So, we're in agreement on the other part???

I got called away. See above.

About how Twitter does in fact censor Right Wing and not Left Wing?

Only a fool would claim that there's equal representation on any platform (or in any institution) wherein humans with biases are making judgment calls. We could definitely agree on that. :)

It DID in Texas.. 8 years ago with ONE book..

Hardly conclusive.. :D

One book!? Me giving you one example is NOT the equivalent of this only happening in one book... and you know that.

Yes, I grant you.. In the past mistakes were made.. But in the here and now??

I believe that is factually not accurate..

I believe you believe that... but selective book editing and book banning are nothing new to those who know history: It's the inevitable reaction to social advances... always has been. :)

Apologies. Got called away.

Yea?? Tell that to the Babylon Bee... Tell that to the NY Post.. :D

The Babylon Bee is satire that describes itself as "fake news." I cannot fathom why they'd be censored unless somebody confused satire with actual news. Who among the Righties hasn't done that? Just kidding... mostly. As for the NY Post, like I said, Hamilton would turn in his grave. As I have explained to you, Fox News also passed on that Hunter Biden story because they doubted the veracity of its source:

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2022/04/25/utah-democrats-to-try-a-political-experiment/#comment-190549

So the Post broke Rudy's unvetted story and then blamed all the media outlets who wouldn't cover it unvetted... except their own network, of course. Then the frothy right talking heads on Fox opinion propaganda news whined incessantly that it was a coverup. Grievance politics for the clueless masses. Oh, the outrage! Lather, rinse, repeat.

Even Jack Dorsey said that banning the NY POST over the Hunter Laptop facts was a "huge mistake"..

Hindsight is 20/20, and Rudy Giuliani is still being investigated for violations of election law and FARA.

Of course, he can say that now after it accomplished what it was meant to do.. Allow Biden to be elected POTUS...

Hunter Biden wasn't on my ballot... or anyone else's.

Michale of the Air Force was undoubtedly a REMF as well (because only pilots and their version of Military Police handling drunk Airmen aren't REMFs in the Air Force haha ;D

Anyways, I got into military history especially 20th Century way back in High School. I enjoyed hundreds of hours playing cardboard and paper Wargames, including running the Soviet Production System in a simulation of WWII on the Divisional level. I always knew more about the combat stuff than any of the peeps I served with.

*Rear
Echelon
Mother
Bleepers

Russian nukes?

Researched that also and three people are needed to launch their missles: Putin, the Minister of Defense and the Army Chief of Staff.

Sure, Putin could replace them if they won't cooperate but considering that launching guarantees the death of their replacements along with Mother Russia I'm confident that Putin is more likely to get a bullet in his head than he is of launching.

Putin rattling his nuclear a sword is old news. He already has nukes near Finland and Sweden so that's a big nothingburger. Ain't no nukes honna fly, Michale

Look forward to your detailed response if I haven't completely win you over, Elizabeth.

***America invades Ontario!***

Although the damned Yankees expected to roll right over most of the Province t,he Canucks fight hard and Windsor is the largest city that falls to us Yanks before the front lines stabilize. America's military proves to be a corrupt shell of it's former self and the rest of the world gladly seeks payback for decades of American adventurism, pumping weapons to the tenacious Canadian defenders. At best, the Muricans can make costly yet very incremental gains, but Toronto is no longer in danger. At worst, worldwide sanctions will overturn the government if the Canadians don't win the war first.

So, would you have your government stop fighting when you're about to win?

Or would you agree that a bad peace is not a real peace it's just a timeout? (See: Versailles Treaty)

A lot of research into the various relevant topics such as geopolitics, demographics, history, 20th century warfare, economics, wartime production and more. I'm talking down in the weeds, bitches, but I eat this stuff up.

And, I look forward to putting in similar efforts along with Michale regarding law enforcement.

Nothing has changed in my thinking.

The West likes war and wishes it to continue or, so it seems. ;)

Here, you may be partially right. :D

WHILE the West did not want nor did it goad Russia into war (too tough on the world economy, duh) understanding the correct meaning of national interests suggests that the best possible result for the West is continued low-level war in Donbas only, which gets the grain and fossil fuels moving to ease inflation while keeping the Rooskies from being able pursue military adventurism elsewhere.

It doesn't matter. The sanctions will almost certainly cost Putin his life and cause the Rooskies to withdraw.

And Zelensky couldn't politically surrender a single square meter of pre-2014 territory even if he lost his mind and wanted to.

I'm Ukrainian- Murican and trust me, the Ukrainians would fight with sticks and rocks against the Russians before they'd ever surrender. (See: Mariupol)

Seriously?

I have three words for you: corruption and neo-nazis.

Look it all up for yourself.

Idid, and yes, it's bad. As in Russia is the only European country more corrupt than Ukraine bad.

This is not news as Ukrainians experienced the same corrupt post-Soviet oligarch system process as did Russia.

Wisely, IMF loans and candidacy for NATO are predicated on anti-corruption reforms so it's undeniably a work in progress at best.

Meanwhile, fix up some popcorn and watch The Corruption Games.

THUS FAR -- less corrupt Ukraine is ahead of more corrupt Russia on the Judge's scorecards. :D

***

has it's own corruption problem.

BESIDES, the West
Neo-Nazis? Every European country has them. And Canada and 'Murica together have them in greater numbers than Ukraine due to having eight times the population. So, before you cast stones...

You subsequently posted some things:

Bashi,

Get real.

Biden and NATO took Ukraines admission to NATO off the negotiating table, in no uncertain terms. Consequently, they made sure we'd never find out if Ukraine agreeing to being neutral and not a member of NATO would have stopped Putin from waging war.

That is on Team Biden and NATO, no matter how you slice it.

Do I really have to Lizsplain this, again!? :)

Again, Russia has been doing this for centuries, this is the last time she'll have the young manpower and economic ability to even try this invasion and after twelve years of Murican weakness under Obama and Trump, Vladimir guessed that old Cold War hand Joe probably wasn't going to be that kind of pussy.

Bad news!
Masha Gessen addresses whether the truth penetrating Russia
would turn hearts and minds against Putin.(8:54)

She notes that it's now a totalitarian society and,

it's a matter of survival for the Russian people to buy into the government line. To actually give up their ability to form their own opinion.

So that this idea that if you somehow just got somebody to see something [that] it would magically do something to the Putin regime is a misunderstanding of how the country works.

I love this gal. I'm starting to plow through these Putin Files on YouTube where various Putin experts dive deep. Here's her's.(1:58:24)

Yes, so much winning:

1- failing to conquer Ukraine. Everybody expected the Warsaw Pact to just show up and crush Ukraine but it turns out only the Warsaw Pact weapons showed up. Heh.

AND with enough (delighted, we assure you!) Western support Ukraine may, at length, even push Russia out.

THAT IS if Putin and/or Russia doesn't succumb to the sanctions imposed by a...

2- NATO more united than since Soviet Times. Even effing Germany, kind of sort of.

Willing to take an economic hit to make full use of this golden opportunity to perform the payback is a motherfucker function on Vlad.

About how Twitter does in fact censor Right Wing and not Left Wing? About how "Righties" are not allowed to post whatever they wish?? :D

***
DOES ANYONE ELSE see parallels between Putin's invasion and the 1938-39 Russo-Finnish War aka The Winter War?
Parallels to Winter War.

Stalin officer purges v. Putin's cocoon of yes-men, both resulting in prioritizing loyalty over ability.

Overconfidence in their own military and it's will to fight. Inefficiencies and corruption in both the Soviet system and today's Russia manifesting in performance problems.

Underestimating the opposition's military along with it's will to fight.

Horrendous casualties for little gain.

World condemnation of naked aggression. Alas, this is already hurting today's Russia far more than back in the late 30s.

Pushing the target countries firmly into the Nazi/NATO camp along with other border states (Then: Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
Now: Ukraine, Finland, Sweden etc.)

MY PREDICTION that Putin wouldn't invade was wrong. But I don't feel bad because I knew it probably would end badly for Mother Russia and I simply overestimated Putin.

It DID in Texas.. 8 years ago with ONE book..

Hardly conclusive.. :D

Yes, I grant you.. In the past mistakes were made.. But in the here and now??

I believe that is factually not accurate..

But again, thanx for the great info.. It's very much appreciated.. :D

In fact, Biden, in a historically stubborn and obtuse move, publicly declares that the idea of Ukrainian membership in NATO is sacrosanct and, as such, is off the negotiating table to diffuse the potential crisis. Which, of course, is all about NATO expansion into Ukraine. Adding fuel to the flames would be an apt phrase to describe this wholly irresponsible behavior on the part of an American president, NATO and Ukraine, who should all know better.

And, here we are.
***

Abandoning a single square meter of a free people's territory when there is no reason to do so would be appeasement.

And appeasement wouldn't have stopped Putin even if Ukraine immediately collapsef. He would have to

1- swallow Moldova

2-conquer Poland

3- conquer the Baltic States

...to give himself the space he wants and that Russian geopolitics used to demand.

Russia is losing population and it's fossil fuel resources are falling out of style so this was simply Putin's last chance to expand back at least into Ukraine.

THIS invasion was always going to happen no matter what Biden and NATO did...

Except it doesn't happen happen whatsoever..

It does in Texas.

https://www.texastribune.org/2015/10/05/controversial-social-studies-textbooks-under-fire-/

A textbook by McGraw-Hill classifying African Americans as being "immigrants" and "workers." The whitewashing of history.

They're not real. In this age of nuclear triads and mechanized warfare things don't work like they did when throughout history invading armies had to walk (and walk...and walk...) into Russia. Borders aren't nearly as important.

Did I mention that their 6,000 warheads guarantee sovereignty even better than North Korea's 50 do?

And manageable implies making Putin's wishes more important than those of the peoples of the former Soviet Union...

Yes! I decided to reprint the whole thing because it was written to be read in one sitting.

For thirty years, Russia has declared that Ukraine is a red line for them in terms of NATO expansion. Why would NATO wish to welcome Ukraine into the fold and have NATO forces just hundreds of miles from Moscow? Why, indeed. I would argue that Ukraine provides a security buffer for both Russia and NATO and space for continuing dialogue on the security concerns of both parties, especially given the nature of nuclear arms control negotiations that have been ongoing for decades, not to mention the general dynamics of the Cold War.

It goes back a little longer than that. Like back to the Mongols in 1237.

Long and flat, Russia has no geographical barriers on its borders and throughout history has been constantly invaded. They understandably hate instability and aversion and that's why the Romanovs were installed.

Catherine the Great started the Russian drive to surround itself with buffer states. Others followed and the extra space saved Russia first from Napoleon, then Hitler and most recently, NATO.

As Russia embarked on its fledgling democracy, there were many Russians who felt a distinct sense of humiliation in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union. It was, after all, quite a shock to the system. And, in this environment when Russia was down and out and trying to emerge from a yolk of totalitarianism and economic hardship, NATO decides that this would be an opportune time to expand and, eventually, right up to Russia’s border...

And why not expand NATO right up to Russia's border? Poland, the Baltics and Ukraine are sovereign states, as sovereign as is your Canada. And as free to chose the best course for their respective countries as is Canada.

The whole point of our NATO

military alliance is to prevent Soviet/Russian agression.

The European Union is an economic alliance.

Both get stronger and make more money the bigger the Party is.

OK.. Just so we're clear..

#87 is what LIZ posted???

Except it doesn't happen happen whatsoever..

The Righties who are screaming the loudest about having had their "free speech" suppressed by Twitter have generally been able to tweet whatever they wished.

Yea?? Tell that to the Babylon Bee... Tell that to the NY Post.. :D

Even Jack Dorsey said that banning the NY POST over the Hunter Laptop facts was a "huge mistake".. Of course, he can say that now after it accomplished what it was meant to do.. Allow Biden to be elected POTUS...

But, again.. Thanx so much for your input.. As always, it is more than appreciated.. :D

I'll follow by responding bit by bit to the whole magnificent effort. You deserve a reply.

MtnCaddy and Friends,

Lizsplaining 101 - the Russian War in Ukraine

Okay, I’m going to explain why I think this war could have and certainly should have been avoided and who I think is to blame for inviting the start of it.

But, first, to be clear and for the record, Putin and Russia are solely responsible for starting this ridiculously unnecessary and unjustified war against Ukraine, for the death of civilians and for committing obvious war crimes about which the ICC is investigating and rightly so. Such a declaration, here in Weigantia and among friends, should go without saying.

Now, you will recall that when the Berlin wall fell and the disintegration of the USSR began, NATO, which was set up to counter the Soviet Union, began “assessing” that it would be a good idea to expand to ensure the continuing security of Europe.

For one brief shining moment, the Yeltsin government in Moscow entertained the idea of Russia joining this strategic security arrangement, in some form or fashion. I even recall advocating for the same during the very early nineties when NATO began in earnest to consider expanding its security zone across Europe and, indeed, its sphere of influence. However, old ideas and patterns die hard sometimes and the Russians didn’t pursue joining NATO.

As Russia embarked on its fledgling democracy, there were many Russians who felt a distinct sense of humiliation in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union. It was, after all, quite a shock to the system. And, in this environment when Russia was down and out and trying to emerge from a yolk of totalitarianism and economic hardship, NATO decides that this would be an opportune time to expand and, eventually, right up to Russia’s border.

For thirty years, Russia has declared that Ukraine is a red line for them in terms of NATO expansion. Why would NATO wish to welcome Ukraine into the fold and have NATO forces just hundreds of miles from Moscow? Why, indeed. I would argue that Ukraine provides a security buffer for both Russia and NATO and space for continuing dialogue on the security concerns of both parties, especially given the nature of nuclear arms control negotiations that have been ongoing for decades, not to mention the general dynamics of the Cold War.

So, knowing and understanding the real and ultimately manageable security concerns of Russia in the midst of NATO expansion up to its border, the US and NATO open the door to the possibility of Ukraine membership, leaving NATO's muscular force structure and weaponry, thanks to the US, right at Russia’s doorstep, only a few hundred miles from the heart of Moscow. Ukraine, in a move that helped to seal its current fate, enshrined in its constitution an aspirational intent to become a NATO member and all that is entailed with entering into such a security arrangement.

Despite clear and consistent messaging from the Kremlin - over the course of the last thirty years, no less - the West refused to take Russia's security concerns seriously and Putin moved to recapture Crimea. Studying the history of this parcel of land, by the way, is instructive but, I will leave that complicated story to others.

Later, with Ukraine, the US and NATO still stubbornly clinging to the notion that their public stance remain open to Ukrainian membership (“sovereign nations have the right to choose their alliances”, never mind the fact that NATO also has the right to choose its members and there was no logical reason nor realistic chance that Ukraine would ever actually be admitted) Putin moves to control the separatist regions of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, thus creating facts on the ground to counter the real and imagined NATO threat.

Fast forward to February 2022 and the amassing of Russian troops along its western border with Ukraine and in Belarus. And, still, Ukraine and the US and NATO refuse to accept reality on the ground or even discuss the real and manageable security concerns of Russia that have led to this troop build-up.

In fact, Biden, in a historically stubborn and obtuse move, publicly declares that the idea of Ukrainian membership in NATO is sacrosanct and, as such, is off the negotiating table to diffuse the potential crisis. Which, of course, is all about NATO expansion into Ukraine. Adding fuel to the flames would be an apt phrase to describe this wholly irresponsible behavior on the part of an American president, NATO and Ukraine, who should all know better.

And, here we are.
***

Thanx for the info... Very much appreciated..

Again with the "thanx"? *sigh* Merry Xmas. :)

And I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to dumb it down for me..

That's not what I was doing.

Thanx :D

Heh.

What's yer thoughts on Musk taking over Twitter??

My thoughts regarding Musk purchasing Twitter are primarily financial since I purchased a hefty chunk of TWTR in November 2017 around the time they doubled from 140 to 280 characters allowed per twit/tweet (whatever).

That's the financial side.

As for the platform itself? I don't agree that Twitter is all that suppressive of free speech. The Righties who are screaming the loudest about having had their "free speech" suppressed by Twitter have generally been able to tweet whatever they wished.

The tweets to and from Mark Meadows are a perfect example of what I'm referring. I would wager there are quite a few Righties who will wish their tweets hadn't been so free once they're revealed in the public forum. :)

Twitter already barely censors anything. They've taken a tiny scalpel to their algorithms to limit hate speech and bots and the like, but anyone who is truly concerned about the mental health of America's K-12 school children might want to take a second look at what's happening right now in America. We've got Righties gleefully banning books and using the levers of state government to control an ideologically slanted curriculum that whitewashes history to suit their agenda. Meanwhile, the same Righties are screaming at the top of their lungs for uncensored free speech.

Imagine authors who are free to publish their otherwise banned works on their uncensored Twitter accounts. Who's going to stop them? Truly unfettered "free speech" comes with a price. :)

Ex-squeeze me??? Baking powder???

Seriously, people?? Democrats went absolutely bat-shit crazy over 'covfefe'....

But THIS^^^ THIS is "normal"?? :^/

I would not characterize speaking truth to power, having the courage of your convictions or holding people to account as extreme positions.

I understand why you would say that; there was a time I would have agreed with your sentiment, but we're talking today's so-called GOP.

So what we've got us here is an issue regarding "context." Those Republicans who hold those positions are most definitely furthest from the center and meet that definition.

Even rare here as there is often little if any truth in many comments, no courage of conviction as demonstrated by the dodges and refusing to display conviction with rational argument and very little holding anyone accountable.

You must divest yourself of the ridiculous notion that everything posted on this forum somehow pertains to you personally. My post to CW wasn't about you; it had that in common with the article from which it was quoted. :)

Thanx for the info... Very much appreciated..

And I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to dumb it down for me.. I find that economic stuff usually bores me and I usually don't pay attention much.. But you made it easier to understand..

Thanx :D

What's yer thoughts on Musk taking over Twitter??

It's well documented that OMI is a liberal Left Wing think-tank.. The fact that it goes up against other liberal Left Wing organizations does not refute or disprove OMI's Democrat bona fides..

I obviously didn't do a very good job of getting my point across.
I'ma try again.

The Open Markets Institute isn't exactly an exclusive group of Democrats. They are a non-profit that take issue with Amazon/Bezos, Google, Facebook and multiple other "big tech" firms they deem qualify as "monopolies" under antitrust statutes, not unlike the neo-populists on the Right.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/04/republicans-and-democrats-increasingly-agree-big-tech-is-too-powerful/

Am I surprised that Fox News would float the claim that they're Democrats who are suddenly deathly afraid?

*laughs* Nope. :)

Meaning: The group they're attempting to paint as freaking out about Twitter has been sounding off against "Big Tech" monopolies (including Twitter) for quite awhile already. They're not a group that is new to opposing Twitter and haven't suddenly freaked out.

In fact, it simply re-enforces the fractured uncivil war that is going on within the Democrat Party..

Over "big tech"? I don't see it. It's actually refreshing to see more bipartisanship on that particular issue... even if it is for different reasons. :)

Creeps and squeakers. The fun of multiplayer. If you get a good group it's good, but playing with randoms is hit or miss, usually miss. I finally had to turn off all other players in GTA as it was a constant racist profanity battle between the hicks and the brothers...

I think it's clear to ANYONE with more than two brain cells to rub together, that Ukraine has already lost...

I was being a bit facetious about how the media keep thinking and saying that Ukraine will win and then get a puzzeled look when some analyst or other gives them the real state of play.

Scared the ever lovin' SHIT out of me!!

And another guy kept following me around asking what school I go to... Major Creepy...

Yea, I already got Beat Saber.. I accidentally CAST the OCULUS to my TV while I was playing it.. Freaked the wife out.. :D

I Tried CREED boxing this morning and got a pretty hefty workout.. in addition to getting my ass whupped! :D

I also tried that ECHO ARENA game.. It was killer!! Actually grabbing on to things with your VR hands and throwing a VR Frisbee around.. Reminded me of BSG's PYRAMID.. :D

I have it linked to my PC (11th Gen Core i5 with a RTX 3060ti) but I haven't been able to take full advantage of the combo yet. Still learning..

I'll get Catch N Release when I get home..

Lessons include teaching pre-K students vocabulary words such as ‘non-binary'
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-school-district-unveils-curriculum-teaching-preschoolers-about-sexual-orientation-gender-identity

This is exactly why Florida's Anti-Groomer law is so necessary...

Definitely try Beat Saber. I think the Oculus comes with a demo or easy download. Meta bought the company, so I assume they are pushing it. I found the fidelity on Beat Saber was better on the PS4/psvr even though it's much older hardware. Probably hard to power/cool a real video card in a headset. I think you can use the Oculus as output to a gaming PC if you need more power. Also check out Catch and Release if you want a super chill fishing experience. Just you rowing around a lake fishing but the VR implementation and fishing model is very good.

New York Just Cost Democrats Their Big Redistricting Advantage

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch — and don’t count your congressional districts before all the redistricting lawsuits are finished.

On Wednesday, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the congressional map New York Democrats enacted back in February was a partisan gerrymander that violated the state constitution and tossed it to the curb. The decision was a huge blow to Democrats, who until recently looked like they had gained enough seats nationally in redistricting to almost eliminate the Republican bias in the House of Representatives. But with the invalidation of New York’s map, as well as Florida’s recent passage of a congressional map that heavily favors the GOP,1 the takeaways from the 2021-22 redistricting cycle are no longer so straightforward.

That’s because much of Democrats’ national redistricting advantage rested on their gerrymander in New York. The now-invalidated map included 20 seats with a FiveThirtyEight partisan lean2 of D+5 or bluer and only four seats with a partisan lean of R+5 or redder. It also included two swing seats, but even those had slight Democratic leans (D+3 and D+4).

In other words, all else being equal, we’d have expected Democrats to win 22 of New York’s 26 House seats (85 percent) under the map. But that’s way out of proportion with how New York usually votes; for instance, President Biden got just 61 percent of the vote there in 2020.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/new-york-just-cost-democrats-their-big-redistricting-advantage/

If it weren't for bad luck, Democrats would have no luck at all.. :D

I think it's clear to ANYONE with more than two brain cells to rub together, that Ukraine has already lost...

Regardless of the outcome of this war.. :^/

Some people live so far up their own rear end that they’ve gone full circle, with their heads back up their own heads again.

Classic, simply classic. Gonna borrow this from ya.

"Dude looks like a lady"
-Dean Winchester

:^/

The Babylon Bee has been locked out of their Twitter account for 'hateful content' since mid March
https://www.foxnews.com/media/babylon-bee-skit-twitter-employees-flagged-sensitive-content

Once again..

Proof positive that Democrats can dish it out but they can't take it..

Once this became obvious to all the trade off doesn't seem logical or rational...By trade-off, I mean all the lives wasted in Ukraine and the utter decimation of Ukraine's infrastructure..

I know what you're saying.

I think the goal may be more than just weaken Russia but to keep it in that state long enough for, you know, regime change.

Considering how adept the US/NATO is at regime change, good luck with that.

That is part and parcel of what makes this war so bloody unnecessary. It may, in the end (if we're all still around) make the US war in Iraq look like the proverbial walk in the park and lose its ranking on the list of greatest US foreign policy debacles of all time.

But, hay, not to worry about Ukraine ... everything is going according to plan. Ukraine can win! Ukraine will win! ;)

Considering how adept the US/NATO is at regime change, good luck with that.

That is part and parcel of what makes this war so bloody unnecessary. It may, in the end (if we're all still around) make the US war in Iraq look like the proverbial walk in the park and lose its ranking on the list of greatest US foreign policy debacles of all time.

But, hay, not to worry about Ukraine ... everything is going according to plan. Ukraine can win! Ukraine will win! ;)

I dunno....

Russia was already weak.. That much is apparent and BECAME readily apparent in the first few weeks..

Once this became obvious to all the trade off doesn't seem logical or rational...

By trade-off, I mean all the lives wasted in Ukraine and the utter decimation of Ukraine's infrastructure..

Unless the goal was to weaken Ukraine as well, it doesn't make much sense..

Critics slam timing of Biden's 'ministry of truth' to police internet for 'disinformation'

Conservatives referred to the move as 'Orwellian'

Conservatives on social media slammed the Biden administration after it was announced that a 'Disinformation Governance Board' is being established to combat ‘disinformation’ in the 2022 midterms.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified Wednesday that a "Disinformation Governance Board" had recently been created, days after Tesla CEO Elon Musk purchased Twitter, to combat online disinformation and will be led by Undersecretary for Policy Rob Silvers co-chair with principal deputy general counsel Jennifer Gaskill.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

"The goal is to bring the resources of (DHS) together to address this threat," Mayorkas said, adding that the department is focused on the spread of disinformation in minority communities

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley referred to the board as a "disgrace" and wrote a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding answers as to how the board will operate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/critics-slam-timing-bidens-ministry-of-truth-police-internet-disinformation

Funny how Demcorats take this step immediately after it becomes apparent that Democrats will lose control of their censorship ability on one of world’s most important platforms for public communications and debate...

Coincidence???? Doubtful...

Let's face the facts here, people.. Democrats LOVE disinformation..

As long as it's THEIR disinformation.. Recent history is REPLETE with examples that prove this..

Didn't I just lizplain that? :)

Yea, it's a pretty bonehead move...

One really has to wonder why Biden insists on dragging this out..

Anyone else getting Trek's A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR vibe here??

When it comes to foreign policy and geopolitics, Biden has forgotten more than the people you call his 'handlers' have ever known or will ever know, so...

I put to you that Biden himself has probably forgotten ALL he knew about foreign policy..

The debacle in Afghanistan proves that beyond ANY doubt..

As someone who has been fairly closely following Biden's political career since 1987, I find that whole 'handler' narrative to be compelely non-serious.

I know.. But the facts that support the handler claim are as pervasive and plentiful as they are conclusive..

It's a medical condition, Liz.. It doesn't indicate any lack of character or integrity on Biden's part..

Just on the part of his handlers..

Sound military strategy dictates it is unwise to start a war if there is no political will to WIN the war..

But, I wasn't asking about war, in general, where what you say is true.

I was asking about a US proxy war and, not just any US proxy war, even but, one that is just a few hundred miles away from Moscow!!! Hello! lol

Kenosha meeting discussing memorial for man shot by Rittenhouse gets heated: 'Like a lunatic'

An opponent of the proposal worries the city will pass it quietly in the future
https://www.foxnews.com/us/kenosha-tables-proposal-for-memorial-to-man-shot-by-rittenhouse-after-community-outrage

Kenosha wants to "honor" a thug/criminal woman abuser who's SOLE claim to fame is bringing a skateboard to a gun fight.. :^/

THIS is what passes for smarts in today's Democrat Party... :^/

No.. Not unreasonable at all.. I believe it was a crass political act by Biden's handlers to bring up Biden's sagging approval numbers..

When it comes to foreign policy and geopolitics, Biden has forgotten more than the people you call his 'handlers' have ever known or will ever know, so...

As someone who has been fairly closely following Biden's political career since 1987, I find that whole 'handler' narrative to be compelely non-serious.

The US and NATO are supplying Ukraine with just enough continuing military support to keep the war going indefinitely. It's not unreasonable to ponder whether the US even wanted to prevent this war in the first place.

No.. Not unreasonable at all.. I believe it was a crass political act by Biden's handlers to bring up Biden's sagging approval numbers..

The plan failed.. EPIC'LY failed..

Does anyone here think that a US proxy war just a few hundred miles away from Moscow is a good idea!?

Sound military strategy dictates it is unwise to start a war if there is no political will to WIN the war..

Maybe Disney should have thought things thru before they butt'ed in to the affairs of the State Of FL..

The majority of Democrats in Florida SUPPORT the FL AntiGroomer law...

Disney thought it was smarter to listen to a vocal bitchy minority and not to the majority of Democrats in FL..

"{Disney} chose... poorly."

The US and NATO are supplying Ukraine with just enough continuing military support to keep the war going indefinitely. It's not unreasonable to ponder whether the US even wanted to prevent this war in the first place. They certainly didn't do anything to avoid this disastrous situation and, in fact, acted in such a way as to invite conflict. For what? To keep Ukraine's futile hope for NATO membership alive?

Does anyone here think that a US proxy war just a few hundred miles away from Moscow is a good idea!?

Economists expected the economy to expand by 1.1%, a marked slowdown from 2021
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-economic-growth-gdp-first-quarter

All the news coming down the pipe is BAD news for Democrats..

@m[46],

that's the definition of unequal, NOT unfair. they are not the same thing. not all people saddled with college debt got there by being lazy or foolish. you're presuming something that isn't necessarily the case.

THAT sums things up perfectly.. :D

Sure it is... Explain exactly how it's fair that people of integrity like YOU were able to pay off their debt just fine, while the lazy just get a free pass..

It's the very definition of unfair..

the idea you're buying into is a strawman argument, and not too many successful college graduates will buy it.

Yea.. And hispanic Americans are not walking away from the Democrat Party by the tens of thousands.. :D

Hehe.... It's SOO MUCH FUN in the here and now, eh?? :D

it's not unfair treatment to forgive SOME college debt for those who haven't been fortunate enough to be ABLE to pay it off. the idea you're buying into is a strawman argument, and not too many successful college graduates will buy it.

JL

"Yes.. I am privileged to live in a country where I am entitled to Free Speech"
-Patriotic American

Word...

The Only People More Corrupt Than Joe Biden Are The Journalists Covering Him

When Rachel Maddow got her hands on the first page of one of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns it was a “STOP THE PRESSES!!!!” moment for the leftist media. All that showed was Trump had paid a ton in taxes that year, but the left would not be bound by reality and widely speculated about what the rest of the return, the pages they’d never seen, could possibly say. That level of curiosity – obsession, really – has not only waned when it comes to Joe Biden’s finances, it has dried up completely.

The current occupant of the presidency regularly insists, as recently as the past week, he was the “poorest member of Congress” during his Senate career. The intrepid reporters, likely with offices littered with awards, have never expressed any curiosity as to how someone so “poor” could afford multiple mansions in his home state. Joe Biden is blessed with an incurious press who wear the Democrats uniform under their business suits.

But even the most loyal media lapdog has to be a bottom, don’t they? A point at which they simply have to acknowledge reality and at least entertain the possibility that their leader could be less than honest, to put it in terms they might be comfortable with.

For the left, however, there is no bottom. There are still members of the press who view Bill Clinton as a champion of women’s rights and Hillary as one of the biggest boosters of women, even after the facts, allegations, and managing the “bimbo eruptions.” Some people live so far up their own rear end that they’ve gone full circle, with their heads back up their own heads again. That’s where journalists live.
https://townhall.com/columnists/derekhunter/2022/04/28/the-only-people-more-corrupt-than-joe-biden-are-the-journalists-covering-him-n2606423

What *IS* it about Demcorat so-called "journalists" that they are Democrat activists first and journalists a very VERY distant 2nd???

Elon Musk's criticism of Twitter Inc TWTR.N sparked a barrage of abusive tweets against the company's top lawyer on Wednesday, raising questions about his compliance with a non-disparagement agreement and the tone that the social media platform's incoming owner will set for its users.
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20220428-elon-musk-s-criticism-of-twitter-staff-sparks-backlash

It's funny...

Democrats/Left Wingers are the biggest bullies on Titter...

Then they turn around and whine and cry when the facts are used against them.. :^/

Hypocrisy.. It's not a bug in Democrat programming. It's a feature.

The Republican Party's problem is, of course, that they have mainstreamed craziness. There is no position so extreme that it gets you expelled from the party, or even shunned by most Republicans.

I can think of a few:

(1) Speaking truth to power.
(2) Having the courage of your convictions.
(3) Holding those to account who were involved in the conspiracy to subvert the Constitution.

Big picture stuff. :)

Both. :)

yes, as liz says, that's a valid point. if a massive, bernie-esque tuition giveback were undertaken, i'd see that as a plausible result. however, i don't think some modest needs-based debt forgiveness (which is biden's actual proposal) would anger graduates such as myself who are all paid up, at least not so much so that it would result in losing their votes. not everyone is a malcontent who flings epithets any time someone else gets attention and they don't.

Yea, there will be those few who, for the sake of Party cohesion, will overlook the blatantly unfair treatment..

But, like the tens of thousands of hispanic Americans who are pissed that illegals are getting a free pass, I am thinking this is simply another frak-up in a Party that is replete with frak-ups in the here and now.

In other words, I don't believe young Democrats, who are already pissed about the Biden Administration's total incompetence, are willing to give the Party any goodwill or the benefit of any doubt...

I'll wait patiently for class to begin. Ahem.

FPC

}}}}WOOT!!! :D

Curious Libtard Hillbilly

I am still playing with the Oculus so things are kinda skewed..

http://mfccfl.us/WeigantiaVR.jpg

But that's me sitting in the ICARUS Space Station reading the Weigantia forum..

:D

Finally, with police officers, Democrats have chosen the wrong group to vilify. The police have a very favorable brand image (72 percent favorable, 20 percent unfavorable in the March WTI survey). Congressional Democrats have a negative brand at 44 percent favorable, 49 percent unfavorable. By affiliating themselves with the defund the police movement, they are seen by voters as opposing a very positive group of public servants who are well liked and supported by the electorate.

By trying to straddle the fence on crime and safety, Biden, Pelosi and Democratic members fearing primaries have been unwilling to take on their anti-police progressives. If the trend continues, this issue will haunt Democrats this November and for a long time to come.

Whoever thought of the idea that DEFUND, DEMORALIZE, DEMONIZE THE POLICE policy was a great policy for Democrats to rally around should be tarred and feathered, eh!!???

Amiright??? :D

Despite Biden and Pelosi’s efforts to stem the bleeding by offering up more funding to stop gun violence and invest in community policing, the WTI research shows that Democrats are losing the issue, with more voters believing that the Democratic Party supports defunding the police than not by a margin of 48 percent to 34 percent.

If Democrats want ANY chance of minimizing their losses in November, they need to silence their radical progressives..

Failure to do so will simply result in more hemorrhaging and bigger losses for Democrats in November..

“Defund the police” may no longer be the position of the Democratic Party, but when Cori Bush, AOC or any member of the Squad weighs in on any issue, the Twittersphere lights up like a cop car in hot pursuit. It seems the media can’t get enough of the Squad, and polling shows that this intraparty fight over the issue of policing and crime has not only become a major headache for Pelosi but is also taking a toll on the Democrats’ credibility.

Fair or unfair, the American people still believe that the Democrat Party is the DEFUND, DEMORALIZE, DEMONIZE THE POLICE Party...

Why can't Democrats get their Progressives under control??

Do Democrats REALLY want to stem the Anti-America Anti-Cop rhetoric of the Progressives??

Doesn't appear so...

‘Defund the police’ still haunts Democrats
Polling shows this intraparty fight could hurt them in the midterms
https://rollcall.com/2022/04/27/defund-the-police-still-haunts-democrats/

Even though some Democrats are giving lip service to LEO support, repercussions are still being felt in communities across the country... And it's still going to drag Democrats down in the mid-terms..

Democrats will lose Congress.. The facts that support this are well documented..

But, as MC has pointed out, things are very fluid and a lot of things can happen..

And reality has shown that, yes.. A LOT of things are happening..

But it's ALL been bad for Democrats..

Let's take a look...

The Hunter Biden Laptop information HAS BEEN CONFIRMED... Big Tech and Big Media have BOTH accepted that the Hunter Biden Laptop is fact and all the criminality and unethical actions of Hunter and the "Big Guy" is coming out and it's ALL bad for Democrats..

The Russia Collusion Delusion is heating up and it's ALL bad for Democrats.. The lengths that Team Hillary went to, both illegal and unethical are coming out in a fast and furious orgy of incriminating FACTS that's going to BURY Democrats...

And Democrats won't even be able to count on controlling the narrative by controlling Titter... The "world’s most important platform for public communications and debate" will now be turned over to someone who will not KowTow to Democrat Party agenda or priorities..

The Southern Border is again heating up and again dominating the news.. And it's DEMOCRATS who are leading the charge in trying to stop Biden's gross mismanagement of our Southern Border..

No matter which way one turns, it's ALL bad news for Democrats..

The *ONLY* question that is up in the air is how BAD Democrats are going to lose...

If things go the way the trend has been lately???

Democrats will be lucky to win the County Dog Catcher elections...

Thank you for your input.. As always, it's most appreciated.. Sincerely..

It's well documented that OMI is a liberal Left Wing think-tank.. The fact that it goes up against other liberal Left Wing organizations does not refute or disprove OMI's Democrat bona fides..

In fact, it simply re-enforces the fractured uncivil war that is going on within the Democrat Party..

But your comments are noted and most appreciated.. :D

Kudos...

Well, considering that Democrats are losing their control over one of world’s most important platforms for public communications and debate, I guess that IS Armageddon for Democrats.. :D

Twitter workers freaking out over Elon Musk in internal Slack messages

Leaked internal communications by Twitter employees reveal woke employees are overtaken by despair and anger about Elon Musk’s month-long effort to acquire Twitter.

On the business communication platform Slack, some Twitter employees vented against the new owner, leaked messages reveal.

“Physically cringy watching Elon talk about free speech,” a site reliability engineer who identifies as a nonbinary transgender and plural person wrote.

“We’re all going through the five stages of grief in cycles and everyone’s nerves are frazzled,” wrote a senior staff software engineer who called Musk an “a**hole,” and tried to console his colleagues. “We’re all spinning our wheels, and coming up with worst case scenarios (Trump returns! No more moderation!). The fact is that [Musk] has not talked about what he’s planning on doing in any detail outside of broad sweeping statements that could be easily seen as hyperbolic showboating.”
https://nypost.com/2022/04/27/twitter-workers-freak-out-over-elon-musk-in-internal-slack-messages/

It's going to be a LOT of fun to see the meltdown in the run-up to Elon taking over at Titter.. :D

Which, ironically enough, will ALSO be about the time that Democrats get their arses handed to them by the GOP in the mid-terms.. :D

WOW.. So much awesomeness on the way!! :D

The Open Markets Institute isn't exactly a group of Democrats. They are a non-profit that take issue with Amazon/Bezos, Google, Facebook and multiple other "big tech" firms they deem qualify as "monopolies" under antitrust statutes.

Am I surprised that Fox News would float the claim that they're Democrats who are deathly afraid?

*laughs* Nope. :)

Yeah, I think that they have to be aggressive in stopping that from happening because if that happens, you can be killed if that happens. … To stop somebody from throwing pineapples, tomatoes, bananas, stuff like that, yeah, it’s dangerous stuff.

~ Donald Trump

*
I can't stop laughing. The things we learn under penalty of perjury. Turns out, I'm growing projectile produce right now. Full confession: I never thought of them as weaponry, but I am a good aim.

There is nothing more dangerous than a bad guy with a tomato than a good guy with a tomato.

~ Kick

Lynn noted that "the deal would give to a single man – one who already wields immense political and economic power – direct control over one of world’s most important platforms for public communications and debate."

Well, at least this Democrat organization admits that the First Amendment DOES apply to Titter... :D

Demorats are REALLY going off the deep end over losing control of their number 1 propaganda outlet.. :D

FCC commissioner shoots down 'absurd' claim that the federal government can block Musk's Twitter purchase

The Open Markets Institute claimed that Musk should not be allowed to own both Twitter and Starlink

Brendan Carr, a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), rejected a left-leaning organization's claim that the FCC has the authority to block Tesla CEO Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, in part because Musk also owns Starlink.

After Twitter accepted Musk's $44 billion offer Monday, the Open Markets Institute warned that the deal represents a threat to "American democracy and free speech," suggested the deal is illegal, and argued that the federal government has the power to block it.

"The Open Markets Institute believes the deal poses a number of immediate and direct threats to American democracy and free speech," OMI Director Barry Lynn said in a statement. "Open Markets also believes the deal violates existing law, and that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have ample authority to block it."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/fcc-commissioner-shoots-down-absurd-claim-that-the-federal-government-can-block-musks-twitter-purchase

What *IS* it about Democrats that they simply can't handle the facts??

You've never seen anything like it! (2:11)

*

The sequel, starring George Clooney (with pie)... Really! (1:20)

So who are you referring to if not the Fredo spewing profanity?

but for the paucity of intelligent discussion, no matter the topic.

Hope a shut down of any kind doesn't happen as it would be a real shame. Because the trend most of us have been on here of late was a good and encouraging one.

I have a better idea. Why don't you STFU and let us adults handle this business? It's not you've contributed any intelligent discussion of late particularly regarding Ukraine. I'ma school your ignorant ass first thing. God knows I've sure researched this shit...

Don, that's some USDA grade A prime red card material you are spewing. Now if we could only get a ref in here...

Never a Cop when you need one.

I finished your column and IMO two things render all such handwringing prognostications less useful than our political polling industry of late. (FYI that was supposed to be an insult.)

AND I mean the handwringers in both parties.

First, Trump disruptedness along the accelerating pace of change* means that the slow motion largely formulaic politics as usual doesn't work nowadays. Um, Bernie...Trump... get it?

*FUTURE SHOCK/Alvin Toffler was a seminal book for me.

Number two, there are a great number of moving parts: Ukraine, the J6 public hearings, other accountability for the Seditiinists, Covid, does inflation subside, the economy and [fl in the blank(s).] Anybody think that none of these things will rock the casbah?

Stay tuned. Nothing is a fine deal until somebody gives up.

Then came Newt Gingrich, who really has to be seen as the father of the "let's throw red meat to the crazies" method of Republican campaigning. Long before there was Sarah Palin or Donald Trump, there was "bomb-thrower" Newt Gingrich, teaching Republicans a different and more visceral way to rile up their base.

Good Lord, you got that right!

Too bad triangulatin' fucking Dims# bought in to the Reagan *cough* cut taxes on the rich no matter what*cough* Revolution.

Which coincidentally benefitted the Democratic donor class. Ahem.

IMO if the Dems didn't abandon representing We the People and if only Murica hadn't decided to punish Carter because...

(wait for it)

I can't get a gallon of gas (2:43) they would have maintained their Legislative dominance. Sad.

#Yo Michale and Don. I call them devils Repugs but not many people know that devils afflict both CMPs. Oh and that besides the Nazis on one side and the pedophiles on the other side, there are fine people on both sides.

So in the interest of fair and balanced I hearby do grant myself -- and Ye who would dare follow -- permission to diss the Tweedle Dee (or Dum as the case may be) Dims as needed.

Kids, do not try this at home.

And Newt is in the Rupert Murdoch Hall of Traitors for using the power of fear for evil rather than good. Murdoch is a compelling example that shit comes from non-shithole countries, eh?

Not because of the foul language or the tedium that has enveloped this place (or my penchant for, ah, censorship! Heh) but for the paucity of intelligent discussion, no matter the topic.

All of which amounts to a total waste of time. Kind of like watching the mainstream media or following social media.

Hope a shut down of any kind doesn't happen as it would be a real shame. Because the trend most of us have been on here of late was a good and encouraging one.