Today's News: Just a few odds and ends

Just a random collection of news tonight. 

First, from Uvalde: 

The more the media tries to dig into what happened in Uvalde, the less it makes sense. 

It is beginning to remind me of the confusion around the Portapique massacre, where 22 people died and where, among other questionable judgement calls, RCMP did not even issue an Alert Ready to warn the community during the hours these shootings were happening.  At least Canada responded by banning 1,500 assault-type weapons, and a Commission is now trying to investigate what happened, though it has been difficult. 

The inexplicable cowardice of Uvalde police cannot be explained:

Saw the attempted interview of Arredondo the Uvalde ISD police chief. His whole demeanor was absent of any grief, remorse or any sign of a traumatic event having recently occurred which he was a part of. It appears that the Uvalde power structure is in “status quo” mode.

— Roy M. Mireles (@Roy111255) June 4, 2022

Replace Texas police with Ukrainian grandmothers. pic.twitter.com/HzQBtbDgjS

— adorable smudgie (@adorablesmudgie) June 4, 2022

Sneak peek: The Austin American-@Statesman is topping Monday's print edition with an exclusive opinion piece from actor Matthew McConaughey. Rather than arguing about "gun control," he says, "it's time we talk about gun responsibility..." pic.twitter.com/EZ1UOKMUyJ

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 6, 2022

In other news, American politics:

I don’t know how this benighted country is ever going to wash itself clean of the stench of Trumpism.

Though shoving the Republican Party into oblivion would be a good start.

— Benjamin Dreyer (@BCDreyer) June 5, 2022

Dang it, someone leaked our secret antifa plan to destroy the Republican Party. 🕵‍♂️😆 pic.twitter.com/VfChRAMa39

— StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 (@StrictlyChristo) June 5, 2022

Today's News: Why does Europe care about Putin's delicate fee-fees?

So this is discouraging news:

There’s a growing divide in Europe over what would constitute an acceptable conclusion to the Russia/Ukraine war. Macron is saying publicly what a lot of senior people say in private. https://t.co/5XIqEPEclI

— Gerald Butts (@gmbutts) June 4, 2022

Macron says, once again, that he does not want to "humiliate" Putin. But unless Putin loses - and fully understands that he has lost- the war will not end. https://t.co/8P22WPBGct

— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) June 4, 2022

Security analyist Michael Horowitz says:

The main problem is not that Macron's call is "sheltering Putin from the sense that he is losing", but sending the message that Russia is, in fact, winning https://t.co/wNsBI5nUAU

— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) June 4, 2022

The Russian gamble is that the West just can't bear even the slightliest crisis, whereas Russia can withstand sanctions, giving it ample time to break the West's resolve.

Macron is not giving Putin an off-ramp, he is giving him a reason to persevere.

— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) June 4, 2022

And Ukraine is winning. But I'm afraid that some in the West don't believe it -- or, perhaps, they are just swallowing Russian propaganda. Or worse, they are promoting it:

Obliterated / A whole Russian army has been destroyed at Izyum, Ukraine official reveals https://t.co/bhMrMUibIq

— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) June 5, 2022

The fighting in the city of Severodonetsk is becoming interesting; in my many years of urban warfare research I cannot recall any urban battle in history where such a large counter-attack by the defending force has occurred. A new precedent? @ChasAHKnight? @INTELonIRAN? https://t.co/stJqUJgR5N

— Jayson Geroux (@JaysonGeroux) June 4, 2022

As I mentioned this morning, if the Russians don’t try and move forward again soon, that might be it. Culmination. Actually failure is a better word. People talking about some important Russian victories in the Donbas might have to reconsider. Here is the report btw. https://t.co/s2kfw87qbb

— Phillips P. OBrien (@PhillipsPOBrien) June 4, 2022

Today's News: 100 days

It has now been 100 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

The yellow markings on this map from Australian Strategic Policy Institute researcher Nathan Ruser show how successful Ukraine has been in retaking its territory from the Russian invaders. Ruser notes that more than a thousand Ukrainian settlements have been saved from Russian occupation
And here is a fascinating video:

2/2 Above all, it was based on wildly optimistic assessments about the welcome Russian troops would receive in Ukraine. Russia has now adopted a “strategy of attrition” and is achieving slow and costly gains in the Donbas. #StandWithUkraine

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 3, 2022

But some pundits in the West are getting bored -- they seem to want this war to end so they can get back to planning holidays at the lake. 

We're seeing articles now like this one in today's New York Magazine: The War in Ukraine Can Be Over If the U.S. Wants It -- written by a 32-year-old journalist Ross Barkan who has never done anything except write novels and cover New York politics. He describes a three month war as "dragging on" and says Kissinger and Chomsky are merely "facing reality" when they urge the West to give up on Ukraine. 

Here's the reaction to this article from war correspondent Danny Gold, who knows Ukraine:

What will happen is more Ukrainians will die. Russia will take more territory. Ukrainians will fight a brutal and bloody insurgent campaign. Those under Russian occupation will be tortured, imprisoned, deported, possibly executed. We know this became THIS ALREADY HAPPENS

— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) June 3, 2022

They literally sent kill teams into Kyiv. This is a real thing that happened in the first days of the war. You think they’ll listen to anything but force? You think Ukrainians trust anything they say when it comes to peace?

— Danny Gold (@DGisSERIOUS) June 3, 2022

This Atlantic article, though it also talks about a truce, makes a little more sense:

Western Support for Ukraine Has Peaked - The Atlantic https://t.co/UMTf4JsJmh

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) June 2, 2022

Former assistant defense secretary Andrew Exum writes:

 ...the economic costs of the war are starting to seriously concern American and other Western policy makers.

...The twin pressures of an ailing economy and surging populism will be on the minds of Western decision makers as they wrestle with a war that will continue to take a toll on the world’s leading economies. 

For that reason, the conversations between Ukraine and its supporters abroad are likely to grow harder, not easier, as the year progresses. 

Ukraine will come under more pressure, and not just from Henry Kissinger, to concede some territory and allow Russia to save face. Even a hasty termination of the conflict, however, seems unlikely to arrest the world’s slide into greater economic pain.... 

 

Today's News: Ford takes it

Ontario voters sent a message tonight, and the message was: Meh! We're good.

On a side note.. once I saw at 5 pm that voter turnout was only 35%.. i knew the opposition parties were in trouble. Low turnout rates always favour incumbents. #onpoli

— Scott Tribe (@stribe39) June 3, 2022

Brief (drunk) thoughts on the Ontario results ... NDP doing a bit better than I thought, PCs impressive, Liberals fucking suck https://t.co/Cy0oQdGqef

— Evan Scrimshaw (@EScrimshaw) June 3, 2022

They’re like ants at a picnic.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) June 3, 2022

The big news in the US today continues to be whether they can get Republicans onside in the national goal of stopping mass shooters. 

Americans may finally have reached their gag limit on guns 

Maybe this time:

Hey...I get it. My (elderly father) has been an NRA member since I was in HS. He decided that he is done with NRA & called Greg Abbott's office to tell him so. He doesn't own an AR-15, but he got rid of his hand guns (still has hunting rifle). But hey, got to start somewhere.

— Jean Ard Neill (@ArdNeill) June 3, 2022

Or maybe not:

Desantis will veto the bill to fund the Tampa Rays new Spring Training facility because of their recent statements about gun violence following the Buffalo and Uvalde mass shootings. pic.twitter.com/TcpvMJHN7Y

— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) June 2, 2022

We'll see how the Rays react to DeSantis' blatant thuggery. 

 

Today's News: Birds!

Another miscellaneous collection of news items tonight from hither and yon. 

First up, birds! 

One of the people I now follow on twitter is Saskatoon's Tim Brown, who is doing a series of "Birds of Saskatchetoon" which is a portmanteau of "Saskatoon" and "Saskatchewan".  He has a blog, too - artgeekbrown. 

I love his bird artwork and how he also tells the story of how he spotted each one on his journeys somewhere in or near Saskatoon.  Here are some examples for you to enjoy:

Turkey Vulture#birbsofsaskatchetoon pic.twitter.com/iWlAl4sXNk

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) June 1, 2022

Yellow-Headed Balckbird.
It was kind of windy and a bad feather day for everyone.#birbsofsaskatchetoon pic.twitter.com/9CJG5BoiI7

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) May 23, 2022

Spotted Towhee#birbsofsaskatchetoon#spottedtowhee pic.twitter.com/4uimYtTebr

— Tim Brown (@timinsaskatoon) May 20, 2022

And speaking of birds, isn't this sweet?

Wait for it.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/QlwTFCg3Ri

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 31, 2022

Today's News: From all over

I just watched Global's balancing act.
They have criticized PMJT for going too far and not going far enough at the same time.

— ㄒ๏𝕟 ɨ๏ ㄒɨ𝕞 e̴ 🇮🇹🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈 (@Aho2ToMan) May 31, 2022

But really, Canadian media are just playing another version of "If it's not Scottish, it's crap". 

The proposed Liberal legislation to prevent more handgun sales obviously isn't going to solve every gun problem in Canada and the rest of North America. Therefore, argue the cynics, it is worthless and just political. 

But the thing to remember is this: 

it took more than a century for North America to create this gun culture problem -- a century marked by wars around the world, plus significant improvements in gun designs and manufacturing capacity due to billions in government armament purchases, plus the deliberate fostering of the "gun rights" legal framework in the US. 

So there will never be a single piece of legislation or even a single legislative plan that will solve North American society's gun problems. But Trudeau's attempts to limit handguns is progress, just as limiting assault rifles is progress, and improving background checks, and improving society response to red flags, etc etc. 

Inch by inch, it can be changed. 

When I was 20, nobody wore a seatbelt to drive. By the time I was 30, everybody wore them all the time. 

When I was 40, everybody smoked indoors everywhere. By the time I was 55, the only place people could smoke was outside. 

So yes, society can change.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is one of the most successful progressive leaders in the world and it scares the shit out of the US Republicans.

— Rod Farva's litre of cola 🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@RodKahx) May 31, 2022

American right wing pundits and politicians tweeting about PM Trudeau’s hand gun restrictions is scaring them. I really don’t care, do you?

— Pete Bear (@MadHabber) May 31, 2022

A reminder (since Tristin Hopper apparently forgot) that the vast majority of Canadians are perfectly fine with that #cdnpoli https://t.co/en5E9InMlf

— Steve Manta (@mantalicious) May 31, 2022

Canada: We are banning handguns and assault rifles
MAGA: No guns, we ain't gonna go to Canada
Canada: That worked better than we thought...

— Alpha A. (@teach_n_travel) May 31, 2022

AMERICAN BS… pic.twitter.com/qpGF5AkazE

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 30, 2022

Today's News: American Grotesque

Nuts!

Sorry, I should say: Both the Uvalde *and* the Buffalo shooting are being characterized as false flag operations. Even worse!

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) May 31, 2022

The idea that the World Economic Forum is some evil and all-power globalist force, hellbent on forcing this New World Order has grown popular amongst right-wing politicians in the U.S, Canada, and Australia.

(Stories to come on that) pic.twitter.com/Q28alOrF1O

— Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) May 31, 2022

It was simply grotesque to see Trump mangling his reading of the Uvalde victims' names, as a cowbell rang and they kept messing up the timing. Then there was the dancing.

I still can't get over Trump reading the names of the Uvalde victims like a kill list to the sound of bells at the NRA convention. One of the most fucked up things I've ever seen in my life.

— Brett Meiselas (@BMeiselas) May 28, 2022

What the freedom to over throw the government. Save it dear!!#VoteBlueToSaveDemocracy #AbbottCruzMassacre #GOPCowards #GOPDomesticTerrorists #GOPGunsOverChildren #TrumpIsALaughingStock #TrumpDancedOnUvaldesGraves #TrumpIsACriminal #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace pic.twitter.com/l7haYGNKvb

— Colleen Nolan (@collenols) May 30, 2022

Scorch! Pow!

I see that Trump is saying that money should go to schools rather than to Ukraine

Maybe there's enough money to help both ?

Still, this is probably the best he can do at the moment to help his old buddy Putin

— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) May 28, 2022

Funny stuff, with dogs too

 

What a week!  

Here's some funny stuff to start the next one. With dogs too, of course:

man i don’t think i have another “why is jk rowling trending?” left in me

— Roy🌾 (@Roy_oh_Roy) May 30, 2022

Legend states that when you’re overwhelmed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, a small child will appear to tell you that you cut their sandwich wrong

— Maryfairyboberry🧚🏻‍♀️ (@maryfairybobrry) May 28, 2022

a praying mantis’s face really sneaks up on you, like you think “bug” but then a little green man face is looking back at you

— Amy (@lolennui) May 30, 2022

Me: I have over 22k followers on Twitter.
Kid sitting next to me: I have imaginary friends too.

— Crac⚡ked (@a_simpl_man) May 29, 2022

it’s astonishing that, without fail, if a tweet goes over 1K you immediately get complete strangers responding to it as if the two of you have had a lifelong beef that you’re only just finding out about

— Brandon Streussnig (@BrndnStrssng) May 28, 2022

pic.twitter.com/GTVXflp5XY

— Meanwhile in Canada (@MeanwhileinCana) May 29, 2022

Today's News: Waiting for the other shoe to drop

Waiting for more shoes to drop:

There is non zero chance they shot one of the kids. Why else make this statement oh yeah it will get worse. https://t.co/xaVehvFMug

— Derek Burke (@DBurke_20) May 29, 2022

The careful phrasing of "shot and killed" may be a tip off. 

Here's the best story I have seen describing the chain of events in the school:

Federal agents DEFIED Uvalde police chief's order not to enter school https://t.co/pAka9bW8N5 via @MailOnline

— Texas Lady Veteran (@Shelly54533945) May 29, 2022

The idea that schools need to be "hardened" even more is just so stupid - in Uvalde, it was the police who needed to be "hardened".

The Parkland Cops ran away. The Buffalo Cop was killed instantly. The 3 Cops at Uvalde were overpowered, then waited 40 min to enter the school.

Veteran Cops repeatedly failed—but we’re supposed to expect Lunch Lady Doris & School Nurse Betty to stop a terrorist with an AR-15.😑

— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) May 26, 2022

When the NRA has lost Jon Voight:

I did not see that coming. https://t.co/0XQ2VjGIPj

— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) May 28, 2022

Here's a photo from the NRA convention in Texas that's getting a lot of comment:

You got it all wrong. He was just giving his best impression of the cops who stood in the hall while children got shot. Between the rounds going off and the cries of children, you have to believe they too covered their ears.

— NeuronGarageSale (@NeuronSale) May 29, 2022

I don’t wish to sound apocalyptic about this, but one has the sense that at present our society is simultaneously characterized by wildly disproportionate accountability for trivial transgressions and zero accountability for profound institutional failure.

— David Polansky (@polanskydj) May 27, 2022

Today's News: Keep on keeping on

de Adder, Washington Post 

It's not really surprising that the Ukraine Russia War isn't top of everyone newscasts anymore, I guess. 

But it worries me when people complain about "how long" the war has been going on and why it hasn't been wrapped up already. 

Three months, people! Just three months! 

That's not even half of a hockey season. 

And they don't seem to realize the magnitude of this war either.

Our son listens to a World War II week-by-week podcast - multiple fronts, dozens of countries, hundreds of thousands fighting, millions refugeeing. And six years. People were dealing with it for six years, with preparations for it to last longer. 

So yes, there would be nothing unusual about the Ukraine Russia War going on for some time:

My @TheAtlantic post this week on a ceasefire in #Ukraine. https://t.co/rYTlJKJbGc pic.twitter.com/AYhteos8Fr

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 27, 2022

The rest of the world is regularly getting arms to Ukraine now, and more on the way. 

But there is true horror in this war -- Russian war crimes. 

Its not only that Russian soldiers are guilty of multiple rapes and torture and murders while they have been occupying Ukraine towns and cities, but also that the Russian government itself is trying to destroy Ukraine as a country.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have been processed through a series of 🇷🇺"filtration camps" in eastern Ukraine & sent to economically depressed areas in Russia as part of a program of forced removal, according to four sources familiar with the latest Western intelligence-CNN

— Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) May 27, 2022

Creepy hostage videos are now appearing, where captured Ukrainians record messages that "thank" Russia for "denazification"

On May 18, the heading “Denazification” appeared on the Telegram channel of one of the pro-Russian bloggers. He uploads videos every day, in which frightened and exhausted residents of the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions repent of disloyalty to the Russians. /1

— Daria Kaleniuk (@dkaleniuk) May 27, 2022

Land concessions here means allowing genocide, deportations and executions. Cos that's what Russia will do in those conceded territories.

— Faulks (@realfaulks) May 28, 2022

Today's News: Things fall apart

As a freshman in college, I got angry at a friend. Slammed my soda cup on the table & said, “Well, fuck & a half!” before storming off. It’s not much but it might work until something better comes along.

— Jean Ann Duckworth (@jeanannduck) May 27, 2022

The story of the Uvalde school shooting is no longer just about the children lost and lives destroyed but also a story about police ineptitude and cowardice and lies.

I suspect this is an underappreciated harm of police militarization: Now cops think it’s not their job to protect people if it involves some risk & they don’t have a tank and a SWAT team. https://t.co/AP71tx5IE6

— Julian Sanchez (@normative) May 27, 2022

on a personal level you won't go wrong viewing police as the biggest gang around, one with effective impunity to kill you at any moment. on a social level, you won't go wrong seeing all our copaganda and blue lives fetishism as both reinforcing and disavowing this obvious fact

— inverted vibe curve: burgertown must be defended (@PatBlanchfield) May 26, 2022

and as time passes note how hard it will be to call upon this as a memory with others, the way people will treat it like it's some sort of conspiracy theory, like you know suspiciously or distastefully much about it. the psychic investment in disavowing what cops are is very real

— inverted vibe curve: burgertown must be defended (@PatBlanchfield) May 26, 2022

And the man of the hour is Beto O'Rorke:

Photographer @veronicagcarde1 captured the power dynamics of @BetoORourke speaking truth to power @GregAbbott_TX’s press conference on the Texas shooting @Reuters pic.twitter.com/GbX6xDSse5

— Alice Driver (@reporterdriver) May 25, 2022

I have watched this several times. “Sir, you are out of line.” We all need to get out of line. The line we’ve been waiting in isn’t moving. The line we’ve been waiting in is stalled. Get out of line, speak up. We’ve waited in line for too long. https://t.co/a4vIFanux1

— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) May 26, 2022

Entire U.S. Police Force Flees Country After Hearing Gunman Inside Nation https://t.co/zknaoDPclG pic.twitter.com/9vp3JlMFxH

— The Onion (@TheOnion) May 26, 2022

Shot:

The Yankees and the Rays are not posting about tonight’s game on social media. Instead, they are highlighting facts about gun violence. “There are things that are bigger than baseball,” said Jason Zillo, the Yankees’ vice president of communications. https://t.co/47RX7fkWnW

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 27, 2022

Chaser:

absolute meltdowns happening in the Yankees replies pic.twitter.com/u4ndqnpY4C

— jordan (@JordanUhl) May 26, 2022

Today's News: This #ProLifeMyAss hashtag is brutal

Twitter is having a moment today.

hashtag of 2022: #ProLifeMyAss

— Amy Siskind 🏳️‍🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) May 25, 2022

Paul Gosar: Uvalde shooter was "transsexual leftist illegal alien"

Ted Cruz: gun reform is not an effective solution

Marjorie Taylor Greene: we don't need gun control. We need to "return to God"

anything to take blame away from them

#VoteBlueToSaveOurKids #ProLifeMyAss pic.twitter.com/M4GnRAJB3f

— Alicia Smith 💙🌊🌊 #FBR (@AliciaSmith987) May 25, 2022

#ProLifeMyAss #GunControlNow #TexasMassacre pic.twitter.com/ihMKV9XT88

— Just_A_Reader_D (@JustAReaderD1) May 24, 2022

Republicans getting ready to do "nothing" once again after a mass shooting.#ProLifeMyAss#GunSafetyNow pic.twitter.com/UJoO6iRQG1

— 👽 McSpocky™ 🗣🇺🇸🇺🇦🌊💉 #VoteBlue2022 (@mcspocky) May 25, 2022

GOP. NRA. Enough.#Uvalde #ProLifeMyAss

From political cartoonist @clapanta #StandForBetter pic.twitter.com/A6JxbhBAvs

— StandForBetter.org (@StandForBetter) May 25, 2022

Republicans won’t do anything about guns, but they think that banning books, outlawing history, and not saying gay will keep kids safe in school.

Republicans love guns more than they love children. #ProLifeMyAss

[Chris Britt Cartoon] pic.twitter.com/AQCrKsYzcN

— bennydiego🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦 (@bennydiego) May 24, 2022

More news following the break:

For Uvalde

'

What a tragedy. 

Here are some of the lives lost at the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas today:

These are the Lives that were taken today at Robb elementary school 💔😥🙏🏼🕊 #Texas #mass_shooting #RIP #stopgunviolence pic.twitter.com/G4yDwJEV1j

— Dana A Yousif (@DAYkurd) May 25, 2022

REST IN PEACE: Fourth-grade teacher Eva Mireles was killed along with at least 14 students in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. 💔🙏🏻 Here's what we know about the victims: https://t.co/lgbe4mvp8D pic.twitter.com/HG9eJZ6Imq

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 25, 2022

My tia did not make it, she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom, i beg of you to keep my family including all of her family in y’all’s prayers , IRMA GARCIA IS HER NAME and she died a HERO. she was loved by many and will truly be missed. pic.twitter.com/2XpdJA0q8x

— john ❤️‍🔥 (@fuhknjo) May 25, 2022

The reason Canada can ban A15s and the US cannot isn't because of "politicians" or "extremists" or "gun nuts" or the NRA. Its because of Republicans - the whole damn party.

The most well-aged tweet ever on this app. https://t.co/LvvEgSE2w9

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 24, 2022

Today's News: Hard to believe, isn't it, but Doug Ford seems to be winning

I still find it hard to believe that a lot of people in Ontario are still intending to vote for Ford and the Conservative party, in spite of his awful performance as premier. 

Then again, I also find it hard to believe that so many people in Saskatchewan can keep voting for the Sask Party. But they do. 

It's like people just don't believe that government could be done better. 

But it can be.

Hey Ontario: If you insist on making fun of Sask rednecks and the Alberta 💩 show, I have a mirror for sale.

— 🇨🇦 Citizen Keen 🇺🇦 (@livv_idd) May 20, 2022

Ontario and Quebec experienced a terrible derecho storm on Saturday, causing 10 deaths and millions in damages. Ford did his usual disappearing act on Sunday but Del Duca showed up!

NEW: Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca suspends his campaign schedule for today to visit the areas of Eastern Ont hit by Saturday’s storm.

Del Duca criticized PC Leader Doug Ford for campaigning in Toronto rather than going to affected areas. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/ZHVu2WkSul

— Colin D'Mello | Global News (@ColinDMello) May 23, 2022

Ford did wander through the ruins today but this is what happened:

The part at the end where the OPP officers put their hand on Sean after Mr Ford is in the vehicle.

Not cool. https://t.co/MNBSjLQHC3

— Mercedes Stephenson (@MercedesGlobal) May 24, 2022

Hey, if you've lost Mercedes Stephenson...

But here's another interesting comment about the PC polling problems:

No show for 4 years, no-shows at campaign appearances/debates. Let the bots and allies at MSM do the rest by pretending. Welcome to the only way Doug can win. #StopVotingForAssholes.

— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) May 23, 2022

And I am hoping this will prove to be correct:

There is a shift happening. The Ontario PC Party knows. Pay attention to what is happening in your riding and vote strategically to ensure the conservative candidate loses. Avoid the split. #VoteFordOut2022

— Tom Whittaker (@whittakertp) May 23, 2022

Today's News: Ukraine update

Here's a collection of recent items from Ukraine. 

Now that Ukraine is winning this war, we are seeing some odd reactions - almost as though pundits can't wrap their heads around the prospect of Russia losing its Evil Empire status quo. 

Is the West really unable to credit the possibility that Ukraine will win, or are we also seeing a 

"second front"of pro-Russia disinformation, using Putin's Incredible Hulk image 

("Don't make him angry, you won't like him when he's angry!") to provoke a cowardly 

appeasement?  

Here are some of the comments I am reading today:

Russian President Vladimir Putin's 'exit strategy' should simply be the removal of his troops from Ukraine,' Canada's ambassador to the United Nations says. https://t.co/Rjge08ZiHi

— CBC News (@CBCNews) May 23, 2022

I wrote about the unexpected success of economic sanctions against Putin — unexpected both in degree and in kind. Which adds to my puzzlement at the weird aversion much of the foreign-policy commentariat seems to have to success 1/ https://t.co/gBl35pWFKX

— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) May 20, 2022

The nuclear danger is still a real concern, and perhaps there is fear that as Russia weakens it will lash out:

Many rightly fear escalation including unintentional or accidental escalation.

This is a very dangerous situation. Maybe it does not escalate, BUT the scale of damage as a result of escalation is unlike anything we've seen.

Seeking 2 avoid this is morally understandable.

— Greg R. Lawson (@ConservaWonk) May 22, 2022

I still remember Emily Gorcenski's tweet from March 1, where she gave this ranking of her primary fears about what disasters might ensue from the then-week-old Ukraine Russia War :

 - protracted insurgency

 - mistargeted/overflying cruise missile hits NATO country

 - US gets caught with a Joint Special Operations Command team

 - tactical nuke is used but doesn’t rise to retaliation 

 - does 

 That still seems to be a pretty accurate worry list.