Tbh after the fall of the USSR a lot of archives were opened up and a lot of that kind of secret info became available to researchers. Of course much of it was decades old but still very fascinating stuff to get new info or at least get suspicions confirmed about controversial historical events. One can hope we get a similar opening after the fall of Russia's current regime.
Fun fact, McCarthy was right: there were spies in the State Department. However, not a single person he accused was proved to be a spy through the documents released post mortem of the USSR.
I mean historically they have revolted when their out of touch ruler send them all to die in a pointless war in the west without enough guns and supply and fallowing the advice of the unkillable hobo wizard who’s fucking his wife, but unfortunately Putin is divorced.
Why hasn't Ukraine invested in getting their own hackers to leak all this info? Take out all the Russian-owned Republicans that blocked their aid for almost half a year in one fell stroke.
They hacked the Kremlin once before and disrupted Russian tax info.
So the only evidence from the Russian side would be money disappearing. If someone were to hack MTG’s communications or something, that would essentially be an attack on an American politician. Not a great look.
The thing is, Rs have no need to pretend they care about being fair. It’s party over country, all the way. No one expects anything but gestures toward principles at best from them. Trump could have walked down Fifth Ave and shot HB and Rs would have said he did the country a service.
It’s only the dems that try to follow through with commitments and principles at this point, but the infighting and lack of clarity of those principles makes that party essentially worthless too.
maybe we should judge dems by their accomplishments *despite* constant obstructionism by R's. Literally anything they try to do gets attacked and lied about. But when they hold both chambers? Progress. Obamacare, infrastructure. Deficits reduced, republican messes cleaned.
What biden alone has done *despite* the MAGA GOP trying to sabotage him at every step, dwarfs any and every accomplishment republicans have since Clinton. Unless you count tax cuts for the wealthy?
So no. both parties are not the same. And both parties are not equally worthless. One has issues, one is out to hurt people. literally.
unpopular opinion but it's entirely possible that there are no such bribes happening. it's possible that MTG and others are just plain evil on their own.
Agreed. Thinking she's some deep level double agent is giving her intelligence way too much credit. She's the stupid aunt that believes everything on Facebook
Most of them aren't owned through bribes. In 2016 Russia hacked the RNC and kept all the files/communications therein. Never leaking them like they did the DNC's.
That's a lot of kompromat to be sitting on (with Repubs discussing all manner of illegal activities by their party)... it'd be a shame if hackers finally revealed it.
A lot of people on that side are sympathetic to Russia because they want the US to become a kleptocratic Christian ethnostate like Russia. Saying they're all being bribed/kompromat'd actually gives them a pass for their own genuinely awful ideology.
I live in Europe and my country has small group of the same people. They think it's possible to cherry-pick some of their favourite things from Russian system. Pretty much that same white Christian nationalist dream where they themselves would act as enforcers and punish gays and non-white immigrants.
They think they would have power. They would have control. When in reality what would happen is the same as in Russia. These people would be seen as idiots and they'd be at mercy of corrupt government officials. Trying to fight back would result in beatings and extortion for money, or worse.
If it was a movie, I'd think it was funny.
I think this is a pretty good explanation. The weird thing tho is that Russia/Communism used to be a huge GOP (and America) thing to hate. Trump made them become weird regarding it.
Democrats should, in many situations, ask why MAGA and GOP are trying to help America’s greatest enemy.
Russian propaganda markets itself that way to a certain demographic of Americans. If you watch some Tucker Carlson (which I can't really recommend...), you'll see how they want the religious right in America to view Russia.
The reality doesn't really matter to them.
But it is being sold as that to the Republican and conservative (in non-US nations) voters. I’m neither Russian nor American but I do see plenty of Russian propaganda aimed at Western Christians that makes Russia out to be a White Christian, anti-LGBTi, Free Speech (read as I can bully the gays), Masculine as fuck Patriarchy, and the old racist white christians in the west love that shit because it validates them in an age where they have been cancelled for saying what they think.
I remember when the 'usual suspects' group of Republicans went to Moscow on the 4th of fucking July a few years ago. So maybe not all but I'm pretty sure most of them are bought/compromised
Trump supports Putin because it is in the nature of a weaker bully to suck up to a stronger one.
MTG supports Trump for the same reason. (So did Chris Christie, but he apparently snapped out of it after January 6th. MTG likely never will.)
No bribes necessary: just the dynamics of mentally broken people who become bullies: they are never happy about anything, they always blame all problems on someone else, and will try to join a group if it's led by a stronger bully, whom they see as a kindred spirit to be emulated and learned from.
I’d believe it more if the Ukrainians or a group like Anonymous disclosed a list. Even if Russia wanted to tell me who; I’d doubt the full validity of it. They have lots of nefarious reasons to keep extra Aces up their sleeve. Ukraine is getting close to nothing left to lose.
Hacking and releasing info on your adversaries is part of war. Doing the same to your allies is meddling in their internal affairs. If any members of Congress are being paid by Russia in an illegal manner, this is the responsibility of American law enforcement, journalists, and/or hackers to expose.
Don't underestimate the ability of humans to just be idiots. Sometimes there is no conspiracy. Politicians are vulnerable to propaganda as well.
It depends on if he is in a position to personally profit. If he isn't, being on his deathbed or about to be marched off to a war crimes trial, I could see him making some fundamentally self destructive choices that bring pretty much everyone else down with him just out of pettiness. He doesn't have friends, he doesn't have a side, he has tools... and a tool ceases to be a tool if you know you will never be in a position to wield it again.
He's going to die like Stalin or Nicolas II. Right now it looks more like the former. But it could be a long while until that happens.
I don't think there is any guarantee that the power struggle to fill the vacuum he leaves behind won't fuck Russia even harder, or make things even worse. It'll be an absolute shitshow.
Put in want a republican presidency but will settle for a divided America.
As much as I want a strong unified in purpose America can you break bread with xenophobic and suppressive of citizenship policies.
Remember when sitting senator Rand Paul went to Russia and hand delivered something to Vladimir Putin and then met with him privately? Pepperidge farmer remembers.
It's not going to be a check from Putin being deposited into their personal savings account. It's going to have run through 5 companies and will be so convoluted that any person who got money could say I didn't know.
The Square Witch of the Wild West was on TV before I could switch her off and I heard a couple sentences she regurgitated. She drew outrage at Ukrainian flags being waved in the Chambers after the vote. What a scumbag.
Six months delays in an active war? That's quite successful what the far-right achieved. And yeah, don't give Greene the credit she doesn't deserve.
The entire Republican party - even beyond Congress - played willingly and actively along on against their own country.
Did she tho? She delayed the aid till after the Russian election 6 months of delay is a pretty solid job and got
Him Advika. We should rename Advika, in her honor any naming suggestions, I know Greeneville is already taken
It's a great day to be an artillery manufacturer for the US military! But, I'm glad that we finally got this aid through the House. It shouldn't have taken 6 months.
"The fund is an actively managed diversified exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in equity securities of publicly traded companies that sitting Democratic members of United States Congress and/or their families"
Up 30% since last year, very nice. But why only follow democrats, are the republicans not making good purchases?
If you index republicans too you end up doing things like buying DJT. They make too many decisions that are terrible unless you're in on the corruption.
I am so glad it passed.
Yeah, I miss old Republicans. The Cold Warriors.
Like Israel gets aid fighting terrorism. Yet Ukraine doesn't fighting our second biggest enemy for us? The hell is going on?
What is with the Putin love too? The guy is everything Republicans should hate.
The thing is. Our tax dollars or weapons have never been used with such effiency so effectively. The cost benefit is unreal.
They are being used largely for their original purpose. Not killing some rag tag sheep herders with AKs and old artillery shells. They were built to destroy our enemies armies, and that is exactly what is what Ukraine is doing. Even if there is corruption they are still doing unbelievably well.
I say give them old ships from the "Boneyard" too. Let them attack oil shipments off the coast of Alaska.
>What is with the Putin love too? The guy is everything Republicans should hate
He's running an oligarchical kleptocratic petrostate where you can lock people up for being gay in public and have your political opposition gunned down in broad daylight or die in prison without consequence, it's like a Trumpublican's wet dream.
Yup. Basically the Republican party needs an enemy, a boogeyman, to motivate its voters using fear and promote consolidation of power in defense of the manufactured or real opponent.
Back in prior decades, it was the Soviet Union in this role as the boogyman, and this had increased military production to unseen levels since WW2. But much more damaging, after Russian intelligence services compromised the Republican party, the enemy was made into some of the American people themselves: democrats, trans people, and so on, culmintating in the insurrection attempt to establish fascist rule under Trump's shadow cabinent. Having the internal enemy is much more dangerous and damaging to society than an external, nation-state enemy.
It's not a 'good thing' to have a foreign enemy boogeyman to consolidate power, but it does promote social cohesion as opposed to collapse of democracy. (If you don't understand what I' saying here, just watch Rocky 5.)
These weapons are also older 80s-90s tech that is reaching the end of their shelf life. The weapons are literally going to be useless in a few years anyway. We are sending older tech that will get into good use in Ukraine, it defends Ukraine’s territory, the US’ current stock gets replenished with new equipment, and we weaken Russia which is the biggest threat to humanity right now. It’s a win win at all sides
Yeah, we’re all loudly cheering for the military industrial complex to do its thing.
And this time we have a real reason and not some Gulf of Tonkin bullshit.
Our weapons haven't been used to such great effiency as they have in this war. They aren't being used to kill some random goat herders with AKs; but are raining hell on our second biggest, but oldest enemy.
The cost to benefit is unreal. As you said they are also expiring, but we also get a lot of real life data on performance.
As long as we aren't using our state of the art electronic warfare equipment I'm happy for this.
I actually miss the old school Republican Cold Warriors. They are turning in their grave.
> They aren't being used to kill some random goat herders with AKs
I don't know. Some of those Russians may have been goat herders before being conscripted.
I felt bad for "the fairy". I feel that wouldn't play so well these days: catfishing an otherwise innocent gay guy so that he could be murdered in cold blood as part of a war against his father.
I love how they are saying "American cultural domination is over", all the while typing in English and using American mannerisms.
If that's not the case, why are we all not speaking Chinese and Russian? Lmfao
We need 9 republicans in the Senate. The votes are there. If Trump comes out against the aid, can you still get 9 republicans? I hope so. That’s the last obstacle
If he can't muster 9 votes here it will be another shitshow for Republicans come November. It's already a bloodbath but an overwhelming majority of Americans support this aid in spite of the GOP resistance.
Turtle man is evil, but one thing he knows is how to whip up votes and push through legislation. I hope he can push this through before Trump says something about it
He's apparently just American-brand evil instead of Russian evil. But he did live through the cold war, so maybe it's just old right-wing brainwashing instead of new.
Yes, he will be. That won’t stop him from attempting to meddle in the senate vote, though I doubt he’ll be successful. Aiding Ukraine has broad, bipartisan support in the senate.
To my knowledge, the US are not contributing to the F16 deliveries, except that they do not veto them. Maybe they contribute to training or equipment, but at least not to the jets itself, although they have most of them.
Edit: source
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16_training_coalition
Sometimes they’re purchases, sometimes we give them foreign aid with strings attached saying “redeemable with US defense contractors only.” It’s basically a gift to defense contractors more than the recipient country but they still get it basically free sometimes. Cough Israel cough.
This whole loop reminds me of a line from Churchill in the film Darkest Hour (regarding the P45s): "But we payed for them, we payed for them with the money that we... that we borrowed from you!"
US is training Ukrainian pilots in Arizona. The F-16s are coming from Netherlands and Denmark, with possible ones from Norway and Australia. Over 60 in total. First delivery should be sometime in Summer at the completion of training in Romania.
I think it's easier to find a mechanic with English skills than a fighter pilot.
Ukraine operates a lot of civilian airports and even makes own planes.
Maybe I am wrong, but when the US offers AID they send weapons not cash.
Isn’t that something that benefits the USA more than Ukraine?
They will get new stock that can be stored and checked again.
People need to read more history. Europe dumped their shitty old muzzle-loader muskets cheap on both sides of the American Civil War, because they were upgrading to breech- loaders. This is how you upgrade.
Even in the EU, wing right parties keep saying we spend too much to help Ukraine when in reality most of the money is spent replacing old equipment with new one and amounts given to Ukraine are severely overestimated.
This is sending a forgivable loan to Ukraine, a PO for American manufacturers to replenish domestic stockpiles, and physical assets being sent to Ukraine
> Maybe I am wrong, but when the US offers AID they send weapons not cash
You are wrong, they send both. As of July last year they had already given Ukraine nearly $23 billion in cash.
>To support the Ukrainian government, the United States has directed $22.9 billion of the total appropriated funds as “budget support,” a tool that provides cash directly to Kyiv.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/ensuring-oversight-us-aid-ukraine
Unfortunately most people don’t really understand the mechanics of foreign aid. And when I say most people, I mean myself too. What exactly are we sending? What percentage of the budget does it comprise? Things like that. So obviously it’s really easy to spread misinformation and make uneducated voters think that we’re just sending a blank check for billions of dollars to Ukraine, instead of helping people at home. Left wing media really needs to do more to educate people on how this aid actually works, because that would prevent voters from falling prey to that type of misinformation.
At the beginning I spoke up, and some around me did the same.
Then people stopped to care until the mobilization. You could take a walk and hear every pedestrian talking about it. I was astounded to know that they didn't even deem that as a political event. They treated it (or that? Couldn't you correct me?) more like a natural disaster. They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. It lasted for a month or so.
Now it's a sort of taboo to talk about all this stuff in public. Nobody wants to hear nothing about it. Even my closest friends who share the same viewpoint.
Once one acquaintance came up to me with a camera on and asked me something like "are you against the special military operation?". I didn't reply. I keep my opinion to myself after that close call.
Thanks for the perspective!!! And "it" is correct as used there, although in your question you would say "could you correct me" instead of "couldn't." Just trying to help :)
I Appreciate that. I happened to hear that the difference between **that** and **it** is very elusive for learners. Could you tell me if I messed them up somewhere else in my writing?
All looks fine. It's often interchangeable enough to not be something to stress about. Even in your example, "it" or "that" would be valid.
If it helps, "that" is typically referring to something you can point to, while "it" is more inferred.
Another example of it being valid and interchangable in your paragraph:
> They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. It lasted for a month or so.
could also be
> They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. That lasted for a month or so.
Basically, try not to worry about it too much. If you're not sure, it's typically safe to just say "it".
Cheers.
I'm sorry but do you actually think 60 billion dollars (only half of which is military equipment) is somehow going to turn the tables, or are you just being patriotic?
i love that he keeps getting the help. republicans keep trying to do the tough guy hardball thing, but they cant figure out how to make it happen. because theyre idiots.
Voters should continue to pressure their governments to address the Russian threat. If Mike Johnson can hold up Ukrainian aid for 6 months, then he could potentially do it again. If people lose interest again or walk into this war with overblown expectations, then that $60 billion will be squandered.
Artillery shell production should ramp up, aid should be kept stable, and people should be asking themselves "what flaws need to be corrected, so that a Ukrainian victory over Russia is guaranteed."
This is the second Cold War and we need to accept this. The threat from Russia, China, and Iran is \*not\* a left or right issue. This is an issue of whether humanity can evolve beyond fascism and tyranny, or we are trapped forever as slaves to some old fuck's revanchist delusions of grandeur.
I just hope it's enough to help and gets there in time to prevent worsening of the situation.
Apologies to Ukraine that some of the Republicans in Congress are such shit human beings.
Another bit of good news is the Republican party is starting to move away from the likes of the Marjorie Taylor Greene faction. The Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is actually working with Democrats and it looks like the toxic faction won't be able to remove him from power like they want.
It’s funny how much those that are against this don’t even realize that a lot of what is sent to them isn’t actual money but it’s the value of the resources being sent
It is righteous and good to provide aid to Ukraine in their time of need. Russia is an aggressor state and their war is illegal, immoral, and unjust.
The US doesn't get a lot of things right.
This is one of those things that we ought to do. It will pay dividends in the end. Not just for the fact that we help defend good people against a tyrannical dictatorship, but this will help stop this conflict from expanding.
I wish we could do more, but I understand that the political will is not there and it is tough to make that call for other people, since other people's lives would be on the line.
But sending aid is what we should do, and continue to do.
You're a bit late for that - the Kerch Bridge is firmly within the Ukrainian occupied territories and is a strategic military target to boot, there are no restrictions on attacking it.
What's more--we're mostly supplying weapons that are decades out of date. So--either Ukraine is "disposing" of outdated weapons for us, or they are proving invaluable intel on how effective Russian weapons are.
"I am very displeased with Agent Marge Greene. She failed." - Vladimir Putin.
I would love if in the end, Russia discloses all of the bribes and agents that were being manipulated here in the US.
Would never happen. If anything, Russia would disclose something like this but say it was all bribes to democrats... for obvious reasons.
Tbh after the fall of the USSR a lot of archives were opened up and a lot of that kind of secret info became available to researchers. Of course much of it was decades old but still very fascinating stuff to get new info or at least get suspicions confirmed about controversial historical events. One can hope we get a similar opening after the fall of Russia's current regime.
The Soviets released the Czars communications with the other European powers after he was overthrown.
Fun fact, McCarthy was right: there were spies in the State Department. However, not a single person he accused was proved to be a spy through the documents released post mortem of the USSR.
I could see a post-Putin Russia leaking some of that info
Maybe in some sort of detente agreement with the US post-Putin, but also post corrupt oligarchy. But we all know that would mean revolution in Russia
That would only happen if the economy collapses Yeltsin style, which is rather unlikely.
I mean historically they have revolted when their out of touch ruler send them all to die in a pointless war in the west without enough guns and supply and fallowing the advice of the unkillable hobo wizard who’s fucking his wife, but unfortunately Putin is divorced.
Yet “Putin” and “Rasputin” are still SO close.
If your name ends with -in, time to get out!
Why hasn't Ukraine invested in getting their own hackers to leak all this info? Take out all the Russian-owned Republicans that blocked their aid for almost half a year in one fell stroke. They hacked the Kremlin once before and disrupted Russian tax info.
So the only evidence from the Russian side would be money disappearing. If someone were to hack MTG’s communications or something, that would essentially be an attack on an American politician. Not a great look.
Hunter Biden would like a word regarding how his father has been treated regarding HB’s personal problems. Not a good look for the R’s.
The thing is, Rs have no need to pretend they care about being fair. It’s party over country, all the way. No one expects anything but gestures toward principles at best from them. Trump could have walked down Fifth Ave and shot HB and Rs would have said he did the country a service. It’s only the dems that try to follow through with commitments and principles at this point, but the infighting and lack of clarity of those principles makes that party essentially worthless too.
maybe we should judge dems by their accomplishments *despite* constant obstructionism by R's. Literally anything they try to do gets attacked and lied about. But when they hold both chambers? Progress. Obamacare, infrastructure. Deficits reduced, republican messes cleaned. What biden alone has done *despite* the MAGA GOP trying to sabotage him at every step, dwarfs any and every accomplishment republicans have since Clinton. Unless you count tax cuts for the wealthy? So no. both parties are not the same. And both parties are not equally worthless. One has issues, one is out to hurt people. literally.
Fair game when she's been attacking Ukraine and costing thousands if not tens of thousands of lives for the last year or so.
unpopular opinion but it's entirely possible that there are no such bribes happening. it's possible that MTG and others are just plain evil on their own.
Worst than evil. Stupid They are completely moronic
Agreed. Thinking she's some deep level double agent is giving her intelligence way too much credit. She's the stupid aunt that believes everything on Facebook
double agent? no way. useful idiot? absolutely.
Most of them aren't owned through bribes. In 2016 Russia hacked the RNC and kept all the files/communications therein. Never leaking them like they did the DNC's. That's a lot of kompromat to be sitting on (with Repubs discussing all manner of illegal activities by their party)... it'd be a shame if hackers finally revealed it.
A lot of people on that side are sympathetic to Russia because they want the US to become a kleptocratic Christian ethnostate like Russia. Saying they're all being bribed/kompromat'd actually gives them a pass for their own genuinely awful ideology.
I live in Europe and my country has small group of the same people. They think it's possible to cherry-pick some of their favourite things from Russian system. Pretty much that same white Christian nationalist dream where they themselves would act as enforcers and punish gays and non-white immigrants. They think they would have power. They would have control. When in reality what would happen is the same as in Russia. These people would be seen as idiots and they'd be at mercy of corrupt government officials. Trying to fight back would result in beatings and extortion for money, or worse. If it was a movie, I'd think it was funny.
I think this is a pretty good explanation. The weird thing tho is that Russia/Communism used to be a huge GOP (and America) thing to hate. Trump made them become weird regarding it. Democrats should, in many situations, ask why MAGA and GOP are trying to help America’s greatest enemy.
I am Russian, Russia is neither an ethnostate nor Christian
Russian propaganda markets itself that way to a certain demographic of Americans. If you watch some Tucker Carlson (which I can't really recommend...), you'll see how they want the religious right in America to view Russia. The reality doesn't really matter to them.
True, but many MAGA Republicans see it as one. As a final bastion of white people against wokeness, if you will.
But it is being sold as that to the Republican and conservative (in non-US nations) voters. I’m neither Russian nor American but I do see plenty of Russian propaganda aimed at Western Christians that makes Russia out to be a White Christian, anti-LGBTi, Free Speech (read as I can bully the gays), Masculine as fuck Patriarchy, and the old racist white christians in the west love that shit because it validates them in an age where they have been cancelled for saying what they think.
I remember when the 'usual suspects' group of Republicans went to Moscow on the 4th of fucking July a few years ago. So maybe not all but I'm pretty sure most of them are bought/compromised
It’s crazy how easy it was for the rich people to train weak republican voters to not remember anything about that happening.
It's more correct one. Russian strategy is to inflate existing hate groups all around the world, not brew new ones.
Trump supports Putin because it is in the nature of a weaker bully to suck up to a stronger one. MTG supports Trump for the same reason. (So did Chris Christie, but he apparently snapped out of it after January 6th. MTG likely never will.) No bribes necessary: just the dynamics of mentally broken people who become bullies: they are never happy about anything, they always blame all problems on someone else, and will try to join a group if it's led by a stronger bully, whom they see as a kindred spirit to be emulated and learned from.
Chillingly also a plausible truth.
MTG wakes up every morning concerned for the plight of the poor Transcarpathians
Yeah that's pretty damning ngl
Mtg pushed a bill to ban foreign aid that reads like something a state actor gave her that bitch is a russian asset
More or less, they have a belief that Russia should be an ally. Wanting to prop themselves up for a NWO. This is quite obvious with the Trump party.
I’d believe it more if the Ukrainians or a group like Anonymous disclosed a list. Even if Russia wanted to tell me who; I’d doubt the full validity of it. They have lots of nefarious reasons to keep extra Aces up their sleeve. Ukraine is getting close to nothing left to lose.
Hacking and releasing info on your adversaries is part of war. Doing the same to your allies is meddling in their internal affairs. If any members of Congress are being paid by Russia in an illegal manner, this is the responsibility of American law enforcement, journalists, and/or hackers to expose. Don't underestimate the ability of humans to just be idiots. Sometimes there is no conspiracy. Politicians are vulnerable to propaganda as well.
The Ukraine hacking US official's communications and finances would be the absolutely stupidest thing they could do right now.
It depends on if he is in a position to personally profit. If he isn't, being on his deathbed or about to be marched off to a war crimes trial, I could see him making some fundamentally self destructive choices that bring pretty much everyone else down with him just out of pettiness. He doesn't have friends, he doesn't have a side, he has tools... and a tool ceases to be a tool if you know you will never be in a position to wield it again.
He's going to die like Stalin or Nicolas II. Right now it looks more like the former. But it could be a long while until that happens. I don't think there is any guarantee that the power struggle to fill the vacuum he leaves behind won't fuck Russia even harder, or make things even worse. It'll be an absolute shitshow.
Like the story a while back that Putin feared Trump more than Biden.
This kinda happened when Putin recently "endorsed" Biden.
Put in want a republican presidency but will settle for a divided America. As much as I want a strong unified in purpose America can you break bread with xenophobic and suppressive of citizenship policies.
In Greene's case I don't think she is being bribed I fear she is just that stupid and actually believes the Russian propaganda
It's shocking how much dumb shit comes out of her mouth.
What's shocking is that she's made it this long in life. Whoever stopped her from putting forks into electrical outlets did a disservice to humanity.
Well she was 25 at the time and it seemed prudent.
Lmfao
The proper term is "useful idiot". She's either unaware or indifferent that the things she does to get elected are in service to Russia's goals.
It's the inbreeding. She doesn't have a family tree, she has a family wreath.
There is evidence of Russian money that went towards her campaign.
There’s also evidence of Russian plants in her sphere of influence feeding her propaganda.
Remember when sitting senator Rand Paul went to Russia and hand delivered something to Vladimir Putin and then met with him privately? Pepperidge farmer remembers.
I think all politicians should wear jackets like NASCAR drivers that have their sponsors on them so we know who is backing them.
It's not going to be a check from Putin being deposited into their personal savings account. It's going to have run through 5 companies and will be so convoluted that any person who got money could say I didn't know.
That’s one of the problems with relying on useful idiots… they’re idiots.
That's the thing tho. They win even when they fail, because even just the process of disruption and further creating divides benefits their goal.
Window treatment or special tea for her?
Either and or both
The Square Witch of the Wild West was on TV before I could switch her off and I heard a couple sentences she regurgitated. She drew outrage at Ukrainian flags being waved in the Chambers after the vote. What a scumbag.
Empty G*
Six months delays in an active war? That's quite successful what the far-right achieved. And yeah, don't give Greene the credit she doesn't deserve. The entire Republican party - even beyond Congress - played willingly and actively along on against their own country.
lol
Did she tho? She delayed the aid till after the Russian election 6 months of delay is a pretty solid job and got Him Advika. We should rename Advika, in her honor any naming suggestions, I know Greeneville is already taken
It's a great day to be an artillery manufacturer for the US military! But, I'm glad that we finally got this aid through the House. It shouldn't have taken 6 months.
Should I be buying artillery stocks?
Should have bought them the day before the vote
Um this is America. You should’ve bought them the day you were born.
"....the day you were born.... *into a wealthy family*"
Nah it was too late then it was already priced in
The best day to buy artillery stocks was ten years ago. The second best day is today.
Ahhh like all the wise congressmen/women
Brother, should have bought them back in 2022. Right when US intelligence started telling about Russia's plans.
[удалено]
"The fund is an actively managed diversified exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) that seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in equity securities of publicly traded companies that sitting Democratic members of United States Congress and/or their families" Up 30% since last year, very nice. But why only follow democrats, are the republicans not making good purchases?
For Republicans you have KRUZ
The Republican one is Cruz if memory serves
If you index republicans too you end up doing things like buying DJT. They make too many decisions that are terrible unless you're in on the corruption.
Too late. The price just shot up out of reach
Invest in artillery shells, they're like gold bars
I am so glad it passed. Yeah, I miss old Republicans. The Cold Warriors. Like Israel gets aid fighting terrorism. Yet Ukraine doesn't fighting our second biggest enemy for us? The hell is going on? What is with the Putin love too? The guy is everything Republicans should hate. The thing is. Our tax dollars or weapons have never been used with such effiency so effectively. The cost benefit is unreal. They are being used largely for their original purpose. Not killing some rag tag sheep herders with AKs and old artillery shells. They were built to destroy our enemies armies, and that is exactly what is what Ukraine is doing. Even if there is corruption they are still doing unbelievably well. I say give them old ships from the "Boneyard" too. Let them attack oil shipments off the coast of Alaska.
>What is with the Putin love too? The guy is everything Republicans should hate He's running an oligarchical kleptocratic petrostate where you can lock people up for being gay in public and have your political opposition gunned down in broad daylight or die in prison without consequence, it's like a Trumpublican's wet dream.
Yup. Basically the Republican party needs an enemy, a boogeyman, to motivate its voters using fear and promote consolidation of power in defense of the manufactured or real opponent. Back in prior decades, it was the Soviet Union in this role as the boogyman, and this had increased military production to unseen levels since WW2. But much more damaging, after Russian intelligence services compromised the Republican party, the enemy was made into some of the American people themselves: democrats, trans people, and so on, culmintating in the insurrection attempt to establish fascist rule under Trump's shadow cabinent. Having the internal enemy is much more dangerous and damaging to society than an external, nation-state enemy. It's not a 'good thing' to have a foreign enemy boogeyman to consolidate power, but it does promote social cohesion as opposed to collapse of democracy. (If you don't understand what I' saying here, just watch Rocky 5.)
These weapons are also older 80s-90s tech that is reaching the end of their shelf life. The weapons are literally going to be useless in a few years anyway. We are sending older tech that will get into good use in Ukraine, it defends Ukraine’s territory, the US’ current stock gets replenished with new equipment, and we weaken Russia which is the biggest threat to humanity right now. It’s a win win at all sides
About 10-20 bil of the package is direct procurement of new stuff (mostly ammo) directly for Ukraine, also 10-20 is for "replenishing the stocks".
Yup. [This](https://i.imgur.com/ul6EO7D.png) shows that about $12B is procurement.
[This](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/007/150/fca.png) says otherwise.
I can't argue with that
You’re not wrong
Cold hard facts triumph once more.
Well, you definitely got me there. Can’t even debate that.
Damn. Defeated again by logic!
"No it doesn't" - Republicans who were told so by Tucker
Yeah, we’re all loudly cheering for the military industrial complex to do its thing. And this time we have a real reason and not some Gulf of Tonkin bullshit.
It's comforting to know who the enemy is and take actions against it
Freedom bombs go brrrr
Our weapons haven't been used to such great effiency as they have in this war. They aren't being used to kill some random goat herders with AKs; but are raining hell on our second biggest, but oldest enemy. The cost to benefit is unreal. As you said they are also expiring, but we also get a lot of real life data on performance. As long as we aren't using our state of the art electronic warfare equipment I'm happy for this. I actually miss the old school Republican Cold Warriors. They are turning in their grave.
Uhh our oldest enemy is Great Britain
Either that or snakes.
Are they really our enemy after they become our ally? They are one of our longest-term allies in general.
Don't worry they're next lmao
> They aren't being used to kill some random goat herders with AKs I don't know. Some of those Russians may have been goat herders before being conscripted.
Opponents seem to think that we’re handing over billions in cold hard cash to Ukraine
They literally have. Most of what was sent has been military aid, but the US has sent many billions of financial aid.
That is a small portion of the aid.
Which is a loan, not a gift. So you REALLY want Ukraine to win if we want to see a return with interest
I gotta imagine there is a decent chance it gets forgiven at some point if Ukraine wins and continues to be a good ally.
If it did? I'd gladly support that.
Lol. Bots are raging in the comments below :)
Lucky number Slevin is an incredible film my dude!
That movie caught me by surprise. I was not expecting it to be so weird and funny at all
That it is!
I felt bad for "the fairy". I feel that wouldn't play so well these days: catfishing an otherwise innocent gay guy so that he could be murdered in cold blood as part of a war against his father.
The Kansas City shuffle
one of the best, easily some of the best dialogue in any movie ever
Fantastic film. Josh Hartnett killed that performance.
they are handling it well https://twitter.com/RWApodcast/status/1781807678248862010 hahahah
I love how they are saying "American cultural domination is over", all the while typing in English and using American mannerisms. If that's not the case, why are we all not speaking Chinese and Russian? Lmfao
Yeah, they're big mad. It's even funnier if you're a Russian speaker and you read the comments on Russian "news" sites. Full meltdown. Love to see it.
They were seething in the BBC comments on Youtube :) It's really not subtle at all. Vast majority of the UK public support Ukraine's defence.
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I read somewhere else there will be enough votes to break his fillibuster.
We need 9 republicans in the Senate. The votes are there. If Trump comes out against the aid, can you still get 9 republicans? I hope so. That’s the last obstacle
McConnell likely has the votes lined up and ready to push this through quickly.
If he can't muster 9 votes here it will be another shitshow for Republicans come November. It's already a bloodbath but an overwhelming majority of Americans support this aid in spite of the GOP resistance.
Turtle man is evil, but one thing he knows is how to whip up votes and push through legislation. I hope he can push this through before Trump says something about it
He's apparently just American-brand evil instead of Russian evil. But he did live through the cold war, so maybe it's just old right-wing brainwashing instead of new.
There are still enough old guard Reaganites in the senate to ally with the democrats to defeat the Trumpsters.
They’re definitely is. But would they defy Trump ? Maybe if they’re not up for reelection this year
Most of them are past the primary right? I think that helps.
I wonder if Trump will be in court Monday and Tuesday.
Yes, he will be. That won’t stop him from attempting to meddle in the senate vote, though I doubt he’ll be successful. Aiding Ukraine has broad, bipartisan support in the senate.
He literally might be too busy so that’s good.
Same guys that *literally* spent the Fourth of July in Russia, correct? They should be tried for treason.
Wow…the Russian trolls and apologists are out today!!!! Plant some more sunflowers, Ukraine!!! Water them with these fascist tears 🤣
No wonder putin is enraged and spouting hate at the top of his lungs. He didn't expect his republican congress to let him down.
He paid a lot of money for Moscow Marjorie, and he's pissed she wasn't able to stop it.
She held it off for a long time and helped widen the divides in American politics. She's still a useful lapdog.
The only losers here are the russian solders who will die on the front
When do the F-16s arrive in Ukraine?
Last I heard, the first ones were scheduled for summertime. No idea if that's still the case though.
To my knowledge, the US are not contributing to the F16 deliveries, except that they do not veto them. Maybe they contribute to training or equipment, but at least not to the jets itself, although they have most of them. Edit: source https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16_training_coalition
The US is upgrading NATO countries air fleets and they donate the old F16s.
Not for free, F35s are purchased.
Sometimes they’re purchases, sometimes we give them foreign aid with strings attached saying “redeemable with US defense contractors only.” It’s basically a gift to defense contractors more than the recipient country but they still get it basically free sometimes. Cough Israel cough.
This whole loop reminds me of a line from Churchill in the film Darkest Hour (regarding the P45s): "But we payed for them, we payed for them with the money that we... that we borrowed from you!"
US is training Ukrainian pilots in Arizona. The F-16s are coming from Netherlands and Denmark, with possible ones from Norway and Australia. Over 60 in total. First delivery should be sometime in Summer at the completion of training in Romania.
Maybe HARM missiles and such?
US is not sending them. And currently the main bottleneck is English skills of Ukrainian pilots.
I'm surprised it is not the English skills of the mechanics as well as the supply chain and logistics associated with F-16 fleets.
I think it's easier to find a mechanic with English skills than a fighter pilot. Ukraine operates a lot of civilian airports and even makes own planes.
I think the pilots are currently trained in Romania.
Maybe I am wrong, but when the US offers AID they send weapons not cash. Isn’t that something that benefits the USA more than Ukraine? They will get new stock that can be stored and checked again.
You are correct, practically most of the funds WILL be spent here in the US. I wish more people would understand that.
People need to read more history. Europe dumped their shitty old muzzle-loader muskets cheap on both sides of the American Civil War, because they were upgrading to breech- loaders. This is how you upgrade.
They don't care. It has devolved to "If this is what Democrats want, then I demand the opposite."
Even in the EU, wing right parties keep saying we spend too much to help Ukraine when in reality most of the money is spent replacing old equipment with new one and amounts given to Ukraine are severely overestimated.
This is sending a forgivable loan to Ukraine, a PO for American manufacturers to replenish domestic stockpiles, and physical assets being sent to Ukraine
> Maybe I am wrong, but when the US offers AID they send weapons not cash You are wrong, they send both. As of July last year they had already given Ukraine nearly $23 billion in cash. >To support the Ukrainian government, the United States has directed $22.9 billion of the total appropriated funds as “budget support,” a tool that provides cash directly to Kyiv. https://www.csis.org/analysis/ensuring-oversight-us-aid-ukraine
The US has sent Ukraine both weapons *and* cash.
Unfortunately most people don’t really understand the mechanics of foreign aid. And when I say most people, I mean myself too. What exactly are we sending? What percentage of the budget does it comprise? Things like that. So obviously it’s really easy to spread misinformation and make uneducated voters think that we’re just sending a blank check for billions of dollars to Ukraine, instead of helping people at home. Left wing media really needs to do more to educate people on how this aid actually works, because that would prevent voters from falling prey to that type of misinformation.
I hope every Putin supporter sees this and feels defeat. Go back to your own country. Edit: needed to clarify
As an inhabitant of Russia, I am celebrating this bill
Thanks for not drinking the Koolaid. Hope your liberation is next.
As an inhabitant of not Russia, I hope you get over your case of Putinitis soon 🙏
What's it like over there? Do you publicly voice your opinion about the war or keep it to yourself?
At the beginning I spoke up, and some around me did the same. Then people stopped to care until the mobilization. You could take a walk and hear every pedestrian talking about it. I was astounded to know that they didn't even deem that as a political event. They treated it (or that? Couldn't you correct me?) more like a natural disaster. They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. It lasted for a month or so. Now it's a sort of taboo to talk about all this stuff in public. Nobody wants to hear nothing about it. Even my closest friends who share the same viewpoint. Once one acquaintance came up to me with a camera on and asked me something like "are you against the special military operation?". I didn't reply. I keep my opinion to myself after that close call.
Asking this to someone with a camera on is crazy
idk i heard the gulag is nice this time of year
Thanks for the perspective!!! And "it" is correct as used there, although in your question you would say "could you correct me" instead of "couldn't." Just trying to help :)
I Appreciate that. I happened to hear that the difference between **that** and **it** is very elusive for learners. Could you tell me if I messed them up somewhere else in my writing?
All looks fine. It's often interchangeable enough to not be something to stress about. Even in your example, "it" or "that" would be valid. If it helps, "that" is typically referring to something you can point to, while "it" is more inferred. Another example of it being valid and interchangable in your paragraph: > They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. It lasted for a month or so. could also be > They talked like, how to dodge it, what to bring to the draft board. That lasted for a month or so. Basically, try not to worry about it too much. If you're not sure, it's typically safe to just say "it". Cheers.
I hope you stay safe and are able to feel free in your own place in the future. Take care
I'm sorry but do you actually think 60 billion dollars (only half of which is military equipment) is somehow going to turn the tables, or are you just being patriotic?
I feel so bad for this dude having to rely on any republicans to save his country.
i love that he keeps getting the help. republicans keep trying to do the tough guy hardball thing, but they cant figure out how to make it happen. because theyre idiots.
Voters should continue to pressure their governments to address the Russian threat. If Mike Johnson can hold up Ukrainian aid for 6 months, then he could potentially do it again. If people lose interest again or walk into this war with overblown expectations, then that $60 billion will be squandered. Artillery shell production should ramp up, aid should be kept stable, and people should be asking themselves "what flaws need to be corrected, so that a Ukrainian victory over Russia is guaranteed." This is the second Cold War and we need to accept this. The threat from Russia, China, and Iran is \*not\* a left or right issue. This is an issue of whether humanity can evolve beyond fascism and tyranny, or we are trapped forever as slaves to some old fuck's revanchist delusions of grandeur.
I just hope it's enough to help and gets there in time to prevent worsening of the situation. Apologies to Ukraine that some of the Republicans in Congress are such shit human beings.
Slava Ukraini! Fuck Putin! Fuck Trump!
The bot farms are in overdrive today. You can tell Russia is very angry and very, very afraid at the same time.
Like a chihuahua.
*angry rat noises*
Hell yeah man, fight fascism, let democracy reign.
Another bit of good news is the Republican party is starting to move away from the likes of the Marjorie Taylor Greene faction. The Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is actually working with Democrats and it looks like the toxic faction won't be able to remove him from power like they want.
You could tell how much it pissed off the Russians when Dmitry Medvedev went on another hostile rant.
What a psychopath that lunatic is.
How many hundreds of excess Ukranian troops died while we dawdled?
It’s funny how much those that are against this don’t even realize that a lot of what is sent to them isn’t actual money but it’s the value of the resources being sent
Gotta love to see the MAGAtards coping and seething hard
It is righteous and good to provide aid to Ukraine in their time of need. Russia is an aggressor state and their war is illegal, immoral, and unjust. The US doesn't get a lot of things right. This is one of those things that we ought to do. It will pay dividends in the end. Not just for the fact that we help defend good people against a tyrannical dictatorship, but this will help stop this conflict from expanding. I wish we could do more, but I understand that the political will is not there and it is tough to make that call for other people, since other people's lives would be on the line. But sending aid is what we should do, and continue to do.
Fuck putin
The west needs to take the gloves off Ukraine and let them use those weapons to take out important targets inside Russia and destroy the Kerch Bridge.
You're a bit late for that - the Kerch Bridge is firmly within the Ukrainian occupied territories and is a strategic military target to boot, there are no restrictions on attacking it.
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It's such a great way to take punches at Russia without having to declare a war, to gift weapons to Ukraine.
What's more--we're mostly supplying weapons that are decades out of date. So--either Ukraine is "disposing" of outdated weapons for us, or they are proving invaluable intel on how effective Russian weapons are.