Where debating everything under the sun is only the beginning

Surely you know the difference between news programs and punditry?

That the host of the podcast ersi posted the link to — does not make that distinction, like many of his compatriots.

( [...] Idiots gotta idiot, occasionally, else they lose their liberal creds! But such bias was merely a momentary distraction. The MSM is also addicted to such; I take it for what it is, and mostly just leave it there.)

Newsflash: You did not see news there!

Quote from: ersi on 2022-04-01, 13:10:20

Newsflash: You did not see news there!

I beg to differ: First person experience -which the YouTuber's guest provided- is a necessary element of parsing the news.

([...] an SNL skit, where Tina Fey had Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin saying she "could see Russia from her back porch!" Ha-ha! A great many Democrats of my acquaintance believed the nominee said it! Go figure.)

My point was not an accusation of bias, per se, but an observation of a phenomenon quite pronounced and firmly entrenched in the culture of today's Democratic Party.

Had you any comment on Dave Bowman's podcast?

Sarah Palin actually said it.

Quote from: ersi on 2022-04-01, 14:51:34

Sarah Palin actually said it.

Except — she didn't. Tina Fey did. Was Couric's source -prompting the question- "common knowledge"? (I.e., people saw Tina Fey say it! And they repeated what they'd seen...? )

The actual video is available...

Does "news" have to come with an imprimatur?

Did that "news" ever get featured by European journalists?

Occasionally things get emotional because I feel genuinely insulted how dumb Americans are. But more often I take it as a wonderful opportunity to teach. I'm an old school type of teacher, with dunce hats, spanking and naughty corners in my arsenal. [underlining added]

About USSR I have known since birth that it is evil. It did not require any figuring whatsoever.

¹ And for years was a host of a radio program in my locality.↵

² Perhaps you disapprove? You might prefer there be a school where future presidents are properly educated, perhaps... ↵

Quite the remarkable (and typical) screed...

It's difficult to distinguish which came first, the anti-Americanism or the pretentious know-it-all-ism! But it's not quite a chicken-and-egg situation. Since you couch your barbs in the guise of observations, I'll reply in kind:
The Europeans have always looked down their noses at America. Their history makes them all-but incapable of escaping the silly class structures that color their world view, and they readily revert to denigrating their fellow Europeans when America loses their limited attention!

---

Why is there no thread about the current U.S. administration? (Not that I'm surprised...)

I was just reminded (by a former general officer appearing on a Fox News program) that the Biden administration's first reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was to offer Zelenskiy "a ride" out of town... President  Zelenskiy replied "I don't need a ride... I need weapons!"
Makes me wonder who's "side" the Biden administration is on...

Did that "news" ever get featured by European journalists?

https://youtu.be/PoaOwSPJPHw?t=135&end=190

but the masterful handling of the Ukraine crisis that became a full invasion has more than made up for that

The push for Europe to achieve strategic autonomy from the United States is being spearheaded by Macron, who, as part of his reelection campaign, apparently hopes to replace former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the de facto leader of Europe.

Macron, who claims that NATO is "brain dead," argues that Europe needs its own military because, according to him, the United States is no longer a reliable ally. He cites as examples: U.S. President Joe Biden's precipitous withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan; the growing pressure on Europe to take sides with the United States on China; and France's exclusion from a new security alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, many EU member states disagreed with Macron. Eastern European countries know that neither the EU nor France can match the military capabilities offered by NATO and the United States. Other countries are concerned about a panoply of issues ranging from financial costs to national sovereignty. Still others are opposed to creating a parallel structure to NATO that could undermine the transatlantic alliance.

Many EU countries insist on respecting former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's famous "three Ds": no decoupling of European security from the United States and NATO; no duplicating capabilities and structures that already exist within NATO; and no discriminating against NATO members that are not members of the EU.

(source)

Before the Sixties, youthful elites were close enough to their patrimony to respect its intellect, energy, values and travail. Liberal guilt, such as it was, rarely went further left than Rockefeller Republican.

The bottom line is Joe Biden — and most of the civilized world — wants to see Vladimir Putin out of power in Russia. More to the point: they want to see his regime changed and him most likely Gaddafi’d for his sins. And, to be frank, who can blame them?

There is just one problem: getting rid of Vlad means World War Three. And I can tell you from gaming out such a conflict countless times in simulators, such a conflict leaves tens of millions of people dead.

But let’s step back for a moment. I’m going to cut the president a little bit slack for saying out loud what we are all thinking. Biden surely was speaking from the heart, and he hasn’t been shy about calling President Putin every name in the book over the last few weeks either.

Considering Biden’s remarks, we do need to consider what has been a clear sea change in Russia policy due to Putin’s shocking invasion of Ukraine, which while warranted, could truly threaten Putin’s reign.

If you compile the tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine and the now trillions of dollars in mounting economic sanctions, the Russian state now faces the most serious crisis to its survival since Hitler invaded the old Soviet Union in 1941.

Six months from now, Russia’s economy could be on the verge of death, due not only to sanctions but also to the fact that most major companies want nothing to do with anything Russian-related: the reputational damage is too much to take on.

So in fact, yes, even if it was not intended, the combined actions of the planet to transform Russia into the new Nazi Germany means in the months to come, regime change will morph into the de facto goal. And Biden let the cat out of the bag.

But we all know such words — and those actions — will have consequences.

(source)

Kantian metaphysics aside, determining fact from fiction, fact from opinion, is a real-world skill, my friend.

You (somehow) found the video interview conducted by that (what did you call him? ) "half naked YouTuber" and posted it... Perhaps you had a point to make?

I'll not likely seek out other videos by him; but I assume his guest relayed his own impressions accurately. and I found his story interesting. (Not enlightening, because it wasn't surprising in any way.)

Sarah Palin said in her interview with Couric that, yes, as the governor of the U.S. state in closest proximity to Russia, she had occasion to interact with Russian officials...on trade, and other matters. (You do know, most of our presidents have been state governors?) And, yes, that was likely more experience than most state governors (or senators!) had in dealing with the Russians.
But you like the caricature so much, you'd never admit it, eh?

I trust you can distinguish between the regime and the people?

I honestly didn't know SDI was the source of your "moral" outrage... I didn't know you were capable of such naivety! But, live and learn. (I well remember the Soviets' first response: How dare you try to defend yourself? It was almost considered an act of war!)

In my European experience (and other Europeans here feel free to concur or debunk), SNL is one of those American culture elements that has no effect in Europe. I know that SNL is a massive cultural phenomenon in USA, and lots of American cultural phenomena, such as Hollywood movies, rock bands or hamburgers are commonplace in Europe(an awareness) too, but SNL is not among these. Hardly anyone in Europe knows that SNL exists or what it is. Another all-American thing that does not touch Europe at all is Superbowl.

I do appreciate your views, jax; and those of ersi and Frenzie. And you make fair points... But I think I have a better grasp of the whither and whence we can expect from the Biden administration. "Masterful"! Really?

She said that you can see Russia from Alaska. She said so apart from any caricature or irony. It is merely factual to acknowledge that she said so.

It depends a bit on how broadly you define SNL. The Blues Brothers for example is a beloved movie, and various Tina Fey movies are quite popular as well. I suppose culturally speaking we should simply regard them as a form of Hollywood, but they did come out of SNL.

I went back to my post and copied the (3rd) link I gave, the Couric interview, starting a 9 minutes 17 seconds in... Nope! That's not what she (Palin) said.

Couric: You've cited Alaska's proximity to Russia as part of your foreign policy experience. What did you mean by that?

Quote from: OakdaleFTL on 2022-04-03, 02:50:50I trust you can distinguish between the regime and the people?
Of course I can. The problem is that you cannot. You are a living embodiment of American wilful invincible ignorance and partisan bickering - without a reason to be any of it.

You are not a government worker or a party official, and you are below middle class. So, given your actual social status, all your interests should be concentrated on making a decent living,

instead of making apologies for the regime that has failed to provide for you in any way. Yet all you do is make apologies for the regime - even worse, demanding that the regime would not provide for anyone. This is highly curious, let's say.

¹ My burial will not burden my family! Yea! ↵

You pointless nitpicker.

And -gee whiz and golly!- even that little you heard was factually correct!

It's true, I never lusted after money. Nor have I ever felt superior to those who had less than I; nor inferior to those who had more!
I have enough, and am mostly content with my circumstance. And -this should not surprise you- I'm not envious of others' good fortune. I made my choices; I had different goals.

I'm not an apologist. But I don't shy from praising government actions (and actors) that I find commendable. And criticizing actions (and actors) that I find venal, vapid or voracious...
Is desiring -nay, demanding! as you say- honest government a futile fixation? Is hoping for intelligent -and perhaps wise leaders pie-in-the-sky? Well, brother, I'm too ornery to acquiesce to anything less than mediocrity.

I'll take this seriously as soon as you are commendable and honest and intelligent yourself.

the SNL skit was faithfully conveying its source material

All this comes across as hyper-individualist and anti-society.