TYT Apr 17, 2014 Hour 1

In Membership, The Young Turks Hour 1 - On Demand by sobeyar54 Comments

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Cenk hosting. Cenk announces a new investor in The Young Turks. Putin is on the march in Ukraine dubbing Crimea “New Russia”. Obama says there will be “consequences” for Putin’s actions which were done out of “weakness”. Putin jokes about taking over Alaska in a staged question and answer session on RT.  Leaflets were handed out to Jewish residents in the Ukraine saying that Ukrainian Jews are not “Pro Slavic” and ID and passports are required for registration. Princeton researchers released a study on policy initiatives and their impact on the average US citizen from the last 30 years and the monied elite’s undue influence on such policies. Elizabeth Warren releases a new book (“A Fighting Chance”) revealing that her job was defined by the Obama administration to be a “cheerleader” for the administration instead of protecting consumers as head of the Consumer Finance Protection Agency. She also given a choice, during a conversation with Larry Summers, on either being an “insider” or an “outsider”. Twitter Storm with Rick Strom. Questions on religion, Game Of Thrones, a “TYT Ban”, pacifism,TYT 140 and “Bane Uyger” .

Hour 1 Source Articles
Sign up for The Young Turks daily source articles email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/PLlqD

US Is an Oligarchy Not a Democracy, says Scientific Study
https://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/04/14

Leaflet tells Jews to register in East Ukraine
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/

Obama: ‘We Don’t Need a War’ With Russia
http://time.com/66402/barack-obama-war-russia-putin/

Putin’s Choice Of Words Shed Light On Ukraine
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=304039624

Comments

  2. Cenk, is unbelievably misinformed about the situation Ukraine, historically ignorant and is starting to look like an neocon warmonger… There is so much misinformtion about this subject on this on TYT that they should rename themselves FOX turks…

    1. The very question that this leaflet has anything to do with self-proclaimed E-UA “Republic” makes so sense, because whole behind those people is to oppose to illegal junta’s fans of Nazi collaborator Bandera, whose gangs killed over 2 million people during 1940s, including Russians, Jews, Poles and Hungarians. Junta has swastika-happy Svoboda party as head of security council, as well as Svoboda party members controlling army and general prosecutor offices, among other positions.

      There are no neo-Nazi in “Republic” management, and nothing that they said in the past or say now even remotely could be attached to any kind of anti-Antisemitism. Hence Rabbi’s stating the obvious that whole thing was provocative hoax.

  5. I agree with both of you (irc117 and dderss) but I’m honestly exhausted with writing comments, sending tweets and emails to Cenk attempting to correct so much of the misinformation about Russia and Ukraine. Apparently, no facts counter to the cemented storyline shall penetrate. He is blindingly biased and totally consumed with fear-based scenarios about what he “thinks” Putin will do. Alaska is next? Thanks, Nostradamus.

    Also, way to read every Putin quote in a mangled “Russian villain” accent. Very professional and not one-sided at all.

    I’m so sick of it. You know what, Cenk — YOU HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY IN REPORTING FOREIGN AFFAIRS. If you can’t detach yourself from Western propaganda, research some damn history of the region, figure out which European news sources are reliable (and which are too Kremlin-based) — then I don’t trust you to report on any other situation abroad. This crisis happens to take place in a region that I know a little bit about (and where my friends and relatives live), so I will never trust anything he “reports”on in countries of which I lack knowledge, because clearly, it’s ridiculously poorly investigated.

    1. Totally agree, I always skip the segments where they talk about Ukraine. They just haven’t done their research and can’t achieve any objectivity on the issue. That doesn’t mean I back Russian “imperialism” anymore than U.S. “imperialism”.

      1. They’ve had months do to proper research. They have a staff. They have computers. They could have, at the VERY LEAST, looked at all the member and/or YouTube/Twitter comments below each Ukraine/Russia segment where people post meticulously detailed counter-arguments, as well as information from other sources, etc. Not only do they refuse to see things from a different perspective, they don’t even acknowledge it.

        1. They could have, but they didn’t – and they never do when it comes to foreign policy issues.

          The lackadaisical approach that they take is infuriating when it comes to stories like this. It woks for pointless stories about which republican made a fool of himself this week, but it’s *horrendously* inappropriate when dealing with issues that so many human lives depend on.

          But hey – it’s TYT! We’re keeping it real! Even if it means spouting off misinformed bullshit that promotes war! Too strong, baby!

  6. Many(on FOX) have said that Obama is playing checker and Putin is playing Chess.. I think Putin is playing Poker, and he has a very good Poker face.

    Why make a big deal in Ukraine? Why take some piss-ant territories?

    Putin is thinking big.

    If he can challenge the US Global Hegemony, just put doubt about our real abilities and reveal weakness, it could heighten the Ruskies global position(currency), and debilitate world markets(dollar debt economic collapse), especially our FIAT CURRENCY.

    Putyy Put is no Stalin or Hitler, but he may be a 19th century opportunist with a more complex agenda.

  7. Anything that comes out of our state department has to be taken with a lump of salt, especially now in this propaganda war between Washington and Kremlin.

  8. If USA rolls into Ukraine, a counter to US mainland in Alaska is a scary move, one that would be hard for our ground troops to counter, since it is sparsely defended. Once Russian troops land in Anchorage, and set up shop they will be much harder to get out than in, and we will have to mobilize a two front war.. however,, that being US land, there will be a million angry red blooded Americans heading up there with fire in their eyes.. not a good day for Ruskies visiting Alaska, not good at all.

    1. Actually, the one thing that could stop the russians in alaska or at least cause them great difficulty would be the native militia there. They are well trained and know the land well, but I’m pretty sure the US establishment would be caught off guard and totally unprepared to respond. They are just to arrogant and incompetent to imagine that someone could legitimately challenge them on US soil.

    2. Oh. My. God. No one is “coming” to take Alaska back. Ever. The Russian military is strategic, not stupid. The #2 nuclear-armed world military is not going to deploy troops on the land of the #1 nuclear-armed world military. But good to know Cenk’s fear mongering is paying off and taking root in the minds of others. Way to go TYT!

  9. The first five minutes with the Gomert Group deal scared the shit out of me.. Cenk sounded like the corporate Democrats.. eeek!

    2. I agree: the pipeline is fine because we need “energy independence”???? That oil is for EXPORT!!! To CHINA!!! How is THAT going to make us energy dependent. The only ones who will benefit from this is the oil companies, jesus christ.

      We need to trim social security??? NO WE DON’T! We need to remove the payroll tax cap. Good god. I may as well be watching MSNBC, this is very, VERY disappointing.

      This entire first five minutes shocked the hell out of me. I didn’t even know who this person talking was. Definitely rethinking my support of this show.

      1. Um, did you not get to the part where he said he was KIDDING? Bahaha your listening comprehension is on point.

  10. With respect to the Ukraine story, it was pointed out several months ago by professor Cohen (Democracy Now!/Feb 20) that some of the opposition thugs being supported by Kerry were daubing ‘Jews live here’ on buildings. Even Putin made a statement about it (March 4), which was ignored. There was a political advantage for the US government not to acknowledge those particular racists, which is possibly why it received zero press. This latest antisemitism, which is politically advantageous,, will, quite rightly, be reported by every media outlet. Is this contrast a coincidence, or a case of national self censorship tied to foreign policy goals? Another case for the dynamic duo of Chomsky/Herman?

    http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/20/a_new_cold_war_ukraine_violence

    1. That’s the way the cookie crumbles, you report what suits you and ignore everything else. TYT have had the plot line clearly defined from the start – the kind, decent, brave, polite people of Ukraine stood up to this Russian-backed dictator called Yanukovich and ousted him, but now Putin is striking back to expand his territories – let’s go help the good guys using ballistic missiles, yay! Also, there are antisemites in the “pro-Slavic” faction, just for kicks.

      Shamefully biased and unprofessional reporting from day one.

  11. Obama’s regime, Biden, Kerry, Nuland has co-financed and co-managed coup d’etat against democratically elected authorities in Ukraine, so why Putin should trust Obama and Ukrainian junta?

    (For the reference: most correct definition of “junta” is ” a small group ruling a country, esp. immediately after a coup d’état and before a legally constituted government has been instituted”; if junta consists of military, then it is called “military junta”.)

    The reached in Geneva deal will only work if regions will be have rights for their language and say on economic and military blocks. Besides, the deal will only work if neo-Nazi Right Sector from Kiev and Western Ukraine will be unarmed, but current “government” will be UNABLE to do so (if they will seriously try, there will be another revolt and new junta).

    So the deal will hardly work.

    2. Because they’re pro-West, obviously, and nothing else matters to Cenk.

      Did you catch how he said something along the lines of “Why should we tolerate the Russians taking our land…” TYT’s land? American? Turkish? What the fuck is he on about? I’ve never seen him like this before this whole Ukraine situation.

      Cenk seem to have built up this image in his head of the megalomaniac Russian dictator, trigger-happy and itching for a fight with the USA, straight out of Cold War fantasy scenarios that he grew up in… and now he’s interpreting every bit of news coming out of Ukraine to suit this imaginary villain he wants to see in action.

      It’s hard to believe that this is the same guy who spoke out so strongly against interventionism when it came to Iraq. He’s now eager to benevolently bomb the people of Ukrain to save them from the Russian Bear. TYT as a whole has taken a slant toward mindless warmongering since Syria.

      1. I dont think Cenk is thinking of dropping bombs on anyone, nor has he said anything of the sort.

        Cenk is right about the Putin acting like an early 30’s dictator that used war and troops to invade and sodomize the neighboring nations.

        I hate war, but this is one the West can not afford to look away, lest Putin is emboldened to go even FURTHER.

      2. I agree with both of you (irc117 and dderss) but I’m honestly exhausted with writing comments, sending tweets and emails to Cenk attempting to correct so much of the misinformation about Russia and Ukraine. Apparently, no facts counter to the cemented storyline shall penetrate. He is blindingly biased and totally consumed with fear-based scenarios about what he “thinks” Putin will do. Alaska is next? Thanks, Nostradamus.

        Also, way to read every Putin quote in a mangled “Russian villain” accent. Very professional and not one-sided at all.

        I’m so sick of it. You know what, Cenk — YOU HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY IN REPORTING FOREIGN AFFAIRS. If you can’t detach yourself from Western propaganda, research some damn history of the region, figure out which European news sources are reliable (and which are too Kremlin-based) — then I don’t trust you to report on any other situation abroad. This crisis happens to take place in a region that I know a little bit about (and where my friends and relatives live), so I will never trust anything he “reports”on in countries of which I lack knowledge, because clearly, it’s ridiculously poorly investigated.

  12. Jewish registation leaflet is fake infowar propaganda trick by junta.

    Besides, again wrong claim that “Russian troops took over ten cities”. Photo evidence and field reporting suggest that while there are Russian special forces, their participation is very limited. Nothing like Crimea.

    Cenk also crucially misrepresents that the Donetsk “Republic” guy was talking about: he has confirmed that people were distributing the leaflets signed as coming from “Republic”, but denies the leaflet had anything to do with “Republic” or the people who were distributing it.

    Cenk also attributed the text of the leaflet to Donensk’ “Republic” explanations on why it was distributed. It is GROSS misreporting. Let alone the whole leaflet’s claim “not pro-slavic” makes no sense as Ukrainians are as just as Slavic as Russians. Cenk never mentions how fake this nonsense it.

    And there are no major “xenophobic fears of the majority” in the East, it is Westen Ukraine issue, where neo-Nazi from Svoboda party and Right Sector say their goal in life it to “fight Moskali [slur for Russians] and Kikes [slur for Jews]” (sorry for the words, but this is how they say it).

    1. BUT this segment was much better than the other one, not only one side was presented. This is how other segments on Ukraine should be done, and only as DepOfState propaganda talk points.

      1. Boy you live in a totally different dimension of reality. Take it from the lion’s mouth, the chief of the Russian faction said it was true on RT and “denounced” it. I think smoke will rise from gas chambers and you will still going to deny their existence.

        1. Cheif of Russian faction said it was true that the leaflets with Russian faction insignia were distributed, but he has said it is not true that Russian faction distributed or made those leaflets.

  14. As always, necessary DISCLAIMER: I agree with general Cenk’s points that Crimea reuniting with Russia is destabilizing (and legally moot, just as Kosovo was: territorial integrity versus right to-self determination issue), BUT quality of reporting remains poor, a lot of blatantly wrong simply claims simply on factual basis are getting made (though it is not Cenk’s inventions, it is poor reporting by source media he uses for coverage):

    NINE corrections to TYT “Do Putin’s Remarks Mean Significant Violence Is Coming?” segment:

    1) The use of claim that Russia “took” Crimea, while it is technically correct, implies Russia just came and conquered it, according to second definition of annexation: “the formal act of acquiring something (especially territory) by conquest or occupation”, which is different case from what has happened in Crimea: people have voted, and actual field evidence shows no systematic abuse, despite propagandistic upside-down conclusions of media: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10541 (Desi Doyan’s co-host Brad Freedman compiled it). There was no “at gun point” — as well as in Kosovo, Hawaii, upcoming Puerto Rico referendums with troops on the ground. Compare it to Afghanistan elections, were “at gun point” was actual abuse because of hostile occupants and yet West LOVED it. Western Germany “took”/”annexed” East Germany even without referendum and despite local East Germany laws, but those terms are not used because there is no doubt that people wanted it, so use of such words would be propagandistic way to describe it.

    2) 2008 Russia DID NOT “TOOK”/”ANNEX” ANYTHING IN Georgia; the country never controlled its conflicting regions ever since USSR fell apart, long before any Russian involvement. And there was no “invasion of Georgia”: C.Rice and multiple “advisers” visited to Georgia just week or so before it started assault against its conflicting region, South Ossetia, in 2008. Russia, as UNO-mandated guarantor of peace, has stopped Georgian aggression in just five days. There is no “Russian enclave”, contrary what Cenk said in one of prior videos (almost no Russians and Russian-speakers), or oil or anything of the kind in those two conflicting regions, so it hard to find ill-willed interest there beyond humanitarian peacekeeping mission.

    3) Putin never denied that Russian soldiers are in Crimea. THERE IS MILITARY BASE there with official limit of troops set at 25000, and that limit was never broken. What he has previously denied was that specific “green men” were Russian military. He was in denial in second layer legal cover up besides Yanukovich’s request for military assistance. This second layer legally makes no sense, it is excessive, so he now admitted the truth. However, Putin didn’t directly admit Russian military participated as front-runners in Ukrainian-bases disarming operations, he blurred it with local-self defence forces. Politician can be never fully truthful or, at least, say full truth.

    4) Radicals were raging in mainland Ukraine (still continue: last week neo-Nazi burnt books in Kiev and burnt Communist party office there, as well as in other cities — nothing changed for Nazi in 1930s), and now junta tries to subjugate people in the South-East of Ukraine to its illegal power and power of their illegally appointed oligarchs. They have sent military to the cities, which is crime, because they are no one, never elected, never assigned legally, and people have the right to not listen to what they say. (Yanukovich stays legal president of Ukraine as he was never impeachment: there were 328 votes for that with 337 needed, and even if there would be enough votes, impeachment would be impossible anyway as junta cracked down against Constitutional Court hearings, which are necessary for that.)

    5) There are Russian special forces in Ukraine (Putin lies about that, just as Pentagon/Obama lied about “no boots on the ground” in Libya, as Guardian uncovered) but it is small team, nothing like “green men” in Crimea. So actions are not identical; in East Ukraine Putin helps and coordinates with little direct involvement — according to Yanukovich’s official request to act against junta and protect citizens from their illegal power.

    6) “Novorossiya” is name of the land that South-East Ukraine territories were belonging to before artificially attributed to Ukraine (no wonder very few people ever talk Ukrainian in those regions). Nothing to do with anything new or calling Iraq “New Kansas”. There is even city called Novorossiysk.

    7) Russia did not “raise gas prices by 80%”, the gas discounts were automatically cancelled by contract conditions, because Ukraine was failing to pay even with those low gas prices. Now Ukraine will pay normal price, just like any other European country.

    8) Yanukovich was never Putin’s “puppet”. He was elected with help of USA’s political consultants and proclaimed EU-route, instead of signing up with Russia’s lead Customs Union. The only reason why USA/EU supported the bloody coup d’etat was because Yanukovich was not going to join EU unconditionally, with the economy destroyed, and definitely was NOT joining NATO (what is USA’s main interest). So he was overthrown. Yanukovich could not sign such deal, because his oligarchic clan comes from Eastern Ukraine, which is industries-heavy and EU’s conditions were destructive to their businesses.

    9) Super Bowl ring story denied even by the guy who told it. “That’s amazing, who does that?” — no one. This is why there was never stories like before or after the alleged this one. Whole thing was issue was miscommunication with protocol people. Heads of governments are given and presented all kinds of gifts all the time. Putin just passed it through to state treasury where all the other stuff is stored, he could not care less about this specific ring and of stealing as tabloid storytelling wants people to believe.

  15. That Princeton Study is all we should show to representatives in State governments, they should sponsor bills for Wolfpac easily

  16. lol i almost stop watching this show for ever when he started saying he changed his mind on keystone ss and wall street O_o glade i didn’t go over board

  17. After supporting a government that gives significant power to fascist, anti-semitic parties like Svoboda and Right Sector, Cenk has absolutely no business criticizing the Russians for anti-semitic activity. His credibility on the issue of anti-semitism is gone, as far as this Jew is concerned.

    Especially now that the story has been thoroughly debunked.

    2. When the Ukrainian government does something remotely similar you have a point. So far they murdered without a trial some of those anti-semitic RWs and cracked down on the rest. Haven’t seen the Russians do the same thing to their crazies.

      1. Neo-Nazis in the “government” are tamed for a time, but their gangs on the streets continue violence. Just more than a week ago their have burnt books and Communist party offices in few cities, including Kiev.

        The murder of the guy who was killed has nothing to do with the fact that he is neo-Nazi (few other neo-Nazi are in the junta), it was power struggle. By the way, junta has said that he has committed suicide by twice shooting himself in the heart — a very believable version, as you can see.

        There are no crazies in S-E Ukraine. Russia’s own real neo-Nazi Tesak/Martsinkevich is in jail, not in the government as in junta.

        1. I will give that Putin is not fond of Russian neo-Nazis in Russia but that is largely because they are the only credible threat to his popularity (like Alex Navalny who wants to exterminate the Chechen parasites).

          That doesn’t mean he won’t use them when it suits his purposes like now in Eastern Ukraine. He already used them back when he controlled St. Petersburg and is still allied to them there.

          1. Of course, Putin would use anything and everything, he is cynical politician, as they all are. But there are no purposes for neo-Nazi’s in South-East Ukraine. On the contrary, the whole point of South-East rebellion is being anti-Bandera (Nazi collaborationist, loved by junta; his gangs have killed hundreds of thousands of Poles, Hungrians and, of course, Russians during WWI on Hitler’s behalf).

            As to SPb, Putin was not allied with them there at any point, nor used them. Not because Putin is good (he is not), but there was no goal for that.

  18. If only there was some sort of ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE we could have invested in, so that Russia’s threat of yanking his oil supply would be meaningless. Oh well.

    1. Thank you for the links to some of the sources. I was searching for the oligarchy story before seeing that it was right there.

    2. Russia has never threatened yanking energy supplies, it makes no sense. Russia get huge money from that. Even against Latvia — the state where Latvian Nazi are highly revered and have their ceremonial marches every year, and where Russians are “noncitizens” (even though Latvia got territories from Russia that was never historically Latvian and this is why Russians are gotten into there), and where European Language Chapter does not work, Russia still did not use gas or oil against them.

      If Ukraine was not failing in patments over and over again, and then stealing gas that passes through for Europe, then there would be no issue. As result, Russia has build several alternative pipelines to Europe — in ways around Ukraine. Those expensive spending would not be needed if Ukraine was not such a poor partner in gas distribution business.

  19. This is scary, any military conflict between Russia and NATO will eventually lead to a nuclear exchange. Even if a conflict starts off as a conventional conflict (Troops, Tanks, Planes etc.) Someone will start winning, and as soon as that happens and the loser starts getting desperate to turn the tide back in their favor, escalation will be inevitable.

    1. The answer in that case is to just offer reasonable terms once one side starts noticeably winning and get out, instead of trying to drive the losing side into the sea and overthrow their government. Total warfare is a 20th century invention so there’s no reason we can’t go back to limited wars.

    2. There will be no conflict between USA/NATO and Russia, but Obama misleads public into thinking that USA’s forces would have upper hand. The issue is that USA’s forces globally are superior (especially the fleet), indeed, but not Eurasia. Only China can compete with Russia on the land military might. Putin also has a little trick with quantity of military forces: as much as about 1.7 million of armed fully equipped “interior forces” of various types should be added to total count (police, of course, is not included) that add to Ministry of Defense 0.8 million military forces.

      1. As I said, the Ruskies are no pushover, like the 3rd world countries we are used to invading.. right now we are already in a Propaganda War, Obama is just saying.. I got this.

        1. They are absolutely not pushovers, THEY were the ones who defeated nazi germany, not us. They ground them down over several long years of fighting and destroyed them while sustaining unbelievable casualties. They moved their entire industrial base, reindutrialized, and then out produced the germans with tanks that were simpler AND BETTER and planes that featured hardened wings so that russian pilots could ram into german planes in the air and destroy them. It would be the height of folly to go charging into russia just like napoleon and hitler before us. That is not to say that they are invincible, but they are not to be taken lightly.

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