Another ultimatum came and went. Russia sure does seem to be generous on how many times it is willing to say this is your final chance to surrender. And in other news BoJo is banned from traveling to Russia, India cancels an order for Russian choppers, and Marine Le pen is accused of embezzlement
European Politics Thread
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Yes, and how exactly a popular movement for more westernization of Ukraine can't be hijacked the national elites? That's a point that probably is trickier for you folks above the Equator, but the national elites of post colonial countries, which I assume is fair to count the post Russian Empire/Soviet Union and the Balkans as, is that they are a backstabbing absolute merciless and reckless bunch that will often bow down to whoever gave then more economical gains (usually Western Companies) in the shorter time, and they are unbelievably hard on neoliberals like Regan and Thatcher.
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The whole "left" is trying to unite with Mélenchon since he got 22% of the votes…
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Oh look, social-democrats having very right-wing policies…
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The red rose lies.
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So apparently Macron's photographer decided a great idea for his campaign would be to post a thirst-trap photo of him on twitter:
https://www.comicsands.com/macron-lounging-shirt-open-photo-2657172763.html?fbclid=IwAR0fDalsXuZUeHkbW31kFCoe9RTH66iAtAlcsKWcWIM4UmXOHmqnILSgi9cI mean hey, it would get some housewives.
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So apparently Macron's photographer decided a great idea for his campaign would be to post a thirst-trap photo of him on twitter:
https://www.comicsands.com/macron-lounging-shirt-open-photo-2657172763.html?fbclid=IwAR0fDalsXuZUeHkbW31kFCoe9RTH66iAtAlcsKWcWIM4UmXOHmqnILSgi9cI mean hey, it would get some housewives.
No one fights like Macron
Douses lights like Macron
In a wrestling match nobody bites like Macron
For there's no one as burly and brawny
As you see I've got biceps to spare
Not a bit of him's scraggly or scrawny
That's right
And every last inch of me's covered with hair~PR team swoons
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Boring ass debate. There was a definitive lack of punchlines and brawl
I don't even see why there is a debate with a far-righty dipshit. Chirac in 2002 had refused to talk to LePen (father)
Anyway, all the polls are showing a clear victory of Macron. (hope I'm not eating crows for this line here)
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I think we would all hope Macron wins over LeCrazyWoman.
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Nah I'm going with the LeCrazyWoman, Trump and Bojo were not enough for the Northern Hemisphere to wake up for the revival of fascism.
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I don't think that the neo-liberals are ever gonna "wake up" though, and if they do, they'd probably make an alliance with the far-right like Mario Draghi with Matteo Salvini
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Yes, and how exactly a popular movement for more westernization of Ukraine can't be hijacked the national elites? That's a point that probably is trickier for you folks above the Equator, but the national elites of post colonial countries, which I assume is fair to count the post Russian Empire/Soviet Union and the Balkans as, is that they are a backstabbing absolute merciless and reckless bunch that will often bow down to whoever gave then more economical gains (usually Western Companies) in the shorter time, and they are unbelievably hard on neoliberals like Regan and Thatcher.
The alternative here being an even worse form of capitalism, an entire country run top to bottom like the mafia.
Also lol at the implication that popular movements in general don't always water down and lean toward some different power bloc in the end. You hope you can salvage the main points and end up somewhere better, and Ukraine joining the EU is an absolute objective improvement over the Russosphere so what the fuck point are you even trying to make.
You're framing this like it's between Latin America style nationalization versus the United Fruit Company, which it isn't at all.
The line you don't seem to understand here is not the equator but the old iron curtain. -
I understand all to well, entering in EU is better than ending up with a Putin, a Lukashenko or an Erdogan. Maybe I misspoke what I intended to say with another thing I said and caused a mixed message.
For starters I don't think Ukraine is in a safe path for democracy having elected a oligarch and then an actor, and I can say by experience and exemple - if we don't get rid of Bozo this election were of to another dictatorship incoming.
And yes, a probably expressed myself poorly in the popular movements in an ideal world maybe they didn't water down and ended up being steered by the wish of the oligarchs, the military class, etc. What I'm probably trying to say is that I get somehow a felling from those from the US-Europe axis that are not on the academic field of humans (history, sociology, etc) that "The Big Game" didn't change, is still the same as it was in the 20th century, is the same as it was in 19th century and is the same as it was in the 16th century.Old nations, old powers,old money bully the world for their privileges and weaker nations pay the price.
I thing we can both agree the Putin's main interest in Ukraine since 2014 was twofold: prestige and economic, on the prestige keep the pretense that Russia is still a major player in the Big Game by not letting a former satellite nation move to another alignment bloc; and economic at least is what concerns Donbass is that the region is rich in coal, and has part of the oil and gas fields of Ukraine, acquiring those would help keep the Gas Stranglehold on UE.–- Update From New Post Merge ---
Or maybe I'm just to tiered from how democracy and capitalism have been here for the last 8 years to hold any kind of hope in those concepts as they are now.
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Russias hateboner for Ukraine goes a bit further than economics and territorial ambitions. There is this whole racial undercurrent about how "lesser" ruses should learn their place and the way Russians have been conditioned to wholey idenfity themselves and their self-worth with the state and it's cultural values and how this bounces of Ukrainian slavs rejecting Russianess for westernness. Not saying gas or power projection is a non-factor, it clearly is in the mix, but i think a major reasons normal Russian are willing to go back to breadlines is that it allows them to "discipline" their children and set them "straight", in my opinion this whole mess has more to do with how Russians view Ukrainians, their perceived hierarchy, the role of russian culture in eastern Europe etc than it has to do with them thinking it'd be nice to get gas or whatever
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I've been trying to figure out a relateable analogy to how prejudicial Russians seem to regard Ukrainians. It can't be overtly racial being as they see them as fellow East Slavs, but… yeah it still reeks of heavy heavy prejudice.
I keep thinking ... is it like how Americans some times mock and laugh at "hillbillies" and the South more generally? Or how Londonders might look down their nose at northern English people?
But then naw I feel like those don't encapsulate the full thing. The full shitty borderline racist venom.Maybe how shitty northern Italians view southern Italians?
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Old timey Americans and native americans spring to mind. The Russian view is somewhere in the ball park of unfortunate savages who should just be glad that a real culture would be willing to civilize them, yet they fight back, keep their old ways despite ours clearly being superior. Should either fall in line and take their place as subjects or be eradicated and replaced.
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Old timey Americans and native americans spring to mind. The Russian view is somewhere in the ball park of unfortunate savages who should just be glad that a real culture would be willing to civilize them, yet they fight back, keep their old ways despite ours clearly being superior. Should either fall in line and take their place as subjects or be eradicated and replaced.
I wonder how much old Ukrainian nations like the Cossack Hetmanate and the Khanate of Crimea influence these prejudices.
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The Putin view of Ukrainians is if Colombians went into a frothing rage at the mere idea that Venezuelans thought of themselves as a distinct people with their own culture rather than accepting their true identity and destiny as citizens of Gran Colombia.
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@Monkey:
I've been trying to figure out a relateable analogy to how prejudicial Russians seem to regard Ukrainians. It can't be overtly racial being as they see them as fellow East Slavs, but… yeah it still reeks of heavy heavy prejudice.
I keep thinking ... is it like how Americans some times mock and laugh at "hillbillies" and the South more generally? Or how Londonders might look down their nose at northern English people?
But then naw I feel like those don't encapsulate the full thing. The full shitty borderline racist venom.Maybe how shitty northern Italians view southern Italians?
There's another dimension to Russian antipathy for Ukrainians, and it has to do with the Russian state (and Soviet one before it) defining "Nazi" as "anyone who dares hurt Russia."
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Has anyone floated an incel comparison yet?
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10 years of Macron it will be
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Was there ever any genuine doubt?
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Still a bit too close for comfort tbh.
I know it's partially due to the awkward voting system, but 40%+ voting for a legitimate fascist / Putin shill is still hardcore.
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I know it's partially due to the awkward voting system, but 40%+ voting for a legitimate fascist / Putin shill is still hardcore.
Wow what an eurocentric view, haven't you seen the elections on Terf Isle, and the American Continent? Trump and Bozo both had more votes than voters in France - which is around half of it's population.
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Maybe more interestingly is that Slovenian Trump/Orban (who infamously was the only EU leader who congratulated Trump on his election “victory” in 2020) got knocked on his ass by a centre-left wing coalition last night. There were real worries that Slovenia would backslide into authoritarianism like Poland and Hungary did if Janza won another term.
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The more tolerable choice for sure. Unfortunately, in my opinion, Europe is still in constant danger of sliding into an abyss. The bridge over the abyss may have widened a little for a short time, but I don't see the end of the bridge yet.
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The pit will always be there. It'd be naive to think that we could reach a point where we'd be immune to evil.
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Not immune, that's impossible, I agree, but at least reach a point that you don't have to fear that every event is now the breaking point.
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Yeah I wonder how long this "containment" against fascism is gonna last (or hold)
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I dunno, maybe i'm optimistic, but i rarely worry that Yuur-up is fated for some relapse into madness. But i suppose it is a possibility that comes with Europe re-adjusting to it's new place in the world.
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If we're really doing a 20s revival, I guess by 2033 where in for a bad weather.
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If we're really doing a 20s revival, I guess by 2033 where in for a bad weather.
Man, at least the original one had a good economy and lots of cocaine.
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Lend lease should light a fire under the collective Russian ass. Ukraine now has unlimited supplies rolling in, while Russia is struggling to find sources for high tech components for their tanks, missiles etc. Now if Europe can only get moving on phasing out Russian oil we can really speed up the decline of Russias military capabilities
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Since the elections, there has been talks between many left-wing parties to unite against Macron for the legislative elections.
If we believe "some" polls, it looks like Macron might get fucked in the arse and the next Prime Minister will be a left-winger. I think I'mma take my ticket on the hype train of the union of the left
It's not "done" yet, but we're heavily headed toward there
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Since the elections, there has been talks between many left-wing parties to unite against Macron for the legislative elections.
If we believe "some" polls, it looks like Macron might get fucked in the arse and the next Prime Minister will be a left-winger. I think I'mma take my ticket on the hype train of the union of the left
It's not "done" yet, but we're heavily headed toward there
Mélenchon didn't already announce he will run for PM?
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Technically, he cannot "run" for PM. The PM is chosen by the president in accord with the National Assembly. So we'll see -if the union happens and wins- who will be PM (and who will be part of the government).
And yeah he seems to adamantly believe in the negotiations for the union. He's just campaigning before even the union is made I guess
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Nohern Ireland becoming indepedent before Scotland would be really funny, actually.
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Small domino: David Cameron fucking a pig
Big domino: AND IRELAND LONG A PROVINCE BE A NATION ONCE AGAIN -
Nohern Ireland becoming indepedent before Scotland would be really funny, actually.
Ireland and Scotland have always been more fun than England.
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Nohern Ireland becoming indepedent before Scotland would be really funny, actually.
Well, I mean, they had a vote for it, and they went with staying, so…
Plus, there wasn't that whole "Plantation of Ulster" thing with Scotland.
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I know times are hard but really?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/desperate-russian-troops-plead-for-parents-money-to-buy-better-protective-gear-in-ukraineI've often wondered about that myself; seems like being supported by people who only want you there so the world can end in fire (with you going to Hell in the process) would be somewhat off-putting
3DS Friend Code 0044-2806-5284
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As poorly equipped as the Bundeswehr is in some cases, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up the same way here. Good that we have stopped starting wars…..
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Ireland and Scotland have always been more fun than England.
I wanted to take issue with this statement, but as I was about to type a notification on some local headline news cropped up stating "Police are appealing for information after a woman was squirted by a water pistol."
We used to be so cool. What the hell happened to that?
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No worries here's an exemple of the english being cool and hip
As if to prove me wrong here's a well deserved bit of news for us in blighty.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61452678I'm glad we came second to Ukraine. What a clear and positive message that sends to the people on the ground.
In other news it seems NATO has accepted Finland, with Sweden hot on their heels. It'll be very interesting to see how Putin decides to punish them.
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Turkey doesn't want Sweden and Finland to join because they allegedly support Kurdish terrorism: https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/
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I'd say that he's just angling for a bribe
