In Which I Get Into A Twitter Fight With Keith Olbermann

February 24th, 2014

So word came down that Piers Morgan’s shown on CNN is ending. At which point I quipped:

Enter Mr. Olbermann himself, who I like to imagine scanning Twitter in a darkened room while wearing an off-brand superhero costume. “Peasants? Making fun of me??? I will be avenged!”

I don’t think I ever received replies to these two.

RE: That public access show in Akron:

Nothing says “up to date” like referencing a TV show that went off the air when I was four…

Back on the subject of the Current TV lawsuit:

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Posted in Media Watch | 1 Comment »

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Ukrainian Dictators

February 22nd, 2014

First word came that Yanukovich had left Ukraine for various rumored destinations from Russia to Dubai. Then came word that Yanukovich was denied exit from the country.

But the delight of the day was ordinary Ukrainians touring the abandoned Presidential vacation palace, which such amenities as:

  • A classic car collection
  • A private zoo
  • A gold toilet
  • An actual galleon (helpfully named GALLEON; this pretty much confirms what we suspected of the vast range of Mr. Yanukovich’s imagination…) floating on an artificial lake.

    • Some Tweets on the theme:

    Also, Russia has a sad.

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    Posted in Communism, Foreign Policy, Waste and Fraud | No Comments »

    Yanukovych Flees Kiev (Ukraine/Euromaidan Update for February 21, 2014)

    February 21st, 2014

    Yanukovych’s “compromise” looks more and more like a complete rout, with reports of him fleeing Kiev for his political base in Kharkiv, where reports have security forces burning documents:

    There are dark, unconfirmed mutterings of pro-Russian forces preparing “provocations” or for a partition of Ukraine. But even in Kharkiv, Euromaidan is marching.

    Tweets:

    And via Michelle Malkin’s twitter feed, here’s video of happy Ukrainians toppling statues of Lenin:

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    “Take the deal or you’ll all be dead.” (Afternoon Ukraine Update for February 21, 2014)

    February 21st, 2014

    A small update on easing Ukrainian tensions. Lots of details remain to be worked out, and a lot of Euromaidan members aren’t happy with Yanukovych staying through December. But it’s sounding like they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse…

  • Polish minister to Euromaidan: “Take the deal or you’ll all be dead.”
  • Ukraine Parliament moves to release opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
  • Inside Kiev’s makeshift hospital/morgue.
  • Problems with Ukraine’s economy, and the Russian loan that helped kick off the crisis.
  • This warms my heart:

    • There are calls for Ukraine’s Parliament to impeach Yanukovych. I can hardly imagine Yanukovych or Putin taking that lying down…

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    Ukraine Update for February 21, 2014: Yanukovych Caving? Actual Peace?

    February 21st, 2014

    Early reports indicates that Yanukovych may finally have gotten a clue:

    Viktor Yanukovych conceded to the major demands made by protesters, he announced Friday on his website. He had been holding out against their raging street demonstrations for months.

    Yanukovych said he has initiated new presidential elections and a return to the old constitution that would cut presidential power, and also form a national unity Cabinet.

    Now word is comning down that Euromaidan leadership has signed off on the agreement.

    Great news, if it holds.

    There are also unconfirmed reports of police either leaving or coming over to Euromaidan. Presumably these are the regular police and not the Berkut riot police.

    Now the question becomes: What will Yanukovych’s puppet-master Vladamir Putin do? He met with his security council, and the discussion sounds more than a little ominous:

    “Putin emphasized that it is imperative to immediately stop the bloodshed and take urgent measures to stabilize the situation and suppress any extremist and terrorist sorties.”

    Is Putin willing to go to war to keep Ukraine is Moscow’s orbit?

    Stay tuned…

    Tweets

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    Afternoon Ukraine Update For February 20, 2014

    February 20th, 2014

    A super-brief update on Ukraine:

  • Current conformed death toll for recent fighting at 67, unconfirmed at 100 dead.
  • Euromaidan captures 67 policemen.
  • EU agrees to impose sanctions, including asset freezes and visa bans. It’s a start. Refusing to pay for any Russian oil or gas until democracy is restored in Ukraine would have a lot bigger effect…
  • Map of Russian gas pipelines in Ukraine. I differ with Zero Hedge in that I don’t think this is an all-encompassing explanation for the conflict…
  • Forget Sochi; Ukraine shows that it’s the same old Russia: “At the heart of the battle lies a fundamental question: Is Ukraine a free nation or is it a piece of Moscow — a piece on Putin’s chessboard?”
  • Obama’s White House: months late and several dollars short on Ukraine.

    • Video

    Battle footage with CNN talking heads:

    More random fight footage:

    Military base torched:

    More Tweets

    And holy fark is Gary Kasperov pissed:

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    Posted in Foreign Policy, video | No Comments »

    Pussy Riot Whipped

    February 20th, 2014

    That happens sometimes, when you try to escape your country’s harsh political bondage, despite the clamps and chains Putin’s police state has forced on dissidents, reformers and lesbians…

    (Hat tip: Moe Lane, who doesn’t seem to have realized the glorious keyword trolling possibilities…)

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    Posted in Communism, Foreign Policy, video | No Comments »

    Morning Ukraine Update for February 20, 2014: Mass Gunfire and Violence in Kiev

    February 20th, 2014

    So much for that truce:

    Central Kyiv turned into a war zone on Feb. 20, with indiscriminate shooting, burning fires and the mass evacuations of government buildings.

    At least 35 people were reported dead by noon, bringing the total count to at least 61 persons this week.

    It became increasingly clear that both sides have lost control of the streets across Ukraine as reports of deaths, looting, and violent attacks poured in.

    Foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland, walked into a meeting with President Viktor Yanukovych around noon with one message on the agenda: you have to stop the violence now, and the quickest way to do it is to resign.

    Yanukovych’s snipers are now shooting people in the streets:

    Death toll now over 50 in latest clashes. I’m sure it will go higher. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

    Livestream:

    Tweets:

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    Posted in Communism, Foreign Policy, Military, video | No Comments »

    Evening Update on Ukraine for February 19, 2014

    February 19th, 2014

    A truce has been declared between Euromaiden and Yanukovych’s forces. This is good news, as it means there’s fierce probably internal resistance in the armed forces to carry out the traditional “slaughter everyone with reach of a machine gun” method of putting down dissent. It may also mean that Putin isn’t quite willing to cross the Rubicon by intervening militarily to prop up his puppet.

    Also, Obama finally condemns the violence in Ukraine and threatens vague “consequences” if it gets worse. It’s a start.

    I’ve done so much Ukraine reporting today that I think I’ll just put up this short blurb for tonight, unless all hell breaks lose again…

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    Ukraine/Euromaidan Afternoon Update

    February 19th, 2014

    Events in Ukraine are galloping at a furious rate:

  • Death toll currently at 26.
  • Yanukovych moves toward declaring martial law, though in the thinly disguised form of “anti-terror operations.”
  • He also just fired his army chief, presumably because he wasn’t keen on gunning down fellow Ukrainians. They’re also reporting that pro-democracy forces have seized the Kiev post office.
  • Lviv, on the Polish border, has declared independence from Yanukovych’s rule.
  • And soldiers there have “surrendered” to the Euromaidan opposition.
  • The Lviv defection is just one of many acts of defiance across the western Ukraine.
  • What we’re seeing in Ukraine mirrors Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968: the brutal crushing of freedom at the direction of Moscow.
  • The ten most important events of the last two days.
  • UK PM David Cameron issues meaningless hen-clucks of disapproval, without a hint of actual action by his government.
  • At least this cadre of European politicians and intellectuals is asking for real sanctions.
  • The European Investment Bank has frozen its activities in Ukraine.
  • Canada closes its embassy.
  • A live blog of the situation on the Conflict Journal.
  • Dramatic pictures from Independence Square, including considerable bloodshed.

    • Not including this one:

    More tweets and pics:

    More scenes from the Battle of Independence Square:

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    Posted in Foreign Policy, video | No Comments »

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