८ डिसेंबर, २०२२

Now that President Biden has brought Brittney Griner back home — how do you think she will/should behave — obeisant to authority or as free as she wants to be?

In our first conversation about the news of the homecoming of Brittney Griner, Meade and I entered a bet about how she will behave.

ADDED:

१८३ टिप्पण्या:

Tom T. म्हणाले...

Presumably she'll light up a joint.

Achilles म्हणाले...

Who cares.

Oh that's right we will make a big deal about this because the Regime needs some propaganda to distract from the failure of everything it has done.

love johnson म्हणाले...

We had to swap the merchant of death for her? In the entire Federal prison system, we didn't have a Russian jailed on some trumped up drug charge?

wendybar म्हणाले...

A Russian Arms dealer..whilst we are sending Billions to Ukraine. Makes sense, doesn't it?? What a joke this country is. Meanwhile the DC gulag prisoners are doing more time, for taking selfies in the Capitol when they were let in by the Capitol police.

Quaestor म्हणाले...

Has Griner ever been anything other than obeisant to authority? Just keep in mind that the authority she grovels before may not always be obvious.

Temujin म्हणाले...

As soon as I read this I knew that the first thing that would happen is a Joe Biden, "I did this!" press conference and photo op. THIS is why he was too busy to not visit the border.

Brittney Griner offers a chance for him to preen about talking about how he saved, not only Brittney, but our economy and the world.
Going to the border would not offer any preening at all and would, in fact, remind everyone how he is actively destroying this country.

I'm glad Brittney Griner is finally out. This should have been done months ago, and frankly- had it been Trump- would have been. But everyone knows this is about optics. Getting her out now allows Joe to take a victory lap. And everyone will forget his words in Arizona last week, "There are more important things going on."

I, for one, will never forget it. Those words should be an anchor hung around his neck.

wendybar म्हणाले...

Why Britney, and not Paul Whelan who has been there for DECADES?

tim in vermont म्हणाले...

My money is on a payoff to Joe Biden by Bout, if we are making bets. He makes Spiro Agnew look like "Mr Smith Goes to Washington."

Temujin म्हणाले...

I wonder if he'll sniff her hair when they appear together.

Oh Yea म्हणाले...

I wonder if she will be advocating to get Paul Whelan released?

Breezy म्हणाले...

Paul Whelan should be the one on his way home. This isn’t right.

Ann Althouse म्हणाले...

"Presumably she'll light up a joint."

It's America. She should!

wendybar म्हणाले...

Meanwhile, THIS is how the FBI and the Biden administration is treating American citizens in America. How are they any different than Russia, Cuba or any other bad country?? The FBI is warning them not to talk?? WHY?? THIS should scare the bejesus out of everybody.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/stuff-gateway-pundit-stop-j6-political-prisoner-ryan-samsel-speaks-fbi-prison-staff-outraged-gateway-pundit-telling-stories-audio/

gilbar म्हणाले...

Presumably, she will BLAME AMERICA

Old and slow म्हणाले...

Back to the obscurity of the WNBA, what a comedown...

wendybar म्हणाले...

I made a mistake. Paul Whelan has been there since 2018...and was sentenced for 16 years.

Robert Cook म्हणाले...

Yes, she should remain as independent as she always has been.

RideSpaceMountain म्हणाले...

Oddly relevant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTK8torOylM

The shocker is trading for a transsexual basketball player. Russians are laughing their asses off.

Jake म्हणाले...

How will this effect Ukraine?

Bob Boyd म्हणाले...

Good for her.
But what about that other guy who's locked up over there for the same offense? Does he get to come home?

And what did Putin get in exchange?

Achilles म्हणाले...

Meanwhile Paul Whelan, Marine Veteran, is still in jail in Russia.

Whelan has been in jail in Russia for 4 years.

But the regime needed a "win" so they just sent an international arms dealer back to Russia and said "fuck the marine."

Joe Biden is just a piece of shit and his supporters are just absolutely terrible people.

jim5301 म्हणाले...

And Paul Whelan is left behind. Makes sense - on one hand you have a black gay woman basketball star who is guilty of the charges brought against her. On the other hand you have some straight white unknown clumsy guy who is innocent of the charges brought against him. Easy call for the White House I guess.

Curious George म्हणाले...

All it took to free an ungrateful drug smuggling bitch was to free Viktor Bout, a former Soviet military officer, who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization.

“Viktor Bout has been international arms trafficking enemy number one for many years, arming some of the most violent conflicts around the globe,” said Preet Bharara, the US attorney in Manhattan when Bout was sentenced in New York in 2012.

Bout is a bad dude. Let's go Brandon!

Charles म्हणाले...

There will be no change and she will be feted and praised for her awesomeness.

The price we paid was way too high in my opinion.

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

The moron Biden keeps saying ‘unjustly detained.’

I don’t think he knows what that means.

She was charged and convicted of a crime to which she pled guilty.

The ‘Merchant of Death’ traded for a weed smoker.

Biden plays tiddlywinks while Putin plays chess.

We are not a serious country.

Btw, does she still hate America? And is she really the ‘Best of what America is?’

Gusty Winds म्हणाले...

She is now 100% responsible for the release of Viktor "The Merchant of Death" Bout, a Russian arms dealer. At least this trade isn't as bad a Obama's Bergdahl deal.

I doubt she has the self-awareness to even absorb that. Glad she's out. She can go back to the WNBA, and we will all continue to not watch the WNBA.

The day after Time Magazine makes WWIII hungry Zelensky Person of the Year, Putin gets his Merchant of Death freed in exchange for a lesbian, America hating basketball player.

Clown show.

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

Most brutal takes from Jesse Kelly:

Is Brittney Griner ready to give up the fame of being a Russian prisoner to return to the obscurity of the WNBA?

We traded a WNBA player for someone who can actually shoot.

She’s a black lesbian who hates America. Biden is just bringing another voter back home.

Caroline म्हणाले...

I’d like to think Brittney would return chastened and humbled and gobsmacked withgratitude. I’d like to think she would spontaneously drop to her knees and kiss the American soil. I’d like to think she would appear draped in the american flag extolling our values of liberty and tolerance. And in this holy season, I’d like to think she would acknowledge her dependence on God, who accompanied and sustained her through a dark interlude. This is Charitable Me.

Howard म्हणाले...

Nice diversity of Russian bot and boiler room regurgitations.

Jamie म्हणाले...

"Presumably she'll light up a joint."

It's America. She should!


No, the point of America is that you can do a lot of things that you shouldn't.

Though it seems rapidly to be turning into the whole "whatever is not forbidden is compulsory" thing.

God of the Sea People म्हणाले...

Biden needed this more than Putin did. Look at the price we paid, vs what we got in return.

iowan2 म्हणाले...

Miss Trump yet?

I'll take the mean tweets. The man could negotiate. He would have NEVER let the Marine out of the deal...NEVER.

JAORE म्हणाले...

""Presumably she'll light up a joint."

It's America. She should!"

Sure, just because that violates Federal law..... 'Merica!

FWIW, Biden says he will not forget Whelan. God help you if your freedon relies on Biden's memory.

Aggie म्हणाले...

It is telling the 'obeisant' is the only choice. We live in the age of managed conversations and limited choices, don't we? How about 'grateful'? Grateful would be good. 'Matured' wouldn't hurt, either. But it is also telling that Biden thinks bailing out a histrionic doper with a record of scorn and ingratitude is a moment worthy of interrupting the People's Television.

planetgeo म्हणाले...

She'll register as a Republican and transition back to the NBA?

Bob Boyd म्हणाले...

Joe forgot to thank Zelensky for letting him do this.

Kevin म्हणाले...

"Presumably she'll light up a joint."

It's America. She should!


This sentiment would be roundly panned if her first action were to buy a gun.

Mike of Snoqualmie म्हणाले...

She'll remain an ungrateful anti-American b*ch. Send her back.

Gahrie म्हणाले...

She should be free to act as she wants. This is America after all. But a little gratitude and respect for the nation's institutions would be nice.

William म्हणाले...

She'll be feted and celebrated. She'll make a few pro forma patriotic statements. Her price for endorsement deals will go up. Whelan will die in prison.

Political Junkie म्हणाले...

I am happy she is free. I still cannot look at her.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

The media will gush and gush and gush an gush. Looking forward to it.

tim maguire म्हणाले...

We should be really proud of Biden for bringing home all the people who are doing hard time in foreign countries for something that isn't even illegal in the US.

Wait, not all the people? Just the famous ones? No? Just this famous one? Oh. Rah.

Lurker21 म्हणाले...

She may be a horrible person, but does a little CBD oil make one a drug smuggler?

Will she be subservient? ASAP Rocky wasn't grateful for Trump bringing him him home. Ye wasn't grateful for Trump supporting Kim Kardashian's pet humanitarian project. Fifty Cent wasn't grateful after Trump got his friend Lil' Wayne pardoned. It looks like Lil' Wayne may have been grateful. Apparently, Kodak Black was grateful to Trump for pardoning him. But of course, there's always the question of whether one should be grateful to the Great White Father in Washington.

Greiner will get the whole White House treatment. Her wife probably already has. I think she'll be grateful and subservient to Biden, even though he dragged his feet for months. Will she love America? For a day, a week, a month, a year. For longer? Your guess is as good as mine.

HoodlumDoodlum म्हणाले...

Marc Fogel is still in prison there, serving his 14 year sentence for having 20 grams of marijuana in a Russian airport. He's in a high-security facility since apparently a 61 year old teacher with a bad back (he says the weed was for his chronic back pain) is a dangerous dude.
Oh well, good for the well-known person I guess.

Daniel12 म्हणाले...

Temujin: "This should have been done months ago, and frankly- had it been Trump- would have been."

Achilles: "Whelan has been in jail in Russia for 4 years."

Daniel12:

Daniel12 म्हणाले...

Mike of Snoqualmie said...
She'll remain an ungrateful anti-American b*ch (sic). Send her back.

Only the best stuff clears moderation.
Maybe YOU should be sent back, you ungrateful anti-American b**ch.

rhhardin म्हणाले...

I don't even watch men's basketball.

DINKY DAU 45 म्हणाले...

Good work Joe Keep pushing. Lesson learned, think twice about going to Russia.
During my Military years (65-72) prisoner release was also not easy, and capture was torturous. Any American coming home from capture should be celebrated, stop the partisan nonsense! Many of my brothers and sisters didn't have many options. Prisoner release and capture has been going on from the days of the tribes and dinosaurs, don't think you know anything about it unless you were there. Stop the political crap, celebrate an American coming home and pray for all to make it.

Rusty म्हणाले...

I would be very surprised if she didn't join Howard under the socialist freeway giving $2.00 Lewinskys'.

Sally327 म्हणाले...

As Griner has been imprisoned in what I think would be considered insalubrious conditions, it seems a bit callous to sit back and take bets on how weird or strange she might act. She could be suffering from PTSD or other emotional and physical trauma.

I'd like to think if I ever got arrested in the Moscow airport with cannabis in my luggage, the American government would do whatever it could to get me back. As if...

Butkus51 म्हणाले...

Midnight express should be required watching.

Idiots.

Any word on Paul Whelan? So the WHITE GUY stays, right?

Charlie म्हणाले...

This means Jeff Bagwell for Larry Anderson is no longer the worst trade in history!

gspencer म्हणाले...

This "exchange" by a D president has a ring of been-there,

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/10/30/5-freed-from-gitmo-in-exchange-for-bergdahl-join-insurgents-in-qatar-taliban-says/

John D म्हणाले...

This is an even worse deal than the Cowboys/Vikings Herschel Walker trade back in '89...

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

If you're a black, lesbian, weed-smoker, you can pretty much write your own ticket in modern America.

Bob Boyd म्हणाले...

She's a trailer park junkie.

What a shame to help a person with such a background when we have so many junkies from respectable neighborhoods we could be focusing on.

Scotty, beam me up... म्हणाले...

An international arms dealer with thousands of deaths and conspiring to kill Americans on his chit sheet for someone who had to know that the drugs she enjoyed, even in Russia, were a long term prison sentence where the USA couldn’t help her? Biden and Blinken are fools and easy marks when it comes to negotiations. Hell, he keeps desperately wanting to negotiate with Iran (with Russia as the intermediary, no less!) on their nuclear program where they are still going to lie to achieve their nuclear ambitions anyway. He wants to negotiate with Venezuela, which we don’t have diplomatic relations with, to send us dirty oil to help him out of the energy hole he has voluntarily created. In my opinion, bringing back a black lesbian sports celebrity is more important that someone who served his country as a Marine was done to satisfy his base of blacks and LGBT groups, not for anything else. I am only surprised he didn’t get this accomplished before the election. He definitely overpaid for this transaction, just like Obama with Bergdahl. Maybe I can sell him some swamp land in Florida, some sand in Arizona, AND the Brooklyn Bridge…

DINKY DAU 45 म्हणाले...

There are 58 American prisoners held throughout the world not only by terrorist organizations but by foreign governments which has become a global problem of capture for bargaining chips. The work must continue to free them, and every effort should be made to stem the foreign governments especially from continuing these actions. Let's go, bring all Americans home. POW'S, MIA'S should never be forgotten!

Achilles म्हणाले...

"Already there's brewing anger that Paul Whelan, as well as another American locked up in Russia, 61-year old teacher Marc Fogel, over the widespread perception that they've been left behind"

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

'Any American coming home from capture should be celebrated, stop the partisan nonsense!'

How about just obeying the laws of your host nation?

I wouldn't dream of smoking weed when I was in Japan. I knew exactly what would happen and it would not be good.

Take the advice of Robert 'Baretta' Blake...

Spiros Pappas म्हणाले...

Russian oligarchs took their dirty money generated from crimes such as drug and human trafficking, political bribery and tax evasion and laundered it through sports (especially gambling). Griner took this money and lived a lavish lifestyle. She's kind of a POS.

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

'I would be very surprised if she didn't join Howard under the socialist freeway giving $2.00 Lewinskys'.'

$5 these days. Inflation.

tim maguire म्हणाले...

Sally327 said...I'd like to think if I ever got arrested in the Moscow airport with cannabis in my luggage, the American government would do whatever it could to get me back

Given that the punishment was out of proportion to the crime, I would hope most people are glad she's free. That said, she's free because she's a famous person in a left-wing environment. There are a lot of people who committed similar crimes who will serve out their terms because they are not famous and left.

rcocean म्हणाले...

Not obeisant to authority. Well, she did that in Russia. How that work out for her? I think she'll change her tune, here in America and respect the USA. Look for her to denounce Putin, affirm the holocaust, pledge love for Israel, praise abortion rights and drag queen hour, and of course...attack Trump.

You know, respect all the things that make America great.

Big Mike म्हणाले...

The President of the United States freed a Russian arms dealer in exchange for this.

And not just any old arms dealer. Bout was portrayed by Nicholas Cage in “The Lord of War.”

rcocean म्हणाले...

Someone up thread is talking about gratitude (sic?). Anyone who expects gratitude doesn't know people. Nations, people, groups, are usually ungrateful. That's human nature.

For example, you'd expect immigrants (and their sons and grandsons) to be grateful to the WASP's for letting them in the USA, and allowing them to grow rich and powerful. Instead, they are full of hate and contempt for them. And want to destroy America 1.O. And criminals who get pardons are often grateful for one day, and then go back to their old ways.

Human nature.

alanc709 म्हणाले...

I'm trying to think of something I care less about. Maybe Harry and Meghan.

Bob Boyd म्हणाले...

For a guy like Victor Bout they should gotten at least 2 pot smokers and a fish fur Ushanka.

iowan2 म्हणाले...

The disgusting media will do the hero worship schtick. Drooling all over themselves telling her how special she is, and how Russia is mean, or maybe just meanish.

I would love for an interviewer ask her to justify her release while a Marine Vet is left to rot...why is her life more important???. If President cabbage head would take a serious question, he needs to answer the exact same question. Why would he even consider allowing her freed, without bringing the Vet along with.
Trump would have gotten them both.

BUMBLE BEE म्हणाले...

Good follow up to "What does it cost?". Shows us again.

Gunner म्हणाले...

Dinky Dau:

Yeah I am sure you would be saying stop the political crap and be happy if an American like Nick Fuentes was being released.

iowan2 म्हणाले...

I'd like to think if I ever got arrested in the Moscow airport with cannabis in my luggage...

The govt cant fix stupid. Dont travel with dope. I wonder of traveling with a gun would get me the same sympathy.

Lurker21 म्हणाले...

"The ‘Merchant of Death’ traded for a weed smoker."

Does knowing that the character Nick Cage played in Lord of War was based on Viktor Bout make us feel better about him?

Everybody likes Nick Cage, right?

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

She must be happy to be in the USA again. I hope she finds a way to return to a healthy life.
What did Biden pay for this to happen though.

wendybar म्हणाले...

Trump got 17 international prisoners released WITHOUT releasing 1 terrorist. https://dailycaller.com/2018/05/27/president-trump-freed-17-prisoners/

Obama let 5 terrorists out of Gitmo, for Traitor Bowe Bergdahl. Now THIS?? This is back to normal. Enjoy the downfall.

Peglegged Picador म्हणाले...

"We had to swap the merchant of death for her? In the entire Federal prison system, we didn't have a Russian jailed on some trumped up drug charge?"

12/8/22, 8:12 AM

As you seem concerned about 'merchants of death,' I'm curious how you feel about all of the weapons our country has supplied that have brought tragedy to the lives of people around the world (particularly immediately to the south of us).

Here's a comment I made on a friend's fb post this morning about this very issue.

(TLDR, I have a hard time believing you actually care about those who supply weapons that kill people).
__________________
Totally agree. I was just reading an article about how our drug enforcement policy with Mexico has radically changed in the last couple years (our 2 countries are going to focus more on the guns we send there than the drugs they send here). Anyone who wants to get up in arms about how bad weapon trafficking is wrt this situation really needs to do some honest reflection about what the availability of weapons in our country and the trafficking of those weapons south of the border has done to Mexico. If they don't care about that, I have a hard time believing they actually care about this.

wendybar म्हणाले...

HoodlumDoodlum said...
Marc Fogel is still in prison there, serving his 14 year sentence for having 20 grams of marijuana in a Russian airport. He's in a high-security facility since apparently a 61 year old teacher with a bad back (he says the weed was for his chronic back pain) is a dangerous dude.
Oh well, good for the well-known person I guess.

12/8/22, 8:51 AM

He isn't black. Joe only does things if it involves people of color, gay or trans. Haven't you noticed

Money Manger म्हणाले...

We paid ransom to kidnappers. This encourages more kidnapping.

Earnest Prole म्हणाले...

Sadly, Don Imus was unavailable for comment.

Jersey Fled म्हणाले...

Brittney Briner, meet Bowe Bergdahl.

BillieBob Thorton म्हणाले...

After she is debriefed by the US intelligence services she's come home to a warm greeting from The Big Guy, do all the talk shows, write a best selling book, campaign for The Big Guy after he announces his candidacy for pres. She'll say all the right things because Joe owns her now and he will never let her forget it. Then, after Joe (or some other demo) is elected she will be cast aside and will return to her former America hating self.
I'll bet Putin has plans for Bout too and we are not going to like any of them.
Did our intelligence services ever get hold of Bout's billions? Where is all that money?

Beasts of England म्हणाले...

Another embarrassment for the Brandon administration. Or, as they view it, a win.

SteveSc म्हणाले...

She'll be badmouthing the USA in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

Mick म्हणाले...

I'll settle for her silence, but I suspect she'll figure out a way to call us all racist for even allowing this to happen.

Lars Porsena म्हणाले...

She does represent a core constituency for Biden.

Andrew म्हणाले...

I'm genuinely glad that she's coming home, because I wouldn't wish a Russian prison on anyone. But to be swapped for an arms dealer while we're supporting Ukraine is beyond parody. We're living in the twilight zone.

I doubt it will happen, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if Griner expresses some new-found respect and appreciation for her country. She could earn a lot of good will if she said that she has learned some lessons, and that she's grateful to be an American.

W.Cook म्हणाले...

She is an American, and she *should* behave as she wants.

I would hope sincerely that she *wants* to show more appreciation for this land of freedom and opportunity, and for the sacrifices that have protected it for more than 200 years.

But I doubt it.

W.Cook म्हणाले...

She is an American, so she can behave as she wants to behave.

I would sincerely hope that she wants to show more appreciation for this land of freedom and opportunity and for the sacrifices of so many that have protected it for more than 200 years.

I doubt it.

W.Cook म्हणाले...

She is an American, so she can behave as she wants to behave.

I would sincerely hope that she wants to show more appreciation for this land of freedom and opportunity and for the sacrifices of so many that have protected it for more than 200 years.

I doubt it.

Zavier Onasses म्हणाले...

Now for my next trick....

Ass.Hole.

Sebastian म्हणाले...

Naive questions: Apart from the politics of the matter, or black privilege, was there any reason to make the trade? I mean, if an American citizen knowingly violates another country's strict drug laws, is that any of the the American government's concern?

"It's America. She should!"

Depends on where. Smoking pot is still illegal in many places. But then "It's America," so unlike in Russia, drug laws actually don't matter. Who cares about law, anyway? Unlike Russia, where arbitrary power matters most, in America arbitrary power matters most.

D.D. Driver म्हणाले...

I'm glad she is free but the optics of trading a Celebrity for a Very Bad Man is the reason Trump may still get re-elected.

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

I would pay good money to watch Biden open an app, compose a tweet, add a photo, and send it.

It would be immensely entertaining...

Joe Smith म्हणाले...

'As you seem concerned about 'merchants of death,' I'm curious how you feel about all of the weapons our country has supplied that have brought tragedy to the lives of people around the world (particularly immediately to the south of us).'

Those are all made by woke companies and brokered by democrats.

The ones killed in Mexico were arms that were allowed into Mexico by Obama in order to enact gun control in the U.S.

Revelations about a U.S. sting program that backfired has provoked new anger in Mexico, where lawmakers and citizens already are upset about the flow of American weapons to Mexican drug gangs.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been criticized for “Operation Fast and Furious” in 2009, in which it let people purchase weapons it knew would end up in criminals’ hands in the United States and Mexico in order to track them and build a case against them.


This is from PBS, btw...

Narr म्हणाले...

She should fire up a big blunt in the Oval Office when she receives the Medal of Freedom from a grateful nation.

The only thing she lacks now for Lefty Sainthood is a few abortions under her belt.

Inga म्हणाले...

Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?

Lem the artificially intelligent म्हणाले...

My question is will she pick up the love of the game at the level where it put her, among the top tier players in women's basketball.

You got to love the game at the expense of everything else (See Tom Brady for an example) to be able to remain at the level some people (not including rh) have become accustomed.

If her love for the game has diminished, look for Grinner to join Kaepernick at Nike marketing strategery meetings.

stunned म्हणाले...

"unjustly detained"
"unprovoked"

Iman म्हणाले...

Good that we got an American citizen back, but at a very high price.

After all of Griner’s taking a knee and anti-American diatribes, perhaps she’ll grow to appreciate the sacrifices for freedom American citizens have made in the past that we enjoy today, even under Democrat rule.

People giving their all for future generations… the sacrifices made. Perhaps she’ll “earn it”.

PM म्हणाले...

Love to know how the NYT would react to the US trading a global arms dealer for a dope-smoking Barnard student.

Butkus51 म्हणाले...

making deals with Putin is the cool thing now, dontchaknow?

Ann Althouse म्हणाले...

“ She'll be badmouthing the USA in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....”

That’s the side of the bet I took.

And I prefer that to her becoming beholden to politicians who, for their reasons, saved her.

She’s back and she’s as free as anyone else. She does not need to perform gratefulness for them.

exhelodrvr1 म्हणाले...

And Whelan is still in Russia...

JPS म्हणाले...

I'm glad she's coming home. But I'd love to read – this is not rhetorical; I really hope there is – a good-faith explanation that it's not just that the WH chose her over Whelan with an eye toward its popularity at home. That a moderately famous athlete didn't simply matter more to them than a less-known Marine veteran, if it came down to choosing.

As for Paul Whelan, love johnson had it right near the beginning of this thread. We ought to be detaining Russians and renewing our efforts.

The Swiss did this when the Soviets detained Harald Feller. They asked for him back, the USSR said, "Who? We've never heard of him." Then the Swiss rounded up every minor Soviet functionary on their soil and said, "Harald Feller, that's F-e-l-l-e-r," and the Russians said, "Ohhhh, you meant him. Yes, of course. We're sorry for the mixup."

I may be paraphrasing. The Swiss did also make some not-so-admirable concessions as the carrot in their carrot-and-stick approach, but hey. They won.

Peglegged Picador:

"I'm curious how you feel about all of the weapons our country has supplied that have brought tragedy to the lives of people around the world."

So when assholes abroad detain Americans, we should hang our heads in shame over all the terrible things we do, and leave them to rot as expiation? FTN.

Lem the artificially intelligent म्हणाले...

I'm getting the oops page again. I don't know if my comments are making it.

Lem the artificially intelligent म्हणाले...

The grift is off the court.

Rit म्हणाले...

She'll be badmouthing the USA in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....
But of course. If she came from a "good" country like Cuba or Venezuela she never would have been incarcerated to begin with. Her entire ordeal was the fault of America and she had nothing to do with it other than the unfortunate accident of having been born here.

Lem the artificially intelligent म्हणाले...

And there it is... The grift is on.

MSNBC: "Brittney Griner deserves more than American support. She deserves American cash."

Achilles म्हणाले...

Inga said...
Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?

My first thought was how many more Americans Putin will arrest now that he knows he can get his arms dealer buddies out of jail by arresting Americans.

My second thought was that the Biden Regime didn't make the Marine or the Teacher in jail a priority and he sent over an arms dealer to score a cheap political victory by freeing a celebrity.

My third thought is that the Russian Arms dealer probably gave Biden a bunch of money because that is how this regime works.

Rabel म्हणाले...

A heavy user coming off of a 10 month abstention - her first buzz is going to be awesome.

DrSquid म्हणाले...

"Presumably she'll light up a joint."

That's what I would do. But whenever I go anyplace, I light up the joint.

loudogblog म्हणाले...

I suspect that her opinion of how awesome Russia was will be negatively affected by her mistreatment by the government of Russia. I don't expect her opinion of the United States to change, but there will be a very short period of her thanking the Biden administration for getting her back.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

Inga- If Trump had released her with a trade for a terrorist - the media would be obsessing about the terrorist.

First reactions for those of us worn down by the Hack-D press often revolve around the hypocritical BS from the Hack-D press.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

Yo Leftists - thousands of people still sit in Castro's jails... waiting for the left to care.

Lem the artificially intelligent म्हणाले...

NYT: "Who Is Viktor Bout, Arms Dealer in Swap for Brittney Griner?"

Russian officials had pressed for Mr. Bout’s return since his conviction by a New York jury on four counts that included conspiring to kill American citizens. Prosecutors said he had agreed to sell antiaircraft weapons to drug enforcement informants who were posing as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

The anti-gun lobbies would welcome Brittney Griner with open arms.

FullMoon म्हणाले...

If Biden admin is smart, they are keeping quiet about the fact that the other two Americans will soon be released as part of the deal.
Then, after all the bitching about them being left behind must be grudgingly converted to congratulations for a job well done.

FullMoon म्हणाले...

Mexican cartel can kidnap NFL football team and get El Chapo back

hombre म्हणाले...

Russians are white people. White people caged her through no fault of her own. White privilege. Biden brought her home because her team needs her to entertain white folks, even if she is a pothead. More white privilege!

How do you think she will behave?

P.S. Screw the ex-Marine! White privilege.

rcocean म्हणाले...

"Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?"

Compared to the Left, we're sweethearts.

Honey.

Mike (MJB Wolf) म्हणाले...

Glad she is free and can be any kind of American she wants to. I think she’ll be grateful to her country. I’m already tired of the news coverage.

rcocean म्हणाले...

The evil saudi prince MBS, that everyone hated when Trump was President, brokered the deal. Odd how his name is being left out of the MSM articles.

As for her behavior after she gets back. why would she change? If Biden brokered a deal, it was for political reasons. that's why he does everything. Why was the other guy left, Whelon? Maybe because he's not a sports star? She owes nobody nothing.

People have this odd idea, that if you do something good for someone you can expect graditude. Do good because you want to, not because someone will thank you.

Howard म्हणाले...

Nothing to figure out, Inga. She's black, liberal, female and lesbian. She represents the Incel tetrahedron of hateful jealousy.

hombre म्हणाले...

Igna: "What is wrong with you people?"

We have a sense of justice, Igna. Which would seem odd to someone like you.

Griner was convicted based on her guilty plea. Paul Whelan is a political prisoner. Neither are very nice people, but his conviction is bogus. Hers is legitimate.

Dave Begley म्हणाले...

Ben Franklin's portrait right there in Biden's office. Ben was a Founding Father, successful and honest businessman, author, publisher, scientist and diplomat. Joe is a senile and corrupt crook. How far we have fallen.

Rusty म्हणाले...

Inga said...
"Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?"
Stop it, Inga. You can't fake sincerity. You no more care about this woman than you do for any Republican. You didn't even know who she was until this morning.

Abdul Abulbul Amir म्हणाले...

As a bonus the Biden admin left a former Marine behind in her place.

mikeski म्हणाले...

[...]was there any reason to make the trade?

Well, when the funding for your proxy war against Russia is, just maybe, starting to get a touch of pushback from the incoming GOP House, ya gotta figure out a way to keep the grift going.

Returning The Merchant of Death is likely to help provide more, uh, "reasons" to keep shoveling enormous amounts of unaccounted-for money to Time's Person of the Year (and, of course, you, as The Big Guy, get your cut).

That's why you make the worst trade since Brock for Broglio.

iowan2 म्हणाले...

Then, after all the bitching about them being left behind must be grudgingly converted to congratulations for a job well done.

If that were to happen, its doubling down on the worst negotiation since Bergdahl. It's not just the results, but the optics. Optics are very important. If Russia wanted those optics Biden should have refused.
Trading bodies is just the one dimensional play at work. The battle for power is the real measure. Coming away with a great deal, but makes you look inept, confused, and corrupt, is worse than no deal at all.

It impossible to make a trade look palatable, when its the Merchant Death, for an obscure meaningless entertainer.

Mike म्हणाले...

Joe did a deal! But when you look at the deal, Putin literally left Joe's pants down around his ankles. I had a patent lawyer friend who said he'd happily pay four million dollars for a dog--if the seller accepted two of his two million dollar cats in trade.

The problem here is that Ol Joe gave up something of real value and in exchange got not so much.

rcocean म्हणाले...

Only the Trirectangular tetrahedron of hateful jealousy. We charge more for the other kind.

wendybar म्हणाले...

Ryan
@alwaysonoffense
bringing home all Americans being held abroad is the right thing to do.

this administration's commitment to pandering to every damn interest group is predictable and grotesque.

Bender म्हणाले...

How low we have sunk when our historic and greatest icon who will be celebrated for generations is a drug smuggler.

wendybar म्हणाले...

And THIS is why we laugh at him. What a joke this administration is. You couldn't make this up.

John Hasson
@SonofHas
Biden released an arms dealer and then attended a "victims of gun violence" memorial
Quote Tweet
The White House
@WhiteHouse
·
3h
In remembrance of all the victims of gun violence in America, President Biden joined survivors and families at the 10th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence.

Michael K म्हणाले...

Howard said...

Nothing to figure out, Inga. She's black, liberal, female and lesbian. She represents the Incel tetrahedron of hateful jealousy.


Howard is obsessed with what he calls "incels." Looking at the political party he is a member of, I'd say he has it backward. Pajama boys and lesbians get along famously. Lesbians as rich as she is often hire them as decorators.

Zev म्हणाले...

Will she even say thank you I wonder.

Tomcc म्हणाले...

I don't care how she acts, I do care how the guy we traded for her acts.
I truly don't see how anyone, outside of the Griner family, can feel good about this.

TaeJohnDo म्हणाले...

Robert Cook said...
Yes, she should remain as independent as she always has been.

Yes, she should remain the ungrateful spoiled shit as she has always been. FIFY.

TaeJohnDo म्हणाले...

Inga said...
Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?

I guess you don't read your own posts, the majority of which are hateful. But you go girl!

Jim at म्हणाले...

Swap an arms dealer for a snarling, female basketball player who hates America. Leave the Marine to rot.

Nice priorities you've got there, leftists.

Jim at म्हणाले...

Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?

You can't defend this idiotic move, so you attack those who see the problem with it.

I'd ask what is wrong with you, but we already know the answer.

MadisonMan म्हणाले...

I'm curious about the Media Negotiations to be the first to interview her. Who will it be? The View?

stlcdr म्हणाले...

Is this like Obama's Beer Summit, only we have one person missing.

wildswan म्हणाले...

Glad she got out but I'm with the people who think she'll say something hateful about America very quickly. Thank Biden maybe, but the rest of us, no. And she won't be concerned about Russian prisoners and their plight. Or about Paul Whelan. Maybe she'll be sorry about the Ukraine war because it will keep her from going to Russia to make money in their basketball league. She's just an anti-American who has been given a platform.

stlcdr म्हणाले...

Clearly, another example of White Privilege.

madAsHell म्हणाले...

I thought she would be taller than Biden.

Paul म्हणाले...

So gay basketball player who hates America for a international gun runner??

But then 'Big Daddy' no doubt got his 10% and son Hunter sold a few more paintings to Russians. So the Bidens are Kaopectate.

And I doubt she will 'like' America more... it's back to dope, party, and basketball for her. So she is Kaopectate to about it...

Putin is Kaopectate to!

Ukrainians, on the other hand, have not been able to comment due to increased bombardments....

BillieBob Thorton म्हणाले...

Viktor Bout is a very bad man who is now beholden to an equally bad man. The result of this will be more really bad things. Those bad things being more deaths.

Drago म्हणाले...

Russia Collusion Truther and Hillary/FBI Hoax Dossier Dead Ender Inga: "Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?"

We dislike how you New Soviet Democraticals keep leaving US military personnel behind while doing your usual woke politically correct schtick.

Reminiscent of the traitor/coward/deserter Bowe Bergdahl being traded for 5 Taliban military commanders after assisting the Taliban in setting up US troops for ambush and later being called a "hero" by lord obambi himself in the Rose Garden.

Drago म्हणाले...

Howard: "Nothing to figure out, Inga. She's black, liberal, female and lesbian. She represents the Incel tetrahedron of hateful jealousy."

You will recall how long it took for Howard to admit Biden's Earpiece left Americans and allies behind in Afghanistan after his incompetent pullout.

Howard ran around for weeks claiming no one was left behind.

The actual number? 14,000. But "only" 14,000.

Howard claims to have been a Marine. Well, you can see how he reacts when a real Marine, a real one Howard, is once again left behind to service lefty woke politics.

JK Brown म्हणाले...

Me, I'm hoping she immediately goes to have unmarried sex in Indonesia

Why should Americans be expected to follow the laws of another country, while in that country? Where is the American privilege? Are Americans less than the Roman citizen of 422 CE?

Iman म्हणाले...

“Inga said...
Reading the comments, what hateful people you are. Is this what your natural first emotion is? What is wrong with you people?”

TaeJohnDo said...
“I guess you don't read your own posts, the majority of which are hateful. But you go girl!”

She’s a nurse, she needs to show how much she cares.

rehajm म्हणाले...

wendybar said...
A Russian Arms dealer..whilst we are sending Billions to Ukraine. Makes sense, doesn't it?? What a joke this country is. Meanwhile the DC gulag prisoners are doing more time, for taking selfies in the Capitol when they were let in by the Capitol police.


…and if you don’t feel the appropriate response to this comment, to paraphrase Ann I have a problem with you

rehajm म्हणाले...

As the Indians would say (the ones with the feather not the dot) Bad trade

rehajm म्हणाले...

Inga said...
Reading the comments, what hateful people you are


Gotta say I do kinda hate you…

rcocean म्हणाले...

She stands 6-9, but pictures show Biden looking DOWN on her as he holds her in his grasp.

Spiros म्हणाले...

Biden was likely given a choice between rescuing Griner or Whelan. He chose Griner for political reasons and to appease his woke base. This young woman is a dope addict, Black, lesbian, etc. Griner literally checks off every box, she even looks like a trans dude. Whelan, however, is very, very low status -- an "old" White man who served in the military, whose adoring family is desperate for him to return. Heck, Biden didn't even call the Whelan family.

I think Joe Biden is a d*ckhead.

Gospace म्हणाले...

Biden and his state department got played like the fools they are.

And in being played for a fool by the Russians, the state department got what all diplomats crace- a deal. A lopsided deal that gives the Russians what we want and gives us back an American who hates America- awin-win for the Russians. But the deplomats can all proudly dsay- "Look! We got a deal!" I'll bet they even give out rewards for the swap.

Doesn't stink as bad as the Bowe Bergdahl swap though. One step above that travesty.

Marcus Bressler म्हणाले...

The Hostess doesn't think G should be grateful.
I think she should though I don't expect it of her or anyone.
That's one difference between the Hostess and me.
I believe in gratitude.
I would presume that G. will be thankful to Brandon.
But the Hostess doesn't even think she should do that.
That is the result of too many joints lit up over the years.
You don't care about morals, decent behavior and how to treat someone (Biden) who got you out of RUSSIAN prison.
But I bet G. will thank Brandon.
I hope that she will change her nasty, immature I-hate-America tune. But other than this post, I won't spend much time thinking about it.

Marcus B THEOLDMAN

narciso म्हणाले...


well the whole ruling council of the taliban was traded there,

https://dossier.substack.com/p/evidence-indicates-biden-admin-prioritized

n.n म्हणाले...

A criminal exchange for a terrorist. Meanwhile, American citizens are indefinity denied civil rights with politically motivated cause. Democracy dies with Democrats. Demos-cracy is aborted at the twilight fringe.

n.n म्हणाले...

Biden was likely given a choice between rescuing Griner or Whelan. This young woman is a dope addict, Black, lesbian, etc.

Diversity [dogma], transgender spectrum, and psychotropic drugs are the trifecta of politically congruence ("=").

"WH Defends Biden, Says a Border Visit Would be a ‘Political Stunt’"

Perception matters.

Big Mike म्हणाले...

Meade and I entered a bet about how she will behave.

That’s easy. She won’t.

Tina Trent म्हणाले...

I'm glad she's out. She's a young girl held in a prison labor camp.

Now how about the rest of them?

Mutaman म्हणाले...

Temujin said...

"This should have been done months ago, and frankly- had it been Trump- would have been. "

Would that be the same Trump who traded 5,000 Taliban prisoners for a tube of orange bronzer?

Mutaman म्हणाले...

rcocean said...

"She stands 6-9, but pictures show Biden looking DOWN on her as he holds her in his grasp."

As Bugs would say re rcocean: "What a Maroon".

Narayanan म्हणाले...

do we know how and why 'Russian Arms Dealer Death Merchant' is on US soil?

did Trump send him invite?

Narayanan म्हणाले...

Gratitude if any should be to Putin who put together a nice deck of cards with jokers all through.

Mary Beth म्हणाले...

Reddit isn't very enthusiastic about this. Even in subreddits that normally lean far to the left, the majority of the responses are not favorable.

If Biden wanted to increase his support with this, I think he's failed. If he wanted to distract people from other news, he's achieved that. At least for a few days.

rehajm म्हणाले...

It’s worse than Babe Ruth for No No Nannette..

(yah I know it didn't happen but u get the point…)

notalawyer म्हणाले...

Just spitballing here, but why don't we wait and find out how she acts?

I know, that's crazy talk.

Mason G म्हणाले...

"Biden was likely given a choice between rescuing Griner or Whelan."

From TLR, NBC reported...

"A senior US official told NBC News ... that the Kremlin ultimately gave the White House the choice of either Griner or Whelan - or none."

NBC later edited the story to...

"A senior US official told NBC News ... that the Kremlin ultimately gave the White House the choice of either Griner or no one after different options were proposed."

In case you might be wondering where NBC's sympathies lay.

Mason G म्हणाले...

"If Biden wanted to increase his support with this, I think he's failed."

Why would he (or whoever his handlers are) care about support? He (they) are going to do whatever they want. Who's going to stop him (them)?

Gahrie म्हणाले...

do we know how and why 'Russian Arms Dealer Death Merchant' is on US soil?

He was lured to a trap in Thailand by the U.S. government. He was arrested and extradited to the U.S. where he was put on trial and convicted.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

GOOD NEWS- Now bad actors will kidnap more americans.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

Paul Whelan has been in a Russian prison for over 3 years.

NBC /Andrew Mitchell(D) changed the story.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves म्हणाले...

"Andrea"

Big Mike म्हणाले...

Look on the bright side. If Joe Biden ever gets his gun confiscation laws passed Viktor Bout can set up gunrunning operation in the US.

Hey! Prohibition didn’t stop anyone from drinking, and the War on Drugs stopped no one from using drugs. Why should we expect a ban on owning semiautomatic rifles to keep people from buying them from gunrunners?

DINKY DAU 45 म्हणाले...

>⁸Absolutely much worse releasing this tall black lesbian than the 5000 taliban terrorists the trump administration released cmon man your slip is showing trump denied it (lied about it) but his administration negotiated the deal and Pompeo meets with the taliban leader mullah Abdul ghani

JAORE म्हणाले...

This was NOT common sense gun control.

Wilbur म्हणाले...

rehajm said...
Inga said...
Reading the comments, what hateful people you are

Gotta say I do kinda hate you…
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saying what everyone is thinking ...

Old and slow म्हणाले...

"She" ain't no she by the looks of it.

iowan2 म्हणाले...

According the NBC news reporting, quoting Whelans Russian lawyer, the US was given a one for one trade. The Merchent of Death for one of USA choosing.
Not sure who is lying. Biden has been lying when the truth would serve him better. Logically the deal with Griner makes no sense. It's better the Merchant of death remains in jail. He is worth both of these hostages.