● The Iranians Are Coming!: The Iranian Navy is actually sending a ship to our shores. Yes, they are. According to their Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad, they are doing this to “send a message.” Seriously. What possible message could the Iranians be sending – “We are pathetic!”? These guys are dumbships. They don’t seem to realize that the message their little show of farce shows is just how overmatched they are. This is the sort of thing that not only exposes them as hopelessly incapable of competing with us, but also as too stupid to understand why that is. Frankly, I’m hoping they sink on the way... or get captured by pirates. That would be fitting.
● Run Joe, Run!: Slow Joe Biden got a message the other day when the latest polls showed him 61% behind Hillary. This sends an interesting double message. The message tells us that the Democrats are unified behind Hillary (though Cuomo wasn’t in the poll). At the same time, her topping out at 73% suggests that the Democratic fringe will be restless.
As an aside, the Republicans were a little closer. Paul Ryan led Jeb Bush 20% to 18% with Christie third at 13%. There is a message here too: the non-reel ‘merikan candidates total 88%. This is further proof of what I’ll talk about later this week, which is that the fringe is failing.
● Russia is Great!: Russia is trying to send a message with the Olympics. They have done their best to copy what China did with the Olympics to create a spectacle which is supposed to tell the world that Russia is a modern, powerful country... rather than a backwards land of strongmen and corruption.
Yep.
Too bad they (1) didn’t finish the hotels, (2) don't have water you can use, (3) started threatening journalists and falsely accusing them of lies when those reporters exposed problems, and (4) have been playing political games with opponents. All this does is reinforce that Russia is a sh*thole kelptocracy.
● Silence Sends A Message Too: It’s been almost two weeks since Obama’s pathetic state of the union in which he promised to make himself a dictator by Executive Order. His silence has been deafening. Once again, Obama has promised to charge out there and somethingsomething only to pretty much blow it off. We have a lazy, lazy president, folks.
Interestingly, this weekend (notice the weekend announcement to downplay it), Eric Holder announced that they will try to maximize the federal benefits given to gay couples. Wow. Let’s put this into perspective. The law already requires that from Holder. So what he just promised is to do what he was already required to do. I wonder if Obama’s followers are going to figure this one out?
● Foul Language: Obama’s new top diplomat for Europe, Victoria Nuland, was forced to apologize to the EU after being caught on tape saying “F*ck the EU” over their attempts to intervene in the Ukrainian crisis. Nice. This is after a string of embarrassment with Obama appointed-ambassadors. Obama is causing himself problems everywhere. What's the message? "I'm a danger to myself and others."
maybe we should take the Iranian navy hostage. hand over your particle accelerators or we sink all your ships :) p.s. I like it when Barrack is silent. It's the only time he isn't lying
ReplyDeleteJed, LOL! I think we should rent a couple fishing boats and go take them hostage. You know we could do it. :D
ReplyDeleteOn Obama, I'm not complaining. I just think it's funny.
Just looked it up, the "fleet" is a "destroyer and a logistic helicopter carrier".
ReplyDeleteI say we have a Carrier Strike Group swing by their "fleet" with its 2 frigates, 1 or 2 submarines, a Cruiser and SuperCarrier.
I think it would play out much like this: LINK
Kit, I think we should just race by them very quickly and knock them over with carrier's wake.
ReplyDeletePlease thank you to not reporting on suppressions of news.
ReplyDeleteDo not worry, Komrade. It eez all being lies. It eez Fotoshop and western journalist lies.
ReplyDeleteI think you meant to describe Russia as a "kleptocracy," not a "kelptocracy." Or is there some national fetish for seaweed I don't know about? :-)
ReplyDeleteAlso, as another blog pointed out, what is the deal with authoritarian/totalitarian regimes never having adequate amounts of toilet paper? That's like the best way to get your citizens agitated.
T-Rav - You beat me to it. "Kelptocracy" - sounds kinda' fishy.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone watch the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics? I got up to the beautiful 19th Century slash Homage to Dr. Zhivago and was truly afraid as to how they would depict the Russian Revolution and Stalinist takeover of Eastern Europe. I hear that the NBC commentators described "The Russian Revolution" and the decades that followed "that Pivotal Experiment"...huh?
THAT'S what it was? I thought it was the mass murder, imprisonment and torture of dissidents. and the usurpation/forced annexation of sovereign nations.
Obama is keeping a "low profile" because the Dems running for re-election in the Senate, well anywhere actually, are terrified he may come to their state and try to help campaign.
ReplyDeleteOr it is possible that someone (obviously not AG Holder) may have pointed out that perhaps Obama really does need to "consult" that seemingly archaic legislative body once referred to as "Congress" to change laws. I know, I know, Obama is a "Constitutional" """""scholar""""", (much like I am a world class master chef) and the "smartest person in the room" no matter what room he is in, but seriously.
I thought he was joking when he said that "it would be so much easier to be President of China" on his first visit there.
Bev, the ceremony kinda conflated the Bolshevik Revolution with their belated industrialization. My buddy and I were riffing on it, so we missed the commentary. I would assume that the NBC commentators were keeping with the tone of the entire show, which was to be noncontroversial.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if anybody wants to see a warts-and-all Olympic opening production, then they'd better be prepared for the next US games to offer up a dramatization of the Trail of Tears, slavery, and Jim Crow. Just sayin'
And God help the next German games.
Tryanmax - I get that and good point. Maybe it is the Polish in me that made me nervous about how they were going to portray the annexation of Poland. I would imagine that Native American cultures feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteDid they celebrate the great Jewish writers and Composers of the Soviet Union? Hey, don't forget that Germany has had their Olympics - one where Hitler actually attended and one where Jewish athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists (who, btw, who were released from incarceration in Germany a few years ago). I am thinking that maybe Germany isn't high on the list of any future Olympic games.
T-Rav, I stand by my typos! Wait, what typo? There was no typo!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that you were offended by the typo attributed to me. :D
P.S. Kelp is good for you.
Also, I have NO idea why they can't produce toilet paper. Maybe Marx was anti-toilet?
ReplyDeleteBev, That's a lot of quotation marks... and well used! The only way our Constitutional Scholar of a President has ever read the Constitution is if someone put it on a teleprompter for him to read. And even then, he was just pronouncing the words: "Weee feyend these trooths to B selfies..."
ReplyDeletetryanmax and Bev, I watched some of the opening ceremonies, but gave up during the parade of jackasses. I'm told there was better yet to come, but I had other things to watch.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are right about what NBC said, and my immediate comment was, "Pivotal? Don't you mean, resulted in the murder and enslavement of hundred of millions or people?" Jerks.
Also, Poland had it coming... being so innocent and rich and easy to conquer.
I couldn't tell you, Bev. They didn't really highlight any individuals, and the music was all by dead composers. Lest anyone be too hard on the commentators, they did point out that the segment on the Soviet era was "highly idealized."
ReplyDeleteActually, I did a little googling on the "pivotal experiment" bit. It looks like the entire right wing has determined to jump all over it in a race to see who can be the most outraged. Understated though it may be, it's not a false description. It's far short of a glorification of Marxist-Leninist totalitarianism, as one Fox News writer asserts.
It's not even an accurate quote. The video (not part of the opening ceremony) refers to the revolution as "one of modern history's pivotal experiments" as part of a broader attempt to capture the whole of Russian history in a few short sentences.
While everyone mostly agrees that Russia isn't at the forefront of human rights, the right's reaction to this bit of soft-peddling on an occasion most appropriate for soft-peddling reeks of an anachronistic Cold War obsession.
They probably can't produce toilet paper in much the same way they can't produce stalls for the public bathrooms. I really think they have "potty training issues". Someone call Dr. Spock, or Dr. Suess, or that Super Nanny from that reality show, and get this sorted out immediately!
ReplyDeleteFor the love that people like Pat Buchanan suddenly have for Putin, I'm surprised they jumped on it at all. After all, Stalin did rid Russia of the gays.
ReplyDeleteBev, Perhaps it's because under a socialist system, no one has reason to give a shi... uh, to worry about such things.
ReplyDeleteAndrew - Having observed former Soviet/Russian immigrants, it is amazing how adept they can be at gaming the government system. They know every rule by heart and have a "workaround" for each one.
ReplyDeleteI think the Nuland expletive is actually pretty interesting. It was probably released by the Russians WHO WERE LISTENING IN ON THEIR PHONE CONVERSATION. (I'm looking at you Snowden). Apparently, the Ukrainians liked it because the EU has been a bunch of p*ssies with regard to their whole political issue. Her reaction was in response to someone recommending the EU broker a peace deal between the two groups in the Ukraine and Russia. I think her response was actually appropriate and may be the best thing to have come out of a Obama official's mouth.
ReplyDeleteKoshcat - Considering how we have treated Poland and our other eastern European allies, and how Obama pandered to Russia early, I wouldn't be so quick to call it "appropriate". This is one more notch in the every loosening diplomatic influence of the US. Now we have a diplomat who has actually openly scorned the EU, our once strongest ally group. In other words, we are no longer a threat to anyone because it is common knowledge (by actions) that our President will do nothing but talk. So without the assurances from Washington that we have their back, and why would the EU do ANYTHING. We demilitarized most of Europe with the promise that we have their back. And we are not just talking about making fun of the French for being prone to early surrender. We have insulted ALL of our European allies...
ReplyDeleteBev, The West Virginians are the same way. They know the rules of the criminal justice system and the welfare system better than 99.9% of all lawyers and they have workarounds for any roadblock.
ReplyDeleteKoshcat, I find three things interesting about it.
ReplyDelete1. This shows that even the Democrats hold the EU's "soft power" in contempt.
2. This is the sort of thing that might get the Europeans to realize that they need to start get tougher.
3. This and the spying thing and all the rest may finally get the Europeans to wake up fully from the Hopium they took in 2008.
Bev, Obama doesn't need allies.
ReplyDeleteAlso, let me add that this further exposes that Obama's foreign policy is Bush's foreign policy only without the public proclamations about going it alone.
ReplyDeleteBev -
ReplyDeleteI am going to disagree with you here. Understanding that what you stated about Poland and Eastern Europe is true and you probably know by now I am not a fan of our president (small "p" purposeful), this whole issue is primarily a EU one. Since Yanukovich turned his back on closer EU ties to buddy up to his pal Putin, the EU has taken a very soft stance. It may have been inappropriate to say something like this in public, but it wasn't in public. It was a private phone conversation with another US Ambassador.
By the way, part of the reason our idiot-in-chief turned his back on Poland and others was because of EU pressure. The EU is afraid of angering Russia and having their heating oil cut off. The EU is a joke and should be disbanded. They have no teeth to support a tough stance without a cohesive military; and they know it. Problem is they can't afford a decent military. Maybe 50 years under soviet rule might help bring them around.
You know Andrew - I would much rather have a President proclaim that we will go it alone with clarity and conviction than to have a fool draw a fake line in the sand and go "Oopsie, did I put it there? I meant to put it waaaaaaaaay over there" and back down. You cannot negotiate from perceived or real weakness. Didn't we learn that from Carter?
ReplyDeleteOne can threaten force, but if one is not willing to follow through, you are a paper tiger with no claws.
re Ukraine. This is a bit complex but it will take some time to unravel.
ReplyDeleteFirst, here is the audio (Obviously contains some profanity)
LINK
And here is the Transcript:
LINK
Now, background:
Ukraine is very important to Russia's security interest and throughout history when Russia loses control over the Ukraine things go very, very bad for Russia (more than usual). And since the Cold War Russia has had a slow and steady loss of control over Europe with the Baltic states and Poland joining NATO. Sinc the end of the Cold War Ukraine has yet to join NATO though it has flirted with the possibility its really been tugged in both ways, never going too far in one direction. Electing a pro-Western president in the the 2004-2005 Orange Revolution and more recently a pro-Russian one (long story).
Now, if Ukraine were to go to the west by joining either the EU or NATO, joining one would inevitably lead to joining the other) then Russia would freak out in ways that would make America's much earlier freak out over the 1959 Cuban Revolution seem restrained and laid-back.
The recent problems began when the Pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych suspended talks with the EU for a trade association agreement and instead began moving economically closer to Russia. Pro-westerners in the Ukraine went ballistic and took to the streets in a series of protests called the "Euromaidan" that are getting more and more violent.
Footage here: LINK
Bev, I agree. And don't get me wrong, I think Obama is a fool. He's repeating all of Bush's mistakes and making some major new ones. He hasn't learned a thing from anyone.
ReplyDeleteI will say, however, that foreigners challenge Obama at their peril. He's a whiny little pud who will cringe and flail around like a cowardly nerd, but he lashes out when he feels like his manhood has been attacked. And when he does, he send the military to do it. We have an emotional foreign policy now. That makes us dangerous.
Kit, The Russians seem to think that the Ukraine is part of them, just like Americans think Canada is ours... which it is.
ReplyDeleteGood summary, Kit.
ReplyDeleteA economically and politically secure Ukraine who has open trading with Russia and the EU would be in everyone's best interest.
Andrew-
ReplyDeleteThis idea that Bush was a cowboy who would go it alone is a leftist fantasy. He actually would meet with foreign leaders routinely. He was always publicly gracious and complementary (without the prostrations). Obama is trying to continue Bush's policies (because many of them were effective) but he is failing because he doesn't understand it and apply it effectively.
Some points re the tape.
ReplyDelete-The EU prefers a "super-soft power" approach to Russia and Ukraine (they are scared of angering Moscow) while the US prefers a more hardline approach.
-Russia has been accused of meddling in Ukraine's internal politics, which Putin has more or less admitted when he said "Russia should be involved in Ukraine's internal affairs".
-We have been stating adamantly that we have not been "meddling" in Ukraine's internal affairs. This video proves that we are. Which is about as surprising as the sun coming up.
-The "F*ck the EU" part came when they were discussing what I think is a possible coalition government in Ukraine between the Pro-Russian leaders and the pro-Western opposition leaders. She was talking about bringing the UN and Joe Biden into the Ukraine. Her "F--k the EU" comment to me seems to imply they are cutting the EU out of the negotiations.
-Leaking communications you've intercepted is pretty dirty in the already very dirty realm of foreign policy.
Here is a repost of the two links.
Audio on youtube (again, NSFW warning):
LINK
Transcript on BBC:
LINK
Koshcat, Like many fake conservatives before him, Bush gave us the worst of both worlds. He would not act alone, preferring instead to rely on foreign group hugs to handle thing and doing things like allowing US troops to be put under foreign command. BUT he simultaneously used rhetoric that angered everyone outside the right because he it said we will not only go it alone, we would punish those who didn't join us and we were looking for places to act preemptively. Basically, he came across like a far-right nut, but then acted like a typical center-leftist.
ReplyDeleteIt reminded me of Newt a lot. When Newt was speaker, he would constantly put his foot in his mouth because he lacked the judgment to know what to say and what not to say and when all was said and done he wanted to be loved too much. Hence, the Democrats would propose something stupid like giving $50 to every old person. Newt would come out and sh*t all over the idea and in the process he would say things like "we should let old people starve." This would turn everyone against conservatives, but the troops would line up behind Newt, only to learn that he was at another press conference promising to give $100 instead. So the Democrats got their policy AND they got Newt spewing horrible PR. Bush was cut from the same cloth... talk far right, act left.
And yet, somehow, that's what the far right would prefer rather than the other way 'round.
ReplyDelete"...comment to me seems to imply they are cutting the EU out of the negotiations...."
ReplyDeleteAnd why would we have any reason to cut out the EU from negotiations on their own continent that directly effects them? Don't get me wrong, I think the EU is about as ineffectual as a ruling body as there was one and frankly will soon dissolve. [Maybe I just answered my own question] But that dissolution of the EU will probably most resemble pre-EU - separating back into their respective borders with their respective governments intact and their respective economies in shambles.
They probably take the "super-soft power" stance because causing third transcontinental European war in less than 100 years would look bad. Except for that little blip with the Balkans in the '90's, it really has been fairly peaceful in Continental Europe for the last 70 years or so.
"She was talking about bringing the UN and Joe Biden into the Ukraine."
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that we will be trading Biden for something? I hear those dolls that sit inside of other dolls that sit inside another doll are popular. Can we get some in trade for them to keep Biden? Maybe a case or two...they can sell them at Smithsonian gift shop.
Thanks for the link, Kit. I really don't see the big deal. I agree with your summary except I'm not sure if they are cutting the EU out or just not waiting for them to sh*t or get off the pot. Based on historical context I suspect it is the latter. Everything else sounds like typical political posturing. At least it looks like they are trying to do something rather than ignore and hope it goes ok. Like what they did in Iran.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...Trading Biden for Snowden and a spy to be named later?
ReplyDeleteI'll take it!
Bev,
ReplyDeleteSomething to remember in this wacky scenario. The US wants Ukraine to join the EU, or at least sign a free trade agreement with the EU.
Because doing so brings them closer to the West and possible NATO membership, which would be a HUGE blow to Russia.
Bev, That's what the Germans WANT you to believe!
ReplyDeleteGuys, guys, stop fantasizing about trading Biden for someone. Biden isn't worth anything, You need to add to your offer if you want him taken off your hands.
ReplyDeleteIf he isn't worth anything, why do we have to pay for security?
ReplyDeleteHow about a nice houseplant? Perhaps a fern for Biden?
By the way, here is a blog piece about those two Iranian ships.
ReplyDeleteLINK
Oh, btw, Obama has just extended the Employer insurance mandate to 2016 for companies with 50-100 employees. He REALLY doesn't want that bumping up against the midterm elections, does he? And he must think that having it bump up against the 2016 elections will be better somehow...
ReplyDeleteBev, The Boiler Room Elves will be pleased. They have about 85 illegals stoking the boi... uh, they comply with all employment laws.
ReplyDelete:...You need to add to your offer if you want [Biden] taken off your hands."
ReplyDeleteHmmm, how about a potted fern (any size), an American Grizzly bear (any size) and two three-day passes to any Disney theme park anywhere in the world...except Paris because that didn't work out so well in the '40's. Oh, wait, we want THEM to pay us? Hmmm, that's going to be harder...
Kit, I heard that one is called the ISS Inking. And the other is oddly called the Mohamedcantswim.
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, we've sunk one of them before during the Persian Gulf naval clashes in the late-1980s.
"Join the Navy of Islam... see the bottom of the ocean twice."
ReplyDeleteBev, Nice touch on adding the Grizzly! :)
ReplyDeleteOne INXS fan to another, a theme song for the Obama Administration: "Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)."
ReplyDeleteEric, Team Obama strikes me more as a Depeche Mode administration. Wants to be "Personal Jesus," but ends up "Strangelove."
ReplyDelete... or perhaps "Black Celebration", and no, that's not about race.
ReplyDeleteThe only strategic plan Iran would have to deploy these ships to the US is to hope for a confrontation that leads to war.
ReplyDeleteKoshcat, True. Unless there is some cache in touching our water and then running away... like children daring each other to touch the front door of a haunted house.
ReplyDeleteIn the end though, we're not going to let anything happen and they have no ability to force something like that because they can't get close to us. The most likely result is that they come here, waste sometime, touch our haunted door, and race home to brag about how brave they are.
Alternatively, they start sinking and our navy saves them, creating the ultimate humiliation that the Great Iranian Fleet needed to be saved by the Great Satan... who then fed the children of Islam ice cream, patted them on the head and flew them home in coach.
Actually, our Navy could "tow" them back to Iran. It would really look great to have a their tiny "destroyer" being tugged along by USS Reagan...makes me laugh just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteThat would be hilarious.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for sure this, this reaction we are having is not the one the Iranians were hoping for with their "message."
Even better, if it gets into US waters have the Coast Guard confiscate it and declare it un-seaworthy then fly the sailors home.
ReplyDeleteCue up Nine Inch Nails' "Wish" and you pretty much have the Prez in under four minutes.
ReplyDelete"Did you hear that the new French Navy ships have glass bottom boats? Why, you ask? Why, so they can see the old French Navy, of course!"
ReplyDeleteI heard this joke about ten years ago and thought it was appropriate for the discussion.
On the Olympics, I was out with a friend at a sports restaurant for the opening ceremonies. No NBC audio. (The Pens were playing.) We riffed it a lot, but it seemed fairly enjoyable. (Funny how many European counties are only relevant during the Olympic's Parade of Nations these days. On that note, thank you, Bermuda, for helping me win a bet. I knew you'd where your trademark shorts!) The first two parts were straight out of Russian fairy tales and the writings of Tolstoy (thankfully NOT Doestoyevsky). To be sure, we were shocked how blatant they admitted the Soviet period, going from 'Taking it to the Streets' to the wonderful world of conformity. The rest was good. And having Vladislav Tretiak- likely the best goaltender in history- light the torch was the right call.
So, I didn't get to hear the ravings of Matt ("God, I'm in love with my self-righteous voice"), Meredith (rumors that- since she's only dug up and unearthed for big events- she's related to the Crypt Keeper are still under investigation), Bob (where's Vince McMahon to put the hot-headed little runt in his place- and in a sleeper hold- when we need him?), and Chris F****** Collinsworth (he played for the Bengals! Since when does THAT warrant this kind of a post-playing career?!). Only later did I hear that social media basically erupted over their p***-poor commentary.
And tryanmax, Germany's already had their "We're Sorry" Games- Munich, 1972. Known for terrorists murdering Israeli athletes, the US getting screwed out of the gold in basketball, and East Germany being embarrassed when attention on the Iron Curtain showed what a prison the Wall made East Berlin look like.
Bev, the EU will not dissolve, alas. It is too convenient for the ruling class. Want to shove an unpopular law down people´s throats? Hide behind Brussels. Want an even better paid second career? Go to Brussels. Against these incentives, democracy is powerless. Apart from UKIP, I don´t know any real anti-EU parties that attracts significant support. All the mainstream parties have been co-opted. And one result of having internal open borders is that the "demos" part of democracy becomes meaningless.
ReplyDeleteI don´t consider the EU allies and I don´t think they give a damn about Ukraine. If Russia annexed the baltic republics tomorrow, I don´t think the EU would move a finger. If Russia marched into Poland, France would ask them to stop at the German border. That´s all. They have no real armies and no one who is willing to die.