med at 79, 86
Thanks for bringing it up.
Red Star over Donbass has a number of reports detailing both the imposition of the government and resistance to it, as well as political trials of leftist opponents. But I’ve not had the opportunity to look into it.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 21 2016 5:49 utc | 103

Headlines read Litvnenko assassination ‘probably’ approved by Putin

Posted by: aaaaa | Jan 21 2016 12:40 utc | 105

Genius David Bowie impersonates Springsteen, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Iggy …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrtXFTw2ico

Posted by: b | Jan 21 2016 15:50 utc | 107

What the hell, is this a joke or is the propaganda so sick?!
U.K. inquiry: Litvinenko was ”probably” assassinated for claim that Putin is a pedophile
+
https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/690144326098292736
Dying KGB spy told Scotland Yard that Russian president destroyed video evidence of sex with underage boys
+
twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/690145634146488320

Posted by: Sefed | Jan 21 2016 16:35 utc | 109

And then there is this about the Trump racist heritage
https://theconversation.com/woody-guthrie-old-man-trump-and-a-real-estate-empires-racist-foundations-53026

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jan 22 2016 2:03 utc | 111

state of union
*As a black man, you had an unprecedented opportunity to address the issues of Blacks, but you didn’t. You showed no care for Black lives or for the lives of Blacks in America. You said little and did even less to stop the killing of Black men [and women] and the mass incarceration of Blacks. You said nothing and did nothing regarding the over due payment of reparations to the descendants of slaves, men and women upon whose backs the US economy was built. And, if any proof was needed, the outcry of the [Black Lives Matter] movement shows that your priorities were elsewhere*
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/01/us-shining-example-unto-isis.html

Posted by: denk | Jan 22 2016 6:09 utc | 113

psychohistorian 115
the trouble with murkka is that all of its *elected leaders* spend all their time ruling screwing the world instead of improving life at the home front.
it was truely amusing watching the euphoria and pride surrounding obama’s election trail, wow, *we’r gonna get a black prez, u wont find this in china or russia !*
poor sheeples just never learn, every potus was chosen by the puppet masters for a specific purpose,
obama’s job was to *do* africa !
cuz africans were so smitten by the rise of one of their *son* in white house , they wont even realise they are being re-*penetrated* !
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article35460.htm

Posted by: denk | Jan 22 2016 6:57 utc | 115

@@ Wayoutwest | Jan 21, 2016 4:06:45 PM | 76
WoW,
I will respond to your excretion on the other thread here where it will not interfere with those who want to stay OT. In a way I am offended that you cannot show the least ability to be original in your comments, or not an originality that a prepubescent adolescent isn’t developing out of reliance upon. “FOS” ? really? is that the best you can manage? Actually you cannot even get that correct. Even a very old zombie ear-worm of a joke does better: Definition of people – as 12 meter long tubes, half filled with sh*t. Kissing – sucking on a 12 meter long tube half filled with sh*t – AND it was original in its day. As for pegging and pigeonholing no-one can or has done a better job than yourself – blame the person you see in the mirror the next time you look there. Also the commentator I responded to had taken your shite to task with direct quote and rebuttal – absolutely nothing amiss with agreeing with that effort. Your retort was a figment of your fevered imagination – consider getting professional help.
Your second sentence/paragraph hasn’t the substance to respond to – the rambling, disjointed mumblings of the ill educated and misinformed, exacerbated by dire reading AND comprehension skills.
That you are supplied with a forum here is a tribute to tolerance and forbearance of the site’s host, opinion is not illegal even if misinformed, and is certainly (for some) a doG given right – exercise it with wisdom (and a little bit of judgment as well). I have no intention of continuing this particular issue with you.

Posted by: Formerly T-Bear | Jan 22 2016 11:37 utc | 117

The effects of the sex ratio in societies and in migration – what a feminist foreign policy would mean.

Posted by: somebody | Jan 22 2016 14:19 utc | 119

state of union,
*After a decade in which we fought two wars that cost us dearly, in blood and treasure,
its time for a sober re assessment of our priorities.
shouldnt we turn inwards and start working on the myiad problems at home instead of trying to rule the whole fucking world ?
the United States is turning our attention to the vast potential of the Asia Pacific region….As we end today’s wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and mission in the Asia Pacific a top priority*
hehehe

Posted by: denk | Jan 23 2016 5:08 utc | 121

thanks beq. i will never forget our trip…

Posted by: annie | Jan 24 2016 20:11 utc | 123

Response to rufus’ comment.
As usual, you are twisting things. So, once again, I feel that I have to respond.
I’m more interested in socialist politics and proletarian leadership …

And yet … you support Hillary.

Your boy Tsipras …

I’m not a Tsipras supporter, as much as you try to push that falsehood. In fact, you plagiarized from my comment that described why Tsipras’ call for elections proved beyond a doubt that he was a betrayer.
And since then you have tried to twist my support for Syriza’s resistance into support for Tsipras. Even to the point of disputing what I wrote above: that the Troika made an effort to undercut support for Syriza, and that the lack of support from outside Greece greatly reduced the chances that Syriza could prevail. And you add the laughable claim that support from the left would not help Greece.

… who are your vaunted “progressives,” and what exactly would you have had them do?

Snearing at “progressives” again. What a good socialist you are! But you’re not really, are you? AFAICT, you are a zionist marxist (in that order) – essentially, an elitist.
In fact, a major Euopean leftist organization declined to support Syriza at a crucial point. Who were they? hint: it was covered by NakedCapitalism – which you claim to read everyday.
They were clearly intimidated. The Troika NEEDED to beat Syriza as a lesson to others so the Troika unleashed a media campaign that let it be know that the Greeks were unworthy of support and would be defeated.

… why do you address remarks at me?

I respond to your attacks against me. On a few occasions last year I initiated interaction when you made wrote comments that were insensitive or just plain wrong-headed.
You ALWAYS fight back with BS – as you are now – to the point of ridiculousness (hence my “fool in mouth disease” quip). Now you have chosen to OWN it, with the slogan: “bull shit beats Jack shit.” LOL!

… are you again going to try to get me banned?

I thought that you should be banned for excusing Israeli state murder. It is insensitive and an affront to the MoA community – some of whom may take real risks when writing critically about human rights and government wrong-doing.
But as you know its not up to me, so your question amounts to taunting b.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 25 2016 15:46 utc | 125

in re 126 —
Which major leftist organization; link please? I find “not the man but the resistance” disingenuous. He was elected to lead resistance, and he wound up campaigning and now governing on compliance.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 26 2016 1:16 utc | 127

Well hey, that’s some sort of response. I don’t think they demonstrate your point, however.
Podemos is not (yet?) a governing party. So what could this new party have done in opposition?
I/m not a FT subscriber, so can’t read that link. But your other link suggests that EU acted to prevent Podemos’s growth, which, given it’s recent electoral gains, doesn’t seem to have worked.
My fellow sectarians at WSWS I think would disagree with your characterization as well. They see Podemos patterning itself after Syriza, though blowing smoke otherwise.

Podemos, regardless of its rhetoric, has cheered Syriza’s austerity measures in Greece, making clear its readiness to facilitate the imposition of similar attacks in Spain. For the past two years it has invested huge amounts of energy in promoting itself as a serious party to rule in the name of the bourgeoisie. It has included former judges, police and even a former Chief of the Defence Staff in its leadership; made patriotic speeches in defence of national salvation; and horse-traded the formation of regional governments and local town councils with the Socialist Party and other parties.

Of course, maybe the discussion at NC that you alluded to but have yet to cite says different.
And I believe I’ve posted about Varoufakis’ response to Blockupy, they’re getting together before the 4 Feb. kickoff of Varoufakis’ new grouping. But it’s too late in the eve. for me to dig it up.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 26 2016 6:32 utc | 129

I presume you mean Sinn Fein — I saw an MEP of theirs a few days ago on Max Keiser. The Irish goverment opposes relief for Greece, you know. See here.
That new Portugese coalition now opposes austerity is a good thing (new pres. says he’ll work to defeat the left; again too late to find the link, IT was in my bookmarks). But present events don’t support arguments about folks actions in the past.
I just had a quick look, though, and I get alot of links that said “Podemos close ally of Syriza,” like this one.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 26 2016 6:44 utc | 131

Let’s hope the IT guys over FT don’t fix that bug. BTW, I don’t read every link or article at NC everyday, and I certainly don’t frequent the comments. And it’s often esoterica, like this. I got into industrial history in grad school.
The article contains no evidence that anyone in the Troika pressured Podemos into doing anything.
Before I start “High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article.”
Sure. I’m thinking, Fair Use. But I’ll be sparing, considering the delicate sensibilities of FT copyright lawyers.

So again, please, exactly what might the recently-formed ally, sitting in opposition, with then-uncertain politics done differently?

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 26 2016 13:25 utc | 133

Here is Costas Lapavitsas in yesterday’s Guardian: One year on, Syriza has sold its soul for power.
I disagree with Costas when he says that there was no “… coup engineered by conservative politicians and EU officials, determined to eliminate any risk of contagion.” The ‘coup’ occurred over many years – it was merely revealed via Greece’s negotiations. And most observers agree that there WAS a determination to make an example of Greece.
Costas is trying to draw a bright line between him/his group and Tsipras/Yanis/Syriza. He doesn’t want to acknowledge ANY benefits from their failed strategy.
With that said, here is the part that is relevant to our discussion:

A year ago the Syriza leadership was convinced that if it rejected a new bailout, European lenders would buckle in the face of generalised financial and political unrest. The risks to the eurozone were, they presumed, greater than the risks to Greece. (emphasis is mine)

Podemos had the most to gain or lose outside Greece. Their fate was largely tied to the outcome of Greece, whether they liked it or not. They could’ve chosen to support Syria completely with the message: “the Greek struggle is OUR struggle”. And they could’ve helped to build a Euro-wide movement. If they had, Greeks would not have been isolated and Tsipras’ referendum would’ve meant much much more.
Syriza was counting on, among other things, the threat of “political unrest” – which means little when it occurs in Greece but means a lot if it occurs in bigger countries and/or across the EU.
The ft article that I linked to shows that Podemos was hesitant to provide support. The excuse is that Podemos wanted to go “mainstream”. But that amounts to running away from their base and ignoring the clear linkage to other anti-austerity movements and Parties across the EU (especially Greece).
I mentioned other countries anti-austerity efforts to show that others could have / would have risen to support Greece also. It seems that the European Left is only coming together AFTER the Greece debacle. But the need for unity could easily have been anticipated and brought to fruition much sooner.
I don’t have a ‘smoking gun’, but IMO, Podemos was intimidated. The Spainish political establishment, as in other peripheral countries, was opposed to any special concessions to Greece. “Moving to the center” was Podemos excuse for supporting the establishment point of view. Instead of making a CLASS argument, they acceded to the nationalist argument of the establishment.
Yes, Syriza made many mistakes. Chief among these was that they didn’t foresee Troika moves to nullify Greek advantages. The ECB started QE (which didn’t include Greece!); bailout funds were withheld to put pressure on Greece (which was running a surplus at that time); and the establishment-friendly MSM painted Greeks as not worthy of support and Yanis as incompetent.
A secondary failure (as pointed out by Costas) was not preparing for failure in the negotiations. What Syriza offered the EU was NOT very radical. Debt for equity swaps and debt forgiveness have been used many times in the past when debt burdens have reached a point that it suffocates the debtor.
And that fact makes Podemos’ hesitance more stark. Syriza’s approach was NOT actually so radical that it would taint Podemos. But Podemos knew that solidarity with Syriza meant drawing class distinctions that would make it subject to attacks from many quarters.
In the end, the biggest support came from an unlikely source: the right. Marie LePen said that if Greece were to exit the Euro, France would be next out the door. This prompted the French government to be somewhat supportive of Greece. THIS support plus a promise of meaningful debt relief(tm) might have worked to keep Greece in the Euro. But that now seems to have been a ruse – and one which Tsipras accepted (to his everlasting shame).
The ONLY saving grace is that the Euro establishment overplayed their hand. Stomping on Greece like a cockroach raised awareness of the cruel and undemocratic nature of the EU. IF the EU had been less harsh, Podemos might have fared much worse at the polls last month. But if they had been more supportive in the Spring, they might be ruling Spain today.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jan 26 2016 22:44 utc | 135

Oops, time pressures caused this omission in 137 —
Lapavitsas on Tsipras’ expectations — “If Syriza negotiated hard, it would be offered an ‘honourable compromise’ relaxing austerity and lightening the national debt.”
Rather like two noble gentlemen dueling.

Posted by: rufus magister | Jan 27 2016 0:20 utc | 137

@139 FTB
Thanks for the link!

Posted by: jfl | Jan 28 2016 12:58 utc | 139