Phil1111

There is no possibility that Canada is actually going to increase military spending. The new NDP/Liberal coalition agreement. Has a new dental program and new national prescription drug plan. As a central part of that agreement. That will balloon the huge deficit that Canada has now. The costs of the national $10 a day child care program is not fully budgeted. Then there is the twice delayed "assault" gun buyback program. They probably still haven't paid for the old used RAAF F-18's That Canada bought from Australia. After they exceeded their original design life.

Agree, posturing. Its like gun owners in the US. Every time they feel threatened. That democrats get elected. They buy more guns. Even though you can only shoot one at a time(Hollywood movies excepted of course). ...Did I say gun owners! I meant republicans.

If you consider that instead of rusting away. Perhaps 10% of them will end up into the side of a Russian armored vehicle. Perhaps NATO should be paying Ukraine a commission for each successful deployment.

I hate to be the one who informs you and Brent. But sporting events of every nature have gone on. Without politicians having to define this issue in statutes. This year and next. The IOC has said its not up to them. Individual sports have, surprisingly, been able to function. To hold competitions. Nationally and internationally.

President Biden has proposed a 2023 defense budget of $813.3 billion. Up 4% or $31 billion from 2022. Russia's budget for 2022 is about $70 billion (USD). With the current embargo's that are underway that goal may not be achievable. Certainly the US and other NATO allies will have to replace MANPADS and anti-tank weapons given to Ukraine. But many of those systems are 25 years old already. Germany, Poland and some other NATO countries have already announced substantial increases in defense spending. Canada, as expected, nothing. Germany has promised to spend $112.7 billion USD in 2022. As a result of the Russian invasion. Given the performance of Russian equipment, personnel and military leadership. Is any increase warranted? The US increase alone is 44% of the entire Russian annual budget. Germany's budget is 1.6 times Russia's.

You ask, I provide.

Yes Yes, see below. True, but see first quote above. Which defines more or less the whole exercise.

"At every step of his political career, Joe Manchin helped a West Virginia power plant that is the sole customer of his private coal business. Along the way, he blocked ambitious climate action." "Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on his decision to vote against the Green New Deal. “While I appreciate the renewed conversation around climate change that the Green New Deal and its supporters have sparked, I think we need to focus on real solutions that recognize the role fossil fuels will continue to play. That’s why I voted against the resolution today. "

I still disagree with NATO direct involvement. But I think President Biden is too timid re Polish MIGs, S-300, systems etc. Putin is starting to get his epiphany with regards to real Russian military power. NATO also needs to supply anti-ship missile systems. Russian ships in the Black sea should be parked at its bottom. President Biden has stated again and again that article 5 of NATO is absolute. But statements like that leave nations outside NATO in eastern Europe at risk to Putin adventurism. Transnistria,a territory within Moldova, for example has a Russian regiment on it now. It is a Russian enclave within Moldova. A breakaway pseudo republic like the Donetsk

Erdoğan invites Russian oligarchs to Turkey: ‘Our door is open’ Sometimes the MSM in the west has it's head up its ass as far as investigative journalism is concerned. "The US Trump administration has imposed sanctions on its NATO ally Turkey for acquiring the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Washington has been at odds with Ankara over the purchase for more than a year." 14.12.2020 This was widely reported in western/US press.

Agree. There is a bit of a split/difference between the countries closest to Russia. From NATO countries in Europe but farther away. The Baltic NATO countries and Poland have been the most upfront with Putin. All calling for the most action the most response. Germany of course has done a complete back-flip on Russia. Then France, the UK and others a little more reserved in response. IMO the unified, severe nature of sanctions was entirely Biden's doing. Certainly, other NATO countries went along. Other NATO countries made more aggressive contributions. But US diplomats led the way.

Perhaps. But in the age of unlimited Russian lies and barbarity. Its refreshing to hear some straight talking. I'd have called for a Russian patriot to do whats necessary.

All sporting organizations have the common sense to deal with these issues. Only republicans who continually need to alienate, segregate and divide. Feel this is an issue that requires legislation. Instead of leaving it up to sporting organizations. Congratulations Brent. Defining neanderthal thinking since 40,000 B.C.

Not good, I agree. I'd also concur that its equal for all political parties. I believe that there is a certain sense of entitlement for politicians. This is a good little read on how and why some voters vote for politicians with criminal propensities. Its from the Wharton school(trump's infamous alma mater). Its about corruption in Indian politics/democracy. But it makes many relevant points which are obvious elsewhere: “Voters … often support candidates with criminal reputations, not in spite of their criminal bona fides, but because of them.” ... politicians will never have an incentive to strengthen the justice system because it serves their interest to keep it weak so that these cases just drag on and on. And of course, the implications of a weak justice system are not just for the politicians; they affect all aspects of life." I see this in Canada as well with our current Liberal government, NDP governments and conservatives. Absolutely. But the implementation of such statutes are made by the politicians themselves. They are reluctant to cut their own throats. Hence the old saw "For my friends anything. For my enemies the law".

No, you and Putin are much closer than you think. "President Vladimir V. Putin is also fighting cultural battles. In a speech on Friday from the nondescript, beige-walled office in which he has been conducting much of his public business this month, Mr. Putin made no mention of Ukraine. Instead, he expanded upon a personal obsession: “cancel culture.” ...Mr. Putin’s main audience when railing against Western “cancel culture” is domestic, with the Kremlin intent on feeding the grievances against the West upon which Mr. Putin draws much of his support....a message that finds sympathy around the world — including among American right-wing commentators like Fox News’s Tucker Carlson, whose monologues are often shown on Russian state television."

At the carnival they know what sells.

Join the Russian army. Where battlefield promotions are guaranteed. Meanwhile on the Ukrainian front. The health of colonels is not going so well either.

Yeah but this population has a backbone and their heads are on top of their shoulders. Not in the sand, up their a$$, etc. With hundreds of thousands of young people fleeing Russia because of the war. The covid fatalities, etc. Its likely the high variant. I wonder what ever happened to those Russian guys that were in SC for a while. I hope they didn't get drafted.

Probably goes back to college days. Republicans would be all copy/paste of their papers. While the democrats would write their own.

and televise it on TRUTH, the NRATV, so sponsors can get too.

Yes trump's appointments haven't completely turned out the way he intended either. The dog and pony show currently underway is more to show to the respective bases. That they did their best for their supporters but were overruled by democracy.

Are you sure that you don't have some sort of deep sexual crush on her? You have a whole other thread on the go. Where her every breath is examined in detail. I thought you're happily married?

The fundamental reason why SC justices have lifetime appointments is the issue of separating justice from partizan politics. "“That was put into the Constitution to preserve the total independence of the judiciary,” said Meltsner, the George J. and Kathleen Waters Matthews Distinguished University Professor of Law. “Once a justice is confirmed and takes a seat on the court, they’re not beholden to anybody.” As such they can rule in accordance of what is fair, just and equitable for the society as a whole. So when the flavor of the day is attacking some group or issue. They can dissuade the state from such political heavy handiness.

The law is a horse's ass. In the last few years there has been a flood of laws emanating from mostly republican states. Anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-gun rights, etc. All with the sole intent to throw red meat to the base. In case after case courts have struck them down. Thats concerning.

AFAIK he was just a graduate of the CDN sniper programs and a former sniper service member with Afghan experience. But he is Canadian so likely to spread terror in Russian ranks. CBC actually interviewed him the other day. He had a spotter with him, non Canadian. He was already in combat in the area north of Kiev.