Russian Opposition Leader Nemtsov Shot Dead in Moscow

LGF • Views: 40,628

Russian Liberal politician Boris Nemtsov was assassinated across the street from the Kremlin today:

He was shot four times late on Friday night, not far from the Kremlin in the center of Moscow. Police cars blocked the street where he was shot. An ambulance was also nearby.

“Nemtsov B.E. died at 2340 hours as a result of four shots in the back,” an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said by telephone.

Nemstov was a long time Putin critic. He was shot on his way home from conducting a TV interview. He had been scheduled to be part of a major anti-war rally on March 1st
More: Russian Opposition Leader Nemtsov Shot Dead in Moscow
————
More of Nemtsov’s background:

Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov (Russian: Борис Ефимович Немцóв; 9 October 1959 - 27 February 2015[1]) was a Russian statesman and liberal politician, a co-chair of the RPR-PARNAS political party, one of the leaders of the Solidarnost movement and an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin.

Nemtsov was the first governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast (1991-97). Later he worked in Government of Russia as Minister of fuel and energy (1997), Vice Premier of Russia and Security Council member from 1997 to 1998. In 1998 he founded the Young Russia movement. In 1998, he co-founded the coalition group Right Cause and in 1999, he co-formed Union of Right Forces, electoral bloc and subsequently political party. He was elected several times as Russian parliament member. Nemtsov was a member of Congress of People’s Deputies (1990), Federation Council (1993-1997) and State Duma (1999-2003). He also worked as Vice Speaker of the State Duma and the leader of parliamentary group of Union of Right Forces. After a split in the Union of Right Forces in 2008, he co-founded Solidarnost. In 2010, he co-formed coalition For Russia without Lawlessness and Corruption (was refused in registration as party). Since 2012 Nemtsov has been co-chair of Republican Party of Russia - People’s Freedom Party (RPR-PARNAS), a registered political party.[2][3]

He was a candidate of physico-mathematical sciences, was as an author of several publications criticising the Putin administration, and was an active organizer and participant of Dissenters’ Marches, Strategy-31 and rallies «For Fair Elections»

———

——-
Putin is of course deeply concerned

Putin is already floating his own theory of what happened, according to Dmitry Zaks of AFP:

#BREAKING #Putin thinks #Nemtsov killed by hired assasin, views it as a (political) “provocation”: #Kremlin spokesman Peskov via state TV
- Dmitry Zaks (@dmitryzaksAFP) February 27, 2015

Less than an hour after Nemtsov death was reported, Putin entered into the controvsery around his death in a second way. Putin is “taking personal control of the investigation into Nemtsov’s murder,” according to a Kremlin spokesperson, someting that will not be reassuring to Putin’s opponents.

—-

Obituary from Radio Free Europe

Boris Nemtsov, A Russian Political ‘Golden Boy’ Who Battled Putin, Dead At 55

Once dubbed the “golden boy” of Russian politics in the media, Nemtsov was later named first deputy prime minister by Yeltsin, a move that many interpreted as the Russian leader’s bid to groom his heir to the Kremlin.

After Yeltsin handed over power to Putin, who was elected president in 2000, Nemtsov became a vocal critic of the new Russian leader as the Kremlin moved to stifle critical media outlets and launched a campaign against wealthy Yeltsin-era oligarchs who refused to toe the government’s line.

Nemtsov served as a deputy in Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, during Putin’s first term. He lost his seat in 2003 parliamentary elections that saw the pro-Kremlin party United Russia seize an overwhelming majority.

In the ensuing years, he led an array of liberal-minded opposition movements and parties, and authored reports accusing Putin’s government of massive corruption.

In 2013, Nemtsov released a report alleging that officials and businessmen had stolen up to $30 billion in funds earmarked to finance the 2014 Winter Olympics in his hometown, Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“It is obvious that Putin’s friends are running the preparations for the Olympic Games,” Nemtsov told RFE/RL at the time. “It is also obvious that one is reluctant to put his own friends behind bars. However, we cannot look at all this passively because the scale [of their activities] will only grow bigger. The embezzlement they are presiding over is not just some kind of children’s game but a real threat to Russia’s national security.”

Jump to bottom

458 comments
1 Justanotherhuman  Feb 27, 2015 2:56:36pm

Yeah, we know how this works, Pooty-poo.

Russian President Putin condemns slaying of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov; orders an investigation - @interfax_news
end of alert

2 Justanotherhuman  Feb 27, 2015 2:58:15pm

Putin, “kill and blame”.

3 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 3:07:10pm

“He was a candidate of physico-mathematical sciences”

This corresponds to a PhD degree, BTW.

4 Romantic Heretic  Feb 27, 2015 3:15:08pm

I’m betting that Putin will find ‘the perpetrators’ who will be either Ukrainian or Chechen, perhaps Georgian, and that said ‘perpetrators’ will ‘die fighting’.

5 Rocky-in-Connecticut  Feb 27, 2015 3:35:39pm

interesting that Gov. Walker want to treat American protestors the same way he potentially treats ISIS. I have a feeling Putin puts into practice what the likes of our right wing Gov. Walkers can only dream about.

6 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 4:29:28pm
7 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 6:07:19pm

Shit, wrong thread.

8 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:13:59pm
9 Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2015 6:30:15pm

Sorry to go OT so soon, but a new wrinkle in the DHS fiasco has appeared:

10 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:30:36pm

And this is how Glenn Greenwald responds to the news:

11 lawhawk  Feb 27, 2015 6:31:24pm

So, the right wing lauding of Putin will continue?

The dudebro fascination with Putin over Obama will continue?

*waves at the Ed Snowden fanboys and Glenn Greenwald* Hi Glenn! Dudebros!

Of course they will, because the anti-Obama fanaticism will trump any reality in which Vladimir Putin is an actual bad guy whose regime does real bad things to anyone who stands in its way.

Greenwald complains that his twitter feed is all gummed up with people sarcastically noting that Snowden is safe, while Putin opponents get gunned down for daring speak out. The irony is clearly lost on Greenwald.

The more we see of Putin the less there is to like about him. He’s up to no good. And I’m being charitable.

12 GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 27, 2015 6:32:02pm

Fuck anyone who calls Obama a tyrant. They are clueless. This Is tyrany.

13 lawhawk  Feb 27, 2015 6:32:40pm

Heh..

14 Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2015 6:33:37pm

re: #1 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, we know how this works, Pooty-poo.

Russian President Putin condemns slaying of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov; orders an investigation - @interfax_news
end of alert

Yeah, short investigation…

15 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:36:01pm
16 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:37:11pm

re: #14 Targetpractice

The investigators have already finished their work on the spot, acc. to news sites.

17 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 6:39:21pm

re: #10 Charles Johnson

18 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 6:39:27pm

re: #10 Charles Johnson

Careful, Mona Holland is watching.

Always watching …
19 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:41:12pm

re: #15 Charles Johnson

To be fair, he only says the Snowden comparisons are “trash”.

20 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 6:41:21pm

Update the page with Nemtsov’s obituary

21 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 6:42:11pm

My condolences to the Russian people.

I hope one day they’ll get to enjoy freedom.

I had such high hopes for that country with the fall of the wall, the failed coup against Gorbie and Boris’ rise, it is heartbreaking to see the country getting taken over by thugs yet again.

22 William Barnett-Lewis  Feb 27, 2015 6:46:14pm

re: #21 b.d.

My condolences to the Russian people.

I hope one day they’ll get to enjoy freedom.

I had such high hopes for that country with the fall of the wall, the failed coup against Gorbie and Boris’ rise, it is heartbreaking to see the country getting taken over by thugs yet again.

Been that way for a thousand years since the Kievan Rus’… Not sure if they’ll ever break whatever curse that people live under…

23 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 6:46:34pm
Mr. Furious: I seem to remember there being a little controversy around his death.
Bowler: That’s right. The police said it was an accident. He’d come home late one night and fell down an elevator shaft. Onto some bullets.

-Mystery Men

24 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:47:10pm

re: #19 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

To be fair, he only says the Snowden comparisons are “trash”.

He’s describing all the comments from people pointing out the hypocrisy of Snowden’s asylum in Russia as “trash.”

25 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 6:48:54pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

He’s describing all the comments from people pointing out the hypocrisy of Snowden’s asylum in Russia as “trash.”

In Glennlandia abject selfism is a virtue.

26 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 6:49:02pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

He’s describing all the comments from people pointing out the hypocrisy of Snowden’s asylum in Russia as “trash.”

Putin may not write Greenwald’s checks but that is only because Glenn does it for free.

27 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:49:12pm

Don’t forget that Snowden praised Russia as a paragon of human rights. It’s totally fair to point out that Russia is anything but that.

28 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:50:07pm
As freedom’s sower in the wasteland
Before the morning star I went;
From hand immaculate and chastened
Into the grooves of prisonment
Flinging the vital seed I wandered—
But it was time and toiling squandered,
Benevolent designs misspent…
Graze on, graze on, submissive nation!
You will not wake to honor’s call.
Why offer herds their liberation?
For them are shears or slaughter-stall,
Their heritage each generation
The yoke with jingles, and the gall.

Pushkin, 1823

29 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:50:42pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

He’s describing all the comments from people pointing out the hypocrisy of Snowden’s asylum in Russia as “trash.”

Yes, that’s what I wrote.

30 D_Red  Feb 27, 2015 6:51:15pm

Putin condemns slaying, announces shock, shock at the gambling in Rick’s Cafe

31 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 27, 2015 6:51:32pm

re: #16 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

The investigators have already finished their work on the spot, acc. to news sites.

The chief inspector was overheard saying “Round up the usual suspects.”

RBS

32 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 6:51:39pm

re: #27 Charles Johnson

Don’t forget that Snowden praised Russia as a paragon of human rights. It’s totally fair to point out that Russia is anything but that.

33 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 27, 2015 6:52:43pm

Calm down people, I’m sure Comrade President Putin will find Kirov’s Nemtsov’s assassins and deal with them in an appropriate manner!

34 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 6:53:02pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

He’s describing all the comments from people pointing out the hypocrisy of Snowden’s asylum in Russia as “trash.”

If Snowden had tried to steal Russian docs, he and Greenwald would be on milk cartons right now

35 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:54:15pm

re: #33 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Calm down people, I’m sure Comrade President Putin will find Kirov’s Nemtsov’s assassins and deal with them in an appropriate manner!

Not quite analogous, Kirov was an orthodox Stalinist.

36 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 6:54:54pm

Snowden chose Russia because it was strong enough to tell the US govt to go fuck itself. He could have picked a country like Norway, Denmark or Iceland and run the risk of being deported home. He could have forced an actual democratic country to choose between its free speech ideals and the political pressure the US could bring to bear, but he was too chickenshit to even gamble with being sent back home.

So he picked Putin’s kleptocratic Russia and then tried really hard to Febreeze that turd.

37 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 6:56:07pm

“Russia…[has] my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. - Edward Snowden

wikileaks.org

38 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 6:57:33pm

re: #37 b.d.

What a nice blowjob.

39 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 6:57:56pm

So, to be clear, according to out conservative friends, Obama is a ruthless tyrant like Hitler or Stalin who is too weak to be a great leader because he doesn’t kill his political opponents and rivals.

40 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 27, 2015 6:58:01pm

re: #37 b.d.

wikileaks.org

Seriously, what color is the sky on his planet?

41 William Barnett-Lewis  Feb 27, 2015 6:58:19pm

re: #28 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Pushkin. My favorite of Russian literature. I pondered learning the language once upon a time to read his originals.

42 Jack Burton  Feb 27, 2015 6:58:25pm

Yeah but you’re right Glenn, Russia is way better than the US when it comes to rights and freedom.

Obama made LGBTs de jure second class citizens… oh wait

ok.. Obama invaded 2 sovereign countries with a history of foreign subjugation and annexed them… oh wait*

umm Obama put musicians in prison for criticizing him…. oh wait

I got it! Obama had the opposition leader killed by assassins… oh… wait

Yes I know the US has done this… sort of, but not recently, and certainly not under Obama.

43 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 6:59:20pm

re: #36 goddamnedfrank

And then he (and Greenwald) pushed the line that he was forced to seek asylum in Russia. Um, no. He went to Russia because he didn’t have the courage to face the US justice system. And it’s a very revealing choice, because a person who was truly acting out of conviction would welcome the chance to make his case before a jury of his peers.

44 blueraven  Feb 27, 2015 7:01:52pm

So, the stupid 7 DAY! patch for DHS passes. Still, 55 R’s vote no. More than for the 3 week extension. Go figure. I guess it is a free pass for some.

Almost all D’s vote yes this time. Pulling the R’s ass out of the fire once again.

No Mas!

45 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:02:58pm

You can shoot me in the back 4 times but don’t you dare collect raw metadata that can only be accessed with a court order issued by a judge

46 ObserverArt  Feb 27, 2015 7:04:28pm

I get the feeling Greenwald does not write so much as bestows upon the ordinary that which he declares worthy.

If you are not of the cult, then you never understand.

If you write or comment on Glenn it appears you need to keep it on how well he covers a topic that you have interest and only because of him have you become enlightened.

Russia will be important when his interests in Russia become important…to Greenwald.

47 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 7:06:21pm
48 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 7:07:12pm

re: #43 Charles Johnson

And then he (and Greenwald) pushed the line that he was forced to seek asylum in Russia. Um, no. He went to Russia because he didn’t have the courage to face the US justice system. And it’s a very revealing choice, because a person who was truly acting out of conviction would welcome the chance to make his case before a jury of his peers.

I understand Snowden seeking asylum, at least from his point of view. But seeking it in Russia was just too hypocritical. As I said, he could have rolled the dice in one of the Nordic democracies and stood somewhat decent odds of remaining free. But that wasn’t good enough for him, he was willing to grovel at the feet of a horribly corrupt government just because it was both powerful enough to tell the US to pound sand and antagonistic enough to the US to actually do it.

49 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:08:20pm
50 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 7:08:21pm
51 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 7:12:25pm

If Nemtsov was killed because of his opposition work (which is, of course, the most probable scenario right now), Putin is to blame in any case. The campaign of hate propaganda in Russia against the “fifth column”, liberals, minorities etc. - all this is on Putin.

52 Belafon  Feb 27, 2015 7:12:41pm

re: #47 Charles Johnson

I’m assuming the great reporter Chuck has no clue who she is.

53 #FergusonFireside  Feb 27, 2015 7:12:43pm

re: #47 Charles Johnson

54 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 7:14:12pm
55 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 7:15:16pm

re: #48 goddamnedfrank

From Snowden’s point of view, he wanted to steal millions of top secret documents and get away scot free, and be lauded as a hero for it. He took the coward’s way out.

If you really think you’re doing something noble and important by revealing national secrets, at least have the courage to deal with the consequences. Snowden ran away. To one of the worst human rights abusers in the world, instead of facing the legal system of a country that would have given him due process.

56 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 7:16:09pm

re: #48 goddamnedfrank

Just saying that even though I think Snowden was wrong, I can reconcile being a whistleblower with seeking asylum, if he truly thought he couldn’t get a fair trial in the US. What I can’t reconcile is him seeking that asylum in a country with a secrecy, free speech and civil rights track record that is so much worse than the US.

He could not have picked a more effective way of undermining his message.

It’s so mind bogglingly antithetical to everything he purportedly stands for that I actually sometimes wonder if he wasn’t a paid Russian agent the entire time. Weirder shit has happened.

57 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:18:29pm

Game Change!

58 stpaulbear  Feb 27, 2015 7:19:21pm

Could Snowden even get out of Russia if he wanted to now? He’s obviously an inept planner. He’s really managed to fuck his own life over royally (not that I have any sympathy for him).

59 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:21:06pm

re: #58 stpaulbear

Could Snowden even get out of Russia if he wanted to now? He’s obviously an inept planner. He’s really managed to fuck his own life over royal (not that I have any sympathy for him).

He better learn how to dance in the National Ballet.

60 Lidane  Feb 27, 2015 7:26:33pm

Wheee!

61 retired cynic  Feb 27, 2015 7:28:37pm

re: #53 #FergusonFireside

Jezebel! Hoot!

62 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 7:29:46pm
63 #FergusonFireside  Feb 27, 2015 7:31:40pm

Rewatching last week’s The Walking Dead. Such a great ep.

64 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:32:18pm

How touching, wipes tear.

Dear President Putin:

We ask that the Russian Government do whatever is in its power to ensure that Edward Snowden remains safe in the face of real and significant threats.

- Julian Assange

facebook.com

65 allegro  Feb 27, 2015 7:32:34pm

I still wanna know about Sock Guy hanging on tied sheets from Buckingham Palace.

66 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 7:32:52pm

re: #58 stpaulbear

Could Snowden even get out of Russia if he wanted to now? He’s obviously an inept planner. He’s really managed to fuck his own life over royally (not that I have any sympathy for him).

I don’t see how. I doubt even Cuba would take him now with the thaw in relations Obama has implemented. His only viable options are annexed territories like Crimea or puppet quasi states like South Ossetia, Abkhazia, & Transnistria. Moscow is probably his best and only real option at this point.

This is the garden spot of Ceti Alpha V.
67 Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2015 7:34:38pm

re: #60 Lidane

Wheee!

[Embedded content]

The word earlier was that Boehner had made a deal by which the one-week extension would be passed with Dem help tonight, then the “clean” bill brought up to a vote next week in the event that cloture on the conference committee motion failed. Now apparently his spokesman is saying no such deal exists.

If true, then that means all we’re going to do come Monday is listen to a lot of noise from Republicans about how Senate Democrats should follow “regular order” and allow this to go to conference committee, so the bills can be reconciled and DHS funded.

68 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:36:48pm

re: #66 goddamnedfrank

I don’t see how. I doubt even Cuba would take him now with the thaw in relations Obama has implemented. His only viable options are annexed territories like Crimea or puppet quasi states like South Ossetia, Abkhazia, & Transnistria. Moscow is probably his best and only real option at this point.

[Embedded content]

I’d bet Ecuador would still take him if he could figure out a way to get there. I don’t think anyone would try and stop a Russian military plane that doesn’t jack with anyone else’s airspace but there are few planes that Russia has that are up to that task. Take off from the Pacific side of Russia and gas it?

69 retired cynic  Feb 27, 2015 7:38:23pm

re: #67 Targetpractice

We have to hope that Nancy Pelosi knows what she is doing. Pretty clever lady.

70 Decatur Deb  Feb 27, 2015 7:38:39pm

re: #68 b.d.

I’d bet Ecuador would still take him if he could figure out a way to get there. I don’t think anyone would try and stop a Russian military plane that doesn’t jack with anyone else’s airspace but there are few planes that Russia has that are up to that task. Take off from the Pacific side of Russia and gas it?

Like a sealed train to the Finland Station, but an airplane and in reverse.

71 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 7:38:44pm

re: #58 stpaulbear

Could Snowden even get out of Russia if he wanted to now? He’s obviously an inept planner. He’s really managed to fuck his own life over royally (not that I have any sympathy for him).

Exactly. He made a series of really bad choices, and ended up in Russia. At every step he could have chosen to be brave and make his case before the American people in a court of law. But this is not a brave person, obviously.

72 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 7:42:52pm

re: #68 b.d.

I’d bet Ecuador would still take him if he could figure out a way to get there. I don’t think anyone would try and stop a Russian military plane that doesn’t jack with anyone else’s airspace but there are few planes that Russia has that are up to that task. Take off from the Pacific side of Russia and gas it?

Ecuador’s poliitcal stability is absolute shit tho’. He could go there and be fucked within a month. The same reason he didn’t go straight to Iceland, he wasn’t willing to incur even the slightest risk. It really is cowardice.

73 Decatur Deb  Feb 27, 2015 7:45:19pm

re: #69 retired cynic

We have to hope that Nancy Pelosi knows what she is doing. Pretty clever lady.

Except that Boehner has proven too treacherous or too powerless to keep his deals.

74 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:46:13pm
They talk about Russia like it’s the worst place on earth. Russia’s great. - Edward Snowden

washingtonpost.com

75 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 7:49:48pm

The not gunned down in the street Snowden says:

Russia’s a modern country and it’s been good to me so, yeah, I have a pretty normal life. - Edward Snowden

rt.com

76 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 7:50:00pm

re: #72 goddamnedfrank

Meaning to say Iceland has political stability, but asylum there wasn’t guaranteed. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted to become famous and then hope that a more free speech oriented country would grant him asylum prior to his actually stepping foot on their soil.

Unfortunately for him, that’s not how those countries operate. You actually have to be there to apply, you actually have to put your freedom on the line first before they’ll consider letting you stay. An asylum request is an act of faith in the country one petitions, and most countries treat it as a matter of principle that it can’t be made from a position of zero jeopardy.

77 Targetpractice  Feb 27, 2015 7:53:29pm

re: #69 retired cynic

We have to hope that Nancy Pelosi knows what she is doing. Pretty clever lady.

I trust Pelosi to put Boehner’s feet to the fire. What I don’t trust is Senate Democrats, who may feel themselves under pressure to just dump this on a conference committee and thus avoid possible blame.

78 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 7:54:56pm

I wonder if anyone here has read this article. Seems interesting. Too bad it’s not freely available.
tandfonline.com

Andres Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 22/7/11 terrorist attacks in Norway, was profoundly inspired by what has become known as the Eurabia genre. Behring Breivik’s 1516-page cut-and-paste tract, 2083: A European Declaration of Independence, makes extensive reference to Eurabia authors, and most prominently to the blog essays of the Norwegian extreme right-wing blogger “Fjordman,” also known as Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen. A popular transnational genre found in both film and literature, the Eurabia genre is central to understanding the worldviews of extreme right-wing “counter-jihadists.” It is a conspiratorial genre in which a central rhetorical trope is that Europe is on the verge of being taken over by Muslims. It alleges that European Muslims want to establish continent-wide Islamic domination in the form of an Islamic state or a caliphate, using higher fertility rates and immigration as their main means of achieving this. The Eurabia genre has, however, hitherto received limited academic attention. In this article, I use the insights of critical discourse analysis in order to analyse some central contributions to this profoundly Islamophobic genre and its popularization and political mainstreaming in Norway in the past decade.

79 retired cynic  Feb 27, 2015 7:55:07pm

re: #77 Targetpractice

I can think of a few who would fold quickly, but (I hope) not enough.

80 ObserverArt  Feb 27, 2015 7:56:04pm

Snowden may not be brave. But as long as he is in Russia he remains valuable for Greenwald. As long as he is valuable to Greenwald, he also maintains worth to Putin. They both can use Snowden to poke at America and Obama.

If Snowden would come back..that all goes away. Snowden in Russia is a Greenwald and Russian commodity.

81 Belafon  Feb 27, 2015 7:57:08pm

re: #77 Targetpractice

If they’d wanted to wash there hands of this, they could have done it this week.

82 Gus  Feb 27, 2015 7:58:28pm

Fucking Twitter.

83 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 8:00:58pm

re: #76 goddamnedfrank

In other words “Asylum? Asylum from what? The US you say? But you’re safely in Russia and Russia will not send you to the US. So again, asylum from what?”

84 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:01:10pm

re: #82 Gus

Fucking Twitter.

Is Twitter full tonight of people who had too much bottom shelf rock gut at the NRO CPAC open bar?

85 Gus  Feb 27, 2015 8:01:58pm

re: #84 b.d.

Is Twitter full tonight of people who had too much bottom shelf rock gut at the NRO CPAC open bar?

I don’t deal with conservatives. Irony.

86 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:05:54pm

Manning -> Stayed in US to face justice system -> story over
Brown -> Held in US to face justice system -> story over
Assange -> Slowly going mad in office cubicle -> story over
Snowden -> Living under evil despot’s wing -> still somewhat interesting

Greenwald has Snowden right where he wants him.

87 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 8:07:08pm

re: #85 Gus

I don’t deal with conservatives. Irony.

Not even if Rupert Murdoch approached you with a billion $ cocaine deal? Ironing.

88 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:08:19pm

re: #85 Gus

I don’t deal with conservatives. Irony.

The thought of staying up for 36 hours straight snorting coke with Chuck C Johnson doesn’t interest you?

//

89 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:10:53pm

re: #12 GlutenFreeJesus

Fuck anyone who calls Obama a tyrant. They are clueless. This Is tyrany.

And this is what the right wants here. Walker called protestors terrorists. What does the right want to do to all suspected terrorists? Exactly.

90 Gus  Feb 27, 2015 8:12:19pm

re: #88 b.d.

The thought of staying up for 36 hours straight snorting coke with Chuck C Johnson doesn’t interest you?

//

Nope.

91 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:15:20pm

Not to worry, stop your finger pointing because the DUDEBRO approved RT tells us how it really is;

Nemtsov was no threat to Russian govt - presidential spokesperson

rt.com

Shame on you for even thinking otherwise.

92 retired cynic  Feb 27, 2015 8:16:23pm

re: #91 b.d.

Well, he certainly isn’t now!

93 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:16:45pm

re: #91 b.d.

Not to worry, stop your finger pointing because the DUDEBRO approved RT tells us how it really is;

rt.com

Shame on you for even thinking otherwise.

“Putin has stressed that this brutal murder has all [the] signs of a contract murder and is extremely provocative.”


So there!

94 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:16:48pm

re: #23 goddamnedfrank

Frank, WTF was the deal with The Dress. I saw the real dress was blue and black. I saw nothing resembling that. I was looking for you last night. I’m feeling defective. Any ideas?

95 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 8:17:48pm

re: #90 Gus

Nope.

How’s about if Rup’s ex-wife’s best friend who’s an editor at the London Times offered you a trillion $ to pass classified information about [fill in blank] to MI5 that would prove that Sheckey Green was the top KGB mole at the CIA?

Irony and snark of course.

96 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 27, 2015 8:18:19pm

re: #88 b.d.

The thought of staying up for 36 hours straight snorting coke with Chuck C Johnson doesn’t interest you?

//

Not even if an albino hooker was involved.

RBS

97 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:20:13pm

re: #34 Kragar

If Snowden had tried to steal Russian docs, he and Greenwald would be on milk cartons right now

Same if Snowy started mouthing off against Putin. He’d be vanished.

And Obama’d be blamed.

98 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:20:53pm

Better crack down on that evil social media Vlad!

Reportedly, Nemtsov had previously received death threats on social media sites.

For the safety of the Russian people, of course.

rt.com

99 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:20:54pm

re: #36 goddamnedfrank

Snowden chose Russia because it was strong enough to tell the US govt to go fuck itself. He could have picked a country like Norway, Denmark or Iceland and run the risk of being deported home. He could have forced an actual democratic country to choose between its free speech ideals and the political pressure the US could bring to bear, but he was too chickenshit to even gamble with being sent back home.

So he picked Putin’s kleptocratic Russia and then tried really hard to Febreeze that turd.

This!

100 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:23:42pm

I just read Silverstein’s piece about The Intercept. One phrase stood out in my mind: ” fearless, independent journalism.” He uses it several times as a kind of mantra.

I remember my days as a young reporter dreaming of snagging a big story like the Watergate exposé or something similar, rattling the cages of corrupt government officials and business tycoons.

In reality, I did only one such story, and it was in cooperation with another reporter at the Seattle Post-Intelligence several states away. Most of the time I covered mundane, local stuff. Why? Because the paper was a local paper and local people want to read about local stuff, and if they read the paper, the ad staff can sell ads, so we can all get paid.

In other words, ” fearless, independent journalism” is great as an ideal, but unless you’re already self-sufficient, you need earn a paycheck. Inevitably, that means working for someone, who — no matter what he promises — probably has a preconceived idea of what he wants you to cover. So, you’re not really independent. Silverstein was a sucker for believing he was given 100% freedom from his employers.

Fearless journalism only happens when you know your employers and the publisher have your back, and you know you’ve covered all the bases. The only way you know your employers have your back is studying their history: did they protect their reporters in the past? did they let the reporters cover stories that might anger sponsors or even the publisher’s buddies? The Intercept has no such history, and Silverstein was being overly optimistic to believe Omidyar, who had no background in journalism or publishing, would be inclined to let his staff do whatever they want and he’d have their back.

Maybe I’m old and cynical now, but I never fell for the idea that First Look was going to be any different from any other media outlet. Maybe if it had existed when I was in my 20s, I would have joined it, in the hopes of finding unicorns. At least then, I could use my inexperience and youthful idealism as an excuse. Silverstein was already an experienced reporter, working for the LA Times, though. So, I really don’t have a lot of sympathy for him. “Fearless, independent journalism” exists in the same plane of existence as billionaire playboys who fight crime dressed in funny costumes.

101 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:23:53pm

Ok, nice to see Russia/Putin starting to get their story together:

“Nemtsov was walking on Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge with a visitor from Ukraine. It was then when he was shot from a car that was passing by,” said the ministry’s official representative, Elena Alekseeva, as quoted by Rossiya 24 TV channel.

rt.com

It really is something seeing the stuff that made you shake your head in history books happen in real time.

102 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 8:26:33pm

re: #91 b.d.

Not to worry, stop your finger pointing because the DUDEBRO approved RT tells us how it really is;

rt.com

Shame on you for even thinking otherwise.

The opposition has been effectively marginalized and isolated from most of the “mainstream” Russian media and thus from most people. If anyone from the opposition is a threat, it’s Navalny (although after the Crimean affair and Putin’s skyrocketing ratings Putin doesn’t have to fear him too - at least for a while). Nemtsov has been playing a secondary role in the opposition in the last days. So prima facie he wasn’t, indeed, much of a direct threat.

He was a persistent gadfly though, so some of Putin’s underlings might have done it just for kicks. Or maybe there is something else that we don’t know, e.g. something connected to his promised report about DNR.

103 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:28:21pm

re: #69 retired cynic

We have to hope that Nancy Pelosi knows what she is doing. Pretty clever lady.

And she’s pretty decent at heading cats.

104 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:28:36pm

I really loathe this libertarian douchebag hitchhiker company

Uber Database Breach Exposed Information Of 50,000 Drivers, Company Confirms

Uber says it will offer a free one-year membership of Experian’s ProtectMyID Alert, which is an identity theft protection service, to the drivers that have been affected.

Gee - Thanks

techcrunch.com

105 CuriousLurker  Feb 27, 2015 8:29:27pm

So I bought this male mannequin head last year to practice shooting photos with my speedlight & Flashbender. Tonight I decided to go back and see if I could find a female version—which I did—however in the process I also ran across this nightmare that looks like a cross between an evil clown and a criminally insane mannequin.

Dafuq? Is it just me & my overactive imagination or is that thing beyond creepy. No way in hell would I bring that into my house—it looks like it might enjoy sneaking up on you while you’re sleeping and scaring the crap out of you.

*SHUDDER*

106 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 8:29:28pm
107 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 8:30:49pm

re: #100 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Exactly. But in a way I don’t blame him - the hype around First Look was monumental, and they sold him on a fantasy that any journalist might have fallen for, backed up with a huge investment of real money.

108 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 8:30:59pm

re: #101 b.d.

Ok, nice to see Russia/Putin starting to get their story together:

rt.com

It really is something seeing the stuff that made you shake your head in history books happen in real time.

I might have missed something, but the quoted excerpt doesn’t seem to contain any misinformation.

109 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 27, 2015 8:31:36pm

re: #105 CuriousLurker

So I bought this male mannequin head last year to practice shooting photos with my speedlight & Flashbender. Tonight I decided to go back and see if I could find a female version—which I did—however in the process I also ran across this nightmare that looks like a cross between an evil clown and a criminally insane mannequin.

Dafuq? Is it just me & my overactive imagination or is that thing beyond creepy. No way in hell would I bring that into my house—it looks like it might enjoy sneaking up on you while you’re sleeping and scaring the crap out of you.

*SHUDDER*

Yeh… thanks. Now I’m going to be seeing THAT in my dreams tonight.

RBS

110 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:31:43pm

re: #102 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Thanks for your take Prof. B.

So I am assuming that the March 1 rally will go on? It will be more energized and with more purpose?

I know it won’t be a Timișoara moment but if Putin had brains wouldn’t he have off’ed him after the rally?

111 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:32:13pm

re: #104 b.d.

I really loathe this libertarian douchebag hitchhiker company

Gee - Thanks

techcrunch.com

The whole Uber concept is predicated on employing people who are so desperate for cash that they will drive complete strangers around, without any sort of support from their nominal employer, and treating them like disposable cogs in a machine.

112 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:33:35pm

re: #105 CuriousLurker

So I bought this male mannequin head last year to practice shooting photos with my speedlight & Flashbender. Tonight I decided to go back and see if I could find a female version—which I did—however in the process I also ran across this nightmare that looks like a cross between an evil clown and a criminally insane mannequin.

Dafuq? Is it just me & my overactive imagination or is that thing beyond creepy. No way in hell would I bring that into my house—it looks like it might enjoy sneaking up on you while you’re sleeping and scaring the crap out of you.

*SHUDDER*

This one’s just as bad. amazon.com

113 CuriousLurker  Feb 27, 2015 8:35:11pm

re: #112 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

This one’s just as bad. amazon.com

E gad, I’d missed that one.

114 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 8:36:12pm

re: #94 WhatEVs

Frank, WTF was the deal with The Dress. I saw the real dress was blue and black. I saw nothing resembling that. I was looking for you last night. I’m feeling defective. Any ideas?

I explained this last night. The photograph was (almost certainly) shot with the camera white balance set to “open shade.” Meaning that the camera expected the subject to be lit by nothing but the blue sky, or light with a high color temperature. But the photograph was taken indoors, probably under tungsten filament lighting, which is “warm,” or yellow, aka low color temperature. On top of this it was overexposed, so everything got lighter.

End result, the camera clipped a bunch of blue from the final image, which because of the way human perception works (the color wheel) is the same thing as pumping in a bunch of yellow. So the blue areas got mostly but not entirely cancelled, and what should have been neutral black went grayish and fairly yellow in many areas.

You can test this with Photoshops color picker. The numbers show a heavy yellow shift in many of the areas that the “blue/black” viewers see as black, and a residual blue tint in the areas that the “white/gold” viewers see as white.

Long story short, the photographer was either a malevolent genius or just totally inept.

115 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:37:44pm

re: #105 CuriousLurker

So I bought this male mannequin head last year to practice shooting photos with my speedlight & Flashbender. Tonight I decided to go back and see if I could find a female version—which I did—however in the process I also ran across this nightmare that looks like a cross between an evil clown and a criminally insane mannequin.

Dafuq? Is it just me & my overactive imagination or is that thing beyond creepy. No way in hell would I bring that into my house—it looks like it might enjoy sneaking up on you while you’re sleeping and scaring the crap out of you.

*SHUDDER*

I’d never heard of Flashbenders before, so I looked ‘em up. Now I want a new speedlight and a Flashbender. Curse you!

116 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 8:38:10pm

re: #114 goddamnedfrank

Or a llama. They’re very sneaky.

117 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:38:37pm

re: #100 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Pierre sold them all a bill of goods, claiming to be the advertising base and only wanting cutting edge journalism, not matter what that be.

It looks to me though as time went on the guy who was used to paying $1 a day for a newspaper started realizing that since he was fitting the bill that he better get what he wanted and the problem being that he didn’t know what he wanted.

118 CuriousLurker  Feb 27, 2015 8:40:44pm

re: #115 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

I’d never heard of Flashbenders before, so I looked ‘em up. Now I want a new speedlight and a Flashbender. Curse you!

LOL—oh, so showing me that other creepy mannequin was revenge, huh? //

119 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 8:41:13pm

re: #114 goddamnedfrank

But how does that make people see completely different things? I mean night and day different things? I get perception, but that’s…extreme, to me.

Oh and thanks!!

120 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 8:41:55pm
121 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:42:37pm

re: #117 b.d.

Pierre sold them all a bill of goods, claiming to be the advertising base and only wanting cutting edge journalism, not matter what that be.

It looks to me though as time went on the guy who was used to paying $1 a day for a newspaper started realizing that since he was fitting the bill that he better get what he wanted and the problem being that he didn’t know what he wanted.

I worked for a meddlesome publisher once. It was a family-owned paper, and the sons of the founders divided up the empire: one took care of the editorial side and the other the business side. Editorial brother was the problem. We went through three managing editors in the two years I was there, because Editorial Brother was always in their office telling them what to cover and how to cover it.

Third generation wanted no part of the paper, and it’s been in the hands of a chain for the last 20 or so years.

122 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 8:43:21pm

re: #118 CuriousLurker

You know, some folks are going to be getting interesting ads after this discussion. I’m on to your evil plan! ;)

123 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:43:42pm

re: #118 CuriousLurker

LOL—oh, so showing me that other creepy mannequin was revenge, huh? //

No, if I wanted revenge, I would have changed the color balance on the second one and asked you if you saw a white/gold head or a black/blue head.

124 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 8:44:09pm

re: #110 b.d.

Thanks for your take Prof. B.

So I am assuming that the March 1 rally will go on? It will be more energized and with more purpose?

There will be some changes, because it’s a whole new political situation. But yes, it will take place.

I know it won’t be a Timișoara moment but if Putin had brains wouldn’t he have off’ed him after the rally?

Exactly. And since Putin is rationally evil (even if not always smart), rather than purely mad, it’s unlikely that he would care about killing a secondary target, knowing that there won’t be any advantages whatsoever, only a PR disaster on his hands, and all that at a critical juncture. The stereotype of a cartoon villain killing his enemies left and right is neat, but that’s not what Putin is.

125 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 27, 2015 8:44:17pm

re: #115 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

I’d never heard of Flashbenders before, so I looked ‘em up. Now I want a new speedlight and a Flashbender. Curse you!

I highly recommend any Photo-Lizards that really want a great course in using strobes (manual) I recommend the strobist site. Their lighting 101 and 102 tutorials will have you doing things with strobes you couldn’t imagine. The “On Assignment” is a nice behind the scene in how a certain picture was taken.

That one site helped me more than anything else when it came to learning to control light. When I’m out, taking action shots, stuff like that I’m generally TTL, but I’ve learned how to manage and balance that light so that it doesn’t have that “FLASH” look. When I’m doing still stuff, then it’s a lot of fun to set up the strobes, get the old Minolta FlashMeter out. When I was doing a fair amount of it working with some local entertainers, I got to where I could usually get it almost spot on without the meter, just from experience.

best part… it’s all free.

RBS

126 Charles Johnson  Feb 27, 2015 8:46:12pm
127 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:46:16pm

re: #125 RealityBasedSteve

Dammit. It’s a blogspot site. I’ll have to use my VPN to access it, ‘cause China is still blocking blogspot.

128 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 8:47:09pm

re: #126 Charles Johnson

I want to know the intersectionality of the dress and the llamas.

129 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 27, 2015 8:49:14pm

re: #128 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

I want to know the intersectionality of the dress and the llamas.

and is it synergistic?

130 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 8:50:59pm

There is so much bullshit surrounding the dress image as well. It doesn’t have anything to do with the “quality” of the cones in your eyes. Subtractive canceling is a neurological process that takes place in the brain. If you aren’t color blind then your cones are for the most part pretty much the same as everyone else’s. Functional tetrochromats are very rare, I’ve only ever heard of one person who was experimentally proven to be such.

I saw gold and bluish white. I know actual retouchers who saw blue and black. All that matters is the numbers, and today I saw someone try to pull those straight out of her ass in front of a room full of imaging pros. It’s was ugly to say the least and didn’t end well for her or the company she represents. Pro tip: just because something is topical doesn’t mean you need to put it in your presentation.

131 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 8:53:08pm

re: #126 Charles Johnson

132 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 8:53:52pm
133 Timothy Watson  Feb 27, 2015 8:55:31pm

re: #106 De Kolta Chair

Embedded Image

It could have been worse, they might have served him salo.

134 sagehen  Feb 27, 2015 8:56:02pm

re: #119 WhatEVs

But how does that make people see completely different things? I mean night and day different things? I get perception, but that’s…extreme, to me.

Oh and thanks!!

To summarize/paraphrase the article in Wired as best I can… there’s several totally normal alignments of rods/cones in average people — one of them makes you see this particular wrong-white-balanced short on one set of receptors, another makes you see them on a very different set, and they’re both physiologically plausible reactions to that particular arrangement of pixels.

135 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 8:57:25pm
Batllama

136 Timothy Watson  Feb 27, 2015 8:59:01pm

re: #135 A Cranky One

Image: BatllamaEmbedded Image

And Catwoman is leading “Batman” around on a leash, how appropriate for most of the Batman/Catwoman adaptions.

137 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 8:59:57pm

re: #135 A Cranky One

Image: BatllamaEmbedded Image

The White & Gold Knight

138 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 9:01:25pm

re: #135 A Cranky One

Image: BatllamaEmbedded Image

Batllama’s voice still can’t be as awkward as Bane’s

139 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 9:01:27pm
140 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 9:02:10pm
141 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 9:02:59pm
142 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 9:04:32pm
143 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 27, 2015 9:06:09pm

re: #140 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Ooo! When I cover up the background, the cube faces are the same shade of gray.

144 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 9:08:04pm

re: #143 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Ooo! When I cover up the background, the cube faces are the same shade of gray.

THEY ARE BLUE AND GOLD!

145 b.d.  Feb 27, 2015 9:10:31pm

re: #142 De Kolta Chair

Embedded Image

That’s a blue corn tortilla. Right?

146 Nyet  Feb 27, 2015 9:11:55pm

re: #126 Charles Johnson

Now you too have seen the Colour Out of Space.

147 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 9:12:28pm

Also, the numbers the color picker displays in the info panel come straight from the file. They don’t have anything to do with your monitor calibration. The calibration adjustments take place on the fly, in the video card. The numbers are there as an objective guide, in case your calibration sucks or you did it in your darkened room at night and now it’s fucking high noon in middle of Death Valley or you just hit your head really hard or assorted shit like that. So, again pro tip, when you arrogantly inform a bunch of people who do this stuff for a living that they need to “calibrate their monitors” to get the “right numbers,” that isn’t going to end well.

148 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 9:15:07pm

re: #144 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

THEY ARE BLUE AND GOLD!

But enough about UCLA. Go Arizona Wilcats! Bear down! //

149 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 9:15:43pm

re: #147 goddamnedfrank

I’m a little irritated because my Facebook is full of fucktards, more than usual even, and I’m all full of …

150 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 9:20:59pm
151 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 9:22:03pm

re: #136 Timothy Watson

And Catwoman is leading “Batman” around on a leash, how appropriate for most of the Batman/Catwoman adaptions.

50 Shades of Batman?

152 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 9:36:25pm

re: #151 WhatEVs

50 Shades of Batman?

<evil grin>

153 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 9:36:48pm

I broke the thread. :-(

154 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 9:39:11pm

You could tell us what the 50 Shades Batman carries in his utility belt.

Or maybe not ;)

155 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 9:44:08pm

re: #154 A Cranky One

You could tell us what the 50 Shades Batman carries in his utility belt.

Or maybe not ;)

I’m not knowledgable enough.

But Batman’s utility belt already has all kinds of shit that inflicts pain, so I think he’s good to go. :-)

156 TedStriker  Feb 27, 2015 9:45:49pm

re: #155 WhatEVs

I’m not knowledgable enough.

But Batman’s utility belt already has all kinds of shit that inflicts pain, so I think he’s good to go. :-)

I’m sure that he found room on his belt for the Bat-Nipple Clamps.

///

157 SteelPH  Feb 27, 2015 9:48:46pm

I have to ask, is Greenwald even capable of smiling? Every photo I’ve seen of him has his face contorted in ways that convey being perpetually pissed off.

158 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 9:49:12pm

re: #156 TedStriker

I’m sure that he found room on his belt for the Bat-Nipple Clamps.

///

Oh thanks. I really needed that mental image. Excuse me while I go beat my head on the wall for a bit.

159 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 9:50:33pm

re: #151 WhatEVs

50 Shades of Batman?

And now, chapter twelve in our ongoing series, Fifty Shades of Charles Dance…
160 austin_blue  Feb 27, 2015 9:51:16pm

Once he exposed the theft of 30 billion dollars in the run-up to the Sochi Olympics, he was a dead man.

The modern Russia is a kleptocracy of the old Soviet families. Putin runs the show, and all of his cronies get rich. Once he took power, he quickly got rid of the Jews who took advantage of the initial privatization of State industries. Then he distributed the spoils to his buds.

What an evil fuck.

161 TedStriker  Feb 27, 2015 9:52:09pm

re: #158 A Cranky One

Oh thanks. I really needed that mental image. Excuse me while I go beat my head on the wall for a bit.

LOL

162 BillinGlendaleCA  Feb 27, 2015 10:01:19pm

re: #148 De Kolta Chair

There’s never enough about UCLA. Go Bruins.

ETA: Four years wandering the hills of Westwood and I still haven’t found the bridge.

163 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 10:07:15pm

re: #162 BillinGlendaleCA

There’s never enough about UCLA. Go Bruins.

A thousand pardons for my alma mater defeating your Bruins 57-47 the other day. Must’ve been a mistake. ;-P

///////////

164 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 10:12:50pm

Apologies to Sonny Curtis and Bobby Fuller.

165 BillinGlendaleCA  Feb 27, 2015 10:15:32pm

re: #163 De Kolta Chair

We suck this year in roundball. Remind me, how many NCAA championships does U of A have?

166 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 10:25:27pm

re: #165 BillinGlendaleCA

re: #165 BillinGlendaleCA

We suck this year in roundball. Remind me, how many NCAA championships does U of A have?

U of A national baseball championships: 1976, 1980, 1986 and 2012.

The women’s softball teams have won eight NCAA Division I softball championships.

And that’s just bean ball. You UCLA guys and gals are pretty darn good, I’ll grant you that, but we be bad.

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, we’re cocky, but at least we’re not Arizona State. Those guys are total a-holes.

But all joking aside, excepting the art, astronomy, English, library science, and medical schools, the U of A is just a party school.

167 BillinGlendaleCA  Feb 27, 2015 10:40:11pm

re: #166 De Kolta Chair

UCLA was first to 100, 11 in roundball.

I’ve always heard ASU is a party school. I do have a soft spot for U of A, a friend got his PhD there.

168 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 10:46:16pm

Bibi’s refusing to meet with Democrats.

theguardian.com

Is he actively trying to fuck Israel by taking its closest ally and turning the relationship a “pick a political side” issue? What happens to Israel when a right wing government isn’t in power? Are US Republicans, known for their bipartisan nature, going to be all flowers and roses?

Is he fucking insane?

169 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 10:46:53pm

platformbreathe.org needs to fire all their creatives and salt the earth where they live. These people are making me hate everything even more than I normally do.

170 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 10:50:53pm
171 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 10:51:42pm

re: #167 BillinGlendaleCA

I guess I’ve got a chip on my shoulder for going to a state land grant college. To be honest, I was stoned the whole time I was there in the seventies. Had some terrific professors who taught me a thing or two or three. And the astronomy dept. is second to none. We’re justly proud of that.

172 WhatEVs  Feb 27, 2015 10:51:49pm

re: #169 goddamnedfrank

I’m sorry you’re upset. {{{hug}}} Hope that helps.

173 goddamnedfrank  Feb 27, 2015 10:53:19pm
We would like to apologize to any viewer who was subjected to the technical problem with the sound on some of our PSAs that ran on DirecTV recently. It was never our intention to use unpleasant sound to draw attention to our message, it was a mistake beyond our control and has been corrected as far as we can tell. Please let us know if you experience any further technical problems and we will address them as soon as possible.

Thank you for understanding.

the platformbreathe team

No. Fuck you. You don’t get it. Everything you do sucks. Your photography sucks. Your TV ads suck. Your art directors and copywriters suck. Your producers suck. Your directors suck. The “talent” you hire, sucks. You’re making me hate children, poor people, the environment and humanity in general. Just fucking stop.

174 A Cranky One  Feb 27, 2015 10:58:04pm

re: #173 goddamnedfrank

No. Fuck you. You don’t get it. Everything you do sucks. Your photography sucks. Your TV ads suck. Your art directors and copywriters suck. Your producers suck. Your directors suck. The “talent” you hire, sucks. You’re making me hate children, poor people, the environment and humanity in general. Just fucking stop.

Yes, yes, that’s it. Get in touch with your inner crankiness!

Sorry. I shouldn’t proselytize. ;)

175 De Kolta Chair  Feb 27, 2015 11:17:12pm

Russia ain’t all bad. After all, it brought forth this wacky brilliant genius:

I confess, I do not believe in time. — Vladimir Nabokov

And with that thought, I bid adieu.

176 freetoken  Feb 27, 2015 11:28:19pm

All this talk about Russian bad guys… makes my head spin…

MP3 Audio

177 Kragar  Feb 27, 2015 11:43:41pm

So the word on the 40k street is later this year, they’re going to be expanding the Kroot in a big way.

Kroot

The Kroot are a species of savage humanoids who are a member species of the Tau Empire who evolved from avian creatures. Kroot are tall aliens (a good half-meter taller than most humans), their avian ancestry giving them a bird-like beak and long quills protruding from their heads like hair. Smaller quills, possibly the evolutionary remnants of feathers, can be found scattered over their bodies.

A unique feature of the Kroot is that they evolve by selecting traits of their defeated foes to absorb by eating them. Due to this, the many Kroot warbands across the galaxy often look radically different. Kroot leaders are known as Shapers; they are generally the Kroot with the best ability for recognizing desirable traits in defeated foes and tell his Kindred (the word for a Kroot clan) what to eat to suit the task at hand. For instance, a Shaper who wants his Kroot to gain muscle mass will take on campaigns against Orks to acquire the right DNA, while extensive feeding on flying predators will allow the Kroot to grow wings. This eating of their foes ties in with the religious beliefs of the Kroot: they believe that when a warrior of any race dies, his warrior spirit should be kept, and the only way to do this is by eating his flesh. The Kroot practice this in their “burial” customs, in which the body of the deceased is consumed by the kindred.

Kroot who prey extensively on a particular species will begin to take the characteristics of that creature. In sentient species such as Orks and Humans, they may also take on cultural aspects of that race as well. Kroot who have fed on Dark Eldar, for example, soon begin to show signs of the cunning and intense cruelty the Dark Eldar are known for.

178 freetoken  Feb 28, 2015 12:55:16am

Since SyFy started to run their new series 12 Monkeys I’ve been trying to watch it - it appeared to start off strongly but my interest waned.

I think I know why, and it’s one reason why I tire of dystopias so easily. Nearly all of them run straight for the idea that humans would rather kill each other than get along for mutual benefit.

The writers of these stories keep falling into the same trap.

No matter how violent of apes we are (and we are the most violent of apes) we still spend most of our time trying to get cooperation from our fellow apes.

It’s that essential nature of humans that these writers of dystopic story lines keep ignoring. It’s why the stories seem so unreal (ignoring the obvious fictional elements of zombies, time travel, etc.)

179 freetoken  Feb 28, 2015 1:03:33am
180 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 3:18:52am

re: #177 Kragar

So the word on the 40k street is later this year, they’re going to be expanding the Kroot in a big way.

Kroot

Embedded Image

I hope so but I have my doubts. They should at least bring back some equivalent to Master Shaper Anghkor Prok as an HQ option. Also be nice to see GW issue their own versions of the Gnarloc and Great Gnarloc models that Forgeworld discontinued. Otherwise I fear the Kroot are going to just be like the Harlequins and Militarum Tempestus, flavor elements which can only fill in a couple of slots in another army but have been issued codexes of their own recently for reasons I can’t quite understand except GW wants people’s $$$.

181 wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2015 4:47:43am
182 Doofus  Feb 28, 2015 5:04:53am

Good morning, I hope everyone is staying warm like these furry critters!

183 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 5:06:11am

WE DON’T NEED NO INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS!1!!

A Caroline County bridge will be closed to traffic immediately, following an inspection that found “severe deterioration in the bridge beams.”

The Virginia Department of Transportation closed the bridge on State Route 606, also known as Stonewall Jackson Road, Friday afternoon.

A schedule for the bridge’s replacement has not been announced yet.
Replacements for the bridge have been planned, but this will speed up the process.

A project is already under design to replace the bridge’s superstructure, according to VDOT and construction is scheduled to begin in January 2016.
It was built in 1962 and approximately 1,900 vehicles cross the bridge each day.

fredericksburg.com

The really annoying thing is that I go over that bridge all the time both while driving around for work and for commuting to Richmond and back for school.

184 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 5:16:12am

Was the Madonna’s dress blue or black?

185 alpuzzzzz (I, R & sometimes why?)  Feb 28, 2015 5:17:52am

re: #147 goddamnedfrank

I luv u man….

(seriously)

186 lawhawk  Feb 28, 2015 5:19:34am

Greets and saluts from the sunny and brisk NYC metro area.

Woke up to quite the joke in my twitter feed.

I needed that laugh. Seriously. It was funny.

187 alpuzzzzz (I, R & sometimes why?)  Feb 28, 2015 5:25:44am

To the dog lovers out there. If you ever need a love/wtf relationship with a dog, adopt a Malamute.

188 lawhawk  Feb 28, 2015 5:25:50am

re: #170 WhatEVs

There was a time when the Mossad leadership was anonymous and the reasoning behind it was security. It was also to maintain a veneer of apoliticial activity. The Mossad was supposed to be above politics and that security comes first and foremost.

That’s long gone and former Mossad leaders are now in the media and sharing their opinions on foreign policy and national security. So, while I might support the idea of ousting Netanyahu from office, I’m worried about the politicization of the agency and the way it affects their mission and worldview going forward.

In fact, I would say the same of the Foreign Ministry whose officials have been acting in less than diplomatic fashion of late - particularly when it comes to Netanyahu’s visit in the US. They know better than that, and they’re still playing games. That has to stop too.

189 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 5:27:13am

re: #184 Decatur Deb

Was the Madonna’s dress blue or black?

Embedded Image

Her dress is transcendental RGB(634,553,764).

190 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 5:27:42am
MOSCOW — Russia’s top investigative authority said it was looking at whether the shooting death of prominent opposition leader Boris Nemtsov early on Saturday was aimed at destabilizing the state. A line of inquiry not mentioned in the statement on the website for Russia’s Investigative Committee was the possibility that he was gunned down because he was one of President Vladimir Putin’s staunchest critics.

The committee would investigate whether Nemtsov was slain as a “sacrificial victim for those who do not shun any method for achieving their political goals,” the committee said in the statement.

Truly, isn’t the real victim here Putin’s government LOL.

Fuck a duck! The corruption has now folded in on and become a caricature of itself. I mean, from zero to “false flag” in less than a day.

Seriously tho’, why do these anti-Putin negative nabobs keep assassinating themselves? It’s like they don’t even want to have a good time. Putin’s just trying to be a super awesome cuddly often topless leader bear and all these clumsy fucks keep eating Polonium and Dioxin and shooting themselves multiple times in the back accidentally on purpose. That shit is crazy, stop doing that you dumb assholes, it’s not going to work because the Russian police are like totally onto you.

191 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 5:36:12am

re: #190 goddamnedfrank

The interesting thing is that he was of course under surveillance - at least before the march. Yet they’re still mumbling and fumbling. They allegedly found the car, Lada Priora with an Ingushetian number, but it’s still not clear whether it’s the car, etc.

192 wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2015 5:37:57am
193 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 5:39:57am

re: #192 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

Somewhere in the depths of Hell, Beria looks on with approval.

194 lawhawk  Feb 28, 2015 5:40:55am
195 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 5:44:09am
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov also called the murder “a provocation” benefiting the opposition and said on Kommersant FM radio that ratings-wise, “Boris Nemtsov was just a little more than an average citizen.”

I mean c’mon bro, Nemtsov’s Klout score wasn’t very … holy fuck really? This is actually what they’re saying? That he kind of wasn’t a big deal. Shit, I bet he didn’t have many leather bound books either, and his apartment probably didn’t smell of rich mahogany, the goddamned poser.

196 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 5:45:12am

re: #193 Targetpractice

Somewhere in the depths of Hell, Beria looks on with approval.

OK, it’s clear that an investigation in such a case in Russia is inherently suspect, and so on. But on the other hand we do expect the police to investigate, which also means investigating his apartment, including the documents.

197 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 5:46:23am

re: #188 lawhawk

There was a time when the Mossad leadership was anonymous and the reasoning behind it was security. It was also to maintain a veneer of apoliticial activity. The Mossad was supposed to be above politics and that security comes first and foremost.

That’s long gone and former Mossad leaders are now in the media and sharing their opinions on foreign policy and national security. So, while I might support the idea of ousting Netanyahu from office, I’m worried about the politicization of the agency and the way it affects their mission and worldview going forward.

In fact, I would say the same of the Foreign Ministry whose officials have been acting in less than diplomatic fashion of late - particularly when it comes to Netanyahu’s visit in the US. They know better than that, and they’re still playing games. That has to stop too.

What’s happened to the Mossad is much the same thing that happened here in the States to the CIA, namely the desire to remain “above” politics was overtaken by the need to avoid being used as a cudgel in politics.

198 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 5:49:05am

re: #194 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Thanks, Obama.

199 William Barnett-Lewis  Feb 28, 2015 5:51:28am

re: #186 lawhawk

It always amazes me how many people will happily swallow these crooks lies.

200 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 5:53:51am

I’m just … WOW! Dude get’s fucking assassinated in broad fucking daylight. Wait, it was daylight right? I don’t want to assume something stupid but that’s what i’m hearing.

Anyway, where was I, oh yeah, co-chair of an opposition party gets gunned down in public and Putin’s spokesman is out there basically saying “You all realize he wasn’t important, right. I mean, he was little people. Listen, all I’m saying is I can’t believe you assholes actually care.”

Not even a “What, should I not have said that out loud?”

201 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 5:57:24am

re: #196 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

OK, it’s clear that an investigation in such a case in Russia is inherently suspect, and so on. But on the other hand we do expect the police to investigate, which also means investigating his apartment, including the documents.

What gets me is the speed with which this investigation is moving. We had reports of the sidewalk where he’d been shot being power-washed within a couple hours of his death and cops raiding his apartment at roughly the same time. I’m not sure the sort of pace cops operate on over there, but here in the States, when cops move with this sort of haste, its generally because they either had advance notice or they want to get ahead of efforts to hide/destroy valuable documents.

202 Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2015 5:58:31am

ALL THE NO’S!!!!!!!!!! All Of Them!!

203 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:00:37am

I don’t even care about the interpreting things like the search of his apartment and power washing a crime scene. Y’know why? Because holy fuck just look at the stuff they’re saying, out loud, in public, where people can hear them!

204 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 6:01:10am

re: #199 William Barnett-Lewis

It always amazes me how many people will happily swallow these crooks lies.

Most tax protesters are mentally ill from my experience with them.

205 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 6:01:11am

re: #59 b.d.

He better learn how to dance in the National Ballet.

I’m thinking he’ll be learning to count trees in the near future.

206 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 6:02:03am

re: #203 goddamnedfrank

I don’t even care about the interpreting things like the search of his apartment and power washing a crime scene. Y’know why? Because holy fuck just look at the stuff they’re saying, out loud, in public, where people can hear them!

Yeah, the speed at which the cops are moving sort of belays the whole “He was small time, nobody really gives a fuck” attitude that Putin and his cronies are spouting.

207 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:03:09am

O/T, but Season 3 of “House of Cards” is fantastic! A good blend of fantasy/conspiracy/political reality for an old political junkie like me.

Recommend, and the final episode is a great lead-in for a 4th season.

208 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 6:03:17am

re: #192 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

What’s the chances that Putin claims they uncovered SHOCKING!!1! evidence of corruption from that search? 100%?

209 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:03:34am

re: #200 goddamnedfrank

I’m just … WOW! Dude get’s fucking assassinated in broad fucking daylight. Wait, it was daylight right? I don’t want to assume something stupid but that’s what i’m hearing.

If by daylight we can also mean night.

Anyway, where was I, oh yeah, co-chair of an opposition party gets gunned down in public and Putin’s spokesman is out there basically saying “You all realize he wasn’t important, right. I mean, he was little people. Listen, all I’m saying is I can’t believe you assholes actually care.”

Not even a “What, should I not have said that out loud?”

Maybe I’m too Russian, but I do understand this logic very well.
Who was blamed right after the murder? Putin. How was that presented? “Putin kills a leading critic”. So they counter it with “even if one assumes that we would kill someone important, this logic doesn’t work, he wasn’t that important”. Do they come off as assholes? Yes, and they may not even “feel” it. Are they factually correct? In principle, yes.

210 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:05:58am

The predictable reaction to the murder is exactly why it’s highly improbable that Putin had anything to do with it (general responsibility for the Russian situation aside).

211 lawhawk  Feb 28, 2015 6:08:05am

Meanwhile, there was a Friday night news dump out of NJ, where the state settled a longstanding lawsuit against Exxon Mobil for pollution for $250 million.

The state had been demanding $8.9 billion. With a B.

This litigation goes back a decade, and the state had won at every stage until now, so the settlement is a fraction of what was demanded.

With a state that is is rough fiscal shape, and has tremendous environmental and infrastructure needs, settling for this amount is an affront and highlights that Christie is in the pocket of the oil industry. Had the settlement been for even $1 billion, it could have gone to fund environmental cleanups across the state such as the Garfield chromium superfund site, or buying back homes in flood zones, or funding replacement of combined sewer systems across the state.

So, even if the state’s $8.9 billion damages request was high, or even high by half, the settlement was a fraction of damage done by the oil industry across the state.

212 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:09:16am

re: #201 Targetpractice

It’s 200 m from Kremlin, not some far away village. I’m sure they had the “best” specialists there (regardless of what we think about objectivity and such) in a matter of minutes.

213 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:10:57am

What other “motives” could there possibly be other than political? Did he owe the Russian mob money? Highly improbable.

Russian officials say several possible lines of investigation in Nemtsov murder case including political motives - @interfax_news
end of alert

214 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:12:57am

Meanwhile, in Britain, these thugs are out and about:

while others are protesting their presence:

215 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:16:43am

re: #209 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Maybe I’m too Russian, but I do understand this logic very well.
Who was blamed right after the murder? Putin. How was that presented? “Putin kills a leading critic”. So they counter it with “even if one assumes that we would kill someone important, this logic doesn’t work, he wasn’t that important”. Do they come off as assholes? Yes, and they may not even “feel” it. Are they factually correct? In principle, yes.

It’s Machiavellian and smacks of projection. Like, “holy shit, that’s exactly the kind of thing we might do.” Not only is the spokesman’s statement cynical as fuck, it rather ignores the pattern of bad shit happening to people who get in Putin’s way. I don’t think he ordered it, just like I don’t think he ordered the shootdown of Malaysian flight 17, his responsibility for creating the environment notwithstanding. It’s pretty clear to me at this point however that the “control” half of his extended command and control infrastructure leaves much to be desired. His supporters are some seriously eager beavers, with itchy trigger fingers.

216 Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2015 6:17:17am
217 lawhawk  Feb 28, 2015 6:18:38am

re: #215 goddamnedfrank

There’s a permissiveness to his supporters actions that go in to lawlessness. They will engage in all manner of illegal and violent acts, and Putin winks and nods at all of it.

There will be an investigation, but the victim will have brought it upon himself.

218 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:19:07am

I think Westerners outside the Russian political context often have this temptation to see Russia as they show it “in films”. Putin is a comic book villain, offing his enemies left and right, no matter whether it benefits him at all. As a liberal who’s been against Putin since at least 2001 (when he destroyed the NTV channel), I have a deep-seated hatred for him, which has only intensified in recent years. Still, as a Russian, who has been in this “context” for years (before leaving recently), I see Putin as more nuanced than a Bond villain. There’s a cynical logic to what he does and does not do. It’s easy for an outsider to say, “Oh, look at this list of murdered journalists, obviously Putin did it”. But that’s not how it works.

219 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:21:05am

re: #216 Dave In Austin

Heh!

220 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 6:22:03am

I don’t suspect Putin of having personally ordered a hit on Nemtsov, but I do think the man sees an opportunity in his death.

221 Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2015 6:25:22am

re: #219 Justanotherhuman

Heh!

[Embedded content]

Coffee on the Keyboard…… And it came out my nose.

222 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 28, 2015 6:29:06am

re: #219 Justanotherhuman

I don’t get it

223 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:31:14am

re: #218 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Dioxin and radioactive Polonium aren’t exactly the kinds of toxins one picks up at Walmart.

In any event, saying somebody was too small and unimportant for you to seriously consider killing implies that there actually is a fame threshold beyond which murder would plausibly be on the table. It’s like saying a particular child is too ugly to rape, there’s just never going to be a context in which an audience is going to think, “y’know what, that’s a compelling argument.”

224 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:31:43am

re: #218 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

The character, Pres Petrov, played by Lars Mikkelsen on House of Cards is, I think, based on Putin.

225 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:33:49am

re: #222 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Doug Stamper, a character on HoC, who is Underwood’s fixer…

226 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 28, 2015 6:34:41am

re: #225 Justanotherhuman

Doug Stamper, a character on HoC, who plays Underwood’s fixer…

Oh, OK. I’ve gotta get caught up with HoC.

227 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:35:19am

re: #213 Justanotherhuman

What other “motives” could there possibly be other than political? Did he owe the Russian mob money? Highly improbable.

Politics is the most probable motive. But to answer your question: Nemtsov was a well-off man who also had some rather heated financial disputes. E.g. years ago he lent a pretty large sum of money (around 1mln.$) to an ex-chief of Rosvooruzhenie (now Rosoboronexport), general-major Kotyolkin. The latter then refused to give it back, so Nemtsov went to the court, which then ordered Kotyolkin’s property to be confiscated if he didn’t return the money. Now think about it. A Russian army general who had been in charge of the state weapons exports firm. If we’re thinking “Machiavellian”, it’s not hard to see how someone like that could have wanted revenge.

228 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:40:17am

I’m not going to give anything away, but I will say that toward the end of HoC, it gets pretty fucking dark, but plenty of political intrigue, policy disputes and a campaign season along the way.

229 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:41:18am

I can’t stand House of Cards because it’s exactly like Glee.

I’ve never actually watched Glee, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

230 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:41:25am

re: #223 goddamnedfrank

Dioxin and radioactive Polonium aren’t exactly the kinds of toxins one picks up at Walmart.

Last time I checked, Nemtsov was killed with neither.

As for the cases of Litvinenko or Yandarbiyev, where Putin was most likely to order or approve the operations, those are not at all analogous to the murder of journalists. The Yandarbiyev case is clear, Litvinenko was a turn-coat who broke the FSB omerta (and began to work for the Brits). This is more of the usual “spy”/”intelligence” stuff.

231 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 6:42:54am

re: #220 Targetpractice

I don’t suspect Putin of having personally ordered a hit on Nemtsov, but I do think the man sees an opportunity in his death.

He helped create an atmosphere in which it is open season on “enemies of the state”. We have seen enough of that. That is his forté: he has people doing his bidding without getting his hands dirty.

“Will no-one rid me of this troublesome journalist?”

232 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:43:21am

re: #227 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Good to have a Russian here. Do you think tradition and religion (esp the Russian Orthodox church) influence the population to a great degree, and that current politicos take advantage of that to the detriment of a solid, overall democratic uprising among the populace?

233 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:45:02am

re: #230 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Yes, Nemtsov’s assassination was incredibly hamfisted by comparison, I get that. As I said before I do not think Putin was directly involved, but that his weak control over his supporters very likely played a role. Seems much more likely than “the liberals did it to make us look bad and destabilize our government.”

234 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 6:45:44am

re: #216 Dave In Austin

Did any of you get any sleep last night?

Don’t lie to me.

My girlfriend and I are champing at the bit to watch HofC, but I got my kiddies up visiting on their winter school holidays from France, so we will have to wait until tomorrow evening to start bingeing.

235 Dave In Austin  Feb 28, 2015 6:46:33am

re: #229 goddamnedfrank

I can’t stand House of Cards because it’s exactly like Glee.

I’ve never actually watched Glee, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Be sure to tweet that. That could gain traction.

236 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 6:47:10am

re: #232 Justanotherhuman

Good to have a Russian here. Do you think tradition and religion (esp the Russian Orthodox church) influence the population to a great degree, and that current politicos take advantage of that to the detriment of a solid, overall democratic uprising among the populace?

Yes to all.

237 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:47:26am

This guy is good.

Pope Francis launches new attack on economic injustice, condemning the ‘throw-away culture’ of globalization - @Reuters
news.yahoo.com

238 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 6:47:43am

Seriously though, I hated House of Cards. Tried to get through season one all the way but couldn’t. I can deal with an anti-hero, but not a relentlessly amoral crap sack that never gets his comeuppance.

239 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:48:23am

re: #238 goddamnedfrank

Frank, it’s a series…

240 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 6:48:58am

re: #237 Justanotherhuman

This guy is good.

Pope Francis launches new attack on economic injustice, condemning the ‘throw-away culture’ of globalization - @Reuters
news.yahoo.com

Two sermons forward, one sermon back.

241 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 6:52:14am

re: #229 goddamnedfrank

I can’t stand House of Cards because it’s exactly like Glee.

I’ve never actually watched Glee, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

You win the internet this hour.

242 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 6:53:11am

re: #238 goddamnedfrank

Seriously though, I hated House of Cards. Tried to get through season one all the way but couldn’t. I can deal with an anti-hero, but not a relentlessly amoral crap sack that never gets his comeuppance.

But let’s not talk about Dick Cheney or George Bush right now…

243 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 6:53:17am

re: #236 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

This might interest you.

Sir John Sawers, ex-MI6 chief, warns of Russia ‘danger’

bbc.com

(snip)

“He said he was disappointed how, after the end of the Cold War, Russia’s and Europe’s paths had failed to converge.

“Russia’s threat was “not necessarily directly to the UK but to countries around its periphery”.

“[Russia] keep on reminding us that they have nuclear weapons,” he said.” More

244 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 6:54:48am
245 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:00:19am

re: #238 goddamnedfrank

Seriously though, I hated House of Cards. Tried to get through season one all the way but couldn’t. I can deal with an anti-hero, but not a relentlessly amoral crap sack that never gets his comeuppance.

Well, if it runs like the BBC series, he gets his own in the final episode…

246 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:01:52am

re: #236 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Yes to all.

The Orthodox Church has entered into some sort of unholy alliance with the Putin government: they get to serve as arbiters of morality and what is permissible in public, and in return they are lavished with financial support and political influence.

247 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 7:03:35am

re: #245 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Well, if it runs like the BBC series, he gets his own in the final episode…

Yeah, they tend to run like that. If you have a villain protagonist in a BBC series, he’ll get his at or close to the final episode.

248 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:09:00am

re: #243 Justanotherhuman

One of the reasons - now used as a political cudgel - was that Russia was thrown into the extreme “free market economy” like a baby that can’t swim thrown into an ocean. A very polluted, corrupt ocean. I think there is a measure of responsibility on the Western neo-liberal circles for that, because the “advisers” quite often came from the outside.

Now the time is remembered as the “cursed 90s” and is brought up every time one talks about liberalism (alongside “Gayrope” and such).

249 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 7:09:37am

Okay, super duper seriously, House of Cards is just like Death Note, in that the entire plot is predicated on a convoluted never ending pile of Just as Planned. The show would be a lot cooler if the producers just embraced this and gave Underwood a magic notebook that kills people.

250 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:09:51am

re: #246 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

The Orthodox Church has entered into some sort of unholy alliance with the Putin government: they get to serve as arbiters of morality and what is permissible in public, and in return they are lavished with financial support and political influence.

And they should answer accordingly, if such time ever comes.

251 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 7:11:21am

re: #248 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

One of the reasons - now used as a political cudgel - was that Russia was thrown into the extreme “free market economy” like a baby that can’t swim thrown into an ocean. A very polluted, corrupt ocean. I think there is a measure of responsibility on the Western neo-liberal circles for that, because the “advisers” quite often came from the outside.

Oh totally, we threw the country to the wolves.

252 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:14:23am

Of course right now Putin is leading Russia into the new “90s” (but without all the freedom), and there’s no one else to blame.

253 wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2015 7:17:57am

Looks a bit like Putin in that pose. Boo hoo.

254 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 7:19:43am

re: #251 goddamnedfrank

Oh totally, we threw the country to the wolves.

That seems to be a pattern with ‘80’s and ‘90’s American foreign policy.

255 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:22:35am

re: #248 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Yes, I get that. Capitalism foisted on a society run by “communist” fiat for 70+ years which spawned the oligarchs, also, and a lot of corruption. I don’t think that for the average Russian, it’s worked very well.

256 wrenchwench  Feb 28, 2015 7:24:34am
257 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 7:27:35am

re: #251 goddamnedfrank

Oh totally, we threw the country to the wolves.

As early as the mid-80s, we were talking, not about the destruction of the SU, but how to ‘soft-land’ it. Considering that it came down without mass slaughter, the GHWB State Department didn’t do too badly.

258 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 7:31:22am

re: #255 Justanotherhuman

Yes, I get that. Capitalism foisted on a society run by “communist” fiat for 70+ years which spawned the oligarchs, also, and a lot of corruption. I don’t think that for the average Russian, it’s worked very well.

Not just capitalism per se. They got dumped into the middle of the slow-motion Reaganomics disaster. The western economies were strong enough that it took 27 years for these insane policies to bring them crashing down around our ears. The former Soviet economies, as you say, had no resistance to their destructive effects. Reagan/Thatcher and the Austrian School fucknuggets have a lot to answer for.

259 goddamnedfrank  Feb 28, 2015 7:31:43am

re: #255 Justanotherhuman

Yes, I get that. Capitalism foisted on a society run by “communist” fiat for 70+ years which spawned the oligarchs, also, and a lot of corruption. I don’t think that for the average Russian, it’s worked very well.

Letting people sell their vouchers during privatization was a huge mistake I think. It would have worked better to require the voucher to be invested in industry shares and held for a certain amount of time before they could be sold or transferred. I think the average person would have been much better educated about the process if it had worked that way. They still could have sold eventually, but not before having an opportunity to understand exactly what they were giving up.

260 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:35:11am

re: #250 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

And they should answer accordingly, if such time ever comes.

They are playing off their history of “persecution” under the Soviet Regime, although they also established a comfy arrangement with the government back then, too.

261 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:37:34am

re: #257 Decatur Deb

As early as the mid-80s, we were talking, not about the destruction of the SU, but how to ‘soft-land’ it. Considering that it came down without mass slaughter, the GHWB State Department didn’t do too badly.

The country fell apart under its own inertia, a lot of major questions were left unsettled. It just means that the mass slaughter was just delayed by a few decades.

There are millions of ethnic Russians stuck outside the borders of Russia, not just in the Ukraine. They have lost their status as a privileged, even pampered majority and are a breeding ground for resentment, just the sort of thing that all too easily erupts into armed conflict.

262 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:37:39am

re: #258 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Yes, “trickle down” has never worked anywhere, not even in the US. I suspect people were desperate for rubles to buy food and other necessities (if they could even get them) when they gave up those “vouchers”. I don’t think the average working (or non-working) person would have trusted “vouchers” to be worth more later than in that present.

263 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 7:37:56am

re: #256 wrenchwench

Photo-op booth for wannabe second tier candidates?

264 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 7:39:18am
265 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:40:41am

re: #262 Justanotherhuman

Yes, “trickle down” has never worked anywhere, not even in the US. I suspect people were desperate for rubles to buy food and other necessities (if they could even get them) when they gave up those “vouchers”. I don’t think the average working (or non-working) person would have trusted “vouchers” to be worth more later than in that present.

A voucher costed a bottle of vodka, maybe two. It was never taken seriously by most. Those who did take it seriously and bought up vouchers in bulk became filthy rich.

266 lostlakehiker  Feb 28, 2015 7:41:13am

re: #218 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

I think Westerners outside the Russian political context often have this temptation to see Russia as they show it “in films”. Putin is a comic book villain, offing his enemies left and right, no matter whether it benefits him at all. As a liberal who’s been against Putin since at least 2001 (when he destroyed the NTV channel), I have a deep-seated hatred for him, which has only intensified in recent years. Still, as a Russian, who has been in this “context” for years (before leaving recently), I see Putin as more nuanced than a Bond villain. There’s a cynical logic to what he does and does not do. It’s easy for an outsider to say, “Oh, look at this list of murdered journalists, obviously Putin did it”. But that’s not how it works.

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

In Putin’s Russia, he needn’t even go that far. Silence is consent. If the government never actually hunts down and executes or throws in the dungeon the killer or killers, then they know they have the green light.

267 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:41:52am

re: #265 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

A voucher costed a bottle of vodka, maybe two. It was never taken seriously by most. Those who did take it seriously and bought up vouchers in bulk became filthy rich.

Those who sold out early managed to buy a new TV set with the money…those who waited were lucky to get a bottle of cheap Azeri wine.

268 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:41:54am

Aha.

Ukrainian President Poroshenko: Boris Nemtsov planned to reveal Russian links to Ukraine conflict before he was slain - @Reuters
read more on trust.org

269 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:42:29am

re: #266 lostlakehiker

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

Again, it’s a possibility. One out of many.

270 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 7:43:03am

re: #261 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

The country fell apart under its own inertia, a lot of major questions were left unsettled. It just means that the mass slaughter was just delayed by a few decades.

There are millions of ethnic Russians stuck outside the borders of Russia, not just in the Ukraine. They have lost their status as a privileged, even pampered majority and are a breeding ground for resentment, just the sort of thing that all too easily erupts into armed conflict.

Consider that, for 40 years, our FP focus was on vaporizing the Soviet cites a couple times over. The reversal of our thinking to some kind of optimistic detente in a decade or so was remarkable.

271 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:43:41am

re: #268 Justanotherhuman

It’s not new. As I posted many hours ago, he was going to publish a report on the Russian military in DNR.

272 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:44:54am

re: #271 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

It’s not new. As I posted many hours ago, he was going to publish a report on the Russian military in DNR.

OK, haven’t read all the comments. : )

273 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Feb 28, 2015 7:44:56am

re: #264 darthstar

Dr Spock? I think Miss Collins needs to catch up on the last 50 years.

274 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:45:00am

re: #270 Decatur Deb

Consider that, for 40 years, our FP focus was on vaporizing the Soviet cites a couple times over. The reversal of our thinking to some kind of optimistic detente in a decade or so was remarkable.

I also went over with the first wave of entrepreneurs and was way too optimistic that an economy based on exporting raw materials in exchange for cheap consumer goods was going to change or reform in any serious way…

275 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:47:17am

re: #270 Decatur Deb

Consider that, for 40 years, our FP focus was on vaporizing the Soviet cites a couple times over. The reversal of our thinking to some kind of optimistic detente in a decade or so was remarkable.

Are you really that clueless? If anything, our foreign policy focus was on NOT vaporizing Soviet cities a couple of times over. You do realize that if we vaporized their cities, they would vaporize ours, don’t you?

276 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 7:47:58am

re: #275 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Are you really that clueless? If anything, our foreign policy focus was on NOT vaporizing Soviet cities a couple of times over. You do realize that if we vaporized their cities, they would vaporize ours, don’t you?

It was not necessarily our FP, but it certainly was the basis of our military doctrine…

277 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 7:49:03am

re: #275 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Are you really that clueless? If anything, our foreign policy focus was on NOT vaporizing Soviet cities a couple of times over. You do realize that if we vaporized their cities, they would vaporize ours, don’t you?

All those igloos we maintained around the world were full of celebratory fireworks.

278 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:49:23am

To follow up, our foreign policy focus was on containment. Stop the spread of communism to Western Europe, then Korea, the Western Hemisphere, Southeast Asia, etc.

279 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:49:54am

re: #274 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

I think when you get out of the sphere of influence and where “entrepreneurs” operate (say, Moscow and perhaps a couple of other large cities), you’ll find the average person not much better off. Which is why many of the oldsters want communism back—this economy isn’t working so well for those outside that sphere, and they know it. Of course, nostalgia usually colors one’s status, as well.

280 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:50:12am

re: #277 Decatur Deb

Do you any comprehension of what I just said?

281 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:51:33am

re: #275 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Are you really that clueless?

re: #280 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Do you any comprehension of what I just said?

Stop being an ass.

282 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 7:52:08am

re: #280 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Do you any comprehension of what I just said?

In the end it was MAD. Fortunately that worked long enough for them to collapse before an accident or miscalculation caught up to us.

283 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:53:17am

Okey-dokey.

284 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:53:18am

re: #281 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Stop being an ass.

What DD said was just about the most childish characterization of forty years of history that I can imagine. I would expect to see that on a philly.com comment, but not here.

285 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:54:23am

re: #284 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

No need to be rude though.

286 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 7:54:30am

re: #284 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

And the way to contradict that is not by being insulting.

287 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:55:30am

re: #282 Decatur Deb

In the end it was MAD. Fortunately that worked long enough for them to collapse before an accident or miscalculation caught up to us.

MAD is a long way from foreign policy. When you get a chance try to read about containment. It goes a long way into providing context into our foreign policy and military misadventures of the 50s through 80s.

288 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 7:56:24am

re: #284 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

What DD said was just about the most childish characterization of forty years of history that I can imagine. I would expect to see that on a philly.com comment, but not here.

Perhaps it’s a matter of perspective. My desk in Italy was in the middle of a tiny base in the middle of a tiny, precious World Heritage town. There were two mobile launchers in Hungary with 500 kt warheads aimed at it.

289 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 7:56:42am
290 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 7:56:58am

re: #254 thedopefishlives

That seems to be a pattern with ‘80’s and ‘90’s American foreign policy.

We seem to swing between imperialistic colonialism and tossing to the wolves and never quite seem to hit something in the middle. You’d think there was some sort of principled middle ground that also took account of realpolitik and the fact that the country(ies) in question are not populated by faceless drones without thoughts for themselves.

291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 7:57:39am

re: #285 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

re: #286 thedopefishlives

It was the second follow comment, in which Decatur Deb ignored what I said to her, which was the reason I responded as I did. It’s one thing to disagree, but another to blow off a response.

292 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 7:58:25am

MAD as a concept was far more chilling during the Cold War. We went to the brink then. And perhaps the US learned a valuable lesson.

Dismantling nuclear capabilities and discouraging other countries should be the ultimate goal: to live in a nuclear-free world where MAD is no longer a possibility for any countries.

293 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Feb 28, 2015 7:58:40am

re: #266 lostlakehiker

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

In Putin’s Russia, he needn’t even go that far. Silence is consent. If the government never actually hunts down and executes or throws in the dungeon the killer or killers, then they know they have the green light.

Just a nitpick: that was Henry II (in reference to Thomas à Becket).

294 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 7:58:40am

re: #291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

That’s all well and good, but that’s still no reason to be insulting. We are all adults here; we are Lizardim. Be rational for a minute and debate the facts. No matter how frustrated you may get at the response, or perceived lack thereof.

295 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Feb 28, 2015 7:59:22am

re: #291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

It was the second follow comment, in which Decatur Deb ignored what I said to her, which was the reason I responded as I did. It’s one thing to disagree, but another to blow off a response.

Just so you know, “Deb” is a guy.

296 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 7:59:41am

re: #266 lostlakehiker

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

In Putin’s Russia, he needn’t even go that far. Silence is consent. If the government never actually hunts down and executes or throws in the dungeon the killer or killers, then they know they have the green light.

Wrong Henry, but we get the idea.

297 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 7:59:56am

re: #291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

DD is a he. And he has his own style. Don’t assume that everything he writes, he means literally.

298 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:00:06am

re: #291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

It was the second follow comment, in which Decatur Deb ignored what I said to her, which was the reason I responded as I did. It’s one thing to disagree, but another to blow off a response.

There is an overlapping time/thinking/typing lag. Get over it.

299 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 8:01:00am

re: #294 thedopefishlives

Also, posts frequently cross in flight here. The LGF Blog Engine is fantastically dynamical, unlike a forum where it’s fairly difficult not to have the latest posts in hand prior to replying.

300 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 8:01:16am

re: #278 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

To follow up, our foreign policy focus was on containment. Stop the spread of communism to Western Europe, then Korea, the Western Hemisphere, Southeast Asia, etc.

And at home as well as the man from Wisconsin was able to capitalize on in the 50s.

301 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 8:02:27am

re: #292 Justanotherhuman

MAD as a concept was far more chilling during the Cold War. We went to the brink then. And perhaps the US learned a valuable lesson.

Dismantling nuclear capabilities and discouraging other countries should be the ultimate goal: to live in a nuclear-free world where MAD is no longer a possibility for any countries.

The biggest problem with that is that there becomes a point in which a nuclear war becomes “winnable”. Besides, is there any real way to convince a nation not to become a nuclear power? Didn’t The Ukraine get rid of all the nuclear weapons stored within it’s borders?

302 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:03:18am

re: #301 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

The biggest problem with that is that there becomes a point in which a nuclear war becomes “winnable”. Besides, is there any real way to convince a nation not to become a nuclear power? Didn’t The Ukraine get rid of all the nuclear weapons stored within it’s borders?

Yup. To their present regret.

303 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 8:03:34am

re: #295 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

Just so you know, “Deb” is a guy.

You know what? I know that but when I’m typing my fingers just do that like they’re on autopilot. (EDIT) A lot of times I’ll retype somebody’s name instead of using a pronoun.

304 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 8:04:30am

re: #290 Feline Fearless Leader

We seem to swing between imperialistic colonialism and tossing to the wolves and never quite seem to hit something in the middle. You’d think there was some sort of principled middle ground that also took account of realpolitik and the fact that the country(ies) in question are not populated by faceless drones without thoughts for themselves.

To get back to this topic, I wonder sometimes if this is an indirect effect of our fairly entrenched two-party political dynamic. Not leveling accusations at either party, but since our political environment is so polarized, perhaps that explains why our foreign policy is so schizophrenic.

305 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 8:06:58am

re: #283 Justanotherhuman

306 bratwurst  Feb 28, 2015 8:07:19am

re: #291 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

It was the second follow comment, in which Decatur Deb ignored what I said to her, which was the reason I responded as I did. It’s one thing to disagree, but another to blow off a response.

Stand down, soldier.

307 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 8:07:32am
308 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:09:29am

re: #301 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

The biggest problem with that is that there becomes a point in which a nuclear war becomes “winnable”. Besides, is there any real way to convince a nation not to become a nuclear power? Didn’t The Ukraine get rid of all the nuclear weapons stored within it’s borders?

So, is it inevitable that Russia becomes the bully to eastern Europe? It’s already painting itself in a corner; using nuclear devices would isolate it even further.

BTW, it’s Ukraine, no “The”.

309 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:12:44am

Real Foreign Policy Measurement

$663.7 billion (+12.7%) - Department of Defense (including Overseas Contingency Operations)
$52.5 billion (+10.3%) - Department of Veterans Affairs
$51.7 billion (+40.9%) - Department of State and Other International Programs

The Containment cost difference was much worse during the Cold War.

310 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 8:15:02am

It didn’t take much for “containment” to become a disaster. All Dean Acheson had to do was forget to say the word “Korea” in one speech about the perimeter the US would guarantee and the result was the Korean War—which isn’t over yet at 65.

311 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:15:53am

re: #310 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

It didn’t take much for “containment” to become a disaster. All Dean Acheson had to do was forget to say the word “Korea” in one speech about the perimeter the US would guarantee and the result was the Korean War—which isn’t over yet at 65.

We contained the shit out of Viet Nam.

312 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:18:21am

re: #304 thedopefishlives

We have “hawks” and “doves” in each party. The “doves” in the R party don’t actually mean it, since they appear to be isolationists like Rand Paul and Walter Jones.

313 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:18:53am

re: #311 Decatur Deb

And it didn’t work.

314 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 8:19:50am

re: #312 Justanotherhuman

We have “hawks” and “doves” in each party. The “doves” in the R party don’t actually mean it, since they appear to be isolationists like Rand Paul and Walter Jones.

As it is, the Republican doves are irrelevant, because they have no influence.

315 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:26:57am

A Ukrainian journalist had been killed as a result of shelling in eastern Ukraine, military says - @Reuters

Ruins and recriminations after rebel advance on two east Ukrainian towns

reuters.com

316 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 8:28:10am

re: #312 Justanotherhuman

We have “hawks” and “doves” in each party. The “doves” in the R party don’t actually mean it, since they appear to be isolationists like Rand Paul and Walter Jones.

Ah, the world political equivalent to going back to bed and putting the pillow over your head with the belief that the rest of the world will go on without you and have no effect whatsoever.

And probably the most effective one at doing that in the 20th Century was “The Hermit Kingdom”. Lovely place to live in I hear as an average citizen.
/

317 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:31:01am

Thousands march against Boko Haram in Cameroon.

318 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 8:32:55am

re: #301 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

The biggest problem with that is that there becomes a point in which a nuclear war becomes “winnable”. Besides, is there any real way to convince a nation not to become a nuclear power? Didn’t The Ukraine get rid of all the nuclear weapons stored within it’s borders?

I recently read The Second Nuclear Age by Paul Bracken. His contention is that the current US position that nuclear weapons are no longer relevant and hoping they’ll go away will eventually bite us in the ass as more powers make the quite rational decision that they will enhance their security against their already nuclear-armed neighbors, and that diplomacy designed for a bipolar world with tens of thousands of nukes is ill-suited to this emerging situation.

319 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:37:07am

re: #318 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I recently read The Second Nuclear Age by Paul Bracken. His contention is that the current US position that nuclear weapons are no longer relevant and hoping they’ll go away will eventually bite us in the ass as more powers make the quite rational decision that they will enhance their security against their already nuclear-armed neighbors, and that diplomacy designed for a bipolar world with tens of thousands of nukes is ill-suited to this emerging situation.

And he weaves it in with business and corporate globalization.

320 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:41:43am

Marco Rubio Tries To Lecture Obama On ISIS, Commits Epic Error

thinkprogress.org

Rubio is a rank amateur and tries to talk way above his skill set.

321 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:42:42am

re: #318 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I recently read The Second Nuclear Age by Paul Bracken. His contention is that the current US position that nuclear weapons are no longer relevant and hoping they’ll go away will eventually bite us in the ass as more powers make the quite rational decision that they will enhance their security against their already nuclear-armed neighbors, and that diplomacy designed for a bipolar world with tens of thousands of nukes is ill-suited to this emerging situation.

Still stuck on Herman Kahn (Dr Strangelove), unsettling proof that thinking intolerable thoughts doesn’t automatically make you wrong.

en.wikipedia.org

322 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 8:44:46am

re: #320 Justanotherhuman

Forget it, he’s rolling.

323 SteveMcGaziBolaGate  Feb 28, 2015 8:45:38am

re: #320 Justanotherhuman

Audience probably didn’t notice.

324 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:47:35am

The RW certainly would love Russia for these tactics.

Ruble ripple: New Russian laws make life difficult for migrant workers

In face of economic crisis, laborers face tougher legal restrictions, higher permit fees and language tests

america.aljazeera.com

Russia: Pay up or else.

325 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 8:48:13am

For all practical purposes, we have been flying air support for Iranian elements.

326 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 8:49:36am

re: #320 Justanotherhuman

Marco Rubio Tries To Lecture Obama On ISIS, Commits Epic Error

thinkprogress.org

Rubio is a rank amateur and tries to talk way above his skill set.

Babyface should stick to his lil’ bottle.

327 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 8:49:59am

re: #321 Decatur Deb

Still stuck on Herman Kahn (Dr Strangelove), unsettling proof that thinking intolerable thoughts doesn’t automatically make you wrong.

en.wikipedia.org

I know the fact that Bracken worked at The Hudson Institute should be a red flag, but in a footnote he says that that second edition of Thinking About the Unthinkable was put together after his death by some of he Reaganauts that were stinking up the place then, and would have been a lot more nuanced if Kahn had actually written it.

Goddamn! When am I going to stop clicking blockquote instead of italic?

328 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 8:50:51am

re: #323 SteveMcGaziBolaGate

Probably, considering that the average IQ there is probably the temperature outside my window right now.

329 bratwurst  Feb 28, 2015 8:55:23am

re: #320 Justanotherhuman

Marco Rubio Tries To Lecture Obama On ISIS, Commits Epic Error

thinkprogress.org

Rubio is a rank amateur and tries to talk way above his skill set.

330 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 8:55:52am

re: #328 Justanotherhuman

Probably, considering that the average IQ there is probably the temperature outside my window right now.

Temperature: 14 degrees F
Wind chill: 7 degrees F

Yep, pretty close.

331 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 8:56:41am

Off to run errands while the cats charge in the sun. Have fun Lizards!

Clipped from a recent Freefall

332 GlutenFreeJesus  Feb 28, 2015 8:57:06am

re: #105 CuriousLurker

Manny Quinn!

333 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 8:59:38am

re: #105 CuriousLurker

So I bought this male mannequin head last year to practice shooting photos with my speedlight & Flashbender. Tonight I decided to go back and see if I could find a female version—which I did—however in the process I also ran across this nightmare that looks like a cross between an evil clown and a criminally insane mannequin.

Dafuq? Is it just me & my overactive imagination or is that thing beyond creepy. No way in hell would I bring that into my house—it looks like it might enjoy sneaking up on you while you’re sleeping and scaring the crap out of you.

*SHUDDER*

There is a seal of unfathomable sadness™ on the first two ones, so by comparison the last one indeed looks weird.

334 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:01:19am

re: #333 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

There is a seal of unfathomable sadnessTM on the first two ones, so by comparison the last one indeed looks weird.

Now the laughing one is showing up in sidebar ads (Amazon, another).

335 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 9:07:17am

re: #334 Decatur Deb

Now the laughing one is showing up in sidebar ads (Amazon, another).

There’s a horror flick there, somewhere.

336 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 9:09:08am

Skim-rewatching From Beyond. What a great classic.

337 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:09:51am

re: #335 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

There’s a horror flick there, somewhere.

Just trying to figure out what you would sell with it, assuming its basic function was merchandising. Keep coming up with products that are illegal in Alabama.

338 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 9:15:32am

I suggested last night that this would happen (comment 122) to folks.

Here, let’s try to fix it:

Wombat Plush Stuffed Toy

Sometimes I Like to Curl Up Like a Ball

Wally Wombat

339 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 9:16:12am

How many does this make? Around 170?

US-led coalition launches 20 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq, Syria - @Reuters
read more on trust.org

340 thedopefishlives  Feb 28, 2015 9:19:36am

re: #339 Justanotherhuman

How many does this make? Around 170?

US-led coalition launches 20 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq, Syria - @Reuters
read more on trust.org

Not enough for the wingnuts. MOAR BOMBS! DAMMIT OBAMA, DO SOMETHING!

341 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 9:22:06am
342 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 9:24:13am

re: #339 Justanotherhuman

How many does this make? Around 170?

US-led coalition launches 20 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq, Syria - @Reuters
read more on trust.org

I thought it was about 2500 so far.

343 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 9:25:47am
344 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:26:08am

re: #339 Justanotherhuman

How many does this make? Around 170?

US-led coalition launches 20 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq, Syria - @Reuters
read more on trust.org

Can’t tell from the language. “Strike” could be any number of aircraft, usually at least two. A “sortie” is the launch of one aircraft for one mission, and the last I saw we had made more than 2500 sorties.

345 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 9:28:43am
346 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 9:30:53am

re: #343 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I would have sworn Wisconsin was smaller than that.

347 darthstar  Feb 28, 2015 9:32:27am
348 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 9:32:33am

re: #341 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Compared to everything else Reagan did in foreign policy, including backing down to the Soviets and international terrorism at every opportunity, aiding and abetting genocide, and funding rape and murder squads in Central and South America, Walker might be right.

349 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 9:33:10am

The Most Anti-Women Assertions At This Year’s Conservative Political Gathering

thinkprogress.org

Beginning with a male-identified/propagandized woman who would make a horrible president just as she made a horrible CEO.

350 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:34:26am

re: #346 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I would have sworn Wisconsin was smaller than that.

Report your concerns to Cartographers for Social Equality.

351 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 9:35:24am

European Union ambassadors at the site of Boris Nemtsov’s slaying in Moscow

352 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:35:55am

CSE

353 Skip Intro  Feb 28, 2015 9:42:41am

re: #341 darthstar

Walker’s a guy who is every bit as stupid as he looks.

354 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 9:50:01am

re: #353 Skip Intro

Walker’s a guy who is every bit as stupid as he looks.

Walker’s a meat puppet, he’s only as smart as required to read the scripts the Kochs feed him.

355 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:52:11am

re: #354 Targetpractice

Walker’s a meat puppet, he’s only as smart as required to read the scripts the Kochs feed him.

And they can buy a lot of smart. Fortunately, evil-nasty often gets in the way of evil-smart.

356 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 9:53:33am

re: #354 Targetpractice

Walker’s a meat puppet, he’s only as smart as required to read the scripts the Kochs feed him.

Don’t insult us by comparing us to Walker!
357 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 9:55:38am

re: #356 A Cranky One

[Embedded content]

358 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 9:57:11am

See, I remember when people thought Perry was hot shit too. They said he was a great speaker, he was popular with the base, and he’d be a serious threat in the general election. And I remember how he crashed and burned in the debates when he had to work without a script and ran afoul of the fickle whims of the base.

359 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 10:05:32am

If Scott Walker compares protesters to ISIS, would it perhaps be fair to compare him to Osama bin Laden?

360 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 10:06:53am

re: #238 goddamnedfrank

Seriously though, I hated House of Cards. Tried to get through season one all the way but couldn’t. I can deal with an anti-hero, but not a relentlessly amoral crap sack that never gets his comeuppance.

It’s part of the reason why I gave up on Game of Thrones. That and the fact that every time I started to like a character they were killed, or worse.

Lady Stoneheart is going to be in the coming season. This is what I mean by worse than death.

361 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 10:06:58am

re: #359 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

If Scott Walker compares protesters to ISIS, would it perhaps be fair to compare him to Osama bin Laden?

Well, neither has a functioning brain ;)

362 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 10:08:27am

re: #358 Targetpractice

See, I remember when people thought Perry was hot shit too. They said he was a great speaker, he was popular with the base, and he’d be a serious threat in the general election. And I remember how he crashed and burned in the debates when he had to work without a script and ran afoul of the fickle whims of the base.

And you could note that in his second run for governor of Texas Perry avoided doing debates.

363 Jayleia  Feb 28, 2015 10:10:46am

Is stuff you spit up supposed to be the color of #TheDress? (whichever color you thought it was)

I hate this weather.

364 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 10:11:58am

re: #266 lostlakehiker

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

In Putin’s Russia, he needn’t even go that far. Silence is consent. If the government never actually hunts down and executes or throws in the dungeon the killer or killers, then they know they have the green light.

I suspect that may end up backfiring. Without a red light those given the green light will never stop.

How’s that saying go? Oh yeah. “Did we really expect the drunk to put the bottle down after the first drink?”

365 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 10:12:52am

The color of God’s dress is RGB(π; e; i).

366 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 10:14:18am

re: #282 Decatur Deb

In the end it was MAD. Fortunately that worked long enough for them to collapse before an accident or miscalculation caught up to us.

It was a hostage situation with the whole world being the hostage. People tread very carefully in such cases.

367 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 10:14:27am

re: #365 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

The color of God’s dress is RGB(π; e; i).

And the blue is imaginary. Nice.

368 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 10:17:22am

And you know who wears RGB(6; 6; 6).

369 b_sharp  Feb 28, 2015 10:25:57am

re: #368 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

And you know who wears RGB(6; 6; 6).

I do.
I love grey.

370 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 10:26:11am

Steve Jobs?

371 Timothy Watson  Feb 28, 2015 10:29:00am

re: #360 Romantic Heretic

It’s part of the reason why I gave up on Game of Thrones. That and the fact that every time I started to like a character they were killed, or worse.

[Embedded content]

At least a couple of the bad guys got their comeuppance last season.

372 Snarknado!  Feb 28, 2015 10:29:47am

re: #266 lostlakehiker

How it works is like how it worked for Henry the 8th. He wonders aloud to the crowd “who will rid me of this troublesome priest”, and behold, by and by the priest is off the stage.

In Putin’s Russia, he needn’t even go that far. Silence is consent. If the government never actually hunts down and executes or throws in the dungeon the killer or killers, then they know they have the green light.

It was Henry II, but we get the point.

373 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  Feb 28, 2015 10:31:16am

re: #372 Snarknado!

It was Henry II, but we get the point.

I doubt if Putin ever gets scourged annually for it, though.

374 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Feb 28, 2015 10:34:30am

re: #279 Justanotherhuman

I think when you get out of the sphere of influence and where “entrepreneurs” operate (say, Moscow and perhaps a couple of other large cities), you’ll find the average person not much better off. Which is why many of the oldsters want communism back—this economy isn’t working so well for those outside that sphere, and they know it. Of course, nostalgia usually colors one’s status, as well.

We found out the hard way that it was nearly useless to try and produce anything. It was all about buying and selling, trading simple raw materials or semi-finished goods against imported consumer crap.

375 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 10:50:19am

re: #371 Timothy Watson

At least a couple of the bad guys got their comeuppance last season.

Yeah. I tuned in specifically to watch that little shit Joffrey choke to death.

376 Weet  Feb 28, 2015 10:55:26am

America the Beautiful

377 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 10:55:30am

No country for old men

theguardian.com

“The average male life expectancy in Russia is just 59. Now thousands of ‘ghost villages’ contain fewer than 10 people, most of them elderly women. Luke Harding reports”

This is an older NPR report, but I doubt things have changed for the better.

Rural Russia Left Barren by Economic Exodus

npr.org

378 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 11:08:43am

A blurry video of the murder.

379 prairiefire  Feb 28, 2015 11:09:05am

It’s snowing again on the prairie. I wonder what it says about us that we were the family in one of the long lines at Walmart with beer, crab cakes, soda and a DVD in our cart?

380 prairiefire  Feb 28, 2015 11:11:28am

re: #378 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

A blurry video of the murder.

Geez, that’s creepy.

381 Higgs Boson's Mate  Feb 28, 2015 11:12:49am

re: #341 darthstar

Steve Kornacki offers some interesting reasons why Scott Walker may be the GOP nominee.

As detestable as I find Walker to be, he has a shot - especially with a party where being detestable is considered a virtue.

382 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 11:14:29am

re: #380 prairiefire

The murderer apparently hid on the stairs on one side of the bridge, after the murder a car picked him up.

383 Higgs Boson's Mate  Feb 28, 2015 11:15:32am

re: #379 prairiefire

It’s snowing again on the prairie. I wonder what it says about us that we were the family in one of the long lines at Walmart with beer, crab cakes, soda and a DVD in our cart?

It says to me that you’re sensible people with reliable electricity.

384 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 11:16:22am

re: #382 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

The murderer apparently hid on the stairs leading the bridge, after the murder a car picked him up.

Can’t watch the vid—my Adobe has flashed its last. Guess this will generate Oliver Stone-quality CTs.

385 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 11:17:26am

re: #384 Decatur Deb

I’m sure there will be more videos, it’s just the one available now.

386 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 11:19:05am

re: #381 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Steve Kornacki offers some interesting reasons why Scott Walker may be the GOP nominee.

As detestable as I find Walker to be, he has a shot - especially with a party where being detestable is considered a virtue.

Can’t wait for the inevitable “Frontrunner of the Week” phase of the campaign.

387 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 11:22:05am

re: #385 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

I’m sure there will be more videos, it’s just the one available now.

Guessing Russian CSI has the “Enlarge and Enhance” feature.

388 Rocky-in-Connecticut  Feb 28, 2015 11:23:36am

re: #348 Timothy Watson

you forgot selling lethal arms to Iran’s Mullahs, and running and doing absolutely nothing after 240+ US Marines were killed in their sleep in Beruit.

389 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 11:27:54am

re: #381 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Steve Kornacki offers some interesting reasons why Scott Walker may be the GOP nominee.

As detestable as I find Walker to be, he has a shot - especially with a party where being detestable is considered a virtue.

Unicorn hunting, that’s all it really is. The search for the perfect candidate who can bring together the GOP, base and “moderates,” and pose a serious challenge in the general election.

Apparently at this point in the game, Walker is the new unicorn, after the shine of Jeb wore off.

390 Lidane  Feb 28, 2015 11:39:20am

*facepalm*

Walker contended that “the most significant foreign policy decision of my lifetime” was then-President Ronald Reagan’s move to bust a 1981 strike of air traffic controllers, firing some 11,000 of them.

“It sent a message not only across America, it sent a message around the world,” Walker said. America’s allies and foes alike became convinced that Reagan was serious enough to take action and that “we weren’t to be messed with,” he said.

391 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 11:41:03am

re: #390 Lidane

*facepalm*

[Embedded content]

There is just no way to explain away that statement that doesn’t come off as either condescending or lying. The man compared Americans to terrorists because they opposed him.

392 stpaulbear  Feb 28, 2015 11:46:04am

re: #390 Lidane

“It sent a message not only across America, it sent a message around the world,” Walker said.

What Walker means is the ‘message’ gave him a world-class woodie.

393 Higgs Boson's Mate  Feb 28, 2015 11:46:36am

re: #389 Targetpractice

Unicorn hunting, that’s all it really is. The search for the perfect candidate who can bring together the GOP, base and “moderates,” and pose a serious challenge in the general election.

Apparently at this point in the game, Walker is the new unicorn, after the shine of Jeb wore off.

It’s all about that base. The rest of the registered Republicans as well as the soi-disant moderates will vote for the nominee. Bush will harvest a ton of money, but there’s enough money on the anti-GOP establishment side to keep Walker’s campaign alive for some time. Walker has already been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers so he’s an honest politician: one who stays bought. Some of the money going to Bush and the PACs that support him will switch to Walker should Bush appear to falter.

394 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 11:48:31am

re: #393 Higgs Boson’s Mate

It’s all about that base. The rest of the registered Republicans as well as the soi-disant moderates will vote for the nominee. Bush will harvest a ton of money, but there’s enough money on the anti-GOP establishment side to keep Walker’s campaign alive for some time. Walker has already been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers so he’s an honest politician: one who stays bought. Some of the money going to Bush and the PACs that support him will switch to Walker should Bush appear to falter.

But it’s about our base too. There is a worry that the old labor vote might go tepid for HRC. That goes away if they nominate this union-busting asshole.

395 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 11:53:15am

re: #393 Higgs Boson’s Mate

It’s all about that base. The rest of the registered Republicans as well as the soi-disant moderates will vote for the nominee. Bush will harvest a ton of money, but there’s enough money on the anti-GOP establishment side to keep Walker’s campaign alive for some time. Walker has already been bought and paid for by the Koch brothers so he’s an honest politician: one who stays bought. Some of the money going to Bush and the PACs that support him will switch to Walker should Bush appear to falter.

I think you have to keep in mind that it’s not a two-man race. Jeb may be the establishment candidate, but Walker is fighting with a bunch of others for the wingnut vote. And right now, Ted Cruz has him beat by a country mile in that category. Walker can boast about how he knocked union heads around, but Cruz can boast that he engineered a government shutdown and has thumbed his nose at the leaders of both parties.

396 Lidane  Feb 28, 2015 11:54:45am

I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the idiocy that firing a bunch of American air traffic controllers was somehow Reagan’s shining moment of foreign policy. What the actual fuck?

397 Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2015 12:02:00pm

re: #396 Lidane

I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the idiocy that firing a bunch of American air traffic controllers was somehow Reagan’s shining moment of foreign policy. What the actual fuck?

More intelligent than Gov. Scott Walker
398 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:06:39pm

You can run but you cant hide…

US immigration officials seeking to deport at least 150 Bosnians suspected of war crimes and ‘ethnic cleansing’ - @nytimes

nytimes.com

399 prairiefire  Feb 28, 2015 12:10:57pm

re: #394 Decatur Deb

But it’s about our base too. There is a worry that the old labor vote might go tepid for HRC. That goes away if they nominate this union-busting asshole.

How’s the marriage equality fight going in Alabama?

400 Shiplord Kirel  Feb 28, 2015 12:13:58pm

re: #381 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Steve Kornacki offers some interesting reasons why Scott Walker may be the GOP nominee.

As detestable as I find Walker to be, he has a shot - especially with a party where being detestable is considered a virtue.

Imagine Walker for the GOP with Al Franken as the opponent. Almost too beautiful to contemplate.

401 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:14:07pm

It’s the straw poll that counts! ///

402 #FergusonFireside  Feb 28, 2015 12:14:36pm

My turn for CL’s creepy head busts to show up on my webpage roaming.

Thanks CL!!!

403 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 12:19:05pm

re: #399 prairiefire

How’s the marriage equality fight going in Alabama?

Been out of touch. Last heard there was some progress in the courts about recognizing a couple adoption cases.

news.google.com

404 Charles Johnson  Feb 28, 2015 12:24:03pm
405 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 28, 2015 12:29:04pm

So happy viewing lgf with my nexus after putting KitKat back on. No lockups, battery life is back. Even figured our how to get it to stop nagging me about the update. Have to say that it’s the first bad experience I’ve had with Google stuff. Hope 5.1 fixes the problems lollipop 5.0 has.

406 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:29:06pm

re: #404 Charles Johnson

Haha, World Nut Daily is about as much journalism as Upchuck.

407 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:32:28pm

Hmm. OK.

Editor’s note: A car that Moscow police suspect was used by the killers of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was found abandoned in the city. I’ve seen various reports on this but can’t pin down when this happened. - Tom
end of note

408 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:36:18pm

Police have interviewed the owner of the Lada Priora, which was earlier identified as the possible getaway vehicle for Nemtsov’s murderer, according to Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.

The owner of the car said he had parked it in central Moscow on Saturday afternoon, and had nothing to do with the hit.

rt.com

409 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 12:36:48pm

re: #407 Justanotherhuman

Hmm. OK.

Editor’s note: A car that Moscow police suspect was used by the killers of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was found abandoned in the city. I’ve seen various reports on this but can’t pin down when this happened. - Tom
end of note

If he means the car with the number from Ingushetia, it has already been officially denied that it had anything to do with the murder.

410 Charles Johnson  Feb 28, 2015 12:38:40pm

re: #406 Justanotherhuman

Haha, World Nut Daily is about as much journalism as Upchuck.

The idiot tweeter says “Trinity Church members ON RECORD…”

It’s to laugh. It’s an article by Jerome Corsi, and the only person “on record” is “Carolyn,” no last name.

At World Net Daily, “on record” doesn’t actually mean “on record.”

411 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:39:18pm

12:49 GMT:
The car that carried the assassins of Boris Nemtsov has reportedly been found by police, according to REN TV news channel. The vehicle was found not far from the place where the opposition leader was killed. Now the officers are investigating the car.

The vehicle was allegedly identified as a Lada Priora. It carries license plates from Ingushetia, a republic of Russia in the North Caucasus region.

rt.com

412 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 12:42:37pm

re: #411 Justanotherhuman

Wrong car, see above.

413 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 28, 2015 12:47:48pm

Seems like if I were going to carry out a hit, is use a stolen car, and then steal a set of plates that matched that vehicle so that it wouldn’t show as stolen on a plate scan. Place like an airport soul be a good place to steak the plates from, something like the long term parking lot.

414 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:48:28pm

re: #412 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

OK, so it wasn’t stolen?

415 Lidane  Feb 28, 2015 12:49:13pm

Well today has just gotten a lot worse. And it turns out that leaving my job was both the right thing to do and something that has bitten me firmly in the ass.

Money’s been tight to non-existent since leaving my job. And so far, I haven’t been able to find work. I’ve had lots of interviews and screens since leaving my job, but haven’t been able to close the deal. I get a lot of “We really like you, but we found someone else with more relevant experience. Good luck!” That’s led to me cutting back on everything to try and stretch what little I had and make it go farther. I’ve done everything I can. I’ve sold stuff on eBay, Amazon, and Craigslist. I’ve done odd jobs, too. But whatever I’ve gotten has evaporated as soon as I get it because I still have to feed myself and pay bills. I’ve also gone to the university and to job fairs around town to try and get full-time work, but nothing’s panned out so far.

Unfortunately, all of this also meant falling behind on my rent to my landlady, and I already owed her money as it was. Today she came by and told me I’ve got a week to give her money or I’m out of here. This sucks. I see a lot of humiliating phone calls in my future, begging my family for cash. Or trying to figure out how to move back home or something.

416 Sionainn  Feb 28, 2015 12:52:43pm

re: #415 Lidane

((((Lidane))))

417 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 12:52:44pm

re: #414 Justanotherhuman

OK, so it wasn’t stolen?

The owner has already been interrogated.

ren.tv

418 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 12:55:31pm

re: #415 Lidane

So sorry! Have you thought about getting something, anything, as a stop gap job for the present? Better to bring some money in rather than nothing?

419 Lidane  Feb 28, 2015 12:58:48pm

re: #418 Justanotherhuman

So sorry! Have you thought about getting something, anything, as a stop gap job for the present? Better to bring some money in rather than nothing?

That’s where the odd jobs come in. And I’ve applied at places around here for work, but with a Master’s degree I’m seriously overqualified to work in a shoe store or thrift shop. I’ve got some leads right now, but nothing concrete and I just don’t have the time to wait around. She expects money from me in a week or I’m out on the street. Guess it’s time to hit Craigslist and see what immediate, pay-in-cash gigs I can find that don’t involve porn or something illegal.

420 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:03:35pm

re: #417 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Google translation:

The police questioned the owners of a white car, which was found near the scene of the shooting. Earlier it was reported that in the car may be the killer, who fired 6 shots in Boris Nemtsov.

However, after questioning, it became known that the car and its owners are not related to the murder, which occurred on the eve of the Great Moscow River bridge.

Recall last night in downtown Moscow Russian politician was shot dead by unknown strolling with his companion - 23-year-old Anna Duritskaya. The criminals opened fire and then fled the scene.

So now we know the identity of the woman who is described as his girlfriend. And there’s plenty of gossip about that, since he was 32 yrs her senior.

421 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:06:34pm

re: #419 Lidane

That’s where the odd jobs come in. And I’ve applied at places around here for work, but with a Master’s degree I’m seriously overqualified to work in a shoe store or thrift shop. I’ve got some leads right now, but nothing concrete and I just don’t have the time to wait around. She expects money from me in a week or I’m out on the street. Guess it’s time to hit Craigslist and see what immediate, pay-in-cash gigs I can find that don’t involve porn or something illegal.

You don’t have to list your Master’s when applying for some jobs. It could be tying you down, also. I found a few jobs by not listing all my experience and education beyond HS if the job didn’t require it.

422 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 1:08:39pm

re: #420 Justanotherhuman

And there’s plenty of gossip

Who cares, it was his private business.

423 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:11:57pm

I’m almost sorry this swindler got caught. Half///

One of your Russian oligarchs…

Swiss businessman charged in art fraud case

thelocal.ch

424 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:15:24pm

re: #422 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Who cares, it was his private business.

No, I meant the Russian media is alive with it.

425 bratwurst  Feb 28, 2015 1:16:31pm
426 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 1:17:40pm

re: #424 Justanotherhuman

She was apparently his gf, but I’m not giving the link to the execrable site.

427 Romantic Heretic  Feb 28, 2015 1:18:48pm

re: #415 Lidane

*HUGS*

That sucks.

428 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:20:44pm
429 prairiefire  Feb 28, 2015 1:24:41pm

re: #415 Lidane

{{Lidane}}

430 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:27:29pm

50 Shades of White?

“It’s Easier to Get Laid at CPAC Than on Spring Break”

Plus: You’ll never guess the conservative millennial dream ticket.

motherjones.com

431 ObserverArt  Feb 28, 2015 1:33:46pm

re: #415 Lidane

—edit—

Unfortunately, all of this also meant falling behind on my rent to my landlady, and I already owed her money as it was. Today she came by and told me I’ve got a week to give her money or I’m out of here. This sucks. I see a lot of humiliating phone calls in my future, begging my family for cash. Or trying to figure out how to move back home or something.

Damn. I don’t know what to say, but I sure hope your luck turns for the better. Thinking good thoughts and sending positive vibrations out to all the employers in your area.

432 bratwurst  Feb 28, 2015 1:36:14pm
433 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 1:41:18pm

Detentions, arrest in connection with Islamist threat in Bremen

Fearing an Islamist attack, police in Germany’s northern port city of Bremen have swooped after adopting “security measures in the public arena.” Apart from detentions and an arrest, an Islamic center was searched.

dw.de

(snip)

“A police spokesman revealed on Saturday evening that “some persons have been detained.” There had been an official arrest as well, he added. Again, the spokesman did not give any details, merely referring to a police statement released earlier in the evening, in which the talk was of a “security net” which had been set up to cover the city center.

“The statement also mentioned protective steps of a preventive nature which had been taken to enhance the security of the Jewish community of Bremen. The search at the home of a suspect and at the Islamistic Culture Center (IKZ) were in the course of a running investigation, the statement said.”

434 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 1:51:23pm

Heh, I missed this. This is perhaps the only positive thing that will come out of Syriza taking the power. And their BFF Vova Putin is sad. How could they!

startribune.com

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s new left-wing government has promised to grant same-sex couples legal status, in response to a 2013 international court decision condemning the country for discrimination.

435 #FergusonFireside  Feb 28, 2015 1:52:28pm

Just watched Boyhood. I liked it. Patricia Arquette def earned that oscar.

436 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 1:53:02pm

re: #435 #FergusonFireside

Just watched Boyhood. I liked it. Patricia Arquette def earned that oscar.

And definitely did not earn the shitstorm.

437 ObserverArt  Feb 28, 2015 1:54:28pm

I think the CPAC straw poll is important.

It allows sane people to see how far to the right some people are, how ignorant they can be, and how badly they can pick a person as actual presidential material.

It’s always good to know how far out far out is.

438 RealityBasedSteve  Feb 28, 2015 1:57:09pm

re: #437 ObserverArt

I think the CPAC straw poll is important.

It allows sane people to see how far to the right some people are, how ignorant they can be, and how badly they can pick a person as actual presidential material.

It’s always good to know how far out far out is.

And when you factor in that those are the active hardcore’s then you can s see that it’s moved all the way past the far right and has hit f full plaid

439 Feline Fearless Leader  Feb 28, 2015 2:00:01pm

440 Backwoods_Sleuth  Feb 28, 2015 2:02:24pm

oh dear:

441 Charles Johnson  Feb 28, 2015 2:04:53pm
442 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 2:08:18pm

re: #440 Backwoods_Sleuth

Watch FN grab her. She fits their lineup perfectly (well, maybe a little youngish): Blonde, check. Dumb, check. Willing to say what she’s been told? Check.

Maybe that was her goal?

443 freetoken  Feb 28, 2015 2:08:22pm

The current effort widely being practiced to color questions about evolution and creationism as “gotcha” questions I find rather irksome.

It’s not a “gotcha” to ask a politician about beliefs over which great political debate ensues, especially in this case in regards to education.

444 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 2:10:42pm

Conservative stool? So CCJ is definitely there. :)

445 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 2:12:03pm

re: #441 Charles Johnson

Mr. Hankey is a conservative? Bummer.

446 Justanotherhuman  Feb 28, 2015 2:12:56pm
447 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 2:13:16pm

re: #445 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

CCJ’s “inside source”.

448 Targetpractice  Feb 28, 2015 2:13:30pm

re: #446 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Look at all those terrorists!

///

449 Nyet  Feb 28, 2015 2:15:01pm

re: #447 A Cranky One

CCJ’s “inside source”.

No shit, Sherlock!

450 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 2:16:23pm

re: #442 Justanotherhuman

Watch FN grab her. She fits their lineup perfectly (well, maybe a little youngish): Blonde, check. Dumb, check. Willing to say what she’s been told? Check.

Maybe that was her goal?

Can she rack an AK? There’s a niche opening where Holly Hobby Lobby crashed and burned.

451 Sionainn  Feb 28, 2015 2:17:00pm

CPAC Straw Poll Winners:

5. Jeb Bush 8%
4. Ben Carson 11%
3. Ted Cruz
2. Scott Walker
1. Rand Paul

452 Decatur Deb  Feb 28, 2015 2:17:57pm

re: #451 Sionainn

CPAC Straw Poll Winners:

5. Jeb Bush 8%
4. Ben Carson 11%
3. Ted Cruz
2. Scott Walker
1. Rand Paul

Had two ducats on Huckabee, but he’s only good in the mud.

453 A Cranky One  Feb 28, 2015 2:19:11pm

re: #446 Justanotherhuman

He knows how to deal with terrorists!

454 ObserverArt  Feb 28, 2015 2:23:29pm

re: #443 freetoken

The current effort widely being practiced to color questions about evolution and creationism as “gotcha” questions I find rather irksome.

It’s not a “gotcha” to ask a politician about beliefs over which great political debate ensues, especially in this case in regards to education.

Gotcha needs to be flipped in meaning. When a Republican runs away from a question and says it’s a ‘gotcha’ question, then the interviewer needs to say: “got you, loud and clear, you don’t have an answer. Our audience can mark it down as fact that you are ignorant on important issues.

See how long that crap lasts.

455 CuriousLurker  Feb 28, 2015 2:34:43pm

re: #449 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Years ago I read a book about Imam Shamyl of Dagestan, so last night you mentioned Ramzan Kadyrov and I got curious about Chechnya (I know a little, but not much) and started Wiki walking and—sheesh! O_o

Honestly, Russia is SO huge and SO diverse with so much hostility between various ethnicities that I don’t know how in the hell you guys manage to have a single country. I mean just the Caucasus… so many cultural groups, religious affiliations, and languages/dialects in what appears to be an area about the size of Texas (maybe smaller). Then I started to move on to the Tartars and—yikes!—I gave up when I discovered there are like five different flavors.

456 CuriousLurker  Feb 28, 2015 2:35:52pm

Every. time. Charles always puts up a new page right as I comment.

457 dharmamark  Feb 28, 2015 3:55:42pm

re: #388 Rocky-in-Connecticut

you forgot selling lethal arms to Iran’s Mullahs, and running and doing absolutely nothing after 240+ US Marines were killed in their sleep in Beruit.

This.

458 socrets  Feb 28, 2015 6:30:55pm

I’m sure the GOP is taking notes if it controls the White House in 2016.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal
Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
A Closer Look at the Eastman State Bar DecisionTaking a few minutes away from work things to read through the Eastman decision. As I'm sure many of you know, Eastman was my law school con law professor. I knew him pretty well because I was also running in ...
KGxvi
40 minutes ago
Views: 39 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 0