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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 27, 2014.

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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

nan said:

PVW said:

nan said:

PVW said:

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 27, 2014.

Ok, so you are talking about Crimea, which I'm guessing we have different opinions about, right?  

What is your view on this?

Go back through this thread. You'll see that I've consistently referred to Russia's actions of 2022 as an escalation of the war it began in 2014.

WHAT????  You are so Russophobic that I tend to glaze over your habit of blaming the Russians for everything.   You are saying the Russians began the war in 2014?  How?

By invading and occupying Ukrainian territory. Most people have no problem recognizing that as war.

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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

In February of 2014, Crimea was the legitimate territory of Ukraine. And Russia invaded and occupied it. It also sent troops into eastern Ukraine to stoke an insurgency.

You're free to explain why you feel Russia was justified in going to war against Ukraine, but let's be clear that this is what you're doing.

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Discussion: The Rose Garden and White House happenings: Listening to voters’ concerns

mtierney said:

Meanwhile, back in another NYC courtroom, this is happening…

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/13/nyregion/jury-selection-menendez-trial.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sk0.DT5n.Vti3R1DuVDuJ&smid=url-share

Gold bars were found, concealed into the lining of his suits — really?!

Let everyone know when you find a defense of Menendez in his current legal difficulties by a poster on MOL, or a local Democratic politician, or a NJ Democratic politician, or a national Democratic politician.

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Discussion: The NYT Spelling Bee Thread

got the QB. It's been a good week :-)

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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

I did. He's a liar and those who believe him are dupes. Take, for instance, where he talks about WWII -- he conveniently skips over the fact that the war began, not with Germany attacking the USSR, but with the USSR and Germany allied and jointly attacking Poland. In the context of Ukraine, his talking about millions killed very pointedly skips over the millions killed by the USSR.

His speech is full of similar dishonest omissions and misdirections. It's a speech that relies on his audience's ignorance and credulity.

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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

nan said:

tjohn said:

nan said:

They did not have enough men to take Kyiv.  It was a diversion.  They left as a good will gesture after the peace talks--which then broke down.  Of course western media turned it into huge cinematic deal. 

It's hard to decide which of Nan's ideas are the most bizarre, but this one is up there.

Not as bizarre as Putin thinking he could take the city of Kyiv with the number of troops he had surrounding the city at the time. 

Weren't you the person who suggested we all reference the Institute for the Study of War for "real" information?

Make sure you read the article I posted about their funding and biases. It might just surprise you.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/russia-ukraine-war-isw/

Considering that the attack on Kyiv, if successful, would very likely have given Putin the quick win he wanted, I don't believe for a minute that it was a unserious diversion.  Secondly, while I can think of many cases of military operations intended to be diversions from main thrust, I am hard-pressed to think of any that were not expected to succeed.

The most obvious explanation for the failure of the attack on Kiev is that it failed for operational reasons - in other words, the Russians didn't have the skills to pull off a large, fast-moving combined arms operation.  And that is not a criticism of Russia, really. Very few armies can manage large operations without a huge amount of practice.  The German Army of WW II is really the only army I can think of that managed large scale operations well from the beginning.

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Discussion: The Rose Garden and White House happenings: Listening to voters’ concerns

Jaytee said:

I’m wondering if trump’s minions are behind the scenes offering money to the families of the jurors. This guy is capable of anything, and right now a hung jury is all he needs. 

I'm thinking that a hung jury might happen. It has to be intimidating for most people to have not only Trump but all of the Republican political figures watching the jury and observing them arrive and leave the courthouse. They must be worried about being photographed or followed. A big responsibility to convict a former President with all of the crazies out there.

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Discussion: What does Putin want (and whatabout it)

Let me see if I can sum up the Nan doctrine:

- If any former SSR shows signs of U.S. meddling, this represents and existential threat to Russia, and there are no limits on how Russia can respond. Anything -- invasion, occupation, annexation, threatening nuclear strikes -- is justified in response to an existential threat.

-  Any former SSR that acts against Russian interests is acting on behalf of the U.S. No post-Soviet state would ever, of its own volition, act against Russian interests. Any state that does so,and any political leader in such a state that does so, is an agent of or being manipulated by the United States.

- No act by a former SSR to provide for its own defense against current or future Russian aggression is justified, because if Russia is threatening it this means Russia is responding to U.S. meddling. In fact, the very act of taking defensive measures is itself proof of ill intent against Russia, directed by the United States.

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Discussion: American Water Homeowner Water Line Protection Program

There are insurance companies that do offer the protection. It is less expensive than Amer Water and provides a dollar amount of insurance to repair the sewer line if if becomes damaged.

My experience with Amer Water protection was mediocre at best. It was with my mother's house which I was managing when she was in memory care.

Sewer starts backing up. So I call. They can't get anyone there for a day or so. As I recall (It was 8 or 9 years ago) they hired different plumbers who made three or four visits. After three visits, they called a plumber who had a scope to video the pipeline. He finds the sewer line is broken into two parts and one section dropped an inch or two lower than the other. This means that the wastewater is leaking into the ground and the water table.

The correct cure would be to dig up the road and replace pipe. They didn't want to pay for that. Somehow, they put a "patch" and the sewer line stopped backing up into the house. 

For all I know, It may still be leaking into the water table.

--- Then I look at my cousin's experience last year. He had no insurance at all and ended up with a $14k bill.

My takeaway: Find and insurance company that offers this coverage. However, potential for this damage is rare so if you can "self-insure," that is an option.

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