Amazingly - or not so, unfortunately - what follows is not headline news at either the New York Times or the Washington Post: Yesterday, Vladimir Putin gave a public speech that Russia specialists saw as the launch of a fascist dictatorship. Continuing to defend his invasion of Ukraine, he claimed it was an existential war forRussia’s survival. He warned the West was counting on “the so-called fifth column, on national traitors,” to destroy Russia and identified those people as a culturally weak global elite who did not identify “with our people, not with Russia.” He went on to say they believe they are better than Russians and would do anything to keep their lifestyle.
I don't think Vlad The Invader is surrounded by anybody. After two to three years living in his bunker hiding from covid with just paranoia and food-tasting lackeys for company, I bet he no longer trusts his own shadow. Nobody at those rare and well-choreographed meetings will ever get within poisoned umbrella reach and any cell phones and ceremonial weapons will have been temporarily surrendered.
I heard a fascinating interview with Mary Elise Sarotte yesterday about Putin, Ukraine, the current situation. Her newest book is "Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate". What I found interesting is that Putin loves dates - he sees in them something mystical. His own birth date for instance, October 6, is a date when he will often take action on one thing or another for good or ill. I found it interesting then when reading more in Timothy Snyder's book The Road to Unfreedom, that February 24, 2014 was the attack on and annexation of Crimea, which the west did little about other than a few minor sanctions. Look her up. The interview was on Fresh Air Thursday and concerned NATO. Putin has always hated the west but he has used the west for his own purposes. He just never believed the west would land on him and Russia with the sanctions it has or that it would come to the defense of Ukraine. He also had no idea that Volodomyr Zelenskyy would rise to the pinnacle of a courageous President of Ukraine. The idea that "investors" will likely get reparations before Ukrainians is morally repugnant and proves yet again just how immoral the current capitalist economic system truly is. How do the people get some say so in how this thing works. It's causing the death of the planet and supporting Fascist and authoritarian types all over the world, all in the service of investors rather than the people directly affected. What can we do about this situation?
"Democracy may be messy and shortsighted and dysfunctional. But at least leaders face real constraints, real pushback for their miscalculations, and real criticism from their population."
The amount of unreal criticism in the US today, and its massive spread and support, suggests things have gotten far out of hand. The republican propaganda is constantly blaming the other for their own faults! - I like to be friends with different kinds of people, but that's my limit: when somebody blames me for their own shortcomings or faults, I quit.
I don't think Vlad The Invader is surrounded by anybody. After two to three years living in his bunker hiding from covid with just paranoia and food-tasting lackeys for company, I bet he no longer trusts his own shadow. Nobody at those rare and well-choreographed meetings will ever get within poisoned umbrella reach and any cell phones and ceremonial weapons will have been temporarily surrendered.
I heard a fascinating interview with Mary Elise Sarotte yesterday about Putin, Ukraine, the current situation. Her newest book is "Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of Post-Cold War Stalemate". What I found interesting is that Putin loves dates - he sees in them something mystical. His own birth date for instance, October 6, is a date when he will often take action on one thing or another for good or ill. I found it interesting then when reading more in Timothy Snyder's book The Road to Unfreedom, that February 24, 2014 was the attack on and annexation of Crimea, which the west did little about other than a few minor sanctions. Look her up. The interview was on Fresh Air Thursday and concerned NATO. Putin has always hated the west but he has used the west for his own purposes. He just never believed the west would land on him and Russia with the sanctions it has or that it would come to the defense of Ukraine. He also had no idea that Volodomyr Zelenskyy would rise to the pinnacle of a courageous President of Ukraine. The idea that "investors" will likely get reparations before Ukrainians is morally repugnant and proves yet again just how immoral the current capitalist economic system truly is. How do the people get some say so in how this thing works. It's causing the death of the planet and supporting Fascist and authoritarian types all over the world, all in the service of investors rather than the people directly affected. What can we do about this situation?
We came THAT close to a similar fate on J6.
I think Mr. Putin is preparing for a Stalin-like purge. He removed a couple of generals last night. Idk if they had a walk in the forest.
Excellent. We just need to remember that we have the tools.
"Democracy may be messy and shortsighted and dysfunctional. But at least leaders face real constraints, real pushback for their miscalculations, and real criticism from their population."
The amount of unreal criticism in the US today, and its massive spread and support, suggests things have gotten far out of hand. The republican propaganda is constantly blaming the other for their own faults! - I like to be friends with different kinds of people, but that's my limit: when somebody blames me for their own shortcomings or faults, I quit.