Presidential Election.

I’m more than happy to engage with you on the topic of the thread- but when you’re caught out pushing a narrative around lifting sanctions on Russia and then U turning on it, it’s not a good faith argument, no less then dumping on a poster because you’re caught doing it. CC in my view doesn’t have a professional image for President no less the fact I don’t like her politics - PR is a central part of the presidency- there’s nothing at all shallow about stating that - its a significant factor that could well be the difference between winning and losing -so less of the digs please.

If you’re going to put forward a stance and position, you have to own it- it was clear from your posts you advocated lifting sanctions against Russia - at least some of them - in line and in agreement with CC- it’s a nothing argument simply because no one has outlined what sanctions are working and what ones aren’t - so don’t be surprised if people take you up the wrong way as a result - you’ve advocated lifting Russian sanctions - it doesn’t matter which ones - that’s the essence of your argument- if you didn’t mean to create that impression then you need to review how you word your position

If you’re going to put forward a stance and position, you have to own it- it was clear from your posts you advocated lifting sanctions against Russia - at least some of them - in line and in agreement with CC- it’s a nothing argument simply because no one has outlined what sanctions are working and what ones aren’t - so don’t be surprised if people take you up the wrong way as a result - you’ve advocated lifting Russian sanctions - it doesn’t matter which ones - that’s the essence of your argument- if you didn’t mean to create that impression then you need to review how you word your position

I said sanctions that are not working as intended are pointless and should be lifted regardless of who they are placed on.

CC went to see the effects of sanctions in Syria and I see no reason to disbelieve her assessment of sanctions there.

I don't know what effect sanctions are having on Russia. I didn't advocate lifting sanctions against Russia.

It is not a very complex position to have or to grasp.

Don't see one, was expecting it.

It's equally not hard to grasp a clarification.

I DON'T KNOW if sanctions (that have no specified time limits on them) are working because I have not seen expert opinion on them (expert = somebody who has the qualifications to know or somebody who has been there on a mission to find out)

They may be slowly working or they may not…if they aren't then end them because they are pointless.

Still got problems with nuance in an opinion, that's gonna have to be your problem,

I can answer the Russian question,from what I could see,sanctions are having no effect,I was there during the summer

Plenty fast cars,cheap petrol,the shops were full,you could get stout and burgers with chunky chips in Irish bars

People seemed happy

Russia has an unlimited supply of oil and gas and the 2nd largest economy in the world wants as much of that as it can get and while that’s the case and it will remain the case,sanctions against Russia from the west are only pissing in the wind

The tv had about 20 channels with Russian language dramas,soaps and movies

The main evening news had about 20 mins on the ‘special operation’ with a lot of battlefield coverage and also Ukrainian destruction of towns in the Donbass which we rarely see

It always also had some world events news

No opposition spokespeople

So yes sanctions are an all or nothing thing

As they are now they‘re not doing anything at all if you don’t mind your McDonald’s breakfast having a Russian name,you still get the hash browns

As many as you want

Window dressing

So you disagree with @pureza ?

The sanctions are working?

My main argument is, why hasn't Russia been completely cut off internationally, now, if not in 2014 when they first put boots on the ground in Ukraine?
Trump is clearly holding further sanctions back and is threatening to use them.

Why has that not been done?
Why is the leader of NATO gameplaying?
Is it a point of criticism for any of you guys?

Sanctions wouldn’t work on Russia while China buys her oil and gas

What Hungary and Slovakia take is just a drop in the ocean in comparison

Ok foreign deposits were frozen but Russia has been making plenty from China to make up for that and China is supplying Russia with plenty of life’s modern convenience’s no longer available from the west and cheaper

Then you’ve the current largest western economy (and lots of others) busy pushing China closer to Russia everyday

the West about trying to respond to it.

Seems to me the 'west' have only responded in piecemeal fashion and Trump the head honcho of NATO is game playing.

Fully exclude Russia, penalise those you can for ignoring sanctions if that doesn't work then talk about military responses.

I assume she would being interested in non military interventions.

I presume, as a good catholic, she can't tell porkies?

Russia wanting to concentrate on their Ukraine war would have had nothing to do with sanctions working in Syria

Their pulling out of Syria was not because of Sanctions,it was because they were over stretched

It had everything to do with military aid going to the Ukraine making that war unwinable for them

Getting back to Connolly,her mistake is putting her foot in her mouth

Doing the government’s job in this campaign for them so to speak

She should avoid all this stuff