News / Polish Pegasus Spyware Scandal [40]

notesfrompoland.com/2022/01/03/polish-state-auditor-has-invoice-showing-purchase-of-spyware-used-against-opposition-politicians/

Yep, an invoice for an old video game console for millions. The leadership in Poland is a bad joke.

News / Polish Pegasus Spyware Scandal [40]

@Cojestdocholery
Carpetbaggers don't stay in a place they have already conquered. Learn the definition of words and phrases before using please.

News / Polish Pegasus Spyware Scandal [40]

@Cojestdocholery
Maybe you need to start thinking about your gas bills next month and get another job instead of spending time on the internet?

News / Polish Pegasus Spyware Scandal [40]

@Cojestdocholery
No proof....just an official payment receipt for payment made. Yep nothing to see.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@mafketis
Flooding in India was the story when Duda announced the veto. It is like the old Soviet news reports. Nothing to see except what we want you to see and everything is great for the motherland even though heating prices are up 400% and inflation will be 11% next year. All hail PiS, JK is a saint, and MM could be Pope if he were not married. So fortunate to be lead and feed by the state.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
You need to seek help.

@Dirk diggler
The norm in politics is to spy yes. Infiltrate the opposition. During any election this not only happens but it is expected. The problem is when the ruling party uses these spying tools without a warrant, on someone else's phone, and that person is not a candidate in the election cycle. Its no different than a hacker accessing the nudes of your GF and then posting them on line. Totally illegal.

The US, didn't force PiS, PiS forced the US to take political action against them t begin with. Point the finger and the people who initiated this action only to see it blow up in their faces like 90% of everything they do. Bad planning, bad execution and worse timing. Now all eyes are on inflation and hackergate. Really amateur hour stuff.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

And now for the smoking PiS gun:

msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/polska/marian-bana%C5%9B-ju%C5%BC-w-2019-roku-znaleziono-faktur%C4%99-dotycz%C4%85c%C4%85-zakupu-systemu-pegasus/ar-AAShIHq?ocid=msedgntp#image=AAShIHq_1|3

Only political retards would stoop to spying on the competition. And maybe now we know why Duda would distance himself and use this veto at a very critical time.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@mafketis
Pressure from the US on its largest investment of 3 billion dollars in Poland. Duda is looking out for his future and not pissing off the US business where he could turn into a high powered lobbyist after his presidency making big money luring US companies to Poland. 16K per month retirement is not going to be enough for a man like Duda, and he knows the US is where he can make some serious money.

JK is not playing chess now. PiS is under attack from every possible side. PiS is in survival mode, and this spyware case could be the end of them. The corruption from Zioboro and all of them is evident by the refusal to investigate. With inflation pegged to reach 11% now, PiS is done. Duda is planning for his future without them.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Don't care that you are keeping score. My English only comes with a graduated university degree, and clearly the education system in the US is below average, please forgive me.

This is another issue in Poland. Why does anyone think that anyone else gaf about your opinion of decency? Is Poland now the morality and decency police? That classroom must be right next to the strip club and 24 hour alcohol store.

Really hilarious to read all these amazing opinions from people who wont even examine their own faults within their own society. But hey, there is always time to go bashing on line instead of cleaning your own house.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Clearly you don't know how to speak or write English. Thanks you for making that obvious. Yes, I do speak Polish fairly well now thank you. That has nothing to do with anything though. You are more Polish because you were born here of course, I know a lot of other donkeys think that place of birth actually means they are more entitled when they have never done anything for society. This is particularly true in Poland.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
The petition is not real? Say it isnt so! Oh My. How could the world come to this and with fake petitions on line now?!?!?! We must all pray this kind of thing stops right away. Get some help man.

Duda finally had a pair and now, maybe there is hope for him to fire JK and MM because he has the power to do so. Then take the last few years of his lame duck presidency and make a real difference in Poland. That would take big balls and that would be leadership that no one else in any other party offers.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Can you really be this ignorant? How much ZUS do you think they contribute in Poland? How much income tax? How many business advertisers do they impact positively driving the Polish economy? They are the largest TV network in the country. TVP lives off of billions in PiS subsidies that the taxpayer is responsible for and they still cant produce a profit. The competition is so incompetent that they cant even beat them with free money! Love watching TVP news today, not a mention of this, yet they talk about flooding in India. That is the joke of Polish news coverage.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
As usual you know nothing. Discovery pays taxes and employs a lot of people. 3 billion dollars is the TVN value, the largest investment by a US company in Poland. Thats good for the country. Only backwood mountain hicks think TVN doesnt pay taxes and doesnt bring a lot to Poland. Pack a tent.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

Duda did the right thing. Whether he caved to pressure from the US or not, it sends the message that Poland is open for business to US companies, and in the end, thats the most important thing for Poland.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Strzelec35
Unfortunately you are right. The mentality in Poland is definitely one that is not about competing to be great, it is about doing just enough to survive and not get fired. Pitiful really.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Just like Amazon, Intel, UPS, and all the others that couldn't make it in the US. It's ok. I understand you would like to make more, but being jealous is no way to improve your position. Not working so well for PiS either these days.

Always pointing the finger at the other guy and never looking in the mirror is not a way to move forward. It really is funny how PiS and its followers have not figured out a way forward when it is really rather simple for them to stay in office. Veto this law, and get rid of the disciplinary chamber and nearly all their problems go away. Money starts flowing from EU and USA is happy. They loose nothing of any worth really, and their ratings go back up with a prospering economy by the end of summer. But they are too hell bent on their own ideology to see that time is what is the greatest asset of any ruling group and they are running out.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Your country? Funny, I now have citizenship, so its our country isn't it. I am sure I also pay way more tax that you do too. VAT mafia? Not really since my company always over pays VAT. I am sure I pay more ZUS than you as well. So why not leave the commenting to people who actually help fund the countries third world democracy?

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
I dont support any of those far left waste of time initiatives.

@Novichok
Excellent point Rich. No way would Russia say anything if the US annexed Canada in whole or in Part because they do not care, it does not directly effect them. Just like the US has already said they will not send troops to Ukraine and the UK has said the same.

Poland is isolating itself not only from the EU but from the US and the country is in trouble with borderline retards leading the way. The "Fourth Reich" is the only intelligent observation made by JK in years, but it is too late. Not until JK and the clowns are gone from power will the EU back down on some of the rule of law issues. Thats simply the real play here. Its not about the money any more its about getting these idiots out of power.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
Not only do I think, I am willing to bet on it. It is not a small change in laws and it directly and immediately impacts an existing investment, not just future investments. It is a targeted anti free speech law. It is an attack on American media and an attack on American business. Neither will be accepted or forgiven.

You have zero understanding of the US. No one in the US cares about Polish or any other EU courts unless they interfere with what the US is doing or what US business is doing. To think that anyone in the US GAF about Poland really is some incredibly stupid arrogance based on nothing. As I said before, please tell me exactly what the US needs Poland for? Nothing. Poland needs the US.

While Ukraine may be a strategic position in the eyes of the EU, US has already said no troops to Ukraine when Russia invades. Why? Because the US doesnt care. And the same will happen if Poland suffers the same fate.

The issue is not only about the present, but about the future. Not about one company but about many companies. This is a very big issue and not one PiS can afford to get wrong.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
And this shows how little you understand. The US is in charge of all visa waivers to the US, not the EU. The US can take it away in a second, as quickly as they gave it. And judging from close to 25% of the people on my flight to the US being from Poland and speakiing Polish, I think you clearly do not understand how popular or important it is.

@Cojestdocholery
And the US company in question is not breaking the law. The government on the other hand with this proposed law will violate a trade treaty signed with the US. PiS is dying and those of you that support them will die with them.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
It is obvious you have never lived in the US. I would bet a very large sum that if its signed into law by Duda it will take less than 30 days for retaliation in the form of tariffs, or taxes on US companies doing business or investing in Poland to discourage that business or investment, or pull out of troops.

The current US administration does not respect Poland, and the Polish government who did not recognize the legitimacy of the elections when everyone else did. PiS hitched on to Trump and it will hurt them until they are out of power. Revenge will be had. There is no US president in history, regardless of party that would put up with the PiS clowns or their actions.

And in case you have not really done your research, the companies that are in line to bid on this "business" are state owned or state controlled. Like Orlen buying all the news papers, this is another attempt to consolidate media. And in case you are not well versed, part of the US Constitution is the protection of Free Speech, and every President in history, regardless of party, has and will continue to protect that right both domestically and abroad.

So, if Duda is dumb enough to sign it, I will PM you with a significant wager on retaliation taking place within 30 days. But I dont think even Duda is this dumb.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
The only way there will not be sanctions is if Duda vetoes or the court says it is unconstitutional. Under the last Democratic President sanctions were given to other allies in order to show them who has the muscle. Mexico and Canada both learned that even a shared border means nothing if they attempt to squeeze US business interests. China and its steel industry learned pretty quickly as well. Trump imposed a wine tax on France when he got a little upset with them, and Biden became a French wine hero when he repealed the tax in March.

Please tell me what the US needs Poland for exactly. Pottery? Vodka? What valuable export cant the US live without? Then tell me what Poland needs the US for and US companies for, and lets do a balance sheet of power.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
Again Jon you dont understand. Sitting and watching the news in USA, and talking to people, it is news here and there is sentiment growing about Poland not being business friendly. Many of my colleagues in the US do business in Poland or have looked at Poland and other EU countries for investment. With rising taxes, and this unfriendly treatment they will likely not invest in Poland, one actually just made a sizeable multimillion investment in Ukraine over Poland even with the Russia factor.

Poland is not a key ally to the US. Poland is simply a border to Russian influence and if it failed, they the US just rolls back to Germany. Its really not a big deal any more. Its not 1945. Poland and Poles "think" they are important, they desperately want to believe they are important, and central to the world political stage when in fact, they just are not that important and they contribute very little to the world. I know Poles dont want to hear it, just like PiS doesnt recognize it.

Say what you want about the US. When the world needs the military it is the first call they make. Doesnt matter if Biden is in office or anyone else. If Russia flex's her muscles with Poland through Belarus, I will bet a delayed response from the US or a missed phone call is already planned. In the end Poland needs to remember US money and military are still what protects most of the world. Thats just a fact.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
You clearly do not understand American business or Politics. If you think for a second that Americans, or American business give a **** about Poland, or Polish politics you have never lived in America.

How much more will Amazon, Intel, and the other American companies invest in Poland if there is even a 1% chance some "legislation" could be made to force them to sell part of their companies? They will not only stop investing, they will pull money out to show PiS what the potential fallout is. Big business, sticks with big business.

Duda will need a place to lobby, or to help fund projects he becomes interested in after his presidency. Once PiS is done he wont be able to do much in Poland, and I doubt he has lined his pockets enough to live off the presidential pension.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
Actually jon media is a very strategic field for US propaganda. TVN is an example of American investments, and it is a big investment. What PiS is signaling is that Poland can not be trusted to invest in, Poland can not be regarded as a safe place for corporate investment. These a pillars of American business. You really do not understand how Americans see Europe as an investment.

I do not see Duda caving in though. He has to think strategically for himself at this point. Soon he will be out of office, and where is he going to get his money from if not the US in some way? He is a young man with a long time to live. Biting the hand that can feed you is not very sensible.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@Cojestdocholery
Youre delusional to say most dont care about it. PiS cares about it, and everyone with family in the USA cares about it. Thats millions of people with just Chicago relatives alone.

@jon357
Biden will love being seen as a bully to Poland, he will get full Republican support, and if it means more military spending in another country he will get even more Republican support. You actually think the US gives a **** about how Poles think about them bullying PiS? When it comes to business, and a huge company in the US getting pushed around by a third world democracy, they will be bullies simply because they can.

Biden may be an old fool, but he will know when to take advantage of an international situation that is an easy win for him. And this bullying of Poland is an easy W for the old fool if Duda gives it to him. But I dont think Duda is going to sign it.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
A bill not signed is not yet vetoed either. Anyone thinking Poland can muscle Biden, is delusional. If Russia can't over Ukraine, Poland sure wont. But you can bet, Biden will lead the charge for a free media, after all, free media is always in his corner.

@Lenka
PiS is on the knifes edge as it is. A good ***** smack from the US and they are done.

If you haven't walked the streets in Poland lately, the US is still the dream for most Poles. If the US starts distancing themselves from Poland, every Pole with a dream will be talking about it. Dont under estimate the power of the threat.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
You think Biden cares about optics in Poland? Big corporations will love him for it, and the Republicans will demand action take place. There wont be a concession. He wont reward idiocy.

The visa waiver would be the place to start. Threaten that and Duda starts looking for knee pads to keep Biden happy. Losing the visa waiver would be the end of PiS simply because it is one of the biggest accomplishments Poles attribute to them. See it go away, or troops leave and its over.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
Biden already said there would be a price to pay. He wont give in to Poland in anyway. Even he is not that dumb. He will take away something Poland wants or needs and that is much more punitive than anything else. The visa waiver is exactly where I would start.

News / The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air [528]

@jon357
Imagine Polands response to being removed from the USA visa waiver program. Imagine troops being moved to another EU country. Imagine weapons purchase agreements being cancelled. Or possible new taxes on Polish goods exported to US. Maybe raising taxes on US business operating in Poland to get them to pull out or reduce in size. Any of these moves is the end of Duda and PiS.

The US business world is not distracted by COVID or Putin in any way that would limit their interest in responding to this action, and the response would likely be over the top to send a message to any other countries who may think about doing the same.