....... similar principles explain the explosion in the size, scope, and power of the US federal government and the Executive Branch in particular.

You said simple ... I was sure you were going to post this...

Russia charges blackmail prices for gas and sometimes cuts the gas supply off if it gets pissy about something.

Interestingly, the French don't give a ****.

I think there is or there are talks to build a pipeline through Turkey that will help keep the Russian's at bay. Countries can get their gas through Turkey instead of only being able to rely on Russian.

(02-27-2014 03:59 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  ....... similar principles explain the explosion in the size, scope, and power of the US federal government and the Executive Branch in particular.

Why does Russia have so much gas? Putin's ass? Sucks to be the Ukraine. We all know how this will end. A russina puppet governement... or russian invasion of 'russian riendly" section of the Ukraine. there is no way in hell the Ukraine will pull off being a pro Europe democracy. No way in hell.

Russia will do their best to install a puppet government. Ukraine is poor enough that they can probably pull it off.

Ukraine easily the poorest major country in Europe. It's amazing how poor they are actually. GDP per capita in Ukraine is less than half what it is in Mexico, putting it roughly on par with Guatemala.

When you have poverty at those levels, it won't be hard to pay off the few people at the top to do what you want and to keep those living in poverty satisfied with cheap gas.

I could see a split occurring in the east, but that doesn't really do much for the Russians because their pipelines will still be running through Ukraine.

(02-27-2014 10:38 AM)No Bull Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 03:59 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  ....... similar principles explain the explosion in the size, scope, and power of the US federal government and the Executive Branch in particular.

Why does Russia have so much gas? Putin's ass? Sucks to be the Ukraine. We all know how this will end. A russina puppet governement... or russian invasion of 'russian riendly" section of the Ukraine. there is no way in hell the Ukraine will pull off being a pro Europe democracy. No way in hell.

Exactly. Remember Georgia. What has this world community done when Russia invaded and took over part of a sovereign nation? Nada. In fact, Russia still has troops there today. Good luck Ukraine. And don't worry, Obama will eventually say the Russians are wrong and he might even draw a bogus red line....but, you are screwed.

On a side note, apparently there is a Russain spy ship docked in Havana.


Russian Spy Ship in Cuba

(02-27-2014 12:22 PM)VA49er Wrote:  On a side note, apparently there is a Russain spy ship docked in Havana.


Russian Spy Ship in Cuba

Putin probably told O beforehand. O probably told him that he could refuel in Miami, if necessary.

(02-27-2014 12:38 PM)pharaoh0 Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:22 PM)VA49er Wrote:  On a side note, apparently there is a Russain spy ship docked in Havana.


Russian Spy Ship in Cuba

Putin probably told O beforehand. O probably told him that he could refuel in Miami, if necessary.

Pretty sure Putin didn't say crap to Obama. Obama is pretty much irrelevent to whatever Putin's plans are.

(02-27-2014 12:40 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:38 PM)pharaoh0 Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:22 PM)VA49er Wrote:  On a side note, apparently there is a Russain spy ship docked in Havana.


Russian Spy Ship in Cuba

Putin probably told O beforehand. O probably told him that he could refuel in Miami, if necessary.

Pretty sure Putin didn't say crap to Obama. Obama is pretty much irrelevent to whatever Putin's plans are.

Why not tell him and rub in his face. What is he going to do about it?

(02-27-2014 12:42 PM)pharaoh0 Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:40 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:38 PM)pharaoh0 Wrote:  

(02-27-2014 12:22 PM)VA49er Wrote:  On a side note, apparently there is a Russain spy ship docked in Havana.


Russian Spy Ship in Cuba

Putin probably told O beforehand. O probably told him that he could refuel in Miami, if necessary.

Pretty sure Putin didn't say crap to Obama. Obama is pretty much irrelevent to whatever Putin's plans are.

Why not tell him and rub in his face. What is he going to do about it?

Why go through the hassle? Putin has an Olympic gymnast to bang. He has no time for Obama.

(02-27-2014 09:53 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Interestingly, the French don't give a ****.

Why should they? They have all the nuclear power they can use. In Western Europe the first rule of power pricing is as follows:

1) How much excess power will the French be dumping on to the grid?

All pricing follows from that.

(02-27-2014 11:19 AM)Niner National Wrote:  Russia will do their best to install a puppet government. Ukraine is poor enough that they can probably pull it off.

Ukraine easily the poorest major country in Europe. It's amazing how poor they are actually. GDP per capita in Ukraine is less than half what it is in Mexico, putting it roughly on par with Guatemala.

I watched the documentary The Long Way Round where Ewan McGregor (Obi Wan Kenobi) and his friend set out to travel from London to New York on motorcycles on a lark and make it a documentary in order to get other people to sponsor the trip. They traveled through Ukraine and it was pretty striking how far behind the West they are in the Ukraine. Basically, it's cart and horse in some areas, with recycled pick-up back ends for the cart.

The Ukraine is weak.