myata

Putin: post-Soviet region including some NATO states China: Taiwan and the sea areas Iran: Israel and Middle East If Putin is allowed to get away with this now, only one question: why not? Think now.

They would gain a whole new world: where the new Axis of tyrants will rule forever with no limits or boundaries. What laws, limits or lines? Where? "Someone else's battles"? About time to wake up.

It's not only that Canadians are overtaxed, but what those taxes are doing for them. Canadians get a substandard, at best struggling to be on par but that's an exception now service from their federal and other governments than most or all of the developed world. In other, market analogy, we get mediocre product for an outrageous price, with no competition other than taking our custom to another town. The cause of that is easy to see. The country is run by bureaucracies with no competition and about zero incentives to improve and being effective and efficient. The governments can tell them where to spend public cash but that's about it: the quality of the product isn't at all assured, not even its existence. And then they do what what they know best and still: spending the cash on itself. What? You can't get it anywhere else so pay up and no thanks. Unless you do find where you could spend it better.

As commented somewhere, and looks quite plausible these days is that the buffoon and his close ring of associates realized that his admiration for the bloodthirsty thug Vlad that he expressed publicly on several occasions is and will cost him support comes November. And so, he's trying to pedal back on it. Makes sense not that it changes his pathologically lying nature one bit. The party that is turning into a cult right before our eyes is not homogeneous, that is true. It comprises, roughly, 30-40% traditionalist, Reagan conservatives; a smaller but much louder MAGA cult, 20-30%; and the silent majority in between. It's fascinating to watch 1984 unfolding live these days, no need for the book. MAGA throats who just yesterday shouted love to Vlad are now "Reagan republicans" wow; but that's how it works, just another brave new day in 1984. Two things are important here: first, it is interesting to study, live, how the majority of the Republicans converted already after Jan 6 events. In my opinion, what contributed most are 1) the extreme partisanship of the U.S. politics that effectively shut down for a large part of the party the information, part of reality that does not agree with the message promoted by the cult core. It is confirmed by the studies and long practice that drumming propaganda while shutting all alternative channels of information is effective on a great majority of the targeted group. In that case, it's the traditionalists who failed to provide a viable alternative to the cult, or at times sought to gain with and through it, that lead to the spread of the authoritarian messages and the conversion of the silent majority. The second part of the truth is that without the support of the traditionalists Trump cannot win. That explains all serenades and dances from here and to November but: no, you cannot pretend to not know what, and who is behind it. For this, there's no rational explanation; no reconciliation; and nothing good can come out of it. You already know it because you can watch it in the documentaries about the cults past. And then it'll push you down and kick you out because it will remember. It will happen if you help it rise. It already happened. Remember the Republican elections official who refused to follow the unlawful order to not certify the results? Remember what happened to him, only for following his lawful, Constitutional duty? What was the message here: it was delivered by the cult, with the silent majority standing by? Constitution over loyalty to the cult and its Idol, or the other way? You know what it means because there's only one way to read it. There will be no explanations, for this. It will happen. And you have seen it. And you knew.

I know it by observation for example, the frequency of using standard cliches (originating where? right) over reasoning based on facts and logic. I'm not going to repeat, because they were made clearly and not once. Intelligence and integrity are not a universal gift, blessing. They are not given but earned and maintained. Yes one can assign away one's intelligence and freedom to make own decisions and choices. Yes, it happened countless times in history. No there isn't a valid reason: it's only a choice.

A dumb distraction trick and you can't add anything new to it. Who said that it's one or the other? That one cannot take responsibility for the border now, and the security tomorrow? Only your lying buffoon Idol full of stinky hot air lies. And you're either dumb to check it, or already converted and wouldn't see anything. What would be other options? I'm curious, honestly.

Nailed it: there's always a valid reason to sit on the bum, write a report and do nothing. Works like a charm, in Canada. Except if and when there comes a time to show what you have; to compete.

A tunnel for a new road was built under a major highway without diverting traffic in two or three weeks (not Canada) A retaining wall replacement about thirty meters long,, four months initially, completed with six months delay (next door, Canada). The light rail construction project in the national capital delayed yet again (two years past Covid, but because of it) What can we do well, still, as a country? Answer: The next one: what can we do at all?

No: it was on the people, supposedly of reason and integrity, who demonstrated neither. Because their alliance is to the cult of the lying Idol as opposed to their people; the principles and traditions of their nation. So fully within the scope of the OP. To remind, we are talking here about a solemn commitment of the United States and a critical issue of national security, of the United States and the free world. Your playing "oh look a rabbit just went by - the red, fat and lying one, so let's forget everything at once" speaks only for your intelligence and integrity. You can try to fool simple-minded with cheap distraction tricks. But would they fool the dictator thugs of the rising Axis? Will they be convinced by cheap word games? This is the scale of irresponsibility you're playing with. And of course, you know.

WTH? A commitment of this scale and magnitude is "rhetorical"? OK. Maybe you are sure that your position is and will be stable for as long as you can see or care. But if not, if something happens who will take your word after this kind of experience? Who would stand with you? I wouldn't bet. As to why, the facts are the answer and you only choose what you see and understand. They supported it two years back, unanimously. What has changed about the reality, the aggression? Nothing. It's them who have changed.

I can say the same. You are either ignoring very clear and direct points or cannot comprehend them. What can be not clear in "assurances of security given in exchange for voluntarily abandoning the third largest stockpile of nukes at the time"? After Ukraine, if Putin is allowed to prevail, who in their right mind would let go of the nukes as opposed to getting them at the first opportunity? In the world where thuggish banditry runs free and amok, where and with who will the countries seek their security? Supporting Ukraine is a) a matter of long standing principles and b) a commitment and c) a no-brainer, no a must in the current geopolitical layout. Who wouldn't get it? No this is a wrong question: not who but why? Because the cult mentality requires a total and complete abandonment of any reasoning and principles. Only the loyalty to the cult matters. Factual.

But comes the elections time, you want to pretend that they are one and the same?.. wait, which one: if their views and policies are so different? A simple mind trick. Shouldn't fool anyone. The context of this issue is available to a ten-year old within a few clicks. That so many Republicans seems to be unable to grasp it, after years of immediate and direct evidence speaks only for their intelligence. Or personal integrity. Or/and. How can it be anything else?

Are they different Republicans? The logical link between the assistance (see above for completeness of the issue) to Ukraine and the border measures is non existent. Both have direct and strong relevance to the medium and long term security of the United States. The Republican leaders first created this connection by hands then reneged on it. The question in the OP is very clear: in 2022 Republicans supported Ukraine almost unanimously. It's less than a half of the representatives now. What has changed? Has anything changed about Putin, his dictatorship; his war and its consequences if Ukraine does not win? No, the reality has not changed. Its the party, that has.

Because you have no brain? That's just too bad.

Republicans failed to pass the border security bill they agreed to. - Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed on the assistance and border combined bill. - Then the Republicans reneged on the commitment - More than a half of House Republicans voted against the assistance to Ukraine. In fact, it is not just assistance but a commitment to assure security and territorial integrity given in exchange for abandoning the third largest stock of nukes at the time. These are the facts before our eyes. Anyone with eyes and a bit of intelligence will see it for what it is: the party is falling under an authoritarian spell, becoming a cult. It is not about the reality anymore, border or standing up to totalitarian thugs: it's about the loyalty to cult and its Idol. Mostly, and for some, only. So yours has to be a fantasy world or just lies.