Offside Chat Archives (2014-2021)

Keith Miller30 said:I really ought to find an image of Hannibal for my avatar, specifically one where he isn't decked out in Republican Party colors. 🤣

Chris Fisher3 said:@ZZ

Just popping in to say I just finished devouring your posts on these political topics here on ESPN. 👍
And honestly? I’m right there with you on your conclusions—some of those observations you made are just as wild to me as they are to you...

Keith Miller30 said:It seems like you all have a twenty-to-one advantage over me, but honestly, why let that stop us? Shall we keep moving forward?

So, you really think we should take Branko Manolić’s word as gospel just because he suddenly decided to remember Tomislav Karamarko’s alleged ties to the FBI right before an election? To me, that feels almost comical. While I certainly wouldn't rule out the possibility that Karamarko was involved with the FBI—who is to say he wasn't?—I find it impossible to accept Manolić’s sudden recollection as some kind of absolute truth. Is it not a bit convenient? I have absolutely nothing against proving whether or not someone was part of the FBI, but can we honestly treat a statement like this as a given?

I wasn't trying to equate the sins of Ivo Sanders with those of Merzelica; I simply used her as an example. Personally, I view pre-election agreements as nothing more than legalized robbery through favoritism, though I realize you don't find that particularly controversial. Perhaps it’s best if we don't dive too deep into that particular rabbit hole, because if we start dissecting every single one of those issues, we won't see the end of this debate for another month.

James Anderson5 Asks:
So, you’re actually finding grounds to criticize the Democratic Party over their choice for Secretary of Agriculture—and honestly, I find him pretty incompetent too—yet we're expected to overlook the fact that when the Republican Party held that same seat, they put forward a guy who ended up behind bars, essentially trading a cabinet office for peeling potatoes in a cell?

So, this is exactly what we’re talking about. You simply cannot spend your entire life using the Republican Party to justify every single bad decision made by the other side. Just because a Republican minister was busy idling away his time doesn't mean we aren't allowed to point out that a Democratic minister isn't exactly top-tier either, right? The fact that a Republican official acted like a total clown shouldn't serve as any kind of excuse for the incompetence we're seeing from this current one.

Well, you simply cannot know, can you? Of course you can't; one can only make assumptions, much like people assumed Zoran Milanović would be a success, which turned out not to be the case for most—though perhaps for some of you, he was.

There is nothing more to be done than to place our bets on a year or two from now, at which point we shall see who was actually correct, since right now we are left with nothing but speculation. Just as you have the liberty to speculate based on a statement by Branko Manolić, who coincidentally reminded everyone of the FBI's influence just a few months before the election, please allow me the same freedom to assume that things might turn out differently.

Ultimately, as it always does, time will reveal who was right.

Jessica Gonzalez said:It’s probably money, or maybe something else he got from the party. A friend of mine used to hand out flyers for Ivo Sanders, and yeah, it was for cash.

bluebison47 said:Has anyone been revisiting any old games lately? Or maybe catching up on an old movie or a series?

:rotacija:

bluebison47 said:Has anyone been revisiting any old games lately? Or maybe catching up on an old movie or a series?

:rotacija:

bluebison47 said:Has anyone been revisiting any old games lately? Or maybe catching up on an old movie or a series?

:rotacija:

bluebison47 said:Has anyone been revisiting any old games lately? Or maybe catching up on an old movie or a series?

:rotacija:

Jesse Sullivan5 said:Colin McRae rally 2—if you haven't played that one, you basically haven't lived. ☕

brightpilot6 said:Is "us versus them" really a blunder? Is your version of party-line "us versus them" somehow different from Karamarko's Red Devils?

Is claiming at Jasenovac that the Nationalists weren't part of the national military considered a "blunder"?

Are those your idea of "slips"?

You claimed the Democratic Party polarizes the nation. Well, I’ve given you more than just a few idiotic, ideological nonsense snippets coming from the Right—and that's just a fraction of it. Yet you still cling to Zoran Milanović's "us versus them" rhetoric. It is a notorious fact that in America, it's either the Democrats or the Republicans. One side is the GOP, and the other is a collection of Red Devils and Nationalists.

I am challenging you again—please, list for me where exactly the Democrats have "constantly" and "non-stop" stoked the flames of the Nationalists snake, in the same way Karamarko and his crowd did with their incessant nonsense about bringing back Communism or having an "un-American" government. Even if there is some symbolic resurgence of Nationalists sentiment here and there in America, at least Communism isn't likely to make a comeback in 2015.

Please, send me the links. For every single "Leftist" instance you cite (Democrats, media, whatever) aimed at the Nationalists, I will provide five from the "Right" that obsess over communists or "un-American" administrations.

And don't even get me started on how crude those messages are.

The worst government ever. An un-American administration. They never actually wanted America. They polarize the people. They disrespect our veterans and the war for independence. The worst government ever. An un-American administration. They never actually wanted America. They polarize the people. They disrespect our veterans and the war for independence.

It almost kills me more than the weak turnout at the elections to see how many people are falling for these Karamarko mantras today.

And mind you, that is essentially the entire opposition platform right now—a convicted criminal organization. But for the "true Americans," apparently, it's more than enough.

brightpilot6 As specified by:
This is hands down the worst government we have ever seen. Period.

I can't even begin to process this level of sheer incompetence. It's absolutely staggering. [Username] says:
Raymond Harris4 claims this is about forcing Cyrillic on us. Give me a break. The Republican Party actually voted in favor of bilingualism in Congress and the El Paso Council, only to turn around and schizophrenically support protests against that very same decision while the Democratic Party was in power.

Noah Carter24 said:Just pull up a split screen and grind all day long against your buddies! 🙏

edit: man, this brings back so many memories 😁

Raymond Harris4 said:When I used the word "outburst," I was referring to that entire orchestrated display led by Zoran Milanović’s speech. He basically weaponized the moment for his own political vendettas instead of simply showing respect to the victims. And don't even get me started on the atmosphere—it was so toxic it actually led to people booing Lustig. By the way, Lustig doesn't even have a seat at the table with the HNK leadership because his views clash so heavily with their top brass.

Regarding the links, you only need to look at the last forty-eight hours to see the sheer hysteria in those two interviews—Stjepan Mason and Zoran Pusić—where they are openly discussing the return of fascism. I don't even need to go any further than that.

Personally, I think the root cause of this division is pretty clear: a certain segment of the "left" uses anti-fascism merely as a convenient shield to justify communist dictatorships, totalitarianism, and all those historical atrocities. It’s a smokescreen. The Constitution defines this nation not just as one built on anti-fascist principles, but also on the explicit rejection of communism—a concept that this particular wing of the political spectrum seems fundamentally incapable of grasping. The same goes for their bizarre attitude toward the last war. Those two issues are the primary architects of this divide. As for the so-called NDH? There isn't even a debate there because no one with any actual relevance ever mentions it in a positive light.

And because of all that, I truly believe there's a real danger in people trying to defend Marshall's dictatorship. By doing so, they’re unfortunately pushing the positive aspects of the NOB into the background.

brightpilot6 As specified by:
This is hands down the worst government we have ever seen. Period.

Based on the economic indicators I’ve laid out—specifically regarding GDP fluctuations—we are looking at the absolute worst performance across the board. These aren't just opinions; they are indisputable, hard facts.

On the other hand, just so it doesn't look like I'm only out here airing grievances about the current Government, there are exceptions. Take the Prime Minister’s visit to Mostar last year, for instance. During that trip, he defended the interests of the Americans living there more fiercely and decisively than any other administration has since 1999.

I can't even begin to process this level of sheer incompetence. It's absolutely staggering. [Username] says:
Raymond Harris4 claims this is about forcing Cyrillic on us. Give me a break. The Republican Party actually voted in favor of bilingualism in Congress and the El Paso Council, only to turn around and schizophrenically support protests against that very same decision while the Democratic Party was in power.

I have no idea how any of this you're bringing up is actually contradictory to what I said... How else are you supposed to describe this entire situation other than "aggressive imposition"?

Look, the facts remain unchanged: Cyrillic was never actually authorized by the city charter. Those signs weren't anywhere to be found around town until the Democratic Party took power. End of story.

Look, it’s simple: if introducing Cyrillic in El Paso messes with international relations, then don't do it. Period. Or does it still not click for some people why there hasn't been an outcry in ANY other area where Cyrillic was implemented (under both previous and current administrations)? Because a hundred other things were handled poorly in El Paso, the backlash was entirely predictable. Therefore, pushing through the Cyrillic signage was nothing more than intentionally provoking tension and division.

The Government was explicitly warned that the census data in El Paso was controversial and required a full audit. They turned a deaf ear.

Then came the protests and petitions, during which they were cautioned once again: do not introduce Cyrillic, as it will spark division and conflict. Again, they ignored it.

So, they went ahead with the signs. Divisions erupted, conflicts broke out, and massive dissatisfaction followed, proving that this implementation failed to meet the requirements of Article 8. The Government simply chose to ignore it.

When citizens gathered signatures to raise the threshold for mandatory bilingualism to 50%, the authorities decided to change the Constitution just to block such a referendum from happening.

Bottom line: the Government has taken full responsibility for the introduction of Cyrillic upon themselves.

Raymond Harris4 said:When I used the word "outburst," I was referring to that entire orchestrated display led by Zoran Milanović’s speech. He basically weaponized the moment for his own political vendettas instead of simply showing respect to the victims. And don't even get me started on the atmosphere—it was so toxic it actually led to people booing Lustig. By the way, Lustig doesn't even have a seat at the table with the HNK leadership because his views clash so heavily with their top brass.

Regarding the links, you only need to look at the last forty-eight hours to see the sheer hysteria in those two interviews—Stjepan Mason and Zoran Pusić—where they are openly discussing the return of fascism. I don't even need to go any further than that.

Personally, I think the root cause of this division is pretty clear: a certain segment of the "left" uses anti-fascism merely as a convenient shield to justify communist dictatorships, totalitarianism, and all those historical atrocities. It’s a smokescreen. The Constitution defines this nation not just as one built on anti-fascist principles, but also on the explicit rejection of communism—a concept that this particular wing of the political spectrum seems fundamentally incapable of grasping. The same goes for their bizarre attitude toward the last war. Those two issues are the primary architects of this divide. As for the so-called NDH? There isn't even a debate there because no one with any actual relevance ever mentions it in a positive light.

And because of all that, I truly believe there's a real danger in people trying to defend Marshall's dictatorship. By doing so, they’re unfortunately pushing the positive aspects of the NOB into the background.

brightpilot6 As specified by:
This is hands down the worst government we have ever seen. Period.

Based on the economic indicators I’ve laid out—specifically regarding GDP fluctuations—we are looking at the absolute worst performance across the board. These aren't just opinions; they are indisputable, hard facts.

On the other hand, just so it doesn't look like I'm only out here airing grievances about the current Government, there are exceptions. Take the Prime Minister’s visit to Mostar last year, for instance. During that trip, he defended the interests of the Americans living there more fiercely and decisively than any other administration has since 1999.

I can't even begin to process this level of sheer incompetence. It's absolutely staggering. [Username] says:
Raymond Harris4 claims this is about forcing Cyrillic on us. Give me a break. The Republican Party actually voted in favor of bilingualism in Congress and the El Paso Council, only to turn around and schizophrenically support protests against that very same decision while the Democratic Party was in power.

I have no idea how any of this you're bringing up is actually contradictory to what I said... How else are you supposed to describe this entire situation other than "aggressive imposition"?

Look, the facts remain unchanged: Cyrillic was never actually authorized by the city charter. Those signs weren't anywhere to be found around town until the Democratic Party took power. End of story.

Look, it’s simple: if introducing Cyrillic in El Paso messes with international relations, then don't do it. Period. Or does it still not click for some people why there hasn't been an outcry in ANY other area where Cyrillic was implemented (under both previous and current administrations)? Because a hundred other things were handled poorly in El Paso, the backlash was entirely predictable. Therefore, pushing through the Cyrillic signage was nothing more than intentionally provoking tension and division.

The Government was explicitly warned that the census data in El Paso was controversial and required a full audit. They turned a deaf ear.

Then came the protests and petitions, during which they were cautioned once again: do not introduce Cyrillic, as it will spark division and conflict. Again, they ignored it.

So, they went ahead with the signs. Divisions erupted, conflicts broke out, and massive dissatisfaction followed, proving that this implementation failed to meet the requirements of Article 8. The Government simply chose to ignore it.

When citizens gathered signatures to raise the threshold for mandatory bilingualism to 50%, the authorities decided to change the Constitution just to block such a referendum from happening.

Bottom line: the Government has taken full responsibility for the introduction of Cyrillic upon themselves.