this is becoming a bit obsessive.. probably time for a new thread for people who read treaties in their spare time.
Miles Jaffe
Feb 17, 22 12:38 pm
I agree, the the daily media blasting of an "imminent Russian invasion" is obsessive. But if you don't like talking politics maybe you should avoid the politics central thread.
square.
Feb 17, 22 12:46 pm
imo this has moved beyond general political banter that makes sense in the context of an architecture and design website - constructing the conversation is as important as content dumping.
tduds
Feb 17, 22 12:46 pm
I wouldn't call any of this "politics"
SneakyPete
Feb 17, 22 12:47 pm
Big difference between talking politics and trying to have a drink of water when the only tap available seems to be an uninvited fire hose.
Non Sequitur
Feb 18, 22 11:41 am
But Pete, there is fluoride in that tap water.
randomised
Feb 19, 22 6:10 am
The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe that they are calling for a complete mobilisation in the Luhansk and Donbass, Biden wants his war one way or the other…if only the US recognised the International Criminal Court in The Hague :-(
,,,,
Feb 19, 22 8:52 am
I can't fathom all the mistrust toward VP.
His legendary humanitarian humanitarianism is legendary.
I ask you in all seriousness can you name a more benevolent, trustworthy, kind, generous world leader?
He has made it his life's work to eliminate world hunger and poverty.
For crying out loud he makes cat videos and puts them on YouTube.
randomised
Feb 19, 22 10:37 am
VP as in former Vice-President Biden?
proto
Feb 19, 22 11:23 am
“The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe“
Citation please (you claim multiple, so pick a couple specific threats)
,,,,
Feb 19, 22 1:19 pm
Apparently my razor wit doesn't work on a dull mind. Noted for future reference.
randomised
Feb 19, 22 1:52 pm
Proto, just read the tweets by Biden or any major news outlet that posts news where the only source is US or NATO “intelligence”…come on, not going to do your homework:
American escalation: “The US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday appeared to compare Russia’s military to a snake that was uncoiling and preparing to strike Ukraine, after a massive military buildup that has stoked the biggest east-west crisis since the cold war.”
European de escalation attempt: “ Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, warned that it remained unclear whether Vladimir Putin had yet made a decision about Ukraine, tamping down Washington’s urgent warnings of an imminent invasion.”
Honestly can’t understand you all don’t (want?) to see this…midterms coming up I guess, fending off republicans is more important than preventing the loss of innocent lives.
randomised
Feb 19, 22 1:54 pm
z if you call that razor wit I hope you have a beard or a barber(!)
proto
Feb 19, 22 3:17 pm
So, no severe threats cited, thanks for confirming…
[btw, you make the accusation, it’s up to you to support it, not the reader to go “do homework”…]
proto
Feb 19, 22 3:25 pm
You said, ““The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe“. I haven’t seen any threats made by Biden&co, much less severe ones. So, please enlighten me as to WTF you are referring to…
proto
Feb 19, 22 3:28 pm
To wit…the Austin quote you picked IDENTIFIES a threat; it does NOT MAKE a threat.
randomised
Feb 19, 22 4:16 pm
Your americentrism is blocking the view from the rest of the world…Biden c.s. are hammering on an invasion for weeks now, even the Ukrainians are sick and tired of hearing it as it doesn’t help them in the slightest. If you don’t understand the psychology of that, well try reading some international news, start with The Guardian or Al Jazeera, German papers except Bild are also a good place to start.
proto
Feb 19, 22 5:35 pm
So, again…your statement “the threats Biden&co are making” is just false. They are not making threats. That has zero to do with my perspective. It isn’t an opinion.
Further, your presumption that I can’t/won’t/don’t read an international paper is also false.
randomised
Feb 20, 22 11:22 am
That statement isn’t false, they are making threats constantly, non-stop, that you don’t identify those as threats is because it simply doesn’t touch you…
proto
Feb 20, 22 1:36 pm
No, you are hyperbolizing facts to suit your politics. Words have meaning. There are other ways to say that the US publicly confronting Russian military posturing is raising the risk level of confrontation without making shit up about issuing threats. I’m calling out your use of language because it’s hyperbolic and intentionally deceptive. People claim to want to have “conversations” but they don’t work when the basis of discussion is based on fantasy projections.
proto
Feb 20, 22 1:57 pm
My apologies to other readers…I’m done with this particular line of commentary.
randomised
Feb 20, 22 2:35 pm
I’m only calling out the one(s) using the hyperbolic language…it is fear mongering from safely far away USA, by a MIC administration that can’t wait to escalate a precarious situation instead of deescalates it. I’m done with this particular line of [politics].
tduds
Feb 21, 22 2:12 pm
Pointing something out is worse than doing it.
randomised
Feb 21, 22 4:19 pm
if only it was just innocently pointing fingers...the US and NATO are building up their military forces on the Eastern edge of Europe for years now.
It’s quiet because there’s no discussion possible here unfortunately. But the move by Russia was to be expected. Ukraine is/was a failed state for a very long time, long before the USSR fell apart. Back in the 90s when Ukraine was about to give up its nuclear weapons the US also called it a Yugoslavia (remember that war) waiting to happen, but with nuclear weapons…
Now that Donbass and Luhansk with majority of ethnic Russians (and many Russian citizens) have officially been recognised by the Duma, with the conflict in Donbass and Luhansk increasing as both Ukrainians and the resistance wanted to make quick advances before any negotiations, it is wise someone stepped in and forced a stalemate. The Ukrainians will not confront the Russian army directly and the Russians will not likely go into western Ukraine, that’s not where the Russian people are and they will meet strong and permanent resistance. As the Ukrainians didn’t want to federalise their country and give the eastern ethnic Russian side more autonomy, like states have in the US, they took matters into their own hands back in ‘14…
Anyone remember the Nuland tapes where US government officials are basically deciding who should run Ukraine, which nationalist (anti-Russian) puppet to install after a democratically chosen president would be kicked out of office? Biden was in on it back then as VP…it is so disgusting coming from “the leaders of the “free” world”.
This is simply Russia stepping in to end US imperialist expansion by making it impossible for countries to join NATO as they don’t control all their borders. It worked with Moldova, Georgia and now it will work with Ukraine too. If the US and NATO don’t respect their agreements with Russia and if Ukraine is unwilling to respect the Minsk agreements, this is the result…unfortunately, so yes it is exactly because of Biden/US/NATO!
SneakyPete
Feb 23, 22 4:07 pm
Please post supporting links from RT.com. You'll find them in your browser history, no need to type it in.
SneakyPete
Feb 23, 22 4:09 pm
This Russian Imperialism is just Russia attempting to preempt US / NATO Imperialism in order to avoid US / NATO Imperialism. Do not think about this, I am VERY SMART (!).
randomised
Feb 23, 22 5:34 pm
My gosh you don't know about the negotiations that led to the Minsk agreement? How under Bush sr. Ukraine was called to be a potential Yugoslavia (disintegrating civil war and genocide etc, remember?) but...with nuclear weapons? Or the NATO statement that their operation should not be to the detriment of the security of other states? While US/NATO have surrounded Russia and placed (nuclear) missiles there pointing at...Russia? When Khrushchev wanted to help Cuba against their aggressive neighbour to the north US almost started a nuclear war. Or the US-backed coup in 2014 that removed Ukraine's president (sounds all too familiair doesn't it, you probably call it foreign policy). Or the Nuland-Pyatt controversy? Or that it is because of NATO's ambitions with Ukraine that Russia took control of Crimea to protect their navy fleet in the Black Sea. Your lack of common knowledge on Ukraine i.a. is nothing short of embarrassing.
Everyday Architect
Feb 23, 22 5:50 pm
It's embarrassing that you both keep posting at each other.
SneakyPete
Feb 23, 22 6:10 pm
rando, you know nothing about what I do or do not know.
randomised
Feb 23, 22 6:18 pm
I know enough to know you don’t…
SneakyPete
Feb 23, 22 6:29 pm
i know you are but what am i.
SneakyPete
Feb 23, 22 6:29 pm
And on that note, I am putting the little dutch boy in time out.
randomised
Feb 24, 22 3:28 am
Thanks, SP…as the shit is now hitting the fan all over Ukraine and Putin is “trying to demilitarise their neighbour” I’m putting myself in time out as well…hope
Everyday Architect
Feb 23, 22 2:24 pm
At my last home the neighbors on one side were a Ukrainian couple, and the neighbors on the other side of us was an American who married a Russian woman. Separately they were all very nice, but I never saw them talk to each other once. Not even a wave or nod of the head to acknowledge one another. There was probably some history that we missed before we moved in (we weren't there in 2014, but I'm assuming that might have had something to do with it). I can only imagine the tension I'd be able to pick up on if we (and they) were all still living there.
The Russian woman had some mental challenges that apparently were the result of treatments she had for a brain cancer of some type. I never really got the details, but she would often bring up how much she struggled mentally because of the cancer. The Ukrainian couple were computer programmers.
My wife and I privately joked that the Russian was a former spy who had "an accident" involving head trauma from some type of failed op, and the Ukrainians were spies tasked with keeping an eye on her to make sure their government knew if she was ever "activated" again.
Anyway, the Ukrainians sold their house and moved to Portugal (i.e. they bugged our home and overheard us discussing their secret spying and their cover was blown, so they had to be reassigned), and then around a year later we sold our house and moved too (not to Portugal unfortunately).
square.
Feb 24, 22 9:20 am
guess there was a short rain check..
tduds
Feb 24, 22 11:27 am
From something I wrote in 2018, that feels oddly prescient today:
The post-WW2 global order was (for better or worse) almost entirely based on the premise that the US / UK will give a shit. In return, the US / UK benefitted immensely from the status quo.
The people currently in charge are the first generation to have no memory of the world before this order was imposed, and they massively underestimated the natural instability of it's existence. We began to see the maintenance cost of this system not as an investment from which we massively benefited, but as a tax imposed, for which we are not thanked enough.
It only took a small disinformation campaign by powers who stand to benefit from the disintegration of the system to convince the US and UK to shrug off their duties and turn inward.
I'm not saying the US/UK imposed order was necessarily good, or that the goal should be to return to it. I'm simply saying that this is a systemic failure - one baked in from the start - and *something* needs to exist in its place, because a vacuum quickly descends into despotism and war.
What we're witnessing now are the first pieces of a crumbling infrastructure that we wrongly assumed was the default state. It's what the world becomes when the people charged with giving a shit forgot they needed to.
sameolddoctor
Feb 24, 22 5:11 pm
True, but the "infrastructure" is not crumbling. It is merely being reshaped by Russia, with China's full support. It may seem more like dick-wagging, but it is actually nothing short of China and Russia writing the new world order by showing the west what they can do, while erstwhile superpowers like the US and EU look on.
tduds
Feb 25, 22 11:38 am
The infrastructure of liberal democracy is crumbling and a competing infrastructure of autocracy/authoritarianism is swooping in to fill its place.
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 24, 22 4:36 pm
Wonder Woman
square.
Feb 25, 22 12:31 pm
pretty incredible to look back at some of the (terrible) takes about the current russia-ukraine situation - it's why i originally suggested people stay in their lanes.. claiming to have some personal knowledge/insight based on a curated selection of "true" media about how major global powers are acting is absurd.
instead, i've taken the opportunity to try to educate myself a bit about the history and context leading up to this moment (i'll admit i've been pretty ignorant about a lot of it), which i believe is the most we can do, especially as designers on this side of the world. it's one thing to comment and question, and another to attempt to predict or claim.
SneakyPete
Feb 25, 22 1:29 pm
but if i do that i wont get any internet points
randomised
Feb 25, 22 4:34 pm
I’m in shock how the west has poked the bear and did nothing at all to back up their bluff, they instead called putin’s bluff and he is going all in. I’m in shock as this is happening right next door to my family, a war zone at their border just 300 miles away, on the doorstep of Europe. I’m in shock as I don’t see Europe, the US or NATO with any plan to stop this besides some sanctions here or there, where China will easily step in and buy Russia’s natural resources that power the European economy. They’ve been sanctionproofing their economy for years already. Sanctions that don’t mean anything to the Ukrainians. They’ve been fooled, thought they could join the EU or NATO just like that, they’ve been tricked by a coup/regime change instigated and backed by the west who then took their hands off and ran away, leaving the Ukrainians dangling to deal with the fallout that put everything at risk. I’m in shock when I see the chaos, the death and destruction of a country I have such fond memories of, a proud people that welcomed me so generously after their Orange Revolution. I’m in shock as I see the beautiful and familiar places I’ve visited getting destroyed and now don’t see where and how this will end as even radiation levels are rising coming from the exclusion zone around Chernobyl…I’m simply in shock
square.
Feb 25, 22 5:11 pm
is this meant to be a response to my post? your narcissism (i, i, i..) is unparalleled
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 25, 22 5:17 pm
Random, I thought you wanted to get rid of nato?
,,,,
Feb 25, 22 5:52 pm
Rando, you do understand a soverign nation has been invaded right? You do know who is the bad guy right?
randomised
Feb 26, 22 10:28 am
It’s a personal response hence the personal perspective, has nothing to do with narcissus. But I guess you don’t understand living in a country that is always the aggressor, occupier and invader and the toppler of governments and not the one being invaded, overthrown and occupied. And we don’t need to get rid of nato, they just shouldn’t give people false hope. it’s the aggressive expansion of nato (during a time of Russian weakness after the collapse of the CCCP) that paved the way for a crook like Putin to emerge and all the wars he started and countries he invaded, not sure why people have this blind spot…and also remember it was nato/us that bombed the Serbs that redrew the map of Europe single-handedly and without UN backing in 99, they killed the Slavic orthodox brothers and sisters of the Russians and forced the establishing of Kosovo. That is pure propaganda gold for Putin to justify his stance against nato…nato kills his kind of people (even though the Ukrainians are also Slavs and orthodox, being a dictator must be difficult to twist your mind like that etc, similar to the US pretending to be a global peacekeeper I guess). The EU and Russia will come out of this weaker and damaged, that’s what the US has aimed for all along in this conflict and earlier (remember Nuland!). But I have good hopes that the people of Russia will rise up against Putin now, looking at the streets of Russian cities packed with anti-war demonstrators, I really hope that cat escaped the bag as well and that Ukraine prevails. But enough for now, back to doom scrolling all the different news outlets, The Guardian is doing a splendid job with their live feeds.
The EU has been dragging their feet mostly cuz they need Russia's oil
randomised
Feb 28, 22 3:38 pm
Yes, the EU doesn't usually invade other sovereign countries to "get" at their oil, they pay for it, and Russia is quite close by so yeah...
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 25, 22 6:26 pm
Bad Boyfriend
randomised
Feb 28, 22 8:05 am
Something to think about, a linguistic map of Ukraine followed by an excellent informative lecture from 6yrs ago on the build-up of the conflict in Ukraine:
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 11:30 am
Some other things to think about.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 12:17 pm
Hahaha, not the same…and you know it, I hope. You could also just watch that YouTube-video by the University of Chicago, or only listen to its audio while working, if you’d want to learn something about this conflict that is…up to you :-)
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 12:20 pm
Did I say they where the same? I said there are some other things to think about. What are you thinking about?
square.
Feb 28, 22 12:33 pm
yes rando, please use your architecture degree and educate us on global geo-political issues; i see it's helped you find and post a video that has been circulating the internet for days now. very impressive.
sameolddoctor
Feb 28, 22 12:47 pm
Same dumb conspiracy theory video
randomised
Feb 28, 22 2:22 pm
Sorry, that it doesn’t even cross your collectively brainwashed minds that the US is not the good guy…must be tiring to label everything that doesn’t fit in with your worldview a dumb conspiracy. It is because the US refuses to give in a single inch (expanding their influence so aggressively led to the Russian-Georgian war in ‘08 and the annexation of Crimea in ‘14) that Putin didn’t see any other option than the military one…(not that I agree with him, obviously) and the US doesn’t care, they will only profit from this, motherfucking warmongering imperialists in power, dem and rep, even worse than Putin. Starting illegal wars all over the world, seen Condoleeza Rice on Fox? Probably not… I’m am truly amazed that educated Americans as yourselves don’t see through this…but whatever, it is probably all propaganda and an anti-American conspiracy, right? The US is even capable of using the suffering of the Ukrainian people for US domestic political gain…
randomised
Feb 28, 22 2:31 pm
EA, this was not directed at you
sameolddoctor
Feb 28, 22 2:36 pm
The problem with being (for lack of a better word), the "Big Dog" is that you get criticized for everything. Most of us on this forum are aware that the US government is not saintly, by any means, but blaming the US for the actions of a madman is just plainly dumb. Perhaps the EU governments should also do some meaningful action rather than sit and drink their espressos, playing armchair wars, cuz they mostly have no say or resources to do anything else. But perhaps, that's not the issue. The issue is that hundreds of thousands of families and kids are being displaced, while most of the world looks the other way.
square.
Feb 28, 22 2:41 pm
text book strawman - where specifically did i say us was the good guy? i'm well aware of the us/nato's role in much of this, but your post further proves my point that you're largely talking out of/to your ass with no particular audience in mind, repeating the same (narrow) "arguments" over and over, projecting them at the supposed flag-waving, saber-rattling americans on this site who in reality aren't talking to you. a bit nutty if you ask me.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 2:45 pm
The overlap in language and political affiliation is almost 1:1 in Ukraine (2004-2007-2010, so pre-coup, pre-annexation):
Looks kind of like they are two different countries...
randomised
Feb 28, 22 2:53 pm
"The issue is that hundreds of thousands of families and kids are being displaced, while most of the world looks the other way."
With most of the world meaning the US...those women and children being displaced are being picked up at the border and taken in by those "horrible" regimes like Poland and Hungary among others, private people from all over the bordering countries (minus Belarus obviously) are driving to the border to pick up people and provide them shelter and a home, including their pets.
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 22 3:00 pm
Rando - weren't you the one who stated that only a fool would come to Archinect to learn about current geo-political events? Why post about any of this here? Why not go to an actual reputable political site to have these discussions?
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 3:12 pm
I don't think the portrayal that Ukraine looks like two different countries is helping much. A divided Ukraine is more problematic globally than a unified one whether it sides with Western alliances, Russia, or remains relatively neutral.
If I recall correctly (it's been a bit since I watched it or read a summary of it), that's also one of the points of the speaker in the video you posted. Isn't one of his points that a unified and neutral Ukraine is probably the best overall outcome? In other words a divided Ukraine with the western side allied with NATO and Western Europe, and the eastern side allied with Russia would be disastrous because of the conflict that would likely erupt along the dividing line between the two?
randomised
Feb 28, 22 3:19 pm
I believe that was about coming to archinect for medical advice, wasn't it? Not sure, haven't slept all that well these last few days...had to take my kids to an anti-war demonstration yesterday in our capital for which my 4yr old painted a lovely Stop Putin sign that is now in our window, he's worried about his grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins living at the border of a war zone and asked me dead serious if we have a bomb shelter in our apartment building.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 3:24 pm
"text book strawman"
not really, it is textbook cause and effect unfortunately.
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 22 3:27 pm
Rando - pandemic info, politics, religion - it's all geo-political. The question stands. Why come to an architecture site to debate politics? Wouldn't yo be better served with by using a reputable political site? You'd learn more and have access to better informed users with current information. Why debate here?
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 28, 22 3:31 pm
I'm trying to figure out what those maps of election results prove? It's like when people show large swaths of the grand canyon as voting republican, as if....
sameolddoctor
Feb 28, 22 4:48 pm
Rando, no one called the Hungarians, Romanians and Poles "horrible people". Kudos to them for helping out and sheltering the Ukrainian people, and if I am not mistaken, the largest amount of aid, both supplies-wise and personnel-wise is coming from the US. I do not see many people from dutch families going to help.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 4:49 pm
b3ta, it proves what you want it to prove...that it's a failed state deeply divided along ethno/linguistic lines perhaps.
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 4:52 pm
Ugh, can we try not to turn this into a tit-for-tat "look at what we are doing to help Ukraine" dick-wagging competition?
randomised
Feb 28, 22 4:57 pm
chad, this is the site, I thought, where also politics could be discussed among many other things (some even architectural), I know I'd have other equally well informed people (as myself) to discuss with at other sites but it is clear that my mission is here, so much educating to do here, why should I preach to the choir? so much work/deprogramming to be done here!
square.
Feb 28, 22 5:00 pm
so much work/deprogramming to be done here!
this is the problem - you're not engaging in debate or discussion with anyone; you're presenting your dilettante "research" as objective truth, with and incredibly arrogant and condescending tone, when in reality it's quite obvious you know only as much as your profession allows.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 5:06 pm
Another possibly informative piece of the puzzle, from just before Putin's invasion, watch (or listen) at 1.25/1.5 speed and it doesn't even take too much of anyone's time:
randomised
Feb 28, 22 5:23 pm
fyi square, my profession allowed me to study Ukraine, visit Ukraine, speak with Ukrainians in Ukraine...and do a project there, but what do I know? better follow the storyline served up by the traditionalist hawks in name of "freedom and democracy"
randomised
Feb 28, 22 5:24 pm
"Ugh, can we try not to turn this into a tit-for-tat "look at what we are doing to help Ukraine" dick-wagging competition?"
The US has done enough already[/sarc]
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 28, 22 5:55 pm
Jimmy Dore? Really? That fuck? Really.
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 28, 22 5:55 pm
Wow, spoke to Ukrainians. Sounds a little bit like Sarah Palin.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 6:02 pm
Yes b3ta, really...the first and only video of Jimmy Dore I've ever seen, what's the problem with that? Don't know the guy, I just listened to what was being said, you could try it sometimes perhaps. Oh wait, you're shooting the messenger to not have to watch the message, right? And yes, I've been to the Ukraine, have walked on the same very streets that have seen an Orange Revolution, a massacre and a US backed/instigated coup and now a war, my guess is, you haven't...
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 22 6:21 pm
Rando - I don't believe that you participate in other reputable political forums. You're too scared.
proto
Feb 28, 22 6:55 pm
certain messengers have reputations for their messaging -- that's life when you are pushing messaging for outrage clicks
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 22 6:57 pm
proto - that's a sad and pathetic way to get fleeting attention from people who will forget you the second they leave the forum
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 28, 22 9:15 pm
Sure random, you're right, but I did stay at a Days Inn, so I think I know more than you.
randomised
Mar 1, 22 2:36 am
"Isn't one of his points that a unified and neutral Ukraine is probably the best overall outcome? In other words a divided Ukraine with the western side allied with NATO and Western Europe, and the eastern side allied with Russia would be disastrous because of the conflict that would likely erupt along the dividing line between the two?"
EA, I'm not saying that because Ukraine looks like two separate countries ethno/linguistically/politically that it should simply be cut up and divided, it is just to show how complex and complicated it all is...Ukraine actually means something along the lines of Border Land etymologically and it shows... A neutral Ukraine is exactly what China is opting for as well, so the US will obviously never let that happen, they'd rather let Putin shoot Ukraine to smithereens as long as they can dump massive amounts of weapons there for the opposing side(s) in a never ending conflict for years and years to come, draining Russia and EU resources :-(
Lockheed Martin stock value:
randomised
Mar 1, 22 2:44 am
"Rando - I don't believe that you participate in other reputable political forums. You're too scared."
Chad, maybe I wasn't clear, but why should I preach to the converted/the choir? Has nothing to do with being scared of some little conversation/discussion, I just don't have an interest in joining a political forum. I'd rather discuss politics here and educate some in the process...you're very welcome!
randomised
Mar 1, 22 2:49 am
"certain messengers have reputations for their messaging -- that's life when you are pushing messaging for outrage clicks"
Proto, that doesn't mean they're wrong though, just that you refuse to acknowledge that they might be right (in this case)...I think it is actually quite dangerous if you constantly and consistently shut out certain sources of information beforehand, you'll be only partly informed, more susceptible to misinformation and fake news without even realising it.
square.
Mar 1, 22 9:25 am
I'd rather discuss politics here and educate some in the process...you're very welcome!
you must be delightful in-person.
Chad Miller
Mar 1, 22 10:24 am
Rando - your posts here are riddled with strawmen, misinformation, logical fallacies, and blatant trolling. As such your credibility and reputation is nearly as nonexistent as x-jla's. With such a reputation you're not educating anyone. You're not a stupid person and you must realize this. All you're doing is hearing yourself talk for the sake of your own ego.
As I said above, this is a sad and pathetic way to get fleeting attention from people who will forget you the second they leave the forum.
randomised
Mar 1, 22 11:09 am
I don’t want attention, I would like people to educate themselves on what is happening here. The ease at which an alternative, not American centric, but very well informed explanation to events is ridiculed and/or ignored by highly educated people is just beyond comprehension to me and makes me very sad in the times ahead. A little understanding for the arguments and issues of people you have a disagreement with is totally absent it seems, the widespread American propaganda is a stubborn one…it wouldn’t even for a single second come to mind that the US has had a major role in bringing the war back to the European continent, and the people that dare to question the role America plays on the global stage are ridiculed left, right and center.
square.
Mar 1, 22 11:19 am
just because we aren't playing your dumb troll games doesn't mean we aren't educating ourselves - again, pompous, presumptuous, and borderline narcissistic that you need to be involved in order for others to be enlightened.
Chad Miller
Mar 1, 22 1:08 pm
Rando - where has anyone said that the US didn't influence the invasion of Ukraine?
Any remotely informed person understands the long history of how the US, Russia, China, Belarus and their allies have influenced this war.
You're not educating anyone. You're spreading bullshit conspiracy theories about a war because you're scared and don't understand what's going on. Just stop.
tduds
Mar 1, 22 1:10 pm
All of Rando's points in this discussion rest on two assumptions that make me extremely uncomfortable: 1) that Ukraine shouldn't have agency in their own foreign policy pursuits, and 2) that ethno-states are good.
Chad Miller
Mar 1, 22 1:48 pm
tduds - I've noticed that about a lot of Rando's views. He's very ethno-centric and seems to have the view that people need to be told how to live by the rules he has set forth. It's almost like an authoritarian regime with Rando.
,,,,
Mar 1, 22 1:54 pm
Rando, posting of that language map is one of VPs manufactured justifications for invasion. In essence it is analogous to manifest destiny- the political predicate for the genocide of Native Americans. It takes a lot of temerity to presume anyone's ignorance of
political leaders and their policies past and present. You are not educating anyone.
b3tadine[sutures]
Mar 1, 22 2:04 pm
tduds, those maps only heighten my sense of random.
tduds
Mar 1, 22 3:49 pm
Another thing that strikes me is that I don't think these views are particularly out of step with
mainstream European liberalism.
proto
Mar 1, 22 4:27 pm
..
Chad Miller
Mar 1, 22 4:28 pm
I can't comment on the mainstream views of European liberalism. I can say that I find the majority of Rando's ethno-centric authoritarian views hypocritical.
poop876
Mar 1, 22 4:55 pm
Chad, can you provide anything concrete like Rando has done? Just curious!
Chad Miller
Mar 1, 22 6:47 pm
poop876
The things Rando has posted aren't concrete - they are screen grabs and conspiracy theories. If you like I can post a dozen links to what the current situation is in Ukraine. Of course the links will be outdated by the time I post them.
I find it odd that people are arguing about assigning blame for the war instead of the various potentially apocalyptic ways countries are attempting to stop or promote it.
randomised
Mar 2, 22 5:39 am
"All of Rando's points in this discussion rest on two assumptions that make me extremely uncomfortable: 1) that Ukraine shouldn't have agency in their own foreign policy pursuits, and 2) that ethno-states are good."
You couldn't be more wrong tduds...I'm not against Ukraine having agency in their foreign policy pursuits, it's just that it is very difficult to know what and where Ukraine actually is as a country and as a people, they are deeply divided, so deeply that people started a separatist movement to break away from it all. When their previous (democratically elected) president (the one that had a western backed coup against him after he shot at pro-western protestors) wanted to make a deal with the EU, a not so lucrative one for Ukraine, Russia simply offered a much better deal for Ukraine that the president thought was in the best interest of his country and his people, the Ukrainians. So the West instigated a coup and put their puppet there to force the deal with the West. So yeah, who is having agency here or there? And I don't think ethno states are by definition good or bad, nor multi-ethnic ones. Let's judge states/States by their actions how mono- or multi-ethnic they are is irrelevant. All I wanted to highlight is the long running and deep divide through the country, that seemed (understatement) to be impossible to bridge, similar to Yugoslavia after their Communist dictatorship...
randomised
Mar 2, 22 5:47 am
Chad, It is very easy to simply label everything that doesn't fit in with your views a conspiracy. When I write here about the war in Ukraine, when I try to explain a point of view that doesn't make it my personal point of view. Sorry if that all goes over your head. I'm not pro ethno-states run by autocrats at all, doesn't mean I can't try to understand their point of view in the matter to better understand the situation.
tduds
Mar 2, 22 11:01 am
I don't have time to refute each individual claim up there but that's Russian propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
Rando - it's easy to label something a conspiracy theory when it doesn't have any evidence to back up it's claims. It's even easier when said theory's only supporting evidence is a YouTube video.
proto
Mar 2, 22 1:12 pm
Thx for posting that...interesting perspective, tho not sure I agree that the results follow as implied without acknowledging Russian imperialist aspirations.
There are a whole number of countries who play nicely together and are not threatened by NATO. I imagine NATO-neighboring countries look at both sides; and subsequently some are requesting entry, and others are happy to see stability but not interested in joining. The choice to apply, in and of itself, is telling of the dynamic at play when considering the Russian position.
randomised
Mar 2, 22 3:48 pm
Chad, the evidence is not the YT videos but what is being discussed in the videos, that lecture from University of Chicago has quite a clear timeline in it of events that could help you put things in perspective.
tduds
Mar 2, 22 4:04 pm
Whether or not Ukraine joins NATO is (and should be) up to Ukraine. Like I said above, any other position is based on denying agency to the country itself.
randomised
Mar 2, 22 4:46 pm
Nope, it's not up to Ukraine but up to NATO: "Any decision to invite a country to join the Alliance is taken by the North Atlantic Council on the basis of consensus among all Allies."
Everyday Architect
Mar 2, 22 7:08 pm
Do you notice how that says "invite a country to join" and not "compel a country to join." It's up to Ukraine if they want to accept the invitation.
Note the invitation has to have consensus among all the allied member states as well. So maybe you could simply lobby at home for your government to vote no on their inclusion. Probably have a better result that trying to educate us here. You've already made it clear you have concerns with them in the EU so it shouldn't be that hard, right?
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 12:17 pm
Am I being too cynical when I see statements about stopping work in Russia and I think it's because of the sanctions that are being imposed and not necessarily because of solidarity with Ukraine, etc.? Because if I am, please let me know I am, and why I shouldn't be so cynical.
P.s. I also get that it could actually be both sanctions and solidarity.
b3tadine[sutures]
Feb 28, 22 2:32 pm
It's not cynical. Firms are definitely going to hide behind sanctions.
sameolddoctor
Feb 28, 22 2:37 pm
The actual way to support the Ukrainians would be to stop work in China, the biggest supporter of the Russians. But no architecture office in their right minds will do that, cuz moolah.
randomised
Feb 28, 22 3:04 pm
If governments can hide behind measures so will firms...have already heard that the inflation and rising prizes are because of the war in Ukraine...firms design projects in China, in the Middle-East with basically slave labour or even in the US, so yes also in Russia and Ukraine. It is totally logical to stop working on projects in countries that are invaded, when the staff of your partner offices either has to flee or join the army. If they wouldn't stop work in Russia too (apart from the SWIFT and banking stuff), it would look like they chose sides, which would be a PR-disaster.
The biggest trade partner of Russia is the EU by the way, and the biggest trade partner affected by the sanctions is also the EU, but that didn't stop the EU from (finally) imposing these sanctions and simultaneously offer Ukraine EU-membership.
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 22 3:24 pm
I don't disagree that it would be a PR disaster to continue projects in Russia as you outline, I just think it's more of a scapegoat than anything else. If you ("you" generally ... not "you" specifically randomised) can't get paid for your work, you'll stop doing that work anyway. The PR thing is more or less to help you save face. I just don't think we need to trip over ourselves to pat firms on the back when they get the PR machine humming.
SneakyPete
Mar 1, 22 5:29 pm
I keep coming back hoping for some insights from the folks who use their noggins but all the new replies are under a thread started by some random internet troll, so I see nothing. Anyone want to pop up their thoughts so those of us with an ignore list can participate?
Non Sequitur
Mar 2, 22 8:11 am
You must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
Everyday Architect
Mar 2, 22 11:52 am
You're not missing much. No one is really trying to be an expert or, if they are, has shared that much insight apart from rando who apparently has it all figured out and has taken up the mantel of educating the rest of us ignoramuses.
Everyday Architect
Mar 2, 22 1:00 pm
Stupid typo. Mantle, not mantel.
randomised
Mar 2, 22 3:43 pm
"No one is really trying to be an expert or, if they are, has shared that much insight apart from rando who apparently has it all figured out and has taken up the mantel of educating the rest of us ignoramuses."
Maybe it's because I live in Europe and all of you simply don't...maybe it's because I've been to Ukraine and all of you haven't...maybe it's because my kids are multi-ethnic with Dutch/Polish and some German and Polish Ukrainian in there, with their grandparents living only 300miles from this warzone...maybe it's because my partner grew up under Russian occupation...maybe indeed I do know a little bit more of what's going on here and what's at stake on my continent than all of you safely far away with an ocean on each side, I'm half as far from Kyiv than LA is from New York...
tduds
Mar 2, 22 4:02 pm
We're all reading the same internet.
randomised
Mar 2, 22 4:43 pm
Don't necessarily think so, your internet is much more confined to the Anglosphere, mine is multi-ethnic and multi-lingual by default ;-)
Chad Miller
Mar 2, 22 6:26 pm
Rando - you've made several "all of you" statements that assume a lot. I for one can say you're wrong on all of those statements when it comes to me.
Stop trying to troll. You're really bad at it and just make yourself look foolish and rather conceded.
Everyday Architect
Mar 2, 22 7:18 pm
Sorry rando, I think you misread my comment. I never said nor tried to imply that it didn't affect you more or less than the rest of us. Being affected by and being expert in are not the same though. Nor does proximity automatically result in better understanding of the events. I appreciate your opinions, but perhaps they'd be better received if they were presented thusly and not as fact.
SneakyPete
Mar 2, 22 10:10 pm
I saw Ukraine on map once.
curtkram
Mar 17, 22 8:37 pm
I'm a few days late to this thread, but is random saying he can contribute something of value? If so, why won't he?
Hi everyone, I am just wondering if it is okay to talk about things controversial in ur MArch application portfolios..?
Non Sequitur
May 24, 22 4:29 pm
Such as what topics? Is the controversial topic one with the possibility of intelligent and balanced discussion or is it just nonsense pop-culture conspiracy shit idiot students follow because it makes them think they are smarter than others?
In this vein while it isn't a perfect (read long term solution) here in Denver its been exciting to watch the new Mayor's House1000 initiative and amazing that the goal was met before our recent 30+ hour stretch of subzero temperature.
ivanmillya
Jan 22, 24 6:42 am
While I agree 100% with the sentiment, I did some looking through Denver's House1000, because I was curious how this housing was tracked, and its quality of living... I found this article from last September:
"But anyone who was homeless on the streets who secured housing through the city and lives indoors for at least 14 days will have received what Johnston is considering a “housing outcome,” explained Clarissa Boggs-Blake, a manager with the Office of Emergency Management’s Joint Information Center, in an email to Denverite.
If people return to a tent from a shelter after 14 days, they will still be considered a part of the 1,000 people housed."
The article goes on that the "housing" being mentioned counts bridge & transitional housing, existing homeless shelters, and motel conversions. While those are safer than the outdoors during freezing temperatures, it's definitively not actually housing (at least according to federal standards).
Hi Jovan totally agree with the need to build permanent housing for all. That being said some of the initial concerns with metrics/tracking were addressed as I understand it. As one of the links I posted originally notes the program eventually found it "Housed 1,034 Denverites living on the streets in permanent units, converted hotels, and tiny home micro-communities, 98% of which are still indoors" though again totally fair to point out that "indoors" is certainly not same as a "home".
ivanmillya
Jan 22, 24 7:24 pm
"Tiny home micro-communities" also very much bothers me, for the same reasons as the link I posted above...depending on the specific project, these "micro-communities" are really just a polite way of saying "we took all the homeless people and put them into little garden sheds where they don't actually get to have personal space or property." I'd definitely have to read more into it, but I'm very cautious with most planned/designed solutions toward homelessness.
Donna Sink
Jan 23, 24 2:10 pm
I'm nervous over New Hampshire. I dream of seeing Haley demolish trup with the help of independent voters, but I don't have high hopes.
Non Sequitur
Jan 23, 24 2:28 pm
Hey now, NH is like just a few hours away from me... Ahhhhhh, the crazy is getting closer.
Chad Miller
Jan 23, 24 2:55 pm
I have no hope for anything anymore.
Chad Miller
Jan 23, 24 4:53 pm
Non - you better get your hocky sticks ready.
proto
Feb 24, 24 11:26 am
I had a conversation at dinner last night with friends from college. Someone remarked that our kids, who are in college now, haven’t been exposed to a presidential political cycle in which Trump wasn’t part of the conversation. Meaning as they became teens, their world awareness started to include the political/cultural/social/trend media; and that the old norms for rule-of-law, decency, moderation, or even compromise in politics are somewhat foreign to gen Z. They’ve grown up with outrage tactics and overstated spin as the common communication language; metaphorical comparisons aping as measured factual considerations; whatever gets clicks to emphasize an “emotional truth” [“truthiness”], if not always a factual one. Overstated opinions or entertainment as politics to garner clicks & views; provocative clickbait headlines with the facts buried “below the fold”. Youtube, “independent journalists”, facebook, snap, xwitter, memes, etc
I do wonder how this reflects in some of the political outlooks I see on here — without knowing the general ages of the various posters, is a generational experience coloring the presentation or the life-experience of the poster? How much has our current brand of outrage politics colored the way we share the american experience? If we share any experiences at all between generations despite us all seeing the public events unfold around us?
Also related & ongoing question every few years: how do people even get their news now? Talkradio/localnews/facebook/DailyShow/Tiktok/Xwitter/Truth/Fox/CNN/NYT/NPR/Breitbart/youtube/blog/etc
ivanmillya
Feb 24, 24 11:42 am
I was a tween when Obama was elected in 2008, and have lived in a variety of political climates since then (from moderate California to liberal democrat NYC to moderate republican SLC to where I live currently in Florida). I think dismissing my (or others') views as "Oh you're just too young to know anything beyond Trump's manipulative politics" is really ignorant of the fact that our world has been alarmingly becoming more unequal in nearly all categories of social life, and that younger people simply don't want the future that's being prescribed to them.
I primarily get my news from a variety of online sources, which include large media organizations from around the world (i.e. BBC, CNN, Fox, Al-Jazeera, etc.), as well as from Youtube, TikTok, and op-eds from various international zines and independent websites.
proto
Feb 24, 24 1:17 pm
Thank you for your response, Jovan. I appreciate it.
I do think there’s a cultural currency in urgency that is not correlated to actual impacts. No topic gets attention unless it is delivered as being dialed up to 11. While this has historically been true, it’s only in the internet decades that overstating a position in order to push a more moderate acceptable position has become a seemingly essential presentation strategy. And even more recently, it’s become a manner of communicating between people. Moderation or compromise is considered weakness (or lack of commitment; or complicity with the extreme opposite).
I question extreme statements as purposefully provocative because of this currency, especially as no one issue exists in a vacuum & not every topic can be catastrophic concurrently or everlastingly. Seeing past that communication style IMHO may require more perspective and experience [and is a spectrum without end, ie we keep learning and applying that revised perspective as we get older]. I totally get that that may appear dismissive. But I also am not going to apologize for what accumulated wisdom I can claim.
This media culture did not always exist & change still occurred.
I do want to understand why people hold their opinions. I do want to hear what helped them get there. I try to explain my arrival to a certain perspective as I am able. But I also hope that compromise is not dead because we are an incredibly complex world & no one gets their way all the time. [& sorry for the wall of text!]
gwharton
Feb 28, 24 11:23 am
The political divergence proto is lamenting here pre-dates the Trump Era by more than two decades, and is not a new thing by any measure. It's also much more accurate describe Trump's popularity and resurgent right populism as a reaction to it rather than a cause.
Note how far the median left position had shifted to an extreme vs the right median at the beginning of Trump's first term in office.
gwharton
Feb 28, 24 11:27 am
Similarly, in Congress, the positional overlap at the political center had completely disappeared by the early 1990s.
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 24 12:37 pm
gwharton, I hope you understand the second graph you posted contradicts your assertion from the first that the liberal median has shifted so drastically to the left when comparing 1994 to 2017. If not, here's a handy visual to help. Seems it's the median right that's shifting more extreme rather than the left.
*Now I know you'll say they aren't measuring the same groups or whatever, but if US House hasn't shifted that far, what is the first set of charts showing ... registered party members?
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 24 12:52 pm
So the first charts are about ideological consistency across 10 points, not about extremity. So you were inferring something from the visualization that the visualization was never meant to illustrate. Pew says so quite explicitly.
@gwharton, my lament isn't really about political divergence per se, but that def is a result. Dems & reps do traffic in it purposefully. It makes the presumption of dialog or progress difficult at best.
gwharton
Feb 28, 24 5:09 pm
If you look at the median shift directions and magnitudes in the Pew results over time, the trends are pretty clear. This animation helps illustrate them.
It also matches comparative experience. Trump is considered by many on the left today to be a deranged right-wing extremist. His actual policies and governing style are bog-standard 1994 Democrat.
Everyday Architect
Feb 28, 24 9:00 pm
An animation showing what exactly? There are no x- or y-axis labels to tell you so you default to a position that leftward motion is bad. Go back and read what the Pew survey is actually talking about and you'll see it's not about extremity but consistency. If you want to say the median liberal is becoming more ideologically consistent with liberal values or viewpoints ... that's fine because that's what the chart is showing. It's showing that fewer Democrats are holding onto conservative views and actually being ideologically consistent. Pew explains this if you wanted to read:
"At the same time, the center of the scale has shifted in a somewhat liberal direction over time. To a large extent, this is the result of the public’s growing acceptance of homosexuality and more positive views of immigrants, shifts that are seen among both Democrats and Republicans (GOP attitudes about immigrants are little changed over the last decade, but Republicans are substantially less likely to view immigrants as a burden on the country than they were in the 1990s)."
In other words, what you're really complaining about is that the general public, including some of those who call themselves Republicans, is becoming less homophobic and xenophobic. The largest shifts to the left are almost entirely in the realm of recognizing systemic racism and discrimination and prejudices against poor people, immigrants, and homosexuals.
proto
Jul 15, 24 12:30 pm
"His actual policies and governing style are bog-standard 1994 Democrat." [I didn't catch this back when]
I do not agree at all & the public record does not support that statement.
Aside from a tax cut and installing judges, nothing Trump has done has been rooted in traditional governance. He has 1) suggested (both in running for the position & in the position) illegal processes; 2) lied at an unprecedented rate (even with an allowance that we know politicians of all stripes "spin" stuff regularly); and 3) actively attempted to turn the presidency into an autocracy. These are not metaphorical partisan statements; this is his record.
sameolddoctor
Feb 28, 24 12:03 pm
Funny thing is that the liberals (screaming at progressives to vote for Biden) is the best thing that happened to the republicans. The more you scream, the less inclined I am to vote for anyone.
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 24 12:56 pm
Feel free to not vote but then you have no right to complain.
JonathanLivingston
Feb 28, 24 12:57 pm
Isn't the right
to complain enshrined in the constitution?
proto
Feb 28, 24 3:27 pm
"screaming"? hmm...
"Isn't the right to complain enshrined in the constitution?" right next to voting...
Chad Miller
Feb 28, 24 5:51 pm
Johnathan - not really.
The entire idea of the 1A is that your speech can cause change and thus the government can't regulate it. If you're not going to vote then you've given up your ability to affect change.
Sure you can still complain and feel like you're doing something, but in reality you're not accomplishing much. Now complaining and voting - that has the highest change of affecting change.
proto
Feb 29, 24 10:20 am
If we had RCV nationally, would that change enthusiasm to vote?
Chad Miller
Feb 29, 24 1:24 pm
I think that would be a great idea.
Donna Sink
Jul 15, 24 11:48 am
Goddammit. I'm so rage-filled and scared.
This is about Cannon, that crook.
Chad Miller
Jul 15, 24 12:04 pm
It's very weird.
proto
Jul 15, 24 12:20 pm
Pure speculation from this non-lawyer: I think history will show some sort of collusive communication with Cannon. The slow walking & unprofessional process was unusual in its utterly non-transparent subtlety.
gwharton
Jul 15, 24 1:33 pm
Cannon's decision is very obviously correct from a Constitutional law standpoint. The mystery is why it took her so long to issue it. Only Congress can create new offices and officers. Congress intentionally let the Office of Independent Counsel lapse, at which point it ceased to exist as a Constitutional body and closed. The Justice Department then tried to sidestep that by recreating it with no Congressional authority, and in doing so also deliberately tried to insulate it from accountability to any other Constitutional officer (such as the AG or US Attorney) as well as Congress itself. This was all true the moment Smith was "appointed," and has been true the whole time. Why is the charade only now being dismissed rather than at the beginning? That's the most important question.
Donna Sink
Jul 15, 24 2:33 pm
Fine, gwharton. It's legal. So was McConnell refusing to hold hearings for Merrick Garland's appointment to SCOTUS. So, possibly, was trump taking classified documents home and storing them in a toilet. It's all legal.
Do you think *any* of this is moving our country in a good direction that makes us a more prosperous, egalitarian, free society?
And don't weasel out. Are we, as a society, moving in a good direction?
gwharton
Jul 15, 24 2:38 pm
This country has been heading into a death spiral for 20 years, accelerating dramatically in 2012-2014. In hindsight, preventing Garland from being on SCOTUS was 100% a good thing. The guy has demonstrated a complete disregard for justice and the law as AG.
Chad Miller
Jul 15, 24 3:04 pm
gwharton
How has
Garland shown a 'complete disregard for justice and the law as AG?' This is a sincere question.
Please provide examples.
Donna Sink
Jul 15, 24 3:33 pm
And again, no matter how shitty Merrick Garland may be, why should his nomination have been prevented (purely legally, of course) because one Senator didn't like the Black president? That was the moment that killed our country, IMO.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 15, 24 6:51 pm
20 years....omg that's the most fucked statement I've read today.
graphemic
Jul 15, 24 7:05 pm
Donna, don't waste your energy spiraling off on minutia. Things really aren't so complicated.
proto
Jul 15, 24 11:12 pm
“Cannon's decision is very obviously correct from a Constitutional law standpoint.“
Um, no, not obvious at all. It’s partisan legislating from the bench: it was a page torn from Thomas’ instructive text just a short time ago when the conservative court decided presidents had broad immunity & we aren’t allowed to question it. This court is re-writing the Constitution by acting as the one true oracle who knows better than the long judicial history already in place. “Balls & strikes”, my ass…!
Non Sequitur
Jul 15, 24 11:40 pm
Hey, can you lower the dumpster fire south of my border for a bit... we're in a heat wave up here and I don't feel like running my AC on full blast 24/7.
Donna Sink
Jul 16, 24 7:02 am
graphemic, things truly are bad enough that I can’t ignore them. We only have rule of law for rich people, my gay friends could see forced marriage dissolution and no access to IVF, civil servants and veterans will lose rightfully-earned benefits… and even if none of that concerns you, the planet is dying, ya know? So maybe we should try to elect people who will do something about that?!
Bench
Jul 16, 24 9:30 am
NS - time for my annual check on the job market back home? just in case parachutes need to be pulled imminently...
Non Sequitur
Jul 16, 24 10:01 am
Bench, everyone I know is starving for staff but hardly anyone wants to actually work. Too many pseudo mid-level arch who want to "manage" and few who can actually get shit done makes for a very weird place. The folks I talk too (and us as well) refuse to overpay (ie poach) people... but the is loads of construction. Still better than trumpanistan.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 10:28 am
I'd work in Canada but I couldn't handle the metric system.
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 11:47 am
She ignored decades of precedent, something judges at her level aren't allowed to do. But the media are cowards and so they're both siding it. And like clockwork our local fascist enablers are out here spewing bs. Thanks for the reminder of why I don't come by here anymore.
graphemic
Jul 16, 24 12:06 pm
Donna: I did not say ignore the problems! I mean to suggest that time and energy should be used strategically. It's not building power to argue with randos on the internet, and I'm sure it will only aggravate you/us, leaving no more energy for better activities like reading, phone banking, organizing, etc. I feel the despair with you! Just take care of yourself.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 12:31 pm
SneakyPete - Who is 'she'?
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 12:45 pm
Judge.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 12:48 pm
Which one? Sotomayor or Kegan?
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 12:55 pm
The one being discussed. So neither of those.
Wilma Buttfit
Jul 16, 24 1:04 pm
Cannon.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 1:42 pm
I didn't want to assume - the each political camp seems to 'hate' several judges. I wasn't sure if we'd spun off to the justices . . . .
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 11:49 am
This country's current death spiral started with Reagan. Prove me wrong.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 12:31 pm
I thought you didn't come here anymore?
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 12:46 pm
I check in from time to time. There are good people here who I like. Unfortunately the worst voices became the loudest voices.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 12:51 pm
So you don't not come here anymore. Thanks for clearing that up. ;)
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 12:55 pm
And thanks for the reinforcement.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 1:40 pm
You bet! ;) Seriously though, how have you been?
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 1:57 pm
Trying to get a new job. Enjoying my kid.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 2:02 pm
Nice! I'll probably be starting one of those next year.
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 2:13 pm
I assume kid since you've always seemed to like where you work.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 2:14 pm
I have no kids and cannot father them.
SneakyPete
Jul 16, 24 2:23 pm
Then good luck with the job search / start.
Chad Miller
Jul 16, 24 2:38 pm
Thanks!
logon'slogin
Jul 16, 24 2:30 pm
I am afraid Trump is almost guaranteed to win the next election. Both houses will be his at the helm of the Republican Party. Brace yourselves. It will be a very different country after a landslide. It doesn't matter anymore whether Biden pulls out or not. Trump is elevated to an invincible American Hero status. He has already turned the justice system to his favor during his presidency, now he will finish the job across the board. There is also a new blue blood and a more sinister VP on his side. (link is a longish but very illuminating article)
Me? I am a Bernie supporter as he said "now it is Biden or bust." But more likely a bust...
Wood Guy
Jul 16, 24 7:17 pm
Heather Cox Richardson wrote recently that with all of his legitimate court cases going his way and not because of established precedent, that his is already a dictator--he's just not back in office yet. If elected, he will continue doing to this country what he's done with every business venture he's had--run it into the ground. His VP pick is just as terrible, if not worse. I'm with you, Biden because he's the only reasonable option.
Donna Sink
Jul 16, 24 8:15 pm
Trump plans to eliminate climate change initiatives, which should be enough for every architect to vote against him.
Edit to say: Trump's *handlers* plan to eliminate climate change initiatives, he's just their puppet.
Wood Guy
Jul 18, 24 10:56 am
He just wants the publicity and the favor of Russians that he owes loans to. As far as I've been able to tell, he has no morals, and does not actually care about anyone else. Which makes him a sociopath.
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 11:06 am
He's also an idiot. People keep saying he's 'smart' because of how much money he has and how 'good' at 'business' he is.. All his money is from his father. If Trump had taken the money his father gave him and simply put into a mutual fund he'd be worth 5x more than he says he's currently worth.
Wood Guy
Jul 18, 24 11:38 am
But he knows how to appeal to people, like any good sociopath. He just doesn't fool all of us.
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 11:49 am
It's interesting that people are calling Trump 'brave' because he 'fought off' the secrete service to stay on stage. The thing is, the secrete service removed him from the state and told him the shooter had been killed and he was safe. Trump then came back on stage. He didn't fight off anyone. He thought he was safe. It was all an act.
graphemic
Jul 18, 24 12:23 pm
Right there with you. Bracing for hard impact. What a miserable state of affairs.
proto
Jul 18, 24 2:24 pm
Earnestly I think the stakes are the same whether it's Biden or someone else. That bit baffles me when people say Biden's going to lose. I don't see anything changing the issues of Trump's danger to our country. Biden less attractive to voters, but nevertheless the backstop to Trump. A newcomer more attractive to voters, but again a backstop to Trump.
I do think Biden is showing that he is no longer the person he was. And so, he should not run.
Who should run? Democrats should be looking first for a really great communicator; & second, someone who also understands middle left policy thoroughly. Harris is way better than Biden, but I'm not sure she's that Great Communicator that the position requires to fire up voters & explain the way forward.
I'm not sure who fits that bill exactly, but I've been impressed w/ Transportation Sec Buttigieg in articulating issues every time I've seen him in the news. I'm sure there are others. There is a lot of wisdom in Biden's team & any new candidate can pick up that team as a starting point.
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 2:36 pm
Harris is a super-lame EX-COP. Kudos to her for being the first colored lady VP, but not sure what her role has been in the white house except for attending dinners.
proto
Jul 18, 24 2:49 pm
any VP has the same issues -- they're there to just support the prez & not get in the way of his policy
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 3:12 pm
The thing that I don't understand is why didn't people try to get a different candidate to run months ago?
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 3:14 pm
Cuz the Dems have gotten delusional in the last few years ... not sure how they could not see what most of us are seeing regarding Biden's policies and total inefficacies as a leader
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 3:15 pm
Proto, as much as I dislike Biden as the president, he actually had a major role in getting Obamacare passed, so theres that. Not sure what Harris can hang her hat on
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 3:24 pm
Sameold - I don't agree with your negative view on Biden. I also don't buy the idea that dems became delusional.
If members of the party were concerned about Biden's age and capabilities, why not bring it up months ago. I think the reason is that politicians are playing politics. I think they waited until they thought there was enough support then 'jumped on the bandwagon'. I suspect these politicians saying Biden shouldn't run are working an plan to position themselves for future advancement in the form of future elections or favors.
square.
Jul 18, 24 3:45 pm
people here are lapping up the media narratives and not looking at data. i still think biden will win, handily.. trump is historically unpopular and has lost every election since 2016. i've found the "attempted assassination makes him more popular" narrative laughable. replacing biden now is something that has never been done successfully. agree with chad - he wasn't my first choice but there's been plenty of time and process to choose someone else. if people are disillusioned now, how do you think they will feel about a replacement being handpicked by the dnc and private donor pressure?
Wood Guy
Jul 18, 24 4:27 pm
I think Biden has done a lot of great things, and a few terrible things, but overall his record is impressive. He's definitely old, though I think he would likely be fine for another four years.
Americans, and maybe people in general, are drawn to leaders who have a dynamic presence and they don't look too closely at the big picture. For that reason I do wish that Dems had chosen someone else, an orator like Obama, Clinton or Reagan. Because of the consequences, that is probably more important than any candidate's specific views and priorities.
But we're stuck with Biden, which puts our country in a precarious position; a Trump victory would fundamentally change our country for decades at least.
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 4:29 pm
Chad, I dont agree that ANYONE has a positive opinion of Biden per se, hes been extremely ineffectual before before his handling of Gaza. Is he better then Trump, sure - when the bar is set that low anyone is better.
Wood Guy
Jul 18, 24 4:32 pm
Sameold, Biden has gotten more things done in his 3.5 years in office than many presidents, and they are mostly good things. He has had to navigate some rough waters and the country is better for it. To say he's ineffectual means you're either not looking at facts, judging him based on appearance, or both. In my opinion.
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 4:34 pm
someold - If Trump was pro Palestine and would act accordingly, would you want him as POTUS again?
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 4:50 pm
Chad, That would definitely be a +1 for Biden in my opinion but probably not enough.
Quite frankly, not sure what his "achievements" are, with his flailing immigration policies (he actually built Trump's wall), rampant inflation etc. A few symbolic gestures towards PoCs and spending about 3.5 years attacking right wingers for the "insurrection, have been completely worthless gestures to many.
Dont get me wrong, Biden even with his flailing mental abilities is still way better than Trump, but so is a doorknob.
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 5:19 pm
Biden would definitely make a great Israeli PM lol. Didnt he once brag about his numbers being much better in Israel?
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 6:00 pm
someold - so you would vote for Trump is he was pro Palestine? Yes or No.
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 6:43 pm
No I would not. As i have repeatedly mentioned he is much worse than Genocide Joe.
Chad Miller
Jul 18, 24 6:56 pm
So you don't want Biden and won't vote for him but don't seem to care that that means you're helping Trump? Serious question.
sameolddoctor
Jul 18, 24 7:04 pm
I live in California so my vote does not make a difference. Serious answer.
Chad Miller
Jul 19, 24 9:24 am
So you'll vote for Trump, got it.
square.
Jul 19, 24 9:27 am
Quite frankly, not sure what his "achievements" are, with his flailing immigration policies (he actually built Trump's wall), rampant inflation etc.
honestly, this shows a pathetic in ability to look at things objectively. sameold is in the blueanon camp, can't look past their own pet issues with biden, who has been one of the most progressive and successful presidents in our lifetime. since i care about infrastructure, green energy, labor, and the economy, i give him overall high marks even though he wasn't my choice in the primary. i think he's been far, far better than obama except when it comes to giving speeches.
sameolddoctor
Jul 19, 24 5:06 pm
Chad, as I have said before an now, sitting this one out. Your assumptions are just that, and if I indeed were to vote republican, I would have no shame in mentioning it.
Square, sure your "pet issues" are Infrastructure, green energy, labor and the economy, got it. If you think the economy is doing well based on the statistics the WH keeps putting out, I have a bridge to sell you.
In the same way my "pet issues" are immigration and foreign policy, on both of which Biden has been extremely ineffectual. If not being Trump is all he's got, he really should step down.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 19, 24 6:55 pm
The Democrats have normalized nearly everything the Republicans have wanted to do. Now they're running away from trans people. They've abandoned workers, worked against rail workers, have done zip on the PRO Act. Yes, he got us out Afghanistan, but draws us closer to conflict in Asia, and Europe. He's been everything he said he was 50 years ago; a Zionist, and that will cost over 200k Palestinian lives. He's trying to salvage, and stem the blood letting that is happening daily, another senator just said he should end his bid. Now he decides a national rent control should happen, great. Now if he'd just nationalizes the electrical and petroleum industries.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 18, 24 10:41 pm
Gyno
Hole
Wood Guy
Jul 22, 24 10:21 am
So... Kamala? And who for VP?
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 10:32 am
Biden! ;)
Wood Guy
Jul 22, 24 12:13 pm
A friend noted that if she picks Shapiro, it would be a Black/Indian/Jewish ticket. He's strongly leftist and Jewish but he thinks that may be too much diversity for the general public.
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 12:15 pm
I say Wood Guy should be the VP nominee. Who's with me!
Wood Guy
Jul 22, 24 12:19 pm
Haha, I think we've had enough stutterers in the office for a while! I'd be terrible in the role in most other ways as well. I would entertain being a strategist or speech writer, but I don't really have the skills to be great in those roles either. Thanks though. ;-)
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 12:23 pm
We need more stutters in the office dang it! Represent! (I'm a stutterer as well).
sameolddoctor
Jul 22, 24 12:58 pm
Yay one more Zio?
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 1:00 pm
I'm not a Zionist. Neither am I pro Palestine. I'm anti-terrorist and pro non-combatants.
sameolddoctor
Jul 22, 24 2:08 pm
Not you Chad, Im talking about Shapiro
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 2:17 pm
OK.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 3:29 pm
Chad, you're pro-2nd?
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 3:37 pm
Pro 2nd? Pro Second Amendment?
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 5:21 pm
Actually I'm more curious about what would happen if someone tried to break into your home?
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 5:40 pm
Depends. This oversimplified answers are:
If I can - I'll be in my bedroom waiting for the cops. If not then the intruder may have a very bad, and short time in my house.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 6:32 pm
Ok. I think I understand. But let me ask you, would you feel justified in perpetrating violence on someone who violated the sanctity of your domicile? Assuming the police never arrived, or were too late to prevent your violent act.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 6:40 pm
I'm not Blue Lives Matter. Neither am I Anti-2nd. I'm anti-violence and pro-justice reform.
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 6:58 pm
I would feel justified in using deadly force to was trying to severely hurt or kill me / someone else. I've done it before and I'd do it again.
Now if I used to live in a house, kicked out the original owners, was later kicked out myself, then I moved next door, I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner.
sameolddoctor
Jul 22, 24 7:45 pm
What if there was a difference of around 1500 years in those events, Chad? And what if your whole 1500-year old scenario was supported by nothing but Bibilical texts and people parting oceans?
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 10:33 pm
Wow
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 10:38 pm
That’s a completely farsical narrative not rooted in anything but another completely farsical narrative. You know Bibi is
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 10:38 pm
...Bibi's family is Polish, right?
sameolddoctor
Jul 23, 24 12:40 am
Funny/Sad thing is that "moving next door", which he is equating to the lives of Palestinians is also totally farce. They were forced out. So we know where your sympathies lie, Chad...
Moreover, with 79% of the land given to the Zios in the Oslo accords, should they not have tried to live in peace, rather then build their ugly orange county esque developments all over Palestine?
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 8:00 am
The insane idea that Israel is a state rooted in any history is Evangelical fan-fic. It is a country created at the barrel of a gun. Jews, Muslims, Christians, and B'Hai all lived there peacefully prior to 1948. To suggest that European whites have some divine right is the language of the occult.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 9:54 am
sameolddoctor wrote:
"Funny/Sad thing is that "moving next door", which he is equating to the lives of Palestinians is also totally farce. They were forced out. So we know where your sympathies lie, Chad.. "
You need to read the entire text.
"Now if I used to live in a house, kicked out the original owners, was later kicked out myself, then I moved next door, I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner."
Both sides were kicked out and then resettled the area long before the 1950's and creation of Israel. I'm seeing this from the non combatants that have lived in the region for around 2,000 years.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:18 pm
b3tadine[sutures] wrote
Did you know [sic]...Bibi's family is Polish, right?
I didn't know that.
Didi you know I'm Norse?
Then again his ethnicity doesn't impact my views on this. If you want to fight against someone for whatever reason, go ahead. Just don't actively target non combatants.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 8:52 am
You're missing the point. Zionists claim a divine right to a land they have zero recent historical connection to, and the only reason they claim it, is because of a racist antisemitic British Lord, and US hegemony.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 8:53 am
Back to the house defense. You've neutralized the attacker to your home, what's next?
sameolddoctor
Jul 22, 24 11:10 am
Good riddance, Biden. His unabashed support for the colonialist zio regime posited him to the RIGHT of Reagan and he paid the price for it. His other failings as a president would have gone unnoticed if he hadnt sucked up to Israel the way he did.
Hopefully Kamala get the message and decouples from Israel and the AIPAC, otherwise she will face the same future with unprecedented demonstrations and resistance movements.
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 12:25 pm
That will never happen for any administration. You know it and you know why. You just don't want to admit it.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 22, 24 12:42 pm
I'm hoping for Coconut Communism!
Chad Miller
Jul 22, 24 12:43 pm
I'm going Ripley Hicks
.
square.
Jul 23, 24 11:14 am
colonialist zio regime
tell me you live in a bubble without telling me you live in a bubble.
smaarch
Jul 22, 24 11:24 pm
Yes I'm a trump supporter- probably rare among this group. So be it. I watched the committee hearings with the SS I think the complexity and the confusion over what happened in PA with a near presidential assassination, has to do with PA laws. Pennsylvania is an open carry state. If this is right Secret Service did everything right - they could not fire on this individual until he fired and therefore presented a threat. Trying to be objective folks. Maybe there should be some limitations on 2A rights? I say this as a staunch constitutionalist. Thanks for listening.
Non Sequitur
Jul 23, 24 7:03 am
Not a proud moment for you. Thanks for fanning the dumpster fire.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 11:52 am
While I don't support Trump I have to agree with smaarch on this. The secrete service appears to have done things correctly. I could be wrong as the investigation isn't over. There should be limitations on the 2A. I'd add that open carry is foolish, stupid, and counterproductive to defending yourself in public.
Non Sequitur
Jul 23, 24 12:04 pm
^ownership is foolish. Anything else is splitting hairs...
Wood Guy
Jul 23, 24 12:13 pm
It's far too late to do anything about banning guns at this point. But there are plenty of ways to improve the situation: require licensure, require training, outlaw the assault-style weapons used in virtually all mass shootings although they are not the only weapons capable of deadly results, raise the age of ownership from whatever it is now.
None of those violate 2A, they just provide common-sense reform, considering that currently the largest source of child deaths in the US is guns.
Since much of the population is armed, I would not give up my collection of antique rifles and shotguns without a fight.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:15 pm
Could be. It is in my countries constitution though. I don't think my ownership of firearms is foolish. I hunt with them quite a bit. I personally think there should be limits on the types of firearms someone could own though.
Non Sequitur
Jul 23, 24 12:19 pm
^slight correction, hunting is reasonable enough as long as they are stored & locked when not pointed at delicious elk. The cult of ownership & open carry is so fucking silly. No wonder Trump will win when idiots like that are behind him. Good Hogan speach tho. I miss the hulkamania days.
betonbrut
Jul 23, 24 12:27 pm
I think the insurance companies should lobby to require guns to be insured. We require cars to be insured for public safety reasons. In fact, the way the US treats cars could be applied to guns... some restrictions, license and insurance requirements. Additionally, we talk about car (transportation) safety... not control. I think we could do that with guns as well... gun safety, not gun control. Nobody likes to be controlled!
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:38 pm
Some people need to be controlled though. Everyone knows someone who owns a firearm and shouldn't.
sameolddoctor
Jul 23, 24 12:51 pm
Really, who cares smarch. Trump and his buddies love guns and he almost got killed by one. Call it divine justice.
Donna Sink
Jul 23, 24 1:39 pm
smaarch: I don't disagree with you on the open carry/secret service statement. I am curious why you're a Trump supporter. Is it him, or is it the party in general? Is it tax cuts? Genuinely curious. It's bold of you to state so here.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 1:59 pm
sameolddoctor -
Unfortunately many Trump supporters are saying it was divine intervention that saved him. Some use this as 'proof' that Trump has been chosen by (a) god to be president.
sameolddoctor
Jul 23, 24 7:40 pm
Yes of course it will work in his favor. People wont see that if gun violence werent so prevalent, this may not have happened at all.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 9:19 am
Now if I used to live in a house [Palestinians lived in Palestine prior to 1948] kicked out the original owners [Original? You mean descendants of the African Continent?] or [Zionists committing violence against West Bank Palestinians], was later kicked out myself [Disposessed Palestinians], then I moved next door [Moved? With Uhauls or do mean forced at gunpoint into open air concentration camps?] I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner. [I think West Bank Palestinians would like a word].
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 10:09 am
b3tadine[sutures] wrote in bold
Now if I used to live in a house
[Palestinians lived in Palestine prior to 1948]
I know. Palestinians, Jews, and various other people have lived in that area for around 2,000 years. The ethnicity of the people isn’t the issue.
kicked out the original owners
[Original? You mean descendants of the African Continent?] or [Zionists committing violence against West Bank Palestinians],
I should of said ‘current owners’ I apologize for the error.
There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
was later kicked out myself
[Disposessed Palestinians],
No, everyone. There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
.
then I moved next door
[Moved? With Uhauls or do mean forced at gunpoint into open air concentration camps?]
There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner.
[I think West Bank Palestinians would like a word].
That’s fine. They can fight if the want. I wouldn't feel justified in doing so.
Just don’t shoot at your other neighbor’s house as a means to ‘get’ the neighbor that kicked you out.
That’s the thing I have a problem with. In this current ‘war’ each side is actively killing noncombatants.It's abhorrent and must stop. Right now, it’s the Israelis doing the killing. Before that it was the Palestinians. Before that it was . . . . you get the idea.
I despise the military on each side of this 'war'. You may not like it but I will not support a group that actively targets and kills non combatants.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 12:19 pm
You forgot about the part where West Bank Palestinians haven't done anything, they are "governed" by the PLO, and not Hamas. Zionist settler terrorists have been murdering Palestinians.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 12:25 pm
It seems almost a daily function of the news in the region to demonstrate how Project Hannibal killed more Israeli citizens on October 7th than Hamas. And if you couple that with how hostages have been treated by both sides, it's not even comparable; Israel is terrorist ethnostate. Now the ICJ has said as much and condemned the occupation; they deserve the same treatment as South Africa during apartheid.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:29 pm
Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas. Palestinians were given the opportunity to create their own independent state several times. The only caveat was that Israel was to remain. Each time the Palestinians would only agree if Israel was removed.
Both Israeli's and Palestinian's have historic 'rights' to the area. Both sides want the other to be removed. In Israel's case their government want Hamas gone. In the Palestinians case Hamas and the PLO want all jews gone. Neither will get their way so they'll keep killing everyone around them. It's pathetic and very sad for the innocent people that live there. Each side should let the other be there and live independently.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:36 pm
One las thing: I don't care which side is 'more bad'. Both sides are horrible. You say one side is fighting for 'freedom'. The other side says the same. Neither side will win this. Until both side are forced to stop killing there will be no peace.
sameolddoctor
Jul 23, 24 12:54 pm
Hamas has killed and imprisoned much lesser people than the Israelis, so theres that.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 12:59 pm
I don't care. Hamas with support of the PLO still intently kidnap, torture, and kill innocent non combatants. Same as Israel. I'd could never support a group that does that.
curtkram
Jul 23, 24 1:44 pm
chad, it's about ethnicity.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 1:54 pm
I don't care about the ethnicity of either side. In my 'house' example the ethnicity doesn't matter. If people want to be racist punters that's up to them. Just another reason why I won't support either 'side'. Side note; It's actually about religion which is even worse.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 2:10 pm
Hamas hasn't been in existence for 75 years, for one. And two, Hamas has been supported by the Zionist regime as they provide the Israelis the ability to a ointment any real dialog with the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, and the PLO.
Hamas or other groups have been violently opposing Jewish refugees and the creation of Israel since around 1930. Hamas was created in 1987 by the Muslim Brotherhood. Before that Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon attacked Israel. Either outright or via various other groups.
Hamas wants the eradication of Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas on and off for around 30+ years.
As for the rest of your comment, please provide some evidence to support your claim.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 2:21 pm
How is it that you can both sides this? One side has 2000 lb bombs, US military hardware, nukes, the other side has rocks, gliders and tickets built with kitchen supplies. You're not even willing to entertain, or interrogate why you might be wrong. Unreal. Before you say I am the same, I'll remind you, as a fucking Gen X, I've been indoctrinated into believing Israel's existence was sacrosanct for most of my life, it was only when I had conversations with Socialist Jews that I began to understand the nefarious white ethnonationalist regime controlling Israel.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 2:21 pm
Tickets = rockets
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 2:27 pm
If you're actively targeting innocent civilians you're evil.
I don't care who has better weapons. If you intentionally kill an innocent civilian with a 2,000 pound bomb or a low tech rocket you're evil.
Israel is being evil.
Hamas and the groups that support it are being evil.
Please tell me which points you disagree with.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 3:28 pm
2 and 4. You - white Europeans - don't get to spend 75 years of telling Palestinians they have no rights to the only home they've ever known, they don't have rights to defend themselves, ever. You don't get to murder them on the daily, for doing nothing but trying to live, ever. Tell them they are insects. Deserve genocide. Blow off the faces of babies, ever. And then tell me they have no right to fight back. This fucking country would never stand for that if it happened to us, and we've bombed people into the stone ages for having the wrong dictator. The IRA was right to defend themselves and the Irish. The freedom fighters in Palestine are right as well. Intifada every day.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 3:34 pm
b3tadine[sutures]
Are you OK with intentionally targeting innocent civilians in war?
Do you agree with what Hamas dose and stands for?
Just to be clear - Anyone can fight anyone they want. I simply won't agree with it when a group intentionally targets innocent civilians.
Chad, who has bigger weapons and the support of the US, UK and Europe does matter very much. Saying that "both sides are wrong" is a very black and white bullshit statement that does not take into account the vast discrepancies between both sides.
All that said, your comment of "not being pissed when someone comes to take their own house away" speaks volumes on which side you are ever so gently biased against. But whatever, thats not the big issue.
Zooming out, Harris whos has spoken at AIPAC conferences and is pretty much an ex-cop gives me zero confidence in her abilities to stem the tide. However her refusal to attend SATANYAHU's speech to congress may be an ever so slightly optimistic.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 3:38 pm
someolddoctor - I know the conflict is not black and white. I know both sides are wrong for intentionally kidnapping, torturing, and killing innocent civilians. There is no grey area in that.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 23, 24 3:38 pm
Hamas was not created by the Muslim Brotherhood they are an offshoot of the Palestinian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood. PLO and Hamas have not been working together for nearly 20 years. Hamas was not in existence in 1930. Show your work.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 4:20 pm
I misspoke. Hamas was a spin off of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood. I never said it was created in the 1930's. I said :
"Hamas was created in 1987 by the Muslim Brotherhood. [incorrect, it's and offshoot of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood] Before that Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon attacked Israel. Either outright or via various other groups."
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 4:27 pm
b3tadine[sutures]
Israel allegedly helped fund Hamas the same way the US created the Taliban.
Hamas is a spin-off of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. It was formally established with Israel’s support soon after the first Intifada flared in 1987 as an uprising against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
Israel’s objective was allegedly twofold: to split the nationalist Palestinian movement led by Arafat and, more fundamentally, to thwart the implementation of the two-state solution for resolving the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
By aiding the rise of an Islamist group whose charter rejected recognizing the Israeli state, Israel sought to undermine the idea of a two-state solution, including curbing Western support for an independent Palestinian homeland.
When Israel changed their views on a two state system and independence for Palestine they realized how stupid this was.
Chad Miller
Jul 23, 24 4:39 pm
Israel changed view the two state system around 1995. By then it was too late, Hamas was here to stay. Just like the US and the Taliban a monster was created. What Israel did in funding Hamas was abhorrent.
This doesn't justify Israel or Hamas from actively killing innocent civilians though.
sameolddoctor
Jul 23, 24 7:39 pm
Chad, you are right, there is no place for violence to solve conflicts. However, if one side continually keeps being the aggressor, creating open air prisons, withholding even water (yes, Gaza's rainwater is also israeli property), and putting kids and teens in prison without due process, the Palestinians have no choice but to retort to violence and kidnapping. Indeed, when Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and released is the last time the israelis let an inch go.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 8:48 am
Israel never changed their view on a two state solution.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 8:49 am
Chad you did write this: "Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas."
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 9:04 am
How many Israeli civilians did Khamas kill yesterday?
Chad Miller
Jul 24, 24 9:36 am
b3tadine[sutures] wrote:
Chad you did write this: "Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas."
Ah! Sorry for the confusion due to my poor writing.
It was supposed to say "Hamas and other Arab groups . . . . "
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 12:02 pm
Back to the house defense. You've neutralized the attacker to your home, what's next?
Chad Miller
Jul 24, 24 12:05 pm
You call the cops OR you bury the body.
You don't shoot at the house across the street because your attacker lived there.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 24, 24 12:45 pm
Right. You don't kill the relatives, children, friends, and babies, right? Even if the family loved them, fed them, housed them, cared for them. You don't blow up entire villages, claiming they were obviously hiding friends of the intruder. You don't capture reporters, or paramedics trying to save the intruder so they can get their day in court. You don't torture families to get at the network of possible intruders.
Chad Miller
Jul 24, 24 12:54 pm
Correct. Israel and Hamas both do this. It's just that Israel is better at it. Both are evil and must be stopped.
Donna Sink
Jul 23, 24 1:43 pm
I'm cautiously - VERY cautiously - optimistic right now. When I heard Biden was dropping out I became despondent and angry. Then over the following 8 hours while stuck in an airport on delay I was reading lots of news and social media and the swell of support around Kamala Harris has been damn impressive. I'm slightly hopeful that she could win, because I do know women are *pissed off* right now and so are young people.
Eamez
Jul 23, 24 3:04 pm
Politics in America has reformed around sex -- men overwhelmingly support Republicans while women, especially single and suburban women, support Democrats. It doesn't really matter who the candidate is, each is backed by an institutional structure. For women it is mostly public service jobs -- teachers, government bureaucrats, etc. For men its corporate and tech jobs.
Would be interesting to see the true slant of architecture since it is somewhat in a grey area -- serving both public and private interests -- but as private companies probably lean slightly right while publicly signaling to the left (AIA).
Donna Sink
Jul 23, 24 9:59 pm
Eamez I'm pretty sure white suburban women voted something like 57% for trump last time.
"To begin with, the often-repeated line that Barak offered the Palestinians the Gaza Strip and 96% of the West Bank for a state is completely untrue. Barak offered the Palestinians 96% of Israel’s definition of the West Bank, meaning they did not include any of the areas already under Israeli control, such as settlements, the Dead Sea, and large parts of the Jordan Valley. This meant that Barak effectively annexed 10% of the West Bank to Israel, with an additional 8-12% remaining under “temporary” Israeli control for a period of time.
In return for this annexation, Palestinians would be offered 1% of desert land near the Gaza Strip. Thus, Palestinians would need to give up 10% of the most fertile land in the West Bank, in exchange for 1% of desert land. Not to mention that if the past record is any indicator, the additional 8-12% under “temporary” Israeli control would remain so forever.
In addition to all of this, Israel demandedpermanent control of Palestinian airspace, three permanent military installations manned by Israeli troops in the West Bank, Israeli presence at Palestinian border crossings, and special “security arrangements” along the borders with Jordan which effectively annexed additional land.
The cherry on top of all of these stipulations, is that Israel would be allowed to invade at any point in cases of “emergency”. As you can imagine, what constituted an emergency was left incredibly vague and up to interpretation. The Palestinian state would be demilitarized, and the Palestinian government would not be able to enter into alliances without Israelipermission. None of these are ingredients for the creation of an actual sovereign state."
Chad Miller
Jul 24, 24 10:30 am
Serious question: What areas were part of Israel when it was created? Has the UN adjusted the boundaries of Israel since it's creation?
proto
Jul 24, 24 11:09 am
GOP tells members to not use misogynistic or racist attacks on Harris. No introspection on the fact that it is even needed to be brought up to public leaders. No clear distancing from members who continue in this day to do these kinds of things. No cleaning house as a result of the need to even say it. Just keep it down.
This is the party that people hold their nose and enthusiastically still vote for in hopes of another tax break for the 1%. These are the values tacitly supported whether they disclaim them or not.
sameolddoctor
Jul 24, 24 6:38 pm
Congress welcoming, and cheering for the genocidal maniac called Netanyahu today was all we need to know to see the current compass of the administration. A bunch of (mostly) old (mostly) white crooks profiteering from wars and killing of babies. Disgusting.
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 10:19 am
You ignored the 30+ congress members that boycotted the speech as a form of protest to what Yahoo (sp intentional) is doing. I heard a lot of coverage of the congress members that want the Yahoo to stop.
sameolddoctor
Jul 25, 24 10:22 am
Yes its commendable that half of the audience was absent and they had "sitters" fill in the seats...its astounding that the rest of then DID attend and cheer on the genocidal maniac.
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 10:47 am
What do you expect? There are a lot of genocidal maniacs in that region. Israel just happens to be the only one allied with the US. I'm sure if another genocidal maniac would play nice with the US and give us intelligence and support we'd back them.
sameolddoctor
Jul 25, 24 10:50 am
The perception of the middle east as a bunch of warmongering maniacs has been created and maintained by the US and Israel. Most of those countries were doing just fine before US interference (for oil and selling weapons in the name of geopolitics).
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 11:01 am
Sorry that upsets you. I agree that the US has messed up the region. Regardless - there is a good number of the countries that are being lead by genocidal maniacs. Iran, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Israel come to mind.
sameolddoctor
Jul 25, 24 2:22 pm
True but we have messed up and gotten tyrants appointed in many of those countries
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 4:49 pm
In some cases yes. They are still genocidal maniacs that don't support the US. Until another country in that area will support the US like Israel we won't stop supporting Israel. That's one of the reasons the US 'interfered' in that region to begin with. We wanted someone on our side. Our 'recruiting process' failed with every other country except Israel. It's ugly however that's the way it is.
sameolddoctor
Jul 25, 24 4:52 pm
i wonder why "they don't support the US" lol
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 5:10 pm
All scoffing aside - To defund Israel and Palestine to be left there will need to be some other country there that is loyal to the US. Until that happens the US will not supporting Israel. For that to happen other countries will have to agree to stop supporting and sponsoring terrorists. This includes Hamas.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 25, 24 5:44 pm
Libya, Iraq, and Iran? Genocidal? Who are the leaders of these countries? What genocide has been committed by them? Afghanistan, Pakistan? Syria? I ffs take a poly sci class, what do all these countries have in common? Three letters. I'll let you tell me.
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 5:56 pm
I know they have oil. Everyone knows they have oil. I've taken poly sci classes.
They also have state directed terrorist groups. I supposed I should of used the term attempted genocidal maniacs.
A quick search will uncover . . . .
Libya - Human rights violations and abuses by armed groups and militias remain pervasive, as political elites and myriad quasi-authorities compete for legitimacy and control of territory, nearly 12 years into Libya's political transition away from Muammar Gaddafi's strong-man rule.
Iraq - The Kurdish genocide was mounted between February and September 1988 on the winding up of the Iran-Iraq war. Central to the atrocities that were perpetrated against Iraqi Kurds was the Anfal campaign.
Iran - too many to pick just one.
Do you want me to go on listing the rest of the countries you asked about or do you admit that you're mistaken?
The countries aren't 'backwards' or 'savage'. Their leaders simply are punters who don't care about certain ethnic or religious groups that make up their citizens.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 25, 24 6:12 pm
1988
The US supported the Iraqi war effort against Iran, which saw the Iraqi regime view the Kurds' insurgency as treason. The regime's Anfal campaign in the late 1980s was a systematic attempt to exterminate the Kurdish population, with hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children executed. Human Rights Watch described the campaign as genocide in 1993, but a 2007 Hague court ruling disputed this characterization.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 25, 24 6:12 pm
You mean the one against the Kurds, that the US supported?
She's my hero and has the biggest COJONES of all of them, most of whom are sellouts.
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 11:06 am
It's nice of her to stand up for what she believes in. I hope she's able to make impactful changes that will make progress towards peace in the region.
No one knows with certainty how many people have been killed and wounded in Iraq since the 2003 United States invasion. However, we know that between 186,694-210,038 Iraqi civilians have died and a total of 280,771-315,190 have died from direct war related violence caused by the U.S., its allies, the Iraqi military and police, and opposition forces from the time of the invasion through March 2023. The violent deaths of Iraqi civilians have occurred through aerial bombing, shelling, gunshots, suicide attacks, and fires started by bombing. Many civilians have also been injured.
But I'm sure you're gonna tell me they shouldn't have "broken" into your house.
Chad Miller
Jul 25, 24 6:43 pm
I never said that the US isn't responsible for the conditions in the Middle East.
The US is responsible in part or completely.
The US has done, continues to do some very bad things.
None of that changes the fact that the countries I listed are run by leaders who have attempted genocide. In some cases they are still attempting genocide.
The fact that the US contributed to the current political situations in the Middle East doesn't make the attempted genocide OK.
Donna Sink
Jul 26, 24 11:34 am
I’m surprised no one here brought up the JD Vance couch-fucking story? I guess I will! I know it’s not true but it’s hilarious. Some great memes on Threads. Like that he’s definitely an intersectionalist.
Chad Miller
Jul 26, 24 11:45 am
I'm scared to look that up. Especially at work.
JLC-1
Jul 26, 24 11:45 am
it's too funny.
Wood Guy
Jul 27, 24 9:50 am
That is hilarious! But there is plenty of truth to make fun of; I worry that spreading lies will have negative consequences. The way you stated it is perfect.
Wood Guy
Jul 28, 24 11:49 am
I like all of the videos of him stating how much he despises Trump.
Chemex
Jul 29, 24 5:18 pm
I heard that 29 year old Kamala Harris slept her way into a California DA job vis 60 year old Willie Brown.
Oh wait, that one actually happened. Oops.
You can smell the fear of JD Vance. Young, smart, former liberal who saw the light on how little Democrats care about middle America.
Wood Guy
Jul 29, 24 5:29 pm
Not that you're interested in facts, if you're a fan of Vance (or is it Bowman? Or is it Hamel?), but here's the actual story:
Here’s the story from whence this pearl-clutching about Harris stems: For roughly one year in the mid-1990s when she was 29 years old, Harris dated 60-year-old San Francisco politician Willie Brown, who was technically married but had been separated from his wife since the early ’80s. Harris and Brown broke up in 1995, and in 1996, Brown was elected mayor of San Francisco, a position he would hold until 2004. Around the time they were dating, and when Brown was speaker of the California State Assembly, Brown appointed Harris to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission. That, apparently, was how Harris “slept her way into and upwards in California politics”: by sitting on two boards.
Well before she dated Brown, Harris was making her own way as a prosecutor, and she succeeded in her career because she was good at it, not because she dated a particular guy for a few months. She started working in the Alameda County district attorney’s office in 1990. By the late 1990s, she was recruited by the San Francisco district attorney to work in his office as an assistant DA. And she replaced the man who recruited her because she won an election campaign against him in 2002, not because an ex-boyfriend or anyone else appointed her.
So yes, there is a chance that having a relationship with Brown helped her first steps into politics by sitting on two boards. Shocking, just shocking. Apparently Trump having five children by three different women, cheating on the first two wives, and lusting after his daughter is far better than having a legitimate relationship with someone who later asks you to do work on committees.
Chad Miller
Jul 29, 24 5:52 pm
Oh it sucks when facts get in the way of a troll. Good job WoodGuy!
Chad Miller
Jul 29, 24 5:54 pm
Chemex wrote:
"You can smell the fear of JD Vance. Young, smart, former liberal who saw the light on how little Democrats care about middle America."
Isn't he the guy who said that Trump was:
Morally Reprehensible
America's Hitler
A moral disaster
Total fraud Cynical asshole
I think Vance will support Trump as long as it benefits him. Even other Republicans think he's punk with easily bought loyalty.
Wood Guy
Jul 29, 24 6:20 pm
Thanks Chad. I meant to add quotation marks. The second and third paragraphs--the meaty ones--are from Slate.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 29, 24 7:42 pm
Afraid of a guy that had sex with a couch, thinks his wife - who’s not white btw - is “okay”, and thinks childless people are a waste? Or are you talking about a guy with all the charisma of a mannekin? Or maybe the guy that stole money from people promising to help them? Or the guy that is a simp for a vampire, Peter Thiel?
sameolddoctor
Jul 29, 24 8:19 pm
Wait isnt Chemex the Zio bot?
Eamez
Jul 29, 24 9:37 pm
Must be a lot of 60 year old men here, trying to sleep with their 29 year old coworkers. Yikes.
This is the message we should be sending to little girls. One day you too can be president. If you sleep with old creepy mayors
Donna Sink
Jul 29, 24 10:56 pm
Let’s restate the reality: old man has inappropriate relationship with talented subordinate half his age and either threatens or rewards her - either way it’s gross - with a board appointment.
Donna Sink
Jul 29, 24 10:57 pm
Also: fear of JD Vance? LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 9:37 am
Eamez wrote:
"Must be a lot of 60 year old men here, trying to sleep with their 29 year old coworkers. Yikes."
It is creepy. However, aren't you the one that says women don't have body autonomy. Odd you want to protect women now.
proto
Jul 30, 24 10:43 am
Seems an odd & empty tactic to attack someone based on some unsubstantiated long ago womanizing when your candidate is Trump, a guy with, among other things, a multimillion dollar court judgement against him on just that topic. Not to mention the multiple divorces and mistress payoffs. But I guess if that’s all you’ve got & that strategy isn’t as shameful and hypocritical to you as it seems to others, then you roll with it
congrats, i guess
Eamez
Jul 30, 24 11:00 am
Payback is going to be so funny. A Trump DOJ can prosecute all of these hack New York politicians and judges who actually did try to interfere with a federal election. Then you will all be crying about how unfair it is. If you think Trump actually did assault a woman at Bergdorf Goodmans then i have an episode of Law and Order to show you.
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 11:55 am
That's a poor attempt to deflect criticism Eamez. Try harder next time.
Odd that you're worried about Harris being a bad example to women yet you don't care about women's rights.
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 11:56 am
Eamez wrote:
"Payback is going to be so funny. "
It's not about payback. You sound like a spoiled child. This is very disturbing that you think this way.
"A Trump DOJ can prosecute all of these hack New York politicians and judges who actually did try to interfere with a federal election."
Do you have an credible evidence that supports this?
"Then you will all be crying about how unfair it is."
It's not about fairness, it's about legality. You sound like a spoiled child. This is very disturbing that you think this way.
"If you think Trump actually did assault a woman at Bergdorf Goodmans then i have an
episode of Law and Order to show you."
It sound like you really don't like women. That's really concerning. What dose the women in your life think about your views?
Trump has been found guilty and admitted he thinks he can assault women without repercussions.
Eamez
Jul 30, 24 2:13 pm
Who said anything about women's rights? Trump's Supreme Court gave states back their right to choose whether or not to kill babies. What rights do those babies have again? I love how the looting left pretends like they care about women, when they can't even define what a woman is.
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 2:45 pm
You didn't answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
Non Sequitur
Jul 30, 24 3:04 pm
It's because of people like Eamez that the US is laughed at internationally. Such a vile and sad way to look at things. Pew pew pew, time to go shoot up another school... pathetic.
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 3:12 pm
Eamez dose seem like a punter. That or a troll who's really bad at trolling. Either way, it's not helping his reputation.
Eamez still didn't answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
Eamez
Jul 30, 24 5:01 pm
I highly doubt Chad Miller has any women is his life, much less women that respect him/her.
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 5:05 pm
Come on troll, I mean Eamez. Answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
Donna Sink
Jul 31, 24 2:41 pm
Eamez now that you've raised abortion I seriously want to have the discussion with you: why should a fetus, a human inside my uterus, have more rights than I, a human, have? Yes the human using my body has their own rights, but using my body *without my permission* isn't one of them. Put another way, why should the human inside me be allowed to override my rights in a way that no other human can?
Chad Miller
Jul 31, 24 3:09 pm
Eamez -
I'll add one more thing to Donna's comment: Why should another person be allowed to decide what you do with your body any anything growing within it?
Now you have three questions to answer Eamez. Better get on this.
Non Sequitur
Jul 31, 24 3:40 pm
How month old does a fetus need to be to purchase a gun?
Eamez
Jul 31, 24 4:04 pm
I’m not against abortion. It’s ideal that irresponsible states and people should not have children, so the current status quo is good. I just find it funny that leftists pretend to care about women’s rights or any kind of rights when they will justify killing babies. In reality they have no morality at all, therefore their appeal to rights is hollow and empty
.
Non Sequitur
Jul 31, 24 4:08 pm
^ Kookoo, kookoo, kookoo
Eamez
Jul 31, 24 4:11 pm
Being pro-life is better than the opposite. At its heart, behind the corrupt bureaucracy, architecture is supposed to be pro-life as well. Unfortunately it has become anti-human. I don’t know how anyone functions as a misanthrope. How do you people get out of bed in the morning? You must be heavily medicated.
Chad Miller
Jul 31, 24 4:13 pm
Trollin' trollin' trollin'
Chad Miller
Jul 31, 24 4:14 pm
Non Sequitur wrote:
"How month old does a fetus need to be to purchase a gun?"
You cannot infringe on a fetus's 2nd Amendment rights so 0.3 seconds after fertilization. 'Murica!
Eamez
Jul 31, 24 4:28 pm
Again, you don’t even believe in rights, so in reality there is no reason why you can’t give a fetus a gun. Because nothing matters to you.
Non Sequitur
Jul 31, 24 4:37 pm
Intelligent points of view matter. foaming at the mouth ramblings do not. But I am not surprise that a firearm (or 3) is not automatically placed in the hospital bed 8 seconds after birth. Seems logical based on what coming out of the USA these days. You never know when that child needs to fend off a grizzly or a band of scary non-white folks in hoodies.
Chad Miller
Jul 31, 24 5:24 pm
Eamze - you or I don't have rights in the US. We have privileges. They're not rights if they can be taken away.
trollin' trollin' trollin'
Donna Sink
Jul 31, 24 7:13 pm
Eamez, I DO believe in rights, for all humans. But if someone attacks someone else, say a female human attacks a male human, the male can defend himself and if the female ends up dead it’s not murder, it’s just the male protecting his rights. Similarly if I, a female human, don’t want to share my body with a male human trying to attack me, I can defend myself and if the male ends up dead it’s just me protecting my rights. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different?
Eamez
Jul 30, 24 4:57 pm
Wonder how everyone feels about how Kamala Harris required staff to call her "General" and banned any eye contact from lower staff.
Sounds like the boss from hell. Not a good look for someone who wants to be Commander in Chief.
You are certainly a troll ... emboldened by the fact that you quote from freeBACON.com
I do think Harris is a lame paper-pusher kind with a terrible record in Oakland, but this account is pretty stupid lol
Chad Miller
Jul 30, 24 5:06 pm
I thought this site didn't allow trolls. Odd they're still here.
b3tadine[sutures]
Jul 30, 24 7:25 pm
Girl Boss! Wait until Putin gets slapped by a real one, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Eamez
Jul 31, 24 3:53 pm
“I thought this site didn’t allow trolls” … did you think this was white dudes for Harris? Leftists always want to ban, segregate, censor and then who knows what. Because their degenerate views can’t stand daylight.
Chad Miller
Jul 31, 24 4:12 pm
Aren't you the one that wanted people to be quite for not being conservative? Yeah, that's you.
Trollin' trollin' trollin'
square.
Jul 31, 24 4:19 pm
Leftists always want to ban, segregate, censor and then who knows what.
brought to you by the right wingers who are banning books, marriage equality, IVF, and reproductive care across the country.
Eamez
Jul 31, 24 4:29 pm
“Those crazy right wingers, trying to keep hardcore porn out of elementary school.” - guy in a van across the playground
square.
Jul 31, 24 5:10 pm
literally lol'd at this one, calling it a reach is generous.. weirdos just making up unhinged stories as usual. must be one of those pizza people. getting desperate!
Donna Sink
Jul 31, 24 9:39 pm
Isn’t it incredible how someone like Eamez can accuse the left of something like “censorship” when it’s clear to anyone who understands the meaning of the word “censorship” that the right are the ones who love to try to do it?
It’s true, every accusation is an admission. It boggles my mind.
Hemichromis
Aug 1, 24 12:44 am
There's no left in the UK or the US the clowns got rid of Sanders and Corbyn so stop running your mouth.
curtkram
Aug 2, 24 8:47 am
are you ok hemi? do you need help?
Wood Guy
Aug 3, 24 2:51 pm
Hemi, I agree; by worldwide standards our Democratic party is center-right and our Republicans are far-right. For no reason laid out in our Constitution, mainly because it's more profitable for our ruling class, we only have two viable parties and one is to the left of the other. As a rule, US citizens don't care about what's going on in the rest of the world, unless it involves a masculine-looking female boxer, or pageantry that offends them.
Wood Guy
Aug 3, 24 3:09 pm
I should add, I agree with the statement that the US does not have a true left party. There's no need to resort to inane commands, which only serve to make you look like the dumb one anyway.
Chad Miller
Aug 2, 24 10:50 am
Looks like Eamez ran away.
Donna Sink
Aug 6, 24 7:13 pm
i’m very excited about Tim Walz as the selection for VP in large part because it honestly brings the question of *childhood hunger* right to the forefront. He’s from a state that makes sure children in school are fed. Anyone who comes out against *that* initiative is a deeply horrible asshole of a person and I want to hear them defend their opinion.
We are a ridiculously wealthy country. Ridiculously wealthy! There is no reason children in the US should not be fed, safely sheltered, and educated by all of us.
graphemic
Aug 6, 24 7:22 pm
Today I'm allowing myself to be fully and completely jazzed.
b3tadine[sutures]
Aug 7, 24 10:13 am
Crazy Guy Bringing Hell to America, or Happy and Fed Children
What is this hellscape?!
b3tadine[sutures]
Aug 7, 24 10:15 am
"Skinny Puppy at their best; beats and lyrics shred!" - VP Harris
Chad Miller
Aug 7, 24 10:26 am
Ehem
Non Sequitur
Aug 7, 24 10:32 am
Harris holding vinyl is my new favorite meme. I admit, I fell for the first one when it showed up in another forum. I love vinyl.
Donna Sink
Aug 7, 24 11:37 am
Chad, on Threads I saw someone post "The correct possessive forms are Harris' and Walz's" and the immediate next Thread was "The correct possessives forms are Harrises and Walzs's" and I wanted to cry.
proto
Aug 7, 24 12:00 pm
that Waltz guy was really creepy in Spectre...
Eamez
Aug 7, 24 10:26 am
A lot more children are going to go hungry if the $35 trillion debt isn't addressed. I don't see a lot of ideas from either party on how to fix the big problems -- but at least the right understands where revenues come from -- business.
Ultimately the Federal Gov can't throw money at every problem. Or every riot that you fail to stop from burning down the city and causing $500 million in damage and 1500 businesses destroyed. The looting left will eventually lead to hyperinflation and probably the dissolution of the United States.
Take away the billionaires ability to exist. Nationalize fossil fuels industry, cut military spending, and stop paying for the genocide.
Chad Miller
Aug 7, 24 10:57 am
Tax religious organizations.
sameolddoctor
Aug 7, 24 11:05 am
CHANONBETA for President ! know you are Canadian Non, but I will vote for you
Donna Sink
Aug 7, 24 11:40 am
Eamez your only argument is to move the goalposts. It's actually impressive, your ability to dodge any serious discussion.
IYKYK
Chad Miller
Aug 7, 24 11:46 am
Eamze - answer the questions. I'm not going to stop asking you.
Why should the human inside a woman be allowed to override her rights in a way that no other human can? (from Donna)
What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights? (from me)
How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different from protecting themselves from another grown human? (from Donna)
Eamez
Aug 7, 24 12:26 pm
I'm glad some are intelligent enough to acknowledge the problem here. Agree military spending should be cut down, as should education, medical, etc. These agencies just raise costs to whatever they want, knowing Uncle Sam will bail them out. Meanwhile the military leaks all of their tech to China, so what's the point? the 140% debt to gdp is not sustainable. Major cuts are going to happen by force once debt payments become astronomical. We are going to need Moonshots to solve this -- fusion energy, urban redesign, probably colonizing Mars and sending the migrants and leftists there.
Donna Sink
Aug 7, 24 12:38 pm
Adding to Chad's list:
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there?
Chad Miller
Aug 7, 24 1:24 pm
Answer the questions Eamez
1. Why should the human inside a woman be allowed to override her rights in a way that no other human can? (from Donna)
2. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights? (from me)
3. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different from protecting themselves from another grown human? (from Donna)
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there? (from Dona)
Eamez
Aug 7, 24 2:00 pm
Why should children be required to go to public school? Seems like a byproduct of a different time, when education was valued. Now it's glorified woke daycare. How about we force kids to earn their education by contributing to their community. Then we could pay for free meals.
b3tadine[sutures]
Aug 7, 24 2:24 pm
^weird comment
Donna Sink
Aug 7, 24 3:55 pm
b3ta he's just moving the goalposts, again.
Chad Miller
Aug 7, 24 4:21 pm
Donna - anytime Eamez posts here I'm just going to paste the following:
Answer the questions Eamez
1. Why should the human inside a woman be allowed to override her rights in a way that no other human can? (from Donna)
2. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights? (from me)
3. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different from protecting themselves from another grown human? (from Donna)
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there? (from Dona)
b3tadine[sutures]
Aug 7, 24 10:50 am
"I miss Genesis P-Orridge, this is the greatest album of my generation!" - VP ,La
A warm place to keep all the political rants and debates...
Former US Ambassador to Russia Jack Matlock:
Ukraine Crisis Should Have Been Avoided
this is becoming a bit obsessive.. probably time for a new thread for people who read treaties in their spare time.
I agree, the the daily media blasting of an "imminent Russian invasion" is obsessive. But if you don't like talking politics maybe you should avoid the politics central thread.
imo this has moved beyond general political banter that makes sense in the context of an architecture and design website - constructing the conversation is as important as content dumping.
I wouldn't call any of this "politics"
Big difference between talking politics and trying to have a drink of water when the only tap available seems to be an uninvited fire hose.
But Pete, there is fluoride in that tap water.
The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe that they are calling for a complete mobilisation in the Luhansk and Donbass, Biden wants his war one way or the other…if only the US recognised the International Criminal Court in The Hague :-(
I can't fathom all the mistrust toward VP.
His legendary humanitarian humanitarianism is legendary.
I ask you in all seriousness can you name a more benevolent, trustworthy, kind, generous world leader?
He has made it his life's work to eliminate world hunger and poverty.
For crying out loud he makes cat videos and puts them on YouTube.
VP as in former Vice-President Biden?
“The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe“
Citation please (you claim multiple, so pick a couple specific threats)
Apparently my razor wit doesn't work on a dull mind. Noted for future reference.
Proto, just read the tweets by Biden or any major news outlet that posts news where the only source is US or NATO “intelligence”…come on, not going to do your homework:
American escalation: “The US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday appeared to compare Russia’s military to a snake that was uncoiling and preparing to strike Ukraine, after a massive military buildup that has stoked the biggest east-west crisis since the cold war.”
European de escalation attempt: “ Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, warned that it remained unclear whether Vladimir Putin had yet made a decision about Ukraine, tamping down Washington’s urgent warnings of an imminent invasion.”
Honestly can’t understand you all don’t (want?) to see this…midterms coming up I guess, fending off republicans is more important than preventing the loss of innocent lives.
z if you call that razor wit I hope you have a beard or a barber(!)
So, no severe threats cited, thanks for confirming…
[btw, you make the accusation, it’s up to you to support it, not the reader to go “do homework”…]
You said, ““The threats by Biden&co are getting so severe“. I haven’t seen any threats made by Biden&co, much less severe ones. So, please enlighten me as to WTF you are referring to…
To wit…the Austin quote you picked IDENTIFIES a threat; it does NOT MAKE a threat.
Your americentrism is blocking the view from the rest of the world…Biden c.s. are hammering on an invasion for weeks now, even the Ukrainians are sick and tired of hearing it as it doesn’t help them in the slightest. If you don’t understand the psychology of that, well try reading some international news, start with The Guardian or Al Jazeera, German papers except Bild are also a good place to start.
So, again…your statement “the threats Biden&co are making” is just false. They are not making threats. That has zero to do with my perspective. It isn’t an opinion.
Further, your presumption that I can’t/won’t/don’t read an international paper is also false.
That statement isn’t false, they are making threats constantly, non-stop, that you don’t identify those as threats is because it simply doesn’t touch you…
No, you are hyperbolizing facts to suit your politics. Words have meaning. There are other ways to say that the US publicly confronting Russian military posturing is raising the risk level of confrontation without making shit up about issuing threats. I’m calling out your use of language because it’s hyperbolic and intentionally deceptive. People claim to want to have “conversations” but they don’t work when the basis of discussion is based on fantasy projections.
My apologies to other readers…I’m done with this particular line of commentary.
I’m only calling out the one(s) using the hyperbolic language…it is fear mongering from safely far away USA, by a MIC administration that can’t wait to escalate a precarious situation instead of deescalates it. I’m done with this particular line of [politics].
Pointing something out is worse than doing it.
if only it was just innocently pointing fingers...the US and NATO are building up their military forces on the Eastern edge of Europe for years now.
multiple things can simultaneously be bad.
Another one for the category fake news / false flag? <- question mark. Source: Bezos Post…Since the US is suddenly so forthcoming sharing their “intelligence”, even writing to the UN human rights chief (an institute they usually ignore), they should share this obviously… https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/21/us-claims-russia-creating-lists-of-ukrainians-to-be-killed-or-sent-to-camps-report
Whelp. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/02/21/world/ukraine-russia-putin-biden#moscow-orders-troops-to-ukraines-breakaway-regions-for-peacekeeping-functions
sure has gotten quiet over here lately... (also this link goes to a photo of a restoration?)
they're working on how to blame Biden/US for the current status...i'm sure talking points will be handed out soon
oh that is very weird. Sorry about the wrong link.
Try this https://www.nytimes.com/live/2...
It’s quiet because there’s no discussion possible here unfortunately. But the move by Russia was to be expected. Ukraine is/was a failed state for a very long time, long before the USSR fell apart. Back in the 90s when Ukraine was about to give up its nuclear weapons the US also called it a Yugoslavia (remember that war) waiting to happen, but with nuclear weapons…
Now that Donbass and Luhansk with majority of ethnic Russians (and many Russian citizens) have officially been recognised by the Duma, with the conflict in Donbass and Luhansk increasing as both Ukrainians and the resistance wanted to make quick advances before any negotiations, it is wise someone stepped in and forced a stalemate. The Ukrainians will not confront the Russian army directly and the Russians will not likely go into western Ukraine, that’s not where the Russian people are and they will meet strong and permanent resistance. As the Ukrainians didn’t want to federalise their country and give the eastern ethnic Russian side more autonomy, like states have in the US, they took matters into their own hands back in ‘14…
Anyone remember the Nuland tapes where US government officials are basically deciding who should run Ukraine, which nationalist (anti-Russian) puppet to install after a democratically chosen president would be kicked out of office? Biden was in on it back then as VP…it is so disgusting coming from “the leaders of the “free” world”.
This is simply Russia stepping in to end US imperialist expansion by making it impossible for countries to join NATO as they don’t control all their borders. It worked with Moldova, Georgia and now it will work with Ukraine too. If the US and NATO don’t respect their agreements with Russia and if Ukraine is unwilling to respect the Minsk agreements, this is the result…unfortunately, so yes it is exactly because of Biden/US/NATO!
Please post supporting links from RT.com. You'll find them in your browser history, no need to type it in.
This Russian Imperialism is just Russia attempting to preempt US / NATO Imperialism in order to avoid US / NATO Imperialism. Do not think about this, I am VERY SMART (!).
My gosh you don't know about the negotiations that led to the Minsk agreement? How under Bush sr. Ukraine was called to be a potential Yugoslavia (disintegrating civil war and genocide etc, remember?) but...with nuclear weapons? Or the NATO statement that their operation should not be to the detriment of the security of other states? While US/NATO have surrounded Russia and placed (nuclear) missiles there pointing at...Russia? When Khrushchev wanted to help Cuba against their aggressive neighbour to the north US almost started a nuclear war. Or the US-backed coup in 2014 that removed Ukraine's president (sounds all too familiair doesn't it, you probably call it foreign policy). Or the Nuland-Pyatt controversy? Or that it is because of NATO's ambitions with Ukraine that Russia took control of Crimea to protect their navy fleet in the Black Sea. Your lack of common knowledge on Ukraine i.a. is nothing short of embarrassing.
It's embarrassing that you both keep posting at each other.
rando, you know nothing about what I do or do not know.
I know enough to know you don’t…
i know you are but what am i.
And on that note, I am putting the little dutch boy in time out.
Thanks, SP…as the shit is now hitting the fan all over Ukraine and Putin is “trying to demilitarise their neighbour” I’m putting myself in time out as well…hope
At my last home the neighbors on one side were a Ukrainian couple, and the neighbors on the other side of us was an American who married a Russian woman. Separately they were all very nice, but I never saw them talk to each other once. Not even a wave or nod of the head to acknowledge one another. There was probably some history that we missed before we moved in (we weren't there in 2014, but I'm assuming that might have had something to do with it). I can only imagine the tension I'd be able to pick up on if we (and they) were all still living there.
The Russian woman had some mental challenges that apparently were the result of treatments she had for a brain cancer of some type. I never really got the details, but she would often bring up how much she struggled mentally because of the cancer. The Ukrainian couple were computer programmers.
My wife and I privately joked that the Russian was a former spy who had "an accident" involving head trauma from some type of failed op, and the Ukrainians were spies tasked with keeping an eye on her to make sure their government knew if she was ever "activated" again.
Anyway, the Ukrainians sold their house and moved to Portugal (i.e. they bugged our home and overheard us discussing their secret spying and their cover was blown, so they had to be reassigned), and then around a year later we sold our house and moved too (not to Portugal unfortunately).
guess there was a short rain check..
From something I wrote in 2018, that feels oddly prescient today:
The post-WW2 global order was (for better or worse) almost entirely based on the premise that the US / UK will give a shit. In return, the US / UK benefitted immensely from the status quo.
The people currently in charge are the first generation to have no memory of the world before this order was imposed, and they massively underestimated the natural instability of it's existence. We began to see the maintenance cost of this system not as an investment from which we massively benefited, but as a tax imposed, for which we are not thanked enough.
It only took a small disinformation campaign by powers who stand to benefit from the disintegration of the system to convince the US and UK to shrug off their duties and turn inward.
I'm not saying the US/UK imposed order was necessarily good, or that the goal should be to return to it. I'm simply saying that this is a systemic failure - one baked in from the start - and *something* needs to exist in its place, because a vacuum quickly descends into despotism and war.
What we're witnessing now are the first pieces of a crumbling infrastructure that we wrongly assumed was the default state. It's what the world becomes when the people charged with giving a shit forgot they needed to.
True, but the "infrastructure" is not crumbling. It is merely being reshaped by Russia, with China's full support. It may seem more like dick-wagging, but it is actually nothing short of China and Russia writing the new world order by showing the west what they can do, while erstwhile superpowers like the US and EU look on.
The infrastructure of liberal democracy is crumbling and a competing infrastructure of autocracy/authoritarianism is swooping in to fill its place.
pretty incredible to look back at some of the (terrible) takes about the current russia-ukraine situation - it's why i originally suggested people stay in their lanes.. claiming to have some personal knowledge/insight based on a curated selection of "true" media about how major global powers are acting is absurd.
instead, i've taken the opportunity to try to educate myself a bit about the history and context leading up to this moment (i'll admit i've been pretty ignorant about a lot of it), which i believe is the most we can do, especially as designers on this side of the world. it's one thing to comment and question, and another to attempt to predict or claim.
but if i do that i wont get any internet points
I’m in shock how the west has poked the bear and did nothing at all to back up their bluff, they instead called putin’s bluff and he is going all in. I’m in shock as this is happening right next door to my family, a war zone at their border just 300 miles away, on the doorstep of Europe. I’m in shock as I don’t see Europe, the US or NATO with any plan to stop this besides some sanctions here or there, where China will easily step in and buy Russia’s natural resources that power the European economy. They’ve been sanctionproofing their economy for years already. Sanctions that don’t mean anything to the Ukrainians. They’ve been fooled, thought they could join the EU or NATO just like that, they’ve been tricked by a coup/regime change instigated and backed by the west who then took their hands off and ran away, leaving the Ukrainians dangling to deal with the fallout that put everything at risk. I’m in shock when I see the chaos, the death and destruction of a country I have such fond memories of, a proud people that welcomed me so generously after their Orange Revolution. I’m in shock as I see the beautiful and familiar places I’ve visited getting destroyed and now don’t see where and how this will end as even radiation levels are rising coming from the exclusion zone around Chernobyl…I’m simply in shock
is this meant to be a response to my post? your narcissism (i, i, i..) is unparalleled
Random, I thought you wanted to get rid of nato?
Rando, you do understand a soverign nation has been invaded right? You do know who is the bad guy right?
It’s a personal response hence the personal perspective, has nothing to do with narcissus. But I guess you don’t understand living in a country that is always the aggressor, occupier and invader and the toppler of governments and not the one being invaded, overthrown and occupied. And we don’t need to get rid of nato, they just shouldn’t give people false hope. it’s the aggressive expansion of nato (during a time of Russian weakness after the collapse of the CCCP) that paved the way for a crook like Putin to emerge and all the wars he started and countries he invaded, not sure why people have this blind spot…and also remember it was nato/us that bombed the Serbs that redrew the map of Europe single-handedly and without UN backing in 99, they killed the Slavic orthodox brothers and sisters of the Russians and forced the establishing of Kosovo. That is pure propaganda gold for Putin to justify his stance against nato…nato kills his kind of people (even though the Ukrainians are also Slavs and orthodox, being a dictator must be difficult to twist your mind like that etc, similar to the US pretending to be a global peacekeeper I guess). The EU and Russia will come out of this weaker and damaged, that’s what the US has aimed for all along in this conflict and earlier (remember Nuland!). But I have good hopes that the people of Russia will rise up against Putin now, looking at the streets of Russian cities packed with anti-war demonstrators, I really hope that cat escaped the bag as well and that Ukraine prevails. But enough for now, back to doom scrolling all the different news outlets, The Guardian is doing a splendid job with their live feeds.
Fuck the news, doom scroll this; https://www.instagram.com/battles.and.beers/
The EU has been dragging their feet mostly cuz they need Russia's oil
Yes, the EU doesn't usually invade other sovereign countries to "get" at their oil, they pay for it, and Russia is quite close by so yeah...
Something to think about, a linguistic map of Ukraine followed by an excellent informative lecture from 6yrs ago on the build-up of the conflict in Ukraine:
Some other things to think about.
Hahaha, not the same…and you know it, I hope. You could also just watch that YouTube-video by the University of Chicago, or only listen to its audio while working, if you’d want to learn something about this conflict that is…up to you :-)
Did I say they where the same? I said there are some other things to think about. What are you thinking about?
yes rando, please use your architecture degree and educate us on global geo-political issues; i see it's helped you find and post a video that has been circulating the internet for days now. very impressive.
Same dumb conspiracy theory video
Sorry, that it doesn’t even cross your collectively brainwashed minds that the US is not the good guy…must be tiring to label everything that doesn’t fit in with your worldview a dumb conspiracy. It is because the US refuses to give in a single inch (expanding their influence so aggressively led to the Russian-Georgian war in ‘08 and the annexation of Crimea in ‘14) that Putin didn’t see any other option than the military one…(not that I agree with him, obviously) and the US doesn’t care, they will only profit from this, motherfucking warmongering imperialists in power, dem and rep, even worse than Putin. Starting illegal wars all over the world, seen Condoleeza Rice on Fox? Probably not… I’m am truly amazed that educated Americans as yourselves don’t see through this…but whatever, it is probably all propaganda and an anti-American conspiracy, right? The US is even capable of using the suffering of the Ukrainian people for US domestic political gain…
EA, this was not directed at you
The problem with being (for lack of a better word), the "Big Dog" is that you get criticized for everything. Most of us on this forum are aware that the US government is not saintly, by any means, but blaming the US for the actions of a madman is just plainly dumb. Perhaps the EU governments should also do some meaningful action rather than sit and drink their espressos, playing armchair wars, cuz they mostly have no say or resources to do anything else. But perhaps, that's not the issue. The issue is that hundreds of thousands of families and kids are being displaced, while most of the world looks the other way.
text book strawman - where specifically did i say us was the good guy? i'm well aware of the us/nato's role in much of this, but your post further proves my point that you're largely talking out of/to your ass with no particular audience in mind, repeating the same (narrow) "arguments" over and over, projecting them at the supposed flag-waving, saber-rattling americans on this site who in reality aren't talking to you. a bit nutty if you ask me.
The overlap in language and political affiliation is almost 1:1 in Ukraine (2004-2007-2010, so pre-coup, pre-annexation):
Looks kind of like they are two different countries...
"The issue is that hundreds of thousands of families and kids are being displaced, while most of the world looks the other way."
With most of the world meaning the US...those women and children being displaced are being picked up at the border and taken in by those "horrible" regimes like Poland and Hungary among others, private people from all over the bordering countries (minus Belarus obviously) are driving to the border to pick up people and provide them shelter and a home, including their pets.
Rando - weren't you the one who stated that only a fool would come to Archinect to learn about current geo-political events? Why post about any of this here? Why not go to an actual reputable political site to have these discussions?
I don't think the portrayal that Ukraine looks like two different countries is helping much. A divided Ukraine is more problematic globally than a unified one whether it sides with Western alliances, Russia, or remains relatively neutral.
If I recall correctly (it's been a bit since I watched it or read a summary of it), that's also one of the points of the speaker in the video you posted. Isn't one of his points that a unified and neutral Ukraine is probably the best overall outcome? In other words a divided Ukraine with the western side allied with NATO and Western Europe, and the eastern side allied with Russia would be disastrous because of the conflict that would likely erupt along the dividing line between the two?
I believe that was about coming to archinect for medical advice, wasn't it? Not sure, haven't slept all that well these last few days...had to take my kids to an anti-war demonstration yesterday in our capital for which my 4yr old painted a lovely Stop Putin sign that is now in our window, he's worried about his grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins living at the border of a war zone and asked me dead serious if we have a bomb shelter in our apartment building.
"text book strawman"
not really, it is textbook cause and effect unfortunately.
Rando - pandemic info, politics, religion - it's all geo-political. The question stands. Why come to an architecture site to debate politics? Wouldn't yo be better served with by using a reputable political site? You'd learn more and have access to better informed users with current information. Why debate here?
I'm trying to figure out what those maps of election results prove? It's like when people show large swaths of the grand canyon as voting republican, as if....
Rando, no one called the Hungarians, Romanians and Poles "horrible people". Kudos to them for helping out and sheltering the Ukrainian people, and if I am not mistaken, the largest amount of aid, both supplies-wise and personnel-wise is coming from the US. I do not see many people from dutch families going to help.
b3ta, it proves what you want it to prove...that it's a failed state deeply divided along ethno/linguistic lines perhaps.
Ugh, can we try not to turn this into a tit-for-tat "look at what we are doing to help Ukraine" dick-wagging competition?
so much work/deprogramming to be done here!
this is the problem - you're not engaging in debate or discussion with anyone; you're presenting your dilettante "research" as objective truth, with and incredibly arrogant and condescending tone, when in reality it's quite obvious you know only as much as your profession allows.
Another possibly informative piece of the puzzle, from just before Putin's invasion, watch (or listen) at 1.25/1.5 speed and it doesn't even take too much of anyone's time:
fyi square, my profession allowed me to study Ukraine, visit Ukraine, speak with Ukrainians in Ukraine...and do a project there, but what do I know? better follow the storyline served up by the traditionalist hawks in name of "freedom and democracy"
"Ugh, can we try not to turn this into a tit-for-tat "look at what we are doing to help Ukraine" dick-wagging competition?"
The US has done enough already[/sarc]
Jimmy Dore? Really? That fuck? Really.
Wow, spoke to Ukrainians. Sounds a little bit like Sarah Palin.
Yes b3ta, really...the first and only video of Jimmy Dore I've ever seen, what's the problem with that? Don't know the guy, I just listened to what was being said, you could try it sometimes perhaps. Oh wait, you're shooting the messenger to not have to watch the message, right? And yes, I've been to the Ukraine, have walked on the same very streets that have seen an Orange Revolution, a massacre and a US backed/instigated coup and now a war, my guess is, you haven't...
Rando - I don't believe that you participate in other reputable political forums. You're too scared.
certain messengers have reputations for their messaging -- that's life when you are pushing messaging for outrage clicks
proto - that's a sad and pathetic way to get fleeting attention from people who will forget you the second they leave the forum
Sure random, you're right, but I did stay at a Days Inn, so I think I know more than you.
"Isn't one of his points that a unified and neutral Ukraine is probably the best overall outcome? In other words a divided Ukraine with the western side allied with NATO and Western Europe, and the eastern side allied with Russia would be disastrous because of the conflict that would likely erupt along the dividing line between the two?"
EA, I'm not saying that because Ukraine looks like two separate countries ethno/linguistically/politically that it should simply be cut up and divided, it is just to show how complex and complicated it all is...Ukraine actually means something along the lines of Border Land etymologically and it shows... A neutral Ukraine is exactly what China is opting for as well, so the US will obviously never let that happen, they'd rather let Putin shoot Ukraine to smithereens as long as they can dump massive amounts of weapons there for the opposing side(s) in a never ending conflict for years and years to come, draining Russia and EU resources :-(
Lockheed Martin stock value:
"Rando - I don't believe that you participate in other reputable political forums. You're too scared."
Chad, maybe I wasn't clear, but why should I preach to the converted/the choir? Has nothing to do with being scared of some little conversation/discussion, I just don't have an interest in joining a political forum. I'd rather discuss politics here and educate some in the process...you're very welcome!
"certain messengers have reputations for their messaging -- that's life when you are pushing messaging for outrage clicks"
Proto, that doesn't mean they're wrong though, just that you refuse to acknowledge that they might be right (in this case)...I think it is actually quite dangerous if you constantly and consistently shut out certain sources of information beforehand, you'll be only partly informed, more susceptible to misinformation and fake news without even realising it.
I'd rather discuss politics here and educate some in the process...you're very welcome!
you must be delightful in-person.
Rando - your posts here are riddled with strawmen, misinformation, logical fallacies, and blatant trolling. As such your credibility and reputation is nearly as nonexistent as x-jla's. With such a reputation you're not educating anyone. You're not a stupid person and you must realize this. All you're doing is hearing yourself talk for the sake of your own ego.
As I said above, this is a sad and pathetic way to get fleeting attention from people who will forget you the second they leave the forum.
I don’t want attention, I would like people to educate themselves on what is happening here. The ease at which an alternative, not American centric, but very well informed explanation to events is ridiculed and/or ignored by highly educated people is just beyond comprehension to me and makes me very sad in the times ahead. A little understanding for the arguments and issues of people you have a disagreement with is totally absent it seems, the widespread American propaganda is a stubborn one…it wouldn’t even for a single second come to mind that the US has had a major role in bringing the war back to the European continent, and the people that dare to question the role America plays on the global stage are ridiculed left, right and center.
just because we aren't playing your dumb troll games doesn't mean we aren't educating ourselves - again, pompous, presumptuous, and borderline narcissistic that you need to be involved in order for others to be enlightened.
Rando - where has anyone said that the US didn't influence the invasion of Ukraine?
Any remotely informed person understands the long history of how the US, Russia, China, Belarus and their allies have influenced this war.
You're not educating anyone. You're spreading bullshit conspiracy theories about a war because you're scared and don't understand what's going on. Just stop.
All of Rando's points in this discussion rest on two assumptions that make me extremely uncomfortable: 1) that Ukraine shouldn't have agency in their own foreign policy pursuits, and 2) that ethno-states are good.
tduds - I've noticed that about a lot of Rando's views. He's very ethno-centric and seems to have the view that people need to be told how to live by the rules he has set forth. It's almost like an authoritarian regime with Rando.
Rando, posting of that language map is one of VPs manufactured justifications for invasion. In essence it is analogous to manifest destiny- the political predicate for the genocide of Native Americans. It takes a lot of temerity to presume anyone's ignorance of
political leaders and their policies past and present. You are not educating anyone.
tduds, those maps only heighten my sense of random.
Another thing that strikes me is that I don't think these views are particularly out of step with mainstream European liberalism.
..
I can't comment on the mainstream views of European liberalism. I can say that I find the majority of Rando's ethno-centric authoritarian views hypocritical.
Chad, can you provide anything concrete like Rando has done? Just curious!
poop876
The things Rando has posted aren't concrete - they are screen grabs and conspiracy theories. If you like I can post a dozen links to what the current situation is in Ukraine. Of course the links will be outdated by the time I post them.
I find it odd that people are arguing about assigning blame for the war instead of the various potentially apocalyptic ways countries are attempting to stop or promote it.
"All of Rando's points in this discussion rest on two assumptions that make me extremely uncomfortable: 1) that Ukraine shouldn't have agency in their own foreign policy pursuits, and 2) that ethno-states are good."
You couldn't be more wrong tduds...I'm not against Ukraine having agency in their foreign policy pursuits, it's just that it is very difficult to know what and where Ukraine actually is as a country and as a people, they are deeply divided, so deeply that people started a separatist movement to break away from it all. When their previous (democratically elected) president (the one that had a western backed coup against him after he shot at pro-western protestors) wanted to make a deal with the EU, a not so lucrative one for Ukraine, Russia simply offered a much better deal for Ukraine that the president thought was in the best interest of his country and his people, the Ukrainians. So the West instigated a coup and put their puppet there to force the deal with the West. So yeah, who is having agency here or there? And I don't think ethno states are by definition good or bad, nor multi-ethnic ones. Let's judge states/States by their actions how mono- or multi-ethnic they are is irrelevant. All I wanted to highlight is the long running and deep divide through the country, that seemed (understatement) to be impossible to bridge, similar to Yugoslavia after their Communist dictatorship...
Chad, It is very easy to simply label everything that doesn't fit in with your views a conspiracy. When I write here about the war in Ukraine, when I try to explain a point of view that doesn't make it my personal point of view. Sorry if that all goes over your head. I'm not pro ethno-states run by autocrats at all, doesn't mean I can't try to understand their point of view in the matter to better understand the situation.
I don't have time to refute each individual claim up there but that's Russian propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-follows-decades-of-warnings-that-nato-expansion-into-eastern-europe-could-provoke-russia-177999
Rando - it's easy to label something a conspiracy theory when it doesn't have any evidence to back up it's claims. It's even easier when said theory's only supporting evidence is a YouTube video.
Thx for posting that...interesting perspective, tho not sure I agree that the results follow as implied without acknowledging Russian imperialist aspirations.
There are a whole number of countries who play nicely together and are not threatened by NATO. I imagine NATO-neighboring countries look at both sides; and subsequently some are requesting entry, and others are happy to see stability but not interested in joining. The choice to apply, in and of itself, is telling of the dynamic at play when considering the Russian position.
Chad, the evidence is not the YT videos but what is being discussed in the videos, that lecture from University of Chicago has quite a clear timeline in it of events that could help you put things in perspective.
Whether or not Ukraine joins NATO is (and should be) up to Ukraine. Like I said above, any other position is based on denying agency to the country itself.
Nope, it's not up to Ukraine but up to NATO: "Any decision to invite a country to join the Alliance is taken by the North Atlantic Council on the basis of consensus among all Allies."
Do you notice how that says "invite a country to join" and not "compel a country to join." It's up to Ukraine if they want to accept the invitation.
Note the invitation has to have consensus among all the allied member states as well. So maybe you could simply lobby at home for your government to vote no on their inclusion. Probably have a better result that trying to educate us here. You've already made it clear you have concerns with them in the EU so it shouldn't be that hard, right?
Am I being too cynical when I see statements about stopping work in Russia and I think it's because of the sanctions that are being imposed and not necessarily because of solidarity with Ukraine, etc.? Because if I am, please let me know I am, and why I shouldn't be so cynical.
At any rate, here's a link to MVRDV's statement: https://www.mvrdv.nl/news/4091...
P.s. I also get that it could actually be both sanctions and solidarity.
It's not cynical. Firms are definitely going to hide behind sanctions.
The actual way to support the Ukrainians would be to stop work in China, the biggest supporter of the Russians. But no architecture office in their right minds will do that, cuz moolah.
If governments can hide behind measures so will firms...have already heard that the inflation and rising prizes are because of the war in Ukraine...firms design projects in China, in the Middle-East with basically slave labour or even in the US, so yes also in Russia and Ukraine. It is totally logical to stop working on projects in countries that are invaded, when the staff of your partner offices either has to flee or join the army. If they wouldn't stop work in Russia too (apart from the SWIFT and banking stuff), it would look like they chose sides, which would be a PR-disaster.
The biggest trade partner of Russia is the EU by the way, and the biggest trade partner affected by the sanctions is also the EU, but that didn't stop the EU from (finally) imposing these sanctions and simultaneously offer Ukraine EU-membership.
I don't disagree that it would be a PR disaster to continue projects in Russia as you outline, I just think it's more of a scapegoat than anything else. If you ("you" generally ... not "you" specifically randomised) can't get paid for your work, you'll stop doing that work anyway. The PR thing is more or less to help you save face. I just don't think we need to trip over ourselves to pat firms on the back when they get the PR machine humming.
I keep coming back hoping for some insights from the folks who use their noggins but all the new replies are under a thread started by some random internet troll, so I see nothing. Anyone want to pop up their thoughts so those of us with an ignore list can participate?
You must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
You're not missing much. No one is really trying to be an expert or, if they are, has shared that much insight apart from rando who apparently has it all figured out and has taken up the mantel of educating the rest of us ignoramuses.
Stupid typo. Mantle, not mantel.
"No one is really trying to be an expert or, if they are, has shared that much insight apart from rando who apparently has it all figured out and has taken up the mantel of educating the rest of us ignoramuses."
Maybe it's because I live in Europe and all of you simply don't...maybe it's because I've been to Ukraine and all of you haven't...maybe it's because my kids are multi-ethnic with Dutch/Polish and some German and Polish Ukrainian in there, with their grandparents living only 300miles from this warzone...maybe it's because my partner grew up under Russian occupation...maybe indeed I do know a little bit more of what's going on here and what's at stake on my continent than all of you safely far away with an ocean on each side, I'm half as far from Kyiv than LA is from New York...
We're all reading the same internet.
Don't necessarily think so, your internet is much more confined to the Anglosphere, mine is multi-ethnic and multi-lingual by default ;-)
Rando - you've made several "all of you" statements that assume a lot. I for one can say you're wrong on all of those statements when it comes to me.
Stop trying to troll. You're really bad at it and just make yourself look foolish and rather conceded.
Sorry rando, I think you misread my comment. I never said nor tried to imply that it didn't affect you more or less than the rest of us. Being affected by and being expert in are not the same though. Nor does proximity automatically result in better understanding of the events. I appreciate your opinions, but perhaps they'd be better received if they were presented thusly and not as fact.
I saw Ukraine on map once.
I'm a few days late to this thread, but is random saying he can contribute something of value? If so, why won't he?
He can't and even if he could he wouldn't.
Antifada
Majority Report
Everyone Loves Communism
Three very good podcasts.
Hi everyone, I am just wondering if it is okay to talk about things controversial in ur MArch application portfolios..?
Such as what topics? Is the controversial topic one with the possibility of intelligent and balanced discussion or is it just nonsense pop-culture conspiracy shit idiot students follow because it makes them think they are smarter than others?
No. White people don't like controversial topics.
Unless it's denying such topics exist.
"We witness cities having massive freak-outs over homeless encampments expanding, but no consideration as to the conditions in society that have created this problem. How do you not see this explosion in need and suffering and not think perhaps we are backing an incorrect and untenable economic system?...The massive effort involved in militarized police sweeps of these camps as well as the lawyer power needed to go to the Supreme Court—how much could have been done with these resources if channeled towards safe housing creation?" here here!
In this vein while it isn't a perfect (read long term solution) here in Denver its been exciting to watch the new Mayor's House1000 initiative and amazing that the goal was met before our recent 30+ hour stretch of subzero temperature.
While I agree 100% with the sentiment, I did some looking through Denver's House1000, because I was curious how this housing was tracked, and its quality of living... I found this article from last September:
"But anyone who was homeless on the streets who secured housing through the city and lives indoors for at least 14 days will have received what Johnston is considering a “housing outcome,” explained Clarissa Boggs-Blake, a manager with the Office of Emergency Management’s Joint Information Center, in an email to Denverite.
If people return to a tent from a shelter after 14 days, they will still be considered a part of the 1,000 people housed."
The article goes on that the "housing" being mentioned counts bridge & transitional housing, existing homeless shelters, and motel conversions. While those are safer than the outdoors during freezing temperatures, it's definitively not actually housing (at least according to federal standards).
The goal to also permanently shut down tent encampments also is a point of concern for me. See more on my thoughts about that from this older thread I posted.
Hi Jovan totally agree with the need to build permanent housing for all. That being said some of the initial concerns with metrics/tracking were addressed as I understand it. As one of the links I posted originally notes the program eventually found it "Housed 1,034 Denverites living on the streets in permanent units, converted hotels, and tiny home micro-communities, 98% of which are still indoors" though again totally fair to point out that "indoors" is certainly not same as a "home".
"Tiny home micro-communities" also very much bothers me, for the same reasons as the link I posted above...depending on the specific project, these "micro-communities" are really just a polite way of saying "we took all the homeless people and put them into little garden sheds where they don't actually get to have personal space or property." I'd definitely have to read more into it, but I'm very cautious with most planned/designed solutions toward homelessness.
I'm nervous over New Hampshire. I dream of seeing Haley demolish trup with the help of independent voters, but I don't have high hopes.
Hey now, NH is like just a few hours away from me... Ahhhhhh, the crazy is getting closer.
I have no hope for anything anymore.
Non - you better get your hocky sticks ready.
I had a conversation at dinner last night with friends from college. Someone remarked that our kids, who are in college now, haven’t been exposed to a presidential political cycle in which Trump wasn’t part of the conversation. Meaning as they became teens, their world awareness started to include the political/cultural/social/trend media; and that the old norms for rule-of-law, decency, moderation, or even compromise in politics are somewhat foreign to gen Z. They’ve grown up with outrage tactics and overstated spin as the common communication language; metaphorical comparisons aping as measured factual considerations; whatever gets clicks to emphasize an “emotional truth” [“truthiness”], if not always a factual one. Overstated opinions or entertainment as politics to garner clicks & views; provocative clickbait headlines with the facts buried “below the fold”. Youtube, “independent journalists”, facebook, snap, xwitter, memes, etc
I do wonder how this reflects in some of the political outlooks I see on here — without knowing the general ages of the various posters, is a generational experience coloring the presentation or the life-experience of the poster? How much has our current brand of outrage politics colored the way we share the american experience? If we share any experiences at all between generations despite us all seeing the public events unfold around us?
Also related & ongoing question every few years: how do people even get their news now? Talkradio/localnews/facebook/DailyShow/Tiktok/Xwitter/Truth/Fox/CNN/NYT/NPR/Breitbart/youtube/blog/etc
I was a tween when Obama was elected in 2008, and have lived in a variety of political climates since then (from moderate California to liberal democrat NYC to moderate republican SLC to where I live currently in Florida). I think dismissing my (or others') views as "Oh you're just too young to know anything beyond Trump's manipulative politics" is really ignorant of the fact that our world has been alarmingly becoming more unequal in nearly all categories of social life, and that younger people simply don't want the future that's being prescribed to them.
I primarily get my news from a variety of online sources, which include large media organizations from around the world (i.e. BBC, CNN, Fox, Al-Jazeera, etc.), as well as from Youtube, TikTok, and op-eds from various international zines and independent websites.
Thank you for your response, Jovan. I appreciate it.
I do think there’s a cultural currency in urgency that is not correlated to actual impacts. No topic gets attention unless it is delivered as being dialed up to 11. While this has historically been true, it’s only in the internet decades that overstating a position in order to push a more moderate acceptable position has become a seemingly essential presentation strategy. And even more recently, it’s become a manner of communicating between people. Moderation or compromise is considered weakness (or lack of commitment; or complicity with the extreme opposite).
I question extreme statements as purposefully provocative because of this currency, especially as no one issue exists in a vacuum & not every topic can be catastrophic concurrently or everlastingly. Seeing past that communication style IMHO may require more perspective and experience [and is a spectrum without end, ie we keep learning and applying that revised perspective as we get older]. I totally get that that may appear dismissive. But I also am not going to apologize for what accumulated wisdom I can claim.
This media culture did not always exist & change still occurred.
I do want to understand why people hold their opinions. I do want to hear what helped them get there. I try to explain my arrival to a certain perspective as I am able. But I also hope that compromise is not dead because we are an incredibly complex world & no one gets their way all the time. [& sorry for the wall of text!]
The political divergence proto is lamenting here pre-dates the Trump Era by more than two decades, and is not a new thing by any measure. It's also much more accurate describe Trump's popularity and resurgent right populism as a reaction to it rather than a cause.
Note how far the median left position had shifted to an extreme vs the right median at the beginning of Trump's first term in office.
Similarly, in Congress, the positional overlap at the political center had completely disappeared by the early 1990s.
gwharton, I hope you understand the second graph you posted contradicts your assertion from the first that the liberal median has shifted so drastically to the left when comparing 1994 to 2017. If not, here's a handy visual to help. Seems it's the median right that's shifting more extreme rather than the left.
*Now I know you'll say they aren't measuring the same groups or whatever, but if US House hasn't shifted that far, what is the first set of charts showing ... registered party members?
So the first charts are about ideological consistency across 10 points, not about extremity. So you were inferring something from the visualization that the visualization was never meant to illustrate. Pew says so quite explicitly.
https://www.pewresearch.org/po...
Congrats on being manipulated by partisan propaganda being put out there in an uncredited editorial from Investor's Business Daily
https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/pew-research-center-study-shows-that-democrats-have-shifted-to-the-extreme-left/
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/investors-business-daily/
@gwharton, my lament isn't really about political divergence per se, but that def is a result. Dems & reps do traffic in it purposefully. It makes the presumption of dialog or progress difficult at best.
If you look at the median shift directions and magnitudes in the Pew results over time, the trends are pretty clear. This animation helps illustrate them.
It also matches comparative experience. Trump is considered by many on the left today to be a deranged right-wing extremist. His actual policies and governing style are bog-standard 1994 Democrat.
An animation showing what exactly? There are no x- or y-axis labels to tell you so you default to a position that leftward motion is bad. Go back and read what the Pew survey is actually talking about and you'll see it's not about extremity but consistency. If you want to say the median liberal is becoming more ideologically consistent with liberal values or viewpoints ... that's fine because that's what the chart is showing. It's showing that fewer Democrats are holding onto conservative views and actually being ideologically consistent. Pew explains this if you wanted to read:
"At the same time, the center of the scale has shifted in a somewhat liberal direction over time. To a large extent, this is the result of the public’s growing acceptance of homosexuality and more positive views of immigrants, shifts that are seen among both Democrats and Republicans (GOP attitudes about immigrants are little changed over the last decade, but Republicans are substantially less likely to view immigrants as a burden on the country than they were in the 1990s)."
In other words, what you're really complaining about is that the general public, including some of those who call themselves Republicans, is becoming less homophobic and xenophobic. The largest shifts to the left are almost entirely in the realm of recognizing systemic racism and discrimination and prejudices against poor people, immigrants, and homosexuals.
"His actual policies and governing style are bog-standard 1994 Democrat." [I didn't catch this back when]
I do not agree at all & the public record does not support that statement.
Aside from a tax cut and installing judges, nothing Trump has done has been rooted in traditional governance. He has 1) suggested (both in running for the position & in the position) illegal processes; 2) lied at an unprecedented rate (even with an allowance that we know politicians of all stripes "spin" stuff regularly); and 3) actively attempted to turn the presidency into an autocracy. These are not metaphorical partisan statements; this is his record.
Funny thing is that the liberals (screaming at progressives to vote for Biden) is the best thing that happened to the republicans. The more you scream, the less inclined I am to vote for anyone.
Feel free to not vote but then you have no right to complain.
Isn't the right to complain enshrined in the constitution?
"screaming"? hmm...
"Isn't the right to complain enshrined in the constitution?" right next to voting...
Johnathan - not really.
The entire idea of the 1A is that your speech can cause change and thus the government can't regulate it. If you're not going to vote then you've given up your ability to affect change.
Sure you can still complain and feel like you're doing something, but in reality you're not accomplishing much. Now complaining and voting - that has the highest change of affecting change.
If we had RCV nationally, would that change enthusiasm to vote?
I think that would be a great idea.
Goddammit. I'm so rage-filled and scared.
This is about Cannon, that crook.
It's very weird.
Pure speculation from this non-lawyer: I think history will show some sort of collusive communication with Cannon. The slow walking & unprofessional process was unusual in its utterly non-transparent subtlety.
Cannon's decision is very obviously correct from a Constitutional law standpoint. The mystery is why it took her so long to issue it. Only Congress can create new offices and officers. Congress intentionally let the Office of Independent Counsel lapse, at which point it ceased to exist as a Constitutional body and closed. The Justice Department then tried to sidestep that by recreating it with no Congressional authority, and in doing so also deliberately tried to insulate it from accountability to any other Constitutional officer (such as the AG or US Attorney) as well as Congress itself. This was all true the moment Smith was "appointed," and has been true the whole time. Why is the charade only now being dismissed rather than at the beginning? That's the most important question.
Fine, gwharton. It's legal. So was McConnell refusing to hold hearings for Merrick Garland's appointment to SCOTUS. So, possibly, was trump taking classified documents home and storing them in a toilet. It's all legal.
Do you think *any* of this is moving our country in a good direction that makes us a more prosperous, egalitarian, free society?
And don't weasel out. Are we, as a society, moving in a good direction?
This country has been heading into a death spiral for 20 years, accelerating dramatically in 2012-2014. In hindsight, preventing Garland from being on SCOTUS was 100% a good thing. The guy has demonstrated a complete disregard for justice and the law as AG.
gwharton
How has Garland shown a 'complete disregard for justice and the law as AG?' This is a sincere question.
Please provide examples.
And again, no matter how shitty Merrick Garland may be, why should his nomination have been prevented (purely legally, of course) because one Senator didn't like the Black president? That was the moment that killed our country, IMO.
20 years....omg that's the most fucked statement I've read today.
Donna, don't waste your energy spiraling off on minutia. Things really aren't so complicated.
“Cannon's decision is very obviously correct from a Constitutional law standpoint.“
Um, no, not obvious at all. It’s partisan legislating from the bench: it was a page torn from Thomas’ instructive text just a short time ago when the conservative court decided presidents had broad immunity & we aren’t allowed to question it. This court is re-writing the Constitution by acting as the one true oracle who knows better than the long judicial history already in place. “Balls & strikes”, my ass…!
Hey, can you lower the dumpster fire south of my border for a bit... we're in a heat wave up here and I don't feel like running my AC on full blast 24/7.
graphemic, things truly are bad enough that I can’t ignore them. We only have rule of law for rich people, my gay friends could see forced marriage dissolution and no access to IVF, civil servants and veterans will lose rightfully-earned benefits… and even if none of that concerns you, the planet is dying, ya know? So maybe we should try to elect people who will do something about that?!
NS - time for my annual check on the job market back home? just in case parachutes need to be pulled imminently...
Bench, everyone I know is starving for staff but hardly anyone wants to actually work. Too many pseudo mid-level arch who want to "manage" and few who can actually get shit done makes for a very weird place. The folks I talk too (and us as well) refuse to overpay (ie poach) people... but the is loads of construction. Still better than trumpanistan.
I'd work in Canada but I couldn't handle the metric system.
She ignored decades of precedent, something judges at her level aren't allowed to do. But the media are cowards and so they're both siding it. And like clockwork our local fascist enablers are out here spewing bs. Thanks for the reminder of why I don't come by here anymore.
Donna: I did not say ignore the problems! I mean to suggest that time and energy should be used strategically. It's not building power to argue with randos on the internet, and I'm sure it will only aggravate you/us, leaving no more energy for better activities like reading, phone banking, organizing, etc. I feel the despair with you! Just take care of yourself.
SneakyPete - Who is 'she'?
Judge.
Which one? Sotomayor or Kegan?
The one being discussed. So neither of those.
Cannon.
I didn't want to assume - the each political camp seems to 'hate' several judges. I wasn't sure if we'd spun off to the justices . . . .
This country's current death spiral started with Reagan. Prove me wrong.
I thought you didn't come here anymore?
I check in from time to time. There are good people here who I like. Unfortunately the worst voices became the loudest voices.
So you don't not come here anymore. Thanks for clearing that up. ;)
And thanks for the reinforcement.
You bet! ;) Seriously though, how have you been?
Trying to get a new job. Enjoying my kid.
Nice! I'll probably be starting one of those next year.
I assume kid since you've always seemed to like where you work.
I have no kids and cannot father them.
Then good luck with the job search / start.
Thanks!
I am afraid Trump is almost guaranteed to win the next election. Both houses will be his at the helm of the Republican Party. Brace yourselves. It will be a very different country after a landslide. It doesn't matter anymore whether Biden pulls out or not. Trump is elevated to an invincible American Hero status. He has already turned the justice system to his favor during his presidency, now he will finish the job across the board.
There is also a new blue blood and a more sinister VP on his side. (link is a longish but very illuminating article)
Me? I am a Bernie supporter as he said "now it is Biden or bust." But more likely a bust...
Heather Cox Richardson wrote recently that with all of his legitimate court cases going his way and not because of established precedent, that his is already a dictator--he's just not back in office yet. If elected, he will continue doing to this country what he's done with every business venture he's had--run it into the ground. His VP pick is just as terrible, if not worse. I'm with you, Biden because he's the only reasonable option.
Trump plans to eliminate climate change initiatives, which should be enough for every architect to vote against him.
Edit to say: Trump's *handlers* plan to eliminate climate change initiatives, he's just their puppet.
He just wants the publicity and the favor of Russians that he owes loans to. As far as I've been able to tell, he has no morals, and does not actually care about anyone else. Which makes him a sociopath.
He's also an idiot. People keep saying he's 'smart' because of how much money he has and how 'good' at 'business' he is.. All his money is from his father. If Trump had taken the money his father gave him and simply put into a mutual fund he'd be worth 5x more than he says he's currently worth.
But he knows how to appeal to people, like any good sociopath. He just doesn't fool all of us.
It's interesting that people are calling Trump 'brave' because he 'fought off' the secrete service to stay on stage. The thing is, the secrete service removed him from the state and told him the shooter had been killed and he was safe. Trump then came back on stage. He didn't fight off anyone. He thought he was safe. It was all an act.
Right there with you. Bracing for hard impact. What a miserable state of affairs.
Earnestly I think the stakes are the same whether it's Biden or someone else. That bit baffles me when people say Biden's going to lose. I don't see anything changing the issues of Trump's danger to our country. Biden less attractive to voters, but nevertheless the backstop to Trump. A newcomer more attractive to voters, but again a backstop to Trump.
I do think Biden is showing that he is no longer the person he was. And so, he should not run.
Who should run? Democrats should be looking first for a really great communicator; & second, someone who also understands middle left policy thoroughly. Harris is way better than Biden, but I'm not sure she's that Great Communicator that the position requires to fire up voters & explain the way forward.
I'm not sure who fits that bill exactly, but I've been impressed w/ Transportation Sec Buttigieg in articulating issues every time I've seen him in the news. I'm sure there are others. There is a lot of wisdom in Biden's team & any new candidate can pick up that team as a starting point.
Harris is a super-lame EX-COP. Kudos to her for being the first colored lady VP, but not sure what her role has been in the white house except for attending dinners.
any VP has the same issues -- they're there to just support the prez & not get in the way of his policy
The thing that I don't understand is why didn't people try to get a different candidate to run months ago?
Cuz the Dems have gotten delusional in the last few years ... not sure how they could not see what most of us are seeing regarding Biden's policies and total inefficacies as a leader
Proto, as much as I dislike Biden as the president, he actually had a major role in getting Obamacare passed, so theres that. Not sure what Harris can hang her hat on
Sameold - I don't agree with your negative view on Biden. I also don't buy the idea that dems became delusional.
If members of the party were concerned about Biden's age and capabilities, why not bring it up months ago. I think the reason is that politicians are playing politics. I think they waited until they thought there was enough support then 'jumped on the bandwagon'. I suspect these politicians saying Biden shouldn't run are working an plan to position themselves for future advancement in the form of future elections or favors.
people here are lapping up the media narratives and not looking at data. i still think biden will win, handily.. trump is historically unpopular and has lost every election since 2016. i've found the "attempted assassination makes him more popular" narrative laughable. replacing biden now is something that has never been done successfully. agree with chad - he wasn't my first choice but there's been plenty of time and process to choose someone else. if people are disillusioned now, how do you think they will feel about a replacement being handpicked by the dnc and private donor pressure?
I think Biden has done a lot of great things, and a few terrible things, but overall his record is impressive. He's definitely old, though I think he would likely be fine for another four years.
Americans, and maybe people in general, are drawn to leaders who have a dynamic presence and they don't look too closely at the big picture. For that reason I do wish that Dems had chosen someone else, an orator like Obama, Clinton or Reagan. Because of the consequences, that is probably more important than any candidate's specific views and priorities.
But we're stuck with Biden, which puts our country in a precarious position; a Trump victory would fundamentally change our country for decades at least.
Chad, I dont agree that ANYONE has a positive opinion of Biden per se, hes been extremely ineffectual before before his handling of Gaza. Is he better then Trump, sure - when the bar is set that low anyone is better.
Sameold, Biden has gotten more things done in his 3.5 years in office than many presidents, and they are mostly good things. He has had to navigate some rough waters and the country is better for it. To say he's ineffectual means you're either not looking at facts, judging him based on appearance, or both. In my opinion.
someold - If Trump was pro Palestine and would act accordingly, would you want him as POTUS again?
Chad, That would definitely be a +1 for Biden in my opinion but probably not enough.
Quite frankly, not sure what his "achievements" are, with his flailing immigration policies (he actually built Trump's wall), rampant inflation etc. A few symbolic gestures towards PoCs and spending about 3.5 years attacking right wingers for the "insurrection, have been completely worthless gestures to many.
Dont get me wrong, Biden even with his flailing mental abilities is still way better than Trump, but so is a doorknob.
Biden would definitely make a great Israeli PM lol. Didnt he once brag about his numbers being much better in Israel?
someold - so you would vote for Trump is he was pro Palestine? Yes or No.
No I would not. As i have repeatedly mentioned he is much worse than Genocide Joe.
So you don't want Biden and won't vote for him but don't seem to care that that means you're helping Trump? Serious question.
I live in California so my vote does not make a difference. Serious answer.
So you'll vote for Trump, got it.
Quite frankly, not sure what his "achievements" are, with his flailing immigration policies (he actually built Trump's wall), rampant inflation etc.
honestly, this shows a pathetic in ability to look at things objectively. sameold is in the blueanon camp, can't look past their own pet issues with biden, who has been one of the most progressive and successful presidents in our lifetime. since i care about infrastructure, green energy, labor, and the economy, i give him overall high marks even though he wasn't my choice in the primary. i think he's been far, far better than obama except when it comes to giving speeches.
Chad, as I have said before an now, sitting this one out. Your assumptions are just that, and if I indeed were to vote republican, I would have no shame in mentioning it.
Square, sure your "pet issues" are Infrastructure, green energy, labor and the economy, got it. If you think the economy is doing well based on the statistics the WH keeps putting out, I have a bridge to sell you.
In the same way my "pet issues" are immigration and foreign policy, on both of which Biden has been extremely ineffectual. If not being Trump is all he's got, he really should step down.
The Democrats have normalized nearly everything the Republicans have wanted to do. Now they're running away from trans people. They've abandoned workers, worked against rail workers, have done zip on the PRO Act. Yes, he got us out Afghanistan, but draws us closer to conflict in Asia, and Europe. He's been everything he said he was 50 years ago; a Zionist, and that will cost over 200k Palestinian lives. He's trying to salvage, and stem the blood letting that is happening daily, another senator just said he should end his bid. Now he decides a national rent control should happen, great. Now if he'd just nationalizes the electrical and petroleum industries.
So... Kamala? And who for VP?
Biden! ;)
A friend noted that if she picks Shapiro, it would be a Black/Indian/Jewish ticket. He's strongly leftist and Jewish but he thinks that may be too much diversity for the general public.
I say Wood Guy should be the VP nominee. Who's with me!
Haha, I think we've had enough stutterers in the office for a while! I'd be terrible in the role in most other ways as well. I would entertain being a strategist or speech writer, but I don't really have the skills to be great in those roles either. Thanks though. ;-)
We need more stutters in the office dang it! Represent! (I'm a stutterer as well).
Yay one more Zio?
I'm not a Zionist. Neither am I pro Palestine. I'm anti-terrorist and pro non-combatants.
Not you Chad, Im talking about Shapiro
OK.
Chad, you're pro-2nd?
Pro 2nd? Pro Second Amendment?
Actually I'm more curious about what would happen if someone tried to break into your home?
Depends. This oversimplified answers are:
If I can - I'll be in my bedroom waiting for the cops. If not then the intruder may have a very bad, and short time in my house.
Ok. I think I understand. But let me ask you, would you feel justified in perpetrating violence on someone who violated the sanctity of your domicile? Assuming the police never arrived, or were too late to prevent your violent act.
I'm not Blue Lives Matter. Neither am I Anti-2nd. I'm anti-violence and pro-justice reform.
I would feel justified in using deadly force to was trying to severely hurt or kill me / someone else. I've done it before and I'd do it again.
Now if I used to live in a house, kicked out the original owners, was later kicked out myself, then I moved next door, I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner.
What if there was a difference of around 1500 years in those events, Chad? And what if your whole 1500-year old scenario was supported by nothing but Bibilical texts and people parting oceans?
Wow
That’s a completely farsical narrative not rooted in anything but another completely farsical narrative. You know Bibi is
...Bibi's family is Polish, right?
Funny/Sad thing is that "moving next door", which he is equating to the lives of Palestinians is also totally farce. They were forced out. So we know where your sympathies lie, Chad...
Moreover, with 79% of the land given to the Zios in the Oslo accords, should they not have tried to live in peace, rather then build their ugly orange county esque developments all over Palestine?
The insane idea that Israel is a state rooted in any history is Evangelical fan-fic. It is a country created at the barrel of a gun. Jews, Muslims, Christians, and B'Hai all lived there peacefully prior to 1948. To suggest that European whites have some divine right is the language of the occult.
sameolddoctor wrote:
"Funny/Sad thing is that "moving next door", which he is equating to the lives of Palestinians is also totally farce. They were forced out. So we know where your sympathies lie, Chad.. "
You need to read the entire text.
"Now if I used to live in a house, kicked out the original owners, was later kicked out myself, then I moved next door, I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner."
Both sides were kicked out and then resettled the area long before the 1950's and creation of Israel. I'm seeing this from the non combatants that have lived in the region for around 2,000 years.
b3tadine[sutures] wrote
Did you know [sic]...Bibi's family is Polish, right?
I didn't know that.
Didi you know I'm Norse?
Then again his ethnicity doesn't impact my views on this. If you want to fight against someone for whatever reason, go ahead. Just don't actively target non combatants.
You're missing the point. Zionists claim a divine right to a land they have zero recent historical connection to, and the only reason they claim it, is because of a racist antisemitic British Lord, and US hegemony.
Back to the house defense. You've neutralized the attacker to your home, what's next?
Good riddance, Biden. His unabashed support for the colonialist zio regime posited him to the RIGHT of Reagan and he paid the price for it. His other failings as a president would have gone unnoticed if he hadnt sucked up to Israel the way he did.
Hopefully Kamala get the message and decouples from Israel and the AIPAC, otherwise she will face the same future with unprecedented demonstrations and resistance movements.
That will never happen for any administration. You know it and you know why. You just don't want to admit it.
I'm hoping for Coconut Communism!
I'm going Ripley Hicks
.
colonialist zio regime
tell me you live in a bubble without telling me you live in a bubble.
Yes I'm a trump supporter- probably rare among this group. So be it.
I watched the committee hearings with the SS
I think the complexity and the confusion over what happened in PA with a near presidential assassination, has to do with PA laws. Pennsylvania is an open carry state. If this is right Secret Service did everything right - they could not fire on this individual until he fired and therefore presented a threat. Trying to be objective folks.
Maybe there should be some limitations on 2A rights?
I say this as a staunch constitutionalist. Thanks for listening.
Not a proud moment for you. Thanks for fanning the dumpster fire.
While I don't support Trump I have to agree with smaarch on this. The secrete service appears to have done things correctly. I could be wrong as the investigation isn't over. There should be limitations on the 2A. I'd add that open carry is foolish, stupid, and counterproductive to defending yourself in public.
^ownership is foolish. Anything else is splitting hairs...
It's far too late to do anything about banning guns at this point. But there are plenty of ways to improve the situation: require licensure, require training, outlaw the assault-style weapons used in virtually all mass shootings although they are not the only weapons capable of deadly results, raise the age of ownership from whatever it is now.
None of those violate 2A, they just provide common-sense reform, considering that currently the largest source of child deaths in the US is guns.
Since much of the population is armed, I would not give up my collection of antique rifles and shotguns without a fight.
Could be. It is in my countries constitution though. I don't think my ownership of firearms is foolish. I hunt with them quite a bit. I personally think there should be limits on the types of firearms someone could own though.
^slight correction, hunting is reasonable enough as long as they are stored & locked when not pointed at delicious elk. The cult of ownership & open carry is so fucking silly. No wonder Trump will win when idiots like that are behind him. Good Hogan speach tho. I miss the hulkamania days.
I think the insurance companies should lobby to require guns to be insured. We require cars to be insured for public safety reasons. In fact, the way the US treats cars could be applied to guns... some restrictions, license and insurance requirements. Additionally, we talk about car (transportation) safety... not control. I think we could do that with guns as well... gun safety, not gun control. Nobody likes to be controlled!
Some people need to be controlled though. Everyone knows someone who owns a firearm and shouldn't.
Really, who cares smarch. Trump and his buddies love guns and he almost got killed by one. Call it divine justice.
smaarch: I don't disagree with you on the open carry/secret service statement. I am curious why you're a Trump supporter. Is it him, or is it the party in general? Is it tax cuts? Genuinely curious. It's bold of you to state so here.
sameolddoctor -
Unfortunately many Trump supporters are saying it was divine intervention that saved him. Some use this as 'proof' that Trump has been chosen by (a) god to be president.
Yes of course it will work in his favor. People wont see that if gun violence werent so prevalent, this may not have happened at all.
Now if I used to live in a house [Palestinians lived in Palestine prior to 1948] kicked out the original owners [Original? You mean descendants of the African Continent?] or [Zionists committing violence against West Bank Palestinians], was later kicked out myself [Disposessed Palestinians], then I moved next door [Moved? With Uhauls or do mean forced at gunpoint into open air concentration camps?] I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner. [I think West Bank Palestinians would like a word].
b3tadine[sutures] wrote in bold
Now if I used to live in a house
[Palestinians lived in Palestine prior to 1948]
I know. Palestinians, Jews, and various other people have lived in that area for around 2,000 years. The ethnicity of the people isn’t the issue.
kicked out the original owners
[Original? You mean descendants of the African Continent?] or [Zionists committing violence against West Bank Palestinians],
I should of said ‘current owners’ I apologize for the error. There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
was later kicked out myself
[Disposessed Palestinians],
No, everyone. There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
. then I moved next door
[Moved? With Uhauls or do mean forced at gunpoint into open air concentration camps?]
There have been groups of people that have been kicking each other out of the area for the last 2,000 years. It’s been a back and forth of control in that region for about 1,500 years. Again, it’s not about one ethnicity or group of people.
I wouldn't feel justified in using violence against the current owner.
[I think West Bank Palestinians would like a word].
That’s fine. They can fight if the want. I wouldn't feel justified in doing so.
Just don’t shoot at your other neighbor’s house as a means to ‘get’ the neighbor that kicked you out.
That’s the thing I have a problem with. In this current ‘war’ each side is actively killing noncombatants. It's abhorrent and must stop. Right now, it’s the Israelis doing the killing. Before that it was the Palestinians. Before that it was . . . . you get the idea.
I despise the military on each side of this 'war'. You may not like it but I will not support a group that actively targets and kills non combatants.
You forgot about the part where West Bank Palestinians haven't done anything, they are "governed" by the PLO, and not Hamas. Zionist settler terrorists have been murdering Palestinians.
It seems almost a daily function of the news in the region to demonstrate how Project Hannibal killed more Israeli citizens on October 7th than Hamas. And if you couple that with how hostages have been treated by both sides, it's not even comparable; Israel is terrorist ethnostate. Now the ICJ has said as much and condemned the occupation; they deserve the same treatment as South Africa during apartheid.
Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas. Palestinians were given the opportunity to create their own independent state several times. The only caveat was that Israel was to remain. Each time the Palestinians would only agree if Israel was removed.
Both Israeli's and Palestinian's have historic 'rights' to the area. Both sides want the other to be removed. In Israel's case their government want Hamas gone. In the Palestinians case Hamas and the PLO want all jews gone. Neither will get their way so they'll keep killing everyone around them. It's pathetic and very sad for the innocent people that live there. Each side should let the other be there and live independently.
One las thing: I don't care which side is 'more bad'. Both sides are horrible. You say one side is fighting for 'freedom'. The other side says the same. Neither side will win this. Until both side are forced to stop killing there will be no peace.
Hamas has killed and imprisoned much lesser people than the Israelis, so theres that.
I don't care. Hamas with support of the PLO still intently kidnap, torture, and kill innocent non combatants. Same as Israel. I'd could never support a group that does that.
chad, it's about ethnicity.
I don't care about the ethnicity of either side. In my 'house' example the ethnicity doesn't matter. If people want to be racist punters that's up to them. Just another reason why I won't support either 'side'. Side note; It's actually about religion which is even worse.
Hamas hasn't been in existence for 75 years, for one. And two, Hamas has been supported by the Zionist regime as they provide the Israelis the ability to a ointment any real dialog with the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, and the PLO.
The PLO has not advocated for the eradication of Israel for over 30 years. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization#:~:text=Effectively%2C%20the%20PLO%20recognized%20Israel's,diplomatic%20contacts%20with%20PLO%20officials.
Hamas or other groups have been violently opposing Jewish refugees and the creation of Israel since around 1930. Hamas was created in 1987 by the Muslim Brotherhood. Before that Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon attacked Israel. Either outright or via various other groups.
Hamas wants the eradication of Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas on and off for around 30+ years.
As for the rest of your comment, please provide some evidence to support your claim.
How is it that you can both sides this? One side has 2000 lb bombs, US military hardware, nukes, the other side has rocks, gliders and tickets built with kitchen supplies. You're not even willing to entertain, or interrogate why you might be wrong. Unreal. Before you say I am the same, I'll remind you, as a fucking Gen X, I've been indoctrinated into believing Israel's existence was sacrosanct for most of my life, it was only when I had conversations with Socialist Jews that I began to understand the nefarious white ethnonationalist regime controlling Israel.
Tickets = rockets
Please tell me which points you disagree with.
2 and 4. You - white Europeans - don't get to spend 75 years of telling Palestinians they have no rights to the only home they've ever known, they don't have rights to defend themselves, ever. You don't get to murder them on the daily, for doing nothing but trying to live, ever. Tell them they are insects. Deserve genocide. Blow off the faces of babies, ever. And then tell me they have no right to fight back. This fucking country would never stand for that if it happened to us, and we've bombed people into the stone ages for having the wrong dictator. The IRA was right to defend themselves and the Irish. The freedom fighters in Palestine are right as well. Intifada every day.
b3tadine[sutures]
Are you OK with intentionally targeting innocent civilians in war?
Do you agree with what Hamas dose and stands for?
Just to be clear - Anyone can fight anyone they want. I simply won't agree with it when a group intentionally targets innocent civilians.
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/19/hamas-israel-palestine-conflict/
Chad, who has bigger weapons and the support of the US, UK and Europe does matter very much. Saying that "both sides are wrong" is a very black and white bullshit statement that does not take into account the vast discrepancies between both sides.
All that said, your comment of "not being pissed when someone comes to take their own house away" speaks volumes on which side you are ever so gently biased against. But whatever, thats not the big issue.
Zooming out, Harris whos has spoken at AIPAC conferences and is pretty much an ex-cop gives me zero confidence in her abilities to stem the tide. However her refusal to attend SATANYAHU's speech to congress may be an ever so slightly optimistic.
someolddoctor - I know the conflict is not black and white. I know both sides are wrong for intentionally kidnapping, torturing, and killing innocent civilians. There is no grey area in that.
Hamas was not created by the Muslim Brotherhood they are an offshoot of the Palestinian chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood. PLO and Hamas have not been working together for nearly 20 years. Hamas was not in existence in 1930. Show your work.
I misspoke. Hamas was a spin off of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood. I never said it was created in the 1930's. I said :
"Hamas was created in 1987 by the Muslim Brotherhood. [incorrect, it's and offshoot of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood] Before that Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon attacked Israel. Either outright or via various other groups."
b3tadine[sutures]
Israel allegedly helped fund Hamas the same way the US created the Taliban.
Hamas is a spin-off of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. It was formally established with Israel’s support soon after the first Intifada flared in 1987 as an uprising against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
Israel’s objective was allegedly twofold: to split the nationalist Palestinian movement led by Arafat and, more fundamentally, to thwart the implementation of the two-state solution for resolving the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
By aiding the rise of an Islamist group whose charter rejected recognizing the Israeli state, Israel sought to undermine the idea of a two-state solution, including curbing Western support for an independent Palestinian homeland.
When Israel changed their views on a two state system and independence for Palestine they realized how stupid this was.
Israel changed view the two state system around 1995. By then it was too late, Hamas was here to stay. Just like the US and the Taliban a monster was created. What Israel did in funding Hamas was abhorrent.
This doesn't justify Israel or Hamas from actively killing innocent civilians though.
Chad, you are right, there is no place for violence to solve conflicts. However, if one side continually keeps being the aggressor, creating open air prisons, withholding even water (yes, Gaza's rainwater is also israeli property), and putting kids and teens in prison without due process, the Palestinians have no choice but to retort to violence and kidnapping. Indeed, when Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and released is the last time the israelis let an inch go.
Israel never changed their view on a two state solution.
Chad you did write this: "Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas."
How many Israeli civilians did Khamas kill yesterday?
b3tadine[sutures] wrote:
Chad you did write this: "Kind of. Hamas has been killing civilians for the past 75 years. So has Israel. The PLO has supported Hamas."
Ah! Sorry for the confusion due to my poor writing.
It was supposed to say "Hamas and other Arab groups . . . . "
Back to the house defense. You've neutralized the attacker to your home, what's next?
You call the cops OR you bury the body.
You don't shoot at the house across the street because your attacker lived there.
Right. You don't kill the relatives, children, friends, and babies, right? Even if the family loved them, fed them, housed them, cared for them. You don't blow up entire villages, claiming they were obviously hiding friends of the intruder. You don't capture reporters, or paramedics trying to save the intruder so they can get their day in court. You don't torture families to get at the network of possible intruders.
Correct. Israel and Hamas both do this. It's just that Israel is better at it. Both are evil and must be stopped.
I'm cautiously - VERY cautiously - optimistic right now. When I heard Biden was dropping out I became despondent and angry. Then over the following 8 hours while stuck in an airport on delay I was reading lots of news and social media and the swell of support around Kamala Harris has been damn impressive. I'm slightly hopeful that she could win, because I do know women are *pissed off* right now and so are young people.
Politics in America has reformed around sex -- men overwhelmingly support Republicans while women, especially single and suburban women, support Democrats. It doesn't really matter who the candidate is, each is backed by an institutional structure. For women it is mostly public service jobs -- teachers, government bureaucrats, etc. For men its corporate and tech jobs.
Would be interesting to see the true slant of architecture since it is somewhat in a grey area -- serving both public and private interests -- but as private companies probably lean slightly right while publicly signaling to the left (AIA).
Eamez I'm pretty sure white suburban women voted something like 57% for trump last time.
Today I learned I'm a woman.
You can be anything you want.
Two State Myth
"To begin with, the often-repeated line that Barak offered the Palestinians the Gaza Strip and 96% of the West Bank for a state is completely untrue. Barak offered the Palestinians 96% of Israel’s definition of the West Bank, meaning they did not include any of the areas already under Israeli control, such as settlements, the Dead Sea, and large parts of the Jordan Valley. This meant that Barak effectively annexed 10% of the West Bank to Israel, with an additional 8-12% remaining under “temporary” Israeli control for a period of time.
In return for this annexation, Palestinians would be offered 1% of desert land near the Gaza Strip. Thus, Palestinians would need to give up 10% of the most fertile land in the West Bank, in exchange for 1% of desert land. Not to mention that if the past record is any indicator, the additional 8-12% under “temporary” Israeli control would remain so forever.
In addition to all of this, Israel demandedpermanent control of Palestinian airspace, three permanent military installations manned by Israeli troops in the West Bank, Israeli presence at Palestinian border crossings, and special “security arrangements” along the borders with Jordan which effectively annexed additional land.
The cherry on top of all of these stipulations, is that Israel would be allowed to invade at any point in cases of “emergency”. As you can imagine, what constituted an emergency was left incredibly vague and up to interpretation. The Palestinian state would be demilitarized, and the Palestinian government would not be able to enter into alliances without Israelipermission. None of these are ingredients for the creation of an actual sovereign state."
Serious question: What areas were part of Israel when it was created? Has the UN adjusted the boundaries of Israel since it's creation?
GOP tells members to not use misogynistic or racist attacks on Harris. No introspection on the fact that it is even needed to be brought up to public leaders. No clear distancing from members who continue in this day to do these kinds of things. No cleaning house as a result of the need to even say it. Just keep it down.
https://apnews.com/article/76f8e90d24004e49449087787ac031a5
This is the party that people hold their nose and enthusiastically still vote for in hopes of another tax break for the 1%. These are the values tacitly supported whether they disclaim them or not.
Congress welcoming, and cheering for the genocidal maniac called Netanyahu today was all we need to know to see the current compass of the administration. A bunch of (mostly) old (mostly) white crooks profiteering from wars and killing of babies. Disgusting.
You ignored the 30+ congress members that boycotted the speech as a form of protest to what Yahoo (sp intentional) is doing. I heard a lot of coverage of the congress members that want the Yahoo to stop.
Yes its commendable that half of the audience was absent and they had "sitters" fill in the seats...its astounding that the rest of then DID attend and cheer on the genocidal maniac.
What do you expect? There are a lot of genocidal maniacs in that region. Israel just happens to be the only one allied with the US. I'm sure if another genocidal maniac would play nice with the US and give us intelligence and support we'd back them.
The perception of the middle east as a bunch of warmongering maniacs has been created and maintained by the US and Israel. Most of those countries were doing just fine before US interference (for oil and selling weapons in the name of geopolitics).
Sorry that upsets you. I agree that the US has messed up the region. Regardless - there is a good number of the countries that are being lead by genocidal maniacs. Iran, Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Israel come to mind.
True but we have messed up and gotten tyrants appointed in many of those countries
In some cases yes. They are still genocidal maniacs that don't support the US. Until another country in that area will support the US like Israel we won't stop supporting Israel. That's one of the reasons the US 'interfered' in that region to begin with. We wanted someone on our side. Our 'recruiting process' failed with every other country except Israel. It's ugly however that's the way it is.
i wonder why "they don't support the US" lol
All scoffing aside - To defund Israel and Palestine to be left there will need to be some other country there that is loyal to the US. Until that happens the US will not supporting Israel. For that to happen other countries will have to agree to stop supporting and sponsoring terrorists. This includes Hamas.
Libya, Iraq, and Iran? Genocidal? Who are the leaders of these countries? What genocide has been committed by them? Afghanistan, Pakistan? Syria? I ffs take a poly sci class, what do all these countries have in common? Three letters. I'll let you tell me.
I know they have oil. Everyone knows they have oil. I've taken poly sci classes.
They also have state directed terrorist groups. I supposed I should of used the term attempted genocidal maniacs.
A quick search will uncover . . . .
Libya - Human rights violations and abuses by armed groups and militias remain pervasive, as political elites and myriad quasi-authorities compete for legitimacy and control of territory, nearly 12 years into Libya's political transition away from Muammar Gaddafi's strong-man rule.
Iraq - The Kurdish genocide was mounted between February and September 1988 on the winding up of the Iran-Iraq war. Central to the atrocities that were perpetrated against Iraqi Kurds was the Anfal campaign.
Iran - too many to pick just one.
Do you want me to go on listing the rest of the countries you asked about or do you admit that you're mistaken?
The countries aren't 'backwards' or 'savage'. Their leaders simply are punters who don't care about certain ethnic or religious groups that make up their citizens.
1988
The US supported the Iraqi war effort against Iran, which saw the Iraqi regime view the Kurds' insurgency as treason. The regime's Anfal campaign in the late 1980s was a systematic attempt to exterminate the Kurdish population, with hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children executed. Human Rights Watch described the campaign as genocide in 1993, but a 2007 Hague court ruling disputed this characterization.
You mean the one against the Kurds, that the US supported?
This perhaps? https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/3/27/un-mission-accuses-eu-of-aiding-crimes-against-humanity-in-libya-2
Maybe you meant this? https://www.hrw.org/report/2012/10/16/death-dictator/bloody-vengeance-sirte
She's my hero and has the biggest COJONES of all of them, most of whom are sellouts.
It's nice of her to stand up for what she believes in. I hope she's able to make impactful changes that will make progress towards peace in the region.
CIA in...
Maybe you were referring to this?
Iraqi Genocide
No one knows with certainty how many people have been killed and wounded in Iraq since the 2003 United States invasion. However, we know that between 186,694-210,038 Iraqi civilians have died and a total of 280,771-315,190 have died from direct war related violence caused by the U.S., its allies, the Iraqi military and police, and opposition forces from the time of the invasion through March 2023. The violent deaths of Iraqi civilians have occurred through aerial bombing, shelling, gunshots, suicide attacks, and fires started by bombing. Many civilians have also been injured.
But I'm sure you're gonna tell me they shouldn't have "broken" into your house.
I never said that the US isn't responsible for the conditions in the Middle East.
The US is responsible in part or completely.
The US has done, continues to do some very bad things.
None of that changes the fact that the countries I listed are run by leaders who have attempted genocide. In some cases they are still attempting genocide.
The fact that the US contributed to the current political situations in the Middle East doesn't make the attempted genocide OK.
I’m surprised no one here brought up the JD Vance couch-fucking story? I guess I will! I know it’s not true but it’s hilarious. Some great memes on Threads. Like that he’s definitely an intersectionalist.
I'm scared to look that up. Especially at work.
it's too funny.
That is hilarious! But there is plenty of truth to make fun of; I worry that spreading lies will have negative consequences. The way you stated it is perfect.
I like all of the videos of him stating how much he despises Trump.
I heard that 29 year old Kamala Harris slept her way into a California DA job vis 60 year old Willie Brown.
Oh wait, that one actually happened. Oops.
You can smell the fear of JD Vance. Young, smart, former liberal who saw the light on how little Democrats care about middle America.
Not that you're interested in facts, if you're a fan of Vance (or is it Bowman? Or is it Hamel?), but here's the actual story:
Here’s the story from whence this pearl-clutching about Harris stems: For roughly one year in the mid-1990s when she was 29 years old, Harris dated 60-year-old San Francisco politician Willie Brown, who was technically married but had been separated from his wife since the early ’80s. Harris and Brown broke up in 1995, and in 1996, Brown was elected mayor of San Francisco, a position he would hold until 2004. Around the time they were dating, and when Brown was speaker of the California State Assembly, Brown appointed Harris to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission. That, apparently, was how Harris “slept her way into and upwards in California politics”: by sitting on two boards.
Well before she dated Brown, Harris was making her own way as a prosecutor, and she succeeded in her career because she was good at it, not because she dated a particular guy for a few months. She started working in the Alameda County district attorney’s office in 1990. By the late 1990s, she was recruited by the San Francisco district attorney to work in his office as an assistant DA. And she replaced the man who recruited her because she won an election campaign against him in 2002, not because an ex-boyfriend or anyone else appointed her.
(https://slate.com/news-and-pol...)
So yes, there is a chance that having a relationship with Brown helped her first steps into politics by sitting on two boards. Shocking, just shocking. Apparently Trump having five children by three different women, cheating on the first two wives, and lusting after his daughter is far better than having a legitimate relationship with someone who later asks you to do work on committees.
Oh it sucks when facts get in the way of a troll. Good job WoodGuy!
Chemex wrote:
"You can smell the fear of JD Vance. Young, smart, former liberal who saw the light on how little Democrats care about middle America."
Isn't he the guy who said that Trump was:
I think Vance will support Trump as long as it benefits him. Even other Republicans think he's punk with easily bought loyalty.
Thanks Chad. I meant to add quotation marks. The second and third paragraphs--the meaty ones--are from Slate.
Afraid of a guy that had sex with a couch, thinks his wife - who’s not white btw - is “okay”, and thinks childless people are a waste? Or are you talking about a guy with all the charisma of a mannekin? Or maybe the guy that stole money from people promising to help them? Or the guy that is a simp for a vampire, Peter Thiel?
Wait isnt Chemex the Zio bot?
Must be a lot of 60 year old men here, trying to sleep with their 29 year old coworkers. Yikes.
This is the message we should be sending to little girls. One day you too can be president. If you sleep with old creepy mayors
Let’s restate the reality: old man has inappropriate relationship with talented subordinate half his age and either threatens or rewards her - either way it’s gross - with a board appointment.
Also: fear of JD Vance? LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Eamez wrote:
"Must be a lot of 60 year old men here, trying to sleep with their 29 year old coworkers. Yikes."
It is creepy. However, aren't you the one that says women don't have body autonomy. Odd you want to protect women now.
Seems an odd & empty tactic to attack someone based on some unsubstantiated long ago womanizing when your candidate is Trump, a guy with, among other things, a multimillion dollar court judgement against him on just that topic. Not to mention the multiple divorces and mistress payoffs. But I guess if that’s all you’ve got & that strategy isn’t as shameful and hypocritical to you as it seems to others, then you roll with it
congrats, i guess
Payback is going to be so funny. A Trump DOJ can prosecute all of these hack New York politicians and judges who actually did try to interfere with a federal election. Then you will all be crying about how unfair it is. If you think Trump actually did assault a woman at Bergdorf Goodmans then i have an episode of Law and Order to show you.
That's a poor attempt to deflect criticism Eamez. Try harder next time.
Odd that you're worried about Harris being a bad example to women yet you don't care about women's rights.
Eamez wrote:
"Payback is going to be so funny. "
It's not about payback. You sound like a spoiled child. This is very disturbing that you think this way.
"A Trump DOJ can prosecute all of these hack New York politicians and judges who actually did try to interfere with a federal election."
Do you have an credible evidence that supports this?
"Then you will all be crying about how unfair it is."
It's not about fairness, it's about legality. You sound like a spoiled child. This is very disturbing that you think this way.
"If you think Trump actually did assault a woman at Bergdorf Goodmans then i have an episode of Law and Order to show you."
It sound like you really don't like women. That's really concerning. What dose the women in your life think about your views?
Trump has been found guilty and admitted he thinks he can assault women without repercussions.
Who said anything about women's rights? Trump's Supreme Court gave states back their right to choose whether or not to kill babies. What rights do those babies have again? I love how the looting left pretends like they care about women, when they can't even define what a woman is.
You didn't answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
It's because of people like Eamez that the US is laughed at internationally. Such a vile and sad way to look at things. Pew pew pew, time to go shoot up another school... pathetic.
Eamez dose seem like a punter. That or a troll who's really bad at trolling. Either way, it's not helping his reputation.
Eamez still didn't answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
I highly doubt Chad Miller has any women is his life, much less women that respect him/her.
Come on troll, I mean Eamez. Answer my question. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights?
Eamez now that you've raised abortion I seriously want to have the discussion with you: why should a fetus, a human inside my uterus, have more rights than I, a human, have? Yes the human using my body has their own rights, but using my body *without my permission* isn't one of them. Put another way, why should the human inside me be allowed to override my rights in a way that no other human can?
Eamez -
I'll add one more thing to Donna's comment: Why should another person be allowed to decide what you do with your body any anything growing within it?
Now you have three questions to answer Eamez. Better get on this.
How month old does a fetus need to be to purchase a gun?
I’m not against abortion. It’s ideal that irresponsible states and people should not have children, so the current status quo is good. I just find it funny that leftists pretend to care about women’s rights or any kind of rights when they will justify killing babies. In reality they have no morality at all, therefore their appeal to rights is hollow and empty .
^ Kookoo, kookoo, kookoo
Being pro-life is better than the opposite. At its heart, behind the corrupt bureaucracy, architecture is supposed to be pro-life as well. Unfortunately it has become anti-human. I don’t know how anyone functions as a misanthrope. How do you people get out of bed in the morning? You must be heavily medicated.
Trollin' trollin' trollin'
Non Sequitur wrote:
"How month old does a fetus need to be to purchase a gun?"
You cannot infringe on a fetus's 2nd Amendment rights so 0.3 seconds after fertilization. 'Murica!
Again, you don’t even believe in rights, so in reality there is no reason why you can’t give a fetus a gun. Because nothing matters to you.
Intelligent points of view matter. foaming at the mouth ramblings do not. But I am not surprise that a firearm (or 3) is not automatically placed in the hospital bed 8 seconds after birth. Seems logical based on what coming out of the USA these days. You never know when that child needs to fend off a grizzly or a band of scary non-white folks in hoodies.
Eamze - you or I don't have rights in the US. We have privileges. They're not rights if they can be taken away.
trollin' trollin' trollin'
Eamez, I DO believe in rights, for all humans. But if someone attacks someone else, say a female human attacks a male human, the male can defend himself and if the female ends up dead it’s not murder, it’s just the male protecting his rights. Similarly if I, a female human, don’t want to share my body with a male human trying to attack me, I can defend myself and if the male ends up dead it’s just me protecting my rights. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different?
Wonder how everyone feels about how Kamala Harris required staff to call her "General" and banned any eye contact from lower staff.
Sounds like the boss from hell. Not a good look for someone who wants to be Commander in Chief.
https://freebeacon.com/democra...
You are certainly a troll ... emboldened by the fact that you quote from freeBACON.com
I do think Harris is a lame paper-pusher kind with a terrible record in Oakland, but this account is pretty stupid lol
I thought this site didn't allow trolls. Odd they're still here.
Girl Boss! Wait until Putin gets slapped by a real one, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
“I thought this site didn’t allow trolls” … did you think this was white dudes for Harris? Leftists always want to ban, segregate, censor and then who knows what. Because their degenerate views can’t stand daylight.
Aren't you the one that wanted people to be quite for not being conservative? Yeah, that's you.
Trollin' trollin' trollin'
Leftists always want to ban, segregate, censor and then who knows what.
brought to you by the right wingers who are banning books, marriage equality, IVF, and reproductive care across the country.
“Those crazy right wingers, trying to keep hardcore porn out of elementary school.” - guy in a van across the playground
literally lol'd at this one, calling it a reach is generous.. weirdos just making up unhinged stories as usual. must be one of those pizza people. getting desperate!
Isn’t it incredible how someone like Eamez can accuse the left of something like “censorship” when it’s clear to anyone who understands the meaning of the word “censorship” that the right are the ones who love to try to do it?
It’s true, every accusation is an admission. It boggles my mind.
There's no left in the UK or the US the clowns got rid of Sanders and Corbyn so stop running your mouth.
are you ok hemi? do you need help?
Hemi, I agree; by worldwide standards our Democratic party is center-right and our Republicans are far-right. For no reason laid out in our Constitution, mainly because it's more profitable for our ruling class, we only have two viable parties and one is to the left of the other. As a rule, US citizens don't care about what's going on in the rest of the world, unless it involves a masculine-looking female boxer, or pageantry that offends them.
I should add, I agree with the statement that the US does not have a true left party. There's no need to resort to inane commands, which only serve to make you look like the dumb one anyway.
Looks like Eamez ran away.
i’m very excited about Tim Walz as the selection for VP in large part because it honestly brings the question of *childhood hunger* right to the forefront. He’s from a state that makes sure children in school are fed. Anyone who comes out against *that* initiative is a deeply horrible asshole of a person and I want to hear them defend their opinion.
We are a ridiculously wealthy country. Ridiculously wealthy! There is no reason children in the US should not be fed, safely sheltered, and educated by all of us.
Today I'm allowing myself to be fully and completely jazzed.
Ehem
Harris holding vinyl is my new favorite meme. I admit, I fell for the first one when it showed up in another forum. I love vinyl.
Chad, on Threads I saw someone post "The correct possessive forms are Harris' and Walz's" and the immediate next Thread was "The correct possessives forms are Harrises and Walzs's" and I wanted to cry.
that Waltz guy was really creepy in Spectre...
A lot more children are going to go hungry if the $35 trillion debt isn't addressed. I don't see a lot of ideas from either party on how to fix the big problems -- but at least the right understands where revenues come from -- business.
Ultimately the Federal Gov can't throw money at every problem. Or every riot that you fail to stop from burning down the city and causing $500 million in damage and 1500 businesses destroyed. The looting left will eventually lead to hyperinflation and probably the dissolution of the United States.
https://www.thecentersquare.co...
Cut military spending. Simple.
1900% tax on firearms and ammo...
Take away the billionaires ability to exist. Nationalize fossil fuels industry, cut military spending, and stop paying for the genocide.
Tax religious organizations.
CHANONBETA for President ! know you are Canadian Non, but I will vote for you
Eamez your only argument is to move the goalposts. It's actually impressive, your ability to dodge any serious discussion.
IYKYK
Eamze - answer the questions. I'm not going to stop asking you.
I'm glad some are intelligent enough to acknowledge the problem here. Agree military spending should be cut down, as should education, medical, etc. These agencies just raise costs to whatever they want, knowing Uncle Sam will bail them out. Meanwhile the military leaks all of their tech to China, so what's the point? the 140% debt to gdp is not sustainable. Major cuts are going to happen by force once debt payments become astronomical. We are going to need Moonshots to solve this -- fusion energy, urban redesign, probably colonizing Mars and sending the migrants and leftists there.
Adding to Chad's list:
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there?
Answer the questions Eamez
1. Why should the human inside a woman be allowed to override her rights in a way that no other human can? (from Donna)
2. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights? (from me)
3. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different from protecting themselves from another grown human? (from Donna)
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there? (from Dona)
Why should children be required to go to public school? Seems like a byproduct of a different time, when education was valued. Now it's glorified woke daycare. How about we force kids to earn their education by contributing to their community. Then we could pay for free meals.
^weird comment
b3ta he's just moving the goalposts, again.
Donna - anytime Eamez posts here I'm just going to paste the following:
Answer the questions Eamez
1. Why should the human inside a woman be allowed to override her rights in a way that no other human can? (from Donna)
2. What do the women in your life think of your views about women's rights? (from me)
3. How is a human protecting their body from a fetal human any different from protecting themselves from another grown human? (from Donna)
4. If children are required to be present in school why should they not also be fed while required to be there? (from Dona)
Quick one... but I'm happy with it.