World Politics

[Bigblue204]

1 hour ago, blue_gold_84 said:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-war-civilians-killed-1.6409856

 

I guess the question remains...why did they wait so ******* long to do this? Anyone in their position must have known this was coming and if they were at all intelligent would have started moving their assets to more secure locations.

[17to85]

3 minutes ago, Rich said:

Who decides the definition of left vs right?

If a majority of people think and agree that the democrats are left, you can't just change that because you think they are right.  It will just confuse the hell out of people in discussions.

And therein lies the problem. The right wing in North America has been dragging the perception further and further right. Especially in the USA. Republicans constantly saying "meet us in the middle" while stepping backwards every time the democrats move towards that middle. 

Bernie Sander is seen as a lunatic left winger in the USA... yet he would fit right in with the moderates in most of the rest of the world. 

[JCon]

Just now, Rich said:

Who decides the definition of left vs right?

If a majority of people think and agree that the democrats are left, you can't just change that because you think they are right.  It will just confuse the hell out of people in discussions.

There's an entire academic discipline that studies politics. Since they defined the political spectrum, I would say, they define who's left, right, centre, or however they measure it. 

It's just become convenient to say left and right, especially in the US where they can only handle two parties. 

So, the Dems are the left and the GOP is right. But, when you measure their policies against the global political spectrum, the Democrats policies align more closely to the right of centre. 

[JCon]

49 minutes ago, JCon said:

There's an entire academic discipline that studies politics. Since they defined the political spectrum, I would say, they define who's left, right, centre, or however they measure it. 

It's just become convenient to say left and right, especially in the US where they can only handle two parties. 

So, the Dems are the left and the GOP is right. But, when you measure their policies against the global political spectrum, the Democrats policies align more closely to the right of centre. 

The better models, IMO, are ones that do away with left/right spectrum and allow a lot more nuance, recognizing that some on the extreme left and extreme right (old model) have quite a lot in common. 

[Tracker]

                                                             

[Mark F]

3 hours ago, JCon said:

Democrats policies align more closely to the right of centre. 

Bill clinton.. the great lefty boogie man....

.. Nafta..... which moved american factory jobs to mexico

he twisted arms to get that passed. It was very unpopular.

welfare "reform"    ..... threw millions off of social assitance

"three strikes law".......locked people up for stealing a candy bar

deregulated media ownership.... local radio bought out and closed.

Deregulated wall street leading to 2008 financial meltdown.

his chief of staff rahm emanuel called the democratic party progressive wing,

 "dirty f----ing hippies"... now us ambassador to china.

 

Obama favourite and most respected President... Reagan. 
 

deregulated oil and gas.

tried to cut Social security. Lol. He tried hard, and really wanted to do this.

let the banks ceos walk,after they committex  one of histories greatest frauds.

the pass this guy gets is comical. He is a complete fraud.

 

The Democrats supported invasion of Iraq. They vote for every single increase in American military budget. They closed none of the 109 american overseas military bases.mthey did not close guantanamo. They ended no foreign wars. They invaded libya.

Only western industrialized country without universal healthcare.

There is no left wing in American politics.

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Mark F

[WildPath]

3 hours ago, Mark F said:

Bill clinton.. the great lefty boogie man....

.. Nafta..... which moved american factory jobs to mexico

he twisted arms to get that passed. It was very unpopular.

welfare "reform"    ..... threw millions off of social assitance

"three strikes law".......locked people up for stealing a candy bar

deregulated media ownership.... local radio bought out and closed.

Deregulated wall street leading to 2008 financial meltdown.

his chief of staff rahm emanuel called the democratic party progressive wing,

 "dirty f----ing hippies"... now us ambassador to china.

 

Obama favourite and most respected President... Reagan. 
 

deregulated oil and gas.

tried to cut Social security. Lol. He tried hard, and really wanted to do this.

let the banks ceos walk,after they committex  one of histories greatest frauds.

the pass this guy gets is comical. He is a complete fraud.

 

The Democrats supported invasion of Iraq. They vote for every single increase in American military budget. They closed none of the 109 american overseas military bases.mthey did not close guantanamo. They ended no foreign wars. They invaded libya.

Only western industrialized country without universal healthcare.

There is no left wing in American politics.

 

Not to mention the highest incarceration rate in the world! 6 times what our incarceration rate is in Canada!

That stat would look even worse when incarcerations are broken down by race and poverty levels. But private prisons are good money there, so they need customers.

Incarceration Rates by Country 2022 (worldpopulationreview.com)

North Korea holding strong with 0 people incarcerated...

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-finland-dzhabarov-ukraine-stoltenberg-nato-retaliation-1695854

Quote

A Russian lawmaker has warned that Moscow would retaliate if Finland joins NATO as Russian aggression in Ukraine spurs the Nordic country towards membership of the alliance.

Vladimir Dzhabarov from Russia's upper house, the Federation Council, said that any move by Helsinki to join NATO would be a "strategic mistake."

He said that Finland had developed close ties with Russia but NATO membership would mean "it would become a target."

"I think it [would be] a terrible tragedy for the entire Finnish people," said Dzhabarov.

It is only the latest threat made to Finland about NATO membership, with the expansion of the alliance towards Russia's borders one of the reasons used by President Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine.

Sergei Belyayev, head of the Russian foreign ministry's European department, said in March there would be "serious military and political consequences," should Finland join NATO.

[Wideleft]

15 hours ago, Mark F said:

Bill clinton.. the great lefty boogie man....

.. Nafta..... which moved american factory jobs to mexico

he twisted arms to get that passed. It was very unpopular.

welfare "reform"    ..... threw millions off of social assitance

"three strikes law".......locked people up for stealing a candy bar

deregulated media ownership.... local radio bought out and closed.

Deregulated wall street leading to 2008 financial meltdown.

his chief of staff rahm emanuel called the democratic party progressive wing,

 "dirty f----ing hippies"... now us ambassador to china.

 

Obama favourite and most respected President... Reagan. 
 

deregulated oil and gas.

tried to cut Social security. Lol. He tried hard, and really wanted to do this.

let the banks ceos walk,after they committex  one of histories greatest frauds.

the pass this guy gets is comical. He is a complete fraud.

 

The Democrats supported invasion of Iraq. They vote for every single increase in American military budget. They closed none of the 109 american overseas military bases.mthey did not close guantanamo. They ended no foreign wars. They invaded libya.

Only western industrialized country without universal healthcare.

There is no left wing in American politics.

 

This is a huge over-simplification and at times inaccurate (ie - Three strikes laws were enacted by states (not Federally) and have existed in various forms since the 1800's).  While Clinton did repeal Glass-Steagal (which had separated commercial & investment banking) the whole topic of Wall Street regulation/deregulation is too long and complex to summarize with "deregulated wall street".  

I will also note that Democrats have admitted that some of their past welfare reform and criminal justice measures have been mistakes.  You will get no such admissions from the Republicans.

To argue that there is no left wing ignores not only elements of the Democratic Party (Bernie, AOC, Swalwell etc), but many state and county representatives.  It seems that everyone forgets there is a state called California with many initiatives that are more progessive than anything you'd see in Canada.

This also ignores that Democrats have been hindered by a naivety that they could work across the aisle (Obama) missing golden opportunities to enact progressive laws and regulation.  It also ignores that the Republicans have made control of the Supreme Court their highest priority which has had terrible consequences for progressive law in history and especially now.

And finally, this summary only takes the time to cherry-pick decisions that seem similar while ignoring how differently these parties have actually legislated at the State and Federal levels.

They. Are. Not. The. Same.

[Tracker]

Germany intercepts Russians’ talk of indiscriminate killings in Ukraine

BERLIN — Germany’s foreign intelligence service claims to have intercepted radio communications in which Russian soldiers discuss carrying out indiscriminate killings in Ukraine.

In two separate communications, Russian soldiers described how they question soldiers as well as civilians and then shoot them, according to an intelligence official familiar with the findings who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.
The findings, first reported by the German magazine Der Spiegel and confirmed by three people briefed on the information, further undermine Russia’s denials of involvement in the carnage. Russia has claimed variously that atrocities are being carried out only after its soldiers leave occupied areas or that scenes of massacres of civilians are “staged.”

Images from Bucha, a suburb near the Ukrainian capital, have become symbols of the war’s atrocities and galvanized calls for probes into possible war crimes. One person said the radio messages are likely to provide greater insight into suspected atrocities in other towns north of Kyiv that had been held by Russian soldiers.

-Washington Post

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

Here is another report from Der Spiegel about what @Tracker was talking about

 

https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/possible-evidence-of-russian-atrocities-german-intelligence-intercepts-radio-traffic-discussing-the-murder-of-civilians-in-bucha-a-0a191c96-634f-4d07-8c5c-c4a772315b0d

 

"The radio traffic intercepted by the BND makes it seem as though the atrocities perpetrated on civilians in Bucha were neither random acts nor the product of individual soldiers who got out of hand. Rather, say sources familiar with the audio, the material suggests that the troops spoke of the atrocities as though they were simply discussing their everyday lives."

And more...

 

"DER SPIEGEL has learned that more intercepted radio traffic is currently being analyzed, though it is apparently difficult to precisely localize some of the audio. Some of the recordings apparently indicate that incidents such as those in Bucha have also taken place elsewhere. There are reportedly indications of potential atrocities in the area surrounding Mariupol, the large city in southern Ukraine that has been besieged by the Russian military."

Edited April 7, 2022 by wanna-b-fanboy

[Wideleft]

23 minutes ago, wanna-b-fanboy said:

"DER SPIEGEL has learned that more intercepted radio traffic is currently being analyzed, though it is apparently difficult to precisely localize some of the audio. Some of the recordings apparently indicate that incidents such as those in Bucha have also taken place elsewhere. There are reportedly indications of potential atrocities in the area surrounding Mariupol, the large city in southern Ukraine that has been besieged by the Russian military."

The Russians haven't been towing portable crematoriums for their own - that's for sure.

[Mark F]

1 hour ago, Wideleft said:

They. Are. Not. The. Same.

cherry pick..lol... major decisions with huge negative impact. Give me your good stuff list.

and Where did they say they are the same?

Not sure that Bernie and AOC have much standing in the Democratic party. Pelosinhas publicly dumped on AOC several times, and funded AOC establishment dem opponent in a primary election. Pelosi mocked and sneered at the green new deal. She is funding a primary opponent, again. 

Bernie is constantly offering up legislation which the party ignores. HIllary, the ultimate dem insider said of bernie " nobody likes him"

Also...."at times inaccurate (ie - Three strikes laws were enacted by states"

"The law at issue was the sweeping Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which provided funding for tens of thousands of community police officers and drug courts, banned certain assault weapons, and mandated life sentences for criminals convicted of a violent felony after two or more prior convictions, including drug crimes. The mandated life sentences were known as the “three-strikes” provision.

The bill included a federal “three-strikes” provision which required mandatory life imprisonment without possibility of parole for those who commit federal violent felonies if they had two or more previous convictions for violent felonies or drug trafficking crimes. In his mea culpa in August, Clinton said that while most people are in prison under state law, “the federal law set a trend.”

The bill also had a more direct impact on state prison populations. It included $8.7 billion for prison construction to states that passed “truth-in-sentencing” laws requiring that people convicted of violent crimes serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. 

In a speech at an NAACP convention in Philadelphia in July, Clinton acknowledged that tougher incarceration provisions in the bill were a mistake. “I signed a bill that made the problem worse,” Clinton said. “And I want to admit it.”

https://www.factcheck.org/2016/04/bill-clinton-and-the-1994-crime-bill/

like i said ..... clinton three strikes law.

 

Theyve had the white hiuse,the senate, the house, off and on for years. They havent done much that helps the average person.

Where have all of the gains from productivity and wealth increase over the last thirty years gone?

I Guess the Dems had no part in that ugly trend.

 

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by Mark F

[Tracker]

28 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

The Russians haven't been towing portable crematoriums for their own - that's for sure.

They are trying to destroy the evidence (bodies of civilians) of their war crimes.

[Tracker]

Gold human teeth were found in the pockets of the clothes of a liquidated Russian army soldier in Ukraine.

[Wideleft]

28 minutes ago, Mark F said:

cherry pick..lol... major decisions with huge negative impact. Give me your good stuff list.

and Where did they say they are the same?

Not sure that Bernie and AOC have much standing in the Democratic party. Pelosinhas dumped on AOC several times, and funded AOC establishment dem opponent in a primary election.

Bernie is constantly offering up legislation which the party ignores. HIllary, the ultimate dem insider said of bernie " nobody likes him"

Also....

"The law at issue was the sweeping Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which provided funding for tens of thousands of community police officers and drug courts, banned certain assault weapons, and mandated life sentences for criminals convicted of a violent felony after two or more prior convictions, including drug crimes. The mandated life sentences were known as the “three-strikes” provision.

The bill included a federal “three-strikes” provision which required mandatory life imprisonment without possibility of parole for those who commit federal violent felonies if they had two or more previous convictions for violent felonies or drug trafficking crimes. In his mea culpa in August, Clinton said that while most people are in prison under state law, “the federal law set a trend.”

The bill also had a more direct impact on state prison populations. It included $8.7 billion for prison construction to states that passed “truth-in-sentencing” laws requiring that people convicted of violent crimes serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. 

In a speech at an NAACP convention in Philadelphia in July, Clinton acknowledged that tougher incarceration provisions in the bill were a mistake. “I signed a bill that made the problem worse,” Clinton said. “And I want to admit it.”

https://www.factcheck.org/2016/04/bill-clinton-and-the-1994-crime-bill/

like i said ..... clinton three strikes law.

 

Theyve had the white hiuse,the senate, the house, off and on for years. They havent done much that helps the average person.

 

 

 

Biden signed the American Rescue Plan, a sweeping $1.9 trillion package, into law in early March. The series of measures -- which make up one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in decades intended to bolster the US' recovery from the coronavirus pandemic -- included stimulus payments of up to $1,400 per person for about 90% of American households, a $300 federal boost to weekly jobless benefits and an expansion of the child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child.

In his first hours after he was inaugurated, Biden halted funding for the construction of Trump's border wall, reversed his travel ban targeting largely Muslim countries and embraced progressive policies on the environment and diversity that Trump spent four years blocking. Biden also reversed several of Trump's attempts to withdraw from international agreements, beginning the process of rejoining the Paris climate accord and halting the United States' departure from the World Health Organization. And he imposed a mask mandate in federal buildings, a symbolic break with Trump's handling of the pandemic.

Not to mention the Build Back Better Act - not his fault he can't get it passed because Manchin, Sinema and Republican Senators are self-serving morons.

Offers universal and free preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds, the largest expansion of universal and free education since states and communities across the country established public high school 100 years ago.

Makes the largest investment in child care in the nation’s history, saving most American families more than half of their spending on child care.Delivers affordable, high-quality care for older Americans and people with disabilities in their homes, while supporting the workers who provide this care.Provides 39 million households up to $3,600 (or $300 per month) in tax cuts per child by extending the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit.

Delivers substantial consumer rebates and tax credits to reduce costs for middle class families shifting to clean energy and electrification.

Advances environmental justice through a new Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator that will invest in projects around the country, while delivering 40% of the benefits of investment to disadvantaged communities, as part of the President’s Justice40 initiative.

Reduces prescription drug costs.

Makes the single largest and most comprehensive investment in affordable housing in history.

Expands access to affordable, high-quality education beyond high school.

Stops large, profitable corporations from paying zero in tax and tax corporations that buyback stock rather than invest in the company.

Stops rewarding corporations for shipping jobs and profits overseas.

Asks the highest income Americans to pay their fair share.

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/build-back-better/

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-russia-war-1.6411277

Quote

The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the world organization's leading human rights body over allegations of horrific rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, which the United States and Ukraine have called tantamount to war crimes.

The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions, significantly lower than the vote on two resolutions the assembly adopted last month demanding an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, withdrawal of all Russian troops and protection for civilians. Both of those resolutions were approved by at least 140 nations.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield launched the campaign to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council in the wake of videos and photos of streets in the town of Bucha strewn with corpses of what appeared to be civilians after Russian soldiers retreated. The deaths have sparked global revulsion and calls for tougher sanctions on Russia, which has vehemently denied its troops were responsible.

About ******* time.

**** Russia.

[Tracker]

 

 

                                 

[bustamente]

If Canada is sending any aid to countries that voted against the measure that should end today, maybe even the countries that abstained.

[WildPath]

7 hours ago, blue_gold_84 said:

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-finland-dzhabarov-ukraine-stoltenberg-nato-retaliation-1695854

Maybe I'm wrong, but this seems about the best time for Finland to join NATO. Russians are already fighting a war they had tons of time to prepare for, but obviously didn't do a good job. They are somewhat weakened and I can't imagine they'd be able to put together a solid plan of attack for Finland without considerable time, especially while under increasingly harsh sanctions.

It seems like Russia's invasion of Ukraine has really backfired. Instead of weakening NATO, it has done the opposite. More nations are now looking to NATO for protection as they realize what happens without it. The nations currently in NATO have strengthened their bond and defenses more than I can recall as well.

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/rcmp-investigation-war-crimes-ukraine-1.6412327

Quote

The RCMP has launched a national investigation into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.

Police will be collecting "important information and evidence" from those Ukrainians entering Canada who wish to provide it, with the hopes of using the information in future criminal investigations, according to a statement from the partners of Canada's War Crimes Program.

The War Crimes Program is a partnership between the Department of Justice, RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.  

"It is essential that such information be collected and protected at the earliest opportunity, to ensure it is not lost with the passage of time and to preserve crucial evidence for future prosecutions," the statement said.

A website has been launched to provide Ukrainians information about the investigation, with pamphlets also being given to those arriving at Canada's airports starting this week and by groups working with the newcomers.

More on the War Crimes Program: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/wc-cdg/inter.html

[Tracker]

 

 

                              

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

This needs to make more rounds on the EU social media rounds... probably all the NATO countries too...

 

 

[Wideleft]

 

 

[Tracker]

Dozens Dead, Over 100 Wounded After Rocket Attack On Ukraine Train Station

CHERNIHIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian leaders predicted more gruesome discoveries would be made in reclaimed cities and towns as Russian soldiers retreat to focus on eastern Ukraine, where officials said a Russian rocket attack on a packed train station used to evacuate civilians killed over 30 people Friday.

Hours after warning that Ukraine’s forces already had found worse scenes of brutality in a settlement north of Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that “thousands” of people were at the station in Kramatorsk, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, when it was hit by a missile.

Zelenskyy accompanied a social media post with photos that showed a train car with smashed windows, abandoned luggage and bodies lying in what looked like an outdoor waiting area. Authorities said the strike wounded more than 100 people.

“The inhuman Russians are not changing their methods. Without the strength or courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population,” the president said. “This is an evil without limits. And if it is not punished, then it will never stop.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ukraine-war_n_624fcd54e4b0be72bfe70c35

Russian Troops Brag They Bombed Fleeing Families at Train Station

-Getty 
A few minutes before it became clear that women, children and elderly people were among the at least 39 dead and nearly 100 known to be injured when a missile struck the Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers were bragging about the hit on Telegram.

The missile struck the main evacuation center in the area and seemed to herald the beginning of an intensified offensive that Russia warned was coming.

Minutes later, the messages, which included claims to have successfully obliterated “a crowd of Ukrainian militants at the Kramatorsk railway station,” were edited or disappeared altogether, according to several accounts by journalists in the region.

-Getty