The Serious Discussion Thread.

[Grier]

America is bad if you don't have any health insurance or lots of money in your credit card hospitals will not treat you and they'll show you the front door.

Trump trashed America's Medicaid providing health care to the less well off. Seems nowadays in the US most can't afford the very high costs of Medicines, Medical or Dental care so they go without.
It annoys them that our Australia has far superior Health care, especially our PBS subsidies. Also our social welfare net.

 

[Grier]

Netanyahu got annoyed with Australia's decision to support a two state solution in Palestine following France, Canada, the UK and scores of other nations doing so.

Bibi Netandyahoo loves to bite back with the most absurd and rediculous comments. He attacked Australia with his stupid and lying rhetoric, even saying that Australia would do like him in a similar position.
Wrong! Don't ascribe your barbarous and genocidal leanings to us. P1ss off Duckhead! You're the real Devil!
Even denying the Famine in Gaza .... blah, blah, blah, .... Lies not worth listening to.
He's the one leading Israel down a rabbit hole to become a reviled and barbaric culture, as seen by the whole world.
Shame, shame, shame ...!

 

[Richie]

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks!

Thomas tells me it is Germany that is throwing the rocks.

 

[Richie]

Gotta hand it to Albo for showing some balls and declaring Australia backing of a Palestinian State along with our closest allies. I already despised Netanyahu with a passion now more after his vile response to our announcement, he and our own Jewish lobby.

 

[Grier]

Gotta hand it to Albo for showing some balls and declaring Australia backs a Palestinian State along with our closest allies. I already despised Netanyahu with a passion now more after his vile response to our announcement, he and our own Jewish lobby.

I think Albo's timing is good following in the wake of Canada, UK and France to recognise the State of Palestine. The two state solution Netanyahu says is rediculous, absurd, going down a rabbit hole of delusion ... blah, blah, blah ...

Albo says the two state solution is the best option, from many bad ones I reckon. It'll be declared formally next month at a UN get together.
Even so it'd still be very difficult to bring about peace in Palestine/the Middle East as the legacy of Netanyahu's barbarous acts will echo down generations of Palestinians, and other neighboring states. Like it still does in my once Ulster still revelling or sullen about the 1690 battle of the Boyne. So sad.

Thinking how Trump might react negatively to Australia's declaration, like doubling tariffs as he did with Canada, I listened to an ABC podcast saying how that might be unlikely with Trump seeing those awful pictures of starving Palestinian little children. He's got feelings! He joins the huge global sentiment against the obvious and cruel genocide in Gaza. Machine gunning many trying to reach inadequate provisions, ... That's so incredibly evil! Especially from a state that should know better given its own past sufferings. Such historical hypocrisy bleating as they have for 80 years is losing currency with many, as is Israel as a state, propped up by the US for many decades especially with armaments.
Trump could shut down Israel in a day stopping the supply of arms to their war machine, just saying! I doubt that'd happen.

Meanwhile Trump and Putin might be carving up Ukraine as I heard some postulate. They're meeting in Alaska at Putin's suggestion. Poignant given Alaska used to be Russian territory they sold to the US for~ $US18 million.
Maybe the cheque bounced and I wonder if Putin might take 2 less Ukranian provinces to get Alaska back.

 

[Richie]

Even so it'd still be very difficult to bring about peace in Palestine/the Middle East as the legacy of Netanyahu's barbarous acts will echo down generations of Palestinians, and other neighboring states.

Spot on Terry. Recognizing a Palestinian state is only the first step but it has to also be enforced, so how does a toothless tiger like the UN set it in stone, specially when only one veto (US) will put the kybosh on it. The UN charter MUST be changed to MAJORITY RULES.

 

[Grier]

Alaska, which was once a Russian colony, was bought by the US in 1867 for US$7.2 million ($11 million), or roughly 2 US cents per acre. It's of strategic importance to the US, as it provides a large coastline across the Pacific and Arctic oceans with several military bases and commercial harbours.

Its location has been particularly lauded by Trump himself
"I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia, on Friday," the US president said mistakenly, ahead of the much-anticipated summit in "Alaska"! Maps and marker pens?

On the streets and airwaves of Russia, the idea that Alaska rightfully belongs to Russia remains alive, often in satirical or provocative forms.

 

[Richie]

I'm going to Russia, on Friday," the US president said mistakenly

He really is an embarrassing buffoon. Another waste of taxpayer money as Putin wont change his stance nor will Zelensky. The only thing certain from this is that the killing will only go on and on and more mothers will grieve.

 

[Grier]

He really is an embarrassing buffoon. Another waste of taxpayer money as Putin wont change his stance nor will Zelensky. The only thing certain from this is that the killing will only go on and on and more mothers will grieve.

Tomorrow is the big parley between Putin and Trump who said there's a 25% chance he'll fail to broker something?
It'll be interesting to see how it goes. He could broker a burger ok.
There'll be lots of flattery from Putin knowing that's Trump's soft spot.

 

[Grier]

I got annoyed today with our US Ambassador Huckle here in Oz, telling us off about Australia planning to recognise a dual state system in 'Palestine', come September at an UN Assembly, along with first world nations France, Canada and the UK, and scores of other nations. He said our intent to likewise support Palestine Statehood was "Disgraceful, blah, blah, ..."
Mate, we're NOT a vassal state of the US, in your dreams. You're just wrong and morally bereft

Many critisized Albo being a softy but I reckon he treads lightly and carries a big stick that he used today in his reply to the Geoncide apologists.

Of course politically Albo was affected by the huge pro Palestinian marches which helped him echo the Australian sentiment about the "Disgraceful" tragedy happening in Gaza ..." ... words to that effect. The people spoke especially on the Coat Hanger bridge in Sydney.

Even the Right wing Jews Slagged off the Australian stance. Stuff them, we see, read and hear what disgraceful Ethnic Cleansing is happening by their hands and guns !
Deliberately killing UN and other Aid staff, and journalists who show Israel's vile actions to the world...

I even heard on ABC radio a spruiker saying some powerful Israelis want to not only brush out the starving Palestinians from Gaza but have their eyes on the West Bank, bits of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon too. Plans were released today for many more Jewish homes in the West Bank. Divide and conquer.

And yet they cry foul as they trash their own reputation, like many previous vicious regimes have done throughout history.

You can fool some of people some of the time but ... you can't fool all ..... who said that ?

Will the US keep enabling the Israeli War Machine?

 

[Richie]

Will the US keep enabling the Israeli War Machine?

This is the catalyst for the continued genocide of the Palestinian people, as it emboldens this murdering Zionist regime to operate their vile plans with impunity. Like I said yesterday the UN charter has to change to give it more clout to actually implement their threats and condemnation. Both Netanyahu and Trump should burn in hell.

 

[Richie]

Plans were released today for many more Jewish homes in the West Bank.

Yes in an area that is sacred to the Palestinians for their future homeland. As one hateful Zionist said, ''this will stop a Palestinian state''. They continue thumbing their noses at the international community, a majority of which are on the side of the oppressed.

 

[Grier]

Despite Senile Trump's self congratuality 10/10 media everywhere are saying Putin walked all over Trump in Alaska, who was slow in seeing how Puttin was dictating the the conversation to his own narative! Trump was sadly like Biden was.

A glimmer of hope though seeing Trump's face on the steps of his plane with a hard quizzical squink looking back, I suspect realising he'd been done over by a master of psycho babble kgb style in Putin. Even the critical media has some sympathy for Trump on that account. Me too.
Initially, despite the questionable invite to Moscow by Putin, Donald wised up more later on saying the next big meet with Ukraine included, ... would be the Big and Final Peace Deal.
TACO again...and again ... I hope not.
Putin played him.

 

[Grier]

Thanks to Trump's Terrible Tariffs nations like Canada are wanting to buy more Australian Wines. Yes!
Reds mostly for our Commonwealth Canadian cousins.

Meanwhile global press are scathing about the TACO in Alaska. He's getting as bad as Biden was, past his use by date!
He looks it too, older, and slower.... I wonder if health wise he could last out his term. Age catches up with all of us but Trump has been frenetically burning the candle at both ends.
How about a US President Vance?

 

[Richie]

How about a US President Vance?

Oh no. Everytime he utters a word I am hearing a SUPREMELY ARROGANT man. He will be just as bad as Trump.

 

[Richie]

Notice nothing mentioned at this Alaska talk fest about Crimea. It could be used as a bargaining chip to be returned to Ukraine for the Donbass region which is primarily populated by Russian speakers and probably Russian sympathisers too. Most of it is now militarily in Russian hands anyway.

 

[Grier]

Seems Crimea stays with Russia and I'm ok with that given the many Russians living there.
A mate's Russian Mum was born there and said it was always Russian and in 1954, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred the Crimean Peninsula from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (UkrSSR). This transfer was a symbolic gesture to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Pereyaslav. While Khrushchev was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union at the time.

However, I'd hope Ukraine can have returned to them the Donbass and other provinces captured by the Evil Rampaging Russian War Machine, led by a wanted War Criminal who speaks with a forked tongue, lying much, much better than Trump even. He fooled Trump with his KGB guile.

And very soon:

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, with backup from European leaders, will meet with President Trump at the White House on Monday in an effort to stand up to Russia, after Mr. Trump supported Moscow’s demand that Ukraine cede territory in order to end the war.

European leaders joining Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks with Donald Trump include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Other leaders attending are Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also be there to show support for Ukraine and discuss security guarantees. This gathering aims to present a united front in negotiations with Trump.

Will Taco Trump behave in a room full of the "Coalition of the Willing" European leaders ? And others like our Oz unashamedly in that Club even from afar.
One of many cynics said Trump usually goes with the last he heard on a subject. I suggest lots of flattery and presents start. A Noble Peace Prize carrot even!

Goodness knows where all this is headed Craig,
just like the razed Gaza Strip.

 

[Richie]

Seems Crimea stays with Russia and I'm ok with that given the many Russians living there.

Strategically it is of utmost significance to Ukraine and must remain a part of it for its security from further Russian aggression if and when peace is found..

 

[Richie]

However, I'd hope Ukraine can have returned to them the Donbass

We disagree again Terry. The Dombas, not Crimea, was the place where this war flame was lit as it has a large (prob many more than Crimea) Russian speaking population and Russia accused Ukraine of not respecting that. So Putin being a paranoia freak objected to this and armed the separatists.

 

[Richie]

This gathering aims to present a united front in negotiations with Trump.

I like it and betting so does Z, but how will Trump take this. ''Heh you guys are ganging up on me and I dont like it. I am going to double your tarriffs you bad, bad people and send you to bed without any dinner".