Politics

[Safari Dave]

It is really nice to have discussions and interactions with intelligent folks on this forum.

Not that they are wrong, but discussions on more local forums often lead to asinine arguments, which lead nowhere.


I spent 4 years, after I graduated from college, learning Fish & Wildlife biology.

My wife spent another 2 years learning to be an "Education Specialist."

I have learned that being "educated" means very little, when you deal with people who have had years of real experience.

My wife just teaches biology at a school in a government school system.

 

[mark-hunter]

I have learned that being "educated" means very little, when you deal with people who have had years of real experience.

At my college, I never learned a single word about my present job (marine college vs off shore drilling).
So, yes, you are right.

 

[mark-hunter]

A little perspective on the war in Ukraine and how Russia is purportedly so successful in its latest offensive.

A bit of European perspective:

Well, the ongoing international war efforts - due to inflation are melting down my savings at alarming rate.
Real-estate doubled in price, food and groceries are up by 30%.
My educated guess is I am loosing this war, by not even seeing it. By not even deserving it!
And this represent overall public sentiment here in EU, as per my judgement.

Major industrial powers France and Germany, are facing recession, jobs closures, and their administrations had just collapsed. UK is changing prime ministers at rate never seen in history.

It looks like frozen Russian assets will finance European part of war, at least for next year. But when this is dried, then what? Russian announce freezing European assets on their side?

New American administration announces GDP defense budget spending for European Nato members to be raised to 5%, although they were struggling to reach 2% earlier.
Feasible or not, I have no idea.

Whatever outcome of the war will be, it has to be soon.
I dont think the political situation is long term sustainable here on old continent.

 

[WAB]

So apparently for some it is a big revelation that Biden has been mentally diminished for 4 yrs. Ok great, after the election the media wants to act unbiased and bring it forward.

The one question I have is. Who is going to jail for violating the Logan act. Were any unelected people talking to foreign leaders. Obama ?
Jill Biden

953, enacted January 30, 1799) is a United States federal law that criminalizes the negotiation of a dispute between the United States and a foreign government by an unauthorized American citizen. The intent behind the Act is to prevent unauthorized negotiations from undermining the government's position.

Interesting point. So has Trump been violating the Logan act?

 

[Altitude sickness]

Interesting point. So has Trump been violating the Logan act?

The Logan act was put in place for a non elected US citizen going to France and negotiating peace without the government’s knowledge or permission. So the law was passed. As long as the citizen is an “Agent” of the U.S. and has a hall pass to negotiate its all good. I think the Logan act is specifically directed towards military disputes between the U.S. and others. I may be off base here.


General Flynn was talking to Russia after trump’s first win. But wasn’t a registered agent. And they sent him to prison. People do it all the time. John Kerry is notorious for doing it. Flynn is the first to be charged in over 100 years.

 

[sgt_zim]

The Logan act was put in place for a non elected US citizen going to France and negotiating peace without the government’s knowledge or permission. So the law was passed. As long as the citizen is an “Agent” of the U.S. and has a hall pass to negotiate its all good. I think the Logan act is specifically directed towards military disputes between the U.S. and others. I may be off base here.


General Flynn was talking to Russia after trump’s first win. But wasn’t a registered agent. And they sent him to prison. People do it all the time. John Kerry is notorious for doing it. Flynn is the first to be charged in over 100 years.

Flynn ended up pleading guilty because the DoJ threatened to go after his son, and his son didn't have the means to fight it. The DoJ often makes deals like that when they know they can't get a guilty verdict on the principal. If you can't get the principal, threaten family or a close friend with BS that they don't have the money to fight. Flynn did not violate Logan.

The DoJ has been using Lavrentiy Beria's playbook for years (though it seems to have gotten worse under Biden): show me the man, I'll show you the crime. Read "Three Felonies a Day" if you doubt it. I have an acquaintance who went to federal prison for the same reason Flynn did.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Exactly, like most of us that can’t afford years of legal fees. the DOJ will break you financially or give you a deal. Many plead to avoid bankruptcy

 

[Neophyte]

Exactly, like most of us that can’t afford years of legal fees. the DOJ will break you financially or give you a deal. Many plead to avoid bankruptcy

Any wonder why I hate my government?

 

[cash_tx]

Wow, someone has some explaining to do...

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident: US military

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be "friendly fire", but were found alive, the U.S. military said.

www.foxnews.com

"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement.

 

[Red Leg]

Vladimir Putin invaded a country that had been independent for thirty years - a nation with aspirations to join the EU and be part of the Western European community of nations. Putin was determined to seize it for his feudal empire. No Russian invasion - no war. It really is that simple. However, not to worry, Putin will be emboldened by any measure of success and our children and grandchildren will instead have the opportunity to halt reignited Russian ambitions because we will have failed them.

For some class of our citizens - historically on the left but now on the right - America is always wrong with respect to its international policies.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Wow, someone has some explaining to do...

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident: US military

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be "friendly fire", but were found alive, the U.S. military said.

www.foxnews.com

"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement.

That's crazy. I would think an American fighter jet has some type of electronic identification that would differentiate it from a hostile drone or ballistic missile?

 

[Red Leg]

Wow, someone has some explaining to do...

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident: US military

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be "friendly fire", but were found alive, the U.S. military said.

www.foxnews.com

"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement.

That's crazy. I would think an American fighter jet has some type of electronic identification that would differentiate it from a hostile drone or ballistic missile?

It does.

Though it is a wonder this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. The Aegis cruisers and destroyers manage the anti-air and missile defense of the carrier battle group. Near shore, they are on a very loose leash due to the proximity of cruise and ballistic missiles capable of reaching the group very quickly. We will likely never know, but I suspect something failed in the aircraft IFF, or the aircraft unintentionally flew into a weapons free sector.

Given the remotest chance the target is hostile, the battle group, without hesitation, will trade one aircraft to protect a ship carrying 5,000+ personnel and 85 other warplanes.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I would wager the pilot screwed up the and was in the wrong area. Luckily most of the Red Sea is very shallow. So we will go get that aircraft back.

I wish I could say I’ve never been involved in jet recoveries with even more ridiculous causes. We would be sent for Submarines “hitting Whales”
Pilots running out of fuel. And worse.

We would often get in trouble with senior brass on base for displaying T shirts or bumper stickers.
Fly Navy Divers need the work.

Pilots are a sensitive bunch

 

[Red Leg]

A bit of European perspective:

Well, the ongoing international war efforts - due to inflation are melting down my savings at alarming rate.
Real-estate doubled in price, food and groceries are up by 30%.
My educated guess is I am loosing this war, by not even seeing it. By not even deserving it!
And this represent overall public sentiment here in EU, as per my judgement.

Major industrial powers France and Germany, are facing recession, jobs closures, and their administrations had just collapsed. UK is changing prime ministers at rate never seen in history.

It looks like frozen Russian assets will finance European part of war, at least for next year. But when this is dried, then what? Russian announce freezing European assets on their side?

New American administration announces GDP defense budget spending for European Nato members to be raised to 5%, although they were struggling to reach 2% earlier.
Feasible or not, I have no idea.

Whatever outcome of the war will be, it has to be soon.
I dont think the political situation is long term sustainable here on old continent.

I can't speak for Eastern Europe but Germany is running an annual inflation rate of 2.2% up from an a rate of 1.6% in June. It did hit a high of 8.7% in 2023, but at least that part of the economy now reflects a normal economic pattern.

Germany Inflation Rate

Inflation Rate in Germany increased to 2.20 percent in November from 2 percent in October of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Germany Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

Poland shows a similar pattern, though it is leveling off in the 4% range after reaching a 2023 high of just over 18%. My impression was that the European economies were stabilizing.

Poland Inflation Rate

Inflation Rate in Poland decreased to 4.70 percent in November from 5 percent in October of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Poland Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

I think Trump will have a difficult case to make with respect to 5% GDP spending by NATO on defense. After all, the US commits 3.5% to defense spending. I know it is hard to believe, but it is possible that Trump may have engaged his mouth before looking at his notes. I will note that DOD has argued for years for a 5% US commitment, but there is zero chance of that with the new administration.

 

[gbflyer]

Wow, someone has some explaining to do...

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident: US military

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in what appeared to be "friendly fire", but were found alive, the U.S. military said.

www.foxnews.com

"The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement.

The skeptic in me says friendly fire is a better headline in the news for our enemies to read.

 

[Red Leg]

The skeptic in me says friendly fire is a better headline in the news for our enemies to read.

Really!? I would suspect the odds of a Houthi air defense system (read Iranian/Russian hand me down) actually hitting a US fighter bomber to be about as likely as one being hit by a meteor.

 

[Tanks]

So apparently for some it is a big revelation that Biden has been mentally diminished for 4 yrs. Ok great, after the election the media wants to act unbiased and bring it forward.

The one question I have is. Who is going to jail for violating the Logan act. Were any unelected people talking to foreign leaders. Obama ?
Jill Biden

953, enacted January 30, 1799) is a United States federal law that criminalizes the negotiation of a dispute between the United States and a foreign government by an unauthorized American citizen. The intent behind the Act is to prevent unauthorized negotiations from undermining the government's position.

Not unelected, as you quoted it is “unauthorized “. I’d assume anyone from Biden’s side would be presumed to be authorized.

 

[Brent in Az]

I can't speak for Eastern Europe but Germany is running an annual inflation rate of 2.2% up from an a rate of 1.6% in June. It did hit a high of 8.7% in 2023, but at least that part of the economy now reflects a normal economic pattern.

Germany Inflation Rate

Inflation Rate in Germany increased to 2.20 percent in November from 2 percent in October of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Germany Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

Poland shows a similar pattern, though it is leveling off in the 4% range after reaching a 2023 high of just over 18%. My impression was that the European economies were stabilizing.

Poland Inflation Rate

Inflation Rate in Poland decreased to 4.70 percent in November from 5 percent in October of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Poland Inflation Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

I think Trump will have a difficult case to make with respect to 5% GDP spending by NATO on defense. After all, the US commits 3.5% to defense spending. I know it is hard to believe, but it is possible that Trump may have engaged his mouth before looking at his notes. I will note that DOD has argued for years for a 5% US commitment, but there is zero chance of that with the new administration.

With rising global tensions and conflict, as well as China's ever growing desire for global domination, maybe Trump can be persuaded to invest all the money DOGE is going to eliminate from wasteful spending, back into the military and global defense? Just a thought.

 

[Hogpatrol]

 

[Datchew]

Exactly, like most of us that can’t afford years of legal fees. the DOJ will break you financially or give you a deal. Many plead to avoid bankruptcy

The process IS the punishment.