Democrats should campaign - and ignore the other side - on Ukraine (and bringing the world together) abortion rights, democracy, gun control. The economy is the economy. While it affected every national election, these are different times. Just keep hammering away and going on the offensive. These are popular with the voters and are Democratic policies.
Trump’s anti-positions get lost in the white noise. Nothing moves the Trump poll needle. Why waste energy? Again, Democrats need to keep hammering away. A relatively small number of independent voters in battleground states will decide the election.
Putin's nihilism is certainly a central part of his strategy. And it's a huge part of his justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Whether that is the biggest treat or whether it serves to enable a more dynamic motive is a matter of interpretation, upon which we would probably differ in emphasis. But we certainly share your concern for its impact on politics, science, judgement and basic truth.
What makes it tougher for the Democrats in Congress is that these Republicans do not even seem to be motivated by the prospects of losing an election and thus losing power. They are immune to reading tea leaves, or perhaps think they can twist their way out, like they still think they deserve to have twisted their way out of losing the White House in 2020.,
What a public statement we voters can make if all of us who are upset with the Republican refusal to support Ukraine's war efforts are provided with one recommended non-profit entity to directly contribute money in support of Ukraine's defense. Just $5 from every voter in favor of funding Ukraine's defense would make a substantial impact in Ukraine's efforts, in addition to sending a strong clear message to our elected officials who are not doing their job. I found this one site but welcome expert input of the most effective entity to donate funds in Support of Ukraine's war efforts.https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/?__cf_chl_tk=he36dPIlhzRku0jqigVK6WesjwfE.pTPDKpJxnxm_1I-1708091082-0.0-3581
Thank you for both reports.. the big picture (Klein and Nelson) and Mak's view. I have been trying to keep up with what is happening in this war and upset that the Israeli- Palestinian intractable situation, Hamas-Netanyahu, took the attention away from Ukraine, the more consequential war. I believe they not completely unrelated though. Biden/Blinken were distracted. One could argue not very effective either. Putin likes it this way I am sure.
"World order" is something that needs active engagement. The UN does not do that job. We have taken over, flawed as we are. There are bad actors everywhere and they vote in the UNSecurityCouncil too. We do, and with re Israel, we are complicit in the Gaza disaster. Russia, the worst of the bad actors, is not on board for world order. Putin will point (wrongfully it can be well argued) to what we have done to give Russia permission. He'll take advantage of every weakness within our system and in the world as well. This is not a very strong Russia either.
There are analysts who would or have disagreed with Mak about stalemate re Russian aggression- and those who have cried stalemate from the beginning, "the beginning" being 2/24/2022 not 2014 (which it is). Others have been talking about waxing and waning, pluses and minuses, winning here and losing there. Now we have to *at least* keep it at stalemate.
It was OUR pumped up expectations about the Ukrainian offensive (expectations that many tried to put a lid on) that brought this disappointment. Then there's the micromanagement between the generals here and what was going on there on the ground about how to manage the war. This is my understanding. Plus add, from the beginning, Biden's fearfulness about wider war and nukes. Putin brandished nukes that had some of us shivering. Ukraine unfortunately has to depend on us and the Euros. If we were full force supplying them, Russian weakness would be more apparent. But now Ukraine's loss will be our loss.
It's most depressing that this country does not work to its own benefit, never mind the world's. That is because we are a dysfunctional democracy with a GOP party unbelievably turned to the really dark side. So this is maybe the end of an era where we could lead and be depended upon.
We deny Ukraine what it needs and then talk about Ukraine not winning. Ukrainians are people like us and they will or are losing heart after just so much relentless bombardment and now betrayal.
I did a complete 180 about the "military industrial complex" with this war. I went along disparaging it until I realized that in this real world, we need it. That is where the money is going when we support Ukraine militarily as well. The GOP, Gaetz Greene et al know this?
Wouldn't peace be nice. But to have it now (even temporarily) one needs to appease,to sacrifice other lives to it, and to be selfish to the point of being myopic.
If Biden was trying to lead the country, he would be on TV begging voters to pressure Congress to knock off the circus in the interest of saving Ukrainian lives. But that has not happened, and if it did, he would probably gaff his way through it. Still, it is better than doing nothing.
A succinct way of saying it, yes. Fearfulness of getting out there and being the butt of jokes because of the shallowness of the entertainment addicted electorate. He needs to use the bully pulpit. He can get angry.. but when he gets angry then the gaffes really flow and THAT is what reverberates... Mexico's leader.... El Sisi. (while Trump bombards us with theseBTW)
Well, the Johnsons of the Congress must receive an offer they can't refuse..My problem is that Dems don't seem to have the stones to deploy a real strategy to motivate these people..But it is exactly what is necessary..
“This presents Democrats with an opportunity. Their messaging needs to be sharper, more forceful and more respectful of the ways Americans are shaped by geopolitical events.” I hope someone who is well connected helps to get this message to the right ears. So important
My heart just breaks for Ukraine and it is so angry at the Rs about this. I feel so ashamed when I interact with my new Ukrainian neighbors knowing our country has let them down.
It is sickening, horrible, and totally unnecessary. Makes you think the worst of Congressional Republicans - as if there is no bottom, below which they won't go.
"The most substantial and pressing foreign threats involve not just Putin’s revanchist imperialism, but widening wars in not one but two strategically important regions of the world — Eurasia and the Middle East.'
You failed to mention that Putin's biggest threat is his worldwide war on truth, his penetration through social media of the minds of the US (and UK) electorate and ability to exploit the distraction and chaos and worldview that Trump distributes to his MAGA followers and uses to tyrannize Republican lawmakers. Whether it's due to fear or shear evil or pure greed for power no matter what form that power involves, the state of our political discourse is on a collision course with catastrophe. Whether that catastrophe can be avoided depends solely on Americans waking up in time to correctly identify the root cause. The root cause is Putin. In all things.
This is going to embolden China, and both China and Russia are feeding the little fat man in DPRK… have a very sinking feeling your going to see China go for Taiwan. They don’t want to see how this is going to weaken us on the world stage. Bad things are coming… hate to say it.
Democrats should campaign - and ignore the other side - on Ukraine (and bringing the world together) abortion rights, democracy, gun control. The economy is the economy. While it affected every national election, these are different times. Just keep hammering away and going on the offensive. These are popular with the voters and are Democratic policies.
Trump’s anti-positions get lost in the white noise. Nothing moves the Trump poll needle. Why waste energy? Again, Democrats need to keep hammering away. A relatively small number of independent voters in battleground states will decide the election.
Putin's nihilism is certainly a central part of his strategy. And it's a huge part of his justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Whether that is the biggest treat or whether it serves to enable a more dynamic motive is a matter of interpretation, upon which we would probably differ in emphasis. But we certainly share your concern for its impact on politics, science, judgement and basic truth.
What makes it tougher for the Democrats in Congress is that these Republicans do not even seem to be motivated by the prospects of losing an election and thus losing power. They are immune to reading tea leaves, or perhaps think they can twist their way out, like they still think they deserve to have twisted their way out of losing the White House in 2020.,
And if a certain fascist gets elected again to the presidency, you can be assured he will hand Taiwan over on a platter.
Great post. Sending to all my friends.
What a public statement we voters can make if all of us who are upset with the Republican refusal to support Ukraine's war efforts are provided with one recommended non-profit entity to directly contribute money in support of Ukraine's defense. Just $5 from every voter in favor of funding Ukraine's defense would make a substantial impact in Ukraine's efforts, in addition to sending a strong clear message to our elected officials who are not doing their job. I found this one site but welcome expert input of the most effective entity to donate funds in Support of Ukraine's war efforts.https://war.ukraine.ua/donate/?__cf_chl_tk=he36dPIlhzRku0jqigVK6WesjwfE.pTPDKpJxnxm_1I-1708091082-0.0-3581
Tim Snyder on Substack has SafeSkies and Diane Francis, also on Substack just posted
another non profit for Ukraine
today.
Thank you for that comment. Presumably those are pro-Ukraine charities to which donations could be directed?
Yes! Any amount will help.
We do give.. just gave!
Thank you for both reports.. the big picture (Klein and Nelson) and Mak's view. I have been trying to keep up with what is happening in this war and upset that the Israeli- Palestinian intractable situation, Hamas-Netanyahu, took the attention away from Ukraine, the more consequential war. I believe they not completely unrelated though. Biden/Blinken were distracted. One could argue not very effective either. Putin likes it this way I am sure.
"World order" is something that needs active engagement. The UN does not do that job. We have taken over, flawed as we are. There are bad actors everywhere and they vote in the UNSecurityCouncil too. We do, and with re Israel, we are complicit in the Gaza disaster. Russia, the worst of the bad actors, is not on board for world order. Putin will point (wrongfully it can be well argued) to what we have done to give Russia permission. He'll take advantage of every weakness within our system and in the world as well. This is not a very strong Russia either.
There are analysts who would or have disagreed with Mak about stalemate re Russian aggression- and those who have cried stalemate from the beginning, "the beginning" being 2/24/2022 not 2014 (which it is). Others have been talking about waxing and waning, pluses and minuses, winning here and losing there. Now we have to *at least* keep it at stalemate.
It was OUR pumped up expectations about the Ukrainian offensive (expectations that many tried to put a lid on) that brought this disappointment. Then there's the micromanagement between the generals here and what was going on there on the ground about how to manage the war. This is my understanding. Plus add, from the beginning, Biden's fearfulness about wider war and nukes. Putin brandished nukes that had some of us shivering. Ukraine unfortunately has to depend on us and the Euros. If we were full force supplying them, Russian weakness would be more apparent. But now Ukraine's loss will be our loss.
It's most depressing that this country does not work to its own benefit, never mind the world's. That is because we are a dysfunctional democracy with a GOP party unbelievably turned to the really dark side. So this is maybe the end of an era where we could lead and be depended upon.
We deny Ukraine what it needs and then talk about Ukraine not winning. Ukrainians are people like us and they will or are losing heart after just so much relentless bombardment and now betrayal.
I did a complete 180 about the "military industrial complex" with this war. I went along disparaging it until I realized that in this real world, we need it. That is where the money is going when we support Ukraine militarily as well. The GOP, Gaetz Greene et al know this?
Wouldn't peace be nice. But to have it now (even temporarily) one needs to appease,to sacrifice other lives to it, and to be selfish to the point of being myopic.
If Biden was trying to lead the country, he would be on TV begging voters to pressure Congress to knock off the circus in the interest of saving Ukrainian lives. But that has not happened, and if it did, he would probably gaff his way through it. Still, it is better than doing nothing.
A succinct way of saying it, yes. Fearfulness of getting out there and being the butt of jokes because of the shallowness of the entertainment addicted electorate. He needs to use the bully pulpit. He can get angry.. but when he gets angry then the gaffes really flow and THAT is what reverberates... Mexico's leader.... El Sisi. (while Trump bombards us with theseBTW)
Biden should unilaterally circumvent the obstruction and get Ukraine whatever it needs..Tell Mike Johnson to fuck off!
Biden needs a weapon that is effective, not foul language.
Metaphorically Potter..Metaphorically..
yes, I mean a real threat.. like if you continue to do this I will do that and you won't like it.
Well, the Johnsons of the Congress must receive an offer they can't refuse..My problem is that Dems don't seem to have the stones to deploy a real strategy to motivate these people..But it is exactly what is necessary..
balls... threats and consequences, no polite offers no gentle coaxing. The GOP plays hardball. The Democrats play nice, softball.
Yes, that is exactly what an offer one can't refuse is..
“This presents Democrats with an opportunity. Their messaging needs to be sharper, more forceful and more respectful of the ways Americans are shaped by geopolitical events.” I hope someone who is well connected helps to get this message to the right ears. So important
Precisely why we wrote it and why we ended that way.
My heart just breaks for Ukraine and it is so angry at the Rs about this. I feel so ashamed when I interact with my new Ukrainian neighbors knowing our country has let them down.
It is sickening, horrible, and totally unnecessary. Makes you think the worst of Congressional Republicans - as if there is no bottom, below which they won't go.
"The most substantial and pressing foreign threats involve not just Putin’s revanchist imperialism, but widening wars in not one but two strategically important regions of the world — Eurasia and the Middle East.'
You failed to mention that Putin's biggest threat is his worldwide war on truth, his penetration through social media of the minds of the US (and UK) electorate and ability to exploit the distraction and chaos and worldview that Trump distributes to his MAGA followers and uses to tyrannize Republican lawmakers. Whether it's due to fear or shear evil or pure greed for power no matter what form that power involves, the state of our political discourse is on a collision course with catastrophe. Whether that catastrophe can be avoided depends solely on Americans waking up in time to correctly identify the root cause. The root cause is Putin. In all things.
This is going to embolden China, and both China and Russia are feeding the little fat man in DPRK… have a very sinking feeling your going to see China go for Taiwan. They don’t want to see how this is going to weaken us on the world stage. Bad things are coming… hate to say it.