Charlie—cis is a term from chemistry. It refers to molecular structure. Trans = same side. Cis = opposite sides. Ask JVL to explain it (after all, he almost went to med school).
I’m a center left guy who didn’t like you Mr Sykes on 1310 am here in the Madison area, but when I found the Bulwark podcast January 2020 I changed my mind. You’re the reason I joined. Got me listening to Tim Miller, Tom Nichols, Mona Charen ect.. Thank you
I just listened to your Secret Podcast where you discussed the word ‘cis’ and didn’t know how to reach you and Ms. Charen. Cis is from Latin. It’s not made up although I’ve never seen ‘cis’ in a Latin vocabulary. Nonetheless, it is Latin. From your vocabulary, I thought you had taken Latin. Do you remember Cisalpine Gaul? J. Caesar spoke of the area. It’s that area in the Italian Dolomites. These tribes originally from Gaul were distinguished from the tribes on the other side of Alps—Transalpine Gaul. Maybe the ‘cis’ came after the ‘trans’ in this whole gender discussion, and someone needed a word. It is rather unusual but is just a preposition like trans. I also believe that there are not just two genders. It’s way more complicated. Re your discussion about oxygen levels for males and females, I have read that and also that a person who changes from male to female also loses her oxygen capacity. She has changed. The Montana legislature spent a lot of time worrying about this in the last session and passed a bill that prohibits those who have made a male to female transition ineligible to participate in track. From a retired Latin teacher in Montana.
"we are also seeing the full, raw power of kinetic disinformation in the hands of an unhinged autocrat."
For clarity, change autocrat to psychopath. There. That's closer to the reality [sic] of the universe in which Vladimir Vladimirovich resides. In other words, this monster is a nut job killer.
Deep thinkers on the far right have convinced themselves that if you (or David French) assert that Putin is more dangerous than Trudeau, it's only because you're upset that Putin isn't letting you bring drag queen story hour to Russia. Righties have sided with autocracy, assassination of political opponents, forcible annexation of neighbors, etc., but they still want to believe they're more moral than you are. So they say that your real agenda (and David French's) is to sow decadence around the world.
Welcome to the sick and tired masses of Americans who are craving "results"! As the adage goes, don't focus on words, focus on results. It seems that the Ukraine situation is very clear, a hostile country has invaded a democratic sovereign nation and all the "unity" talk is talk. What are the consequences?? Sanctions? Putin owns Russia, does he care about the people, does he care about financial impact to his bank account (he probably owns the banks). Do we have the resolve and toughness to make the hard decision to help defend Ukraine and send a clear and decisive message to other autocrats? Similarly, I do not think this is a stretch, our DOJ, and Mr. Garland specifically must bring action against Trump, and his republican representatives, House or Senate members where clear evidence may suggest their participation in seditious behavior. Again, words don't count unless there are results. I strongly believe the American people are looking for some evidence our institutions will stand up for Democracy and hold bad actors accountable. Whether Ukraine or our own country, results matter.
I wish Pres. Biden luck in his handling of the Ukraine problem. The America First contingent in this country will criticize him no matter what he does or doesn’t do, and don’t really care what happens there or anywhere else. They will blame Biden even more than they already do if/when their gas prices go up, and rejoice at the idea that this means Putin is thumbing his nose at Biden. Freedom is an ideal for them only insofar as it means they can do whatever they damn well want individually. God help Biden and the people of Ukraine.
Shawn makes some good observations in his post concerning America First and the squandering of the political capital by foreign policy elites.
One of the important points that should be made is that foreign policy in this country has always been a mess--for two reasons:
1) It is constructed largely for domestic political consumption (the most effect parts of American foreign policy have usually been the parts that no one was paying attention to at the time, so less a factor in domestic politics);
2) It is often driven by the emotions of the public--which means we get into things we should not (Afghanistan and Iraq) and then cannot get out. We then dress up these fits of rage in high-sounding language (like bringing democracy and helping women, etc--whatever needs to be said to get a particular domestic political faction on board.
If you can manipulate the opinion of a significant hunk of the public you can basically gridlock American foreign policy. Putin has succeeded in doing that. Our own adventures in the middle east made his job easier.
Here is the (non) shocker--we ARE just like everyone else. We are not exceptional, except in the level of BS we put out to justify whatever it is that we are doing.
Guess what, there isn't a damn thing wrong with that.
It is better for me, as an American, if my country is on top. Better if it controls international institutions and finance. Better if other countries have to think 6 times before they do something we don't like.
Not necessarily better for them, but certainly better for me and most Americans--and these other places likely have a better chance at a better future with us than with international leadership like Putin or Xi--because they aren't even really all that interested in helping their own people, let alone anyone else.
We may not be great or exceptional, but I still think we are the best game in town (not that the bar is all that high)--if only because we ARE limited by public opinion.
Biden is in a position that no matter what he does he will be condemned. Trump's cult followers love Putin and side with Russia. Democrats hate war. No side wins in this except Putin.
Placating Putin at this point is a Neville Chamberlain move. Tip toeing into what incursion justifies the sanctions is just lame. In actuality, and not really being a big war kind of guy, I think it's really time to go all in. Confront Putin right now with major military hardware coupled with cyber and sanctions and perhaps create disturbances behind his lines. While Ukraine may not be a NATO member, the writing is on the wall for any failures in the short term.
We do not need a destabilized Europe and it's coming to a city anywhere there.
The US clearly needs political unity in condemning this violation of internationally recognized borders, one even acknowledged by Putin himself in the past and in writing. But, if the POT Rinos can't see this for the "piece"-keeping mission that it clearly is, they will be putting their names up with Petain and Quisling as Milktoasts, now of the 21st Century. If this attack on a true democracy is not rejected by the McConnells, McCarthys and Grahams, to name the obvious few, they should be given the opportunity to be ambassadors to Kyiv to open the doors when Vlad rolls in.
I worked for 2 years in Russia in the mid-90s. The amount of money that flowed into Russia and the former Warsaw Pact nations was significant. World Bank loans, EBRD loans and grants, direct investments from Western businesses, etc. We did everything we could to bring Russia into the fold of industrialized democracies, except we dropped the ball on one thing.
We did not do enough to help them detect and defeat the crooks and con artists among their own ranks. The KGB (and the NKVD and the Cheka before them, and the Tsarist secret police before them) had a long-standing tradition of recruiting teenage delinquents into their ranks for muscle. And they had quiet arrangements with the existing organized crime gangs ("thieves in law"). We should have done much more to help establish the elements of civil society that would keep those forces in check - anti-racketeering prosecutors, muckraking journalists, blue sky laws for securities, massive public education campaigns.
Putin has run the old playbook. Recruit the criminals into his organization, and use control of media and education to foment xenophobia and distrust in the populace. And now it's 1956 and 1968 all over again.
Well we have done the piecemeal EU approach. It is time for Biden to channel his inner Ronald Reagan. If Putin wants to return to the Soviet Union's past glory then we are forced to take him at his word. It is time to put those missiles we took of line back to use and retarget them. After all Putin has demonstrated his willingness to go to war.
We never going to pick a fight with a nuclear power over Ukraine, but other than that I agree with pretty much everything Charlie has to say. If Russia does an actual invasion we should be clear their days of doing business with the US, EU, and many more nations are over. They can be wealthy or they can be tyrannical, but not both.
Charlie—cis is a term from chemistry. It refers to molecular structure. Trans = same side. Cis = opposite sides. Ask JVL to explain it (after all, he almost went to med school).
I’m a center left guy who didn’t like you Mr Sykes on 1310 am here in the Madison area, but when I found the Bulwark podcast January 2020 I changed my mind. You’re the reason I joined. Got me listening to Tim Miller, Tom Nichols, Mona Charen ect.. Thank you
Putin with a obedient Belarus on his side doesn’t make me feel secure about Lithuania or Latvia.
I just listened to your Secret Podcast where you discussed the word ‘cis’ and didn’t know how to reach you and Ms. Charen. Cis is from Latin. It’s not made up although I’ve never seen ‘cis’ in a Latin vocabulary. Nonetheless, it is Latin. From your vocabulary, I thought you had taken Latin. Do you remember Cisalpine Gaul? J. Caesar spoke of the area. It’s that area in the Italian Dolomites. These tribes originally from Gaul were distinguished from the tribes on the other side of Alps—Transalpine Gaul. Maybe the ‘cis’ came after the ‘trans’ in this whole gender discussion, and someone needed a word. It is rather unusual but is just a preposition like trans. I also believe that there are not just two genders. It’s way more complicated. Re your discussion about oxygen levels for males and females, I have read that and also that a person who changes from male to female also loses her oxygen capacity. She has changed. The Montana legislature spent a lot of time worrying about this in the last session and passed a bill that prohibits those who have made a male to female transition ineligible to participate in track. From a retired Latin teacher in Montana.
"we are also seeing the full, raw power of kinetic disinformation in the hands of an unhinged autocrat."
For clarity, change autocrat to psychopath. There. That's closer to the reality [sic] of the universe in which Vladimir Vladimirovich resides. In other words, this monster is a nut job killer.
With nukes.
Deep thinkers on the far right have convinced themselves that if you (or David French) assert that Putin is more dangerous than Trudeau, it's only because you're upset that Putin isn't letting you bring drag queen story hour to Russia. Righties have sided with autocracy, assassination of political opponents, forcible annexation of neighbors, etc., but they still want to believe they're more moral than you are. So they say that your real agenda (and David French's) is to sow decadence around the world.
Welcome to the sick and tired masses of Americans who are craving "results"! As the adage goes, don't focus on words, focus on results. It seems that the Ukraine situation is very clear, a hostile country has invaded a democratic sovereign nation and all the "unity" talk is talk. What are the consequences?? Sanctions? Putin owns Russia, does he care about the people, does he care about financial impact to his bank account (he probably owns the banks). Do we have the resolve and toughness to make the hard decision to help defend Ukraine and send a clear and decisive message to other autocrats? Similarly, I do not think this is a stretch, our DOJ, and Mr. Garland specifically must bring action against Trump, and his republican representatives, House or Senate members where clear evidence may suggest their participation in seditious behavior. Again, words don't count unless there are results. I strongly believe the American people are looking for some evidence our institutions will stand up for Democracy and hold bad actors accountable. Whether Ukraine or our own country, results matter.
The White House has taken a first step
https://www.huffpost.com
I wish Pres. Biden luck in his handling of the Ukraine problem. The America First contingent in this country will criticize him no matter what he does or doesn’t do, and don’t really care what happens there or anywhere else. They will blame Biden even more than they already do if/when their gas prices go up, and rejoice at the idea that this means Putin is thumbing his nose at Biden. Freedom is an ideal for them only insofar as it means they can do whatever they damn well want individually. God help Biden and the people of Ukraine.
Shawn makes some good observations in his post concerning America First and the squandering of the political capital by foreign policy elites.
One of the important points that should be made is that foreign policy in this country has always been a mess--for two reasons:
1) It is constructed largely for domestic political consumption (the most effect parts of American foreign policy have usually been the parts that no one was paying attention to at the time, so less a factor in domestic politics);
2) It is often driven by the emotions of the public--which means we get into things we should not (Afghanistan and Iraq) and then cannot get out. We then dress up these fits of rage in high-sounding language (like bringing democracy and helping women, etc--whatever needs to be said to get a particular domestic political faction on board.
If you can manipulate the opinion of a significant hunk of the public you can basically gridlock American foreign policy. Putin has succeeded in doing that. Our own adventures in the middle east made his job easier.
Here is the (non) shocker--we ARE just like everyone else. We are not exceptional, except in the level of BS we put out to justify whatever it is that we are doing.
Guess what, there isn't a damn thing wrong with that.
It is better for me, as an American, if my country is on top. Better if it controls international institutions and finance. Better if other countries have to think 6 times before they do something we don't like.
Not necessarily better for them, but certainly better for me and most Americans--and these other places likely have a better chance at a better future with us than with international leadership like Putin or Xi--because they aren't even really all that interested in helping their own people, let alone anyone else.
We may not be great or exceptional, but I still think we are the best game in town (not that the bar is all that high)--if only because we ARE limited by public opinion.
Biden is in a position that no matter what he does he will be condemned. Trump's cult followers love Putin and side with Russia. Democrats hate war. No side wins in this except Putin.
Placating Putin at this point is a Neville Chamberlain move. Tip toeing into what incursion justifies the sanctions is just lame. In actuality, and not really being a big war kind of guy, I think it's really time to go all in. Confront Putin right now with major military hardware coupled with cyber and sanctions and perhaps create disturbances behind his lines. While Ukraine may not be a NATO member, the writing is on the wall for any failures in the short term.
We do not need a destabilized Europe and it's coming to a city anywhere there.
The US clearly needs political unity in condemning this violation of internationally recognized borders, one even acknowledged by Putin himself in the past and in writing. But, if the POT Rinos can't see this for the "piece"-keeping mission that it clearly is, they will be putting their names up with Petain and Quisling as Milktoasts, now of the 21st Century. If this attack on a true democracy is not rejected by the McConnells, McCarthys and Grahams, to name the obvious few, they should be given the opportunity to be ambassadors to Kyiv to open the doors when Vlad rolls in.
I worked for 2 years in Russia in the mid-90s. The amount of money that flowed into Russia and the former Warsaw Pact nations was significant. World Bank loans, EBRD loans and grants, direct investments from Western businesses, etc. We did everything we could to bring Russia into the fold of industrialized democracies, except we dropped the ball on one thing.
We did not do enough to help them detect and defeat the crooks and con artists among their own ranks. The KGB (and the NKVD and the Cheka before them, and the Tsarist secret police before them) had a long-standing tradition of recruiting teenage delinquents into their ranks for muscle. And they had quiet arrangements with the existing organized crime gangs ("thieves in law"). We should have done much more to help establish the elements of civil society that would keep those forces in check - anti-racketeering prosecutors, muckraking journalists, blue sky laws for securities, massive public education campaigns.
Putin has run the old playbook. Recruit the criminals into his organization, and use control of media and education to foment xenophobia and distrust in the populace. And now it's 1956 and 1968 all over again.
Well we have done the piecemeal EU approach. It is time for Biden to channel his inner Ronald Reagan. If Putin wants to return to the Soviet Union's past glory then we are forced to take him at his word. It is time to put those missiles we took of line back to use and retarget them. After all Putin has demonstrated his willingness to go to war.
We never going to pick a fight with a nuclear power over Ukraine, but other than that I agree with pretty much everything Charlie has to say. If Russia does an actual invasion we should be clear their days of doing business with the US, EU, and many more nations are over. They can be wealthy or they can be tyrannical, but not both.