sburke

Thanks for the clarification, but you might consider thumbing down the ad hominem attacks a bit.

Gentleman. You can't fight here, this is the war room.
(Sorry I had celebratory drink.)

Saw this posted by Garry Kasparov

Darwin had a theory about that. I believe it is now the basis for an award.  😆
 

ahh but not quite there.  Behold Capt while I propose a truly revolutionary development.  We have so many many people who clearly aren't using their brains and so... we take ze brains of zee people not needing them and put them into zee drones!  We have literally tens of millions and zooo much better if ze brain is right zere in zee drones, no?

ahh but not quite there.  Behold Capt while I propose a truly revolutionary development.  We have so many many people who clearly aren't using their brains and so... we take ze brains of zee people not needing them and put them into zee drones!  We have literally tens of millions and zooo much better if ze brain is right zere in zee drones, no?

ahh but not quite there.  Behold Capt while I propose a truly revolutionary development.  We have so many many people who clearly aren't using their brains and so... we take ze brains of zee people not needing them and put them into zee drones!  We have literally tens of millions and zooo much better if ze brain is right zere in zee drones, no?

ahh but not quite there.  Behold Capt while I propose a truly revolutionary development.  We have so many many people who clearly aren't using their brains and so... we take ze brains of zee people not needing them and put them into zee drones!  We have literally tens of millions and zooo much better if ze brain is right zere in zee drones, no?

Oh good this guy came back.  It was getting slow in here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States  
Just going to leave this one here because it is a slow Tues.  Anyone who wants to go on a learning journey can start there.
If only things could get back to the way they were:

Oh wait…they are.  
[Sorry couldn’t resist.]

Do you think Russia is not calling for a mass mobilization because they needn't bother or because they are concerned about the political implications?
And what are you suggesting?  Surrender?  Cause that is what this sounds like.  An extremely pessimistic representation as if Russia hasn't suffered anything in this war and has no concern for any ramifications at its losses either in personnel, societal infrastructure, economic health etc.
War as @The_Capt keeps trying to batter into our heads is a process of negotiation.  There are a lot of layers to that and the question of where the war stands now is a complicated nuanced thing.  Russia is getting hit on multiple levels that are long term.  Everything from population demographics, global social standing, industrial capability, financial stability etc.  Ukraine is as well, but the differences between the two generally weigh heavily in Ukraine's favor.  This war clearly is going to last a lot longer than any of us would wish however when all is said and done the basic fact I think we will see is Ukraine will remain standing as a democratic western oriented nation with strong standing and support from the western bloc.
Russia on the other hand is just digging itself deeper into a hole from which it will have difficulty extricating itself.  It has no partners willing to give much to help.  China does what is best for China and isn't really in a position nor desire to try and restore Russia.  It works much better for China to have a weak dependent Russia that it can exploit.

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

easily said from the comfort of your couch here in the US.

Do you think Russia is not calling for a mass mobilization because they needn't bother or because they are concerned about the political implications?
And what are you suggesting?  Surrender?  Cause that is what this sounds like.  An extremely pessimistic representation as if Russia hasn't suffered anything in this war and has no concern for any ramifications at its losses either in personnel, societal infrastructure, economic health etc.
War as @The_Capt keeps trying to batter into our heads is a process of negotiation.  There are a lot of layers to that and the question of where the war stands now is a complicated nuanced thing.  Russia is getting hit on multiple levels that are long term.  Everything from population demographics, global social standing, industrial capability, financial stability etc.  Ukraine is as well, but the differences between the two generally weigh heavily in Ukraine's favor.  This war clearly is going to last a lot longer than any of us would wish however when all is said and done the basic fact I think we will see is Ukraine will remain standing as a democratic western oriented nation with strong standing and support from the western bloc.
Russia on the other hand is just digging itself deeper into a hole from which it will have difficulty extricating itself.  It has no partners willing to give much to help.  China does what is best for China and isn't really in a position nor desire to try and restore Russia.  It works much better for China to have a weak dependent Russia that it can exploit.

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

He's frustrated, understandably.  No reason to accuse him of right-wing talking points as if he is spouting Tuckerisms. 
This thread tends to get way over dramatic too often.

easily said from the comfort of your couch here in the US.

easily said from the comfort of your couch here in the US.

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

easily said from the comfort of your couch here in the US.

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

not sure why you posted as it doesn't support your statement of life.  It says "up to 10 years".  What do you suppose the penalty for actually derailing a train would be?  These folks are taking a serious risk, taking the step to move to actual sabotage is not a small thing.  Now you are looking at life for sure and in Russia maybe worse.  Not only for you but everyone you know is now under the optics as they look for the organization that would be implied by that level of action.  You are talking just average folks, not trained military.
Am I disappointed that the Russian people have behaved so horribly supporting a genocidal war against their neighbors? yeah.  However I do understand the psychological effort it takes to hold to a position on your principles without knowing for sure what the cost will be.  I did 7 1/2 months in a much more lenient state with the potential to have done several years more.
The downside for Putin is when you make it illegal to do anything without serious consequences, you drive people to do more serious stuff.  Enacting this law also reflects fear on Russia's part.  They wouldn't take this step if they didn't think there was potential for more protests.  We keep wondering just where Russia's breaking point is.  This seems to indicate Putin is also concerned about that.
 

I don't think the folks waving signs are actually getting life in the Gulag.  The Russian state certainly isn't going to treat holding the sign the same as active sabotage. C'mon man.

Indeed it is. 
A discharge petition is a time consuming process which doesn't start until 218 members physically sign on and actually several votes happen over a couple of weeks so they are hard to sustain because the timing means that leadership has ample opportunity to bear down on the members. In the case of the Israel/Taiwan/Ukraine bill you also won't have perfect unity from Democrats. Several, at least, will object to aid to Israel. So you will need perhaps 6 or 7 Republicans to sustain their position for about 10 days. 
It's worked once that I know of.