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There is no "special relationship" Its a post war delusion and no one in the states thinks anything of it.
Obama had to be reminded what it is supposed to be and then also used the phrase in relation to Germany
There is no “special relationship” Its a post war delusion and no one in the states thinks anything of it.
Of course there is a "special relationship", it's a secret abusive affair. The UK comes running at the US's call to be ****ed and left to pay the costs. If the US wants to invade somewhere, or create unbalanced international pressure for their advantage and needs to have a gullible idiot support their case, we are their go to bitch.
Only catching up with Biden’s speech now. Strong stuff. Can we stop electing people just because they have amusing hair and are good at TV shows?
Shots fired
everyonestatue enthusiasts.
No May & Trump in that clip.
Lolz @ MSP
It’s bonkers. The Trumpists now literally believe that socialists believe Biden is actually Jesus, and that Obama is an angel who lives in the clouds along with drones and the Clintons.
Why do they believe that? Because Jacobin magazine’s new cover art satirises Biden as Jesus a saviour.
So the Trumpers are now high fiving each other doing monkeybackflips in disbelief. They don’t understand satire. Satire dies again. I only wonder at how many lives it has?
https://mobile.twitter.com/jacobinmag/status/1352336972405211138
As they have named Joseph P Biden this lawsuit, presumably, refers to someone other than Joseph R Biden who was recently inaugurated as 46th President.
^^ Absolute lolz, what a compete lot of incompetent dicks.
Joe just slapped his wedge on the table (200 million extra doses)
Haven woken up and noticed that 'Jewish Space Laser' is trending on Twitter, I can see that it is just another normal day in US politics. 🙂
Dammit, now I've got Jewish Space Laser looping in my head.
https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt/status/1354991457883439109
https://twitter.com/Racheldoesstuff/status/1355013579808759810
"Communism is a failed system. A universally failed system. And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute... Cuba is a failed state & repressing their citizens..."
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/15/politics/cuba-communism-biden/index.html
I was thrilled to see the back of Trump and it was clear from his record Biden was going to be a friend to the centre whatever he said or did more recently.
No grumbles from me so far, shame he's (perhaps?) a bit long in the tooth for two terms.
It'd be great if Harris takes over just to annoy racist misogynists
failed state
noun
a state whose political or economic system has become so weak that the government is no longer in control.
"if we turn our back on the developing world we will see more failed states"
I thought the government had been very much in control in Cuba for the last 60 years. Despite a relentless US blockade, sabotage, attempted invasion, and countless assassination attempts.
Myriad issues aside, Cuba is testament to the fact that even a small nation can survive in spite of massive belligerence from a global superpower. Imagine what Cuba could be, if it hadn't had the USA imposing such imperialist belligerence for the last 60 years?
The irony of Cuba is... the USA preventing the free movement of capital and goods is what's so damaging for them. Stopping people who have made successful lives for themselves in the USA (the American Dream) from sending money to their families in Cuba, and preventing entrepreneur traders in both countries from operating, are two of the biggest brakes on Cuba thriving.
The irony of Cuba is…
...That in spite of the USA's best efforts, Cuba has survived, and is actually at the forefront of things like medical care and research, fighting off the Covid pandemic, education and youth literacy, social care, arts, music, etc. That darned Socialism, eh?
I wasn't criticising Cuba. Just pointing out that their increasingly mixed economy would probably be more successful if the USA didn't hypocritically impose sanctions that are a brake on Cubans embracing capitalism. If the USA really wanted Cuba to be more capitalist, and less socialist, then they should allow Cubans to send money home, and open up trade.
Imagine what Cuba could be, if it hadn’t had the USA imposing such imperialist belligerence for the last 60 years?
A repressive authoritarian hellhole, the same as all the other Marxist totalitarian states. I don't think the U.S. sanctions achieved anything positive, but Cuba's biggest problems were the result of Castro's disastrous leadership. People vote with their feet. Nobody risks their life to move to Cuba as an illegal immigrant, but millions do to move to the U.S.
There are also plenty of people fleeing capitalist states that haven't had the disadvantage of being internationally isolated.
Capitalism has failed in most of the Caribbean's local population, crime and poverty is the norm without having to face the difficulties imposed on Cuba.
Nobody risks their life to move to Cuba as an illegal immigrant, but millions do to move to the U.S.
Actually I believe that Cuba has had problems with illegal immigrants from Haiti, but anyway it's not Cuba's fault that the US will no longer accept Cuban immigrants through the normal visa channels.
If they want to enter the US they have to do it illegally by boat, despite the fact that they could easily do it legally by simply boarding a plane in Havana.
I've got a Cuban friend who drinks in the local trade union club, he's a right commie, he came to the UK by plane via Spain, no boats or risking his life was involved.
and is actually at the forefront of things like medical care and research, fighting off the Covid pandemic, education and youth literacy, social care, arts, music, etc.
Yeah, after all, there must be a reason folk are rioting in the streets...
Rioting? The media tends to exaggerate stories to make them more interesting but I have yet to hear the current protests in Cuba described as rioting.
I am assuming your source is a right-wing US website, the sort which denounce Joe Biden, or anyone to the left of Trump, as communist?
A repressive authoritarian hellhole, the same as all the other Marxist totalitarian states.
See, this annoys me. Marx described the nature of communism but never the mechanisms of how to achieve it. I certainly don't think he ever had a one man cult of personality in mind though.
Still, thank god we had good men around the world like Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden keeping those totalitarian Marxists at bay eh?
Yeah, after all, there must be a reason folk are rioting in the streets…
The existence of one doesn't negate the other, Cuba is well known for its medical prowess (I think that's the right word, its late) but that doesn't mean there isn't discontent about other issues.
Similarly Iraq was comparatively progressive under Saddam, so long as you towed the state line.
I am assuming your source is a right-wing US website
Yep I only get my news from Newsmax and One America News. It's the only way to be sure.
Similarly Iraq was comparatively progressive under Saddam
As was Iran under Pahlavi, I don't think I'd fancy living in either.
Still, thank god we had good men around the world like Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden keeping those totalitarian Marxists at bay eh?
It's quite possible to oppose both right-wing and left-wing totalitarianism. Criticizing Castro for his disastrous policies and human rights record doesn't entail supporting Pinochet or other right-wing dictators.
Criticizing Castro for his disastrous policies and human rights record.
That isn't what you did or said, which part of your statement was about human rights and which about policy?
A repressive authoritarian hellhole, the same as all the other Marxist totalitarian states.
Criticizing Castro for his disastrous policies and human rights record doesn’t entail supporting Pinochet or other right-wing dictators.
Never said it did, I was actually commenting more about these regimes peers around that time and the similarities between them. Not surprising really when you consider they were all part of a global proxy war. As pointed out though, that wasn't what you said.
On your previous point though, what about Vietnam? Nobody ever really points at that and starts screaming Red Alert. They don't seem to suffer any more problems than other countries in that region. Maybe related to the fact it was a democratic process rather than a revolution that brought the communists to power so they don't feel like they're constantly at war. Dunno...
I had a very pleasurable holiday in Cuba, a cycle tour, which gave you a glimpse of the real Cuba. It is a very poor country, blighted by a history of revolution and takeovers. At no point can it ever seen to be stable, the Revolution is maintained through fear. It has succeeded in developing basic health care to a level unmatched globally.
But the easiest way that the USA could destroy the existing regime is to remove all barriers. Cuban as well educated and the reality of their situation is known to all of them. With no trade barriers the control currently in power would vanish. But Biden won't do that because the Cubans in Florida want to old on to their fears and loathing. If Biden did this any chance of him (or Democrats) winning Florida disappears for a generation.
what about Vietnam?
It has a harshly repressive government. Rich foreigners might enjoy a vacation there but residents do not have the civil liberties that are taken for granted in liberal democracies. Same goes for Cuba.
Cuba
Look at operation condor which tells us of only the one country causing the problems uin South American countries. All of them have went the same way, and all thanks to the US interfering so they cannot compete with them economically. From drug gangs taking over to the worst dictators in history, we can all time line these occurrences back to the US.
Poverty in Cuba can be blamed on the US and its sanction that hurt only the people.
nickc Full Member
Yep I only get my news from Newsmax and One America News.
Ah I see the problem then. UK based news outlets have only reported of protests. It's unsurprising that some American outlets might want to describe it as "rioting".
American people are remarkably misformed when it comes to international affairs.
Ah I see the problem then
Yes, it's the same problem that made you think the Mr Blobby was the nickname of a current politician.
What are you talking about?
Is that supposed to be some sort of smart arse come back?
Despite your claim nick there is currently no "rioting in the streets" in Cuba. If there was it would clearly be reported.
There are however currently protests going on. Nothing weird about that, unless it's the United States's staunch friend and ally Saudi Arabia, a country with a population of over 11 million is bound to contain at least some dissatisfied people. Cuba like all societies has its problems.
I have no opinion on whether Mr Blobby is the nickname of a current or past politician. Presumably that comment was a bizarre attempt to divert attention away from your totally false "rioting" claim.
Anyway back on topic Biden is accusing Facebook of killing people.
A serious allegation but the article doesn't suggest that he has produced much evidence.
By allowing anti vax nonsense on there?
According to the article Biden said "The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated", is that really true? Is that also the case in the UK?
I have no idea how the vaccination programme is going on in Cuba but it seems to be going well in the UK.
Obviously anti vax nonsense is a problem but surely that is something for the government to deal with. The United States has too much internet connection?
I read a couple of days ago that France, where there is apparently very high resistance to vaccination, jabbed 800,000 people in just one day after the government said that only vaccinated customers would be allowed in cafés.
According to the article Biden said “The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated”, is that really true? Is that also the case in the UK?
That is the case in the U.S. Hospitalizations are almost entirely from unvaccinated people, which overwhelmingly means Trump supporters who get their news from Fox News or other right-wing propaganda outlets. This is amplified by Facebook, Twitter, etc. because their algorithms send you content that appeals to your existing beliefs.
Cases are surging in Republican dominated states - Florida, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, etc.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/16/covid-cases-rising/
Federal health officials sounded an alarm Friday about a surge in U.S. coronavirus infections fueled by the twin threats posed by the highly transmissible delta variant and a stagnation in efforts to vaccinate as many Americans as possible.
During a White House briefing, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the seven-day average of coronavirus infections soared nearly 70 percent in just one week, to about 26,300 cases a day. The seven-day average for hospitalizations has increased, too, climbing about 36 percent from the previous seven-day period, she said.
“There is a clear message that is coming through: This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Walensky said. “We are seeing outbreaks of cases in parts of the country that have low vaccination coverage because unvaccinated people are at risk, and communities that are fully vaccinated are generally faring well.”
Data and maps illustrated the hastening pace of cases — and the disproportionate burden borne by some states. Florida emerged as a national hot spot, accounting for 1 in 5 cases in the past week. Four states were responsible for more than 40 percent of cases in the past week, health officials said. And 10 percent of counties have moved into “high transmission risk.”
The response in some corners of the nation was swift. In Los Angeles County, an indoor mask mandate — applying to everyone, vaccinated or not — was reimposed. In Abilene, Kan., the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum was shuttered because of an increase in covid-19 cases.
Health officials repeatedly stressed the outsize toll covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, is taking on unvaccinated people and communities.
More than 97 percent of hospitalizations are among those who are unvaccinated, Walensky said, and almost all covid-19 deaths — which climbed 26 percent in the past week — are among people who have not received a shot.
Basically, Trump and his supporters have no coherent policy platform, their only principle is to reflexively oppose anything that Biden/Obama/Clinton/etc. support. If Biden says, "Nobody has to die if we just vaccinate everyone," Trump's team will start chanting, "Let's all die, let's all die."
https://twitter.com/Nick_Carmody/status/1414198918187868164
https://twitter.com/ZTPetrizzo/status/1416518664426336261
https://twitter.com/shval6/status/1416483050934968320
If Biden says, “Nobody has to die if we just vaccinate everyone,” Trump’s team will start chanting, “Let’s all die, let’s all die.”
That doesn't sound right on several levels, not least because as president Trump was an extremely strong supporter of a vaccine programme, hence "operation warp speed".
In fact I thought Trump's only strategy for dealing with the pandemic was to develop a vaccine and get people vaccinated?
Plus my understanding was that the US was one of the top countries in the world for vaccine rollout.
And I didn't think that vaccine scepticism was much higher in the US than elsewhere.
Found this which suggests that is the case:
Trump was an extremely strong supporter of a vaccine programme
Only in so much that it made him look good, now it makes Biden look good, so he doesn't support it anymore.
Still, to claim that there is now no Covid pandemic except among the unvaccinated, as Biden has, seems strange.
I'm sure there is much to do but the United States has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. Maybe Biden was simply trying to scare those that have still to be vaccinated.
I wish I had the confidence to believe that being double jabbed meant the end of the pandemic.
Edit : For the US president to say that there is no pandemic among the vaccinated sounds dangerous as presumably they will be less likely to take precautions to reduce transmission