lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

There IS no crisis there, except in the minds of the media and politicians wanting to divert attention. The Crimean bases involved belong to the Russians, so they can do what they want. The Ukrainian Gov. FEARS an invasion, but that does not MAKE an invasion.

There are far more important issues to occupy peoples attention. A manufactured crisis is not one of them. Letting the media determine public policy is a very stupid thing to do, but then we've really gotten used to it.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

In other words, this is another smoke screen to divert our attentions for Obamacare, crashing economy, and spying on Americans....

UncleJesse Loc: Hazzard Co, GA

It appears you are correct but this is one of those things that no one can predict the outcome. While it has the potential to escalate, it currently is only a what-if-crisis at this point.

It is a confusing situation right now:
Lindsay Graham is making a connection to Benghazi;
Marco Rubio supports Mr. Obama and Mr. Kerry that Russia must pay for it's behavior;
H. Clinton compares Russian behavior to Nazi Germany issuing emergency passports for leaving Crimea;
D. Rumsfeld criticizes weak foreign policy;
McCain says Putin has no respect for Mr. Obama;
Palin said, "I told you so";
No word from ex-Sec Condoleeza Rice or Colin Powell;
Merkel is quiet, only stating something about preserving territorial integrity;
Putin says except for the illegal president there, Ukrainians are brothers of Russia;
Crimea's Prime Minister claims all Ukrainian soldiers there have disarmed and pledged allegiance to Russia;
Crimea has declared a autonomy referendum March 30th but Ukrainian Parliament said they can't legally vote until May 30th;
Ukraine has a $15B bill it owes Russia;
Europe gets a third of it's energy from Russia via Ukraine pipelines;

All these factors illustrate that there is no clear path to predict what will happen. There are too many strategic disadvantages for either Russia, Ukraine or the US to escalate a position. It appears there are natural pressures for a Russian ally to step in and figure out a way for Russia to respectfully bail out while appeasing the US demand for some punishment. Maybe Merkel or Hollande can broker a deal.

UncleJesse Loc: Hazzard Co, GA

That was a Jon Stewart quip. You left out how Ukraine is a smoke screen to cover up IRS, DOJ, NSA and Benghazi scandals. Even killing OBL was a master plan with these scandals to distract from the economy. Then, when the economy shows improvement, it is a master plan to distract from the scandals.

I think he makes a good satirical observation (2nd vid):
1. Fox claims that he uses scandals to distract from the economy and then the economy to distract from the scandals
2. Obama claims Fox uses scandals to distract from progress in the economy.
3. A perpetual distraction loop with Fox working in concert with Obama to keep everyone from knowing what is going on.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-4-2014/appetite-for-distraction

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-4-2014/appetite-for-distraction---the-hawking-oppenheimer-distraction-loop

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Sorry to have offended you.

If our economy is improving, then why is it that at the shelter where I do volunteer work is now filling up with families? Why is it that they are signing up for my home budgeting course .... so many that I have to either turn people away or establish a new slot? If our economy is improving, then why are food banks across the US running low? One would think with an improving economy that more fulltime jobs would be available, but many of the people that come in say that they have applied for jobs; but most places are not hiring for 40 hours a week. Even the Feds say that unemployment will not improve until 2017 at the earliest. http://www.naturalnews.com/044168_unemployment_rate_Misery_Index_US_economy.html

UncleJesse Loc: Hazzard Co, GA

Oh yes, I agree! I just thought it was funny how Stewart was observing that Fox and Obama were working together to keep everyone's attention off of it. It seemed funny at the time but I can see how it could be interpreted...sorry ginnyt!

I think this new economy is going to stay for a long time no matter what Washington does. To those that say it is improving, they mean when compared to the lows of '08 and '09. However, the improvements are largely as you've observed, with more employment in part-time jobs.

When the economy booms it is due to some major indicator changing, like baby boomer spending, fuel prices dropping, digital revolution, housing (ahem, bubble). There doesn't seem to be anything like that on the horizon.

I admire you for the volunteer work that you do. :)

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

The economy is improving but it isn't reaching those near the bottom. The 95% of the improvement has gone to the top few percent.

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

I have missed you & your bright remarks.

grace scott

If the media thinks we have a crisis, then we have a crisis. Having to listen to them is a crisis, unless we hit the off button.

Donmac Loc: Lincoln, RI

I am not a fan of Putin (or Obama), but the FIRST murder hasn't happened in the Ukranian area as yet. Putin has soldiers on the ground because of the obvious revolution appearing in Kiev. It is basically a watch and see situation as yet.
Hillary has no knowledge of Nazi Germany and Hitler and his action before he came into power. Hitler had already murdered. Do we know this of Putin?

saltwind 78 Loc: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

I think that interfering in an independent countries internal affairs through military action constitutes a crisis. I don't care if the Russian forces were already in the Ukraine or invaded from Russia. It is especially dangerous because of the Ukrain's location in Europe.
I think that this is another example of Russia acting like Russia. Russia has sought to control the states on it's border since the days of World War 1 and 11., and it has never worked. The way for Russia to gain security is not through military action in Europe and other neighboring states in Asia but through joining Europe. Putin, unfortunately has made this impossible for the foreseeable future.

LAPhil Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Yes, we do.
http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/russias-putin-is-a-killer/

Patty

:thumbup:

hprinze Loc: Central Florida

What if the U.S. government continues its policy of meddling in the internal affairs of foreign countries?
Will it then become a crisis?

Patty

1994 Budapest Memorandum already agreed upon by the US and Ukraine actually requires Putin to do exactly what he is doing right now. This is not an invasion and only one shot has been fired over the heads of Ukraine soldiers advancing on the Russian military facility.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum_on_Security_Assurances
The US was outright caught red handed breaking this agreement and discussing who Washington woul;d put into power here once they had toppled the democratically elected government in this country.
http://larouchepac.com/node/29746