GobbleDog

So, rather than actual seized amounts... what number should we to use to analyze the situation? Whatever amount you imagine was imported?

Life in prison no parole. Cheaper, no innocents die, more families don't lose members, avoid State-sanctioned killing, more ethical/merciful... etc. "Nah, spend our tax dollars to kill him - it's worth it. Shoot him in the face and make him suffer. Watch his family grieve. The government should execute citizens like most third-world countries do."

That was my take-away from college economics. They create production inefficiencies and leave everyone - nations and consumers, poorer. I wondered if Trump was just threatening tariffs as a diplomatic bargaining chip, but wouldn't actually employ them unless necessary. Guess not. I'd like to believe Trump knows what he's doing and it'll be good for America, but yeah... we know that ain't right.

Why is the Federal government dealing with this? Shouldn't States, or for that matter Country school district decide for themselves? Seems more like Trump placating his base on a topic that fires them up.

Reminds me of chess grandmaster (and Russian dissident) Garry Kasparov who's often asked "do you think Putin is a good chess player?" Kasparov always replies: "Putin isn't a chess player, because in chess you can see all the pieces on the board. Putin plays poker. He bluffs and raises the stakes until everyone folds."

From the very start of the war, I've been surprised at Europe's approach of waiting to see what the US does in providing weapons and authorizing long-range use, before slowly doing the same. Russia's GDP ranked 11th in the world (who knows after the oil/gas embargo), just above SOUTH KOREA and below BRAZIL. How is it Germany (3rd), UK (6th), France (7th) and Italy (8th) can't mount a defense against Russia on their own? Not to mention Spain, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc. What is this lap-dog mentality among Europe? I get that none of them had spent nearly enough on defense, but collectively they could squash Russia like a bug. Particularly now that Russia's army has been exposed, has nearly a million causalities and their economy is teetering on collapse. You'd think Europe could easily take it upon themselves to help Ukraine kick Russian ass, with or without Trump. No doubt it's nice to have the biggest military in the world backing ya up, but ... wouldn't think they really need the US at this point.

During the meeting Zelensky called Putin a "murderer and terrorist", which Trump of course didn't acknowledge. Afterwards Trump told reporters... "He doesn't have to stand there saying 'Putin this and Putin that' and all negative things..." Meanwhile, every other western leader in the entire world calls out Putin for what he is. I'm the last guy to buy into conspiracy theories (heck I believe Oswald acted alone)... but I'm slowly starting to believe the idea that Trump truly is a Russian asset. His friendship (and protection) with one of the worst dictators on the planet is so perplexing that it's becoming the only logical explanation.

League, think I've read enough of your posts to get your gist. Mostly insults and unintelligent rants. Been here 25 years and only blocked 3 posters ever. Congratulations on being the 4th. Good luck to ya.

None met with Hitler after he illegally invaded Poland and was the midst of a major war.

Correction - "One parliament member who has a long standing grudge against Zelensky is" calling for impeachment. Here he is... https://www.reuters.com/article/world/europe/ukrainian-presidents-party-expels-lawmaker-on-us-sanctions-list-for-election-idUSKBN2A138Z/ Why would you even post something so ridiculous and misleading? Wait, I think I know and feel sorry for ya.

He didn't wear a suit, didn't bow down to thank Trump during the meeting (even though he's thanked the US and other allies a million times in the past), and looked uncomfortable while being berated. That's it? That's all ya got? That's why he "got what he deserved".?. Pretty pathetic League.

Absolutely. The reporter along with everyone else already knows Zelensky hasn't worn a suit since the war started as a way of showing solidarity with his troops.

What exactly did President Zelensky say that was "way out of line?" Post some of his 'out of line' quotes.

I can cite policies I agree and disagree with about every President I've ever had - even Trump. Not Maga - everything he does is right. If tomorrow Trump completely reversed course and offered FULL support to Urkaine, they'd say "yeah, greatest leader ever!" Whatever he believes, they believe. Whatever he says, they support. When he flip-flops, so do they. They don't actually have any beliefs of their own.

Didn't think Trump could sink much lower. I was wrong. Even if they couldn't come to an agreement... that was simply embarrassing. Trump sounds like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. And VP Vance: "Have you said 'thank you' once?" Zelenksy: "Many times". Vance: "No, in this entire meeting, have you said 'thank you'?" Zelenky tries to respond, but gets cut off by Trump: "Your country is in big trouble." Trump later refers to Biden as "that stupid president" who gave military equipment and inflates it by 3 times actual amount. When asked about agreeing to a cease-fire Zelenksy says: "I signed a ceasefire deal in 2019 and was assured the deal would be maintained - but Putin broke it. So what kind of diplomacy are you speaking of?" he asks the vice-president. Vance replies: "I think it's disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media." Can't imagine what the rest of the Western world thinks of Trump and the US now. That was shameful.

FoxNews owner Rupert Murdoch wrote on Jan 20, 2021: “Trump insisting on the election being stolen and convincing 25% of Americans was a huge disservice to the country. Pretty much a crime. Inevitable it blew up Jan. 6th.” What he didn't say was FoxNews was the main reason so many people were duped. Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “It wasn’t about the country, it was about the ratings. It wasn’t about objective, honest journalism. It was about Maga propagandism." Murdoch is 93 yo now and his children are set to inherit the company. Murdoch recently tried to amend his trust so not all the children would get control as most aren't right-wing nut jobs, but he lost the lawsuit. Rupert's son James Murdoch has made it clear that he thinks Fox has gone off the rails, embracing conspiracy theories, pushing out things detrimental to the workings of democracy itself. James has said that any reforms he might seek would focus on corporate and editorial governance, not political orientation. Fox News, he says could still report from a conservative perspective "without giving a platform to unqualified doctors to spread medical misinformation during a pandemic, or misrepresenting an oil-company shill as an expert on climate change." Hope it happens.

"Undersized, holds ball too long, focused on getting paid..." whatever. Clearly the kid can read defenses based on those incredible stats - at lowly Colorado no less. He impressed the hell out of me last year and believe me, I'm no Deon fan. I expect he'll probably keep surprising people.

Groupthink describes people who can't (or won't) find any criticism about "their guy" or any positives about their "political enemy". That ain't me. I can cite several Trump's policies I completely agree with and many I find disgusting. And my views cross both sides of the political spectrum, because they're my views. Not derived from any group. Agreed groupthink is a problem, but you pegged me as the wrong guy.

They ALL need to be sued when they lie. Apparently virtually none of it is real journalism, but they sell it as though it is and too many people believe it.

Well that was BBC, not MSNBC. Other sources (al Jazeera, UK defense, Moscow Times (independent media) range from 400,000 and up. Where are you reading "95,000" ? Provide a link. It isn't Russian state media is it?

True - in 2024, Russia advanced 25 miles. At a cost of 500,000 casualties, or about 1,400 per day. If they can sustain that rate, they'll conquer all of Ukraine in about 100 years. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682

Clicked thinking... I wonder who he signed with. Obviously noone. Now that I think about it - what team would sign him? Certainly no good team. And Rodgers won't play for a bottom dweller... so somewhere in the middle who needs a QB. Looking through the teams... Seahawks or maybe Rams if they don't resign Stafford.?. Look like possible candidates.

I don't think so. Ukraine has given the "once feared Russian army" a hell of a fight for 3 years now with out-dated weapons and range restrictions. More than held them at bay - they're nearing a million casualties and now using horses, donkeys, Chinese golf cars. With more/better weapons and pushing Russia's economy to near total collapse... that should do it. Most importantly make it perfectly clear to Putin and all Russians - we won't rest till Ukraine wins. Remove all hope. That said if I was your President - there'd already be US troops fighting in Ukraine right now. Vote for Gobble.

Trump has talked of easing Russian sanctions... ridiculous. Maximized. Countries buying Russian oil/gas (particularly India) need heavy diplomatic pressure exerted. Same for those helping to evade sanctions - China and Armenia. Confiscate the $300 billion in Russian foreign holdings to be used for Ukraine's defense. Provide more and better weapons - remove all restrictions on where they can be targeted. European countries will follow suit. Most importantly make it known - "We will not rest until Ukraine wins the war." Not the Ukraine just can't lose jargon Biden peddled. Had those things happened in the first year of the war... it'd be long over with Putin dead or in prison right now. That's what should happen, but probably not realistic with Trump... though who knows what the mineral deal included. I'll give him credit for one thing - in spite of every disgusting thing he's done regarding Ukraine so far, he's gotten Europe to get off their lazy asses to actually spend on defense. NATO turned them into bums... "why should we spend money, the US will always save us." Unfortunately Trump made the US look like unreliable Putin loving donkey's while doing it, but whatever.

Hopefully Ukraine got some security guarantees in exchange. Who knows what terms are, but Trump's initial offer was absurd demanding $500 billion, as repayment for $100 billion which was granted to Ukraine in the form of outdated weapons/artillery, which the US was going to restock anyway, and Ukraine gets nothing in return. Especially given Ukraine is fighting for its life against a common enemy. I will say I recently saw a report that Ukraine had actually offered a mineral deal to the US long before Trump took office that never came to fruition. So, if that's true I guess Ukraine was willing to negotiate with it. Just doesn't feel right... let's help Ukraine win first and then talk business. Trump is a slimeball.