The Biden Administration and All Things Politics

[Mongoose]

I see now that this is just a big circle jerk so I wont be back. Ya'll have some really bad takes on human rights, war, and politics in general.
Keep the blinders on folks. Keep discussing among only partison folks and see what you can learn.

 

[Bucknutz]

I see now that this is just a big circle jerk so I wont be back. Ya'll have some really bad takes on human rights, war, and politics in general.
Keep the blinders on folks. Keep discussing among only partison folks and see what you can learn.

View: https://twitter.com/billym2k/status/1601265060416192513?s=46&t=vW21G6preZUeYFF1YH4lfg


@Mongoose you’re absolutely right that it is left leaning in here but I appreciate your responses and content. Please stay, there needs to be more people with different views in here.

 

[One Brow]

I see now that this is just a big circle jerk so I wont be back.

You don't like to have fun?

Ya'll have some really bad takes on human rights, war, and politics in general.
Keep the blinders on folks. Keep discussing among only partison folks and see what you can learn.

You keep pointing out things most people already agree with, and seem surprised that we are not shocked.

 

[Gameface]

You don't like to have fun?


You keep pointing out things most people already agree with, and seem surprised that we are not shocked.

Exactly. I wanted to know what his point was. Apparently he didn't have one. He wanted to present a fact and then sit back and say "see, SEE!" I was like what is it I'm supposed to see? So yeah, he's out of here.

 

[Gameface]

Simple question, how do we know that she was guilty of what she was accused of doing in Russia? Russia isn’t exactly a good faith actor. I’m old enough to remember earlier this year when they claimed they had to invade Ukraine and liberate it from NATO and Nazis. I’m also old enough to remember when Putin told Trump at Helsinki that Russia had nothing to do with the 2016 election and then tried to peddle disinformation that Zelensky and Ukraine hacked the DNC’s servers.

I’m just curious why we all take Russia’s word here, as if they would easily lie about invading Ukraine or influencing our elections but wouldn’t ever ever ever dream of arresting a high profile American athlete under bogus charges?

Because her response was that she had an Rx for that in the U.S. and she forgot it was in her luggage.

 

[Deleted member 365]

Because her response was that she had an Rx for that in the U.S. and she forgot it was in her luggage.

And Russia would never compel anyone to make a false statement?

My pt is, a country that values human life zero percent and is actively trying to undermine the west shouldn’t be given credibility in anything they say.

 

[Gameface]

And Russia would never compel anyone to make a false statement?

My pt is, a country that values human life zero percent and is actively trying to undermine the west shouldn’t be given credibility in anything they say.

Doesn't sound like the kind of statement that would be forced. It's a fairly reasonable excuse and takes intent out of the equation but doesn't alter the fact that it belongs to her. It doesn't give Russia any credibility. I don't have the exact specifics but there was a trial and Griner was able to communicate, possibly in person (?) with people from the U.S.. If there is evidence that it was planted and that her statements were coerced then fine but why do the Tucker Carlson "I'm just asking questions..." routine?

 

[gandalfe]

Doesn't sound like the kind of statement that would be forced. It's a fairly reasonable excuse and takes intent out of the equation but doesn't alter the fact that it belongs to her. It doesn't give Russia any credibility. I don't have the exact specifics but there was a trial and Griner was able to communicate, possibly in person (?) with people from the U.S.. If there is evidence that it was planted and that her statements were coerced then fine but why do the Tucker Carlson "I'm just asking questions..." routine?

It was also made pretty clear in a couple of articles I read (I can try to hunt them down, but it was from the time of the trial) that nothing could proceed on a diplomatic front until she was convicted, and that once you go to trial in Russia you're probably going to be convicted anyway (particularly if you're a political prisoner, which only the most idiotic would argue she wasn't), so she may have just said it was hers to speed things along.

<EDIT> Here is one of the aforementioned articles: https://theathletic.com/3407682/2022/07/08/brittney-griner-russia/

 

[Deleted member 365]

Doesn't sound like the kind of statement that would be forced. It's a fairly reasonable excuse and takes intent out of the equation but doesn't alter the fact that it belongs to her. It doesn't give Russia any credibility. I don't have the exact specifics but there was a trial and Griner was able to communicate, possibly in person (?) with people from the U.S.. If there is evidence that it was planted and that her statements were coerced then fine but why do the Tucker Carlson "I'm just asking questions..." routine?

When has Carlson acted in good faith? He acts in bad faith to keep the white grievance audience watching his white nationalist power hour. What motivation would I have?

Since Russia is one of the most corrupt places on earth, I think we absolutely should be asking questions.

1. If Griner weren’t a gay American player, think she would’ve been arrested? If she had been a straight Hungarian or Chinese player (Putin allies), think she would’ve been arrested?
2. If Russia hadn’t been launching its war against Ukraine and of America hadn't supported Ukraine, think she would’ve been arrested and then sent to what essentially a gulag to be used to blackmail their arch enemy?

Russia is one of the most lawless countries on earth. They let drug possession and worse slide all the time. Laws are meaningless in an autocratic hellhole like Russia. They’ve lied countless times to us before. They recently helped Trump win in 2016 and were trying to help him win again in 2020. That’s why Donald was impeached the first time. If there’s ever a time to “just ask questions”, this would be it.

 

[Deleted member 365]

It was also made pretty clear in a couple of articles I read (I can try to hunt them down, but it was from the time of the trial) that nothing could proceed on a diplomatic front until she was convicted, and that once you go to trial in Russia you're probably going to be convicted anyway (particularly if you're a political prisoner, which only the most idiotic would argue she wasn't), so she may have just said it was hers to speed things along.

<EDIT> Here is one of the aforementioned articles: https://theathletic.com/3407682/2022/07/08/brittney-griner-russia/

Good post.

Nor does it really matter what Russian laws say. We should take everything they say with a grain of salt. All that matters is that Putin had the motive and power to arrest her and hold her for ransom. They aren’t good faith actors and it wouldn’t be beyond them to trump up drug charges against Griner. I mean, hello, they invaded Ukraine over false pretenses. They poison enemies with radioactive tea. They assassinate businessmen, human rights activists, and political opponents under false charges of tax fraud. Putin bombed apartments in his own country to frame Chechen terrorists and to boost his campaign to become president. Why couldn’t he lie about Griner?

I’m just saying that we shouldn’t take what Putin says at face value.

1999 Russian apartment bombings - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Gameface]

It was also made pretty clear in a couple of articles I read (I can try to hunt them down, but it was from the time of the trial) that nothing could proceed on a diplomatic front until she was convicted, and that once you go to trial in Russia you're probably going to be convicted anyway (particularly if you're a political prisoner, which only the most idiotic would argue she wasn't), so she may have just said it was hers to speed things along.

Well I guess within a day or two she will make a statement in the U.S.

 

[gandalfe]

Well I guess within a day or two she will make a statement in the U.S.

Like I mentioned, it's entirely possible that the State Department has asked her to refrain from saying anything incendiary to prevent jeopardizing other negotiations. I guess we'll kind of have to see what she says and her tone.