RussiaGate

[Elixir]

Oh, good, I'm glad they discussed election meddling. I was getting worried he hadn't got his latest instructions from Putin yet.

That's a tough one... Lavrov says they never discussed election meddling. Trump says they did. Both of them are liars, so yeah, it's a tough one.
I think it's what they call "election muddling".

 

[barbos]

I wonder if Lavrov is aware how much but-hurt he causes every time he steps into Oval Office. Trump knows that his base like him trolling democrats
I think we should now expect few Russian diplomats expelled from US.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president’s views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign

Trump's nuttery on Ukraine explained at length. A very good read.

His obsession here is identical to his obsession about Obama not being a U.S. citizen. He lacks the ability to be rational and accept evidence. The guy is truly delusional.

 

[barbos]

Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president’s views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign

Trump's nuttery on Ukraine explained at length. A very good read.

His obsession here is identical to his obsession about Obama not being a U.S. citizen. He lacks the ability to be rational and accept evidence. The guy is truly delusional.

Trump just stopped NordStream 2 by signing sanctions against Swiss company which is building it and you talk about how Trump is Putin's puppet.
I guess Putin would have to vote for Biden now or whoever gets nomination.
By the way, German papers are claiming that Merkel declares "war" on US because of these sanctions. It's getting pretty interesting, everybody is against everybody, and the only winner is US so far, I mean US fracking which pays Trump it seems.

 

[JohnG]

Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president’s views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign

Trump's nuttery on Ukraine explained at length. A very good read.

His obsession here is identical to his obsession about Obama not being a U.S. citizen. He lacks the ability to be rational and accept evidence. The guy is truly delusional.

Trump just stopped NordStream 2 by signing sanctions against Swiss company which is building it and you talk about how Trump is Putin's puppet.
I guess Putin would have to vote for Biden now or whoever gets nomination.
By the way, German papers are claiming that Merkel declares "war" on US because of these sanctions. It's getting pretty interesting, everybody is against everybody, and the only winner is US so far, I mean US fracking which pays Trump it seems.

I just read that that pipeline is going to be finished. I'll try to find the link.

 

[barbos]

Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president’s views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign

Trump's nuttery on Ukraine explained at length. A very good read.

His obsession here is identical to his obsession about Obama not being a U.S. citizen. He lacks the ability to be rational and accept evidence. The guy is truly delusional.

Trump just stopped NordStream 2 by signing sanctions against Swiss company which is building it and you talk about how Trump is Putin's puppet.
I guess Putin would have to vote for Biden now or whoever gets nomination.
By the way, German papers are claiming that Merkel declares "war" on US because of these sanctions. It's getting pretty interesting, everybody is against everybody, and the only winner is US so far, I mean US fracking which pays Trump it seems.

I just read that that pipeline is going to be finished. I'll try to find the link.

Well, the idea is to make it more expensive so that gas from US fracking becomes competitive. Russia does not have technology to build underwater pipelines, western companies and people are gonna be sanctioned by US.
And both democrats and republicans (Trump included) are for it. of course it's not corruption when US companies benefit, right?

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Former White House officials say they feared Putin influenced the president’s views on Ukraine and 2016 campaign

Trump's nuttery on Ukraine explained at length. A very good read.

His obsession here is identical to his obsession about Obama not being a U.S. citizen. He lacks the ability to be rational and accept evidence. The guy is truly delusional.

Trump just stopped NordStream 2 by signing sanctions against Swiss company which is building it and you talk about how Trump is Putin's puppet.
I guess Putin would have to vote for Biden now or whoever gets nomination.
By the way, German papers are claiming that Merkel declares "war" on US because of these sanctions. It's getting pretty interesting, everybody is against everybody, and the only winner is US so far, I mean US fracking which pays Trump it seems.

I just read that that pipeline is going to be finished. I'll try to find the link.

Here's a link:

Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline

Interesting. I think Trump is carrying through with his idiotic nationalism and also obviously pandering to his political base. But the pipeline will be built despite his idiocy according to the link.

His tariffs on some imported steel only caused a momentary blip in prices that caused overproduction and prices to crash. Steel in the U.S didn't profit at all. Fracking caused the same thing to happen in the U.S. I think he sees this not as an actual sanction like he did with Iran but as lip service. It can only make the U.S. situation worse in the long run.

 

[barbos]

I just read that that pipeline is going to be finished. I'll try to find the link.

Here's a link:

Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline

Interesting. I think Trump is carrying through with his idiotic nationalism and also obviously pandering to his political base. But the pipeline will be built despite his idiocy according to the link.

His tariffs on some imported steel only caused a momentary blip in prices that caused overproduction and prices to crash. Steel in the U.S didn't profit at all. Fracking caused the same thing to happen in the U.S. I think he sees this not as an actual sanction like he did with Iran but as lip service. It can only make the U.S. situation worse in the long run.

Tariff is one thing and sanctioning trade between two other countries is another. Imagine if Russia sanctioned Canada for exporting their maple syrup to US.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

I just read that that pipeline is going to be finished. I'll try to find the link.

Here's a link:

Nord Stream 2: Trump approves sanctions on Russia gas pipeline

Interesting. I think Trump is carrying through with his idiotic nationalism and also obviously pandering to his political base. But the pipeline will be built despite his idiocy according to the link.

His tariffs on some imported steel only caused a momentary blip in prices that caused overproduction and prices to crash. Steel in the U.S didn't profit at all. Fracking caused the same thing to happen in the U.S. I think he sees this not as an actual sanction like he did with Iran but as lip service. It can only make the U.S. situation worse in the long run.

Tariff is one thing and sanctioning trade between two other countries is another. Imagine if Russia sanctioned Canada for exporting their maple syrup to US.

Yes, Trump is nuts.

 

[blastula]

Congress voted for the sanctions, it was part of the defense spending bill.

 

[barbos]

Congress voted for the sanctions, it was part of the defense spending bill.

Yes, it's congress who is nuts, not Trump. But if there was a good time for Putin to remind Trump that he is his puppet/agent then it would be now.
In reality it's US gas fracking lobby who forced congress to go nuts.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Congress voted for the sanctions, it was part of the defense spending bill.

Yes, it's congress who is nuts, not Trump. But if there was a good time for Putin to remind Trump that he is his puppet/agent then it would be now.
In reality it's US gas fracking lobby who forced congress to go nuts.

Trump will do whatever enriches him the most personally. That's what makes him nuts.

Congress actually does fear Russian influence. The gas deal further strengthens Russian control over Europe. In the end it's still about resources and control, corporate profits, etc. so nothing new here.

 

[barbos]

Congress voted for the sanctions, it was part of the defense spending bill.

Yes, it's congress who is nuts, not Trump. But if there was a good time for Putin to remind Trump that he is his puppet/agent then it would be now.
In reality it's US gas fracking lobby who forced congress to go nuts.

Trump will do whatever enriches him the most personally. That's what makes him nuts.

Congress actually does fear Russian influence. The gas deal further strengthens Russian control over Europe. In the end it's still about resources and control, corporate profits, etc. so nothing new here.

Pahleeze. I have a bridge to sell to you. Soviet fucking Union was selling gas to Europe and you were fine with it. Control over Europe my ass.
US state department is running around smaller EU countries and bribes them into hating Russia in order to sell US fracked gas.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

Trump will do whatever enriches him the most personally. That's what makes him nuts.

Congress actually does fear Russian influence. The gas deal further strengthens Russian control over Europe. In the end it's still about resources and control, corporate profits, etc. so nothing new here.

Pahleeze. I have a bridge to sell to you. Soviet fucking Union was selling gas to Europe and you were fine with it. Control over Europe my ass.
US state department is running around smaller EU countries and bribes them into hating Russia in order to sell US fracked gas.

Selling gas, yes. But then the Ruskies held back supply in the depth of winter, you know, twisting the thumb screws a bit. So now they want to play nice I suppose but the lesson has been learned.

Hey, I don't care who gets the money, not personally involved, just saying I understand the geopolitical tug of war is all.

 

[barbos]

Trump will do whatever enriches him the most personally. That's what makes him nuts.

Congress actually does fear Russian influence. The gas deal further strengthens Russian control over Europe. In the end it's still about resources and control, corporate profits, etc. so nothing new here.

Pahleeze. I have a bridge to sell to you. Soviet fucking Union was selling gas to Europe and you were fine with it. Control over Europe my ass.
US state department is running around smaller EU countries and bribes them into hating Russia in order to sell US fracked gas.

Selling gas, yes. But then the Ruskies held back supply in the depth of winter,

What are you talking about?

you know, twisting the thumb screws a bit. So now they want to play nice I suppose but the lesson has been learned.

Hey, I don't care who gets the money, not personally involved,

You don't care about corruption?

just saying I understand the geopolitical tug of war is all.

How is that an excuse? I thought US was all about international law, democracy and human rights.

 

[barbos]

I think Clowns in Russian Duma are missing an opportunity here. They need to pass a similar law sanctioning let say trade between US and Canada or Mexico. Sanction canadian oil pipeline to US, or Mexican Tequila exporters.

US is too dependent on Canadian oil and need to diversify and who else is to do something about it if not Russia? US will thank Russia

 

[Elixir]

I thought US was all about international law, democracy and human rights.

It was.
But then came a corrupt president who was owned by a corrupt kleptocrat...

 

[Copernicus]

I think Clowns in Russian Duma are missing an opportunity here. They need to pass a similar law sanctioning let say trade between US and Canada or Mexico. Sanction canadian oil pipeline to US, or Mexican Tequila exporters.

US is too dependent on Canadian oil and need to diversify and who else is to do something about it if not Russia? US will thank Russia

Actually, Russia is the country with the dependency on oil, since it doesn't really export much of anything else. The Russian government can impose all the economic sanctions it wants on other governments, but it doesn't have enough economic clout to scare anyone with that kind of tactic. If it weren't stuck with an foolish autocrat trying to rebuild last century's Russian Empire, the Russian economy could actually become as much of a powerhouse as the Western economies it is trying to compete with.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I think Clowns in Russian Duma are missing an opportunity here. They need to pass a similar law sanctioning let say trade between US and Canada or Mexico. Sanction canadian oil pipeline to US, or Mexican Tequila exporters.

US is too dependent on Canadian oil and need to diversify and who else is to do something about it if not Russia? US will thank Russia

Actually, Russia is the country with the dependency on oil, since it doesn't really export much of anything else. The Russian government can impose all the economic sanctions it wants on other governments, but it doesn't have enough economic clout to scare anyone with that kind of tactic. If it weren't stuck with an foolish autocrat trying to rebuild last century's Russian Empire, the Russian economy could actually become as much of a powerhouse as the Western economies it is trying to compete with.

Russia appears to rely on oil/gas for about 50% of their exports. Not as bad as Saudi Arabia, but economic export diversification is definitely not something Russia has much of.

Canada is the 7th leading oil producer and has export diversification, despite having one-fifth the population of Russia..

 

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I think Clowns in Russian Duma are missing an opportunity here. They need to pass a similar law sanctioning let say trade between US and Canada or Mexico. Sanction canadian oil pipeline to US, or Mexican Tequila exporters.

US is too dependent on Canadian oil and need to diversify and who else is to do something about it if not Russia? US will thank Russia

Actually, Russia is the country with the dependency on oil, since it doesn't really export much of anything else. The Russian government can impose all the economic sanctions it wants on other governments, but it doesn't have enough economic clout to scare anyone with that kind of tactic. If it weren't stuck with an foolish autocrat trying to rebuild last century's Russian Empire, the Russian economy could actually become as much of a powerhouse as the Western economies it is trying to compete with.

Russia appears to rely on oil/gas for about 50% of their exports. Not as bad as Saudi Arabia, but economic export diversification is definitely not something Russia has much of.

Canada is the 7th leading oil producer and has export diversification, despite having one-fifth the population of Russia..

And this, of course, is all at the heart of why Putin tried to instal Trump to begin with, as Russia is sitting on the world's largest oil fields and would have already been long into processing had it not been for Obama putting sanctions on them for Ukraine (that are still in place).