February 24, 2022
Biden stands aside for bully
Biden says that we will stop bullies.
So far it looks more like we were standing aside for bullies.
Before invasion
We cannot put sanctions on beforehand because then we would not have a deterrent
After invasion
We did not expect the sanctions to stop Putin
We stop bullies
These are devastating sanctions
????
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/24/joe-biden-us-russia-sanctions-ukraine
Biden more bark than bite
Biden just said that his sanctions are worse than taking Russia out of SWIFT. That’s either ignorance or a lie
SWIFT is a critical International financial transaction system that facilitates more than 80% of Russia’s financial transactions
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the UK was pushing to remove Russia from SWIFT
Not clear that Biden leading or pushing to remove Russia from SWIFT, if he was trying he clearly failed to convince the rest of Europe, and his claim regarding SWIFT versus his imposed sanctions is ridiculous.
Does the world need a policeman?
Yes. In the history of the world it is clear that evil strong men/powers will use their strength to impose their will on others in unfair and unjust ways.
Is the UN and effective police force. No. In the history of the UN it has proven, except in a limited number of cases to be incapable of protecting others from evil strong men/powers. A key reason for this is that two countries, one of which is strong, at least military, and evil, being Russia, and the other being strong (at least getting there) and, if not evil, having values quite different from freedom, being China, have veto power over the UN Security Council.
If the world needs a police force and if UN cannot be counted on to be an effective lead force what should we do?
Where and if possible, broad coalitions of freedom based countries should form coalitions to help protect people in countries that are being threatened or attacked by strong evil men or powers. This could include NATO in some circumstances but if/when necessary might consist of whatever coalitions that can be formed.
And, at times, it may come done to the leadership, bravery, ability and capabilities of one country.
If you had to pick one country that had the combination of military, economic, and moral authority, which country would you pick? I know that I would pick the US even with its imperfections.
Russia’s adapting to US?????
Psaki: “President Vladimir Putin was unprepared for the Biden administration's response to Moscow's aggression against Ukraine and its visibility into Russia's actions. Putin is "improvising" and "adapting" in response to the US.”
Thanks Greta
Climate is warming but it is not an existential threat. The costs of the actions that are being advocated today are far greater than the threat. Money should be spent on R&D to reduce the cost of alternate energy but we should be expanding the use of nuclear and natural gas.
Reducing nuclear power in Germany and natural gas production in the US has only increased Putin‘s leverage.
We need withering sanctions+
So far the US response has been whimpering sanctions and threats that have not deterred Putin
We need withering sanctions
We need to freeze Russian assets
We need to prosecute Putin and his generals for war crimes
We need to isolate Russia economically.
If Putin is not stopped now it will be a disaster as he tries to reform the Soviet union
And, if there’s much army remaining, we should be providing significant arms to Ukraine (anti-air, more antitank, heavy weapons, and consider providing air cover)
Way to go Joe!
Biden has been in office a little over a year. Let’s see how he’s doing.
- Covid-more deaths even though he has had Trump vaccine
- Economy – record inflation spurred on by excessive spending
- National Security-Russia threatens Ukraine, Biden gives a handful of antitank missile‘s to Ukraine, Russia takes Ukraine
February 23, 2022
F’ Putin
Biden needs to get tougher
Putin: “Anyone who tries to interfere with us, or even more so, to create threats for our country and our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history.”
Biden: “The U.S. will not be sending American troops to Ukraine. I will address the American people on Thursday. I will hold Russia accountable.”
February 22, 2022
Whimpering not withering sanctions
Instead of a sweeping package that crippled top Russian banks, cut its financial transactions off from the global economy, or personally singled out Vladimir Putin -- the U.S. and its allies settled on a modest “first tranche” of penalties. Markets responded with a shrug, underwhelmed by the tit-for-tat approach.
The sanctions targeted a pair of Russian banks, VEB.RFand Promsvyazbank as well as three members of Russia’s elite with close ties to the Kremlin. The penalties also sought to freeze future purchases of Russian sovereign debt.
Yet the sanctions hardly amounted to the precedent-shattering, economy-crippling measures the U.S. and its partners long telegraphed if Russian troops rolled across the border.
More from WSJ
The White House bet seems to be that sanctions restraint will cause Mr. Putin to settle for holding the regions his forces now occupy and forgoing an assault on Kyiv. But the Russian has never been deterred before by Western restraint, and he may see this as more weakness. Mr. Putin responds only to strength, and the West still isn’t showing enough.
Everyone still making more
Using the latest data from the CBO on Income distribution:
- Everyone is still making more;
- The rich are still paying far more than others; and,
- The proportion the rich are paying is increasing.
Fix education don’t tax more
“Predistribution”, not “redistribution”, explains why Europe is less unequal than the United States.
After accounting for indirect taxes and in-kind transfers, the US redistributes a greater share of national income to low income groups than any European country.
February 21, 2022
Biden-ok to invade with peacekeepers
In 1994 the US gave Ukraine a promise of territorial integrity if the would return their nuclear weapons to Russia, which they did.
In 2014 Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and invaded and occupied two Ukraine territories. Biden/Obama put meaningless sanctions on Russia.
In 2015 Russia and Ukraine backed by the EU and the United States made the Minsk agreement, once again guaranteeing Ukraine territorial integrity
Today Russia declared the two Ukraine territories to be independent republics and moved their troops into those territories claiming they are peacekeepers. This is in violation of the Budapest accord, the Minsk agreement International norms.
Biden‘s immediate action was the put meaningless sanctions on the two Ukraine Republic. Nothing on Putin or Russia yet.
Way to go Joe!
BIDEN: From the beginning of this crisis, I have been absolutely clear and consistent: The United States is prepared no matter what happens. If Russia attacks Ukraine, it’ll be met with overwhelming international condemnation. It’s about standing for what we believe in, for the future we want for our world, for liberty — for liberty, the right of countless countries to choose their own destiny, and the right of people to determine their own futures, for the principle that a country can’t change its neighbor’s borders by force.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Ukrainian nationhood in a speech, calling it “madness” and arguing “modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia.” He then signed decrees recognizing "independence and sovereignty" of two Ukrainian regions.
February 20, 2022
Duh!
After telling reporters that “Putin’s made his decision” to invade Ukraine, Kamala Harris says the threat of sanctions will “absolutely” deter him making the decision to invade.
Too little too late
Russia has thousands of tanks. The US has only sent tens of anti-tank launchers with hundreds of antitank missile’s
Russia has thousands of attack planes and helicopters. The US has sent zero anti-aircraft weapons
Good luck Zelensky.
February 19, 2022
Biden giving Ukraine to Putin?
There’s lots of coincidental evidence that, if anything, Biden has been encouraging Putin to take Ukraine. I can’t help but wonder what Biden said in his phone calls to Putin?
In May 2021 Biden gives the go ahead for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline
In June of 2021 Biden freezes lethal aid to Ukraine
In early December 2021 Biden takes military option off the table.
December 2021 Biden was still withholding lethal aide.
February 18 Biden takes kicking Russia out of the SWIFT (International banking ) system off the table
(Bush and Georgia)
2008 Russia and the aids part of Georgia
Bush sent warships to the Black Sea
Bush took the combat troops that Georgia had in Afghanistan and airlifted them back
Bush signals willingness to give logistical support
Russian troops stopped at … the two enclaves, and they did not make a move
Boris Johnson was roundly praised for his tough-talking speech at the Munich Security Conference today. The speech was seen as the most hardline speech given at the annual security conference. The British Prime Minister was praised afterwards by both supporters and critics alike for "defending a free Europe" and being the most outspoken Western leader against Russian aggression in Ukraine.
February 18, 2022
Borders Don’t Matter (to Biden)
I guess whether it’s our border or Ukraine‘s border, it’s really not that important to Biden.
Biden’s policies are a mess AND put many innocents at risk and allow Mexican cartels to get rich.
I support immigration. A lot of immigration. But legal immigration, with a mix of merit based (engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, doctors, mathematicians, etc.) and opportunity-based (poor people who want to work hard, adopt American values, and get ahead).
(Note-The numbers are the apprehensions. We do not know how many people get through without being apprehended)
Mayors lives don’t matter?
Quintez Brown, a black 21-year-old activist was charged with trying to murder a Kentucky mayoral candidate. His $100,000 bond was paid Wednesday afternoon by the Louisville Community Bail Fund, which is an arm of Black Lives Matter Louisville,
https://blacklivesmatter.com/defund-the-police-reimagine-public-safety-center-care-and-humanity/
Chicken little goes to Greenland
For all of the alarmists out there and the doomsayers propagated the false narrative that climate change is an existential threat there is more good data to tell them they are wrong
No trend between Greenland ice loss and global warming
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