Putin is pretty much in the catbird seat right now. He knows no one is going to stop him, so there is no impetus to have to use force.
Disagree.
No one may stop him militarily .... but Putin knows he's facing a world of financial hurt if the EU and US stand firm.
And from today's developments he apparently thinks they will.
I don't think Putin blinked, I think he realizes if he does things in small steps, he won't have to use force and everyone will back down and eventually he reconstructs the old Soviet Union. He is playing chess.
Disagree.
No one may stop him militarily .... but Putin knows he's facing a world of financial hurt if the EU and US stand firm.
And from today's developments he apparently thinks they will.
You don't know that. Please stop portraying Putin as a mythical giant.
He blinked.
I don't think Putin blinked, I think he realizes if he does things in small steps, he won't have to use force and everyone will back down and eventually he reconstructs the old Soviet Union. He is playing chess.
You don't know that. Please stop portraying Putin as a mythical giant.
He blinked.
Plus Kerry just promised the Ukraine money and probably gave Russia some to stfu until after midterms. Kerry probably said, after the elections you can do whatever you want.
Sound familiar?
Obama has reduced America to a weak and ineffectual laughing stock in the world.
Please stop dismissing Putin so easily.
I don't dismiss him at all.
I simply refuse to turn him into an unstoppable god simply because he rides a horse shirtless.
Fair enough, but your statements are as unqualified as those you're criticizing.
I'm going to offer a provocative suggestion: Let's stop helping the world laugh at us. Maybe tone down the editorials, pundits, blogs, et al. Mocking Obama is deserved and fun ... but we'd be smart to remember that, like it or not, laughing it up at Obama's expense is ultimately laughing it up at OUR expense.
Politics stopping at the water's edge is a useful tradition. I think we need to take a second look at it.
How so?
I really do not think the world will stop laughing at us if we simply shut up and let Obama do whatever it is he's going to do in silence. The world is laughing at us because of what Obama has already done and, to the extent ordinary Americans have helped them to laugh, it was because of our stupidity in re-electing him, not anything we might say at this juncture. In point of fact, given that the mood of ordinary appears to be in favor of much more aggressive action than Obama has said he is willing to take, the world should be more concerned about what the US might do, not less concerned, given our outspokenness. Furthermore, outspokenness is something one should want more of, not less; were ordinary Russians more willing - and more able - to speak up the situation might be better than it is right now.
I'm going to offer a provocative suggestion: Let's stop helping the world laugh at us. Maybe tone down the editorials, pundits, blogs, et al. Mocking Obama is deserved and fun ... but we'd be smart to remember that, like it or not, laughing it up at Obama's expense is ultimately laughing it up at OUR expense.
Politics stopping at the water's edge is a useful tradition. I think we need to take a second look at it.
"Putin blinked" is about as unqualified a statement as one will find on this thread.
Okay. Valid point. And I stand by it.
I really do not think the world will stop laughing at us if we simply shut up and let Obama do whatever it is he's going to do in silence.
Why do we have to help the world laugh at us? Really, what happened to love of country over love of politics?
I am not now nor would I ever suggest, recommend, or hint at allowing Obama (or any president) to do whatever they want. I'm all for Congress and the people taking a president to the woodshed. But does it always have to be a public spectacle....feeding a global joke at our own expense?
I think the pundit and political class are going too far by actually helping to promote Obama (read: the United States) as the world's clown. This is not comic relief or political payback. This is dangerous. And, I say this as an American first.
Why do we have to help the world laugh at us? Really, what happened to love of country over love of politics?
I am not now nor would I ever suggest, recommend, or hint at allowing Obama (or any president) to do whatever they want. I'm all for Congress and the people taking a president to the woodshed. But does it always have to be a public spectacle....feeding a global joke at our own expense?
I think the pundit and political class are going too far by actually helping to promote Obama (read: the United States) as the world's clown. This is not comic relief or political payback. This is dangerous. And, I say this as an American first.
So what, if Obama and (marxist fascist socialism) is world wide seen for what it is. a joke!
If we don't call it what it is then that is frightening. Because as an ex KGB-USSR spy said, after defecting to America-there is no where to go in fear of tyranny after America.
Do you really think the world would find Obama's actions any the less deserving of ridicule if the American public simply stayed mum and said nothing? i find that hard to believe.
But "Marxists fascist socialism" is not seen as the joke. The United States of America is seen as the joke. I am merely asking you to remember when this nation is viewed as a joke we are ALL vulnerable---very, very vulnerable. And that's not funny at all.
As for the rest of your post .... well, I will admit I have no idea the point you're making.
But thanks.
We are going to have to agree to disagree
Is this what you think I've been saying?
That is what you have been saying. How else am I, an ordinary private citizen, to express my disapproval of Obama and his conduct, other than publicly? Shall I write him a nice letter - on paper even - and mail it to him? Shall I send him an email? Shall I telephone him? Shall I instead telephone, mail, or email my Congressional representatives and ask them to express my disagreement to Obama? And how shall I join with other like-minded people to voice our collective criticism of Obama? Shall we meet in secret?
I mentioned over and over again that pundits and politicians taking to the airwaves and publically ridiculing (not just disagreeing with) Obama is not helpful. It is hurting this nation and her citizens in ways that cannot be qualified.
I'm all for expressing "disapproval" of any president, but I would like our political leaders to do more. I'd like them to offer a different strategy to the president and the American people -- if only so Putin and his ilk know despite Obama we are still here...we are still strong ...and that will not change. We need to demand this from our representatives. Yes, phone calls, emails, letters are all in play. And no, secrecy will not help.
The comedy skits I've been watching all over the airwaves are destructive. There has to be something left standing if we are to survive this regime. Now is the time for serious opposition with serious alternatives. Now is the time to neuter this President--not with ridicule which feeds our enemies --- but with a clear and different strategy---one that will earn the vocal support of the American people.
The comic relief can come later.
RiV - I respectfully disagree.
Comedy first. Get the ridicule firmly lodged in the average voters mind, then immediately follow up with practical and well thought out solutions. Think of the comedy as a bombardment before an attack (if you like WW1 metaphors).
But you are right. Conservatives can't just point and laugh, they need actual ways to solve the problem.
Mockery is a classic tactic of the left, used mercilessly to destroy those on our side that they most fear. I want to see Obama mocked so severely, absolutely without an iota of mercy, until even the morons that voted for him are embarassed to admit it.
Standing comes, or goes, based on the leader and his actions, not on what the people - including the mass media - have to say. Ronald Reagan managed to be quite effective, notwithstanding the comedic relief
It's about the leader, not about the peanut gallery
How do we stop Putin?
How do we stop Putin?
How do we stop Putin?
Do you really think the world would find Obama's actions any the less deserving of ridicule if the American public simply stayed mum and said nothing? i find that hard to believe.
Is this what you think I've been saying?
Mockery is a classic tactic of the left, used mercilessly to destroy those on our side that they most fear. I want to see Obama mocked so severely, absolutely without an iota of mercy, until even the morons that voted for him are embarassed to admit it.
He's down now, we must not go weak - we must keep our boot on his neck until he rolls his little bony ass into a fetal position from which he cannot stand up from! Yes, it makes us look stupid too, BUT WE ARE! The media has got to feel the heat from this too - they have got to be made to look in the camera and gulp hard, knowing they are going to have to try to make him look at least substandard.
I'm late to this thread, but that's exactly how I interpreted it, too.
You mean like this?
(http://www.ijreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-04-at-7.18.26-PM.jpg)
I'm not sure that we can stop Putin right now. We're not really strong enough and we don't have the capable leadership to pull it off. I don't think Europe has the wherewithall to help either, they've been flailing too. Putin is an opportunist and he sees an opening. As far as making America look weak.........................it's too late. We are weakened and from my view America is on her last legs. We'll see what happens in the elections this year, but I'm frankly pessimistic. We are desperate for leadership. Who will be able to step up to that plate? I love America too, but that America is almost gone - the America we have now is not much to be proud of, I'm sad to say.
Their economy. IF we had a president so inclined (I don't think we do) and a Europe so inclined (we don't)..... all they have is their oil and natural gas sales. Europe not wanting to be dependent on the ME went against Reagan and agreed to the pipelines from Russia to Europe making Europe dependent on Russia for Oil and gas. Poland is now fracking and is closer to Europe anyway.. help Poland get their fracking really going and pipelines built.......
However........ if I was Poland I would be really worried Russia will come for me to keep me from doing what I suggested, but they are part of NATO...
All in all Obama does not know how to play chess, Bush wrongly trusted Putin and he has played us and the world like a fine guitar.
Thanks for your replies ... I too see economic hurt as a strong weapon here.
Let's hope the EU clicks into gear on this.
Does anyone else find that "for now" rather concerning?