Politics Thread

[paulxu]

We would lose a cyber war.

Anyway, that's my happy thought for the day! How's everything else going??

With Trump sucking up to Putin, and defending him to the world, I'm sure this will help you sleep at night.

Hegseth orders suspension of cyber, information operations planning against Russia

https://www.washingtontechnology.com...russia/403423/

[xubrew]

Is anyone in the media actually going to ask Trump the question they should be asking him?? And if anyone does, would he actually answer it??

If Zelensky says he wants peace, and apologizes for so rudely pointing out that Russia has a history of violating peace agreements, and that they have violated peace agreements with Ukraine, and that the invasion itself is perhaps an example of a peace agreement that was violated, and explaining that is one of the biggest reasons why he is hesitant to make an agreement with Russia, then what kind of assurances would he have from the United States that Russia will not violate a peace agreement that Trump helps negotiate??

Or, to phrase it another way, is the United States strong enough to make Russia stick to any agreement that is made??

[paulxu]

You might want to check the Budapest Memorandum on nuclear weapons for a precursor to the results of such a deal.

[noteggs]

Didn’t see many tears from fed employees when governmental lockdowns caused their private friends to lose 20 millionish jobs during covid. Of course fed (not state and local) jobs were mostly spared because they were deemed essential.

Seems like “some” were not so essential after all. Bottom line and as posted before, layoffs suck on so many levels. But when the country is 36T in debt, tough choices have to be made.

[X-band '01]

Yeah, I guess things like the National Weather Service are just luxuries to the MAGA faithful. Clearly people who believe climate change is real need to be replaced with toadies who don't believe in that riffraff.

[noteggs]

Yeah, I guess things like the National Weather Service are just luxuries to the MAGA faithful. Clearly people who believe climate change is real need to be replaced with toadies who don't believe in that riffraff.

I’m sorry but is that directed at my comment?

[XU_Lou]

Yeah, I guess things like the National Weather Service are just luxuries to the MAGA faithful. Clearly people who believe climate change is real need to be replaced with toadies who don't believe in that riffraff.

Oh yea, like were not going to receive NWS forecasts any longer... good grief. Is the sky falling as well?

[Xuperman]

I'm probably too simple-minded, but I only see three viable options:

1) Negotiate a peace no one loves.

2) Status quo with continued fighting/virtual stalemate that Russia probably ultimately wins.

3) US/Rest of Europe get more directly involved in the conflict and knock Russia back.

Given that Russia has nuclear weapons, I choose option 1 from the three non-ideal choices.

The answer is ENERGY and the income it creates. I have no idea how, but if Russian energy profits could be choked off significantly, it would change the current reality. Same with Iran.

The US has to constantly increase the percentage amount of ALL "energy" consumed by ALL countries of the "Free" world. This could only happen if there was radical market reform and serious US diplomacy.

I know....pipedream.

[paulxu]

Also today, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta forecast a dramatic contraction in the economy in the first quarter of 2025. Evaluating current data according to a mathematical model, it moved from an expected 2.9% growth in gross domestic product at the end of January to –2.8% today.

MAGA

[hoopster68]

Also today, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta forecast a dramatic contraction in the economy in the first quarter of 2025. Evaluating current data according to a mathematical model, it moved from an expected 2.9% growth in gross domestic product at the end of January to –2.8% today.

MAGA

Is this the canary in the Trumpster's coal mine economy?