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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
If the Republican party were to collapse and the Democratic party fracture into a moderate/right party and a progressive/left party, then that would basically bring our politics in line with the rest of the developed world (where mainstream Democratic policy is considered center-right by their standards).
I'd actually be fucking thrilled if that happened, but I'm not holding my breath for it. If it happens, it'll happen on its own, and there's relatively little that outside parties can do to influence it.
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.Query: How much of a stink did they raise when Poland or the Baltic States joined NATO?
"Yup. That tasted purple."The most we can hope for is a realignment to put the know-nothing segment on the back-burner as far as influence in whichever party they choose to align with. They're not going to be the defining majority any longer, but it will be a long time before they hit permanent minority status as far as government goes.
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I remember Putin going ballistic when Poland joined NATO and the plans to include a land based ABM shield there.
But then, it isn't as much a NATO encroachment of ex-soviet republics as it is said republics seeing NATO as a sure way of them not being fucked over by Russia and thus applying to join.
Inter arma enim silent legesThe US Republican Party is the only conservative party in democracies to be climate deniers.
The other 8 conservative parties stress emissions control and stopping global warming.
edited 28th Sep '15 11:40:56 AM by AnotherGuy
And now to throw a monkey wrench into Trump's rhetoric: New study shows that immigration from Latin America is falling, and that immigration from Asia is on the rise
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Except he saw it as suspicious, for the same reason people in the US are skeptical about the Iran deal - the assumption that they're saying one thing, but going to do another that's related to it ("Build nuclear plants" -> create nuclear weapons; "Build Anti-ballistic Missile bases" -> building ballistic missile bases pointed at Russia)
edited 28th Sep '15 12:57:07 PM by ironballs16
"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"Just because some countries might wanna join your little club, doesn't mean one must always allow them in with open arms. Balance of power is a thing, and try to unbalance too far one way, the other side eventually reacts.
As it happens, those very countries who have joined NATO are now trying to force it into a conflict not involving any NATO member. Eastern Europe's interests are not the same as Western Europe's, Russia or no Russia.
The presumption that Russia pursuing its interests is evil and/or must always be agitated against by the West is to the West's detriment because it doesn't match practical priorities, only the priorities of momentum and old biases.
This current idiocy going on with the US's reaction to Russian support for Assad is case in point. Obama wants him gone AND Daesh gone, yet doesn't bother to put the needed resources for either or both, and then gets mad when Russia does.
Russia always had ballistic missiles pointed towards it, by the US, French and British subs, but US CB Gs and other continental missile silos.
The ABM defense in Poland severely undermines Russia's ability to use IRBM and other nuclear assets as a major bargain point when addressing the region because there is a supposed counter to them.
Of course nuclear threats would never be explicitly used but they are heavily implied and having an ABM defense would allow the NATO aligned nations under the ABM umbrella to have some bargaining ground and call on the bluffs.
Inter arma enim silent leges

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I've been hoping that a new left wing party would form, vacate the Democratic party for the Establishment to slip into and push slightly right, then leave the know-nothings to perish in the host they've long since sucked dry.
"I have no fear, for fear is the little death that kills me over and over. Without fear, I die but once."