Posts by Olivia Stewart2

Christian Myers said:Shocking behavior: One guy shouts an insult at a Možemovac DNC-ovac from the stands, while another calls the Democratic Party "bottom of the barrel"

Is the coalition falling apart? It’s funny how this is just labeled "shocking behavior," whereas when Prkačin acted up, it was a total disgrace and stayed in the headlines for days—rightfully so. I guess Prkačin is just a bigger name than some random guy from Nemožemovac

It is curious how they are shielding the identity of this vulgar individual from the Možemo group. In the very same article, they had no trouble identifying Trpimir Goluža when he called the Democratic Party a group of useful idiots, or Zekanović when he hurled a vile insult at Sandra Benčić regarding her choice of attire, or even Prkačin calling Raukar a wreck. Why does the author of this specific profanity remain anonymous?

Rachel Barrett8 said:🤦
The Republicans have a point here. Adams might be totally clueless, but at least he isn't out there stealing everything in sight.

But does that mean we should just sit back? Of course not. As citizens of New York City, we have to ask the hard questions and call out both Adams and the Republican Party when they mess up.
We can't just let corruption, theft, nepotism, and money laundering slide. We shouldn't.

I mean, how on earth does a wastewater treatment plant end up costing $160 billion? And what was the deal the Republicans struck way back in 1996? That's basically the entire annual budget for New York City. How is that even possible?🤦
It feels like there's a direct link between the Republican Party and total dementia.
It’s honestly pathetic. Just shameful.

Even Bill de Blasio wasn't fully settled after just one year in office. Let's give the guy some time...

hollowmason64 said:Honestly, even the devil would be a better option than the Republican Party.
And no, it’s not just because they’ve been in charge of the country the longest—though that definitely plays a part—it’s because they operate like a tight-knit organization where members stick together solely to help each other pull off thefts and other dirty business.
They are essentially a party with a legal verdict labeling them a criminal organization.
Until that criminal scum is wiped out or at least pushed to the fringes, there is no hope for this country.

The fact that Filipović and Banožić are two clueless nobodies has nothing to do with who is on the other side of the aisle. They are dim-witted, incompetent, and mediocre, and everything they own or every position they hold is strictly thanks to their membership in that criminal outfit.

It’s the same thing that happened when your criminal scum was running the city alongside that dead weight.

We can discuss that in three years.

This makes for excellent political marketing: branding a single party as inherently corrupt. In politics, anything goes, so I suppose this is no exception. However, if we look at the reality of the situation, this thesis would struggle under any serious scrutiny. How is it possible that the dregs of society, motivated purely by self-interest, all seem to gravitate toward the Republican Party, while other parties are left with nothing but honorable idealists and straight shooters? It is the same nation, the same history, the same institutions, and even the same foundational roots—they are all tied together by the FBI—yet some mysterious force compels these specific people toward the Republican Party. To my mind, there are two logical explanations. First, to steal, you must hold power. Once you are in power, even if you start with pure intentions, you are exposed to temptations, pressures, and the weight of old debts, which causes even the most upright individuals—like a former Democrat such as Ed Koch or the reformist Bernie Sanders—to eventually succumb. Furthermore, corruption scandals usually break through media investigations, and since the media tends to be activist and left-leaning, they choose their targets selectively. For instance, the Clinton-Lewinsky affair was notoriously difficult to push into the mainstream, and the Vrdoljak-Gazprom connections aren't discussed nearly enough either. If people actually started digging, quite a few individuals associated with the current administration would find themselves in hot water. Over time, there will likely be more...

The level of corruption in America is exactly what one would expect from a North American, post-communist state. A territory caught between empires, weakened institutions throughout its history, and a heavy legacy of Ottoman influence.....

hollowmason64 said:And he will fix it. He still has three full years left on the clock. Why the rush to get worked up?

Yeah, that would be just perfect.
The biggest irony here, though, is your whole argument that the better alternative would be the dregs from a criminal organization—people who are usually just dim-witted hacks, incapable of anything except stealing and hiring more incompetent party loyalists, clueless relatives, and washed-up cronies. We all know they'd end up robbing us blind because of sheer incompetence, too. That’s probably why we're seeing this constant mantra coming out of the criminal group's media center lately: "hey, at least they aren't stealing while they work."

If you want proof of just how incompetent this criminal element is, look no further than the total mess with the gas situation in the city—which is directly the fault of one guy holding a Republican Party membership.
And he’s just one link in the chain.

Everyone looks better when compared to progressive fanatics or smooth-talking communists, including the Republican Party.

It seems your criteria for judging competence and intelligence are rather superficial: if they act tough and have an urban vibe, you're sold. Consequently, rural simpletons like Filipović and Banožić become units of stupidity, while hysterical gossips in plain clothes like Kekin and Benčić, who also happen to have massive egos, are apparently the benchmarks for capability and intellect. We aren't picking candidates for a high school debate club; we are selecting people for management positions.

Furthermore, the Republican Party is corrupt because it has ruled the United States for the longest period, not because it is some sort of aberration in an otherwise honest American society. Eric Adams came from the Democratic Party, I should remind you, and he eventually became what he is today—a textbook example of a corrupt official. It will be the same with these provocateurs from Možemo—the longer they stay in power, the more scandals will emerge. Kalinić is right about one thing: the entire country is systemically corrupt. Therefore, Možemo will end up just as corrupt, only likely even more incompetent than the rest...

Adam Collins4 said:And now we're all just sitting here waiting to see which Joe Biden or Filipović appointee turns out to be "better"...

Still waiting on those names... did everyone collectively forget how to type?

Look, I don't hang out with Joe Biden or Filipović to get the inside scoop on their picks, but there's a decent chance they'd make fewer mistakes than those hyperactive NGO activists...

Adam Collins4 said:Just a bunch of empty platitudes—though it's true Eric Adams is struggling with his staff... and until he fixes that, he's spinning his wheels...

But hey, feel free to point out which "anyone" would actually handle things better...

Go ahead—stick to talking about Filipović and Joe Biden...

What kind of "staff" do they have that would actually solve anything?

It doesn't get any worse than the hysterical rambling from people like Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, raditi borić, Vilije Matula, Urša Raukar, or Gordan bosanac. This crowd wouldn't know the first thing about economics or actual management. They belong in the same category as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—just childish fantasies about how the world should work. They are activists through and through; that's what they were trained for. Their only real expertise lies in fighting ideological wars.

Christian Torres3 said:Then feel free to suggest a better solution for what was chosen back during the last election.

Anyone! This group has proven themselves to be the absolute worst possible option. They are nothing more than ideological fanatics who lack even the basic competence required to run a major city like New York City.
In this country, you can easily sell people on the idea that tackling corruption is the single most important socio-political issue, and everything else will just fall into place. Well, that’s not how it works. You actually have to know what you're doing; being honest isn't enough on its own. That said, these people haven't even managed to build their corrupt octopus yet, so don't expect much progress on that front either.

It is worth remembering that Eric Adams was elected specifically to FIX things, which means very few people should be satisfied with hearing "it isn't much worse than it was under Joe Biden."

lonetrucker4 said:AT&T and their crew are stuck grinding through this massive uphill battle, trying to steer a giant, stubborn machine away from a total wreck.

It’s not happening smoothly, though, because the people who hate the change are out there sabotaging, muddying the waters, lying, and playing dirty.

Like what's happening here—some fake news gets dropped and then a bunch of shills just repeat it like parrots.

Yeah, I've seen it all over Facebook groups too, everyone claiming "the current pickup service is collapsing." You get some guy screaming, "They didn't pick up my trash today!!!!! Absolute disgrace!!" and then suddenly two guys from his exact same street show up to back up the lie.

Sure, sure, it must be a global conspiracy against Eric Adams. There hasn't been a political movement in the history of New York City with as much intense media support as his administration. Now that everyone is actually expecting results from that support, and those results aren't materializing, we’re left with two convenient excuses to mask complete incompetence: 1) the situation was much worse than anticipated, or 2) someone is out to get us.

It’s incredible how much effort goes into spinning a narrative just to shield this disastrous administration from accountability. Let’s be real: the city has never been this filthy, and we've never seen water main breaks on this kind of scale. If this were purely the result of years of neglect, we would see a gradual decline, not this sudden, violent collapse of infrastructure. Is it really that difficult for people to accept that NGO activists, street drummers, and hysterical busybodies actually have zero clue how municipal management works?

Regarding the soccer section, just like the rest of this forum, we are bound by the laws of the United States. Any calls for violence from certain users—or even worse, from moderators, which seems to be a standard practice here in the soccer subforum—are strictly subject to criminal prosecution. It honestly baffles me that the forum owner, the administrators, and the moderators aren't aware of this, or simply don't care.

I’ve recently been hit with a series of completely bizarre bans on the Politics board that defy all common sense. First, I was banned for criticizing feminism as a concept, accompanied by this explanation: "Misogynistic trolling regarding the Abortion debate." What exactly did I write that was misogynistic?

I was critiquing feminist ideology and feminist activism as whole movements. Does that somehow violate the forum rules? Is this platform intended exclusively for people with a progressive worldview, where freedom of speech and the critique of progressive-leftist ideologies are strictly forbidden? Then there was a second ban stemming from what I consider a very well-argued critique of Eric Adams and Coco Vandeweghe, but apparently, a certain moderator didn't appreciate the tone and slapped me with a ban for "stupid trolling."

I would appreciate some guidance on how to avoid being labeled a troll on the Politics board, as my goal is simply to avoid further bans in that subforum. However, reading other users' posts leaves me quite confused and sends nothing but mixed signals. To put it mildly, the guidelines aren't exactly clear. In my humble opinion, the general standard of communication is at least several levels lower than mine; one only needs to read the comments of certain regulars who dominate the discourse with their fixations—take McAfee and his cronies, for example—and they remain protected like grizzly bears despite their shameless trolling, constant instigation of arguments, insults, and personal attacks. That duo checks every single box for what defines a troll or a spammer, yet they have managed to survive on this forum for years. Is there some kind of premium tier I haven't been informed about? Do you just pay a fee to do whatever you want? Or are they simply sycophants who align perfectly with the moderators?

So, I thank you in advance for any constructive suggestions...

From my perspective, the current moderation seems pointless because the mindless bickering between users has no real impact. Nobody reads it except for the people involved in the spat itself...

Betty Carter3 said:It still hasn't clicked for you that election results don't mean a damn thing. People vote for whatever is put in front of them—not necessarily what they actually want.

I suggest you compile these profound insights into a book, or perhaps a lecture series. Political science departments would be absolutely desperate for such material...

Betty Carter3 said:That’s incorrect. The Republican Party doesn't win elections simply because voters like them; it's due to much more complex factors.
Furthermore, those who actually turn out to vote represent only a small fraction of the American people.

The Quisling-style Ukrainian government, which exists because of a violent coup, has nothing to do with democracy.

Ah, "complex factors," is it?👍
I see. It seems your understanding of history begins at the Maidan; you were probably just a child when the Russians poisoned Viktor Yanukovych.
In the Ukrainian presidential election, voter turnout was 63%, yet the pro-Russian candidate Yuriy Boyko received a mere 12%. If you happen to possess any evidence suggesting the CIA rigged the results and that Yuriy Boyko actually enjoys widespread support among Americans, please, feel free to share it with us...

It appears that Putin's strategy is to utilize war to force Ukraine into some sort of new agreement, perhaps something akin to Minsk III, which would be significantly more favorable to Russia—essentially a "Finlandization" of Ukraine. However, for that to work, he needs a living Zelenskyy; an agreement can only be signed with a democratically elected representative of the Ukrainian people, not with some installed puppet. His plan likely involves encircling Kyiv and other major cities to then organize negotiations. At that point, everyone starts playing their strongest cards. Entering these cities will, by all accounts, trigger intense guerrilla warfare and result in heavy casualties on both sides, though one has to ask who actually benefits from that. Politically, it hurts Putin, as the Russian people may eventually turn against him once they see the mounting number of Russian soldiers returning home in body bags from an unjust war. Zelenskyy emerges as a Ukrainian hero and secures his place in history, yet simultaneously, it remains a Pyrrhic victory, leaving behind nothing but leveled cities and a massive toll of civilian lives.....

hiddensailor14 said:To’s one word for it—a total disaster.
It’s painfully obvious who benefits from this mess. There were missteps taken from multiple sides, likely intentional ones designed to let things escalate, and well, here we are. In some perfect world, Russia would be part of the EU because, historically and culturally, they belong there. That would be the ideal scenario: a Europe that actually rivals the USA and China in terms of global prestige and influence.
In the short term, the USA takes the biggest win, but long-term? It's China's game—especially if they just sit on the sidelines playing it cool while Putin wraps this whole thing up in his favor over the next few months.

Then you have Putin's demands. If the reports are even accurate—and frankly, they sound absurd—he wants Ukraine "denazified" (seriously, what kind of insane logic is that???) and "demilitarized." As for the latter, if that means having no military presence on Ukrainian soil, no sovereign nation on this planet would ever agree to that. It's completely irrational.😵
And don't even get me started on those alleged threats against Sweden and Finland for wanting to join NATO.😵

Look, I get it: Biden is an old man struggling with dementia, and it's honestly sad to see him acting as a puppet for whoever is pulling the strings behind the scenes because he just isn't capable anymore. But Putin? You have to hand it to him for pulling Russia out of that post-Soviet hole it fell into under Yeltsin. But now? He's acting like he suddenly hit a massive growth spurt fueled by pure testosterone, imagining himself as some sort of modern-day Alexander the Great or Caesar... or whatever the Russian version of those guys is.
Claiming that Ukraine has no historical right to exist... I mean, it’s all just deeply shocking, really.

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That’s just not how it works. Russia is its own entity entirely. If we can't even manage to resolve conflicts within the current EU, imagine the chaos if Russia were included. They would spend every waking moment trying to prove they are the dominant force...

Betty Carter3 said:You haven't actually provided a single argument here.
I don't follow this "wasting breath" metaphor—I am simply pointing out the disconnect between official government policy and what the people actually want, and how the leadership seems terrified of that public will.

I guess I'm drawing a parallel to the sluggish response from Ukrainians, which allowed the Russians to reach Kyiv in just a day or so. Maybe it's because the current, illegitimate Ukrainian power structure is pivoting toward the West while the people themselves lean toward Russia. So, perhaps there isn't much of a fanatic resistance happening.

Pro-Russian parties in Ukraine are pulling in maybe 15% of the vote. That's it. You're living in a fantasy land!

coastalrider11 said:Are you just repeating something someone else told you?

I know because the election results are right there in front of us.

Richard Cooper3 said:I agree with everything here. Everyone is acting clueless, like they have no idea about the Maidan or the coup—that was the actual start of the war. Now, the Russians have just stepped in to finish it.
I suppose we could end up like the Chechens, who are doing alright for themselves these days.
As for that weak, decaying Europe—there's no point wasting breath. You only have to look at those useless bureaucrats over in Brussels: Šuica, Sokol, Ressler, Borzanica, Picula, Romana Jerković...🤦

Give me a break. Are we just going to pretend nothing happened before 2014? Did we all conveniently forget about the Russian assassination attempt on Yushchenko?