For all the talk by Putin and his spokesmen that Russia is going to win the war in Ukraine, the penny has still not dropped that the West cannot afford to let him win so he is destined to fail. No wonder he wears bullet proof vests everywhere. He is going to be assassinated as the only way out for Russia. There are a few like Trump who call for an end to the Ukraine war and the US putting money into the “real challenge” ie China without realizing that China is looking at what we do in Ukraine to either encourage or discourage them taking Taiwan. End the war in Ukraine is code for letting Putin claim a win. Not surprising Trump would say this as a long time Putin admirer nor for the Trump supporters in the Republican Party who care more about wining elections than what’s good for America. The point is that what we spend in Ukraine is a drop in the bucket and vastly cheaper than what we spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a cheap way to keep a hostel power in check, learn about war in this century, and no American lives lost. Our defense industries love it. They need a reason to develop more and more advanced weaponry and Putin has given it to them on a plate. AND, it has woken up the Europeans to the need to build up their armed forces and spend more on defense. Trump correctly tried to get Germany etc to spend more and failed. Putin did not fail. And Finland joining NATO! Wow. everything Putin did not want to happen has happened or about to happen. What a win it will be for the Russians when he is finally eliminated. A huge sigh of relief will envelope the world and Russia can be on a winning streak again. China meanwhile has nothing to loose just sitting it out. They can keep the pressure on Taiwan and do nothing. Play the long game. Go to war, and as Putin found out, you may not get the result you bargained for. And for us in the USA, we can see Trump, his cronies and whatever their ideology was finally fade into the past. Hopefully the Republican Party will once again be a party of good sense.

Tom Verlaine of the NY band Television died last week at the age of 73. I had not seen Tom for many years but remember well when I organized the band’s May 1977 tour of the UK. It was my idea to add Blondie as the opening act even though no one in the UK knew who the band was. I figured Debbie would get press as most beautiful girls do. I was right. Tom was not keen on the idea as I remember. Too pop I think was the sentiment. I saw various testimonials of the band but the reality was that they were very successful in the UK where the Marquee Moon album was hailed as one of the greats of all time Sounds Magazine named it Album of the Year – but never really got going in the USA. Electra Records did not know what they had and apparently did not care about the success in the UK. Meanwhile, I was surprised that Television did not come back to the UK to follow up on the first tour and its success. Thinking about it, I realize that in some ways the Television/Blondie tour helped me start to rebuild my own credibility in the music business. I had really blown it with the disaster of my Startruckin 75 tour and was written of by most of the music business as a looser. The one guy who would take my phone call was John Curd, the promoter who called himself Straight Music. John was a street guy and must have figured you never know in this business. Anyway John was the guy I called to promote the tour. I did not forget that either and I called him again when I managed the POLICE. The other person in the mix, someone who will probably never get the recognition she deserves was Jane Friedman. She was publicist for Patti Smith, John Cale’s girlfriend, manager of Television. She is the one who pushed me over the edge to take the whole punk thing seriously. She did the same for my brother Ian encouraging him to launch his own booking agency for the new punk movement, FBI (Fronter Booking Intl.) Anyway, it was through Jane that I got involved with Television and organized the UK tour. Tom was a real musical spark who should have had more public recognition then he ever got. He was more influential than well known. And that Marquee Moon is still one of the great albums of all time.

Better Late Than Never. Glad to see The Cramps song Goo Goo Muck is getting the attention it deserves. Ivy does the guitar so hopefully she has heard about the current notoriety. Too bad Lux is no longer with us. Always a killer band and a proud release on IRS Records.

US TV shows give a lot of coverage to Ukraine even as the disclosures of the June 6th committee keep coming. Some commentators mention the idea of an eventual negotiation. I heard several say “every war ends in negotiation”. Funny, I must have missed those. World War 2 did not end in a negotiation. What political leader could face his people after “negotiation” with Hitler or the WW2 leaders of Japan. A negotiation by its definition means that both sides of an issue gain some and loose some. What would the Allies agree to give Hitler? No, World War 2 ended in unconditional surrender. Perhaps we can point to the wars in Yugoslavia after its break up. Not much cause for celebration or a real resolution. The reality is that Putin embarked on the flawed idea that Ukraine would crumble quickly before the West really woke up to deal with it. It was a strategy of a fait accompli. Many in the West would have agreed with him. Both misjudged what had been going on in Ukraine for some time and they certainly did not count on President Zelensky. As a result Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will go down as perhaps the greatest military/political blunder in history. What’s worse is that Putin was so convinced in his view that he did not give the slightest attention to an exit strategy should he fail in any way. He is stuck with a policy with no wriggle room. Negotiation cannot take place for him unless it is within his terms. Zelensky is facing the same reality. He cannot negotiate with someone who has killed so many of his people and destroyed indiscriminately his cities and infrastructure. How would any people agree to such a negotiation? What would they think of any leader who agreed to such a negotiation? Zelensky is right. Negotiation ONLY after ALL Russian troops leave all parts of Ukraine. Then, WHO is going to pay for rebuilding Ukraine after such massive destruction? Can anyone imagine a scenario where Ukraine agrees to let Russia keep the territory it now occupies or even a part of it and NOT demand money needed for reconstruction? Can one imagine Putin agreeing to pay for such reconstruction and still retain power? What about the war crimes? Can the world just forget them? There is also talk here in the USA about a Republican view (a minority to be sure) that might put the brakes on full US support for Ukraine. The problem is that once the Republicans control the House they too will face the consequences of their decisions. Its one thing to attack when you dont have to deal with any of the consequences. Its another when you have to accept some of the blame for an attack. The Republicans will have no option but to continue support without a hitch. Just like Putin being stuck, the Republicans too are stuck having taken positions that will not allow them to change US foreign policy. They point to giving a message of weakness to the Russians like the US departure from Afghanistan. What message would it be to withdraw support from Ukraine? What message would it be to China in its quest for Taiwan? How would all those Republican donners within the defense establishment think of a reduction on arms expenditure? AND would all the money being spent re Ukraine really be spent in the US? Would the Republicans really want to be stuck saying the money should be spent on programs, social or infrastructure in the US? They have resisted such spending in the past and dont want to be called on putting their money where their mouth is. Lets also not forget that Zelensky and Ukraine have gained great support within the body politique of the US and indeed within Western Europe. Unlike Putin and the Russian Army. Combined with Trump and his allies loosing ground, it would not be wise for Republican politicians who want to get elected in 2024 to oppose continued support. After all, the Ukrainians are white and Christian and look just like the people so much of the Republican base is made up of. Then there are the Russian people themselves. Do they really want to go back to the isolation of the Soviet Union or the rule of an autocratic leader who can do anything he wants to anyone he wants? As the Iranian regime is learning, the younger generation of the internet and social media, have changed the game. Putin is an anachronism as are his ideas. All leaders, everywhere best learn that. The only out for the Russians I can see is the assignation of Putin and the Russian people laying all the blame on that one man. Negotiation? cant see how that can happen. Anyone imagining that is in the cards is dreaming.

Hypocrisy is alive and well in the 3 one god religions. How many Christians do you know that support the idea of “Turn the other cheek”? How many support the idea of “Though Shall Not Kill”? What about human rights? Not to mention the molestation of little boys. The “Christian” right support of Trump, a man who represents everything Jesus spoke against two thousand years ago. If Jesus were alive today he would be horrified at what is being done in his name. Then there are the Jews. For all the talk of anti Semitism and anti racism lets look at the settler movement in Israel. Its a badge of honor to be anti-Arab and to feel they have the right to land that they say was given to them in some words written thousands of years ago. Kill, steel, discriminate, its all fine it seems as long as its against anyone who is of another religion. And lets look at who just got elected in Israel. The most right wing, screw Arab regime in the country’s history. Lets not forget Islam. Those great religious thinkers the Taliban blatantly discriminate against women and anyone who disagrees with their narrow interpretation of the Koran. The Saudis are not much better. The “Islamic Republic” of Iran is sending weapons to Russia to kill indiscriminately the people of Ukraine. Not to mention they kill their own people for not wearing a head scarf! Allah ahoukbar? not much evidence of that in any of the leaders who claim adherence to the tenants of any of those religions. If only one could be a fly on the wall of a meeting between Moses, Jesus and Mohamed where they have to wonder “What the hell happened?”

I have never been a fan of Tucker Carlson. Never trusted his practiced sincerity. He tells lies so well with a straight face that one can see why he gets an audience. I never saw him as stupid, just a charlatan who is out for money and does not imagine that what he says will be taken seriously enough to do any real damage. Catching a bit of his show today on Fox it seems pretty apparent that success has gone to his head and he has conveniently detached himself from reality. He also makes the mistake of presenting a point of view that is so narrow that it is obvious what he thinks. Sincerity works much better if there is some subtlety. But I dont think he really believes what he is saying. If he does he must be insane and I dont think he is insane. Just another charlatan who has learned that one can make a lot of money out of lying to the uneducated who dont know any better. Most people dont know history so they are destined to see it repeated. But one can make a lot of money out of those people. The problem is WE DONT WANT history to repeat itself. There were Tucker Carlson types back in 1939. Lets not spend money overseas. Nothing to do with us. How soon we forget! That’s why backing Ukraine is so important.

Well its Christmas time again and the world is still deep in trouble. Burying one’s head in the sand is alive and well it seems,

1. At least there is a bit of comedy in the Megan and Harry doc. Aside from committing the biggest TV sin, being boring – the doc’s first three episodes showed just how out of touch with reality those two are and Megan particularly comes off as a shallow fame digger. Harry comes off as a besotted simpleton. Switching to the other news showing starvation in Somalia with millions facing death, the devastation in Ukraine where little old ladies are freezing and living like cave men, floods, etc – how are we to have any sympathy for Megan and Harry? Boo Hoo, you have to put up with paparazzi while you live the life of luxury in your big mansion while most of your countrymen are suffering from inflation, trying to make ends meet etc.

2. Speaking of Ukraine, there is still some thinking about a negotiated settlement. The problem is simple. If Putin can show any win, then the message will resonate with China and Taiwan will be the next drama the US will face. And that drama will dwarf the Ukraine situation. Also, the money spent in Ukraine is a drop in the bucket of the US defense expenditure and in fact, given the damage Russia is doing to its military capability (not to mention its credibility) at around 5% is a cheap investment for the US to make. Meanwhile, people dont realize that when the US commits billions of $ most of that money is spent buying US arms and goods so much of the money stays in the US and is in fact a stimulus to the defense industry providing jobs to US workers and to research on ever more sophisticated weapons. The reality is that Putin will loose as the West cannot afford the price to let him win. We still have enough leaders who remember the lessons of World War 2, The sooner the Russian people realize this and get rid of him the better off they and the world will be. There is another silver lining, though long term but significant and mostly overlooked. The pressure on Europe to find alternatives to fossil fuels will end up as a knife in the heart of the Russian economy, Saudi Arabia and other oil rich states as well. There is good reason that the Gulf States and even Saudi Arabia are looking to build up there non oil business. They see the writing on the wall. Russia should do the same instead of waiting its energies on trying to be something it is not.

Tulsi Gabbord was just on Fox once again showing she is another Nevil Chamberlain. Nevil did in fact deliver “Peace in our time” – only problem was that “our time” turned out to be short lived. The reality that Ms Gabbord does not understand is that peace cannot be attained by giving in to a leader of a powerful country who is dedicated to change the map in his favor. Hitler was such a man – so is Putin. Both have said so. Both sent their military to do just that. After great pain and suffering Hitler failed. Putin needs to fail as well.

The “progress” of Putin from his appointment by Yeltsin, Bush peering into his soul, the Russians singing his praises like a pop star to ever more authoritarian rule, having opponents jailed, or poisoned and eventually to his current Totalitarian position should be a lesson on what can happen to a politician who gets away with norms little by little over time.
All those supporters of Trump today who have seen his attempts to overturn an election that he lost should consider what happens if he gets elected in 2024. He could well follow in the footsteps of his hero Putin. Get rid of the 22ed Amendment to the Constitution that prevents him running for a third term. Making his son or daughter Vice President. Having Trump Jr. succeed him as President. Republicans be ware. If you make a monster to attack your opponents, one day that monster will turn on you and bite YOU in the ass.