Rings a chime or two with me.

The next act will be China seizing Taiwan since the 2 dictators met during the Olympics most likely to discuss their world dominance plans. Tulsi Gabbard needs to stop flapping her gums and place the blame where it squarely belongs, on the shoulders of the Loon. The Ukraine has every right to join NATO if it so chooses and being on the border should not be a disqualifier. Other NATO nations also share borders with Russia. Ukraine tried to pacify the Russian Loon (read KGB) and look where it got them, he still invaded.

The Loon has made a fool of himself on Fox TV and supposedly they cut him off which is probably a new experience for both. The Repugnicans are surprisingly silent about the Ukraine which is disturbing.

Ruth, you are right. We are dealing with the consequences but with our hands tied.

On the other hand, good that the Loon got cut off t.v. He is heavily delusional and still has a laser focus on believing that 2020 was stolen from him and he can get it back. I've read often and I'm sure you all have too that Loon's handlers are careful about letting him out. He lives his obsession of convincing EVERYONE that he was cheated out of 2020. The loss he can't call a loss. I wonder if that is what helps him not face ALL the losses since the election. Though he lost enough before, that started a ball rolling that has not stopped but he seems not to pay all that much attention. He is going to end up like his dad and never have to acknowledge that he is the loser he really is.

Sad thing is with his distorted life realities he never learns anything. Not sure there is hope that his offspring will learn. Speaking of that the ?Tiffany seems to not be evident in the family scene anymore like she was right after the Loon lost. That was a big surprise to me. Guess if there was a chance to get on the money train for sure that was the time.

Tucker always looks so perplexed.

...and one more....(I also blame Trump for giving any oomph to Putin....)(asshole, per usual!! BOTH of them!)

Hi Trill!!

Just came across this good reading from Heather Richardson:

This morning, President Biden spoke with the leaders of the G7, the world's wealthiest liberal democracies, and tweeted: "[W]e are in full agreement: We will limit Russia's ability to be part of the global economy. We will stunt their ability to finance and grow Russia's military. We will impair their ability to compete in a high-tech, 21st century economy." G7 countries, which control 50% of the world's gross domestic product, will participate in isolating Russia.

Early this afternoon, President Biden announced more sanctions on Russia, squeezing its financial system, its economy, and its political leadership. The Treasury Department also announced sanctions against state-owned banks, defense and security industries, and individuals in Belarus, "due to Belarus's support for, and facilitation of, the invasion." The U.S. will also block Russian access to emerging technologies.

According to the White House, the European Union, Australia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom all are planning their own sanctions. Tonight, the leaders of the European Union announced "massive and targeted" sanctions against Russia, hitting 70% of the Russian banking market, oil exports, and Russia's access to technology.

Remember him?

Good reading from Gen. Mark Hertling....

Conversation

Mark Hertling@MarkHertling

·

After one of my @CNN appearances, one of the anchors asked me off-air why I had confidence in Ukraine's army to push back agains the illegal Russian military onslaught. I used a bit of "battlefield math" to explain my rationale.

There are two major factors most military folks consider to determine combat power: the force's resources and the force's will. There are more elements under each of these categories that contribute to military capabilities.

2/ The force's RESOURCES: that's quantity (size of the force, Number of different capabilities...like air, artillery, # of soldiers), quality of equipment, extent and specificity of their training, their logistics & ability to resupply, their intelligence, etc.

3/ The force's WILL: soldiers' morale, a belief in the cause for which they fight, support they receive from both their fellow citizens & their government's leadership, their unit leaders...and especially, what they get from their comrades. Values are a big piece of this.

4/There are historical examples where a force with superior WILL can defeat a force with superior RESOURCES. Forces with an unshakable belief in what they are fighting for - with the right support - can overcome a force that seemingly has superior resources.

5/The Russians currently have an advantage in resources. The quantity of their force provides a quality all its own, their equipment is relatively good (not great), their artillery and long range fires are devastating, and they have air superiority. But...

6/ Russian training sucks (I say this having seen Russians train & seeing how they conduct "exercises"). Their log & intel is clumsy. Their soldiers are mostly 1-yr conscripts, not professionals, and they have a poor NCO Corps. Their officers - for the most part - are terrible.

7/ When I first served w Ukrainian soldiers (in 2004), they were also poorly led, trained & disciplined. But they have improved, significantly, because of revamped training, more battlefield experience & good leaders. BTW, I wrote this piece about my experience w/them in 2014.

8/ Since then, Ukraine's Army has continued to evolve...and now, they have an extremely supportive population, good officer & NCO leadership, they are a professional force w/ a good reserve ready to support, & their government is also supportive.

9/ Add to this, Ukraine now has allies...all over the world. More support. Putin has turned the Russian effort into one receiving scorn, because of the lies and crimes HE has committed. That will worsen as RU forces continue to commit battlefield atrocities, which they will.

10/ Ukraine had a tough first day. Tomorrow will be tougher. Combined RU conventional, unconventional, cyber, air, arty & special ops tools will be tough to address. But Russia is still on the *offensive* so they have to act, and must continue to "move." They will wear down.

11/ Though Ukraine's initial defense wasn't great today, it will improve. Whether called an "insurgency" or a "guerilla war," UKR will wear down an enemy that already has low morale & an even lower support from their population back in mother RU (see protests).

12/ Don't discount the RU Army's increasingly unwillingness to fight for Putin. They will see their *cause* as being suspect....if they don't already. And they will experience more battlefield deaths than they anticipated, which will cause even more protests at home.

13/ It will likely be a long fight. Putin will be increasingly portrayed as a loser. He not a risk taker, he's a gambler. You can mitigate risk, but you can't overcome a losing gamble. Putin will go the way of Stalin,Hitler, Ceausescu, Saddam.

14/ And Ukraine will be a stronger nation...but only if we continue to stand beside.

Even if I may be going through a challenging experience, I am grateful, for I know that good will come from it. Will I learn of inner strength that I didn't know I had? Will I gain a renewed appreciation for my life and the people in it? I am grateful for my present circumstances, for I know they offer opportunities for growth.

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Jackie and Betrayal-- Am so-so,so,so happy to see you also!

It was wonderful to get Trump booted out of the Oval Office but now and then like a wicked bug he reappears or says something totally idiotic.....his response to Putin's recent deeds and words--his "that's smart"--just underscores what we all know--as do millions of others: he's a joke!

No, wait, that's being unfair to jokes, many of which can be very funny and worth the hearing. He's below joke level. Don't know what to call that but it's down there with ripe sewage!

UGH!!

Bravo Judge Jackson. Now we just have to unite to make sure she is not held back for any reason.