Watching George Stephanopoulos, God bless him, trying to get a straight answer out of Tom Cotton four different times, kinda reminded me of that one "Key & Peele" football-sketch where a frustrated, valiant reporter tries to interview Ozmataz Buckshank:
Now that Trump has "clarified" his defense of Putin to suggest that Putin's smarts and savvy weren't the point, but rather how "our leaders" are "dumb, so dumb", let's take a break from mere outrage over a former President rooting for the bad guy. Because most of us, if we're being honest, would probably have to acknowledge feeling a bit pathetic expressing such angst if we thought he might actually be right. But for better or worse, one of the things that makes "TDS" such a chronic yet manageable condition is that you rarely have to worry about Trump being right.
And in this case, his analysis is another laughable example of how Trump struggles to comprehend the relevant parameters of real-world situations outside of his gilded fiefdom. Like how he clearly never understood that a President's power is not absolute like the owner of a private business. Or how, as a supposed expert negotiator, he comprehends little beyond the strong-arming and schmoozing he gets by on in the forgiving world of old money, and doesn't realize when he's surrendering leverage or getting played.
Now he hails Putin as a genius and calls Biden "dumb" because Putin concocted an alleged justification for an invasion that clearly nobody in the world actually believes. In fact, nobody can even pretend to believe it because Biden has kept the world informed of Russia's intentions with American intel for months, effectively countering Putin's narrative at every turn. Which Trump would know if he were paying attention to what was actually going on, which he probably wasn't. Instead, Putin's "peacekeeping" claim fooled nobody, and only further reinforced his mendacity (for anyone who still needed proof at this point).
But Trump apparently thinks this matters, as if Putin is somehow accountable to a legal body which would have to accept his alibi as reasonable doubt, rather than the judgement of world leaders who have no obligation to feign naivety for the sake of presuming innocence. He slobbers over Putin's pathetic manifesto as if it convinces anyone other than Candace Owens, and delights in Biden "not having a response", by which he probably means that Biden didn't take to Twitter and pop off with some infantile provocation.
Meanwhile, Biden has quietly but skillfully led virtually the entire democratic world in a united political and economic front, something Donnie Rotten couldn't have pulled off if his life depended on it. And so far, it's working. Time will tell if it ultimately succeeds, but it's hard to imagine how anything else could yield a better chance of a good outcome. And of course, Trump has nothing to say about what he would have done in Biden's position, not that it would bear any relation to reality or be anything more than convenient bluster if he did.
Sorry Donnie, but only *some* of our "leaders" are dumb. So dumb.
What goes through the mind of a guy like Cotton at a time like that, and how does his brain keep from splitting into two lobes and flying to opposite corners of the room? You know how badly he wanted to acknowledge the truth looming over him like a piano. Yet the fear and cowardice was a stronger force.
For Cotton and so many others, it feels like water has been building up behind a dam for 5+ years now and is flowing over the top. Yet it still holds.
Three predictions if the Russian / Ukrainian conflict ends in a manner favorable to the Ukraine and the west;
1) Biden will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. (Cue gif of Donald Trump's head exploding)
2) NATO will realize it can effectively end conventional war for good and publish a formal plan to use overwhelming joint economic sanctions against any country (including those that attack non-NATO members) that initiates unjustified wars of aggression against any other country.
3) As in WW2 when it became obvious that Battleships had been made obsolete by Air power / Carriers, modern military organizations will realize that Armored Divisions have been made obsolete by drones and masses of civilians armed with anti-tank weapons. When NATO can effectively arm an entire civilian population with missiles requiring invaders to devastate every square foot of the civilian population centers to win a war, the cost of winning (economically and politically) will outweigh the benefits.
To suppose Trump and Putin did not discuss the two most important things each wanted from the other, but nevertheless took extraordinary measures to prevent any information about what was discussed from reaching any other American ears (obviously the FSB would have been debriefed, and possibly even had it in real time), is to stretch the plausible into an unrecognizable shape.
It is very possible Trump does not think of himself as an intelligence asset of a foreign power, but instead as a very stable genius making brilliant business deals.
Things keep happening so fast that commenting outruns Charlie's morning shots, although this could be shoe-horned into "Accountability".
With some major Chinese banks refusing to finance any purchase of Russian goods (Bloomberg via Economist), Switzerland freezing probably $10-15 billion in Russian deposits (firms, oligarchs, politicians), and both the US and the EU working to keep Vlad's $600+ billion nest egg from being used, one could think that some of that ill-gotten gain should be used to rebuild the Ukraine when the madness stops.
Principles (F)first. What a novel idea. Hope it catches on.
Don't know whether Rachel Vindman wears glasses / contacts IRL, but her vision vis a vie RonJon (and those like him) is perfect 20 / 20, calling him exactly what he is, indeed more suited to occupy the lower level of a latrine rather than anyone's foxhole.
This clusterF**k is not hot enough. If and only if russia invades the US and tries to reclaim Fort Ross in california will I get off my ass.
It should be scary for Arkansans to ponder whether Cotton is the best senator they DESERVE.
Watching George Stephanopoulos, God bless him, trying to get a straight answer out of Tom Cotton four different times, kinda reminded me of that one "Key & Peele" football-sketch where a frustrated, valiant reporter tries to interview Ozmataz Buckshank:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_fiCr2wHY8
Now that Trump has "clarified" his defense of Putin to suggest that Putin's smarts and savvy weren't the point, but rather how "our leaders" are "dumb, so dumb", let's take a break from mere outrage over a former President rooting for the bad guy. Because most of us, if we're being honest, would probably have to acknowledge feeling a bit pathetic expressing such angst if we thought he might actually be right. But for better or worse, one of the things that makes "TDS" such a chronic yet manageable condition is that you rarely have to worry about Trump being right.
And in this case, his analysis is another laughable example of how Trump struggles to comprehend the relevant parameters of real-world situations outside of his gilded fiefdom. Like how he clearly never understood that a President's power is not absolute like the owner of a private business. Or how, as a supposed expert negotiator, he comprehends little beyond the strong-arming and schmoozing he gets by on in the forgiving world of old money, and doesn't realize when he's surrendering leverage or getting played.
Now he hails Putin as a genius and calls Biden "dumb" because Putin concocted an alleged justification for an invasion that clearly nobody in the world actually believes. In fact, nobody can even pretend to believe it because Biden has kept the world informed of Russia's intentions with American intel for months, effectively countering Putin's narrative at every turn. Which Trump would know if he were paying attention to what was actually going on, which he probably wasn't. Instead, Putin's "peacekeeping" claim fooled nobody, and only further reinforced his mendacity (for anyone who still needed proof at this point).
But Trump apparently thinks this matters, as if Putin is somehow accountable to a legal body which would have to accept his alibi as reasonable doubt, rather than the judgement of world leaders who have no obligation to feign naivety for the sake of presuming innocence. He slobbers over Putin's pathetic manifesto as if it convinces anyone other than Candace Owens, and delights in Biden "not having a response", by which he probably means that Biden didn't take to Twitter and pop off with some infantile provocation.
Meanwhile, Biden has quietly but skillfully led virtually the entire democratic world in a united political and economic front, something Donnie Rotten couldn't have pulled off if his life depended on it. And so far, it's working. Time will tell if it ultimately succeeds, but it's hard to imagine how anything else could yield a better chance of a good outcome. And of course, Trump has nothing to say about what he would have done in Biden's position, not that it would bear any relation to reality or be anything more than convenient bluster if he did.
Sorry Donnie, but only *some* of our "leaders" are dumb. So dumb.
So Charlie,When is The bulwark going to make Charlie is always right tee shirt!? Dave Y
What goes through the mind of a guy like Cotton at a time like that, and how does his brain keep from splitting into two lobes and flying to opposite corners of the room? You know how badly he wanted to acknowledge the truth looming over him like a piano. Yet the fear and cowardice was a stronger force.
For Cotton and so many others, it feels like water has been building up behind a dam for 5+ years now and is flowing over the top. Yet it still holds.
Is the bottom of the GQP cesspool as deep as the orbit of Jupiter? Please inform.
- Perplexed in Paducah
Three predictions if the Russian / Ukrainian conflict ends in a manner favorable to the Ukraine and the west;
1) Biden will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. (Cue gif of Donald Trump's head exploding)
2) NATO will realize it can effectively end conventional war for good and publish a formal plan to use overwhelming joint economic sanctions against any country (including those that attack non-NATO members) that initiates unjustified wars of aggression against any other country.
3) As in WW2 when it became obvious that Battleships had been made obsolete by Air power / Carriers, modern military organizations will realize that Armored Divisions have been made obsolete by drones and masses of civilians armed with anti-tank weapons. When NATO can effectively arm an entire civilian population with missiles requiring invaders to devastate every square foot of the civilian population centers to win a war, the cost of winning (economically and politically) will outweigh the benefits.
I love this. It's my sane corner of the world =:-). Thank everyone at the BW and all you letter writers.
To suppose Trump and Putin did not discuss the two most important things each wanted from the other, but nevertheless took extraordinary measures to prevent any information about what was discussed from reaching any other American ears (obviously the FSB would have been debriefed, and possibly even had it in real time), is to stretch the plausible into an unrecognizable shape.
It is very possible Trump does not think of himself as an intelligence asset of a foreign power, but instead as a very stable genius making brilliant business deals.
To me the GOP support of Putin should be the thing that wakes voters the heck up. No tax cut is worth their agenda for America.
Things keep happening so fast that commenting outruns Charlie's morning shots, although this could be shoe-horned into "Accountability".
With some major Chinese banks refusing to finance any purchase of Russian goods (Bloomberg via Economist), Switzerland freezing probably $10-15 billion in Russian deposits (firms, oligarchs, politicians), and both the US and the EU working to keep Vlad's $600+ billion nest egg from being used, one could think that some of that ill-gotten gain should be used to rebuild the Ukraine when the madness stops.
"This is why memory is so important; because the alternative to genuine accountability is not only amorality, but also amnesia."
You are right about this regarding Trump, of course, but you also have explained in one sentence why we still need education about the Holocaust.
Principles (F)first. What a novel idea. Hope it catches on.
Don't know whether Rachel Vindman wears glasses / contacts IRL, but her vision vis a vie RonJon (and those like him) is perfect 20 / 20, calling him exactly what he is, indeed more suited to occupy the lower level of a latrine rather than anyone's foxhole.
"Also, he's a piece of shit." How many times has this thought popped into my head over the last six years?
Race and gender are very real things in the US and have a tangible impact on the lives of people. The idea that they have no impact is really silly.