You cannot be pro-life and pro-AR15 at the same time.
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Michael McFaul
@McFaul
Professor of Political Science, Director of Freeman Spogli Institute & Hoover Senior Fellow all at Stanford University. U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014.
Michael McFaul’s Tweets
Remember four years ago when people called 306 a landslide, a blowout, a historic mandate, and urged everyone to stop being sore losers? I do.
LePen in France and Jansa in Slovenia losing on the same day is a giant victory for the renewal of democratic values in Europe and a huge setback for populist nationalism! Maybe the global tide is turning?
Trump obviously has no idea what words like facism and totalitarianism mean. To those who wrote that speech, shame on you. To those that cleared on this speech, shame on you. Perhaps the most un- American speech ever delivered by an American president, on the eve of July 4th.
I am dumfounded by how poorly we were prepared to defend our Capitol today. We need an independent investigation.
I have no idea how long it will take. But I am confident in predicting that Putin's evil invasion of Ukraine marks the beginning of the end of Putin's dictatorship and Putinism in Russia. No moral person can support this heinous war. There are millions of moral people in Russia.
I hope all those who mocked Vice President Biden for wearing a mask and holding small campaign events will now apologize to him.
I want to hear from Trump supporters today. I want to hear them defend these Woodward interviews. When is enough enough?
"C'mon man !" I loved it when Obama used that phrase when I worked for him. t.co/U6omDz70bi
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President Trump is a public servant. He works for us. Or least that's the way it used to be. No one -- not a governor, not a doctor, not a patient -- needs to show their appreciation in order for him to do his job & help them. (BTW, no one forced him to take this job.)
What the hell is happening in Portland, and why isn't every American who believes in the constitution, states rights, federalism, freedom, individual liberty and rule of law not screaming for answers loudly? Yes, Republican leaders, I mean you especially.
For those of us who study autocracies, including elections in autocracies, there were a lot of familiar messages, symbols, and methods on display this week at the #RNCConvention. THREAD
Those who lied about the presidential election results for months deeply divided our country. Their hypocrisy now in calling for unity now is stunning.
Serious question. I am not an expert. In international law, why is the Al Qaeda killing of innocents in NY and DC on September 11, 2001 considered an act of terrorism, but Putin's slaughter of innocents in Bucha, Kramatorsk, Chernihiv, or Mariupol is not terrorism?
Whenever you hear Trump use the the phrase, "people say" or "people are saying", you know whatever comes next is completed invented.
Given Putin's horrific assault now on innocent civilians in Ukraine, the West should suspend the 30-day "grace period" and implement all financial sanctions today. TODAY.
Deeply offended by these Attorneys General who have joined this ridiculous lawsuit to overturn the will of the people in four states. Was especially disappointed to see the Montana AG on the list. Montanans who I know believe in democracy. This is the opposite of that.
If Putin wins in Ukraine, he emboldens autocrats all over the world. If Ukrainians defeat Putin, they will embolden democrats all over the world. The stakes of this war are global.
Let's be clear, the guy trying to annex territory the size of Portugal, mobilizing 300,000 more soldiers, and threatening to use nuclear weapons is the one escalating, not Biden or NATO.
According to reporting including , Trump called Putin 6 times in 2 months - March 30th, April 9th, April 10th, April 12, May 7th, June 1 ! That would be a crazy number of calls to any foreign leader. But to Putin? What on earth were they discussing? So strange.
Putin's barbaric killing in Bucha requires new sanctions immediately — oil and gas sanctions; all Russian banks out of Swift; all US companies out of Russia, by the end of the week.
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." ― Albert Einstein
So many analysts are saying that 'Putin cannot accept defeat.' Why do they assume that Zelensky can accept defeat?
During this holiday, I didn't get to visit my folks in Montana like I usually do, or go golfing in Florida, or skiing in Colorado or relax at a resort home in Mexico. But I helped pay for Trump, Pence, and Mnuchin to do so. And it really pisses me off. They couldn't wait 3 weeks?
So it’s ok for Iran to provide Russia with long range weapons, but not ok for NATO to provide Ukraine with weapons of similar ranges?
To those media outlets who covered extensively the " the invading caravan" before the election-- sometimes on page one -- but now have completely dropped reporting on this alleged national security threat, realize how badly Trump played you & don't repeat.
Putin has no endgame. Even if he takes Kyiv, then what? Ukrainians will never submit to him. Never.
It is morally indefensible for the U.S. to still be importing Russian oil.
Biden is ahead of Trump by 45,000 in Pennsylvania. In 2000, the gap between Bush and Gore in Florida was 537. There is NO scenario by which this result gets overturned. Don't overreact to Barr's empty memo. Stay confident. Be patient. Keep calm. He is leaving.
On foreign soil, Trump trashed a former U.S. president and praised a former KGB officer. Let that sink in.
Trump went four years in office without once saying a critical word about Putin.
When dictators rule for decades, they (1) stop listening to advisors, (2) become disconnected from reality, (3) spend a lot of time alone, and (4) overreach. This is exactly what has happened to Putin.
Hearing now that NATO's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) has been activated. Excellent news.
It is not "rational" to bomb a nuclear power plant. It is insane.
If Putin truly believed his war was just, he would not be trying to prevent his citizens from knowing about it.
. is a brave, strong leader. I have the utmost respect for what he is doing to fight for freedom in his country and the world.
Putin has now made it crystal clear. His invasion of Ukraine was never about NATO expansion, and always about Russian expansion.
After Bucha, I hope American CEOs still operating in Russia have a good explanation for that immoral decision to their shareholders. Because I dont.
You don’t destroy evidence, lie to the FBI, or declare I’m f**ked, if you didn’t do anything wrong.
Putin is not withdrawing his soldiers from Kyiv. Ukrainian soldiers are repelling them. There is a difference.
Again, I am not going to get pulled into a rabbit hole of "who is to blame" on this horrible night. But for those who said I ruined U.S.-Russia relations because I spoke up against Putin's human rights abuses in 2012, I look forward to your apologies ... someday.
Americans who root for Putin over their own president love their party more than their country.
If Putin uses a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, he will be at fault, not Biden or Zelensky.
98-0. Bipartisanship is not dead yet in the US Senate. Thank you all for your support.
To those saying that Biden was boring tonight, I’m ready ready for boring! Normalcy. Rationality. Competency. I’m tired of Captain Chaos.
Why do people blame Biden for gas prices and not the oil companies that all just posted record-breaking billions in profits this quarter?
There was no assassination attempt on Putin. First, the drone used had no capacity to do major damage, let alone kill someone in the building. Second, Putin does not live (or sleep) in the Kremlin. Please stop repeating this Russian propaganda line. Thank you.
Sondland calling Trump on a cellphone from Kyiv is extraordinary for all sorts of reasons. Normally EU Ambos don’t call presidents. They never do so to discuss Ukraine policy. Doing so on a cellphone from Kyiv means whole world was listening in.
When I was US Ambassador to Russia, Putin and his surrogates launched a smear campaign against me. I was very thankful that President Obama and Secretaries Clinton and Kerry backed me up 100%.
Trump has tweeted 36,500 times. To the best of my knowledge, yesterday's tweet -- the one adding evidence to his possible obstruction of justice -- is the first time ever that someone else claimed to write a tweet for him. Just a coincidence?
That Trump paid only $750 in taxes in '16/'17 - less than my retired parents - means either (1) he's guilty of tax fraud (2) he's a terrible, terrible businessperson, or (3) we have the most corrupt tax code in the world (designed for & by people like him, not us). Which is it?
It is not possible for me to respect anyone who supports Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
When Trump says Russia is no longer targeting America, that’s not how this American feels.Putin is most certainly targeting and intimidating me. And I’m an American.
Belarus MUST be part of the sanctions package. Lukashenko is an ally in Putin's horrific war.
McConnell gave the green light for future criminal and civil actions against Trump. Get to it criminal justice system! And to those who lost loved ones, or experienced injuries, on January 6th, start filing your civil suits against Trump.
There is nothing more anti-democratic than making it harder for people to vote.
Senator , I served with Lt. Col. Vindman in Russia, where he served with honor and great distinction. His commanding officer completely agrees with me. Please provide evidence to back up your claim. Otherwise, stop slandering a US soldier serving our great nation.
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Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot.
How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America’s greatest enemy?
OPEC's decision today to cut oil supplies directly and immediately assists Putin's war effort. They were not compelled to do so. They choose to do so. Don't ever forget it.
Putin has lost his war in Ukraine. He may still win some battles. But he already has lost the war.
If Putin doesn't want U.S. missiles attacking Russian soldiers, he can take a simple decision-- leave Ukraine. Easy day.
Think about this: President Trump has said many more kind words about Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin than American hero John McCain.
As I discuss in detail in From Cold War to Hot Peace, Putin has been harassing me for a long time. That he now wants to arrest me, however, takes it to a new level. I expect my government to defend me and my colleagues, in public and private.
The best way to avoid a conflict between NATO and Russia in the future is to help Ukraine stop Putins killing machine in Ukraine now. It is really that simple. A Putin loss in Ukraine makes conflict with NATO less likely. A Putin win makes conflict with NATO more likely.
On Putin, Biden expressed what billions around the world and millions inside Russia also believe. He did not say that the US should remove him from power. There is a difference.
Can anyone remember a mutiny or coup attempt that lasted 24 hours and no one really fought or was killed? We all watched how easy it was for Wagner to seize Rostov. Something strange going on here.
Why has Trump not said a word about what experts are calling the greatest cyber hack of the U.S. government ever? It is because it's Putin? If it were Xi, would he be so silent? Just wondering out loud.
Putin lost the Battle of Kyiv. He lost the Battle of Kharkiv. He lost the Battle of Kherson. Where will he lose next?
One of the worst decisions of the 21st century: Yeltsin decision to appoint Putin as acting President on January 1, 2000.
I was probably a little too hot tonight -- appreciate for letting me go on and on -- but the attacks on Colonel Vindman reached a new low, and yes, I am pissed off about it !
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Replying to @MaddowBlog
@McFaul I just watched your passionate defense of Lt. Colonel Vindman. Bravo, sir! Bravo!!!
Ok we were told that today would be the day that Trump and team would finally recognize the results of the presidential election. It didn’t happen. If you are still silent and therefore supporting this grotesque assault on our democracy, shame on you. It’s un-American. Enough.
I find it implausible that 300,000 Afghan soldiers spontaneously and individually quit. I find it more plausible that they received such orders from their leaders who cut a deal with the Taliban. I look forward to reading more reporting to confirm/refute this hypothesis.
I hope the White House corrects the record and denounces in categorical terms this ridiculous request from Putin. Not doing so creates moral equivalency between a legitimacy US indictment of Russian intelligence officers and a crazy, completely fabricated story invented by Putin
Remember the last time Putin won a debate? You don't. Because he has never debated anyone. Ever.
Trump appointed Taylor, dude. Trump appointed Sondland, dude. Trump appointed Hill, dude. Trump appointed Morrison, dude. Trump appointed Volker, dude. Trump appointed (but wont let talk) Perry, Bolton, Pompeo, Mulvaney. ALL are Trump political appointees. All of them. t.co/1dH5pS6xVw
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To those accusing Biden of playing nuclear chicken with Putin, what exactly would you like him to do differently? Be concrete. Be realistic. In your answers, remember that we live in a democracy. So does Zelensky.
Stop quoting Russian government officials as if their words have meaning. They lie.
The people who know Putin the best -- people I know in Russia -- are worried about his recent nuclear statement. The people who know him the least are saying it's cheap talk.
I am still pissed off at Flynn for yelling “lock her up” at the Republican National Convention. That was disgusting, especially for a former national security official.
Two dictators in last hundred years have attacked Kyiv— Hitler and Putin.
If Putin passed a law forbidding people to give water to those waiting to vote, we all -- including Republicans -- would call it a very draconian, anti-democratic action.
I wonder how many of those people at Trump rally wearing T-shirts , “Read the Transcript!” have actually read the memorandum of conversation ?
In 2000, Putin promised to make Russia as rich as Portugal. In 2022, Putin is turning Russia into North Korea.
Im old enough to remember when conservatives used to cherish the rights of states and hated frivolous lawsuits.
Today again, the world has learned again the hard lesson that dependence on fossil fuels provided by dictators and cartels threatens our security and prosperity. Going green is not just good for the planet but good for peace, democracy & economic stability.
After two months of killing Ukrainians, what has Putin achieved? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Is Russia more secure? Absolutely not. Richer? No. Achieved greater respect in the world? No.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine cannot happen in Minsk. Belarus is not a neutral country in this war.
It appears that more Russian men have fled the country than were drafted. Incredible.