Friends, Happy Presidents' Day! We've had some doozies, all right... How fortunate that we currently have a president whose statesmanship, wisdom, and integrity are beyond question. (Ha!) All kidding aside, presidents are great, but we may fixate on them a tad too much in America today. Believe it or not, a president, even with the best of intentions, can only do so much... They can do more, of course, when they have the American people on their side.
Speaking of the presidency, could the Dems be dense enough to renominate...Kamala Harris in 2028??? They could be! My, what a gift that would be...
Meanwhile, the Europeans are wringing their hands, as per usual, over the state of the transatlantic alliance. They feel like they can no longer count on the U.S. to lead the charge against their favorite boogeyman: Russia. Well, that's true, but on the other hand we still have tens of thousands of troops in Europe, we're still sending oodles of weapons to Ukraine (paid for by Europe, thankfully), and Europe is still sheltering under our nuclear umbrella. Ergo, we still bear many of the costs of our "partnership" with Europe (and Canada), but we get more abuse than ever and could just as easily be sucked into another world war on their behalf. I say: cut the cord! End U.S. membership in NATO. Give those Euro-weenies some tough love, at long last...
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Feckless Kamala could have the traditional good will extended to a "come back kid". Her big disadvantage would be , well, herself. No knock on Nixon but she is showing Nixonian persistence so yeah , the far left/Dems might be as patronizing of the electorate as to strongly consider her. But I don't think they'll be able to resist crowning the sultan of snickering, oozing smarm himself, disingenuous Gavin.
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest that there were two Presidents who were incomparable and indispensable, Washington and Lincoln. I think they fully deserve the reverence we reserve for them.
I'm confident that DJT will end up in that next tier, that of near greats like Reagan, both Roosevelts , Eisenhower and maybe Truman. I'd reserve a place of redeeming regard for Nixon, who I think was a tragic figure. And I'd recognize Bush I as an exemplary modern war President.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I agree completely. Many European leaders still chafe at having to defer to bumpkins like us.Let 'em have another go at it and see if they can keep from ravaging each other or going increasingly Marxist.
ReplyDeleteIt is best to keep Russia at respectful bay. A united Europe is their military equal , I think and perhaps, given Russia's performance against Ukraine, their better. But Russia has proven itself there to be the same old barbarian power. I don't think Russia is expansionist but, knowing the horrors and the humiliation of invasion , they do INSIST on being secure within their borders. And like China, they MAY think that their security requires them to be a military presence in, say, the Arctic.
We can handle them and I think they know it. Let Europe summon up the will to yet ensure itself against a nonetheless improbable Russian breakout and let us leave them to it. We owe them no more.
Nonetheless, If the UK returns to common sense, as it appears to be doing; lets retain a special relationship with them and lets stop needlessly vexing Canada.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteI did not know this until recently, but are you aware that Russia has an air and naval base in Syria? Apparently, if I understand correctly, regime change in Syria has not changed the agreement for them (Russia) to be there. So, basically, that to me, is a Russian presence in The Mediterranean, which, in my opinion is significant. Close to Israel, obviously. What's you take on this?
RAY TO JACK
DeleteActually I picked up the information on Russian bases in Syria through a Russian movie focused on an incident where two Russian planes were shot down (Turks?) a few years ago. Saw it on Tubi. Obviously, very dramatized.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteThe name of the movie is "Mission:Sky".
Ray from Jack: I haven't paid a lot of attention to a Russian presence I had heard about in Syria. Don't know yet about how the new regime regards such a presence. But I think Russia should take care not to tangle with us on the Middle East and on any perceived threat to Israel.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we have a very affirmatively pro Israel Administration and Russia, with its nose thoroughly bloodied before the world by Ukraine might, if it is wise, refrain from pressing any advantage it might perceive from a vestigial Syria connection through the deposed Assad regime. An exploratory ISIS reemergence in the wake of regime change in Syria would, I think meet with President Trump's wrath in short order.
Our President's unapologetic action in the MIddle East through his first year (the immolation of Iran's nuclear bomb facilities and the forcefully demonstrated prospect for them of more American chastisement of their neomedieval regime)and affirmative support for a gallant Israel which has decimated the Iran client jackals at its vitals , make very plausible the possibility of cooperation between the advanced and humane civilization of Israel and its grudgingly and unavoidably acquiescent Muslim neighbors which may become institutionalized once its certain widespread benefits are realized. Our President has been working miracles using just plain common sense and this could be one of them, I think.
Jack, it is VERY hard to imagine that Kamala could emerge as the winner of a fair fight with someone as capable and intelligent as Gavin Newsom. I mean, the only fights she's ever won before were rigged in her favor. But possibly Newsom could self-destruct? That would be her obvious path to the nomination.
ReplyDeleteJack, I would guess that Putin is very much inclined to expansionism, but even more so to self-preservation. I suspect he's only continuing his assault on Ukraine because his prestige is completely dependent on "winning" this war of his own choosing. But that doesn't mean he'll rush into any more wars once this one is done. I'd say he's learned a lesson or two about the dangers of hubris!
Ray, you are right about the Russian bases, but I would say Russia's ability to project power in the Med, and globally, is pretty minimal. I mean, they can't even project power in the Black Sea or overfly Kiev. They've got nukes as their trump card, but that's about it.