Somebody PLEASE explain because I don't get it...

[Knobgoblin]

You want evidence? I have no evidence; I don't know you personally, or anything about you beyond what you post here. I didn't intend to accuse or attack you personally, and if I came across that way, I apologize.

As for observations, I don't recall any of your posts that criticized something on the left, or failed to criticize something on the right, I've seen you mock conservative sources, and offer left-leaning sources as support. I've seen you "like" liberal posts, and "laugh at" conservative ones, and never the other way around. Those are just basic observations, and my conclusions about those observations seemed reasonable.

I'm willing to admit that I might have misread you. Your brand of "conservatism" is not something I'm used to.

I'll say that I see the same, regularly. And I'm like the herpes virus. Always present, whether seen or not.

I would like to point out that at least Mr. Vincent has contributed regularly in actual firearms threads. This is greatly appreciated by me , as the members who take a contrarian stance are never seen in any of the meat and potatoes discussion threads. And almost never post pictures of guns they actually own.

I am a BoomBah fan, tho he and i are rarely in complete agreement.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

As for observations, I don't recall any of your posts that criticized something on the left, or failed to criticize something on the right, I've seen you mock conservative sources, and offer left-leaning sources as support. I've seen you "like" liberal posts, and "laugh at" conservative ones, and never the other way around. Those are just basic observations, and my conclusions about those observations seemed reasonable.

Ok, in order:
There really aren't that many "left" post on here and when they do come up lots of folks do a good job of pointing out their flaws, but fair point, and I will try to remember to tag you next time I see one that needs criticizing

As for the sources, pretty much the same as the last point, but also I expect folks I disagree with to do a poor job and try to hold those I agree with to a higher standard. Looking at you, "Mr People buy solvent trap kits to break the law" guy!

I like lots of conservatives post, laugh at some liberal ones, I suppose I will need to start tagging you on those as well

 

[Koda]

Vinnies a good gun guy, i get where hes coming from I have my own complaints with the Republican party myself but then the last 8 years the Dems said "hold my beer"...

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Vinnies a good gun guy, i get where hes coming from I have my own complaints with the Republican party myself but then the last 8 years the Dems said "I say Muffy, hold my artisanal, bespoke ultra-microbrew IPA while I pretend to care about the working poor"...

Not exactly a FIFY, just my spin on it

 

[Jay Walk]

OK, while doing some housework earlier today I was flipping around on some YT vids for background noise when I lit on on a body cam arrest vid of some LEOs in FL arresting a guy who was VIDEOED key scratching a vehicle because it had a 'Lets go Brandon' bumper sticker on it.

OK, LEOs go to the guys house, (nice place ) show him the video, he ADMITS to doing it, puts up NO resistance, is arrested and told he will spend the night in jail and will bond out or be released the following day after arraignment.


Who in his rational, right mind, would EVER do something like this over something as stupid as a bumper sticker????

The same guy that wants to rid us of the Police and Lop off your ten year olds wee wee behind your back with state funds.

That's who.

 

[Provincial]

Is that what's happening? I don't think that's close to what's happening. Best case in 2014, Obama says, "Putin, we're coming with a big can of bubblegum". But that never happened. Why? Ukraine didn't even fight for Crimea. Why? Why didn't Ukraine bolster it's defenses after 2014? As you say, the wolf is at the door.

I am neither Russian or Ukrainian. I only know what I read, which is very polarized. When I fill in the blanks and sprinkle in my military experience that showed it would take the whole of NATO to defeat Russia, which NATO has clearly shown it is unwilling to do, the smaller, less equipped, poorly lead Ukraine should make a deal, from everything I see.

That is not based on WW2 or my party affiliation. It's been over 10 years. If not for the west egging on Ukraine the fight would have been over a long time ago. I don't see a way Ukraine wins (pushing Russia back to pre 2014) without the west entering all in. Guess who's not going all in?

I paid attention when this was going on. Ukraine was probably encouraged to test Russia's willingness to allow it to fully disengage when the Maidan "revolution" pushed out the puppet government. The US Stage Department openly supported this, and probably there was CIA involvement. The eventual Russian response was to retake Crimea from a totally unprepared Ukrainian military force.

Things stabilized after 2014, with the Kerch Bridge built and Russian laying low except for supporting separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk. In the meantime, the UK helped revitalize the Ukrainian defense forces with training and advice. Ukrainian forces rebuilt their Soviet-era equipment and prepared for another conflict.

The Maidan protests caused the Russian puppet President Viktor Yanukovych' to flee to Russia, and Oleksandr served for 104 days until the new President, Petro Poroshenko, was elected. Poroshenko tried to steer a course of keeping Ukraine as free as possible, but letting the Putin insiders continue to exploit the country. Eventually, this became unacceptable to a majority of the citizens. and he only received 16% of the first round votes, forcing a run-off, which Zelenskyy won with over 70% of the vote.

Zelenskyy ran on a reform platform, and began reducing Russian influence in the economy and government. This alarmed Russia, and eventually resulted in the invasion in February of 2022. Russia overestimated both its military power and Ukraine's will (and ability) to resist. So did the CIA and many other "intelligence" agencies. Putin bet he could take Ukraine quickly and dare the West to dislodge him. The West caught flat-footed, and slow to respond with help. This continued as the conflict expanded.

Anyone listening to the signals coming from Russia, both from the government and private sources can easily see that Russia sees its current Western border as being indefensible. Not only that, but that indefensible space extends to the Carpathian Mountains, leaving the open plains between the Alps and the Baltic Sea as the vulnerable point. A realistic view is that the Rhine River is the true western edge of their defensible area. This coincides with Soviet Doctrine.

Given the statements coming out of Russia, it is not unreasonable to expect Russia to seek to extend its control to these limits. Poland, the Baltics, and the Czech Republic are quite clear that they agree with this assessment.

The fact that Russia has emptied its stockpiles of Soviet military equipment trying to reconquer Ukraine is telling. They have run their economy into inflation that is running out of control as they convert to a "war-time" economy shows the extreme pressure on their capacity to project power. This will probably delay their expansion, but not stop it. Only a determined defense by NATO will stop them, and Europe must pick up their full share of that burden. Any "settlement" will be a rest period before the next round of the contest.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

The fact that Russia has emptied its stockpiles of Soviet military equipment trying to reconquer Ukraine is telling. They have run their economy into inflation that is running out of control as they convert to a "war-time" economy shows the extreme pressure on their capacity to project power. This will probably delay their expansion, but not stop it

Shades of Ronnie's "Star Wars" gambit maybe? For those too young to remember, the Soviet economy was weak, the East German government was in shambles and Ronnie (among other things) lied fibbed about having Star Wars level tech that led to further disruption to the Soviet economy and yada yada yada, the wall came down

 

[nwslopoke]

I paid attention when this was going on. Ukraine was probably encouraged to test Russia's willingness to allow it to fully disengage when the Maidan "revolution" pushed out the puppet government. The US Stage Department openly supported this, and probably there was CIA involvement. The eventual Russian response was to retake Crimea from a totally unprepared Ukrainian military force.

Things stabilized after 2014, with the Kerch Bridge built and Russian laying low except for supporting separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk. In the meantime, the UK helped revitalize the Ukrainian defense forces with training and advice. Ukrainian forces rebuilt their Soviet-era equipment and prepared for another conflict.

The Maidan protests caused the Russian puppet President Viktor Yanukovych' to flee to Russia, and Oleksandr served for 104 days until the new President, Petro Poroshenko, was elected. Poroshenko tried to steer a course of keeping Ukraine as free as possible, but letting the Putin insiders continue to exploit the country. Eventually, this became unacceptable to a majority of the citizens. and he only received 16% of the first round votes, forcing a run-off, which Zelenskyy won with over 70% of the vote.

Zelenskyy ran on a reform platform, and began reducing Russian influence in the economy and government. This alarmed Russia, and eventually resulted in the invasion in February of 2022. Russia overestimated both its military power and Ukraine's will (and ability) to resist. So did the CIA and many other "intelligence" agencies. Putin bet he could take Ukraine quickly and dare the West to dislodge him. The West caught flat-footed, and slow to respond with help. This continued as the conflict expanded.

Anyone listening to the signals coming from Russia, both from the government and private sources can easily see that Russia sees its current Western border as being indefensible. Not only that, but that indefensible space extends to the Carpathian Mountains, leaving the open plains between the Alps and the Baltic Sea as the vulnerable point. A realistic view is that the Rhine River is the true western edge of their defensible area. This coincides with Soviet Doctrine.

Given the statements coming out of Russia, it is not unreasonable to expect Russia to seek to extend its control to these limits. Poland, the Baltics, and the Czech Republic are quite clear that they agree with this assessment.

The fact that Russia has emptied its stockpiles of Soviet military equipment trying to reconquer Ukraine is telling. They have run their economy into inflation that is running out of control as they convert to a "war-time" economy shows the extreme pressure on their capacity to project power. This will probably delay their expansion, but not stop it. Only a determined defense by NATO will stop them, and Europe must pick up their full share of that burden. Any "settlement" will be a rest period before the next round of the contest.

The first part of what you said is cut and paste, depending on the source. The final part, of which I agree, is nothing is going to go Ukraine's way, without NATO. Let me know when NATO's balls drop and we see Lt Smith drop bombs with an F-35 or Sgt James drives a tank in uniform across Ukraine.

I can read but I understand most articles are biased. Zelensky is president* because they canceled their elections. No one talks about that. Had they held elections, would the war have continued? The west continued to legitimize him because they want Ukrainians to keep fighting. Zelensky stays on tour begging for resources that barely do anything.

Was Ukraine better off and more people alive in 2014 or 2024? Putin hasn't died of cancer, he's still in power, making new alliances and still the deciding factor of when the war ends. That's not me liking or aligning with Russia. That's what's happening. If NATO wants to jump in, all they have to do is jump in. It's a safe bet they are not going to jump in.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

Was Ukraine better off and more people alive in 2014 or 2024?

Is it better to live on your knees or die on your feet?

 

[orygun]

Years ago at an old job we had a customer that apparently didn't like something because they smeared feces all over the bathroom stall. Female mind you. Finger tracks clear as a topographical map.


People suck.

That's absolutely disgusting.

 

[Knobgoblin]

That's absolutely disgusting.

Just remember, somewhere on the internet, that activity has an actual cash value.

 

[nwslopoke]

Is it better to live on your knees or die on your feet?

Are the everyday Ukrainians getting what they want? There were deals to be hashed out. NATO is not going to happen. No one has explained Ukraine's path to victory without NATO fully committed. I know I've already said it but no direct answers yet.

If Russia tried to put a base or missiles in Mexico, we would have the same argument, except we can back it up if pushed. Unlike Ukraine. So, Ukraine can continue to die on its feet. In the end they've lost more than they had, and generations of youths are not coming back. I say that is sad, but many people will argue. It's worth it for those people to watch, because it's the right thing to do.

 

[Provincial]

European NATO is willing to fight "to the last Ukrainian." It does look like Finland and Sweden are moving to stand beside Poland and the Baltics with serious military expansion.

Germany's Neo-Nazi party, the Alternative fur Deutschland (AFD), seems to be the most passivist party on this issue. How ironic. For a while, Germany seemed to wake up to the threat, but a couple of cold winters seem to have softened their spines. France and the UK talk a good line, but haven't been stepping up enough.

It is ironic that Russia spent most of the 20th Century helping the victims of empire-building "throw off the yoke of Imperialist oppression." Now they are dragging back (another) one of their subject territories into direct rule with brute force.

My take on US involvement is that the Obama Administration sought to "twist the tigers tail" in Ukraine and when things got serious they were unwilling to stand up. Trump seemed to keep Putin in check, and Biden was senile when he entered the office, bringing back the Obama White House operatives who operate in the shadows. Putin rightly felt that they would advise not to confront him.

Everyone underestimated the resolve and capacity of the Ukrainians to resist. Our CIA thought resistance was futile. Maybe they were believing the propaganda they were foisting on our public, or they aren't as competent as they claim.

The war has been going on much longer than anyone expected. For Russia, it has been disaster, as it has depleted their stocks of Soviet weapons and their industrial base isn't large enough to replace what they need at the rate it is being destroyed.

Ukraine is far more resilient. They have suffered disaster multiple times in the last 100 years, and bounce back. WWI troop callups, the Holodomor, WWII, Chernobyl, and now this war. Given investments in their industry and intellectual power, they will bounce back again. They already seem poised to become a major player in military technology, like drones.

I don't think Russia is on the brink of collapse, but they do have serious problems. I look at official Russian numbers, like budgets and announcements, then compare them to other sources to try to pick out the lies. They are always lying, and some of the lying is pretty sophisticated. Trusting only one source, or a group of similar sources is a good way to become misinformed. I don't rely on opinion sites for information.

Russia cannot keep up this fight for long if Western weapons keep being supplied. Unless Ukraine collapses, it will take many years for Russia to conquer the areas they already claim. They have consumed their easy weaponry, and are already scraping to provide more. HIMARS is going to make a real difference. Human waves are difficult to organize if you have limited transport and your logistics are being destroyed. Biden's last gasp was intended to make Trump's term difficult, but it may be an effective tool in weakening Russia's offensives.

 

[CLT65]

I'll say that I see the same, regularly. And I'm like the herpes virus. Always present, whether seen or not.

I would like to point out that at least Mr. Vincent has contributed regularly in actual firearms threads. This is greatly appreciated by me , as the members who take a contrarian stance are never seen in any of the meat and potatoes discussion threads. And almost never post pictures of guns they actually own.

I am a BoomBah fan, tho he and i are rarely in complete agreement.

I have nothing against Vinnie either. He comes across as contrarian, but he seems like an OK guy otherwise, and the fact that he regularly participates in actual firearm discussions is evidence that he's genuine.

There really aren't that many "left" post on here and when they do come up lots of folks do a good job of pointing out their flaws, but fair point, and I will try to remember to tag you next time I see one that needs criticizing

No need to do that, please don't. I did make an assumption about you that appears to have been incorrect to some degree, but I never lumped you in with those instigators who are only here to fight. I've agreed with your posts from time to time, so I knew you weren't all bad.

For the record, there's nothing wrong with being liberal or having progressive views (other than being wrong, of course ). In a free society, we're all entitled to our own views. That is something that we used to all agree on. We don't have to agree on all the issues.

 

[orygun]

"One doesn't have to agree to accept"

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

For the record, there's nothing wrong with being liberal or having progressive views (other than being wrong, of course ).

I wanted to do a to that part but didn't want anyone thinking I was laughing at your entire post

 

[Provincial]

I can read but I understand most articles are biased. Zelensky is president* because they canceled their elections. No one talks about that. Had they held elections, would the war have continued? The west continued to legitimize him because they want Ukrainians to keep fighting. Zelensky stays on tour begging for resources that barely do anything.

Are you aware that the Ukrainian Constitution specifically says that the country shall not hold elections while martial law is in effect? The lack of elections is a Russian talking point, used to diminish the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government. Did the articles you read include this information?

 

[nwslopoke]

I didn't read Ukraine's or Russia's constitution. That sounds somewhere between convenient and tyrannical. The person in office at the start of the war keeps extending his/her residency until they feel it's ok to let the people vote. While I stand corrected on that point, it doesn't change my opinion overall.

No article swaying bias towards Russia or Ukraine makes me takes sides. I want it to stop. Side shows where Ukraine gets some new wonder weapons hasn't lead to some major gain where Russia waves a white flag. The thing Ukraine needs, it's not going to get. The alternative is negotiations.

 

[Sxsnuf]

I have to keep scrolling up to the thread title to make sure it's not ME who's drifted.
What started out as a mental disorder topic has become a Russian/Ukraine/don't pick on Vinnie thread.
So, back to the OP. I couldn't help noticing, in the videos posted on page 1, the difference in police resources dedicated to vehicle vandalism.
In Florida, they send 1 car with 1 officer to the home of a suspected felon, and don't even shoot his wife, or his dog. It looked like the location was kind of in the boonies too. The perp confesses to the crime and is calmly escorted away.
In Illinois, there appeared to be at least 3 LE vehicles and maybe a 1/2 dozen officers, just to take the report of a misdemeanor! If there'd been crime tape, it might have looked like a murder investigation. The perp in that case (a public "servant"), first denies the crime, then makes false accusations against his accusers, then admits guilt and is quietly escorted to see the justice of the peace.
Quite a stark contrast.

And in keeping with the thread drift, I believe Zelenski is a con man and grifter, who's soaked the American taxpayer for billions and cares not a whit about accounting for those billions. I wonder if he goes begging, hat in hand, to the other western nations?
That doesn't mean I champion Putin.

I also hate the "Trump tax plan". It has cost me thousands of dollars in additional taxes every year, and I'm a middle class working man in a 1 income household. My only consolation is that it benefits my children, to some degree. The only thing that has damaged my finances more, in the last 8 years, has been bidenflation, and it has done the same damage to the entire country.
So yes, I voted for DJT!

 

[OneArgus]

OK, while doing some housework earlier today I was flipping around on some YT vids for background noise when I lit on on a body cam arrest vid of some LEOs in FL arresting a guy who was VIDEOED key scratching a vehicle because it had a 'Lets go Brandon' bumper sticker on it.

OK, LEOs go to the guys house, (nice place ) show him the video, he ADMITS to doing it, puts up NO resistance, is arrested and told he will spend the night in jail and will bond out or be released the following day after arraignment.

OK, this guy was NOT some kid - late 50's early 60's and his wife (or whatever woman was with him) seemed confused (but not arguing the situation) and he was hauled away.

Who in his rational, right mind, would EVER do something like this over something as stupid as a bumper sticker????

I think a public flogging is far better. And why in Jail have him forced pronouns that they do not identify with.
Make them watch 24/7 Trump Election Results over and over. Force them to wear MAGA uniform in jail.
And pipe in live feeds of Joe Rogan in his cell full volume. There is only one cure for liberalism.