After Trump’s phone call to Putin yesterday -- lasting 90 minutes according to the White House – it seems that any say Ukraine will have in its own future has been cancelled.
One possibility ... maybe. Zelensky just doesn't accept any of this, and the EU nations back him up – with money and weapons. Who says the US gets to be the decisive player in Ukraine?
I would love to see this happen. The Ukrainians deserve so much more than this shabby excuse for a deal. How is giving Putin everything he wants a good choice? I find it tragic.
Yes! I don’t understand why Trump is negotiating Ukraine’s future with Putin, and Ukraine is not at the table representing themselves. Everyone knows Trump is Putin’s puppy dog.
Trump negotiated with the Taliban without the government of Afghanistan at the table, and as a consequence of his "deal" we pulled our troops out, the government leaders fled, and the Taliban over ran the country and our troops had to leave in haste and with losses that Biden took blame for despite FFOTUS having negotiated the deal and set the (initially even worse) timeline and conditions.
Here, the government is not quite so dependent upon our propping and we don't have troops on the ground to pull out, leaving a vacuum. Biden rushed some money and old equipment etc to them at the last minute. One hopes Europe can see well enough what this means for them so that they don't give up so easily. There is, after all, a chance they are still watching this old democracy for signs of life...
For the same reason the orange traitor thinks he has any say in the future of Gaza. He thinks he is 'king shit' and has the right. I can't wait until someone or something knocks the bastard off his perch.
That would be a refreshing outcome, but not an easy one to achieve. Our withdrawal from NATO is just a matter of time. That gives Putin an open door to the rest of Europe. The whole Post WW11 defense arrangements that have worked for 80s will be toast.
Agreed that such an outcome would be difficult for sure. But I don't think France and England (both nuclear powers) and other European nations that are great economic powers should be dismissed as strategic counterweights to Russia. UK, Germany, and France each have GDPs larger than Russia. And Italy's GDP is nearly as large as Russia's. Putin's Russia might be quite a bit less powerful than it appears. They certainly did not fare well militarily against a nation with 1/10 the GDP and about 1/4 the population (143 MM vs. 37 MM).
Also, the military forces of the EU are actually larger than those of the US – or Russia.
This is a very encouraging comment, Arthur, and I hope it comes to pass since the Felon-in-Chief and his incompetent, unqualified SecDef are leaving Ukraine out in the cold, literally & figuratively. Russia's military is, without question, weaker & less capable now after three years of combat against a lesser foe. But Europe standing up to Putin will require unity and determination. I'm not confident that Italy and Hungary will play an active role in countering Putin's ultimate goal of taking back some or all of the Soviet Union's former satellite countries. We'll find out where Europe stands within the next four years.
California has a GDP larger than Russia. I wonder if Gavin could send the National Guard? Or maybe fund former to members of the military who support Ukraine to go there to fight??? Sounds farfetched, but I'm almost 75 on Social Security and don't have much to contribute.
Your analysis points out the current situations in Europe. What we do not know or have any idea of its impact is the very real and continuing to grow trend of so many prosperouus European nations continuing to lean further right as we seem to be doing. At what point will "Europe" begin to look more like MAGA than the progressive social democratic model which we helped build and encourage post WW II? That will have a definite impact on not just the structure of NATO but is solidarity to resist any Russian intervention in the affairs of the EU.
Good point – and yes, the rightward trend in so many places is troubling and a bit incomprehensible to me. Europe may no longer be as dependable a defender of a "pluralistic" democracy as it once might have been. At the root of it, there seems to be, at its core, xenophobia and a rejection of multiculturalism. Given the relatively prosperous state of these nations that you mention, it seems economics does not go very far in explaining this problem. But I can't claim to understand it. If it's anything like America, perhaps it's mostly explainable by a fear of loss of control by empowered white people and a backlash against "others."
Arthur. Yes, it is in all likelihood about white folks losing ground as many European countries like us have allowed immigrasnts to come into their country to often do the work the locals find eithr beneasth them, but, more fundamentally the lower birth rate of prosperous people and/or to fulfill capitalism's instatiable need for more labor utility at lower costs.
Finally, in this one man's opinion was at work both here and abroad is a combinastion of self intrested greed (if someone else is getting ahead I must be falling behind) and ignorance of how our capitalistic system works (labor will always migrate to where it's utility can be attained the lowest possilble cost).
There are several psychopaths and deconstructionists in the current timeline - I’m of the opinion (my experience) is that it’s better to name, identify them.
Looks difficult, although one thing in their favor is Ukrainians routinely speak fluent Russian. Makes them more difficult to spy on and vice-versa, easier for them to figure out what the Russians are up to.
Damn right. The traitor is dealing for his own profit, and is using Any country or Anyone as bargaining chips. And the traitor doesn't give a shit about Ukraine, or any other country for that matter... even the United States is a "shithole" to him.
Am trying to imagine just how that would play out in real life?
Searching his office, all modes of transport, breathalyzers before all meetings?
Yes: this is sarcasm.
But the R’s also removed the concealed weapons detectors from Congress because everyone should go into sessions carrying a weapon? (no - they shouldn’t)
I am living in Europe so I can see where this is leading. This is what we knew Trump would do all along, but Hegseth needs to still be removed. We should all be writing to Republican leaders in anger.
Lisa, I don't know you, but my heart hurts at your words, "I lost my family over this man, but I am proud I stood up for what's right." You may have lost your family, but your family lost more -- they lost you -- a courageous, thoughtful, and caring patriot. I hope that some of your family will see the light and make amends. .If they don't you still have chosen the better path, and inspired us who have sacrificed so much less to be brave and to work for the good.
The counting of the votes cast was quite good - the Republicans won by making sure many of the "wrong" people could not vote.....they are masters at voter suppression.
No argument with you on suppression, but I would venture to ask how you *know* the counting was quite good. It's worth discussing, because there are quite a few assumptions that about the process that may not be accurate.
Just the fact that no serious cases of mass voter fraud have been reported and I think any of that would have been in the headlines all over if it had been endemic. The majority of cases of known voter fraud have involved Republicans.
Not talking about "voter fraud" (i.e., fraud by voters); talking about vote *counting* fraud (i.e., by insiders or hackers gaining access to a concealed, computerized counting process). The distinction is critical, but both officeholders and media have been so sloppy about it that the two generally get conflated. GOP used virtually nonexistent "voter fraud" (and, as you point out, when there have been cases, it's almost always been GOP voters perpetrating) to justify their draconian voter suppression laws and schemes. Meanwhile they blocked every effort to bring transparency to the counting process. Wonder why? I can only point you to my book -- linked above in this thread -- and my website www.codered2020.com. While there, check out the analytical paper titled "The Real Steal..." Thanks.
Took the possibility of a second term too lightly. We needed a more powerful alternative to the legacy media much sooner, and to incorporate more things like pride in democracy in our entertainment media since that's all many people pay attention to. Like teaching children, we should have made it "entertaining".
It must seem especially bizarre to Ukraine where Biden was assigned to help advise them on eliminating corruption, which is why they naively thought putting a Biden on the board of a previously corrupt and newly cleaned up Burisma would enhance it's reputation. They were still drawing upon a world view colored by nepotism and failed to understand how it could be perceived by places where nepotism and cronyism hadn't saturated politics for a generation and they didn't even see their own colored lens, but their hearts were in the right place. Ukrainians actually admired America. They must feel as betrayed as we do.
Unfortunately I think the idea that the US was the moral standard in the world is a myth, a fallacy. It was never true...look what the US military did in Latin America or Iraq...it was always about power, resources and money.
1. Rejecting the predictable results of US-Russia negotiations, Ukraine will not surrender to Russian domination. All forms of US support for Ukraine will cease. Russia will continue to make minor gains, but will fail to achieve anything resembling victory in Ukraine.
2. European NATO countries will see their interest to lie strongly with preventing Ukraine's defeat and takeover by Russia.
3. European NATO countries will unify regarding Ukraine and will significantly increase support of Ukraine, commiting to the not-unrealistic expectation that Ukraine will be able to avoid collapse and prevent Russia from achieving the victory Putin demands.
4. Ukraine will lose more territory, but with enhanced Euro NATO support, will deny Russian victory as defined by Putin.
4. The US under Trump and officially in a pique will withdraw from NATO.
5. Ukraine will survive as a sovereign state.
6. Euro NATO will emerge as a significant military power.
7. The US under Trump will diminish as a significant military power.
8. China will give more serious consideration to invading Taiwan. With the US a defanged tiger and Euro NATO too far away to be a deterrent, why not?
Your #8 has been fore-front of my thinking for past few weeks. And, after successfully taking back Taiwan will they venture into Thailand and the other smaller SE Asian nations. ((there goes my retirement plan).
There has to be something we can do. Mass marches, boycotts of Trump-friendly companies, etc. I’m just completely out of spirit tonight (don’t worry, I’ll regain it). I’d have thought that Musk and his son taking over the Oval Office would have sent Trump firing him.
It’s really the Republicans who have to shun Trump and I guess things haven’t gotten that bad, yet.
I will step up my donations to organizations supporting Ukraine. Timothy Snyder (and Mark Hamill) recommended United24, to name one, which buys de-mining robots to make farmland usable again. An earlier project was for clever systems for dealing with Russian attack drones.
It seems Republican farmers in Tulare Co., CA, are afraid to complain after Trump drained two of their reservoirs which water for the dry months. Per the Guardian, locals held back criticism because they were afraid their businesses would be targeted. The Farm Bureau rep would say people didn’t think Trump intended to hurt them, they were still conservative and liked bold actions.
So. . .Republicans are afraid of reprisals by Trump or the Proud Boys or something, if they complain that he harmed them for a stupid stunt. Which the release of water at this time clearly was.
When the situation for farmers grows dire and they are facing bankruptcy, with no federal funds to offset their losses, some of them will regret voting for trump - but will never admit it publically..
The diehard maga crowd will likely never hold him accountable, regardless of how much they suffer. It's difficult, or nearly impossible for some, to acknowledge they've been taken in by a conman. They'll look for someone or something else to blame to avoid admitting that they were duped. They'll tell themselves they are good people and have done nothing wrong. It has to be the Democrats or liberals who are at fault for their mess.
I thought it was a significant change that they were afraid of other Trump supporters or Trump himself getting revenge if they spoke out about how he hurt them.
In the past his people booed him when he suggested they get COVID shots. No more standing up for themselves?
No more standing up, period. What Putin is to Trump, Trump is to them. They were brought to him with his fantasized fear mongering and that fear permeates them. You can see it in their faces. All frowns all the time. Fear ridden fools with enormous chips on their shoulders and the weight of the world in their feeble minds. We are a country chock full of ignorance.
We were so Goddamn close - Russia's economy is close to collapse and they are running out of the remainder of their wealth fund. They are short of men, short of money, short of weapons and short of time. The current interest rate in Russia is 21% ad the books are being cooked to a crisp to hide the truth from the west and the Russian people themselves. And Trump just gave away the store and lost the game. Art of the deal, my foot.....
You are right. Russia is bleeding out . So is Ukraine. Which will bleed out completely first? Do we really want to risk that? The Kellogg proposal stops the bleeding, preserves the status quo, puts Western boots on the ground to insure against the “little green men” shenanigans of 2014 who took Crimea and rearms and resupplies the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It also gives Ukraine the time to completely renew its economy as a “special nation “ with the EU. What’s Russia going to do? Western Europe will never allow itself to become a captive of Russian Gas again. Nor is it likely to become major trading partners with Russia. So where is Russia? Gee it got pieces of four destroyed eastern Ukrainian Provence’s . They were an industrial heartland . Not anymore. Russia doesn’t have the resources to restore them. They are a very large war zone / junk yard. Not quite Gaza , but close. To tell you the truth, if you look at this objectively, Russia gets the short end of the bargain. It gets a giant junk yard and the opportunity to become an oil and gas colony of China. Gee whiz what a deal!
You are absolutely right, and I should have ,mentioned that what Russia is getting in territory is a wasteland, but Putin still can claim a victory, though an extraordinarily expensive one. I fear that Trump will relax or remove entirely most of the sanctions, and that allows Russia to rebuild. And Russia also gets all the oil and gas resources in the western Black Sea because they have Crimea - that was critical for Ukraine's economic future, though perhaps the extensive deposits of rare earth metals will turn out to be even more valuable - most of the minerals and metals are in the "free" part of Ukraine. It is imperative though that we keep the sanctions regime to isolate Russia as long as they hold any of Ukraine's pre-2014 lands - aggression cannot be rewarded. We will see what the final conditions turn out to be.
Putin is likely toast anyway - the current wartime economy is not sustainable, but when they try to transition to a peacetime economy the disruption that has already occurred will seriously affect Russia's population. And there is still time for Ukraine to take out some or all of the critical oil pipelines from Siberia. Russia must also be forced to pay reparations for the war crimes it has committed. Oh, and the "oil and gas colony of China"? According to Peter Zeihan, China is in a demographic collapse that now cannot be averted, and may cease to exist as a united country by mid-21st century, so Russia's hopes there may be short-lived.....
An addendum: Ukraine will need defensible borders, so there will have to be some adjustments, which by rights should favor Ukraine where there is a conflict, but that is up to the negotiators..... Ukrainian spokespeople have already said the rebuilding process will involve adopting only the latest advanced technology for industry and power generation. They want to be the model for future European modernization. And Putin will have to agree to many if not most of these demands, because he NEEDS the war to end before his economy and government do.....and if the war continues during the negotiations, he and his economy are still under great pressure and danger of collapse. Perhaps many of the Ukrainians abroad will return home to take part in the rebuilding - their future in Ukraine should be bright.....
putin has rejected eu peacekeepers on the very long border. the promise
has been broken before. so i hope you are right now. Which Ukrainian spokespeople have addressed power generation? I take an interest in that and am trying to design a micro project...
I do not have the gentleman's name - he is a Ukrainian who has worked in the west as well and is very well spoken. He was a guest on several YT videos in the earlier part of the war. He mentioned that they will not rebuild the ancient and wasteful Soviet technology for their power generation and industrial facilities, but will instead endeavor to be a model for future European modernization. Of course, there is a great deal of corruption that needs to be cleaned up, but they can do that with the right motivation.....
The thought also occurs to me that the vast majority of the mines and unexploded ordnance left in and on the ground in Ukraine are in the territory the Russians will likely get in the negotiations, so Russia then has the job of finding and disposing of all that stuff. I'll bet they don't do a good job and that part of former Ukraine will be a wasteland for many decades, as some areas of eastern Europe were under the Soviets. At this point, the Ukrainians are free to move on.....
I appreciate you evaluation and value it. I can not say I "like" it. First, does he have the ability to make this decision? Wasn't it a NATO decision? Second how do we know he will acquiesce to what he agreed to, or didn't in a "90 minute" phone call with the little man in Moscow? Is there a record? Was it really 90 minutes? I am not in anyway questioning your veracity, not at all. I am questioning the truth of his statements. How many times in the last 2.5 weeks has the demented fool, backtracked, changed his mind, and blatantly lied ? It's about the publicity - not the facts. He doesn't give a damn how the information is received, just as long as the spotlight remains on him.
I believe that even before he was elected (more shame on the voters who voted for him and those who stayed home) FFOTUS said he would not have others on his phone calls with foreign leaders (take that Vindman) and in fact he conducted meetings in person with Putin without a single American in the room during his first term - just the Russian interpreter. HE doesn't have anything to hide, does he?
I hope Zelensky tells Trump where he can shove the $500 billion in rare metals and other minerals, that now will be going only to the highest bidder and not to the US in any sort of "favorite son" arrangement..... Trump can't have it both ways - if he shafts Ukraine, Ukraine is under no pressure to sell any of their valuable minerals to the US. And the last map of Ukraine's mineral deposits I saw this week showed that the vast majority of valuable metals and minerals were in the "free" Ukraine areas, not the Russian- occupied portion. Ukraine does have leverage here, pandering to Trump's greed. Trump's refusal to contribute any funds to reparations or reconstruction may lead the EU to seize the contraband Russian assets seized by sanctions, and use those for rebuilding Ukraine.
The horrors from Trump and his never elected Mr. Musk get worse by the day. It is hard for me to understand how you can continue to write such great columns about these horrors. Yet I know that when one has to put ones feeling in writing, it does help. Thanks to your daily letter, I don't feel so alone in y worries about what will be the next awful blow to what used to be our country.
Folks, let's just call the unelected prezident by his proper name, MuskRat, with emphasis on the last three letters. He certainly doesn't deserve the "Mr." in front of his name. That denotes respect, which he doesn't deserve.
One possibility ... maybe. Zelensky just doesn't accept any of this, and the EU nations back him up – with money and weapons. Who says the US gets to be the decisive player in Ukraine?
I would love to see this happen. The Ukrainians deserve so much more than this shabby excuse for a deal. How is giving Putin everything he wants a good choice? I find it tragic.
Yes! I don’t understand why Trump is negotiating Ukraine’s future with Putin, and Ukraine is not at the table representing themselves. Everyone knows Trump is Putin’s puppy dog.
Trump negotiated with the Taliban without the government of Afghanistan at the table, and as a consequence of his "deal" we pulled our troops out, the government leaders fled, and the Taliban over ran the country and our troops had to leave in haste and with losses that Biden took blame for despite FFOTUS having negotiated the deal and set the (initially even worse) timeline and conditions.
Here, the government is not quite so dependent upon our propping and we don't have troops on the ground to pull out, leaving a vacuum. Biden rushed some money and old equipment etc to them at the last minute. One hopes Europe can see well enough what this means for them so that they don't give up so easily. There is, after all, a chance they are still watching this old democracy for signs of life...
I'm praying....
I pray for Zelenskyy every night, but I wonder if there is anyone to hear.
Me, too!
Me too. And I've not only been praying, but donating to Ukrainian aid volunteers every time I receive my paycheck.
I'm doing the same. It's a great investment.
Me too.
More like his pussy cat!
For the same reason the orange traitor thinks he has any say in the future of Gaza. He thinks he is 'king shit' and has the right. I can't wait until someone or something knocks the bastard off his perch.
That would be a refreshing outcome, but not an easy one to achieve. Our withdrawal from NATO is just a matter of time. That gives Putin an open door to the rest of Europe. The whole Post WW11 defense arrangements that have worked for 80s will be toast.
Agreed that such an outcome would be difficult for sure. But I don't think France and England (both nuclear powers) and other European nations that are great economic powers should be dismissed as strategic counterweights to Russia. UK, Germany, and France each have GDPs larger than Russia. And Italy's GDP is nearly as large as Russia's. Putin's Russia might be quite a bit less powerful than it appears. They certainly did not fare well militarily against a nation with 1/10 the GDP and about 1/4 the population (143 MM vs. 37 MM).
Also, the military forces of the EU are actually larger than those of the US – or Russia.
https://ecfr.eu/publication/defending-europe-with-less-america/#:~:text=European%20NATO%20allies%20and%20EU,among%20the%20top%20ten%20global
This is a very encouraging comment, Arthur, and I hope it comes to pass since the Felon-in-Chief and his incompetent, unqualified SecDef are leaving Ukraine out in the cold, literally & figuratively. Russia's military is, without question, weaker & less capable now after three years of combat against a lesser foe. But Europe standing up to Putin will require unity and determination. I'm not confident that Italy and Hungary will play an active role in countering Putin's ultimate goal of taking back some or all of the Soviet Union's former satellite countries. We'll find out where Europe stands within the next four years.
Great analysis! Thanks!
California has a GDP larger than Russia. I wonder if Gavin could send the National Guard? Or maybe fund former to members of the military who support Ukraine to go there to fight??? Sounds farfetched, but I'm almost 75 on Social Security and don't have much to contribute.
Your analysis points out the current situations in Europe. What we do not know or have any idea of its impact is the very real and continuing to grow trend of so many prosperouus European nations continuing to lean further right as we seem to be doing. At what point will "Europe" begin to look more like MAGA than the progressive social democratic model which we helped build and encourage post WW II? That will have a definite impact on not just the structure of NATO but is solidarity to resist any Russian intervention in the affairs of the EU.
Good point – and yes, the rightward trend in so many places is troubling and a bit incomprehensible to me. Europe may no longer be as dependable a defender of a "pluralistic" democracy as it once might have been. At the root of it, there seems to be, at its core, xenophobia and a rejection of multiculturalism. Given the relatively prosperous state of these nations that you mention, it seems economics does not go very far in explaining this problem. But I can't claim to understand it. If it's anything like America, perhaps it's mostly explainable by a fear of loss of control by empowered white people and a backlash against "others."
Arthur. Yes, it is in all likelihood about white folks losing ground as many European countries like us have allowed immigrasnts to come into their country to often do the work the locals find eithr beneasth them, but, more fundamentally the lower birth rate of prosperous people and/or to fulfill capitalism's instatiable need for more labor utility at lower costs.
Finally, in this one man's opinion was at work both here and abroad is a combinastion of self intrested greed (if someone else is getting ahead I must be falling behind) and ignorance of how our capitalistic system works (labor will always migrate to where it's utility can be attained the lowest possilble cost).
Thank you for this. Hard facts help diminish the hopelessness.
Thank You for this, Arthur.
Arthur
I like that.
But highly unlikely.
Im Waiting for England and France to respond.
As we watch the Curtis Yarvin's and Donald the psychopath and fellow deconstructionists rip apart the planet.
There are several psychopaths and deconstructionists in the current timeline - I’m of the opinion (my experience) is that it’s better to name, identify them.
Also another thank you to Arthur.
That would be so great.
Looks difficult, although one thing in their favor is Ukrainians routinely speak fluent Russian. Makes them more difficult to spy on and vice-versa, easier for them to figure out what the Russians are up to.
Damn right. The traitor is dealing for his own profit, and is using Any country or Anyone as bargaining chips. And the traitor doesn't give a shit about Ukraine, or any other country for that matter... even the United States is a "shithole" to him.
I can feel nothing but sadness for Ukraine, and distain for this horrible administration.
Ditto. I am glad they Booed Hegseth today!!
That was wonderful. I wonder if he was sober?
Highly unlikely
Maybe dry, but months away from being sober.
Good question Janice. They should've made that a condition of his confirmation. Staying sober.
Am trying to imagine just how that would play out in real life?
Searching his office, all modes of transport, breathalyzers before all meetings?
Yes: this is sarcasm.
But the R’s also removed the concealed weapons detectors from Congress because everyone should go into sessions carrying a weapon? (no - they shouldn’t)
His offer to go to a drying out place somehow sank beneath the waves.
Time for breathalyzers at the chamber doors.
Trump will go down in history as the Neville Chamberlains of our day with Benedict Arnold thrown in.
He's Putin's saboteur.
Stephen Colbert had given him another position/occupation. Let's just say it's below the belt.
Carol-Ann, that's been the position every Repugnant member of Congress has been taking with the Felon-in-Chief since his first time in office.
He will rival f-ing Caligula!
Nailed it!👍👍
He’ll go down worse than that.
Actually, Mussolini:
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/trump-mussolini-authoritarianism
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-texas-pardons/
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-not-adolph-hitler-opinion-1973600
Ribbentrop
I am living in Europe so I can see where this is leading. This is what we knew Trump would do all along, but Hegseth needs to still be removed. We should all be writing to Republican leaders in anger.
Just sickens me. I lost my family over this man but I'm proud I stood up for what's right. My heart breaks for Ukraine tonight. 💔💙💛
Lisa, I don't know you, but my heart hurts at your words, "I lost my family over this man, but I am proud I stood up for what's right." You may have lost your family, but your family lost more -- they lost you -- a courageous, thoughtful, and caring patriot. I hope that some of your family will see the light and make amends. .If they don't you still have chosen the better path, and inspired us who have sacrificed so much less to be brave and to work for the good.
Thank you. That means a lot right now. ❤️
New chosen family!
Corruption is the word of the day as a government order is placed for $250million Armoured vehicles from Tesla!
What have we done to deserve such a screw-up?
How about failed to take seriously the warning to count votes observably in public? https://www.amazon.com/CODE-RED-Computerized-Elections-Democracy/dp/B087H83JCR/ref
The counting of the votes cast was quite good - the Republicans won by making sure many of the "wrong" people could not vote.....they are masters at voter suppression.
No argument with you on suppression, but I would venture to ask how you *know* the counting was quite good. It's worth discussing, because there are quite a few assumptions that about the process that may not be accurate.
Just the fact that no serious cases of mass voter fraud have been reported and I think any of that would have been in the headlines all over if it had been endemic. The majority of cases of known voter fraud have involved Republicans.
Not talking about "voter fraud" (i.e., fraud by voters); talking about vote *counting* fraud (i.e., by insiders or hackers gaining access to a concealed, computerized counting process). The distinction is critical, but both officeholders and media have been so sloppy about it that the two generally get conflated. GOP used virtually nonexistent "voter fraud" (and, as you point out, when there have been cases, it's almost always been GOP voters perpetrating) to justify their draconian voter suppression laws and schemes. Meanwhile they blocked every effort to bring transparency to the counting process. Wonder why? I can only point you to my book -- linked above in this thread -- and my website www.codered2020.com. While there, check out the analytical paper titled "The Real Steal..." Thanks.
It was rigged and you know who gave me lots of money and now is sitting at the Oval Office so to speak with his 4 year old son, who Felon47 ignored!
Took the possibility of a second term too lightly. We needed a more powerful alternative to the legacy media much sooner, and to incorporate more things like pride in democracy in our entertainment media since that's all many people pay attention to. Like teaching children, we should have made it "entertaining".
Infuriating!!! But USAID is. the demon!
$400m of cybertrucks, that’s about 4000 of them to transport the DOGE SS paramilitary that will fire on civilians.
America needs a Navalny - someone that has the words, the courage, and can build the necessary groundswell resistance
Ya especially since the Cybertruck likes to catch on fire.
We let white supremacists vote...
The US has gone from the moral standard on world affairs to a country that can no longer be trusted. I am incredibly saddened by these events.
It must seem especially bizarre to Ukraine where Biden was assigned to help advise them on eliminating corruption, which is why they naively thought putting a Biden on the board of a previously corrupt and newly cleaned up Burisma would enhance it's reputation. They were still drawing upon a world view colored by nepotism and failed to understand how it could be perceived by places where nepotism and cronyism hadn't saturated politics for a generation and they didn't even see their own colored lens, but their hearts were in the right place. Ukrainians actually admired America. They must feel as betrayed as we do.
Unfortunately I think the idea that the US was the moral standard in the world is a myth, a fallacy. It was never true...look what the US military did in Latin America or Iraq...it was always about power, resources and money.
Here's what will happen:
1. Rejecting the predictable results of US-Russia negotiations, Ukraine will not surrender to Russian domination. All forms of US support for Ukraine will cease. Russia will continue to make minor gains, but will fail to achieve anything resembling victory in Ukraine.
2. European NATO countries will see their interest to lie strongly with preventing Ukraine's defeat and takeover by Russia.
3. European NATO countries will unify regarding Ukraine and will significantly increase support of Ukraine, commiting to the not-unrealistic expectation that Ukraine will be able to avoid collapse and prevent Russia from achieving the victory Putin demands.
4. Ukraine will lose more territory, but with enhanced Euro NATO support, will deny Russian victory as defined by Putin.
4. The US under Trump and officially in a pique will withdraw from NATO.
5. Ukraine will survive as a sovereign state.
6. Euro NATO will emerge as a significant military power.
7. The US under Trump will diminish as a significant military power.
8. China will give more serious consideration to invading Taiwan. With the US a defanged tiger and Euro NATO too far away to be a deterrent, why not?
That's as far ahead as my crystal ball can see.
I think that's pretty good.
How about drumpf gets in the way of a bullet? Not feeling any empathy for Smutsk,
either.
Oh yeah. You’re talked my my language, now!
Substack needs another emoji. Liking your post is an oxymoron, but your timeline seems well thought out, as much as it disgusts me.
Jim, sadly, I see this as a reasonable scenario, all due to the Felon-in-Chief.
From your typewriter (computer) to God’s ear
Your #8 has been fore-front of my thinking for past few weeks. And, after successfully taking back Taiwan will they venture into Thailand and the other smaller SE Asian nations. ((there goes my retirement plan).
Putin now has an open invitation to invade the Baltic states next. Watch out Poland. We are reliving the 1930s.
They realize that in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
I am stunned and distressed---and deeply sad for the martyrs of Ukraine.
There has to be something we can do. Mass marches, boycotts of Trump-friendly companies, etc. I’m just completely out of spirit tonight (don’t worry, I’ll regain it). I’d have thought that Musk and his son taking over the Oval Office would have sent Trump firing him.
It’s really the Republicans who have to shun Trump and I guess things haven’t gotten that bad, yet.
I will step up my donations to organizations supporting Ukraine. Timothy Snyder (and Mark Hamill) recommended United24, to name one, which buys de-mining robots to make farmland usable again. An earlier project was for clever systems for dealing with Russian attack drones.
Great idea. I’ll look up United 24 tomorrow.
Here’s the link for United24: https://u24.gov.ua/
Thanks.
I believe Drumpf has defunded the demining projects sponsored by the US, too!
The Rethugs will never shun *Rump.
It seems Republican farmers in Tulare Co., CA, are afraid to complain after Trump drained two of their reservoirs which water for the dry months. Per the Guardian, locals held back criticism because they were afraid their businesses would be targeted. The Farm Bureau rep would say people didn’t think Trump intended to hurt them, they were still conservative and liked bold actions.
So. . .Republicans are afraid of reprisals by Trump or the Proud Boys or something, if they complain that he harmed them for a stupid stunt. Which the release of water at this time clearly was.
When the situation for farmers grows dire and they are facing bankruptcy, with no federal funds to offset their losses, some of them will regret voting for trump - but will never admit it publically..
The diehard maga crowd will likely never hold him accountable, regardless of how much they suffer. It's difficult, or nearly impossible for some, to acknowledge they've been taken in by a conman. They'll look for someone or something else to blame to avoid admitting that they were duped. They'll tell themselves they are good people and have done nothing wrong. It has to be the Democrats or liberals who are at fault for their mess.
I thought it was a significant change that they were afraid of other Trump supporters or Trump himself getting revenge if they spoke out about how he hurt them.
In the past his people booed him when he suggested they get COVID shots. No more standing up for themselves?
No more standing up, period. What Putin is to Trump, Trump is to them. They were brought to him with his fantasized fear mongering and that fear permeates them. You can see it in their faces. All frowns all the time. Fear ridden fools with enormous chips on their shoulders and the weight of the world in their feeble minds. We are a country chock full of ignorance.
Spot on, Ralph T.
We were so Goddamn close - Russia's economy is close to collapse and they are running out of the remainder of their wealth fund. They are short of men, short of money, short of weapons and short of time. The current interest rate in Russia is 21% ad the books are being cooked to a crisp to hide the truth from the west and the Russian people themselves. And Trump just gave away the store and lost the game. Art of the deal, my foot.....
You are right. Russia is bleeding out . So is Ukraine. Which will bleed out completely first? Do we really want to risk that? The Kellogg proposal stops the bleeding, preserves the status quo, puts Western boots on the ground to insure against the “little green men” shenanigans of 2014 who took Crimea and rearms and resupplies the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It also gives Ukraine the time to completely renew its economy as a “special nation “ with the EU. What’s Russia going to do? Western Europe will never allow itself to become a captive of Russian Gas again. Nor is it likely to become major trading partners with Russia. So where is Russia? Gee it got pieces of four destroyed eastern Ukrainian Provence’s . They were an industrial heartland . Not anymore. Russia doesn’t have the resources to restore them. They are a very large war zone / junk yard. Not quite Gaza , but close. To tell you the truth, if you look at this objectively, Russia gets the short end of the bargain. It gets a giant junk yard and the opportunity to become an oil and gas colony of China. Gee whiz what a deal!
You are absolutely right, and I should have ,mentioned that what Russia is getting in territory is a wasteland, but Putin still can claim a victory, though an extraordinarily expensive one. I fear that Trump will relax or remove entirely most of the sanctions, and that allows Russia to rebuild. And Russia also gets all the oil and gas resources in the western Black Sea because they have Crimea - that was critical for Ukraine's economic future, though perhaps the extensive deposits of rare earth metals will turn out to be even more valuable - most of the minerals and metals are in the "free" part of Ukraine. It is imperative though that we keep the sanctions regime to isolate Russia as long as they hold any of Ukraine's pre-2014 lands - aggression cannot be rewarded. We will see what the final conditions turn out to be.
Putin is likely toast anyway - the current wartime economy is not sustainable, but when they try to transition to a peacetime economy the disruption that has already occurred will seriously affect Russia's population. And there is still time for Ukraine to take out some or all of the critical oil pipelines from Siberia. Russia must also be forced to pay reparations for the war crimes it has committed. Oh, and the "oil and gas colony of China"? According to Peter Zeihan, China is in a demographic collapse that now cannot be averted, and may cease to exist as a united country by mid-21st century, so Russia's hopes there may be short-lived.....
An addendum: Ukraine will need defensible borders, so there will have to be some adjustments, which by rights should favor Ukraine where there is a conflict, but that is up to the negotiators..... Ukrainian spokespeople have already said the rebuilding process will involve adopting only the latest advanced technology for industry and power generation. They want to be the model for future European modernization. And Putin will have to agree to many if not most of these demands, because he NEEDS the war to end before his economy and government do.....and if the war continues during the negotiations, he and his economy are still under great pressure and danger of collapse. Perhaps many of the Ukrainians abroad will return home to take part in the rebuilding - their future in Ukraine should be bright.....
putin has rejected eu peacekeepers on the very long border. the promise
has been broken before. so i hope you are right now. Which Ukrainian spokespeople have addressed power generation? I take an interest in that and am trying to design a micro project...
I do not have the gentleman's name - he is a Ukrainian who has worked in the west as well and is very well spoken. He was a guest on several YT videos in the earlier part of the war. He mentioned that they will not rebuild the ancient and wasteful Soviet technology for their power generation and industrial facilities, but will instead endeavor to be a model for future European modernization. Of course, there is a great deal of corruption that needs to be cleaned up, but they can do that with the right motivation.....
The thought also occurs to me that the vast majority of the mines and unexploded ordnance left in and on the ground in Ukraine are in the territory the Russians will likely get in the negotiations, so Russia then has the job of finding and disposing of all that stuff. I'll bet they don't do a good job and that part of former Ukraine will be a wasteland for many decades, as some areas of eastern Europe were under the Soviets. At this point, the Ukrainians are free to move on.....
You make some valid points here, Terrence. I hadn't thought of it this way.
I appreciate you evaluation and value it. I can not say I "like" it. First, does he have the ability to make this decision? Wasn't it a NATO decision? Second how do we know he will acquiesce to what he agreed to, or didn't in a "90 minute" phone call with the little man in Moscow? Is there a record? Was it really 90 minutes? I am not in anyway questioning your veracity, not at all. I am questioning the truth of his statements. How many times in the last 2.5 weeks has the demented fool, backtracked, changed his mind, and blatantly lied ? It's about the publicity - not the facts. He doesn't give a damn how the information is received, just as long as the spotlight remains on him.
I believe that even before he was elected (more shame on the voters who voted for him and those who stayed home) FFOTUS said he would not have others on his phone calls with foreign leaders (take that Vindman) and in fact he conducted meetings in person with Putin without a single American in the room during his first term - just the Russian interpreter. HE doesn't have anything to hide, does he?
I hope Zelensky tells Trump where he can shove the $500 billion in rare metals and other minerals, that now will be going only to the highest bidder and not to the US in any sort of "favorite son" arrangement..... Trump can't have it both ways - if he shafts Ukraine, Ukraine is under no pressure to sell any of their valuable minerals to the US. And the last map of Ukraine's mineral deposits I saw this week showed that the vast majority of valuable metals and minerals were in the "free" Ukraine areas, not the Russian- occupied portion. Ukraine does have leverage here, pandering to Trump's greed. Trump's refusal to contribute any funds to reparations or reconstruction may lead the EU to seize the contraband Russian assets seized by sanctions, and use those for rebuilding Ukraine.
I favor both of these suggestions. Fair is fair. And so satisfying.
The horrors from Trump and his never elected Mr. Musk get worse by the day. It is hard for me to understand how you can continue to write such great columns about these horrors. Yet I know that when one has to put ones feeling in writing, it does help. Thanks to your daily letter, I don't feel so alone in y worries about what will be the next awful blow to what used to be our country.
Folks, let's just call the unelected prezident by his proper name, MuskRat, with emphasis on the last three letters. He certainly doesn't deserve the "Mr." in front of his name. That denotes respect, which he doesn't deserve.
F'elon
Outstanding, Kate!! I love it!!😁
Maybe not alone, but these 2 are all too much to bear.
So depressing.