(09-30-2023, 07:04 PM)homebiscuit Wrote:

(09-30-2023, 05:20 PM)mikesez Wrote: Obviously what you think is obvious isn't obvious.  Is Whelan still "first in line" and why?
Suppose Russia then arrests a couple of American foreign exchange students for driving without a license.  Is Whelan still "first in line"? Suppose Putin says he will release the 10 petroleum workers and the 2 foreign exchange students for $1,000 each but he still wants sanctions relief for Whelan.  Is Whelan still "first in line"?

Oops. Lol. This is a little embarrassing. I should have known better than to ask to state an obvious fact because it provided an opportunity for you to attempt an escape by creating a tangent, which you did. And a good one at that; foreign exchange students, petroleum workers and even a dollar figure! Very impressive. 

Since you are avoiding said obvious fact (and I really don't feel like stepping around another deflection attempt) let me state it. Paul Whelan had priority consideration because he had already been imprisoned for three years when Griner was arrested. As is the custom for imprisoned Americans abroad, there were certainly back-channel communications to secure a release for Whelan. Exchanging Bout for his release was probably an element of those communications. 

And then, the anthem kneeling black lesbian landed in the lap of Vladamir Putin, who knew instinctively this was a game changer because of how she identified and how that identification was central to the ideology of Joe Biden's handlers. Suddenly, Whelan is off the table. The Russians understand American leftist politics and its emphasis on symbology. And, of course, a disregard for priority considerations. Surely the American President and his party wouldn't dare allow an anthem kneeling black lesbian to molder in a Russian prison (in this era of rampant anthem kneeling and black lesbian celebration) while securing the release of some white guy who probably votes Republican. Blasphemy!

We all know what happened next. The white guy remains in a Russian prison while the lever that could have very well sprung him was squandered on a social and ideological symbol in order to curry political favor. Biden's handlers got their girl back, not what logic and inherent fairness dictated.

Edit: Btw, does anyone remember how Joe Biden's handlers publicly fawned over Griner's wife, and even invited her to the White House, while Whelan's family stated they had been left largely in the dark? Pepperidge Farm remembers.