Radiorum

Your ignorance of Putin could fill a book.

And this is based on "your long-term friendship with (me) and intimate knowledge" of me? I am not concerned with what you believe. I am pretty satisfied with my interpretation of events. I missed that.

And this is based on “your long-term friendship with (me) and intimate knowledge” of me? (Your words) You flip-flopping doesn’t even surprise anymore. Watch and learn.

I know Trump has convinced you he influenced Putin, but it is just not true. Putin waiting until 2022 had nothing to do with Trump. It had to do with Putin’s strategy of trying to become more a part of Europe and in that way splitting the West between Europe and the US. But Putin’s hope was disappointed, and he snapped in 2022, convinced that no Western governments could be trusted.

I never used the word "evil." I just described things as they are. So you are conceding that to be ruled by the drive for wealth and power is evil? Not required to come to the conclusions I made. The weakness in your argument speaks more to support my point than yours.

Lol! I know what you meant. But, for your information, I am not on the far-left. A careful reading of my posts will reveal my point-of-view. Unfortunately, your prejudice stands in the way of your understanding and a meaningful dialogue.

These are valid points. I was thinking of Trump's influence on Putin. Yes, let's hope Trump does not abandon the US role of the world leader of democracy and sovereignty.

One of my favourites is the Queso dip with pita chips

I actually get most of my groceries from Costco.

There are different things influencing the war. Trump ain't one of them.

I assume you are trying to be funny, or else that’s a really poor understanding of my point. I’ll add to it. Musk is like Trump in the way that they both outrage to distract from their real agenda (which is to concentrate power and money in the hands of the very wealthy). They both use that manipulation technique – outrage and distract. Look at this thread for confirmation that it works. “It was a Nazi salute.” – “It was not a Nazi salute.” And repeat. Having said that, Musk’s salute may have something to do with his feud with Bannon. Musk may be trying to court away the anti-Semite support Bannon enjoys, and what better dog-whistle than a Nazi salute. Trump supporters remind me of Donald Rumsfeld’s famous axiom about “unknown unknowns” – “There are known knowns — there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns — that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”

What "you guys"? There's only me.

Trump is performing for his base. It is what he does best.

What's happening now really does lend understanding to what happened then

I should clarify that I am referring to the democratic world I fear for the future, too. I don't think America knows what it got when it elected Trump.

I was speaking of the rulers. When did these supposed "freaks" rule? Trump rules by fear. No-one even comes close. Even if they are hateful ones that harm others?

He is one of the bright lights on CNN. This is a very troubling turn, indeed. I guess ruling by fear is effective, but it creates a toxic environment. How can a society subject to constant threats and intimidation flourish? What place does truth have in such a society?

I think the question is not “Did Musk make the Nazi salute?” but instead “Does Musk think he can get away with making the Nazi salute?” The answer would be yes. The Nazi ideology is just that – an ideology (although a vile and odious one) – and Trump and Musk are not persons who adhere to an ideology. They have both demonstrated their pragmatic nature – willing to sway in the political winds. If Musk made a Nazi salute, it would not be for ideological reasons, but to shout, “nothing can constrain me.” Heck, the EU tried to impose its own laws on Musk and Vance stepped in and ordered the EU to leave Musk alone or “we’re going to pull out of NATO.” These are men who are extremely puffed up with their own power. Here we have the most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world (although in reality Putin is probably richer) – who are driven by one instinct – to gain more power for themselves. And flaunt it. If Musk made the Nazi salute, it would be to say, “I can do anything. Look what I can get away with.” Not because he adhered to the Nazi ideology (his support for the far-right AfD notwithstanding), although he understood that the salute would appeal to some diehard Trump supporters. And now they have a Secretary of Defense who is willing to get his hands dirty. And the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers who have already demonstrated that they are willing to resort to violence to show their loyalty to the Dear Leader. And a tech industry willing to kiss Trump’s ring. All without a shred of ethics amongst them. These are troubling times. The issue is not a gesture Musk made, but the concentration of power in the hands of those who only have their own interests at heart.

Ah, more manifestations of your subjective truth, which is lie and goes against reality. You belabor under a delusion. But he did. That is the objective truth.

There is subjective truth and there is objective truth. The objective truth is that January 6 never would have happened without it's-going-to-be-wild Trump and all his lies and manipulation. YOUR subjective truth is that the lawmakers and protectors of the law are at fault. Your subjective truth falls short of the objective truth. But you cling to it! I understand. It's through subjective truth that we understand existence. But, unfortunately for you, you don't see things as they really are.

Trump could not accept his loss of the 2020 election so he sent his goons to attack Capitol Hill. In the words of one officer, the scene was: “a non-stop barrage” with “weapons and things being thrown, and pepper spray, and you name it … You could hear them yelling. You could hear them, screams and moans, and everything else.” Another officer was certain he was going to die: “You know, you’re getting pushed, kicked, you know, people are throwing metal bats at you and all that stuff. I was like, yeah, this is f*cking it.” https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/trump-law-and-order/681365/ More than 140 officers ended up being injured in the frenzied crowd. All in service to a man who manipulated them with lies in trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election. Trump's decision to pardon them is a grave sign of disrespect to the courts and the judges that spent thousands of hours to see that justice was done. What is there to believe in anymore in the US?

Four pages, and I dunno ... you all present like a bunch of twelve-year-olds. Anyway ... Trump casts himself as the avenging hero, wallowing in dark themes, ordained by God to destroy the “radical and corrupt establishment.” He said, “I was saved by God to make America great again.” Megalomania, amorality, madness and possessing the greatest power in the world. What could go wrong? Whatever he does decide to do, I am sure that democracy will not play any part in it. And he now has big tech on his side. They will control the narrative, and it will end up serving Trump’s interests, not those of the nation. And Trump is a very ugly person. I always wondered how? How did the atrocities of the second world war come to be? But, now, I am beginning to understand.

Just the fact that you do not see me as individual greatly diminishes your ability for meaningful dialogue.

Lol, not how I remember it ....

You were saying parents and care-givers were the threat. I disagreed, with evidence. I never say "never." Nothing is ever black and white. I'm sure you can find anecdotes of less-than-perfect parents, but that is not news, and that does not take into account the larger reality of being transgender. Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Do you know what they call it when you start with a desired conclusion and word backwards from it? Rather than follow the evidence and logic to where it leads. That's called pseudoscience. Your position is pseudoscientific.