If you haven't been following the Russian/Ukraine issue, it's time to start

[vitterd]

If your goal is intelligent debate it is irrelevant. As I said, this is as tough spot for Obama. He's going to be hard pressed to find allies in Europe, considering Russia supplies 1/3 of their natural gas imports. I don't envy his job, but as I said he signed up for it. This is part of the deal.

It really isnt....the president has such a small sample of comparisons....that comparisons on how presidents handle a very similar situation....is certainly relevant and important to discuss.

We all understand he signed up for this job...I just don't understand what people want him to do. he has handled it like the pres before him did and I, and many others didnt have a problem with that. Just like I dont have any problem with how obama is handling this now.

I get it...it's part if the deal and he is handling it the only way there is to handle it.....unless you want war.

 

[MantisToboggan]

It really isnt....the president has such a small sample of comparisons....that comparisons on how presidents handle a very similar situation....is certainly relevant and important to discuss.

We all understand he signed up for this job...I just don't understand what people want him to do. he has handled it like the pres before him did and I, and many others didnt have a problem with that. Just like I dont have any problem with how obama is handling this now.

I get it...it's part if the deal and he is handling it the only way there is to handle it.....unless you want war.

Curious, what is it exactly that you think he has done? Other than offer $1,000,000,000 in aid?

 

[vitterd]

Curious, what is it exactly that you think he has done? Other than offer $1,000,000,000 in aid?

he's been talking to Putin and the lines of communication are still open. He told him there would consequences and sanctions and he has urged congress to actually do something that will provide aid. He has done all he can do but he has no leverage and not much else can be done. When you're dealing with a crazy person like Putin....your options are limited.

Being critical makes no sense because any other party in power would be handling this the same exact way....and we know this because it was handled the same way under the previous admin.....and that is why it is relevant to discuss bush in this situation.

 

[MantisToboggan]

Being critical makes no sense because any other party in power would be handling this the same exact way....and we know this because it was handled the same way under the previous admin.....and that is why it is relevant to discuss bush in this situation.

So no one is allowed to criticize Obama because the Republicans/Bush would have handled it the exact same why? Interesting logic. Guess we will have to agree to disagree there.

For the record, I do agree with you that Obama has no leverage and there is not much else he can do.

 

[MikeB]

Fox news has been out of control with Hannity and guys like that fraud Ralph Peters, praising putin in comparison to obama as a leader.

How in the world would you like him to handle this? How do you deal with a pyscho....beyond going to war....what else is there to do? Bush handled putin the same way and nobody was saying a word. Not much can be done that is not being done.

I must have missed that episode of Hannity. What did Hannity say about this "comparison"? I'm not sure who Ralph Peters is but I assure you, he is not speaking for me.

As far as the other question "how it should be handled"?
My opinion is posted in post #21.

 

[vitterd]

So no one is allowed to criticize Obama because the Republicans/Bush would have handled it the exact same why? Interesting logic. Guess we will have to agree to disagree there.

For the record, I do agree with you that Obama has no leverage and there is not much else he can do.

Republicans just want to be critical to be critical. It is hypocritical of them to not be critical of bush over Georgia and then bash obama for the same handling. They are allowed to be critical....but im also allowed to point out that it's more republican hypocrisy.

This entire obama "looks weak" for this... is nonsense. just another chain email to republicans to keep using those talking points....even though there is no evidence of that.

 

[MantisToboggan]

Republicans just want to be critical to be critical. It is hypocritical of them to not be critical of bush over Georgia and then bash obama for the same handling. They are allowed to be critical....but im also allowed to point out that it's more republican hypocrisy.

This entire obama "looks weak" for this... is nonsense. just another chain email to republicans to keep using those talking points....even though there is no evidence of that.

That was 6 years ago. People can change their minds. Similar to how Obama changed his mind about the debt ceiling when the shoe was on the other foot. Hypocrisy is an integral part of politics, Republican and Democrat.

 

[vitterd]

I must have missed that episode of Hannity. What did Hannity say about this "comparison"? I'm not sure who Ralph Peters is but I assure you, he is not speaking for me.

As far as the other question "how it should be handled"?
My opinion is posted in post #21.

Been making comparisons for weeks now on Hannity. In true hannity fashion...he just repeats the same thing over and over again. "putin rides a horse shirtless and obama wears mom jeans". I posted a link where it shows many fox news pundits making the same idiotic comparison.

So your suggestion is obama drive down oil prices...and that will make putin withdrawal? not sure that is a realistic idea....not even sure it is something obama would be able to do.

 

[vitterd]

That was 6 years ago. People can change their minds. Similar to how Obama changed his mind about the debt ceiling when the shoe was on the other foot. Hypocrisy is an integral part of politics, Republican and Democrat.

Doesnt make a difference to me when politicians change their minds. Obviously when a president gets into office he will see things differently than when he is a senator or gov.

These repubs arent changing their minds on how they feel....they just change what they believe in based on what obama does.

 

[MikeB]

www.thewrap.com/jon-stewart-fox-news-pundits-seem-way-putin-video/

Well, since Jon Stewart is your spokesman (that of the liberals), since he mentioned Sarah Palin, how come he didn't mention that back in 2008, she predicted that there was a likelihood of this very thing happening? She gave Obama and the Whitehouse a half a dozen years to come up with a plan for this very scenario and they are standing there looking incompetent because they have no plan.

 

[MantisToboggan]

Doesnt make a difference to me when politicians change their minds. Obviously when a president gets into office he will see things differently than when he is a senator or gov.

These repubs arent changing their minds on how they feel....they just change what they believe in based on what obama does.

Oh so it's only Republicans that do this? Sorry, you're too partisan for me. Done with this convo.

 

[StevieRay]

If Putin and Obama were in prison , Obama would be his bitch

 

[vitterd]

Well, since Jon Stewart is your spokesman (that of the liberals), since he mentioned Sarah Palin, how come he didn't mention that back in 2008, she predicted that there was a likelihood of this very thing happening? She gave Obama and the Whitehouse a half a dozen years to come up with a plan for this very scenario and they are standing there looking incompetent because they have no plan.

You asked where i saw it and i showed you. I always laugh when people are critical of jon stewart when all he does is show video of the people saying the dumb shit they say. You can hate jon stewart but you can't deny what the video shows of these fox pundits making idiots of themselves. It is always their own words that make them look stupid.

Politifact doesnt really agree that Palin predicted anything.....they label her predictions as "half true". And even if they knew this would happen years ago....nothing would be different....can't stop crazy.

 

[vitterd]

Oh so it's only Republicans that do this? Sorry, you're too partisan for me. Done with this convo.

Ahhhh yes....the famous right wing mantra....don't like what they hear and conversation over.

I never once said it is only repubs who do anything.....but we are talking about this situation....not every situation. Weird when you guys all do the same thing....it's like it's inborn or something.

 

[MikeB]

Been making comparisons for weeks now on Hannity. In true hannity fashion...he just repeats the same thing over and over again. "putin rides a horse shirtless and obama wears mom jeans". I posted a link where it shows many fox news pundits making the same idiotic comparison.

So your suggestion is obama drive down oil prices...and that will make putin withdrawal? not sure that is a realistic idea....not even sure it is something obama would be able to do.

Interesting. Hannity has been making the comparison for weeks but Putin invaded Crimea only 1 week ago. Maybe Hannity was on to something. Secondly every person who goes on Hannity does not speak for all republicans any more than every person who appears on NBC news with Chris Mathews and/or Rachel Maddow speaks for all liberals .

Adding, Reagan was able to drive Russia's economy into the ground 30 years ago, maybe Obama could ask somebody how he did it. There has to be a notebook or something lying around the Whitehouse.

 

[MikeB]

If Obama is incapable of this, maybe he should step down and ask somebody else to take over for the next couple of years.

 

[vitterd]

Interesting. Hannity has been making the comparison for weeks but Putin invaded Crimea only 1 week ago. Maybe Hannity was on to something. Secondly every person who goes on Hannity does not speak for all republicans any more than every person who appears on NBC news with Chris Mathews and/or Rachel Maddow.

Adding, Reagan was able to drive Russia's economy into the ground 30 years ago, maybe Obama could ask somebody how he did it. There has to be a notebook or something lying around the Whitehouse.

Hannity has been doing it for weeks....but he's been saying inaccurate and stupid bullshit for years and years.

I would say things are different now than 30 years ago......if the obama admin could destroy russia's economy right now....don't you think they'd do it?

 

[vitterd]

If Obama is incapable of this, maybe he should step down and ask somebody else to take over for the next couple of years.

Why didnt bush do it? Do you think he is equally inept....or is this just an obama thing?

 

[MantisToboggan]

Ahhhh yes....the famous right wing mantra....don't like what they hear and conversation over.

I never once said it is only repubs who do anything.....but we are talking about this situation....not every situation. Weird when you guys all do the same thing....it's like it's inborn or something.

More BS. Do you not recall I agreed with you that Obama had done all he could? I wanted to talk about Ukraine. You wanted to take shots at political parties. I'm not interested in that. It's a waste of time.

 

[Well-Seasoned]

Hannity has been doing it for weeks....but he's been saying inaccurate and stupid bullshit for years and years.

I would say things are different now than 30 years ago......if the obama admin could destroy russia's economy right now....don't you think they'd do it?

I blocked Hannity out years ago in general......At least when he had Colmes there it was watchable at times as I could hear different sides....His radio show has an "end-of-the-world" mentality the rare times I hear it and is more funny than anything.