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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.'
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.'
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.
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
What does it take to stop him.
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.
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.