(03-03-2025, 10:16 AM)mikesez Wrote:

(03-03-2025, 09:48 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: I did answer your question and explain why. You're so fixated on steering the argument that you simply glossed it over and interpreted it with your bias. Where did I say Putin will respect Republicans and attack Democrats?  Question for you: Do you believe Biden projected weakness to the world? 

Your ultimate rhetorical goal here is to demonstrably prove that Trump is a Putin stooge while ignoring the fact that negotiating with Russia goes beyond Putin. Dealing with Russia is a thorny issue for the reasons I listed. I'm trying to illustrate big picture, but you're fixated on TDS talking points.

Where did you say that? Post 11817: 

Quote:However, I will concede your point if another impotent Democrat gains office. In that case, Ukraine would be the least of our worries and it would be left to Europe to do its duty. But that's doubtful considering the puling, supine ideology they've embraced.

You said that if Ukraine agrees to this mineral rights deal that doesn't have an explicit security guarantee, Russia would not invade while a Republican was in office but would invade while a Democrat was in office.

Do I believe Biden projected weakness to the world? Some parts of the world, yes.  I believe he projected weakness to Iran, when he chose to ice out the Saudis and tried to restart nuclear negotiations with the Iranians.  I think this emboldened the Iranians and Hamas to start [BLEEP] they couldn't finish.  Biden correctly stood by Israel while the consequences were meted out but it may not have come to that if Biden had been more resolute from the beginning.

But with regard to Russia-Ukraine and China-Taiwan, it's hard to imagine a President being stronger, more resolute, and less ambiguous in his intentions than Biden was.  Maybe he should have been more dithering and ambiguous, but I doubt that.

As for my goal I'm just on a quest for truth.  You made a really problematic statement about Putin's intentions and I'm showing you the implications of it.

I think Putin's calculus is more complicated and personal than simply which US party is in the White House. But he wants us to think Republican = strength and peace while Democrat = weakness and war.  I don't know why he wants us to think that but he does.  It's what his state media pushes.