From Yahoo Finance:
New Jersey’s American Dream Megamall Is Once Again Sinking in Debt
Since its groundbreaking nearly two decades ago, the megamall built in New Jersey’s Meadowlands has done little except hemorrhage cash. Now, less than two years after its much-delayed opening, the complex known as American Dream is threatening to dash the lofty ambitions of yet another developer.
The Ghermezian family, which runs some of the biggest and most successful malls in North America, can’t keep up with the bills on the shopping and entertainment megaplex, which helped drive its original developer to the brink of bankruptcy and later was seized by lenders from the team that came next.
Revenue from the stores has been so scarce amid the surging pandemic that the Ghermezians have hired legal and financial advisers to help them ease the crushing $3 billion debt load, and perhaps retain some role in running the project, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The family members aren’t the only ones who stand to lose big money. Lenders including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Soros Fund Management and Starwood Property Trust Inc. could face losses on $1.7 billion in construction loans. About $1.1 billion of municipal debt is also backing the project.
“It’s been like watching a train wreck that goes on forever,” said Neil Shapiro, a New York real estate attorney and senior partner at Herrick Feinstein. “There aren’t a lot of projects that lose at least $3 billion that we’re still talking about as projects,” said Shapiro, who’s not involved with the mall.
Outwardly, the 3-million-square-foot shopping and entertainment complex on about 90 acres in New Jersey’s Meadowlands is almost fully opened, charging weekend crowds as much as $115 for day passes to the DreamWorks Water Park and $80 for its Big Snow indoor ski slope. Luxury stores including Hermès, Tiffany & Co. and Dolce & Gabbana are coming in September.
But it all may be too little, too late for the Ghermezians and their company, Triple Five Group. They’ve hired financial adviser Houlihan Lokey Inc. and the law firm of Weil Gotshal & Manges to represent them in restructuring talks, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the private negotiations. This month, American Dream dipped into reserves to make a $9.3 million municipal bond payment.
Happy Friday you dirty animals.
Revival: https://youtu.be/Wp1rL7DI_D4
I think the world’s perception of Zelensky has certainly shifted in the last 24 hours. They guy has now put on armor and gone out with the troops to defend Ukraine. The photos don’t look like a staged photo op. The guy knows he’s Putin’s #1 target, it’s almost certain death for him to do it. His pleas on the world’s stage have been incredibly well spoken and passionate.
“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine. Putin declares it as independent,” Trump said. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”
Later in that same interview, Trump said this: “Putin is now saying, ‘It’s independent,’ a large section of Ukraine. I said, ‘How smart is that?’ And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper.”
Rumors Ukraine attacking a Russian airbase 10 miles into Russia, reports they hit the runway with a long range missile and they have troops attacking. Arguably the first offensive move by Ukraine.
Trump is as dangerous as Putin, he should be ashamed for those fucking idiotic comments.
Trump said those remarks with young in cheek …..the market took the way ,up 90 pts afterwards ..
Dentss do your two brain cells ever square off in an epic battle
of cognitive dissonance?
“Russian Warship…Go F#CK Yourself”
Not an optimal end for 13 soldiers. But if the remainder of the Ukrainian people feel this way, then we are going to see a long and bloody war.
Ukraine started conscription, banned males from leaving.
Lots of reports of distributing weapons this morning, reports that citizens are being instructed to make Molotov cocktails.
Ukraine was able to take back the airport at Kiev.
His comments were irrelevant to market action.
Admittedly I don’t know enough about the Eastern European mindset to say this with confidence but it seems to me that sanctions from the West will have zero impact on the Russian’s plan.
Just like Chinese, I think there is an incredible willingness of the Russian leadership to inflict short-term economic hardship on their citizenry in exchange for executing their larger territorially missions.
Sanctions would cripple the West (US). Eliminate the average American’s ability to access fast wifi or get a burger on demand and the typical American would fold. Cripple the Russian economy with sanctions that disrupt the average Russian’s ability to get food/fuel, well that’s just like any other day for a lot of the country.
IMHO, the west is penalizing Russia in ways that they could not care less about.
Those comments would be outrageous, but of course they’re doctored. Fake news won’t ever go away because people want it. It feeds their bias and they prefer it to real news. Drive up the click bait.
I would be surprised to see a political assassin. That’s counter productive.
Ironic that a stand up comic has proven to be a better leader than a game show host.
It’s easier too make his move with $90 oil then $45 oil. Biden has been a great friend to Putin. Let’s not forget that Joe did what he could to handicap the Ukrainian state by bringing Biden Inc. and backing the corrupt powers. I’m sure crackhead Hunter was highly qualified. But never mind any of that, it’s all trumps fault.
Dude is still sucking off putin…what a fucktard. Truly unbelievable. This guy is a traitor, yet the so called patriots love him. Imagine if Biden or Obama was saying this. Wild. Trump attacks americans, but praises Putin. Wild.
Ex says:
February 25, 2022 at 6:36 am
He is a clown. Lol the good ol fake news defensive move.
BidenIsTheGOAT says:
February 25, 2022 at 7:54 am
Those comments would be outrageous, but of course they’re doctored. Fake news won’t ever go away because people want it. It feeds their bias and they prefer it to real news. Drive up the click bait.
Columns of heavy Russian armor moving in now. Kharkiv, the second largest city of 1.4 million near the Russian border is the place to watch. One Ukrainian stood out on the road ala Tiananmen Square and tried to block them.
https://mobile.twitter.com/search?q=%23kharkiv&src=typed_query&f=live
WWIII coming to you live on CNN. It’s amazing we have all of this insane military power and we think, should we? Should we annihilate Putin and his minions. Strategically of course.
Let’s see some of the TOW in action. Ante of the defensive positions from kharkov 1,2,3 and 4 around?
Sit back this one might last a while:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAU4B4Fmhkg
Probably the most interesting news this morning.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10549849/Hacking-collective-Anonymous-declares-cyber-war-against-Vladimir-Putins-government.html
Trump is as dangerous as Putin, he should be ashamed for those fucking idiotic comments.
Trump should have said what he was really thinking which was that O’Biden is a disaster for allowing this to happen. It was a ‘fuck you’ to slo joe. Trump went on to say that the invasion was tragic and sad… a sad thing for the world but those remarks will be buried as they don’t fit the narrative. It was Trump who armed the Ukraine and Poland, railed against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and demanded the Europeans spend more on defense while increasing our defense spending and oil and gas production. It was slo Joe who lifted sanctions on Nord Stream 2… you know… because it reverses whatever Trump did.
And wasn’t it shit pants O’Biden who raked in campaign cash from a Russian lobbyist months before slo joe’s decision to scrap sanctions on a firm building a Russian pipeline to Germany?
Domestic Putin:
https://youtu.be/SunGGUktKok
After reading many of the comments here, it’s no wonder Putin chose the path he did.
I see truncated video/audio clips are still being used to rile people up.
And I believe Jen Psaki is a better fixer than Ray Donovan.
I’m not fans of the PoPo, but what this Repup did to her is disgusting. Just imagine what this fe cal matter would be like should the i d i otz of Sarasota vote him in.
Hyde: I’ll just call the chief. How’s that?
Officer: Go right ahead, sir.
Hyde: Can I see you. You know who I am, right?
Officer: Yes, sir, I do.
Later, the officer asked for Hyde’s license and registration, to which Hyde asked “are you going to do this?
“Yes, sir,” the officer replied.
But it was after that when things took another turn.
Hyde asked the officer, “Is it your Russian immigration status that makes you talk to people like this?” adding, “call the supervisor.”
As they waited for her supervisor to arrive, Hyde mentioned that he knows the chief of police, the mayor, and the city administrator, and then let her know he’s running for office.
“You’re talking to a congressional candidate like this,” Hyde said, holding up his cell phone which has a case printed with “Hyde 2022.”
Instead of accepting three tickets for speeding, texting, and not displaying his registration – he threatened to take her job.
“She was in a big power trip. Guess what? She’s been there seven years. She won’t make eight. I’ll make sure of it. I’ll get going on it,” Hyde said.
“No One Expected Sanctions To Prevent Anything”
Coming from the President of the United States. Whose words are more dangerous?
That was probably the only time I would have enjoyed seeing an officer kneel on someone’s neck until he took his last breath.
Du m azz then apologizes later.
Thank you once again engineers for providing us with cameras to prove what we already know.
Eddie,
Only thing Trump could have done to stop this would have been to tell Putin that NATO was off the table for them.
America surrounded this guy, put in a puppet President next door, threatened him, ridiculed him, emasculated him.
You asked for it, you got it. Maybe one of America’s gay memes was enough to send him over the edge, so he wants to show you what having a real pe nni s looks like.
Yes, you’re correct. Please remember this the next time you have a Pavlovian response to blurt out “you didn’t build that.”
Fast Eddie says:
February 25, 2022 at 9:02 am
but those remarks will be buried as they don’t fit the narrative.
Wouldn’t be my first choice, but if Jen Psaki Tindered me back I’d go out with her.
Coming from the President of the United States. Whose words are more dangerous?
Those aren’t his words, he is reading from a teleprompter.
His words would be “my diaper is wet.”
Dem stooges at it again! Russia invades Ukraine in 2014 while limp-wrist Oblama is in office, then again in 22 when braindead Biden is in office, and you guys whine about Trump’s comments. Let me guess, you guys blame Rudy for the sky-rocketing crime rate in NYC, right?
Did you buy a dictionary yet?
joyce,
You’re losing a bit of speed on your fast ball.
And you’re still stuck toiling in the minors after 30 years
Re: American Dream Mall – light a match and be done with it. During the height of the first wave of the pandemic (or shortly thereafter), I went to that mall and was expecting to be blown away. It was vastly empty and reminded me of a warehouse. It was and will be the first and last visit. I remember walking back to the car and seeing/hearing those mega cooling machines for the skiing portion and wondered how much energy is required to keep that thing running. That place is done.
Re: American Dream – light a match and be done with it. During the height of the first wave of the pandemic (or shortly thereafter), I went to that country and was expecting to be blown away. It was and will be the first and last visit. I remember walking back to the car and seeing/hearing those Ford F150s and wondered how much energy is required to keep those things running. That place is done.
SGC,
Don’t forget “hair sniffing.”
Hahahahaaaaa.
Get some popcorn and enjoy the show.
I am confused. Is there anyone here who believes Putin was justified to invade Ukraine? What is the argument about? If you don’t like Biden’s response, what do you suggest other than sanctions? The notion that this wouldn’t have happened under Trump’s watch is nothing more than speculation and magical thinking.
“The Fed’s preferred price gauge jumps again and shows inflation rising at fastest pace since 1982”
Old Realtor,
Define “Justified.”
Stop resisting.
Now I know where the Ruskies got this from. hahaha.
The soldiers were told by an officer on the warship: ‘This is Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed.’
But the Ukrainians – reportedly 13 – defiantly refused to give up the territory, with one of them hitting back: ‘Go f**k yourselves!’
The Russian soldiers muttered the curse back over the radio before annihilating the tiny group of men,
Was this “Justified?”
The best estimates available suggest that more than 250,000 people have died as a result of George W. Bush and Tony Blair’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003. A newly released investigative report from the UK government suggests that intelligence officials knew ahead of time that the war would cause massive instability and societal collapse and make the problem of terrorism worse — and that Blair and Bush went ahead with the effort anyway.
The correct response to this situation is to despair at the fact that the US and UK governments created such a horrific human tragedy for no good reason at all. However, partisan grudgefests run deep, and some on the right have argued that the UK’s Chilcot report proves the real dastardly actors are liberals who accused Bush and Blair not just of relying on faulty intelligence suggesting Iraq had WMDs but of lying about the intelligence they did have.
To some extent, this is beside the point; even if they had been totally cautious and careful in characterizing the intelligence, the war still would’ve been a catastrophic mistake that took an immense human toll. But the truth also matters, and the truth is that there were numerous occasions when Bush and his advisers made statements that intelligence agencies knew to be false, both about WMDs and about Saddam Hussein’s nonexistent links to al-Qaeda. The term commonly used for making statements that one knows to be false is “lying.”
And if those concerned with what is “Justified” have committed the same acts, then they are just lying Boomer hypocrites anyway and who cares what they think?
Liars don’t deserve any respect.
Old realtor says:
February 25, 2022 at 10:31 am
“…The notion that this wouldn’t have happened under Trump’s watch is nothing more than speculation and magical thinking.”
It didn’t happen under Trump’s watch. That’s a fact! It’s only magical thinking to people who need to rationalize their decision to vote for the worst, most incompetent president in modern history — and the disastrous 12+ months that have ensued.
Bone Spurs Boomer would like to send annoying TikTok making Gen Z over to Ukraine as cannon fodder.
Old: I don’t criticize Biden on the sanctions just the fact that he should be hitting the Russians with even harder sanctions immediately, every sanction available..
In reading European press I find it ironic how many are calling for the EU and America to intervene militarily. Yet, they are the first to complain about America and their wars. Short term Russia gains by their invasion of Ukraine, long term the Russian people suffer. That’s the way it’s been throughout Russia s history , from the Czars through Lenin and Stalin and now Putin.
You do realize this doesn’t work with true madmen don’t you?
It will only anger them even more..
“Old: I don’t criticize Biden on the sanctions just the fact that he should be hitting the Russians with even harder sanctions immediately, every sanction available.”
There comes a time when people get tired of being “sanctioned.”
You poked the bear, and he was not in your driveway, he was in the woods.
Not too bright.
Phoenix: Short of us getting involved militarily what else can the US do? If we did get involved militarily it would be Americans doing most of the fighting and dying.
Phoenix, good read on the Ukraine situation. Obama messed up by supporting the Euromaidan, and getting involved by sending the CIA/Mercenaries/etc. We played in Putin’s sandbox, removed his guy and now the people of Ukraine will pay the price. John Mearsheimer nailed it back in 2013,14, 15.
https://www.mearsheimer.com
Give some of his opinion pieces a read. Basically the arrogant US leadership at the time did not really consider the implications of their actions by not working with Russia to bailout a neutral Ukraine they signed the countries death warrant. Oh and I’m certain Putin really dislikes Biden so it is somewhat personal and he wants to embarrass the old man, there could have been way more diplomacy but Putin didn’t seem to want it which is odd as this war will cost them.
A Russian puppet government will be installed in Kiev, the regions will be given more autonomy, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will likely be absorbed by Russia. It’s noble that the Ukrainians are fighting but the sooner they give up the better, they will not defeat the Russians conventionally and the west will not engage, a long insurgency is the better option. Ideally the President of Ukraine makes concessions(no Nato, EU, freedom of movement for Russian citizens in Ukraine, constitutional changes to allow for more regional autonomy, demilitarizing the eastern half of Ukraine, protections for minority groups, etc) to Putin and they call the war off.
I don’t think Putin was justified. I don’t think Bush was justified. So now what
Prepare to “Duck and Cover.”
Old realtor, it has zero to do with justified or not it was very easily predicted. No one seems to really understand the history least of all young Ukrainians. Obama and Biden antagonized a madman, it’s like hitting a hornets nest with a stick(repeatedly) and expecting to not get stung. Eastern Ukraine has been part of the Russian empire for over 400 years, it has been nominally independent since 1991 and really was in pro-russian hands until 2014.
Under the Trump administration I don’t know that this happens, Biden continued with the hubris of the Obama administration and has little goodwill with the Putin regime. The US leadership needed to tell the Ukrainians to walk softly, that we would not aid them in the event of a Russian invasion, they needed to engage Russia in diplomacy none of that happened we kept spitting in Russia’s face. Everyone took a hard stance with the Russians and to top it all off oil prices rose giving Putin more leverage over the west.
No war with Russia, if we engage and get embroiled it is WWIII. China will invade Taiwan and the next thing you know we will be fighting 2 superpowers with real armies not a bunch of goat fcukers in Afganistan or Iraq, that is not something I want to see in my lifetime. We cannot say this publicly but I hope it is what is being discussed behind closed doors, this is what Putin is banking on.
3b says:
February 25, 2022 at 10:53 am
“Short of us getting involved militarily what else can the US do?”
As always, there are both tactical and strategic things that we can/should do. I can’t understand how people don’t yet get the fact that our problem is that the modern Dem party is incapable of governing; it’s only because Joe is in office that we buy the nonsense that our only options are war or weal sanctions. No different than Joe telling us that there was no clean way to exit Afghanistan when we all know there were. As to what else can the US do, here’s a list off the top of my head…
Tactical – arm Ukraine to the hilt to make occupation as miserable as possible, strong arm Germany to buy US nat gas and mothball NordStream, reauthorize Keystone pipeline and exploration leases on fed lands to drive down oil price
Strategic – do whatever is necessary to ensure Russia doesn’t get control of arctic seabed resources, ratchet up pressure in Syria to make Russia’s life miserable there if they insist on propping up Assad (and a new puppet in Ukraine)
Fact is, there are a thousand things we can do. You can be sure the useless Dems don’t see any of them.
Phoenix, more than just duck/cover
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/t0dby0/tips_on_how_to_survive_a_war_zone_as_a_civilian/
EU now talking about firing up the coal plants? How about, 2 weeks ago? Why did you wait? They are still buying Russian Natural Gas hand over fist because it’s more important they are warm. This reliance on Russia is directly tied of dismantling their energy infrastructure before actually being ready to transition to being self sufficient.
This too
https://bridgefy.me
Smallgov the issue is it’s really too late, we needed to forestall the invasion and instead choreographed it in slow motion. We needed to engage the Russians with the carrot and stick back in November in order to get a diplomatic end to this situation.
America doesn’t have the moral standings to accuse Russia of anything any more than the Catholic church does to criticize pedophiles when their priests have been banging altar boys.
Ben Sasse interviewed this am on Morning Joe. Ideas as to what to do, listen to Ben, pretty much spot on.
https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe
Wonder what would have happened it Biden had told Putin no nato for Ukraine if Russia would sign a peace deal and acknowledge Ukraine as a sovereign nation. A war might have been avoided and Putin could have looked strong for his base.
Wild. You blame obama and biden for a dictator drunk off maintaining his reign of terror. Think about that for a second.
Trump did a number on our conservative population. Really f/ed them up in the head. Seriously destroyed the Republican party as we knew it.
JCer says:
February 25, 2022 at 11:13 am
Old realtor, it has zero to do with justified or not it was very easily predicted. No one seems to really understand the history least of all young Ukrainians. Obama and Biden antagonized a madman, it’s like hitting a hornets nest with a stick(repeatedly) and expecting to not get stung. Eastern Ukraine has been part of the Russian empire for over 400 years, it has been nominally independent since 1991 and really was in pro-russian hands until 2014.
Ukraine became independent of Russia for a reason. Why are people treating their sovereignty like a trading chip.
Hold my beer says:
February 25, 2022 at 11:35 am
Wonder what would have happened it Biden had told Putin no nato for Ukraine if Russia would sign a peace deal and acknowledge Ukraine as a sovereign nation. A war might have been avoided and Putin could have looked strong for his base.
Old school republicans would have never sides with Putin. Never.
“Ukraine became independent of Russia for a reason. ”
American meddling in foreign affairs.
Regime change.
Funny thing is America doesn’t like it when you do it to them.
Mind your own business. Stay in your lane. Even more so when you have no moral standings yourself and you are just a country of hypocrites.
“Wonder what would have happened it Biden had told Putin no nato for Ukraine if Russia would sign a peace deal and acknowledge Ukraine as a sovereign nation. A war might have been avoided and Putin could have looked strong for his base.”
This would have been a much better outcome than war.
However, the west would still be kneeling on Putin’s neck, America just can’t help itself.
China is going to benefit from all of this. Well positioned to do so.
Boomer sent all of our manufacturing there, America can’t make a 1/4 20 bolt anymore.
It decentralized everything. Even humans are decentralized, everything is a “gig” now.
American workers want “flexibility,” not increased income. More corporate bull shite. No, that’s not what they want, that’s what you want.
Boomer wants more “choices” in healthcare. No, boomer has so many choices they need to hire a professional to explain the choices to them cause they don’t even understand them. No, that’s what corporate insurance wants. The last thing boomer wants is choices, what they want is everything covered when they see a doctor.
I saw a CNN segment with James Clapper this morning wherein he called into question Putin’s mental state. I don’t appreciate analysis like this, when all moves can be explained by geopolitical realpolitik and game theory. Is Clapper propogandizing? Is it for the ratings? Does he really believe it is true?
Not much in MSM from my periodic glances about geopolitics or any questioning about how far NATO was expanded in years past. Similarly, I don’t see much analysis regarding which peripheral countries around the world are now going to turn away from Russia and toward either the US or China.
Of course, it all boils down to what Obama did or did not do years ago. Actually great relations with Russia in Obama’s first term. Jcer, Orange clown was a one term loser so everything can look great through shorter lens. Small and cohorts posting what should or should not be done via people with no power and responsility..hey let’s assume it will work perfectly so can blame Joe. More red hat dolt delusion..
Pumpkin, go learn some history. The only reason Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia are different countries is because of the 13th century Mongolian invasion. As a Pole you should realize that the concept of “Ukrainian nationalism” was largely a construct of the 18th and 19th century created by Germans/Austrians to prevent “Slavic” unity in Poland after the 3rd partition of Poland by creating internal strife. There is a distinct Ruthenian language and culture but there are significant ties between the Russians and Ukrainians.
Lets create a straw man here. Justin Trudeau is subverting democracy in Canada, Putin sends his SVR and GRU to support a revolution to topple the Canadian government. This then succeeds and pushes for a regime that wants to be part of a Russian military and economic alliance. How would the US respond?
Granted Canada and the US are nowhere near the level of dysfunction of Ukraine or Russia but through the Russian lens this is how they see it.
If Russia gets bogged down in Ukraine maybe China will decide to take eastern Siberia. Russia claims there’s billions of barrels in oil reserves in eastern Siberia. Short of nukes what’s Russia going to be able to do about it.
Old school republicans would have never sides with Putin.
And yet, the progressive left is captivated and charmed by the principles of the collective ideology. You know, the “We” doctrine.
Jcer,
At the end of the day, why are these Ukes fighting? Giving up their life for what? What Putin is doing is f/ed up. They were no longer a part of this soviet regime. It collapsed and the countries that did not want to be a part of Russia anymore left. Putin is in the wrong. What is Putin worried about. No one wants to invade Russia, and if they did, we would have taken it in the 90s when they were in total chaos, and Putin was robbing the country blind in his rise to oligarch dictator. Stop making excuses for a mad dictator set on making Russia great again.
Bystander, Obama was a war monger. He exported “revolution” to many countries with those a$$holes from the CIA. His foreign policy was disastrous and the chickens are coming home to roost. He could have maintained peace, he could have addressed worrying things that were developing in China but he did not. All of the push back on Russia has just made them more intransigent. Both parties are to blame for this, it is American hubris, interfering in Russia’s backyard was a very stupid thing to do. Mearsheimer predicted this back in 2014, no one listened more ominous was his prognostications about a Russia-China alliance. We need to isolate the Chinese, he was saying back in 2005 that a peaceful Chinese rise was basically a pipe dream. Again we should have listened and started taking steps to economically weaken them. Certain actions have consequences and it takes years for it become apparent.
There are things I can pin on Bush as well or even Clinton and obviously Trump as well but it has been subsequent bad policy on top of bad policy. In this case the root of the problem goes back to Obama and Bush, they made most of the decisions that brought us here today. Trump did nothing to correct the situation but I think that too can be attributed to the political climate and cost as to resolve this situation they would have need to give Putin “a win” and that was not something Trump could do given the narrative at the time(not that he would have done the right thing but I don’t think it was an option at the time politically).
Obama was literally one of the worst presidents we have ever had, there isn’t a thing he touched that didn’t turn to sh*t. Now we stand on the doorstep of WW3 largely because him, Biden, Kerry and Hillary Clinton couldn’t figure out how to deescalate Putin.
Flight to safety, or did somebody phone up the PPT guys down in the Caribbean to finally get back from sabbatical.
This market is beyond irrational. F’ing wild.
Pumps your inability to have perspective is astounding. No one is defending Putin’s actions, war is deplorable but what is almost as deplorable as no one tried to prevent it. Why are kids laying down their lives in Ukraine, nationalism, national identity, younger Ukrainians have been indoctrinated and would prefer their country look more like Poland or Germany than the USSR. The Soviets were also very harsh in Ukraine among other places, Soviet domination is the reason why the collapse in 91 had everyone going their own way.
You view US Hegemony as a positive factor, neutral at worst. That is not the way Putin nor Xi see it. They view it as being hemmed in and that the US and the EU exhort tremendous power and influence of domestic Russian policy. From a strategic perspective US troops in Ukraine is a huge problem for the Russians, there is a large 2000km border that is hard to defend, coastal access to Russia through “warm water” and a short piece of land that can be used to disrupt transit of Russian oil and gas from the Caucasus. Basically in a conventional war Ukraine is a trump card for Russia’s adversaries as it allows Russia to be choked of energy and it’s warm water sea access.
*CHINESE STATE BANKS RESTRICT FINANCING FOR RUSSIAN COMMODITIES Who had China throwing down the harshest sanctions against Russia on their bingo card? cc
https://twitter.com/tommythornton/status/1497221997192953896?s=21
Jcer,
Why doesn’t Putin do the world and the Russian people a favor by stepping down? Holding his own country hostage. No one wants to take over Russia, but Putin himself. That’s what he has done. Former KGB to dictator for life.
Did CNN introduce Clapper as Former General/Director of Intelligence or as his now title ‘lobbyist’?
crushednjmillenial says:
February 25, 2022 at 12:08 pm
I saw a CNN segment with James Clapper this morning wherein he called into question Putin’s mental state. I don’t appreciate analysis like this, when all moves can be explained by geopolitical realpolitik and game theory. Is Clapper propogandizing? Is it for the ratings? Does he really believe it is true?
JCer,
You have an interesting ability to take historical knowledge, decades of time, and numerous political actors to always point to one certain point where the Dems get blamed exclusively.
I think when Putin put a bounty on American soldier heads and Trump did nothing, then he saw how weak were were and now decided to attack. I blame Trump…see how easy it is.
For those investing. TA chart is still in major downtrend. Nasdaq probably just hit the highest level it will see in a while.
I went to the American Dream last weekend. A family friend was in town and wanted to see, and I have never been.
It was awful, chaotic, dystopian. A literal mosh pit of humanity doing that circular ant death dance, except blank faced conspicuous consumption edition. Loud background music, people who look like they had no discretionary income spending $9 for cotton candy and other crap. No too many people holding bags though. At one point I focused my attention on the escalator and noticed that it was completely full, two people every step other step, you couldn’t see any empty dark grey stairs, just more people coming into the pit. I can’t explain just how much of a jarring experience this was. Our group of five at times held hands together so we wouldn’t get split up in the human currents.
Insanity. Never again. I wanted to take them to one of the attractions there but at $80 a person… no thanks. My 5 year old tugged on me and was like “tata, let’s get the fk out of here.”
Just think if we had trained and equipped the Ukrainians to the same level we did in Afghanistan.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10551271/The-weapons-Ukraine-using-hold-invading-Russian-Army.html
It was that busy? Every time I’ve ever been there it was a ghost town.
Pretty good takes.
“The market drop was due to the impending fed rate hikes from the artificially low interest rates that had been in place for years. These hikes are believed to be necessary to tamp down inflation which is being caused by the effects of trying to stimulate the economy while supply was constrained and this began during the Republican Administration with excessive stimulus (part time workers who were laid off were getting more in unemployment and stimulus than they earned while working), easily forgivable PPP loans (made to many solvent and stable businesses which pumped up earnings for many owners) and the ballooning national debt which was growing pre pandemic due to the Republican tax cuts which didn’t come with appropriate spending reductions. Inflation in a fairly stable, mature economy like the US is a problem that doesn’t immediately show up with a new administration but rather comes from an amalgamation of poor policy decisions over an extended period of time”
“I agree the additional stimulus broad based stimulus money was unnecessary but the reality is the inflationary pressures had begun well before Biden took office. Under the previous administration poor tax policy led to a growing deficit which was exacerbated by the pandemic, stimulus money was thrown around without regard to the need or the potential supply chain issues which could be caused by a pandemic and the fed funds rate was artificially low after Trump brow beat Jerome Powell for raising them several years ago and causing the markets to hiccup.”
Jcer,
That article looked promising until I hit the subscription paywall.
Jcer,
Last post of yours, good observation.
That’s how they see it, cause that’s how it is.
Can’t wait for Ex to try to get me on a bus to Tacoma.
I’ll make Putin look like the Jets.
Very good HMB.
Crazy thing. My bloodline is half Ukraine half Germany, though culturally, it does not extend past having grown up on their foods. When you escape a country due to the pogroms of the Cossacks, you tend to try to put your pride in the motherland out of mind. Though watching all of these videos from the ground in Ukraine, it does bring back really strong memories of my great grandmother. I discussed her here in the past. She was the one the workers at Ellis Island named Mary since here parent’s died on the way over. The only Jew ever named Mary. These people all sound like her (a duh), but the resemblance is kind of scary too. They are all built like bulls. Especially the women. I hope noone tries to serve me borscht in sympathy. Oh, I couldn’t stand that purple soup growing up. Though, I still love the mamaliga and still make it on cold days. With some pot cheese in it, it has the same effect on me that ratatouille has on the Remy’s critic.
people who look like they had no discretionary income spending $9 for cotton candy and other crap.
Might as well try and make your kid happy. It’s not like they will ever be able to afford a house or healthcare in America anyway.
Pumps,
We’ve been saying exactly what that article you posted says for years. When I was screaming about the coming inflation from all of the stimulus payments that those who didn’t need them received. You were arguing about deflation. Come on Iridium Man!
I even said we would pay much more for the stimulus in inflation than the benefit it created. You said they could run the printing presses with impunity.
immunity. Sorry all.
I wonder how much money America is spending just preparing for a potential war with Russia over the last few days.
Just add it to the deficit, right Boomer?
We are not going to war against Russia. We aren’t even fighting a proxy war. And businesses won’t do the war powers thing anymore nor would the politicians have the balls to stop feeding from the corporate troughs to make this happen. Heck, we couldn’t even get our corporations to produce a vaccine without guaranteeing the patents on it.
Jcer: Ukraine is a very complicated situation and confusing. Western Ukraine historic Ukraine , eastern Ukraine, Russian but a lot of Ukrainians living there as well. Before being called Ukrainian, they were Ruthenians , also called Rusyns. Some still identify as Rusyns but say they are a sub group of Ukrainians others say they are a separate ethnic group. Then there are Lemkos and other small ethnic groups in western Ukraine. My Polish friends tell me Ukrainian in western Ukraine was heavily influenced by Polish and both languages are mutually intelligible. Ukrainian in eastern Ukraine heavily influenced by Russian. It’s hard keeping track of it all.
Boomer,
for that price, you could get two kids a month long membership at sky zone and take them to bounce around on trampolines every single day. They’ll have a lot more fun and get a great workout.
It was that packed, but it was also Presidents Day weekend.
I’ve been to Big Snow when it first opened, at that point the mall was functionally closed and I did not explore. In that state it was empty as many of you describe.
The water park beach… I wish I had taken a photo. There was a wall of semi frosted glass where one can peer into the water park. Every since chair on the beach was occupied. The line to get into Nickelodeon (there’s an elevator to park level) had a line around the corner. There were 30+ people lined up to get into the Cinnabon.
You get the most interesting fractures from trampolines.
Fracture Fridays: Trampoline Fractures
Well, maybe not as interesting as war fractures, but hey, we aren’t there just yet.
https://pemcincinnati.com/blog/fracture-fridays-trampoline-fractures/
“You get the most interesting fractures from trampolines.”
My kid came back from one of these sky zone urban park places with a hurting arm, “but different like the bone”. I’m sure it’s fine. Two Tylenols later my wife went to a pediatric ortho to have it checked out. I remember her calling me, “well we’re picking out a color” … a color? color of what? …aw crap.
Prior to this, we saw no evidence of inflation from the FED’s actions.
I was wrong and own it, but sorry, I would have taken the same position today if there was no inflation. The supply chain f/ed them with a brick. It set off the domino reaction that is now in deep trouble.
Libturd says:
February 25, 2022 at 1:44 pm
Pumps,
We’ve been saying exactly what that article you posted says for years. When I was screaming about the coming inflation from all of the stimulus payments that those who didn’t need them received. You were arguing about deflation. Come on Iridium Man!
I even said we would pay much more for the stimulus in inflation than the benefit it created. You said they could run the printing presses with impunity.
BR,
Not all kids are built the same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_V5zlFoY4
Pumps,
Just ask for a nice raise this year. I’m sure you will get it.
Easy Peasy.
Teachers are screwed. All the teacher haters can rejoice in the fact that they will be paying teachers less and less if this inflation keeps up. 1% raise if that…so do the math. F’ed! Absolutely getting crushed.
“No One Expected Sanctions To Prevent Anything…Coming from the President of the United States…”
He’s become to feeble to even lie effectively.
“Wouldn’t be my first choice, but if Jen Psaki Tindered me back I’d go out with her.”
Do yourself a favor and take some of those sharp instruments of your profession and cut your whacker off and then disgorge your eyes…you’ll thank me later….
I actually find Jen attractive, despite the fact that she has to come up with new and creative ways to lie on a daily basis. Then again, there’s something about fair hair and fair skin that tepefies my pleurons.
LW,
Didn’t say I would knock her up, but I could have fun with that.
My profession does have it’s issues, but c’mon Israel, don’t you know clowns scare the hell out of kids? Right after Raggedy Ann Dolls. :)
The impact of medical clowns exposure over postoperative pain and anxiety in children and caregivers: An Israeli experience
The medical clown then escorted the child to the operation theater and stayed there until complete anesthesia was confirmed. After surgery completion, the medical clown waited for the child in the postoperative care unit and soothingly interacted with him or her upon emergence.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769359/
And all along I thought politics had the clown thing locked up.
Hahahaaaaa
HONG KONG—Anyone seeking news on the latest Russia-Ukraine developments in the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily would be disappointed: Its front page and international section were devoid of articles on the conflict gripping the planet, reflecting the reluctance of China’s leaders to take a clear stance on it.
However, on China’s more freewheeling social media, internet users and prominent nationalist voices offered sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, at times casting doubt on the West’s reliability and blaming the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for fueling the conflict.
On the Twitter-like Weibo platform, a page sponsored by state broadcaster China Central Television and populated with posts carrying the hashtag “Ukraine’s President Says the West Abandoned Ukraine” had more than 1.1 billion views by Friday afternoon.
Chinese internet users openly mocked what they saw as a toothless response by Western countries to the Russian assault on Ukraine, while drawing parallels to Taiwan, a separately-governed island off the coast of mainland China that Beijing has vowed to take control of, by force if necessary.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mockery-of-west-warnings-to-taiwan-fill-chinese-social-media-after-ukraine-invasion-11645798598
How long before they move in on Taiwan? Maybe that’s why the West is holding back so far to assess the situation with China. Maybe China and Russia were hoping for a strong response that would allow them to easily go into Taiwan?
Blumpy,
You compliment Oz Powell and tell us all about total control that have over economy..then you proceed to sell off 401k and surprised market is not tanking? Do you surprise yourself with your own hypocrisy ever?
Bystander,
Nothing is set in stone, and you must act with which way the wind is blowing.
2:49
Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany declared on Sunday she “never lied” while working for President Trump.
Unsurprisingly, that’s a lie.
McEnany’s proclamation that she was always truthful from the White House podium came at Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit.
“And then there was the question, ‘Will you ever lie to us?’, and I said without hesitation, ‘No’. And I never did,” McEnany said. “As a woman of faith, as a mother of baby Blake, as a person who meticulously prepared at some of the world’s hardest institutions, I never lied. I sourced my information. But that will never stop the press from calling you a liar.”
She must have forgotten that time she tweeted that “more than a million” people had gathered to rally for Trump in Washington in mid-November 2020, even though the crowd only appeared to be thousands strong and the area they occupied can only physically hold 135,000 people.
Or that time when she said “no tear gas was used” to clear protestors from in front of the White House during Black Lives Matter protests, when in fact pepper balls designed to cause eye and lung irritation were used—a differentiation without a difference.
Or that time when she defended Trump’s claim that the coronavirus “affects virtually nobody,” then minutes later claimed he’d “never downplayed critical health information.”
Or that time in September when she declared that Trump “never downplayed the virus”—an assertion that got a “pants on fire” rating from Politifact.
Or all those times she pushed Trump’s post-election lies, attacks on democracy that set up the January 6 Capitol riots.
Or when she claimed Trump “doesn’t lie”—even though, by the Washington Post’s count, Trump made more than 30,000 false or misleading claims in his time as president.
McEnany, who now works for Fox News, promised reporters that she would “never lie” during her first briefing as White House press secretary last May. That didn’t last long.
I see here many comments about sanctions”what else can we do”, fight that is what we can do. The Poles would fight with us their army and air-force very good. We could control the air in day or so then it’s game over for Russian ground forces in Ukraine. Not so sure about Germany or France but other former Soviet bloke countries would , it is in there best interest to fight the bear with us. Forget nukes there is still MAD no one crazy enough to blow up the whole world. I have skin in the game my son serves , so don’t go there. He ain’t in the motor pool either Navy special forces.
Others also say read history well think Neville Chamberlain with Hitler folks , action then would have saved millions.
On another note we can fight a two front war . If we show weakness here China more likely to act than rolling the dice as they would be assured we would fight if they attacked Taiwan if we show some steel now.
My fear is the dementia sufferer in the White House he screws up everything he touches.We would have been better off with Trump right now crazy ego maniac that he is no doubt he is a fighter and that is what is needed.
I have skin in the game my son serves , so don’t go there.
I’ll go there.
Doesn’t make you right, or the expert on everything.
In fact, when you are a hammer, every problem is a nail.
America, so inept it cannot even set up a taxation system properly. No need to hack into this system, it’s more likely to infect the hacker’s computer and cause it to crash.
We can’t do anything right.
“If information is power, then many taxpayers are powerless.
Millions of people have filed federal returns that are stuck in a massive backlog, which is holding up refunds and resulted in the automatic mailing of collection notices that may or may not be warranted. They check “Where’s My Refund?” and “Where’s My Amended Refund?” only to find bureaucratically written language that tells them nothing.
What the IRS backlog means for you
The agency’s online account system, as I reported last year, is a hot mess. Fewer than half of the individuals who tried to establish an online account with the Internal Revenue Service succeeded, according to Erin M. Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate.
To help improve that access record and improve the security in setting up an account, the agency brought in the private company ID.me to register people. The launch was immediately criticized because it required taxpayers to scan their faces to create an ID.me IRS account.
The IRS backed off that facial recognition requirement, while still moving ahead with the ID.me authentication platform. The turnabout is causing some confusion. So, here’s what you need to know if you have a legacy IRS account or need to create a new one with ID.me.
Tears for those still left behind: Woman weeps in her car after crossing Ukrainian border into Romania as thousands queue for miles to escape war
In a town in NJ
Tears for spending “all day” shopping for food: Woman weeps on Facebook after having to cross county lines to get to Whole Foods as the thought of visiting ShopRite was severely mentally traumatizing to her.
I’ve got good genetics on that front. None of us in my family have broken a single bone. And my kid’s skeletons are literally made of adamantium. If they hit you lightly, it stings. It’s pretty insane. Any time they’ve collided with another kid on a slide or something, they’ve completely wrecked the kid and they just pop up like nothing happened.
From 2018, but still funny today.
https://bit.ly/3C6EWzL
We gave billions in heavy equipment to guys we know would surrender or run away from pickup trucks, and give hardly anything to people willing to stand with rifles and bottles against tanks and frigates.
Hey how about giving a few billion to the IRS to make sure their computer works so I can do my taxes?
Or give a few billion to Pumpy and his colleagues so they don’t feel like they are underpaid.
Sovereignty these days is as much about putting allot of fighter aircraft up in the air as it is about denying the airspace to hostile aircraft and missiles.
I am a bit surprised there isn’t more drone action.
BRT,
I have never seen a bone that cannot be broken.
And trust me, I have seen thousands of bones very close up.
Luckiest man alive so far in this war. Old man run over by a tank, forwards and again backwards and apparently survives. It was a friendly tank apparently too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xcfJY6QwnY
Juice,
They know they aren’t playing with a bunch of yahoos with Toyota pickup trucks.
They know they haven’t shut down Putin’s centrifuges, and that he has real nuclear fuel.
They know, unlike N. Korea, that Putin can launch a nuke on target, and that they cannot stop it.
It’s different this time, much different.
re: “what else can we do”
The Europeans could have and should have loudly said we will not accept Ukraine into the EU. Then later said they will not be joining NATO either.
That was not done….A few words to back up what was agreed to back in 1994, and this probably would not have happened.
I watched Zelenskyy last night. He really thought the Europeans and the USA would come to his rescue. If you don’t know much about him know this he is an actor. He was in a sitcom for four years about a teacher who becomes Ukrainian President. His sitcom made allot of jokes about Russia and Putin’s dick, so many it was cancelled on Russian TV.
It is personal folks….
Here is an older article about it.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/12/russian-tv-axes-show-starring-ukraines-leader-after-putin-joke-volodymyr-zelenskiy
“Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them,”
I guess he din’t like women laughing at his dick.
That means you Hillary.
re: good genetics? You are the descendant of about 7,500 generations of a great great xy
male grandparent. You are his pride and joy, you made it while many of his other great great grandkids did not.
Beer – The dark lord Erik Prince was on TV last night. He said we should have done a lend lease on old retiring military aircraft, and was pitching it in congress, apparently to deaf ears for months. We just sent another 200 or so fighter jets from active service to the bone dry desert to rot. They could have simply flown east and with some parts and trainers the Ukrainians might have had a real chance. A thousand aircraft, and well they could have had a real deterrent.
I will point this out again the EU and USA don’t want them and did not arm them. That is the truth folks, stuff you won’t hear it on CNN or Fox news.
Poland delivered arms today, it’s a first step.
Ironic that a stand up comic has proven to be a better leader than a game show host.
What does this mean?
Poland is going to be in trouble, their air defense upgrades we just outsourced to the British. We all know anything the British build leaks oil.
All seriousness. Biden said last night Putin wants the old Soviet Union back? Really? 30 years ago that was 15 countries, and several of them are now part of the EU and NATO.
Damm Baby Boomers are going to kill us all.
Looks like Ol’ Marty has a history. Feisty English chap.
https://www.dailydot.com/irl/martin-hyde-racist-video/
If Poland is supplying weapons and I were Putin, I would double down and vaporize a city, Kyiv, with a few air-fuel bombs and be done with it.
But hey, that’s just me.
and Juice, the boomers caused lots of this. I am in agreement.
Guess he really wanted it:
Fugitive charged with murdering daughter of Kentucky politician in home invasion is an ex-soldier who is convinced nuclear war is on the way and wanted the mansion for its concrete bunker 26 feet below ground
Vince Gilday who is on the run after allegedly shooting Jordan Morgan to death is convinced nuclear war is on its way and showed a neighbor pictures of the secure house where Morgan was killed
Juice/Phoenix: I have said previously that stating that Ukraine could join NATO one day was a mistake and quite frankly cruel. Why promise something that was never going to happen; just to piss off the Russians.
CIA has been busy..
Hey look here is everyone’s in Russia military email address! Look we are hackers now.
BTW don’t download it’s Mega yes that one in New Zealand Kim Dotcom…….
https://cybernews.com/news/anonymous-leaks-database-of-the-russian-ministry-of-defence/
Juice: I was shocked when Biden made that statement, and he is supposedly a foreign policy expert!
3B – if you remember the now dead senator John McCain was out there until his last breath.
He also had harsh words five years ago for then German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then French President Francois Hollande He said they legitimized for the first time in the dismemberment of a country in Europe since WWII, when Russia annexed Crimea etc.
Juice: I have to say on Crimea that Russia was not totally wrong on that , as it was part of Russia not Ukraine and only symbolically transferred to Ukraine by Kruschev in 1954. It’s not like Ukraine was going to give it back.
As for borders when the Soviet Union collapsed, the west said that current borders had to be maintained, perhaps that is not always the right answer. For instance Kosovo and Serbia were close to doing a land swap Albanian areas in Serbia bordering on Kosovo would go to Kosovo and Serbian areas in Kosovo would go to Serbia. The west is absolutely against it.
This last category bugged Vidana, too. Property investors had seemed all right when they were using cash to score discounts on homes that needed a lot of work. But these new landlords were taking homes off the market and renting them back to people who would have otherwise been in a position to buy. He saw families getting outgunned by investment firms that could afford to pay $450,000 for a $400,000 house. Rents on single-family homes were also rising fast—up 19% in the Phoenix metro area during the pandemic, according to Rick Palacios, research director of John Burns Real Estate Consulting LLC. The result was that buyers could lose out on a home and see it resurface at a rent that was hundreds of dollars a month more than what they would have paid to own it with a mortgage. “The way I see it, they’re stealing from first-time homebuyers,” Vidana says. “They’re trying to push this idea that your first step is not to buy a house anymore, your first step is to rent.”
https://apple.news/A9OKd3rY7SbGhXkRs5VMyWg
“Phoenix
I have skin in the game my son serves , so don’t go there.
I’ll go there.
Doesn’t make you right, or the expert on everything.
In fact, when you are a hammer, every problem is a nail.’
No it does not make me right or an expert but you know what I meant by “do not go there” , I am not a keyboard warrior. It was a straw man reply by you.
In fact if your enemy knows you have no stomach to fight you are lost before you start in any negotiation. Sometimes you have to hit a few nails with your hammer to keep credibility.
Dude blew himself up for the cause. Might be a long war.
https://twitter.com/adamkinzinger/status/1497307734227697671?s=21
“Ironic that a stand up comic has proven to be a better leader than a game show host.”
One of the best comments I have seen from you Grim
Rule no. 1 on the playground during the 80’s. If the bully comes, you better not back down. Otherwise, you are his lunch for the rest of the year.
“In fact if your enemy knows you have no stomach to fight you are lost before you start in any negotiation. Sometimes you have to hit a few nails with your hammer to keep credibility.”
To all the morons that say sanctions don’t work, just wait and watch. With banking immobolized and SWIFT about to be revoked Russia will go back to the cold barren land.
There’s only so much ‘Gina can do to help. And you know ‘Gina would screw Russia at the next opportunity. So Russia gets plugged in all ways. Just watch.
Meanwhile, this is all good for the US – with a unified, strengthened NATO. The market is speaking to it.
Putin gave the US the greatest gift any rival power could give.
Russia is now a pariah state and will have difficulty garnering any sort of coalitions in its favor in the future. European nations which were taking cues from both the US and Russia have now all tripped over themselves running back to the US side. Putin sent a stiff message to the non-NATO former members of the USSR. But, his influence and power will be dramatically curtailed outside of the former USSR going forward.
Europe just got serious about doing what’s necessary to substitute out of Russian fossil fuels. Less looking the other way about oligarchs buying townhouses in posh London. Some manner of perpetual sanctions (not as stiff as what is on right now, but stiffer than before the invasion). Clandestine pressure to overseas Russian interests (Syrian insurgency support, etc).
No ww3. No shooting war between the US and Russia. This will be solved in time, but nonetheless Putin ends up less powerful than he was for this. He overstepped.
Suspect the delay on moving to cut Russia off from Swift is because there is clearly a population of dissidents in the country – we don’t want to lose the support of those Russians. Putin’s propaganda is bordering on absurd now. Though, I agree the fastest way to end this is forcing near complete isolation on Russia.
Now when I see Fast Eddie own a post I just keep on scrolling….
la teee dah
Guy is on point. Inflation will not last because growth will become that much more difficult to achieve with peak population growth already in the past. Capitalism 101. Growth is dependent on a growing population.
“Commercial hedgers have one of their largest long positions in the 10 year bond EVER . Question for equity and inflation geniuses. Does 1.97 on the 10 year with sustainable inflation a strong economy and the smartest investor group on the planet massively long make sense
maybe you’re not looking at the right data to formulate an insightful opinion. The bond market knows what it’s doing. It sees an inverting yield curve imploding credit impulse a dormant velocity of money collapse in personal savings a negative real personal income and
an unsustainable inflation looking forward. It views inflation as always a monetary phenomenon and the significant inflation we are dealing with is more predicated on supply chain wealth effect and insane monetary stimulus. All are in the past as inflation stays but soon not”
https://twitter.com/alanlevinson10/status/1497373850090106882?s=21
I very well might be wrong, but this is false rally. Economy is slowing down. Anecdotal: i have never seen so many new substitutes before at my school. You couldn’t get these people at the start of the year.
“Meanwhile, this is all good for the US – with a unified, strengthened NATO. The market is speaking to it.”
Putin himself will not be adversely affected, a month won’t mean much, the war will be over. Most of their oil and gas exports are via pipeline. I don’t hear Europe saying they will stop buying. BTW you do not need swift, anyone who understands money knows this. They have to stop the export of money, only way to do that up is to stop all nations and all banks from sending dollars and other currencies. At this price many will not go along with our demands. China has already said no.
It will take the Russian people rising up and it’s too soon to tell.
Yup, the Russians must overthrow their decades old dictator. They deserve freedom and must fight for it. The time is now. The military is clearly on the move. The time if ever is now.
Re: “ Russia is now a pariah state”
Not really, the vote in 2014 at the UN against Crimea succession had something like 58 abstentions and 11 voting against, it passed anyway and made no difference. Only the EU, China and maybe the US can have any influence on what they do. Our chance may have passed. Unless Europe unites and pushes back I don’t see any chance of PUTIN stopping, he simply is not afraid and he knows the Europeans can and will be bribed.
Juice,
He is playing the nuke card. Plain and simple. That’s why biden hasn’t attacked yet. If he wasn’t in control of so many nukes, he would be dead. Plain and simple.
I would not be so sure about NATO and Europe being unified. If anything they want the US to do the heavy lifting and or the dirty work. As for Russia they will be faced with a long bloody insurgency and will be bogged down for years perhaps. They may be bled dry like they were in Afghanistan.
Not really Pumps, we are not on high alert. You may be too young to remember the nuclear drills. Do they still do them in your school? There was actually a law that mandated teaching “duck and cover”, it was called the National Defense Education Act.
Russia is just like some of those middle eastern countries we don’t like, but it’s allot of export business for the EU and allot of energy imports from Russia to make that stuff. Russia’s economy without the energy sector is tiny. They make nothing much other than well weapons and wheat. When is the last time you bought something from Russia other than a few gallons at a Lukoil station? There are about 2,000 of them in the USA, those dollars they sell gasoline for go straight back to Russia.
We are going to have to bite the bullet on Russian energy to have any kind of impact other than actually sending in troops.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like what is happening, but it’s happening because our politicians allowed it.
At the end of the day, this is our future outlook at the moment. Debt eating away at growth in a deflationary environment. Going to become difficult to make money unless fed floods the market again.
Bond market says deflationary and low growth.
Don’t know if I’m right, but if i am, it means sell all your shit now.
3b – “If anything they want the US to do the heavy lifting and or the dirty work.”
EU forces are not combined, every member state runs it’s own gig. They have agreements for only 60,000 troops managed by the European Union but still indirectly and have yet to see any military action in 15 years. They did not go to Iraq and Afghanistan were kept in reserve for Europe etc. The elite as they say.
BTW European NATO forces were mostly out of Afghanistan by 2015. We and the Brits were alone after that.
I don’t expect the EU to do anything now. They did not arm the Ukrainians and did not accept them into the EU or NATO, and it may be already too late for them.
The Ukraine has a lot of resources. No idea why Europe so slow to protect it. It’s like they want Putin to have more resources to exploit.
“As we start to grow older and realize how fragile life is and how limited our time here is,
We begin to shed the things that matter less to us.
Sometimes it’s more about figuring out what doesn’t belong than what does.
Growth via subtraction rather than addition.”
Well, at least we know Putin will never attack America, we already have democrats doing the job.
Pumps- One of the reasons for Brexit, the Germans. Russia regards Germany as its foremost European partner. Putin speaks two languages Russian and German. He was an KGB agent in Germany for many years. Just think about the last decade. Georgia, Crimea, and Donbas and well nothing from Germany, they are happy that there is a land buffer and they don’t have to spend their OWN money on defense. They spend only 1.53% of the GDP on Defense, well because they have you the taxpayer from Wayne NJ subsidizing it.
I am not saying Trump was right, but there is a point about NATOs usefulness anymore.
Ed- re ” “Putin will never attack America” Did you not hear about the 2016 and 2020 election. Cyberwarfare etcv.
BTW the bigger problem will be succession once the boomer are all dead. Gen X does not want the job. The Millennials are all still living at home. It might be the rich Crypto Kiddies running the show next. Hope you learn how to MEME..
Juice: Ridiculous how little Germany pays on defense. And when Trump was knocking NATO countries for not paying for towards defense, the left accused Trump of weaking our Allies.
Epic: https://www.dirt.com/gallery/moguls/power-players/rick-rubin-house-malibu-1203455182/
Kiev stands.
Russia claiming no losses.
Ukraine indicating nearly 3000 Russian soldiers killed.
Promoting division in a time of crisis? I long for a classical America where this type of behavior would not be tolerated.
Fast Eddie says:
February 25, 2022 at 8:59 pm
Well, at least we know Putin will never attack America, we already have democrats doing the job
I long for a classical America where this type of behavior would not be tolerated.
Me too. A period when all Americans loved the flag, were proud of their country and debated ideas and discussed events instead of quibbling over personal irritations. Division is what the left does best, fueled by disdain, resentment and gang mockery. Success to the left has been reduced to formulating bogus emergencies to advance their useless nonsense.
Sounds like only two countries remain standing in the way of removing Russia from Swift.
US and Germany
Our current politicians are a joke. This is messed up.
“How Ukraine Was Betrayed in Budapest
Kyiv gave up its nuclear weapons in return for security assurances. So much for that.”
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/how-ukraine-was-betrayed-in-budapest-russia-vladimir-putin-us-uk-volodymyr-zelensky-nuclear-weapons-11645657263
Eddie,
If you long for such a time, why are you the worst offender?
Fast Eddie says:
February 26, 2022 at 8:42 am
I long for a classical America where this type of behavior would not be tolerated.
Me too. A period when all Americans loved the flag, were proud of their country and debated ideas and discussed events instead of quibbling over personal irritations. Division is what the left does best, fueled by disdain, resentment and gang mockery. Success to the left has been reduced to formulating bogus emergencies to advance their useless nonsense.
Sounds like only two countries remain standing in the way of removing Russia from Swift.
Why are they waiting?
“I need ammunition, not a ride”
Because Germany sold their soul to the devil in exchange for gas.
Or maybe Germans still have the same ambivalence that allowed Hitler to rise up to be dictator? How many chances did Germans have to stop Hitler, and didn’t?
It’s OK though, Germany sent 5000 surplus helmets to Ukraine. Their work is done.
It’s OK though, Germany sent 5000 helmets to Ukraine. Their work is done.
Trump sent counter-mortar detection units, body armor, binoculars, small boats and other gear to the Ukraine.
Obammy sent blankets.
Trump withheld $400 million in military aid to Ukraine. If this aid was provided as promised, would the situation in Ukraine be different today?
Pretty sure at this point more sophisticated arms are being smuggled into Ukraine through Poland.
If I were to wager a wild ass guess. Lviv is being armed to the teeth and fortified as we speak, and should Kiev fall, the seat of power will move to Lviv, which will not be able to be taken. Too deep in to Ukraine, and too easily resupplied through Poland.
Europe will not recognize Russia, and this sets the stage for a long and protracted occupation, which Russia can not afford.
Also suspect that US and Polish special forces are operating in Ukraine providing intelligence support.
Nah, Trump used his position to try and blackmail Ukraine into giving info on biden. Dude cutoff military aid like a pos he is for personal political matters. Way to do your job with honor and respect.
This is what is wrong with america. Ever since kennedy was killed, we have been left with corrupt leader after corrupt leader. It’s a joke.
Fast Eddie says:
February 26, 2022 at 9:14 am
It’s OK though, Germany sent 5000 helmets to Ukraine. Their work is done.
Trump sent counter-mortar detection units, body armor, binoculars, small boats and other gear to the Ukraine.
Obammy sent blankets.
Well, at least we know Putin will never attack America, we already have democrats doing the job.
Hahahaha.
Eddie, a great sense of humor, with truth in it as well.
Germans are total pussies. I can’t believe their response.
“Don’t know if I’m right, but if I am, it means sell all your shit now.”
Pumpkin, you can stop screaming into the wind. I know of no one here that maintains we are in a bull market. Everyone here figured that out as far back as early last year. I understand it just dawned on you but that doesn’t mean you have to yet again scream a straw man argument about a topic on which most of agree, are better informed, and already acted upon.
Ukraine will be taken.
Easy or hard, no matter what they have to do, but it will be taken.
Sadly,
In a few weeks, blankets will prove more valuable than all that other stuff Gary.
Germans are total pussies. I can’t believe their response.
Easy there Poland….
Looks like we have the plot for Dr Strangelove 2.
https://youtu.be/s4VlruVG81w?t=6
Comrade Phoenix – вы русский?
Easy or hard, no matter what they have to do, but it will be taken.
The other day I thought they wouldn’t last 6 more hours.
Eddie/Old
Interesting repartee.
I think a less appreciated political shift is that Joe SixPack no longer rallies around the flag.
In the past liberal elites (ie, the Democratic Party in DC) treated common Americans so badly but could count on turning that lack of support around by wrapping themselves in the flag….no more. DC speaks of patriotism and like, Flyover Country flips the bird. Not buying it any more.
Not sure where they lost them, likely the accumulation of transgressions over time, but I do believe it will play a large role in the midterms and 2024.
Your guy with the American flag jammed into the flatbed of his pickup used to rally around the worst of DC chanting “USA” at the mere mention of Russia or communism…today he is just as likely if not moreso to chant “let’s go Brandon” when confronted.
Ukraine will be taken.
At what cost to Russia and Putin? And for what? For Putin’s vision of the glory days? Where does his resources and money come from to maintain occupation in a nation of 40,000,000 that have no desire to be under his thumb? You want to be a Russian soldier walking the streets after occupation only to be met with a bullet? I would bet NY and NJ’s economy rivals the size of Russia’s right now. Are the Russian people going to tolerate years and years of living slightly above dumpster level?
Protests continue in Russia, they are losing the information war internally, Putin’s support is eroding. Celebrities are coming out of the woodwork to oppose. They can’t stop the ingress of information from outside of the country.
Daily Mail, which I like but has a bias, had story after story yesterday full of outright lies.
One supposedly from the state department saying that Russia was going to find the relatives of Ukraine soldiers who refused to surrender.
As if they even know the names of these guys.
America spreading plenty of disinformation for the puppets who can’t think for themselves. Just like GWB with the weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist.
If America wasn’t morally bankrupt we might not even be in this position.
Eddie,
Just stating a fact.
Costs will be high. Putin knew this.
Costs may get even higher than this…
Pretty sure Anonymous is going after every single person listed in that hacked document at this point.
Are the Russian people going to tolerate years and years of living slightly above dumpster level?
Haven’t they always?
Isn’t the west partially to blame for that?
Really though? You don’t think Putin was so full of himself that he thought Ukraine would fall in a day or two?
“Ever since kennedy was killed, we have been left with corrupt leader after corrupt leader. It’s a joke.”
You’re a joke…how in the hell are you a history teacher? The Kennedys were among the country’s most flourishing crime families…JFK was the idiot son of a corrupt Prohibition criminal, and only the third choice of even his father. The first, Joe Jr, was killed in battle. Devastated the old man. The second was DOA (no pun intended) for any higher political office after the addict drowned a young girl while intoxicated. John was so dumb the old man had to write a million dollar check to his NE Prep school to even take the kid….Once in the WH he installed his brother as AG (a fact that always made me laugh when the press made such a fuss about DJT ‘interfering’ with his AG and Justice) and Bobby’s main function while there was cleaning up stained bedsheets to try to protect JFK, including using military aircraft to fly out in the dark of night an East German spy JFK was nailing while President.
America invents the heroes it needs when it needs them.
Dead ones are the best. Impossible for them to do anything stupid.
“I think a less appreciated political shift is that Joe SixPack no longer rallies around the flag.”
This is a very good observation.
Left: what is with the Red? Knock off QPiac? My son’s friend was up in CT visiting his brother. He said Q dominated line to line, but the kid in the pipes was a maniac.
Zelensky is winning in the eyes of the world. Not only that, he has out-macho’ed Putin.
Putin sitting slouched behind his opulent white desk in that enormous cabinet meeting the other day, with his cabinet acting like cowards.
Looked more like Saddam really.
Movie previews. America has plenty of it’s own problems, here is just another one:
Retired Florida cop, 79, is CLEARED of murdering moviegoer after telling the man to stop texting on his phone, then shooting him dead after victim threw popcorn at him
Retired Tampa police captain Curtis Reeves, 79, was acquitted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault
Chad Oulson, 42, a married dad, was gunned down in 2014 during an argument over a text he sent to his daughter’s babysitter during the movie previews
After the jury decision on Friday, Reeves smiled and joked with the press as he stopped for interviews outside the court house.
Left,
The country fell apart after the death of Kennedy. It has gone down hill ever since. Name one President since Kennedy that was not corrupt. Just give me one. They sold out our manufacturing base for god sake and created a war on drugs that was really a war on our own people for profit.
Hate on Kennedy all you want, but the country has gone downhill ever since.
Left,
Market peaked in November of last year. No one here was calling the end of the bull market. All you did was call a bubble in high growth stocks.
My ark investment has taught me a lot about the impact of the FED on the market. No offense, but I have learned a lot about the markets over the past couple years. Don’t think you are so superior to me. Did you pull out 100% at the start of the year? I did. So treat me like I’m the village idiot.
Guys, interesting debate but Ukraine will be Russian. Exact details and timeline to be determined, but soon and undoubtedly.
No one is stopping this, and no one intends to.
Right now the ‘dustup’ is over some steppes that have moved around over history occupied by people with somewhat indiscernible backgrounds.
Our biggest risk is if some NATO country is providing covert support and somehow gets some personnel clipped, because then it is direct conflict, Russia/NATO. This is not the case now and is the real danger. We made the decision well before tanks amassed at the border. Let’s not be half-assed, stupid, and self-destructive now out of some misplaced emotion when bombs fly and people bleed.
We are most definitely did not intend to prevent Russian possession or control. And since not we are now just in the fourth quarter of a shitty game with the outcome predetermined, watching the teams run out the clock to the inevitable result. We can throw a few elbows on the court, even a flagrant foul or two, and some out of town fans who decided to hang around may cheer but the scoreboard will be scoreboard when the buzzer sounds.
And, grim, don’t forget the concept ‘realpolitik’ is German.
Did you pull out 100% at the start of the year? I did.
Plenty of others should have pulled out, like Martin Shkreli’s father.
Market peaked in November of last year. No one here was calling the end of the bull market. All you did was call a bubble in high growth stocks.
Bull sh1t
Brt,
Is the bull market over? We don’t even know that yet based on the movement in the stock market the past two days. I don’t know anyone that called the end of the bull market.
Grim: Germany’s treatment after WW 1 had much to do with the rise of Hitler. Of course it was America that won WW 1. Just like it was America and Russia that defeated Nazi Germany.
America might need to take Putin out.
Man, how do you not stand behind a leader like this. Denies a ride out, and instead fights.
“I wonder if Putin realized that Zelensky would become a global hero overnight…”
Leaders like Zelensky are very dangerous to Putin.
Left – too late. Cold War or hot, this will reshape foreign policy and defense spending for the next 20 years.
Russian occupation will bleed Russia dry just like Afghanistan
Footage of an alleged Ukrainian fighter jet named ‘the Ghost of Kyiv’ is from a simulation game, fact-checkers report
A clip from Digital Combat Simulator, a flight simulation game, has been miscaptioned on social media, fact-checkers say. The clip does not show a Ukrainian fighter jet shooting down Russian planes, Reuters reports. Social media users have been claiming the simulation combat plane is a fighter known as “the Ghost of Kyiv,” according to multiple reports. “The Ukrainian military said on Feb. 24 that five Russian planes and a Russian helicopter were shot down in the Luhansk region. It has not been confirmed that a single Ukrainian pilot shot down the aircrafts, however,” Reuters reports.
“America might need to take Putin out.”
Sounds like something Hillary would say.
Or we could send him to Tacoma.
Hahahaaha.
I was out (75% cash across all accounts) in summer of 2019. Valuations were insane, liquidity was off the charts. The Fed’s decision to purchase repos in 9/2019 only sealed the deal.
And I returned 57% last year on that format (about a quarter of it from the two weeks around Thanksgiving) within well defined risk parameters.
If you look at much of the shit out there (ie, CW’s portfolio) they are IPOs from that period which came out at wildly inflated and unsustainable valuations at the time and then topped those valuations post-COVID. It will be hard to find a trade as easy as shorting that garbage.
Why should anyone pay any attention to someone who BOUGHT that exact garbage at exactly that peak, and then proceeded to defend the same for next nine months?
So, yes, we are and have been in a bear market. Valuations are still much too high, liquidity is still being injected into the system, the Fed has told you for I-don’t-know-how-long it will be removing liquidity shortly, and anytime they have done so in the past has resulted in recession.
With liquidity being withdrawn, economic slowdown a goal, and recession statistically probable the E of P/E will contract leaving only one direction for the P to go until we are out of this cycle.
So, yes, very predictable. So much so I don’t believe anyone needed to come on here and start shouting about it. Except you, when you stub your toe on the obvious and inevitable.
“Leaders like Zelensky are very dangerous to Putin.”
What about leaders like Biden?
Hahahaahaaa
Putin has single-handedly throw Russias standing in the world back decades.
You don’t think their allied relationships will fall apart now?
How long will it take for India to denounce Russia? Not going to be long. China is even cracking.
The level of global support for Ukraine is enormous now.
Putin can chum it up with North Korea as the new Axis of Evil.
Maybe we they can clone Castro for good measure?
Through a series of military and political accidents, a pair of psychotic senior military officers — U.S. Air Force Commander Jack D. Ripper and Joint Chiefs of Staff General “Buck” Turgidson — hatch an ingenious, foolproof, and irrevocable plan to unleash a wing of B-52 bombers and their nuclear payloads on strategic targets inside Russia. And when the brains behind the scheme, Dr. Strangelove, a wheelchair-bound nuclear scientist with bizarre ideas about man’s future, accidentally activates the bombing mission, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, is unable to stop it. Although he knows the secret code to stop the mission, the Royal Air Force’s Group Captain Mandrake isn’t much help since he’s come under attack at a U.S. Air Force base by a group of U.S. paratroopers who’ve been accidentally activated, too.
“Where does his resources and money come from to maintain occupation in a nation of 40,000,000 that have no desire to be under his thumb?”
Hasn’t he done it for the couple decades or so with a larger population over a more massive land area?
“Zelensky is winning in the eyes of the world. Not only that, he has out-macho’ed Putin. Putin sitting slouched behind his opulent white desk in that enormous cabinet meeting the other day, with his cabinet acting like cowards.”
OK. So Zelensky will get the same trophy they hand out on ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Putin can sit back, he’ll get Ukraine. No inconsistency there, just a clear opening in the trees to blue sky.
“Left – too late. Cold War or hot, this will reshape foreign policy and defense spending for the next 20 years.”
Total agreement Grim.
And 20 years from now when some international event occurs that falls out whatever policy we derive we will again act as surprised, astonished, offended, and with all the fake indignance we are now.
“The level of global support for Ukraine is enormous now.”
Cool. When do their troops and materiel land in Ukraine?
The red hat dolts will gnash their teeth and cry in red blankie if ole Brandon wins this round. His rating will improve, market will rebound and Dems will hold Jan 6th findings until fall which will implicate Trump and R cultists in conspiracy. By fall, their mid term ambitions will fall apart. Speculation is fun.
Left: No insurgencies inside Russia at the moment. Last one was Checnya and that was a small sates, under 2 million people. Russia fought 2 brutal wars there before crushing resistance. Bribed one of the insurgent leaders and made him head of the region. He puts down any opposition to the regime. Going to be much different in a country of 40 million people.
Guys, the skydiver jumped out of the plane without a parachute. You are debating wind speeds, cloud cover, nearby aircraft, and geography while fooling yourselves that will somehow save him.
He’s going splat.
He needed your help, advice, and gear before he jumped out of the plane. Sending it now…just doesn’t work.
The only real unknown right now is what he actually hits that kills him…power lines, trees, pavement, or an open field.
Surprised, astonished and offended? I will give you offended. There is no surprise or astonishment. This has been a focus of foreign policy for a long time. Kind of a blast from the past.
chi, didn’t even see that…Red hockey is in my rearview mirror for the rest of this season I’m sorry to say….debated going to Hobey Baker tonight but actually taking tomorrow’s game instead…I know….
In other news Matt Galajda had an outstanding win against Blue last night, likely denying them the Big Ten crown and securing ND one of the 16 NCAA bids….
Man, that 19/20 – 20/21 team was stacked and primed for a title….
re: “Pretty sure Anonymous is going after every single person listed in that hacked document at this point.”
Except they are the CIA.
Twitter is not censoring videos of the dead Russian soldiers etc. Russian just blocked Twitter this morning, you can expect the rest of the internet to be cutoff too.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/26/22952006/russia-block-twitter-ukraine-invasion-censorship-putin
BTW the Russian army has have been raining death over Kharkiv for 48 hours now, non-stop artillery and rockets. There are allot of dead soldiers there on both sides. The power has been knocked out now. So social media updates may stop.
Bystander says:
February 26, 2022 at 10:50 am
“The red hat dolts will gnash their teeth and cry in red blankie if ole Brandon wins this round. His rating will improve, market will rebound…”
Zzzzzzz…
As for Russia/Ukraine, once again American governance matters. Putin invaded Ukraine under the previous Dem admin, and then invaded again under the current Dem admin. That’s not a coincidence. For all of his potential misjudging of world opinion and, potentially, Ukrainian resolve, one thing he didn’t misjudge was the incompetence and fecklessness of the latest Dem president. Just thinking about one thing that even a semi-competent president could have done — imagine if the billions of dollars of equipment that Joe left behind in Afghanistan for ISIS, al-qaeda and/or Iran, had been shipped to Ukraine…
last post as I actually want to get something done this morning…
Punkin, in another futile effort to inform and not snark (and appreciating the first chart may overstate the point but I don’t have time for this)….
What did you think will happen when this
https://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe
meets the unwinding of this
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WALCL
Small,
Also not a coinc that only one term losers in 40 years both Rs. Anything else you want to extrapolate?
What happened to Trump pulling out completely as promised? F-in BS coward knew he could not pull it off. Joe had to pull trigger, not easy and tragic for families but I count 13 dead Americans under Biden to 44 during Trump years. Fact
Bystander: Whatever happens Brandon is not winning this round it’s too late. The fact remains whether true or not Putin has done what he has done under 2 Democrat administrations. He sense weaknesses and took advantage of it.
Nothing going to happen to Pumkin’s pension.
Punkin, in another futile effort to inform and not snark (and appreciating the first chart may overstate the point but I don’t have time for this)….
What did you think will happen when this
https://www.multpl.com/shiller-pe
meets the unwinding of this
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WALCL
” Puppet replacement?” I guess Putin really did hack into America’s servers, as it appears he is attempting to use a plan from an American playbook.
“The U.S. government is prepared to help Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave Kyiv to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces, according to
U.S. and Ukrainian officials. But so far, the president has refused to go.
Removing Zelensky might offer Russian President Vladimir Putin the swiftest way to end the war in Ukraine or avoid a protracted, costly occupation, several current and former national security officials said this week.
With the Ukrainian leader out of the picture, Putin could try to install a puppet replacement.”
I know…because you have no short term memory.
https://mobile.twitter.com/peedutuisk/status/1497310882069581824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1497310882069581824%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2022%2F02%2F26%2Fukrainian-soldier-issues-warning-to-russians-in-cheerful-video%2F
Yup, it’s in trouble. Hopefully they can control the landing.
I messed up bad by not listening to you and others. I had to be stubborn and learn the hard way. Now I will never make that mistake again. FED is king. Liquidity lever matters more to the market than anything. You guys tried to teach me, but I had to learn this the hard way. I will never go against you guys again on the stock market. I don’t recall you guys ever being really wrong on any call/advice with the stock market. The fool has learned.
leftwing says:
February 26, 2022 at 11:08 am
last post as I actually want to get something done this morning…
Punkin, in another futile effort to inform and not snark (and appreciating the first chart may overstate the point but I don’t have time for this)….
Sure 3b..believe what you want but you can’t have it both ways. Putin fails and sanctions win, no boots then you can’t claim Biden failed politically. And Rs can’t claim Trump prevailed bc look Putin never attacked Ukraine. You are getting into silly logic and dismissing German politicians and other factors.
The only thing that is the pure unknown is just how crazy is Putin?
And is crazy even the correct word.
Anyone willing to take on what he has already taken on (don’t think for one minute this guy underestimated the risk) could have anything in mind. For all you know, he was diagnosed with cancer so doesn’t give a rat’s a zz.
How many boomers don’t care cause their life is over anyway?
Go ahead, spin the wheel. Vanna told you to.
Good luck!
What will be the biggest laugh is when America votes Trump back in, and he releases all of Putin’s money back to him.
Hahahaha.
How did they determine he got Covid in the “line of duty?” Was it on camera?
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of 14-year officer Matthew Horton, who died Tuesday after a two-month battle with the coronavirus, the agency announced Wednesday.
Horton, a sergeant, contracted COVID-19 on duty, and his death is the agency’s first line of duty death, the sheriff’s union, PBA local 379, posted on its Facebook page.
Bystander: You miss my point. Silly logic?? Not at all it’s the reality of how the narrative is presented. Putin grabs Crimea when Obama is President. Quiet when Trump is President. Biden President Putin grabs the rest of Ukraine. Dems weak Repubs strong. That’s how the narrative will be written.
As for logic, look at all the Dems and Repubs on this board no matter what the lunatic Trump did he is defended. Now it’s Biden who is weak and ineffective and he is defended. If people were honest they would condemn both, but no my side good your side bad. My side does the same as the other side it’s good, they do it it’s bad. There’s your logic for you.
3b,
Yup.
Dems weak Repubs strong. That’s how the narrative will be written.
As it should be. You can’t disguise truth. Dems and the left have been ultra angry since Reagan was president. Not only did he dismantle the s0cialist left ideology, he brought down the soviet union without firing a shot. And then Trump comes in, brokers a peace between Arab countries and Israel, escorts us to energy independence and drives an initiative that delivers a vaccine from epidemic onset to distribution in a matter of months. Of course the dems are weak. They’re arguing over which bathroom to use while the other side is exercising global strength and leadership.
Not only did he dismantle the s0cialist left ideology, he brought down the soviet union without firing a shot.
Did such a good job that here we are now.
Looks like there is just a bit more fight in the dog that was “supposedly” brought down.
You best make sure you kill your enemy cause if you leave them wounded….
“Cool. When do their troops and materiel land in Ukraine?”
Exactly. The west blew their chance to act. You avoid a world war by bringing your troops in before the enemy invades. Not after. The Ukraine will fall. No amount of protest will change this. Best outcome now is Putin is overthrown by his own.
Pumps,
Look back at the posts in December and January. I called this market to the T. We’ll see if my bottom falling out occurs in April as I predicted that too when the morons do their taxes and realize they owe their child credits back and a typical refund becomes an IOU.
Left, Chi,
My son’s team is two games away from playing at the Prudential Center with an excellent shot of making it. You guys should come up to watch it if it happens. I’ll treat you to some old school Jewish deli at Hobbies before the game.
I have so much to share of our multi-selling experience so far, but I’ll wait until the deed is done to share.
And Phoenix, our justice system is the most obvious sign of our country sinking closer and closer to 2nd world status. I know it fukced you. It fukced our “D” too, like you wouldn’t believe. And no one made any false allegations. Just good old corruption getting in the way of what is just.
3b,
Your bias is showing. You are creating narrative in your head. You are claiming a direct 1 to 1 relationship based on small sample size while also dismissing that other global politics play a major role in Putin’s decision. This is a very myopic American view, like it is some rockem sockem robot battle between Biden and Putin. We are multiple layers generals, military intelligence, weapons, defense that precedes any curreny president. You think Putin is not looking at that or just sayin’ I can attack because Old Joe in power…geesus c’mon.
By your logic, 3b, Putin should have attacked when Obama came into office. Why was 2008-2012 some of strongest relations between two countries? Did he suddenly say attack Crimea b/c “oops I forget a D is in office.” It is silly logic.
It’s going to escalate now, Germany is sending weapons.
The Russian invasion marks a turning point. It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin’s invading army. That is why we are delivering 1000 anti-tank weapons and 500 #Stinger missiles to our friends in #Ukraine.
https://twitter.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1497638225200001029
Meanwhile out East, if you haven’t seen it, watch it.
https://boweryboogie.com/2021/01/unused-half-of-bowerys-sunshine-hotel-flophouse-available-to-rent/?amp=1
Sunshine Hotel award winning documentary. Will the flophouse make a comeback..?
https://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Hotel-Nathan-Smith/dp/B008J0DQJ0
“Earnings don’t move the overall market; it’s the Federal Reserve Board, focus on the central banks, and focus on the movement of liquidity, most people in the market are looking for earnings and conventional measures. It’s liquidity that moves markets.” (Stanley Druckenmiller)
“Once an economy reaches a certain level of acceleration… the Fed is no longer with you… The Fed, instead of trying to get the economy moving, reverts to acting like the central bankers they are and starts worrying about inflation and things getting too hot.” (Druckenmiller)
Bystander: You are missing the point again. It’s not my view , it’s the view of millions of Americans all over the country. I have repeatedly said I despise both parties and have for years. I believe they are all bought and paid for, corrupt to the core. I have also said that young Bush was a disaster, one of the worst Presidents ever. I believe he accelerated the rapid decline of America.
I voted for Obama as I fell for the hope and change crap. Turns out he was as bad as Bush in many respects, just more sophisticated. He was a complete empty suit. Incredibly arrogant and self absorbed. Trump a disaster, but not a politician.
Many Americans realized that and voted for Biden and fell for the adults will be back in charge. I did not because he was just another bought and paid for corrupt politician, not to mention a liar and plagiarist. On top of it he is clearly declining mentally. His VP is a moron, simple as that. I have not voted since I voted for Romney in 2012, after being disappointed with Obama. I won’t be voting in 2024 if it’s Biden or Harris or the lunatic Trump.
I call it as I see it, I don’t care Dem/ Rep. I vote on issues if one puts me on the left and another on the right I don’t care. Many Americans feel the same way. The only logical choice for me now is not to vote. They both suck.
With all due respect you criticize the Republicans but not the Democrats you appear to think they are better, I don’t I think they are the same. If they deserve to be criticized I will do it , I am not blinded by party loyalty. And criticizing one party does not mean I support the other that seems to be the belief today with many Dems and Repubs if you criticize one then by extension you support the other. That’s simply not the case.
Lib,
You def called it perfectly. I remember. Your posts were part of the reason I pulled the 401k. It gave me the courage to pull the trigger. I was absolutely shaking pulling the trigger.
3b,
Do you shut down Small, Goat or Ed for their postings? I simply shove it back the BS back at them. We are not weaker economically or militarily because R or D next to name. Millions of Americans voted for Biden/Harris and disappointed bc they can’t pass a thing and not united. If Putin backs down, loses his stature then it is a win for Biden, plain and simple (not even saying he deserves it). The people who will claim it is not are mostly cult members who never voted for him anyway so who cares..same as it ever was.
Russia is toast, we will hear discussions about replacing Putin in a month, maybe even demilitarizing Russia.
Everyone is now sending weapons, US included.
Portugal is saying they will commit troops to protect the Ukraine border.
UK and France have already seized Russian flagged vessels.
Some very brave people out there in Ukraine tossing Molotov cocktails against armored vehicles.
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Molotov%20cocktail&src=typed_query&f=live
I don’t see how they can work against a tank however. There are images of villagers tossing them at passing Russian fuel trucks, that would work I suppose, as the fuel trucks aren’t armored. I have to wonder if we will see them mine the roads with IEDs.
Despite being outgunned, Ukraine is killing at a 3:1 rate. That number is going to increase substantially now that that they will have western anti-tank and aircraft weapons. Suspect the rest of Europe is starting to realize that the mighty bear ain’t so mighty.
Bystander: I don’t shut down anyone, nor was I shutting down you. I am criticizing the current occupant of the White House, Biden, just like I criticized Trump. You rightfully criticize Trump, but won’t criticize Biden. Is it only because it’s Trump or only Republicans. Millions of Americans voted for Biden after Trump as they thought they wanted Trump gone. Honest people I think would admit that it’s pretty sad all the Dems could offer was Biden Harris. I don’t buy your comment that Biden Harris can’t get anything done. The whole build it back better plan is a disaster and would have made inflation even worse. Biden simply does not have the support of many Americans and that includes the many Dems who voted for him. Harris is a moron. And I find it offensive that Biden was touting his build it back better while he sat in DC for all those years while it was dismantled. As for Fast, with respect to him, I don’t know what he means my classic Americanism more mythical than reality in
my mind. But I don’t subscribe to the radical lefts dogma that this country is absolutely horrible and there is nothing good about. It must be the fact that my parents
were immigrants. As for Small gov I don’t normally read his posts. But I will reiterate Trump was a disaster, and I did not vote for him either time.
Some of the captured Russian troops are just teenagers, conscripts for their mandatory 1 year service. They say they had no idea that there were being sent into Ukraine.
As far as the Kills it the British NLAW missiles, very easy for one person to handle and hide on the side of the road to ambush. 2,000ft range and 4lb explosive, very effective at taking out armor, knocks the top off a tank, the UK sent 2000 of them.
Here are two of them..
https://twitter.com/search?q=NLAW&src=typed_query
Those Ukies look awfully happy swinging around those rocket launchers.
It was really hard for me to watch the attack last week. My great grandfather served two conscriptions in a Czar’s army. Russian blood flows through my veins, but they abused us (Jewish Peasants) just watch Fiddler on the Roof.
Lib you rock man.
Grim says:
February 26, 2022 at 2:38 pm
“Everyone is now sending weapons, US included… Despite being outgunned, Ukraine is killing at a 3:1 rate…”
Even more damning of SlowJoe. We should’ve moved all weaponry from Afghanistan to Ukraine the minute it was clear that the Afghan govt would fall, and we should have armed Ukraine to the hilt even beyond that. Instead, we left billions in equipment in Afghanistan when we knew the govt would fall, and did virtually nothing beforehand to help give Ukraine a fighting chance. Pathetic incompetence.
From what I can find the US supplied only 300 Javelins, they have 2000 British NLAWs and a home grown ground launched Stugna-P weapon that works well to take out armor. I have seen a few videos of them set up aimed at the road etc.
I would think with the reported Russian vehicles taken out somewhere around 600 they will need to resupplied quickly. Not every missile fired is a kill. BTW don’t tell the Irish by the British NLAWs are made in Belfast.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10551271/The-weapons-Ukraine-using-hold-invading-Russian-Army.html
Russia is going to have to start moving heavy armor through Belarus exclusively, they’ll never get a tank across Ukraine from the east.
At what point will there be crosshairs on Belarus as accomplice.
They don’t stand a chance surviving heavy sanctions. Nobody is going to backstop them, the rest of the ex-soviet states hate them. Europe hates them. They likely couldn’t survive without Russia.
Rest of Europe should start talking about replacing the government of Belarus.
re: “We should’ve moved all weaponry from Afghanistan to Ukraine”
No can do. We did not want to arm them Period. This was Congress’s doing…They must vote for the weapons. The president has little say. Now it’s turned into a rush to help after the invasion. I have seen all kinds of talking head congress critters of all persuasions on the news today saying we need to send them weapons now, when they had the chance to do so for years and did not approve and appropriate it via legislation.
I did mention air superiority. We just shipped hundreds perfectly good F-15 fighters and tank killer A-10s to the boneyard. The A-10 is actually being retired by the air force. They say it’s not needed anymore. I bet the Ukrainians pilots could have strafed those columns of vehicles with the A-1o GAU-8 Gatling guns and ended this on one day. Nothing like a bullet storm of 30x173mm rounds to end a vehicle column advance.
It’s called lying. Or, if they haven’t already rubber stamped it, preemptive PR for the upcoming arbitration/lawsuit.
Phoenix says:
February 26, 2022 at 12:31 pm
How did they determine he got Covid in the “line of duty?” Was it on camera?
US Secretary of State stating that Russia will now lose Crimea as well.
“The U.S. and Ukraine today mark the 8th anniversary of Russia’s 2014 invasion and seizure of Crimea, a prior example of disregard for international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We reaffirm that Crimea is Ukraine and stand #UnitedWithUkraine,” Blinken tweeted.
re: “Russia is going to have to start moving heavy armor through Belarus exclusively”
The first columns that advanced towards Kyiv from there was stopped by the soldiers with the NLAWs I posted at 2:50 pm. They will run out of missiles before the Russians run out of vehicles and soldiers.
re: line of Duty
Never heard of a cop dying of aids in the line of duty. I have heard of 9/11 caused cancers etc. However with Covid they are all claiming it, as it adds extra Federal and State benefits for the family.
Protests continue in Moscow.
Reports of Russian armor running out of diesel with no resupply.
Lots of videos of giddy Ukies picking off tanks with missiles.
Lots of videos of Molotov cocktail factories and local citizens arming up. Going to be a warm night in Ukraine.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
And nothing was done to America over Iraq and it’s lie about weapons of mass destruction.
Yup their civilians are targeting the Russian fuel trucks by themselves.
Some next level stuff here.
Цель всех нас гражданских – бензовозы. Без горючего это все металлолом ебаный.
translated “The target for all of us, civilians, is fuel trucks. Without fuel, it’s all but fucking scrap metal.”
https://twitter.com/search?q=fuel%20trucks&src=typed_query
Yup their civilians are targeting the Russian fuel trucks by themselves.
Some next level stuff here organized on social media. Again twitter is filtering nothing..
translated tweet “The target for all of us, civilians, is fuel trucks. Without fuel, it’s all but f**k*ing scrap metal.”
https://twitter.com/search?q=fuel%20trucks&src=typed_query
My employer used all of my sick time I had for Covid, claiming I got it at a gas station.
Didn’t matter that I was bathing in Covid, of course I got it from the Arab guy who pumped my gas.
A-10 sticking around
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a32212953/a-10-warthog-2040/
Phoenix – what war wasn’t started with a lie?
condo – The Airforce decided to retire it and mothballed most of the fleet, they did not decide to keep it, it was legislated they had too.
3b,
I have been on record that Biden sucks and Harris was no one I wanted for presidency or VP. Only a candidate as bad as Trump could have lost to this tandem. We both hope for better candidates. I still issue with how you believe the narrative plays out. If a two bullies battle each on playground and threaten each other but never come to blows then it is compliment to the bullies.If one bully takes perceived weaker kid and throws a punch only to get decked and humiliated then, in your logic, the weaker kid is weak bc bully took a swing? There you go. Let’s see how this plays out
I fail to see how Biden or Trump would have prevented this war. Putin was going to Putin no matter who was president. Be thankful it wasn’t Hillary. She would have your kids over there right now in the trenches…
Bystander Agree to disagree on your logic. We can leave it there. Peace.
The Tinder Swindler has today been spotted leaving a restaurant in Tel Aviv (pictured right), after he was discovered living in a luxury 14-storey tower block in the coastal city in Israel. Shimon Heyada Hayut, 31, from Israel, found notoriety after a 114-minute Netflix documentary exposed how he ruthlessly conned women he had met on Tinder out of an estimated £7.4 million by posing as the son of a billionaire diamond mogul. Hayut, who operated under several aliases, including Simon Leviev, was recently found by the Daily Mail to be holed up in a high-end complex in the city after he was exposed as one of the world’s most reviled fraudsters.
Amazing to see all of those Ukrainian women out making Molotov cocktails.
Well,
If Putin is going to nuke us I hope he does it on Monday morning as I have tomorrow off and have to go in early on Monday.
I think Nuclear winter is an official snow day isn’t it?
Been watching WION tv. Now this is a reporter:
https://samvadplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Palki-Sharma-Upadhyay.jpg
Been watching WION tv.
Now this is a reporter:
https://bit.ly/36M9vyY
Juice,
You speak truth. Wish we could all get there. Let’s hope Putin goes down and Faux News and unpatriotic infantile right can stop their putrid rhetoric.Turm off Tucker.
Phoenix – what war wasn’t started with a lie?
Point taken.
Uh Oh.
A North Carolina police officer is accused of selling 56 grams of cocaine for $2,600 while he was in uniform and sitting in his patrol car, according to federal prosecutors.
Raleigh police officer Keven Rodriguez, 33, was taken into custody by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Wednesday after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said at a news conference.
Rodriguez is charged with distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm in connection with that offense, Easley said.
On January 24, Rodriguez allegedly met with a confidential informant and sold them 56 grams of cocaine in exchange for $2,600 in cash, Easley said, adding that he drove to the meeting in his patrol car, while in uniform and carrying his department firearm.
The wired informant spoke to Rodriguez through his right passenger window, and the transaction was recorded on audio and video and observed live by agents.
#freerussia #removeputin
Your CIA is working hard.
JUST IN: #Russian state TV channels have been hacked by #Anonymous to broadcast the truth about what happens in #Ukraine.
https://twitter.com/YourAnonTV/status/1497678663046905863
“ The Pentagon has denied a claim from the Russian Ministry of Defence saying it is “highly likely” that the United States used some of its surveillance drones flying over the Black Sea to help the Ukrainian Navy attack its vessels.”
Nope, complete coincidence.
Fucking brilliant
Yes cool as hell, but you can bet they had help from the inside, bitcoin ended up in someone’s wallet over there. There is also a general call out from the Anon group to join in on their cyber attacks against the Ruskies.. It sounds like a good cause but in reality the punishment in the USA for hacking can be quite severe many Federal and State laws, but not so much if you live in the EU. The Ruskies have now added DDOS protection on most of their internet sites like Pravda and RT so a simple attack like that won’t be as effective anymore. I don’t know too much about their hosting but I would think it is not a redundant or hardened like you can do with US or EU cloud providers, but is most likely opensource based so there are bound to be plenty of exploitable bugs.
I am thinking their interconnects and peering could be taken down for the WWW but that might be a bad idea since we want the Russian people to know what is going on and they won’t find that on Russian media.
Ruskies and really pounding the city of Kharkiv tonight. I am thinking it might be all or nothing between today and tomorrow.
The CNN reporter in Belgorod Russia said he saw huge amounts of armor headed in their direction. I hope they are not using their thermobaric ammunition. That artillery will destroy entire city blocks.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/02/26/russian-tanks-ukraine-video-pleitgen-vpx.cnn
I’m sure there are plenty of Russian hackers hacking Russia right now.
As he plans to cash in on a movie:
Sean Penn calls Putin’s war on Ukraine a ‘brutal mistake’ and praises President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people for ‘historic symbols of courage’ as he films documentary during invasion
Elon joins the war.
Elon Musk
@elonmusk
· 38m
Replying to @FedorovMykhailo
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
Sen. Rick Scott reminds me of fire marshall Bill
@KyivIndependent
Column of Russian special forces defeated near Hostomel “Kadyrovites,” named so for the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov.
According to Channel 24 sources, the Ukrainian military blew up an echelon of 56 tanks that included General Magomed Tushayev, who was killed.
If your phone starts screeching loudly, take a look at it.
Might not be one of those Silver Alerts this time.
Phoenix – You want to be in the blast zone, not near it so you wont feel it.
Phoenix – I don’t think we are on high alert. But hey is Putin that crazy?
Media says he is in a bunker 1200 miles from Moscow now.
Who knows…
Why am I not surprised
A man was killed after being struck by a train in Morris County Thursday night, authorities said.
A man was struck and killed by a a train in Somerset County, suspending service to NJ Transit’s Morris & Essex line Saturday, Feb. 26, authorities said.
Some oligarchs have also obtained dual citizenship in Britain and other Western countries, adding legal complications to attempts to unilaterally seize their assets.
An example is Roman Abramovich, a former Russian provincial governor and Putin ally who became a steel and metals magnate. Now a dual Israeli citizen with a net worth estimated at more than $13 billion, Abramovich has used his fortune to buy the British soccer club Chelsea and homes in London and New York. He and his now ex-wife frequently socialized with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and son-in-law of former President Donald Trump.
Abramovich also owns what is purported to be the world’s most expensive superyacht, the 455-foot-long Solaris, which features a helicopter hanger, tennis court, pool and berths for about 100 guests and crew.
Let’s hope they don’t run out of anti-tank missiles tonight.
https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/1497716762208522241
But much of the wealth of Russia’s richest isn’t held in the sanctioned Russian banks. Putin and the oligarchs aligned with him have had decades to stash assets overseas, much of it hidden in ways specifically designed to avoid sanctions.
Though the Kremlin officially reports Putin’s income at $131,900 annually, the Russian president is believed to benefit from many billions in cash and overseas assets held by trusted friends and relatives, many of whom are from his home city of St. Petersburg.
A 2017 study of Russian oligarchs published by the U.S.-based National Economic Bureau estimated that as much as $800 billion is held by wealthy Russians in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Cyprus, and similar offshore banking centers. That vast fortune, held by a few hundred ultra-rich individuals, is roughly equal to the wealth of the entire rest of the Russian population of 144 million people.
North Korea fires MISSILE towards the Sea of Japan: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spikes tensions globally
Hey look at me, I’m still relevant!
Hey look at me, I’m still relevant!
Former President Donald Trump blasted President Joe Biden over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, boasting onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday night that the deadly assault wouldn’t have happened on his watch.
He also riled up the crowd by almost immediately teasing a 2024 presidential run.
‘I stand as the only president of 21st century on whose watch Russia did not invade,’ Trump bragged. ‘I have no doubt Putin made his decisoin to ruthlessly invade Ukraine after watching pathetic withdrawl from Afghanistan.’
The ex-president was critized by Biden and others this week for complimenting the Russian leader and calling him ‘smart’ in the lead-up to the invasion.
‘The problem is not that Putin is smart, of course he’s smart, but the real problem is that our leaders are dumb,’ Trump said.
Trump also immediately teased another presidential run.
“All I needed to know about $BA was that they hired unqualified $9/hour developers to manage the software-side of the 737 Max project.
This striking red flag was OSINT as early as 2019 and provided a very significant heads up about management’s priorities.”
https://medium.com/@dodiyadharmik/boeings-737-max-software-outsourcing-to-9-an-hour-engineers-7049c07b5ded
I’m guessing the complete ban of War weapons here in the US is DOA.
Just sayin.