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Botany

(70,581 posts)
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:14 PM Feb 13

Ron Johnson, "Putin will not lose. He's not gonna lose."

In the same interview, the GOP senator — the former chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee — criticized U.S. sanctions before concluding, “A lot of the points that Vladimir Putin made are accurate. They’re obvious.”

On Capitol Hill, Johnson pushed a similar line. Politico reported:

Ukraine opponents met late Monday evening and came out resolving to delay the bill as long as they can, even if it requires holding the Senate floor overnight. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said they will use as “much time as we can” on the Senate floor. “We’re not helping Ukraine at this point in time. We’re fueling a bloody stalemate. It makes no sense,” Johnson said after the meeting.It’s a position rooted in the idea that the United States would go a long way toward “helping Ukraine” if we curtailed aid and made it easier for Russia to win faster.


https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/ron-johnson-rejects-ukraine-aid-says-putins-points-are-accurate-rcna138557

Can Ron Johnson be anymore of a Putin ass kisser? Russia has been getting its ass kicked and
will continue to be beaten as long as the Putin Caucus aka the Free Dumb Caucus and pro Putin
Republicans in the senate don’t block America’s support of our alley the brave people of the Ukraine.

96 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Ron Johnson, "Putin will not lose. He's not gonna lose." (Original Post) Botany Feb 13 OP
Coming from Russian Ron , Putins man Historic NY Feb 13 #1
In 2016 Trump, Flynn, and others changed the RNC platform to help Putin and hurt Ukraine. Botany Feb 13 #6
So Ron's surrendering Democracy in Ukraine Captain Zero Feb 13 #41
They are traitors supporting our adversaries. This election is about good verses evil, JohnSJ Feb 13 #2
"King George will not lose. He's not going to lose." Stuckinthebush Feb 13 #3
And neither did Adolf. Squaredeal Feb 13 #8
If you like putin, you'll love ron johnson. lastlib Feb 13 #4
... and Free Shipping, too! William Seger Feb 13 #49
yes, I'll go for that! lastlib Feb 13 #58
The traitor is echoing the same words from Elon Musk. The U.S. needs to terminate all contracts JohnSJ Feb 13 #5
Someone's got Vladdy issues Blue Owl Feb 13 #7
Ron had Russian help in 2016. " Russians suspected of hacking local Dems" Botany Feb 13 #11
She also won Pennsylvania, Florida, and Michigan. triron Feb 14 #93
That is great! Well done. Traildogbob Feb 13 #17
Let me think - Johnson - soldierant Feb 13 #76
Ron isn't even trying to hide it anymore. sheshe2 Feb 13 #9
He is dumb as well as evil. Mickju Feb 13 #19
They're kidnapping thousands of kids. Eyeball_Kid Feb 14 #89
150 to 200 of them bluestarone Feb 13 #21
Ra-Ra-RonPutin, Russia's greatest love machine. It was a shame how he carried on. TheBlackAdder Feb 13 #10
Another Russian republican. republianmushroom Feb 13 #12
We can easily see who is on the Putin payroll. Irish_Dem Feb 13 #13
Traitor Chi67 Feb 13 #14
"We're fueling a bloody stalemate..." dchill Feb 13 #15
If Ron and his pals think a "stalemate" is bloody, Emrys Feb 14 #91
And then what will you and your orange lord do when Putin sinkingfeeling Feb 13 #16
Putin won't. The slope isn't that slippery. maxsolomon Feb 13 #54
Tell it to Latvia and Poland. sinkingfeeling Feb 13 #60
No doubt provocations are possible. They're right to be on guard. maxsolomon Feb 13 #65
They are right to fear it. But fear is not part of the equation. Poland is armed to the teeth with modern PortTack Feb 13 #66
This message was self-deleted by its author maxsolomon Feb 13 #68
Russia just placed the PM of Estonia on their wanted criminals list AdamGG Feb 14 #87
Does the Johnson Traildogbob Feb 13 #18
Traitors in the congress orangecrush Feb 13 #20
hope so but probably not oldinmtdem92 Feb 13 #24
Americans have NO IDEA Aaeia Feb 13 #22
Don't forget that a vast amount of the C-19 and vaccine misinformation Americans see is from Russia Botany Feb 13 #27
I agree with you. yardwork Feb 13 #30
Well, they're not wrong. Oneironaut Feb 13 #64
Remember when Republicans used to scream "Neville Chamberlain!" at Democrats Midnight Writer Feb 13 #23
I get my news from Stephanie Miller, for one source, gab13by13 Feb 13 #25
I don't believe Russians will tolerate a "bloody stalemate" forever; Putin may not be invincible William Seger Feb 13 #51
RoJo is a TRAITOR to the United States. ProudMNDemocrat Feb 13 #26
What were you doing in Moscow July 4, 2018, Ronald? Wild blueberry Feb 13 #28
OMG. yardwork Feb 13 #29
The bill has passed and in on to the House now. brush Feb 13 #31
Putin is our enemy and so are his lackeys dlk Feb 13 #32
Come on Wisconsen. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Feb 13 #33
See post #11 LakeArenal Feb 13 #55
yeah, when i read the op opening line i thought: ron johnson needs to lose orleans Feb 14 #84
Anyone remember the Rosenbergs? Oneironaut Feb 13 #34
Putin's Comrades Roy Rolling Feb 13 #35
That 4th of July party in Russia must have MOMFUDSKI Feb 13 #36
What the fuck is WRONG with these ghouls? I just don't get it. Texin Feb 13 #37
None of this makes any sense, it's just mindless contrarianism. sop Feb 13 #44
And it all began..... SergeStorms Feb 13 #57
Greed and power to force others to live their life on their terms. Justice matters. Feb 13 #46
I suspect it's a combination of 2 factors Trailrider1951 Feb 13 #61
how did this traitor win re-election? pansypoo53219 Feb 13 #38
Russian help in 2016 Botany Feb 13 #43
how did senator stupid win in 2020? but then i worked the 2008 election. gotta vote for all the dems. pansypoo53219 Feb 14 #86
That's what Johnson, the traitor, is hoping for. Bluethroughu Feb 13 #39
Guy spends Fourth of July in Moscow and now he's wrapped around Putin's finger. Kid Berwyn Feb 13 #40
There are no American troops on the ground in the Ukraine. Except volunteers. Mercenaries. No USA KIAs. usaf-vet Feb 13 #42
Yeah, but Russian propaganda says they're fighting NATO ground troops. Oneironaut Feb 13 #63
Here is my position from an eariler DU/OP. usaf-vet Feb 13 #72
How much does Putin pay these whores? dalton99a Feb 13 #45
Is Putin paying them? ShazzieB Feb 13 #78
"Dear Ron, Turbineguy Feb 13 #47
Q: How stupid do you have be to believe that Putin supports TFG and Johnson because... William Seger Feb 13 #48
K&R BootinUp Feb 13 #50
Is this getting through back in Wisconsin? Do the voters know about this Putineer? Hermit-The-Prog Feb 13 #52
"Goooo Team!"🇷🇺 is what Ron is really saying. LakeArenal Feb 13 #53
The Ukraine War is a stalemate - at best. maxsolomon Feb 13 #56
There's the overriding fallacy that keeps cropping up, and the current trap: Emrys Feb 13 #75
"Stalemate" is the status of the war - not a verdict. maxsolomon Feb 14 #88
"Stalemate" relies on accepting the parameters media pundits have chosen to apply, Emrys Feb 14 #90
OK, happy clappy from now on. maxsolomon Feb 14 #94
There's a difference between "happy clappy" and taking a measured look beyond the shifting media narratives. Emrys Feb 14 #95
Sure sounds like "aid and comfort" to me. Qutzupalotl Feb 13 #59
OFFS name a war Russia DID win!! PortTack Feb 13 #62
WW2? maxsolomon Feb 13 #67
Rootin' For Putin eShirl Feb 13 #69
Cash your checks now Ron. Or does Deutche Bank need to convert from rubles for ya? Traitor. Evolve Dammit Feb 13 #70
It might not be the money but Putin might have kompromat on him. He knows that Russia put him ... Botany Feb 13 #71
Pee pee tape Evolve Dammit Feb 14 #96
Tool. cilla4progress Feb 13 #73
Johnson has been parroting The Wizard Feb 13 #74
Another useful idiot Blue Idaho Feb 13 #77
F*ckwad Traitorus Shite says what? dpJFK rolling in his grave over this shite Spermwad. NotHardly Feb 13 #79
Traitors, one and all. Martin68 Feb 13 #80
White Supremacy czarjak Feb 13 #81
Ron Johnson, carrying water for Putin Warpy Feb 13 #82
The Russian Economy is going to collapse ThoughtCriminal Feb 13 #83
He is dog S*** on the bottom of a shoe Bristlecone Feb 14 #85
Hang RUSSIA around Trump & GOP's miserable necks. Kid Berwyn Feb 14 #92

Botany

(70,581 posts)
6. In 2016 Trump, Flynn, and others changed the RNC platform to help Putin and hurt Ukraine.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:26 PM
Feb 13

This was done after meeting with Russians @ the convention. The Steele Dossier was right Trump
is owned by Russia and so are a # of Republicans too.

https://www.npr.org/2017/12/04/568310790/2016-rnc-delegate-trump-directed-change-to-party-platform-on-ukraine-support


Where was the coverage of that but we did have 24/7 coverage of HRC’s email server.

Btw Russ Feingold was @ >95% chance of winning but Russia was very busy in WI in
2016. Republicans are in many cases are Russian allies and so is Fox News.

Captain Zero

(6,823 posts)
41. So Ron's surrendering Democracy in Ukraine
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:15 PM
Feb 13

Any doubt he will surrender it here too?
Nope. No doubt he will.

JohnSJ

(92,395 posts)
2. They are traitors supporting our adversaries. This election is about good verses evil,
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:18 PM
Feb 13

and the party that supported the insurrection and destruction of our democracy is the evil party, the republicans

Stuckinthebush

(10,847 posts)
3. "King George will not lose. He's not going to lose."
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:22 PM
Feb 13

I'm glad the French didn't have that attitude back in the day.

Ron Johnson is a Putin stooge. Putz.

lastlib

(23,286 posts)
4. If you like putin, you'll love ron johnson.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:24 PM
Feb 13

(I can't bear to waste good capital letters on these piles-of-crap.) Russia-ron needs to just self-deport to Moscow. Can we apply for Russian citizenship for him?

JohnSJ

(92,395 posts)
5. The traitor is echoing the same words from Elon Musk. The U.S. needs to terminate all contracts
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:25 PM
Feb 13

with musk.

Botany

(70,581 posts)
11. Ron had Russian help in 2016. " Russians suspected of hacking local Dems"
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:42 PM
Feb 13
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2017/01/23/russians-suspected-hacking-local-dems/96965824/

Russ Feingold was @ >90% chance of winning in 2016. Btw McConnell was and still is aware of
Russian hackings of our elections and has blocked any investigations and or corrective measures
to the system. Btw in 2016 HRC won Wisconsin according to exit polls.

soldierant

(6,921 posts)
76. Let me think - Johnson -
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 08:28 PM
Feb 13

isn't that English for Ivanovitch? (I apologize, my Cyrillic is terrible, so i just used more ot less phonetic English.)

sheshe2

(83,898 posts)
9. Ron isn't even trying to hide it anymore.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:37 PM
Feb 13

He stands firmly with tfg, Putin and Russia…and against America.

Eyeball_Kid

(7,434 posts)
89. They're kidnapping thousands of kids.
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 04:46 PM
Feb 14

They're killing babies. They're raping women before torturing and killing them. Overall, they are committing war crimes with impunity.

And people like Ron Johnson legitimize and encourage Putin to do more. Johnson is a monster. Like Putin.

bluestarone

(17,030 posts)
21. 150 to 200 of them
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:22 PM
Feb 13

Aren't hiding it anymore. This rethuglicon party has shown us their true colors for sure. We are also witnessing that 1/3 of our country is falling behind these HITLER CULTISTS.

Irish_Dem

(47,390 posts)
13. We can easily see who is on the Putin payroll.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:44 PM
Feb 13

Putin has puppets installed throughout the US government.

dchill

(38,532 posts)
15. "We're fueling a bloody stalemate..."
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:49 PM
Feb 13

Yes, Ron. Yes, you are. Right there on the Senate floor. What a confession.

Emrys

(7,257 posts)
91. If Ron and his pals think a "stalemate" is bloody,
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 05:28 PM
Feb 14

they need to look at what Russia has done, is doing and will do to people and territories it manages to overrun.

It's no less bloody.

sinkingfeeling

(51,473 posts)
16. And then what will you and your orange lord do when Putin
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 12:58 PM
Feb 13

marches on the Baltics Poland, and then all of western Europe?

maxsolomon

(33,400 posts)
54. Putin won't. The slope isn't that slippery.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 03:45 PM
Feb 13

He'll take territory from any former SSR that is NOT in NATO, even potentially annex Belurus, but Russia will not invade the Baltics or Poland.

sinkingfeeling

(51,473 posts)
60. Tell it to Latvia and Poland.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 05:46 PM
Feb 13

Latvia has much to fear from Putin's expansionist project known as Russkiy mir, or Russian world, which envisions all former Soviet territories as part of a greater Russian nation destined to be reunited under a common church, leader, and language.Mar 21, 2023

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/21/latvia-is-going-on-offense-against-russian-culture/#:~:text='%E2%80%9D%20Latvia%20has%20much%20to%20fear,church%2C%20leader%2C%20and%20language.

Poland and Lithuania say they fear provocations from Russia and Belarus at NATO’s eastern flank

https://apnews.com/article/poland-belarus-lithuania-wagner-7743d53fd33b43a90d07e777fe4e17f9

maxsolomon

(33,400 posts)
65. No doubt provocations are possible. They're right to be on guard.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:14 PM
Feb 13

I just don't believe Putin's got the appetite for a direct confrontation with NATO and Section 5. Yes, I suppose that changes if * wins in November.

Easier pickings in Georgia or Moldova, and the aforementioned Belarus.

PortTack

(32,793 posts)
66. They are right to fear it. But fear is not part of the equation. Poland is armed to the teeth with modern
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:15 PM
Feb 13

Weaponry and trained soldiers. They remember post WWII and are having none of it!

Response to sinkingfeeling (Reply #60)

Traildogbob

(8,798 posts)
18. Does the Johnson
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:06 PM
Feb 13

And Rand Paul have sleepovers listening to audio tapes of Hitler speeches while watching Pooty bare chested and bare back on a Stallion?
And siting in Russian cash.

oldinmtdem92

(47 posts)
24. hope so but probably not
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:28 PM
Feb 13

congress critters seem to be more concerned with donations than anything else .but the republicans are on the edge of self destruction .they have no platform they are toast.

Aaeia

(61 posts)
22. Americans have NO IDEA
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:25 PM
Feb 13

Americans have NO IDEA how this morass of political ineptitude puts a chill into each & every ally of your country. You are proving that you're unreliable and self serving regardless of all the good intentions I read in DU. As of this moment, I have never been more concerned & pessimistic about the Wests' survival in light of the current American atmosphere and Putin's inroads into American politics. Gods help us all if the Democrats don't win this upcoming election.

Botany

(70,581 posts)
27. Don't forget that a vast amount of the C-19 and vaccine misinformation Americans see is from Russia
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:34 PM
Feb 13

Russia’s cyberwar on America is unceasing. See Fox News and QAnon.

Oneironaut

(5,524 posts)
64. Well, they're not wrong.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:09 PM
Feb 13

At the moment, the US is the world’s crazy, tweaker uncle who becomes sober for 4 years and then falls off the wagon again.

Midnight Writer

(21,795 posts)
23. Remember when Republicans used to scream "Neville Chamberlain!" at Democrats
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:27 PM
Feb 13

who weren't tough enough on the threat from The Evil Empire?

Letting Putin take Ukraine is appeasement at its worst. A Russia reinvigorated with foreign conquest is destabilizing for the whole world.

gab13by13

(21,403 posts)
25. I get my news from Stephanie Miller, for one source,
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:32 PM
Feb 13

she usually has Malcolm Nance on Wednesdays. Malcolm Nance fought for Ukraine and he says that Ukraine will win the war.

William Seger

(10,779 posts)
51. I don't believe Russians will tolerate a "bloody stalemate" forever; Putin may not be invincible
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 03:22 PM
Feb 13

In the meantime, Russia's military resources are being decimated for a fraction of our defense budget. They're not likely to be invading any other countries when they're busy in Ukraine fighting a war they can't win unless the West gives up.

brush

(53,859 posts)
31. The bill has passed and in on to the House now.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:46 PM
Feb 13

Concentrate fire on trump puppet Speaker Johnson. Hope Minority Leader Jeffries can maneuver a floor vote with a discharge petition.

dlk

(11,576 posts)
32. Putin is our enemy and so are his lackeys
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:54 PM
Feb 13

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.

LakeArenal

(28,845 posts)
55. See post #11
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 03:50 PM
Feb 13

Not only the Russian hacking, the influx of mass dollars from Kochs buying WIRepublican nationalists, John Birchers, Posse Comitatus, then the extreme gerrymandering has put them in almost complete power. In the districts. But….state wide and Federal elections we trend Blue.

Oneironaut

(5,524 posts)
34. Anyone remember the Rosenbergs?
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 01:58 PM
Feb 13

Not saying this for any particular reason. Just wondering if anyone remembers them?

Interesting story, am I right?

sop

(10,246 posts)
44. None of this makes any sense, it's just mindless contrarianism.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:37 PM
Feb 13

Everything Democrats (and the majority of Republicans before they fell under Trump's spell) historically supported, they're against.

SergeStorms

(19,204 posts)
57. And it all began.....
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 04:26 PM
Feb 13

back in the mid-90s with Newt's "contract on America" and the tea party asshats.

I can't be the only person to wonder why Newt retired, but is still the right-wing media's go-to interview megaphone when they have a bee in their bonnet. 🤔
I wonder how much Newt is raking in from Pootie every year. Apparently enough that he didn't want any Congressional oversight into his finances anymore.

Trailrider1951

(3,414 posts)
61. I suspect it's a combination of 2 factors
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 05:52 PM
Feb 13

1. Pooty's purse: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
2. Nearby sixth floor windows.

Botany

(70,581 posts)
43. Russian help in 2016
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:21 PM
Feb 13
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2017/01/23/russians-suspected-hacking-local-dems/96965824/

Russ Feingold was @ > 90% chance of winning in 2016. Johnson is well aware that he had Russian
help in 2016 and probably Russian help in 2022 via the planting of disinformation and the use of
right wing media. Btw Wisconsin although it has some wonderful people and liberal areas but it has
lots of gun owning red necks too. Btw I own some guns, …..for hunting…. fish, camp, and like to,
cook brats too.

There was a time when this last comment about Russia and Putin will win in Ukraine would have
ended a career but not any more look @ Ohio’s J.D. Vance.

Bluethroughu

(5,186 posts)
39. That's what Johnson, the traitor, is hoping for.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:10 PM
Feb 13

DOJ???
The GOP is giving aid and comfort to our adversaries.

The Seditious Conspiracy marches on...

Kid Berwyn

(14,954 posts)
40. Guy spends Fourth of July in Moscow and now he's wrapped around Putin's finger.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:11 PM
Feb 13

Is the money that good, Ron?

usaf-vet

(6,207 posts)
42. There are no American troops on the ground in the Ukraine. Except volunteers. Mercenaries. No USA KIAs.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 02:16 PM
Feb 13

These GOPrussians supporters and their delusional orange man are willing to sell out our country and our allies.

What happens when russia decides it wants Alaska back as a forward base? To Invade the USA?

What side will the GOPrussians be on?

Will they hope NATO will step up then?

Will they then commit US troops to defend our borders against the invaders?

How do these actions and statements from GOPrussians not fall under the insurrection act?

At least to the extent of being willing to give aid and comfort to the enemy.

I can't believe it has come to this and mainly from traitors who have never served in the military.

Oneironaut

(5,524 posts)
63. Yeah, but Russian propaganda says they're fighting NATO ground troops.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:07 PM
Feb 13

Especially American troops. How can Pootie’s propaganda ever be effective in the US if he doesn’t have Putinista butt barnacles parroting Russian propaganda!?

usaf-vet

(6,207 posts)
72. Here is my position from an eariler DU/OP.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:44 PM
Feb 13
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18680156

Oh, did I mention Ron Johnson, WI Senator, is a traitor, and maybe the day will come when he loses his seat because he participated in the J6 insurrection and continues to provide aid and comfort to the enemy Putin and the Russian oligarch. Otherwise, he is just a plain old everyday a$$hole.

ShazzieB

(16,513 posts)
78. Is Putin paying them?
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 08:57 PM
Feb 13

I always thought they were just catering to TSF. We know he luuuuuuuvs him some Pootie, and GOP politicians will do anything Trump wants. And Trump is obviously rooting for Putin to take over Ukraine.

I suppose there could be payoffs as well, but I find it hard to believe that Trump ass kissing isn't at least a big part of the picture.

William Seger

(10,779 posts)
48. Q: How stupid do you have be to believe that Putin supports TFG and Johnson because...
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 03:02 PM
Feb 13

... Putin wants to Make America Great Again? A: MAGA stupid!

maxsolomon

(33,400 posts)
56. The Ukraine War is a stalemate - at best.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 04:00 PM
Feb 13

It's very difficult to imagine Ukraine succeeding in taking back the east side of the Dnipro, let alone Crimea.

It's also very difficult to imagine Russia completely conquering Ukraine and installing a vassal government.

Russia is not going away. They are not out of arms (thanks, NK & Iran), will refresh their troop numbers in any way necessary, and Putin is in power until his death. Ukraine, OTOH, is running low on arms & troops. Its cities are under constant barrages. The eastern front is a meat grinder.

Johnson is a symptom of the disease infecting the entire GQP. It's hard to imagine the Republicans allowing any Ukraine aid package to pass until after a Biden victory. If * wins, they'll never get another dime. Europe alone can't prop them up.

Increasingly, it looks to me that ceding territory will be the cost of peace - and Ukraine's future security.

Emrys

(7,257 posts)
75. There's the overriding fallacy that keeps cropping up, and the current trap:
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 07:53 PM
Feb 13

"ceding territory will be the cost of peace - and Ukraine's future security"

Ceding territory will only encourage Putin and his fellow travellers. It will not buy peace of any description. Look to very recent history for the proof of that.

Why do you think he's so keen on gaining that territory? It harbours rich resources that can be used to prop up Russia's economy and enable it to rearm in grand fashion.

As for "Ukraine''s future security", nowhere in Europe, including Ukraine, will be secure with Putin able to brag to his subjects about Russia's victory over the Western alliance, and that's how he and his media - and the yellow press in the West - will portray any concessions, and exploit it to fuel his next adventure westward.

As long as Ukrainians have an appetite for the fight, we owe it to them not to armchair quarterback, capitulate on their behalf and dismiss their efforts so glibly.

Ukraine was written off as a hopeless cause not worthy of support from the moment Putin launched his invasion. They've earned better than that cheap pat verdict.

maxsolomon

(33,400 posts)
88. "Stalemate" is the status of the war - not a verdict.
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 12:38 PM
Feb 14

It matters not if I armchair quarterback. I have zero power to shorten or prolong the carnage. I'm trying to imagine the outcome without being overly optimistic. Last summer was sobering, as is the intransigence of the GQP house to provide more aid.

Putin will spin any outcome to his advantage. That's a given.



Emrys

(7,257 posts)
90. "Stalemate" relies on accepting the parameters media pundits have chosen to apply,
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 05:23 PM
Feb 14

as if they were describing plays on a sports field by focusing solely on the goal line and ignoring what's developing on the rest of the arena.

Take a look a Crimea and its surrounding waters. Absorb the progressive deliberate and painstaking attrition of Russian air defences and leadership and support resources, the vulnerability of the Kerch bridge and the ongoing near daily toll on Russian sea power - not insignificant as many of those platforms can be used to launch missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets. Tell me the situation there looks like a stalemate, and I'll just have to respond, "That judgement may not age well."

As it is, whatever our regrets about the toll in human lives - and the environment - and believe me I have plenty, every doom-laden verdict any of us express on the outcome plays into Putin's hands and joins the chorus from some compromised US Republicans and their glib fellow travellers to the tune that America is just pouring good money after bad (never mind the fact that most of that money is bolstering US industries), and capitulation had better come sooner rather than later.

Capitulation may feel different for Americans than it does for those of us in Europe, closer to the front lines. We've already been there in the First and Second World Wars.

It's no surprise that the Russian botnets on social media are singing from the same songsheet. Let's not join in.

maxsolomon

(33,400 posts)
94. OK, happy clappy from now on.
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 06:22 PM
Feb 14

Never express a sobering opinion lest it aid Russia. Good vibes only. Sunny optimism.

Emrys

(7,257 posts)
95. There's a difference between "happy clappy" and taking a measured look beyond the shifting media narratives.
Wed Feb 14, 2024, 06:44 PM
Feb 14

There's a difference between "Good vibes only. Sunny optimism." and wishing that a people who've been doing their damnedest to fend off a bloodthirsty adversary and are currently being left to hang after being given treaty assurances about their continuing national security when they disarmed at our behest and with our encouragement should not have to just give up, take whatever's coming and wait for Putin's next move after that. And the next one.

But if you feel happier spreading Putin-serving lines when doing so can have no positive effect whatsoever for anyone except him, or perhaps you by making you feel like you're being somehow more "sophisticated" and "sober", good luck with that, I guess.

Qutzupalotl

(14,327 posts)
59. Sure sounds like "aid and comfort" to me.
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 05:36 PM
Feb 13

And by the way…Russia considers itself at war with the U.S., and says so on their state-run media.

Botany

(70,581 posts)
71. It might not be the money but Putin might have kompromat on him. He knows that Russia put him ...
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 06:43 PM
Feb 13

….. back into the Senate in 2016 and that he got lots of Russian money via the NRA in ‘16 too
but I think Putin has pictures of him with farm animals … goat 🐐 fucker? …. or underage boys
and or girls

The Wizard

(12,547 posts)
74. Johnson has been parroting
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 07:22 PM
Feb 13

Russian propaganda for years. Is Putin sending dollars or rubles to Johnson's off shore money laundry account?

Warpy

(111,339 posts)
82. Ron Johnson, carrying water for Putin
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 10:48 PM
Feb 13

because that's exactly what Putin has said in several of his speeches.

Ronnypoo needs to go live in Russia for a while.

ThoughtCriminal

(14,049 posts)
83. The Russian Economy is going to collapse
Tue Feb 13, 2024, 11:43 PM
Feb 13

and with it, their military. We just have to keep Ukraine in the war.

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