Insight

“In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” —Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

“First, it is true that the media’s portrayal of a stark dichotomy between Russian imperialism and ‘liberal Western democracy’ is overwrought. Ukraine is indeed a corrupt and oligarchic state itself. Hunter Biden and Burisma, anyone? Second, it is nonetheless equally true that Putin is an ex-KGB thug who (obviously!) still harbors a vestigial hatred of America from his Cold War days. It is also true that Zelensky has been admirably courageous — his ‘ammunition, not a ride’ line is the stuff of legends. … [W]hile the U.S. should side with Ukraine … it’s worth emphasizing the extent to which all of this is a distraction from China, which is by orders of magnitude the U.S.‘s most urgent geopolitical threat.” —Josh Hammer

“Russia and China are openly challenging the West. We must accept this reality, and act accordingly: 1. Achieve global energy dominance — especially in oil, gas, nuclear, and rare earth mining. Leverage is gained when we are not dependent on Russian energy or Chinese minerals. 2. Fortify alliances — for every ally we let fall, ten more will falter when we need their support. The least we can be doing is lethal aid for Ukraine that kills our enemies without sacrificing a single US soldier. It is the world — not just the US — versus China and Russia. 3. Ensure our allies are not freeloading, but spending an ample amount on their own defense. In the near term, this means Europeans stepping up to defend their neighbors in Ukraine. 4. Ensure we are investing in our own 21st century military, built to counter great powers, not dirt farmers in the mountains of Afghanistan.” —Congressman Dan Crenshaw

“The entire world is watching as Vladimir Putin uses energy as a weapon in an attempt to extort and coerce our European allies. While Americans decry what is happening in Ukraine, the United States continues to allow the import of more than half a million barrels per day of crude oil and other petroleum products from Russia during this time of war. This makes no sense at all and represents a clear and present danger to our nation’s energy security. The United States can and must ramp up domestic energy production and increase access to our abundant resources and technologies to both protect our energy independence and support our allies around the globe. If there was ever a time to be energy independent, it is now. I am calling on the Administration and industry partners to take action immediately, up to and including banning crude oil imports from Russia. To continue to ask other countries to do what we can do for ourselves in a cleaner way is hypocritical. To continue to rely on Russian energy as they attack Ukraine is senseless.” —Senator Joe Manchin

“Now if Canada really wants to help defang Putin, then let’s get some pipelines built! Alberta stands ready, willing and able to supply the energy needed to displace Russia from global markets. Message to Ottawa and Washington: stop helping Putin and OPEC by killing pipelines.” —Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney

Non Compos Mentis Award

“We have to make sure that within our own country, we are calling out people giving aid and comfort to Putin and siding with autocrats against the global cause of democracy.” —Hillary Clinton (“Ma'am you literally paid for Russian disinformation to unseat a democratically elected president.” —Amber Athey)

Tone-Deaf

“Russia’s attack on Ukraine means there’s a stressful news cycle ahead of us. The reality of conflict is always a shock to the system. Here are 5 ways to cope.” —NPR (“The reality is probably more of a shock to the people actually being invaded, but enough of that, we’re talking about us now.” —Not the Bee)

And Last…

“Jen Psaki says Biden wants to make the US energy independent through renewable energy. That alone demonstrates his mental incompetence, either due to physical decline or ideological imprisonment — or both. To quote the wicked witch of the west — 'Oh, what a world. What a world.’” —David Limbaugh