Hanaguma

I have been following my fellow refugee from Canuckistan for a number of years, since his days at U of T, when he was railing against government mandated speech laws. He was a lot more fiery in those days. As he grew more as a public figure, he began to be more measured in his speech and take more time to give thoughtful answers. He is very careful to choose his words so as not to give any ammunition to his detractors. Basically, my boy's wicked smart. A rare person who actually listens when asked a question, and who thinks before answering. Also honest enough to say "I don't know" when he doesn't know. His daughter is also fairly far along the smokin' scale!

Thanks, same to you. Sometimes people go a bit "down the rabbit hole" in political discussions, run to their corners, cover their ears, etc etc. Nothing wrong with a bit of what my British friends call "p1ss taking" about certain political figures, they all deserve to be knocked down a peg or three IMHO. But in the end it is all just keystrokes and not worth the elevated blood pressure. Interesting take on the parties. I will digest it and give it a think. But at the core I think you may be right. Many GOP lawmakers go to Sodom on the Potomac with the goal of giving power back to the citizens, while the Democrats go with the idea of doing good for the public. I always thought that getting the GOP members in line was like trying to herd cats.

Appreciate it, thanks! I am not so blind (I hope) that I cannot see the good and bad both. I probably would disagree with Nan on 90% of political issues, but at the same time it would be great to have lunch with her and hear what she has to say. And also credit where credit is due. If you are in the Democratic party and you cross her, she will cut your Jacobs off. Look how she cowed "The Squad" with little more than a stern look.

Scared? Not at all. But I do admire how she was able to keep her caucus in line and moving as one unit. Perhaps they had some disagreements but those were kept behind the scenes and off camera. Nothing to do with her politics, but she was very effective in keeping discipline in the Democratic party.

Just saw an awful story about a trans woman. She wants to get a uterus transplant, for the sole purpose of being able to have an abortion. Mental health disorder? I would say so.... https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/08/29/no-transwomen-should-not-have-abortions/

This shows one of the Democrats' biggest advantages over the GOP- discipline. Too many big egos on the GOP side, too many idealists, too many posers. Can you see anyone seriously trying this on Nancy Pelosi? They wouldn't see the next sunrise.

A shop clerk in San Francisco was just SET ON FIRE by a 'shoplifter' while the store was being robbed. An innocent crime this is not. Time to let people take action. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/bay-area-clerk-set-on-fire-confronting-shoplifter

Yeah, it is a pity. Hell, even cheesy TV shows like Hogans Heroes had characters being told "you're going to be sent to the Russian front" as a threat. So in that respect, I can understand to an extent the social paranoia in Russia about being surrounded and invaded again.

No fan of the Soviets here, but.... the reality in WW2 is that the Russian front occupied at least 70-80% of the German military. The scale of battle and losses are hard for us to comprehend. Just looking at the casualty lists is insane. The Soviets had 10 MILLION military deaths, the US not even 500,000, UK about the same.

I did. Poland, Baltic States, Belarus (obviously not NATO but that is irrelevant), Slovakia, Hungary. All NATO members. Where can Russia expand without triggering war with NATO?

Stop deflecting. You are the one who made a veiled accusation, be a man and be specific. What exactly did you mean? Enough with the weasel words.

It happened before and after Trump, to smarter business men too. Do you really know that little about business to assume that operating a casino resort is so easy?

It is the short way of saying, "F... Around and Find Out". Means that, if you do something stupid, don't be surprised if you pay a price.

The problem seemed to get better under Trump, then got worse under Biden. Just look at the numbers. But again, pointing fingers and saying, "THEY didn't do anything" is a poor way to excuse the current administration's lack of action.

Are you afraid to be direct? You are the one making the assertion.

Nixon also won reelection in 1972 with a huge landslide. I didnt say to close the ports of entry, just close them to those who dont have proper authorization. Now what about the other points- the cartels, opening camps for processing, etc?

Yes, he should be more precise. But asking The Donald to be precise is like asking Biden to climb stairs. You can do it, but don't be surprised at the results. I am not sure what you mean in the last part of your comment. Could you be more specific? Do you mean free license to shoot young people who are on social media?

I saw the same series of Youtube vids about the guy in Cebu. I think his name was Phil? From the UK as I recall. I think the difference that people see with homelessness of foreigners abroad vs. in their home countries is one of choice. The vast majority of homeless foreigners in SE Asia got caught thinking with the little head rather than the big one. Got involved with the wrong woman and lost all their money/property. This seems less, well, forgivable than people who struggle in their home country. They WERE doing will until decided to throw away all their money on their latest young female conquest. IF they had stayed in their home country they could have had a decent, if unexciting, life.

Actually, the Donald was talking about, and I quote, "pillaging and theft". It is obvious that he meant the mass robberies and destruction plaguing California cities. The kind that is making major retailers leave in droves. Simple shoplifting has been around since God's dog was a puppy. And was not the point he was making. The kind of organized orgies of looting that occur are a new development, brought on in large part by law enforcement not being able to pursue and/or arrest the perpetrators.

In what way is the organized mass looting and destruction happening in American cities in any way comparable to shoplifting?

You really see any kind of equivalence in the situation? Please tell me you aren't that shallow. Ukraine is surrounded on all sides by NATO member states. If Putin were to attack one, the others would all be forced to join to repel the invasion. I mean, Putin is a madman but he is not a stupid man. The odds of him wanting to expand the war beyond where it is today is about zero.

I think the definition of "shoplifting" is shifting from what I understood. Back when I was a kid, "shoplifting" meant sneakily lifting a chocolate bar or a pack of gum from a shop. It did NOT mean breaking the windows/doors, trashing the place, and stealing bags full of merchandise. I equate what is happening in many American cities to home invasions more than anything. The casual and wanton destruction of property for no purpose, the terrorizing of shop owners and their families, it goes beyond simple theft. In these cases, I think that business owners have the right to defend their businesses as if they were defending their homes. That is, use deadly force if necessary to repel the invaders. FAFO would give some pause to the looters and vandals who assume they can get away with such wanton anti-social behavior.

I have no problem with any of that. And, at the same time, close all ports of entry to any trying to gain entry without visas. Mercilessly pursue and execute the cartels who are involved in the horror that is human smuggling. Do not release anyone into the country- house them in camps near the border until their cases can be heard.

Those prices still make me cringe. We last visited in March 2021. Flight from Japan to US was about $1,000. We did a 3 week roadtrip in a camper (25 foot). Rented in LA, cost $1800 total. Hit Death Valley, Lost Wages, Valley of Fire State Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Monument Valley. Then a southern swing through Petrifed Forest NP, Saguaro NP, down to the southern border to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, then back to LA. The best of the US is the park system, without question. Gas was max $4.50 in Cali. Wine, grilled steaks on the barbecue every night, paradise. I shudder th think what it would cost now.

Can you be a bit more specific as to whay constitutes "victory"? Does it include a full return to the pre-war borders? Does it include the return of the Crimea? You are sadly guilty of what many supporters of the war also do- make vague proclamations and gaslight anyone who disagrees as a Putin puppet.