Politics

[spike.t]

Net zero will hamper West and boost China, warns CEBR

Costs of green transition will help to push Asian countries up the world economic table

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[spike.t]

If we can’t travel home for Christmas, Britain really is a helpless country

Now, the individual must mould herself around what is convenient for the state, and not the other way around

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Red Leg]

Meanwhile back in Ukraine, the Russian bloggers over on Telegram are gnashing their collective teeth over the destruction of another Russian naval vessel. This was apparently a Ropucha class ship used to transport military materiel.
View attachment 576559
This one was reportedly loaded with Iranian supplied munitions. Judging by the secondaries, it clearly wasn't transporting dairy products.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1739451478958367099

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18qwqt5

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18qwdaq

Quick update. The vessel, identified as the Novocherkassk, was believed to have been transporting a ship load of Iranian Shaheed Drones that Russia fires against Ukrainian cities almost nightly. It was struck soon after docking and before it was offloaded. The results were total destruction of the ship and significant damage to the docking area.

It also means a large number of these drones will not have to be taken out with air defense systems.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18r5m62

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Biden Orders Strike on Iranian-Aligned Group After 3 US Troops Injured in Drone Attack in Iraq

President Joe Biden ordered retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian-backed militia groups after three U.S. servicemembers were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq.

www.military.com

 

[Red Leg]

This is a very disturbing video clip.

I have posted a several of clips of the many on line illustrating the unique cultural lack of compassion of the Russian Army and corresponding apathy among Russian soldiers. Whether abandoning comrades on the battlefield, running over their own troops with AFVs, are leaving the dead to rot on the battlefield, examples are posted daily.

However, this video clip wins the award for sheer callousness. A small UA grenade carrying, close support drone approaches a Russian soldier sitting in the open calmly smoking a cigarette. He signals the drone to take out his "buddy" who is lying prone nearby. Unfortunately for him, another drone was apparently also in the area.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18r6t02

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Putin is apparently signaling peace overtures, what is the situation?

 

[Scott CWO]

Now now, before you sophisticated Europeans get too carried away with that whole worldly smugness thing, I need to clear the acid reflux from the back of my throat and erase everything in my mind that I know about European history from 28 July 1914. But who knows, we may achieve your standard yet. From a world management perspective, it isn't that high a bar.

It’s easy to be smug and judgmental as a European when the USA has paid for the western world’s defense since 1944 with blood and treasure since 1914 while the European socialist democracies allow their workers to work only 30 hours a week and spend their taxes on welfare and social programs instead of defense. I only wish I was so “enlightened.”

 

[Pondoro]

It’s easy to be smug and judgmental as a European when the USA has paid for the western world’s defense since 1944 with blood and treasure since 1914 while the European socialist democracies allow their workers to work only 30 hours a week and spend their taxes on welfare and social programs instead of defense. I only wish I was so “enlightened.”

Well now..we are rearming as we speak...Poland is the stellar example..Germany is coming...but sure we owe a lot to the US and it is a shame that most western European states (except Finland) has cut back so much on defence.. Most have bought that insanely expensive F-35 fighter though..lets hope that its worth the price..

 

[Scott CWO]

Some Europeans call us a bunch of “cowboys”, especially when Bush was President. Damn right! Feeding the stereotype! Lol.

 

[Red Leg]

Putin is apparently signaling peace overtures, what is the situation?

I posted this a couple of days ago. The events of the last 48 hours have only strengthened that view.

- Five high performance fighter bombers lost bringing to a screeching halt Russia's ability to strike the Kherson bridgeheads with glide bombs.

- Loss of another modern, critical ship. As the British pointed out yesterday, the Ukrainian armed forces have defeated the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

- Growing incidents of despair among troops and concern, even anger (among wives and mothers), at home. There has been no attempt at further mobilization, and the body count is slowly becoming apparent.

There is more and more of this sort of thing starting to appear on the Russian Telegram channels (The Twitter equivalent most used by Russian bloggers).

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18pusin

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18pv57p

And more of these incidents showing up on Ukrainian channels.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/18pusin

Both the WSJ and New York Times have noted Russia is signaling it wants a ceasefire and talks because of the Kremlin's growing "strength" and "confidence" in the progress of the war. If the signals are true, I suspect it is actually a fear of 1917. This is not an Army that acts like it is winning.

 

[Brent in Az]

 

[rigbymauser]

It’s easy to be smug and judgmental as a European when the USA has paid for the western world’s defense since 1944 with blood and treasure since 1914 while the European socialist democracies allow their workers to work only 30 hours a week and spend their taxes on welfare and social programs instead of defense. I only wish I was so “enlightened.”

Gosh I wouldn`t even know where to start....:LOL

Na,,, you haven`t paid for the westerns worlds defense since 1944, But I admit it does sounds good.

The government in my country doesn`t decide how long I should work. The time of hours of work is agreed between the employer and the employee. I for one work the average 45-50 hours per week where a nurse can have a 25 hour(parttime) contract per week. The general workcontract per week here is 37 hours. And sorry to say we do work more effecient than you guys. Your "enlightments" on Europe are a bit dim. Some european countries has a long tradition of working hard where others countries have the opposit tradition like Italy and Greece.
Lots of americans are living beyond their means. One paycheck away to go bust and live on the street(prairie in Montana or desert in Texas or a beach in Hawaii).
I don`t know who said it but it was wise words:" If one keep buying things one does not need, you`ll end selling the things you do need". That pretty much puts america into that frame. You have far bigger problems in your society than Russia, China or muslim terrorists can do to you.

 

[Red Leg]

View attachment 576659

I know it is conventional wisdom among many on the right that the economy will help sink Biden, but I am not sure that is any more true now than it was with house and senate races in '22. The recession hasn't happened, the stock market is setting new records, unemployment is essentially zero, and inflation is falling. I assume everyone has noticed gas prices have also improved.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/12/26...ssion-in-2023-whats-the-outlook-for-2024.html

Those preaching economic gloom and doom for next year seem to be fewer and fewer. Citizen Free Press even carried the above article.

I think immigration will still have traction in the fall as will Biden's failing capacity to do the job, but I am not sure that will be enough when compared with Trump's winning personality.

 

[Altitude sickness]

“You have far bigger problems in your society than Russia, China or muslim terrorists can do to you.”

Isn’t that the truth.

Intentional open border

Anarchy rewarded

Law enforcement is demeaned

It’s ok for men to compete in woman’s sports.

We have been pitted against each other by greasy money grubbing Politician's that squabble over trivial things while enemies are free to roam our streets. Steal intellectual property and plot the next 911

We are rotting from moral decay. If our enemies were smart they wouldn’t get in our way. We are destroying ourselves

 

[Nevada Mike]

There is a lot of idealistic shit being shoveled right now. But I believe that the ship can be righted and the shit shoveled out. But right now we need citizens to display some citizenship - take responsibility and act.
Not so easy to set aside selfish concerns and deal with the larger realities.

 

[Tanks]

I know it is conventional wisdom among many on the right that the economy will help sink Biden, but I am not sure that is any more true now than it was with house and senate races in '22. The recession hasn't happened, the stock market is setting new records, unemployment is essentially zero, and inflation is falling. I assume everyone has noticed gas prices have also improved.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/12/26...ssion-in-2023-whats-the-outlook-for-2024.html

Those preaching economic gloom and doom for next year seem to be fewer and fewer. Citizen Free Press even carried the above article.

I think immigration will still have traction in the fall as will Biden's failing capacity to do the job, but I am not sure that will be enough when compared with Trump's winning personality.

If interest rates fall and people can afford cars and homes once again I'd say Biden has a good chance to survive. He can even make a case on shepherding people through the dire economic effects of Covid years.

So, it will depend on the Fed.

 

[wesheltonj]

If interest rates fall and people can afford cars and homes once again I'd say Biden has a good chance to survive. He can even make a case on shepherding people through the dire economic effects of Covid years.

So, it will depend on the Fed.

Well, the “independent” fed has already said 3 interest rate drops in 2024.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Some prices are going down, gasoline, etc.

Chart of the Week: Prices actually went down — they didn't just grow slower

After around 44 months — since April 2020 — prices have finally dropped according to the Fed's preferred inflation gauge.

finance.yahoo.com

 

[Nevada Mike]

How much of any recent positive trends are the result of Biden's 'policies' and not just market forces? What about food prices? Rents?

Biden is so inept and useless on border policy, foreign policy, crime, "homelessness", his support of the war dejour, throwing money at things like student loan forgiveness...

 

[Red Leg]

How much of any recent positive trends are the result of Biden's 'policies' and not just market forces? What about food prices? Rents?

Biden is so inept and useless on border policy, foreign policy, crime, "homelessness", his support of the war dejour, throwing money at things like student loan forgiveness...

No one is defending him, I just wouldn't be too confident the economy will be a major issue by November.