kent_island_sailor
Super Anarchist
My nephew was onto a "private property is theft" phase until I grabbed his guitar and walked out the door.
Come back - THAT'S MINE !
Exactly
Putin is losing his war badly, so bad he threatened nukes. What should the response be if he does?
- Thread starter badlatitude
- Start date
Come back - THAT'S MINE !
Exactly
phillysailor
Super Anarchist
- 8,849
- 3,638
I’m kinda laughing at the concept that the referendums are for foreign consumption. No one in the world accepts Russian occupation as legitimate, and Putin wasn’t looking to legitimate his actions in any country’s eyes, not really.
His invasion is taking land by brute force, and if he succeeds, it will not because of some sham voting, but because his troops are occupiers.
The referendums are for domestic politics. He wants to paint the Ukrainians as aggressors, the west as attacking mother Russia and to change the rules regarding use of conscripts in combat zones.
If the motherland is under attack, his freedom to maneuver and dictate is greatly enhanced, up to and including forms of martial law.
He will declare himself a wartime president, getting rid of the inanae “special action” verbiage, and call upon all patriotic Russians to defend their country.
Russia does have elections in the not-to-distant future, and those would be suspended in a time of emergency if needs dictate.
Saves Putin a lot of bother.
His invasion is taking land by brute force, and if he succeeds, it will not because of some sham voting, but because his troops are occupiers.
The referendums are for domestic politics. He wants to paint the Ukrainians as aggressors, the west as attacking mother Russia and to change the rules regarding use of conscripts in combat zones.
If the motherland is under attack, his freedom to maneuver and dictate is greatly enhanced, up to and including forms of martial law.
He will declare himself a wartime president, getting rid of the inanae “special action” verbiage, and call upon all patriotic Russians to defend their country.
Russia does have elections in the not-to-distant future, and those would be suspended in a time of emergency if needs dictate.
Saves Putin a lot of bother.
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ShortForBob
Super Anarchist
Uncles have died for less.
Ease the sheet.
ignoring stupid people is easy
- 20,349
- 2,342
Not that one. That's for my Viking funeral...Which boat?
shaggybaxter
Super Anarchist
Whilst the West makes the appropriate diplomatic warning noises, I would make it categorically clear that half the nations on the planet would dedicate their enormous resource pool and however many years it took to hunt him down and rub him out of existence. Vow to utterly ruin his entire way of life, recommend he approach Bin Laden's minders to give him some pointers.
Bullies get bullying. Stay in your borders and live. Escalate or continue and don't.
Bullies get bullying. Stay in your borders and live. Escalate or continue and don't.
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SloopJonB
Super Anarchist
phillysailor
Super Anarchist
- 8,849
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One of the reasons Putin wins elections is voter apathy.
After the ballot stuffing and other electoral irregularities no one trusts the election system. Any competent rival is subject to sidelining, imprisoning and killing. Putin largely controls the media and so dominates discussions voters see and hear.
But being seen to fail at what he promised was a simple “special operation” and having ruined his economy while increasing the threat from NATO leaves him vulnerable to public protests and recalcitrant oligarchs, bureaucrats and politicians.
Staying on top is a high wire act, and having more cards to play becomes second nature.
A war to protect the fatherland from outside aggressors gives him an excuse to go full dictator.
After the ballot stuffing and other electoral irregularities no one trusts the election system. Any competent rival is subject to sidelining, imprisoning and killing. Putin largely controls the media and so dominates discussions voters see and hear.
But being seen to fail at what he promised was a simple “special operation” and having ruined his economy while increasing the threat from NATO leaves him vulnerable to public protests and recalcitrant oligarchs, bureaucrats and politicians.
Staying on top is a high wire act, and having more cards to play becomes second nature.
A war to protect the fatherland from outside aggressors gives him an excuse to go full dictator.
Steam Flyer
Sophisticated Yet Humble
Another reason why Putin is guaranteed to win is that he completely controls the office which counts the votes.
D
Deleted member 149385
Guest
We agree
Sol Rosenberg
Girthy Member
SloopJonB
Super Anarchist
Is that anything like defenestrated?
Just a guess, but the progression might be from recalcitrant to defenestration.
Movable Ballast
Anarchist
Why can't someone just kill this guy... How protected can he be?
D
Deleted member 149385
Guest
You try walking the President of a police state.
Movable Ballast
Anarchist
No one would care... Maybe he could just fall from a 10 story window, that seems to be a common accident in Russia these days...
D
Deleted member 149385
Guest
And risk someone even crazier stepping up to fill his shoes?
Chris in Santa Cruz CA
Super Anarchist
china is backing Putin because they see if Putin goes away its pretty likely the replacement will bend more towards the west and their cheap energy goes away and they loose a fellow bully on the world economic playground and a key ally on the UN sec council
Movable Ballast
Anarchist
Agreed but if he drops even a tactical nuke, China will be just as fucked. They are already on the ropes economically. A nuclear conflict would break them... I expect old Xi is on the phone to Vlad saying WTF dude.
D
Deleted member 149385
Guest
I can imagine that.
Movable Ballast
Anarchist
I think/hope in the end anyone associated with Putin's regime will be purged and a move towards a more European democracy could emerge from the ashes of the old Russia.
