mtutiger

I do believe he's getting somewhat of a bump... even Quinnipiac, which has been consistently been his worst poll since becoming President, showed around a 5% increase in their latest poll over their previous survey earlier in February Whether that lasts is another story, I suspect that it's a "rally around the flag" situation with Ukraine and may be fleeting.

How Vladimir Putin Lost Interest in the Present

Wouldn't it also basically do away with independent commissions established in states like California?

I just am weary of being too definite on any statements at this point... actions have consistently exceeded the conventional wisdom every step of the way from the moment Russia invaded.

I went to a game there in 2008 while spending a summer working in Binghamton... most rustic baseball experience ever.

They ultimately weren't in Syria? Here? They probably arent... having said that, past has not been prologue throughout this crisis, so who knows.

This number is significantly higher than the testimony given to the House Intel Committee yesterday...

For what it's worth, his visit to the DFW area yesterday seemed to be pretty well received. He definitely needs to be out more in 2022, especially in smaller venues like he was during his VA visit yesterday

Same.

🤔

You'll have to take that up with Jerome Powell

Another thing on prices... it feels like most of the attention is on oil, but agricultural commodities need more attention as well. Russia and Ukraine both account for something around 20-25% of the world's wheat output. On top of gas prices, we will see it at the grocery as well unfortunately

Poll numbers find it popular in the context of not buying Russian oil (like 75-25 in favor of cutting Russia off) although it remains to be seen whether that holds if/when prices spike further. But I do agree with ewsieg that he needs to address this in a high profile way... not good enough to make a quip on the tarmac in Texas about it.

"some"

My goodness, this thread... Incredible corruption

"Back in the US... Back in the US... Back in the USSR..."

I missed this from earlier... the last point about the EU is a good one...

To this end, would Archie consider it a failure if Putin ended up falling on account of this invasion? Like, in his telling, Putin wouldn't have invaded if Trump were still POTUS (debatable for the reasons I've laid out a number of times, but for arguments sake) and, by extension, would still be firmly in power, acting as a malignant force in the world. Versus now where we are united with allies in a way we haven't before... where Germany (of all countries) is talking about spending 2% of GDP on self defense. The situation that is unfolding in Ukraine is terrible, but I dont know how it could be better handled. And it's a situation where Putin's overreach has changed the dynamics in a way that benefits us more than it hurts us... so much so that there's now at least a nonzero chance his grip ain't solid.

The debate about vigor really doesn't enter into this discussion for me.... this aggression is happening because Putin set it into motion. He's the responsible party. Not everything that happens in the world revolves around Americans and whatever domestic political hobby horses they care about. As far as Earth 2.0 is concerned, as has been mentioned numerous times when it has been brought up (and ignored by some posters), Donald Trump was the President who thought so much about Ukrainian self-determination that he blackmailed Ukraine by withholding funding for Javelins and also the President who seemed on a mission to take out NATO, the only thing sitting between Russia and Eastern Europe. So yeah, color me skeptical that Putin wouldn't have invaded.... if anything he would have invaded because the ground would have been softer for an invasion assuming that the US would have been pulled out of NATO.

And again, I would suggest that you dont understand what you are talking about. Either way, the responsibility for the invasion lies with the invader. Suggestions otherwise make me think you are making excuses or apologias for the invader. And make me question how supportive you are of our country in dealing with the Russians in this moment of aggression.

This is more specifically aimed at Archie than at GOP politicians., but in terms of this war, it's happening because of one man alone: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. This was a war of choice that did not have to happen. So when someone comes along and, instead of placing blames where it lies, repeatedly blames Joe Biden for this war happening, it starts coming across like an excuse or an apologia for the war criminal who is ultimately responsible for this thing. And it makes me start questioning whether that person wishes this country success in dealing with Russia going forward.