Are you going to watch Biden-Trump debate Thursday?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Welcome to American politics... yes and they determine who wins.  A small fraction of undecided voters in the swing states will decide the election.  That is really what all this is about... the debates, marketing, marketing in all but name from Fox News and MSNBC... it is about persuading that small fraction of people who really determine the outcome of the election.

I agree. Swing voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, NC, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Other states are effectually determined already.

[Florestan]

In my opinion, neither candidate has the physical stamina for this extremely demanding job.

Oh, I agree. They are both unprepared and unfit for being POTUS, especially in these times.

One is dangerous.

The current US foreign policy is set on escalating the war in Ukraine and on a collision course with Russia sooner or later. How is that any less dangerous than what Trump might or might not do?

EDIT: I see @Todd beat me to it.

[Karl Henning]

The current US foreign policy is set on escalating the war in Ukraine ....

This conflates enabling Ukraine to defend itself (a position from which I do not read you as dissenting) with "escalation." Personally, I'd rather have Biden trying to thread that needle. How does that differ from what the Convicted Felon would do? That's obvious: he would abase himself before Putin and undermine NATO. Only apologists for Moscow think this is a good idea.

[Brian]

Anyone who thinks there are no swing voters left missed this piece of True Cinema...

[Florestan]

This conflates enabling Ukraine to defend itself (a position from which I do not read you as dissenting) with "escalation."

For all the money, armament and training Ukraine has been given in these two years, the results have been very modest so far. It is obvious that Ukraine cannot win the war. To believe, as Zelensky apparently does, that they will recover all lost territories, including Crimea, is utterly delusional. The very contrary might be true: the longer the war goes on, the more territory they will lose. It's high time to face the reality and realize that "territory for peace" is the only way to put an end to the war and the sooner the peace talks begin, the better for all parties, including third-parties.


As for escalation, Ukraine has just been allowed by the US to use US weaponry to strike inside Russian territory. This, while justified militarily, can be, and is, interpreted by Putin as direct US involvement in war. And inevitably such attacks will result in Russian civilian casualties. After a series of such attacks Putin might or might not retaliate, but is it worth risking WWIII for the sake of Ukraine's lost cause? Because, once again: short of direct NATO intervention Ukraine cannot win the war.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Anyone who thinks there are no swing voters left missed this piece of True Cinema...

Is this good movie?

[Brian]

Is this good movie?

(No...I was being sarcastic.  )

[Karl Henning]

For all the money, armament and training Ukraine has been given in these two years, the results have been very modest so far. It is obvious that Ukraine cannot win the war. To believe, as Zelensky apparently does, that they will recover all lost territories, including Crimea, is utterly delusional. The very contrary might be true: the longer the war goes on, the more territory they will lose. It's high time to face the reality and realize that "territory for peace" is the only way to put an end to the war and the sooner the peace talks begin, the better for all parties, including third-parties.


As for escalation, Ukraine has just been allowed by the US to use US weaponry to strike inside Russian territory. This, while justified militarily, can be, and is, interpreted by Putin as direct US involvement in war. And inevitably such attacks will result in Russian civilian casualties. After a series of such attacks Putin might or might not retaliate, but is it worth risking WWIII for the sake of Ukraine's lost cause? Because, once again: short of direct NATO intervention Ukraine cannot win the war.

Opinion noted.

[AnotherSpin]

Opinion noted.

Your Romanian friend does not quite understand where the policy of concessions to aggressors leads. After Ukraine, Putin will want and get Moldova and, of course, Romania - the Romanians will certainly not resist like the Ukranians and will hurry to capitulate, as they did in 1944.

It is worth remembering a little history. In 1938 Chamberlain returned from Munich with a signed peace with Hitler, in return for the territory of the Sudetes. Everyone knows what happened next.

[Florestan]

Your Romanian friend does not quite understand where the policy of concessions to aggressors leads. After Ukraine, Putin will want and get Moldova and, of course, Romania - the Romanians will certainly not resist like the Ukranians and will hurry to capitulate, as they did in 1944.

Besides containing several errors, your post ignores the crucial fact that Romania is a member of NATO.

[71 dB]

I will probably watch some videos by lefty YouTubers commenting on the debate after the fact. 

Yes, I hate being back in this place again of watching Biden and Trump debate, but here we are and it is important.

Biden - Trump 2024. The rematch nobody asked for... 

[Karl Henning]

I will probably watch some videos by lefty YouTubers commenting on the debate after the fact. 

Biden - Trump 2024. The rematch nobody asked for... 

Not the election we need but the election we deserve.

[71 dB]

Not the election we need but the election we deserve.

I think you Americans deserve better than this, but if you feel this is what you folks deserve, the whole World is heavily affected by the US politics... so ...does the World deserve this? 

[LKB]

Won't watch it live.

Ditto. I work nights and will almost certainly be either in bed or preparing for my shift.

The highlights are bound to be on the Web shortly after the conclusion, I'll watch them at work.

[LKB]

I think you Americans deserve better than this, but if you feel this is what you folks deserve, the whole World is heavily affected by the US politics... so ...does the World deserve this? 

No, but the world doesn't deserve Putin either.

[71 dB]

No, but the world doesn't deserve Putin either.

Can't disagree with that!

[AnotherSpin]

No, but the world doesn't deserve Putin either.

Some Romanians are quite OK with Putin and don't mind him taking over other countries' territories

[LKB]

Some Romanians are quite OK with Putin and don't mind him taking over other countries' territories

Some Americans are as well, unfortunately.

[Florestan]

Some Romanians are quite OK with Putin

Sure, but such people are to be found in every country around the world. I am not one of them, though.

and don't mind him taking over other countries' territories

Speaking of which --- how about Ukraine giving back to Poland and Romania the territories which were forcibly taken from them by Stalin's Red Army and incorporated by fiat into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic to which they had never before belonged? It would be a nice token of gratitude for all the costly humanitarian and military aid both countries have been offering Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

[San Antone]

Definitely not. I would have if RFK had ben allowed to participate.