Energy, Russia and American Power - WSJ Opinion

Shippers have redirected liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargos to Europe from Asia. Asian economies have shifted to burning more coal. In other words, Europe has reduced its CO2 emissions by outsourcing them.

Virtue, signaled.

Europe’s anti-carbon policies will have zero impact on global emissions. China has six times more coal power under development than all of Germany’s coal-fired capacity.

As in, additional capacity not yet installed.

Putin Gambles That the West Is Weak - WSJ Opinion

A Western world that has spent two years sacrificing freedom to preserve life is hardly going to sacrifice life to preserve freedom. Or at least that’s how it must look to the hard men in Moscow and Beijing.

An excellent piece.

General Milley Calls Russia To Warn Them Of Ukrainian Counter-Attack - The Babylon Bee

General Milley then picked up a giant green rotary dial phone like the ones military generals always use and found the Kremlin’s number in the margins of his favorite book, The 1619 Project, which he reads every night. Sources say that after some friendly small talk, Milley gave Putin the time, date, and location of the planned counter-attack, as well as the strength and capability of the Ukrainian force.

Meta/Facebook, Twitter, & YouTube banned Trump after January 6th because of the potential that the accounts could be used to incite further violence.

What’s their excuse for continuing to host official Russian state and media accounts?

Ukraine invasion: EU shuts airspace to Russian planes - BBC News

All such planes, including the private jets of oligarchs, will now be unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation.

Mount up!

Ex-Attorney General William Barr Urges GOP to Move On From Trump - WSJ

“The election was not ‘stolen,’” Mr. Barr writes. “Trump lost it.” Mr. Barr urges conservatives to look to “an impressive array of younger candidates” who share Mr. Trump’s agenda but not his “erratic personal behavior.”

Bill’s a good dude.

Germany to Raise Defense Spending Above 2% of GDP in Response to Ukraine War - WSJ

The measures, all of which had long been resisted by successive governments and will now be reflected in this year’s budget, underline how profoundly Russia’s attack on Ukraine is upending European politics after almost eight decades of nearly uninterrupted peace on the continent.

Good morning, Germany! How was your long nap?

Glory to Ukraine!

🇺🇦

Lies U.S. Military Recruiters Are Legally Allowed To Tell Recruits - The Onion

“The movie ticket discounts you’ll get are so worth it.”
Recruits know that discounted movie tickets aren’t worth it where today’s streaming services offer premium entertainment at home.

Oil Prices Are Another Headache for Biden—Who Can’t Do Much About It - WSJ

“I know this is hard and that Americans are already hurting,” Mr. Biden said Thursday. “I will do everything in my power to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump.”

Everything except approving new pipelines, encouraging gas exploration, stopping the vilification of oil companies, nominating regulators that aren’t hostile to fossil fuel producers, auctioning new leases on federal lands, or changing energy policy to bolster our allies and counter Russia.

White House: U.S. to Sanction Putin, Lavrov - WSJ

Ms. Psaki said the sanctions would include restrictions on Mr. Putin’s ability to travel to the U.S., and that the administration would release further details soon.

I guess Putin is going to have to cancel his Spring Break in Florida.

Has the Biden team considered sanctions that are relevant, or likely to have any kind of effect in the real world?

CDC Eases Mask Guidelines, Reflecting Covid-19’s Retreat - WSJ

The CDC said people who are symptomatic, test positive for Covid-19 or are exposed to infected people should still don face coverings no matter where they are.

Still unclear why this isn’t the only guidance at this point.

Instead, the CDC bizarrely prefers the current multi-factorial matrix for every one of the over 3,000 counties in the United States, cross-referenced with blocks of the population, updated multiple times per week.

John Kerry’s Ukraine Emissions - WSJ Opinion

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned in an interview this week about “massive emissions consequences” from a Russian war against Ukraine, which he also said would be a distraction from work on climate change. Nevertheless, he added, “I hope President Putin will help us to stay on track with respect to what we need to do for the climate.”

This must be from The Onion.

How can a anti-war activist, former Senator, and Secretary of State could be so obtuse in a moment like this?

Ketanji Brown Jackson Announced as Biden’s Pick for Supreme Court Nominee - WSJ

President Biden on Friday selected Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court

That moment when your foreign policy is foundering, your economic policy is driving up pain for every single voter, and you desperately need to change the subject.

Russian Attack on Ukraine Roils Markets - WSJ

Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, topped $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014

Biden policies are the primary culprit, but blaming it on someone else is convenient and the preferred tactic of this Administration.

It’s 12:30pm on the East Coast, more than 13 hours since the unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Where is the President, why hasn’t he addressed the nation, and where are those withering sanctions his team has spent weeks crafting?

Putin’s New World Disorder - WSJ Opinion

The new sanctions should also target Mr. Putin and his Kremlin mafia personally. This means finally disclosing to the world—and to the Russian people—the wealth of Kremlin officials and oligarchs. The U.K. has a special obligation here given Russian assets in London. These assets can be showcased and seized.

Lift the veil and take their assets away before their very eyes.

The post-Cold War order has depended on U.S. economic and military power, not on the illusion that the “international community” can enforce world order. Could there be a better display of United Nations impotence than Russia presiding on Wednesday over a Security Council session on Russia’s invasion?

Wife Decides To Recognize The Independence Of Husband’s Fries - The Babylon Bee

She continued, “Let me emphasize once again that French Fries for me are not just a neighboring side dish. They are an integral part of my own history, culture, spiritual space. These crispy, curly, seasoned spuds are connected with me by great taste.”

I love when the Bee can perfectly capture reality within a bear hug of satire.

Bleary-Eyed Trump Stays Up All Night Deleting ‘TRUTH’ Posts Making Fun Of Him - The Babylon Bee

Trump then took a moment to fire the loser server engineers and replace them with true American server engineers who had what it took to Make America Great Again™. He promptly returned to the patriotic task of deleting TRUTH posts making fun of him.

I could see this happening.

National Guard, Law Enforcement Prepare for Possible Trucker Protests in D.C. Area - WSJ

In anticipation of potential protests, the Defense Department has approved the deployment of about 700 National Guard troops, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

They might drive real slow or park in the roadway. Oh the humanity!!!!!

The ’80s Got Their Foreign Policy Back - WSJ Opinion

In April 2012 Joe Biden used a similar attack line in a speech. “When we came to office, President Obama reset our relationship with Russia. . . . But just a month ago, Governor Romney called and here again I quote, ‘without question our number one geopolitical foe’ is Russia. As my brother would say, go figure,” the then Vice President said.

I remember that moment in the Presidental Debate and how much I agreed with Romney.

The threat has only loomed larger as all five presidential administrations have failed to even try to understand Putin and his motivations.

Why This Economic Boom Can’t Lift America’s Spirits - WSJ

“You listen to these Fed guys—Powell right now. ‘Oh, we think we’ll get inflation under control this year.’ Fine, but do you really think these food companies are going to lower prices once the supply chain gets settled?” Mr. Remick asked. “Do you think eggs are going to go down? These prices are here to stay.”

Remick gets it.