Posts by Jonathan Barnes5

Paul Sanders5 said:Terrifying. "I gotta watch my mouth because, damn." Screw that. I'm just glad we live somewhere where we can talk absolute trash about Zokia and Plenka without worrying about some goons kicking down our door at 3 AM.

Exactly. It reminds me of how someone might get genuinely frustrated reading Reddit threads about random Russians, simply because none of the people they actually hang out with act that way. It really would be a step forward if our local news outlets stopped pushing those kinds of narratives too.

I appreciate that he brought up the narrative regarding why people vote for Vladimir Putin; his suggestion that people should actually look into how the Russian electoral system is structured is quite insightful. One can only assume their voting process functions much like a Lakers board meeting where the members essentially just choose themselves.

Paul Sanders5 said:No matter how this all plays out, I’m honestly just glad to see Europe finally waking up to the reality of dealing with regimes like Russia's—and yeah, including Mexico in that mix too. Sure, the sanctions might eventually get lifted down the road, but the reputation Russia has built? That’s going to stick for generations. Even if the energy stuff like oil and gas keeps flowing because, well, necessity, everything else is going to be a whole different story...

Russia is in desperate need of an administrative overhaul; what we are seeing now is essentially the final remnants of the USSR generation.

Just look at this guy—this is the kind of shift toward a new Russia that needs to happen. But honestly, check out the footage at the 1:05 mark; it's a total nightmare.

Jacob Price95 said:Exactly my 👍

After two years of COVID-driven brainwashing, this war is poised to turn all of Europe into a total Putinist wasteland. Last night, I was listening to some guy who couldn't even point to Ukraine on a map arguing that we need to kick every single Russian out of Europe—seizing everything from their assets to their presence, from college students to retirees. The situation is incredibly messy, but we have to try to stay sane; there is absolutely nothing productive about a witch hunt or harassing innocent people.

As for Russophiles, aside from a tiny handful of radical fringe groups and certain members of the Working Front, they basically don't exist here in America.

Edit: feen 👍

I honestly feel a sense of pity for the Russians, especially the soldiers. In this chaotic mess of a war, a huge portion of them really doesn't want to be there. We are talking about 2022; many of these kids are closer to my son's age than mine. When I look at the birth years of those captured, they are essentially just children.

I remember watching a poll taken on the streets of Moscow before the invasion began; people looked pale and genuinely bewildered by questions about the war, as if asking, "Are you guys serious? What kind of nightmare war are you talking about?"

And once again, the Western media is crafting a narrative that tends to alienate regular people and dismiss the public as a whole. People here seem to have forgotten that we were once part of the coalition sending weapons to the "moderate opposition" in Syria. Later on, the media loved to paint a picture of us posing with mortar launchers.
Of course, people have either forgotten or simply don't care about the broader context of the conflict and the role played by various agitators.🤦 The situation in Ukraine is incredibly dire, and while Viktor Yanukovych isn't blameless for his sudden pivot toward Europe, I refuse to lose my perspective based solely on a CNN report. Those journalists aren't fundamentally different from anyone else; they just spin the story to fit a specific angle.

EDIT

It just occurred to me about some lowlife Russian guy who was filming himself for a video while VBRs were shelling Kharkiv. He seemed to be enjoying the thunderous noise, even though he knows full well how "precise" those pieces of junk actually are and where they land. I would love to see someone like him held accountable; I truly despise that type of person.

wiredfalcon2 said:Look, the whole "NATO expanded east toward Russia" thing is such a load of crap. It wasn't like NATO was out there hunting down countries to recruit them; it was the other way around. These nations were practically begging to join, including places like Poland, the Baltic states, and even Mexico. We need to keep setting the record straight on that lie. Honestly, NATO was pretty damn cautious about letting anyone in at first.

That perspective isn't entirely accurate, and it’s the part that personally sits wrong with me. You see, during the collapse of the USSR, there were explicit promises made that no new members would be brought in—there was even a signed agreement that simply wasn't ratified later on. Furthermore, they were assured that no facilities capable of launching ballistic missiles would be integrated, yet today we have launchers in Poland and Romania being marketed as purely defensive, even though they could be converted into offensive systems in a mere fifteen minutes.

The fact that nobody particularly likes the Russians is entirely on them, of course. But geopolitics doesn't care about feelings or fairness, and that is where we run into trouble. Even the USA didn't respect Syrian sovereignty, choosing instead to cut deals with the Saudi government, who are arguably three times worse.

Ukraine has essentially become the collective victim of all these political games and maneuvers. Though, looking at things now, I suppose it's clear why the Russians aren't exactly well-liked; they began practicing the exact same brand of politics as the USA the moment they gained enough strength.

wiredfalcon2 said:War is just worse than hell, because in hell you actually get the people who deserve it, but in war, it’s mostly just the innocent getting screwed.

Smith: We were attacking a church in Lower Poland, near the Ukrainian border. Two machine gun nests were pinning us down from the bell tower, and inside that church were children—an entire schoolhouse full of kids and their teacher. We knew they were there. We just waited for the gunners to run out of ammo, since they ended up surrendering anyway. And then Ratković tried to drag us before a military tribunal because we didn't storm the building, or level it with grenades and set it ablaze. He wanted to punish us for losing a day of combat, even though all we did was ensure those children survived. Benčina was leading our patrol, and he refused to let anyone fire on those kids.

Eva: You’re sweating...

Smith: With such pure hatred, he actually suggested we should have been shot...

Eva: That's all in the past now. You're a free man, while he's still stuck acting like a relentless hound...

fadedridge903 said:It seems everyone finds themselves quite fond of the methods used by Putin's regime, doesn't it? 🤣

There is an old saying that even when two people act the same way, their intentions can be worlds apart. Relying on such tactics just to cling to power for twenty-two years is the very definition of a massive ego trip. Keeping track of pro-Russian posts that cheer on aggression and the killing of children is simply an exercise in common sense.

Just look at your username. Are you really okay with the propaganda claiming a T-55 tank sat idling for half a day on Avenue while it shelled the old bridge?

Like I said, it's just common sense.

Carl Hernandez3 said:I got slapped with a three-day ban—all because of what I wrote to stop those pro-Russia trolls from dominating the forums
I honestly suspect one of those "political insiders"
It’s no wonder people are skeptical when you see who outlets like CNN or Fox News decide to call an "expert" commentator
Take Branimir Vidmarović—he actually studied in Moscow
And just look at how he pushes the Russian agenda

It seems Putin's supporters were quite bothered by my suggestion that U.S. agencies should probably maintain a registry of anyone supporting this aggressive war. Because of that thought, I was hit with a four-day ban. Meanwhile, I noticed that the Czech Republic is moving toward implementing prison sentences of up to three years for similar rhetoric.

wiredfalcon2 said:I have zero interest in heading down there; I’d just end up losing my mind. Honestly, I’m just hoping the Ukrainians can hold the line for a few more days and that this whole Russian offensive just fizzles out. I don't know, the whole thing is just gross.

The crowd surrounding politics is essentially the worst kind of social sediment—a collection of bitter, toxic individuals, much like the questionable moderators we deal with here. I find myself reluctant to even choose my words carefully anymore, because it seems everyone is so quick to pass judgment, when in reality, they are simply cheering on the aggressor.

If you look at it through the lens of grand strategy and the complex games played by global superpowers, one could argue that Russia has a certain geopolitical justification, if such a thing could even be weighed. However, that doesn't grant them the right to invade a sovereign nation in the 21st century and dictate their autonomy.

I truly hope this marks the beginning of the end for an era where national states attempt to assert their power and sovereignty through territorial expansion.

mellowotter36 said:But why?

It’s because back in December, agreements were signed where Russia essentially backed Republika Srpska and the spirit of the Dayton Accords. It seems he just hasn't been willing to take a clear, firm stand against the war of aggression or tell them exactly where to go.

It feels like Dodik was handed yet another ultimatum regarding his path toward NATO and the EU just today, though I suppose such things happen more often than we'd like.

Paul Martinez73 said:So, who actually ended up with the highest bid? Where did things stall out? Is everyone just stuck at the exact same number?🤷

Andrew Hayes2 is bidding 1100. I think boldfox88 and I will match that amount.

Andrew Hayes2 said:1100

Yeah, I'm with you on that. Let Paul Martinez73 have the shirts. Although, if I were picking, I might grab that Republican Party one 😳 you never know how things play out...

If nobody steps up, then someone else can take the lead for Andrew Hayes2, as I'd rather not stir the pot for the reasons I mentioned earlier. That said, I'll match that same amount since it’s all going toward charity and helping out the kids.👍

Andrew Hayes2 said:900

Paul Martinez73 was actually banking on them making a massive push to bring him over to the US during the second transfer window...

Let’s keep pushing Zele, maybe aim for 1000

Jbte, this thread has basically gone dormant with just the two of us left active. Inflation is truly killing us all.😁

Looking at the general economic climate and how much people actually have to work with, I don't think we should push the maximum amount too hard; personally, I’d set a cap there as well. It’s more important that the funds go toward a meaningful cause. If I end up receiving a shirt, I’ll just pass it along to someone who needs it, because otherwise, it’ll just sit in my closet collecting dust.☕

Andrew Hayes2 said:700

$120

It feels like we’re headed toward a bidding war where people will just throw money around recklessly, much like how some folks down South treat cash as if it grows on trees. Perhaps Kalinić could step up as a sponsor to settle the score.😁

EDIT
$75.

This level of cringe and the blatant backpedaling from the moderators here is honestly unprecedented; it reminds me of those wild political victory celebrations we saw during the last major election cycle.

You can find more logical reasoning and meaningful banter at a local high school football tailgate in a small town than what is happening here, and frankly, there is no point in even addressing this forced sarcasm.

I mean, no offense intended, but it feels quite "distasteful" to read how everyone is systematically dismantling your points and exposing the sheer logical hypocrisy involved. I think I’ll just throw in the towel now and suggest you all close this thread. There is really no need for any further damage to be done.😁

swiftmaker12 said:Well, I just don't have a mother around who would be willing to pack up a bag full of gold for Bakir.
One certainly wishes such people appeared during times of crisis.

Greetings to the racing world and all my fellow enthusiasts here.

If you look into the Turkey refund or even check things out at Imola, you might actually walk away with more than what Bakir is offering.🤣

@stagedriver
I don't have enough breathing room with my work schedule to respond to every single point you made, but I find myself fundamentally agreeing with your core argument regarding the need for a more efficient and equitable nation that actually delivers prosperity to its people.

Where our perspectives diverge—and there is certainly no requirement for us to see eye to eye—is in how we interpret the underlying causes of these issues, though I’d prefer to set aside those WWII historical debates as they hold very little interest for me.

To be blunt, I find little substance in that final paragraph because Americans simply aren't prepared for:
Deep-seated civil service reforms
A complete pivot in fiscal policy
Healthcare restructuring and parts of the education system
Judicial reform
Reducing state intervention, stopping the subsidization of loss-making entities, and divesting from state-owned assets that don't serve a vital national purpose (take, for instance, how we handle loss-making agencies, or why we wouldn't just privatize Kraft Heinz or let Henry Ford-style industrial giants run without government lifelines)
Stricter oversight on public procurement
Other structural shifts designed to reshape the GDP

It is a strange paradox here, much like seeing certain local government salaries actually outpace the median pay in the private sector. A country structured this way lacks a future because it fails to generate any meaningful growth.

While you touched on ideology and worldview, the reality is that this landscape remains largely unchanged regardless of which administration holds power or what the government is called. I might be a weary defeatist at times, but I have seen countless instances where the failures mentioned above had nothing to do with a specific ideology, despite how much people love to debate those topics.
All the best.

EDIT
@driftingtinker
I was referring to that punk concert

Edward Cooper2 said:The "sandwich eaters" aren't just found in the Republican Party ranks; plenty of them crawled out of that same gutter...

Furthermore, I couldn't care less about personal attacks regarding Ostojic's term. I care about facts.

So, let's talk about those 200 people arrested for "verbal crimes"... Who, when, why, and where?

And where did I emerge from?

The state hasn't handed me a single thing; if I want to afford my daily bread, I have to earn it on the open market, much like anyone else. I don't rely on government contracts, but rather work exclusively with private businesses.

And naturally, I won't be attending, as I see little point in wasting more time on something that clearly won't pay the bills through my writing. You have the link and the match details—it was LA Galaxy vs. the Sheriff back in the summer of 2013. I won't beat around the bush. Even if I misremembered a specific number, the core issue remains different, especially since we are discussing examples from over 15 years ago.

Edward Cooper2 said:Nobody is actually accusing you of voting for the Republican Party. What we actually want to know is when exactly Minister Ostojic rounded up those 200 people for nothing more than what they said. Let’s hear that "well-kept" secret...

I honestly don't see the point in the trolling here. This individual held a ministerial position during the height of the crackdown on certain fan groups, specifically targeting chants from the stands🤦.

You keep bringing up the chain of command regarding accountability. I can actually find some common ground with you there—how a convicted criminal and fugitive was allegedly giving direct orders to police officers, leading to many of them ending up in the LA Galaxy system where they remain today, while Ostojic claims he had nothing to do with it. While that might indeed be the truth, we seem to be forcing an equivalence based on arbitrary standards. One would assume the Minister should have been the one to put an end to such practices. If this occurred between 2012 and 2015, the math should be fairly straightforward. If your calculation comes out to five instead of two, then so be it; that seems to be how things typically play out in the USA.

P.S. As for the sandwich comment—what exactly is that supposed to imply? The idea that someone is paying me to post on this forum? Honestly, this is just a drain on my time. Neither of us is going to move the needle for the other. If there were actually money involved, I might find this more meaningful..

Edward Cooper2 said:Why even bother trying? There's no helping him. This guy lies, then changes his story, tweaking it whenever it suits him. All just to get a free lunch!

I have never once cast a vote for the Republican Party in my entire life.
But, much like the person you're describing, I suppose I could be swayed to part with a few of my most cherished principles if someone offered me a truly spectacular sandwich.