Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Op-ed:
Ukraine...Putin's Proxy War
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio

...Remember, Putin and Russia are hurting both on the battlefield and economically at home as the bills of war do add up while sanctions placed are hurting. War is indeed an expensive game to play both in blood and treasure, meaning that war cannot go on forever. Exit options are not just about “saving face” but about the reality being that's it's better to negotiate and settle than to outright lose in war. This is truly the place Putin now finds himself in even though he will not admit it, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his forces have most of the world on their side. Simply, better to negotiate the best possible “out” then to blow us all up...something I think that even Vladimir Putin would dare not do.

So what can Israel offer as a peacemaker that others could not? The answer is really quite simple in that by Israel's having avoided taking public positions as to where they stand in regards to this war, Israel has been able to work behind the scenes with all parties involved for while it silently bolsters Ukraine, Israel has not alienated Putin nor Russia. In other words, in Israel's looking out for Israel they have also succeeded in...Read more here.
'Inexcusable': USDA Blasted for Failing to Protect Farmland From Foreign Adversaries
Spencer Brown / Townhall Tipsheet
 
An internal United States Department of Agriculture memo — obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request filed by Agri-Pulse — revealed that the USDA failed to enforce penalties for failures to report foreign acquisition of American agricultural land for years, even as the number of foreign acquisition disclosures "increased sharply" in the same period. Now, more than two dozen House Republicans are demanding answers.

A letter sent to Biden's USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday led by House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) notes "deep concerns" about the memo's revelations and slams the USDA for showing a "complete lack of accountability and oversight of foreign acquisition of U.S. agricultural land."

Stefanik's letter — signed by more than 25 of her fellow House Republicans — explains that the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act...Read more and see video here.

DeSantis Heralds End of Walt Disney World's 'Corporate Kingdom'
Spencer Brown / Townhall Tipsheet
 
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed House Bill 9-B into law on Monday, the legislation officially dissolving the self-governing status afforded to Walt Disney World and ending other special privileges while establishing a district controlled by the state government that is "accountable to the people of Florida."

The law ended Disney's self-government of the county-like Reedy Creek Improvement District and removed exemptions from state building and fire codes as well as regulatory reviews. 

DeSantis also heralded the legislation for providing more transparency, ensuring that Disney pays its fair share of taxes, and ending Disney's preferential treatment compared to other companies doing business in Florida. The changes noted by DeSantis include a requirement that Disney to pay its municipal debts, rather than those balances being passed on to Sunshine State taxpayers. Read more, see tweets and video here.

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Today, Tuesday, February 28th, from 7-8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Ukraine...Putin's Proxy War'; 'The Fundamental Transformation of Education'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com. Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50 pm EST with show beginning at 7pm EST.
 
 

Monday, February 27, 2023

Op-ed:
Ukraine...Putin's Proxy War
By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / Right Side Patriots / Right Side Patriots Radio 
 
I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
 
- Albert Einstein, no need to say more

Last week in my article An Essay On Ukraine I wrote about history's lessons now seemingly unlearned and why Ukraine is not just a harbinger back to the past but a dangerous foreboding of a possible future...a future that if not handled correctly now, will not play out well in our, Ukraine's, or the free world's favor. And while Vladimir Putin currently has garnered for himself the leading actor role in this current modern day game of war...a war with seemingly no end in sight...the United States, under the misplaced leadership of Joe Biden, is being seen by both allies and enemies alike as but a laughing stock at best. And to add to Ukraine's and now our woes, we see what was a somewhat self-contained war being expanded on a worldwide scale as a new player is set to upstage all the current key players, with said player's name being Red China, who of course is talking out of both sides of its mouth.

Red China...the very nation who via manpower alone deems itself always ready for war...recently saw its leaders flexing political muscle by first threatening to side with and help arm Putin's Russia in its war against Ukraine, and then days later saying that China is now willing to mediate and help bring this “horrifying invasion” to an end, but that they would do so only while remaining committed to their “no limits” partnership with Russia. Obviously now playing both sides of the political coin...as well as having armed both sides with non-lethal drones...China has introduced what they call a 12-Point Plan* to end the war...a plan courtesy of a country known for its flagrant violations of basic human rights. But know that China did abstain when the United Nations General Assembly voted last week on a nonbinding resolution calling for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its troops from the former Soviet state. 

And with China's now adding...as per its Foreign Ministry website...that “Nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought...The threat or use of nuclear weapons should be opposed,” we do know that China herself is running scared...especially as they plan to soon “reabsorb” Taiwan back into the mainland's fold, for even they know that Putin is acting irrationally what with his not taking a nuclear option in regards to Ukraine off the proverbial table.

But no matter China's incursion into the political discourse...no matter its abstaining from the UN's above stated resolution...we also saw last week the Duma (Russia's lower House of Parliament) unanimously approving Putin's “suspending” of the all-important “New START Treaty”...the very treaty they and we signed back in 2010 (extended in 2021 by five years) with this being the very treaty that placed specific limits on the the number of “strategic nuclear warheads” that both the U.S. and Russia can have.

And isn't almost everything of importance about numbers, in this case limiting to 1,500 the number of nuclear warheads both the U.S. and Russia can possess, while the NATO nations of France and the United Kingdom do have 290 and 225 such warheads respectively. But while those seem like large numbers, know that said numbers are far from the truth what with Russia currently having in its possession 5,977 nuclear warheads to our 5,428 such weapons. But when NATO's weapons are added into our total, the numbers shift to we the “good guys” having 5,943 such weapons with Russia having 5,977...still leaving our side to lag behind a bit. But when Israel's estimated 80 to 400 (if not more) such weapons are also added to our side, and China's (as per the latest Pentagon estimate) 250 to 350 nuclear warheads are added to Russia's total, that number shifts in favor of our side...as in our having 6,343 strategic nuclear warheads compared to Russia and China having 6,327 such weapons combined...thus allowing we the “good guys” to outnumber the “bad guys” by 16 nuclear warheads.

Outrageous numbers indeed...numbers equating to what would surely be nuclear annihilation. So why do I even bring these numbers up...simply to show the foolishness of the “New START Treaty” itself... foolishness as it's obviously not being adhered to by either side. And when the cumulative numbers of nuclear warheads on each side are added up...equaling 12,670 such weapons now being in play...the fact is that if even a single handful of such warheads were launched in regards to Ukraine we would see “Mother Earth” herself becoming but a distant memory in the universe's ever unfolding story.

No, Putin's withdrawing from the “New START Treaty” is not the real issue here as all it does is show the world that a 1,500 nuclear warhead limit was always laughable at best. And with nuclear armageddon now dangerously close at hand, it must be understood that Putin's invasion of Ukraine was indeed based solely upon politics and not as a means towards simple military conquest. Why so...because each side could easily wipe out the other with just the push of a single button.

Then why is Vladimir Putin masquerading this current blood and guts war with Ukraine as being a threat to Russia's security especially with NATO sitting ever so close to Russia's border? It's because Ukraine has become Putin's proxy and in his mind a justifiable reason for being at war with the United States...the very country that saw President Reagan bringing both “Mother Russia” and the Soviet Union itself to its knees.

And here let's remember that for Vladimir Putin “saving face” is as important to him and to Russia as it is to China and it's leader Xi Jinping.

And so with China now entering the fray no matter in what capacity, the war being fought in Ukraine is really a war between the East vs. the West...between democracy vs. communism...between capitalism vs. socialism...and most importantly between freedom and conquest through attrition...now all being fought as we move dangerously closer to either all out nuclear war or a one world government finally trumping all.

Two possible scenarios, neither one of them good nor desirable. So unless we put our collective fear of Vladimir Putin's threats aside Ukraine will indeed become ground zero for nuclear war...the very thing Putin seems to have no fear of. In fact, Putin's actions alone reek of his itching for nuclear war...baited actions bolstered by Red China's entering the battleground discourse...for better or worse. Why else would Putin be continuing to fight a war that he appears to be militarily losing if not for having the nuclear option readily on the table. Remember, threats of armageddon in some form or another have appeared throughout mankind's history, and history does tend to repeat itself even when our eyes are wide open.

Simply, history lessons unlearned will once again become today's sad reality especially when madmen and fools continue running the show. And when self-serving political interests, more times than not, override both common sense and what passes for basic logic...a nuclear fought World War III cannot be far behind.

So how do we and NATO...how does Ukraine...stop what could be a now suicidal leaning Vladimir Putin from turning blood already spilled into an nuclear initiated World War III?

First, it must be decidedly understood that Vladimir Putin totally underestimated both Vlodymyr Zelenskyy's and the Ukrainian people's ability to not only fight back, but to hold onto territory he now covets, thus leading to tangible emotions bubbling over. So Putin really has but one single option left...if not nuclear war...and that option is to keep U.S. due-diligence focused solely on how the rest of the world regards and acts upon his overtly “imperialistic ambitions,” while at the same time he accepts as fact that any negotiated settlement reached will be both fragile at best and reliant upon third-party intervention.

And here I do not mean Red China's playing both sides with its recent incursion, but how Israel...yes Israel...reacts to the very conflict that they, up until now, have tried hard to stay out of.

Israel could well be the much needed third party to bring both sides to table. Why so...because what most forget is that Israel has a good working and personal relationship with both Ukraine and Russia. In fact, Putin considers Israel to be a “crucial regional player”...a player who happens to have considerable influence here in the U.S. And with US News & World Report now listing the Jewish State of Israel as the world’s 10th-most powerful nation...due to its military strength and in relation to its political and global economic successes...Israel might be able to accomplish the task that up until now has been impossible...as in getting both Putin and Zelenskyy to make the necessary concessions needed for ending not just ongoing hostilities but the war itself.

Remember, Putin and Russia are hurting both on the battlefield and economically at home as the bills of war do add up while sanctions placed are hurting. War is indeed an expensive game to play both in blood and treasure, meaning that war cannot go on forever. Exit options are not just about “saving face” but about the reality being that's it's better to negotiate and settle than to outright lose in war. This is truly the place Putin now finds himself in even though he will not admit it, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his forces have most of the world on their side. Simply, better to negotiate the best possible “out” then to blow us all up...something I think that even Vladimir Putin would dare not do.

So what can Israel offer as a peacemaker that others could not? The answer is really quite simple in that by Israel's having avoided taking public positions as to where they stand in regards to this war, Israel has been able to work behind the scenes with all parties involved for while it silently bolsters Ukraine, Israel has not alienated Putin nor Russia. In other words, in Israel's looking out for Israel they have also succeeded in maintaining good relations with the U.S. and Ukraine while at the same time working to strengthen Putin's acceptance of Israel’s freedom to operate militarily against Iranian forces out for their destruction, including those forces currently active in Syria.

In other words, no other country but Israel has alienated any side in this war, and that alone makes Israel an ideal candidate in trying to bring a negotiated end to said war. Diplomacy can still work in regards to Ukraine, but China is not the country to do so as their ties to Russia run too deep. And besides with Israel having the world's only workable EMP device they actually can bring this war to an end if it and Putin truly gets out of hand. Just saying...case closed. 

________________________________________________
 
* China's 12-Point Plan to end the Russia vs. Ukraine War: 1. Respecting the sovereignty of all countries 2. Abandoning the Cold War mentality. 3. Ceasing hostilities 4. Resuming peace talks 5. Resolving the humanitarian crisis 6. Protecting civilians and prisoners of war (POWs) 7. Keeping nuclear power plants safe 8. Reducing strategic risks 9. Facilitating grain exports 10. Stopping unilateral sanctions 11. Keeping industrial and supply chains stable 12. Promoting post-conflict reconstruction. 
 
Copyright © 2023 / Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved. 

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For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, The Fundamental Transformation of Education.
 
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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!
 
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 28th, from 7-8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Ukraine...Putin's Proxy War'; 'The Fundamental Transformation of Education'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com. Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50 pm EST with show beginning at 7pm EST.
 

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Rubio Places Hold On Biden Nominee For Allegedly Covering Up Sexual Assault
Sarah Arnold / Townhall Tipsheet 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) is vowing to stop seven Biden Administration nominees, including one who allegedly ignored sexual assault accusations. 

Rubio announced on Friday that he is placing a hold on the former mayor of Los Angeles and prospective Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. 

In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Garcetti. However, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has yet to schedule a floor vote amid allegations that he covered up a sexual assault committed by a top aide. 

The other six nominees Rubio is attempting to stop include a pro-abortion extremist and someone who did legal work for a country where human rights are abused.

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast
 
If you missed last night's show where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed the NYT mask admission; UN resolution condemning Russia's hostilities in Ukraine; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg finally shows up in East Palestine, OH; and AI Chatbot (ChatGPT) outsmarted regarding global warning hoax...you can listen to it (and previous shows) at your convenience at: https://rspradio1.com to go directly to our podcasts and hope you become 'followers' of RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS
 

Friday, February 24, 2023

Biden's Got His First Democratic Challenger for 2024
Sarah Arnold / Townhall Tipsheet
 
Marianne Williamson, a liberal Democrat, is making a second run for the White House to challenge President Joe Biden in 2024. 

On Thursday, Williamson announced her plans to run against Biden in the 2024 Democratic Primaries, should he run for re-election.

"I wouldn't be running for president if I didn't believe I could contribute to harnessing the collective sensibility that I feel is our greatest hope at this time," Williamson said in an exclusive interview with Medill News Service.

Williamson is the first Democrat to challenge Biden in the primaries. 

Two weeks ago, the Democrat said she was eyeing a potential presidential run in 2024, paving the way for new blood in the White House.

NYT Finally Admits Masks Did Nothing 
Sarah Arnold / Townhall Tipsheet

Nearly three years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and woke liberals pushing the need for a mask down people's throats, Left-wing New York Times finally admits that wearing a face covering did nothing. 

The article "The Mask Mandates Did Nothing. Will Any Lessons Be Learned?" by columnist Bret Stephens dives into studies conducted on the efficacy of masks. 

After examining the studies closely, Stephens admitted that no hard evidence proves face coverings help decrease the spread of the virus. 

"The most rigorous and comprehensive analysis of scientific studies conducted on the efficacy of masks for reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses — including Covid-19 — was published late last month. Its conclusions, said Tom Jefferson, the Oxford epidemiologist who is its lead...Read more and see tweets here.

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!
 
Today, Friday, February 24th, from 7-8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com. Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50 pm EST with show beginning at 7pm EST.
 

Thursday, February 23, 2023

So, There Was a Fire at a Nuclear Security Facility in Tennessee on Wednesday
Spencer Brown / Townhall Tipsheet
 
The Y-12 National Security Complex outside of Knoxville, Tennessee, had a busy day on Wednesday after a fire broke out in one of its production buildings shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time. 
 
Local media reported that the production affected was "Building 9212, a uranium procession facility." That is, the kind of place a fire is not ideal. 
 
Local reports also noted that the building involved in the incident "was constructed in 1945 and has undergone multiple renovations and repairs over time." 

By early afternoon, Y-12 officials gave the all-clear and reported that normal operations were continuing. 

So, the good news is no one was injured and no radiation leaks were detected. Still, the cause of the fire remains unknown and Y-12 has undertaken an investigation. Read more and see tweets here.

Biden’s latest whack at the suburbs will change your neighborhood for the worse
200 pages of radical new rules would require ‘equity plans’ that go way beyond fair housing

The goal of "fair housing" would seem to be quite straightforward. As spelled out in the Fair Housing Act of 1968 — and found in realtors’ offices across the country — it precludes "discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings … based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, and disability." In other words, those who can afford to rent or buy should not be precluded from doing so for reasons having nothing to do with the ability to pay.  

But for the Biden administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, fair housing is more — much more. In proposed regulations that would touch any jurisdiction that accepts any sort of HUD funding, fair housing must mean a plan to "promote equity in their communities, decrease segregation, and increase access to opportunity and community assets for people of color and other...Read more and see videos here.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Manufacturers to EPA: We’re leading air quality gains, we don’t need more rules
The EPA says the rule will improve air quality, while manufacturers argue current rules are sufficient

Manufacturers are pushing back on a new air quality regulation advanced by the Environmental Protection Agency, arguing that companies in the sector are leading efforts to improve air quality and the agency putting forward new rules will hamper those efforts and slow economic growth.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons delivered an address on the state of manufacturing on Tuesday, and said that "we’re going to tell the EPA that manufacturers are already leading to clean our air."

"The government shouldn’t enact rules that, however well-intentioned, would make it more difficult to achieve our environmental goals, slow our economic growth and push us closer toward recession," Timmons said. "In fact, the NAM is launching a nationwide campaign to tell regulators to protect manufacturers and not change...Read more and see video here.

What the Hell Is This Update Regarding the Grand Jury Probe on 2020 Election Interference?
Matt Vespa / Townhall Tipsheet 
 
This nonsense has led to the media ruining its credibility, especially on an investigation involving high-profile individuals like Donald Trump. A grand jury has investigated whether the former president and his inner circle tried to interfere with the results in Georgia. It’s one of many inquiries that has led to liberals drooling over the possibility of an indictment against Trump, though they’d settle for any of his top advisers. The amount of saliva pouring out of these people's mouths could probably fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool and then some. Still, every investigation into the former president has turned up zilch regarding anything felonious.
It’s another brick in the ‘walls are closing in on Trump’ narrative that’s been a source of immense embarrassment for liberal media outlets who have been forced to eat crow pervasively on botched or even wholly fake news leads on Trump. The latest from the Georgia grand jury probe is that they’ve...Read more, see tweet and video here.
RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast
 
If you missed last night's show where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed 'An Essay On Ukraine'; 'Biden's Balloon-a-Palooza'; Putin leaves the START Treaty; Ron DeSantis; Red China's threats, and more fossil fuel bans...you can listen to it (and previous shows) at your convenience at: https://rspradio1.com to go directly to our podcasts and hope you become 'followers' of RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS
 

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Russia suspends participation in New START nuclear treaty with US, Putin says
Putin's speech comes three days before the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Russia was pulling back from the new START treaty with the United States which reduces and limits each country's nuclear arsenal.

"In this regard, I am forced to announce today that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty," Putin said in his annual address to the nation, just one day after President Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine.

In his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address, Putin cast Russia and Ukraine as victims of Western double-dealing. He said Russia, not Ukraine, was the one fighting for its very existence.

The speech reiterated a litany of grievances that the Russian leader has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned war and ignored international demands to pull back from occupied areas in Ukraine. Read more here.