germany is our greatest ally

[rubato]

So instead of:

merkel is making Europe dependent on Russia for its energy.

(and you should have said Germany, not Europe)

So you have changed your statement to: "the marginal dependence of Germany on Russian energy has increased slightly." But you have not shown it is her doing.

In fact, she has done more to make Germany energy independent with renewable sources:




yrs,
rubato

[Darren]

In fifteen years even with subsidies they've increased it by 10%. LMAO. IIRC utilities were forced to buy electricity from individuals.

[Burning Petard]

POTUS says Germany is controlled by Russia because 35% of its energy comes from Russia. OK.

Trump is a real estate developer. His business works just like the middle-class home purchaser, but on a larger scale. Both rarely have the resources to purchase real estate outright. They do it with other peoples money. Trump declared bankruptcy six times. Legitimate loan sources in the both North America and Europe stated turning him down. Trump turned to less savory sources--the mob, both our varieties and the Russian mob. I am guessing far more than 35% of Trump's capital is Russian sourced. But we will never know as long has he continues to hide his tax returns.

But yesterday I believe it became public knowledge that the Trump Tower in Montreal was financed by Russians. Scooter, can you confirm or deny?

snailgate

[Scooter]

utilities were forced to buy electricity from individuals.

Consumers with small solar/wind installations are able to upload unused power they generate up to the grid. This is only a bad thing in a universe where everyone has their head up their ass.

[Scooter]

But yesterday I believe it became public knowledge that the Trump Tower in Montreal was financed by Russians. Scooter, can you confirm or deny?

I have no idea. But Jr. has stated openly that they have gotten Russian financing when U.S. banks slammed the doors in their faces, so...

[ex-khobar Andy]

....except for those bloody hessians.

...and ww1

...and ww2.

other than that......


Germany once again dominates Europe.

we are there once again to stand up tp them when Europe is too weak to squeak.

you re welcome Europe.

And of course there was the German Regiment which fought on the side of the revolutionaries in 1776.

[Darren]

utilities were forced to buy electricity from individuals.

Consumers with small solar/wind installations are able to upload unused power they generate up to the grid. This is only a bad thing in a universe where everyone has their head up their ass.

I didn't say it was a bad thing. In a country that required utilities to buy electricity, they only managed a 10% increase in the period shone. German homeowners made out on the deal. Russia has used the threat of stopping natural gas deliveries to twist arms in the past. Trump pointed out the obvious. If Putin is controlling Trump, why would Trump muck around with one of the biggest revenue streams for Russia?

[ex-khobar Andy]

utilities were forced to buy electricity from individuals.

Consumers with small solar/wind installations are able to upload unused power they generate up to the grid. This is only a bad thing in a universe where everyone has their head up their ass.

I didn't say it was a bad thing. In a country that required utilities to buy electricity, they only managed a 10% increase in the period shone. German homeowners made out on the deal. Russia has used the threat of stopping natural gas deliveries to twist arms in the past. Trump pointed out the obvious. If Putin is controlling Trump, why would Trump muck around with one of the biggest revenue streams for Russia?

Oh please Darren you are not stupid. Putin wants Trump to disrupt NATO - and he well knows that nothing Trump can do will stop the Germans from buying the gas they need. I doubt that Trump knows that he is doing what Putin wants - he's not smart enough to work that out either way - he is being played like a sucker by his flatterers such as Kim and Putin. The European leaders who refuse to praise the American Idiot (did you notice that Green Day are once again No 1 in the UK charts?) of course won't get his cooperation. There are some things which come at too high a price.

Minor correction to above: Green Day are #18 overall but #1 in the Amazon chart.

[Bicycle Bill]

Putin wants Trump to disrupt NATO - and he well knows that nothing Trump can do will stop the Germans from buying the gas they need. I doubt that Trump knows that he is doing what Putin wants - he's not smart enough to work that out either way - he is being played like a sucker by his flatterers such as Kim and Putin. The European leaders who refuse to praise the American Idiot (did you notice that Green Day are once again No 1 in the UK charts?) of course won't get his cooperation. There are some things which come at too high a price.

Minor correction to above: Green Day are #18 overall but #1 in the Amazon chart.

I'm obviously missing something here. What does a band's chart position have to do with Trump, Putin, Kim, oil and gas sales, or anything else, for that matter?

-"BB"-

[Econoline]

Not just Green Day the band, but this particular Green Day song:

[Econoline]

There was a deliberate effort to get this particular song into this particular position on this particular day.

Lyrics:

• Don't wanna be an American idiot
  Don't want a nation under the new mania
  And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
  The subliminal mind fuck America
  
  Welcome to a new kind of tension
  All across the alienation
  Where everything isn't meant to be okay
  Television dreams of tomorrow
  We're not the ones who're meant to follow
  For that's enough to argue
  
  Well maybe I'm the faggot America
  I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
  Now everybody do the propaganda
  And sing along to the age of paranoia
  
  Welcome to a new kind of tension
  All across the alienation
  Where everything isn't meant to be okay
  Television dreams of tomorrow
  We're not the ones who're meant to follow
  For that's enough to argue
  
  Don't want to be an American idiot
  One nation controlled by the media
  Information age of hysteria
  It's calling out to idiot America
  
  Welcome to a new kind of tension
  All across the alienation
  Where everything isn't meant to be okay
  Television dreams of tomorrow
  We're not the ones who're meant to follow
  For that's enough to argue

[Darren]

I didn't say it was a bad thing. In a country that required utilities to buy electricity, they only managed a 10% increase in the period shone. German homeowners made out on the deal. Russia has used the threat of stopping natural gas deliveries to twist arms in the past. Trump pointed out the obvious. If Putin is controlling Trump, why would Trump muck around with one of the biggest revenue streams for Russia?

Oh please Darren you are not stupid. Putin wants Trump to disrupt NATO - and he well knows that nothing Trump can do will stop the Germans from buying the gas they need. I doubt that Trump knows that he is doing what Putin wants - he's not smart enough to work that out either way - he is being played like a sucker by his flatterers such as Kim and Putin. The European leaders who refuse to praise the American Idiot

If Trump wants the NATO countries to contribute their agreed on percentage of GDP to NATO, how does that disrupt NATO?

No one here has explained to me how Trump trying to limit Germany's import of Russian gas benefits Putin. How does that benefit Putin when Russia in the past has relied on oil and gas exports for 50% of its revenue. Hmm?

[rubato]

It increased by 10% of total energy produced. An increase from (in round numbers) 3% to 12% is a quadrupling of the market share, a very large increase. If the total energy production went up it is even larger.

It is also a very impressive 31.8% of electricity production. ( Calif. produces 30% of its electricity using renewables)

Total sales of new photovoltaic equipment globally in 2020 are projected to be 200GW.


Yrs,
Rubato

[Lord Jim]

If Trump wants the NATO countries to contribute their agreed on percentage of GDP to NATO, how does that disrupt NATO?

Wow Darren, that's quite an uhh, minimalist way to characterize Il Boobce's record for undermining NATO...

Which began with him ignorantly calling the organization "obsolete" during the campaign, and has continued right up to the present with repeated derisive attacks and threats to withdraw and/or not honor defense commitments in the event of attack...

Putin himself couldn't have written a better script for Trump to follow to undermine NATO than the one he has in fact followed...(Come to think of it, maybe Vlad did write it...)

No one here has explained to me how Trump trying to limit Germany's import of Russian gas benefits Putin.

Oh, it wouldn't, if that were in fact what Trump was doing with this display, but of course that isn't at all the reason for this...

Trump doesn't give one small shit about how much natural gas Germany imports from Russia. What we just witnessed was Trump using a technique he has employed many times before:

Accuse somebody else of doing exactly what he is guilty of (in this case accusing another foreign leader of being unduly influenced by Russia) in order to try and divert attention away from his own record...

And when you have an American President whose record includes equating Putin's murder of political opponents with US troops carrying out lawful orders in a war zone, suggesting that Russia's annexation of Crimea could be recognized, fighting tooth and nail against increased sanctions on Russia, trivializing and questioning irrefutably proven Russian efforts to meddle in US elections (in ways that clearly benefited him)...

bragging to the Russian Foreign Minister and US Ambassador to Russia that his firing of the FBI director for vigorously pursuing an investigation into his Russian ties had "taken the pressure off" so he could start to move US policy in directions more to their liking, constantly trying to undermine and derail the the current investigation into those ties, and being unable to to utter one single critical or mocking word for Vladimir Putin (this from a President who has had no problem criticizing and mocking everyone from a Gold Star mother to a disabled reporter...)

I'm sure I left a lot out...

There's no question which national leader is most likely to be "controlled" by Russia...

And here's a hint; it ain't the Chancellor of Germany...

This whole German Russian gas thing, (which Trump suddenly pulled out of his ass this week as something he's supposedly concerned about) is nothing but yet another big rabbit hole designed to divert attention from the 900 lb. gorilla stomping around tearing up the garden...

The only real question about Trump's relationship with Putin and Russia is whether he's an actual RA or "just" a UI...

("Recruited Asset" and "Useful Idiot" for you non Homeland fans...)

Donald Trump Jr. himself famously said in 2008 that “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.”

Should be old home week for Merkel. I'd like to know who's contributing to her retirement account

I don't think it's Angela's "retirement account" that needs investigating...

[rubato]

Someone pointed out that the biggest strength of the US was that while China has clients, customers, suppliers and other business partners who will behave based on their percieved transactional advantage we have (had) allies. And we know that our allies will step up and share the load in tough times, and they have. Denmark, Canada, Germany, France, Aus. New Zealand and many others have sent troops and support in conflicts around the world. They have jumped in with no hestation and no need to cajole or beg. Bullyragging, insulting, threatening, demeaning cursing at allies is like insulting family members who have always been there for you. It is beneath stupid. It shows a complete lack of understanding of human beings. And it is why Putin works so hard to promote and protect Trump. He knows that Trump is making us, and NATO, weaker and less effective.


yrs,
rubato

[liberty]

there are new pipes going in , rube

there are alternatives, including American LP and Nordic power sources.

she is increasing german and overall European dependence because of the new pipes going in and by nnot seeking alternatives to the existing supplies

That’s a good point.

We have plenty of natural gas and North Dakota didn’t’ invade anyone. If Germany was willing to pay us enough money we could meet all of their natural gas needs. What does it matter if our gas is little more expensive than the Russians? They are our ally are they not so why would they not be willing to suffer little bit for the common cause. In winter, they could wear more cloths. They are willing to be our ally unless they might get a little cold.

How do we win with so called allies like that? If they are not willing suffer a little cold how can you expect them to endure the sufferings of war?

[wesw]

I really don t have any problem with Germany being our ally.

one of the great things about western society is the not holding of grudges.

hell even the French and English kiss cheekies.....

the problem I have with Germany is that their gov t is full of crap.

they have the opportunity to stand up to Russia, trump would cut them a hell of a trade deal if they did.....

also, merkel. I don t care for merkel.....

(and I should have written LNG instead of LP, because LP isn t correct)

[Darren]

China is going to import LNG from the US in part to offset the trade imbalance. While other countries in Europe are lining up for US LNG, Germany isn't. I wonder if that has anything to Merkel's previous history.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News ... om-US.html

[Lord Jim]

Any other Presidential campaign would have reported it to the FBI if they had been approached by Russian agents claiming to have damaging info on their opponent. Trump's campaign didn't. (Instead the top officials in the campaign eagerly took at least one meeting with the Russian agent)

I wonder if that had anything to do with Trump's previous history...

Yrs,

Lord "Climbing Out Of The Rabbit Hole To Point At the Gorilla" Jim

[rubato]

What does it matter if our gas is little more expensive than the Russians?

Er, it makes thee difference between a real world solution and a fantasy solution?

The sensible thing to do would be to rely on Russian gas and keep US LNG as a backup so they cannot be blackmailed. And there is a political and engineering problem with the safety of LNG-handling ports.

And there is a problem on the production side. Fracking produces NG wells which initially produce large volumes of gas which drops quickly so you have to continue fracking at a high rate to ensure continuous supply.



yrs,
rubato