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Kit Flynn's avatar

Only one word describes American actions towards Ukraine: disgusting. And only one word describes my reaction: sorrow.

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John Smith's avatar

And how about "anger"? That's my reaction.

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Kit Flynn's avatar

I have been angry for so long now. Yes, I'm livid with The Bloated Yam and Elon, and all their cronies. I'm 84 now and sometimes wonder if I'll die angry.

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Janet Robbins's avatar

Kit, I'm two years further on than you, angry, sad and frustrated beyond the beyonds, but I am determined to live to see the end of this nightmare! Hope I succeed....

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SPW's avatar

I’m almost 79 and nothing would please me more than to watch this unholy alliance in DC crumble into humiliated obscurity. I fear, however, that will be a far longer time coming than any of us anticipate simply because it’s been a long time in the works. This abhorrent element we are witnessing now has worked like a nest of termites undermining the foundations of a house leaving a very fragile shell that will take a long time to repair. We’ve got to hold our institutional memory together if rebuilding is to eventually succeed.

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Til Klem's avatar

Oh, Ms. Flynn, I’m so sorry. You’ve seen almost the entire arch of modern history, haven’t you? I’m 76, not all that far behind you, but I’m also just desperately sad. I’ve lost my beloved country.

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Kit Flynn's avatar

It certainly feels as though we are losing it. Having grown up in the shadow of WWII, it's incomprehensible that we now have Americans giving the Nazi salute.

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Homer Erotic's avatar

My political thermometer reads: Raging Bull in China Shop.

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SPW's avatar

Same here. I’m embarrassed to be a US citizen.

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Marycat2021's avatar

I'm furious. My maternal grandfather was Russian/Ukrainian and he came to America as a child. His mother was said to be the personal maid for the last czarina of Russia.

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Henry English's avatar

All the more poignant, TS, in light of the Ukrainian demonstration in Times Square last evening. I am LIVID with trump et al domestically and internationally. No, i am not a “loyal opposition “. Anything and everything to undermine trump,MAGA and the Orban-influenced Project 2025 works for me. I hope all of them will get their comeuppance soon and big time.

And oh Israel voted with the authoritarian block at the UN yesterday AGAINST Ukraine?! Shame on them: as descendants of the Holocaust they should know better. Done with Israel.

And NO, I am not anti Semitic; I am pro Declaration of Independence and US Constitution.

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Frau Katze's avatar

I saw that too. Then I learned that Ukraine has a recent history of voting against Israel at the UN. Don’t know why. Sad.

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Susan Y's avatar

Thank you as always Tim. I was at the DC Rally for Ukraine in DC on Saturday. I was disappointed at the crowd size, although several thousand, a drop in the bucket for the DC area. A wounded warrior from Ukraine was one of the speakers. He lost both his hands and was blinded. As he was led to the podium he looked so frail. But when he spoke, and in English, he had a booming voice full of spirit and strength. He talked about the weather, Ukraine, his comrades, his people. He spoke about Spider-man and Trump and Neville Chamberlain. He asked for our help. He was an inspiration. Trump is a Russian chump, and so are his minions, but many of us Americans will still be supporting Ukraine however we can.

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Terence J. Ollerhead's avatar

Americans can hardly be bothered with the catastrophe surrounding, enveloping, them.

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Susan Y's avatar

Nicole Wallace speaking to David Jolly - he thinks that their world depends on Fox News and their lies. No conscious knowledge of what is happening in Ukraine and maybe think Putin is a good guy. Then there is everyone else. Is it a lack of education? If I ruled the world, I'd require history and civics class grades 1-12 and a year of government service. And free N95 masks for everyone.

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Carl Selfe's avatar

We must do the counteroffensive with speed. Take to the streets. Begin an economic boycott. Stop buying. Stop buying everything.

https://bit.ly/4bhzA68

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Swbv's avatar

Republicans.....where are you? Is profiting Putin really your desire? Really?

TS: .” They ( Europeans) are legitimately puzzled by the new American politics of weakness."

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Janet Robbins's avatar

Who would ever have thought the US would align itself with Russia, North Korea, Belarus against its loyal allies of the past 80 years. Yes, WHERE IS CONGRESS?!

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Solange Kellermann's avatar

Maine's Senator Susan Collins has elevated from 'concerned' to 'very concerned'. I don't understand how Congress could so willingly hand over their power over the purse to Musk-Trump. Would things be different if their votes were secret? First one with a spine will be a notional hero.

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Rusalka's avatar

Congress has been Putinised and Dems have become eunuchs. That’s the state of our nation. Too sad for words.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

The same place they were in 1965-68.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

The new reality is p is financing republican candidates.

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longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Their desire is to be re-elected, and the money that comes with it. It's got nothing to do with p, it's only his money.

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Frau Katze's avatar

MAGAs believe Trump & Fox News.

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Swbv's avatar

Not o put too fine a point on it, Trumps' greatestest sources of influence are both not born in the USA: Murdoch and Musk.

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Tony Brinkley's avatar

I think it is important for as many of us and our neighbours as possible to distinguish America from the Trump-Musk catastrophe. That cabal should not be allowed to be confused with us.

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Susan's avatar

Yes- "Not in my name!"

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Terence J. Ollerhead's avatar

What good will that do anyone? Tariffs on Canada this week; voting with Russia yesterday ... does it matter that some Americans are opposed, when the government makes policy?For those outside the US, the US is whatever policy says it is.

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Frau Katze's avatar

I’m Canadian and I don’t blame all Americans. Trump won by a slim margin.

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Terence J. Ollerhead's avatar

Well then, that's admirable, I suppose. But it limits your actions. Does that mean you won't boycott US goods in the tariff wars? If you do, you are punishing some of those you don't blame, and in the end, your distinctions don't matter. If you don't boycott, you are definitely part of the problem, not the solution.

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Tony Brinkley's avatar

Because it is true?

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Terence J. Ollerhead's avatar

There are, I guess, Russians who don't approve of their government's actions in Ukraine. But I doubt if the Ukrainians being bombed will find that knowledge helpful.

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Tony Brinkley's avatar

Of course you may be right, but I believe they do. More that 50% of us deplore what Trump is doing and, if we are going to do anything, perhaps we need to begin by knowing that? But I respect your anger just as I respect my own.

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Terence J. Ollerhead's avatar

We'll have to disagree. No, Ukrainians, Palestinians, even for a less grievous cause, Canadians, don't think of Americans like that. In a month, Trump and his government's policies have destroyed the alliances and reputation of the USA for generations outside your country. Yes, all of you didn't vote for him, but since 2016 you've had warning of what was coming for you, and you should all have worked much harder to protect your democracy. It's on all of you.

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Tony Brinkley's avatar

I respect what you say. Very much. We fought and we lost. And now we're still fighting. Is it all on us who so far gave failed. Some of it if not all of it. Yes. I'm 77 and i have been failing for the most part for years. But it has not been for lack effort. I imagine that is true of you aa well. But the work goes on?

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Marycat2021's avatar

I bet Trump loves the idea of having his enemies thrown out of windows or poisoned.

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John Smith's avatar

Abandoning our ally Ukraine in its moment of dire need is shameful and inexcusable. The majority of Americans have steadfastly supported Ukraine. This should be the last straw for many, even for those who formerly supported Trump. Nobody in America that I know would ever vote for such a cowardly action by our leader.

Slava Ukraini!

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Larry Flood's avatar

If I were Zelensky, I would totally repudiate Trump's offers and turn to Europe, which already has a concrete ceasefire proposal that makes much more sense and includes the provision that Ukraine gets immediate entry into NATO, if Russia fails to respect any agreed to ceasefire. In the case of a minerals deal, I propose that USA agrees to spend $500 million to explore and measure Ukraine's resources and gets in return the right of first refusal to match or exceed any terms that Ukraine secures from other third parties, i.e. Europe. Nothing more. One last aside, neither lithium, titanium or rare earths are scarce. They are widely prevalent throughout the globe. They are generally very low grade, however, and that is what determines their economics. None are currently selling at prior peak prices, and are NOT that strategically important. Ukraine IS, however, likely to have significant tight shale gas reserves that American oil companies could best develop on a tight time frame and ship to Europe using the existing Russian pipeline. There lies the opportunity for "Drill Baby, Drill Trump" and his purported deal making prowess.

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Frau Katze's avatar

The MAGAs think that’s such a great deal. They’re obsessed with government spending.

Trump has now got his huge tax cut bill ready.

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Joseph McPhillips's avatar

MAGA gangster governance & fascist fantasies: When you surround yourself with fools &/or cowards...Trumpism promotes fraud & corruption that transfers wealth to the wealthiest.

Don’t let the bastards grind you down: #Resist

Trump Cuts Target Next Generation of Scientists and Public Health Leaders:A reckless & "very destructive strategy to fire the new talent" at NIH. Gutting the next generation of federal scientists doctors and public health professionals is another example of gangster government whose leaders view themselves as unconstrained by long established policy science or law. #Resist

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Jocelyn's avatar

We suffer from many shortages in this country and for the past 10 years or so, messaging might be the biggest hole. NO ONE was able to tell Americans that we not only have/had a moral imperative to help Ukraine but that it benefitted the US in actual jobs here?? We were not literally just throwing money at them. Factories were built - jobs were created NEW equipment was manufactured as we provided older equiment to Ukraine. So those in league with Putin have been spewing lies about how many billions we've sent/wasted. And NO ONE was able to counter that? And here we are now.

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Ann H Lanner's avatar

Prof. Snyder, thank you for sharing your expertise and insights. I'm glad I decided to pay for a subscription. ...One of the reasons I signed up is that I'm trying to find an article you wrote last year, and I hope you can point me to it. In it, you wrote about a man who claims to be able to prove that the Republicans have been cheating at the local polling level since 2002. He himself was a lower-level Republican official at one time. I can't remember the man's name. Can you help?

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Frau Katze's avatar

Do you have a name or something you could search for?

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Ann H Lanner's avatar

I think it's Peter something, but I 'm not sure. Hoping Prof. Snyder sees my question, and replies.

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Doug Elmore's avatar

Agree with everything pro/Ukraine.

I immersed my self in your Ukrainian course, read most of your books, can’t thank you enough.

But my comment is about my country, Canada. Skiing today my wife and I met 4 lovely Americans, 2 from Portland and 2 Pullman Washington. Very quickly we/they knew we were on the same political page and were comfortable completely. This would not have been the case if they’d voted Republican. Each said they were embarrassing by their governments, and felt helpless to lever any change.

Their only hope was that the orange clown’s and his demented sidekick would crash in the polls.

I had an outside the box thought, and whether it had any hope of being adopted or succeeding I’m going to say it anyway. I’m not a politician or journalist so I have that freedom.

Understand that there are 40 million people up here who are pissed, bitter and angry and feel utterly betrayed.

We will not buy anything American anymore and I’m asking you to join us and seek alternatives. Mexican or Ecuadorian produce comes to mind.

Search online for Canadian products.

We don’t just produce maple sugar!

I have strong ties to the U.S., my daughter graduated from Stanford. A cousin lives in Carlsbad CA, a best friend in Bellingham. I’ve travelled extensively down south and know western U.S. better than I know my own geography east of Calgary.

I am deprived of going to where some of my favourite places in the world and “ we are not amused”.

I just cancelled 3 weeks in Mauai. Everyone I know is either cancelling or

Sneaking a last trip to your country reluctantly because of some valid reason. But all say no more until your government is overthrown.

Sure, nothing compares to the Ukrainian situation. We have the second or third greatest number of them in the world just behind Poland.

I fly the blue and yellow outside my house.

So, here’s my challenge to those of you who feel helpless and want any small weapon at all to strike back at the isolationist dictatorship you’re suffering under. Spread the word. Step on your own economy any way that hurts the protectionists.

We here will fight back at he who has decided to bring his dog to shit on our lawn.

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Linda Weide's avatar

I am in Europe and just voted in the German election on Sunday, as did my daughter. My husband, registering from the US did not get his ballot back to Germany on time.

I am so tired of hearing Europeans say they want to support Ukraine and work with the Americans. They should say, pull out your troops, we will manage. And then, they should manage like they had to when they weaned themselves from Russian oil. When I heard Zelensky speak at the MSC, I was grateful that he is so bright, and that Donald Trump is not bright in that way. I hope he is more wily than Trump in the end. I am disturbed that he is signing any contracts with the USA.

Germany needs to get its shit together and get a coalition and get into the game in a big way.

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Robert Clyman's avatar

If Trump seizes control of the the United States Armed Forces, then we have lost and no power on Earth can save the American people and our democracy. Not the courts. Not the Congress.

It’s time for Democrats to be true patriots and call for the US military to intervene to stop this totalitarian regime from taking complete fascist control of our nation. Trump is our Trojan Horse, unleashing an invasion from within.

They won’t stop until they have achieved total domination over labor, people, law and the land itself. His intent is clear- to subjugate the people, silence dissent and eliminate political opponents and other undesirables. Censorship, imprisonment, forced labor, deportation.

Only the United States military, backed by massive popular support, can stop them. OCCUPY WASHINGTON. Secure all federal buildings. Relieve the president of command.

Call your senator and representative today! Instruct them to ally with the DOD to stop Trump NOW! Next week may be too late.

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Christine Weaver's avatar

Use the up coming budget process to demand that Musk is out. Shutdown the government until Musk is out. No discussion, no cooperation until Musk is out.

To support this fight, I truly believe that we Americans will take care of our families and neighbors until the government opens again. The government is already in disfunction. There are 2 horrific issues going on, 1 demolish our democracy for a dictatorship and 2 demolish world democracy for dictatorships. Get our 'house' back in order.

Please contact your congress people to say you will support them in this effort.

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James Dicker's avatar

This is part and parcel of the Musk-Trump Cabal. Domestically, they are dismantling every aspect of our government that stops corruption.

Enfeeble the IRS to help oligarchs avoid taxes.

Use the SEC to promote rather than regulate dubious securities like meme crypto coins.

Place compliant Military leaders and corrupt civilian pentagon officials in position to fleece the Pentagons enormous budget.

This pattern is repeated in Departments and Agencies across the entire government.

And now, phase 2 weakens the ability of the U.S. to respond to despotic incursions into former allies in order to share the spoils with other despots.

Clearly the Mafia like protection scam now being negotiated to bleed Ukraine of its natural resources is part of weakening The U.S. which will claim to be unable to fulfill its protective part of the (art of the) deal. These clowns have less integrity than the actual mafia.

Are there no lovers of Democracy left in the Republican caucuses in the House and Senate?

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