Last night was the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. It’s an annual tradition that lets the sitting president attempt a little levity and be on the receiving end as well. Maybe it’s time for a little break from serious and remind ourselves that poking fun at ourselves is a time honored American tradition. Hopefully it always will be.
President Biden:
Colin Jost:
48 comments:
Marjorie Taylor Greene is saying she will push the vote to vacate the Speakership next week. The Dems have already come out and said they will vote to table it.
More theatrics by an irrelevant elected official.
"…she will push the vote to vacate the Speakership next week."
Johnson doesn't seem to be much worried 'bout it. Trump has likewise chosen to treat her rogue maneuvering as inconsequential, not worthy of further mention. (And no reason to dwell on reminders of Trumpkan/Republican chaos with an election looming.)
I'm wondering what'll happen if the Trumpkan/Republicans gain a House majority in the next Congress. Will they be able to agree on a Speaker? (That's a problem for another day I suppose.)
"British Foreign Secretary David Cameron promised three
billion pounds ($3.74 billion) of annual military aid for
Ukraine for 'as long as it takes' on Thursday, adding that
London had no objection to the weapons being used inside
Russia."
Reuters
...adding that
London had no objection to the weapons being used inside
Russia."
There are legitimate targets inside Russia.
"There are legitimate targets inside Russia."
There are. More to the point:
"Kind of reminds me of the tank debate way back when."
Lynnette in Minnesota @ Fri Apr 26, 08:11 pm prior thread
I recall that the Brits were likewise the first to provide long range missiles (their 'Storm Shadows'), long before we finally came across with the MGM-140s (a/k/a ATACMS). There's a pattern developed here. The Brits move first; the Russians bitch 'bout it, but don't totally freak out and go nuclear, 'cause who's afraid of the Brits? But the precedent gets thus set and then we move later.
Russia has, however, begun a cyber warfare campaign against NATO, Germany specifically. Reuters Russia also launched electronic warfare attacks against Finland's civilian aviation flights. DWNews
So, they're not sittin' back. They're actively lookin' for ways to ratchet things up against NATO.
So, they're not sittin' back. They're actively lookin' for ways to ratchet things up against NATO.
Say what you will about Russian military capability their cyber warfare and propaganda capability is top notch. Sowing division and encouraging their adversaries to implode from within is something the are adept at. Hence the love affair with our extreme right contingent.
Well, and maybe not so much the extreme right anymore.
"Say what you will about Russian military capability…"
Russian military capability seems much improved since their fairly disastrous performance during Ukraine's first counterattack in the fall of 2022.
The Russians have since resurrected their WWII practice of using barrier troops behind their front lines, troops whose job it is to summarily shoot any soldiers retreating from the front lines. Since then the number of retreating soldiers has gone down considerably. (The number of dead Russian soldiers has gone up correspondingly, but the Russians have more soldiers to spend than do the Ukrainians.)
What the Ukrainians need to do is develop a battle plan that deals directly with the Russian decision to use soldier mass as their primary weapon. (They probably just need to kill Russian soldiers at an overall rate of at least five to one over the number of soldiers the Ukrainians lose, or preferably even better. Then they need to keep killing Russians, bleeding them out 'til the Russians finally get tired of it, or until they are weakened enough that exhaustion limits them in spite of any political will to continue). I think the Ukrainians know this. I think the Pentagon has yet to figure it out. The Pentagon seems to want the Ukrainians to perform an American-style blitzkrieg (so they can watch and evaluate their equipment), forgetting that even the Nazis who originated blitzkrieg couldn't keep it up over a long haul of years (and especially couldn't keep it up after they'd lost their initial overwhelming air superiority).
Then they need to keep killing Russians, bleeding them out 'til the Russians finally get tired of it, or until they are weakened enough that exhaustion limits them in spite of any political will to continue).
I think Ukraine is on the same page. As you say, Russia has more resources. But Ukraine has been doing a good job of playing David to that Goliath. It just takes time.
They have been using the French guided gliding bombs in Dnipro to stop Russia in its tracks. The cluster munitions we sent for ATACMS have been put to good use against Russian troops and helicopters. Modified drones are playing a huge role. I think Ukraine has been very creative in its fight against Russia. Hopefully that will continue.
"Modified drones are playing a huge role."
I'm watching for news to come in some day that one side or the other has learned how to program small drones into semi-autonomous swarms, behaving like flocks of smaller birds bedeviling larger raptors. The Russians being not big on innovation, I'd expect that news to more likely to come in from the Ukrainian side (if indeed it happens during this war).
The Israeli Defense Forces have ordered an evacuation of eastern Rafah.
And the Russians have announced a new military training exercise for the near future, war games involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons intended to concentrate on nuking Europe, especially NATO countries. (Not related to Israel's order for the evacuation of eastern Rafah.)
Somehow I don't think drone swarms are far off.
BTW, did you see that we did a test of an F-16 piloted by AI?
"BTW, did you see that we did a test of an F-16 piloted by AI?"
No, didn't see that 'news'.
But commercial aviation autopilot is not a new thing. Don't see it'd be a big deal to put it on a smaller military jet. (Now, if they can rig it to dogfight successfully that'd be another thing entirely.)
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It appears that Israel has gone ahead with its long-threatened Rafah operation; American opposition notwithstanding.
Among other moves, they've captured the Gaza side of the Gaza/Egypt crossing point in Rafah (to what end is not clear).
Hamas and Hamas sympathizers have subsequently begun making much public noise about how Hamas has now 'agreed' to a cease-fire deal that Hamas drafted and publicized a few hours after Israel launched its assault; apparently Hamas is now trying to pretend that Israel had agreed to it at some unknown point in time (don't think that's gonna work 'cept maybe in the Russian and Chinese news markets).
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I missed this piece of news back in the fall when it was actually news. But I did catch on to it finally, here just recently.
Putin has gone on record as seeking to make eight or more children the family norm in Russia for the future. Independent I recall that the Nazis were big on the idea of big 'Aryan' families as well. Unwed teenage mothers were called 'Fürer's Brides' for example.
I'm trying to recall other examples of a nation demodernizing in this fashion, especially nations which might have been successful with the effort, but I'm drawing a blank.
Perhaps others will have more luck.
Now, if they can rig it to dogfight successfully that'd be another thing entirely.)
They probably wouldn't tell us that part. Gotta keep some surprises.
Putin has gone on record as seeking to make eight or more children the family norm in Russia for the future.
I suppose he has to do something. They are losing people at a rapid clip.
It sounds like some people close to Trump are saying he wants the judge to jail him. Probably so he can rile up his base.
The orange jumpsuit would go nicely with his hair, though.
"…some people close to Trump are saying he wants the judge
to jail him."
He's bluffing. But he has no other choice. He's built up his 'brand' as major macho, and now he has to maintain that image. His 'base' demands it. That in spite of the risk inherent in doubling down on this field.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene has backed off her threat to call up a "motion to vacate the chair" against House Speaker Mike Johnson. She made mention of a 'leaked' list of four demands she had made on Johnson yesterday, but Johnson has shown no sign he's even remotely interested in her list of demands, so, basically, she unilaterally backed down but is refusing to admit it.
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Nikki Haley got 22% of the vote in yesterday's Indiana Republican presidential primary.
"…she unilaterally backed down but is refusing to admit it."
That didn't last long. Nor did her attempt to remove Johnson from the Speaker's office.
(Apparently she couldn't tolerate being ridiculed for having backed down earlier, so she decided to make her position even worse.)
Like Trump she doesn't know when to cut her losses. Even Republicans have started calling her Moscow Marjorie.
Biden has said he will not send weapons to Israel if they invade Rafah.
Re: Vote on Mike Johnson
Ten other Trumpkan/Republican House members voted with Marjorie Taylor Greene. It was only eight Trumpkan/Republicans who took Kevin McCarthy down.
I think one of the issues for Trumpkan/Republican House candidates in the November elections will be whether or not they will support Mike Johnson for Speaker once again. Probably means Johnson won't be Speaker after November.
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"BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) - Ambassadors from European
Union countries agreed on Wednesday to use windfall profits
from Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU for Ukraine's
defence, the Belgian government said.
Ministers still need to approve the legal text that will see 90%
of the proceeds go into an EU-run fund for military aid for
Ukraine, with the other 10% going to support Kyiv in other
ways, four EU diplomatic sources said."
Reuters
(Hungary has announced that they will not participate in what they call a "crazy scheme." The Russians will, no doubt, file suit to stop the program from taking effect.)
Folks were noticing that Trump's infamous hair swirl was on crooked for most of Stormy Daniel's testimony on Monday and Tuesday. Speculation is the details coming out in public again is getting to him. Politico (Might also observe that there's no hair and makeup bench in the cells on Rikers Island.)
"LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian drone struck a major
oil processing plant in Russia's Bashkiria region on Thursday
from some 1,500 km (932 miles) away, a Kyiv intelligence
source said, its longest-range such attack since the start of the
war."
I think one of the issues forTrumpkan/Republican House candidates in the November elections will be whether or not they will support Mike Johnson for Speaker once again.
Assuming they keep the majority.
Probably means Johnson won't be Speaker after November.
Hoping he won't be.
Oops i.must have not closed a tag right in that last comment.
I have heard that Trump actually stayed awake during Stormy Daniel's testimony. Not too happily, though. He would have been better off sleeping through it.
Ukraine has been going after quite a few targets pertaining to Russian logistics.
Word is they took out a Russian oil depot with an ATACMS. Speculation being that they are well supplied with those missiles.
Stuck on italics it seems.
The problem appears to be limited to this thread after Thursday.
Testing...
Ok, this is weird.
"Trump actually stayed awake during Stormy Daniel's
testimony."
Curiously, that's probably the least important part of the case against him. He's not being prosecuted for having sex with Ms. Daniels, but with covering up what would be considered an illegal corporate campaign donation by laundering the expense through his business books as routine (and tax deductible) "legal fees" to keep it out of the required campaign finance reports.
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"Ukraine has been going after quite a few targets pertaining to
Russian logistics."
They're doing what they oughta. With limited 'smart' ammo available to them (especially limited long-range ammo) they need to use them on high value targets with durable consequences. Here of late they seem to especially favor targeting oil production facilities inside Russia.
They are showing that they can. Plus there are some nice big targets inside Russia.
Things are lookin a little grim 'round Kharkiv these days.
Yes, Russia is intent on taking advantage of the lag time in restocking the Ukrainians with weapons and ammo.
Although there does appear to be some getting through in other areas.
Italics seem to have disappeared.
Word is that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is getting 'kicked upstairs' (to borrow a term used in western political circles). He'll get a new title, Secretary of Russia's National Security Council, and he's getting an new office in the attic with few or no responsibilities. (The Council is a 'holding pen' for people former players whom Putin wants to keep on the payroll but out of the game. For instance, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev serves on the Council and has an ongoing roll as an occasional public shill for Putin.)
There is also word that he is being replaced with a civilian whose main "recommendations" are loyalty to Putin and experience in economics.
"…experience in economics…"
I․e. Evading sanctions.
Belousov managed to grow the Russian economy in the face of what we had hoped would be crippling sanctions. Putin hopes to now put that proven talent to work in the acquisition of needed military technology.
Belousov will of course rely on a theater commander. Probably Gen. Valery Gerasimov maintains his responsibilities there; could be somebody else gets moved in.
I've been wondering… A sort of 'what if' type of musing…
Russia is attacking Ukraine in the Kharkiv region once again, but they may not have enough support built in to the terrain there (not yet anyway). What if the Ukrainians throw them back again, but don't stop at the Russian border this time?
I recall that nobody much bothered to try to head off Prigozhin when he began to march on Moscow. What if the locals don't bother to try to head off the Ukrainian army either? Or, maybe more probable, what if the Ukrainians take the opportunity to flank the Russian fortifications of the northern Donbas region--swing 'round behind 'em and hit Donetsk from the Russian side (overrunning and occupying Russian terrain in the process)?
Does Putin suddenly get serious 'bout throwin' nukes? And how would we know if he was serious?
I don't think we would know if he was serious until it was too late.
Perhaps it will be when he realizes that there is only Gerasimov and himself left. The Russians are making progress near Kharkiv, but at tremendous cost in manpower. Word is they lost 1,740 soldiers just the other day.
But I do like your idea of Ukraine doing the unexpected.
"Ukrainian officials are making a new push to get the Biden
administration to lift its ban on using U.S.-made weapons to
strike inside Russia, saying the policy kept them from attacking
Russian positions as they [the Russians] prepared for their
major march toward Kharkiv."
Politico
They have a point.
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