left field

Take a look at that twitter thread I posted earlier. The guy makes a convincing argument (as near as I can tell) that Putin and the Russian forces are highly overrated and that the Ukrainians learned their lesson from Crimea.

I tell you who we need to diffuse all this ... Giorgy!

Me too! But that's why I think I should be the lead so he has an out when things get really bad.

I'm not sure about the intricacies of this but isn't Trump sitting on a pile of dough that would have to go to the R candidate? Good luck with that. Crappyice/Left Field 2024 or Left Field/Crappyice 2024

Trump vs. Obama would be interesting for the lols. I would love to watch Trump lose his mind. Biden Biden Biden ... what does he do? He was only ever going to be a one-term president but unless Harris personally saves a hundred children from a burning orphanage, there's no way she can win. Yet, Biden can't not endorse her as that would question his judgement and throw the whole thing into chaos. Time for a viable third party of non-batshit crazy people. To dream the impossible dream.

Does Trump have the "discipline" to lay off and endorse DeSantis? Maybe depends on who's running as a Dem. I doubt Biden will. Fantasy time ... DeSantis vs. M. Obama. Who wins?

First off, "sugar on scat" is a great expression and if you don't mind I'm going to steal it. Everyone realizes that Trump lost because of Trump. But the bigger question is, why would he act like that when it's obviously hurting? Christie summed it up early in 2015 - Trump swings at every pitch. He can't lay off and let an obvious high-and-outside ball go by. That may be an okay strategy in some lines of work, but not in a President where a degree of self-discipline is necessary. It took me years to learn this in meetings ... present and then stop talking.

They have uniforms. I miss old Russian TV.

I'm an idiot. Five. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/arts/wordle-strategies.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20220228&instance_id=54454&nl=the-morning&regi_id=61969181&segment_id=84186&te=1&user_id=1d41616ec25a391e8f7ad1286588f090

It seems I need to learn to write "if you" less times.

Here is some interesting analysis and background on Putin's ability to wage war.

As I gather in talking to people over the years, the Russians take an attitude of, "screw it" when it comes to politicians and their control over their lives. They recognize that they will never win. Considering their history, that makes sense. Generally, things under Putin have been good for the average guy. They are making more money, travelling, sending their kids to foreign schools, and there is political stability as long as you stay in your lane. They won't remove him as things stand currently. However, when you consider how people here react when the price of gas goes up 20% - civil war - then you have to consider that affecting the average guy's wallet may very well change things. Whether that will pressure the elite remains to be seen. Puting wields a lot of control and I don't think it's due to his charming personality. The problem is who moves into that office. Better than Putin? Worse? The tyrant you know or the one you don't? Coups are ugly at best and lead to massive instability. Coups in nuclear nations ... Read the article I posted.

Someone gave me my druthers once. Didn't live up to the hype.

Sure, it's political posturing. Still ...

Six. I may be getting worse at this.

Let's hope this gets diffused. Putin has ordered his nuclear command on special alert or something of that nature. I doubt he would order a launch as it would ensure the complete destruction of Russia, but who knows? He hasn't used the thermobaric bombs yet which is a good sign, though they have been seen on transports. While there are many pics of brave Ukrainians fighting, let's not forget that reality of civilians pressed into war.

I blame those damn supermarket check-out signs that read: 12 items or Less. "Fewer" means not as many. "Less" means not as much. Basically, if you If you can count it, use "fewer."

Fewer.

Claptrap is a great word.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-02-28/what-energy-dependence-the-u-s-still-needs-russian-oil-and-middle-east-peace

Trump threatened to withdraw from NATO his entire term. Denigrated the organization at every opportunity. He put Kushner in charge who didn't know what NATO did or what article 5 was. Remember that, north, while you were "Trump's da man" Kushner was running your life. New book: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-nato-south-korea-book-b1883457.html?amp Now, Trump speaking before thinking is not unusual. Trump not understanding what he is saying is also not that unexpected. But you have to look beyond that and look at his character. Put the Putin from that video I posted alone with Trump. Remember that Trump aspires to be perceived as strong, in no small part due to his father considering him weak and his need for approval. I think that calm and coherent Putin would be very compelling and persuasive with Trump.

Here's a more serious look at the civilian fighters. ‘Everybody in Our Country Needs to Defend’ Civilian volunteers and paramilitary groups are taking the fight to the Russian army in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. This is interesting. Putin explains his actions in, as near as I can tell, late December. He's articulate and reasonable. Two things come to mind. One is the total support he has in the comments which makes me think they are Russian bots and two, (sorry Phade) how influential this would be to Trump when they spoke privately, who, it seems, based on new reporting said that he would withdraw from NATO in his second term.

I agree with Phade. It would be helpful if this was more focused on the topic. I, for one, am paying attention to the people on the streets who are doing what they can. Big and small

For those interested, here's a profile on Zelensky. Against all odds, some people rise to the occasion. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59667938

Russia isn't a communist country but okay. This is pure speculation but Putin may have seriously miscalculated based on how easily he took Crimea. It seems that the international call for sanctions is increasing - including SWIFT - Germany may be sending weapons, Western airlines are suspended flights and former allies are turning their backs. As I suggested earlier, the ruble is crashing and it is beginning to affect Russians on the street with prices going up. If things get seriously bad, I hope there's a backdoor he can use the keep a little fake dignity. I shudder to think of the possibility of a Putin with no options but one. The next few days will be telling. This seems staged but I'll take it. Former Miss Grand Ukraine: