Althouse: At the Sunrise Café...

February 24, 2022

At the Sunrise Café...

... you can talk about whatever you want.

45 comments:

StephenFearby said...: After Putin's Nazi-like bloody invasion of Ukraine, who's to say that history could not be repeated?

Precedents:

Russia Beyond
Oleg Yegorov

A bloody end: 4 Russian tsars brutally murdered before 1917

Everyone knows that Nicholas II was executed along with his entire family in 1918, almost a year after the Bolsheviks seized power. But long before his reign, regicide was not uncommon.

1. Ivan VI
Age when killed: 23
Murderers: prison guards

2. Peter III
Age when (most likely) killed: 34
Murderers: unclear

3. Paul I
Age when killed: 46
Murderers: conspirators

4. Alexander II
Age when killed: 62
Murderers: left-wing political terrorists

https://www.rbth.com/arts/history/2017/08/29/a-bloody-end-4-russian-czars-brutally-murdered-before-nicholas-ii_830572; 2/24/22, 7:31 PM
Howard said...: Supposed to get a foot of snow in Center Mass tomorrow. Another weekend of snowshoeing.; 2/24/22, 7:32 PM
rehajm said...: Shocking pictures of Kiev bombing…; 2/24/22, 7:40 PM
tim in vermont said...: Apparently, four years of Trump weakened the US so much that Putin did this under Biden, just like he took Crimea under Obama to make Trump look good in the future. That's what they are peddling, this is Trump's fault. Not only that, but Putin did this now to make Biden look terrible so that Trump would look better. I can't keep up with the nonsense. Trump wanted the US to live in peace and prosperity with the Russians, and this was seen as treason. This war is on Biden, Ukraine is lost, Russia doesn't care about sanctions, it makes them stronger. Xi has every incentive to see Russia succeed, will India go along with isolating Russia? IDK, we should have made a deal with Putin, or Ukraine should have made a neutrality deal.; 2/24/22, 7:41 PM
Heartless Aztec said...: Lines at the gas station tonight and empty-ish shelves at the supermarket afterward.; 2/24/22, 7:47 PM
wildswan said...: WE should compare Canada's response to the truckers and to anti-mandate protestors to the sanctions against Russia.

Trudeau:
"[Trudeau has] tasked his Transport Minister Omar ... to put in place vaccine mandates in between Canada’s provinces (states). In other words, truckers are about to be completely crushed if they won’t get the vaccine.
They won’t even be able to travel within Canada!
Canadians who are unvaccinated already can’t leave their own country, even by land borders. They also can’t enter Canada if they are abroad and unvaccinated."

Sanctions Against Truckers
"Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said at Monday’s news conference that apart from banks being able to freeze accounts of people linked to the anti-mandate protests, vehicle insurance of any individual involved in the demonstrations can also be suspended. Freeland said they were broadening Canada’s “Terrorist Financing” in a bid to cover cryptocurrencies and other crowdfunding platforms.
She said, “It's all about following the money”.

Canadian banks froze about C$7.8 million ($6.1 million) in just over 200 accounts under emergency powers meant to end protests in Ottawa and at key border crossings, a government official said Tuesday. ... Isabelle Jacques, an assistant deputy minister at the finance department, said it’s “possible although very unlikely” that small donors to the convoy have seen their accounts frozen, given that law enforcement agencies have focused on those directly responsible for the protests.."
//////
@BreitbartNews
Canada's Justice Minister David Lametti has told Trump supporters who donated to the "Freedom Convoy" to be worried about accounts frozen.
////////////////////

So Canada broke into donor lists and was going to follow trucker supporters who donated as little as $20 into other countries' banks and into all forms of currency and was going to freeze access to all accounts, and all licenses and insurance and travel.
But is the US going to follow Russian or Ukrainian oligarchs into all their bank accounts in all countries in all types of currencies? and freeze all trading licenses and all travel? Is the US going to go after the invading Russians the way Trudeau went after the truckers - his fellow citizens who literally delivered the goods during the pandemic?
I think we know the answer.
Yeah, Trudeau has quit. But the comparison remains.; 2/24/22, 7:50 PM
Original Mike said...: Big Ten Network sure is pushing women's basketball this year.; 2/24/22, 7:54 PM
farmgirl said...: Are those wooden crates?
The sun was glorious today- the air about 19F. It was 9F this morning. The air has a dampness that creeps down the collar of your coat- gets into the bones. Snowstorm tomorrow, supposedly.

I’m heading to zzzzz now… see u at 5am-ish ;0); 2/24/22, 7:56 PM
Narr said...: Maddow in front of the Ukrainian colors, almost in tears.

Comedy gold!; 2/24/22, 8:07 PM
Gerda Sprinchorn said...: The sunrise pictures have taken on a darker feel now that I know there are dogs buried willy-nilly amongst the trees.; 2/24/22, 8:43 PM
Bender said...: Joe Biden wasn't quite himself at today's briefing. Underwhelming then disastrous. Not like him at all.; 2/24/22, 8:49 PM
Narayanan said...: for hard headed analysis; 2/24/22, 9:39 PM
WK said...: When I was in college (late 70s) my grandfather took me to the basement crawl space of his house and showed me a small box of gold coins. Then he took me to a similar box hidden in a ventilation duct in a bedroom. Said he didn’t believe the govt had the right to confiscate gold in the 30s. I didn’t understand then but do now.; 2/24/22, 9:50 PM
Big Mike said...: Those poor, dumb Ukrainians. They should have hung onto their tactical nukes.; 2/24/22, 10:00 PM
Duke Dan said...: If you voted for Biden, this is on you. Look hard in your mirror in the morning and come to grips with it and vow to be better.; 2/24/22, 10:06 PM
Narr said...: WK reminds us of a little-known but important episode.

The next iteration will be something like this. A pair or trio of polite gummint officials show up to your home and explain to you that "Physical gold is a relic of barbarism that has no place in a modern post-industrial virtual economy. Now hand it over."

Not only possible, but likely.; 2/24/22, 10:24 PM
Readering said...: So, (minor) mea culpa from Matt Taibbi on Putin and war.; 2/24/22, 10:29 PM
Readering said...: Those poor, dumb Russians. They should have kept Putin out of power.; 2/24/22, 10:31 PM
Readering said...: Rumors that Biden, after interviewing 3, ready to announce SCOTUS pick, and that it is Jackson.; 2/24/22, 10:38 PM
Ann Althouse said...: “ Are those wooden crates?”

Stone bench; 2/24/22, 10:40 PM
gadfly said...: tim in vermont said...
Apparently, four years of Trump weakened the US so much that Putin did this under Biden, just like he took Crimea under Obama to make Trump look good in the future.

That is what you are peddling, tim - but in case you forgot here is what Trump was peddling back in 2018:

President Donald Trump said he doesn’t “see any reason why” Russia would interfere with the 2016 election, at an extraordinary press conference . . . with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The comment is the latest instance of Trump breaking with the U.S. intelligence community but was all the more explosive when said standing next to Putin, after a nearly two-hour one-on-one meeting and extended bilateral summit in Helsinki, Finland.

“My people came to me, [Director of National Intelligence] Dan Coats came to me and some others saying they think it's Russia. I have President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia,” Trump said. “I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be.”

Putin earlier in the press conference repeated his claims that Russia did not interfere in the election to boost Trump — the clear conclusion by the U.S. intelligence community — even as he also said he preferred Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

The summit comes as Trump has increasingly railed against special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 election, which has already ensnared members of Trump’s campaign team.

On Friday, [07/13/18] Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers for their roles in hacking into Democratic computer systems.

Trump refused to confront Putin over the indictments at the press conference and said he has “confidence in both” Russia and U.S. intelligence agencies.

“I have great confidence in my intelligence people but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today,” Trump said.

He added that Putin also offered to have Russian investigators work with the special counsel on the case of the 12 Russian officers indicted for hacking.

“I think that's an incredible offer,” Trump said.; 2/24/22, 11:12 PM
wildswan said...: President Bill Clinton persuaded the Ukrainians to give up their nukes and the US/UK would defend the Ukraine if Russia invaded. Not hearing from Bill Clinton about what to do in Ukraine. Not even making excuses. Didn't help those pimps either. Hillary? Not hearing her views on what was promised. Hunter had business deals in the Ukraine. Not hearing from Hunter - smartest guy his father, the US President, knows. Our Betters are rotten to the core and good for nothing but abusing fellow citizens, making money in office, and pretending men are women. Although in the case of our diplomats the men are all women, no pretense, while the women have transcendental qualities - namely, being stupid, dishonorable and cowardly.; 2/24/22, 11:51 PM
MadTownGuy said...: Readering said...

"So, (minor) mea culpa from Matt Taibbi on Putin and war.

Only that he was hasty in backing off from his assertion that an attack wasn't imminent. At least he has the integrity to admit to a mistake.; 2/25/22, 3:44 AM
farmgirl said...: Stone bench! Well.

I hope it’s sunny this morning at the Lake. I wonder if this has been one of the greyer skied Winters ever. Sure feels like it.
It’s 11F… and I’m reluctantly heading on out. I hope today brings some clarity of response to the world to this advancement of war in Ukraine.; 2/25/22, 4:11 AM
Quaestor said...: "So, (minor) mea culpa from Matt Taibbi on Putin and war."

...due to his mistaken belief that Russia might actually fear our LBTQWERTY-ridden military.

Ukraine will fall within two weeks, followed by Taiwan and the three Baltic republics by August.; 2/25/22, 4:27 AM
tim in vermont said...: Kremlin issues 2 demands to Ukraine:
1)Per Minsk2 agreement, disarm
2)Remain neutral; no joining #NATO
No demands for #VolodymyrZelensky to step down. No demand for #ukraine to join Russian Federation. #Putin says incursion can end now if terms are met. #BREAKING #news #Russia

This is unacceptable because it's not in the interest of whoever decided to impeach Trump over a phone call casually inquiring into matters which were very relevant to his impeachment defense, simply will not let Ukraine go. The same as they won't let Syria, which has been a Russian satellite since the 1960s. You know how they learned about the minor hold up in shipment of the useless weapons? The weapons manufacturers called to ask where their money was. Matter of public record, but Google will never let me find it again.; 2/25/22, 5:00 AM
tim in vermont said...: "The West is leading Ukraine down the primrose path and the end result is that Ukraine is going to get wrecked." - John J. Mearsheimer in 2015

https://mobile.twitter.com/buddhimedia/status/1496783097534111746; 2/25/22, 5:03 AM
Rusty said...: Readering said...
"Those poor, dumb Russians. They should have kept Putin out of power."
You shouldn't have voted for Biden.; 2/25/22, 5:17 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Now that there’s a war going on, let’s combat it with some extra good. Donate blood or something.; 2/25/22, 5:27 AM
tim maguire said...: Big Mike said...Those poor, dumb Ukrainians. They should have hung onto their tactical nukes.'

An under-appreciated implication. Extending the protection of NATO's nuclear umbrella beyond NATO as a carrot to convince countries not to develop nuclear weapons of their own is over if NATO doesn't come through for those countries. Either we need to do more to help the Ukraine or we need another approach to nuclear non-proliferation.; 2/25/22, 6:28 AM
rehajm said...: Apparently, four years of Trump weakened the US so much that Putin did this under Biden, just like he took Crimea under Obama to make Trump look good in the future.

Funny how the economy works that way, too. Always waiting to make the next Republican look good, then Democrats inherit a Republican mess...; 2/25/22, 6:32 AM
Howard said...: Sean Penn to the Rescue.

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/sean-penn-ukraine-documentary-russia-invasion-1235189570/amp/; 2/25/22, 6:44 AM
Howard said...: Ukraine has had to have been Putin's goal for a long time. It's the most resource rich and fertile part of Europe.

The question is, did he overreach? It will be interesting to see how Western Europe responds economically, diplomatically and militarily.

Will Ukrainian men dig in for a protracted insurgency?; 2/25/22, 6:52 AM
Rollo said...: I didn't think this was going to happen either. It's surprising that Biden and the CIA weren't entirely wrong or lying for once.; 2/25/22, 7:11 AM
Big Mike said...: If we had been serious about defending Ukraine we would have move A-10 and F-15E squadrons and F-22 and F-15C squadrons into the NATO allies ordering Ukraine. The former to kill Russian tanks and the latter to achieve air superiority to let the former kill tanks.; 2/25/22, 7:16 AM
wendybar said...: 4th time getting it in two tries!!! Woo HOO!!!

Wordle 251 2/6

⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩; 2/25/22, 8:04 AM
Jersey Fled said...: My daughter ordered her free covid test kits on January 19th. You know, the ones that were typically supposed to arrive in 7-12 days.

Still waiting.; 2/25/22, 8:38 AM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: Is Joe Biden an honest politician? Yes. Once he's been bought, he stays bought. Vlad has gotten good value for his bribes to the Biden Crime Family. All those Burisma payments plus the $3.5M payment from the widow of Moscow's mayor has helped out Joe's buddy, Vlad.

Why else do you think Joe canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and stopped new oil leases on federal land? Also, his greenlighting of the NordStream II pipeline help Vlad out. It was to drive up the cost of oil, so Vlad could fund his invasion. Vlad has a lock on energy supplies to Western Europe and has them over a barrel. It also helps that "climate change" has put Europe into a deep freeze and they need as much oil and gas as they can get so they won't freeze their little toesys off.; 2/25/22, 9:07 AM
Andrew said...: @Rollo,
"I didn't think this was going to happen either. It's surprising that Biden and the CIA weren't entirely wrong or lying for once."

Likewise. I'm so used to lies, misinformation, and ineptitude that I don't expect the CIA or foreign policy experts to be honest, or even insightful. It's the perfect real-world example of the boy crying wolf. It's been nothing but shouts of "Wolf!" for decades.; 2/25/22, 10:07 AM
Joe Smith said...: I guess you can't speak about whatever you want...; 2/25/22, 11:07 AM
farmgirl said...: I was thinking back to the NYTs ad w/the trans(if I remember correctly)voicing strings of random wishes: Harry Potter w/out it’s creator.
My thought: how fitting for a trans to wish for the product w/out mention of the creator. B/c: to me? That’s the meaning of trans. Created in the image of… by The Creator- and wishing for the erasure of: both?; 2/25/22, 11:45 AM
Jupiter said...: "If we had been serious about defending Ukraine we would have move A-10 and F-15E squadrons and F-22 and F-15C squadrons into the NATO allies ordering Ukraine. The former to kill Russian tanks and the latter to achieve air superiority to let the former kill tanks."

OK. What would we have done if we were serious about starting a nuclear war that would end all civilization? I mean, besides kill a bunch of Russian soldiers? Or do you think that might be enough?; 2/25/22, 1:31 PM
wendybar said...: Don't you find it hysterical that the Democrat Governors are meeting in FLORIDA...Home of deathSANTIS?? What a bunch of hypcocrites!! Why not NYC, or DC???; 2/25/22, 3:50 PM
Big Mike said...: According to Jupiter the US can never, ever directly confront Russia militarily because OMG! Nuclear! We're all going to die!

but I have an advantage over you. I remember that we couldn't bomb Hanoi and definitely never, ever mine Haiphong Harbor, because that would bring the Soviets into the war on the side of the North Vietnamese and OMG! Nuclear! We're all going to die!

Except Nixon sent the B-52s to bomb Hanoi and ordered the Navy to mine Haiphong Harbor, and nothing happened.

And perhaps Vlad Putin is more crazy than Leonid Brezhnev. But I don't think so. And either our ABMs work or they don't, but I've been to Huntsville, and I get that they work.; 2/25/22, 5:31 PM
BUMBLE BEE said...: How about that! Biden admin gives the Chinese classified Intel on Ukraine, they, in turn, give it to Putin!; 2/25/22, 6:02 PM