1984Echoes

In other words: Trump was boot-licking Putin, yet again...

I don't believe this has much relevancy. Certainly not as much as... in 2008, we, as a nation, were a little bit distracted. With Iraq, hunting for Bin Laden, and an economic crash. IIRC: Georgia barely registered on our conscience, as we were a bit busy at the time. I remember it in the news. But it was fait accompli before we could even get an opinion out the door. And despite my hyperbole: IOW - we just were not prepared, at all, to give any kind of response whatsoever.

Caught off guard. Not this time. And, the parts of Georgia and Ukraine that were previously invaded have a sparse population in comparison, and the capitals/ country were not taken over, just... parts. Russia did not take over Tbilisi, nor Georgia, nor Ukraine (as a whole, previously...). This is different. The response is different. And the world was ready for this response (this time). And one last thing: Biden has been a driving force in pulling everyone together for this response. He deserves major, major credit for this response to Russian aggression.

Crap... I didn't even catch that... I should pay more attention...

The oil industry is also asking for a supportive governmental permitting atmosphere, versus current non-supportive: (I'm for combatting climate change... but I'm also a realist and an "all-in" guy that ranks "energy security" just as high as climate change. That means I am both for combatting climate change as well as fracking, supporting the U.S. Oil & Gas industry, nuclear energy, EV's and the support infrastructure needed for them, etc...): https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-called-unleash-shale-counter-050001633.html

Holy Crap! Go Ukrainska! Slava Ukraini!

Right, Because the 9 million Russian deaths at the hands of Stalin don't count as much as NATO sanctions... Riiiight.

Russians love their children too. Vladdie just doesn't give a shit. About anything. Except power (and money).

"Looks like NATO + Sweden and Finland meeting tomorrow." Let them in NATO A.S.A.P.

FTFY.

And if you put a gun or a tank in their hands what's to prevent them from turning on their "militaristic captors", otherwise known as their fellow Russian soldiers and commanders? Another thought that popped in my head was the movie Enemy at the Gates with Jude Law and Ed Harris. With new conscripts, no training, and no weapons (50/50 actually) thrown at German machine guns in Stalingrad...

Yeah I'll believe that when I see it. The guy is fucking snake-oiled and slithers out of so much criminal activity that it's... Well... Criminal.

Russia has taken control of Kherson. Ukrainian forces have withdrawn.

Detroit Red Wings, 24-24-6, 8-13-3 AWAY ESPN+ 3/4 7:00 PM Tampa Bay Lightning, 35-11-6, 18-4-4 HOME

And this is easy to do too: Oil and gas is extremely tepid at making capital investments because they were burned a few times the past 5 years by the Saudi's... Solution: Advanced tax credits for capital investments (drill rigs, etc.); which they take anyways due to current tax law... but over a period of 5-20 years (depending on lease or purchase terms, useful life, etc...). Advance the tax credit to 100% in the current year. Doesn't change the overall credit, net impact = $0 (not counting present value considerations but lets bypass that for the moment) just gets taken in 1 shot/ 1 year instead of over a lengthier amount of time. Then there's a rush to add more drilling rigs and our production jumps markedly. This is the most effective way to jump production immediately. Other than guaranteeing American producers a set price for the next 3 years (let's say $105) which eliminates their risk of price fluctuations. More than $105/ barrel = no cost to the government; less than $105 = the government covers the difference. I highly doubt this is a feasible option given the current fiscal climate so I think a definite no-go... just tossing that out there as this would also kick-start American production in a major way. But at a potential cost... If the U.S. were to be successful at kicking Russian oil & gas out of America and severely limiting their export capability through sanctions (that only has a small effect with China buying Russian oil/ gas with no reservations...); the exposure to oil less than $105 a barrel might be minimal to nothing. So I wouldn't exactly sneeze at the US Government guaranteeing US Oil & Gas a minimum of $105 per barrel. Personally, I think it's doable. But... again... current fiscal realities are not conducive to a decision like this... The tax credit advancement costs $0 though... Biden should get this out their immediately. Like you, I hope he has financial advisors that are thinking of production options like these...

But a lying POS con-artist fascist wannabe who shits all over the Constitution and US Intelligence, allies and the military (look it up Archie Bunker, it's true) is NOT loved by the military? Hmmm... that seems to make sense to me. Not certain about anyone else but...

Too much caffeine?

Sinking a yacht in Maldives is going to start WW III... gotcha.

We need more of that in America... For all our Putin Boot-Lickers... Including Boot-Licker #1.

And they give it right back with the tying goal...

What the...? Ras scores a goal?!

You do realize that there are numerous examples in history, in which a strongman yanked his nation in any direction he pleased. Do you not even recognize this? Where did Mussolini yank Italy? Did anyone in Germany defy Hitler? No matter how depraved, idiotic, or murderous his orders, they did exactly as he ordered. Have you ever heard the names Castro, Chavez, Kim, Maduro, Duterte, Jinping, Xedong? People follow orders because they fear the leader. No matter if generals, security forces, whatever. This is all Putin. And you don't recognize it.

And if not... Wicked, wicked, wicked Propaganda (with a capital P) on the part of Ukraine.

They are parking their superyachts in the Maldives, which has no extradition. Bomb them, sabotage them, sink them. I could care less about the Maldives protection scheme.

From Russia's KGB no less...