I guess it’s just reflexive negativity at this point but I think Biden has done a great job in dealing with this crisis in Ukraine so far. Truly much better than we could have expected.
In his big speech today he said that Putin cannot remain in power, which is a big change in rhetoric if not underlying policy. He’s going to take a lot of heat for saying it, whether it was spontaneous or not. It’s risky, for sure. I know he’s a gaffe machine but this was a very important formal speech and I kind of doubt it. They’ve been using intelligence to send messages throughout the crisis so I suspect this may have been done for a reason.
But who knows? Maybe he’s just started WWIII. I guess we’ll find out.
Anyway, here are some highlights in case you missed it. I thought it was a a very good speech.
Biden begins his speech in Warsaw by quoting Pope John Paul II
Biden on the battle between democracy and autocracy: "This battle will not be won in days or months … we need to steel ourselves for a long fight ahead."
"My message to the people of Ukraine … we stand with you. Period." — Biden
"Today, Russia has strangled democracy" — Biden
"A criminal wants to portray NATO enlargement as an imperial project aimed at destabilizing Russia. Nothing is further from the truth. NATO is a defensive alliance." — Biden
"It's Putin, it's Vladimir Putin who is to blame. Period." — Biden on the sanctions that are hurting the Russian economy
"Americans forces are not in Europe to engage in conflict with Russian forces. Americans forces are here to defend NATO allies" — Biden
Biden thanks @chefjoseandres
"Let there be no doubt that this war has already been a strategic failure for Russia. Having lost children myself, I know that's no solace to the people who have lost family" — Biden
"You, the Russian people, are not our enemy" — Biden addresses Russians
"Europe must end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and we the United States will help" — BIden
Biden winds down his speech by saying of Putin, "for God's sake, this man can not remain in power."
Originally tweeted by Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) on March 26, 2022.
My congressman Ted Lieu thinks it was a smart comment:
??????
I don’t know … I hope they have good reason to think so.