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2022-09-24 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Four Ukraine regions controlled by Russia and pro-Moscow forces have started door to door referendums on Friday on joining Russia
[PUBLISH.TWITTER] Oh, golly. I do wonder how they'll turn out!
Posted by Fred 2022-09-24 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11141 views ]  Top
 File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats 

#1 It's not a sure thing until you hire Dominion.
Posted by Snash Shairt9621 2022-09-24 00:45||   2022-09-24 00:45|| Front Page Top

#2 Let's think about how this works. If the referendums are rejected, does Russia leave?
Posted by Matt 2022-09-24 01:25||   2022-09-24 01:25|| Front Page Top

#3 Ask the two armed soldiers accompanying each home voting team.
Posted by Snash Shairt9621 2022-09-24 01:51||   2022-09-24 01:51|| Front Page Top

#4 The old “do you want to leave Ukraine or do you want to become Russian” referendum.
Posted by Airandee 2022-09-24 05:50||   2022-09-24 05:50|| Front Page Top

#5 So, not a secret ballot. How "democratic." The dems look on enviously.
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-09-24 06:13||   2022-09-24 06:13|| Front Page Top

#6 
Door bursts open.

"Miss. Do you want to be Russian? Because we'll be bombing all the non-russians soon!"

"Oh? Uhh... Okay. I guess."

Whew!

Door opens again.

"Miss. You didn't talk to any Russians did you? Because we're shooting anyone who is."

"Wha-a-at? No. No, of course not. I cursed at them and they ran away!"

"Good girl!"

Damn all these motherfcukers to hell!

Posted by Dron66046 2022-09-24 06:45||   2022-09-24 06:45|| Front Page Top

#7 It's stuff like this that calls the ultimate value of "politics" into question.
Posted by M. Murcek 2022-09-24 06:48||   2022-09-24 06:48|| Front Page Top

#8 
Greetings future comrade.
we are here to collect your vote.
You will vote want to join RUSSIA.

Otherwise we will cast your vote, like our partners, the US Democrats party do, from the grave.
Posted by NN2N1 2022-09-24 08:20||   2022-09-24 08:20|| Front Page Top

#9 It'd be nice if we could rely on the results of this referendum to express the true will of the people who live in these regions but Putin forgot to invite jimmuh carter to observe.

I would add, though, that Zelensky never seemed to give a rat's ass what those people think either.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-09-24 12:12||   2022-09-24 12:12|| Front Page Top

#10 We also know that at least some of those people have been offering armed resistance to Kiev for, what, going on eight years now. That is at least some indication that their loyalty to one regime or another is in question.

Maybe if Biden could have condescended to seek serious negotiations, a peaceful and just solution to the matter could be reached. But, as long as his Ukrainian cannon fodder appears to be winning, that is not an option.

The big question now, as I asked last night: Where and when will this bloody mess stop?
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-09-24 12:27||   2022-09-24 12:27|| Front Page Top

#11 There's been armed resistance to Putin since he invaded, as well.

Has Putin ever actually considered a negotiated settlement? Of course not, that's why he's putting on this show of a referendum. Then he can keep acting like he cares about laws but still threaten nukes.

With any luck, his next vodka comes with polonium.
Posted by Rob Crawford 2022-09-24 13:16||   2022-09-24 13:16|| Front Page Top

#12 
Posted by ACA JOE  2022-09-24 13:23||   2022-09-24 13:23|| Front Page Top

#13 "We have ways of making you vote... the right way...." - Russian Soldier or Democrat Nursing Home Visitor?
Posted by CrazyFool 2022-09-24 13:30||   2022-09-24 13:30|| Front Page Top

#14 Has Putin ever actually considered a negotiated settlement?

You'd never hear about it from American mainstream media if he did. I think we would if Biden had but then, he hasn't.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-09-24 13:36||   2022-09-24 13:36|| Front Page Top

#15 Face it, Rob, Biden is a crooked asshole who thinks his Ukrainian cannon fodder can win this war and he is therefore not the least bit interested in negotiations. At the moment, it looks like Ukrainians are winning. But there are those of us who are a bit concerned about what might happen if Putin gets pushed too far. And then, there are those of us who don't believe expansion of NATO into Ukraine is worth the risk. NATO has gone far enough. Its original purpose was to defend Western Europe from invasion by the Soviet Union. Well, the Soviet Union is kaput so now NATO is invading Eastern Europe. You could call it mission creep but it's liable to start a nuclear war.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-09-24 13:45||   2022-09-24 13:45|| Front Page Top

#16 Rob and Dale hate the US. But they aren't offering to fight for the side they believe will win.

Story there somewhere.
Posted by M. Murcek  2022-09-24 13:58||   2022-09-24 13:58|| Front Page Top

#17 I'm not offering to fight either. I would like to see the fighting stopped. People might think I'm pro-Putin but that is not the case. I'm under no illusions about the man. I'm anti-war and I believe this one could have been avoided if Biden wasn't such a crook.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2022-09-24 15:08||   2022-09-24 15:08|| Front Page Top

#18 
Posted by ACA JOE 2022-09-24 15:18||   2022-09-24 15:18|| Front Page Top

#19 /\ Easy, easy Joe.
Posted by Besoeker 2022-09-24 15:27||   2022-09-24 15:27|| Front Page Top

#20 I hate the US, Murcek?

Go to hell. They might let you in.
Posted by Rob Crawford 2022-09-24 16:45||   2022-09-24 16:45|| Front Page Top

#21 Hope Russia nuke Washington! America will be better off.

Which Washington are we talking here, DC or AC? You could make arguments for either.
Posted by SteveS 2022-09-24 16:54||   2022-09-24 16:54|| Front Page Top

#22 Has Putin ever actually considered a negotiated settlement?

I have a gut feeling that there have been maybe two different near settlements. All I have is leaving a diplomatic channel open, even if clandestine, is pretty standard, and that bullshit rumor that was going about that there was an agreement in place but Team DC torpedoed it.

Like I said, not even indirect evidence, just some pacing changes that flipped some buttons which suggest that, but are not exclusive to, a settlement, like when Russia found backing for its debt, and when Team DC brought out all the old diplomat fossils and Elensky got vocally mad about a negotiation without him then he was told to shut up.

I'd guess at this point, each side is bringing something to the table which is non-negotiable to the other side, Side A being Team Ukraine, Team EU, Team NATO, and Team DC; Side B being Team Russia, and they can't be talked about whatever other Teams are contributors to said side.

All I know is that what was an altercation in the bar has now drawn a crowd and is threatening to turn into a spill into the streets brawl, and brawls don't get talked down once they start.

That doesn't sound like much fun. Also, to borrow a zinger from my hippie friends during W.'s term - the perpetual war is a necessary of the security state in order to justify censorship and authoritarianism as a patriotic wartime policy, always promised to be repealed right after this crises is over.
Posted by swksvolFF 2022-09-24 19:46||   2022-09-24 19:46|| Front Page Top

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