Is Russia preparing to invade the Ukraine?

[Max Rockatansky]

They really need to do something about that as far too many of their military are retiring on pensions. They could always take a page from the US book though and solve the pension payments by sending them into wars they cannot win.

A huge distortion. Amusing in a twisted way, but still wrong.

What is sad is how few of those on the Left are willing to go to those wars compared to how many of them are willing to send our soldiers to war. Let's not forget that Bush couldn't have invaded Iraq without the significant support of the Democrats.

[pragmatic]

Yeah- if comes down to it, Russia may invade, but that's not going to sit well with the EU. He's got to consider just how important access to the Black Sea is for Russia military interests vs. the cost of the like western backlash.

Not necessily. Depends on how such an "invasion" is implemented. Believe the officially elected leadership of Ukraine is who has be overthown and sent to the East. Putin can come in at the request of Yanukovych and play the role of peacemaker.

Remember that the Eastern portion of the country is much more culturally aligned with Russia.

[Dr. Who]

A huge distortion. Amusing in a twisted way, but still wrong.

What is sad is how few of those on the Left are willing to go to those wars compared to how many of them are willing to send our soldiers to war. Let's not forget that Bush couldn't have invaded Iraq without the significant support of the Democrats.

To be fair 911 went a long way to creating a climate of fear that was not partisan. In the circumstances, as I recall, voting against action would have made the Dems look unpatriotic and uncaring about the safety of their constituents.

[Max Rockatansky]

To be fair 911 went a long way to creating a climate of fear that was not partisan. In the circumstances, as I recall, voting against action would have made the Dems look unpatriotic and uncaring about the safety of their constituents.

Fear is not a force. It's a human emotion. People have a choice of being brave or being afraid. A choice of fighting their enemies or running and hiding.

The whole point of a representative democracy, a Republic, is to elect good people to make smart decisions. If they are there simply to vote the will of the people, we might as well use computers to vote and skip the middle man.

If what you say is true, that "voting against action would have made the Dems look unpatriotic" then "the Dems" failed in their duty to their country, their office and their constituents.

Is it better to do the right thing for the country or to do the right thing to get reelected? The answer is the difference between a patriot and a politician.

[KC]

Not necessily. Depends on how such an "invasion" is implemented. Believe the officially elected leadership of Ukraine is who has be overthown and sent to the East. Putin can come in at the request of Yanukovych and play the role of peacemaker.

Remember that the Eastern portion of the country is much more culturally aligned with Russia.

Right, Croatia and the eastern side is much more ethnically and linguistically Russian.

[Dr. Who]

Fear is not a force. It's a human emotion. People have a choice of being brave or being afraid. A choice of fighting their enemies or running and hiding.

The whole point of a representative democracy, a Republic, is to elect good people to make smart decisions. If they are there simply to vote the will of the people, we might as well use computers to vote and skip the middle man.

If what you say is true, that "voting against action would have made the Dems look unpatriotic" then "the Dems" failed in their duty to their country, their office and their constituents.

Is it better to do the right thing for the country or to do the right thing to get reelected? The answer is the difference between a patriot and a politician.

As an admitted cynic I have to say that I believe that the majority of all elected officials are politicians first and patriots second. Re-election is not just the most important thing, it is the only thing that matters. Patriotism for it's own sake runs a distant second.

[donttread]

All I know is that we need to stay the hell out of it.

[Max Rockatansky]

As an admitted cynic I have to say that I believe that the majority of all elected officials are politicians first and patriots second. Re-election is not just the most important thing, it is the only thing that matters. Patriotism for it's own sake runs a distant second.

It's not cynical when it's true.

Yes, most US politicians are more concerned about reelection than "doing the right thing". We don't have to reelect those who do, but it seems to work out that way.

[KC]

All I know is that we need to stay the hell out of it.

Amen.

[Dr. Who]

It's not cynical when it's true.

Yes, most US politicians are more concerned about reelection than "doing the right thing". We don't have to reelect those who do, but it seems to work out that way.

Unfortunately even the patriots get "turned" once they get elected, so the choices are slim to none.