A Shameful Day to Be a US Citizen

[MADem]

140. Why wouldn't they milk it? Because revenge is a dish best served cold.

And Putin knows this.

There's a meeting coming up in September, a Moscow one-on-one after a St. Pete summit--Obama might just be "too busy" to bother, or "worse," send Biden to St. Pete (and Joe would perform brilliantly, too--he'd convey, in the style of the most artful Fenian warrior, the notion that he is at least Putin's equal, and maybe a bit superior, all while being gregarious, witty and clever to the rest of the leaders assembled).

But worst of all is if Obama pointedly attends St. Pete and skips Moscow. That is a hearty fuck you!

And then, there's the OLYMPICS. Boycotts can happen for a variety of reasons, at a variety of levels, too:

http://www.ibtimes.com/boycott-olympics-sochi-2014-becomes-unlikely-platform-gay-rights-debate-1360365

In the event that anyone might think that the US government, itself, isn't signaling that there exists a possibility of enacting these moves, I offer this link:

http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-obama-moscow-snowden/1704115.html

WASHINGTON — The White House is deliberately leaving it vague as to whether President Barack Obama will attend talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin if the saga involving former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden is unresolved. ... Pressed on Wednesday on whether Obama will still go on the Moscow part of the trip, White House spokesman Jay Carney was vague.

The Lindsey Graham boycott proposal (having absolutely nothing to do with LGBT rights in Russia) is also included in the VOA article.

Another option being floated is the boycott by LEADERS, on the basis of human rights, of the games, leaving Putin to sit alone, without being able to play Big Man On Campus-Host to the world's rulers, and urging all the western democracies to weave the rainbow flag into their uniforms, to boot. That would be not just a stick in the eye, but a kick in the ass as well. It would be Putin, North Korea, China, and the homophobic South American rulers...and a smattering of others from hither and yon.

No harm in convergence when one wants to make a point--the point being that Pootie will be marginalized, for whatever reason. For a guy with his ego, which is the size of the moon, that will not go over well.

FWIW, that letter does come off like a response to a "laundry list" request made through diplomatic channels. I suspect that will come out, much later. Time, as always, will tell!