Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[Dr. Strangelove]

I'm skeptical Dark Brandon runs regardless of how the mid-terms go.

Besides, when you consider his list of achievements, there's really very little more he could even do in a second term. Win the Boston Marathon maybe?

[Jeff Buchanan]

Ukraine: Publicly available overhead satellitte immagery confirms 8 Russian aircraft (the newer SU 34 bombers and older TU22s) were destroyed or damaged in the recent explosians at the Saky Air Base in Crimea. Ancillary buildings were damaged. No question the Russian tactical bombers that have been extensively used in southern Ukraine were targeted.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62500560

The origin of the devices that created the damage remain unknown although that they were launched from and by Ukraine is clear. The destroyed aircraft are reveted meaning that precision delivery was required to get at them. Lobbing artillery that precisely at that range is impossible. Not HIMARs - the long range versions. My bet is that the hits were achieved using multiple armed UAVs. There's significant symbolism in this attack but less tactical and strategic value. I've made this point before: the back and forth going on between Ukraine and Russia isn't changing the strategic situation in the battle space. This is the strategic reality (from the ISW CRT):

The political, military, economic, and other consequences of a prolonged Russian military occupation of southern and eastern Ukraine would be devastating to the long-term viability of the Ukrainian state.

This reality also does not get a lot of press:

The strategic objectives of Putin's ground war, as anemic it's contribution to those as it has appeared to be, is supported by a signficant Russification of currently occupied regions. Forced passportization, rubleization, “filtration,” and other “integration” measures (forcing public schools to implement Russian controlled curricula) already underway in Russian-occupied areas are far more important and damaging to Ukraine than the small military successes Russia enjoys. When you read about these phony referendas being planned by the Russians with the objective being to appear to be the Ukrainians democratically choosing to be annexed by Russia, that sort of drama is far less important than the brutal subjugation and Russification of the Ukrainian people and it's institutions.

Moving to other important aspects of the war in Ukraine, there are increasing reports coming from various public sources that the Russian Army is running out of soldiers that are willing to fight in Ukraine. None of this is new. The substantive nature and increasing number of these reports is new. It's believed that Putin has made a political decision to not do what is necessary to mobilize and nationalize conscription. It would be a tacit admission that his special operation is a war and that he's losing it.

It has been known for a while that the Russian defense ministry has implemented various covert conscription and recruitment efforts, notably in Russian prisons, to replace the thousands of soldiers lost fighting in Ukraine. Rumors that there is resistance to it are surfacing. Because most conscripts are coming from remote areas of Russia where residents have only limited and propagandized information about the war available, they are almost uniformly supportive of it. Legal organizations who are asked to help Russians avoid conscription are reporting that there is little evidence among this group of resisters that they are resisting based on anti-war sentiment.

The point is that despite media reports that Russia may be struggling to achieve objectives in Ukraine, it is more likely that Putin won't negotiate choosing instead to wage a brutal war of occupation, oppression and conversion of the Ukranian people and its lands. Local resistance will be brutally repressed over time. IOW, he's in this for the long term and he will muddle along. The one thing that Putin clearly recognizes could stop him in achieving his goals is a shortage of occupying forces to subjugate, by force and at the end of a rifle, the Ukrainian populace. Trained experienced soldiers in this sort of occupation aren't necessary. All they need to be is brutal and armed. We've already seen plenty of that sort of behavior among Russia's occupying army. All that is required for Putin to succeed is time and willingness of liberal democracies to let him have his way.

[Dr. Strangelove]

In the spirit of honest hate, DSL is referencing Right Wing memes and videos comparing our military to Russia’s and China’s.

Yes, this.

At some point last year, the US Army released a recruitment commercial that featured a woman. This led to lengthy online outrage that the US military standards had utterly collapsed and was completely pathetic compared to Russia and China, who featured nothing but shirtless buff dudes performing stunts and doing push-ups in their commercials.

I was led to believe that the entire Russian army resembled Dolph Lundren in Red Scorpion. I've seen more war footage than maybe anyone here besides Jeff and the reality is closer to being mildly overweight, lumpy, middle aged men who are perpetually half-drunk OR scared farm boys recruited from Siberia that are treated like cannon fodder (a Red Army tradition).

[lineygoblue]

LOL at :45 to :55 ... they're all bouncing. My old company commander would crank them up. NO BOUNCING!!!!!!!!

[iam416]

Well, ok. I haven't seen any of that here. But, I guess.

[Da Geezer]

At some point last year, the US Army released a recruitment commercial that featured a woman. This led to lengthy online outrage that the US military standards had utterly collapsed and was completely pathetic compared to Russia and China, who featured nothing but shirtless buff dudes performing stunts and doing push-ups in their commercials.

Ask some active-duty military if the LBGTQ+ agenda has affected their unit. Primary sources, not agenda driven propagandists.

[Da Geezer]

The Chairman probably won't be fit, physically or mentally, to run in 2024. He's not like Reagan, who really didn't start to show his age until his second term. Brandon also doesn't have a political "brand" like Reagan did. Does he represent ANYTHING more just being a fill-in to replace a toxic predecessor until "something better comes along"? He's like an older weaker Gerry Ford, in a sense.

As for the Rs, well indeed, most of them would prefer someone less toxic than Trump- the person. His policies are saleable, but until somebody, like DeSantis, can take a similar platform forward without looking like a complete ass, Trump will stick around.

Now, the Progs will, of course, continue to insist that DJT "runs the show"- not just because they're stupid - but because they're scared. But they've had a lot of fun, and success, in beating up on the Rs for serving up this clown over the last 6 years. They're afraid that people will eventually wise up to them and actually present someone better.

And, considering the recent landscaping that the Rs have presented, the Progs might not be done yet.

If the Ds are willing to give tens of millions to Trump-backed candidates in order to get a favorable matchup in Nov., why would they not try to get Trump himself to be the 2024 nominee? This raid on the Trump home may be an attempt to get Trump nominated.

Also, Jerry Ford, an all-American center at UM, was one of the most physically fit Presidents ever. He made the huge "mistake" of pardoning Nixon in order to spare the country a scene like we are going through right now. He was a liberal, but how I wish we had someone of his character in the WH now.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Ford was born in Omaha.

[THE_WIZARD_]

...

[Da Geezer]

Obama loving Trump hating judge who signed off on the warrant...who has publicly railed against Trump on social media...who SHOULD have recused himself...self indulging on whiskey and cookies...

In fact, this same judge did recuse himself in one of the Trump v. Hillary civil suits. Within the last three years, if I recall.

With all the technology we now have, there is no reason judge-shopping should be allowed in the US, at least in situations like the issue of a warrant. Just bring it before a random US Magistrate. Same thing with federal trials. No conservative has a chance in front of a DC jury.

[Mike]

Ford was born in Omaha.

Other than that, he had a lot going for him.

[THE_WIZARD_]

shaddup

[Dr. Strangelove]

Nutcase showed up at the FBI building in Cincinnati this morning with a gun and making threats. Led to a high-speed chase up I-71 and he's currently exchange fire with cops in Clinton County, which is roughly 50 miles northeast of Cincinnati.

I-71 closed in Clinton County for police activity, buildings nearby locked down (wcpo.com)

[THE_WIZARD_]

Hunter Biden...currently under FBI Investigation...after years of obstruction, lies and stonewalling...going on vacation...whilst DJT...who allegedly has some "classified" documents that belong in the National Archives...gets his private residence raided by 30+ FBI Agents...

Welcome to the Banana Republic.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Soooo growing timeline

June 3: The FBI and DOJ show up at Mar a Lago with a subpoena for national security docs. The agents took away anything marked Top Secret or higher classification.

June 22: FBI subpoenas for the security camera footage, wanting to see who had access to where the remaining records were stored

August 8: Mar a Lago served search warrant

Not in this story but a few outlets, including Fox today, have reported that in those intervening months the FBI received a "tip" from an informant that Trump hadn't turned over everything he was supposed to

Feds seized documents from Mar-a-Lago in June with grand jury subpoena - CNNPolitics