iNow

I said something about not unilaterally disarming. I suppose if you squint really hard and add some filters to ensure the most negative connotation possible, one might be able to read that as me, “coming to the conclusion that the best course of action, going forward, for your country is 'an eye for an eye' policy, and to try and beat your opponent by being just like them.” 🤷‍♂️

You really ought to read a thread before bumping it and declaring your answer as the only correct one. You’re incorrect on what science says, and that’s been covered over and over and over again already… then,over and over and over again some more. Just let the topic die already.

It's always been political since the founding of the country. Let's not all sit here collectively clutching our pearls because something political happens to be breaking out in politics.

Specifically, he said he was okay with the judge from South Carolina. As he's the Senator from South Carolina, that is unsurprising. He's also not exactly representative of the majority of GOP these days. I see this all as phony manufactured outrage. Biden's being pilloried for being inclusive in his choice, and being told his inclusivity is representative of bias and exclusion. It's very Orwellian double-speak (like when the right decries cancel culture but then tries to cancel the Dixie Chicks, and Colin Kapernick, or ban books from schools, or ad infinitum). The face of blade, or the handle both come to mind. This is a solid point. The side being held to higher standards is the side which keeps losing bc their opponents can lie, cheat, and steal whenever they want and not get held to that same expectation of higher moral principle. It's a race to the bottom, I know. But again, you cannot unilaterally disarm. You must hold BOTH sides to the same higher standard, and that's just not happening.

Of course not, but when two sides are in pitched battle, one side cannot unilaterally disarm and hope to win anything other than annihilation.

No, I stand corrected. Didn’t realize it was that far away. I still think it’s tribal signaling and she’s not behaving based on any specific principle or ideology, just unsure which tribe she feels the need to signal to or why. Appreciate you highlighting the flaw in my last post ✌️

Because she can’t win her primary without tribal signaling and giving her Fox News watching base reason to think she agrees with them Said another way, I seriously doubt she cares, but she needs to pretend she does

Not only wise, but about time. For too long, extremely qualified individuals were overlooked for not being white and male. Reagan pre announced he’d put a female on the court, and so did Trump. Now that Biden did it, however, the right wing is stirring up another furycane and everyone is getting all apoplectic.

According to FiveThirtyEight, Intelligence assessments suggest that a Russian invasion of Ukraine will likely be preceded by cyberattacks on Ukraine’s electric grid, its communications systems, and its government. The US is sending an official expert in this space to NATO to help brace and prepare for the attacks.

Perhaps whoever neg repped me for this post can explain why this entirely fair and valid observation caused such an emotional reaction in you?

They did get credit for releasing them and letting them operate as a sovereign territory all those decades ago. Now they're being "vilified" for ignoring that sovereignty in the present and seeking to forcibly overpower the will of their democratically elected government. How we vilify Russia is not the topic of the thread, though. Trying to focus mostly on US response or lack thereof. That could be an interesting topic to explore. You should open a new thread to do exactly that.

Mother of all bombs is an actual ordinance dropped on actual territories. Mother of all sanctions is a turn of phrase used over the weekend by some politicians on the Sunday shows. The effectiveness or aforementioned futility of either is a topic for another thread.

Returning us now to the actual subject at hand... US Senate is about to approve a package described as "the mother of all sanctions" and the UN Security Council has also reconfirmed it's opposition to Russian action (though, this last bit is somewhat toothless, especially given Russia has a seat on that council). US pledges to put Russia on defensive at UN Security Council | AP News The Senate bill would target major Russian banks and sovereign debt, and is apparently only an initial phase of sanctions (with more to follow later contingent on next steps from Russia).

Tribalism plus a desire for more socially acceptable ways to signal your racism, perhaps?

Shh. You’ve already said too much. There are eyes and ears everywhere. You will be contacted 30 minutes before the drop.

I’ll tell you, but you must first send me 5 BTC

Yeah, it really doesn’t resonate the way it’s intended until you’re over 160 years old

To test stuff. It's right there in the title.

Well, speaking of China and Taiwan: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1076246311/chinas-ambassador-to-the-u-s-warns-of-military-conflict-over-taiwan

My take is slightly different. I think we have significant capabilities here, but also that we don't want to use this "smaller" Ukraine incursion to show the various tricks we have up our sleeves... that we'll reserve certain cyber capabilities for "bigger" issues. But predictions are hard, especially about the future. Meanwhile, KJU in North Korea has done six missile tests just this month — equal to all of 2021 — and has called on NK to prepare for “long-term confrontation.” Good times.

US is sending javelin anti-tank missiles into Ukraine.

No, it just softens the blow a tiny bit… like getting kicked in the nuts still hurts even when wearing a cup, but the cup does help… to MAYBE make Europe slightly less resistant to engaging or sanctioning. No pun intended, eh Nord Stream

US has agreed to supplement fuel supply to Europe in what seems likely to be an attempt by the US to blunt Putins threats to cutoff Russian fuel sources to Europe if they respond to his Ukraine invasion.

I’m not seeing evidence that loss of staff from resignations due to vaccine mandate will cause more deaths than unvaccinated staff being around vulnerable patients.