The Ukraine Crisis

[Ibanez]

Ooh. My mistake. How do we not know that the Biden administration wasn't pushing Germany to take a more active role in defense? Aside from tropes about Biden being weak, we don't know for sure.

Devils advocate to your devils advocate:

1) Based on historical performance it did not matter who was President, NATO spending didn't increase.

2) Biden's leadership style is well known and forward thinking has not been a clear hallmark of his career. (Biden usually comes out to parrot what other world leaders have said about a day or two later. A timely press release would go along ways to show that it was a group decision.)

3) Biden is not talking about how he was in calls with NATO country leaders about the topic (he has taken credit for other areas he has been involved with, so if he was involved, my guess we would be hearing about it (an educated assumption on my part)).

4) Germany increased defense spending after Russia invades. A burglar robbing houses in your neighborhood "might" make one think more about a security system.

My thoughts are that they (NATO) would have raised spending no matter who was in office because the Russians were knocking on the door, rather than anything a U.S. President has done. That said, Trump was not wrong in asking them to raise spending. He just used a hammer when he should have used something more tactful.

Good, solid post. I agree with your last line about Trump. Having a prick/asshole of a guy like Trump had it's usefullness.

I'm just merely trolling for the BDKs but also showing that his crisis has forced a major European power to step up. It only sucks that so many lives had to be lost before they realized that.

[BDKJMU]

Devils advocate to your devils advocate:

1) Based on historical performance it did not matter who was President, NATO spending didn't increase.

2) Biden's leadership style is well known and forward thinking has not been a clear hallmark of his career. (Biden usually comes out to parrot what other world leaders have said about a day or two later. A timely press release would go along ways to show that it was a group decision.)

3) Biden is not talking about how he was in calls with NATO country leaders about the topic (he has taken credit for other areas he has been involved with, so if he was involved, my guess we would be hearing about it (an educated assumption on my part)).

4) Germany increased defense spending after Russia invades. A burglar robbing houses in your neighborhood "might" make one think more about a security system.

My thoughts are that they (NATO) would have raised spending no matter who was in office because the Russians were knocking on the door, rather than anything a U.S. President has done. That said, Trump was not wrong in asking them to raise spending. He just used a hammer when he should have used something more tactful.

Good, solid post. I agree with your last line about Trump. Having a prick/asshole of a guy like Trump had it's usefullness.

I'm just merely trolling for the BDKs but also showing that his crisis has forced a major European power to step up. It only sucks that so many lives had to be lost before they realized that.

Sorry I didn’t interrupt your and 88’s circle jerk..

[Winterborn]

Devils advocate to your devils advocate:

1) Based on historical performance it did not matter who was President, NATO spending didn't increase.

2) Biden's leadership style is well known and forward thinking has not been a clear hallmark of his career. (Biden usually comes out to parrot what other world leaders have said about a day or two later. A timely press release would go along ways to show that it was a group decision.)

3) Biden is not talking about how he was in calls with NATO country leaders about the topic (he has taken credit for other areas he has been involved with, so if he was involved, my guess we would be hearing about it (an educated assumption on my part)).

4) Germany increased defense spending after Russia invades. A burglar robbing houses in your neighborhood "might" make one think more about a security system.

My thoughts are that they (NATO) would have raised spending no matter who was in office because the Russians were knocking on the door, rather than anything a U.S. President has done. That said, Trump was not wrong in asking them to raise spending. He just used a hammer when he should have used something more tactful.

Good, solid post. I agree with your last line about Trump. Having a prick/asshole of a guy like Trump had it's usefullness.

I'm just merely trolling for the BDKs but also showing that his crisis has forced a major European power to step up. It only sucks that so many lives had to be lost before they realized that.

One of which they chose to bury their heads in the sand about for decades in order to fund other largesses. Russia was going to do something sometime. Crimea was a bit pre-warning if they chose to pay attention. They did not.

i will also say it is partially our fault. We have not held them to the agreement they signed. Trying to do it decades later is not the best plan no matter who is calling them out on it. I am cautiously optimistic that the spending will stick, but would not bet on it. I have seen EU politics first hand and ignoring reality is something they (and our politicians) are good at.

Agree it sucks for their citizens though.

[Ibanez]

Good, solid post. I agree with your last line about Trump. Having a prick/asshole of a guy like Trump had it's usefullness.

I'm just merely trolling for the BDKs but also showing that his crisis has forced a major European power to step up. It only sucks that so many lives had to be lost before they realized that.

Sorry I didn’t interrupt your and 88’s circle jerk..

Aww. Someone is cranky.

[Ibanez]

Good, solid post. I agree with your last line about Trump. Having a prick/asshole of a guy like Trump had it's usefullness.

I'm just merely trolling for the BDKs but also showing that his crisis has forced a major European power to step up. It only sucks that so many lives had to be lost before they realized that.

One of which they chose to bury their heads in the sand about for decades in order to fund other largesses. Russia was going to do something sometime. Crimea was a bit pre-warning if they chose to pay attention. They did not.

i will also say it is partially our fault. We have not held them to the agreement they signed. Trying to do it decades later is not the best plan no matter who is calling them out on it. I am cautiously optimistic that the spending will stick, but would not bet on it. I have seen EU politics first hand and ignoring reality is something they (and our politicians) are good at.

Agree it sucks for their citizens though.

I don't disagree. Our past presidents have done nothing to hold Russia accountable. There's been redlines crossed, civilians killed, dissenters assassinated and all we do is bloviate. I understand nobody wants another world war, but haven't we learned from the last one that by not standing up to a bully, we eventually find ourselves in a conflict

[89Hen]

I guess I'm not quite following. Why is he Russia's Hannity?

Belligerent right wing propagandist (I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt in not being obtuse)

I guess nevermind what he's actually saying?

[Winterborn]

One of which they chose to bury their heads in the sand about for decades in order to fund other largesses. Russia was going to do something sometime. Crimea was a bit pre-warning if they chose to pay attention. They did not.

i will also say it is partially our fault. We have not held them to the agreement they signed. Trying to do it decades later is not the best plan no matter who is calling them out on it. I am cautiously optimistic that the spending will stick, but would not bet on it. I have seen EU politics first hand and ignoring reality is something they (and our politicians) are good at.

Agree it sucks for their citizens though.

I don't disagree. Our past presidents have done nothing to hold Russia accountable. There's been redlines crossed, civilians killed, dissenters assassinated and all we do is bloviate. I understand nobody wants another world war, but haven't we learned from the last one that by not standing up to a bully, we eventually find ourselves in a conflict

I was talking the EU but don't disagree with your comments on Russia either. The winner out of all this mess is/will be China.

[AZGrizFan]

Belligerent right wing propagandist (I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt in not being obtuse)

I guess nevermind what he's actually saying?

Of COURSE never mind. The left doesn't care about the actual message, they'd rather shoot the messenger.

[kalm]

Belligerent right wing propagandist (I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt in not being obtuse)

I guess nevermind what he's actually saying?

Who? Hannity or the Russian Hannity?

[Col Hogan]

Lawl at the left’s pearl clutching over Tuxker Carlson questioning US involvement in Ukraine..pUtIn pRoPaGaNda and tReAsOn!..

Have you ever watchedx Tucker, BDK?

I know you asked BDK, but I’d like to provide some insight…

I don’t usually watch Tucker, but I’ve read what some, frankly wackos, have said about him…that he needs to be arrested as a traitor, and tried for treason…just a few of the things I’ve read…

So last night, I DVR’d his show and watched it with my morning coffee today…

What I saw was a prospective that lots of folks have expressed here…

In no particulate order:

- Putin is evil
- The Russian army is doing evil things in Ukraine
- That the U.S. should help the Ukrainians as much as possible, short of establishing a no-fly zone
- The Urkanian armed forces are doing a hell of a job, even though they are out gunned

He repeated the first three points several times…

So, other than his delivery, which I would not watch nightly, and understanding I have watched only one night’s worth…what have I missed?

And I would think that even President Biden woul agree with his basic talking points…

[kalm]

Have you ever watchedx Tucker, BDK?

I know you asked BDK, but I’d like to provide some insight…

I don’t usually watch Tucker, but I’ve read what some, frankly wackos, have said about him…that he needs to be arrested as a traitor, and tried for treason…just a few of the things I’ve read…

So last night, I DVR’d his show and watched it with my morning coffee today…

What I saw was a prospective that lots of folks have expressed here…

In no particulate order:

- Putin is evil
- The Russian army is doing evil things in Ukraine
- That the U.S. should help the Ukrainians as much as possible, short of establishing a no-fly zone
- The Urkanian armed forces are doing a hell of a job, even though they are out gunned

He repeated the first three points several times…

So, other than his delivery, which I would not watch nightly, and understanding I have watched only one night’s worth…what have I missed?

And I would think that even President Biden woul agree with his basic talking points…

Yep. Who wouldn’t? But that’s kind of his game. Provocative, pull back. Provocative, pull back.

He owns his Putin and Trump words. It’s a razors edge in the GOP these days.

[BDKJMU]

Lawl at the left’s pearl clutching over Tuxker Carlson questioning US involvement in Ukraine..pUtIn pRoPaGaNda and tReAsOn!..

Have you ever watched Tucker, BDK?

Yes. Not regularly, but yes.

[BDKJMU]

Something not making sense with gas prices. I earlier pointed out that it didn’t make sense for gas prices to shoot up so fast the 1st week of the Russia invasion because of supply and demand- there hadn’t yet been an interruption in supply, nor an increase in demand.

Was pointed and demand are secondary- price mainly based on the market, WTI in the US:
Wed, 2/23, WTI was $92.14/national average gas $3.53
Sun, 3/6: WTI $130+ briefly on Sun evening futures trading.
Tues, 3/8 WTI $123.64 highest close.
Fri, 3/11 WTI $109.31, national average gas highest peak $4.33
Today, 3/16: WTI $96.30, national average $4.30.

So once the run up started, gas proces were going up about a dime a a day (had 70+ cent increase in a week) But once WTI started going down, prices at the pump kept rising for several days. The WTI drop is almost as as rapid as the spike when proces were going up about a dime a day, yet prices have only been dropping about 1 cent a day.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DCOILWTICO/

Well, if prices are based on the market, how come they haven’t begun to drop as fas lt as they’ve risen? Prices at the pump don’t appear to be following supply, demand, or the market..

[UNI88]

I know you asked BDK, but I’d like to provide some insight…

I don’t usually watch Tucker, but I’ve read what some, frankly wackos, have said about him…that he needs to be arrested as a traitor, and tried for treason…just a few of the things I’ve read…

So last night, I DVR’d his show and watched it with my morning coffee today…

What I saw was a prospective that lots of folks have expressed here…

In no particulate order:

- Putin is evil
- The Russian army is doing evil things in Ukraine
- That the U.S. should help the Ukrainians as much as possible, short of establishing a no-fly zone
- The Urkanian armed forces are doing a hell of a job, even though they are out gunned

He repeated the first three points several times…

So, other than his delivery, which I would not watch nightly, and understanding I have watched only one night’s worth…what have I missed?

And I would think that even President Biden woul agree with his basic talking points…

Yep. Who wouldn’t? But that’s kind of his game. Provocative, pull back. Provocative, pull back.

He owns his Putin and Trump words. It’s a razors edge in the GOP these days.

I've heard that Tucker has made some dumb ass comments but I don't listen to him so what are the specific Putin and Trump words that he owns?

[kalm]

Yep. Who wouldn’t? But that’s kind of his game. Provocative, pull back. Provocative, pull back.

He owns his Putin and Trump words. It’s a razors edge in the GOP these days.

I've heard that Tucker has made some dumb ass comments but I don't listen to him so what are the specific Putin and Trump words that he owns?

The late night shows and a few lefty outlets like TYT or your neighbor Thom Hartmann (lives in a houseboat on the Columbia) play a few minutes of clips from time to time. I’m too lazy to look them up right now.

[BDKJMU]

This is a tweet from a former 3-time Chair of the Libertarian Party:

[HI54UNI]

I'm confused. I thought Russia was bad.

New Iran Agreement Would Let Russia Cash in on $10 Billion Contract To Build Nuclear Sites

Biden admin will waive sanctions so Russia can build contested nuclear plant



https://freebeacon.com/national-securit ... ear-sites/

[kalm]

I'm confused. I thought Russia was bad.

New Iran Agreement Would Let Russia Cash in on $10 Billion Contract To Build Nuclear Sites

Biden admin will waive sanctions so Russia can build contested nuclear plant



https://freebeacon.com/national-securit ... ear-sites/

If that ends up indeed happening it’s complete bullshit.

[CID1990]

The Biden Admin’s approach to Iran and the JCPOA makes absolutely no sense. Russia is the primary negotiator and if this thing gets inked we have already given away the farm to both Iran and Russia. De-listing the IRGC is also on the table.

Pure insanity. It would be so easy for Biden to walk away from the table on this and present it as being tough on bad actors. Iran literally directly attacked assets including the US Consulate in Irbil with ballistic missiles just last week.

I just don’t get the thinking in the WH on this at all, given that walking away would be easier to spin as a win than actually reaching a deal


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skjellyfetti]

[AZGrizFan]

It’s like the olden days!

[BDKJMU]

Your public school leaders at work:

[CAA Flagship]

Something not making sense with gas prices. I earlier pointed out that it didn’t make sense for gas prices to shoot up so fast the 1st week of the Russia invasion because of supply and demand- there hadn’t yet been an interruption in supply, nor an increase in demand.

Was pointed and demand are secondary- price mainly based on the market, WTI in the US:
Wed, 2/23, WTI was $92.14/national average gas $3.53
Sun, 3/6: WTI $130+ briefly on Sun evening futures trading.
Tues, 3/8 WTI $123.64 highest close.
Fri, 3/11 WTI $109.31, national average gas highest peak $4.33
Today, 3/16: WTI $96.30, national average $4.30.

So once the run up started, gas proces were going up about a dime a a day (had 70+ cent increase in a week) But once WTI started going down, prices at the pump kept rising for several days. The WTI drop is almost as as rapid as the spike when proces were going up about a dime a day, yet prices have only been dropping about 1 cent a day.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DCOILWTICO/

Well, if prices are based on the market, how come they haven’t begun to drop as fas lt as they’ve risen? Prices at the pump don’t appear to be following supply, demand, or the market..

You need to see a chart with the price of oil and the price of gas together. You will see that there is a delay from oil prices going up to gas prices going up, and vice versa. That said, gas will go down at a slower rate once oil is in decline.

[UNI88]

Something not making sense with gas prices. I earlier pointed out that it didn’t make sense for gas prices to shoot up so fast the 1st week of the Russia invasion because of supply and demand- there hadn’t yet been an interruption in supply, nor an increase in demand.

Was pointed and demand are secondary- price mainly based on the market, WTI in the US:
Wed, 2/23, WTI was $92.14/national average gas $3.53
Sun, 3/6: WTI $130+ briefly on Sun evening futures trading.
Tues, 3/8 WTI $123.64 highest close.
Fri, 3/11 WTI $109.31, national average gas highest peak $4.33
Today, 3/16: WTI $96.30, national average $4.30.

So once the run up started, gas proces were going up about a dime a a day (had 70+ cent increase in a week) But once WTI started going down, prices at the pump kept rising for several days. The WTI drop is almost as as rapid as the spike when proces were going up about a dime a day, yet prices have only been dropping about 1 cent a day.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/DCOILWTICO/

Well, if prices are based on the market, how come they haven’t begun to drop as fas lt as they’ve risen? Prices at the pump don’t appear to be following supply, demand, or the market..

You need to see a chart with the price of oil and the price of gas together. You will see that there is a delay from oil prices going up to gas prices going up, and vice versa. That said, gas will go down at a slower rate once oil is in decline.

It makes sense to me that caution would cause gas prices to rise faster when oil prices increase then they drop when oil prices decrease.

[CAA Flagship]

You need to see a chart with the price of oil and the price of gas together. You will see that there is a delay from oil prices going up to gas prices going up, and vice versa. That said, gas will go down at a slower rate once oil is in decline.

It makes sense to me that caution would cause gas prices to rise faster when oil prices increase then they drop when oil prices decrease.

Part of the problem is that oil tends to rise quickly (geopolitical events, storms, pipeline disruptions, etc). So gas will rise quickly as well. But quick drops in oil are sometimes head fakes, especially when the crisis that caused the spike isn't over. See oil price today. It is up over 7%; over $102 after getting into the low $90's recently.