Liberals view of USSR vs. Russia

[Lewkowski]

Anyone else find it entertaining that liberals view current day Russia as a bigger bogey man than the actual original 'Evil Empire' of the Soviet Union? In terms of loss of life, threat of nuclear war and proxy wars that were far more damaging than anything Russia is doing today and liberals... often viewed the USSR as 'not so bad.' They mocked Reagan for daring to use the term Evil Empire and wrote the occasional puff pieces about how great communism was. Heck a young Sanders seemed to think it was a delightful place to visit for his honey moon.

But now Russia is being trumpeted as the most dangerous threat by Loki and his ilk. More dangerous than Iran, IS, North Korea and other bad actors. Don't get me wrong... Russia is a shit hole. Their actions in Georgia, Ukraine, Iran and Syria are dick moves and shouldn't be tolerated. But this hand wringing about Russia simply because they need an excuse for why Clinton lost is hypocritical.

The evil of our time is Islamic Terrorism not Russia. We already beat their asses in the Cold War and they are a shell of their former power. Quit getting your panties in a bunch and take off your blinders.

[Hazir]

Anyone else find it entertaining that liberals view current day Russia as a bigger bogey man than the actual original 'Evil Empire' of the Soviet Union? In terms of loss of life, threat of nuclear war and proxy wars that were far more damaging than anything Russia is doing today and liberals... often viewed the USSR as 'not so bad.' They mocked Reagan for daring to use the term Evil Empire and wrote the occasional puff pieces about how great communism was. Heck a young Sanders seemed to think it was a delightful place to visit for his honey moon.

But now Russia is being trumpeted as the most dangerous threat by Loki and his ilk. More dangerous than Iran, IS, North Korea and other bad actors. Don't get me wrong... Russia is a shit hole. Their actions in Georgia, Ukraine, Iran and Syria are dick moves and shouldn't be tolerated. But this hand wringing about Russia simply because they need an excuse for why Clinton lost is hypocritical.

The evil of our time is Islamic Terrorism not Russia. We already beat their asses in the Cold War and they are a shell of their former power. Quit getting your panties in a bunch and take off your blinders.

Interesting that you would think a relatively small group of extremists as more of a threath than a country with the will and capability to go to war .

Especially when that country still has the capability to knock you of the face of the planet.

The reason why Russia is percieved as more dangerous is that it is less predictable than the USSR. The USSR knew exactly how far it could go and would not go a step beyond. Russia today on the other hand is constantly testing how far it can go. The risk of a war started by Russia escalating into a full blown nuclear conflict is bigger tyan ever. And that's not a liberal idea but a risk that was already voiced as far back as the early nineties.

[Ominous Gamer]

The amount of mental gymnastics lewk has to go through to believe his lies and justify his racism and xenophobia reminds me of when penny novel authors attempt to add plot to their story.

[RandBlade]

Anyone else find it weird that supposedly right-wing Americans are sucking up to Russia and find that perfectly OK?

While Stalin etc were truly evil I would say that Putin is far more evil than Gorbachev could ever be.

I'm not sure I'd describe invading a neighbouring nation and annexing a large chunk of it while funding and encouraging civil war in the rest of it as "a dick move".

[Loki]

Pretty impressive cognitive dissonance, Lewk. Conservatives viewed Russia as a major threat until a few months ago. And then half of them suddenly stopped. Romney was attacked for saying Russia is the primary threat facing the US.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.a2ceecc5858e

And I didn't realize your reading comprehension was this bad. I've been anti-Russian for the better part of two decades. I even wrote Bush making a case for punishing Russia over the Georgian War 8.5 years ago...

[Lewkowski]

Interesting that you would think a relatively small group of extremists as more of a threath than a country with the will and capability to go to war .

Especially when that country still has the capability to knock you of the face of the planet.

The reason why Russia is percieved as more dangerous is that it is less predictable than the USSR. The USSR knew exactly how far it could go and would not go a step beyond. Russia today on the other hand is constantly testing how far it can go. The risk of a war started by Russia escalating into a full blown nuclear conflict is bigger tyan ever. And that's not a liberal idea but a risk that was already voiced as far back as the early nineties.

At best Russia could achieve Mutually Assured Destruction. Short of using nukes Russia is absolutely not a threat military to America. As far as being less predictable... are you at all a student of history? Cuban Missile Crisis was pretty insane. They also almost used them on China. This is a far cry from Russia bullying far weaker countries around itself.

[Lewkowski]

Anyone else find it weird that supposedly right-wing Americans are sucking up to Russia and find that perfectly OK?

While Stalin etc were truly evil I would say that Putin is far more evil than Gorbachev could ever be.

I'm not sure I'd describe invading a neighbouring nation and annexing a large chunk of it while funding and encouraging civil war in the rest of it as "a dick move".

Are you saying it wasn't a dick move? I was pretty clear we shouldn't tolerate that sort of shit (makes you wonder why Obama weakened our European missile shield agreements we had with our allies...) however what I'm trying to bring is perspective. As well as point out the hypocrisy of the left when it fawns over brutal left wing totalitarian regimes throughout the Cold War but when said super power is weakened significantly and becomes a regional bully suddenly they are a far more fearsome foe. All because they gave up communism it suddenly became acceptable to attack them.

[Lewkowski]

Pretty impressive cognitive dissonance, Lewk. Conservatives viewed Russia as a major threat until a few months ago. And then half of them suddenly stopped. Romney was attacked for saying Russia is the primary threat facing the US.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.a2ceecc5858e

And I didn't realize your reading comprehension was this bad. I've been anti-Russian for the better part of two decades. I even wrote Bush making a case for punishing Russia over the Georgian War 8.5 years ago...

You've been anti-Russia for awhile that's true. I would ask - why do you think the media is so much more rabidly against Russia now than when it was the far more powerful and dangerous during the past? Do you think it is politically motivated based on what happened in the election or do you really think the media thinks Russia is a global super threat like it was during the Cold War?

[RandBlade]

Are you saying it wasn't a dick move?

No it was a lot worse than a dick move. A dick move is not anywhere near strong enough.

You've been anti-Russia for awhile that's true. I would ask - why do you think the media is so much more rabidly against Russia now than when it was the far more powerful and dangerous during the past? Do you think it is politically motivated based on what happened in the election or do you really think the media thinks Russia is a global super threat like it was during the Cold War?

Because Russia is far more powerful and dangerous than during the more recent pass. Russia is a serious global threat and pariah under sanctions that is invading other nations and that predates the recent election.

[Lewkowski]

Because Russia is far more powerful and dangerous than during the more recent pass. Russia is a serious global threat and pariah under sanctions that is invading other nations and that predates the recent election.

It isn't a global threat. It is a regional threat in Europe and Middle East. It isn't even the biggest power in Asia.

Sanctions and being a global pariah makes it weaker not more powerful. Unless you think somehow the sanctions increased the danger of Russia? If that's true you'd be in favor of appealing them right?

[Enoch the Red]

It isn't a global threat. It is a regional threat in Europe and Middle East. It isn't even the biggest power in Asia.

Sanctions and being a global pariah makes it weaker not more powerful. Unless you think somehow the sanctions increased the danger of Russia? If that's true you'd be in favor of appealing them right?

Let me get this straight, Russia is only a regional threat to Europe and the Middle East, but North Korea, Iran, and the IS are the evil of our time and pose an existential threat to our existence? How do you figure that?

How many nuclear weapons does the IS have again? What's their ability to meaningfully project power?

[RandBlade]

It isn't a global threat. It is a regional threat in Europe and Middle East. It isn't even the biggest power in Asia.

As Enoch said it is far more of a global threat than any other pariahs.

Sanctions and being a global pariah makes it weaker not more powerful. Unless you think somehow the sanctions increased the danger of Russia? If that's true you'd be in favor of appealing them right?

Well done for missing the point. It's under sanctions and a pariah because of its danger, its not a danger because of sanctions

[Ominous Gamer]

admits that russia is a country capable of mutual destruction run by dicks.

doesn't see the problem with that.

[Enoch the Red]

admits that russia is a country capable of mutual destruction run by dicks.

doesn't see the problem with that.

Well, to be fair, the same is true of the US.

[Ominous Gamer]

agreed, but wasn't that part of the issue during the cold war too? everyone wanted to whip out their dicks while simultaneously worrying about the other guy whip our something worse.

[Lewkowski]

Let me get this straight, Russia is only a regional threat to Europe and the Middle East, but North Korea, Iran, and the IS are the evil of our time and pose an existential threat to our existence? How do you figure that?

How many nuclear weapons does the IS have again? What's their ability to meaningfully project power?

You should know the difference.

1. Russia (to my knowledge) hasn't supported terrorist attacks on America.
2. Russia and Putin don't believe in martyrdom, i.e. they are rational actions compared to the jihadists
3. 9/11 did more harm to the US economy, our sense of safety and security and arguably our rights than anything Russia has done to us in the last 20 years.

[Lewkowski]

admits that russia is a country capable of mutual destruction run by dicks.

doesn't see the problem with that.

It is a problem. You know what else is a problem? South Africa's very real rape culture. But I don't suggest we go into South Africa and fix their broken country.