copravolley

In my opinion, Trump is a very difficult opponent: he has hard electorate, not voters and if he does something wrong, his electorate forgives him. Secondly, he is an experienced man with a TV past who is doing great in the campaign. He is old but his health is good and it`s hard to beat someone like that. In 2020, Biden won mainly because of Covid and Trump's terrible decisions (Biden also won not by that much then). In my opinion, if the Republicans had put up a polite and well-mannered politician like Mitt Romney, Harris would have had a much easier time winning against him. If Trump were weak, he wouldn`t be allowed to run again after his defeat in 2020.

I think that Biden missed a good moment in the war in Ukraine 2 years ago (autumn 2022). At that time, it was necessary to press Russia harder and force it to reach a truce that would be beneficial for Ukraine. Unfortunately, since then the situation on the front and the social mood in Ukraine have got worse significantly. The tactic of keeping Ukraine on a drip has led the West to nothing. On the other hand, increasingly pro-Rus politicians are starting to come to power in other countries: Trump, Slovakia, Austria, and AFD is growing in Germany. Now, Trump's attitude will be crucial, what to do with this conflict. Unfortunately, Biden's entire presidency was conservative and weak. Harris' campaign was no different. This led to Trump's return and a much stronger one than he was four years ago. There is a lack of clear leaders in the West. Basically every important country is in chaos: USA, UK, Ger, Fra (only Macron has stayed in power of these leading countries recently but also his position is weaker than before). In my opinion he also isn`t able to take over leadership in Europe in the face of the crisis in the USA.

I think it's already slowly happening. These things happen on their own, not because someone decides to.

The think about you writing about is rarer but that doesn't mean that you can belittle, for example, Obama, who won twice in a row. What was he supposed to do at that time? Deliberately lose in 2012 so he could run in 2016? He couldn't have run more than twice. In Trump's case, it's more the downfall of the USA itself: first of all, the lack of credible and capable leaders at a younger age. After all, what happened in 2020 in elections was a parody: two old guys (one with dementia, the other clown with numerous court judgments). Then you wonder why Putin and the leader from China aren't afraid of the USA, since they have such incompetent people as opponents. It hurts me a lot because in the 90s I admired the USA and Clinton was a role model od modern leader in Europe and now? Looking at their elections and their leaders I just smile bitterly.

Bill Clinton and Tony Blair were more liberals than socialists. It was simply that life was good then, the economy was booming and there was relative peace. Besides, Russia and China were weak.

Unfortunately, democracy is not an ideal system, especially since it is somewhat helpless in the fight against authoritarian regimes such as China or Russia. Democracy was ideal in the 1990s, when there was relative peace and prosperity in Europe and the USa.

Your former Madam President, why did she leave? Does your President have no real power? Unfortunately, the silent majority also contributes to the fact that clowns rule.

It's similar in your country with this Fico - a man convicted many times, involved in various scandals + having a terrible appearance. A few years ago after the death of a journalist he left and came back again. Unfortunately we live in nasty times. In the 90s of the XX century it looked different.

In the 21st century alone, Obama and Bush achieved the same thing, i.e. 2 terms (or even better, 2 in a row). Before that, in the 90s, it was Bill Clinton and before that Reagan. Trump simply happened to hit upon specific times + a complete lack of any alternative on the Democratic side. Let's not kid ourselves: in 2020, Trump lost only because of Covid. Biden was already a wreck by then and he looked like Brezhnev at the end of his life.

It's good that Argentina is starting to get back on track economically. Every year, all of our alpine skiing teams train in August in Argentina in Ushuaia: "Fine del Mundo", as it advertises itself.

It could be better, or it could be much worse, for example, if the accusations that he has been accepting large amounts of money from Russia since 2017 are confirmed. Now let Harris win, which will end Trump's political career and I hope that in 4 years the Republicans will put up someone more predictable. btw, how is this controversial president of Argentina doing?

I once read that Harris had never been to Europe before 2020, when she became vice president. On the other hand, her foreign policy will be more predictable, because it will be a continuation of Biden's policies. That is why I hope Harris wins, although the bookmakers are betting on Trump.

Harris is totally green on foreign policy. It will probably be a policy 100% led by Biden's people. Harris' main campaign emphasis is on abortion and women's rights.

I simply believe that at the age of 36 she will no longer be in her peak form, and only such form would allow her to fight for medals. And Schulting will also come... On top of that, she plans to combine short track with speed skating? I don't see that at this age. As of today, I see the greatest chances for her in 2 relays and a mass start on a long track.

I hope Fontana will start competing in the mixed relay, because there Italy has a real chance of winning a medal with her great start.

I'm afraid that at such a high level Fontana will have a hard time individually winning any medal in 2026. She has a great start in the 500 meters, but she loses over the distance and it's hard for her to stay on the podium. In the 500 meters, with this form, Velzeboer is out of reach, because she leads from start to finish. However, over longer distances the competition is even greater, even though there is no dominant competitor. I don't have the impression that Fontana is capable of rising to such a level as to fight for medals individually, although of course one can always count on falls and dsq in the top.

Out of curiosity, I listened to a few podcasts about Turkmenistan today. This country has very large deposits of natural gas. In the 1990s, a simple a ordinary people lived quite well there. In the early 21st century, Turkmenistan signed several unfavorable gas deals with China and has practically gone bankrupt since then. 1/3 of the population (about 2 million out of 6 million- mostly young people) emigrated, mainly to Turkey, India, etc. The future of this country is blacka and uncertain. I don't know what other options they have? Russia, Turkey, the EU? Of course, in terms of selling gas. Perhaps sanctions of Russia's and isolation due to the war in Ukraine would be a chance for Turkmenistan to establish economic relations with the EU, but the new president would probably have to loosen and a little liberate up his country's domestic politics.

In the USSR, when Stalin died, there was de-Stalinization but some of his monuments remained, although, for example, the names of cities were changed. I feel sorry for the people living in Turkmenistan or smiliar countries but what can be done? The USA could to introduce some civilized life in Afghanistan but this government was so weak that it fell a few weeks after the Americans left. It would probably be similar here.

I wonder if there are any monuments to their first leader, who died in 2006, or has the latter taken over everything?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saparmurat_Niyazov

https://www.news18.com/news/auto/turkmenistan-president-bans-all-colored-cars-from-capital-only-white-cars-allowed-1632963.html It`s crazy. In my opinion, there was better there when they were under the USSR, because there were no such absurdities.

A few years ago I read a crazy story about this president-dictator from Turkmenistan, who banning white or dark cars from being imported to Turkmenistan (I don't remember which ones). This is a country of absurdities. After the fall of the USSR, a dictator- Turkmenbascha, who ruled there for many years and died about 15 years ago and his health minister replaced him and has ruled ever since. Both are madmen. Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan are more civilized and don't have such weirdos in power. It's probably only the Taliban that are more radical.

Baku is a large resort. There is a modern track in cycling in Ashgabat. The World Championships were supposed to be held some years ago.