" President " Manchin defeats Biden Agenda - Biden Era/Manchin Era

Yahoo! News: Reports " Joe Manchin Finally Spikes His $1.8 Trillion Build Back Better Compromise: Washington Post "

Lets Get Real:

Thus " President " Manchin has ended the Biden domestic agenda on the HILL, the Senator has been very CLEAR over the holiday period, he has had enough of talking about BBB, its dead as a dodo.  The Biden Oval has shown that it is no FDR with the New Deal, or LBJ with the Great Society or Ronald Reagan with his tax cuts or Bill Clinton with the boom years of the late 1990s.  The Biden Oval should look to refresh his domestic agenda staff, they have let him down, they pushed the Senator to his wits end, they didn't get the fact that the Senate is 50/50, this is not like the large majorities that FDR or LBJ had, also Biden cannot cut it on the Hill.  One does hope that Biden does a  better job in foreign affairs, for the sake of us all.

US AND Russian Talks - Geneva - Biden Era/New Cold War 2

The Hill: Reports " Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov earlier on Sunday said it is possible that the talks between the U.S. and Russia break down quickly. He specifically said conversations could end after the first meeting.  "

Lets Get Real:

It seems that the Russians are playing HARDBALL, they want a reason to invade the Ukraine, if the remarks by the Russian Foreign Minister are anything to by.  The talks could collapse quite FAST if the Russians keep to their DEMANDS, that the Ukraine does not become part of NATO in the future and that that US forces are withdrawn from Eastern States that are part o NATO.  The Baltic States and Poland will be keeping a eye on Biden, his weakness over Afghanistan and his appearance that he is out of his depth does not help.  One hopes that Biden has not filled his administration with appeasers, that would be a major mistake and cause Biden to lose the 2022 Mid Terms and the Presidency if he runs in 2024.   On the Russian side Putin wants to reform the band, in other words the OLD USSR.  He does not see the Ukraine as a Independent State, he sees Kiev as part of Russia, one people.  It will be interesting to see what game Putin is playing this week.

The FUTURE of the UKRAINE - Biden Era/New COLD WAR 2

Guardian: Reports " Ukraine’s fate hangs in balance as ‘critical’ week of talks begins...Experts say prospects of deal are ‘very, very dicey’ as top US and Russian diplomats meet in Geneva  "

Lets Get Real:

As the article notes we shall see if the talks going on between the US and Russia are real talks or just a reason that Putin will use to invade the Ukraine.  If the Russians WALK after not getting what they want we will know that Putin has made his mind up to invade the Ukraine.   Also Kiev and NATO Countries will be watching out in case Biden does a Neville Chamberlain and appeases Putin, will he sell out the Ukraine and other Eastern NATO Members of NATO, after Afghanistan, the Biden Oval cannot be trusted, he has shown that he is weak and feckless and does not keep the WORD of former US Presidents, as Ronald Reagan stated in his diaries, Biden is a demagogue and has sold out the moderate voters who voted for him in 2020 to appeal to the HARD LEFT.  Interesting week in international politics. 

Foreign Secretary threatens the USE of ARTICLE 16 - Brexit Update

My favourite Subject is BACK = BREXIT News! 

Sky News: Reports " 'Not very helpful': EU ambassador says UK should stop 'agitating' issue of Article 16 following foreign secretary's declaration...Ms Truss was handed responsibility for the negotiations last month after Lord Frost resigned as Brexit minister. "

Lets Get Real:

This blog's favourite subject is BACK in the new, the UK Foreign Secretary has stated she will invoke ARTICLE 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol that suspends parts of the WITHDRAEAL AGREEMENT that sets the rules for Northern Ireland.  There have been endless talks, the former Brexit Minister, Lord Frost resigned over COVID - 19 rules, the Foreign Secretary is seen as a replacement for Boris Johnson if he be forced to leave No 10 due to PARTYGATE or GATES even.  Ms Truss the Foreign Secretary was a REMAINER, but knows that if she want the BIG JOB of being PM she has to show to the Brexit voters and MPs in the Conservative Party that she will pull trigger for ARTICLE 16 if the talks with the EU does not work out.  Thus the talks are about Northern Ireland but between the lines its about Ms Truss showing that she would be a STRONG PM and a BREXIT PM at that. 

North Korea REMINDS the World that it is a Problem - Biden Era

BBC News: Reports " North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into the sea "

Lets Get Real:

This is NORTH KOREA reminding the US and the rest of the WORLD that it is still a problem, the ONLY reason the US has not taking action against North Korea is the simple FACT that is a nuclear armed power that even CHINA cannot control even if it wanted too.  The NK Regime has seen that the Biden Administration has been diverted by the Crisis between the Ukraine and Russia and the on going talks in Vienna between the US and Iran.  The ballistic missile test is a reminder to the Biden Oval that they are also a rogue nation and need Presidential attention, they cannot feed their own people and expect the US to help them out with no concessions on their part.  On the whole the Biden Oval can put North Korea on the back burner, its most recent and urgent problem is the tensions on the Ukraine and Russian border.  The North Koreans will never give up their nuclear arms, its the only thing they have that get the attention of the powers, one doubts they will ever go to WAR, at this would mean the end of the REGIME.

President Biden Speaks to President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine - Biden Era

The White House: Has a readout of the call between President Biden and President Zelenskyy of the Ukraine on Sunday, " President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners will respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. The leaders expressed support for diplomatic efforts, starting next week with the bilateral Strategic Stability Dialogue, at NATO through the NATO-Russia Council, and at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. President Biden underscored the commitment of the United States and its allies and partners to the principle of “nothing about you without you.” He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also expressed support for confidence-building measures to de-escalate tensions in Donbas and active diplomacy to advance the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, in support of the Normandy Format.  "

Lets Get Real:

The ball is now in the Russian COURT, what will they do, will they really force the issue and invade the Ukraine, the economic hit might to be to much even for Putin, so how does Putin save face without looking WEAK.  As suggested in my previous post the US could lobby the Ukraine not to ask to join NATO for between  5 to 10 years, in that time Putin might get over the issue or get overthrown by his own people.  The question is will the Ukraine buy in to that, they might think the wait will allow them to reform their government, and get rid of the open corruption in the system, this would show that the Ukraine was ready to do what was needed to become part of NATO and the EU.   The hot issue is will Putin accept such DEAL, he has also demanded that NATO remove NATO troop in Eastern Europe Countries that have joined NATO, that is a non starter, it would create the impression that the West was appeasing Putin and the Russians, a half loaf is better than no loaf, will that do for Putin, he cannot keep his soldiers on alert at the Ukraine border for months, they will get irate and angry at being so far from home.  This blog predicts that Putin would take the DEAL, of course the question when it comes to Putin, what next will he try, he is following the same route as Hitler. 

Doctor Who and the Eve of the Daleks - Overnight ratings

 A bit of light relief from the Ukraine and Iran - Biden Era:

The Doctor Who News: Reports " Doctor Who - Eve of the Daleks has an audience of 3.21 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures.  "

Lets Get Real:

This was a great stand alone episode, a great show for New Year's Day.  The Doctor and the Tardis fam were caught in a time loop, it all started with the Doctor trying to fix the TARDIS, that meant a reboot, that caused the Tardis to land in Manchester, Dan was not happy, a he is from Liverpool, some friendly rivalry, Liverpool FC  of course being the best Football team in the World.  The Tardis was tracked by the Daleks, they were not happy, the Daleks are never happy but they were not happy that the Doctor had destroyed the Dalek Fleet, the Doctor tried to blame our favourite potato heads villains but that did not work.  The the Doctor had to deal with two civilians, Sarah (Aisling Bea) and Nick (Adjani Salmon) who had to die a few times before they admitted they had feelings for each other, the time loops got shorter by a minute, so there were endless plans that did not work and deaths of all of them.  It was nice to see Dan tell the Doctor that Yaz had feeling for her, someone should really tell her about Rose and River Sung, one had a human Doctor, the other is stuck in a massive Library, the Doctor saved her there.  This is a big shout for Aisling Bea to be considered for the NEXT Doctor, she connects on screen and is a great dramatic and comedy actress.  If you have a choice of either watching the Flux series, or this episode, then  watch this episode, it was kick butt time and the Daleks had a proper and meaty role.  I liked the actress from Father Ted popping up on the mobile, offering tea ( not sure I am merging the two shows ), that was funny.