Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[THE_WIZARD_]

DSL...do you believe that free speech in Nazi Germany led to the Holocaust?

Do you believe the moon landing was a hoax?

Ever seen a grown man naked?

[Dr. Strangelove]

[AlabamAlum]

What’s the best thing about Switzerland?

Well, the flag is a big plus…

[THE_WIZARD_]

That is true. I like their flag. Very neutral colors.

[CGVT]

The stupidity apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

[THE_WIZARD_]

What a fucking incredible time to be alive!

WINNING!!!

[Dr. Strangelove]

[crashcourse]

He is Selling the american people that he is finding millions and million now billions in waste and especially FRAUD on a level never seen before. Now pointing the finger to those lowly government employees who somehow turned small salaries into multimillion dollar portfolios Ie USAID head, a lot of democratic lawmakers and to a lot of democratic donors.

Meanwhile democrats seem unwilling to STFU and continue to make dumbasses by trying to shoot the messenger instead of addressing the message.

still trying to fight for idiotic woke causes that turn people away.

keep it up Dems ---Nothing better then to have 8 years of Vance to go long with your 4 years of trump

[THE_WIZARD_]

shut up

[Jeff Buchanan]

.......keeping Russia engaged in Ukraine limits their ability to engage with Iran, China and others in shenanigans. So, in that regard, it's in the interest of the US to let the Russians keep plugging away. And, in that regard, it's leverage the US has.

What I take from this is that the status quo with respect to Putin's Special Military Operation is acceptable. To be more precise, the US (and Europe), as it has done for the last 3y, keeps the Zelenski government, it's economy and it's military capabilities afloat. To that extent, that approach can force Putin to end the war as the costs to Putin of doing that mount and internal discontent, especially among the Oligarchs, threaten his presidency.

I don't think that's where this is headed. DSL has a point about Jimmy Carter getting credit for peace-keeping and a stable world order. Trump may see himself as gaining status and acceptance as a global peacemaker if he can get the Russians and Ukrainians (along with the Palestinians, their backers and Israel) to stop fighting. And, along the way, get SALT back on track to include China, Iran and NK. Creating the conditions where a nuclear war as an extension of politics (Von Clausewitz) is unthinkable is a noble goal. There is no arguing that the current global instability involving nuclear powers has elevated the risk of a nuclear war. Gaining peacekeeper status would grant Trump, at the least, the Nobel Peace Prize along with a stunning reversal from the perception of the imbecile most of his peers and opponents think he is. I think Trump wants to attain those kinds of accolades and his rapprochement with Putin can elevate both of them in that regard.

Your last point made me wonder if any treaty can be signed w/ NATO/US as additional signatories that guarantee Ukraine security. Sort of an end round around putting Ukraine in NATO, but, instead having NATO sign the treaty and having Russia acknowledge any further aggression prompts NATO response. I dunno.

Trump's and Vance's most recent public statements (very public in Vance's case) indicate Trump is setting the stage for US withdrawal from the NATO Alliance gifting Europe with the sole responsibility to determine what to do about Ukraine, Russian expansionism and it's imperial designs. Ukraine, to Trump, is a bit player in the larger global perspective Trump is trying to create around the ideals of world peace and stability.

I really don't know what is acceptable to Ukraine. I mean, like I said, they lack the ability to remove the Russians. I would think some sort of stable peace agreement would be a long-term benefit. And, I guess, how you measure the "benefit" really comes down to "when" -- if it's from 2020, yeah -- this is a bag of ass -- but if it's from today -- and the tragic reality they have to deal with, then maybe there's something there. I dunno.

Well, Ukraine, under two governments, one aligned with Moscow, the other with the west, tried this in the Minsk Agreements (2014) and Minsk II in 2015. Zelenski rightfully faults these two agreements as opening the door to a Russian invasion in February, 2022. Zelenski has been unwavering in his peace negotiations demands in what amounts to obtaining an admission by Putin that his Special Military Operation has failed to achieve it's objectives and withdraws his forces to the 2014 boundary separating Ukraine and Russia. The reality for Zelenski is that there is zero chance that is going to happen. Trump, recognizing this, is simply by-passing Zelenski, forfeiting the legal boundaries of Ukraine, to achieve a much larger purpose - I'll call it the Jimmy Carter, world free of the threat of nuclear war gambit.

But, fundamentally I'm with Hannibal.

I'd say, considering the current circumstances, that position is entirely defensible. Getting guarantees from Putin, such as you suggested above (further Russian aggression will prompt a NATO response but without the US) has to be part of the deal if forfeiting 20% of Ukraine to Putin is on the table to get the fighting there to stop. At the same time, I think Trump wants getting nuclear disarmament involving Russia, (along with Russian influence to get China, Iran and NK to participate), back in the discussion. That would be the US expectation of a quid-pro-quo from Putin for the US agreeing to hold off on further military and economic support for Ukraine.

[iam416]

Thanks, JB

[AlabamAlum]

What’s the best thing about Switzerland?

Well, the flag is a big plus…

Comedy gold!

[THE_WIZARD_]

Criminy. Don't hurt yourself Hammer!

[THE_WIZARD_]

It's a cute trick what progressive Democrats and many Republicans, too, in Congress, have done over many decades:

They pass laws that create Executive Branch bureaus, agencies, commissions, offices, and entire departments.

Then, when citizens point fingers of blame at Congress for some problem, Congress points fingers of blame at the Executive Branch bureaus, agencies, commissions, offices.

"It's THEIR fault!" members of Congress are quick to point out.

However, when a President either uses Executive Branch bureaus, agencies, commissions, offices, for purposes with which progressives in Congress DISAGREE—or, when a President REFUSES to use Executive Branch bureaus, agencies, commissions, offices, the way progressives in Congress DEMAND the President use them, progressive members of Congress say it's foul play.

"That's illegal!" they cry.

It's all ridiculous and it is time to bring these pathetic progressive chapters of American history to an end. We are not Germans, after all. We are Americans. We believe in political self-government, not central planning or social engineering by some permanent class of unionized bureaucrats who are unaffected by elections.

You and I can read for ourselves what powers We The People granted to Congress. They are listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Nowhere did we grant to Congress authority to command how the President must exercise the executive power. Nowhere did we vest in Congress the power to compel what the President MUST DO, or to declare what the President MAY NOT do. Nowhere did we make Congress lord and master of the President.

Those are questions for WE THE PEOPLE to decide.

WE THE PEOPLE decided, in OUR Constitution, what powers OUR President shall and shall not have. WE THE PEOPLE are lord and master of OUR President because we are a sovereign, self-governing, free people. Congress doesn't get to make those decisions. That's above their pay grade, including the corrupt progressive crony politicos who become millionaires by selling access to government subsidies, contracts, exemptions, waivers, and favors.

Carry on.

[Dr. Strangelove]