leh-nerd skin-erd

No, more like what I said, which is why I said it.

Sure, that’s true. I wasn’t taking so much about hyper aggressive chat—-more generally. People have opined about religion politics what to eat what not to eat cars they like cars they hate skin color hair color short people tall people and so on since the dawn of time. Most of that doesn’t involve fisticuffs. More succinctly, people got opinions and often share them, wanted or not. Don’t have me tell you to stand down again, ya scallywag.

Sorta life, too. The internet just gives one access to bigly numbers of people from the comfort of their own abode.

Speaking of parents, some of the old adages come to mind here. Look before you leap. You can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Fire alarms are nature's door handles.

I wasn't scared when I woke up this morning. Now I am. Real nice.

Based on his explanation, we cannot rule out that his pants were, indeed, on fire. (Yours may be as well.).

He apparently though they were large post-it notes left there to confuse people on the purpose of the door. This seems logical-- everyone knows you that you pop a fire alarm to exit a government building.

I think many people are indifferent about her, she’s like that milky bland rice meal Stu’s father-in-law talked about in The Hangover 2. As for her appearance at the command center for the missing girl, governors and politicians just do that sort of thing. I get appearing at the site of disasters, trying to show leadership in whatever form that takes, but it struck me as simply taking time away from the important job of trying to find this young lady where time was of the essence. I have zero doubt a R gov would have done the same, but this one struck me as “bleh”. Btw, I live about 45 minutes from this area and was on the Thruway/Northway (Albany to Canada run) on Sunday. I saw the “Amber Alert” signs lit up but there literally was no additional info. I thought perhaps were testing the signs. No reference to why they were lit. No reference to a news station. No description. Just a sign with AMBER ALERT on it. IMO a gigantic and confusing clusterf@ck.

@Joe Ferguson forever, I don’t understand your perspective here. This post started with a harsh critique of Elon Musk and his refusal to assist the Ukraine as requested. He’s been the subject of scorn and ridicule, and accused of aiding and abetting the Russians. In my post above, I linked to the NYT (stand down @Tommy Callahan!!!) about the US and other allies partnering with nations (India, UAE) that partner with Russia to buy oil, thereby directly, one-step removed, enriching Putin, oligarchs and the Russian economy. You pulled out your trusty “disagree” vote, but added no commentary. What do you disagree with? I said early on in this thread I have no idea about the Ukraine/Russia relationship, who did what to whom and when. As this war has unfolded, a massive amount of money has changed hands, and there seems to be a legitimate concern that corruption and grift plagues the Zelensky government as we speak. Help me out here. What are you seeing that makes it disagreeable to point out friendly nations (our included) are supporting the Russians?

Try this—-consider that a contentious vote was about to take place, and his explanation was that he thought you had to pull a fire alarm to get a door to open, and that he’s a Republican. You’ll get there.

That’s the one!! Ty!

He was attempting to subvert the will of the people and prevent our elected representatives from doing the work they were put there to do. Put him in the pelt of a fisher cat and he goes away for 5 years.

You’re losing track of your talking points, Scripty Scriptyman. We addressed that three hours ago— Hunter, Jared and Mnuchin did what wealthy people do. I said it. You said it. Everybody said it…well everybody but John as he was apparently off researching internet message board burden of proof guidelines. Why are you obsessed with optics here? Is it Kushy and Mnuchy specifically? Saudi Arabia? Oh snap BillSy went full boat servitude mode with capital letters when I was eating dinner. Is it me or do his posts read like an angry Forrest Gump when he capitalizes random words?

I’m not trying to prove anything, John. I’m responding to things you say and perspective you share. You seem awfully defensive suddenly. We’ll not speak of it again. 😇

Well, there are conversations here and people let their guard down a bit. BillSy is a good example imo, Kemp another. That deep-seated animosity really comes through and reveals what's underneath, and believe it or not, it helps me shape my thoughts for other, more civil conversations to know what might be underneath. I'm under no illusion I'll change the world, but it seems sort of silly to get all worked up over this stuff. I've said it before, I'll say it again. I live and work in a world where things can get dicey and I've been in hostile situations. Not with any consistently, but enough over the years that you can't be soft or people take your lunch money. Finally, my rule of thumb is this---if I'm walking into a restaurant or store tomorrow, chances are pretty good I'll hold the door open for the next person in, say hello, engage in some chit chat and feel better for it. The odds are high that quite a few of those people might not like my choice in politicians, but here there we are, acting like civilized folk. I wasted a whole crapload of time today though, so the next few days I gotta 🤐. I sometimes wonder how much a$$ ya got, because you sure seem to laugh a sh8t-ton of it off. Saudis, friend or foe? 1990-2023. You can do this. What are you afraid of?

Now it's the Golfing Syndicate that's the real concern???!! You better call Callaway, man, and let them know what's going on! Pick a time frame. I'll go from 1990-2023. We'll pretend there isn't a government document detailing our close personal relationship with the Saudis, or that Joe Biden isn't tending to his longstanding relationship with the government as we speak. We can also pretend the statute of limitations on Justice for JK ended on 1/6/20 because it involved foreign nationals. Just let me know when the Saudis were on the outside looking in, were treated as a hostile regime, and there wasn't all sorts of money and power in play.

John, you seem like one of the nicest people posting here. I think you're probably a good guy, a good dad, and would help a neighbor in a pinch even if he was a rascally Republican. Because of that, I try to be respectful and understand your perspective though I may not always be successful. Today, you stepped into a discussion between me and Fergie and no idea what the context of the conversation was. If care enough, you go back and see what we were discussing, realize that what I said was the truth and that Fergie was making up sh8t as he went. Or, don't. Who cares, really? Personally, I have no problem with him doing that---I speak with people every day and it's good to encounter that sort of thing so you have a plan to address it. Then, you jumped in here and declared this: "Joe Biden has literally not been connected to any of this". In response, I provided a document from a government website and showed that the conflict of interest--which is the biggest issue with Biden and Ukraine from the Hunter days---was a concern long before the video of Biden bragging about his power. It also showed that on a major level, then VP Joe Biden was directly connected to all of it. When I replied, nicely as it were, your go-to was as it always is: You got nothing and you know it. There is, as we speak, an impeachment inquiry ongoing on this very topic. Believe me, I understand you as a voter declaring "It's no big deal!" or "Everyone does it!", but the evolving story of JBs intimate engagement in Hunter's business dealings is a story that must be told, whether you like it or not. Here's what I think: There's something there, and I know it. Whether it's just political monkey business and sharp-elbowed politics, or criminal behavior, I can't say and really don't care. I think Professor Turley made a great case for civility and following rules in these cases (and the Thunderdome approach we have seen recently) but until everyone follows the same rules, the House should play hard and do what needs to be done. The political world operates on an entirely different level than the rest of us deal with, so whatever happens, happens. For now, it's enough that the public sees the evolution from "I never discussed anything, ever" to "Wow, he sure seems like he had his hand in the cookie jar".

You're actually spectacularly bad at this, John, but it doesn't make you a bad person, just naive. Are the Saudi's allies or not, John? And if private citizen(s) choose to enter into a business relationship with a third party, why the fuss? Or, perhaps you think the Saudi's are corrupt, and Joe Biden's role was...what?

You're kidding yourself, John. Joe Biden has been connected to all of it. https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/imo/media/doc/HSGAC_Finance_Report_FINAL.pdf In early 2015 the former Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, George Kent, raised concerns to officials in Vice President Joe Biden’s office about the perception of a conflict of interest with respect to Hunter Biden’s role on Burisma’s board. Kent’s concerns went unaddressed, and in September 2016, he emphasized in an email to his colleagues, “Furthermore, the presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine.”  In October 2015, senior State Department official Amos Hochstein raised concerns with Vice President Biden, as well as with Hunter Biden, that Hunter Biden’s position on Burisma’s board enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine.  Although Kent believed that Hunter Biden’s role on Burisma’s board was awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine, the Committees are only aware of two individuals — Kent and former U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein — who raised concerns to Vice President Joe Biden (Hochstein) or his staff (Kent).

You're a loyalist through and through, I'll give you that. I'll put you out of your misery as you tap dance around any sensible answer to my question: The relationship between the Saudi's and the US government is complicated, deep and dirty. In his time in office--spanning 50 years, Biden has been a big part of that, and has benefited personally and professionally from the partnership with MBS, the Saudis and other countries in the Middle East. In fact, you can add Obama, Clinton(s), Bush-Bush, John Kerry and anyone else who has been a key cog in the wheel. Feel free to include Trump as well. A vote for Biden was a vote for the partnership, and it flourishes to this day, and that's on you. Assuming Trump was in on the JK murder or cover up, for God's sake man, watch an episode of Cold Case. You worried about JK, truth and justice until 1/6/2000, then promptly moved on. Joe Biden knows all the players, knows how the game is played, and certainly has displayed a willingness to flex his diplomatic muscle as he pleases. He's doing that now, of course, honoring the relationship he has with the Saudi government. And, when the time comes, you'll cast your vote for Biden and the relationship again, and still bluster on about how it's all Trump's fault. In that regard, JK's murder is way more about you than me.

I guess I don't see that, at least not on the level to prevent future pain and suffering to the Ukrainian people. Money and military equipment is fine, but in the meantime the senseless slaughter and victimization continues. Still...the US extends a friendly hand to countries buying Russian oil, and supports those countries after the oil is refined. Seems like a sleight of hand, smoke and mirrors sort of thing. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/business/economy/russia-oil-imports-ban.html But both the United States and the European Union continue to buy Russian oil that has been refined in other countries into gasoline, fuel oil and other products. Countries like Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, China and particularly India are snapping up Russian oil, which must now be sold at a reduced price under a cap imposed by the United States and Europe. These nations — which have been described as “laundromat” countries by environmental and human rights groups — then refine the oil and send it to other markets.

No, you won't care. You lack critical self-awareness and are a party loyalist. On top of that, you're confusing Hunter with Joe, and who was in the WH and when. Btw--If you were concerned about justice for Jamal Khashoggi when he was murdered, why did that concern suddenly and mysteriously evaporate when Biden took office? We know Scranton Joe has the moxy to withhold a billion to make a point, but here we are, three years later and Joe and the Saudi are thick as thieves. Buddies. Pals. Allies. Yes or No?

Again, why is it anger and outrage follows Musk's decision, but every other freedom loving country in the world could stand up, step in and end this thing on behalf of the Ukrainians?

It’s interesting that you have no opinion to share about the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, all sorts of opinions on Khasshogi laughing at anyone, but fully and completely in lockstep with team Biden partnering for decades with the Saudis. We’re allies, or not, and we’re pretty obviously allies, and Biden is comfortable with the Khasshogi matter as evidenced by his partnership with MBS. You’re comfortable with that, so much so you can’t even muster the energy to answer simple questions. Kushner and Munchin did what wealthy people do. If you have an issue with that vote your conscience next time instead of your wallet.

Of course they both did--before they didn't, and before the deal was struck. You say this as if you just found out? Did you not know that members of admins leave public service and go for-for-profit all the time? I'll ask a relevant question related to Saudi Arabia and MSB. Are we allies or not? It seems we are, until we're not, and then we are again. I know what the US government says---What say you?