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Wednesday, November 20. 2024

Wednesday morning links

How Scientific American's Departing Editor Helped Degrade Science


Wednesday Potpourri


Jen Rubin: It is 1933. Hitler is in power.


Jen Rubin Mad at Morning Joe Now, Too


Martin Gurri: Our Countercultural Revolution - Trump has become the definitive avatar of the revolt of the public. Will he be enough to satisfy Americans’ hunger for change?


Italy and Czech Republic Plead for Nuclear Energy


Trump may save Ukraine. Much will ultimately depend on the United States


VDH: Can Trump End Ukraine's 'Endless War'?


What Happens After Major Cuts In Government Spending? The Latest From Argentina

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 07:26 | Comments (21) | Trackbacks (0)

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Trump can neither save Ukraine nor stop the war. Russia will continue the war until all its goals are achieved. It will only negotiate unconditional surrender.

Russia's (NOT Putin's) non-negotiable demands are: regime change in Kiev, no Nazis or Banderites, and a Russia-friendly regime; demilitarization, police forces only; no NATO membership; no foreign troops on Ukrainian soil; EU membership by permission only and with conditions; transfer of Crimea and the four oblasts claimed by Russia to Russia, plus as yet unstated territories (like everything east of Dnieper plus Black Sea coast to Transnistria plus Kiev and environs.

If the US gets uppity, Russia might want back all its North American territories: Alaska plus the coast all the way down to the Russia River in northern California.
#1 bob sykes on 2024-11-20 08:55 (Reply)
OK, Vlad, we'll meet you halfway. We keep Alaska, you get ALL of California, deadbeats, border jumpers, Democrats, druggies, the works.
#1.1 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2024-11-20 10:30 (Reply)
I know you’re probably joking about California, it is way too valuable to give away. The untapped oil reserves are huge. The sea ports. A better solution would be to remove its state hood, California is failing to provide a republican form of government, and revert it to a territory. Remove the riffraff, and start over.
#1.1.1 B. Hammer on 2024-11-20 10:38 (Reply)
All joking aside, we DO need California. But that's where we remove all our riffraff TO.
#1.1.1.1 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2024-11-20 12:11 (Reply)
Ah, dear old "bob".

Tell me, "bob", what colour is the sky in your world?
#1.2 JJM on 2024-11-20 17:53 (Reply)
"Sky?" "World?" There is no sky and no world where bob is at. He's floating in outer space.
#1.2.1 James4HJ on 2024-11-20 18:59 (Reply)
If you're serious about the list of Russian (read Putin's) demands, then you're completely delusional. Russia is a dying country that is simply hastening its demise with a war that they have already strategically lost. Russia won't be negating with just Ukraine. They will also be facing NATO. Right now, 5 or 6 NATO airwings would completely collapse the Russian front lines in the space of a few weeks. And Russia's nuclear deterrence is of dubious functionality. The best Russia can hope for is keeping the territory they currently control. Ukraine will not have a pro-Russian regime, will rearm, and will have informal military alliances with numerous NATO members. Russia doesn't have to like it, but they can't do anything about it. Except die a lot faster.

The nonsense that comes out of the mouth of Russophile is astonishing. The only plausible explanation is that their heads are so far up Putin's posterior that not only can they not see anything, their brain is so oxygen starved that it can't function properly.

But hey, maybe you can explain away the fact that Russia in in the 1000th+ day of a two week "special military operation." I'll add that Russia controlled 6.5% of Ukraine when the war started. That peeked at about 25% in March or April of 22 and is now under 20%. Russia is recruiting Syrians, Africans, and North Koreans as cannon fodder. None of those facts bode well for Russia's long term prospects.
#1.3 James4HJ on 2024-11-20 18:48 (Reply)
I'm guessing you skipped the part of Putin's 3 hour press interview where he made it clear that he has no intention of invading western Ukraine. He has been very clear about his objectives from day one. His only mistake was in thinking he would have a negotiating partner once hostilities began. NATO and the west under Biden wouldn't allow it. Their single objective has been regime change in Moscow since 2014 (and probably before that to be honest).
#1.3.1 Lord Heathen on 2024-11-21 06:22 (Reply)
"His only mistake was in thinking he would have a negotiating partner once hostilities began."

Nah. His only mistake was assuming that his incompetent military was up to the task of invading Ukraine.
#1.3.1.1 JJM on 2024-11-21 12:57 (Reply)
Well, if Putin said it I guess that can't possibly not be true. Although Russia signed a treaty promising to respect the post-Soviet borders of Ukraine in exchange for them giving up their nuclear weapons. Mybe he isn't always truthful.

In fact, pretending he is truthful requires complete ignorance of Putin's objectives. He aims to extend Russian control to defensible geographic boundaries. Rather than the massive, undefendable plains Russia's boundaries currently occupy. Which requires him to occupy the eastern half of Poland, to the Vistula River (including half of Warsaw). He intends to occupy all of Ukraine on the way to occupying all of Moldovia and much of eastern Romania so that the Carpathian Mountains and the Vistula form Russia's western boundary. He would also occupy the Baltic states and might be eyeing parts of Finland.

BTW, that is the same motive he had for invading Georgia where he sought to occupy the Caucus Mountains as a defensive line against Turkey and Iran.

Occupying the eastern part of Ukraine but leaving the rest alone leaves Russia in no better a position than it was before the war but still requires them to pay the massive price they already have, and more. It makes no sense.
#1.3.1.2 James4HJ on 2024-11-21 17:49 (Reply)
The Democrats have openly come out in favor of endless illegal immigration. The governors and mayors of large Democrat run cities have stated that they refuse to deport any illegals even those committing crimes. One of the driving forces behind the Democrats desire to keep illegals and bring in more is money. Remove the money and the Democrats may be forced to reverse their agenda. The federal government should end all assistance to illegals; no food stamps, no welfare, no housing and no free health care. But they can do even more. End all payments and money transfers from the federal government to any state or city that doesn't cooperate with the crackdown on illegal immigration. Money isn't the only factor in the left embracing illegals but it it the major one. End it! Right after declaring a national emergency on this invasion end all federal aid and do both on Jan 20th.
#2 OneGuy on 2024-11-20 09:18 (Reply)
OneGuy: End all payments and money transfers from the federal government to any state or city that doesn't cooperate with the crackdown on illegal immigration.

That would be considered a violation of the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution. Under Prigg v. Pennsylvania (1842), a state can't interfere with federal enforcement, but nor can they be forced to cooperate. The finding has been repeatedly upheld, including in New York v. United States (1992) which prohibited commandeering of the state, and National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) which limited the coercive use of Congress's spending power.
#2.1 Zachriel on 2024-11-20 10:42 (Reply)
I wonder how it would work if they were removed from any future consideration. In NY the red counties are left out in cold compared to their blue county relatives.
#2.1.1 don on 2024-11-20 10:51 (Reply)
don: In NY the red counties are left out in cold compared to their blue county relatives.

If you mean consideration for new federal funding, funding has to be written so as to not discriminate by state (with some exceptions), but it is quite possible to craft language that excludes the disfavored. Remember, this is the country that enacted "race neutral" laws that prevented Blacks from voting for generations.

As for New York State, not sure what spending to which you refer, but blue counties are more populous and pay more in taxes, so that might be a factor. You might provide an example.

More generally, in the US, states have some measure of sovereignty, but counties and cities are creations of the state and have no independent sovereignty except as granted by the state. A county might pass a sanctuary bill (meaning they won't cooperate with federal immigration authorities), but only by the leave of the state government. Texas, for instance, has banned sanctuary cities within Texas.
#2.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2024-11-20 11:04 (Reply)
Governance changes dramatically if Martial law is declared. Then most government is directed by a military commander. California will quite likely be run by appointed military personnel.

See US dept of Justice Office of justice programs

https://www.ohp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/martial-law-times-civil-disorder

Sanctuary states will likely start to function under emergency law. If they continue to resist they will likely acquire a military commander under martial law. It won't be the first and likely not the last time that martial law has been declared.
#2.1.2 indyjonesouthere on 2024-11-20 12:08 (Reply)
Clear something up for me. What exactly is the alleged justification for imposing martial law? Because the federal government declaring martial law and assuming governmental control of a state sure looks like a good way for Trump to not just waste every ounce of political capital he has, but to go into a serious deficient that he could never recover from. Unless there were a massive, explicit, violent open rebellion against the federal government.

Furthermore, I voted for Trump in hopes of seeing a massive decline in the federal government's authority. I'll be dammed if I'll go along with such a massive increase in the government's power.

Do me, yourself, the political right and the country a favor. Keep you crazy, noxious thoughts that flash through your head to yourself.
#2.1.2.1 James4HJ on 2024-11-20 18:57 (Reply)
Jen Rubin should probably be institutionalized at this point. For her own safety. She is certifiably nuts.
#3 B. Hammer on 2024-11-20 10:40 (Reply)
She has company, as she is far from the only Demo claiming this.

One point that the "Trump is Hitler" crowd- remember Chimpy McBush Hitler?--may not consider is that she is simultaneously labeling Trump supporters as Hitler supporters. Result: Trump supporters increase their contempt for Demos.

They have been yelling "Trump is Hitler" for years, in an attempt to reduce support for Trump. It hasn't been a very successful tactic. On the contrary, it has solidified and increased support for Trump. People don't like being called Hitler supporters.

I doubt that the "Trump is Hitler" crowd realizes the level of dislike that Trump supporters have for them.
#3.1 Gringo on 2024-11-20 12:53 (Reply)
From the highly recommended book, The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights, by David T. Beito. A good interview of the author can be found on the podcast The History of the Americas.

QUOTE:
In 1940, a favored electoral strategy of the Roosevelt presidential campaign was to imply that the GOP was soft on the Nazi Germany threat. Democratic vice-presidential candidate Henry A. Wallace memorably proclaimed that the
"native totalitarian organizations are herding their members to vote for the man Hitler wants. .. I ask you: Is Hitler working for Roosevelt's election?" As the crowd roared "No," Wallace taunted Willkie further that, of course, the GOP candidate wanted "his Nazi support" to "be hushed up until he is elected and the bells are ringing in Berlin.


The Democrats have been calling the GOP Nazis for a long time. The sainted FDR worked overtime to have all opposition to him, his New Deal Policies and the entrance of America into what would become WWII, silenced. Roosevelt’s touting of The Four Freedoms, was utter hypocrisy. A con. Sound familiar?
#3.1.1 B. Hammer on 2024-11-20 15:28 (Reply)
Henry Wallace's calling Republicans Nazis in the 1940 campaign was apparently so common that my quote recollection is somewhat different, which must mean that I got it from a source different from yours.

Ironic that Henry Wallace then ran in 1948 under the Progressive Party ticket, which, if not dominated by Commies, had a substantial Commie influence.

Oliver Stone recently claimed that had the US done what Henry Wallace had advocated-- play nice w the Ruskies-- we would have avoided the Cold War. This is rather ironic because, prompted by the Korean War and other incidents, Henry Wallace admitted in the early 1950s that his play nice with the Ruskies stance was mistaken. ("Why I Was Wrong," Henry Wallace.)

On my to-read list: Ben Steil's book The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century/
#3.1.1.1 Gringo on 2024-11-20 18:15 (Reply)
The Democrat plan for the 15-30 million illegals is they all get to stay and you pay for their free stuff BUT if they kill or rape one of you good citizens then "maybe" we will jail or deport them. The Democrats want to give them amnesty and then the real citizens must pay with their blood and money for that traitorous act. The Democrats have made the citizens the Guinea Pigs. If the illegal commits a crime against you or your children that is how we will know they are "bad" illegal immigrants. But if they haven't been caught committing a crime against you yet then they are "good" illegal aliens and you need to pay more taxes to support them in the manner that they have become accustomed too. The Democrats hate Americans and hate America.
#4 OneGuy on 2024-11-20 17:20 (Reply)

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