BruceVC

Its fine for Putin to laugh, Russia has been understandably vilified and criticized due there interference in numerous elections But the joke is on them, as I mentioned Russia wanted a better relationship with the USA and this is highly unlikely due to all this negative attention on the overall health of the USA\Russia relationship

And McMaster and a Russian photographer for some of the time, at least. Putin trolls beautifully. Everything from releasing the meeting pictures to offering a transcript is designed to get knees jerking through desks. And the funny thing is whatever he may or may not have done to 'subvert democracy' (lol) the US itself is doing a far, far better job than he could ever have imagined. Not really, this notion that Putin wants the USA to " fail " is patently untrue He desperately needs a better relationship with the USA so Russia gets some sanction relief, Putin does want to undermine the principle of Democracies but thats only because he needs to justify his own failed autocracy and extreme domestic political policies.... " we kill journalists and control the media narrative because we dont want to end up like failed Western Democracies ...look at the foolish USA, there elections are a joke ...we need Putin to guide us to true glory " and other rhetoric And yes Russia did attempt to " subvert Democracy " with numerous attempts to undermine elections in the USA and other countries. Thats exactly what happened, I'm not sure why thats so funny?

There are plenty of lady characters I hope we see

" I wouldn't put much credibility into whatever Putin's notes are," Rubio said on Fox News. "And if it comes in an email, I wouldn't click on the attachment." That made me laugh But I also wouldnt trust the Russians and there " notes "

Didn't read it either. I was too cought up in my on reality where people are decent to each other. Bennie do you think people are nice to each other on this forum? I think most people are? But Im probably not the best person to ask this question to because of the incomprehensible number of people who have " blocked " me

http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/92561-politics-2017-act-6/?p=1912561 But as Gromnir also pointed out, Trump also wants to incarcerate journalists as well. My bad, Im behind in latest forum updates

https://www.yahoo.com/news/report-trump-asked-comey-shut-222434691.html Guys this is getting more serious, Trump appears to have asked Comey to drop the Flynn investigation

But Leferd is also correct to raise this as a concern, this needs to be properly understood as we need to be clear what information unintentionally Trump shared with our " good " friends the Russians

volo Judge Judy is not one of the successful women in history, you are only supporting her because she appears to align with your flawed understanding of gender equality/feminism Its okay volo, men still have relevance in society. No need to worry

Unless you happen to be a country that Germany conveniently uses to devaluate the Euro in order to maximize their exports. In which case you're pretty much scewed for years to come. It also really put a dent to the entire "union" part of the union. Because instead of helping and punishing the real culprit of the entire mess it's time to kick someone who is already on their last leg for fun and profit. Oh, and you're one of the biggest defenders of that. But that's okay I guess, I mean, it comes with the turf and all. Dont be a hater young man, remember money cant buy you happiness.... but it can buy everything else

red you should just rely on what most members do, they always just assume my posts are true and magnanimous

What was it about? The only thing everyone argues about anymore... politics. It's a funny thing. Most of the members are well into their later years. We have a handful of Iraq & Afghanistan vets, two Gulf War vets and a handful who have seen action in other places. But the majority are Vietnam & Korean war vets. These fellows have lived for a long time. They have seen the world at it's best and worst and seen Presidents and congresses come and go. You'd think they would recognize certain patterns to history and rather than embrace the political tribalism that is gripping our country (disagree = enemy) they would be able to take a larger view of what's going on. But it turns out you'd be wrong to think that. Oh well. Alcohol and political discussion make a poor soup. I hear you but IMO just give them a pass, I admit we have no veterans in SA because of our past it somehow became inappropriate You lucky in many ways, they like a living history page albeit a little annoying which you must be very use to as you have been long time member on these forums I assume they Republican?

I wasn't talking about the history of religion or even the reality of religion. I was talking about perception. It is a popular perception in countries where these religions are dominant that Christianity and Islam provide a moral compass and those without it are lacking. Again, it is not an idea I agree with, I am simply saying it exists. My question was; is it similar to the idea that only people with children can be concerned about the future; which is what Meshugger put forward. Sometimes people do fallaciously believe this, its a normal view I would think as if you have kids you may assume your concern for the future is logical ....but its a misperception, well meaning of course I have many objectives for the future based on numerous realities....

My friend trust me there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the EU, it is exactly as it always has been. Its an economic union and offers any country that is prepared to integrate into the single market real economic growth and sustainability You can ask our friends on this forum who claim not to like the EU but live in it what is wrong with the EU, the responses dont really make sense. People claim to " want their sovereignty " back......sovereignty ? Thats just a word that populists echo thinking it has meaning yet any country that really does leave the EU will find sovereignty doesnt mean much with a failed economy. The UK is an exception to this but they will also have to accept some tough economic times ahead until they have stabilized there new economy and trade deals But of course things sometimes go wrong and lessons need to be learnt, the initial well meaning offer around Germany and all the refugees was a mistake. You cannot force every country to welcome Muslims who come from Sharia countries and in some cases dont understand Western values so there have been issues around integration So I can understand real concerns around immigration..... yeah, suuuure: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecb-banks-cash-idUSKBN17Y1B7?il=0 Im not disputing that but is this really a failure of the EU? It seems more systemic and not a punishment, so for example you could align your Czech banks with other east European banks? But yes the banking sector in some countries in the EU will naturally be more dominant

My friend trust me there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the EU, it is exactly as it always has been. Its an economic union and offers any country that is prepared to integrate into the single market real economic growth and sustainability You can ask our friends on this forum who claim not to like the EU but live in it what is wrong with the EU, the responses dont really make sense. People claim to " want their sovereignty " back......sovereignty ? Thats just a word that populists echo thinking it has meaning yet any country that really does leave the EU will find sovereignty doesnt mean much with a failed economy. The UK is an exception to this but they will also have to accept some tough economic times ahead until they have stabilized there new economy and trade deals But of course things sometimes go wrong and lessons need to be learnt, the initial well meaning offer around Germany and all the refugees was a mistake. You cannot force every country to welcome Muslims who come from Sharia countries and in some cases dont understand Western values so there have been issues around integration So I can understand real concerns around immigration.....

While I have my problems with the MSM in this case Le Pen did concede. With that in mind awarding Macron the victory before votes were counted was fair enough. I have a lot more problem with how Macron's victory has been framed as some sort of landslide and a glorious victory for the forces of progress. If you've got a historically low voter turnout and 1/8 of the people who did turn up spoiling their ballots instead of voting for you and you're up against a (near) fascist then a 66-34 margin is not anywhere near as commanding as has been made out. And there's the ultimate problem that Macron is the candidate of the globalist status quo establishment, as if following the same blueprint that generated the problems will suddenly start solving them. The Euro won't suddenly be run for anyone other than Germany's benefit, the poor in the banlieus or the rust belts won't suddenly get prospects, the polarised immigrants won't suddenly integrate and in 5 years it will be the same thing all over again, likely with Hollande 2.0. Which, I believe, was also Hollande's final approval rating. Gee anti-EU sentiment from Zoro...thats unusual Sorry Zoro the EU will continue and be a bastion and paradigm of a successful economic model for all to emulate .....yes I understand the frustration but the world is simply a better place with the EU But I have to be honest this was the closest to a real disintegration of the EU I have ever seen, after all these decades and attempts by foreign powers to undermine the EU it would have been both ironic and exasperating if the change that ended the EU came from within

I think you can be racist towards whites, I use to say in the past you cant because it didnt bother me personally but no one has ever spoken to me like that so maybe I would get offended ?

http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2016/10/20/heres-a-white-guy-asking-if-white-people-are-still-welcome-in-south-africa/ http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2017/05/04/white-bitches-and-alleged-death-threats-argument-at-observatory-kfc-turns-ugly-video/ These types of comments are unacceptable....in the USA would this be considered free speech?

volo you are offending the land of your ancestors ? Dont you have any loyalty ? The guy who wants to kick out 2-3 countries of UE has won. What sustainability is this? Who does he want to kick out? I know he has been taking jabs at Poland so I imagine Hungary would also make the list. But I doubt it was anything more than election rhetoric. Yes he is committed to the EU and the vision of the EU so I doubt that would happen

What concerns me the most is the reality you may actually believe this? If France had left the EU it could have meant the inevitable collapse of the EU....why anyone who supports the West would want this stupefies me ?

volo you are offending the land of your ancestors ? Dont you have any loyalty ? The guy who wants to kick out 2-3 countries of UE has won. What sustainability is this? Who does he want to kick out?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/macron-elected-french-president-estimates-180335036.html A great result for the sustainability of the EU This should also signal the end of this current wave of perceived populism that the likes of Nigel Farage have been insisting was "sweeping the world "

What pseudo-historical view is this...I have to say there are some very odd theories I have heard about the history of mankind and the hegemony of this race over that race and most of it is unhelpful and just creates unnecessary invective

Here is an excellent version of Amazing Grace, very cool

Over the last several years I have had so many debates about racism and what it means and also who can be racist, these debates are always framed around the history of SA and Apartheid but I now realize the topics are not dissimilar to debates in the USA and other countries I have changed my view on certain things through the years and learnt some pertinent things SA is both a good and bad example of the debate around racial dichotomy, yes we are in some ways very naive which is to be expected due to the 50 years of Apartheid which isolated SA and created a false environment around what people in my country think about certain topics...for example can black people be racist never underestimate the importance and privildege of education populism can lead to governments making illogical decisions based on fake news...as in very bad decisions the history of colonialism in the African continent is misunderstood I have seen what happens to white people wracked by guilt thinking that agreeing with a negative view of white people is the only way most black people will engage...its not true of course. The truth exaplined in a reasonable way is what most people want to know