President Joe Biden's surprise trip to war-torn Ukraine was a diplomatic coup of the highest order--

[applegrove]

President Joe Biden's surprise trip to war-torn Ukraine was a diplomatic coup of the highest order—and that means Republicans are absolutely furious over it

By Hunter, Daily Kos Staff

https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/20/2154017/-President-Biden-s-Kyiv-trip-was-a-diplomatic-masterstroke-so-of-course-Republicans-are-fuming

"SNIP........

Among the conservative voices who are not, well, whatever Hawley and DeSantis are trying to be, there is another critique: Joe Biden is being too damn gutsy here.

Conservative correspondent Byron York tweeted: "This is reckless. Bush, Obama visited war zones where US had huge military presence to protect president, deter attack. Some allowed reporting only after president left. Here, reason to be very nervous until Biden leaves Ukraine via 'hourslong train ride.'"

It's more than that, though. Biden didn't just drop himself into Ukraine as means of showing the United States' deep ongoing commitment to defending the country. The Biden administration told Putin's government he was going, and all but dared them to do something about it. Multiple outlets have reported that the United States "notified" Putin's government of Biden's trip shortly before his departure for "deconfliction purposes"—that is, to give Russian military forces warning of Biden's arrival and to put the onus on Russia to avoid attacks on Kyiv during that time period.

That's not "reckless," that's an assertion of complete military control over the situation. The Biden administration made sure the Russian military knew full well where Biden would be so that if Russian airstrikes or other military actions did occur anywhere near the U.S. delegation, the United States would presume it to be an intentional assassination attempt.

.......SNIP"

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. The world celebrates.....meanwhile MTG tweets that we should love Putin and hate Ukraine..go figure.

[NJCher]

2. This makes magats look silly

Sputtering about making America great again when Biden just made America great again.

Now let’s get around to making the 2% pay their fair share, which Dems have been trying to do for a long time and which magats regularly block.

[GenThePerservering]

3. Joe's arrival around our President's Day

Exemplifies the highest tradition of the US presidency - the representation of our country as a believer in democracy, and the willingness to ally ourselves with democracy. A leader going into dangerous, war-torn territory, enduring a difficult journey and risking his life to prove our belief in the dignity of freedom, to stand with the exhausted but defiant Zelenskyy and his people in the face of a superpower...My God, Joe Biden, you are amazing!

No wonder the gops are upset.

[betsuni]

4. "No one fucks with a Biden."

[halfulglas]

5. They are angry enough at his "recklessness"

That some of the "senile, doesn't know where he is, drugged, controlled by (place name here)" posts will disappear for a few weeks.

[KS Toronado]

6. While watching Rachel tonight I had a crazy idea

What if all the NATO countries amassed all their tanks/troops/artillery etc on their borders with Russia?
Just like Putin did to Ukraine prior to his invasion. NATO could put out a carefully worded statement
that would confuse Putin as to NATO's real intentions. Play some war games.

Sure give Putin a lot to think and worry about with his army being depleted, might even get his military
to do a coup because they're tired of jumping out windows for no good reason.

[Haggard Celine]

9. The only thing is,

Putin would nuke some nation in NATO. I think he's that fucked up. This is a scary, unpredictable situation. Biden's a good man, so I think he will do the right thing. He could make a mistake, though, just like any other man. The poor guy has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Thank God we got Trump out office! How would he have handled a situation?

[Historic NY]

7. A big deal FU to Putin

[DFW]

8. Notice, too:

Biden did NOT travel together with Harris, thus taking away from Putin the chance to make Kevin McCarthy president with a well-aimed missile strike.

[niyad]

14. Yes, I noticed that.

[Grins]

10. Proving Putin's threat of a larger war is a non-threat.

The Russians understood the U.S. “would presume it to be an intentional assassination attempt.” And respond!

They didn’t do anything. Proving Putin is all threats, bluffs, and intimidation.

Begin F-16 flight training for Ukraine pilots now. In the US. It’s going to happen eventually, so get a head start.

[Buckeyeblue]

11. It was a big deal on the world stage

And all Americans, and the freedom loving rest of the world, should be celebrating the way Biden stood up to authoritarianism.

He not only stood up to Russia but he stood up to China (indirectly) as well. Republicans don't care about the country or the world. They only care about being in power. That's why they are looking so bad on this.

[republianmushroom]

12. You bet it was.

[Aristus]

13. Joe Biden is Gaius Popillius Laenus drawing a line in the sand.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Popillius_Laenas

A bad-ass leader confident in his own abilities, and those of the nation he represents.

[llashram]

15. I respect his courage

and love the fact of his 'surprise

[Cha]

16. Wow.. so glad I read this..

good explanation on why The US told Russia that PJB was coming to Ukraine.

TY

[Abolishinist]

17. Personally, I would absolutely LOVE

a 10-hour train ride, especially with the amenities that Biden obviously would have had.

Beyond that, I think what really must be getting to Putin is that Joe GOT THERE FIRST! I have no doubt that a year ago he must have felt he would be there no later than April, when he would be giving to the world his victory speech.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. Pooty-Putin surely loved being upstaged before his big, tough, annual speech, too.