I believe the technical term for someone like JD vance is simply --- little bitch. The entire episode was an orchestrated hit job by two thugs tag-teaming kicking a true hero and his people in their faces.
I will be 70 tomorrow. I never thought I would like to see the day America treated its friends fighting for its values like this, while playing kissy face with its authoritarian tormentor and would-be murderer. A day that will live in infamy --- said the London Times. No truer words.
I am 73, and I agree. I actually think Professor Snyder was too generous. Trump is a psychopath, and a possible Russian agent. Vance is a shape-shifting, power-hungry cipher whose true nature is quite malevolent, it seems. They are both evil in their own ways. I may never get over my anger and disgust at those who put these horrible people in charge of our country and allowed this day of “infamy” to happen. I plan to contribute to the Ukrainian cause out of gratitude for their courage and defense of democracy writ large.
I have been using Strange Catholic Goth (it’s the eyeliner) as my personal descriptor of JD. The fact that Trump with his bronzer and JD with his tattooed eyeliner are held up as manly just gob-smacks me.
From a Trump point of view, he does not care about democracy so there is nothing in it for him to help defend a democratic country. In fact, he has pretty much made clear with his personal heroes and alliance desires that he wants to support the illiberal world. So, by doing that, even if he tanks much of the American economy by destroying trade relationships, and making the seas much less safe in which to transport goods, since the US and the peace have helped to keep these seas safe, that are now taken over by Houthi Rebels attacking ships, and forcing the US and others to try to seek safer routes, most of which are longer and more costly, Trump does not care, because he is making sure to enhance his personal wealth and that of everyone around him.
In a transactional way if you are not going for securing democracy (which is the opposite of what Trump wants), your involvement in Ukraine is only going to be there if it is transactional. Trump is a contrarian where his "enemies" are concerned, so anything Biden did he needs to undo, just as Biden came in and undid things he did. Biden's apparently close relationship with Zelenskyy rankles Trump, as does the fact that Zelenskyy did not play ball with his attempt to discredit Biden and his son. Trump had to rely on Congress to do that.
Trump is such a grievance monkey, I would at least have a plan B, if I were on his shit list. I know that a lot of immigrants who are ending up in Guantanamo are wishing this.
My biggest concern right now is that Trump will decide to use the US military on the side of Russia, against Ukraine and Europe. I will hope that he just removes them from Europe. Of course, Europe needs to grow their own military personnel and weaponry. I think they realize this now. Let us hope so. Let us hope that they are going to commit the numbers that they need to supporting Ukraine and themselves.
Everyone says that any cease fire just gives Putin a chance to rebuild his military, but it also gives Europe and Ukraine the chance to do that, with bigger GDP to put into it. Hopefully we will see Europe building armies that are a deterrent to Russia, although with US nukes and nuke support gone, it remains unclear if Europe can pose a credible threat to Putin sans the US.
Thanks, Linda. I had not thought of the potential of free Europe growing "their own military and weaponry." We don't have to be the only Sparta in the free world.
It is true. One reason Europe has been so comfortable with the US holding the peace, is that no one wants Germany to rebuild their military. Right now with the rise of the far right they particularly do not want that. It is too reminiscent of Nazi times. Germans are also used to laying low militarily since for 80 years that is 4 generations it has been the ethos that Germany should not have a scary military and not have a military leadership role. So, "Zeitenwende," will also mean that Germany has to move beyond that.
Also, I am sure there are going to be nukes discussions. I read in Euro news that there are Ukrainians fundraising so that Ukraine develops their own nukes again, since when they signed a treaty where Russia got their nukes too, Russia promised to never invade them. Well, that shows what Russia signing a treaty means.
Now if Germany is going to have nukes, Merz is going to have to convince an anti nuclear country that investing in nuclear weapons is a necessary deterrent to Russia. That would be a CDU/CSU Union position, but I don't know about the SPD. The AfD is in love with Russia and would not feel the need to spend money on that. The Left also has a contingent that does not see Russia as a threat because they are anti-US imperialism, and another contingent that is socially and environmentally against war. A case would have to be made that nukes prevent war. Not sure that that would be accepted because of the environmental impact. Same with the Greens. They are environmentally going to be against nukes, but pro rearmament because of the position on the side of Ukraine. What other parties think is going to perhaps count, but right now there are not other parties in the German government.
However, a friend and I were discussing this the other evening. He was telling me that he had read calculations that if Europe unites to create a military, they do not need to use that much of GDP, like something just over 1 %, I think he said 1.3% of GDP to pay for what is needed militarily. I did not ask where he got these figure though. I think a lot of catching up is needed. Now the Germans weapons industry is being revived, and now they need to rebuild the trains to be reliable again. Moving troops around on trains needs to be reliable too.
We shall be hearing about the conference European leaders held yesterday in London today I presume.
Linda - you sound German. Where do you get the idea that trains in Germany are not reliable? I use them all the time when I'm there (which is lately most of the time) - long distance, short. The system moves 5,5 million people a day, with 10% being delayed more than 15 minutes. Yes, due to construction and repairs of faulty equipment, sometimes there are delays, and a connection is not reached. But another connection is available within 30-60 minutes always. 558 Tons of goods are transported on rail, daily too. Japan, Switzerland, possibly France have a better record in their railsystems - with only Japan moving similar amounts of people. That's about it. None other. And from a US vantage point to lecture others about infrastructure is silly.
Because I live in Germany and have a Deutschland ticket. I do not use it to visit my daughter who is about 3 hours away by train in the fastest route, because to get there from where I live requires 5-6 transfers with the Deutschland ticket using all regional trains, and I cannot count on all of them to be there on time. That route would take 5 hours, but has often taken 6 because of missing a transfer. When you have to transfer that many times you are just in stress that you will miss your transfer unless you have all the time in the world.
In fact, I have not been on a train where I had to transfer that has been actually on time in the last 5 years, meaning all of the way. I am getting closer to that now since we pay to for a faster route, but still longer with no transfers. That takes 4 hours 17 minutes, but in the past 2 years each time she has gone and I have gone it has been on time only once. There is a faster way, but requires one transfer, and we have found that if you miss the 20 minute transfer time, and have a shorter one, you might not make it. So, we are paying more to take the fast trains and avoid transfers.
Switzerland, where trains are still largely on time, has been discussing decoupling from German trains for years because they are forcing delays.
My daughter was here visiting me just 3 weeks ago. She arrived on the delayed time, because the train arrived at her stop late, and then made up most of the time it was behind by the time it arrived here. She had to wait 20 minutes. There was a problem with a switch breaking down, which she says happens a lot.
I have been reading discussions of what is needed for Germany to get up to snuff militarily and one of these things is improving the train facilities. You do not want switches breaking down, you need enough tracks, and an investment in this rather than more Autobahn is better for everyone.
Can we debunk for once and all that the US forces in Europe were so massive and dominant during and after the cold war because the European countries were too lazy or miserly to defend themselves or asked to be protected! The US is/was in Europe in massive strength because that is what the US wanted and demanded - its military leading and the others in Europe following orders. NATO was never an alliance of equals. -- To be sure, as someone who served at a Nuclear command center during the cold war, I'm pro NATO to this day, and there was nothing malignant about the US leadership then. But an independent EU force and being kicked out of Europe would have not been acceptable to the US anytime since the end of WW2. So to now lament that the US needs to be so strong in Europe because Europe cares not to defend itself is another laughable lie.
That is what I am saying. I know that Germany does not have a strong military because it was not allowed to have one. The behavior of the US places a lot of dilemmas on European countries as they have to work around NATO. I see Trump pulling the US out of this group because he does not want to be bothered. Also, they no one is expecting him to follow any rules that he is not going to follow. He embraces the New Feudalism, and wants to do what he wants and ignore anything that gets in his way as he has done his whole life. Every minute spent on a court case was just a waste in terms of the results. On the other hand, if he had not been tried he might not have run again because he would not have had a need to, so the whole situation was a catch 22.
Calls like "Impeach him now" will lead nowhere but to the frustrating realization, that that is not going to happen, no matter what the monster. It was much easier to impeach him during his term and after 1/6, but it failed. The Country cannot rid itself from the tRump plague.
Actually, calls to impeach him put the idea in people's minds and makes it happening more likely. It is the same psychology as he used. Americans have to be in for the long game, which is calling for his and Musk's impeachment. Democratic senators should be kicked out who voted for censoring Al Green.
Democrats should be insisting that their elected legislators in both the Congress and state legislatures should be drafting legislation to protect the people from Trump and Musk. In Congress, they should be going to the press the moment that their bill is refused and explaining to the people how it will help them. There should be a press conference at least once a week with a new bill. Trump will of course try to create some performative distraction but if all of the House and Senators do this, then it is hard to pick on just one.
This is not a primary source. It is a secondary source. Vance‘s kids were skiing in Vermont today. A nice young fellow from the mountain’s ski school asked the young boy to put the bar down on the chairlift. His reply, “I don’t want to put it down.”
The young worker replied,”we have to put it down, it’s the law for your safety.”
The young boy reply,” I am going to have to get President Trump to change this law.”
President Zelenskyy is very familiar with Shakespeare. My preferred riposte to JD Vance would be: "Art anything more than a steward? Go, rub your chain with crumbs."
If you are a guy of a certain age and you have undergone black eyeliner tattooing you have been goth-groomed at some point in your life…so the language is accurate here and yeah he is strange. He obviously was into the Cure at some point. And yes he is a Catholic.
I must disagree. Bitch is female and he is clueless about women. Please don't insult women by giving him any female attributes. My nickname for him is "Clueless". About women, about foreign policy, about everything except how to cuddle up to oligarchs.
Yes, this is a good point: We older males hold onto feminine slurs of other males, an unfortunate holdover from the twentieth century. Vance is morally bankrupt and stupid in the way Bohoeffer coined. His foolishness is on display.
You make a good point. I do think that in general we should try to get away from this language (I had quoted it in solidarity above before I saw your comment). These men absolutely hate women and want to enslave us. I suppose I have, at times, fallen into the trap of using female slurs against them, as I know nothing would infuriate them more. It is, rather, sinking to their level. Thank you.
Ordinarily I would agree with you. But I used a prison term -- on purpose, for that's the exact prison term for someone like Vance. Appropriate for a man who's hitched his loathsome wagon to a 34-times convicted felon he once called "America's Hitler."
I wholeheartedly agree with everything in your post except for the designation, "little bitch." Next time I hope you'll choose a phrase not linked with gender. Thank you, though, for everything else.
Thank you Professor Snyder. Just came in from a rally in New Milford, CT. There were about 100 people participating, lining Main Street on four corners and a stretch. Good Signs. One third specifically Pro-Ukraine. The energy was fierce with lots of chanting and horn honking. I donated this morning, thank you for providing links.
Thank you for summing up the debacle created by trump and vance, yesterday. Slava Ukraine
This was an orchestrated shame show by Trump & Vance for one person: Putin. Trump loves this when it’s done for him. I wrote an apology & sent to the Ukraine Embassy in DC.
Something that bothers me—Mainstream media seldom reports Trump’s lies that we have spent $350 billion on Ukraine, when the high estimate is $187 billion, less if we are giving them our obsolete weapons, and spending much of it here for defense contractors to produce the upgraded weapons.
And that, although it sounds like a lot of money, it is only about 5% of the defense budget and 1% of our total federal budget. And when Vance and Republicans claim we can’t afford to keep spending at that rate, there is no pushback to that claim, due to widespread ignorance of these facts.
March 2020 Treasury quietly BAILED OUT BANKS AND WALL ST WITH A TOTAL OF 3-4 TRILLION DOLLARS.
The market was crashing, and it was said, needed "LIQUIDITY"😠
Small paragraph in business journal. Doubt Congress was notified.
💰 not added to national "debt." So sickening to have Republicans constantly "going on" for YEARS about the 'Debt." Especially now that they are ripping apart America
with a lie that they need to make government "more efficient."
Ruining America and American lives on purpose. Congress doesn't realize it is soon to be "influenced."
But what really troubles me are the opening remarks made by Mr. Snyder that Americans are taking the side of Putin, Trump, Vance and other Republicans who are disparaging, challenging and denying Zelensky's veracity. Dehumanizing the victims.... How sad and unfortunate that a sizable proportion of Americans can't agree that we have a stake in the maintenance of a global civilization. A failure of compassion - man's inhumanity to man....
I’m guessing that this event will peel off more than we might expect, including many in red states that have a lot of defense industries. For them, it’s two hits. The first is losing their job. Plus, those in the defense industry know they’ve been helping Ukraine fight Russia. Now this bond is being denigrated. Pride in the purpose of one’s work is being directly attacked.
I see the mass of voters distributed like our atmosphere, packed at sea level & gradually thinning as one moves up. If we can be ready, some are going to drift our way if Musk-Trump keep stirring things up. To mix metaphors, some of them may suddenly “pop” over to our side.
Plus, his voters were led to believe that finding peace for Ukraine would be something just and reasonable -- not a sellout. There is much goodwill for Ukraine in this country that will feel repulsion for the condescension/hatred displayed by T/V.
Big fan of yours, Timothy, and thank you for all the nuance. But for me it all distills down to: Trump is a mobster and he's joined the Putin and Xi mob, and now everything else is "nice country you got here, shame if anything happened to it". That includes US.
Krasnov doesn't even rise to the level of "mobster." He's just a pathetic traitor, who was turned into a Russian bitch in 1980. And he's been a good bitch ever since, always wiling to drop 'em and spread those ginormous cheeks for any Russian pig who comes along. Call him by his real name, the one given him by the Russians who own him: Krasnov.
Did anybody watch or read the Godfather? I recall the plot was to get the mafia boss's son a high government seat and "legitimize" his business. If not the son, looks like if the dodgy old crazy uncle (Big Con Donny) is electable (it's crazy but true), that's just as well. Who's the big Boss in this case? Donny told us Friday.
Yes Larry! Putin's Manchurian candidate showed his true colors yesterday. The Emperor now has no clothes! Impeach him now, before he destroys our democracy!
Speaking of not fulfilling contracts...doesn't the US still have an obligation to defend Ukraine against all invaders because we helped convince them to give up their nuclear weapons - clearly now seen as a bad idea. Was there a time limit on that contract, which a number of other countries agreed to as well?
This decisive fact is almost never cited by journalists, even those who strongly support Ukraine. The first paragraph of every story on the subject should refer to this treaty.
Well, when you look it up it seems Russia has violated it over and over again, and gotten some sanctions and tsktsks for it. It was continued when the START treaty might have ended it. Basically it says we'll support them, not that we will get involved. France and the UK are other signers. Russia gets around it by saying Ukraine isn't really a country so they're not invading Ukraine, this is a new place now and historically Russian so they get to demand it.
Trump got rid of the agency that was enforcing the sanctions a few days ago. Russia is basically broke except for the oligarchs and it's a great time for them to get out of the war. Trump wants US businesses to go back into Russia but the businesses are not so keen. And the Russians have no money to buy anything.
Thank you for reminding me that Russia has denied that Ukraine is a country, and therefore that they are not violating the Budapest Memorandum. I now understand why Musk said on X that Canada is not a real country.
That was many years ago. The Budapest Memorandum has departed. It has no gravity today.
The USA is a nation that changes every two years. The changes used to be moderate and were often worthwhile events to deal with a changing world. That moderation was accepted by much of the World and they trusted us. 2016 was a hint of a change in the moderation and 2024 the change promised to be radical. The promise is turning to truth and the world rightly watches and responds, albeit slowly, in the manner of large ships facing floating hazards and bad weather reports.
That is true if you are one who believes in norms of human conduct which includes integrity and honor. That would include honoring contracts you have signed. However, the rules have been re-written. Fact and truth no longer are accepted. Prior commitments are abandoned at the whim of one man. We now inhabit a Post-Truth world which is inundated by the Hailstorm of Lies.
Appreciate Timothy Snyder and his timely observations. One small JD Vance thought…does JD take exception to Elon's apparel as he did with Zelenskyy? Yes, small JD. An embarrassment! Caused an immediate donation to Ukraine aid from me. Thank you for those resources.
I had that thought too. Elon's outfit was very disrespectful. Not to mention illegal. Hat violates Hatch Act. Not to mention the nose wipe on the Resolute Desk.
Don't get sidetracked. All that nonsense meant was that that so-called journalist wanted to get in on an opportunity to humiliate President Zelenskyy. It's not important.
That he gets turned on by doing it with an inbred Southern gargoyle tells you all you need to know about him. His nickname is "Bee Face - if you look at a photo of his face, you'll see why. He's as ugly as she is, which is no surprise - birds of a feather do indeed flock together.
Marycat, Its importance is to showcase the small-minded American preference for conformity. And the right-wing desire to denigrate anyone not on their team.
Read the replies and you'll understand how easily you all get distracted. I ask you to please try not to. You've been manipulated by Trump and MTG's boyfriend on Putin's behalf.
Yesterday was an unforgivable shit show by that man and his stooge in what should have been a welcoming Oval Office state visit. This is how trump is paying Putin back for all the money Putin has invested in trump to get him in the Oval twice.
We’ve all been sold down the river and the paddles have been tossed overboard.
Getting back will be extremely difficult especially since most of our support agencies have been thoroughly corrupted and hollowed out.
We are in extreme danger now. Nikita Kruschev’s warning is coming true now.
I would add to your excellent piece what may well be implied: The animosity of Trump and Vance is due in part to their extreme discomfort with actual heros. People like Zelinsky, the late McCain, the Generals Trump fired, etc., are the embodiment of principled courage whose very existence is a reproach to miserable cowards like Trump and Vance. When Trump feels reproached--even implicitly--he starts yelling and breaking stuff.
In the scenario where the US ends all aid to Ukraine , it would seem that any leverage the US would have in getting Ukraine to accept a deal would also evaporate. While Ukraine would surely benefit from more Patriot missiles and long range rockets, and of course a real security plan, if those things are not on offer then there is no apparent reason for Ukraine to follow US directives.
T and V not only tried to humiliate Zelens'kyi by saying he was not grateful enough they also went further by making Ukraine and Russia equivalents because they both fight. It reminded me of Charlottesville when T said “ There were good people on both sides.” T does this cognitive distortion over and over again. Ie when people call me out I will call them out. Call me A crook I call you a crook. As if one Nazi at a demonstration mowing down bystanders = a pacifist at a demonstration.
this reminds so much of last autumns election campaign.
A blessed, decent, dignified, fit, extraordinarily accomplished woman had to defend details behind the comma, slight operational mistakes that can't get avoided,
whereas avallange of post truth alternate reality by a convicted felon and indicted traitor could steam ahead uncontrolled moving everything down to rubble.
Now this met a once in a century accompished war time leader.
And the same happens.
Without any recognizable anchor points to get societies out of that.
In Austria yesterday's humiliating, demoralizing postings got applauded by the 1/3 leaders, signed with #Patriot, in Hungary by the almost 2/3rd leader.
And no recognizable backlash.
Senators in US changed their positions within hours and fell in line.
The pecuniary and self profiting driven decadency took over by the superiority of the short soundbites of alternate reality.
Isn't that where we should focus on now in the closing year 1938?
Shouldn't people learn in whatever way of accessing them,
- why it matters, that their leaders let somebody else finish a sentence
- why it matters to respect real facts
- why decency is an achievement
- why any kind of political affairs, in particular international ones and even more with a people suffering under a barbaric war do matter
- why spine and predictability are essential for successful people's self governance
It's obvious now, even more than trump's first term, that he's been turned by ruzzia many years ago. What happened yesterday was a pre-planned ambush on Zelenskyy. I am disgusted daily by what they're doing to our country, and I definitely don't feel we are "The United States" anymore. The disgusting display yesterday, was one of the most embarrassing things to ever happen in our White House. I applaud Zelenskyy, he handled the bullies just as he should have, knowing he cannot trust trump for one second.
One thing I ask, please do not lump "Americans", with the BS that happened yesterday, it was trump, vance, and their ruzzian loving cohorts, Not Americans.
My take? The Felon will spend some time spreading and enhancing his lies about history, Ukraine, Zelensky and the horrible suffering of poor Vlad until the majority of the unbelievably gullible Americans believe him. Then he will call Putin and tell him the US won't respond if he uses nuclear weapons. One phone call and he could end the war in one day as he promised.
As usual you bring clarity and understanding Dr. Snyder. It seems the never ending saga of good vs evil (reason vs unreason) will have to be fought again in our time.
"We are the heroes we've been looking for" Eddie Glaude and also "The Power of the Powerless," by Vaclav Havel which Professor Snyder has recommended we all read!
I knew for sure when Trump was elected that things would get worse. I never believed thay would get this bad. Now I am worried about just how much woese they will get.
Will Trump promise Purin that if Putin mounts an offensive against Ukraine with everything it has then America will do nothing, or maybe help Russia by choking off whatever suppilkes Ukraine might get from other countries?
Will Trump threaten America's Europrean allies if they assist Ukraine?
It seems now that there is no limit to the assistance Trump will give Russia. Are nukes on the other side of a red line or not?
And now this. Trump is purely transactional, with no moral compass whatsoever and his core motive is his own enrachment. Will he maje a deal with Putin that in exchange for some millions added - quietly - to his own bank account he will send millions of U.S. money to Putin himself? Will anyone, or any organsization point out that Trump is treading close to the line of treason?
Rumor has it Putin has already "done a $million" (or 2 or 4) for trump, to bail him out when his inherited properties were going belly up under his management in the 80's. Trump is owned.
OMG things I hadn’t thought of. I haven’t seen mention anywhere of the fact that they deliberately made their ambush public. Obviously they planned to publicly subjugate Zelensky — was the point really to launch into the coming campaign to subjugate us all?
I believe the technical term for someone like JD vance is simply --- little bitch. The entire episode was an orchestrated hit job by two thugs tag-teaming kicking a true hero and his people in their faces.
I will be 70 tomorrow. I never thought I would like to see the day America treated its friends fighting for its values like this, while playing kissy face with its authoritarian tormentor and would-be murderer. A day that will live in infamy --- said the London Times. No truer words.
I am 73, and I agree. I actually think Professor Snyder was too generous. Trump is a psychopath, and a possible Russian agent. Vance is a shape-shifting, power-hungry cipher whose true nature is quite malevolent, it seems. They are both evil in their own ways. I may never get over my anger and disgust at those who put these horrible people in charge of our country and allowed this day of “infamy” to happen. I plan to contribute to the Ukrainian cause out of gratitude for their courage and defense of democracy writ large.
I have been using Strange Catholic Goth (it’s the eyeliner) as my personal descriptor of JD. The fact that Trump with his bronzer and JD with his tattooed eyeliner are held up as manly just gob-smacks me.
So does JD wear eyeliner? Looks like it to me.
The Divan Diddler also works.
JDV reminds me of Damien Thorn.
Putin's Manchurian candidate showed his true colors yesterday. The Emperor now has no clothes! Impeach him now, before he destroys our democracy!
From a Trump point of view, he does not care about democracy so there is nothing in it for him to help defend a democratic country. In fact, he has pretty much made clear with his personal heroes and alliance desires that he wants to support the illiberal world. So, by doing that, even if he tanks much of the American economy by destroying trade relationships, and making the seas much less safe in which to transport goods, since the US and the peace have helped to keep these seas safe, that are now taken over by Houthi Rebels attacking ships, and forcing the US and others to try to seek safer routes, most of which are longer and more costly, Trump does not care, because he is making sure to enhance his personal wealth and that of everyone around him.
In a transactional way if you are not going for securing democracy (which is the opposite of what Trump wants), your involvement in Ukraine is only going to be there if it is transactional. Trump is a contrarian where his "enemies" are concerned, so anything Biden did he needs to undo, just as Biden came in and undid things he did. Biden's apparently close relationship with Zelenskyy rankles Trump, as does the fact that Zelenskyy did not play ball with his attempt to discredit Biden and his son. Trump had to rely on Congress to do that.
Trump is such a grievance monkey, I would at least have a plan B, if I were on his shit list. I know that a lot of immigrants who are ending up in Guantanamo are wishing this.
My biggest concern right now is that Trump will decide to use the US military on the side of Russia, against Ukraine and Europe. I will hope that he just removes them from Europe. Of course, Europe needs to grow their own military personnel and weaponry. I think they realize this now. Let us hope so. Let us hope that they are going to commit the numbers that they need to supporting Ukraine and themselves.
Everyone says that any cease fire just gives Putin a chance to rebuild his military, but it also gives Europe and Ukraine the chance to do that, with bigger GDP to put into it. Hopefully we will see Europe building armies that are a deterrent to Russia, although with US nukes and nuke support gone, it remains unclear if Europe can pose a credible threat to Putin sans the US.
Thanks, Linda. I had not thought of the potential of free Europe growing "their own military and weaponry." We don't have to be the only Sparta in the free world.
It is true. One reason Europe has been so comfortable with the US holding the peace, is that no one wants Germany to rebuild their military. Right now with the rise of the far right they particularly do not want that. It is too reminiscent of Nazi times. Germans are also used to laying low militarily since for 80 years that is 4 generations it has been the ethos that Germany should not have a scary military and not have a military leadership role. So, "Zeitenwende," will also mean that Germany has to move beyond that.
Also, I am sure there are going to be nukes discussions. I read in Euro news that there are Ukrainians fundraising so that Ukraine develops their own nukes again, since when they signed a treaty where Russia got their nukes too, Russia promised to never invade them. Well, that shows what Russia signing a treaty means.
Now if Germany is going to have nukes, Merz is going to have to convince an anti nuclear country that investing in nuclear weapons is a necessary deterrent to Russia. That would be a CDU/CSU Union position, but I don't know about the SPD. The AfD is in love with Russia and would not feel the need to spend money on that. The Left also has a contingent that does not see Russia as a threat because they are anti-US imperialism, and another contingent that is socially and environmentally against war. A case would have to be made that nukes prevent war. Not sure that that would be accepted because of the environmental impact. Same with the Greens. They are environmentally going to be against nukes, but pro rearmament because of the position on the side of Ukraine. What other parties think is going to perhaps count, but right now there are not other parties in the German government.
However, a friend and I were discussing this the other evening. He was telling me that he had read calculations that if Europe unites to create a military, they do not need to use that much of GDP, like something just over 1 %, I think he said 1.3% of GDP to pay for what is needed militarily. I did not ask where he got these figure though. I think a lot of catching up is needed. Now the Germans weapons industry is being revived, and now they need to rebuild the trains to be reliable again. Moving troops around on trains needs to be reliable too.
We shall be hearing about the conference European leaders held yesterday in London today I presume.
Linda - you sound German. Where do you get the idea that trains in Germany are not reliable? I use them all the time when I'm there (which is lately most of the time) - long distance, short. The system moves 5,5 million people a day, with 10% being delayed more than 15 minutes. Yes, due to construction and repairs of faulty equipment, sometimes there are delays, and a connection is not reached. But another connection is available within 30-60 minutes always. 558 Tons of goods are transported on rail, daily too. Japan, Switzerland, possibly France have a better record in their railsystems - with only Japan moving similar amounts of people. That's about it. None other. And from a US vantage point to lecture others about infrastructure is silly.
Because I live in Germany and have a Deutschland ticket. I do not use it to visit my daughter who is about 3 hours away by train in the fastest route, because to get there from where I live requires 5-6 transfers with the Deutschland ticket using all regional trains, and I cannot count on all of them to be there on time. That route would take 5 hours, but has often taken 6 because of missing a transfer. When you have to transfer that many times you are just in stress that you will miss your transfer unless you have all the time in the world.
In fact, I have not been on a train where I had to transfer that has been actually on time in the last 5 years, meaning all of the way. I am getting closer to that now since we pay to for a faster route, but still longer with no transfers. That takes 4 hours 17 minutes, but in the past 2 years each time she has gone and I have gone it has been on time only once. There is a faster way, but requires one transfer, and we have found that if you miss the 20 minute transfer time, and have a shorter one, you might not make it. So, we are paying more to take the fast trains and avoid transfers.
Switzerland, where trains are still largely on time, has been discussing decoupling from German trains for years because they are forcing delays.
My daughter was here visiting me just 3 weeks ago. She arrived on the delayed time, because the train arrived at her stop late, and then made up most of the time it was behind by the time it arrived here. She had to wait 20 minutes. There was a problem with a switch breaking down, which she says happens a lot.
I have been reading discussions of what is needed for Germany to get up to snuff militarily and one of these things is improving the train facilities. You do not want switches breaking down, you need enough tracks, and an investment in this rather than more Autobahn is better for everyone.
Can we debunk for once and all that the US forces in Europe were so massive and dominant during and after the cold war because the European countries were too lazy or miserly to defend themselves or asked to be protected! The US is/was in Europe in massive strength because that is what the US wanted and demanded - its military leading and the others in Europe following orders. NATO was never an alliance of equals. -- To be sure, as someone who served at a Nuclear command center during the cold war, I'm pro NATO to this day, and there was nothing malignant about the US leadership then. But an independent EU force and being kicked out of Europe would have not been acceptable to the US anytime since the end of WW2. So to now lament that the US needs to be so strong in Europe because Europe cares not to defend itself is another laughable lie.
That is what I am saying. I know that Germany does not have a strong military because it was not allowed to have one. The behavior of the US places a lot of dilemmas on European countries as they have to work around NATO. I see Trump pulling the US out of this group because he does not want to be bothered. Also, they no one is expecting him to follow any rules that he is not going to follow. He embraces the New Feudalism, and wants to do what he wants and ignore anything that gets in his way as he has done his whole life. Every minute spent on a court case was just a waste in terms of the results. On the other hand, if he had not been tried he might not have run again because he would not have had a need to, so the whole situation was a catch 22.
Calls like "Impeach him now" will lead nowhere but to the frustrating realization, that that is not going to happen, no matter what the monster. It was much easier to impeach him during his term and after 1/6, but it failed. The Country cannot rid itself from the tRump plague.
Actually, calls to impeach him put the idea in people's minds and makes it happening more likely. It is the same psychology as he used. Americans have to be in for the long game, which is calling for his and Musk's impeachment. Democratic senators should be kicked out who voted for censoring Al Green.
Democrats should be insisting that their elected legislators in both the Congress and state legislatures should be drafting legislation to protect the people from Trump and Musk. In Congress, they should be going to the press the moment that their bill is refused and explaining to the people how it will help them. There should be a press conference at least once a week with a new bill. Trump will of course try to create some performative distraction but if all of the House and Senators do this, then it is hard to pick on just one.
My term would be Prostitute. I mean no disrespect to sex workers.
lol, amen to that.
Kleptocrat is the official term for someone who leads and steals from the people they govern.
Justa Dumbass Vance reminded me of Grover Dill, the little bully in A Christmas Story.
This is not a primary source. It is a secondary source. Vance‘s kids were skiing in Vermont today. A nice young fellow from the mountain’s ski school asked the young boy to put the bar down on the chairlift. His reply, “I don’t want to put it down.”
The young worker replied,”we have to put it down, it’s the law for your safety.”
The young boy reply,” I am going to have to get President Trump to change this law.”
What a snotty little bully. Just like his father.
I have been trying to follow Rule 9, Respect Language, nonetheless I am happy to Like your thoughts!
President Zelenskyy is very familiar with Shakespeare. My preferred riposte to JD Vance would be: "Art anything more than a steward? Go, rub your chain with crumbs."
I was thinking it’s fortunate, as a comedian, he has experience dealing with hecklers.
If you are a guy of a certain age and you have undergone black eyeliner tattooing you have been goth-groomed at some point in your life…so the language is accurate here and yeah he is strange. He obviously was into the Cure at some point. And yes he is a Catholic.
A recent Catholic, I believe
Same question.
What is the significance about his being a Catholic?
Converts are usually zealots.
I must disagree. Bitch is female and he is clueless about women. Please don't insult women by giving him any female attributes. My nickname for him is "Clueless". About women, about foreign policy, about everything except how to cuddle up to oligarchs.
Yes, this is a good point: We older males hold onto feminine slurs of other males, an unfortunate holdover from the twentieth century. Vance is morally bankrupt and stupid in the way Bohoeffer coined. His foolishness is on display.
You make a good point. I do think that in general we should try to get away from this language (I had quoted it in solidarity above before I saw your comment). These men absolutely hate women and want to enslave us. I suppose I have, at times, fallen into the trap of using female slurs against them, as I know nothing would infuriate them more. It is, rather, sinking to their level. Thank you.
Ordinarily I would agree with you. But I used a prison term -- on purpose, for that's the exact prison term for someone like Vance. Appropriate for a man who's hitched his loathsome wagon to a 34-times convicted felon he once called "America's Hitler."
I wondered how that pretzel logic worked: He's America's Hitler!" You make it sound like a bad thing! Here's a treat. Good boy.
Sorry - clueless is too soft and cute for the sold-his-soul monster.
And apparently Zelensky was caught on a hot mic, calling Vance just that under his breath. Another reason to revere this Ukrainian hero.
Yes there was some post about President Zelensky mouthing “Suka”. I believe he showed Herculean restraint.
I wholeheartedly agree with everything in your post except for the designation, "little bitch." Next time I hope you'll choose a phrase not linked with gender. Thank you, though, for everything else.
Thank you Professor Snyder. Just came in from a rally in New Milford, CT. There were about 100 people participating, lining Main Street on four corners and a stretch. Good Signs. One third specifically Pro-Ukraine. The energy was fierce with lots of chanting and horn honking. I donated this morning, thank you for providing links.
Thank you for summing up the debacle created by trump and vance, yesterday. Slava Ukraine
This was an orchestrated shame show by Trump & Vance for one person: Putin. Trump loves this when it’s done for him. I wrote an apology & sent to the Ukraine Embassy in DC.
I also wrote an apology to the ambassador.
Something that bothers me—Mainstream media seldom reports Trump’s lies that we have spent $350 billion on Ukraine, when the high estimate is $187 billion, less if we are giving them our obsolete weapons, and spending much of it here for defense contractors to produce the upgraded weapons.
And that, although it sounds like a lot of money, it is only about 5% of the defense budget and 1% of our total federal budget. And when Vance and Republicans claim we can’t afford to keep spending at that rate, there is no pushback to that claim, due to widespread ignorance of these facts.
March 2020 Treasury quietly BAILED OUT BANKS AND WALL ST WITH A TOTAL OF 3-4 TRILLION DOLLARS.
The market was crashing, and it was said, needed "LIQUIDITY"😠
Small paragraph in business journal. Doubt Congress was notified.
💰 not added to national "debt." So sickening to have Republicans constantly "going on" for YEARS about the 'Debt." Especially now that they are ripping apart America
with a lie that they need to make government "more efficient."
Ruining America and American lives on purpose. Congress doesn't realize it is soon to be "influenced."
Search "Reichstag" fire. 🗽🇺🇲🇺🇦
You mean 2010, not 2020?
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/19/trump-coronavirus-bailout-economy-plan-137680
Trump left, (for 12 weeks) did nothing about Covid.
Market was crashing. Trump's treasury decided
it needed "LIQUIDITY" so it made withdrawals from Treasury of 1 and a half TRILLION, another TRILLION and a half, and 1 more TRILLION. 💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
One small paragraph in a business journal that they did this for Banks and Wall St. Did not say Congress knew.
555,000 Americans died during that 12 weeks.😢
🗽🇺🇲🇺🇦
(Brookings Institute)
Good idea. I'll write one too.
Letters to the editor are good too.
Writing to President Lelensky, but embassy said they will be forwarding all messages to the president’s staff for him.
But what really troubles me are the opening remarks made by Mr. Snyder that Americans are taking the side of Putin, Trump, Vance and other Republicans who are disparaging, challenging and denying Zelensky's veracity. Dehumanizing the victims.... How sad and unfortunate that a sizable proportion of Americans can't agree that we have a stake in the maintenance of a global civilization. A failure of compassion - man's inhumanity to man....
I’m guessing that this event will peel off more than we might expect, including many in red states that have a lot of defense industries. For them, it’s two hits. The first is losing their job. Plus, those in the defense industry know they’ve been helping Ukraine fight Russia. Now this bond is being denigrated. Pride in the purpose of one’s work is being directly attacked.
Not so sure about that because MAGA voters aren’t too keen on connecting the dots, quite frankly.
I see the mass of voters distributed like our atmosphere, packed at sea level & gradually thinning as one moves up. If we can be ready, some are going to drift our way if Musk-Trump keep stirring things up. To mix metaphors, some of them may suddenly “pop” over to our side.
I appreciate your optimism; even just some of them embracing all the good about USA and their fellow citizens would be awesome, indeed.
Plus, his voters were led to believe that finding peace for Ukraine would be something just and reasonable -- not a sellout. There is much goodwill for Ukraine in this country that will feel repulsion for the condescension/hatred displayed by T/V.
To use the top clickbait word, some will be “shocked” by the total betrayal of values plus the crude meanness.
That is such a good idea. I will do it too. Thank you.
Big fan of yours, Timothy, and thank you for all the nuance. But for me it all distills down to: Trump is a mobster and he's joined the Putin and Xi mob, and now everything else is "nice country you got here, shame if anything happened to it". That includes US.
Krasnov doesn't even rise to the level of "mobster." He's just a pathetic traitor, who was turned into a Russian bitch in 1980. And he's been a good bitch ever since, always wiling to drop 'em and spread those ginormous cheeks for any Russian pig who comes along. Call him by his real name, the one given him by the Russians who own him: Krasnov.
Did anybody watch or read the Godfather? I recall the plot was to get the mafia boss's son a high government seat and "legitimize" his business. If not the son, looks like if the dodgy old crazy uncle (Big Con Donny) is electable (it's crazy but true), that's just as well. Who's the big Boss in this case? Donny told us Friday.
Yes Larry! Putin's Manchurian candidate showed his true colors yesterday. The Emperor now has no clothes! Impeach him now, before he destroys our democracy!
Impeach yes - if we can put enough Dems in the House to impeach trump & vance and enough in the Senate to convict. Then try them for treason…
Speaking of not fulfilling contracts...doesn't the US still have an obligation to defend Ukraine against all invaders because we helped convince them to give up their nuclear weapons - clearly now seen as a bad idea. Was there a time limit on that contract, which a number of other countries agreed to as well?
The UK and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum along with the U.S., guaranteeing Ukraine’s safety.
This decisive fact is almost never cited by journalists, even those who strongly support Ukraine. The first paragraph of every story on the subject should refer to this treaty.
Amen to that, Stacy!
Well, when you look it up it seems Russia has violated it over and over again, and gotten some sanctions and tsktsks for it. It was continued when the START treaty might have ended it. Basically it says we'll support them, not that we will get involved. France and the UK are other signers. Russia gets around it by saying Ukraine isn't really a country so they're not invading Ukraine, this is a new place now and historically Russian so they get to demand it.
Trump got rid of the agency that was enforcing the sanctions a few days ago. Russia is basically broke except for the oligarchs and it's a great time for them to get out of the war. Trump wants US businesses to go back into Russia but the businesses are not so keen. And the Russians have no money to buy anything.
Thank you for reminding me that Russia has denied that Ukraine is a country, and therefore that they are not violating the Budapest Memorandum. I now understand why Musk said on X that Canada is not a real country.
And the Gulf of America, what's up with that?
That was many years ago. The Budapest Memorandum has departed. It has no gravity today.
The USA is a nation that changes every two years. The changes used to be moderate and were often worthwhile events to deal with a changing world. That moderation was accepted by much of the World and they trusted us. 2016 was a hint of a change in the moderation and 2024 the change promised to be radical. The promise is turning to truth and the world rightly watches and responds, albeit slowly, in the manner of large ships facing floating hazards and bad weather reports.
I hope we can see it in time. The lifeboats are full.
That is true if you are one who believes in norms of human conduct which includes integrity and honor. That would include honoring contracts you have signed. However, the rules have been re-written. Fact and truth no longer are accepted. Prior commitments are abandoned at the whim of one man. We now inhabit a Post-Truth world which is inundated by the Hailstorm of Lies.
Attribution to Bertrand Russel: "First they fascinate the fools. Then they muzzle the intelligent." T/V were trying to muzzle Zelensky.
Appreciate Timothy Snyder and his timely observations. One small JD Vance thought…does JD take exception to Elon's apparel as he did with Zelenskyy? Yes, small JD. An embarrassment! Caused an immediate donation to Ukraine aid from me. Thank you for those resources.
I had that thought too. Elon's outfit was very disrespectful. Not to mention illegal. Hat violates Hatch Act. Not to mention the nose wipe on the Resolute Desk.
Trump don’t need no steenkin’ Hatch Act. King Donald the Weak be the law unto himself.
Don't get sidetracked. All that nonsense meant was that that so-called journalist wanted to get in on an opportunity to humiliate President Zelenskyy. It's not important.
the journalist who asked that is MTG boyfirend
That he gets turned on by doing it with an inbred Southern gargoyle tells you all you need to know about him. His nickname is "Bee Face - if you look at a photo of his face, you'll see why. He's as ugly as she is, which is no surprise - birds of a feather do indeed flock together.
Does he know her history? My other question is, is he blind?
Marycat, Its importance is to showcase the small-minded American preference for conformity. And the right-wing desire to denigrate anyone not on their team.
Did you know that journalist happens to be Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend?
At this stage, it is not.
I think Zelensky should have responded... "Why do you wear a suit?"
Read the replies and you'll understand how easily you all get distracted. I ask you to please try not to. You've been manipulated by Trump and MTG's boyfriend on Putin's behalf.
Yesterday was an unforgivable shit show by that man and his stooge in what should have been a welcoming Oval Office state visit. This is how trump is paying Putin back for all the money Putin has invested in trump to get him in the Oval twice.
We’ve all been sold down the river and the paddles have been tossed overboard.
Getting back will be extremely difficult especially since most of our support agencies have been thoroughly corrupted and hollowed out.
We are in extreme danger now. Nikita Kruschev’s warning is coming true now.
I would add to your excellent piece what may well be implied: The animosity of Trump and Vance is due in part to their extreme discomfort with actual heros. People like Zelinsky, the late McCain, the Generals Trump fired, etc., are the embodiment of principled courage whose very existence is a reproach to miserable cowards like Trump and Vance. When Trump feels reproached--even implicitly--he starts yelling and breaking stuff.
In the scenario where the US ends all aid to Ukraine , it would seem that any leverage the US would have in getting Ukraine to accept a deal would also evaporate. While Ukraine would surely benefit from more Patriot missiles and long range rockets, and of course a real security plan, if those things are not on offer then there is no apparent reason for Ukraine to follow US directives.
If Ukraine does not follow US directives Trump will be pleased to rename that country an enemy of the US. Which may be his prime directive after all.
T and V not only tried to humiliate Zelens'kyi by saying he was not grateful enough they also went further by making Ukraine and Russia equivalents because they both fight. It reminded me of Charlottesville when T said “ There were good people on both sides.” T does this cognitive distortion over and over again. Ie when people call me out I will call them out. Call me A crook I call you a crook. As if one Nazi at a demonstration mowing down bystanders = a pacifist at a demonstration.
this reminds so much of last autumns election campaign.
A blessed, decent, dignified, fit, extraordinarily accomplished woman had to defend details behind the comma, slight operational mistakes that can't get avoided,
whereas avallange of post truth alternate reality by a convicted felon and indicted traitor could steam ahead uncontrolled moving everything down to rubble.
Now this met a once in a century accompished war time leader.
And the same happens.
Without any recognizable anchor points to get societies out of that.
In Austria yesterday's humiliating, demoralizing postings got applauded by the 1/3 leaders, signed with #Patriot, in Hungary by the almost 2/3rd leader.
And no recognizable backlash.
Senators in US changed their positions within hours and fell in line.
The pecuniary and self profiting driven decadency took over by the superiority of the short soundbites of alternate reality.
Isn't that where we should focus on now in the closing year 1938?
Shouldn't people learn in whatever way of accessing them,
- why it matters, that their leaders let somebody else finish a sentence
- why it matters to respect real facts
- why decency is an achievement
- why any kind of political affairs, in particular international ones and even more with a people suffering under a barbaric war do matter
- why spine and predictability are essential for successful people's self governance
- ...
It's obvious now, even more than trump's first term, that he's been turned by ruzzia many years ago. What happened yesterday was a pre-planned ambush on Zelenskyy. I am disgusted daily by what they're doing to our country, and I definitely don't feel we are "The United States" anymore. The disgusting display yesterday, was one of the most embarrassing things to ever happen in our White House. I applaud Zelenskyy, he handled the bullies just as he should have, knowing he cannot trust trump for one second.
One thing I ask, please do not lump "Americans", with the BS that happened yesterday, it was trump, vance, and their ruzzian loving cohorts, Not Americans.
Slava Ukraini!
Sorry. That line is really getting tired. Americans by their deafening silence are complicit.
My take? The Felon will spend some time spreading and enhancing his lies about history, Ukraine, Zelensky and the horrible suffering of poor Vlad until the majority of the unbelievably gullible Americans believe him. Then he will call Putin and tell him the US won't respond if he uses nuclear weapons. One phone call and he could end the war in one day as he promised.
As usual you bring clarity and understanding Dr. Snyder. It seems the never ending saga of good vs evil (reason vs unreason) will have to be fought again in our time.
It's High Noon.....!!!!!!!..... Where is the Marshall??????
The Marshall is us. Up to us now.
"We are the heroes we've been looking for" Eddie Glaude and also "The Power of the Powerless," by Vaclav Havel which Professor Snyder has recommended we all read!
We need a Shadow State Department now.
Yes. The People's State Department.
yes US for USA. A great test is before us.
I was afraid of that. Where is the underground ?
It’s right here.
We are it.
Saddle up
https://open.spotify.com/track/4NQfrmGs9iQXVQI9IpRhjM?si=vQ0kNJc_S2OAulBM2eu6u
Saddle up.
I knew for sure when Trump was elected that things would get worse. I never believed thay would get this bad. Now I am worried about just how much woese they will get.
Will Trump promise Purin that if Putin mounts an offensive against Ukraine with everything it has then America will do nothing, or maybe help Russia by choking off whatever suppilkes Ukraine might get from other countries?
Will Trump threaten America's Europrean allies if they assist Ukraine?
It seems now that there is no limit to the assistance Trump will give Russia. Are nukes on the other side of a red line or not?
And now this. Trump is purely transactional, with no moral compass whatsoever and his core motive is his own enrachment. Will he maje a deal with Putin that in exchange for some millions added - quietly - to his own bank account he will send millions of U.S. money to Putin himself? Will anyone, or any organsization point out that Trump is treading close to the line of treason?
Rumor has it Putin has already "done a $million" (or 2 or 4) for trump, to bail him out when his inherited properties were going belly up under his management in the 80's. Trump is owned.
OMG things I hadn’t thought of. I haven’t seen mention anywhere of the fact that they deliberately made their ambush public. Obviously they planned to publicly subjugate Zelensky — was the point really to launch into the coming campaign to subjugate us all?