>

Oh really? Well I guess I'll take some comment suggestions to get me banned!
“conservatives” are nothing more than hysterical reactionaries at this point. >

For sure. Had Biden ordered it shot down over land they’d just switch and be outraged at the risk he took with American lives and any destruction of property. >

Shooting it down over Alaska or even Montana probably would’ve been a fine call. But yes, you are definitely correct, there will always be the people that just can’t be satisfied no matter what happens. That issue stems far outside of politics. >

My guess is they wanted it relatively intact. In the video it looks like they just deflated the balloon part and dropped the control unit into the ocean for recovery. 
I feel like waiting until it was over the ocean prevented catastrophic damage to the technology on board when they shot it down. >

Falling from 50 thousand feet or whatever, I would think hitting the ocean would be as catastrophic to the equipment as hitting land,  and then it's in salt water until recovery. 
But at least it won't land on someone's house, car, head, etc. >

If they’d shot it down over land the debris would’ve been on eBay before the recovery crew had reached the site. >

Jokes on them I’m diving the wreckage right now >

Stop it James Cameron. I don’t want to watch a 3 hour love story about the balloon. >

I would, guy knows how to tell amazing stories! >

“God himself could not shoot down this balloon.”
“Jack, I’m flying!”
“I don’t know about you, but I intend to write a strongly worded letter to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force about all of this.”
“But this balloon can’t sink!”
“It’s made of plastic, sir, I assure you it can.” >

And he never told us. Color me shocked >

"I don't want to scare the people" -fucking bozo >

After telling the entire country that it's doomed every other day for 4+ years nonetheless. >

Everyone was so excited have a powerful politician in charge. And then when nothing got better that powerful politician and his electorate blamed an unelecyshadow government... It's nuts... >


Everyone was so excited have a powerful politician in charge.

That is a curious revision of events. >

I'm guessing the "everyone" they're talking about there is all the Trump supporters >

Trump let 3 of them just go right on through but they forget to mention that. >

I think the point is if you are going to blame someone for 1, then someone who allowed 3 should get more blame.
I don't think it's actually serious from OP. >

My point is we should reject the premise.  The fault lies with the country that violated our airspace.
Republicans trying to turn this in to Biden's fault are misdirecting the conversation and responding to them about Trump is to fall for that trick. >

We agree, but that only works with people that aren't morons. If it's something someone "cares" about, it's appropriate to point out that it doesn't actually matter because someone they'll defend over it actually "was worse".
You can reject the premise while doing that.
That being said, there are two faults - the perpetrator and the reactor. You can't be blamed for the balloon existing, but you can be criticized for failing to react adequately to it, if it's something worth being criticized for.
I don't think this is, but the attempt to label this as "victim blaming" is just naive when it comes to geopolitics. >

You could certainly argue that to act decisively might have been to take it down sooner.  But I think putting the pressure on China by very publicly humiliating them over this stupid attempt for several days was the better strategic move.
You're right though about idiots.  Even on the off chance that my original comment represented some kind of defense for Trump (it doesn't) it needs to be downvoted immediately.
I stepped out of line by framing a conversation as anything other than partisan. >

I didn't take it as such, and I think we agree on the whole - just unfortunately we have people with fewer brain cells to worry about as well 🙂 >

Post this on r/conservative and see how fast you get the ban >

Ugh, every once in a while I decide to take a stroll through that sub, and I regret it every time. >

I’m banned for a comment saying that there’s bigger problems in America than that one woman’s soccer team captain that’s politically active. This was in 2020 >

Yeah. I don’t think I’ll ever comment there. I don’t want to be banned because I do like to venture over there every once in a while. >

Oh you can still go after getting banned you just can’t comment