I want that flag back.
Lately it seems that the flag has been co-opted by those who follow Donald Trump. They somehow seem to think it is his flag. You will see it waving at his rallies and billowing behind pickup trucks filled with his supporters. Yet democracy is not on Trump's agenda.
Lately you see some Republicans who are intent on marginalizing segments of our population cloaking themselves in the flag even while they are repudiating the basic principles of a democracy. They are supporting the banning of books which depict things they don't agree with. They are harassing elected officials for doing their jobs. They are doing everything in their power to force people to ascribe to their religious beliefs by curtailing women's reproductive rights. We have Senator Tuberville of Alabama single handedly holding hundreds of military nominations hostage, threatening our national security, because he opposes the Pentagon's policy of paying for service members to travel to states where abortion is legal for health care. By supporting this behavior Republican loyalists are leading our country down the path to an autocracy.
On 9/11 we stood as one against the external forces that would try to tear us apart. It is time to realize that there are internal forces that are trying to do the same.
Robin Williams said it right.
104 comments:
"Lately it seems that the flag has been co-opted by those who
follow Donald Trump. They somehow seem to think it is his
flag."
Overcompensating for their failures. (Also, you're talking about folks who'll insist they can make something false become true just by believing it hard enough. They suffer from the Tinkerbell syndrome; 'alternative facts' Kellyanne Conway called it.)
While we're on the subject of politics…
I notice that Putin has come out in support of Trump and Trump's new 'persecution' tale of woe. I don't suppose that's all the support that Putin's gonna throw Trump's way before the 2024 elections finally play out in November of next year. (I hope it's over in November anyway.)
Looks like McCarthy has come out and called for a formal impeachment of Biden.
I would have respected him more if he had told those who are pressuring him to talk a long walk and to heck with the speakership. But I knew that wasn't in the cards. He has drunk the Kool Aid.
From the other thread:
Lee CThe "real estate problems" are spreading credit defaults across the broader Chinese economy. Whether that's 'something else' in your view is a matter of how ya define the thing.
And, of course, they've still got the problem of too many old people and not enough young people to support them. (It's one thing to be old and rich--like the United States. It's quite another to be old and comparatively poor--like China.)
That credit default issue spreading is not good. That could so easily snowball into something uncontrollable.
As for the rich/poor thing. Yes, it is always easier to bear the brunt of a crisis when you have deep pockets. But it is still difficult. If you don't have enough workers the money isn't going to help.
We still need workers in Minnesota. I really wish Walz would grab some of those migrants in New York and Chicago. If they have job skills they would be a God send.
"I would have respected him more if…"
He's not too worried about getting your respect. He's busy being worried about some of his more fanatical Trumpkan members filing a "motion to vacate the chair", i.e. a move to strip him of his role as Speaker of the House.
However, McCarthy cannot order an impeachment inquiry. He can schedule a House vote on the subject and, if that passes, then he can order an impeachment inquiry. But he's not doing that on account of it probably wouldn't pass (enough sane Republicans left to defeat it--only takes a few joining all the Democrats).
So: At present he's limited to 'calling for' such an inquiry by any one of several House committees who might have jurisdiction to investigate a subject--if anybody can ever figure out what it is they're investigating other than McCarthy's assertion that 'Biden lied' at some time about something or other.
However, I don't think McCarthy will find Trumpkan/Republican Committee chairmen slow to answer his call to investigate Biden and the Biden administration in search of an impeachable offense--which is all this is so far. So far it's much sound and fury signifying an impending nuisance for Biden, but not yet a real threat.
It's getting a little over hyped by the media. (Although Hillary Clinton can attest to the need to take these things seriously.)
"We still need workers in Minnesota."
What will you do with the workers when those jobs later get automated, computerized, roboticized, etc?
I doubt these jobs will be automated. We are short aides in Assisted Living facilities and nursing homes as well as restaurants and many retail businesses. Maybe the fast food restaurants can automate more but I doubt the sit down ones can. Factories, maybe, but there are a lot of places that really need more warm bodies. Healthcare is big.
He's not too worried about getting your respect.
Yeah, I know. Same goes for a lot of Republicans in general. All they are intent on doing is forcing their way on to everyone else. Not only have we dumbed down we have become more childish. *Sigh*
Meanwhile, back in Ukraine, it looks like the Russians have been busy eliminating their own troops. This time it wasn't deliberate but accidental. Communication is rather poor in the Russian military. Apparently some Russian troops had been ordered to retreat from a city(might have been Opytne, I forget now) and were fired on by their own troops behind them. Yes, I know there have been incidents where it was deliberate, but this doesn't look like one of them. They were mistaken for advancing Ukrainian forces. Panic, much?
Oh, you can add prisons to that list of places needing workers. There have been issue here and in Wisconsin with understaffing in them. It's probably nationwide.
"We are short aides in Assisted Living facilities…"
I've read about advances in robotics for that. They say the key is to make the old folks feel like the robots have personalities and 'care' about them. Then they'll bond with the robots.
"…but I doubt the sit down ones can."
You may have to rethink that one too.
"… add prisons to that list of places needing workers. "
That's not new; that's traditional. Underfunding prisons is an American tradition.
Score another Russian landing ship(the Minsk) and for the first time a Russian submarine(the Rostov-on-Don) for Ukraine. The Ukrainians attacked a drydock area used for repairs in Sevastopol in Crimea. They not only destroyed the ship and submarine they damaged the repair facility. Word is they used a Storm Shadow missile. As you may remember they had earlier taken out an S-400 defense system in the region.
They say the key is to make the old folks feel like the robots have personalities and 'care' about them.
Huh! Might be a step above some of the current aides.
"They not only destroyed the ship and submarine…"
The Russians are claiming that both ships are repairable. (But, the Russians often lie.)
It looks like Ukraine struck another air defense base in Crimea last night. From CNN:
Ukraine destroyed Russian air defense system near Yevpatoriya in annexed Crimea, security source says
From CNN’s Victoria Butenko and Radina Gigova
Ukraine destroyed a Russian air defense system near the town of Yevpatoriya in annexed Crimea in an overnight attack, according to a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) source.
"Last night, Ukrainian Security Service’s military counterintelligence together with the Ukrainian Navy conducted a unique special operation near Yevpatoriya," the source said Thursday.
The source said that Ukraine used Neptune cruise missiles and drones to destroy Triumph, a Russian air defense complex.
"First, the complex’s radars and antennas were hit with UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles]. After the radio-location stations were disabled, the Navy used two Neptune cruise missiles to hit S300/400 Triumph launching complexes," the source said.
Other operations in Crimea are also being developed, the source said.
Crimea strikes increasing: Ukraine has launched several strikes on Russian naval vessels and bases in the occupied Crimean peninsula in recent weeks.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said Russian air defenses shot down 11 Ukrainian drones over Crimea early Thursday morning. The Kerch Bridge was also closed to traffic early Thursday, according to local authorities.
Ukraine also damaged two Russian warships in a strike on a Russian ship repair base in Sevastopol early Wednesday morning.
The Russians are claiming that both ships are repairable. (But, the Russians often lie.)
It is kind of difficult to tell from the satellite photos, but they did look rather charred. But, hey, they may still be repairable. They didn't sink, anyway, being in drydock.
I am currently reading Blowback, by Miles Taylor. He is the former Trump administration official who wrote Anonymous.
Scary reading.
An excerpt:
In the 1920s, Adolf Hitler rose to power on a Big Lie. He alleged that Germany had been on the path to victory in World War I, but its leaders surrendered prematurely. Victory was seized from Germans by corrupt politicians, Hitler said. The people had been "stabbed in the back." In reality, the German military had been defeated and the country had no hope of winning the war; nevertheless, millions believed Hitler's lie amid the harsh conditions of postwar life, from political gridlock to inflation. Anxious Germans welcomed the rise of a disruptor who could upend the institutions they believed had failed them, which paved the way for Nazism.
"He created a whole class of victims," Congressman Ribble explained, "and then he told them he would vanquish the villain." similarly, Ribble worries Trump's lies have created an opening for another dangerous leader. The untruths have created an angry and restless electorate.
Former Republican congressman Reid Ribble was a founder of the Tea Party movement.
"The people had been 'stabbed in the back.'"
The was called the "dolchstoßlegende" (literally, 'dagger-stab legend'). And it was facilitated by widespread years-long dissemination of a false story of continuous battlefield victories fed to the German people during WWI. They were told all along by the compliant German media that they were winning the war--which wasn't even close to true after the first year. So they were surprised, shocked even, when it was announced that Germany had sued for peace.
This is what happens when ya have a news media that routinely disseminates false information (e.g. FoxNews).
Ukraine claims to have hit yet another air-defense system in Crimea and two Russian vessels in the Black Sea (at sea, not in dry dock). Plus it appears they've taken another shot at a Russian vessel in Crimean dry dock for repairs. NYT No word yet on whether or how much damage they did to their targets.
The Ukrainians have been mapping Russian air defenses for some time in Crimea using waves of cheap drones. They are now starting to actually go after various targets using different means. The Russian Black Sea fleet is one of those targets. The word is that the attacks will continue.
The Minsk, the ship attacked in drydock, is toast. It isn't worth repairing. No word on the sub.
The Russians are saying all of the drones that attacked that ship in the Black Sea were shot down. The other ship was struck by a kamakazee drone boat. It is likely there is damage.
The good old boy network is alive and well down in Texas. AG Ken Paxton was acquired by his GOP cohorts.
"AG Ken Paxton was acquired by his GOP cohorts."
I didn't ever think it'd come out different. For one thing impeachments are notoriously difficult to pull off. And for a second thing, the United States Supreme Court has all but legalized the bribery of political office holders during these last twenty years, gutting prior legislation (the legacy work of the late Senator John McCain) that tightened up on political corruption.
They declared money to be 'speech', and essentially declared political bribery to protected as 'political speech'. Thus, bribing politicians is now protected as an exercise in 'free speech'. (The chain of tortured legal logic behind all this is usually long and difficult to follow--intentionally I think, and it usually requires many pages of judicial writing in any particular case, but they can usually manage to obscure it enough to keep the citizenry from understanding what they just wrote. In this case it was a legislative impeachment, so the trail was much shorter. Hold a vote and get at least ⅓ for aquittal and it's done.)
Some rather poor editing in that prior entry, but I think the intended point came across, so I'll not try to rewrite it now.
Poor editing in my comment too. But you got the gist.
I am half way through Miles Taylor's book. He makes clear that whether you are talking the acquittal of a corrupt official, the busing of migrants to sanctuary states, the holding hostage military nominees to try to force through anti-abortion agendas, the holding hostage of the budget by extremists in the House or using government power to try to intimidate anyone that does not fall in line with the MAGA agenda is what we will see as the norm in the future as long as Republicans are elected into office. The moderate Republican Party does not exist anymore. It is only a cult of Trump. It is the slow authoritarian makeover of the Untied States by these people. As long as the American people remain silent our democracy is in danger. What we see in Florida and Texas will spread.
"It is the slow authoritarian makeover of the Untied
States…. *** What we see in Florida and Texas will
spread."
I'm not so sure 'bout that. In fact, I'm cautiously optimistic that Biden will win out over Trump in the 2024 elections, and that will force a drastic re-think on the part of the Trumpkan/Republican Party, resulting in a schism of sorts--the Trumpkan Party turning on what's left of the old-line conservative Republicans, blaming them for the loss, 'cause the Trumpkins can't accept any blame themselves, they're emotionally incapable of that.
Goes like this: Biden beats Trump. That makes three elections in a row that Trump has lost. (Trump did not win the 2016 election; Hillary actually won that, by about seven million votes as I recall. Trump won in the Electoral College's 'vote by state' counting that is a vestige of the days when the Southern rural slave states counted their Black populations as three-fifths of human being, whose imaginary three fifths voting powers were owned and exercised by the white master race--just like the Black folks themselves were owned and exercised. Anyway, the point is: Trump will have lost three Presidential elections in row, in spite of the advantages he's been given.)
I'll skip the detailed analysis (can't prove it anyway 'til it happens). But, I think it probable that the 2016 Republican embrace of the right-wing fascists and crazies will suffer irreparable injury after three straight national losses. And I think the Trumpkan sector of the Trumpkan/Republican Party will, in their frustration, turn on the remaining remnant Republicans and drive them out of The Party.
(Of course, if Trump wins in 2024, wins either the presidential election itself or wins the Electoral College vote, it's gonna be a completely different story. In that case the alliance between the Trumpkan Party and the remnant Republicans will probably hold a little longer and your vision might very well come true.)
________________________________
"As long as the American people remain silent our
democracy is in danger."
That part I wholeheartedly agree with. No caveats.
Headline: "In Moscow, the War Is Background Noise…" NYT
The Russian civilian population isn't going to force an end to Putin's War any time soon. Not very long; worth the time to read it.
In fact, I'm cautiously optimistic that Biden will win out over Trump in the 2024 elections,...
I really hope that is the outcome. It is the incidents of intimidation across the country by MAGA foot soldiers that are just so disheartening. That and the seeming cluelessness of so many Americans. I just dread to see the incompetence of Trump & Co. return to the White House. Or rather the unwillingness in running a democracy and the incompetence of running the nuts and bolts of a country.
“It’s like toxic poisoning — a very slow process.”
The same could be said of the MAGA movement here.
The poll that stated the rising prices were of more concern than the "SMO" didn't make the connection that those rising prices were likely because of the war. The will also probably get worse.
It appears that Ukrainian special forces have hit Wagner Group's assets in Sudan in Africa. I can't figure out how they expect to benefit from that, but they must have something in mind.
Maybe they did it merely 'cause it was easy to do and they hoped it'd be diversionary.
________________________________
There are indications that the House's Biden impeachment inquiry might not be going well as well as Speaker McCarthy had hoped.
Could be they'll soon try to close those hearings to the press and public, limit leaks to things the Trumpkan/Republican House majority might want leaked to the press (not necessarily anything real--maybe just made up shit, complete fabrications, that they want leaked to the press).
________________________________
"President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said on Monday
that he finds Russia and the West to be equally reliable….
***
"'To the extent the West is reliable, Russia is equally reliable,'
Mr. Erdogan said, '…at this moment in time, I trust Russia just
as much as I trust the West,'"
NYT
Supposedly Türkiye is allied with the U.S.A. in one of our oldest military defense alliances--i.e. NATO. I think it's clear that at least one of us, Türkiye or the U.S.A., ought not be in NATO.
(Maybe neither of us should be members of that alliance, but for different reasons.)
I can't figure out how they expect to benefit from that, but they must have something in mind.
Yeah, I was kind of wondering the same thing. It seemed kind of a waste of resources, but like you, I hope they have something in mind. They tend to play the long game.
Could be they'll soon try to close those hearings to the press and public, limit leaks to things the Trumpkan/Republican House majority might want leaked to the press (not necessarily anything real--maybe just made up shit, complete fabrications, that they want leaked to the press).
Maybe so. Although leaks are not always controllable when they are about something that doesn't agree with your agenda.
Supposedly Türkiye is allied with the U.S.A. in one of our oldest military defense alliances--i.e. NATO.
Another odd thing about this alliance is the Azerbaijan/Armenia conflict. It seems that Turkey has been supporting Azerbaijan against Armenia. Armenia in turn has looked to Russia for help. But what is odd is that now the US has sent advisors/trainers to Armenia to assist them in their defense. Armenia is losing faith in Russian help. That would put us in opposition to Turkey, one would think. Is it just to piss off the Russians? Which it is doing, btw. I guess I don't see the logic.
I finished Miles Taylor's book "Blowback". Very scary reading, especially as I recognize some of what he warns about happening today. I recommend it.
"… the Azerbaijan/Armenia conflict."
Looks like the Armenian rebels surrendered. They're calling it a cease fire, but it looks more like an ass whuppin' followed by a surrender.
________________________________
"I recommend it."
I'll keep that in mind in case I spot a copy.
Looks like Ukraine is encountering some very stiff headwinds. The first being that Poland has said it will stop shipping arms and ammunition to Ukraine. This over Ukraine's decision to sue those countries who have said they will continue to block Ukrainian grain. I was wondering why Ukraine had made that move. Not a good idea to anger a major benefactor.
The other problem is the situation in the U.S. They are running afoul of the crazies in the Republican Party who are holding government hostage to their whims. Not only will a government shutdown affect Ukraine but the far right Republican members are against any further aid. And so it goes in MAGA land. A precursor of things to come if our government isn't cleared of the crazies.
I see that the Senate has moved forward with at least one vote on one of those military nominations that Tuberville is holding hostage. Only 299 more to go...
I am hearing noises of a possible deal between Democrats and moderate Republicans to keep the government open if the hard line Republicans can't be persuaded. One Republican talked about working across the aisle with Democrats. I would recharacterize that as working across the aisle with fellow Americans. Because I don't see any real Americans in the far right Republican House members.
In fact, I would prefer to see a deal between Democrats and Republicans. I would prefer to see the extremists marginalized and for both Democrats and Republicans to lead our country back out of the darkness that has been with us since the advent of Donald Trump. I would respect McCarthy more.
I think there's gonna be a government shutdown. It may not last too long, but I think it'll happen.
"I was wondering why Ukraine had made that move."
I think I see indications that Zelenskyy's government is walking back from some of their earlier rhetoric on the subject of grain sales in Poland. It has occurred to them that they maybe ought not have been quite so confrontational on that subject.
"Ukraine’s armed forces said they successfully targeted a
Russian air base in Crimea overnight, the latest in a series of
similar claims publicly acknowledging that the peninsula —
which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 — is directly in
Kyiv’s crosshairs.
"'On the night of the 21st of September the Defense Forces of
Ukraine carried out a combined attack on the military airfield
of the occupiers near the city of Saka in the temporarily
occupied Crimea,' the armed forces said in a Telegram post
around midday."
WaPo
(The Russians claim that the attack was unsuccessful, that they shot down all the incoming.)
"Ukraine’s armed forces said they successfully targeted a
Russian air base in Crimea overnight…." ↑↑
Followed up by a successful missile strike on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol at noon today (Ukrainian time).
Headline: Ukraine Finds Defects in More Than Half of Tanks Sent…
Named contributors of defective tanks are Denmark and Germany.
Biden told Zelenskyy that he's going to get some MGM-140s (a/k/a "ATACMS") after all. No specifics on how many, what kind of warheads (antipersonnel "cluster bombs" is a good bet, along with high explosive warheads) or exactly when they'll arrive. NBCNews
I think there's gonna be a government shutdown.
I suspect you are right. Even if Schumer and McConnel work something out in the Senate, which is what they seem to be trying to do, it will still have to get through the House. If they get enough votes they can go around McCarthy, but that will take time.
I think I see indications that Zelenskyy's government is walking back from some of their earlier rhetoric on the subject of grain sales in Poland.
Perhaps there has been some encouragement from Grandpa Joe in that regard. Sometimes age comes with a cooler head. I say, sometimes, because obviously that doesn't apply to Trump.
Followed up by a successful missile strike on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol at noon today (Ukrainian time).
Ukraine has been quite open about there being more attacks coming. They will continue to pick the Russians apart.
Biden told Zelenskyy that he's going to get some MGM-140s (a/k/a "ATACMS") after all.
Some goods news! It was getting hard to find. Hopefully they will be sent. With a government shutdown you just never know...
As for the defective tanks, well, as the article said there appear to be various reasons for that. Hopefully they can be fixed and used on the battlefield.
Rumor has it that the Russian Black Sea Fleet commander was killed in that last attack on their headquarters.
"As for the defective tanks…."
Gotta figure that somebody in both Germany and in Denmark knew they were sending defective and "heavily worn out" tanks to Ukraine. And they chose to keep that information to themselves, let the Ukrainians find out about it the hard way. To say nothing of the implications of intentionally sending broken tanks to soldiers who've not yet received training in repair and maintenance of said tanks.
________________________________
"…the Russian Black Sea Fleet commander was killed…"
Congratulations may be in order.
"…the Russian Black Sea Fleet commander was killed…"
The Ukrainians have followed that up with a third wave of long range attacks on Crimean targets. No word yet of whether this wave got through, or what they might have hit.
No news that I see on more attacks in Crimea. It's all about a breakthrough near Verbove and cutting a Russian supply route. It might take a day or so to filter out.
"KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine on Saturday morning launched
another missile attack on Sevastopol on the occupied Crimean
Peninsula, a Russian-installed official said, a day after an
attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet…
AssociatedPress
(I've had trouble following the score there too. Some media use Ukrainian time and some use American Eastern time--can get confusing trying to work out if the different articles are talking about the same strikes or different strikes. Plus, the supposed 'breakthrough' near Verbove is eating up editorial attention. Near as I can tell though they're just penetrated the first line in a new place--makes at least three incursions of the Russian first line of defense, but none of them constitute what I'd call a real 'breakthrough'.)
"Ukraine waged another attack in Sevastopol on the Russian-
occupied Crimean Peninsula over the weekend, according to a
Kremlin-installed official, one day after a Ukrainian strike on
the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Russian air
defenses intercepted missiles headed toward Sevastopol, the
largest city on the peninsula, Gov. Mikhail Razvozhayev wrote
Saturday on Telegram.
WaPo
"On the evening of September 24, explosions were reported in
the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol, with sources
pointing to a drone attack, according to Krym.Realii.
"The edition notes that local and Russian Telegram channels
are reporting drone attacks.
"The Krymskyi Veter channel, citing eyewitnesses, claims that
Russian air defense systems are operating in the area of Cape
Fiolent and the residential area of Balaklava.
"The Russian and occupation authorities have not yet
commented on the explosions."
RBCUkraine
I think the Verbove thing was important because in that area they cut a supply route for Russia.
I've had trouble following the score there too.
I know, the attacks seem to be coming fast and furiously in Crimea.
The Ukrainians have come out and openly said they think the Russian Black Sea Commander was killed in the headquarters attack. No word from the Russian side though.
Hmmm...it looks like the Ukrainians have been targeting commanders, from low level to midlevel to high level all the way from Melitopol down to Sevastopol, ending with that attack on the Black Sea Headquarters.
It also seems that the Russian propagandists were rather upset about that attack, calling for US bases to be attacked...by someone.
NYT Headline: Ukraine claims that last Friday’s attack in
Sevastopol killed more than 30 Russian officers.
"On Monday, Ukraine’s special operations forces said in a
statement, citing ‛new information about the losses of the
enemy as a result of the special operation,’ that Friday’s strike
had killed 34 officers, including Admiral Sokolov. Another 105
people had been wounded, it said. The statement did not say
how Ukraine had confirmed the additional deaths."
"… attacks seem to be coming fast and furiously in Crimea."
The Russians are responding with attacks on civilian sites in southern, near-Crimean Ukrainian cities, notably Kherson and Odesa, and also including others. They don't seem to understand that killing civilians doesn't do much to hamper Ukraine's ability to make war.
________________________________
"Finland’s top diplomat [Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen] said
aiding Ukraine is ‛not charity.’ *** Valtonen said ‛it feels
good’ to be a fully fledged member of NATO now. She also
spoke about the dawning realization that ‛this is not just
Putin's war’ — but one that the ‛machinery’ of Russia has
been gearing up to wage for ‛a very long time.’"
WaPo
I tend to agree with Ms. Valtonen. Putin has lately been leading Russia into waging a prolonged conflict against all those who have helped thwart his imperial ambitions. He wanted to reëstablish the Russian Empire, make for himself a legacy as the 21st Century version of Peter the Great or Ivan the Terrible (take your pick) ― but that's obviously not gonna work out for him. Ukraine drove his army back and he's not gonna reconquer Ukraine any time soon. But he can (perhaps) restructure Russia to fight forever, to actually live for the fight. If they lose in Ukraine (as they probably will), they'll just move on to fight someone else, somewhere else, over something else, something much like the miserable state the Middle Eastern fundie Muslims have fallen into. That would be a Putin legacy all its own.
Of course, this new plan may not work out for him either. Only time will tell.
That would be a Putin legacy all its own.
That would be a horrible legacy, but one he would not consider so. It does look like the militarization of Russia from the ground up is taking place now. Even young children are being taught to wield a weapon and march in lock step. North Korea anyone?
One thing that might stand in their way is the lack of, well, Russians. They are going to have to conquer or import a population to replace those lost by war and natural attrition or by simply not being born. They may outnumber Ukrainians, but they don't outnumber Europe or the US.
SCOTUS told Alabama they still have to come up with another majority black district in their re-districting for voting. One district is not sufficient for Alabama's black population.
Both Roberts and Kavanaugh voted with the more liberal justices. Interesting.
The Russians have released a video allegedly showing that Admiral Sokolov, the Black Sea Fleet Commander, is alive and was participating in a meeting via video link. Although it looked to me like there was a pillow behind him. No proof as to when the video was taken.
I'm pretty sure the 'pillow' was just a puffy stuffed, high-backed office chair, in white.
But I didn't notice any "participating" going on. Could just as easily have been a still shot taken weeks or months ago.
It looks like some Wagner forces have returned to the Bakhmut area. With different commanders.
"Wagner forces have returned to the Bakhmut area."
I suppose that was inevitable.
________________________________
The Russians released a video that appears to show Adm. Viktor Sokolov answering a question about last Friday's attack on the Black Sea Fleet Headquarters in Sevastopol, in which he was supposedly killed (according to Ukraine's first telling--looking a little 'iffy' now). But the questioner is off-camera and the background is the same as another video where Sokolov was giving out awards to soccer teams which had won a competition held clear back on September 18ᵗʰ. It could be the question was dubbed in afterwards to make some fairly generic comments by Sokolov perhaps made around the 18ᵗʰ appear to be an answer about the later raid which the Ukrainians had said killed him.
I'm becoming more and more convinced that they did whack 'im. I think he's dead and the Russians are trying to cover it up. (Although why they'd try to cover it up escapes me--people get killed in war, especially military people who're supposed to be fighting the war--it happens.)
________________________________
Newsweek Headline: Russia Is Hemorrhaging Artillery Systems
Ukraine was originally losing artillery equally along with the Russians, maybe even at a higher rate. But Ukraine was losing ancient Soviet-era stuff, and has been getting replacements upgraded to NATO standards; faster stuff--shoot and scoot (along with needed ammo). HIMARS etc; "HIM" means "high mobility".
It looks like Russia is building another target for Ukrainian drones and missiles. From CNN:
Russian forces are constructing a new railway that will link the occupied cities of Mariupol, Volnovakha and Donetsk to southern Russia, according to a Ukrainian official.
Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the exiled mayor of Mariupol, said the Russians “have begun construction of a railroad bridge near the village of Hranitne over the Kalmius River. If successful, this will allow the existing Mariupol-Aslanove-Kalchyk-Volnovakha line to be connected directly to Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don.”
Andriushchenko said if this railway is completed, it would allow Russia to transport military and civilian supplies to occupied territory in southern Ukraine without relying on the Crimea bridge.
The bridge connecting Crimea with the Russian mainland has come under increasing attacks by Ukrainian forces in recent months, as they try to cut supply lines to the peninsula.
About Mariupol: The port city on the Sea of Azov is located in Ukraine’s Donetsk region and has been under direct Russian control since May 2022. It was in Mariupol that Russian forces carried out some of their most notorious strikes, including an attack on a maternity hospital and the bombing of a theater in which hundreds of civilians had sought refuge.
The city became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance during weeks of relentless Russian attacks last year. Famously, even when most of it had fallen, its defenders held out at the Azovstal steel plant for weeks before the stronghold finally fell.
Russia Is Hemorrhaging Artillery Systems
That's not all it's hemorrhaging. Ukraine has been going steadily after their command and control. The Black Sea Fleet HQ and its commanders aren't the only one they've attacked recently.
I think he's dead and the Russians are trying to cover it up.
I was wondering the same thing. But, like you, I don't know why they would bother. Other than they are getting rather thin on seasoned personnel and they want to make a good show for the people at home.
The Russians have been recycling soldiers, sending those who have been in a prisoner exchange back to the front. Kind of like Wagner. And there are those soldiers who made it back home who have chosen to return to the front because they are not getting any money from their government after their release.
Oh, and those Russian artillery systems? They need ammo. One Russian unit posted a video showing new artillery shells they had just received. They couldn't figure out why they weren't working quite right so they opened one up. No TNT.
"Russia is building another target for Ukrainian drones and missiles."
Allied bombing during WWII proved that overland rail lines, once laid, were repairable overnight if bombed. We'd take 'em out from the air, and they'd be fixed by the time the follow up 'bomb assessment' photos were taken. We couldn't hit 'em often enough to keep them shut down. (Bridges, however, took much longer to repair; bridges were worth bombing.)
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"They need ammo."
Enter North Korea. Their shells have TNT.
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Apropos Adm. Sokolov: The Russians have just released a couple of videos showing Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on his feet (actually, sitting on his butt--but sitting up and looking alert), following a couple weeks' of rumors that he was hospitalized and receiving hemodialysis.
(Putin may be getting a little sensitive on the subject of losing high ranking military men.)
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The House Administrative Committee voted on Wednesday to designate the Republican impeachment efforts as an "essential" government service. (Meaning the Republican staff members for those committees will keep on working, keep on trying to find some dirt on Biden during the shutdown.)
(Putin may be getting a little sensitive on the subject of losing high ranking military men.)
I think you may be right.
The House Administrative Committee voted on Wednesday to designate the Republican impeachment efforts as an "essential" government service.
Sure and I could see why it would be for them, unlike all of those federal workers who will not get paid for however long the Republican led shutdown continues on. Workers are only pawns to them. That includes our troops.
Word is that Gaetz has been chatting up Democrats in hopes of getting their help to oust McCarthy. Rather ironic, since he told McCarthy that if he worked with Democrats they would oust him.
Hard to not notice that Ukraine has taken the first step towards waging war against Russian civilian infrastructure. According to the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine--somewhat equivalent to an amalgamation of our own Secret Service, FBI, and Homeland Security) they inflicted a "successful" drone attack on an electrical sub-station inside Russia. The SBU emphasized that the sub-station served multiple military targets, but the Russians emphasized the disruption of power to an entire Russian village and a hospital.
I fully understand the Ukrainians' willingness (maybe even eagerness) to retaliate in kind for Russian war-making on Ukrainian electrical and heating nodules--intentionally depriving the the civilian population of power, light, and heat; tormenting the civilians because they can't whip the Ukrainian military. But, that sort of thing is considered a war crime, and it doesn't get amnestied just 'cause the other side did it first. (That doesn't mean this attack constitutes a war crime--collateral damage to civilian infrastructure just happens during a war. We all know that. It's targeting civilian infrastructure in order to take the war to civilians that's considered criminal by The Hague.)
And I don't overlook that we (Britain and the United States) went carpet bombing on German cities in World War II after the Germans had blitzed London and Hull, and pretty much wiped Coventry off the map. So we reciprocated with the destruction of Dresden, Berlin, and several other German cities. (The stated excuse was that we were trying to drive the German workers away from the German war factories.)
And then there was the firebombing of Tokyo.
The urge to retaliate in kind is a universal human urge. But it's still a war crime to target civilians.
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"Rather ironic, since he told McCarthy that if he worked with
Democrats they would oust him."
Governmental hypocrisy is nothing new, as the mini-essay just above ↑↑ should have made clear.
Hard to not notice that Ukraine has taken the first step towards waging war against Russian civilian infrastructure.
In this case it was a dual use infrastructure. But still, perhaps a better target could have been chosen.
Governmental hypocrisy is nothing new, as the mini-essay just above ↑↑ should have made clear.
That is the exact thought that crossed my mind as I listened to McCarthy speak earlier today.
The House has passed a stopgap 45 day CR without any funding for Ukraine. McCarthy had to use Democratic votes to do it. The House was adjourned before Gaetz could squeeze in a proposal to strip McCarthy of the Speakership. The ball is in Senate hands now.
Even if it passes the Senate it just kicks the can down the road 45 days from now. We will have the same issues then, if the Republicans continue to cave to the hardline right wing of their party.
"The House has passed a stopgap 45 day CR…"
And it got through the Senate as well, nine votes against, all Republicans I think.
I guessed that one wrong. They did manage to avoid a government shutdown. Now Trump will likely say evil things about Kevin McCarthy. He put something out for a vote that Democrats could vote for. The right-wingers were surprised and confounded (at least for the moment).
In passing on a Sunday morning… I notice that sightings of Russian Admiral Viktor Sokolov seem to have tapered off to nothing over the course of the last week.
I guessed that one wrong. They did manage to avoid a government shutdown.
So far. I suspect this isn't really over yet. Gaetz is already saying he will make a motion to remove McCarthy as Speaker next week. McCarthy is making noises like he wants to combine the Ukraine funding with border wall money, which I suspect Democrats will not like. Everyone is saying McCarthy can't be trusted to stick to a deal he has made, which I suspect is true. So we may revisit a shutdown in 45 days.
"McCarthy…wants to combine the Ukraine funding with
border wall money."
Foolishness. Meaningless political noises. Biden won't spend the money for a border wall; McCarthy can't make him spend it, and McCarthy doesn't have any executive powers so McCarthy can't spend it himself.
(Don't get me wrong; I'm all for tightening up our southern border, clamping down on immigration (both legal and illegal), but we need detention facilities and administrative judges to hear and clear all the bogus asylum claims. That or we need to withdraw from the international treaty that says anybody who requests asylum is entitled to a judicial hearing and determination. We need to spend money on border security sure 'nuff. But a wall is a useless symbol unless we're gonna put up towers and put guards with guns out there--which we're not gonna do. We need detention facilities, courtrooms, judges, and public defenders to process all these bogus sanctuary requests and start shipping those people home promptly after apprehension.)
I'm all for tightening up our southern border, clamping down on immigration (both legal and illegal), but we need detention facilities and administrative judges to hear and clear all the bogus asylum claims.
I am okay with this type of funding. The wall is just a waste of money. What we really need is immigration reform, but that isn't in the cards. There are those immigrants who should be let in who will enhance our country with their talents and skills. We need them. Those who just want to commit crimes should be deported. But I certainly don't want to bomb migrant boats like one Trump official suggested as a deterrent.
There are fireworks brewing on Capitol Hill. Sounds like the Dems won't bail out McCarthy. Now it remains to be seen who will win the game of chicken between McCarthy and Gaetz.
"Sounds like the Dems won't bail out McCarthy."
McCarthy ain't yet come to inquire about their price. First he's gonna try to sink Gaetz on his own, within the Republican Party as now constituted. Could be another 15 rounds of voting, or more, before McCarthy gives up on that one. (Or Gaetz may lose it early.) If he can't win without talking to the Democrats that'll mean their price to help goes up. (Don't mean he'll necessarily pay it.)
Gonna be interesting to watch.
McCarthy ain't yet come to inquire about their price.
I think he's sent proxies.
(Or Gaetz may lose it early.)
It sounds like he has 6 votes at least.
"I think he's sent proxies."
Far as I can tell they didn't inquire as to the price; they solicited help for free; that ain't gonna happen.
"It sounds like he has 6 votes at least."
He'll probably have more than that. But that's for round one of the voting.
When they try to elect a replacement the first front runner for the position is going be none other than Kevin McCarthy his own self. Took him 15 rounds of votes last time. May take more than that this time. Or the rebels might cave earlier.
McCarthy has been voted out. So now, I suppose, the real negotiations begin, if he really wants the job back.
Meantime: The House of Representatives is closed for business except for trying to elect someone Speaker of the House. Until that's done, nothing else gets done.
Yup, we're back to square one. And they have apparently adjourned until next week. How special.
I well remember you characterizing the civil war that would erupt in the Republican Party. It's very much here. There are people out there who may be gunning for Matt Gaetz.
"And they have apparently adjourned until next week."
Yeah, well, that's because there's been yet another major surprise. McCarthy now says he won't run for Speaker of the House again. (Doesn't mean he doesn't still want the job, maybe he wants them to come begging. That'll take a little time and a failure to coalesce around a replacement, which is how he got the job last time--no other viable candidates.)
Jim Jordan has announced he is running for Speaker.
So, do the Republicans enact more petty revenge against the Democrats for their participation in the removal of McCarthy by electing an extreme right wing Speaker? They are already kicking Pelosi and Hoyer out of their offices.
This should be the opportunity many Americans have hoped for, power sharing and compromise between Republicans and Democrats. Will it instead be used to double down on stupid and pander to the far right of the Republican Party?
Looks like all of the possible choices for Speaker are not people I would care to see in that seat. I don't really like Emmer, as he went along with that Texas lawsuit way back when to try to invalidate the 2020 election. But he seems to be the least worse option, and he doesn't want the job.
It looks like the US is going to ship seized Iranian weapons and munitions to Ukraine. This is military supplies that were confiscated on their way to Yemen.
"Will it instead be used to double down…"
This is new and uncharted territory for them. No telling which direction they'll first wander nor which faction will prevail in the moment. I'm just gonna havta wait and see how it turns out. You might notice that Trump is being unusually circumspect on this subject. That's an indication he doesn't know which way the wind's gonna blow either. He wants to be known for backing the winner, but he doesn't know which side that'll be.
(Longer term: Trump's gonna win the nomination. I think Biden can beat him in the general. If we're lucky Biden will bring in a Democratic House majority with him and keep the Senate. That's if we're lucky. Then all Hell's gonna break loose among the Trumpkan/Republicans. Probably won't be a winner come out of that one. Gonna be a show though; lay in some popcorn.)
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"…the US is going to ship seized Iranian weapons and
munitions to Ukraine."
It's long been said that there is zero legal authority for that. The United States will probably get sued, and probably lose. And the Biden administration won't care--the value of those weapons and munitions is not significant in comparison to the mischief risked if Ukraine runs out of ammo. (Supposedly the Biden administration is working up a legal justification for the new policy--probably bogus, but, again, they probably don't care as long as it sounds plausible; Ukraine needs the ammo and the Congress is currently froze up. If Iran takes the United States to court later and wins a cash judgment--so be it.)
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"…not people I would care to see in that seat…"
Quite right. Today's Trumpkan/Republican Party is not going to elevate anybody whom you'd approve. Foregone conclusion.
But, so far as I know, Scalise is more likely to keep his word once it's been given than is Jordan. Between the two I'd have to say that's a point in Scalise's favor. (And it's a habit that McCarthy had abandoned when he embraced his right-wing crazies. Of course, if Scalise gets the Speakership he may abandon that habit as well.) Also Scalise has a less isolationist temperament than Jordan and is more likely to continue American support for Ukraine's resistance to Russia, a second point in his favor.
Rumors are circulating that the Republican National Committee (RNC) is considering tanking the Republican nomination debates after the third one, currently scheduled for 8 November '23 in Miami, Florida. Trump's refusal to participate has made the first two debates rather sad affairs, as the candidates struggled for second place in the nominating race. (Nobody cares who's in second place--Trump's got a lock on the nomination--and second place don't pay out). Viewership is way down and a lot of Republicans are embarrassed at the continuing spectacle. So, the RNC hasn't been noticeably planning for any additional debates after November. And they aren't trying to get Trump to participate in any speculative fourth debate either. He's got no incentive to join and they've had to admit to that.
They may just let the Republican debates fade away after November.
Here's a thought:
The House Democrats convince a small group of Republican representatives to support Hakeem Jeffries (Democratic House Minority Leader) for Speaker of the House. But they do not try to change the rule about one Representative being enough to call a vote to 'vacate the chair'. Jeffries schedules a vote on a (pre-arranged) Continuing Resolution of a couple of months (and including necessary military and financial support for Ukraine).
After that passes, the coöpted Republicans move to 'vacate the chair', removing Jeffries from his temporary position, and the Republicans go back to fighting amongst themselves over which faction will control the House, but now we've got a couple months' of cushion for them to fight in.
Probably won't work. It was just a passing thought. But, maybe, just maybe… The House is in chaos after all--just about anything might happen.
This is new and uncharted territory for them. No telling which direction they'll first wander nor which faction will prevail in the moment. I'm just gonna havta wait and see how it turns out.
This is an opportunity for the moderate Republicans to stand up for the Constitution and country instead of the Party. The Party having been coopted by the hardline Republican members. Because bottom line is the hardline members will not be able to govern in a way that will satisfy Americans. Once those Americans notice there is a good chance the Republicans will lose their House majority, slim as it is.
Power sharing was the original idea when our country was formed. Get back to it.
You might notice that Trump is being unusually circumspect on this subject.
That is the one thing Trump was good at, reading the emotions of the American people.
The United States will probably get sued, and probably lose.
Have at it.
Today's Trumpkan/Republican Party is not going to elevate anybody whom you'd approve. Foregone conclusion.
Very true.
They may just let the Republican debates fade away after November.
Perfectly fine with me. I already know I'm not voting for any Republicans.
It was just a passing thought.
That was actually a rather clever idea. Now if we can just get someone in power to think of it. I will guess the Democrats will nominate Jeffries anyway.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is suggesting Trump again. God forbid!
But nominating someone that isn't a member of the House and who could actually stand apart from politics may not be a bad idea. That person could possibly bring to the floor bills that would either pass or fail on their own merits. I think Ukraine funding is popular with the majority of House members.
And one way or another I would dearly love to see an end run around the more extreme members of the Republican Party.
"That is the one thing Trump was good at…"
Actually, Trump just took to listening to Radio-Right-Wing. (And later to watching FoxNews along with the radio crazies.) And when he was busy with other things he had people making summaries of the right-wing grievances that were circulating there. (Thousands of hours of it, supposedly.) It wasn't hard, and he didn't even have to understand it. Just parrot it back.
Meanwhile, back in Ukraine, it seems that the Russians have been shooting down their own planes, well one at least, and there was a recent incident with a train that not only killed Russian troops but didn't do the train much good either. Getting a little sloppy, there.
Adam Kinzinger had an idea. That is to use the hardliners tactic against them. A handful of Republicans should stand firm and state they will not vote for any Speaker who will not fund Ukraine.
That's probably more practical than my "passing thought".
Trump has come out and backed Jordan. So now we will see if there are any real Republicans left or if they will follow the Trump cultists.
In the end, Trump could not let the show go on without himself on the stage.
Could have sworn I left a comment earlier on the situation in Israel. But I am sure you have already heard the news about the Hamas attack. It sounds like it was well planned. There was a huge intelligence failure on the part of Israel.
It was good timing on the part of Hamas with everyone distracted by Ukraine and the political turmoil in the US.
Needless to say it would be a good time for the House to get it's sh*t together.
And I don't mean the Maga crazies like Jim Jordan.
Quite a few of the "MAGA crazies" are openly and extremely anti-semitic. Not all, but quite a few. I don't know if that currently includes Jim Jordan, but I'm sure he could become instantly and viciously anti-semitic if he thought that was good for his political career. Which goes to say that he might not be of much help to Israel.
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Mike Lindell's lawyers are requesting court permission to bail out on his representation on account of they're owed "millions" of dollars in fees, and he's quit paying on the account. Politico Lindell says he has no money to pay the lawyers (struggling to meet payroll at the pillow plant) and he doesn't blame them for requesting leave to leave.
Lindell says he has no money to pay the lawyers (struggling to meet payroll at the pillow plant) and he doesn't blame them for requesting leave to leave.
Perhaps he should have thought about that before he joined the Trump bandwagon.
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