A number of US world maps omit New Zealand. Here’s hoping that’s the edition Trump is using.
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LOL. I’ll bite. Since there was broad public support for the removal of [and probably] export of Joe & Jill, AND CLEARLY a distain [albeit R & E of Kamala & Doug], who is the next candidate for R&E by broad public support in 2029?
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The US war-games many different scenarios. VZ was one of many. Rest assured Taiwan, China, Russia, Korea, Europe & Africa all have been too.
Time will tell how “Panama 2.0” settles out. [but there sure are a hell of a lot of Venezuelans dancing.]
Almost correct - “Principality of Trumpzuela”
- Anointed ruler: Prince Eric
- Military governor: Erik Prince
Perhaps a little sharp. I consider the Party of Socialism & Liberation, AOC, Bernie, and Mamdami more of a treat. There are others, MN’s Walz is up there as he’s deflecting from the fraud recently reported. Quite frankly, the extremists on both sides need to STFU. I think you & I are about the same age [70+], so we know, socially speaking, this country is worse off than in our youth. The problem is identifying the cause of decline. And then the problem is fixing it. I just feel bad that my grand-kids won’t have the experiences of riding bikes without helmets, drinking water out of a garden hose, bench seats in a Buick or Chevy truck, or the obligatory gun-rack in the back of the p/up! LOL
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I hope to God that MAGA doesn’t reach the point of imprisoning journalists and persecuting any opposition including jailing, poisoning, and assassinating even on foreign soil.
While the USSR is no longer with us, Putin definitely continues to operates by the KGB playbook, which is what he grew up under. It wasn’t just Communism that made the USSR the opposition to what we stand for in the West. It was also their totalitarian and repressive nature when it came sharing the truth and governing their people. Unfortunately Putin has continued that tradition as he has remained in power uninterrupted for decades. That is NOT freedom. That is NOT democracy. And I hope to hell that is not MAGA; but if it is, the American people will most definitely not stand for it.
I’ll continue to aspire to the US being the shining city on the hill, in direct opposition to regimes whose methods are to imprison or kill their opposition, domestically or abroad.
Let’s ALL hope so. These pictures from Venezuela doesn’t give you much confidence though:
Pictures show Fuerte Tiuna on fire, with huge flames visible for miles.
Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas. Before
22 Dec 2025
After:
3 Jan 2026
Satellite images: Vantor ©2026
Source: From Caracas 'fort' to New York court: Maduro's capture in pictures and maps
PS: Look more like war than a simple “police action” to me.
Cool story bro. So, is Maduro going to get pardoned by Trump like Juan Orlando Hernandez???
From the DOJ “As the former two-term president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández had every opportunity to affect positive change for his country," said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. "Instead, Hernández helped to facilitate the importation of an almost unfathomable 400 tons of cocaine to this country: billions of individual doses sent to the United States with the protection and support of the former president of Honduras. Now, after years of destructive narco-trafficking of the highest imaginable magnitude, Hernández will spend 45 years where he belongs: in federal prison.” (or not)
All that rings incredibly hollow now since he got pardoned and makes the reasons for the “arrest” of Maduro seem less than legit.
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MAGA is not an authority. It’s an idea. It doesn’t implement the law or imprison anyone.
I simply think Putin is making Russia great again. Yes he’s a killer and a thug, but at least he hasn’t fallen for the woke agenda that everyone here seems to praise which is undermining the foundations of your society. Russia has more natural assets than the rest of Europe combined. Putin isn’t going to sell them off like Hillary sold US uranium to Putin.
I get sick of hearing people denigrating nations for not being democratic as if that’s your right to impose. Americans go to pains to point out that America isn’t a democracy “the worst for of government”, “mob rule” blah, blah blah, but a constitutional republic as if anyone actually knows the difference. Democracy doesn’t work in some societies. You tried it in Iraq and it devolved into factional warlords as usual for a tribal society.
There are no pure democracies and no pure republics. They are a blend.
Good. Go vote, democratically … and wish fervently that your vote, which disappeared into a voting computer controlled by Venezuela (as is well known by state authorities everywhere) gets accounted for as you marked it.
Nice aspiration. Not reality. Look around you. Corruption abounds. DOGE scratched the surface. A video blogger brings to light $billions flushed down the childcare centre drain to Somalis who are apparently somewhat excellent money makers. Perhaps Somalia is your light on the hill. They make such fine citizens.
Don’t ask me. I’m not his minder. How many criminals got pardoned by the auto-pen again?
I honestly don’t care if it’s an authority or an idea. If it is purposefully looking to install people into power to have them singular rule for decades I am absolutely opposed.
Unfortunately the U.S. only has two viable parties, but that is one more than Russia has thanks to Putin’s repressive and violent leadership. You say he is a thug but also say he is the Russian version of MAGA. So are those support MAGA thugs or people who tend to root for thugs?
If you don’t believe Democracy is a good thing, go ahead, but we’ll always disagree on that point. Whether or not I agree with the outcome I will always support the rights of a nation to govern itself based on the will of the majority of citizens, instead of the wishes of the chosen few people with the most money or power.
I come from a Nation that was born by taking up arms to get out from under the rule of a tyrant King. Something you probably wouldn’t understand.
There’s no need to twist what I said. MAGA means Make America Great Again. That’s it. The Russian version is Make Russia Great Again. In that, the vast majority of Russians agree. They want a great nation too. Each country implements that however it likes. Stop trying to imply MAGA is some evil, criminal plot to subvert America - sorta like the Dems have been doing.
Yes, you killed lots of Englishmen and lots of other in various wars of independence (over a pittance in tax) and killed half a million or so of your fellow countrymen in a stupid civil war, and even then subjugated blacks through the 1960’s and 70’s … yet you remain inordinately proud of all this.
I come from a far more enlightened country who never fought a war of independence from the same British crown, nor any wasteful civil wars. We learned from your mistakes - thank you very much - and studied your revolutions and constitutional development (and the French too) and decided on a different. constitution we consider better. We became independent at some time, but nobody can quite agree when but between 1901 and 1985. Our king’s title is King of Australia, a separate realm to The UK. We achieved nationhood through tact and diplomacy and scholarly study, not revolution.
We both come from the same heritage of British settlement, the common law, the English language, western civilisation, industrial innovation and worldwide trade and commerce, but we didn’t kill our countrymen to achieve that.
Nice to chat history with you.
When it comes to killing people across the arc of history I think the English likely have everyone beat.
Nope. Try your mate, Mao.
Don’t take your hatred of the British to your grave. You owe them more than that. You are writing in English. Why?
Grow up and read some history.
I see you didn’t take issue with the unnecessary blood spilt in the formation of the USA.
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England likely caused more deaths in India alone than Mao ever has. One man, no matter how ruthless, could never match a colonizing power that has lasted centuries and is still going strong.
And why in the world do you think Mao is my mate? You are the one questioning democracy and rooting on ruthless strongmen like Putin. After all North Korea is Putin’s ally and North Korea is likely the closest thing to anything Maoist these days.
I suspect that your choice Trump would not see the revolutionary war similarly. Perhaps you should tell him to “grow up and read some history”.
Stop feeding the troll, please.
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Super debating technique. Has it ever worked?
The reflagging of sanctioned tankers to Russian flag should have no effect on seizure. The tankers should continue to be seized, or sunk.
If Delta Force can be used to support a DEA and FBI “law enforcement” operation to arrest Maduro, then Navy Seals and Delta can be used to support the USCG to seize sanctioned tankers. No more nonsense about how the USCG lacks the resources to do the job.
Every sailor knows that a shot across the bow means: “stop or we will sink you.”
Once two or three tankers are actually sunk, most of the shadow fleet will scurry away, and sanctioned oil sales will be diminished to a trickle.
The USA is regaining some credibility. It needs to stop acting like a paper tiger with regard to these sanctioned tankers.
With the MAGA crowd, with more rational folk not so much. It’s a psychological thing, like sports freaks and bible thumpers.
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Not his minder, just his ever devoted supporter, cheerleader, and cult member.
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