To hell with Ukraine!

I don't know if Blogger will allow this, 

but I'll give it a try.

Am I the only American who is getting sick and tired of hearing about Ukraine?

Just why the hell does it matter so much?

Yes, I've heard various arguments.

But they seem quite speculative and hypothetical, if not specious, to me.

I can well understand that the Russians had very valid reasons for not wanting Ukraine to join the Western camp, 

just as the U.S. would not want for Mexico or Canada to join the 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_Security_Treaty_Organization

or the 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation ,

become stuffed full of arms from Russia or China, 

or be strongly influenced by the intelligence agencies of those powers. Just recall how the U.S. reacted to Soviet missiles being placed in Cuba 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Missile_Crisis .

Yes, great powers do react to threats.

To some, it's always 1938, another Munich is just around the corner, and Putin is lusting after more territorial conquests, 

if only he gets his way in Ukraine.

I think this is baloney.

We know that there are Russia-haters in the West.

I think they are grossly exaggerating the territorial threat that Russia poses to Europe.

Everyone has seen the difficulties Russia has had just fighting Ukraine, and the losses they have suffered as a result of their

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_military_operation

It seems doubtful to me that Russia will want more, 

unless the West goes out of its way to provoke it.

Please don't.

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A one-minute John Mearsheimer video

"Putin did not want the war":

https://youtu.be/bYeztN9JB44

Gerrymandering

First, let us consider California.

The partisan division of the overall California electorate (registered voters) is roughly 

46% Democratic 

24% Republican

California Voter and Party Profiles - Public Policy Institute of California https://share.google/xxlJN5nqlAQzd2Z4z

I.e., a roughly 2:1 Democratic advantage.

OTOH,  the partisan divide of the California congressional delegation is:

43 Democrats: 43/52=83%

9 Republicans: 9/52=17%

United States congressional delegations from California - Ballotpedia https://share.google/RPxbnZetJlC7F0Wox

I.e., a roughly 5:1 Democratic advantage.

And now Democrats are complaining about Republican gerrymandering?

And now, the Dems are complaining even MORE gerrymandering?

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/california-fires-back-at-texas-redistricting-00493314

What California Dems are considering 

"could result in as many as five new blue seats and Democrats holding all but four of California’s 52 congressional districts,

according to a slide presented to members of Congress and viewed by POLITICO."

So with 2/3 of the California electorate, 

Dems would move 

from holding over 80% of California's seats in the U.S. House of Representatives 

to over 90%.

Now that's Gerrymandering, with a capital G.

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Now take a look at Illinois:

Jonathan Turley examines Democratic gerrymandering in Illinois:

"Democrats Pledge a Gerrymander War"

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/08/05/democrats-pledge-gerrymander-war/

"Trump received 45 percent of the vote in [Illinois], but Republicans have only 14 percent of the congressional seats."

---------

Jonathan Turley writes a column making the same point I made above:

"Politics Without Shame: Gerrymandering Makes Hypocrisy a Political Punch Line"

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/08/11/politics-without-shame-gerrymandering-makes-hypocrisy-a-political-punch-line/

Russiagate

Here we assemble several videos and articles dealing with the subject sometimes called "Russiagate."

First, here are some videos where Tulsi Gabbard discusses the subject, especially some documents that have been declassified, at least in part.

Tulsi Gabbard: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZlQy6FlDBO0ClHTu3_4_jc21Dv51jb5o

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Next, here are some articles on the subject:

Several columns by Sundance at The Conservative Treehouse:

"John Solomon Says, “We’re Working to Release More Information” "

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/08/03/john-solomon-says-were-working-to-release-more-information/

"fn 109, Page 25"

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/08/01/fn-109-page-25/

"DNI Tulsi Gabbard Breaks Down How the Declassified Documents Outline the Trump-Russia Hoax"

Here Sundance links to two of Gabbard's videos:

(which are included in the playlist linked to above).

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/08/01/dni-tulsi-gabbard-breaks-down-how-the-declassified-documents-outline-the-trump-russia-hoax/

"Chuck Grassley Releases Declassified John Durham Annex"

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/07/31/chuck-grassley-releases-declassified-john-durham-anne

"Current FBI, CIA, DNI and DOJ Redactions to the “Declassified” John Durham Annex Give Appearance of Ongoing Coverup"

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/07/31/current-fbi-cia-dni-and-doj-redactions-to-the-declassified-john-durham-annex-give-appearance-of-ongoing-coverup/

---

Jonathan Turley, 2025-08-01

https://jonathanturley.org/2025/08/01/the-reveal-the-public-is-finally-learning-how-democrats-pulled-off-the-greatest-political-trick-in-history/

"The documents quote Brennan in 

overruling career analysts and 

intervening to include the dossier in the intelligence assessment."

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"Fact-checking Brennan and Clapper's false Russiagate narrative"

| The Washington Examiner

 https://share.google/yyqhdlj8InVzxy9Vn

5000 more bombs sold to Israel

5000 more bombs sold to Israel:

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/30/congress/sanders-israel-arms-sale-ban-vote-00484866

"One of Wednesday’s resolutions would have blocked the $676 million sale of 5,000 heavy duty bombs and 5,000 guidance kits for bombs."

For how individual senators voted on this, see

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00455.htm

Measure Title: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.

Vote Counts: 

YEAs 24

NAYs 73

Not Voting 3