'Putin's Chef' Ridicules U.S. News Outlets - Adds 'Election Interference' Comedy Sketch
A number of news outlets are spreading this nonsense:
Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin admits interfering in US elections — and promises to do it again - Nov 7, 2022 - NYPost
Russian oligarch and Kremlin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin said Monday that he had interfered in US elections in the past — and intends to keep it up.
Prigozhin, the money-man behind Moscow’s brutal Wagner Group paramilitaries, made the admission in a statement released by his business, the Concord catering firm.
“We have interfered [in US elections], we are interfering and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do,” read the statement posted to Russian social media platform VKontakte.
“During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once,” the statement added, without further explanation.
The post, made one day before mid-term elections in the US, was in response to questions put to Prigozhin from Russian news outlets.
Prigozhin — colloquially known as “Putin’s Chef” due to his catering firm’s Kremlin contracts — is also thought to be the financier behind Russian internet troll farms.
The White House even remarked on it:
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that the oligarch’s comments “do not tell us anything new or surprising.“It’s well known and well documented in the public domain that entities associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin have sought to influence elections around the world, including in the United States,” she said.
“Yevgeny is a known bad actor who has been sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom and also the European Union,” she added.
“We also know that part of Russia’s efforts include promoting narratives aimed at undermining democracy and sowing division and discord — it’s not surprising that Russia would be highlighting their attempted efforts and fabricating a story about their successes on the eve of an election,” Jean-Pierre said.
This is of course great nonsense. Prigozhin remarks did not admit anything but were pure sarcasm.
They appeared on the Telegram channel https://t.me/s/Prigozhin_hat/. That channel is not directly associated with Prigozhin himself.
This is post number 1974 on that channel (https://t.me/s/Prigozhin_hat/1974):
bigger
A Google translate of that post results in this:
Prigozhin's cap
Request from Utro.ru news agency and response:
REQUEST:
Dear Evgeny Viktorovich, we noticed a certain discrepancy between the statements in the telegram channels "Prigozhin's Cap", "Evgeny Prigozhin in Telegram" and the group "Press Service of the Concord Company" in VKontakte.
Can you please clarify which telegram channel is the official channel of the press service, if any?ANSWER:
Evgeny Viktorovich wanted to answer this question personally:
“I found out about the existence of the telegram channels “Prigozhin’s Cap” and “Evgeny Prigozhin in Telegram” after your question. More precisely, I heard about the existence of "Prigozhin's Cap", but did not bother with the question whose it was. Therefore, I answer. The Telegram channels “Prigozhin’s Cap”, “Evgeny Prigozhin on Telegram” and the rest have nothing to do with the press service of the Concord company and have nothing to do with me. However, we do not see anything harmful in the information they convey. Moreover, many of them - thanks. But in order to maintain purity in relations with content consumers, I instructed the press service to create a telegram channel “Prigozhin’s Press Service”, in which I guarantee that all statements are published from me personally.”We publish the comment of the press service:
Link to the telegram channel "Prigozhin's Press Service":
https://t.me/s/concordgroup_official65.9K views 15:58
Prigozhin's cap clearly isn't an official outlet of Prigozhin.
The first visible post on the new Concord group Telegram channel (https://t.me/s/concordgroup_official/3) is the same as the above one but edited earlier at 15:49. It is headlined: "#897 Request from Utro.ru news agency and response:".
Now onto the post by Prigozhin's cap various news outlets reported on which is number 1978 (https://t.me/s/Prigozhin_hat/1978):
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Google translation:
Prigozhin's capRequest from the editors of the Russia News portal and response:
REQUEST:
Hello!
Question to Evgeny Viktorovich.
Radio Liberty, citing a Bloomberg article, announced a new interference by Russia in the elections to the US Congress, which will be held on November 8. Journalists of the publication associate attempts of intervention with your name. Can you comment?ANSWER:
We publish a comment by Evgeny Viktorovich:
“I will answer you very subtly, delicately and I apologize, I will allow a certain ambiguity. Gentlemen, we interfered, we interfere and we will interfere. Carefully, precisely, surgically and in our own way, as we know how. During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once.”46.0K views 08:06
This is an obviously sarcastic remark made "subtly, delicately, .. allowing a certain ambiguity". The unserious nature of the response is confirmed by its last sentence "pinpoint operation ... remove both kidneys and the liver at once". That anyone would take this seriously, and sell it as 'news' only shows how much the intellectual level of the people in that business has degraded.
The same remark can be found as post number 5 on Prigozhin's new company channel (https://t.me/s/concordgroup_official/5) headlined "#899 Request from the editors of the Russia News portal and response:" It was posted at 8:04, two minutes before the Prigozhin's cap post, and has a movie citation added to it that makes it absolutely clear that Prigozhin thinks the whole issue is bare nonsense:
#899 Request from the editors of the Russia News portal and response:
...
We publish the comment of the press service:
See the story of "interference" in the American elections in the movie "16th":
https://www.ivi.ru/watch/477950www.ivi.ru
16th (2021)
Comedy about the interference of Russian hackers in the course of the American elections. In 2016, Donald Trump became President of the United States, which came as a surprise to many voters. Public dissatisfaction with the outcome of the vote gave rise to many versions of what happened, ...
The two minutes long trailer of that hilarious 'election interference' comedy can be watched here.
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Its fast cut scenes are funny even when one does not understand the Russian language dialogues. I am sure that Prigozhin had a good laugh about all this and is happy about the additional PR-value it is giving to him.
Posted by b on November 8, 2022 at 9:36 UTC | Permalink
next page »@palindroman - 1
the Empire of Lies don't have a funny bone and ridicule is the best political weapon against a foe with no sense of humour. They say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Perfect to use against a witless cabal
Posted by: AleaJactaEst | Nov 8 2022 9:57 utc | 3
The western mainstream media has reached peak surrealism with this 'Prigozhin's cap' story. If you google it you'll find a wide range of well-known media outlets who report the 'admission' as fact and apparently don't notice how ludicrous it is.
Posted by: Brendan | Nov 8 2022 10:04 utc | 4
That anyone would take this seriously, and sell it as 'news' only shows how much the intellectual level of the people in that business has degraded.
To me it looks more like an adaption to the perceived audience.
Lemmings don´t escape the herd drive...
Posted by: Goingo | Nov 8 2022 10:12 utc | 5
Wait a minute, Russians don't laugh unless Kim Il Biden sanctions it.
Posted by: Merkin Scot | Nov 8 2022 10:15 utc | 6
Priceless! Made my morning that much brighter. Could not be better. I find symptoms of the moral, intellectual and aesthetic decay of the "West" depressing at the best of times: mockery is one of the few rational responses.
Posted by: ydynhysbys | Nov 8 2022 10:49 utc | 7
USA democracy, capable... yet so vulnerable. Just like the woke metrosexual man of today.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 8 2022 10:51 utc | 8
They say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
Posted by: AleaJactaEst | Nov 8 2022 9:57 utc | 3
And also the highest form of intelligence, according to Oscar Wilde. (No, Bill B, not that kind of intelligence) ((much higher)).
Posted by: Gt Stroller | Nov 8 2022 10:53 utc | 9
There is nothing illegal about Russia interfering in US elections or the US interfering in Russian elections for that matter. And they do it all the time.
It is, however, illegal for US citizens to collude with foreign governments to interfere in domestic elections.
Posted by: Noam A. Larkey | Nov 8 2022 11:02 utc | 10
Them old Greeks had a point I think. About wars not being fought for reasons other than pride and respect and honour and anger and suchlike. Personal reasons of the powers that be. You know the idea that GW Bush invaded Iraq because “Saddam tried to kill my daddy”. In that light ridicule is a useful tool. The boys in charge in the West won’t like it at all. So it should prompt them to even more dysfunctional action. Who knows what it might be but there is that climate change thingy going on at present. That has some cut off your nose to spite your face possibilities.
Posted by: Guy L’Estrange | Nov 8 2022 11:06 utc | 11
Well didn't I get DJT elected on 2016 in the first place?
All for the sake of postponing Ukraine's war until Russia had a stockpile of hypersonics...
Prigozhin can do as well now with all his monies.
Should I specify sarcasm mode on, or let the reader decide?
Posted by: Greg Galloway | Nov 8 2022 11:14 utc | 12
I hope Putin signs a new bill to create another price hike for the West
Posted by: leaf | Nov 8 2022 11:24 utc | 13
When making any sarcastic or ironic statement at any US official or assimilated, never assume you will be understood. Always think they will take any statement 1st degree.
I remember that young French in a US plane being sent to US prison on terrorist charge because he was too long in the plane toilet's and when the flight attendant told him to hurry up he answered "one second, my shit doesn't explode". He had to plea guilty to be released in a reasonable time - ie before getting aids in US prison.
Posted by: w | Nov 8 2022 11:42 utc | 14
In Die Welt comments today someone mentions he was being sarcastic in Russian about US fantasies.
Americans are hilarious - they have murdered UN Secretary Generals, liquidated Heads of State like Patrice Lumumba, and regularly rig elections overseas........yet get prissy when sarcasm is delivered.......yet do not worry about Ukrainian oligarchs funding US election campaigns or Israel sluicing cash into campaigns - or even Citizens United v. FEC (Supreme Court).........
It is a mental illness in USA.
Merkel's regime actually put taxpayer funds into Clinton Foundation !!!!!!
and the German Marshall Fund should be checked carefully.......it is a US front pretending to be "German" but influencing German politics
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Nov 8 2022 11:52 utc | 15
I hope this movie becomes available with English subtitles. It looks funny as hell.
Posted by: Chicago Bob | Nov 8 2022 12:08 utc | 16
Sorry, but it is not sarcasm, it's irony. They are being ironic, with a hint of satire, pretending something is true, pretending they are being genuine when really they are "taking the piss" because these journalists and others in politics, and of course the gullible public, are so damned stupid. Incapable of thinking for themselves.
Posted by: SeanAU | Nov 8 2022 12:13 utc | 17
btw Americans don't get irony. Goes right over their heads. Ha? Whaaaat?
Posted by: SeanAU | Nov 8 2022 12:15 utc | 18
Given the state of information that exists between the USA and Russia, this comment is tone deaf and highly irresponsible.
Posted by: Bilaal | Nov 8 2022 12:58 utc | 20
Every time I see Karine Jean-Pierre's face on the TV it reminds me of the chorus of Kewpie Doll, a Perry Como hit from the 50s/60s.
"Gimme a doggie or a teddy bear
Or a high school banner for my wall.
Coz I've got me a real live kewpie doll
And she's the cutest one of them all."
That woman's face is the cutest on the planet - no matter what drivel is pouring out of her mouth...
Posted by: Hoarsewhlsperer | Nov 8 2022 13:00 utc | 22
It doesn't matter if it is all done in the spirit of sarcastic satire, the uniparty will just use and abuse Russian humor. All our rotten government needs to do is repeat their interpretation of the original comments on MSM news programs and NPR. The cloud minded "in" crowd will then embrace it as an absolute fact proving that voters (except for us MAGA "fascists" ( for some odd reason the myriad of anti war socialists don't even rate)) aren't rejecting their the uniparty forever war grift. Russian officials please either remain silent, up the ante to drive the criminally insane plain insane, or just block our access to your content.
Posted by: Old and Grumpy | Nov 8 2022 13:06 utc | 23
Unless there is canned laughter at the end, 9/10 Americans won't understand it's a joke.
Posted by: Et Tu | Nov 8 2022 13:23 utc | 24
Idiots are the Russians who stupidly maje such jokes on the eve of american ekection knowing that americans will use it as praopaganda against Russia.
The Russians really are not only ckueless but extreme fool.
Posted by: sam | Nov 8 2022 13:26 utc | 25
Old and Grumpy @23
I am pretty sure that other than Pussy Riot and Alex Navalny (same coin, different sides) nobody in Russia cares what Americans think anymore. Why should they?
Posted by: William Gruff | Nov 8 2022 13:27 utc | 26
Reminds me of the film My Cousin Vinny where one of the two arrested "yutes ", on being asked "at what point did you shoot the clerk?" replied, stunned, "I shot the clerk?"
And this was cited as a "confession".
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Nov 8 2022 13:37 utc | 27
Trolls, answer me this: Why should the Russians care what blithering idiot Americans who are delusionally wallowing in their own narrative shit think? You are all just a bunch of meat robots going through the motions of being human but with no sentience; no control over your own minds. All day and night long you just run programs in your heads that you have downloaded from the boob tube. America will do whatever those diversity-hire morons writing the bug-ridden code for you to load into your brains decides America should do, and Russia has no control or responsibility for that, so why should they care?
Posted by: William Gruff | Nov 8 2022 13:39 utc | 28
A trait of narcissism is an inability to process irony.
To quote someone I read on Quora:
Things mean one thing: what the narcissist says they mean. Therefore a story with a twist, or a surprise, or a double meaning, is incomprehensible to the narcissist and attacks their requirement of having control, and being unassailably superior.
This is related to their alexithymia - the inability to identify and describe emotions experienced by oneself.
An empire is almost the definition of systemic narcissism. Unsurprising it's representatives are representative.
Posted by: moaobserver | Nov 8 2022 13:59 utc | 29
If unofficial Russians now are trolling the imperial propaganda machine, good.
They ought to say more and more absurd things, seeing how imbecilic the western media is willing to get in pretending to take the statements seriously.
(Needless to say, if the Russians actually did conceive a way to manipulate western elections, which would bring what they think are more advantageous outcomes from the Russian point of view while maintaining deniability, they should be doing that.)
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Nov 8 2022 14:06 utc | 30
Posted by: Et Tu | Nov 8 2022 13:23 utc | 24
The lame stream western press will spin it as the truth;-)
Posted by: jo6pac | Nov 8 2022 14:07 utc | 31
Dmitri Orlov's latest piece on The Saker also contains his typical Russian sarcasm, including the opening paragraph:
The US midterm elections are nigh and, as I happen to be a good and patriotic Russian national, it behooves me to meddle in them. Election-meddling is an example of Russia’s soft power, which is much nicer than Russia’s hard power, so you should be glad that it’s still on offer.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Nov 8 2022 14:10 utc | 32
Amazingly, this is true: the Government of Canada is selling War Bonds for Ukraine.
https://orinocotribune.com/canada-prepares-war-bonds-for-nazi-infested-ukrainian-government/
Posted by: bevin | Nov 8 2022 14:10 utc | 33
According to reliable (anonymous) sources, the character Hannibal Lecter was directly based on Prigozhin, but they had to tone it down, cause it was just too SCARY.
Posted by: Featherless | Nov 8 2022 14:15 utc | 34
Short video:
https://t.me/ZandVchannel/38197
One of the Babushkas, like a hacker, searches the Internet for "how to influence the US elections from Krasnodar."
😀
Posted by: Norwegian | Nov 8 2022 14:17 utc | 35
Every time I see Karine Jean-Pierre's face on the TV it reminds me of the chorus of Kewpie Doll, a Perry Como hit from the 50s/60s.Posted by: Hoarsewhlsperer | Nov 8 2022 13:00 utc | 22
The Lil Rascals cast from 1934...
https://static.kino.de/wp-content/gallery/t/h/the-little-rascals-1930-1934-1934/kleinen-strolche-1930-1934-die-7-rcm0x1920u.jpg
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Nov 8 2022 14:19 utc | 36
Western media has been infested with disinformation for an exceptionally long time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwerBZG83YM
Posted by: leaf | Nov 8 2022 14:20 utc | 37
Personally I found Prigozhin's remarks hilarious. Loved the bit about the liver and kidneys.
Americans don't understand irony, sarcasm, or satire, primarily because they're being paid not to understand, paid to dumb themselves down, paid to keep the lights on even though nobody's home.
That's why anybody that does understand these things is in extreme peril. Read poor, tormented Jerzy Kosinsky's The Painted Bird and you'll understand why.
Posted by: pasha | Nov 8 2022 14:21 utc | 38
I read 20 to 100 words of the front page of NYT daily. The shift to pure fiction has been notable.
Posted by: oldhippie | Nov 8 2022 14:22 utc | 39
They made a hilarious lampoon of American politics!
The Russians are a great people. We should let them have Ukraine. Honestly, I’d rather be friends with Russia than have Ukraine join NATO.
Posted by: GoFast | Nov 8 2022 14:33 utc | 40
That woman's face is the cutest on the planet - no matter what drivel is pouring out of her mouth...
Posted by: Hoarsewhlsperer | Nov 8 2022 13:00 utc | 22
Good God man, no standards?
Posted by: Michigan Dude | Nov 8 2022 14:41 utc | 41
CBC's Vassy Kapelos, of Power and Politics infamy, repeated this item verbatim without comment or any sense of awareness whatsoever.
Posted by: spudski | Nov 8 2022 14:49 utc | 42
Flying Dutchman no. 30
"They ought to say more and more absurd things"
That made me laugh,thinking of all the really absurd things they could say. 😂
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Nov 8 2022 14:51 utc | 43
TTG has a post about this over at SST. This guy is pictured. He really looks scarey.
https://turcopolier.com/putin-best-watch-his-back-ttg/
Posted by: morongobill | Nov 8 2022 14:57 utc | 44
US elections are only a charade anyhow, well understood by the citizenry, so many don't bother voting.
. . .from the web: "When comparing turnout among the voting-age population in recent national elections in 50 countries, the U.S. ranks 31st."
And let's take it a step further: The corrupted US politicians US (and some on this panel) accept that voting equals democracy, so there you go -- 31st in democracy.
Hey, this is a fun topic, especially with b's info. The biggest hit on anything or anyone is to consider it/them a joke, and that applies in spades to Washington. It's the comedy hour!
Posted by: Don Bacon | Nov 8 2022 15:10 utc | 45
Prigozhin turned out to be like a fish bone stuck in the throat of the western powers that be, after listening to his recruiting address to convicts I thought to myself this guy is no dumb gorilla with money and power, he commands the word and how. So here we have a guy that organizes a private army and that is no less dangerous as a media warrior. Just check out his answer to a Reuters petition for an interview on camera.
https://t.me/concordgroup_official/6
answer:
We publish a comment by Evgeny Viktorovich:
"All your questions are very intimate, and I'm not going to go into a state of such intimacy with you. Therefore, if you have any more general questions, let's limit ourselves to preliminary caresses."
He shares something with Trump, the media hates them but keep on soliciting since they are money makers. Intellectually and in the kitchen Trump is no match though.
Posted by: Paco | Nov 8 2022 15:20 utc | 46
Soros said almost exactly the same, if slightly less colorful.
Posted by: sippy the shot glass | Nov 8 2022 15:27 utc | 47
Every time I see Karine Jean-Pierre's face on the TV it reminds me of the chorus of Kewpie Doll, a Perry Como hit from the 50s/60s.
Posted by: Hoarsewhlsperer | Nov 8 2022 13:00 utc | 22
When I first saw her face the thought that came to my mind was "Door Knob".
Posted by: Tom_12 | Nov 8 2022 15:32 utc | 48
You hit a nerve here.
I just love how the arsenal of democracy is terrified of unregulated speech. 'OMG if twitter allows 'disinformation' then the U.S. will crumble in the next election.'
Sound insecure much? Every totalitarian state cries 'national security' when they censor free speech
Posted by: Christian Chuba | Nov 8 2022 15:34 utc | 49
thanks b... the irony is how the usa meddles in everyone's election, going for colour revolutions and worse, but is aghast at the thought someone else might do the same... that is hypocrisy and worse that defies logic.. and they excel at it!!
@ Paco | Nov 8 2022 15:20 utc | 46
- great quote! thanks..
@ Christian Chuba | Nov 8 2022 15:34 utc | 49
that is about it christian!
Posted by: james | Nov 8 2022 15:52 utc | 50
Christian Chuba | Nov 8 2022 15:34 utc | 49
The professional-managerial class ideal has all social relations mediated by the PMC according to capitalist values. Here, they're exploiting regulation to establish private ownership of public speech. It's just capitalism running out of tangible commodities to monetize, moving on to intangible moral commodities in the usual Puritan missionary way, and it's the capitalist state's duty to help them.
Mind you, there's a big Puritan contingent at this bar who thinks that kind of totalitarianism is only bad when they themselves are not seen in charge of it. They're of a piece with what John Michael Greer calls the Ctrl-Left, the same smarmy middle-class totalitarian clerisy with more or less of its own color.
Posted by: sippy the shot glass | Nov 8 2022 15:54 utc | 51
@ morongobill | Nov 8 2022 14:57 utc | 44
ttg is a real doofus... he has a bit of catching up to do with pat though, lol... on the other hand there is larry, who can see thru all the b.s. that channel has become... a link to larrys latest below...
IS THE LOVE OF MONEY AND WAR IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
Posted by: james | Nov 8 2022 15:57 utc | 52
Russia's top chef making jokes about how efficient Russian organ harvesting is? we joke about what we know. I sing the bicycle electric.
people on this very site were making all kinds of jokes about how awesome electric bicycles are, how great it is that the Chinese version don't blow up quite so often. humor is subjective. but when they take out my eyes, i won't have to cry no more. won't need 'em w/the self-driving scooters and such, i guess. diabetes will still be a for profit endeavor though, won't it? as will mining all the "rare earth" stuff needed to make those bicycles to deliver pizzas to lardasses. it'll be like in the movie "Parasite", but even more mechanized and computerized, folding the pizza boxes.
and we'll be happier.
i did see something genuinely funny the other day, old news i know, but not old enough: Adam Sandler on the cover of the AARP.
words. words. words.
Posted by: rjb1.5 | Nov 8 2022 16:08 utc | 53
Being able to understand irony and sarcasm is one of the markers of an intelligent and inquisitive brain, therefore there's really no surprise at western shills, bootlickers and lickspittles being way too dense to tell a joke from reality.
(especially Jean Pierre, who, I am increasingly sure, was chosen for the sole reason of being the only organism on the entire planet dumb enough to not make Kamala Harris feel intellectually threatened)
Posted by: Sumguy | Nov 8 2022 16:28 utc | 54
Anyone in the US clutching pearls about interfering in elections makes me laugh, but this is new heights of american political comedy. It does go to show how important the blue checks are, without them the US political establishment is unable to ascertain the veracity of public statements. It gives one great faith in the development of disinformation councils, doesn't it?
On a more existential level, the idea of free and fair elections in the US is mostly dead now. We've had two consecutive presidential elections where half the population believes them stolen. The next one will be worse. Every election now is questioned, which means that a successful color revolution (Jan 6 was an unsuccessful color revolution) is pretty much assured at some point, likely run by the CIA as is tradition abroad.
Posted by: Lex | Nov 8 2022 16:30 utc | 55
Russia engages in "disinformation" with a "firehose of falsehoods" and the whole US MSM agrees with that, as they do with everything else -- but don't call THAT disinformation. . . It's the truth and nothing but. s/
. . .some disinformation from State
Disinformation is one of the Kremlin’s most important and far-reaching weapons. Russia has operationalized the concept of perpetual adversarial competition in the information environment by encouraging the development of a disinformation and propaganda ecosystem. This ecosystem creates and spreads false narratives to strategically advance the Kremlin’s policy goals. There is no subject off-limits to this firehose of falsehoods. Everything from human rights and environmental policy to assassinations and civilian-killing bombing campaigns are fair targets in Russia’s malign playbook. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Nov 8 2022 16:46 utc | 56
Self awareness was never a western strong point especially in the "exceptionalist" USA. In the same press conference officials will brag and announce new Billions in aid and equipment to Ukraine while decrying the malign influence of other countries who may be sending weapons to Moscow. It boggles the mind
Posted by: DaVinci | Nov 8 2022 16:52 utc | 57
In UK we refer to Prigozhin's remark as taking the p*ss.
Posted by: Pancho Plail | Nov 8 2022 17:02 utc | 58
It seems like Russia's advantages are all in the long-term.
Ukraine's locked-into reclaiming everything up to Crimea. So, Russia can afford to go defensive and dig in. Make your smaller opponent waste lives taking small amounts of land.
Ukraine's infrastructure is being degraded. Keep that up long enough, and there will be another wave of millions of refugees. The longer they stay outside Ukraine, the less likely they'll go back.
The global north is headed into a hyperinflationry crisis. Russia has one of the world's lowest debt:GDP ratios and a strong currency. So wait for that crisis to kick in. And this is the SINGLE BIGGEST THING: when hyperinflation kicks in, the Russian diaspora comes home. All sorts of skilled people come back to Russia. And they will rebuild it.
China wants a war to take Taiwan. Hang on longer enough and there will be a global crisis over that to distract and weaken the U.S. and Europe.
So my view is that unfortunately for us Americans, the Russians can and probably should and thus probably will, just make this war a brutal grind. If I'm right about this, then we won't see Belarus attack this winter. Belarus will stay on the sidelines as the mass loss of Belarussian troops (they are terribly badly equipped) would spark political chaos in Russia's closest ally.
Posted by: GoFast | Nov 8 2022 17:17 utc | 59
This is the only place I've seen the full text, with the giveaway line about removing both kidneys and the liver. Across USA media (including Pacifica radio) newscasters have made themselves ridiculous by failing to get it. Now it's Russiagate Redux, full steam ahead (the only possible explanation for the Dim bloodbath this election day).
Nothing -- not even music -- is more culturally-specific and inexplicable than humor. That liver line reminds me of an old programming colleague, Dmitri, disciplining his solemn face to utter straightness as he sums us with such weird wording while staring you in the face to test you... maybe letting you off the hook, in your confusion, with a quick wink. I haven't had direct, personal acquaintance of many Russians; from Dmitri I get the impression that this tricky style of humor, keeping listeners on their toes, is distinctively Russian.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Nov 8 2022 17:22 utc | 60
Megalomaniacs are so filled with self-importance that they can never imagine themselves to be the butt of a joke.
Posted by: Jun | Nov 8 2022 17:24 utc | 61
As it is election day in the US, I have been considering my fealty to said country, of which, by the way I became a citizen, hand on heart, as Clinton was about to begin his second term. I will remind folk that he ended his term, and the second Bush began his, with cameras following him on the long walk through the halls of Congress to the Inauguration platform. There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then, and if, as I've said before, I was almost deafened by the loudspeakers on full blast when the anthem was played at my own mini inauguration in the midst of a thousand south-of-the-border new citizens similarly afflicted - that is an irony I now savor.
Laughter is the best medicine. Caveat emptor. Do not put old wine into new wine skins --- or was that new wine into old wineskins? Sorry, must be the latter, surely. Old wineskin, me.
Posted by: juliania | Nov 8 2022 17:29 utc | 62
The Guardian posted a story taking all of this at face value. Outraged Americans then distributed the story via social medias, usually with some comment expressing offence and grievance. It was clear that some trolling was at work with the Guardian sentence: “The statement, from the press service of his catering company…”
Best to remember there are many Americans who believe Trump’s call - “Russia! Release the emails” - was an actual directive rather than a sarcastic aside.
Posted by: jayc | Nov 8 2022 17:38 utc | 63
Many early reports of polling places in disarray, voting machines not working, emergency software adjustments. We're Number One can foul up an election with no outside assistance.
I've mentioned this before, my mother used to work at our precinct polling plave. Did it thirty years with 15 as chief election judge. This was 60s through early 90s. A quieter simpler time. Always chaos. If any had known what went on -- well, they would have no faith. Only willing suspension of disbelief makes US polls work.
Posted by: oldhippie | Nov 8 2022 17:50 utc | 64
Flying Dutchman #30
"(Needless to say, if the Russians actually did conceive a way to manipulate western elections, which would bring what they think are more advantageous outcomes from the Russian point of view while maintaining deniability, they should be doing that.)".
Napoleon is alleged to have advised that you should never engage the enemy when they are making a mistake.
Posted by: Cyclops | Nov 8 2022 17:51 utc | 65
"..The Russians are a great people. We should let them have Ukraine. Honestly, I’d rather be friends with Russia than have Ukraine join NATO...." [email protected]
We all understand of course (don't we?) that Russia doesn't 'want Ukraine.' It just wants the NATO sponsored Nazi death squads and militias in Ukraine to stop killing people for speaking and thinking in Russian.
Given that Russian is the language in which most Ukrainians communicate with each other, this adds up to the clearest and most justifiable case for R2P since the Red Army over ran Auschwitz.
Posted by: bevin | Nov 8 2022 18:03 utc | 66
This comment arrives in the context of an abysmally embarrassing resurrection of Russiagate, on the part of that pathetic old Gray Lady:
Patrick Lawrence: Why Is The New York Times Still Hyping ‘Russiagate’?
Prigozhin's ridicule succeeds with a certain audience, situated almost entirely outside the USA. Hereabouts, we're so dense his joke only augments rampant, rising hysteria.
Posted by: Aleph_Null | Nov 8 2022 18:16 utc | 67
Propaganda, misinformation, horse-shit, whatever you want to call it, never changes, except the methodology:
https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/1589606899569377282
Yet, if one understands one's nature, i.e., human nature, you acquire a nose for such odoriferous treats! Unfortunately, such knowledge remains a mystery to the self deluded.
Posted by: ed | Nov 8 2022 18:22 utc | 68
Posted by: bevin | Nov 8 2022 18:03 utc | 66
The Russians may not want the Ukraine, but in the interests of a continuing European peace they should take as much as they can comfortably digest. This should include the whole Black Sea coast and Oblasts which previously voted for pro-Russian candidates. They have to ensure that the remaining part of the Ukraine will never be in an economic position to acquire nuclear weapons, or foment Neo-Nazi agitations.
Posted by: Jams O'Donnell | Nov 8 2022 18:31 utc | 69
I found apt the comments of Federation Council Speaker Konstantin Kosachev as reported by TASS:
"It would be strange to pretend that we are not watching them [the elections]," Kosachev said on one of Moscow’s radio stations.He emphasized that the purpose of such interest is the desire to be informed and understand what is happening in the United States, he specified.
"However, we are not interfering, nor have we ever interfered before. I am certain about this for the simple reason that meddling does not make sense. I believe that expecting some radical change in US policies with the advent of the Republicans, should they gain the majority in the House of Representatives, would be utterly unrealistic," Kosachev contended.
He noted that the American political landscape is embroiled in a heated inter-party struggle, in which a variety of arguments were being used, "but the disagreements in no way influence the US’ assessments of what is happening in Ukraine and of Russia's actions."
"There is practically a consensus in this regard," Kosachev noted.
Posted by: David Levin | Nov 8 2022 18:44 utc | 70
I'm surprised the quote didn't include a reference to a nice chianti...
Posted by: Peter VE | Nov 8 2022 18:49 utc | 71
Cyclops | Nov 8 2022 17:51 utc | 65
Flying Dutchman #30
"(Needless to say, if the Russians actually did conceive a way to manipulate western elections, which would bring what they think are more advantageous outcomes from the Russian point of view while maintaining deniability, they should be doing that.)".
Napoleon is alleged to have advised that you should never engage the enemy when they are making a mistake.
Whoever said it, one of the most abused quotes. Whether it's better to strike or refrain when the enemy's making a mistake is purely case-by-case.
To clarify, I'm not saying it's likely there will exist a scenario which fits my description of where the Russians (or any other target of the empire) should intervene. I wanted to affirm that morally and as a practical matter Russia has every right to do so anytime it chooses, since it's acting in clear existential self-defense.
(Indeed, there's literally nothing Russia could do against the US which would be morally wrong vis the US, given how rabidly the US has targeted the Russian polity and culture for total eradication and the people for enslavement. It's literally a do-over of the original WWII Nazi plan for Russia.)
Posted by: Flying Dutchman | Nov 8 2022 19:09 utc | 72
Re the election.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com
Scanning the headlines already dozens of irregularities.
The American Electoral Shit Show Reality TV Republic production enters a new Silly Season Episode 1.
“It’s well known and well documented in the public domain that entities associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin have sought to influence elections around the world, including in the United States,” she [white house press secretary] said.
Thank goodness the US doesn't engage in such behavior, ever, ever.
Posted by: Mike R | Nov 8 2022 19:52 utc | 74
@ ed 68
Moreover; we are the architects of our own self deception!
Posted by: ed | Nov 8 2022 19:58 utc | 75
keep in mind russia is fighting a 2 front war now (plus ops in arctic, the med, japan sea, and elsewhere), in syria, w a $70 billion doelar war budget w a $2 trillion gdp (us 10x+ that at $24ish T gdp, 4%plus of gdp war budget) and us has a fiscal y23 $800 billion war budget (including nukes and black book stuff easily over $trillion per year now), us fighting multiple fronts, ww3 started in syria, us fighting on at least 7 active fronts, and doesnt include Taiwan to come, and maybe elesewhere? afpak (pakis got nukes), indonesia?.....the doelar is dead, buy gold.
Posted by: jayco | Nov 8 2022 20:35 utc | 76
Help is at hand,
"Novosibirsk proposed not to recognize the legitimacy of the American elections and to create a US government in exile. Once a year they will gather, discuss American values, ridicule democracy and support the desire of the people of Texas for sovereignty."
I think they may be having problems to designate a new "Leader" for the US, as most of them wanted cash-down payments first, and a Miami Villa is now so Passé.
Posted by: Stonebird | Nov 8 2022 20:40 utc | 77
JOKE OF THE DAY IN RUSSIA:
❗️The first results of Russia's interference in the US elections have appeared!https://t.me/ZandVchannel/38295
❗️According to exit polls, the "United Russia" party is in the lead!
😂😂😂
Posted by: Norwegian | Nov 8 2022 20:41 utc | 78
I just did my civic duty, ritual trip to the rec center for my I Voted sticker. It's such a drag that you can't spoil your ballot yourself with this electronic stuff.
We need a new Malcolm.
Posted by: lex talionis | Nov 8 2022 20:53 utc | 79
Speaking of ridiculous satire, look who crawled out of his bunker today:
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that the alliance does not seek to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine on Russian terms:“If Ukraine goes along with Russian demands and accepts the fact that Russia has invaded, seized territories, there is a risk of continued attacks ... This will be a disaster for Ukraine, but also a danger for all of us, since this would send a signal that the use of force allows you to achieve political goals to gain control over neighboring countries"
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Nov 8 2022 21:02 utc | 80
^ people like Malcolm are exceptionally rare and weeded out with ever increasing effectiveness.
Only possibility of any R in the west is if we learn about hunger first.
Posted by: Rae | Nov 8 2022 21:08 utc | 81
As I said early on this thread.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russias-prigozhin-admits-interfering-u-115844580.html
Posted by: jo6pac | Nov 8 2022 21:08 utc | 82
I have seen shitlibs online on numerous occasions assert with certainty that Trump was deadly serious when he clearly sarcastically requested of President Putin in a nationally televised debate to please obtain and release Hillary’s emails.
Posted by: nwwoods | Nov 8 2022 21:09 utc | 83
No place to put this here or anywhere really.
"Norway’s royal family announced on Tuesday that Princess Martha Louise would cease her official duties and relinquish her patronages to focus on her relationship with Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed 'shaman' to the stars who sells magic amulets."
Good luck to the couple.
Posted by: Elmagnostic | Nov 8 2022 21:55 utc | 84
HAHAHA! They refer to the FBI as the FBR! That's what they were called in the President's Analyst with James Coburn. It made the FBI look so bad J.Edgar tried to stop the movie's distribution. See the tail end of this clip about American Liberals for example
Posted by: Heretical_I | Nov 8 2022 21:59 utc | 85
GoFast | Nov 8 2022 17:17 utc | 59
“………China wants a war to take Taiwan.”
NO
IT
DOES
NOT
The U$ wants to goad China into defending its One China Two Systems policy by paying to incite Taiwanese agitators and selling billions in weapons.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 8 2022 22:00 utc | 86
When comparing turnout among the voting-age population...
Posted by: Don Bacon | Nov 8 2022 15:10 utc | 45
...one may be surprised to discover how many US Americans cannot identify historic events that correspond with these data points.
US Election Project | US (voting eligible pop) VEP turnout, 1789-2020
Posted by: sln2002 | Nov 8 2022 23:15 utc | 87
@palindroman
“…They say that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit…”
I suspect that “they” say so because sarcasm is so terribly effective as a rhetorical tool.
Posted by: nwwoods | Nov 9 2022 0:06 utc | 88
Jams O'[email protected]
I think what you want is implied by the Russian objectives of 'de-militarisation' and 'de-nazification.'
What Russia doesn't want, and won't tolerate, is what is important here. It seems to me that NATO ought to start wrapping its head (if it can find one) around those ideas.
Posted by: bevin | Nov 9 2022 0:18 utc | 89
Seems trolling is becoming an international sport.
Macron to Maduro: hey buddy, how’s it hanging.
Wanna talk? You got oil well, and I got an oil need.
MADURO: Sure bon cherie midwit. The head of our delegation is here somewhere. Maybe he can spare a minute or two for you, merci beaucoup. *
https://twitter.com/AmmarKazmi_/status/1589691697784451072
*Might not be an exact transition, but meaning can be inferred
Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 9 2022 0:28 utc | 90
Elmagnostic @ 84:
Hmmm ... looks like the happy couple needs all the luck we can wish on them.
From Durek Verrett's Wikipedia entry:
"... Verrett grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area town of Foster City, California, and changed his name to Durek Verrett in 2014 ... He claims to be a 6th generation shaman ... He has claimed that his mother is of Norwegian-West Indian ... descent and that his father is of Haitian origin. In a 2009 interview Verrett claimed to be "born into the lineages of Haitian voodoo and indigenous Norwegian medicine" ...Verrett has said that he was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment in the United States, after he had organized a party in an abandoned house that was set on fire ... He said that he served one year in prison before being released on parole ...
He was formerly married to Zaneta Marzalkova, a Los Angeles resident of Czech nationality. They married in 2005 when she was 21 years old ... In 2008 he reported his then-wife to the immigration authorities as an illegal resident, and as a result she was jailed and deported from the country. They divorced in 2009, and Verrett has claimed that his wife "exploited" him ... From 2007 to 2015 Verrett also had a boyfriend, a masseur named Hank Greenberg, who was also his business partner. They broke off their engagement prior to their planned wedding in 2015, and Greenberg later accused Verrett of being manipulative, violent and dangerous, and said he has a "brainwashed" cult of followers where "his word is law." ... Verrett lived for six years with his then-manager Tiana Griego, who said that "Durek controlled my whole life. It was as if he became jealous of anything that stole his attention. I was not allowed to start a serious romantic relationship or raise my son. It was all about Durek." ..."
No wonder the Norwegian royal family wants to put a lot of distance ... a lo-o-ot of distance ... between itself and Märtha-Louise Glücksburg.
Posted by: Jen | Nov 9 2022 0:34 utc | 91
For barflies new to international relations: (so everyone can enjoy the exquisite humiliation):
France's Macron throws support behind Venezuela opposition leader Jan 2019.
In a tweet posted Thursday by President Emmanuel Macron in both French and Spanish, he referred to the “illegitimate election of Nicolas Maduro in May 2018”.
On Wednesday, opposition leader Guaido, declared himself the country's interim president before a crowd of cheering supporters.
The 35 year-old won declarations of support from across the world, including Britain and the United States; a move that was met with fury by Maduro.
The former president vowed to cut diplomatic ties with Washington and gave all US diplomatic staff 72 hours to leave the country, adding Venezuela has dignity.
But the US ignored the order claiming it no longer sees Maduro as wielding any authority.
Guaido tweeted that he had also received the "full support" of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, to whom he expressed the struggle of the Venezuelan people to bring about a transition of power and hold free elections.”
One of the European Union’s most senior lawmakers, David McAllister, a German conservative and chair of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said in a statement that “Maduro has lost any legitimacy to lead his country.
He needs to step aside.” [echoes of “Assad must go”]
He added that “the national assembly as the legitimate, democratically elected institution must lead the transition towards a full restitution of democracy in Venezuela.”
But others remain steadfast in their backing of Maduro, with both Turkey and Russia confirming their on-going support.
https://www.rfi.fr/en/americas/20190124-frances-emmanuel-macron-gives-support-venezuelas-opposition-leader-guadio-maduro
Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 9 2022 0:36 utc | 92
One of the most interesting and probably one of the most significant Col Macgregor interviews yet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJvLVc0gA6M
Posted by: Saul Goode | Nov 9 2022 0:48 utc | 93
Jen | Nov 9 2022 0:34 utc | 91
Thanks for going there and retrieving the laugh.
The world IS being trolled…
Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 9 2022 1:09 utc | 94
Iran. With the bantz:
https://twitter.com/InternetH0F/status/1589961918797971457
Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 9 2022 1:48 utc | 95
Someone here remarked that US elections are a charade. How true. Both parties are vampiric. Yes, there will be a bloodletting. But both parties suck the blood from a mesmerized public -- as I write here. https://julianmacfarlane.substack.com/p/midterms-a-bloodletting
Posted by: julianmacfarlane | Nov 9 2022 1:57 utc | 96
@Jen | Nov 9 2022 0:34 utc | 91
No wonder the Norwegian royal family wants to put a lot of distance ... a lo-o-ot of distance ... between itself and Märtha-LouiseThe freak show has been going on for a while. The father of her children was a pathetic idiot that committed suicide. She just upped the ante with the shaman after that. But all is good since she talks to angels.
Posted by: Norwegian | Nov 9 2022 6:49 utc | 97
Obviously this is all manufactured. If you wanna make an omelet first you buy some eggs to crack.
Here is the anonymized transcript from the intercepted conversation that preceded this "news":
Hi [...], we need to manufacture some news item about Russian election interference. Can you set us up with some social media joke for us to report about?
- Sure [...], how convincing should it be?
Just add some sarcasm for us to ignore. It would help splitting the populace into dimwits and smart-asses.
- Just a minute.. here you go.
Thanks we can use that.
Posted by: RON | Nov 9 2022 9:01 utc | 98
Obviously this is all manufactured. If you wanna make an omelet first you buy some eggs to crack.
Here is the anonymized transcript from the intercepted conversation that preceded this "news":
Hi [...], we need to manufacture some news item about Russian election interference. Can you set us up with some social media joke for us to report about?
- Sure [...], how convincing should it be?
Just add some sarcasm for us to ignore. It would help splitting the populace into dimwits and smart-asses.
- Just a minute.. here you go.
Thanks we can use that.
Posted by: RON | Nov 9 2022 9:01 utc | 99
In response to [email protected],
I also heard that Russian election observers made a statement, that interference in the American election is proceeding in full accordance with Russian legislature and without any serious discrepancies. (Echoing the sort of statement that would usually come out during Russian elections)
Also that a fight broke out in Khabarovsk between supporters of democrats and republicans.
Posted by: Skiffer | Nov 9 2022 9:33 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
So, this story is even more idiotic than I thought it was? How surprising.
Posted by: Palindroman | Nov 8 2022 9:52 utc | 1