When I first learned of trump's Invitation, I literally said aloud WTAF!!. Is this a summit, or a personal trump festivity?
The only suitable place for (world) leaders to convene around putin is to view his trial at The Hague. I hope everyone present shuns him like the plague he is.
When is someone going to finally say to Agent Orangeman’s crooked face: FOR F’s SAKE THIS WISE GUY CANNOT REMAIN IN POWER…which outta even be the D.S.A., I mean D.N.C. Motto. Forgive me Jesus, but on behalf of thousands Ukrainians raped, pillaged, kidnapped and murdered…oh, and the millions of lost innocent souls just yearning to breathe free during the Cold War, and especially brave United Nations forces and all the trillions of wasted finite resources to keep the Americans in, the Germans in Germany, and the Russians out…may there be a very cold place in hell for the two monsters, I mean monsters glad handling like Tony Soprano and Johnny Sachs…and may Marco Rubio be banished to Perdition to be their good dog. On behalf of all the pain and suffering alls I can say is thanks a lot D.S.A. for nominating Selina Meyer for President and Trumpers for seik hailing the biggest POSPOTUS to ever live. Please God, Deliver U.S. from Evil and take them…I mean Calgon take me away. Thanks for taking my rant. Onward and Upward. Peace be with you Jay
Jay, thanking you for identifying a disturbing inversion of American priorities: President Trump invites Vladimir Putin to the G20 in Florida while his administration has declined to invite the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to observe our November midterm elections.
The missing invitation deserves considerably more attention. On September 23, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly publicly expressed regret at the U.S. decision. They explained that it is inconsistent with the commitments participating states undertook in the 1990 Copenhagen Document to invite international election observers. The United States has welcomed OSCE observation of 12 federal elections since 2002, including six midterms. This election breaks that established practice.
Election observation provides an independent assessment that can help voters and administrators distinguish substantiated problems from political allegations. The OSCE specifically emphasized the value of examining changes in election laws and regulations, as well as respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and independent citizen observation. Losing that assessment removes an additional source of evidence and public confidence at a consequential moment.
The absence of observers does not itself establish that an election will be unfair. It does, however, raise a legitimate question: why would an administration confident in the integrity of American elections abandon a longstanding mechanism for independent scrutiny? It also weakens our credibility when we urge other governments to welcome observers and respect democratic standards.
Meanwhile, Trump calls for Ukrainians to replace President Zelensky while inviting Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes involving Ukrainian children. His administration is also imposing sweeping sanctions on the ICC, drawing condemnation from U.S. allies and others.
Americans should press for an explanation of the OSCE decision and renewed cooperation with its observation institutions. Governors, universities, civic groups, and religious institutions should also explore lawful ways to support independent, nonpartisan observation alongside existing domestic efforts. Such initiatives would not constitute an official OSCE mission, but they could help preserve reliable evidence and disseminate verified findings. Democratic accountability at home and accountability for aggression abroad depend on the same principle: power must remain subject to independent scrutiny.
U.S. governors, universities, faith leaders, and NGOs should invite foreign individuals and organizations to organize informally to monitor U.S. organizations, work with U.S. groups doing so, and get the word out.
When I first learned of trump's Invitation, I literally said aloud WTAF!!. Is this a summit, or a personal trump festivity?
The only suitable place for (world) leaders to convene around putin is to view his trial at The Hague. I hope everyone present shuns him like the plague he is.
BTW, trump's trial should be on the bill, also.
And all the while, the Trump Crime Family is exploring an oil deal with the butcher. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/politics/trump-putin-ukraine-oil-deal-5-takeaways.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GFE.0vya.B6NoIMInmYk7&smid=nytcore-ios-share
The first essay was excellent.
The Canada that Stephen Harper led died a few years ago. Canada doesn’t elect politicians like him any more, I am inclined to say.
I am very disappointed in the American President, but not at all surprised, I am sad to say.
Western leaders asking others about wholesale murders and killings is akin to keeping 'your own dirt under the carpet'.
That level of relative equivalence is worthy of Putin himself.
When is someone going to finally say to Agent Orangeman’s crooked face: FOR F’s SAKE THIS WISE GUY CANNOT REMAIN IN POWER…which outta even be the D.S.A., I mean D.N.C. Motto. Forgive me Jesus, but on behalf of thousands Ukrainians raped, pillaged, kidnapped and murdered…oh, and the millions of lost innocent souls just yearning to breathe free during the Cold War, and especially brave United Nations forces and all the trillions of wasted finite resources to keep the Americans in, the Germans in Germany, and the Russians out…may there be a very cold place in hell for the two monsters, I mean monsters glad handling like Tony Soprano and Johnny Sachs…and may Marco Rubio be banished to Perdition to be their good dog. On behalf of all the pain and suffering alls I can say is thanks a lot D.S.A. for nominating Selina Meyer for President and Trumpers for seik hailing the biggest POSPOTUS to ever live. Please God, Deliver U.S. from Evil and take them…I mean Calgon take me away. Thanks for taking my rant. Onward and Upward. Peace be with you Jay
Jay, thanking you for identifying a disturbing inversion of American priorities: President Trump invites Vladimir Putin to the G20 in Florida while his administration has declined to invite the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to observe our November midterm elections.
The missing invitation deserves considerably more attention. On September 23, the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly publicly expressed regret at the U.S. decision. They explained that it is inconsistent with the commitments participating states undertook in the 1990 Copenhagen Document to invite international election observers. The United States has welcomed OSCE observation of 12 federal elections since 2002, including six midterms. This election breaks that established practice.
Election observation provides an independent assessment that can help voters and administrators distinguish substantiated problems from political allegations. The OSCE specifically emphasized the value of examining changes in election laws and regulations, as well as respect for freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and independent citizen observation. Losing that assessment removes an additional source of evidence and public confidence at a consequential moment.
The absence of observers does not itself establish that an election will be unfair. It does, however, raise a legitimate question: why would an administration confident in the integrity of American elections abandon a longstanding mechanism for independent scrutiny? It also weakens our credibility when we urge other governments to welcome observers and respect democratic standards.
Meanwhile, Trump calls for Ukrainians to replace President Zelensky while inviting Putin, who is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes involving Ukrainian children. His administration is also imposing sweeping sanctions on the ICC, drawing condemnation from U.S. allies and others.
Americans should press for an explanation of the OSCE decision and renewed cooperation with its observation institutions. Governors, universities, civic groups, and religious institutions should also explore lawful ways to support independent, nonpartisan observation alongside existing domestic efforts. Such initiatives would not constitute an official OSCE mission, but they could help preserve reliable evidence and disseminate verified findings. Democratic accountability at home and accountability for aggression abroad depend on the same principle: power must remain subject to independent scrutiny.
U.S. governors, universities, faith leaders, and NGOs should invite foreign individuals and organizations to organize informally to monitor U.S. organizations, work with U.S. groups doing so, and get the word out.