It's a pickle, for sure.
The New Yorker interview with Joe Biden seems to think they do. But shouldn't we level with the American people about how Saddam had nothing to do with September 11, and about how the US presence in Iraq just makes things worse, without looking soft on terrorism?
Usama bin Ladin is our enemy. He got away. Democrats should chase him, nobody else. After all, how can the Republicans look tough on terror when they moved troops away from our enemy and attacked someone else?
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
From January 2004: U.S. military 'sure' of catching bin Laden this year
"The U.S. military is 'sure' it will catch Osama bin Laden this year, a spokesman said Thursday" but don't hold your breath. :-(
Here's another story about it.
The New York Sun is trying to say it is a "Lone Diplomat" but I don't buy it.
Bush Sr. lost his re-election because his war was over.
Bush Jr. cemented his re-election by making sure his war wasn't.
If Sherman hadn't captured Atlanta we would be reading about President McClellan in our history books. Why won't we read about Presiden Kerry?
Here's another story about it.
The New York Sun is trying to say it is a "Lone Diplomat" but I don't buy it.
Bush Sr. lost his re-election because his war was over.
Bush Jr. cemented his re-election by making sure his war wasn't.
If Sherman hadn't captured Atlanta we would be reading about President McClellan in our history books. Why won't we read about Presiden Kerry?
Don't let Bush pass the buck to the CIA!
The Gorilla in the Room has made an excellent point about the presidential commission to study intelligence failures: it "didn't look at the role of the Office of Special Plans or the Vice President's office" and that ain't telling the whole story.
Check it out! (before it sinks from sight).
Check it out! (before it sinks from sight).
As I was saying . . .
The Washington Times also thinks a civil war very possible, and Shi'ite theocracy the most likely alternative.
One correction to their story. I would have thought a FEDERAL, not unitary, Iraq was the US goal. Unfortunately, while Federalism is the obvious solution, it does not exist in the Arab world, and is beyond the political understanding of most Arabs. This is not to say they are stupid, just that federalism is no more part of their tradition than a unitary state is part of Americans' traditions. Most Americans don't know what a unitary state is, just as most Arabs don't know what federalism is.
One correction to their story. I would have thought a FEDERAL, not unitary, Iraq was the US goal. Unfortunately, while Federalism is the obvious solution, it does not exist in the Arab world, and is beyond the political understanding of most Arabs. This is not to say they are stupid, just that federalism is no more part of their tradition than a unitary state is part of Americans' traditions. Most Americans don't know what a unitary state is, just as most Arabs don't know what federalism is.
Impolitically Correct
Paul Krugman has a nice article about what's going on right now in the United States.
"What we need - and we aren't seeing - is a firm stand by moderates against religious extremism. Some people ask, with justification, Where are the Democrats? But an even better question is, Where are the doctors fiercely defending their professional integrity?"
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for people of good will to do nothing.
That's what's happening. :-(
"What we need - and we aren't seeing - is a firm stand by moderates against religious extremism. Some people ask, with justification, Where are the Democrats? But an even better question is, Where are the doctors fiercely defending their professional integrity?"
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for people of good will to do nothing.
That's what's happening. :-(
Monday, March 28, 2005
"Moveon.org" and the Iraq war
MoveOn.org: Making Peace With the War in Iraq correctly notes that MoveOn.org is downplaying the "out now" approach. But is that wrong?
Iraq was always a tar baby. Hit it and you're stuck. Even the UN won't toss us in the briar patch now.
Vietnam really had no dominoes. Iraq does. Which way are they going to tip? Probably to militant Islam. Shi'ites voted because their Ayatollah told them it was "wajib" (compulsory) to do so. Others voted to keep Shi'ites from taking over.
Right now the best the US can hope for is a Shi'ite theocracy. More likely is civil war.
Think about that. Bush turned our worst nightmare of a few years ago into the best we can hope for. If we are lucky, Iraq will become a militant Islamic theocracy allied to a nuclear armed Iran, where the hardliners will be strengthened.
Not turning Bush out in 2004 did enormous damage to the US, its national interest, and even its national security. Now there is nothing Americans can do about it. Even a Democrat president elected in 2008 will not be able to undo the damage being done now.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Iraq was always a tar baby. Hit it and you're stuck. Even the UN won't toss us in the briar patch now.
Vietnam really had no dominoes. Iraq does. Which way are they going to tip? Probably to militant Islam. Shi'ites voted because their Ayatollah told them it was "wajib" (compulsory) to do so. Others voted to keep Shi'ites from taking over.
Right now the best the US can hope for is a Shi'ite theocracy. More likely is civil war.
Think about that. Bush turned our worst nightmare of a few years ago into the best we can hope for. If we are lucky, Iraq will become a militant Islamic theocracy allied to a nuclear armed Iran, where the hardliners will be strengthened.
Not turning Bush out in 2004 did enormous damage to the US, its national interest, and even its national security. Now there is nothing Americans can do about it. Even a Democrat president elected in 2008 will not be able to undo the damage being done now.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Bush let bin Ladin get away
Chicago Sun-Times: "Pentagon: Bin Laden escaped us at Tora Bora"
CNN.com: "Document suggests bin Laden escaped at Tora Bora"
and we could still get him, if we didn't have all our troops tied down in Iraq :-(
CNN.com: "Document suggests bin Laden escaped at Tora Bora"
and we could still get him, if we didn't have all our troops tied down in Iraq :-(
Monday, March 21, 2005
Pakistan 'got close to' bin Laden
But Bush wanted Saddam instead!
Is it true most Bush voters thought Saddam Hussein was responsible for September 11?
Is it true most Bush voters thought Saddam Hussein was responsible for September 11?
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Finally! Wes Clark returns :-)
Wes Clark, the only Democrat contender other than Kerry and Edwards to win primaries, finally has his website up. It's got the same web savvy nature his campaign site did, and it's set up so all the old Clark Community can log on and continue the conversation we were having during the primaries.
We have to have leaders who can confront the enemy, not fools who ignore national security while they attack social security and regimes that don't threaten us.
We have to have leaders who can confront the enemy, not fools who ignore national security while they attack social security and regimes that don't threaten us.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
No, they don't have any shame.
White House defends video news releases:
http://us.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/15/government.videos.ap/
http://us.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/15/government.videos.ap/
Have they no shame?
"Tom has done so much fund raising," says Indiana Representative Mark Souder.
Yes, it's all about the money, not about how you get it.
Yes, it's all about the money, not about how you get it.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Private investing, Bush go way back
Private investing and G. W. Bush go way back.
So do these ultra-right think tanks that still think FDR was a Communist, it seems.
Look, you are supposed to save for your retirement already. What nincompoop thinks Social Security is supposed to be all they have waiting for them when they get the gold watch and the boot?
Social Security is supposed to be the emergency funding there to keep you alive if your savings and investments go belly up, as almost everyone's did (through no fault of their own) in the 1930s.
If Bush wants to subsidize people to save money for their retirement, I have no problem (other than the fact that it might increase the deficit, but the real culprit there is his tax cuts.)
When he talks about putting part of the payroll tax into the stock market or other risky investments, he just means doing away with the Social Security program, an emergency backstop for the poor.
Bush may not understand it, but the New Deal saved capitalism. Do away with it and you will have very serious economic, and political, problems again.
So do these ultra-right think tanks that still think FDR was a Communist, it seems.
Look, you are supposed to save for your retirement already. What nincompoop thinks Social Security is supposed to be all they have waiting for them when they get the gold watch and the boot?
Social Security is supposed to be the emergency funding there to keep you alive if your savings and investments go belly up, as almost everyone's did (through no fault of their own) in the 1930s.
If Bush wants to subsidize people to save money for their retirement, I have no problem (other than the fact that it might increase the deficit, but the real culprit there is his tax cuts.)
When he talks about putting part of the payroll tax into the stock market or other risky investments, he just means doing away with the Social Security program, an emergency backstop for the poor.
Bush may not understand it, but the New Deal saved capitalism. Do away with it and you will have very serious economic, and political, problems again.
Saddam Hussein's half-brother is captured (So?)
Saddam Hussein's HALF-BROTHER is captured?!?!?! Who gives a fried flip, or why should anyone? Those guys didn't attack the US of A. Usama bin Ladin did. That &%$#! bastard bin Ladin is going to die of old age before Bush gets him.
Moral: It's safer to attack the United States these days than to cross the Bush family. Togo is up in arms because the president's son succeeded him. Where is the American outrage about the Bush baby president? How could that guy be re-elected after blowing the war that badly?
Moral: It's safer to attack the United States these days than to cross the Bush family. Togo is up in arms because the president's son succeeded him. Where is the American outrage about the Bush baby president? How could that guy be re-elected after blowing the war that badly?
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Where is the outrage?!?! Where is the impeachment?
This administration is so determined to make short term profits for its investors (voters? we buy those as inputs) it doesn't mind destroying the United States to do it. These people are clearly guilty of "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors."
Monday, February 21, 2005
So Hunter S. Thompson ends like this?
IHunter's death calls Hamlet to my mind. "Oh, that the Almighty had not raised his canons against self-slaughter!". Hunter didn't believe in the Almighty, of course, so he took his own way out.
I've always believed God in his mercy spared John Lennon and Dorothy Day the Reagan years. I'm sorry Hunter didn't have the strength to live through the second Bush administration. America could have used him. I don't know, but I don't think he was meant to die now.
I've always believed God in his mercy spared John Lennon and Dorothy Day the Reagan years. I'm sorry Hunter didn't have the strength to live through the second Bush administration. America could have used him. I don't know, but I don't think he was meant to die now.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
"U.S. Officials Say a Theocratic Iraq Is Unlikely"
"U.S. Officials Say a Theocratic Iraq Is Unlikely"?!?!?!?!?
Aren't these the same guys who said we would be welcomed with flowers, that the occupation would be as peaceful as the occupation of Japan, that we wouldn't need 200,000 troops, that it was all over when the Iraqi army disappeared, or when Saddam was captured, or when . . . (the latest terminus is the elections).
It seems to me that a theocratic Iraq is the best the US can hope for, with an Iraqi Civil War more likely.
Think about that, what was our worst nightmare a few years ago, what we backed Saddam Hussein against Iran to prevent, has now become the best we can hope for. And the US administration that turned it around for us that fast has just been re-elected by the American people.
For the record, I do not think the majority of the American people are either stupid or evil. I do think, knowing so many of them as I do, that they are shockingly ignorant of the world beyond their shores, if not their borders. In many cases they don't even know other parts of their own country very well.
Richard Nixon once argued for continuing the Vietnam War lest the US turn into a "pitiful, helpless giant." It is frightening to contemplate that the giant has become pitiful and helpless because it is blind, lashing out in post 9/11 anger at the wrong targets, turning friends into enemies, and neutrals into foes.
Aren't these the same guys who said we would be welcomed with flowers, that the occupation would be as peaceful as the occupation of Japan, that we wouldn't need 200,000 troops, that it was all over when the Iraqi army disappeared, or when Saddam was captured, or when . . . (the latest terminus is the elections).
It seems to me that a theocratic Iraq is the best the US can hope for, with an Iraqi Civil War more likely.
Think about that, what was our worst nightmare a few years ago, what we backed Saddam Hussein against Iran to prevent, has now become the best we can hope for. And the US administration that turned it around for us that fast has just been re-elected by the American people.
For the record, I do not think the majority of the American people are either stupid or evil. I do think, knowing so many of them as I do, that they are shockingly ignorant of the world beyond their shores, if not their borders. In many cases they don't even know other parts of their own country very well.
Richard Nixon once argued for continuing the Vietnam War lest the US turn into a "pitiful, helpless giant." It is frightening to contemplate that the giant has become pitiful and helpless because it is blind, lashing out in post 9/11 anger at the wrong targets, turning friends into enemies, and neutrals into foes.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Sunni regime?
Is no one else bothered by the way the media constantly portrays Saddam's regime as "Sunni dominated"? It was a secular regime with even Christians in the cabinet. Shi'ites were, on average, worse off because they had ben out of favor under the Ottomans for long centuries, and there was no affirmative action for them. Is that too complicated for the press to explain, or is bringing up affirmative action in a positive light politically incorrect now?
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Why are people not afraid of Gonzales?
Impolitically CorrectThe man wrote that any president has the right to arrest American citizens and hold them incommunicado, indefinitely, and torture them! Now it's OK because he says it was a simple mistake and he didn't really mean it?
I guess what goes around comes around. Support those kinds of policies in Latin America and some people will think that's the American way. What an ironic twist to the Hispanicization of the US. ;-(
I guess what goes around comes around. Support those kinds of policies in Latin America and some people will think that's the American way. What an ironic twist to the Hispanicization of the US. ;-(
Friday, January 21, 2005
Enough with the exit polls, already!
Stop taking exit polls please! They are a bad idea.
1) Just wait for the votes to be counted. Can't you just wait and do it right? The votes in the booth are supposed to count, not the &%$#! polls. Don't make people think it's over when there are still votes being cast.
2) There are a lot of people who don't answer exit polls, at least not honestly.
Well why should they? What's the point of a secret ballot if you tell some stranger about it? They shouldn't even go around asking people whom they voted for, especially when there are so many nut cases around who think the United Nations is taking over the United States, when the UN is lucky to be running its own bureaucracy.
Seriously, by now there are a statistically significant proportion of people who honestly think that the American news media, with the possible exception of Fox News, is controlled by Satanist Communists, or Illuminati, or gnomes of Zurich, or maybe all three together. Jesse Helms pioneered this with his "stealth voters" who suddenly appeared from no where when the ballots were counted but didn't register in the polling statistics. These people will not answer polls because they think they are run by evil conspirators in black helicopters.
But I won't answer exit polls because it's none of your business. Just wait until the voting is over and count the ballots. Why does the press seem to think their exit polls are worth anything and why should someone even answer them.
I'll get back to that issue of physical ballots later.
1) Just wait for the votes to be counted. Can't you just wait and do it right? The votes in the booth are supposed to count, not the &%$#! polls. Don't make people think it's over when there are still votes being cast.
2) There are a lot of people who don't answer exit polls, at least not honestly.
Well why should they? What's the point of a secret ballot if you tell some stranger about it? They shouldn't even go around asking people whom they voted for, especially when there are so many nut cases around who think the United Nations is taking over the United States, when the UN is lucky to be running its own bureaucracy.
Seriously, by now there are a statistically significant proportion of people who honestly think that the American news media, with the possible exception of Fox News, is controlled by Satanist Communists, or Illuminati, or gnomes of Zurich, or maybe all three together. Jesse Helms pioneered this with his "stealth voters" who suddenly appeared from no where when the ballots were counted but didn't register in the polling statistics. These people will not answer polls because they think they are run by evil conspirators in black helicopters.
But I won't answer exit polls because it's none of your business. Just wait until the voting is over and count the ballots. Why does the press seem to think their exit polls are worth anything and why should someone even answer them.
I'll get back to that issue of physical ballots later.
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