Why Are We in Ukraine?

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Sam Lowry
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Congress knew people still had to get paid even if the war was lost. I think McFaul will be disappointed if he expects any more aid packages like that one.
Sam Lowry
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Fre3dombear said:

Sam Lowry said:

Fre3dombear said:

Sam Lowry said:

How the United States was transformed from guardian to spoiler of the postwar international order. An excellent summary from Harper's magazine.
Quote:

Why Are We in Ukraine?
On the dangers of American hubris
by Benjamin Schwarz, Christopher Layne

From the early Nineties, when Washington first raised the idea of NATO expansion, until 2008, when the U.S. delegation at the NATO summit in Bucharest advocated alliance membership for Ukraine and Georgia, U.S.-Russian exchanges were monotonous. While Russians protested Washington's NATO expansion plans, American officials shrugged off those protests--or pointed to them as evidence to justify still-further expansion. Washington's message to Moscow could not have been clearer or more disquieting: Normal diplomacy among great powers, distinguished by the recognition and accommodation of clashing interests--the approach that had defined the U.S.-Soviet rivalry during even the most intense stretches of the Cold War--was obsolete. Russia was expected to acquiesce to a new world order created and dominated by the United States.

The radical expansion of NATO's writ reflected the overweening aims that the end of the Cold War enabled Washington to pursue. Historically, great powers tend to focus pragmatically on reducing conflict among themselves. By frankly recognizing the realities of power and acknowledging each other's interests, they can usually relate to one another on a businesslike basis. This international give-and-take is bolstered by and helps engender a rough, contextual understanding of what's reasonable and legitimate--not in an abstract or absolute sense but in a way that permits fierce business rivals to moderate and accede to demands and to reach deals. By embracing what came to be called its "unipolar moment," Washington demonstrated--to Paris, Berlin, London, New Delhi, and Beijing, no less than to Moscow--that it would no longer be bound by the norms implicit in great power politics, norms that constrain the aims pursued as much as the means employed. Those who determine U.S. foreign policy hold that, as President George W. Bush declared in his second inaugural address, "the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands." They maintain, as President Bill Clinton averred in 1993, that the security of the United States demands a "focus on relations within nations, on a nation's form of governance, on its economic structure."

Whatever one thinks of this doctrine, which prompted Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to dub America "the indispensable nation"--and which Gorbachev said defined America's "dangerous winner's mentality"--it lavishly expanded previously established conceptions of security and national interest. In its crusading universalism, it could be regarded by other states, with ample supporting evidence, as at best recklessly meddlesome and at worst messianically interventionist. Convinced that its national security depended on the domestic political and economic arrangements of ostensibly sovereign states--and therefore defining as a legitimate goal the alteration or eradication of those arrangements if they were not in accord with its professed ideals and values--the post-Cold War United States became a revolutionary force in world politics.

https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/



The orange p grabber you didn't vote for about to fix all that for y'all
That's a tall order. And a lot of it does come down to character. Reagan faced a lot of resistance to making peace with Russia, but he fought through it because he had real principles. Trump is susceptible to all manner of incitements and flatteries.

Best I can say is that I'm hopeful.


Trump, kamala, you, Biden, OG DaeI
Obama, bush, Reagan

All humans. All susceptible. Your comment scores zero intellectual points and you're just smart enough to know that based on your points

You are correct though. Your peeps left him a tall
Order of total trash to clean up. Good thing, he knows his way around a garbage truck.

#TakeTheL
Zero points for noticing that Trump is more susceptible than most? Almost anyone who's worked for him will tell you the same.
Fre3dombear
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Sam Lowry said:

Fre3dombear said:

Sam Lowry said:

Fre3dombear said:

Sam Lowry said:

How the United States was transformed from guardian to spoiler of the postwar international order. An excellent summary from Harper's magazine.
Quote:

Why Are We in Ukraine?
On the dangers of American hubris
by Benjamin Schwarz, Christopher Layne

From the early Nineties, when Washington first raised the idea of NATO expansion, until 2008, when the U.S. delegation at the NATO summit in Bucharest advocated alliance membership for Ukraine and Georgia, U.S.-Russian exchanges were monotonous. While Russians protested Washington's NATO expansion plans, American officials shrugged off those protests--or pointed to them as evidence to justify still-further expansion. Washington's message to Moscow could not have been clearer or more disquieting: Normal diplomacy among great powers, distinguished by the recognition and accommodation of clashing interests--the approach that had defined the U.S.-Soviet rivalry during even the most intense stretches of the Cold War--was obsolete. Russia was expected to acquiesce to a new world order created and dominated by the United States.

The radical expansion of NATO's writ reflected the overweening aims that the end of the Cold War enabled Washington to pursue. Historically, great powers tend to focus pragmatically on reducing conflict among themselves. By frankly recognizing the realities of power and acknowledging each other's interests, they can usually relate to one another on a businesslike basis. This international give-and-take is bolstered by and helps engender a rough, contextual understanding of what's reasonable and legitimate--not in an abstract or absolute sense but in a way that permits fierce business rivals to moderate and accede to demands and to reach deals. By embracing what came to be called its "unipolar moment," Washington demonstrated--to Paris, Berlin, London, New Delhi, and Beijing, no less than to Moscow--that it would no longer be bound by the norms implicit in great power politics, norms that constrain the aims pursued as much as the means employed. Those who determine U.S. foreign policy hold that, as President George W. Bush declared in his second inaugural address, "the survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands." They maintain, as President Bill Clinton averred in 1993, that the security of the United States demands a "focus on relations within nations, on a nation's form of governance, on its economic structure."

Whatever one thinks of this doctrine, which prompted Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to dub America "the indispensable nation"--and which Gorbachev said defined America's "dangerous winner's mentality"--it lavishly expanded previously established conceptions of security and national interest. In its crusading universalism, it could be regarded by other states, with ample supporting evidence, as at best recklessly meddlesome and at worst messianically interventionist. Convinced that its national security depended on the domestic political and economic arrangements of ostensibly sovereign states--and therefore defining as a legitimate goal the alteration or eradication of those arrangements if they were not in accord with its professed ideals and values--the post-Cold War United States became a revolutionary force in world politics.

https://harpers.org/archive/2023/06/why-are-we-in-ukraine/



The orange p grabber you didn't vote for about to fix all that for y'all
That's a tall order. And a lot of it does come down to character. Reagan faced a lot of resistance to making peace with Russia, but he fought through it because he had real principles. Trump is susceptible to all manner of incitements and flatteries.

Best I can say is that I'm hopeful.


Trump, kamala, you, Biden, OG DaeI
Obama, bush, Reagan

All humans. All susceptible. Your comment scores zero intellectual points and you're just smart enough to know that based on your points

You are correct though. Your peeps left him a tall
Order of total trash to clean up. Good thing, he knows his way around a garbage truck.

#TakeTheL
Zero points for noticing that Trump is more susceptible than most? Almost anyone who's worked for him will tell you the same.


"Almost anyone"

Is that like "51 former security officers"

Or "anyone will tell you trump said xyz about soldiers"?

Like those types of things?

Ok you get…still 0 points

Redbrickbear
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whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."




Printing money… then giving it to another country (who then kicks a lot of it back to your political class via money laundering) ….is probably very popular in DC

Does not make it right or good for Americans
Sam Lowry
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Regarding Ukraine and Democratic money laundering, I'm told to keep an eye on what happens to Sam Bankman-Fried. Will be interesting if Biden pardons him.
The_barBEARian
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whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Redbrickbear said:

Doc Holliday said:




"Ukraine should give up its NATO membership aspirations for at least 20 years, the freezing of the current front lines and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between Russian-held territory and Ukraine."


That does not accomplish anything long term

Kyiv has to give up forever its claims on Donbas and Crimea

Moscow has to give up the idea that the rest of Western oriented Ukraine is not going to join EU-NATO soon.

Just a demilitarized zone solves nothing long term.


I'm skeptical of the sourcing of this story. Sounds like leaking to drive narrative rather than actual developments.
On that point and that point alone, you are probably right. That doesn't mean Trump will take the hawkish approach that you expect; I doubt he knows yet what he'll do.

You should prepare to be disappointed.
You think I'm not? This is Trump we're talking about. Still, that report is very little to go on.

Zero percent chance BarbBearian will be pleased with Trump policy toward Ukraine.

From your own article:

On Thursday in Budapest, Zelensky acknowledged that Trump wants to end the war quickly but stressed they did not discuss that in detail during the call.

"If it's just fast, it means losses for Ukraine. I just don't yet understand how this could be in any other way. Maybe we do not know something, do not see," Zelensky said.

Don Jr has already said that the Ukraine war is a waste of our resources in multiple interviews. I doubt Don Jr and his father are diametrically opposed on this.
The_barBEARian
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I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?



Sam Lowry
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The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Redbrickbear said:

Doc Holliday said:




"Ukraine should give up its NATO membership aspirations for at least 20 years, the freezing of the current front lines and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between Russian-held territory and Ukraine."


That does not accomplish anything long term

Kyiv has to give up forever its claims on Donbas and Crimea

Moscow has to give up the idea that the rest of Western oriented Ukraine is not going to join EU-NATO soon.

Just a demilitarized zone solves nothing long term.


I'm skeptical of the sourcing of this story. Sounds like leaking to drive narrative rather than actual developments.
On that point and that point alone, you are probably right. That doesn't mean Trump will take the hawkish approach that you expect; I doubt he knows yet what he'll do.

You should prepare to be disappointed.
You think I'm not? This is Trump we're talking about. Still, that report is very little to go on.

Zero percent chance BarbBearian will be pleased with Trump policy toward Ukraine.
Don Jr has already said that the Ukraine war is a waste of our resources in multiple interviews. I doubt Don Jr and his father are diametrically opposed on this.
Yes, but bear in mind that calling it a mere waste of resources is a highly optimistic take on the matter.
The_barBEARian
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whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
whiterock
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The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
Sam Lowry
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whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
whiterock
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Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
LOL if it weren't for disinformation, Sam would have no information at all.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/russias-central-bank-raises-key-rate-to-21percent-to-rein-in-inflation.html

"The International Monetary Fund forecasts Russia's inflation will average 7.9% this year, noting in its World Economic Outlook of October that the country's GDP will decline from 3.6% this year to 1.3% in 2025, "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth.""

Here's some macroeconomic reality for you: If you are deficit spending enough to cause inflation requiring 20% interest rates yet are watching your GDP growth rate stall and fall to near zero, then by definition you are experiencing diminishing marginal return for each additional dollar of deficit. Each passing month will get more difficult for them. It was widely predicted the Russian war economy would peak by mid-2025. That is playing out....perhaps a bit ahead of schedule.

Russia cannot sustain its policy in Ukraine.
Ukraine can, as long as it has Nato support.
Sam Lowry
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whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
LOL if it weren't for disinformation, Sam would have no information at all.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/russias-central-bank-raises-key-rate-to-21percent-to-rein-in-inflation.html

"The International Monetary Fund forecasts Russia's inflation will average 7.9% this year, noting in its World Economic Outlook of October that the country's GDP will decline from 3.6% this year to 1.3% in 2025, "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth.""

Here's some macroeconomic reality for you: If you are deficit spending enough to cause inflation requiring 20% interest rates yet are watching your GDP growth rate stall and fall to near zero, then by definition you are experiencing diminishing marginal return for each additional dollar of deficit. Each passing month will get more difficult for them. It was widely predicted the Russian war economy would peak by mid-2025. That is playing out....perhaps a bit ahead of schedule.

Russia cannot sustain its policy in Ukraine.
Ukraine can, as long as it has Nato support.
So what you meant to say is that you're predicting a declining GDP and massive deficits. We've already been hearing that for a while.
Redbrickbear
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The_barBEARian
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Ken Paxton is probably the only guy who could knock Cornyn off... otherwise, sadly, I agree he's likely to stay there
Realitybites
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whiterock said:

I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.


At some point, we're going to have to go RINO hunting in the general election if we can't knock these people out in the primary.

The good news is that it is very simple to identify one RINO in the Senate, and one in the House to take out every cycle simply through withholding GE votes, and you need to withhold much fewer votes in the general to take one out than you need to win a primary.
whiterock
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Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
LOL if it weren't for disinformation, Sam would have no information at all.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/russias-central-bank-raises-key-rate-to-21percent-to-rein-in-inflation.html

"The International Monetary Fund forecasts Russia's inflation will average 7.9% this year, noting in its World Economic Outlook of October that the country's GDP will decline from 3.6% this year to 1.3% in 2025, "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth.""

Here's some macroeconomic reality for you: If you are deficit spending enough to cause inflation requiring 20% interest rates yet are watching your GDP growth rate stall and fall to near zero, then by definition you are experiencing diminishing marginal return for each additional dollar of deficit. Each passing month will get more difficult for them. It was widely predicted the Russian war economy would peak by mid-2025. That is playing out....perhaps a bit ahead of schedule.

Russia cannot sustain its policy in Ukraine.
Ukraine can, as long as it has Nato support.
So what you meant to say is that you're predicting a declining GDP and massive deficits. We've already been hearing that for a while.
lol, no, their economy IS stalling, per the numbers.......

who holds your string to keep you from floating away?
whiterock
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The_barBEARian said:

Ken Paxton is probably the only guy who could knock Cornyn off... otherwise, sadly, I agree he's likely to stay there
In the primary.....maybe. Also quite possible that Cornyn is probably the only guy Paxton COULDN'T beat in a primary. Cornyn been around a while, is brilliant, and can raise money by the trailer-truckload. He'll be a tough out. And if he does end up being Maj. Leader, he will be invulnerable.

Better to focus on who will be the next Governor.
Sam Lowry
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whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
LOL if it weren't for disinformation, Sam would have no information at all.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/russias-central-bank-raises-key-rate-to-21percent-to-rein-in-inflation.html

"The International Monetary Fund forecasts Russia's inflation will average 7.9% this year, noting in its World Economic Outlook of October that the country's GDP will decline from 3.6% this year to 1.3% in 2025, "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth.""

Here's some macroeconomic reality for you: If you are deficit spending enough to cause inflation requiring 20% interest rates yet are watching your GDP growth rate stall and fall to near zero, then by definition you are experiencing diminishing marginal return for each additional dollar of deficit. Each passing month will get more difficult for them. It was widely predicted the Russian war economy would peak by mid-2025. That is playing out....perhaps a bit ahead of schedule.

Russia cannot sustain its policy in Ukraine.
Ukraine can, as long as it has Nato support.
So what you meant to say is that you're predicting a declining GDP and massive deficits. We've already been hearing that for a while.
lol, no, their economy IS stalling, per the numbers.......

who holds your string to keep you from floating away?
Who taught you to read? Because it doesn't sound like you've been following the last few posts.
whiterock
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Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Here's a Ukrainian testicle sucking deep stater saying the quiet part out loud. Trump is not going to cut off Ukraine because he knows that doing so is bad for America. Trump wants to "win until we get tired of winning."



Remove the communists... I mean Democrats... and these are the tallies:

28 Neo-Cons to 18 America First Republicans in the Senate

112 America First Republicans - 99 Neo-Cons in the House

People are watching... I will never vote for John Cornyn again. Assuming he steals the Republican primary and Ken Paxton loses, he will have to keep his seat away from Beto or Collin Allred with a chunk of the conservative base not supporting him.

Cruz voted against Ukraine aid, which is why I ended up voting for him despite his sycophantic loyalty to a foreign country(Israel) over his own constituents in Texas.
unless, of course, supporting those country is in the best interests of his own constituents, which it is.

Russia is under increasing strain and cannot forever. 21% interest rates. declining GDP despite massive fiscal deficits.

I agree that Cornyn is not a good choice for Maj. Leader, but that's probably who we're gonna get. I will vote for Cornyn's challenger in the 2026 primary, but if he gets the nomination (near certainty) I will vote for him in the general because he is preferable to a Democrat.
4% annual growth and 15% debt to GDP ratio, so...basically the opposite of what you said.
LOL if it weren't for disinformation, Sam would have no information at all.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/russias-central-bank-raises-key-rate-to-21percent-to-rein-in-inflation.html

"The International Monetary Fund forecasts Russia's inflation will average 7.9% this year, noting in its World Economic Outlook of October that the country's GDP will decline from 3.6% this year to 1.3% in 2025, "as private consumption and investment slow amid reduced tightness in the labor market and slower wage growth.""

Here's some macroeconomic reality for you: If you are deficit spending enough to cause inflation requiring 20% interest rates yet are watching your GDP growth rate stall and fall to near zero, then by definition you are experiencing diminishing marginal return for each additional dollar of deficit. Each passing month will get more difficult for them. It was widely predicted the Russian war economy would peak by mid-2025. That is playing out....perhaps a bit ahead of schedule.

Russia cannot sustain its policy in Ukraine.
Ukraine can, as long as it has Nato support.
So what you meant to say is that you're predicting a declining GDP and massive deficits. We've already been hearing that for a while.
lol, no, their economy IS stalling, per the numbers.......

who holds your string to keep you from floating away?
Who taught you to read? Because it doesn't sound like you've been following the last few posts.
lol oh the irony....
trey3216
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The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
The_barBEARian
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whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

whiterock said:

Redbrickbear said:

Doc Holliday said:




"Ukraine should give up its NATO membership aspirations for at least 20 years, the freezing of the current front lines and the establishment of a demilitarized zone between Russian-held territory and Ukraine."


That does not accomplish anything long term

Kyiv has to give up forever its claims on Donbas and Crimea

Moscow has to give up the idea that the rest of Western oriented Ukraine is not going to join EU-NATO soon.

Just a demilitarized zone solves nothing long term.


I'm skeptical of the sourcing of this story. Sounds like leaking to drive narrative rather than actual developments.
On that point and that point alone, you are probably right. That doesn't mean Trump will take the hawkish approach that you expect; I doubt he knows yet what he'll do.

You should prepare to be disappointed.
You think I'm not? This is Trump we're talking about. Still, that report is very little to go on.

Zero percent chance BarbBearian will be pleased with Trump policy toward Ukraine.

Published today:

Donald Trump Jr mocks Zelensky by suggesting that he's just weeks away from 'losing allowance'
The_barBEARian
How long do you want to ignore this user?
trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.

trey3216
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
The_barBEARian
How long do you want to ignore this user?
trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.
trey3216
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.

Even moreso than being a simpleton? Because I think you've succeeded in that priority.
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
The_barBEARian
How long do you want to ignore this user?
trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.

Even moreso than being a simpleton? Because I think you've succeeded in that priority.

If I respected your opinion on anything, I might feel offended.

Fortunately I do not.
trey3216
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.

Even moreso than being a simpleton? Because I think you've succeeded in that priority.

If I respected your opinion on anything, I might feel offended.

Fortunately I do not.
If I respected anything about you whatsoever, I'd be less abrasive. But I do not, and your own simple-minded constructions are the reasons why. Your inability to have any level of nuanced thought is comical at best, and terrifying at worst. But keep on keepin' on. Maybe being a blatant racist/anti-semite will pay off for you sometime.
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
Doc Holliday
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Redbrickbear said:

Daveisabovereproach said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Redbrickbear said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The number of cases of desertion and unauthorized abandonment of the unit in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000, Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod admitted.

"Unauthorized abandonment of the unit, desertion - I will not name the number, but I would say - more than 100,000," she said in an interview with YouTube channel Novosti Live.

Earlier, military lawyer from the Center for Support of Veterans and Their Families Roman Likhachev said that more than 100,000 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had voluntarily left their units.

On Tuesday, president of Ukraine's Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko announced a significant increase in desertion cases in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, calling the situation threatening. According to Ukrainian media estimates, the total number of deserters in Ukraine has already reached 170,000.
Imagine how bad it must be for Russia, too.....

What side do you think can afford more desertions from its forced conscript army?
both sides can sustain it. But to your point, probably Ukraine, given that it is inflicting casualty rates which more than offset its demographic disparity of 3.5 to 1. Remember, Russia has been the attacker for all but ca 3-4 months in this war, and the attacker needs a MINIMUM of 3-1 advantage in manpower to have a reasonable chance of success. Russia has exactly that. Problem is, it's casualty rate relative to Uke losses is closer to 5-1. That's why we see Russia bringing in troops from NoKo. They're basically out of manpower without a full mobilization which Putin has obviously decided is not politically viable.

Demographics will not determine the outcome of this war.
Logistics will.

First, I would expect to see Trump covert aid to Ukraine over to lend-lease (something he's already mentioned he would like to do). That deteriorates Russia's strategic position, as it actually joins Ukraine and USA/Nato at the hip. To prevent that, Russia must then achieve total victory and subsumption of Ukraine, something manifestly beyond Russia's ability to achieve.

Second, I would expect to see Trump loosen if not remove all restrictions from Ukrainian use of US weapon systems against targets inside Russia. That will seriously hamper Russian logistics.

Both of those steps will drastically increase Putin to come to the negotiating table.

Biggest miscalculation policy critics have made is that Trump is going to fold up our hand and leave Ukraine to its own fate. Not. Going. To. Happen.


The billion dollar aid packages are over.

Trump got elected because people are tired of America's priorities being out of order.

Trump will absolutely cut Ukraine off bcs we can't afford to keep funding them and he has to clean up the domestic messes the Globalists who stole the last election created in our country, most notably securing the border and mass deportations.

European nations need to step up like yesterday. They thumb their noses at how backwards the US is until it's time to pony up for the military, then it's all about NATO NATO NATO ie "United States idiots, please save us from the Asiatic hordes!" As I posted months back (and got heat for it), I think it's a high time that the American government prioritized the well-being of Americans over foreigners both domestic and abroad. I know that's a crazy thought, but there it is

They have built very comprehensive welfare states off the back of American tax payers and the security assurances that the USA provides.

And they are loath to spend the money that is required of them to be in NATO

[2014, NATO leaders came to an agreement that members who spend under the 2% benchmark are to work towards reaching that goal within a decade. Thus, far many of the members (65%), haven't met that goal. ]
NATO is ideologically driven IMO.

I was at the NATO HQ in Belgium last year doing a tour because I have a family member that lives there and works for the State Dept. They had CNN on every TV in the dining hall…
The_barBEARian
How long do you want to ignore this user?
trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.

Even moreso than being a simpleton? Because I think you've succeeded in that priority.

If I respected your opinion on anything, I might feel offended.

Fortunately I do not.
If I respected anything about you whatsoever, I'd be less abrasive. But I do not, and your own simple-minded constructions are the reasons why. Your inability to have any level of nuanced thought is comical at best, and terrifying at worst. But keep on keepin' on. Maybe being a blatant racist/anti-semite will pay off for you sometime.
Stay mad.

Stay triggered.

trey3216
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

trey3216 said:

The_barBEARian said:

I was hoping your mourning period would be brief.

How does it feel to see MAGA winning the popular vote?




What am I mourning over?

The election of Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States and the repudiation of your open border, pro-globalist, pro-war neo-con ideals.


I figured you'd be mourning his election in regards to his relationship with Israel. We all know how much you love that

I don't think its possible to become President in this country without giving Israel its pound of flesh so I don't fault Trump for it. I do think he will be less obsequious to Netanyahu, especially if the rumors of Vivek as Secretary of State are to be believed.

Securing the border, mass deportations, and ending birthright citizenship has always been my number one priority.

Cutting foreign aid is a close second.

Even moreso than being a simpleton? Because I think you've succeeded in that priority.

If I respected your opinion on anything, I might feel offended.

Fortunately I do not.
If I respected anything about you whatsoever, I'd be less abrasive. But I do not, and your own simple-minded constructions are the reasons why. Your inability to have any level of nuanced thought is comical at best, and terrifying at worst. But keep on keepin' on. Maybe being a blatant racist/anti-semite will pay off for you sometime.
Stay mad.

Stay triggered.




lol. That doesn't bother me at all. I ain't mad about a damn thing right now.
Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Doc Holliday said:

Redbrickbear said:

Daveisabovereproach said:

The_barBEARian said:

whiterock said:

Redbrickbear said:

whiterock said:

Sam Lowry said:

MOSCOW, October 30. /TASS/. The number of cases of desertion and unauthorized abandonment of the unit in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000, Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod admitted.

"Unauthorized abandonment of the unit, desertion - I will not name the number, but I would say - more than 100,000," she said in an interview with YouTube channel Novosti Live.

Earlier, military lawyer from the Center for Support of Veterans and Their Families Roman Likhachev said that more than 100,000 servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces had voluntarily left their units.

On Tuesday, president of Ukraine's Supreme Court Stanislav Kravchenko announced a significant increase in desertion cases in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, calling the situation threatening. According to Ukrainian media estimates, the total number of deserters in Ukraine has already reached 170,000.
Imagine how bad it must be for Russia, too.....

What side do you think can afford more desertions from its forced conscript army?
both sides can sustain it. But to your point, probably Ukraine, given that it is inflicting casualty rates which more than offset its demographic disparity of 3.5 to 1. Remember, Russia has been the attacker for all but ca 3-4 months in this war, and the attacker needs a MINIMUM of 3-1 advantage in manpower to have a reasonable chance of success. Russia has exactly that. Problem is, it's casualty rate relative to Uke losses is closer to 5-1. That's why we see Russia bringing in troops from NoKo. They're basically out of manpower without a full mobilization which Putin has obviously decided is not politically viable.

Demographics will not determine the outcome of this war.
Logistics will.

First, I would expect to see Trump covert aid to Ukraine over to lend-lease (something he's already mentioned he would like to do). That deteriorates Russia's strategic position, as it actually joins Ukraine and USA/Nato at the hip. To prevent that, Russia must then achieve total victory and subsumption of Ukraine, something manifestly beyond Russia's ability to achieve.

Second, I would expect to see Trump loosen if not remove all restrictions from Ukrainian use of US weapon systems against targets inside Russia. That will seriously hamper Russian logistics.

Both of those steps will drastically increase Putin to come to the negotiating table.

Biggest miscalculation policy critics have made is that Trump is going to fold up our hand and leave Ukraine to its own fate. Not. Going. To. Happen.


The billion dollar aid packages are over.

Trump got elected because people are tired of America's priorities being out of order.

Trump will absolutely cut Ukraine off bcs we can't afford to keep funding them and he has to clean up the domestic messes the Globalists who stole the last election created in our country, most notably securing the border and mass deportations.

European nations need to step up like yesterday. They thumb their noses at how backwards the US is until it's time to pony up for the military, then it's all about NATO NATO NATO ie "United States idiots, please save us from the Asiatic hordes!" As I posted months back (and got heat for it), I think it's a high time that the American government prioritized the well-being of Americans over foreigners both domestic and abroad. I know that's a crazy thought, but there it is

They have built very comprehensive welfare states off the back of American tax payers and the security assurances that the USA provides.

And they are loath to spend the money that is required of them to be in NATO

[2014, NATO leaders came to an agreement that members who spend under the 2% benchmark are to work towards reaching that goal within a decade. Thus, far many of the members (65%), haven't met that goal. ]
NATO is ideologically driven IMO.

I was at the NATO HQ in Belgium last year doing a tour because I have a family member that lives there and works for the State Dept. They had CNN on every TV in the dining hall…

That does not shock me at all lol
Redbrickbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
lol you just know these maniacs are adding Russia to the list now…


Sam Lowry
How long do you want to ignore this user?
They added Russia to the list a long time ago. It's not like this is a war between Russia and Ukraine, after all. What kind of sense would that make for the Ukes?
Sam Lowry
How long do you want to ignore this user?
4% GDP growth obviously isn't "near zero."

I think you're just churning out as much propaganda as you can now in hopes that something or anything will distract from Kiev's ongoing retreat.
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