Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted
3 hours ago, KYHorn said:

Germans need to get it together. They're currently scrambling to try to quickly hold a second round of votes. 

Friedrich Merz’s bid to become Germany’s chancellor fails in parliament in a stunning defeat

  Reveal hidden contents

BERLIN (AP) — In a historic first, conservative leader Friedrich Merz ’s bid to become Germany’s 10th chancellor since World War II failed by six votes in parliament on Tuesday, a stunning defeat as he had been widely expected to win smoothly.

A candidate for chancellor has never failed to win on the first ballot since the end of the war. The loss triggered a stock market slide: the DAX, the index of major German companies, was down 1.8% following the vote.

Merz needed a majority of 316 out of 630 votes. He only received 310 votes — well short of the 328 seats held by his coalition, which is also one of the slimmest postwar majorities. Because the vote was held by secret ballot, it was not immediately clear — and might never be known — who had defected from Merz’s camp.

Merz’s coalition is led by his center-right Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union. They are joined by the center-left Social Democrats, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party. The parties were now to regroup to discuss the next step but it was also unclear how long the process could take.


Merz is seeking to take the helm of the 27-nation European Union’ s most populous member after Scholz’s government collapsed last year and a national election was held in February. Scholz, despite his official farewell on Monday, remains in a caretaker role until a new chancellor takes over.

https://apnews.com/article/germany-government-merz-coalition-98e9007ea41b8bbd36be8d09baefb632

 

1 hour ago, Schulz2.0 said:

Merz did a good job pissing off some of the coalition he needed to get elected in the lead up to the vote. He lost a lot of the goodwill he would have had prior to taking the role.

Merz just elected chancellor. Probably a good thing for Ukraine as long as this doesn't weaken him too significantly.

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, KYHorn said:

 

Merz just elected chancellor. Probably a good thing for Ukraine as long as this doesn't weaken him too significantly.

He worked with AfD on an immigration bill months ago. There were protests and he went to the German tax authorities looking into the tax free status of some organizations that helped organize the protests. He's not exactly in a great position unless he starts to prove himself to his coalition partners.

Edited by Schulz2.0
  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted

IMG_4545.thumb.jpeg.05184c99693ca499cf0dc6e7af5c3ee6.jpeg

i’m cross posting this in both Ukraine threads.  It is interesting that Turkey gives no fucks what Russia thinks.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that when all the people left Russia in 2022 - a hell of a lot of spooks pretending to be fleeing foes of Putin set up shop in every country who would take them. The answer is to deport every one of the sons of bitches

  • Hook 'Em 7
  • Like 1
  • Fuck Around and Find Out 1
Posted (edited)
On 5/8/2025 at 9:51 AM, Gatorubet said:

IMG_4545.thumb.jpeg.05184c99693ca499cf0dc6e7af5c3ee6.jpeg

i’m cross posting this in both Ukraine threads.  It is interesting that Turkey gives no fucks what Russia thinks.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that when all the people left Russia in 2022 - a hell of a lot of spooks pretending to be fleeing foes of Putin set up shop in every country who would take them. The answer is to deport every one of the sons of bitches

Historically they've been geopolitical foes, so, not surprising (S-400 purchase aside). 

Edited by elfenix
  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
Historically they've been geopolitical foes, so, not surprising (S-400 purchase aside). 

Yet in my time in Turkey I saw tons of Russian tourists. I wonder how much they spend in Turkey. Less now, I’m sure.
Posted

Russian tourists are  a plague. They go anywhere cheap and act like dicks. Like Americans in Paris.

Turks want to increase their zone of influence. They smell a weak russia. Fuckers will pounce like a dude overcharging you for double apple at a hookah house.

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 2
Posted
Russian tourists are  a plague. They go anywhere cheap and act like dicks. Like Americans in Paris.
Turks want to increase their zone of influence. They smell a weak russia. Fuckers will pounce like a dude overcharging you for double apple at a hookah house.

I was in a very nice hotel in Helsinki once. They had a glass elevator in their quite formal lobby. I’m sitting there having my coffee and pulla, when I see these two dudes dressed only in robes get on and ride all the way down about four floors. Clearly going to the sauna. Nope. They get out and walk up to the hostess stand to be seated for breakfast. The hostess, a firm but fair Finn, was not having it. She told them in no uncertain terms there was no way they were coming into her dining room with just a robe between their Russian bodies and the fine guests of the hotel who weren’t trying to see any of that. The robe boys? Russians of course. I’ve seen this a million times in various ways. The ugly American gets a bad rap, but Russian and Chinese tourists are the worst.

giphy.gif
/rant
  • Hook 'Em 5
  • Haha 1
Posted
20 minutes ago, Orange&White said:

I think the clear solution is for the US to give Ukraine as many weapons as they need to kill ALL of the russians.

That's been the solution for more than a few years.

  • Hook 'Em 8
Posted
12 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

Russian tourists are  a plague. They go anywhere cheap and act like dicks. Like Americans in Paris.

Turks want to increase their zone of influence. They smell a weak russia. Fuckers will pounce like a dude overcharging you for double apple at a hookah house.

Russians, Americans, and Israelis are the worst tourists in the world and I don't think anyone else comes particularly close. In no particular order.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
57 minutes ago, Orange&White said:

I think the clear solution is for the US to give Ukraine as many weapons as they need to kill ALL of the russians.

36 minutes ago, Deej said:

That's been the solution for more than a few years.

it-is-known-yes.gif

  • Hook 'Em 4
Posted
20 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said:

Russians, Americans, and Israelis are the worst tourists in the world and I don't think anyone else comes particularly close. In no particular order.

The Brits would like to have a word. 

  • Hook 'Em 4
Posted
1 hour ago, Brian Fantana said:

Russians, Americans, and Israelis are the worst tourists in the world and I don't think anyone else comes particularly close. In no particular order.

Brits, Mexicans, and Italians need to be in the conversation.

  • Hook 'Em 2
Posted
4 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

Brits, Mexicans, and Italians need to be in the conversation.

Brits belong in the top tier with the ones I mentioned, anyone else starts a tier lower imo

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Chad Fuck said:


I was in a very nice hotel in Helsinki once. They had a glass elevator in their quite formal lobby. I’m sitting there having my coffee and pulla, when I see these two dudes dressed only in robes get on and ride all the way down about four floors. Clearly going to the sauna. Nope. They get out and walk up to the hostess stand to be seated for breakfast. The hostess, a firm but fair Finn, was not having it. She told them in no uncertain terms there was no way they were coming into her dining room with just a robe between their Russian bodies and the fine guests of the hotel who weren’t trying to see any of that. The robe boys? Russians of course. I’ve seen this a million times in various ways. The ugly American gets a bad rap, but Russian and Chinese tourists are the worst.

giphy.gif
/rant

Likely gangsters used to always getting their own way.

Posted
2 hours ago, Parliament said:

Likely gangsters used to always getting their own way.

Maybe. Or just the Russian equivalent of redneck assholes, the like of which may even frequent this very site!

Posted

I was in a very nice hotel in Helsinki once. They had a glass elevator in their quite formal lobby. I’m sitting there having my coffee and pulla, when I see these two dudes dressed only in robes get on and ride all the way down about four floors. Clearly going to the sauna. Nope. They get out and walk up to the hostess stand to be seated for breakfast. The hostess, a firm but fair Finn, was not having it. She told them in no uncertain terms there was no way they were coming into her dining room with just a robe between their Russian bodies and the fine guests of the hotel who weren’t trying to see any of that. The robe boys? Russians of course. I’ve seen this a million times in various ways. The ugly American gets a bad rap, but Russian and Chinese tourists are the worst.

giphy.gif
/rant

As in Helsinki Sweden?
  • Haha 2
Posted
3 minutes ago, Gatorubet said:

Can’t see the sharpie - the photo’s cut off at her midsection.

She's Ukrainian.  There's a fair chance that below where the photo cuts off, she's carrying a fucking combat rifle.

 

 

 

Which is hot.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
8 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

She's Ukrainian.  There's a fair chance that below where the photo cuts off, she's carrying a fucking combat rifle.

 

 

 

Which is hot.

Is that all, she's carrying?  

fingers-crossed-luck.gif

  • Haha 1
Posted
50 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

She's Ukrainian.  There's a fair chance that below where the photo cuts off, she's carrying a fucking combat rifle.

Instead of a Sharpie?? Talk about your trigger discipline… 

 

52 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Which is hot.

Yes, yes it is….

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
8 hours ago, Brian Fantana said:

Russians, Americans, and Israelis are the worst tourists in the world and I don't think anyone else comes particularly close. In no particular order.

Americans haven’t been the worst tourists in decades.  Both Americans and Brits can be rough if you’re on the budget cruise or near a stag/hen party but the bulk of them are fine especially the farther you get from home. 

Russians, Israelis, Mainland Chinese (Hong Kongers and Taiwanese are fine) and Gulf Arabs are unpleasant, as are middle class Indians/Pakistanis. For sheer unpleasantness, like it’s a competition to be the rudest, it’s likely to be the latter. 

  • Hook 'Em 5
  • Like 2
Posted
10 hours ago, Brian Fantana said:

Russians, Americans, and Israelis are the worst tourists in the world and I don't think anyone else comes particularly close. In no particular order.

Chinese. You have to include the Chinese on that list. 

Aussies, Germans, Japanese and Spanish would top my list of best. 

Thats a really questionable best lest and I was tempted to add Italians but they are loud. 

Jesus.. 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
24 minutes ago, Ted Lange said:

Chinese are the worst, zero respect for personal space. Rude as fuck. 

Cut in line, unabashedly and pretend that they don't understand when most speak better English than the average Maga voter. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
  • Rage+1 1
Posted (edited)

I'm going to assume the Polish friendship was one of the special ones. 

In my experience those folks cherish friendship like no other. You're family whether you like it or not. Also you will be drunk and well fed. Very very drunk.

Edited by MissingInAction
Polak urkwa!
Posted

Talks in Istanbul revealing just how far away Russia is from any serious effort.  The low-level delegation headed by a man with no real clout in Putin’s inner circle demanded that Ukraine withdraw from territories Russia has “annexed” but does not control and threatened to seize two more.  Usual banging on about demilitarizing Ukraine and ensuring the “Kyiv regime” can’t threaten Russia. None of this acceptable to Kyiv in any way. 
 

The admin decided to take the line that this cannot be solved unless Trump and Putin meet.  This gives Putin quite a lot and Trump very little and so it will probably happen.  
 

I don’t expect a lot from Russia as sprint and summer make for a good time for fighting and trying to seize more.  Internally Russia is uninterested in consumer welfare and remains fully committed to reconstitution.  

  • Hook 'Em 1
  • Rage+1 3
Posted

Putin better hope that Ramzan Kadyrov stays alive a few more years.  The second he croaks the other tribal leaders aren’t going to follow his punk sons.    That’s a whole lot of vengeance to be taken, and I’m sure there is at least some support for Russia-Chechnya Boogaloo III - at least since Russia cannot spare troops or tanks for another war and is down to golf carts and Norks.  Prigozhin and Wagner‘s march on Moscow should keep people up at night if Chechnya wakes up in an independent mood.

  • Hook 'Em 7
  • Drool 1
Posted

US Ambassador resigns over Trump’s fealty toward Putin 

In a candid op-ed published today, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink explained her resignation, citing profound disagreements with the Trump administration’s Ukraine policy.  Brink, a seasoned diplomat with nearly three decades of service under five presidents, expressed that the administration’s approach—pressuring Ukraine, the victim of aggression, rather than confronting Russia, the aggressor—was untenable for her.  She emphasized that such a policy amounted to appeasement, which history has shown leads to further conflict and suffering.

Brink highlighted the atrocities committed by Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, including the deaths of thousands of civilians, the abduction of 20,000 children, and over 150,000 documented war crimes.  She underscored the moral imperative for the United States to support democracies and oppose autocratic aggression, arguing that the U.S.’s response to such conflicts has global implications, potentially emboldening other authoritarian regimes if left unchecked.

Her resignation also followed a controversial Oval Office meeting in February 2025, where President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leading to a suspension of military aid to Ukraine.  Brink’s departure reflects the internal tensions within the U.S. diplomatic corps regarding the administration’s stance on the Ukraine conflict  .

Brink’s decision to resign underscores the challenges faced by career diplomats when political leadership diverges from established foreign policy principles.  Her departure signals a significant shift in the U.S.’s approach to international conflicts and raises concerns about the nation’s commitment to supporting democratic allies in the face of authoritarian aggression.

U.S. President Donald Trump took Putin’s bait after encouraging Ukraine to enter into direct talks with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia made a mockery of the talks in Istanbul.

  • Hook 'Em 1
  • Rage+1 3
Posted
8 hours ago, Gatorubet said:

Putin better hope that Ramzan Kadyrov stays alive a few more years.  The second he croaks the other tribal leaders aren’t going to follow his punk sons.    That’s a whole lot of vengeance to be taken, and I’m sure there is at least some support for Russia-Chechnya Boogaloo III - at least since Russia cannot spare troops or tanks for another war and is down to golf carts and Norks.  Prigozhin and Wagner‘s march on Moscow should keep people up at night if Chechnya wakes up in an independent mood.

Gonna be fun watching Kadrov’s dipshit kid get filleted 20 seconds after the old man dies.

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
Posted
On 5/12/2025 at 7:37 PM, BurntEyes said:

Chinese. You have to include the Chinese on that list. 

Aussies, Germans, Japanese and Spanish would top my list of best. 

Thats a really questionable best lest and I was tempted to add Italians but they are loud. 

Jesus.. 

We cannot leave off the rich Latino who is pissed their maid is not with them in first class.

Baltic nationals travel well. They dress up, are classy and always have an extra lighter.

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 1
Posted
On 5/13/2025 at 8:56 AM, MissingInAction said:

I'm going to assume the Polish friendship was one of the special ones. 

In my experience those folks cherish friendship like no other. You're family whether you like it or not. Also you will be drunk and well fed. Very very drunk.

 

He was talking about fucking.

Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, MissingInAction said:

I wasn't?

 

If you were, you confused me with "You're family whether you like it or not". That, my friend, is not a good fuck buddy. Unless she has hot, younger sisters.

Edited by Bevo
  • Drool 1
Posted
15 minutes ago, Bevo said:

 

If you were, you confused me with "You're family whether you like it or not". That, my friend, is not a good fuck buddy. Unless she has hot, younger sisters.

 

image.gif.48d6bab077f61900cd9b4f72d8b1604a.gif

  • Haha 3
  • Drool 1

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...