“The media labelled this a “sham” referendum before Putin’s speech occurred (source: BBC) and I heave heard this exact word repeated ad nauseam since then...”
Well, yeah, because it’s perfectly valid to refer to a “referendum” held by an invading and occupying power during wartime as a “sham”. Nobody with any sense would actually object to that assessment.
And there is no “hypocrisy” to people who point out that the 2020 election had irregularities and that this “referendum” is a sham. Both of those are true. Telling the truth consistently is not “hypocrisy”, no matter how hard you try to spin it.
Again my friend I suggest you learn to read.
“And there is no “hypocrisy” to people who point out that the 2020 election had irregularities and that this “referendum” is a sham. Both of those are true. Telling the truth consistently is not “hypocrisy”, no matter how hard you try to spin it.”
Where did I say anything of the sort? In my most recent post to you I elaborated that the same people echoing the media’s word of choice are likely the same people who said the media could not be trusted in their descriptions of the 2020 election. Never said a word about anyone who doubted the 2020 election being a hypocrites (hypocritical of what?). I myself believe the election was stolen (not that there were irregularities to use your Mickey Mouse characterisation).
You seem to be having a hard time with this and trying to bend my words to your own perspective.
“Well, yeah, because it’s perfectly valid to refer to a “referendum” held by an invading and occupying power during wartime as a “sham”. Nobody with any sense would actually object to that assessment.”
Oh it’s perfectly valid for the media (BBC in the example I gave) to state that a referendum that had not even been announced yet is a sham. Good to know. Evidently you are the sort who will believe what they are told to in advance of events actually occurring (let alone after the fact).
All things being equal having a referendum on the matter is much more fair than just imposing the solution on the areas in question, wartime or not.