Fox and other platforms, how can they gain from focusing attention on them?
Well, a lot of Biden's success rests with public opinion. There have been glaring opportunities where republicans in name only have demeaned Biden and the democratic party. For example, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham spew their poison 24/7. Republicans have recognized we're in a messaging war, while Democrats are AWOL. Educating the public on issues that might seem time wasters and unimportant pay off big when used strategically. Going into red districts and explaining what's at stake can pay off handsomely. Local elections matter. They hold the keys to Presidential elections and not focusing on the Big Lie and all the other small ones in my opinion is the wrong way to go. When the public is behind you, you can accomplish almost anything. That's why tRump is still not in jail and continues to get away with his traitorous acts.
I have been saying for months now that Putin and tRump are in a symbiotic relationship, not to mention a mutual admiration society. They both have enormous benefits at stake, if the other wins. tRump gets to be President and a get out of jail card and Putin restores the Soviet Union to its fame and glory. That's why I believe these two malignant forces have been coordinating their efforts.
I wonder how much classified info tRump has shared with Putin (or any other authoritarian).
Trouble is, the people who need their brains washed and dried in fresh air will never see the light and admit the nation is in peril b/c of their support of the unsupportable. They will find a way to blame the dems when they watch the nuke clouds passing overhead. May their souls burn for their support of the destruction of as much as the world as will be caught in this evil cupidity.
Just makes them look weaker. You don't think Putin would put up with it, do you?
Well done on what is a clearly-written, incisive and inclusive breakdown and explication of where we are on this post 2-22-22 day in our increasingly-turbulent modern history.
I believe that much of the trouble we're having in maintaining our liberal and constitutional republic reflects aftershocks of having a seriously deranged man as President and prime political fundraiser. Trump's tenure not only brought dangerous fringe elements out into the open and gave them a dangerous level of credibility but recent events have shown that MAGA-ness and the anti-vaxx frenzy has stretched beyond our borders and into not only our normally-placid neighbor to the north but has buttressed similar forces in Western Europe.
It's at times of muddled disarray that porto-dictators like Putin and Xi start to itch with expansionist ideas, both in expanding national borders and in expanding their iron grip over errant populations (e.g. the ancient Muslim indigenous nationalities in Xinjiang).
And this may be just the beginning of a new period of major national and global instability. Sane minds, like yours, Dr. Reich, are needed more than ever and it would behoove all of us of like mind to help further your efforts to bring clarity - and sanity - into our lives and futures.
Robert, I'd really like to see a Monday-morning-quarterback sort of analysis of what would have occurred if the West, especially the US, had simply accepted (with the necessary diplomatic doubletalk) Putin's demands made in December. Basically a promise to keep Ukraine out of NATO, and to remove NATO forces from the Eastern Bloc countries that joined NATO in 1997.
None of Putin's demands would have resulted in a foreseeable war, or damaged economies. May even have reduced tensions in that area. But such a concession would certainly start an "Another Munich" chant and a multimedia "Biden Loses Face" enterprise. So now we have a new "over there" war which includes one combatant, Russia, that has the capability to bring it "over here", unlike the Taliban, Iraq, and North Vietnam. But, we'd rather lose Ukraine than lose face.
Lose the forest for the trees? Robert's point number 8. What does Putin actually want? You play checkers, he plays the game of "Risk."
Ans. 1. Personal wealth. Increases in oil prices skyrocket the Russian economy and thus his personal wealth. Some people believe he is already the richest person in the world and is primarily motivated by love of money.
2. Reunification of the former Soviet Union. Think Crimea, Georgia, Chechnya. Ukraine is an object lesson for the Baltic states, for the several "stans."
3. Development of his "cult of personality." Think Stalin. War against a common foe unifies Russia. He is adept at using "special ops" techniques using false narratives.
4. Development of a Russian racial identity. Listen to what he says. Jews can't in his opinion, be Russians. Probably same for a number of other ethnic minorities within Russia, but consider the Balkans.
http://personality-politics.org/russia-threat-assessment-psychological-profile-of-vladimir-putin
I think that Putz is simply a "deranged" person who is no longer able to think rationally. That is why we have difficulty trying to figure out what he "wants".
Yes, he has serious and deep psychological problems and issues, like TFG.
Especially with his friendly 'useful idiots here!
If Ukraine is a sovereign, why would it be a good idea to allow Putin to tell them they can't join an alliance?
Because there was an agreement at the end of the cold war that there would be no expansion of NATO beyond Germany's border.
I don't think it's a good idea. But Ukraine's sovereignty remains mostly in tact, and much more importantly, it might have helped to keep The Ukraine itself
in tact - a likelihood that is rapidly diminishing. Let's face it, we don't have much luck getting out of a war once involved. Plus we have to prevent mass starvation in Afghanistan, and not much time to do it.
I believe he would just use other reasons for the invasion. He promised to provide for the ”denazification” of Ukraine. He claimed Ukraine is waging genocide against the 2 breakaway regions.
What you suggest may have delayed him but I don't think it would stop him. He's determined to rebuild the Soviet empire.
I wonder how many defense and NATO secrets were acquired by putin during trump's administration during his private conversations with trump and his toadies.
Ack! That’s definitely treason.
Rather than trashing a country or province divided by ethnicities, why not just let the people living there decide who they would rather be allied to and respect their decision? This impending war will exacerbate CO2 emissions and material demands. Oh how I wish for the sudden overnight disappearance of fossil fuels, the driver of military adventures.
The security of American democracy is being shredded by fascist wannabes. They are here. We also need to slam the door on Russia aggression. War has been declared. That’s how it starts. We and the world should not think at all about ourselves. Sacrifice is needed. Let’s toughen up. Americans that want to keep their freedom and democracy need to show up at the Capital by the millions and yank these people out of office. Now is the time to show we also mean business. There is no gray area. Problem is, Biden is still trying to maintain status quo. I give him credit for what appears to be a coalition. Certainly better than Bush’s go it alone tough talk that blew up in our faces. Robert I don’t know how large your base is but we can start with you and your leader ship should you choose to organize a major protest. A physical protest. Now’s the time. Biden has already taken American troops off the table. I understand him saying that but it’s pure political because he essentially is giving Putin a blank check. I was in Vietnam and I understand war can get very nasty but in every sense of the word we are at war and we need to step up and get assertive. Aggression is being shoved down our throat on many fronts
Troops are off the table, but strenuously backing asymmetric warfare isn't. Study how the Afghans beat 'em! I'm sure there are a lot of Chechens out there that would enjoy havin' another go at "Ivan," as well. Is there any way of stirrin' s@@t among the Georgians? Besides, have the EU or the Brits made such a commitment? I'm asking, here. I don't know. The news has been strangely quiet about them. They're a lot closer to the front lines than we are. Besides, ol' Vlad the Invader swore he had no intention of - well - invading, anyhow. Biden could just up and say "I lied to Putin!" That wouldn't be a problem for a Q-publican!
What does it take to stop him.
It might help if there could be action against the enemies within our own country!
Shut down Fox 'news'! But is there time? and is there a will? Homeland 'Security' works for which Americans? Jan 6th should never have happened.
This war was under construction for a long time. It was clear during 2017-2020. Americans must join together to ensure these neo-CommunistFascists understand Americans can and will be strong, across party and race. Reading the book Hitler’s friends is very revealing. Unmasking Putin’s friends will be important. In the meantime, it looks like hard lessons ahead with imperfect solutions. Prepare your victory gardens.
Wasn't it ol' Tweety's job to ensure it's damn neigh impossible for the US to "be strong, across party and race?"
Looks like he and his minions are still at it.
PaulaOH ; They will continue as long as they are allowed, to disrupt and misinform and even attack.
DZK ; It seems that he and his friends want to do some harm to our strength as a Democracy.. It is weakened by things like the filibuster that make the U.S. ineffective at governing itself. Our courts are taken over by bad actors, too.
This was developing long before tRump. Remember G.W.'s 'New World Order? (and his stolen election).
Our former President is evidently one of Putin’s friends.
Sadly likely. It was troubling to read the Bret Stephens NYT piece yesterday, albeit revealing. Many equate muscle with intelligence. Thank God Biden was elected along with House and Senate majorities, as thin as they are.
He is a good man, but constrained from getting anything done about our domestic terrorists and illegal media that spreads disinformation, it seems.
Nate F. ; Yes, he has been for years.
How about the ultimate sanction - the extermination of Putin.
A note on messaging. The description of western government structures as "liberal democracy" is of course academically correct. However, living as I do in Trump country, that label now serves to drive conservatives toward Putin. They function on hair trigger, knee jerk labeling, and calling anything "liberal" makes it evil by definition. It's idiotic, but true. I live in a "community" with ever-widening division. The right here is of course blaming Biden for Putin's invasion, and trying to stoke that anger on social media. I don't see any path away from the accelerating division. There is no rational thought or objective analysis from the far right; only propaganda. If it were framed as "Putin vs. democracy", that might sell better here. Liberal democracy is a losing message in red country.