Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

stevenleser

stevenleser's Journal
stevenleser's Journal
March 3, 2014

Russian stock market plunges 10%, ruble in free fall. Russians expect Ukraine invasion backlash

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-03/bershidsky-on-europe-russian-assets-tumble

As the possibility of a war with Ukraine and international isolation pushed all Russian financial instruments and the ruble down, the Russian central bank finally decided to defend the free-falling national currency and raised its refinancing rate from 5.5 to 7 percent. Russians, however, have rushed to banks and exchange offices to buy up dollars and euros, and the stock market fell by about 10 percent. The central bank can hardly stop the panic by monetary means: it is caused by overpowering fear and pessimism, both quite rational in the current situation. Though there are macroeconomic reasons for the ruble to weaken, a peaceful resolution of the Crimea conflict would cause it, and the Russian stock indices, to bounce back.
_____________________________________________________________

The US and Europe can affect the situation with economic sanctions. I am in favor of harsh sanctions.
March 3, 2014

In Ukraine, Echoes of the Anschluss

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-03-02/in-ukraine-echoes-of-the-anschluss
By Leonid Bershidsky

A corollary to Godwin’s Law of Nazi Analogies states that once a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis is made in an online discussion, the thread ends and the person who mentioned Hitler automatically loses the argument. In some cases, however, the rule doesn't apply -– such as when the behavior of other totalitarian regimes is discussed.

I never thought the day would come that I would say this, but it no longer applies to discussing my country, Russia. Here’s a Nazi analogy.

“It is not only the same people but above all a long communal history and culture which bind together the Reich and Austria,” Adolf Hitler said in February, 1938.

On March 11, Austrian Nazis seized power in Vienna, and the following day, Josef Goebbels read this statement from Adolf Hitler on German and Austrian radio: “The German Reich will not tolerate persecution of Germans in this region because they belong to our country or because they hold certain opinions. There must be peace and order. I have therefore decided to help the millions of Germans in Austria with the resources of the Reich. Since this morning, soldiers of the German Wehrmacht have marched over the German-Austrian borders. The new National Socialist government in Vienna has itself summoned panzer troops, infantry divisions, and SS legions on the ground and the German Luftwaffe in the blue sky. Our soldiers guarantee that the Austrian people will shortly be given the opportunity to determine their future themselves and thereby their fate with a plebiscite."
.
.
.
(more at above link)
----------------------------------------------
I had posted this as a response and thought it deserved its own OP.
March 2, 2014

45 min to first airing of my show this week on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and more!

This week our top story is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have a detailed full special segment on Ukraine, then, Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer backs off of an anti-gay bill and a significant event in Healthcare in the US as Republicans propose a bill to improve Obamacare. Finally we discuss an update on global climate change.

At the end we will have our trademark weekly hall of fame and shame for those politicians and prominent individuals who made great sense or shameful nonsense, respectively.

The show airs Sunday at 7pm Eastern time on Blogtalkradio.com at the below link and Monday at 2pm Pacific time on KCAA 1050am in Inland Empire, California!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2014/03/03/complete-coverage-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-and-more

March 2, 2014

45 min to first airing of my show this week on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and more!

This week our top story is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We have a detailed full special segment on Ukraine, then, Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer backs off of an anti-gay bill and a significant event in Healthcare in the US as Republicans propose a bill to improve Obamacare. Finally we discuss an update on global climate change.

At the end we will have our trademark weekly hall of fame and shame for those politicians and prominent individuals who made great sense or shameful nonsense, respectively.

The show airs Sunday at 7pm Eastern time on Blogtalkradio.com at the below link and Monday at 2pm Pacific time on KCAA 1050am in Inland Empire, California!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2014/03/03/complete-coverage-of-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-and-more

February 23, 2014

My show tonight at 7pm ET Rick Ungar talks Chris Christie Update, Textbook Outrage and Ted Nugent

(xPost from GD)

On my show today at 7pm ET we have an update on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to include a Town Hall meeting he had on Thursday, then Conservatives go berserk over a new textbook that paints Reagan in an unfavorable light and we also talk about how Ted Nugent got himself and a Republican he is campaigning for in trouble.

To discuss those issues we have a special guest, Liberal pundit Rick Ungar!

At the end we will have our trademark weekly hall of fame and shame for those politicians and prominent individuals who made great sense or shameful nonsense, respectively.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2014/02/24/rick-ungar-talks-chris-christie-update-textbook-outrage-and-ted-nugent

The show also airs Monday at 2pm Pacific time on KCAA 1050am in the Los Angeles basin

February 23, 2014

My show tonight at 7pm ET Rick Ungar talks Chris Christie Update, Textbook Outrage and Ted Nugent

On my show today at 7pm ET we have an update on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to include a Town Hall meeting he had on Thursday, then Conservatives go berserk over a new textbook that paints Reagan in an unfavorable light and we also talk about how Ted Nugent got himself and a Republican he is campaigning for in trouble.

To discuss those issues we have a special guest, Liberal pundit Rick Ungar!

At the end we will have our trademark weekly hall of fame and shame for those politicians and prominent individuals who made great sense or shameful nonsense, respectively.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lesersense/2014/02/24/rick-ungar-talks-chris-christie-update-textbook-outrage-and-ted-nugent

The show also airs Monday at 2pm Pacific time on KCAA 1050am in the Los Angeles basin

February 21, 2014

xpost from the Lounge! Fun with the Chyron

I was on Fox a few weeks ago to discuss the rollout of ACA/Obamacare. At the same time, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine was doing Public Service Announcements to encourage signups.

The result? Well, I'm saving this one. Just sayin! LMAO

February 21, 2014

Fun with the Chyron!

I was on Fox a few weeks ago to discuss the rollout of ACA/Obamacare. At the same time, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine was doing Public Service Announcements to encourage signups.

The result? Well, I'm saving this one. Just sayin! LMAO

Profile Information

Name: RuggedRealist
Gender: Male
Hometown: New York, NY
Home country: USA
Current location: NYC
Member since: Tue Jan 4, 2005, 05:36 PM
Number of posts: 32,886
Latest Discussions»stevenleser's Journal