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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#107926: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:04:31 PM

Well Russia's certainly willing to invade and annex parts of Ukraine. So it's not that implausible.

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#107927: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:04:55 PM

Most of Snowden's data is now out of date anyway.

Wars between the great powers (and anyone under their umbrella of direct protection) ended (hopefully) with the advent of nuclear weapons. The threat of total destruction did more for world peace than any set of ideals. That and the globalized economy.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#107928: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:05:50 PM

Ukraine was never part of NATO and those bits wanted to be annexed anyway. If they really were serious about it Istanbul would be burning right now.

Oh really when?
Joesolo Indiana Solo Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Indiana Solo
#107929: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:15:36 PM

Yea, he needs to read up on brinkmanship. Putin plays hard for sure, but he's not stupid. Russia, and for that matter, any other country has no real chance in a conventional war against the US by itself, let alone all of Nato. Especially since montenegro is set to join soon.

I'm baaaaaaack
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#107930: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:38:59 PM

Putin isn't going to wage war with NATO, he's have to be crazier then Stalin to do that, and nobody is crazier then Stalin.

As for the US-China balance of power, it's becoming more equally specifically in the East Asia region, but that's it, the US is still ahead in the region and miles ahead of everyone globally.

As for Russia being more aggressive, it isn't, it's deliberately destabilising the non-NATO parts of the former USSR if they try and move away from Russia's orbit, it's been doing that since the USSR broke up, it's nothing new.

Russia hasn't gained power, look at a map, we effectively conquered the entire Warsaw Pact, we're pretty far ahead.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#107931: Jan 3rd 2016 at 5:39:41 PM

The most that will directly happen between the big powers is mostly inconsequential dick measuring bullshit, like claims over pointless islands and "accidentally" shot down planes on or near borders.

TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#107932: Jan 3rd 2016 at 6:03:16 PM

I would say no. Politicians want as much power for themselves as they can get, and the idea of checks and balances is something that was done to them against their will.

Done to them by whom? Who wrote those laws and voted them into effect? Who oversaw their execution? Who judged whether they were being transgressed?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#107933: Jan 3rd 2016 at 6:12:16 PM

As much as Russia and China dislike the US they have too much interest in not becoming irradiated wastelands to directly attack us.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#107934: Jan 3rd 2016 at 6:14:41 PM

Hell they don't need the threat of nukes, they're just plain uninterested.

Oh really when?
773202luna Since: Feb, 2013
#107935: Jan 3rd 2016 at 7:30:58 PM

The recent buzz over the Netflix series Making a Murderer (go check out my thread on it, by the way) has sparked calls for Steven Avery to get a presidential pardon:

http://time.com/4165678/making-a-murderer-petition/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook

What does everyone think? Is he innocent? And would he even get a pardon in Scott Walker's Wisconsin? (I find a presidential pardon unlikely due to his past violent history; this isn't like the case of Jeff Mizanskey who got life for weed.)

edited 3rd Jan '16 7:33:36 PM by 773202luna

ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#107936: Jan 3rd 2016 at 10:05:24 PM

[up]

Yeah, pretty sure that no sitting President would be willing to grant a pardon to someone that did an even worse version of Zippo Cat at some point in their lives.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
TheHandle United Earth from Stockholm Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
United Earth
#107937: Jan 4th 2016 at 12:13:59 AM

Life for weed.

It boggles the mind.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Linhasxoc Since: Jun, 2009
#107938: Jan 4th 2016 at 5:00:34 AM

I haven't seen the series but my dad has, and this stuff happened in my state. From what I've heard, a pardon would be way overcompensating, but a new trial seems like a good idea (especially for the kid, who seems to have gotten railroaded through this whole thing).

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#107939: Jan 4th 2016 at 6:21:31 AM

An appeal to a federal level where you're going to have a system that's much more impartial seems the next logical step.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#107940: Jan 4th 2016 at 8:29:04 AM

(Vox) 2015: The Year Congress Started Working Again.

Making Obama look bad is no longer a priority for Congress, as the Congressional establishment isn't really on good terms with (nor cares for) any of the deep 2016 Republican bench. As such, they're more concerned about getting policy done.

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#107941: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:05:57 AM

For a certain definition of "working," anyway. Rather, 2015 should be taken as the bare minimum (the kind of work you wouldn't get fired for, but you would probably be the first head in a round of layoffs).

Ogodei Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers from The front lines Since: Jan, 2011
Fuck you, Fascist sympathizers
#107943: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:12:51 AM

Has to be Poe's Law territory.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#107945: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:17:11 AM

It always baffles me how people who have been assisted by wellfare or unemployment benefits are the loudest to bitch about them. Hell, if it weren't for wellfare at one point I'd be dead and my parents would be on the streets, yet they always gripe about "wellfare queens" and "parasites."

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#107946: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:23:48 AM

It's stupid but it doesn't really shock me. If women and minorities are willing to support the Republicans then why not poor people too?

Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#107947: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:42:29 AM

If you're on welfare, it's always because you're temporarily down on your luck and trying your hardest despite unfair circumstances. If someone else is on welfare, it's because they're lazy.

Make a culture that prides itself on independence and then fail to foster an environment for independence to result in success, and you get dependent people in proud, angry denial.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#107948: Jan 4th 2016 at 9:50:45 AM

I like how he mentioned jesus like a billion times just to make up for sheer stupidity

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
NoName999 Since: May, 2011
#107949: Jan 4th 2016 at 10:00:55 AM

I like the bad grammar. Especially when he's probably one of those "Speak English to be apart of America" types.

Also, I like how he's a devout Christian but couldn't be assed to capitalize the 'L' in "Lord"

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#107950: Jan 4th 2016 at 10:01:57 AM

Hypocrisy and doublethink are such big parts of the culture down here. Sometimes I worry that we'll never be able to fix it.

Oh really when?

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