JFK Assassination Forum
The JFK Assassination Discussion & Debate => JFK Assassination Discussion & Debate => Topic started by: Joe Elliott on June 07, 2026, 11:38:42 PM
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It has been a long time since we have discussed Ukraine. A couple of years ago, particularly after Trump won the 2024 election, some here were arguing that things were hopeless for Ukraine. Well, how are things going there? Russia gains have ground to a half. Their main efforts now seem to be to kill as many Ukrainian civilians as they can.
Will the Ukrainian civilians stand up to these drone attacks? I am confident that the answer is yes. So far, in four years of war, Russian has killed around 15,800 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN's OHCHR estimates. How do these losses, in proportion to their population, rank with other civilian loses in the past and recently.
Germany, 1940-1945: One in 177 civilians killed
Great Britain, 1940-1945: One in 618 civilians killed
America, 2022-2026, One in 2,068 civilians killed in automobile accidents.
Ukraine, 2022-2026, One in 2,318 known civilians killed by Russia.
I expect America to throw in the towel and swear off driving cars before I see Ukraine throw in the towel.
Also, likely far more Ukrainians have died in face-to-face encounters with Russian troops than from drone or missile attack. Most of these deaths are unrecorded because they occur in Russian held territory. But when Ukraine recaptured a lot of territory in the spring of 2022, the bodies of 4,313 were found, killed not by drones but Russia troops. The true number of Ukrainians killed by drones or missiles is more like 12,000. And the number of Ukrainian civilians killed at close range by Russian troops is likely several times that. Giving in to Russia will likely not cause this death rate to stop but to greatly increase.
Ukraine has a wolf by the ears. They have no other choice. And as they stay the course, the wolf is getting weaker and weaker and must eventually whimper for mercy and abandon all Ukrainian territory. It will quickly turn into a strong wolf if they do otherwise.
Slava Ukraine !
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JE-
Well, this is OT for the this forum...but Ukraine appears to have turned the tide in recent weeks.
I am appalled Western liberal democracies have not shown more resolve in defeating Tehran and Putin.
Trump is to blame, Euro-weaklings can be blamed, even the smarmy Gulf States can be blamed.
When Putin and the IRGC go down, the world will be a better place.
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My wife is over there now. The elephant in the room is that Russia has a massive nuclear arsenal. I don't see Russia ever whimpering for mercy. I can see Russia being pushed into doing something truly ghastly, especially with the demonstrated unwillingness of Trump and Europe to confront Putin in a meaningful way. It seems to me that now, with the balance at least shifting toward Ukraine, would be the time for a really strong push toward a negotiated peace.
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My wife is over there now. The elephant in the room is that Russia has a massive nuclear arsenal. I don't see Russia ever whimpering for mercy. I can see Russia being pushed into doing something truly ghastly, especially with the demonstrated unwillingness of Trump and Europe to confront Putin in a meaningful way. It seems to me that now, with the balance at least shifting toward Ukraine, would be the time for a really strong push toward a negotiated peace.
It's rumored 75% or more of their nuclear arsenal isn't functionable.
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I wouldn't want to bet my country or my world on that rumor. This is from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists:
As of early 2025, we estimate that Russia has a stockpile of approximately 4,309 nuclear warheads assigned for use by long-range strategic launchers and shorter-range tactical nuclear forces. This is a net decrease of approximately 71 warheads from last year, largely due to a change in our estimate of warheads assigned to non-strategic nuclear forces. Of the stockpiled warheads, approximately 1,718 strategic warheads are deployed: about 870 on land-based ballistic missiles, about 640 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and possibly slightly over 200 at heavy bomber bases. Another approximately 1,114 strategic warheads are in storage, along with about 1,477 nonstrategic warheads. In addition to the military stockpile for operational forces, a large number—approximately 1,150—of retired but still largely intact warheads await dismantlement, for a total inventory of approximately 5,459 warheads.
https://thebulletin.org/premium/2025-05/russian-nuclear-weapons-2025/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22620259604&gbraid=0AAAAAC3qOh-1Dd7CJ3jPAWeNCSnuOBi2b&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0JnRBhDJARIsALobnXZui9gWOzneozhx2ilA8uvfaGKK_eVPrdTNGPvGJYxwN__fv-0hSboaAiytEALw_wcB
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I wonder how long it will be before these posts get moved to the U.S. And International Politics thread.
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It has been a long time since we have discussed Ukraine. A couple of years ago, particularly after Trump won the 2024 election, some here were arguing that things were hopeless for Ukraine. Well, how are things going there? Russia gains have ground to a half. Their main efforts now seem to be to kill as many Ukrainian civilians as they can.
Will the Ukrainian civilians stand up to these drone attacks? I am confident that the answer is yes. So far, in four years of war, Russian has killed around 15,800 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN's OHCHR estimates. How do these losses, in proportion to their population, rank with other civilian loses in the past and recently.
Germany, 1940-1945: One in 177 civilians killed
Great Britain, 1940-1945: One in 618 civilians killed
America, 2022-2026, One in 2,068 civilians killed in automobile accidents.
Ukraine, 2022-2026, One in 2,318 known civilians killed by Russia.
I expect America to throw in the towel and swear off driving cars before I see Ukraine throw in the towel.
Also, likely far more Ukrainians have died in face-to-face encounters with Russian troops than from drone or missile attack. Most of these deaths are unrecorded because they occur in Russian held territory. But when Ukraine recaptured a lot of territory in the spring of 2022, the bodies of 4,313 were found, killed not by drones but Russia troops. The true number of Ukrainians killed by drones or missiles is more like 12,000. And the number of Ukrainian civilians killed at close range by Russian troops is likely several times that. Giving in to Russia will likely not cause this death rate to stop but to greatly increase.
Ukraine has a wolf by the ears. They have no other choice. And as they stay the course, the wolf is getting weaker and weaker and must eventually whimper for mercy and abandon all Ukrainian territory. It will quickly turn into a strong wolf if they do otherwise.
Slava Ukraine !
No one ever argued that things were hopeless in Ukraine. That is a false premise. The Trump argument has always been that the US should not bankroll the entire effort while others sit back and do nothing. Trump solved that problem by not giving Urkaine billions of dollars. He is requiring them to pay it back and putting pressure on our so called "allies" to do their part. It's unfortunate that Obama only sent Ukraine blankets while sending Iran a plane load of cash. Biden's weakness emboldened Putin to invade. Biden's only plan was US taxpayers funding an endless war in Ukraine while Europe sat back and laughed at us.
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No one ever argued that things were hopeless in Ukraine. That is a false premise. The Trump argument has always been that the US should not bankroll the entire effort while others sit back and do nothing. Trump solved that problem by not giving Urkaine billions of dollars. He is requiring them to pay it back and putting pressure on our so called "allies" to do their part. It's unfortunate that Obama only sent Ukraine blankets while sending Iran a plane load of cash. Biden's weakness emboldened Putin to invade. Biden's only plan was US taxpayers funding an endless war in Ukraine while Europe sat back and laughed at us.
Do you really think Biden planned anything during his presidency. I doubt Biden could even plan what he would have for lunch. I wonder if we will ever find out who the puppet masters were who pulled Joe's strings.
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Do you really think Biden planned anything during his presidency. I doubt Biden could even plan what he would have for lunch. I wonder if we will ever find out who the puppet masters were who pulled Joe's strings.
His plan was no having plan except to send more and more money. The US bankrolls the entire effort while "Europe" sits back and does nothing. Most countries try to avoid these situations and spend money on their own citizens. Our politicians want to control the flow of billions to military contractors who kick back the funds in the form of donations and cushy jobs for supporters and family. This creates an endless cycle of war and spending that brought us Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
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It has been a long time since we have discussed Ukraine. A couple of years ago, particularly after Trump won the 2024 election, some here were arguing that things were hopeless for Ukraine. Well, how are things going there? Russia gains have ground to a half. Their main efforts now seem to be to kill as many Ukrainian civilians as they can.
Will the Ukrainian civilians stand up to these drone attacks? I am confident that the answer is yes. So far, in four years of war, Russian has killed around 15,800 Ukrainian civilians, according to the UN's OHCHR estimates. How do these losses, in proportion to their population, rank with other civilian loses in the past and recently.
Germany, 1940-1945: One in 177 civilians killed
Great Britain, 1940-1945: One in 618 civilians killed
America, 2022-2026, One in 2,068 civilians killed in automobile accidents.
Ukraine, 2022-2026, One in 2,318 known civilians killed by Russia.
I expect America to throw in the towel and swear off driving cars before I see Ukraine throw in the towel.
Also, likely far more Ukrainians have died in face-to-face encounters with Russian troops than from drone or missile attack. Most of these deaths are unrecorded because they occur in Russian held territory. But when Ukraine recaptured a lot of territory in the spring of 2022, the bodies of 4,313 were found, killed not by drones but Russia troops. The true number of Ukrainians killed by drones or missiles is more like 12,000. And the number of Ukrainian civilians killed at close range by Russian troops is likely several times that. Giving in to Russia will likely not cause this death rate to stop but to greatly increase.
Ukraine has a wolf by the ears. They have no other choice. And as they stay the course, the wolf is getting weaker and weaker and must eventually whimper for mercy and abandon all Ukrainian territory. It will quickly turn into a strong wolf if they do otherwise.
Slava Ukraine!
This is a great post. Ukraine is near and dear to my heart, especially because my wife and I hosted an exchange student from Ukraine for a school year in 2017-2018, and then we visited her and her family in Ukraine in 2019. We totally fell in love with Ukraine.
I am utterly disgusted and sickened by Putin's unprovoked, criminal invasion of Ukraine. Our exchange student and her family had to spend time in bomb shelters in 2022 and 2023 because of Russian missile and artillery attacks.
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I worked with a deputy public defender in a completely podunk county - his name was Ben Cole, really! - who, together with his devoutly Mormon wife, had adopted, one at a time, SIX Ukrainian children. Do you have any idea of the work and expense involved in doing that? He never even mentioned it to me; I learned about it second-hand. Even though our offices were theoretically bitter enemies (not me, fortunately, since I did only civil work), I thereafter thought of him (and still do) as Saint Ben.
Somewhat more relevant to this thread: On the first morning of my first visit to Minsk in 2007, I happened to have breakfast at the Minsk Hotel with a woman form the State Department. She mentioned Ukraine as a cautionary tale. In contrast to the other former Soviet republics, she feared that Ukraine was too quickly embracing the worst of Western culture. At that time, Ukraine seemed to be riding high - but it was indeed a hotbed of Western-style corruption. Certainly, we cannot "blame" Ukraine for Putin's unilateral invasion, but I have to wonder if it would have happened if Ukraine had not moved so quickly toward Westernization.
To close on a humorous note that my wife taught me: She said that the Ukrainian language is so "unmelodic" that a Soviet expression for anything that simply doesn't work was "Ukraine opera." At the moment, Russia's invasion is proving to be something of a Ukraine opera for Putin.
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Do you really think Biden planned anything during his presidency. I doubt Biden could even plan what he would have for lunch. I wonder if we will ever find out who the puppet masters were who pulled Joe's strings.
There was only one...... BHO
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What a crazy war: I just happened to watch a BBC segment on the Africans who have been recruited by Russia to fight against Ukraine. The BBC interviewed a handful who have been captured by Ukraine. It was like listening to a bunch of clueless Zulu tribesmen. They were, of course, lured by Russia's promises and it wasn't clear that they even understood they would be fighting against Ukraine. But they all said that when released they would return to Russia rather than the hellholes they came from. Oh, yes, Mother Russia will welcome you with open arms and full military honors, you clueless Zulu dupes.
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LP--
I only know what I read and see online.
Russia is losing, and by losing I mean they are taking huge losses, and gaining nothing.
Putin is a madman. No one was planning to invade Russia anyway.
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What a crazy war: I just happened to watch a BBC segment on the Africans who have been recruited by Russia to fight against Ukraine. The BBC interviewed a handful who have been captured by Ukraine. It was like listening to a bunch of clueless Zulu tribesmen. They were, of course, lured by Russia's promises and it wasn't clear that they even understood they would be fighting against Ukraine. But they all said that when released they would return to Russia rather than the hellholes they came from. Oh, yes, Mother Russia will welcome you with open arms and full military honors, you clueless Zulu dupes.
Dear Fancy Pants Rants,
"Africans"?
"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?
You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.
Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?
-- Tom
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Dear Fancy Pants Rants,
"Africans"?
"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?
You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.
Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?
-- Tom
I am a complete bigot insofar as KGB-obsessed morons are concerned. My bigoted proclivities cause me to put them on Ignore, and it drives them even crazier than they already were.
The BBC described the lads, both in headlines across the screen and in the narrative, simply as "Africans." All of them would have been highly believable extras in the next episode of "Tarzan and Jane Meet the Zulu Tribesmen." Indeed, here is a much longer version of the short episode that I watched yesterday.
If the BBC airs an episode about KGB-obsessed morons I will do my best to defend your honor and assure them that you are in fact a KGB-obsessed Zulu chieftan who should simply be described as "a complete loon" to avoid any racist implications.
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I was kind of hoping Putin would kick the bucket soon but I went online and was surprised to learn he's a year younger than me. I was OK with it when Obama made me older than the POTUS for the first time in my life, but last year when I learned I was older than the Pope I felt really old. He was born just south of where I was born in Chicago.
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Dear Fancy Pants Rants [Lance Payette],
"Africans"?
"A bunch of Zulu tribesmen"?
You sound kinda racist, Fancy Pants Rants.
Are you a racist, Fancy Pants Rants?
-- Tom
You do condemn Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine, right? Right? Right?
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My wife is over there now. The elephant in the room is that Russia has a massive nuclear arsenal. I don't see Russia ever whimpering for mercy. I can see Russia being pushed into doing something truly ghastly, especially with the demonstrated unwillingness of Trump and Europe to confront Putin in a meaningful way. It seems to me that now, with the balance at least shifting toward Ukraine, would be the time for a really strong push toward a negotiated peace.
Do they? We saw in 2022 Russian vehicles roll into Ukraine on flat tires. Money was allocated for good quality tires. But much cheaper tires were bought instead. And the bulk of the money pocketed by military officers.
Could something similar have happened to the nuclear weapons? The United States spends a lot of money on maintenance of our nuclear arsenal, more capital each year than Russia's entire military budget, even though, officially, Russia has more nuclear weapons. We spend this money because the maintenance must be performed to keep the nuclear weapons in working order.
Put yourself in a Russian officer's shoes. Is your fraud more likely to found out if you take money meant for buying tires? Or take money meant for maintaining nuclear weapons. Are the vehicles more likely to be used in some ground war? Or are the nuclear weapons more likely to be used. If one is willing to risk buying inferior tires, one should be willing to skip maintenance of nuclear weapons.
So, Russia did not spend that much on yearly maintenance, and it is possible much of that went into the pockets of high induvial. The money for tires was diverted because officials thought it was likely the tires would never be needed. How much more likely would a high official think the nuclear weapons would never be needed.
In any case, Putin might give an order to launch an attack. Afterall, as things get desperate, what has he to lose? But his lieutenants would feel differently. They have a chance to take Putin's place and that would all be ruined by a nuclear war.
It makes sense for Russia to bluff. It does not make sense for Russia to use nuclear weapons. What makes more sense is for his lieutenants to kill him, if he gives that order and to take his place.
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I wonder how long it will be before these posts get moved to the U.S. And International Politics thread.
I tried to post to an old thread on Ukraine, but the software came back and said it had been more than 120 days since anyone had posted on that thread. The software suggested that I start a new thread. It did not suggest I post to the U. S. and International Politics thread. So, I started a new thread.
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It's rumored 75% or more of their nuclear arsenal isn't functionable.
This is a rumor that makes sense. Corruption is rampant in Russia. Less likely to notice buying inferior tires for military vehicles than failing to maintain nuclear weapons. If you are going to cheat on anything it is on maintenance of nuclear weapons.
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I have warned my wife since the beginning of the war not to become caught up in the sort of wishful thinking we see here. There is a real danger that Russia will destroy Ukraine if the situation becomes sufficiently desperate. "Military Ukraine" against "military Russia" is a dangerous and ultimately losing game if Russia goes nuclear. I say this as someone who has supported Ukraine to the tune of thousands of dollars (or at least Revived Soldiers Ukraine, https://www.rsukraine.org). Now is the time for a serious push for peace, but we don't see it from the U.S. or EU. This is from Fabian Hoffman, an acknowledged missile industry expert: "Assessments that Russia’s nuclear warheads have turned into a paper tiger appear unwarranted and unwise ... Those who argue that Russia no longer maintains a functioning deterrent are extrapolating from limited information, and such claims are not justified." https://missilematters.substack.com/p/the-state-and-viability-of-russias. I have said before that I believe The Donald actually cares precisely nothing about Ukraine, and I've seen nothing lately to change my opinion; at best, the fate of Ukraine is very low on his list of priorities.
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I have warned my wife since the beginning of the war not to become caught up in the sort of wishful thinking we see here. There is a real danger that Russia will destroy Ukraine if the situation becomes sufficiently desperate. "Military Ukraine" against "military Russia" is a dangerous and ultimately losing game if Russia goes nuclear. I say this as someone who has supported Ukraine to the tune of thousands of dollars (or at least Revived Soldiers Ukraine, https://www.rsukraine.org). Now is the time for a serious push for peace, but we don't see it from the U.S. or EU. This is from Fabian Hoffman, an acknowledged missile industry expert: "Assessments that Russia’s nuclear warheads have turned into a paper tiger appear unwarranted and unwise ... Those who argue that Russia no longer maintains a functioning deterrent are extrapolating from limited information, and such claims are not justified." https://missilematters.substack.com/p/the-state-and-viability-of-russias. I have said before that I believe The Donald actually cares precisely nothing about Ukraine, and I've seen nothing lately to change my opinion; at best, the fate of Ukraine is very low on his list of priorities.
Dear Fancy Pants Rants,
Should Ukraine let Putin keep the 20,000 kidnapped children, too?
-- Tom
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Ukraine is deeply corrupt. Thus Hunter Biden's long involvement. They have a complex history including being staunch supporters of the Nazis with involvement in the Holocaust. This is a complex regional conflict. It is not simply a good vs evil or David and Goliath war. Everything is transitory. This war may end soon or not but it will end. Putin will eventually be history and a new generation of Russian leaders that were not involved in the Cold War will take over. Hopefully they don't go too far in the way the rest of "Europe" to become a woke, socialist state but things will change. Trump, Putin, or Zelensky? Which has suspended election indefinitely? I'm all for Ukraine winning the war but the silly sentiment is just a product of some type of TDS conflation of Russia and Trump that was conjured up during the Russia collusion era.
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Ukraine is deeply corrupt. Thus Hunter Biden's long involvement. They have a complex history including being staunch supporters of the Nazis with involvement in the Holocaust. This is a complex regional conflict. It is not simply a good vs evil or David and Goliath war. Everything is transitory. This war may end soon or not but it will end. Putin will eventually be history and a new generation of Russian leaders that were not involved in the Cold War will take over. Hopefully they don't go too far in the way the rest of "Europe" to become a woke, socialist state but things will change. Trump, Putin, or Zelensky? Which has suspended election indefinitely? I'm all for Ukraine winning the war but the silly sentiment is just a product of some type of TDS conflation of Russia and Trump that was conjured up during the Russia collusion era.
Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.
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Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.
Trump will jump at the precious minerals if/when they become available.
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Well ... no one made The Donald say he would end the war in 24 hours. No one made him say Putin was his good buddy and wanted to please him. Since making a complete fool of himself insofar as Ukraine is concerned, he has simply lost interest and moved on. Ukraine was never anything for Trump but one more photo op - "Look what I did! Look how great I am!" Oops. I voted for Trump twice and was prepared to vote a third time, but even I can now see that he is a mental case - and I frankly have no innocent explanation for his infatuation with Vladimir. Trump, Putin or Zelensky? Zelensky, by a mile.
Trump made an effort to end it. That is more than Biden did. His only "plan" was to send more and more taxpayer money for "as long as it takes." Incredible stupidity. The war started and continued under Biden. Obama sent blankets. The double standard is amazing. Trump is expected to solve this war in 24 hours. When he doesn't, he is good buddies with Putin and a mental case. I can only believe that type of thinking has to be the product of an extensive propaganda campaign. Biden would literally have never ended this war. He probably didn't even remember it was going on. The establishment politicians have incentives to remain in a constant state of war. That allows them to control the flow of billions to military contractors who then reward them. A vicious cycle. The war in Ukraine is one of many regional conflicts that will flare up from time to time. It is deeply unfortunate but there is nothing Trump or anyone can do until it runs its course. Giving billions to Ukraine and allowing Zelensky to maintain a dictatorship and line the pockets of his buddies doesn't move the ball.
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Trump is expected to solve this war in 24 hours.
:D ...because he said he could.
How many more days on the war he started in Iran?
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:D ...because he said he could.
How many more days in Iran?
Wow. Imagine someone making a campaign promise and not being able to fulfill it. I bet that never happened with Biden or Obama. LOL. Trump speaks figuratively and in absolutes. There was no way that he or anyone could end that war in 24 hours. Taking that statement literally is a product of some type of TDS that results from the endless media propaganda. Trump did try to fulfill that promise. He made a concerted effort to get Putin to end the war. It hasn't worked. In contrast, Biden did absolutely nothing. He made no effort to find a solution. He just sent our money to a corrupt government and hoped for the best. Obama refused to send Ukraine any weapons. They were both weak and emboldened Putin to invade. Trump is supposed to clean up that mess is one day? Get a grip. Try to think for yourself about how this situation developed, who is at fault, and the realistic options for ending it.
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Wow. Imagine someone making a campaign promise and not being able to fulfill it. I bet that never happened with Biden or Obama. LOL. Trump speaks figuratively and in absolutes. There was no way that he or anyone could end that war in 24 hours. Taking that statement literally is a product of some type of TDS that results from the endless media propaganda. Trump did try to fulfill that promise. He made a concerted effort to get Putin to end the war. It hasn't worked. In contrast, Biden did absolutely nothing. He made no effort to find a solution. He just sent our money to a corrupt government and hoped for the best. Obama refused to send Ukraine any weapons. They were both weak and emboldened Putin to invade. Trump is supposed to clean up that mess is one day? Get a grip. Try to think for yourself about how this situation developed, who is at fault, and the realistic options for ending it.
:D
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:D
Fantastic rebuttal. Did your TDS programming glitch out? Again, were the Trump assassination attempts staged or not?
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Fantastic rebuttal. Did your TDS programming glitch out? Again, were the Trump assassination attempts staged or not?
TDS? Is that some kinda insult? - I wear it proudly.
Let's watch Capt. Cheeto have a mental breakdown on "Meet the Press" together:
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TDS? Is that some kinda insult? - I wear it proudly.
Let's watch Capt. Cheeto have a mental breakdown on "Meet the Press" together:
Wow Trump got angry at a reporter. That's a "mental breakdown"? Were you equally concerned when Biden didn't know where he was and wondered off into the trees and bushes? Why all the deflections? Again, were the Trump assassination attempts staged or not?
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Wow Trump got angry at a reporter. That's a "mental breakdown"? Were you equally concerned when Biden didn't know where he was and wondered off into the trees and bushes? Why all the deflections? Again, were the Trump assassination attempts staged or not?
Not a good look.
Assassination attempt staged? - I don't know
He was not struck in the ear by a bullet. That's for sure.
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If we had a rational, non-scary leader with pretty much exactly The Donald's core policies, I could support a large percentage of them. What I don't understand is what Trump cultists project onto him that somehow causes them to not see that this guy is nuts in a genuinely scary way. I COULDN'T STAND Hillary or Kamala, but it doesn't cause me to see Trump through rose-colored glasses. Within the TDS community, I think there are two distinct factions: (1) the Kamala types who simply have a VERY different vision of what America should be, and (2) those who, almost apart from anything to do with policy, can see that this guy is unhinged, scary and a possible threat to the very existence of the world. I would bet that, behind closed doors, pretty much 100% of other world leaders share view #2. Within the TCS (Trump Cultist Syndrome) community, there seems to be such visceral hatred of a cartoonish caricature of "Democrats" that Trump is a heroic figure as the antithesis of "those damn Democrats" even though he's nuts and scary. I have been agog ever since Dubya at the almost astoundingly goofy and unqualified characters that a country of 300 million people manages to nominate and elect - and The Donald is the absolute nadir, not only stunningly unqualified but nuts and scary. When I voted for him the first two times, I attributed it to an act that he was having fun with and enjoying - but there was a sane and savvy character behind the facade. Now I realize that what's behind the facade is scarier than the facade, by far.
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Not a good look.
Assassination attempt staged? - I don't know
He was not struck in the ear by a bullet. That's for sure.
You "don't know"? That means you at least entertain the conspiracy theory that someone staged the Trump assassination attempts despite - wait for it (a TDS loved phrase) - there being NO EVIDENCE that this is the case.
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You "don't know"? That means you at least entertain the conspiracy theory that someone staged the Trump assassination attempts despite - wait for it (a TDS loved phrase) - there being NO EVIDENCE that this is the case.
I have serious doubts he was struck by a bullet.
From all you have learned about 11/22 you should too.
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I had no idea the "conspiracy" numbers were as high as they are:
When given the options of "true," "false" or "not sure," and asked whether each of the incidents "was staged," a majority of respondents said they thought each event was either staged or said they were unsure. A plurality — roughly 45% — said each was a "real attempt."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/11/nx-s1-5818557/poll-trump-assassination-attempts-conspiracy-theories
While I would be in the "real attempt" camp, this does show what a large percentage of Americans think Trump is such a loose cannon that he is capable of almost anything.
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I had no idea the "conspiracy" numbers were as high as they are:
When given the options of "true," "false" or "not sure," and asked whether each of the incidents "was staged," a majority of respondents said they thought each event was either staged or said they were unsure. A plurality — roughly 45% — said each was a "real attempt."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/11/nx-s1-5818557/poll-trump-assassination-attempts-conspiracy-theories
While I would be in the "real attempt" camp, this does show what a large percentage of Americans think Trump is such a loose cannon that he is capable of almost anything.
My brother always says to me; "With him [Trump], it's in the cards."
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I have serious doubts he was struck by a bullet.
From all you have learned about 11/22 you should too.
HA HA HA. What was he struck with? There was nothing between Trump and the shooter. And its the Republicans who are the nutty conspiracy theorists? Advanced TDS is a terrible thing to behold. The propaganda impacts are frightening.
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HA HA HA. What was he struck with? There was nothing between Trump and the shooter. And its the Republicans who are the nutty conspiracy theorists? Advanced TDS is a terrible thing to behold. The propaganda impacts are frightening.
Richard, c'mon, you know better and ear cartilage doesn't grow back.
He was struck by something, shrapnel or a broken piece of something that went flying.
Whatever it was - it was a scrape nowhere near the speed of a bullet.
Be real.
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I had no idea the "conspiracy" numbers were as high as they are:
When given the options of "true," "false" or "not sure," and asked whether each of the incidents "was staged," a majority of respondents said they thought each event was either staged or said they were unsure. A plurality — roughly 45% — said each was a "real attempt."
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/11/nx-s1-5818557/poll-trump-assassination-attempts-conspiracy-theories
While I would be in the "real attempt" camp, this does show what a large percentage of Americans think Trump is such a loose cannon that he is capable of almost anything.
What it actually shows is that many people are TDS loons whose judgement has been impaired by media nonsense. There is no evidence that this was staged. That is laughable but some people hate Trump to such an extent due to their programming that they will entertain any baseless lie that lends itself to promoting the narrative. The same people will not hesitate to call Republicans conspiracy theorists when they suggest that the California election process is deeply flawed and lends itself to abuse. Even if not outright fraud but ballot harvesting.
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Richard, c'mon, you know better and ear cartilage doesn't grow back.
He was struck by something, shrapnel or a broken piece of something that went flying.
Whatever it was - it was a scrape nowhere near the speed of a bullet.
Be real.
Fantastic story. This gets better and better. There was a direct line of sight between the shooter and Trump. So what "broken piece of something" do you think hit his right ear while he is standing? If you want to believe that "shrapnel" from the bullet hit him, that is a distinction without any apparent difference. The TDS mind won't allow Trump to have miraculously survived an attempt on his life and behaved heroically. There is a firewall in the TDS programming that prohibits just acknowledging the obvious.
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Fantastic story. This gets better and better. There was a direct line of sight between the shooter and Trump. So what "broken piece of something" do you think hit his right ear while he is standing? If you want to believe that "shrapnel" from the bullet hit him, that is a distinction without any apparent difference. The TDS mind won't allow Trump to have miraculously survived an attempt on his life and behaved heroically. There is a firewall in the TDS programming that prohibits just acknowledging the obvious.
Scraped or struck by a bullet at 3,200 feet per second?
:D Perhaps you're the deranged one.
I asked AI:
A bullet traveling at ~ 3200 ft/s (supersonic) that grazes your ear acts like a high-speed scalpel. The physical impact, massive transfer of kinetic energy, and the severe acoustic shockwave create three distinct types of trauma:
Cartilage and Tissue Damage: The high velocity slices cleanly through cartilage and skin rather than taking the whole ear off, leaving a trough or an incised hole similar to a hole punch. Because the ear has a dense network of blood vessels, the wound will bleed profusely.
Acoustic Trauma: The bullet breaks the sound barrier, generating a miniature sonic boom (a ballistic N-wave). This shockwave, combined with the muzzle blast, produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB). A miss this close to the head is virtually guaranteed to rupture the eardrum and cause permanent, acute sensorineural hearing loss.
Temporary Cavitation: Though the ear has low density, the rapid transfer of kinetic energy displaces surrounding fluids and tissue, forcing surrounding tissue to stretch and snap back, which can cause lingering bruising and localized necrosis.
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Scraped or struck by a bullet at 3,200 feet per second?
:D Perhaps you're the deranged one.
I asked AI:
A bullet traveling at ~ 3200 ft/s (supersonic) that grazes your ear acts like a high-speed scalpel. The physical impact, massive transfer of kinetic energy, and the severe acoustic shockwave create three distinct types of trauma:
Cartilage and Tissue Damage: The high velocity slices cleanly through cartilage and skin rather than taking the whole ear off, leaving a trough or an incised hole similar to a hole punch. Because the ear has a dense network of blood vessels, the wound will bleed profusely.
Acoustic Trauma: The bullet breaks the sound barrier, generating a miniature sonic boom (a ballistic N-wave). This shockwave, combined with the muzzle blast, produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB). A miss this close to the head is virtually guaranteed to rupture the eardrum and cause permanent, acute sensorineural hearing loss.
Temporary Cavitation: Though the ear has low density, the rapid transfer of kinetic energy displaces surrounding fluids and tissue, forcing surrounding tissue to stretch and snap back, which can cause lingering bruising and localized necrosis.
You think AI is an authority? All AI does is search cyberspace for information regarding the issue at hand. It might or might not access accurate information. I discovered this when I was looking for a cite to back up a claim I had made. I found exactly the answer I was looking for. Then I looked at the source of the information and it was this forum. It had accessed a post I made the day before on the same subject. It was the ultimate confirmation bias.
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You think AI is an authority? All AI does is search cyberspace for information regarding the issue at hand. It might or might not access accurate information. I discovered this when I was looking for a cite to back up a claim I had made. I found exactly the answer I was looking for. Then I looked at the source of the information and it was this forum. It had accessed a post I made the day before on the same subject. It was the ultimate confirmation bias.
:D now you're a doctor?
Cartilage and Tissue Damage: The high velocity slices cleanly through cartilage and skin rather than taking the whole ear off, leaving a trough or an incised hole similar to a hole punch. Because the ear has a dense network of blood vessels, the wound will bleed profusely.
Acoustic Trauma: The bullet breaks the sound barrier, generating a miniature sonic boom (a ballistic N-wave). This shockwave, combined with the muzzle blast, produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB). A miss this close to the head is virtually guaranteed to rupture the eardrum and cause permanent, acute sensorineural hearing loss.
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Fantastic story. This gets better and better. There was a direct line of sight between the shooter and Trump. So what "broken piece of something" do you think hit his right ear while he is standing? If you want to believe that "shrapnel" from the bullet hit him, that is a distinction without any apparent difference. The TDS mind won't allow Trump to have miraculously survived an attempt on his life and behaved heroically. There is a firewall in the TDS programming that prohibits just acknowledging the obvious.
I'm not the first to say that if Trump found a cure for cancer, the lefties would find fault with it.
They'd probably accuse him of trying to bankrupt Social Security, which a cure for cancer would almost certainly do. It would blow all the actuarial tables out of the water.
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:D now you're a doctor?
Does it take a doctor to know that AI is a questionable research tool?
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Does it take a doctor to know that AI is a questionable research tool?
So a bullet from an Ar-15 doesn't travel at 3200 ft per sec?
A bullet that close, of that high velocity, does not slice cleanly through cartilage and skin?
The shockwave does not produce intense sound levels (up to 190 dB) - that fracture an eardrum?
My guess is at least 30% of what you say is off the top of your head BS:
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Scraped or struck by a bullet at 3,200 feet per second?
:D Perhaps you're the deranged one.
I asked AI:
A bullet traveling at ~ 3200 ft/s (supersonic) that grazes your ear acts like a high-speed scalpel. The physical impact, massive transfer of kinetic energy, and the severe acoustic shockwave create three distinct types of trauma:
Cartilage and Tissue Damage: The high velocity slices cleanly through cartilage and skin rather than taking the whole ear off, leaving a trough or an incised hole similar to a hole punch. Because the ear has a dense network of blood vessels, the wound will bleed profusely.
Acoustic Trauma: The bullet breaks the sound barrier, generating a miniature sonic boom (a ballistic N-wave). This shockwave, combined with the muzzle blast, produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB). A miss this close to the head is virtually guaranteed to rupture the eardrum and cause permanent, acute sensorineural hearing loss.
Temporary Cavitation: Though the ear has low density, the rapid transfer of kinetic energy displaces surrounding fluids and tissue, forcing surrounding tissue to stretch and snap back, which can cause lingering bruising and localized necrosis.
Try to focus. You seem to be under the influence of some type of TDS propaganda. The shooter had a direct line of sight. There was nothing between him and Trump. So what hit Trump if not the bullet? Why don't you believe a bullet can graze someone's ear instead of going through it? Good grief.
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Try to focus. You seem to be under the influence of some type of TDS propaganda. The shooter had a direct line of sight. There was nothing between him and Trump. So what hit Trump if not the bullet? Why don't you believe a bullet can graze someone's ear instead of going through it? Good grief.
I don't know what hit him.
A bullet from an Ar-15 travels at 3200 ft per sec
A bullet that close, of that high velocity, slices cleanly through cartilage and skin
The shockwave produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB) - that fracture an eardrum
These are facts
:D try to focus
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I don't know what hit him.
A bullet from an Ar-15 travels at 3200 ft per sec
A bullet that close, of that high velocity, slices cleanly through cartilage and skin
The shockwave produces intense sound levels (up to 190 dB) - that fracture an eardrum
These are facts
:D try to focus
Wisdom comes slowly to some. Why don't you know? What do the facts suggest are possible explanations for Trump's injury? We know that a person fired a rifle at Trump who was standing in a direct line of sight. Maybe that is a clue. Trump was hit by something on his ear at that exact moment. He was bleeding. Many people behind him were shot and one guy was killed. Does it take Sherlock Holmes to deduce what caused that injury to Trump under those circumstances? What are the plausible alternatives to his having been shot? There was nothing between him and the shooter to deflect a bullet or cause some type of ricochet. Even if the bullet had hit some imaginary thing that caused it to shatter, so what? That is a distinction that makes no apparent difference. He would still be considered to have been shot. Are you implying the whole thing was faked and Trump rubbed fake blood on himself? That is even crazier and more baseless than implying there is doubt about what caused his injury.
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Wisdom comes slowly to some. Why don't you know? What do the facts suggest are possible explanations for Trump's injury? We know that a person fired a rifle at Trump who was standing in a direct line of sight. Maybe that is a clue. Trump was hit by something on his ear at that exact moment. He was bleeding. Many people behind him were shot and one guy was killed. Does it take Sherlock Holmes to deduce what caused that injury to Trump under those circumstances? What are the plausible alternatives to his having been shot? There was nothing between him and the shooter to deflect a bullet or cause some type of ricochet. Even if the bullet had hit some imaginary thing that caused it to shatter, so what? That is a distinction that makes no apparent difference. He would still be considered to have been shot. Are you implying the whole thing was faked and Trump rubbed fake blood on himself? That is even crazier and more baseless than implying there is doubt about what caused his injury.
Stop it.
I'm not implying anything fake.
He was obviously hit by something - whatever it was, it did not graze him @ 3200 feet per second.
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Stop it.
I'm not implying anything fake.
He was obviously hit by something - whatever it was, it did not graze him @ 3200 feet per second.
By necessity you are implying something when you claim he wasn't shot. If he wasn't hit by a bullet, that means he must have been struck by something else. You can't have it both ways. His ear didn't just spontaneously start bleeding at the moment of the assassination. I can understand why you don't want to validate that claim. It is baseless and contrary the known facts. There is no plausible alternative. There is not even an implausible alternative. Your purpose is to imply something negative in an effort to diminish Trump's heroic behavior. You can't just say it was a miracle that he wasn't killed and his image in the aftermath is iconic. TDS 101.
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By necessity you are implying something when you claim he wasn't shot. If he wasn't hit by a bullet, that means he must have been struck by something else. You can't have it both ways. His ear didn't just spontaneously start bleeding at the moment of the assassination. I can understand why you don't want to validate that claim. It is baseless and contrary the known facts. There is no plausible alternative. There is not even an implausible alternative. Your purpose is to imply something negative in an effort to diminish Trump's heroic behavior. You can't just say it was a miracle that he wasn't killed and his image in the aftermath is iconic. TDS 101.
Does a AR-15 bullet travel at 3200 ft per sec or not?
:D You can't have it both ways.
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Does a AR-15 bullet travel at 3200 ft per sec or not?
:D You can't have it both ways.
You are trapped in some type of TDS loop. Again, the facts are that someone fired a shot at Trump. He was hit in the ear causing his ear to start bleeding. People behind him were injured and killed by gun shots. The speed of a bullet doesn't rebut the conclusion that he was struck with a bullet unless you have some counter explanation. For example, that this was faked and Trump rubbed ketchup on his face. The absurdity of that, however, is apparently obvious even to you because you just keep referencing some AI generated talking point that does not explain the event.
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You are trapped in some type of TDS loop. Again, the facts are that someone fired a shot at Trump. He was hit in the ear causing his ear to start bleeding. People behind him were injured and killed by gun shots. The speed of a bullet doesn't rebut the conclusion that he was struck with a bullet unless you have some counter explanation. For example, that this was faked and Trump rubbed ketchup on his face. The absurdity of that, however, is apparently obvious even to you because you just keep referencing some AI generated talking point that does not explain the event.
Give it up "Richard Smith"
;D a bullet at 3200 ft per sec (even grazing) would result in more severe damage to both his ear and hearing.
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Give it up "Richard Smith"
;D a bullet at 3200 ft per sec (even grazing) would result in more severe damage to both his ear and hearing.
So says internationally recognized ballistics expert Michael Capasse.