Politics Thread

[xuphan]

I don't know that reducing the absolute amount of the debt matters. I think we just want to keep it to a lower percentage of GDP.

It's hard to get one's head around how the federal government operates and those huge numbers.

Maybe part of the problem are bills that are 1000s pages in length which is hard for anyone to thoroughly read and what I am sure has wasteful spending sneaked into it. DidnÂ’t BidenÂ’s infrastructure bill set aside money for all sorts of wasteful spending like giving millions to racetracks?

[ArizonaXUGrad]

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces that $20 billion in taxpayer funds were just discovered, laundered into in external financial institutions managed by agents of the Biden Admin to finance left wing NGOs.

“$7 billion was sent to an entity called the Climate United Fund.”

But Zeldin has now clawed back the money and referred the case to the Department of Justice. Boom.

https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1889850987520696554

Number one, Benny Johnson received a lot of money from the Russian funded Tenet Media company. Take what he says with a grain of salt or toss it in the trash where he belongs.

That 20M was funded to hand out clean energy grants recipients in distressed communities being a focus. This is not a slush fund, it was NOT just discovered, it was a fund that was well discussed in Congress and the public back in 2022. Jesus, your post is at best ill informed and worst stupid.

Look, I was actually a government auditor working for a state legislature for a while, then at a private small firm a contract auditor for governmental agencies. I audited the recipients of these type of grants. It might shock you, if you receive federal grant money like this you are required to get an annual audit or have the this revenue stream a focus of an already yearly audit.

XU_Lou stop and get help if you continue to listen to Benny Johnson. The guy is a fool.

[xuphan]

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1890174548902892014

Anyone living in Ohio see this? Wonder how this will be enforced?

[Xville]

https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1890174548902892014

Anyone living in Ohio see this? Wonder how this will be enforced?

Ha I saw that yesterday...I thought I was reading some kind of satire or something from the onion. I can't believe this is reality.

[noteggs]

Bet there a lot men around Ohio “relieved” about one of the exceptions? Too bad tho, could’ve been a huge money grab for the state.

[GoMuskies]

I'll give them points for creativity. Now, the obvious sarcastic response to this sarcastic bill would be to propose an amendment removing the LGBTQ exception given that men can now get pregnant and lesbians can impregnate other women.

[XU_Lou]

Number one, Benny Johnson received a lot of money from the Russian funded Tenet Media company. Take what he says with a grain of salt or toss it in the trash where he belongs.

That 20M was funded to hand out clean energy grants recipients in distressed communities being a focus. This is not a slush fund, it was NOT just discovered, it was a fund that was well discussed in Congress and the public back in 2022. Jesus, your post is at best ill informed and worst stupid.

Look, I was actually a government auditor working for a state legislature for a while, then at a private small firm a contract auditor for governmental agencies. I audited the recipients of these type of grants. It might shock you, if you receive federal grant money like this you are required to get an annual audit or have the this revenue stream a focus of an already yearly audit.

XU_Lou stop and get help if you continue to listen to Benny Johnson. The guy is a fool.

AZ - you continue to beclown yourself on this thread. Benny didn't say it, Lee Zeldin said it. If you opened up the damn link first, and not your mouth, you wouldn't look like an idiot right now.

[Xville]

AZ - you continue to beclown yourself on this thread. Benny didn't say it, Lee Zeldin said it. If you opened up the damn link first, and not your mouth, you wouldn't look like an idiot right now.

The funny part is that you are arguing about who said what, not the actual content of his post. Reason why? 1.) You have no clue because you only digest stuff from one side of the political aisle, and take it as 100% gospel. 2.) You're scared AZ might actually be right. Ruh roh

[XU_Lou]

The funny part is that you are arguing about who said what, not the actual content of his post. Reason why? 1.) You have no clue because you only digest stuff from one side of the political aisle, and take it as 100% gospel. 2.) You're scared AZ might actually be right. Ruh roh

Actually, it is YOU and AZ that are the ones arguing about who said what. LOL!!! That is, in fact, your M.O.

I guess critical thinking isn't taught in Mizzou...

[Xville]

Actually, it is YOU and AZ that are the ones arguing about who said what. LOL!!! That is, in fact, your M.O.

I guess critical thinking isn't taught in Mizzou...

So, would you like to dispute anything in the actual post of az, or ? No, yeah I thought so.

Your m.o. is gobbling up whatever you can from one side and believing it 100%. You’re a cults’ dream.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

AZ - you continue to beclown yourself on this thread. Benny didn't say it, Lee Zeldin said it. If you opened up the damn link first, and not your mouth, you wouldn't look like an idiot right now.

Posted by Benny Johnson and that doesn't save Lee Zeldin from being just as stupid. Beclown? Come back to me when you understand the federal grant system and it's audit requirements. To say he just "discovered" the money is dishonest or really an outright lie. Federal grants have applications, distributions, and audits of use, I know this because I actually audited these (a great many here in this state). I did it both as a contractor of and as an employee of the state legislature.

If Zeldin or that buffoon Johnson come out and say that audits were somehow illegitimate or fraudulent that is one thing entirely, but they aren't saying that. They are saying it was just discovered like it was nefarious in some way. Easier to score political points with their comment rather than doing actual work to determine whether the funds were correctly disbursed and used by reviewing applicable audit papers.

[XU_Lou]

Number one, Benny Johnson received a lot of money from the Russian funded Tenet Media company. Take what he says with a grain of salt or toss it in the trash where he belongs.

That 20M was funded to hand out clean energy grants recipients in distressed communities being a focus. This is not a slush fund, it was NOT just discovered, it was a fund that was well discussed in Congress and the public back in 2022. Jesus, your post is at best ill informed and worst stupid.

Look, I was actually a government auditor working for a state legislature for a while, then at a private small firm a contract auditor for governmental agencies. I audited the recipients of these type of grants. It might shock you, if you receive federal grant money like this you are required to get an annual audit or have the this revenue stream a focus of an already yearly audit.

XU_Lou stop and get help if you continue to listen to Benny Johnson. The guy is a fool.


So, would you like to dispute anything in the actual post of az, or ? No, yeah I thought so.

Your m.o. is gobbling up whatever you can from one side and believing it 100%. You’re a cults’ dream.

AZ - I can understand how this could so easily go over the head of a dimwitted hilljack from Missouri, but do you realize you just threw an entire occupational profession under the bus?

There are billions and billions of dollars of corruption being exposed every day now. How in the hell did all of you auditors miss these over the last several decades?

Not properly trained?

Maybe many of you are on the take as well?

[Xville]

AZ - I can understand how this could so easily go over the head of a dimwitted hilljack from Missouri, but do you realize you just threw an entire occupational profession under the bus?

There are billions and billions of dollars of corruption being exposed every day now. How in the hell did all of you auditors miss these over the last several decades?

Not properly trained?

Maybe many of you are on the take as well?

The constant personal attacks really says a lot about you winning the argument. And making fun of where I’m from? That’s interesting.

The way you consistently twist reality and deny facts is certainly impressive.


Here again I’ll remind and try to help you. Before posting links, digest the other side a bit and use some critical thinking skills before just believing whatever a politician is telling you. It would do you a lot of good, and maybe you’ll learn something.

[XU_Lou]

“It was an insurance policy against Trump winning.”

“Get the money out as fast as possible before they [Trump Administration] come in ... it’s like we’re on the Titanic and we’re throwing gold bars off the edge.”

https://x.com/Project_Veritas/status/1863960384513753213



“Roughly twenty billion of your tax dollars were parked at an outside financial institution by the Biden EPA. This scheme was the first of its kind in EPA history and it was purposefully designed to obligate all of the money in a rush job with reduced oversight,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Two months ago, a video circulated on social media featuring a Biden EPA political appointee talking about “tossing gold bars off the titanic,” intentionally rushing to get billions of tax dollars recklessly out of the agency before Inauguration Day.

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-zeldin-announces-billions-dollars-worth-gold-bars-have-been-located

[Xville]

“It was an insurance policy against Trump winning.”

“Get the money out as fast as possible before they [Trump Administration] come in ... it’s like we’re on the Titanic and we’re throwing gold bars off the edge.”

https://x.com/Project_Veritas/status/1863960384513753213



“Roughly twenty billion of your tax dollars were parked at an outside financial institution by the Biden EPA. This scheme was the first of its kind in EPA history and it was purposefully designed to obligate all of the money in a rush job with reduced oversight,” said Administrator Zeldin.

Two months ago, a video circulated on social media featuring a Biden EPA political appointee talking about “tossing gold bars off the titanic,” intentionally rushing to get billions of tax dollars recklessly out of the agency before Inauguration Day.

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/administrator-zeldin-announces-billions-dollars-worth-gold-bars-have-been-located

yes, we know lou. You posted the video already. None of this is new information and does zero for your argument.

[XU_Lou]

yes, we know lou. You posted the video already. None of this is new information and does zero for your argument.

LOL!!! You sure about that? I mean, are you really sure about that?

[XU_Lou]

Dimwitted.... Oh yea, apropos....

[Xville]

LOL!!! You sure about that? I mean, are you really sure about that?

Yes Lou. Did you forget you posted a link from your favorite Benny Johnson with the video in which one of your golden calves talks about this? None of what you just posted furthers your argument, it’s just regurgitating your own crap.

You got fooled, yet again because you do zero research outside of your silo, and now you’re just doubling down. It’s embarrassing.

[waggy]

Worth a listen..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOHkzP13U6Y

[paulxu]

There are idiots...and then there are idiots.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/climate/nuclear-nnsa-firings-trump/index.html

[Muskie in dayton]

There are idiots...and then there are idiots.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/climate/nuclear-nnsa-firings-trump/index.html
And you are both if you believe anything from CNN.

[Muskie in dayton]

Trump’s net approval rating +10. Support from blacks has almost doubled since the election (42% approval), and support from younger voters is also up double digits. Get on board or get run over.

[paulxu]

And you are both if you believe anything from CNN.

Seriously? If you didn't see it on Fox it didn't really happen?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/dismissed-nuclear-bomb-specialists-recalled-230818657.html

[Muskie in dayton]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/opinion/god-atheism-good-evil.html
The left hates God, for government is their deity.

[Muskie in dayton]

Seriously? If you didn't see it on Fox it didn't really happen?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/dismissed-nuclear-bomb-specialists-recalled-230818657.html
Seriously. You are so simple minded.

I don’t watch Fox, but I know if it’s on CNN and their replicates, it is a lie.

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tC_5ryXY7U

[paulxu]

Perhaps this will help you understand how you can be fooled. Then again, maybe not.

https://wapo.st/4gJwGID

[XU_Lou]

Pravda Paul

[paulxu]

Guess not.

[paulxu]

The incompetence is stunning:

First, they push through an announcement that 2200 employees would be fired from the Indian Health Service, removing doctors & nurses from our poorest citizens.
Then they reduced it to 950 layoffs.
Now it’s zero

https://ictnews.org/news/rfk-jr-rescinds-indian-health-service-layoffs

[xuphan]

The incompetence is stunning:

First, they push through an announcement that 2200 employees would be fired from the Indian Health Service, removing doctors & nurses from our poorest citizens.
Then they reduced it to 950 layoffs.
Now it’s zero

https://ictnews.org/news/rfk-jr-rescinds-indian-health-service-layoffs

I see Trump has visited the Super Bowl and now the Daytona 500. I was curious how much it cost overall for him to attend these events. I can’t imagine it is cheap.

[XU_Lou]

Who knew? Free speech apparently caused the Holocaust - at least according to the lunatics in leftist media.

[GoMuskies]

Strictly hypothetical question of Constitutional Procedure...

If a judge/court makes a ruling, and members of the Executive Branch just ignore it, then what??

Bloomberg Law has an article out about this now. But it's paywalled. Sorry!

[xubrew]

Bloomberg Law has an article out about this now. But it's paywalled. Sorry!

Care to summarize it in a sentence or two?

I’m not trying to make a point or to partake in the political football pissing match that’s going on here. I honestly just didn’t know the answer and couldn’t find the answer.

[GoMuskies]

I can't. Because it's paywalled. And I don't have a subscription.

But here's the link. Seems right on point to what you were asking. Probably. If I could read it. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-02-14/what-happens-if-trump-defies-the-supreme-court

[GoMuskies]

Haven't read this one yet from The New Yorker. But also addressing exactly what you're asking. As long as you read it with the publication's liberal bias in mind it will likely do a good job of answering your question.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/what-happens-if-trump-defies-the-courts

Oops, settled in to read it and realized that one's paywalled, too!

[xubrew]

I can't. Because it's paywalled. And I don't have a subscription.

But here's the link. Seems right on point to what you were asking. Probably. If I could read it. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-02-14/what-happens-if-trump-defies-the-supreme-court

Thank you! If you sign up you get one free article, so I was able to read it. And, it did answer the question.

The answer is that there is no recourse. There are only a few instances in history where a President has not complied with a court's ruling, and each time nothing was done to make them obey it. It really hasn't happened since the Civil War, but if it were to happen, there is no mechanism to enforce the ruling. It would result in a Constitutional Crisis.

That's the answer.

[Xville]

Thank you! If you sign up you get one free article, so I was able to read it. And, it did answer the question.

The answer is that there is no recourse. There are only a few instances in history where a President has not complied with a court's ruling, and each time nothing was done to make them obey it. It really hasn't happened since the Civil War, but if it were to happen, there is no mechanism to enforce the ruling. It would result in a Constitutional Crisis.

That's the answer.

Yikes. That’s a little unsettling tbh.

[GoMuskies]

Thank you! If you sign up you get one free article, so I was able to read it. And, it did answer the question.

The answer is that there is no recourse. There are only a few instances in history where a President has not complied with a court's ruling, and each time nothing was done to make them obey it. It really hasn't happened since the Civil War, but if it were to happen, there is no mechanism to enforce the ruling. It would result in a Constitutional Crisis.

That's the answer.

That makes sense. Because do you expect the Supreme Court to have its own police force and military to force the executive branch to follow its rulings?

[paulxu]

It would seem our system does provide a remedy...impeachment.

[Xville]

It would seem our system does provide a remedy...impeachment.

not really. Not when there is a republican congress.

[hoopster68]

Is the report that the Muskrats are seeking info from the IRS accurate? What type of info do they want? If this is accurate how can any American agree with it? The data held by the IRS since 1916 has never been divulged to outsiders. . .or am I incorrect? How can the Trumpster permit this? Where are the Rethuglicans as this is taking place? Is this a constitutional crisis or a coup? If you voted for the Trumpster is this what you voted for: if you own or are a partner in a small biz, are your tax records soon to be posted on X? Are all of your deductions open for the world to see? This is scary stuff.

[bjf123]

The data held by the IRS since 1916 has never been divulged to outsiders. . .or am I incorrect?

I could be wrong, but didn’t Trump’s tax returns magically find their way to being released?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[noteggs]

I could be wrong, but didn’t Trump’s tax returns magically find their way to being released?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah that’s not important because it doesn’t fit the narrative. Not to mention Elon was the head of PayPal and we didn’t seem to find leaked data. At least not on purpose or political gain.

[paulxu]

Every president since Nixon voluntarily released their tax returns; this was to foster a vote of confidence that they weren't beholding to anyone, especially a foreign power.
Of course Trump promised and promised that he would, and never did...and a lot of suckers actually believe what he says.
The Supreme Court authorized their release to Congress. Not exactly "magical."

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hIaAruRSFk

[bjf123]

The Supreme Court authorized their release to Congress. Not exactly "magical."

Okay. To Congress, not the public. Didn’t take long to become public. Of course, no one seemed to know how that happened. Magic?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[XU_Lou]

Fear, loathing and absolute panic on the left pervades as they continue to get steamrolled by Trump. When was the last time that the Democrats won a news cycle? It's literally been months.

There are no sane people in this country that give a rats ass about tax returns.

DOGE has a 60+% approval rating right now. Sane people understand that the pre-Trump status quo was leading this country over the cliff.

[xubrew]

Every president since Nixon voluntarily released their tax returns; this was to foster a vote of confidence that they weren't beholding to anyone, especially a foreign power.
Of course Trump promised and promised that he would, and never did...and a lot of suckers actually believe what he says.
The Supreme Court authorized their release to Congress. Not exactly "magical."

Well he presumably released them to the IRS, so if there were any problems they would have presumably dealt with it.

I'm no fan of Trump. Like...not at all. But I never got all the handwringing over his tax returns. Of all the things to give a fuck about, that just didn't seem like it should have even made the list.

[Xville]

Anyone else getting the sense that DOGE isn't actually getting rid of financial waste in Washington, but really just getting rid of the programs that Trump and his minions don't like under the guise of "reducing spending?" Yes, I'm a cynic, but this is what politicians have done for decades.

[Xville]

Well he presumably released them to the IRS, so if there were any problems they would have presumably dealt with it.

I'm no fan of Trump. Like...not at all. But I never got all the handwringing over his tax returns. Of all the things to give a fuck about, that just didn't seem like it should have even made the list.

Agreed. I could not care less. We know that rich people skirt paying their taxes thru a whole lot of different means. That’s government’s fault. Maybe they should fix that? I dunno call me crazy

[GoMuskies]

Anyone else getting the sense that DOGE isn't actually getting rid of financial waste in Washington, but really just getting rid of the programs that Trump and his minions don't like under the guise of "reducing spending?" Yes, I'm a cynic, but this is what politicians have done for decades.

Trump's DOGE gets rid of the programs he doesn't like. AOC's DOGE goes in next term and gets rid of the programs she doesn't like. Boom, problem solved in 6-7 years!

Also, I think it's way too early to know on DOGE. Hopefully there is a lot of deep work being done beyond the headlines and Musk's goofy tweets.

[xuphan]

Agreed. I could not care less. We know that rich people skirt paying their taxes thru a whole lot of different means. That’s government’s fault. Maybe they should fix that? I dunno call me crazy

I’ll call you crazy!! Kidding but both parties have been in charge yet neither has fixed the tax loopholes. Why? Could it happen to be how much these rich people donate to these political puppets and political unions?

[paulxu]

It seems Musk doesn't work for DOGE, and can't give orders. (Wink, wink)

Wonder which 22 year old is really in charge?

[Xville]

Trump's DOGE gets rid of the programs he doesn't like. AOC's DOGE goes in next term and gets rid of the programs she doesn't like. Boom, problem solved in 6-7 years!

Also, I think it's way too early to know on DOGE. Hopefully there is a lot of deep work being done beyond the headlines and Musk's goofy tweets.

Full proof plan except for either side will just add whatever they want, and so the money just goes from Republican programs to democratic programs back and forth. The government never actually saves in money. Again call me a skeptic/cynic whatever but this is what I think is going to happen

[noteggs]

You would have to be an idiot not to take advantages of tax right offs. I get it, some people call them loopholes.

For example, the last few years I’ve been converting my 401k into a Roth. To eliminate some of my tax burden, I opened up a donor advised fund.

It is so refreshing to be able to give money to my favorite 501c3’s and seeing it go to a good cause vs to potential governmental fraud and waste. I’m sure Xavier is not complaining!

[paulxu]

700 former federal prosecutors sign a letter to support their colleagues who are fighting back against political pressure.

https://www.thejusticeconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Open_Letter_to_Federal_Prosecutors__2-18-2025_.pdf

[xuwillie]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-signs-executive-order-expanding-access-ivf-white-house-says-2025-02-18/

so much for trump limiting ivf

[XU_Lou]

OMG...

Dr. Deborah Birx:

"The Covid vaccines were nothing like the childhood vaccines ... That is not what the COVID vaccine was designed to do. It wasn’t designed against infection.”

“The messenger RNA vaccine should have been rolled out for the people that were at risk for severe disease because that’s what the vaccine was developed for."


https://x.com/VigilantFox/status/1891712563756331119

She just admitted the whole thing was a total lie. We closed the whole damn world down over a complete lie. Nearly everything the skeptics told you was correct.

[Xville]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-signs-executive-order-expanding-access-ivf-white-house-says-2025-02-18/

so much for trump limiting ivf

Credit where credit is due. Absolutely love this, and good work!

[XU_Lou]

Kevin Bass PhD MS
@kevinnbass
Ever wonder why officials exaggerated COVID-19 risk?

Here's why:

"When people start to realize that 99% of us are going to be fine, it becomes more and more difficult [to get people to comply]."

- Deborah Birx, Trump's lockdown architect

They lied to us. On purpose.

https://x.com/kevinnbass/status/1854361224835682631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1854361224835682631%7Ctwgr% 5E45ccf8da14beaff09f9bc78d9602d021786c5cc4%7Ctwcon %5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Facecomments.mu.nu%2F%3Fpost% 3D413721



Kevin Bass PhD MS
@kevinnbass
·
Dec 12, 2022
I was wrong about lockdowns and mandates. I was wrong and the reason I was wrong was my tribalism, my emotions, and my distorted understanding of human nature and of the virus. It doesn't matter much, but I wanted to apologize for being wrong.

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Y29jQupIs

[XU_Lou]

Fauci got a pardon. Why didn't Birx get one?



Guito Wingfield MD
@GWingfieldMD
Dr. Birx needed to say those things when she was standing next to Anthony Fauci. I feel it’s too little too late. For 3 years, the few of us that did our job to look at a medical crisis and came up with an effective treatment, got tard and feathered by the regulatory agencies. Their policies were an atomic bomb to our communities and now she wants to plant some trees and flowerbeds. I am hopeful that RFK Jr. will dismantle that failed machine and built a medical system that put patients wellbeing first. What we experienced with COVID is that politics is oil that should never mixed with the life saving water of medicine.

https://x.com/GWingfieldMD/status/1891759563894030706


"Note that she has already previously admitted that when Trump would give her an order to change the guidelines for "re-opening" and ending lockdowns, she would deliberately write the guidelines in such a way as to require further lockdowns, while lying to Trump to claim that she had obeyed his orders. She also admitted that she would call state and local authorities on the phone to tell them that no matter what the guidelines said, they should ignore them and continue imposing lockdowns."

https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=413721

[XU_Lou]

Epidemiologist Drops Undeniable Proof That the COVID Shots Must Be BANNED Before Idaho State Senators

“Along with VAERS, 12 studies demonstrate that mass COVID-19 vaccination has led to increased mortality. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine deaths worldwide may be greater than 17 million.”

“Three hundred twenty-five autopsies indicate a high likelihood of a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and death.”

“Lipid nanoparticles carrying modified mRNA travel to all organ systems, instructing them to become toxic, full-length prefusion-stabilized spike protein factories.”

“Product mRNA and resulting spike protein are found directly in affected tissues at autopsy.”

“Six studies have demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccinated individuals face a higher risk of infection compared to unvaccinated individuals.”

“DNA contamination in COVID-19 vaccines, reported across multiple manufacturers, vaccine platforms, and geographic regions, far exceeds regulatory thresholds.”

https://x.com/VigilantFox/status/1891659125840379978

[paulxu]

USDA says it accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them

In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson told NBC News that officials are "working to swiftly rectify the situation."

www.nbcnews.com/politics/dog...

MAGA

[bobbiemcgee]

Trump thinks Ukraine invaded Russia. Delusional��

[94GRAD]

Trump thinks Ukraine invaded Russia. Delusional��

Can you post a link with him saying that? Sad if true. Thanks

[Xville]

Can you post a link with him saying that? Sad if true. Thanks

In typical Bobbie fashion, he makes things up. The comment made by trump was ignorant but not THAT measure of ignorant. He said that Ukraine should have never started it. That Kyiv should have made a deal from the get go

[paulxu]

I’m pretty sure Ukraine didn’t “start” the invasion of their territory. And why would you “make a deal” to give up part of your country?

[Xville]

I’m pretty sure Ukraine didn’t “start” the invasion of their territory. And why would you “make a deal” to give up part of your country?

Did he say that they started the invasion? Stop being disingenuous...we leave that to posters like Lou.

Regarding the "make a deal" part....who the heck knows what he meant. The guy just says things and everyone draws their own conclusions (to whatever narrative they want) as to what he actually meant without asking follow up questions and/or getting him to expand on his answer.

[paulxu]

He said that Ukraine should have never started it. go

Boy am I confused. That sure sounds like he said they started it. Maybe not.
I need a drink.

[Xville]

Boy am I confused. That sure sounds like he said they started it. Maybe not.
I need a drink.

By starts it he means the war, could have “made a deal” instead. Now that you can argue is kind of ridiculous, if we are all being honest but that’s what he said and meant. Didn’t know that needed to be spelled out.

[XU_Lou]

"This is bad news. Very bad.

A Yale University team led by a top immunologist has found that some people who received the Covid vaccines have damage to their immune systems, as well as high and rising levels of spike protein in their blood. The researchers released the findings Wednesday in a “preprint” and hope to publish it soon in a peer-reviewed journal.

How often these problems occur or if the immune system damage might open people to infections is unclear as yet. But immune system damage the researchers found is similar though not identical to changes caused by HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, that can eventually lead to AIDS.

The researchers also found Covid spike protein — the protein mRNA Covid jabs from Pfizer and Moderna cause our cells to make — in the blood of patients up to two years after vaccination."

https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/very-urgent-yale-researchers-have?utm_campaign=email-post-title&utm_medium=email

[XU_Lou]

Dr Aseem Malhotra
@DrAseemMalhotra
BREAKING 🔥🔥🔥

‘Covid vaccine faces ban for ALL Americans in radical U turn by Trump team’

Covid vaccines could be suspended for all age groups in America under radical new plans backed by key health figures in the Trump Administration. Several experts poised for top jobs in US health agencies subscribe to the disputed idea the shots are causing widespread side effects and deaths.

Dr Jay Bhattacharya, who has been nominated to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has backed a petition calling for the mRNA vaccines to be paused and retested, http://DailyMail.com can reveal. He is one of the signatories of the Hope Accord, which claims there is a 'causal link' between the mRNA shots and an alarming rise in excess deaths worldwide. http://DailyMail.com also understands Robert F Kennedy Jr has privately expressed concerns about the vaccines and signaled he is open to axing them if the data supports it.

Dr Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist being considered for a health advisory role in Kennedy's new health departments, has called for the jabs to be suspended and and reassessed.

Outside the health agencies, Kash Patel — who has been nominated as FBI director — previously promoted bogus supplements that 'reversed' the supposed damage caused by Covid vaccines.

The HOPE accord, signed by Dr Bhattacharya, claims there is a 'causal link' between the mRNA shots and an alarming rise in excess deaths worldwide. During Covid and in the years following the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of more people in the US died than would normally be expected. While many experts have attributed these deaths to cancers, heart disease, undiagnosed Covid and the worsening of health problems missed during lockdowns, the new petition suggests the mRNA vaccines played a role.

Del Bigtree, communications director for Kennedy's presidential bid, has previously suggested Covid vaccines are causing excess deaths and leaving people vulnerable to infections. He said in January last year in an open letter: 'An experimental vaccine with a deadly track record was "warp-speeded" onto the market and mandated for every arm in the country. 'Nearly four years later, excess mortality is at an all-time high. Heart attacks in children are now commonplace.'

He added: 'The vaccine has proven to have negative efficacy, causing people to be more prone to infection than doing nothing at all.'

https://x.com/draseemmalhotra/status/1892157607567135100?s=42

[XU_Lou]

Thomas Massie

@RepThomasMassie
Revoke FDA approval of the COVID shots now. The process for approving them was corrupted by political pressure according to the two witnesses I deposed who were in charge of vaccine approval at FDA. Emails show scientists were pressured to approve them so they could be mandated.

https://x.com/repthomasmassie/status/1892182433677619214?s=42


I wonder how many of our fellow Muskies died because of pricks like XVille who tried to suppress this information when the data was screaming red flags.

[paulxu]

Outside the health agencies, Kash Patel — who has been nominated as FBI director — previously promoted bogus supplements that 'reversed' the supposed damage caused by Covid vaccines.

But of course.

[bobbiemcgee]

Can you post a link with him saying that? Sad if true. Thanks

"You should never have started it"

[GoMuskies]

Invasion and start are not synonymous.

[Xville]

someone please tell me time didn't go back 4 years the last couple of days, did it?

[hoopster68]

When do we start calling the Trumpster "Appeaser in Chief"?

[Smails]

When do we start calling the Trumpster "Appeaser in Chief"?

You can call him whatever you want to....this is America

[GoMuskies]

You can call him whatever you want to....this is America

Right, just don't try that shit in Germany.

[94GRAD]

Right, just don't try that shit in Germany.

That 60 Minutes story on their thought police was eye-opening

[XU_Lou]

That 60 Minutes story on their thought police was eye-opening

You think? This type of stuff has been going on all over the western world for several years now. I've pointed it out several times.


Edit: but the thought police on this board declared it to be a conspiracy.

[waggy]

Trumps language regarding Ukraine is uncomfortable. But he doesn't want the US to pay for the conflict anymore. He could just say that (and has), but it's better to make peace the larger talking point. It's the same thing. Either way it has to end. Now, if the EU/NATO want to truly pick up the fight, they can, but everyone knows they aren't actually going to do that.

Unfortunately "free" Ukraine is going to end up being another Belarus.

[Xville]

That 60 Minutes story on their thought police was eye-opening

How so? I didn’t see the piece, but did read about it and from what I read, it sounds great in practice. Of course I can see it being weaponizd by our genius politicians. Need more of it if it would be used properly.people really don’t understand what free speech actually means.

Rubio was slick when asked about it though. Every time I hear that guy open his mouth, the more I don’t like him. He’s a master manipulator.

[GoMuskies]

You want MORE of the government raiding people's apartments for posting memes?

Well, that is certainly an opinion that you are allowed to have.

[Xville]

You want MORE of the government raiding people's apartments for posting memes?

Well, that is certainly an opinion that you are allowed to have.

I think in practice (not the memes) but yeah being more active about cyber bullying, hate speech etc, absolutely . The rise of social media and the internet coincides directly with the rise of mental disorders (look at some of the folks who post here) , school shootings etc in our country, and I firmly believe it has an impact on our youth.

I can see in how it can be weaponized, and go too far but in practice I think it could do a whole lot of good.

[GoMuskies]

Yikes

[waggy]

The suppression of free speech, and/or the ability to manipulate peoples thoughts in this digital age, is maybe the most dangerous thing the world faces.

[Xville]

The suppression of free speech, and/or the ability to manipulate peoples thoughts in this digital age, is maybe the most dangerous thing the world faces.

What do you think free speech is? “

“Manipulate people’s thoughts in this digital age”—-yeah we already have that. That happens every second on the internet. You ever been on any kind of social media? You been around ai?

[XU_Lou]

Yikes

Seriously, you should've recognized that a long time ago. At heart, Ville is a fascist. He's shown that time after time. He thinks his views are the truth, and no one with opposing views should be allowed to opine on this board, or anywhere else for that matter.

Moreover, he's a reactionary, which makes him especially dangerous. Imagine having someone like him in government, where he gets to decide what truth is, no matter how ill or uninformed he is on any given topic. Case in point: offering an opinion on something he didn't even see. He's commenting on something he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. Rubio was on a completely different show. He's conflating two different topics. And yet Ville wants to control speech?

Yikes is right...

[Xville]

Seriously, you should've recognized that a long time ago. At heart, Ville is a fascist. He's shown that time after time. He thinks his views are the truth, and no one with opposing views should be allowed to opine on this board, or anywhere else for that matter.

Moreover, he's a reactionary, which makes him especially dangerous. Imagine having someone like him in government, where he gets to decide what truth is, no matter how ill or uninformed he is on any given topic. Case in point: offering an opinion on something he didn't even see. He's commenting on something he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. Rubio was on a completely different show. He's conflating two different topics. And yet Ville wants to control speech?

Yikes is right...

I said I read about it lou. Apparently reading comprehension is still an issue for you, and I mentioned Rubio because of what I read. Duh........ And, you also don't understand what free speech is, which isn't shocking. Carry on with your crazy.

The bolded part is hysterical. So much irony here, "Mr. I can talk to anyone"

You still don't quite understand...it's not, no one. It's you. Why? Because you post propaganda links constantly that you imply are true. They may be true to you but in the real world its at about an 80-20% clip of fiction-fact.

You wanna have fun and post away like it's the onion ? knock yourself out. Posting it, and acting like that's reality, is something different.

[waggy]

What do you think free speech is? “

“Manipulate people’s thoughts in this digital age”—-yeah we already have that. That happens every second on the internet. You ever been on any kind of social media? You been around ai?

I know on this forum you enjoy it.

[GoMuskies]

Now that you've declared your enthusiastic approval of dawn police raids to arrest people for posting memes, I'm definitely curious what you think free speech is, Ville.

[waggy]

I mean really, you can't have democracy without free speech. Democracy is free speech.

[XU_Lou]

I said I read about it lou. Apparently reading comprehension is still an issue for you, and I mentioned Rubio because of what I read. Duh........ And, you also don't understand what free speech is, which isn't shocking. Carry on with your crazy.

The bolded part is hysterical. So much irony here, "Mr. I can talk to anyone"

Okay, I'll play your little game one more time...

You said:


How so? I didn’t see the piece, but did read about it and from what I read, it sounds great in practice. Of course I can see it being weaponizd by our genius politicians. Need more of it if it would be used properly.people really don’t understand what free speech actually means.

Rubio was slick when asked about it though. Every time I hear that guy open his mouth, the more I don’t like him. He’s a master manipulator.

Asked about what? They were two different topics. One was on Face the Nation, and the other on 60 Min. One appeared in the morn, and the other that evening. Rubio was on in the morn. He was asked about Vance's speech in Germany, which Brennan tried to conflate with Nazi Germany. The other was an interview with German prosecuters, who made news b/c they're arresting people posting memes they don't agree with.

Though similar, Rubio was not specifically asked about the 60 minutes interview, which you seem to imply. Reading comprehension? No, clear written thoughts seem to be the real issue.

[waggy]

kim jong un is short and fat
zelenski is a dictator
i grabbed her by the pussy

Free speech.

[Xville]

Now that you've declared your enthusiastic approval of dawn police raids to arrest people for posting memes, I'm definitely curious what you think free speech is, Ville.

not memes. For hate speech and cyber bullying? Yeah i'm for it. I think there are many who believe Free speech means no consequences

[Xville]

Okay, I'll play your little game one more time...

You said:



Asked about what? They were two different topics. One was on Face the Nation, and the other on 60 Min. One appeared in the morn, and the other that evening. Rubio was on in the morn. He was asked about Vance's speech in Germany, which Brennan tried to conflate with Nazi Germany. The other was an interview with German prosecuters, who made news b/c they're arresting people posting memes they don't agree with.

Though similar, Rubio was not specifically asked about the 60 minutes interview, which you seem to imply. Reading comprehension? No, clear written thoughts seem to be the real issue.

good gawd lou. It's related to the topic im sorry you have such trouble connecting dots unless it coincides with your narratives. later lou

[Xville]

Now that you've declared your enthusiastic approval of dawn police raids to arrest people for posting memes, I'm definitely curious what you think free speech is, Ville.

The part I read about didn't mention the meme part which is why i asked about the actual report which no one answered.

[Strange Brew]

not memes. For hate speech and cyber bullying? Yeah i'm for it. I think there are many who believe Free speech means no consequences

Define “hate speech” and who defines it.

[GoMuskies]

not memes. For hate speech and cyber bullying? Yeah i'm for it. I think there are many who believe Free speech means no consequences

Someone responds to a trans woman on Twitter and calls them an ugly man. Jail? Someone on Facebook responds to a story about a black person committing a violent crime by saying those monkeys should be in a zoo. Police knock at the door? Someone posts a meme that's a caricature of Muhammad wearing a suicide vest. Death penalty?

You may not want to associate with or employ those people. But you support those being CRIMINAL offenses?

[GoMuskies]

Here's a link from 60 Minutes themselves.

https://x.com/60Minutes/status/1891850157269860466

[Xville]

Someone responds to a trans woman on Twitter and calls them an ugly man. Jail? Someone on Facebook responds to a story about a black person committing a violent crime by saying those monkeys should be in a zoo. Police knock at the door? Someone posts a meme that's a caricature of Muhammad wearing a suicide vest. Death penalty?

You may not want to associate with or employ those people. But you support those being CRIMINAL offenses?

what do you think? You think those things are ok to have in a civilized society and just no consequences whatsoever?

[Xville]

Define “hate speech” and who defines it.

encourage violence based on a certain race, religion, sex, sexual orientation. It's not rocket science, Brew.

[GoMuskies]

what do you think? You think those things are ok to have in a civilized society and just no consequences whatsoever?

In terms of no criminal consequences? Of course. It's not even a remotely close call.

[xuwillie]

encourage violence based on a certain race, religion, sex, sexual orientation. It's not rocket science, Brew.

But right now politicians and corrupt judges are deciding and that will never change. I don't want to become Germany, much rather have people like Paul and Bobbie spewing their nonsense

[Xville]

In terms of no criminal consequences? Of course. It's not even a remotely close call.

you understand that most of what you posted isn't hate speech. I think we are talking about two different things and going in circles. My bad.

[GoMuskies]

I think we almost lost some good members here to prison for calling Mick Cronin a goat fucker.

Luckily, truth is an absolute defense.

[Strange Brew]

encourage violence based on a certain race, religion, sex, sexual orientation. It's not rocket science, Brew.

Critical thinking exercise Ville:

Who defines “hate”?

[GoMuskies]

you understand that most of what you posted isn't hate speech. I think we are talking about two different things and going in circles. My bad.

Whatever portion of it that IS hate speech is thankfully protected by the First Amendment. God bless America.

[XU_Lou]

Seriously, you should've recognized that a long time ago. At heart, Ville is a fascist. He's shown that time after time. He thinks his views are the truth, and no one with opposing views should be allowed to opine on this board, or anywhere else for that matter.

Moreover, he's a reactionary, which makes him especially dangerous. Imagine having someone like him in government, where he gets to decide what truth is, no matter how ill or uninformed he is on any given topic. Case in point: offering an opinion on something he didn't even see. He's commenting on something he clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. Rubio was on a completely different show. He's conflating two different topics. And yet Ville wants to control speech?

Yikes is right...


The part I read about didn't mention the meme part which is why i asked about the actual report which no one answered.

You just made my point!!!! Read more, comment less.

[Xville]

You just made my point!!!! Read more, comment less.

read less propaganda crap, post the propaganda links less without verification. Have a brain.

[GoMuskies]

Cyber bullying. Prison.

[Xville]

Whatever portion of it that IS hate speech is thankfully protected by the First Amendment. God bless America.

there's a pretty fine line. That's what people don't understand, it's certainly something that many posters here don't udnerstand

[GoMuskies]

It's really not that fine. Remember that the Nazis were permitted by the Supreme Court to march through Skokie (huge Jewish population) 30 years post Holocaust.

[Strange Brew]

Cyber bullying. Prison.

Or at least a temporary ban. :)

[GoMuskies]

Westboro Baptist was out there protesting funerals of soldiers with signs that said "God Hates Fags", and THEY made money suing people who assaulted THEM.

[paulxu]

Why, I bet you could start a rumor about a child sex ring in a pizza parlor, have millions of maga types believe it, and one show up with a rifle to shoot the place up.
(who would be killed years later in a traffic stop)

[Xville]

Westboro Baptist was out there protesting funerals of soldiers with signs that said "God Hates Fags", and THEY made money suing people who assaulted THEM.

Maybe we need to rethink some of this then. Not exactly something to be proud of in our country.

I understand you have to have a threat of violence. Maybe we should rethink some of that.

[GoMuskies]

Terrible idea

[Xville]

Terrible idea

Why? Free speech is one thing. Do you think the things you mentioned are a representation of what the writers of the constitution had in mind? Protecting free speech is one thing, what you described with nazi marches and the Baptist church to me is another. I understand setting a precedent can lead to another and so on, but have we as a country gone too far the other way.

[XU_Lou]

Why? Free speech is one thing. Do you think the things you mentioned are a representation of what the writers of the constitution had in mind? Protecting free speech is one thing, what you described with nazi marches and the Baptist church to me is another. I understand setting a precedent can lead to another and so on, but have we as a country gone too far the other way.

Pretty sad this has to be spelled out for you. On the other hand, your statements tonight highlight your true character.

[Xville]

Pretty sad this has to be spelled out for you. On the other hand, your statements tonight highlight your true character.

Yes true character comes from what is posted on a message board. And if that’s true, you should probably step back and look hard in the mirror at what you see.

Here’s something simple for you that maybe you can understand: the only attention you get on here is from me. What’s going to happen when that’s gone?

Later gator

[XU_Lou]

Yes true character comes from what is posted on a message board. And if that’s true, you should probably step back and look hard in the mirror at what you see.

Here’s something simple for you that maybe you can understand: the only attention you get on here is from me. What’s going to happen when that’s gone?

Later gator

Read more, listen more, reflect more, think more. Stop treating this website like your own personal diary....

[Xville]

Read more, listen more, reflect more, think more. Stop treating this website like your own personal diary....

Lol. Thank you for taking exactly what I said in the first paragraph and not understanding a single word. Your life must really really suck. Must be from all the tight biker shorts.

Funny “Mr. I can have a conversation with anyone.” Sure, as long as they agree with you which I guess are a real special group of people. The ones that don’t, are met with a derogatory comment, moving goalposts, and non sequitur storylines. Illustration? Any time you type.

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j7jU3cwDQw

[paulxu]

Pence took to X on Wednesday to write, “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war.”
He added Russia “launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.”
His message ran with a link to Fox News article from 2022 that's headlined, "Russia invades Ukraine in largest European attack since WWII."

Someone want to tell Mike Pence that invasion and start are not the same thing?

[Muskie in dayton]

How so? I didn’t see the piece, but did read about it and from what I read, it sounds great in practice. Of course I can see it being weaponizd by our genius politicians. Need more of it if it would be used properly.people really don’t understand what free speech actually means.

Rubio was slick when asked about it though. Every time I hear that guy open his mouth, the more I don’t like him. He’s a master manipulator.
I’ve suspected you get off arguing with everyone for any reason no matter how baseless. Now I know it to be true.

Go watch the piece and then come back and delete your posts and apologize for being a clown.

If you watch it and still think any part of that belongs in the US, you need to move to Germany and see how it works for you.

[Muskie in dayton]

I have a deal. The Government can keep my $5000 in exchange for politicians in prison.

[Xville]

I’ve suspected you get off arguing with everyone for any reason no matter how baseless. Now I know it to be true.

Go watch the piece and then come back and delete your posts and apologize for being a clown.

If you watch it and still think any part of that belongs in the US, you need to move to Germany and see how it works for you.

Not really, just those that blame the issues of this country all on one side of the aisle on either side. It's in abundance on this thread.

[XU_Lou]

Not really, just those that blame the issues of this country all on one side of the aisle on either side. It's in abundance on this thread.

Maybe you should read the room...

MID nailed it. Then you come back with one of your patented non-sequiturs....

[Xville]

Maybe you should read the room...

MID nailed it. Then you come back with one of your patented non-sequiturs....

So weird you would agree with him. Last thing, your opinion doesn't matter to me.

[GoMuskies]

Pence took to X on Wednesday to write, “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war.”
He added Russia “launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.”
His message ran with a link to Fox News article from 2022 that's headlined, "Russia invades Ukraine in largest European attack since WWII."

Someone want to tell Mike Pence that invasion and start are not the same thing?

I would, but it seems like he already knows that, because he calls it an "unprovoked" invasion. If there was provocation, that would perhaps have been the "start".

[GoMuskies]

Protecting free speech is one thing, what you described with nazi marches and the Baptist church to me is another.

If you're not protecting speech you hate, you're not protecting free speech.

[waggy]

I guess Paul needs a gun and a ticket.

[paulxu]

I would, but it seems like he already knows that, because he calls it an "unprovoked" invasion. If there was provocation, that would perhaps have been the "start".

If there is no provocation, and you invade...I would think you started it.

[GoMuskies]

If there is no provocation, and you invade...I would think you started it.

Seems right to me. If that's the case.

[Xville]

If you're not protecting speech you hate, you're not protecting free speech.

I can see that side of it, I can. And to Brew's point who decides what is hate speech and what isn't which is a slippery slope. However, are there not universal things that sane people would deem as hate speech where a line can be drawn? I'm talking about instances like the examples you gave earlier.

[GoMuskies]

It's not worth compromising the principle. Let those terrible people tell us who they are.

Speaking of terrible people telling us who they are, I'm reading about the spectacle Hamas is making of turning over the bodies of hostages, and Trump's Gaza Riviera is sounding like a better and better idea.

[Xville]

It's not worth compromising the principle. Let those terrible people tell us who they are.

Speaking of terrible people telling us who they are, I'm reading about the spectacle Hamas is making of turning over the bodies of hostages, and Trump's Gaza Riviera is sounding like a better and better idea.

Maybe. Just one more thing and then I'll drop it. There are lots of other factors in play and I'm not blaming allowing hate speech as a direct correlation to it, but allowing things like the examples you described has been a factor in some horrible people throughout history rising to power. Hasn't happened in this country, thank gawd. Although Paul may argue my last point lol.

[GoMuskies]

Happily, we've got a First Amendment, so what I personally perceive to be your terrible views on this matter are basically irrelevant.

[paulxu]

Just think; educated people actually believe him. Fascinating.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/19/politics/fact-check-trumps-lies-about-zelensky-and-ukraine/index.html

[GoMuskies]

McConnell is out after '26. Shouldn't come as a shock, but Biden tried to run for another term in '24, so I guess one never knows the lengths to which the mentally impaired (and those close to them) will go in an attempt to cling to power.

Frankly, McConnell should retire post-haste, but I'm not sure what the rule there is. If McConnell retired, could Beshear put in a Democrat to finish out his term?

[Smails]

McConnell is out after '26. Shouldn't come as a shock, but Biden tried to run for another term in '24, so I guess one never knows the lengths to which the mentally impaired (and those close to them) will go in an attempt to cling to power.

Frankly, McConnell should retire post-haste, but I'm not sure what the rule there is. If McConnell retired, could Beshear put in a Democrat to finish out his term?

One down...several more to go

Chuck, Nancy, Maxine, Grassley....please follow suit

[XU_Lou]

Can you imagine Ville as an elected official? Time and again, he’s shown himself to be a fascist. In response to this ...


The Fed told businesses they must mandate the vax, the employees must take tests or no work. Fascism by definition. Unamerican in every way.

… Ville wanted to shut down free speech (or speech that doesn’t comport to his way of thinking):


1. That’s only for employers with 100 employees +
2. It’s not really a mandate when you have the option of getting tested instead of taking a vaccine
3. It is very American to do everything possible to keep people healthy and safe
4. No ones opinion is going to change here, I request to the mods this thread is either moved like the politics thread was or closed completely

[XU_Lou]

In Ville’s head, only he owns the truth. Only he is allowed to spew his uninformed opinions:


Nothing like sourcing from an anti-vaccine conspiracy theory website...geezus. Can the mods seriously step in here?

[XU_Lou]

Ville’s true character on full display on what he thinks about our God-given rights:


First thing is have the mods close the thread...Lou says it's over so im sure he won't be posting anymore anyways.

[Xville]

One down...several more to go

Chuck, Nancy, Maxine, Grassley....please follow suit

Could we also include some of the younger folk that cause nothing but headaches? Got rid of a few but ya know the rest of the aocs and extreme rights of their world?

[GoMuskies]

AOC is honestly pretty much fine. I wouldn't vote for her, but you can make case for her getting elected. Not so much the rest of the squad. MTG is the most obvious "younger" candidate on the right that ought to go. Tuberville should be on the list of not so golden oldies that ought to depart.

[Xville]

AOC is honestly pretty much fine. I wouldn't vote for her, but you can make case for her getting elected. Not so much the rest of the squad. MTG is the most obvious "younger" candidate on the right that ought to go. Tuberville should be on the list of not so golden oldies that ought to depart.

Ah almost forgot about that ole crackpot.

[GoMuskies]

I want to hear the list of Democratic politicians paul doesn't like. Would the list go past RFK or Tulsi? Maybe he's not so sure about that Blagojevich character, either. Could he muster some disdain for Menendez?

[XU_Lou]

Kash!

Winning!

[hoopster68]

Kash!

Winning!

The Cabinet of Creeps grows: RFK, Jr., Tulsi, Hegseth, now Patel. "Little Marco" looks like an accomplished public servant next to these jokers.

[GoMuskies]

Kash isn't in the Cabinet. Rubio got 99 votes in the Senate, so I suppose your last point is right.

[xubrew]

Here's a link from 60 Minutes themselves.

https://x.com/60Minutes/status/1891850157269860466

Thanks for sharing.

I consider myself to be a free speech advocate, and some of the examples the article claims as being crimes strike me as being utterly ridiculous. Insulting someone publicly should not be a crime. Sharing opinions, ANY opinion, even something as vile as saying refugee children should play with electrical wires, that's still just an opinion. I don't think too many people will feel too badly for the guy who said that if someone were to knock his teeth down his throat, but it's not a crime.

But there are limits to free speech.

Should revenge porn be legal?

Should using deep fakes or AI generators to create sexual images of people and then posting them online while trying to pass them off as real be legal? Should posting the personal information of those people (name, age, address, social media, phone numbers, etc) along with the fake pictures that don't look fake at all be legal?

Should a lie that could damage someone's life or career that makes no attempt to look like a parody, but tries to pass itself off as factual be legal?

Should it be legal for someone to go online and post a reward for anyone who harms the children of someone they don't like? Should a person who does that be able to say "I wasn't serious. And it's my free speech"?

I would say if something is false, is an invasion of privacy, and can cause someone to be harmed, then maybe that's someone who needs their house raided.

Calling someone ugly on the internet is not a nice thing to do, but no one should be charged with a crime for doing it. Examples like the ones I gave above...I for one do not think those should be legal and to call it an exercise of free speech is wrong. The 1st Amendment does have limits. You can't film yourself abusing children and claim that it's artistic expression. No one, not even the biggest advocates of free speech, would argue that.

[bjf123]

Frankly, McConnell should retire post-haste, but I'm not sure what the rule there is. If McConnell retired, could Beshear put in a Democrat to finish out his term?

I’m not sure either, but I’m thinking that’s the case.


One down...several more to go

Chuck, Nancy, Maxine, Grassley....please follow suit

Yes, please!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xuphan]

The Cabinet of Creeps grows: RFK, Jr., Tulsi, Hegseth, now Patel. "Little Marco" looks like an accomplished public servant next to these jokers.

Haha

[noteggs]

The second biggest problem (behind free speech itself) is who is going to decide like others have said? Some lady named Karen?

Or Maybe this person could be the hate speech czar? I realize her tenure at the disinformation board didn’t last long, but she did have a catchy tune!

https://nypost.com/2022/04/29/biden-disinfo-czar-nina-jankowicz-ripped-over-tiktok/

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ1ZUd2AN70

[Xville]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ1ZUd2AN70

Well, there are no savings at least not to the amount that trump and buddies want to spend on the things they want to spend on. As I’ve stated before with all of this, smoke and mirrors. Getting rid of the things they don’t like to spend on the things they do. It takes an extremely naive person to believe government has any intention of spending less money

[Strange Brew]

Well, there are no savings at least not to the amount that trump and buddies want to spend on the things they want to spend on. As I’ve stated before with all of this, smoke and mirrors. Getting rid of the things they don’t like to spend on the things they do. It takes an extremely naive person to believe government has any intention of spending less money

Are you drunk?

If so, go USA Hockey or something.

[waggy]

Was expecting this interview to be boring af, and though it pretty much was, there was also some interesting discussion regarding Ukraine which might explain Trumps recent tantrum.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyH4e0z7pIo

[Strange Brew]

Was expecting this interview to be boring af, and though it pretty much was, there was also some interesting discussion regarding Ukraine which might explain Trumps recent tantrum.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyH4e0z7pIo

Tantrum or Righteous Indignation?

The United States of America has 0 responsibility to provide protection to Ukraine. 0. None. Nada. Null. Full stop.

[waggy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TiP8rluJt8

[hoopster68]

Tantrum or Righteous Indignation?

The United States of America has 0 responsibility to provide protection to Ukraine. 0. None. Nada. Null. Full stop.

Is the "domino theory" (if Ukraine falls, so goes other European countries) valid? If not, why not? Would you support Russia "absorbing" other non-NATO countries? How far would you let Russian expand?

[Xville]

Is the "domino theory" (if Ukraine falls, so goes other European countries) valid? If not, why not? Would you support Russia "absorbing" other non-NATO countries? How far would you let Russian expand?

Maybe the Russia sympathizers on this board should head on over to Belarus. I hear it’s nice this time of year.

[waggy]

I don't think there are any Russia sympathizers on this board.

[Xville]

I don't think there are any Russia sympathizers on this board.

I beg to differ. Knowing that Putin is former kgb and his views on the dismantling of the Soviet Union, I’d like to know what people think his end game is. Is anyone naive enough to believe Ukraine is the finish line?

[GoMuskies]

It doesn't really matter what he might think his end game is. The debacle in Ukraine has been an embarrassement for Russia. They may have aims beyond UKraine, but they're obviously not strong enough to achieve them.

[Strange Brew]

Maybe the Russia sympathizers on this board should head on over to Belarus. I hear it’s nice this time of year.

Or maybe you should head to Ukraine and pick up a gun.

It is possible that both Russia and the Ukraine suck and we should let the Euros police their back yard for once.

[paulxu]

I want to hear the list of Democratic politicians paul doesn't like. Would the list go past RFK or Tulsi? Maybe he's not so sure about that Blagojevich character, either. Could he muster some disdain for Menendez?

You are certainly correct about Menendez and Blogojevich. They should serve their time; not get pardoned like the latter.
RFK and Tulsi are not Democrats...obviously. They are an embarrassment to our country just like Patel and Hegseth. Sycophants for power.

[xuwillie]

Or maybe you should head to Ukraine and pick up a gun.

It is possible that both Russia and the Ukraine suck and we should let the Euros police their back yard for once.

This. And let's be clear, Trump campaigned on stopping the war. He knows he has very little leverage with Russia and a lot with Ukraine..

[Smails]

Trump and Musk are both talking about giving back some the DOGE savings in the form of stimulus checks to American households. Not sure it will ever happen but I'm very interested to see if this develops and what the reaction will be from both sides. There are a LOT of people who have publicly dug their heels into the "musk is the devil' narrative. Will those people accept their checks or return them?

[xubrew]

Trump and Musk are both talking about giving back some the DOGE savings in the form of stimulus checks to American households. Not sure it will ever happen but I'm very interested to see if this develops and what the reaction will be from both sides. There are a LOT of people who have publicly dug their heels into the "musk is the devil' narrative. Will those people accept their checks or return them?

Will they accept them?? Sure. Is it a good idea?? I'm not enough of an economist to know, but would this potentially result in even more inflation? What if all the money was instead put toward paying down the national debt??

I'm not insinuating anything. I'm asking because I don't know.

[GoMuskies]

If they want to do a DOGE dividend after their work is done July 4, 2026, that might make some sense. Doing it today would be a little weird. Are they going to account for what people paid in originally? Otherwise it's quite a wealth redistribution scheme.

[Smails]

Will they accept them?? Sure. Is it a good idea?? I'm not enough of an economist to know, but would this potentially result in even more inflation? What if all the money was instead put toward paying down the national debt??

I'm not insinuating anything. I'm asking because I don't know.

Good questions for sure. Trump said yesterday that he was going to use 20% of the DOGE savings to pay down the debt...that seems very low but I have no idea what that final number will be. Perhaps the savings coupled with a reduced federal government headcount can chip away at the debt??

The reason I asked about accepting them is that there are a lot of people, and I mean a lot who have decided that DOGE is a disgrace, an illegal, unconstitutional operation that must be shut down. What happens if the result of DOGE puts real money in their pockets? Will they relent and admit it's a good idea, or will they take the money and still talk about how awful it is. Situations like this can really put people's principles to the test.

[bobbiemcgee]

79 million taxpayers x 5000= 395 billion without the 20% to pay down debt. So far they have saved 55 billion.

[GoMuskies]

So far enough for a $557 check.

[paulxu]

Got to get some money someplace to pay for the 4.5 trillion primarily targeted for top 1%.

Cutting Medicaid for the most needy in our society is only promising 888 billion.

[Strange Brew]

Got to get some money someplace to pay for the 4.5 trillion primarily targeted for top 1%.

Cutting Medicaid for the most needy in our society is only promising 888 billion.

Nope, don’t have to pay for tax cuts or continued rates.

Cut more spending.

[MADXSTER]

Just some thoughts...

Is it cutting for the sake of cutting? Or is it cutting the fat? Is it temporary/pause or is it permanent?

I'm pretty sure that everyone on this board and elsewhere would like to cut wasteful spending in their personal lives(see thread on cutting the cord). Businesses cut wasteful spending by doing self auditing but mostly by common sense. Most local governments do as well.

I've never been a fan of The Board of Education because I always thought it was just more bureaucracy. I prefer states having more controll over most things. I, however, was hoping to be proven wrong but national scores have not improved since it's creation. IMO the BOE should be gathering of information and distributing the results as opposed to dictating to the states.

In St Bernard, they are on their 3rd school in my lifetime. They tore down the original school and built a new one. The new one has been torn down and another school has just been completed. At the same time, Roger Bacon and St Clement have been updated and taken care of. Which is more cost effective?

[GoMuskies]

Looks like the US is going to get some mineral rights from Ukraine in exchange for continued military support. Nice.

[xuwillie]

Looks like the US is going to get some mineral rights from Ukraine in exchange for continued military support. Nice.

Like I said in an earlier post Trump had all the leverage with Ukraine and used it.. well done

[bobbiemcgee]

The murderous Putin is his buddy noW��

[Muskie in dayton]

Is the "domino theory" (if Ukraine falls, so goes other European countries) valid? If not, why not? Would you support Russia "absorbing" other non-NATO countries? How far would you let Russian expand?
1952 just called. It wants its false basis for warmongering back.

[hoopster68]

1952 just called. It wants its false basis for warmongering back.

Sorry, that's not an answer; it's snark. Care to answer the question?

[Muskie in dayton]

Maybe the Russia sympathizers on this board should head on over to Belarus. I hear it’s nice this time of year.
Who here in your mind is a “Russia sympathizer”?

Please tell me you haven’t resorted to the Paul/Bobbie school of simplistic false equivalencies, taught by leftist media clowns.

[Muskie in dayton]

Sorry, that's not an answer; it's snark. Care to answer the question?
My post was an answer, but I’ll explain for you. It’s absolute horseshit and bears no relevance in 2025. Trying to claim Russia today has the power of the post-WW2 USSR is preposterous and disingenuous. Furthermore, we shouldn’t give a shit what happens in EU when we have ample problems of our own. Further furthermore, if we need to be concerned about EU countries falling to Marxist dictators, we should be watching what is happening in Germany, Romania, the UK and others.

Hope that helps. Stop watching the “news”.

[paulxu]

Looks like the US is going to get some mineral rights from Ukraine in exchange for continued military support. Nice.

Sounds a lot like colonialism.

[paulxu]

Pre-planning for dictatorship.

Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He replaced him with:

a retired three star general, Dan Caine. This portends a future grave crisis as the President attempts to restructure the military into one personally loyal to him. Caine has not been a service chief or held a combatant command or been the head of the air forces of a combatant command. So basically he’s held none of the assignments which normally precedes elevation to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Then to add to the fun he:

fired the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Among many other things it’s the military lawyers who determine what is a legal order and what’s not. If you’re planning to give illegal orders they are an obvious obstacle.

[Muskie in dayton]

Pre-planning for dictatorship.

Trump fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He replaced him with:

a retired three star general, Dan Caine. This portends a future grave crisis as the President attempts to restructure the military into one personally loyal to him. Caine has not been a service chief or held a combatant command or been the head of the air forces of a combatant command. So basically he’s held none of the assignments which normally precedes elevation to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Then to add to the fun he:

fired the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Among many other things it’s the military lawyers who determine what is a legal order and what’s not. If you’re planning to give illegal orders they are an obvious obstacle.

Paul, we’ve talked about this. Stop drinking up the leftist fake narrative like a lush sailor. Bad Paul.

[XU_Lou]

Paul, we’ve talked about this. Stop drinking up the leftist fake narrative like a lush sailor. Bad Paul.

Paul, Ville, Bobbie and Hoopster need to consume less ultra-processed news, and more raw, organic news.

[paulxu]

Some people are apparently fine with incompetence. Others would like to see some adults in the room.

[Xville]

Some of the comments from the fringe on this thread would be hysterical if it wasn’t so sad. It’s all a conspiracy!!!! Gobble gobble trump deep state derp derp derp. Cheering for politicians like they are your favorite sports team is fucking weird

[xuwillie]

Some people are apparently fine with incompetence. Others would like to see some adults in the room.

Funny That's exactly what ive been saying to friends the past 4 years

[bjf123]

Funny That's exactly what ive been saying to friends the past 4 years

Public reps!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[hoopster68]

My post was an answer, but I’ll explain for you. It’s absolute horseshit and bears no relevance in 2025. Trying to claim Russia today has the power of the post-WW2 USSR is preposterous and disingenuous. Furthermore, we shouldn’t give a shit what happens in EU when we have ample problems of our own. Further furthermore, if we need to be concerned about EU countries falling to Marxist dictators, we should be watching what is happening in Germany, Romania, the UK and others.

Hope that helps. Stop watching the “news”.

MID: A quick Google search produces the following stats: USA active solders as of June, 2024 = 443K + 498K reservists

Russia: (estimate as the Russians don't post info too often!): 550K active soldiers + 1M reservists
Russia still has the 2nd most nuclear weapons in the world.
Lastly, the reason to take Russia/Putin seriously is he doesn't care how many soldiers he loses. . .he simply wants more land, mineral resources, water + the ability to stay in power. He will bully any and all that get in his way! Recent history tells us that "negotiating" with him is foolish; too bad the Trumpster has no sense of history. Soon he'll be known as the "Appeaser in Chief" and Neville Chamberlin will sigh in relief.

[Xville]

MID: A quick Google search produces the following stats: USA active solders as of June, 2024 = 443K + 498K reservists

Russia: (estimate as the Russians don't post info too often!): 550K active soldiers + 1M reservists
Russia still has the 2nd most nuclear weapons in the world.
Lastly, the reason to take Russia/Putin seriously is he doesn't care how many soldiers he loses. . .he simply wants more land, mineral resources, water + the ability to stay in power. He will bully any and all that get in his way! Recent history tells us that "negotiating" with him is foolish; too bad the Trumpster has no sense of history. Soon he'll be known as the "Appeaser in Chief" and Neville Chamberlin will sigh in relief.

Not taking russia and Putin seriously is quite possibly the dumbest thing ever written on this board. Some very clearly don’t understand Putin at all. He’s former kgb, he wants to get back to the Soviet Union. To not believe that is not facing the reality of his thought process and the way in which he was groomed from a little child. Beyond fucking stupid.

Notice how nowhere did I mention that Ukraine is some innocent little country, btw but U.S. needs to protect U.S. interests

[GoMuskies]

Sounds a lot like colonialism.

It doesn't, but whatever you want to call it, I appreciate getting something for our efforts. We should have taken some of the oil in Iraq, too.

[Strange Brew]

MID: A quick Google search produces the following stats: USA active solders as of June, 2024 = 443K + 498K reservists

Russia: (estimate as the Russians don't post info too often!): 550K active soldiers + 1M reservists
Russia still has the 2nd most nuclear weapons in the world.
Lastly, the reason to take Russia/Putin seriously is he doesn't care how many soldiers he loses. . .he simply wants more land, mineral resources, water + the ability to stay in power. He will bully any and all that get in his way! Recent history tells us that "negotiating" with him is foolish; too bad the Trumpster has no sense of history. Soon he'll be known as the "Appeaser in Chief" and Neville Chamberlin will sigh in relief.

What are the U.S. interests in Ukraine?

[Xville]

Strengthens nato, strengthens industrial base in Europe, weakens an enemy. If you want to give the perception of being weak to Russia, and in turn china, the assholes in the Middle East, and North Korea, be my guest. But it’s ignorant.

[hoopster68]

Strengthens nato, strengthens industrial base in Europe, weakens an enemy. If you want to give the perception of being weak to Russia, and in turn china, the assholes in the Middle East, and North Korea, be my guest. But it’s ignorant.

+1

[Strange Brew]

Strengthens nato, strengthens industrial base in Europe, weakens an enemy. If you want to give the perception of being weak to Russia, and in turn china, the assholes in the Middle East, and North Korea, be my guest. But it’s ignorant.

How does it strengthen NATO? Ukraine is meant to be a buffer between NATO and Russia. I’m not sure the Euros see Russia as an enemy as they buy energy from them.

I don’t think brokering a peace deal is weakness especially as the Euros and China aren’t at the table.

However, if you think continuing a stalemate/war of attrition which Ukraine ultimately loses (they will as the are already out of military age soldiers) and costs the US billions is a good strategy, well you can have that opinion.

[XU_Lou]

How will the Democratic Party survive?

* Their polling is absolutely atrocious right now - much of America hates them

* Their donors are abandoning them

* Their base is devolving into civil war

* They're on the wrong side of numerous 60-40 / 70-30 issues, but continue to double down against the will of the American people

* Everyday DOGE is exposing massive corruption, which in-turn is drying up a major source of revenue for the Dems

* The loons on the left continue to pull the strings within the party, which means the Dems will be unable to course-correct at anytime in the near future

[Xville]

How does it strengthen NATO? Ukraine is meant to be a buffer between NATO and Russia. I’m not sure the Euros see Russia as an enemy as they buy energy from them.

I don’t think brokering a peace deal is weakness especially as the Euros and China aren’t at the table.

However, if you think continuing a stalemate/war of attrition which Ukraine ultimately loses (they will as the are already out of military age soldiers) and costs the US billions is a good strategy, well you can have that opinion.

Tell me what you think peace looks like to Ukraine that is acceptable? Then, how “peace” wouldn’t look weak. The only way Russia accepts “peace” is if they get what they want.

Euros and china are on the table by extension. How those dots aren’t connected, is an interesting take. Everyone, friends and enemies are watching.

Do you honestly believe in your gut that this is where Russia just stops? They get what they want and all is well?


Of course no one has all the answers, but for certain people to imply that we shouldn’t be concerned with Russia? I’d be concerned that their synapses aren’t firing.

[Strange Brew]

Tell me what you think peace looks like to Ukraine that is acceptable? Then, how “peace” wouldn’t look weak. The only way Russia accepts “peace” is if they get what they want.

They can have Eastern Ukraine which is primarily ethnic Russian. They can’t have Odessa or Kiev.

Then, start flooding Europe with US LNG to make Russia poorer while enjoying our new mineral rights in Ukraine. Nothing weak about that.

[Xville]

They can have Eastern Ukraine which is primarily ethnic Russian. They can’t have Odessa or Kiev.

Then, start flooding Europe with US LNG to make Russia poorer while enjoying our new mineral rights in Ukraine. Nothing weak about that.

Sounds simple except that you can’t trust Russia to just accept this and not pursue other opportunities. Not as long as Putin is in power

[Strange Brew]

Sounds simple except that you can’t trust Russia to just accept this and not pursue other opportunities. Not as long as Putin is in power

So what is the alternative? A continued bloodbath that ends with Russia eventually taking the whole country. The mistake was the change in US energy policy that gave Russia the ability to arm itself again. That genie is out of the bottle.

[Xville]

So what is the alternative? A continued bloodbath that ends with Russia eventually taking the whole country. The mistake was the change in US energy policy that gave Russia the ability to arm itself again. That genie is out of the bottle.

It’s a good question with no easy answer. I believe that in the end Russia won’t stop trying to take it completely over regardless.

Not you per say but there are those on the board that clearly have zero clue about putin’s beliefs and thought processes

[XU_Lou]

So what is the alternative? A continued bloodbath that ends with Russia eventually taking the whole country. The mistake was the change in US energy policy that gave Russia the ability to arm itself again. That genie is out of the bottle.

Bingo! You make too much sense to be on this board sometimes...

[Strange Brew]

It’s a good question with no easy answer. I believe that in the end Russia won’t stop trying to take it completely over regardless.

Not you per say but there are those on the board that clearly have zero clue about putin’s beliefs and thought processes

They can try however the US did learn a whole lot about Russia’s conventional military capabilities. Which is not that impressive. That said, we did figure out pretty quickly that the M1 Abrams needs an overhaul/replacement. Also, the A-10 “Warthog” is getting a major upgrade as well as a result.

[XU_Lou]

Who is William J. Burns?

William J. Burns was the director of the CIA during the Biden administration. He also served as U.S. deputy secretary of state under Obama. He speaks fluent Russian as well, as he also served as the ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008.

Back in 2020, he published a book called "The Back Channel".


For those of you have forgotten history, have ignored it, or are plainly trying to re-write it, you might try to learn a little from a person that has far more expertise than anything being presented on this board:

In "The Back Channel", Burns "directly contradicts the argument being proffered by the administration he now serves. In his book, Burns says over and over that Russians of all ideological stripes—not just Putin—loathed and feared NATO expansion. He quotes a memo he wrote while serving as counselor for political affairs at the US embassy in Moscow in 1995. ‘Hostility to early NATO expansion,” it declares, “is almost universally felt across the domestic political spectrum here.” On the question of extending NATO membership to Ukraine, Burns’ warnings about the breadth of Russian opposition are even more emphatic. “Ukrainian entry into NATO is the brightest of all redlines for the Russian elite (not just Putin),” he wrote in a 2008 memo to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “In more than two and a half years of conversations with key Russian players, from knuckle-draggers in the dark recesses of the Kremlin to Putin’s sharpest liberal critics, I have yet to find anyone who views Ukraine in NATO as anything other than a direct challenge to Russian interests.” "


* At the 2008 Bucharest summit, NATO leaders asserted that Ukraine would eventually join NATO

* In 2014 Russia invaded Crimea

* On April 15, 2021, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Melnyk said that if Ukraine is not allowed to join NATO, his country might have to reconsider its status as a non-nuclear weapon state to guarantee its defense. On February 19, 2022, a few days before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky renewed such sentiments, suggesting that Ukraine could view the Budapest Memorandum as invalid should its security assurances not be met.

* At the June 2021 Brussels summit, NATO leaders reiterated the statement made at the 2008 Bucharest summit that Ukraine would eventually join NATO

* In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine


Bottom line: Yes, the history between the two countries is very complex, but this war clearly didn't have to happen. You can make a strong argument that Russia was provoked. The corrupt elites in the US and Europe wanted this war - for the own personal gain. Was any effort made on our part (or Europe) to stop this in the last 3 years? No. Why?

[bobbiemcgee]

Today's irony ....trump celebrating black history month

[XU_Lou]

Today's irony ....trump celebrating black history month

Irony? Weren't the Dems the party of slavery?? LOL!

[waggy]

Awesome

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1893386883444437415 (https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1893386883444437415)

[paulxu]

Just think of the thousands of US soldiers (federal employees) in countries around the world, without email, who suddenly resign.

MAGA

[Muskie in dayton]

Just think of the thousands of US soldiers (federal employees) in countries around the world, without email, who suddenly resign.

MAGA
Yes, that’s who they are needing an explanation from. Let me guess - CNN? You are an absolute ass clown.

It’s telling that the smallest drop of accountability makes them scream like a 2-year who had his candy taken away.

[Muskie in dayton]

Today's irony ....trump celebrating black history month
…and here’s Bobbie with the “Trump is racist” trope. Everyone with a functioning brain is on to this hoax. But hey, this tired old crap is why Trump won, so please, carry on.

[Muskie in dayton]

MID: A quick Google search produces the following stats: USA active solders as of June, 2024 = 443K + 498K reservists

Russia: (estimate as the Russians don't post info too often!): 550K active soldiers + 1M reservists
Russia still has the 2nd most nuclear weapons in the world.
Lastly, the reason to take Russia/Putin seriously is he doesn't care how many soldiers he loses. . .he simply wants more land, mineral resources, water + the ability to stay in power. He will bully any and all that get in his way! Recent history tells us that "negotiating" with him is foolish; too bad the Trumpster has no sense of history. Soon he'll be known as the "Appeaser in Chief" and Neville Chamberlin will sigh in relief.
Before you broke out the 1950’s domino theory. Now you are judging military might by number of soldiers? The 1800’s just called…

Sheesh. By the way, all that red in your reputation bar makes your really stand out!

[paulxu]

Yes, that’s who they are needing an explanation from. Let me guess - CNN? You are an absolute ass clown.

It’s telling that the smallest drop of accountability makes them scream like a 2-year who had his candy taken away.

Read the idiot's Xpost. Demands a response,from every federal emplyees, and if he doesn't get one, it's a resignation.
Of course it's going out from OPM; who earlier had said there was no requirement ever to respond to their emails.
And some departments are telling their people to ignore the emails.

Children let loose in our government.
(for the unenlightened, soldiers are federal employees.)

[Strange Brew]

Read the idiot's Xpost. Demands a response,from every federal emplyees, and if he doesn't get one, it's a resignation.
Of course it's going out from OPM; who earlier had said there was no requirement ever to respond to their emails.
And some departments are telling their people to ignore the emails.

Children let loose in our government.
(for the unenlightened, soldiers are federal employees.)

The military members will be fine Paul.

BTW, I don’t remember you being upset when military members were fired by the Biden Admin for not getting COVID shots.

[bjf123]

Read the idiot's Xpost. Demands a response,from every federal emplyees, and if he doesn't get one, it's a resignation.
Of course it's going out from OPM; who earlier had said there was no requirement ever to respond to their emails.
And some departments are telling their people to ignore the emails.

Children let loose in our government.
(for the unenlightened, soldiers are federal employees.)

In general, I’m in favor of a lot of what Trump and DOGE are trying to accomplish. This is flat out stupid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[xuphan]

In general, I’m in favor of a lot of what Trump and DOGE are trying to accomplish. This is flat out stupid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I am also in favor with trying to reduce government spending to reduce the amount of debt put on this country. However, I have no faith in politicians and billionaires actually accomplishing this in a thorough way. Would like to see Trump not taking these expensive trips to Super Bowls and racing events that aren’t needed. Turn on the TV like the rest of us. Lead by example. Also would like to see this done gradually and not so all at once. Will be interesting to see how the economy reacts to DOGE laying off/firing large amounts of people.

[hoopster68]

Before you broke out the 1950’s domino theory. Now you are judging military might by number of soldiers? The 1800’s just called…

Sheesh. By the way, all that red in your reputation bar makes your really stand out!

MID: History judges every generation. Appeasers never win; the bully always wants more. Are you an appeaser, a fellow-traveler or do you stand with our commitment to NATO and other European countries for actions that have prevented war since the '40's?

[Strange Brew]

MID: History judges every generation. Appeasers never win; the bully always wants more. Are you an appeaser, a fellow-traveler or do you stand with our commitment to NATO and other European countries for actions that have prevented war since the '40's?

What does Ukraine have to do with our commitment to NATO?

[hoopster68]

What does Ukraine have to do with our commitment to NATO?

SB: Note that I said "our commitment to NATO and other European countries": in my mind Ukraine fits into the latter category as a democratic nation. Should we support their defense against Russian aggression is the primary issue for the US; do you agree? If not, what would be your solution to Putin's invasion?

[bobbiemcgee]

…and here’s Bobbie with the “Trump is racist” trope. Everyone with a functioning brain is on to this hoax. But hey, this tired old crap is why Trump won, so please, carry on.

The naacp is suing him, so we'll see.

[bobbiemcgee]

I laugh at all the depositions trump will under go.He will have to tell the truth

[paulxu]

I laugh at all the depositions trump will under go.He will have to tell the truth

Not going to happen.
Just the other day he said his approval rate was the highest ever.
When in fact it's at the lowest level ever for a president at this point, going back to '53 when they started measuring.
He can't help but to lie...about everything.

[bobbiemcgee]

Musk's son put a booger on trumps desk. Time for a refinishing. Lol

[Strange Brew]

Not going to happen.
Just the other day he said his approval rate was the highest ever.
When in fact it's at the lowest level ever for a president at this point, going back to '53 when they started measuring.
He can't help but to lie...about everything.

Haha, whatever Paul. CCN had him at over 50% just a week or so ago. Keep posting the comic relief..

[Muskie in dayton]

Read the idiot's Xpost. Demands a response,from every federal emplyees, and if he doesn't get one, it's a resignation.
Of course it's going out from OPM; who earlier had said there was no requirement ever to respond to their emails.
And some departments are telling their people to ignore the emails.

Children let loose in our government.
(for the unenlightened, soldiers are federal employees.)
I didn’t realize you posted on X.

If one can’t respond to a simple email, they either don’t exist, don’t check their email, and/or don’t do anything to support a response. Just a drop of accountability is too much for some. Fire them all.

[Muskie in dayton]

In general, I’m in favor of a lot of what Trump and DOGE are trying to accomplish. This is flat out stupid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Accountability is stupid?

[xuphan]

Not going to happen.
Just the other day he said his approval rate was the highest ever.
When in fact it's at the lowest level ever for a president at this point, going back to '53 when they started measuring.
He can't help but to lie...about everything.

Can we get a link to this approval rating?

[bjf123]

Accountability is stupid?

Not at all. But asking every federal employee to do this is.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Strange Brew]

Can we get a link to this approval rating?

CBS has 53/47 approve
Rasmussen has 51/49 approve

My mistake earlier. I was referencing a CNN segment in which their moronspondent was in disbelief about the CBS poll. Which is hilarious to watch.

[xuphan]

CBS has 53/47 approve
Rasmussen has 51/49 approve

My mistake earlier. I was referencing a CNN segment in which their moronspondent was in disbelief about the CBS poll. Which is hilarious to watch.

Ya, No idea how Paul is coming up with such a low approval rating. I think I saw 50-55 percent positive approval rating so far.

[XU_Lou]

Meanwhile, the loser Democrats have an approval rating of just 21% - the lowest ever.

https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3919

[GoMuskies]

Ya, No idea how Paul is coming up with such a low approval rating. I think I saw 50-55 percent positive approval rating so far.

It's the lowest approval in the paulxu household since Nixon.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Meanwhile, the loser Democrats have an approval rating of just 21% - the lowest ever.

https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3919

You are a complete fool and the epitome of why politics has turned into tribalism. To truly succeed, you need contributions from both sides. It’s not winners and losers. People who look at it that way are already lost. Those that see it as voting and hoping for the best have it right. It’s not a sport, you didn’t win anything.If you think you did then you are stupid as your posts read.

[Xville]

You are a complete fool and the epitome of why politics has turned into tribalism. To truly succeed, you need contributions from both sides. It’s not winners and losers. People who look at it that already lost. Those that see it as voting and hoping for the best have it right. It’s not a sport, you didn’t win anything, if you think you did then you are stupid as your posts read.

10000 percent. As I said about five pages ago, those rooting for politicians like they are your favorite sports team is beyond stupid. Some fail to understand that we are all on the same side or supposed to be. Seeing one as good in every action they make, while seeing the other is bad in every action they take is the epitome of complete ignorance.

[waggy]

Biden belonged in a nursing home. 8 more trillion on the debt over the last four years.

[bobbiemcgee]

Same as trump you forgot to mention. Think you meant Billion
.

[XU_Lou]

You are a complete fool and the epitome of why politics has turned into tribalism. To truly succeed, you need contributions from both sides. It’s not winners and losers. People who look at it that way are already lost. Those that see it as voting and hoping for the best have it right. It’s not a sport, you didn’t win anything.If you think you did then you are stupid as your posts read.

What in God's name do Democrats have to offer right now? I'm sorry if you have your head buried in the dirt and can't see all the damage they've done to this country, and leftists in general throughout the world. You people are like cancer, and must be eradicated.

BTW, AZ, I love how you do your drive by comments, and then leave the thread for several weeks.

How did all of you and your auditor buddies miss all the corruption being unearthed by Musk? Are you all in on the take? What an embarrassing and pathetic profession to be associated with right now.

[xuphan]

What in God's name do Democrats have to offer right now? I'm sorry if you have your head buried in the dirt and can't see all the damage they've done to this country, and leftists in general throughout the world. You people are like cancer, and must be eradicated.

BTW, AZ, I love how you do your drive by comments, and then leave the thread for several weeks.

How did all of you and your auditor buddies miss all the corruption being unearthed by Musk? Are you all in on the take? What an embarrassing and pathetic profession to be associated with right now.

You really believe democrats or people who don’t believe everything from the Republican Party are cancer and they should be eradicated from this planet? Do you really believe that or did you pick that up from somewhere? How would you propose eradicating between 100-200 million people?

[paulxu]

Oops.

The federal court system told staff on Saturday evening to ignore DOGE’s latest message, which demanded that federal employees submit a bulleted list documenting their recent activities.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/judicial-branch-instruct-employees-to-ignore-mass-doge-email

[paulxu]

According to the most recent Gallup poll, Trump is the least popular president in more than 70 years.


Or, as the company put it on its website: “Trump’s job approval rating is 15 points below the historical average for all other elected presidents in mid-February since 1953 … .”

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2025/02/21/trump-approval-rating-elon-musk-chainsaw/79377370007/

[Strange Brew]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2025/02/21/trump-approval-rating-elon-musk-chainsaw/79377370007/

Cool, cool Paul. The polls I cited were from today. He’s more popular than Biden was a few months ago and HE’s STILL THE POTUS!