What you need to know and do about Putin
There seem to be a lot of differing opinions about Russian President Vladimir Putin among the Washington establishment. Before we can know what to do about him, we need to know about the man. Here are the facts.
Putin is:
A ruthless dictator.
A liar.
A hypocrite.
A braggart.
A corrupt bureaucrat.
A murderer.
A war criminal.
A megalomaniac.
A sociopath.
A narcissist.
A warmonger
An enemy of the United States.
An avowed enemy of NATO.
An enemy of the free world.
A sponsor of international terrorism.
A racist.
An antisemite.
An embezzler.
A personification of evil.
… and the list goes on.
“Stupid” is not on the list because Putin is not stupid. In fact, he is very smart and very clever. Unfortunately, that amplifies all those characteristics mentioned above. Putin did not rise to power, remain in power and extend his power by being stupid.
There is only one way to deal with Putin. He must be consistently condemned. The United States and the rest of the free world must treat him as the pariah that he is. He must be defeated in all his ambitions. This is not the time for isolationism and Neville Chamberlain diplomacy.
That means he must be driven out of Ukraine. His growing influence in the Middle East must be challenged and diminished. Maximum sanctions need to be imposed to break the back of the Russian economy. His ties to China’s Xi Jinping need to be broken by making him a liability more than a useful asset. His benefits to Iran – and vice versa – must be interdicted.
Putin is acting like Hitler –and must be treated as such. He is in an active war against the world democracies – east and west. Bringing about his downfall will require American leadership and a united effort by the world democracies to diminish his power cutting off his oil profits and eventually leading to his ouster.
It is a large task, to be sure. Sadly, America may not be up to the task. The Washington establishment – both Republican and Democrat – appear to be playing a game of accommodation. Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Biden policy of lip-service, half-assed support has enabled Putin to withstand Ukraine’s summer offensive, rebuild its military and gain ground on the battlefield. He has strengthened his support among the Russian people.
The shameful debate over the support of Ukraine is dangerous in both reality and optics. It denies Ukraine of much-needed military weaponry and ammunition to not only hold off Putin, but to retake the offensive. The fact that such support is even being debated gives Putin a propaganda advantage – and encouragement that he will eventually win the war and take over Ukraine.
Those in the Washington establishment who see a “victory” in ending the Ukraine War by ceding land to Putin are proffering nothing less than a huge victory for … Putin.
It is difficult to understand the voices of those – on the right AND the left — who coddle or sidle up to Putin or oppose supporting Ukraine as if he is not all things listed above. There is no accommodation with abject and determined evil. That has been proven over and over throughout history.
There can be no dealing with Putin. He and his ambitions must be defeated. If we fail that challenge, America and the world will pay a very dear price. America will further surrender its role as a leader of the free world – much to the detriment of future generations.
It is really that simple. Personally? I am not optimistic.
So, there ‘tis.
Wow! I’m in 100% agreement with Larry on this. Based on what is happening now, it looks like we are doomed to repeat history. WWIII anyone?
I’ll go 80%.
Somehow taking on Russia and the Middle East does not sound prudent. I would let Israel proxy fight that war for now.
With Putin, Horist is spot on and I think Biden needs to amp it up, at least, if not more. Screw anyone saying no, just get them the arms and mow down anyone in your path. Call them out and take them out, politically. Then, put the dome on the airspace, make it a no fly zone. And tell Putin either stop, or you will add Ukraine to NATO in retalliation.
It’s two years and he’s not letting up. It’s time to escalate at least if not drop the hammer and put Ukraine in NATO and let Putin fight that war.
no different then the democrats according to your list
This is a propaganda diatribe of the worst!
Just a hateful packet of accusations and lies – mainly based on the omission of own faults that brought about bad consequences
-not so many from the Conservative side – even the Old Decrepit Arch-Capitalist Bosses side as before Trump approached WORKING PEOPLE!
What brought the problems and dangers now, came through:
1. BETRAYING THE TRUST OF GORBACOV IN A PEACEFUL COOPERATION.
2. INSTEAD INCREASING THREATS BY PUSHING THE FUTURE WAR TRENCHES CLOSER TO HIS HOME!
3. INCREASING HOSTILE ACTIONS AROUND RUSSIA AND EUROPE,
KILLING THE ARAB SPRING (for protecting despotic Arab “kingdoms and sheiks)
ARMING ISIS (and sending them to destroy Syria and Iraq)
Training MAIDAN SNIPERS and FASCIST TROOPS IN UKRAINE to do in the Eastern DonBass and Krym
what they had done before the in Polish regions of Galicia and Volhynia: GENOCIDE AND HOLOCAUST!
But the first thing why Putin grew up to power – and great respect among his people – was
HIS RESCUE OF THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC SURVIVAL AFTER THE ATTACK OF WORLD BANK AND IMF.
The Soviet Economy and Industry needed reform – but not a total killing – but that was the planned way of best swallowing it
– THE AIM OF THE SWALLOWING WAS NOT INDUSTRY, ECONOMY, OR SOCIAL SURVIVAL – BUT THE BIG RESOURCES IN SIBERIA:
THE COAL, THE OIL, THE GAS, THE METAL ORES, THE RARE EARTHS – in short: ALL THE RICHES!
And that what OBAMA HAD IN MIND – AGAIN:
FIRST, GET THE STUPID EUROPEANS OFF THAT RICH TABLE (make them fight against their own good!)
AND WHEN THEY SENT IN ALL THEIR TANKS AND BOMBS (stupid EU material + fascist Ukrainian dwarfs) – AND WEAKENED RUSSIA
HOORAY – LET US MARCH IN – JUST FOR A PARADE ON THE RED SQUARE AND ACROSS THE URAL!
Just to be sure on that side: KEEP CHINA BUSY ELSEWHERE (tell Taiwan, they are attacked! psst, shhht, quiet )
Who was the Jack Ass that brokered the deal with Ukraine and Russia years ago that said Ukraine would NOT join NATO?
Who is the Jack Ass that told Ukraine TO Join NATO?
There is the Guilty party!
Wonder what back door deal they received?
Larry, I agree that Putin must be stopped. What I do not agree with is your statement, “Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Biden policy of lip-service, half-assed support has enabled Putin to withstand Ukraine’s summer offensive,”
I will agree that Biden’s responses tend to be slow. I think the Ukrainians have been smart enough to bake that into their plans by now. But the news we get here in NC is that GOP MAGA far right folks were the ones that would not approve a stand alone bill to fund Ukraine. The news we got was that Biden wanted a clean bill to support Ukraine but GOP would not approve that because of the border problem. The news here was that the GOP wanted one bill to include all national security including border security and Ukraine. Here, Lindsey Graham from SC was even on our TVs preaching this combined bill on Sunday mornings. So we heard that GOPs and Dems in the Senate got together and created the tightest border bill in the history of the USA, and passed a combined funding bill for border security and Ukraine and Israel, but again, the Legislature GOP said it was not good enough and said we should not be funding Ukraine’s border war until we fix our own border.
Larry, why did you not report what Sen. Murkowski said? She said, “Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to advance the foreign aid package with the border bill, said it was unclear who could trust the GOP to negotiate after they scuttled the bipartisan bill on Wednesday.
“I have a difficult time understanding again how anyone else in the future is going to want to be on that negotiating team — on anything — if we are going to be against it,” the senator from Alaska told CNN.
She added: “I’ve gone through the multiple stages of grief. Today I’m just pissed off.”
We got this news in NC:
“The Senate’s border deal and foreign aid package aimed to implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law and would, in effect, severely curtail asylum-seeking at that border — a break from decades-long protocol. It also included assistance for Israel and Ukraine.
Senate Republicans blocked the legislation Wednesday during a procedural vote following opposition from House Republicans and GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
If it had passed in Congress, the bill would have dramatically change immigration law for the first time in decades.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT TRUMP AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE THE PROBLEM. WHY ARE YOU LAYING THIS ON THE DEMS?
As I type this, I am listening to Schumer and McConnell saying to the House Republican majority leader to “GET IT DONE” or we will lose the war in Ukraine, fracture NATO, and embolden Putin.
Once again Larry, you are cutting out half of the total story. And in this case you are watering down GOP “goal shifting” and lack of good faith negotiating. Murkowski is correct!!! It is becoming hard to trust the GOP. And that rolls down to it is becoming hard to trust Larry to be honest in his writing.
Tom… It is frustrating to respond to folks who do seem to read or comprehend — and push back against my commentaries for things I did or did not say. If you have paid attention, my criticism of those NOT supporting Ukraine crosses both side of the aisle. And I will do so again in the future. I have called on the House to pass a Ukraine bill either with border issues OR on its own. So … if YOU want to be accurate and honest in your responses, you can stop your bullsh*t lies and insults. It seems the more you like Frank the more you BECOME like Frank. And that ain’t a compliment.
Cut the bullshit yourself Larry, you know I am not pushing back on your Ukraine stance!
You are attempting to avoid the issue that I have found in your articles. You do not report both sides, and you skew everything against Dems. Again, just like in the Biden video article, you lie by omission. I am calling into question your credibility, not your view of the war in Ukraine!!! That is what I wrote when I said, “Once again Larry, you are cutting out half of the total story. And in this case you are watering down GOP “goal shifting” and lack of good faith negotiating. Murkowski is correct!!! It is becoming hard to trust the GOP.”
Again your answer tries to get people to look away from all of your dishonesty and bias, and look at the responder (me) with personal attacks. I have noticed that whenever you cannot defend your dishonesty, you personally attack.
The truth Larry, is that you are frustrated because you cannot pass your bullshit dishonesty by omission past me without comment. That is the only thing that frustrates you. Larry, I suggest if it frustrates you, then become an honest writer. Stop the slant and point out the shortcomings of both sides. The last Senate vote was 46 Dem yes, 22 GOP yes, 2 Dem no, 26 GOP no. And then there is your GOP buddy Johnson who blocked a vote and vowed to not let the Ukraine aid package reach the floor for a vote!
So Larry, to avoid frustration, have some ethics about what you write. Stop the dishonesty by omission. Stop the institutional racist slurs that you attempt to defend as humor. Stop blaming the Dems when there is blatant and obvious blame with the GOP. The vast majority of the blame for lack of funding Ukraine is on the GOP side, not the Dem side. And on Ukraine, we Independents will squarely blame the GOP and view them as the ones with blood on their hands. And this will be our view going into November 2024.
All I am doing Larry is writing the half that you do not write. As an Independent, my slogan is STOP THE SLANT!!! :>))
Larry, an update hot off of the press. Speaker Johnson came out of the emergency Biden meeting on funding and says the focus right now will be the border. He affirmed that his interests and position have not changed. Ukraine is secondary to border despite Dems begging to get this done for Ukraine. This is GOP shortsightedness. This is an embarrassment to all of us who have families that fought in Europe for a free Europe, and all of us that bore the brunt of the Cold War!!! This is all being done because of your hero, Trump. And we all know why!
Maybe someone needs to write an article titled, “What You Need to Know and Do About the GOP”!!! And lets put Putin on the back burner until we clean up our own house!
I basically agree with Tom above, however It is nothing new not to be able to trust Larry with his tomes-he is not honest (or credible) with anything he says (after telling me that Trump had an IQ of 156, I really think dementia has overtaken whatever reason he may have had). It has always been Republicans good, Democrats bad with Larry. In this particular post, he neglects to say that the Republicans are the people holding up assistance to Ukraine-for how many months? And the guy that he will be voting for in November telling the Republicans not to provide assistance to Ukraine? And the same guy unwilling to criticize Putin for the recent murder of Navalny? The same guy who said he trusted Putin more than our own intelligence sources? Yes, Larry is one of the deplorables that Hillary was speaking of when she was unfortunately publicly quoted-he will support any idiot as long as they have an ‘R’ next to their name…
Good point Mike F! And have you noticed that when Larry is called out on these indiscretions (such as the chicken and watermelon comments, or his writing of only half the story, see his comments this article) he is just like Trump, he doubles down and attacks the commenter rather than acknowledge the validity of your comment. And his responses will generally not include anything where he knows you are right. Notice how he said nothing about why he did not include Murkowski’s comments. He said nothing nor offer an acknowledgement that he only wrote half the story in this article, and less than ten percent of the Biden commercial. Instead he tried to refocus on what he has personally done – and I was not talking about this. He attacks you credibility of knowledge, he attacks your ability to read and understand, he attacks your person with names. He does not see this as wrong. And neither does Trump. Have you noticed that in this article, he pulled in Frank as some sort of insult to me?
So I have decided that the best thing I can do to help Larry is to present the side that he does not present. And I try to do it in a neutral non-judgemental way. I would appreciate any help you can give me in revealing the untold side of his articles. Larry is too old to change, but at least we can give the reader a more balanced and truthful view. This is also why he smears Frank so bad. Frank tells the untold side of Larry’s stories.
Thanks for your comment!
Actually, mike. Horist saying Trump’s iq shows his own.
– trump never released iq scores so horist is taking trump’s word. I have a bridge for sale.
– trump never released school grades
– trump ordered cohen to contact all schools to put the fear of trump into anyone releasing his school records. I think that’s in evidence in court.
Three recent pres were phi beta kapa, not Trump. A few Rhodes Scholars, not Trump. Trump does not even have an advanced degree. None of his kids are rocket scientists. He seems to have an inferiority complex forcing him to constantly bragg how smart he is though. Horist seems to believe anything Trump says. Incredible.
Frank, Not sure why Larry says things that are obviously ridiculous or lies-perhaps he is trying to be relevant in this modern world after having a very unsuccessful career, but he can’t understand that people are laughing at him when he makes these ridiculous statements and tries to pass them off to the rubes as ‘fact’ (trump is actually a genius-despite many who have actually worked with him-cabinet members-saying he was the dumbest SOB they ever dealt with, his teachers-dumbest student I have ever had in my class, telling us figures don’t lie, but liars figure, then presenting a number equating to the number of people working in the US that is 9 million below the Bureau of Labor Statistics number) Larry doesn’t understand that parties change over time-back when he worked for the failed Nixon administration, Republicans had some integrity and pushed Nixon to resign-today, though Trump did far worse actions, the majority of the party refused to do the right thing, and are now supporting his bid to gain entry back into the oval office-disgusting! I was a republican when I was younger, but eventually saw the light around the time W became president, and realized these people had no scruples-it took a while, but I did switch parties-definitely not the same people running the show in the Republican party as when I was young….
Larry, I have decided my comments will start with a “Stop The Slant” rating from 1 being low slant to 5 being high slant. Look for my STS Rating! And then I will point out the slant in my response commentary. Any issues where I do not feel I know enough or can find enough data will be an STS-U for “Unknown”.
And I invite other commenters to join me. :>))
Larry, I hope you like my new rating program. I took it from a page in Trump’s book where he said, “Stop the Steal”.