Friends, no one talks about the Russia-Ukraine conflict anymore, because it's become part of the background noise of national and international politics, but subtle changes may be occurring in the balance of power there that could portend an end, of sorts, to the war. I sure hope so, although the conclusion we get may not be the one we seek.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/why-russia-believes-finally-crush-060000416.html
In other news, there was a debate here in the Empire State between incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman. Hochul, as is her wont, railed against President Trump, which, in a blue state, may sadly be all she needs to do to best her opponent. Time will tell.
Finally, Fox's latest poll is out, and it spells trouble with a capital "T" for Republicans! It shows the dastardly Dems ahead by 9 points in the so-called generic ballot, and Trump's approval rating circling the drain. Could the GOP outperform expectations? You bet, but at this stage that's not saying much!
Dr. Waddy: Having put the Russian economy on a war footing shows how fundamentally serious Russia is about this war. And it strongly suggests that Russia's single most elemental determination remains the same as it has been right from the start: the assurance that Ukraine will never enter Nato and that Russia's astonishing retreat to the east is over.
ReplyDeleteWe can lament and condemn Russian brutality but we cannot , I think, gainsay Russia's sense of unbearable affront and threat to its national security at the prospect of the esconsement of an anti Russia alliance in a Ukraine which has immense historical and geographical vitality for them. NATO and Ukraine should never have presumed to push Russia that far; Russia is an intensely rugged country with both a definitively trying climate and an unrelentingly , terribly tragic history. That has manifested in Russia a siege mentality which must be treated only with informed and prudent policy.
They may not be able to break a Ukraine which has already performed a gallant and miraculous resistance to Russia's characteristic onslaught. Much more almost incalculable suffering may still be at hand . Resolution cannot be without Russia's perception of its respected international standing being satisfied and its probably unshakeable determination never to endure a threatening Ukraine accomplished. Its just grim reality in a seemingly historically unendingly cataclysmic setting.
Dr. Waddy: As an example of what we would be dealing with if the DSA/Dems take either or both House let's consider J. Talarico , the disingenuous pretender to one half of Texas's "representation" in the US Senate. He is running as a Dem (read DSA).
ReplyDeleteHe is quoted approximately as follows from 2020: " climate change, white supremacy and capitalism are closely linked and must be seen so so that we can begin to dismantle them". How do you dismantle climate change? Sue to the very Gods?! No , I'm sure he means "undoubtedly human produced 'global warming' ". But decisive human generation of the climate change popularly described as "global warming" is a largely discredited theory now. Is he some kind of gifted prophet? Al Gore and AOC come to mind in their impassioned , patronizing and unrequited advocacy of such"inconvenient truth".
By what measure and definition does he perceive white supremacy and what specific measures does he envision to "dismantle it"? Eg, Does he contemplate continuation of intensification of proven ineffective and unjust "affirmative action"? After all, that concept can be expanded far beyond employment and college admissions and I'm confident Talarico has some nifty settings in mind for it in his far left's determination to force "equity" in all things except for the well being of "Dear Leader" and his cadre,
Does Talarico lead a life of strict abstinence from the unprecedented material benefits capitalism has afforded people in all countries with economies defined by sensibly regulated free enterprise? If so, does he advocate forcing such restraint on us all? Could it be he proposes giving prosperity hating Marxism yet another chance to reduce us all to equal destitution and powerlessness?
I express these seemingly absurd prospects because it is sensible to actually expect their like of the radicals of whom Talarico is shown by his sweeping declaration to be of common cause and probable close fellowship.
Oh but recently he has expressed support for lawful border control,an especially sensitive issue for Texas , located as it is on our southern border and having been subjected directly to far left obsequious Biden administration's unlawfully open border policy. Now he is a "gentle convertite'" to sweet reason. Well bless me for a fool but its probable he just wants to be elected, no matter what deceit it requires."What ever means necessary" , ehh ?
I live in a ,yes, very conservative area of upstate rural NY. Every two years we experience the patronizing imposition of leftist candidates to "represent" us in Congress. We usually send them packing because, well. . . , we KNOW that they seek not to represent us but to transform us from ignorant rubes into obedient far left worker ants.
That is just the kind of flim flam Talarico wants to work on Texas. The day after the election , win or lose, the real Talarico will reemerge from his painful "common sense Texan" disguise. Let's hope it is as a reject in the mold of presumptuous "Beto" , who also thought he could play Texans for chumps.
Dr. Waddy: I'll express my opinion on the NY State Correction Officers' strike debated in the campaign confrontation of our NY Governor and her common sense GOP electoral opponent. I worked 20 years as a civilian staffer who closely cooperated with the Officers.
ReplyDeleteEmployment by NY state affords excellent pay and benefits.The C.Os were driven to desperation by NY state government's obvious and unrelenting biases against them and for convicted criminals, to risk all that. For example, Tthe State had taken away from them one of the most effective and justified means of dealing with inmate troublemakers, that of austere close confinement away from the general population for extended periods. It was confined to 15 days. This presented far less of a disincentive to those inmates who choose to continue their lawlessness in prison . It told them "let's keep turning up the heat on the C.Os and eventually the state won't let them do anything we don't approve of".
Governor Hochul's vicious public rejoinder to the C.Os in the debate, "shame on you ", reflects, rather , immeasurable disgrace on her. Why, she ought to experience even a brief period of working in a state prison. She'd soon be mewing for release. Perhaps then she would realize some little respect for those who make this their living. Or would she rather do what her boss, Comrade Mamdani , wants to do: set 'em all free to prey on the law abiding.
Dr. Waddy: The Fox poll you cited and documented affords a wealth of empirical evidence which credits your clarion call to all who read Waddyisright. I think it certain we are living through a time which bears a credible prospect of manifesting the opening phase of an all out onslaught on faithful America.by an alien far left which has chafed for decades within the boundaries it had to observe while it relentlessly subverted our democracy .It will never succeed in subjugating the "red" states but it could sunder the country into not necessarily geographically contiguous , independent countries of antipathetic democratic and totalitarian Marxist convictions. We of good sense in NY would of course be in a real fix as part of the nascent "People's Republic". Its close to fantastic even to seriously consider this possibility and though less than probable , it is nonetheless a threat to the integrity of our country maybe comparable to 1860-1865. We may be in for a grim time of it after this election. I lived through the later '60's and the current far left is of a far more determined and experienced cast than those silly punks of the new left back then.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
ReplyDeleteSomehow, this entire midterms business reminds me of that TV series "The Twilight Zone". Can't put my finger on it, or wrap my brain around it, but it just does.
Ray: A communist subjugated America would have been a suitably fantastic subject for the Twilight Zone back then. Its nightmarish now to believe that it has entered on plausibility. Considering such appalling change as that already manifests, what may be in store ?
ReplyDeleteJack, I'm not sure I agree that Russia is on a "war footing". I mean, Russia is a long way from mobilizing its full demographic and industrial potential. It seems to me that Russia is fighting this war as though it feels assured of final victory, and feels equally assured that it need not exert itself unduly to achieve it. You'd think by now Russia would be tempted to go "all in", but maybe the war isn't as horrific as we've been led to believe, at least from the Russian elite's perspective. Maybe they've found ways to profit from it, financially or politically.
ReplyDeleteJack, Talarico is just the sort of candidate you'd expect the Dems to run in Texas: a smooth-talking, crypto-radical who can pass as "moderate" when needed. Will Texans be fooled? Maybe, but I would say, if Talarico wins, it will be mainly because Paxton is a seriously flawed candidate.
Ray, I hope you're right that we're living in "The Twilight Zone"! It would explain so much, and it would portend a lot of surreal hilarity to come. Plus, when the episode is over, everything ought to return to normal... Wouldn't that be nice?
Dr. Waddy : Your comments about Russia make a lot of sense. I would suggest also that Russia is wary about using considerably more force than it is using already for unwillingness to risk increased Nato aid to Ukraine and of the consequent possibility of the war rising to a Russian very much unwanted direct clash with Nato. If they are ,as you opine, fairly confident that if they stay the course they will eventually achieve their single, simple, prime objective and that the war is not manifesting what the regime regards as unacceptable losses or domestic hardship, they will probably continue as it has been.
ReplyDeleteBut this is not, I think , a diminution of their resolve that Nato membership for Ukraine is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable, NYET! On that, Russia will not relent ; NEVER I think. Their retreat from their tyrannically established Eastern European buffer and especially the Nato advance to their very border in Poland and the Baltic Republics was probably terribly painful, generating in their view the dangerous shame of pusillanimity before the world , for the Russian military. And the memory of their almost fantastically horrid invasion from the west , from a Germany now allied against them , must move them to this day.
Dr. Waddy : Disingenuous Talarico, whose main task as I see it is dictated to him to make a reconnaissance in force of the the very rampart of common sense America, Texas and if promising , developing it into a full scale assault on fundamentally resistant America . Can it be that the nexus of unTexan hip, Austin and maybe nearby Dallas, have achieved electoral power over an unwelcoming and counterintuitive hinterland , comparable to Chicago or even NYC? We'll see!
ReplyDeleteOh, I think there's now precious little chance of Ukraine formally joining NATO, but a real possibility that, when this war is over, the Euroweenies may offer Ukraine some kind of security guarantee nonetheless (possibly worthless). It would not surprise me if whatever peace is agreed turns out to be temporary, as the fundamental goals of Ukraine and Russia are miles apart, after all...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that Austin has subsumed the rest of Texas by any means. Alas, the truth is that Texas just isn't what it used to be, demographically. It's become infinitely more diverse, and with diversity comes...Democrats. That's a generalization, but a fairly accurate one. Florida is an outlier in this regard, which is one more reason why we should put DeSantism in a bottle and force every Republican to drink it.