In Iraq, official U.S. optimism contradicts (lack of) progress on ground
In a speech Monday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vice President Joe Biden was upbeat about developments in Iraq, where U.S. forces have officially withdrawn from combat operations:
First, violence in Iraq has decreased to such a degree that those who last served there three or four years ago—when the country was being torn apart by sectarian conflict—would hardly recognize the place. Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Shiite extremists remain dangerous, and their attacks still claim innocent lives. But they have utterly failed to achieve their objectives of inflaming sectarian conflict and undermining the Iraqi government.
Second, Iraq’s security forces—now more than 650,000 strong—are already leading the way to defend and protect their country. We have transferred control over hundreds of bases, and many thousands of square miles of territory. Some said that our drawdown would bring more violence. They were wrong, because the Iraqis are ready to take charge. And in recent months, operations that they led, based on intelligence they developed, killed two key leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq and purged more than 30 other top terrorists from its ranks.
Third, but no less important, is the fact that Iraqi leaders who once settled disputes through violence are at this very moment, ironing out their differences in face-to-face negotiations. The Iraqis recently held their second national election that the world all agreed was legitimate, and although it is taking a long time to form a government, I am convinced that this will happen soon.
I wish I shared Biden’s optimism, but I don’t. While the 2007 surge of U.S. troops did help improve security in Iraq, the larger goals of the surge remain unmet more than three years later. The Iraqis have yet to pass a national oil law, and they have yet to work out a power-sharing agreement among the major Iraqi sects. As a result, more than five months after national elections, no new national government has taken shape. And without progress, there is inevitably regression.
From today’s New York Times:
BAGHDAD — In one of the broadest assaults on Iraq’s security forces, insurgents unleashed a wave of roadside mines and a more than a dozen car bombings across Iraq on Wednesday, killing dozens, toppling a police station in the capital and sowing chaos and confusion among the soldiers and police officers who responded.
The withering two-hour assault in 13 towns and cities, from southernmost Basra to restive Mosul in the north, was as symbolic as it was deadly, coming a week before the United States declares the end of combat operations here. Wednesday was seemingly the insurgents’ reply: Despite suggestions otherwise, they proved their ability to launch coordinated attacks virtually anywhere in Iraq, capitalizing on the government’s dysfunction and perceptions of American vulnerability.
Tom Ricks, the author of “Fiasco” and now a contributing editor at Foreign Policy, made a similar point in an NPR interview this week. The basic questions that have dogged Iraq from the beginning have yet to be resolved, he pointed out.
“How are these three major groups in Iraq going to get along? How are they going to live together? Are they going to live together? How are you going to share the oil revenue? What’s the form of Iraqi government? Will it have a strong central government or be a loose confederation? What’s the role of neighboring countries, most especially Iran, which is stepping up its relationship with Iraq right now, even as Uncle Sam tries to step down its relationship?
All these questions have been hanging fire in Iraq for several years, in fact before the surge…. All of them have led to violence in the past, and all could easily lead to violence again. The only thing changing in the Iraqi security equation right now is Uncle Sam is trying to get out.”
The Iraq war hasn’t been won anymore than the Vietnam war was won. In Vietnam, U.S. officials simply manipulated events to allow American forces to be withdrawn under seemingly honorable conditions, and were then willing to let events take their natural course. We’re doing the same in Iraq, and in time will probably repeat the pattern once more in Afghanistan.
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414 comments Add your comment
Mick
August 25th, 2010
3:23 pm
I said it before and I’ll say it again, we had our civil war – let them have theirs.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
3:26 pm
Peace with honor, Nixon called it. Silly then, silly now.
I am truly sorry for the violence in Iraq, no matter that we all knew it was inevitable.
It is time for us to admit the error and come home.
Jefferson
August 25th, 2010
3:35 pm
Bring all the troops home, we can put the marines on the southern border and the army on the norther border.
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:36 pm
It all began here…
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cia-assisted-coup-overthrows-government-of-iran
stands for decibels
August 25th, 2010
3:38 pm
Jay, your first link is broken.
@@
August 25th, 2010
3:40 pm
Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Shiite extremists remain dangerous, and their attacks still claim innocent lives.
Joe should’ve been a bit more specific. It’s IRAN that remains dangerous. They’ll do whatever is necessary to create violence in Iraq.
2001…should’a listened to Cheney, and whacked that nutjob.
Milo
August 25th, 2010
3:40 pm
As long as we aren’t killing them, and they aren’t killing us, I don’t care what they do to themselves.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Normal
I disagree that’s where it began… I would say here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_S%C3%A8vres
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Bring the Troops home from Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and Japan. Save beaucoup bucks…
NowReally
August 25th, 2010
3:42 pm
It will not hurt anything to let natural events play out. I’m sure the people of both countires are prepared for what should have been expected in this situation. I just hope that we have learned our lessons and stay out of what is surely to come.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
3:43 pm
“There will be no victory or defeat for the United States in Iraq. These terms do not reflect the reality of what is going to happen there. The future of Iraq was always going to be determined by the Iraqis — not the Americans.
Iraq is not a prize to be won or lost. It is part of the ongoing global struggle against instability, brutality, intolerance, extremism and terrorism. There will be no military victory or military solution for Iraq. Former secretary of state Henry Kissinger made this point last weekend.
The time for more U.S. troops in Iraq has passed. We do not have more troops to send and, even if we did, they would not bring a resolution to Iraq. Militaries are built to fight and win wars, not bind together failing nations. We are once again learning a very hard lesson in foreign affairs: America cannot impose a democracy on any nation — regardless of our noble purpose.
We have misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged our honorable intentions in Iraq with an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam. Honorable intentions are not policies and plans. Iraq belongs to the 25 million Iraqis who live there”
It is the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam” ~Chuck Hagel, Republican – Nebraska
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:43 pm
Josef,
I agree, but I meant for us…Good call though!
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
3:48 pm
When will we learn? When a religiously fanatic, illiterate herd of sheep elects to adopt a democratic way of life with free elections and rights, it can do nothing but fail. A lot of these people are not out of trees yet, if there were any trees in that godawful country. Democratic elections and freedom has traditionally been reserved for an educated people, with strong values that has some compassion for their fellow man. With most of the population following some chin in the air cleric with an agenda, how can we hope for something better. If it were not for the oil, we would not be there, plain and simple and we would let these goat loving idiots kill off as many of the opposition as they are capable of. Islam….. the gift that keeps on giving.
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
3:49 pm
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:41 pm
Bring the Troops home from Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and Japan. Save beaucoup bucks…
++++++++++++
Agreed. The troops in Japan and Germanant were deployed when we were threaten by Communism. What is interesting is how after the orginal threat is gone the troops remain.
I read an interesting article where Vietnam had a joint military exercise with United States in order to counter the influence of China.
Why do we let ourselves get pulled into these local issues.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
3:50 pm
Marine General: Obama giving ’sustenance’ to Taliban…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
3:50 pm
US combat troops still flowing into Iraq…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
3:51 pm
WAR: U.S. Weighs Expanded Strikes in Yemen…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
3:52 pm
Official US optimism?
stands for decibels
August 25th, 2010
3:52 pm
I haven’t had a chance even to skim the articles to which Jay’s linked, but I suspect neither one points out a glaring hideousness about everyday life for Iraqis in Baghdad–they get about 2-6 hours or so of electricity per day, apparently.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/06/iraq-green-zone-also-to-suffer-electricity-blackouts.html
I think that’d get real old after awhile. And this has been a fact of life there for the better part of a decade now.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
3:53 pm
BIDEN: ‘We’re moving in right direction’…
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
3:54 pm
“…the Bush administration is the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus—almost every area” of any presidency in the last forty years.” Chuck Hagel, Republican – Nebraska, November 2007
In other words, they sucked from the very beginning. And the nation had no chose but to watch as over four thousand and five hundred flag draped coffins came home, just to satisfy the ignorant, craven and incompetent who elected them…
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:55 pm
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
3:49 pm
Our troops boost their economy, plain and simple. The Japanese and Germans would really hate it if we left, but meh…
Viet Nam is a fiesty nation and China had better watch. After WWII, we never should have let the French back in and we should have backed Uncle Ho, even though he was Communist. We could have controled him better and maybe saved 58,000+ young American lives.
left wing
August 25th, 2010
4:01 pm
Granny Godzilla @ 3:26 – And Nixon declared victory in Vietnam and left.
I don’t know what we were doing there to begin with, but we certainly can’t afford to stay.
Similarly, we should declare victory in Afghanistan and leave there, too.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
4:02 pm
“In Vietnam, U.S. officials simply manipulated events to allow American forces to be withdrawn under seemingly honorable conditions, and were then willing to let events take their natural course. We’re doing the same in Iraq, and in time will probably repeat the pattern once more in Afghanistan.”
Any bets if this’ll be the last time?
I bet “No.”
AmVet 3:43
I was reading and thinking, “dang, this is a thoughtful post from Amvet.” Then I saw Sen Hagel’s name. But… thanks for posting it.
Jefferson
August 25th, 2010
4:03 pm
2-0-2
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
4:06 pm
Normal
August 25th, 2010
3:55 pm
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
3:49 pm
Our troops boost their economy, plain and simple. The Japanese and Germans would really hate it if we left, but meh…
Viet Nam is a fiesty nation and China had better watch. After WWII, we never should have let the French back in and we should have backed Uncle Ho, even though he was Communist. We could have controled him better and maybe saved 58,000+ young American lives.
++++++++++
I agree with you but Vietnam is only using us because they need the extra weight to counter China. Vietnam has 88 million people and China has 1.3 billion.
Disgusted
August 25th, 2010
4:09 pm
It all shows that you can’t change a culture developed over many centuries in ten years or 50 years or even 100. You may call Iraq an emerging democracy if you want, but it’s still a tribal land. The refusal of the current regime to accept the results of a semi-legitimate election just puts an exclamation point on the whole mess. Unlike any government of the United States, the existing Iraqi government refuses to step down when it loses an election.
Bring our troops home and let those savages fight it out. Sooner or later, a ruthless strongman will emerge to rule Iraq. That’s the way it has always been, and that’s the way it will be for many decades to come. All those purple thumbs held up to our cameramen mean nothing. We have sacrificed the lives of more than 4,000 of our troops and ruined the lives of many more in a misguided attempt to impose democracy on a people who don’t even understand the concept. We have succeeded merely in toppling a Sunni regime and installing a Shiite one to take its place.
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
4:14 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
3:54 pm
“…the Bush administration is the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus—almost every area” of any presidency in the last forty years.” Chuck Hagel, Republican – Nebraska, November 2007
In other words, they sucked from the very beginning. And the nation had no chose but to watch as over four thousand and five hundred flag draped coffins came home, just to satisfy the ignorant, craven and incompetent who elected them…
++++++++++
Compare the number of people who died under Johnson vs the number who died under Bush. I am not defending Bush but Johnson was much worse when it comes to fighting wars which achieve nothing for a high cost.
Under Johnson the cost was much higher in terms of lives and money.
I am not a fan of either.
A private sector employee
August 25th, 2010
4:14 pm
The Balkanization of Iraq is now inevitable. It may have always been inevitable. 40 years of Soviet/Communist rule couldn’t stamp out the ethnic hatred in the Balkans, and there is little evidence that U.S./Nato occupation could stamp out ethnic/tribal hatred in 7 years in Iraq.
ONE THING IS CLEAR: when you give these countries your withdrawal time line the way that Obama has, you guarantee failure. Knowing that the U.S. would withdraw, a government has been unable to form in Iraq. Knowing that the U.S will withdraw, the local populace has been unwilling to cooperate with the U.S. in Afghanistan. These wars may have always been unwinnable, but this President has guaranteed failure.
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
4:23 pm
Normal,
If hindsight were 20/20 we would all be geniuses. As a young man, serving in Da Nang, I didn’t seem to have the maturity that age has brought and I thought all of those war protesters were certainly not “good Americans”. The ones that spit on me, my wife and young son in the Santa Barbara airport on my return from VN didn’t endear me to their cause either. But looking back, they had every right to protest my involvement in something that they thought was terribly wrong. Well, maybe minus the spitting. As if we had a choice at the time.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
4:25 pm
“when you give these countries your withdrawal time line the way that Obama has, you guarantee failure”
Piffle
What is the alternative?
Bomb the snot out of them?
Sneak all the troops out one night under cover of darkness making sure
to cover their tracks on the way out?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
4:26 pm
The Kurds are getting real antsy. The results of the last election in the Arab districts were not a good omen for them. The question is, will we sell them down the river in this “mission accomplished?” There’s some real bad blood there and it will make the Sunni-Shia conflict look like a day at the beach if it blows up…have been searching high and low to hear what the current administration has in mind there and there’s an ominous silence…
getalife
August 25th, 2010
4:27 pm
They will blow each other up before Obama’s speech on Tuesday.
Who is their leader?
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
4:28 pm
Bush drove us in the ditch and Obama was hired to get us out. Unfortunely he can’t find the keys to the tow truck. He is to busy suing Arizona.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
4:29 pm
Modeate, the red herring comparison of Bush vs. Johnson is of no real interest to me.
What is, is how the worst president in American history and his cabal of gutless incompetents could, in a scant 27 years, forget all about that debacle in the jungle.
Hagel alluded to their arrogant self-delusion and he was spot on. Of course, unlike them he was man of valor and courage. BushCorp learned nothing and the only thing they taught us was that neo-cons can never again be trusted with governing the nation…
Bosch
August 25th, 2010
4:34 pm
“What is the alternative?
Bomb the snot out of them?
Sneak all the troops out one night under cover of darkness making sure
to cover their tracks on the way out?”
And THAT would be why I love Mrs. G.
Bosch
August 25th, 2010
4:35 pm
kayaker,
I have to say, I would have smacked anyone who spit on me and my kids.
Southern Harmony
August 25th, 2010
4:37 pm
one of the same every since carter
Southern Harmony
August 25th, 2010
4:41 pm
agree with the bombs and after they leave afgan.
could makes afew rivers in pak.
.
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
4:44 pm
Bosch,
I went home and took off the uniform, complete with it’s rows of medals. packed it into a plastic garbage bag and put into the back of the closet. I haven’t opened it yet and that’s been 41 yrs. ago. I wanted to smack them very badly. I had not seen my wife and son for a whole year and had only seen them for a few minutes before this happened. I have muddled over that scene many times over the years and changed the story and the ending numerous times in my mind. But you live with that and move along. We were not the enemy but just the messenger. They should have spit on McNamara, Kennedy and Johnson. I was just fortunate to be coming home occupying a seat in the passenger compartment instead of a box in the cargo hold.
tm
August 25th, 2010
4:48 pm
there is no way we are going to bring back any of the guard units any time soon.
think what that would do to the unemployment numbers.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
4:49 pm
Kayaker 71
They really and truly spit at you?
From the free republic of all places
Please remember don’t shoot the messenger.
JohnnyReb
August 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
Civilians cannot wrap their arms around what is winning or losing in a guerrilla war. Traditional war, the military goes in and destroys everything including civilians. Our military does not yet have a good plan for guerrilla warfare; they fight and lose their lives with their hands politically tied. Thus no one, including politicans, know if we are really winning or losing until well after the fact.
While it sounds good, bringing military not actively engaged in war back to US soil would greatly weaken our military posture. No deterent other than airstrikes; plus our allies would get very nervous.
All you guys on the Left, you did note this past Sunday one of your standard bearers, Friedman, stated the Iraqi war was important.
I will agree the single worse mistake made during the war was the Bush administration deciding to dis-ban the Iraqi military. That single decision probably prolonged the war by 3 or 4 years.
Bosch
August 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
Holy crap kayaker, that’s terrible! Well, I’m glad you came home in a seat with your family too — I mean, who else would I then have to read posts and roll my eyes.
Seriously, thanks for your service.
getalife
August 25th, 2010
4:51 pm
kay is the proof the cons are looking for to back up the statement that Americans “spit on me”.
Are you going on Hannity kay?
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
4:52 pm
The question is, what will things be like in Iraq, 5 years from now. The answer is, nobody knows.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
4:53 pm
Freidman of the Freidman unit?
certainly substandard
JohnnyReb
August 25th, 2010
4:56 pm
Granny, that would be THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN, columnist for the NY Times, appearing also to my disappointment each Sunday in the AJC.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
4:58 pm
same dude…..The Freidman Unit…..substandard standard bearer.
Normal
August 25th, 2010
4:59 pm
Kayaker,
I didn’t know you were there or most likely I forgot. Welcome home.
I too, was spat on at LAX in ‘69. I was still in a whell chair at the time, but in uniform. I was headed home for convalesense leave.
I don’t agree with you about Kennedy, we will never know of course, but I think he would have taken a different tract with Viet Nam. Johnson, on the other hand, pi$$ on him.
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
4:59 pm
Granny,
It sure felt like it and when my wife wiped it off of her face, it was pretty unmistakable. I wonder if Mr. John Llewellyn who wrote this rebuttal was ever in the Santa Barbara airport in June of 1969. It was populated with war protesters, usually from UCSB, the ones that burned down the BOA branch in protest to their loan policy to firms that supported the war. I learned later that the organizers of the protests would scan the airline arrivals from San Francisco and LA. Anyone in a uniform was a target. No, I certainly would not shoot the messenger and I respect their right to protest. Didn’t feel too good at the time, however.
JohnnyReb
August 25th, 2010
5:04 pm
Kayaker 71 – I put in my four Air Force years 66 to 70. My time in SE Asia was in Thailand working KC-135’s and B-52’s. We refueled the fighters and bombed the hell out of them. I had a cushie assignment as compared to guys in Viet Nam. I hate how you were treated upon return; and right or wrong connect it to the California flower children. Not that any of them attacked you and family, but that bunch in California and elsewhere protesting the war and American in general have morphed into members or close contacts to the Obama administration.
Granny Godzilla
August 25th, 2010
5:05 pm
kayaker and Normal…..
I applaud and appreciate your service to our nation and your patience in not smacking the spitter….
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 25th, 2010
5:06 pm
Aahhh, kookman the al Qaeda mouthpiece, blow up innocent civilians, get a write up in the Urinal on how your side is winning.
Delightful, isn’t it?
Bud Wiser
August 25th, 2010
5:06 pm
Leave it to AmWet, the little coward, to blame Bush for everything.
Get your head out of that very dark and smelly place, little boy; having mommy buy you a GI Joe outfit doesn’t make you a soldier…or a man.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
5:17 pm
When I had a girl spit on me in 1971 while wearing my Army ROTC uniform I didn’t say anything about it for years either. After all the zillions of stories about how our troops were just a bunch of blood thirsty baby killers maybe I just believed I deserved it. The people who decided to join the anti-war effort by using their positions as news reporters to spread that filth against our troops are the ones that deserve to be spat upon.
I'm Here From The Government And I'm Here To Help
August 25th, 2010
5:20 pm
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2010 – A wave of attacks in Iraq today demonstrates that al-Qaida in Iraq is still capable of operating and is desperate to regain lost momentum, the top spokesman for U.S. Forces Iraq told American Forces Press Service today.
“We haven’t seen these types of attacks since May 10,” Army Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza said in a telephone interview from Baghdad. “This shows there is still capability with al-Qaida here to conduct operations. It also shows their intent or desire to try to reinsert themselves, which they have had trouble doing in the past.”
@@
August 25th, 2010
5:21 pm
Put these two statements together:
1) Biden stressed that the changing U.S. role in Iraq should be not be viewed as American disengagement. He noted that the administration is largely following former President George W. Bush’s plan for a “long-term” relationship with Baghdad.
2) The military said U.S. troops will now transition to Operation New Dawn, effective September 1. In this phase, the United States will help train Iraqi security forces until the end of its mission in December 2011.
While the total number of U.S. troops in Iraq will continue to diminish throughout 2011, the withdrawal rate will be “calibrated and adjusted based on conditions on the ground,” according to presidential national security adviser John Brennan.
And then there’s Odierno’s statement:
The general said the “insurgency is suppressed” and, despite continued violence, the overall security situation in Iraq is improving along with the ability of the Iraqi state to protect people and conduct government functions.
U.S. troops, however, could move back to a combat role if there was “a complete failure of the security forces” or if political divisions split Iraqi security forces.
MAN! that leaves a lot of wiggle room.
I’m still waiting to hear leftist outrage over the military contractors that will be put in place to protect the State Dept..
I’ll probably have to wait for hell to freeze over.
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
5:22 pm
Bud had way too much tonight. He might need a week to sleep that one off.
@@
August 25th, 2010
5:28 pm
I’ve had some of my students spit on me. Does that mean anti-war protesters are developmentally delayed?
It would appear so.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
5:33 pm
Poor pathetic wiper. He’ still carrying a grudge, because after posting repeated, childish rants like that 5:06, I merely noted that he wasn’t qualified to even shine the boots of the cadets at the US Military Academy.
Boy howdy, did that ever send him into a slobbering rage for a few days!
Hey, things are tough all over! Poor Wingfield is reduced to insulting his bloggers. Too funny…
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2010
5:34 pm
“when you give these countries your withdrawal time line the way that Obama has”
Apparently you are unaware that the Aug 2011 “timeline” was set by Bush, not Obama. Obama just stuck to it.
JohnnyReb
August 25th, 2010
5:36 pm
@@ – there’s your sign, students spitting on you and you can’t whack the hell out of them! America has steadily gone soft. I fear for our future. The public can’t stomach a war longer than a war movie. Guys who would have learned discipline in the military don’t now because the draft is gone. People are running over what is right because they are PC correct. Patton, where are you?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:37 pm
I knew a guy who was spit on once by a llama at a petting zoo.
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
Golly! What we need to do is to tell them people that we are going to leave on a certain date and then leave earlier instead.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2010
5:34 pm
Just like he’ll “stick” to the Bush tax cuts.
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2010
5:42 pm
“Just like he’ll “stick” to the Bush tax cuts”
That isn’t up to him. It’s in Congress’s court.
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
5:43 pm
As wars go, we haven’t won one since WW2. Korea was a “police action”. Viet Nam was supposed to be a “containment”. The first Gulf war was some sort of “restoration”, this one has been “a conflict of liberation”. When Nixon pulled out of VN, it was an “honorable victory”. What kind of spin are we going to put on the next one? Douglas Macarthur and George S. Patton were right. If we are not in it to win, why do it. All of the cannon fodder expended in the last 50 or so years have a right to know.
Palin fan
August 25th, 2010
5:46 pm
The mane problem is that Obama does not have the chops to lead a war-time country. We’re screwed until 2012.
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2010
5:48 pm
“The mane problem”
horsefeathers
SOUTHERN ATL
August 25th, 2010
5:48 pm
AmVet@3:43…excellent post! Bring our troops home!!!!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 25th, 2010
5:51 pm
Do dummycrats lose all the wars they fight?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:53 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
5:33 pm
Insulting his bloggers or calling BS on them?
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
5:55 pm
The Leg Lamp is a “major award” much like Cynthia Tucker’s Pulitzer and Obama’s Nobel. ….man are you from Alabama?
@@
August 25th, 2010
5:56 pm
JohnnyReb:
My students ARE….errr WERE developmentally delayed, so NO, I wouldn’t have been doing no whacking. I could, and DID reduce them to tears with “the look” for which I was famous. Our Director of Education actually called a staff meeting so I could teach it to the other teachers.
I’d never laughed so hard in my life. All of them attempting “the look”. Never worked for them…maybe it’s got something to do with green eyes and wicked eyebrows.
I’m missing the little darlings…truly, I am!!!
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:56 pm
Speaking of wars – which President’s were in office when fighting troops were sent in?
World War II – FDR, Democrat
Korean “Conflict” – Truman, Democrat
Vietnam – JFK, Democrat
Desert Storm – Bush, Republican
“Serbian” War – Clinton, Democrat
Iraq/Afghanistan – Bush, Republican
So tell me, why do libs bash conservatives about being war mongers?
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
5:57 pm
Iraq is basically an amalgamation of 3 ethnic groups. Arabs (Sunnis), Kurds, and Shia (Persian). Iraq’s borders were drawn by Britain after World War I from what was previously the “Ottoman Empire.” If there were not oil involved, Iraq could simply be divided into three parts: the Kurdish north (which could become part of Turkey), the west could be absorbed in to Saudi Arabia, and the south and east become a part of Persia (Iran). The “country” of Iraq would cease to exist. Will this stop these people from killing each other? I doubt it. But it might help.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:57 pm
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
5:55 pm
No, I’m not from Alabama, but I love Alabama. It separates us from Mississippi.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Go read it for yourself and then you tell us, mystery meat.
Andy, go ask Slick Willy about his brilliant campaign in Bosnia. Not one single American life lost. (excluding two pilots in training missions) And the bloodbath ended. I know that doesn’t compare with the spectacular and dazzling success of George of the Bungle.
Just sprayin’…
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
IR/YW
“Do dummycrats lose all the wars they fight?”
WWI, WWII ring a bell?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
5:55 pm
By the way, I’m flattered you’re so interested (or should I be “skeered”).
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
5:59 pm
What part?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
5:59 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
And how many innocent lives were lost on the ground due to the random bombings during Clinton’s insurgency?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:01 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Oh yeah, and Clinton did a helluva job in Somalia, now didn’t he?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:01 pm
Soothsayer…
Iraqi Kurdistan become a part of Turkey? Now that’s a good one! Do you have an idea of what would happen if Turkey even tried?
@@
August 25th, 2010
6:01 pm
Camels are notorious spitters. Pit vipers too, spittle bugs, walruses.
Anti-war protesters ain’t in good company among the lower life forms.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:02 pm
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
5:59 pm
You need me to narrow it down for you? Okay, it’s not Atlanta. That better?
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
josef nix: you’re right, that’s a non-starter!
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
And how many innocent lives were lost on the ground due to the random bombings during Clinton’s insurgency?
Hey you’re the answer man around here. Why don’t you tell me?
Take your time. I know you are a pure research machine, but this one may take ya awhile…
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
Clinton did a helluva job in Bosnia…Clinton did a helluva job north of the 35th in Mesopotamia…
Sick of Repubs
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
No, its Alabama…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:04 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
But the biggest mark Clinton made in any campaign was on the blue dress.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:05 pm
Soothsayer
I know I’m beating the Kurdish drum today, but that IS the wild card and, quite frankly, only Israel seems to be paying attention…
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:05 pm
I’ve away for a while. Will somebody please tell me WTF and Leg Lamp is? And who won it? And why is (one of) Andy(’s multiple personalities) obsessed with it? Thanks.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
6:06 pm
Insulting his bloggers or calling BS on them?
The latter of course. That’s why that gargantuan exaggeration was made here rather than there.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:06 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
55,261 civilians. That quick enough for you? Sure, Clinton wasn’t responsible for anything. Typical lunatic lib.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:08 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:05 pm
Dude, you really are out of touch, now aren’t you? Go watch the movie “A Christmas Story”. That will tell you who won it.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:08 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:05 pm
Let me ask you a “WTF” question. Who is Andy?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:08 pm
“But the biggest mark Clinton made in any campaign was on the blue dress.”
There’s the campaign, and there’s the administration…overall, I give Billy Boy some pretty high marks in the latter…he was d*mned tacky with the “that woman” remark, though. He ought to have gone ahead and said, “umm hunh, sho did and man it was nice. How would you like to have to go home to Hillary?”
@@
August 25th, 2010
6:09 pm
Kinda piteeful when I think about. Obama will be doing “the manly” thing
August 31st–delivering his speech on Iraq. It’s the only thing he’s got going for him.
Americans have long-since moved on and into the unemployment lines.
Helloooooooooo, Mr. President!!!! Is anybody there????
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:10 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:08 pm
I still say the strangest thing about that whole affair (no pun intended) was her keeping the soiled dress. She HAD to be thinking she could use it for leverage.
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:10 pm
TLLISAMAMLCTPAON: I AM out of touch. I’ve never heard of “A Christmas Story.” I am serious. When did it come out? Help, fellow bloggers. WTF is he talking about?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:11 pm
Soothsayer
If he ain’t Andy, then he’s his Siamese twin joined at the ass!
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
That’s why that gargantuan exaggeration was made here rather than there.
Then post it.
Look, lets not pretend here. I would guess that pretty much everyone here knows you won’t. So if in the next 30 minutes or so when you haven’t (and you won’t), no worries, I will.
Then you and the other humpers can reconnoiter and do “damage control”!
And Lamper, where are those “collateral damage” numbers? Don’t make me find them for you…
LOL…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:10 pm
I like the cryptic abbreviation, but seriously dude, you’d save time just by cutting and pasting the name.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:13 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
I already posted them, numbskull. Put down the bottle and go back a page.
md
August 25th, 2010
6:13 pm
The “mistake”, was putting boots on the ground. We have the most advanced military in the world, no need to put our boys in harms way. Even Clinton saw the benefits of sending Gaddafi a present via airmail directly to his bedroom.
Same with Afghanistan – pull the boys out and mass produce the drones – save lives and boost the economy all at the same time.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:14 pm
Leg
@ 6:10
Yeah, that sorta weirded me out, too…like I said, the Clinton administration was not that bad in my opinion in retrospect. but, L-rd! What was going on behind closed doors…no wonder he thought DADT was a good idea!
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:14 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:10 pm
“A Christmas Story” is a classic movie that came out a mere 28 years ago or so. You know, back in the good ol’ Reagan years.
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
“55,261 civilians. That quick enough for you? Sure, Clinton wasn’t responsible for anything. Typical lunatic lib.”
Andy, your blogging is as distinctive as your signature. If you ain’t Andy frogs have wings. Are you on some new medication? Those docs at the VA experimenting with you?
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:16 pm
Lamper, no source? No link? Put up or…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:16 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:14 pm
I wasn’t a big Clinton fan, but he wasn’t as bad as say, Jimmy Carter. I do think having a republican controlled Congress after 94 kept him in check, though. If he had a democrat Congress I think he would have moved waaaaay to the left.
JohnnyReb
August 25th, 2010
6:17 pm
@@ – hats off to teachers, especially those who taught/teach the challenged. In my schooling days, if you misbehaved it was either the ruler to the stretched palm or the paddle to the butt. Both very effective. Now days, kids pay their parents no attention. They come into my wife’s shop, the mom tells them not to touch anything, and our sales associates then have to chase them all over the store to keep them from breaking/damaging goods while the mother cares less. A soft America won’t survive.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
6:18 pm
amvet,
Why would I post something for you?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:18 pm
md
And the bombing of Serbia had its effect and the loss of American lives was minimal…I have a great love of the Serbs, they are not a bad people, but their regime had to be stopped…
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:18 pm
Sooth, does seem we have us a Sybil here, doesn’t it?
Maybe Jay will reveal which mystery meat is behind Door Number 3!
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:19 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:16 pm
Damn you’re lazy. Booze will do that to a person. This body count included military. I only posted civilians.
Death toll in Bosnian war was 102,000
Norwegian News Agency ^ | 14/11/2004 | Av Kjell Arild Nilsen, NTB
You previously gloated that you were waiting on a response (which was already posted) and “LOL” and all that childish stuff. Still “LOL”??
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:20 pm
Why would I post something for you?
I don’t know. Balls? The courage to substantiate what you claim? Self-respect?
The guesses are endless.
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:20 pm
Andy:
Here, let me break it down for you:
1) Imbecilic multi-word name no one really knows (or cares) anything about
2) Over-the-top right-wing rhetoric
3) End with an insult
Did I leave anything out?
Really, “dude” if you don’t want people to recognize you try changing your style. Oh, and while you’re at try bringing some worthwhile to the blog instead of “foaming at the mouth” rhetoric you got from Lush’s show! OK?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:20 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:16 pm
By the way, little girl, you post a lot of drivel on here and don’t back it up with links. So in your immortal style, STFU and LOL and ROFLMAO and BFF and OMG…….
md
August 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
Jo,
Personally, innocents will die on both sides, but I’d prefer it be on the other “side”. For the most part, even the everyday soldier is an “innocent” that would prefer not to be there. Boots on the ground should be a last resort, drones in the air are quite effective.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:20 pm
Yes, your maniacal rant reveals that you have indeed been “out of touch” (your words not mine) for quite some time. Decades perhaps.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
JohnnyReb
Thanks for the vote for teachers and especially those who work with the challenged. But, really, it doesn’t take a whole lot to bring an unruly one into line…had a set-to this a.m. with a little terrorist who was going the get the last word no matter what. It took about 30 mins, but I out talked him! When he finally backed down, I said, “there! I won. You lost. Nyaaanh! Now, are we buddies?” He put out his hand, we shook, and when his mama came in for the report later in the day, he came running to me, gave me a hug, and told his mama, “this is my friend. I like him!” Kinda made my day.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:25 pm
Sure, and still no link.
Lamper, do you even understand what “collateral damage” is?
You have not provided the first scintilla of evidence to substantiate the moronic claim that American forces killed that many innocents…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:25 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:15 pm
I’m sure your mastery of the written word had you in good standing with Jay. Why don’t you ask your idol if I am the “andy” you refer to? The answer will show that you’re waaaaaaay “out of touch” (your words not mine).
@@
August 25th, 2010
6:26 pm
Obama supporters called in their last, best hope – a smiling, slimmer William Jefferson Clinton. Lefties both in and out of the press want Clinton to pass his mojo onto their new favorite son.
His mojo??? I’m willing to bet Obama’s got a blue dress, appropriate for the occasion.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451653299662706.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_RIGHTBelowPepperandSalt
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
6:27 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
4:29 pm
Modeate, the red herring comparison of Bush vs. Johnson is of no real interest to me.
What is, is how the worst president in American history and his cabal of gutless incompetents could, in a scant 27 years, forget all about that debacle in the jungle.
++++++++++++
“Red herring comparison” The article in question does not even mention Bush so if anyone is using a Red Herring comparison I believe it would be you. In fact if you do a search you are the first person to mention Bush. But you do not seem to be the type to allow hypocrisy get in the way of you argument.
Plus you turn around and say Bush is the worst President in history which would seem to imply a comparison to Johnson or any other President right after you stated you were not interested in such a comparison. LOL
Plus I believe I stated I am not a fan of either one so why would I divert attention from one to the other.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:27 pm
Leg
That death toll in the Bosnian war was overwhelmingly before Clinton came in and basically told NATO “scr*w you, this has got to stop…”
md
Your view is well taken and as technology advances, much more can be done along those lines.
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:28 pm
Andy:
I really believe you have some perverse desire for people to attack you. Since everyone knows all of your “previous” monikers and ignores you, you must continuously re-invent new ones to get the attention you pathologically desire. Here’s a tip: Use “Andy” as your “nome de plume,”
bring some rational, researched material to the blog, and forgo the insults. You might enjoy the results.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:30 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:28 pm
Ah, too big of a coward to ask Jay. Afraid that the truth will make you look even more foolish than your posts?
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
Moderate, the subject at hand was the consequences of the botched invasion and occupation of Iraq. Bush is germane to any discussion of that subject. (As much as the apologists attempt to run away from such considerations.)
LBJ is not. Your comparison about how many died in the 60s and 70s is a red herring. Nothing more…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:32 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:27 pm
I wasn’t trying to insinuate that ALL civlian deaths were from American bombers, but for goodness sakes don’t try to convince me that NO civilian was killed like that. I guess it’s hard to determine the total civilian body count from 40,000 feet.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 25th, 2010
6:32 pm
OK, change that to “do dummycrats lose most of the wars they fight.”
~~~~~
Goothsayer- What are you talking about?
jconservative
August 25th, 2010
6:33 pm
Unfortunately Iraq is probably going to end up as another Islamic Republic like Iran.
When Bush 43 decided to go into Iraq he made the decision before he heard any the reports from Defense, State and CIA that getting rid of Saddam would only lead to a radical Islamic state in Iraq. The only administration officials to hear the reports were Rice and Rumsfeld. But Bush never asked either their opinion on invading Iraq.
And those same reports pointed out that getting rid of Saddam would easily double the military and political power of Iran re the other Middle East states.
So far the middle East experts in Defense, State and CIA are batting .1000.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:33 pm
Lamper,where are those sources for your made up collateral damage numbers?
What’s the prob? Having difficulties with that HTML stuff?
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
6:34 pm
amvet,
This cross blog note passing is more like a tween girl. I’ll leave that to you.
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
6:37 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:03 pm
And how many innocent lives were lost on the ground due to the random bombings during Clinton’s insurgency?
Hey you’re the answer man around here. Why don’t you tell me?
Take your time. I know you are a pure research machine, but this one may take ya awhile…
+++++++++++++++
I post this link while realizing even though I support Amvets position he will accuse me of using a red herring comparison or something else derogatory in order to divert attention from Bush. Even though I don’t believe Bush was a good president and that I believe Clinton did the right thing in Kosovo.
Here is a link on the number of deaths in by NATO bombing.
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2000/nato/Natbm200.htm#P88_14845
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:37 pm
Leg…
Where are you getting that figure of 40,000 deaths from American bombing? I’m not being snarky, I really would like to know…I understand that the TOTAL number of deaths in the Bosnian conflict was 250,000 and all those involved committed their own fair share of atrocities–Serbs, Bosnians, and Croats alike–of course the Roma, as always, got it from all sides–but who cares about them, eh?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
Leg
Ooops! Mistake on my part, you didn’t say 40,000 civilian casualties…apologies…
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
I’m sure Jay’s already gone home for the night. It doesn’t matter, really. What’s worse than being Andy? Being an Andy clone. Whoever you are, your message is the same as Andy.
Gosh, if we could just go back to the “good ole days” under Bush, things would be OK. Well, guess what? Bush is generally regarded (not just in progressive circles) as the worst President in history. And that’s saying something.
So rave on. “IT’S OBAMA’S FAULT! IT’S OBAMA’S FAULT!” He gave us “socialize medicine” even though 99% of the law was written by WellPoint (look it up). He inherited the worst economy since FDR. He inherited two useless, pointless wars. So now the Right has someone to “hang it on.” Just remember, if the Repugs are elected in 2012, WE will someone to hang it on. Just sayin . . .
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:40 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:33 pm
Just how ignorant can you be? Read my 6:19. Geez, you’re an onery drunk.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:41 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
“WE will someone to hang it on.”
Ah yes, still making those valid points I see.
@@
August 25th, 2010
6:41 pm
AmVet:
You said that Kyle has been reduced to insulting his bloggers.
Have you not seen jay insult his conservative bloggers? Surely you have.
So….I guess your problem with Kyle was today’s humorous smack down of the left-winger, CJ?
Where is that sense of humor of which you are so proud? Are you, by any chance, CJ?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:43 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
No apology needed. You seem to be a sane democrat. Can’t say the same for Soothsayer. That lady is scaaaaaary.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:44 pm
Thanks, Moderate, Nice non-red herring. Spot on actually.
So let’s see, you provide a seemingly credible source that says according to the best numbers available, the civilian deaths from NATO bombing in the former Yugoslavia was around 500 people. And yes this is a tragedy.
But an even bigger one, is how lamper, who ostensibly went to school somewhere, says the number is in the tens of thousands.
No withstanding that this entire assertion is puerile nonsense things that make you go hmmm.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:46 pm
Moderate
@ 6:37
Thanks for the link…that was what I seemed to remember from when it was taking place…I had not “looked back” to see if what I thought was born out in retrospective account taking…
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
“Unfortunately Iraq is probably going to end up as another Islamic Republic like Iran”
If Iraq didn’t have oil, would we give a flying rat’s rump if they’re an Islamic Republic? No, we could care less.
Leg Lamp: WTF a stupid name that is. It’s strange that I Report/Whine surreptitiously “dissappeared” during this whole interplay isn’t it?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:39 pm
“What’s worse than being Andy?”
Gee, since I’m not Andy I don’t know. What could be worse is being soothsayer or her spouse.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
LEG
Thanks…but I’m NOT a Democrat, sane or insane…but I AM a left wing liberal!
md
August 25th, 2010
6:48 pm
“Bush is generally regarded (not just in progressive circles) as the worst President in history.”
“History” is relevant, still depends on the future. Big “ifs” involved with Iraq and Afghanistan. If one or both go on to become stable countries within the ME, Bush will be judged accordingly.
As far as the “worst ever” – highly debatable. There are several in the running, including our current misfit.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:49 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
So now I’m not Andy, but RW? My, you are a paranoid little devil, aren’t you? Ask Jay tomorrow. You’ll make yourself look more and more foolish (if that’s possible).
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:49 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you by calling you a Democrat.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
6:50 pm
No, meat I prefer to read these two:
Lamper: And how many innocent lives were lost on the ground due to the random bombings during Clinton’s insurgency?
Lamper: 55,261 civilians. That quick enough for you? Sure, Clinton wasn’t responsible for anything. Typical lunatic lib.
I love giving guys like Lamper the rope and letting them do the rest.
Today’s new euphemism for insult. Drum roll, please……………………………
Humorous smack down!
Jeezoo, some of this stuff is right out of WWE…
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:51 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:47 pm
“Leg Lamp: WTF a stupid name that is.”
This from someone who calls herself “Soothsayer”. muuuwwwaaaAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:51 pm
Leg Lamp (WTF?): what is your objective on this blog? Saving souls for Lush?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:52 pm
Leg may indeed by an alter ego of Andy’s, but if he is, he’s a lot more civil to ME that IR/YW! Hasn’t made any comments yet about my sex life….
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:52 pm
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:51 pm
You want to meet a lush? Here, I’ll handle the introduction.
Soothsayer, Amvet…….Amvet, Soothsayer
Tillie
August 25th, 2010
6:53 pm
Obama has frittered when diplomacy should have been front and center. Obama seems best at lecturing and worst at actually doing something.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:53 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:52 pm
You do seem to have a good sense of humor. You’ll get a huge laugh if Jay were to reveal whether or not I’m Andy, RW, or whoever else Soothsayer comes up with. She’s scaaaaary.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:54 pm
Leg? RW? Say what?
Soothsayer
August 25th, 2010
6:54 pm
I think Amvet is one the more cogent posters on this blog? Why would you say that?
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
6:55 pm
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:54 pm
It’s “d”, none of the above.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:56 pm
Leg
I’ve found a sense of humor goes a long way here…AND in dealing with myself!
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:57 pm
Soothsayer
AmVet? Cogent? He’s a curmudgeon, for G-d’s sake…
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
6:58 pm
AmVet
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
6:46 pm
Moderate
@ 6:37
Thanks for the link…that was what I seemed to remember from when it was taking place…I had not “looked back” to see if what I thought was born out in retrospective account taking…
++++++++++++++++++++
Let’s not forget the number of people who were displaced by the Yugoslav government which was the reason for the bombings.
I am typically against war not because I am a pacifist because they rarely achieve their objective.
The best debacle in history was Napolen invading Russia.
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
Hegel, Friedrich
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
7:00 pm
So Lamper,
Had you any shame whatsoever, you would now admit that it’s pretty conclusive that you are FOS on the matter of civilians killed by Clinton’s bombs, right?
No retraction? No redaction? No correction? No mea culpa? No laughing at putting your feet BIG time in your mouth?
(Oh and BTW, josef, curmudgeons notwithstanding, I’m here laughing my you know what off at this “exchange” this evening. It is seldom that someone implodes so spectacularly in public…)
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:02 pm
Kyle’s insult or humorous smack down?
CJ, I had you pegged as too smart to believe that someone who expresses a general admiration for a movement that encompasses millions of people from coast to coast should be held accountable for every statement made by any of those millions of people.
Then again, I would have pegged you as also being too smart to think that the caveats the CBO made last time about the limitations of its reporting on the stimulus don’t apply in its subsequent reports. http://bit.ly/9twIn1
But don’t worry — I’ll stop thinking so highly of you.
I vote, HUMOROUS!
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
7:06 pm
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
7:00 pm
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I’m “FOS” as you put it regarding civilians killed in Bosnia. You, however, are “FOS” on everything else. So I’m sitting here “LOL”, “ROFLMAO” and all the other cute abbreviations you like to use.
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:07 pm
Personally, I think AmVet is over-compensating due to his battle with Low-T.
Just a woman’s observation.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
7:07 pm
AmVET = starring role in reprise of the classic “Billy Jack goes to Washington”.
The Leg Lamp is a "major award" much like Cynthia Tucker's Pulitzer and Obama's Nobel.
August 25th, 2010
7:07 pm
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:07 pm
Harumph, harumph!!
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
7:09 pm
md
August 25th, 2010
6:48 pm
“Bush is generally regarded (not just in progressive circles) as the worst President in history.”
“History” is relevant, still depends on the future. Big “ifs” involved with Iraq and Afghanistan. If one or both go on to become stable countries within the ME, Bush will be judged accordingly.
As far as the “worst ever” – highly debatable. There are several in the running, including our current misfit.
++++++++++++
I’m with you concerning history being the judge, however, I don’t believe Bush will move up. He still got us in a war on either bad intelligence or a lie depending on how you look at it.
Keep in mind segregation of the federal government occured under Woodrow Wilson.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wilson/portrait/wp_african.html
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:10 pm
moderate
And Hitler didn’t learn from Napolean’s debacle… Clinton’s objective in Yugoslavia was to stop the ethnic cleansing…a limited objective and full tilt boogie to achieve it…the objective in the first Gulf War was to protect the oil supply, a limited objective and full tilt boogie to achieve it…the Iraq War and Afghanistan, the objective to get rid of an evil dictatorship got all tangled up with a nebulous “nation building” objective…not limited and not full tilt boogie…
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:11 pm
Our pet name for AmVet has always been “Blowhard”. No matter how hard, he blows.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 25th, 2010
7:12 pm
Soothie- You seem ate up with paranoia. Have you considered therapy?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:14 pm
Worst President ever? I’ve listed mine before and Bush, Obama and Carter didn’t even make my top ten…
md
August 25th, 2010
7:14 pm
“I’m with you concerning history being the judge, however, I don’t believe Bush will move up. He still got us in a war on either bad intelligence or a lie depending on how you look at it.”
And that is the point, doesn’t matter how I look at it, what will matter is how future generations will look at it. Their perspective will be different than ours………….
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
7:15 pm
I haven’t read all the posts in detail, but josef completely nailed the topic with his link @ 3:41, repeated here for convenience:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_S%C3%A8vres
The Brits pursued a policy of “dividing up” the world following WWI irrespective of the different religious and ethnic groups that they were forcing to share the same space. I’ve heard some historians postulate that this was done on purpose so that these incongruous groups would keep fighting each other, thus posing less of a threat to the rest of the world. Saddam was able to “keep the peace” through intimidation, but at great humanitarian cost. It likely was only a matter of time before the powder keg blew.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:15 pm
IR/YW
Howdy!
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
7:24 pm
md
August 25th, 2010
7:14 pm
“I’m with you concerning history being the judge, however, I don’t believe Bush will move up. He still got us in a war on either bad intelligence or a lie depending on how you look at it.”
And that is the point, doesn’t matter how I look at it, what will matter is how future generations will look at it. Their perspective will be different than ours………….
+++++++
I agree. I was just elaborating. Don’t forget Andrew Jackson who moved all those Cherokees from Georgia. I believe over 4000 died.
Was the war in Afghanistan worse than the Trail of Tears? Yikes! I don’t think so.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:29 pm
Moderate…
Ole Andy is Number One with no challenger as the worst president ever in the view of this household…Unmentionable’s granddaddy wouldn’t accept $20 bills in his business dealings!
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
7:33 pm
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that I’m “FOS”…
Not much there, but hey, baby steps.
Our pet name for AmVet…
Our?
Is that a mouse in your pocket or are you just glad to see me, humper?
And the beat goes on…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slldMEPvUqA
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
7:34 pm
Goa all leee! This blog reminds me of that time when I was going into town and eatin’ that thar rabbit at the restaurant. It shore was good but it made me have the strangest dreams.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
7:37 pm
“have been searching high and low to hear what the current administration has in mind there and there’s an ominous silence…”
josef @ 4:26–Maybe it’s just the conservative in me talking, but Obama is by far the worst President I’ve seen in my lifetime. You can disagree with Bush’s foreign policy all day, but at least he had one. As much as I didn’t care for Bill Clinton as a person, he was smart enough to surround himself with smart people. Obama’s lack of experience coupled with his inability or refusal to hire competent advisers is a toxic combo for our country IMO.
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:40 pm
Our=some, not all conservatives.
If I’m not mistaken, Buy Danish tagged you with that name.
Does the foo chit?
I think so.
jt
August 25th, 2010
7:42 pm
Iraq just needs a strong Saddam Hussein type person to wrest control………….
No wait………………………………….
md
August 25th, 2010
7:42 pm
“josef @ 4:26–Maybe it’s just the conservative in me talking, but Obama is by far the worst President I’ve seen in my lifetime. ”
Well Bruno, the good news is he still has at the least 2 more years………………………..
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
7:44 pm
Meanin’ no disrespectfulness towards all you edicated fellas and girls but I jest don’t reckon it would be righteous of me at all to be tryin’ to compare the efforts of our current president to other presidents that done served up eight years in office whilst this one ain’t hardly done give us two years yet.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
7:45 pm
Surely you jest, md.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:48 pm
Bruno
As you know, I’m no fan of Fierce Advocate, but I won’t go so far as the worst in my lifetime…but I do agree with you on the foreign policy thingie…going out on a limb here, but if would STFU and turn it over to Sister Hillary, we might at least get some consistency. She’s a lot of things, but she’s the only one in that administration with any caj*nes and, from what I’ve observed, doesn’t do the two-step…
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:49 pm
Humper, no….but beat WILL go on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnKgvOKnIgs&feature=rec-LGOUT-exp_fresh+div-1r-2-HM
@@
August 25th, 2010
7:50 pm
but THE beat will go on.
IHB
Paul
August 25th, 2010
7:51 pm
“AmVET = starring role in reprise of the classic “Billy Jack goes to Washington”.”
Dang, I’d pay to see that movie!
josef nix
“full tilt boogie”?!!?
Is that an official military briefing term?
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:51 pm
Gomer
Point made, but the road signs read a direction on a road in foreign policy that I don’t really want to go down…
Mick
August 25th, 2010
7:52 pm
UCLA STUDY (very interesting and short)
A study worth sharing with friends both male and female:
A study conducted by UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle. For example: if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest with a bat up his arss while he is on fire.
No further studies are expected on this subject.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
7:52 pm
josef nix
“turn it over to Sister Hillary”
I’d bet there’s been more than one discussion in the back rooms of the power brokers over that one -
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:53 pm
PAUL
If it’s not, it ought to be! Was wondering if you were going to come in here tonight stirring the pot…
Moderate Line
August 25th, 2010
7:54 pm
Mick
August 25th, 2010
7:52 pm
UCLA STUDY (very interesting and short)
A study worth sharing with friends both male and female:
A study conducted by UCLA’s Department of Psychiatry has revealed that
+++++++++++
This is from left field and I don’t mean politcally.
md
August 25th, 2010
7:55 pm
“Surely you jest, md.”
Better to laugh than cry………..
And I concur – he and his are clueless as to how to nourish an economy – one definitely does not scare the sh*t out of the players to make it better…………
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
7:55 pm
When Slick Willy was getting a BJ at his desk, he was also eating a pizza and talking to some Army general about troop deployments….. all at the same time. Conservatives call it mortifying…. Liberals call it multi-tasking.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
7:56 pm
Bi-Donuts? Now there’s a blast from the past!
That woman was so deranged that she made even you look pretty normal, @@.
But gawdknows, she was no where NEAR as obsessed with me as you are. Three and half years on and you STILL constantly hump my leg like some very lonely puppy.
Thanks for the stroll down memory lane though. Great for laughs…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg7jA-H-jMo
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
7:57 pm
Mick
@ 7:52
Heh, heh! And people still wanna know why I’m qu*er!
Paul
While it’s still waaaay too early to start laying bets and the Romany lady is making no predictions, buyers’ remorse alone could take her a long way in 2012 if she decided to go for the brass ring…
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:00 pm
“if would STFU and turn it over to Sister Hillary, we might at least get some consistency. She’s a lot of things, but she’s the only one in that administration with any caj*nes and, from what I’ve observed, doesn’t do the two-step…”
Though it would be unprecedented, I think Hillary has a reasonable chance to defeat Obama in the next primary should she decide to run. I still haven’t seen any outstanding candidates from the Republican side. At one time, Bobby Jindal’s name was being floated around, but his jumbled response during one of Obama’s early SOTU addresses severely harmed his chances. Haley Barbour is making some noise, but I’m afraid the various ethics charges leveled against him will come back to haunt him.
A candidate, a candidate, my kingdom for a candidate!!
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
8:00 pm
Point made, but the road signs read a direction on a road in foreign policy that I don’t really want to go down…
All I knows for shore is that I have been on some of the gosh darndest detours in my time. Twists and turns and about faces that had me wonderin’ how on earth they was gonna git me any closer to my destination and then thar I would be, every single time, almost right smack dab on the front door step of where I wanted to be all along. Home.
rcs
August 25th, 2010
8:01 pm
josef@7:57
I think she;s the best choice so far
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:02 pm
josef nix
Been a real busy day. Talking with lawyers and such. Gets draining. I read thru this blog, then say a comment and went over to Kyle’s to read Bosch stirring up trouble, big time.
I’m so proud of our little boy!
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:02 pm
AmVet–loved the Whispers tune. Didn’t know you had it in you……
In honor of the Fagen/McDonald/Scaggs concert that we’re obviously not going to enjoy tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3WBhod0sE
midtownguy
August 25th, 2010
8:03 pm
I have said it before and I will say it again, the biggest mistake the Democrats in the USA made was to nominate the inexperienced Obama over Hillary. We would be in much better shape economically and militarily if Hillary had been the nominee and eventual President. The chickens have come home to roost and will lead to a Republican landslide in November.
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:06 pm
AmVet:
she was no where NEAR as obsessed with me as you are.
Only in your dreams, Blowhard. You are but a target of convenience.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:07 pm
Mick @ 7:52
jo @ 7:57 And people still want to know why I’ve never remarried.
kayaker 71
August 25th, 2010
8:08 pm
The Beast all of a sudden looks good to all of you liberals. That “anyone but Bush” mentality is catching up with you. Is that the only choice that you have, the Beast or Bozo? Not much of a choice.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:09 pm
As per Sister Hillary…
I’ve got my problems with her on a number of counts, just the fact she’s a politician is enough to make me view her with a jaundiced eye since IMHO they’re all scoundrels, I could have voted for her…I liked what she said about her Iraq War vote, that one she pulled when late for a press event about being “trapped by shell fire in the parking lot” tickled me and while Obama was posturing about “guns and bibles” she was knocking by shooters with the common folk…pr? No doubt, but she DID know how!
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:10 pm
Don’t rule Gingrich out. It wasn’t that long ago that conservatives were saying he was too moderate. Independents might go for Newt.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:10 pm
@@
“You are but a target of convenience.”
That and the stilettos works every time, eh?
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:10 pm
josef
Even you might have to deal with this:
“if you’re a middle-aged man and have been cranky, tired and not interested in sex, you may be one of the millions going through “male menopause,” according to doctors.
What are you gonna do?
midtownguy
I don’t think you get it – the right would have pillored hilary just as much if not more. Looking forward to the possibility of some new leadership in the future but don’t bet the farm on it.
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:12 pm
HECK! The religious right might go for Newt just to be rid of Obama.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:12 pm
kayaker
Bush had no business being president. Maybe he could’ve been a decent baseball commish, bud selig has really lowered the bar.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:12 pm
@@
“Independents might go for Newt.”
At first I thought “What?!!? Been slippin’ some joy juice in the carrot juice?” But then I remembered how many Independents went for Obama. Then again, he was an unknown entity while Newt has a record….
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:13 pm
Mick:
Why do women call it PMS?
Because mad cow disease was already taken!
md
August 25th, 2010
8:15 pm
Sex – the price a women pays to be married.
Married – the price a man pays for sex.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:17 pm
@@
“The religious right might go for Newt just to be rid of Obama.”
Ah, but will they forgive his conversion to Catholicism?
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:19 pm
bruno
Speaking of pms, here’s one, parton me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F14FLQi4h7U&feature=search
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:19 pm
Hillary was older and wiser. I’m guessing her approach would have been more centrist. Like Bill, she knew the art of triangulating.
Mention the word, center to Obama, and he begins seeing sun spots. He IS the ONE!!!!!
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:21 pm
Paul:
What’s wrong with being Catholic? In this environment, I’d be willing to vote for someone from the Yellow Pages.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
Mick
@ 8:10
Been there. Seen it. Done it. Bought the t-shirt!
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:22 pm
Am–LOL @ your 7:56
Mick–Never heard that Dolly number. The more I find about her, the more I like her!
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:23 pm
@@
Nothing at all. Just wondered about the views of many in the religious right who consider some who don’t share their view of doctrine as… suspect.
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:23 pm
Newt’s record? He shut down the federal government.
I YIKE that idea!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:24 pm
@@
Actually, obama’s attempt at triangulation has earned him nothing from the right and only contempt from the left. I still think hillary would’ve been shredded just as badly if not worse by fox and echo chamber radio losers.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
@@
Isn’t he also the one who helped the Executive and Legislative away from the ‘disagree on politics, search for common ground but don’t get it in the gutter or personal’ style exemplified by Pres Reagan and Tip O’Neill to the venomous relationships we’ve seen since?
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
Special for josef–
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqB7UEdhKug
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:30 pm
Mick:
The only triangular move Obama has attempted were his efforts to stick his head up his own…you know…A$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:31 pm
bruno
Dolly parton is a breath of fresh air artistically and has the sweetest personality. How could anyone not love her?
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:34 pm
Paul:
Potential candidates do all sorts of things to garner attention. There’ll be no need to continue once elected.
I’d love to see him in a debate with Obama. With his command of all things factual, he could nail jell-O to the wall.
I’d YUV to see it….I willy would!!!!
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:34 pm
Mick, just so we won’t be accused of sexism, here’s a great man-bashing song from TLC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av7m_Pgt1S8
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:35 pm
@@
I think obama probably is a good husband and father. So far, a below average president with potential, lets see how things play out after november – its not time to wig out, yet…
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:36 pm
Mick
Had never heard that Dolly! Thanks…nobody quite like her…she was asked about plastic surgery, she said, “well, Honey, when your husband wants to see your t*ts and you have to raise your skirt, it’s probably time for a tuck…”
On Hillary and the echo chamber…I doubt she would have been shredded…she can take it and she can dish it out…
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:37 pm
bruno
Always liked that one – spot on..
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:38 pm
@@
Now that is a debate I’d love to see.
But if this ‘anti-incumbent’ thing and this Tea Party “out with the establishment political careerists” has any credibility at all, he’ll never get traction outside the Beltway and tv studios.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:39 pm
“I YIKE that idea!!!!!!!!!!!!”
And since @@ is the only woman hanging out with the boys tonight, one in her honor from the Gap Band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhWF23UI5bQ
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:40 pm
**she can take it and she can dish it out**
No disagreement there but I put her in the same league as ted kennedy, there is just something about her that drives the right bat shyt crazy! They would have feasted on her with mustard, catsup, and relish..
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:41 pm
BRUNO
Yeah! I kinda liked it when he did that!
@@
i’m not sure what kind of husband he is, but I will say this, some things are obvious and his doting on his two little ones warms my old, cold heart…
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:43 pm
I’ve always been a Newt fan, until he pulled a “Hannity” on us recently over the Cordoba Project.
Paul
August 25th, 2010
8:43 pm
Pleasant evening, all -
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:44 pm
Mick:
I don’t dislike Obama, personally. At one time I THOUGHT he had potential. I was wrong.
He’s an empty suit who likes the IDEA of being president. Knows nothing ABOUT what it takes to lead. Instead of being the CiC, he’s the DiC (Delegator in Chief).
Pit-EE-ful…just PIT-EE-FUL.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:45 pm
Mick
“there’s something about her…”
You got it, and that’s part of her “charm” to me! And even if served with the condiments mentioned, they’d still have wound up choking on it!
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
8:47 pm
@@
Well, he lost me with that drag show Evita inspired Rainbow Tour of Europe…ssshh…you’re running for President of the USofA, turkey…
@@
August 25th, 2010
8:48 pm
josef:
His role as father is another reason I’d like to see him gone. His oldest daughter doesn’t seem to be all that happy as one of the two first daughters. Could be her age. But that littlest one? She’s a cutie, oblivious to the life she’s inherited.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
8:49 pm
@@
Well. you may be right but I’m gonna give him more time. Being president in this complex era and the scenerio he inherited…..everyone wants a supernatural being but all we are ever gonna get is flesh and blood, so mistakes will be made. It’s how you deal with them and move forward that matters.
Doggone/GA
August 25th, 2010
8:50 pm
“it’s probably time for a tuck…” ”
And this one: “it’s expensive to look this cheap”
atap
August 25th, 2010
8:52 pm
Funny news coming out about the guy that stabbed the muslim cab driver. turns out the guy was a liberal nut case!! Gee, that really does not fit the “right wing hysteria” pitch the AJC is trying to pull on its readers.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:52 pm
Mick–Here’s my favorite Dolly song, though it is a cover of an earlier Jimmie Rodgers’ song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oco3cZ8IYM
If I recall correctly, I think HD said that he preferred the Jerry Reed version which came out in 1971. If he pokes his head in later, maybe he can confirm for us.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
8:54 pm
“They would have feasted on her with mustard, catsup, and relish..”
Personally, I think some wasabi would be more appropriate.
retiredds
August 25th, 2010
9:01 pm
So what’s new with this. History is full of political leaders overplaying the optimism. Those of you who tag Obama with overinflating the upside need to go back and read US and world history and you will find this over and over. For those of you who have selective amnesia here was Dick Cheney’s remarks to Dick Armey about going into Iraq,
“They’re going to welcome us. It’ll be like the American army going through the streets of Paris. They’re sitting there ready to form a new government. The people will be so happy with their freedoms that we’ll probably back ourselves out of there within a month or two.”
I would say that was a fairly positive attitude by Cheney, wouldn’t you?
Gomer Pyle
August 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
I thought for shore that after all the hard work that the Republicans put into the last presidential election in coming up with their best gosh darned candidate in the whole dang world, John McCain, that they would at least turn out and vote for the fella.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
9:05 pm
bruno
Since tonite has been dolly, lets add some led to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJHjQ81JtY0&feature=search
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
9:05 pm
So lets recap.
Lamper says Clinton bombed 50,000 civilians into oblivion. I say BS. The reality? About 500.
He the tells me I’m FOS about everything else.
I remark that Kyle insults his blogger and RW says BS.
@@, provides the quote and shonuf – insult. No two ways about it.
But she has such little intellectual honesty, she calls it a humorous smackdown.
Yet, I’m the “blowhard”.
So, it’s been another chapter in the Bruno Theory of “Are all the Right-Wingers Here Crazy?” (grin)
B, glad you liked the Whispers tune.
For the crazy right-wingers…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Sz8ZTa1UQ
@@
August 25th, 2010
9:10 pm
The assailant in the cabbie incident?
In an odd twist, Enright was a volunteer for Intersections International, a Manhattan-based group that promotes peace among different religions. A spokesman confirmed he was filming for the group, which recently threw its support behind the controversial Park 51 mosque project near Ground Zero.
Odd.
I hope and pray for Mr. Sharif’s speedy recovery. Bloomberg is playing it for all it’s political worth.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/25/2010-08-25_muslim_cab_driver_slashed_by_upstate_new_york_man_because_of_his_religion_police.html#ixzz0xgJl1bYo
@@
August 25th, 2010
9:13 pm
AmVet:
But she has such little intellectual honesty, she calls it a humorous smackdown.
Art is subjective.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
9:17 pm
Well, it’s not Friday, but if it’s Dolly, my favorite of hers and you ain’t nobody until you’ve made it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShgGepEAahs
@@
August 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
AmVet? Another thing…I’ve never purchased art that has the color blue in it. NEVER! Even if I like the subject matter, my eye rejects the blue.
For political reasons…blue representing the Democratic Party?
No! I simply don’t like the color blue in a piece of art.
landry
August 25th, 2010
9:18 pm
everything in moderation
Scout
August 25th, 2010
9:19 pm
I have said it before and I’ll say it again.
The only thing that remains is how many names will there finally be on the Iraq and Afghanistan War Monument.
I can forgive a person but I cannot forgive my country.
We never learn. Oh, perfidious nation.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
9:20 pm
josef, like you’ve said before, when you are done by those guys, you’ve made the big time!
I sure wish that old Hillbilly was here. He’s my dear ARS buddy, you know…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN_pkXOlnAo&NR=1
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
9:24 pm
I think “humorous smackdown” is FAR more accurate than “Kyle has resorted to insulting his bloggers”
Of course I would agree with the art is subjective portion if the accusation was only whether AN insult existed versus A humorous smackdown. The “has resorted to” and bloggers plural makes it apples to BS as a comparison.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
9:25 pm
“Since tonite has been dolly, lets add some led to it”
Mick, I’ll give a half-thumbs up for Dolly’s Led cover. After all, some things truly ARE sacred.
“So, it’s been another chapter in the Bruno Theory of “Are all the Right-Wingers Here Crazy?” (grin)
Am–Gotta make a sushi run, but here’s some JA to warm you up for the show in Sep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqJL7YcDgpQ
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:28 pm
Never worked for them…maybe it’s got something to do with green eyes and wicked eyebrows.
Maybe it worked on ol’ Wyld Bill, though. (IW&SH)
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:29 pm
Back at AmVet
An overlooked gem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNaQaeMRBmo
Mick
August 25th, 2010
9:34 pm
Hillbilly D
I know you can appreciate this oldie; but it just doesn’t seem that long ago-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIji4jGfvJU&feature=more_related
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
Mick
Great song. Seems like just a couple years ago, we were riding the square and blaring the 8 track.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
Scout
I won’t be able to stay to discuss it with you, but you keep asking about “good Muslims…” Check out Atlanta’s Ara Alan…you might be surprized…
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
9:44 pm
Good thing for the Braves that the Astros showed up in Philly when they did.
landry
August 25th, 2010
9:44 pm
how many of you old hippie farts sending casey kasem music dedications to each other are stoned to the bejeezus…
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:44 pm
Here’s one for history/mystery buffs.
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/duffys-cut-mass-grave-in-pennsylvania-did-irish-immigrants-die-of-cholera-or-were-they-murdered/19606498?ncid=webmail
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:46 pm
landry
Can only speak for me but I never was a hippie, as I’ve previously explained, and mind altering substances aren’t for me.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
9:47 pm
landry
Didn’t yore Momma teach you to respect yore elders?
Me? Just a good Merlot…I’m an effite old hippie snob!
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
9:47 pm
B, sushi run at 9:30 in the evening? Somebody’s living large!
I just loved that Big Generator LP. Reminds me of Tull (Crest of a Knave), the Moody Blues (The Other Side of Life), the Dead (In the Dark) and Steve Winwood (Back in the High Life) all having kickass records in the late 80s. In a time that was otherwise for me the beginning of the Back Hole of Modern Musical Times…
HD! Thanks for the ARS reply…
And in terms of progressive rock, it just never got better than Howe, Squire, Wakeman, Anderson and White, did it?
I cannot imagine him not playing this tonight up in Alpharetta…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CG0f94xlg8
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:48 pm
Here’s a comment from a poster at the Chicago Cubs blog……..
Why try to improve Castro? We should trade him as soon as possible. We just wouldn’t be the Cubs if we actually kept a talented young player. I’d hate to see us lose our identity.
AmVet
August 25th, 2010
9:49 pm
No wacky tobacky during the week, landry.
But you seem up tight, maybe you could use some!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
9:50 pm
I’ve never really been able to choose between King Crimson (the Greg Lake days), Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, and Yes. All extremely talented players.
josef nix
August 25th, 2010
9:53 pm
Gotta get outta here…wanna be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the little ones in the a.m….G’night
harvey
August 25th, 2010
9:54 pm
`All I can say as a mother is that I would never allow my son to go into a war where he wasn’t allowed to shoot anyone. I would break his legs first and keep him at home. This is a total loser. Those people are total losers and their country is a bunch of hot rocks.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
9:59 pm
landry
Hippie farts? Too bad you missed out on an era of the most eclectic music ever created. I guess that must leave you thinking rap crap is something special?
md
August 25th, 2010
10:02 pm
“Good thing for the Braves that the Astros showed up in Philly when they did.”
Of course the flip side is they missed out on a great opportunity to gain some ground, and can they forget about a game they lose after having a 9 run lead………………
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 25th, 2010
10:02 pm
Monday night at The Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard it was the lobster pasta appetizer for the president and a surf and turf entrée – the “surf” being a lobster tail – for Mrs. Obama.
Can you believe these f’king people?
Telling us how to live?
landry
August 25th, 2010
10:06 pm
easy mick, don’t get your bell bottoms in a wad, i think bald guys are sexy and i dig the mommas and the papas….
landry
August 25th, 2010
10:08 pm
I report, You were obviously molested as a child, so I don’t begrudge your hateful post, get help, we’re all rooting for you.
landry
August 25th, 2010
10:10 pm
md, hang in there, one day you’ll find a lady so you won’t have to obsess over grown men chasing a stiched ball…
landry
August 25th, 2010
10:11 pm
harvey, I wish you were my mom, i like your style.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
10:19 pm
md,
They won one when they were down 6 going to the bottom of the ninth this year. I think they can call it even and chalk it up to Coors Field.
There were actually two games today where a team blew a 10-1 lead. SF came back and took the lead 11-10 on Cincy but the Reds managed to tie it back up and won in extras.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
10:21 pm
landry
So turn me on to something but excuse me while I kiss the sky-
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:22 pm
“I cannot imagine him not playing this tonight up in Alpharetta…”
As big of a Steely Dan fan and a Doobie Bros. fan, I primarily regret missing out on seeing Boz tonight. If he doesn’t sing “Georgia:, the fans should demand a refund.
For landry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3FPuK8RFK8
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:25 pm
HD–Just as a test of my memory recall, which version of Mule Skinner Blues did you say you liked the best a while back?
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
10:28 pm
Bruno
Most are good but I like the Bill Monroe version best.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:31 pm
For some reason, I had in my mind that you liked the Jerry Reed version maybe because Chet Atkins plays guitar on it.
landry
August 25th, 2010
10:31 pm
for mama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLC2bf4jfPE
theyeshaveit
August 25th, 2010
10:32 pm
Think that our education system isn’t working? Check this out.
http://www.newsweek.com/photo/2010/08/24/dumb-things-americans-believe.html?gt1=43002
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:33 pm
I gotta admit, HD, I didn’t realize how deep the ARS catalogue was until you started playing them on the blog. Of course, once I really get to know most artists, their radio hits soon fade way down my list of their favorites.
BADA BING
August 25th, 2010
10:36 pm
Speaking of Dolly, have you ever seen her feet? That’s alright , neither has she.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
10:37 pm
eyes
Don’t sweat it too much, many who answer polls are just victims of circumstance.
BADA BING
August 25th, 2010
10:38 pm
Why does Dolly’s husband have a full beard?………….To cover up the stretch marks.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
My tribute to Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons and Skunk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTvABE3ZdXs
Scout
August 25th, 2010
10:41 pm
josef:
You mean you found “one” willing to speak out ?
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 25th, 2010
10:43 pm
Bruno
The hits from ARS are really some of their weakest stuff, IMHO.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:46 pm
Scout, hope you caught my 10:34 to you last night:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2010/08/24/our-extremists-gingrich-et-al-boost-islamic-extremists/comment-page-4/#comment-380562
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
10:46 pm
I heard Michael McDonald on the AI finale last year. It was horrifying, but if he’s still touring then maybe it was a one night thing. Either that or he’s torturing his fans.
Saw Dylan at Chastain a few years ago and my ears started bleeding at how bad his voice was, but full disclosure makes me admit I never liked him anyway.
BADA BING
August 25th, 2010
10:47 pm
Scout, what do you make of all the headless bodies and murdered illegals on their way to the US. Drug cartels are killing people that have paid them to smuggle them into the US. And Mexican officials do nothing.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:48 pm
It’s hard for me not to get a little lump in my throat whenever I hear this DB song. For “D”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XDZjLAV66A&feature=related
Real love only comes along a few times…….
Mick
August 25th, 2010
10:50 pm
scout
I know you have been getting quite a bit of heat about your views on islam. I’ve studied the religion, the wahabee sect and their views are incompatible with american ideals and culture. I really don’t want to see it spread here. Europe is having a rough time with the lot of them. They just need to stay in the middle east as far as I’m concerned. Afterall, they don’t exactly have the threat of americans trying to immgrate to their closed societies, why should we welcome them here?
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
10:54 pm
Kinda sad that Cornelius Bumpus left us a while back. The man could play, and brought a great spirit with him wherever he played.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:03 pm
Speaking of non-radio hits, one of my all time favorite Doobie Brothers songs is a gem from “Toulouse Street” called “White Sun”. Unfortunately, it’s not available on youtube, so I’ll have to play it real loud on my stereo and hope y’all hear it:
The old man is weak, but strength comes from him
A smile full of youth, and a gleam in his eye
His garden is green and seems overflowin’
And his dreams await in his rockin’ chair sky
And I slip away
Down by the water
And I slip away
Down by the sea
Take love and give love
It’s got to be free
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:07 pm
Mick:
You are one of the few to have the vision to see ahead. The rest have their heads in the sand.
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:08 pm
BADA BING:
Headless bodies ……… HEADLESS BODIES ………. We don’t need no headless bodies !!!
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:10 pm
To be fair, I should play a Donald Fagen tribute as well, but can’t get past the Doobs. From the “Stampede” album, “I Cheat the Hangman”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luv1fvtj4bQ
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:12 pm
Bruno @ 10:46
I hear you but ……………
“It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.”
Unknown
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:14 pm
Mick:
I would add that there a lot of “religions” in the world but Islam is in a class all by itself.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:15 pm
Mick @ 10:50:
Call me an idealist, but I believe in the triumph of the human spirit. As another poster pointed out last night, virtually every repressed Muslim society is on the verge of a full-fledged revolution. In Iran in particular, the young people are sick of the Mullahs. Every Muslim I know here in America was glad to leave their repressive home country and fully embraces American ideals.
For being such a liberal fellow otherwise, your view kind of shocks me.
Don't forget
August 25th, 2010
11:17 pm
Mick
August 25th, 2010
10:50 pm
scout
I know you have been getting quite a bit of heat about your views on islam. I’ve studied the religion, the wahabee sect and their views are incompatible with american ideals and culture.
——————————————————————————————————–
This is what I don’t get. Saudi Arabia is the biggest promoter of wahabism. So why aren’t conservatives focusing on developing and implementing alternatives to oil instead of sending boatloads of freakin money to Saudi Arabia????????? Instead they’d rather protest a mosque 2 blocks from ground zero. That makes NO sense whatsoever.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:19 pm
scout
Every immigrant group that came here had to assimilate and become americans to be protected by our great constitution. I don’t want people to come here to try to establish a country within a country. From what I’ve seen, once they got a toehold then they get belligerent. Obviously, its not everyone but once there is a base so to speak, there’s no going back. We need to keep it in check and discourage middle eastern immigration. Sorry, but I feel no kinship with muslims.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:21 pm
Scout @ 11:12– are you claiming that the Soldiers fighting on behalf of the Taliban or Hamas have created the freedoms you speak of?? Force and force alone brings none of the freedoms you have mentioned. I refer you to our Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:24 pm
bruno
Once again, I defy labeling. Have you been to europe lately? They rue the day that they let all the muslim immigration happen, its a battle of cultures. Who needs more division?
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:26 pm
Mick–What real life experience have you had with Muslims?? Do you speak from afar, or do you have any Muslim friends??
As for Europe, the reality is that they’ve invited Muslims in, but offer little chance for citizenship. No wonder the Muslims haven’t assimilated well. And given their historic anti-Semitism and general look-down-their-noses at anyone who isn’t French, or Dutch, or whatever, I don’t think the comparisons are valid.
getalife
August 25th, 2010
11:31 pm
“Man Who Managed The Most Anti-Gay Presidential Campaign In Modern History Comes Out.. Video Flashback: Bill Maher ‘Outed’ Mehlman On CNN In 2006..
Gay Rights Activist: Mehlman Must Account For His ‘Horrid Homophobia’ HP.
Are all cons gay?
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:31 pm
“So why aren’t conservatives focusing on developing and implementing alternatives to oil instead of sending boatloads of freakin money to Saudi Arabia??”
DF–In spite of its ever-increasing monetary and political costs, burning petroleum is still far, far cheaper than any other alternative energy source. At some point, the graphs will cross and we’ll no longer need the Middle Eastern oil, and they can return to being nomads in the desert again for all that I care. In the meantime, we have to kiss their asses. Does that make us hypocrites, both conservatives and liberals alike? Certainly.
landry
August 25th, 2010
11:33 pm
mick, i went to berlin for a spell recently, the germans can’t stand the turks, whom they brought in to rebuild after the War, didn’t give them full citizen rights, its a real pisser, makes race relations in the US look like a walk in the park….
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:36 pm
“Let there be songs to fill the air”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNXuEGIvqrQ
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:37 pm
bruno
I have some really good muslim friends from kosovo. They are so, so, different from the muslims from the middle east. Look, face to face, I take a man for what he is worth as a human being sans religion. As a group, however, it seems to me that middle eastern muslims are too close minded about this culture and its freedoms. Case in point; mohammed atta the 911 hijacker lived here in miami, took advantage of our freedoms, then promptly murdered thousands of innocent people. What drives a person to commit such an atrocity? The attitude of religious conviction that is non-negotiable. Like I said before, not all, but way too many and all it takes are those few to bring unwanted consequences.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
11:38 pm
Inventing Moderate Islam
That’s an interesting read if anybody in this “debate” is open-minded enough to see the difference between Moderate Muslim and Moderate Islam.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:40 pm
landry
I was in london a few years ago and was shocked by what I saw then a few weeks later a bus was bombed, then the tube, who needs it? If you don’t like the damn country go back to your own and change it..
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:42 pm
“As a group, however, it seems to me that middle eastern muslims are too close minded about this culture and its freedoms.”
Which supports my point: It isn’t Islam that’s at fault, it’s a cultural thing. The bottom line is that only 20% of the world’s Muslim population comes from the Middle East. Overall, my experiences with Middle Eastern folks has been mixed. I’ve met some cool Lebanese folks, and some real jerks from Iran.
BTW, your statements/concerns above in your 11:19 were also said about the Irish in the 1800s and early 1900s. You’re a mick, Mick.
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:46 pm
RW–the first sentence of your article states that “Secularism can never enjoy a general acceptance in an Islamic society.”
Since all I need to give is one counterexample to disprove the “all” statement, I will simply point to Turkey. My contention remains that it’s not a religious issue, but a cultural issue.
landry
August 25th, 2010
11:46 pm
mick, I don’t judge countries or religions, just a-holes…..
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:48 pm
bruno
This probably won’t make any sense but I could care less about the community center with a mosque near ground zero. They could be cool about it and say that since so many are upset by it, we’ll move but that ain’t gonna happen because they have the right and they will stand on that. It would be a kind gesture and show some humility. To me, its just another manufactured controversy. I mean what constitutes “sacred ground”? One block, two blocks, three blocks…just another distraction.
moochers outnumber producers
August 25th, 2010
11:48 pm
Hey Bookman….How much time have you spent in Iraq or Afghanistan? That;s what I thought . Listen MSNBC is not the best place to get your information.
RW-(the original)
August 25th, 2010
11:52 pm
Bruno,
Nice try, but it’s not “my” article and the writer is arguing “never” which may be close to “all” but you would have to read the article to understand the difference the writer is making.
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:52 pm
Bruno:
If you can’t see that poem is about the American soldier then I can’t help you.
Don't forget
August 25th, 2010
11:53 pm
Bruno
August 25th, 2010
11:31 pm
DF–In spite of its ever-increasing monetary and political costs, burning petroleum is still far, far cheaper than any other alternative energy source.
Um, this is a big subject but, in a nut shell, oil has costs that the market doesn’t recognize like pollution and funding nations that are hostile to us. Those costs are “socialized” and born by the general public.
The other thing to consider is what happens to the cost of newer technologies when they go into mass production? The plummet! Look at VCR’s. My first one cost $400, my last one was $40. Same thing for VCR’s or any other technology that has been developed. And the reason for that is mass production. The difference is that with those technologies, the benefit was enjoyed by the actual consumer. With alternative energy though, the benefit of cleaner fuels and energy independence go to everybody. Your light bulb doesn’t burn any brighter with alternative fuels than with dirty fossil fuels so the incentive to pay the extra for the better product doesn’t exist for the consumer even though we all pay the costs of pollution and energy dependence. Top it all off with the fact that we keep subsidizing fossil fuels to keep them cheap and you have energy policy that will keep those “lines on the graph” from ever meeting. There are all kinds of promising energy solutions that are well beyond the “research” stage but can’t get off the ground because you can’t do anything cheaply on a smaller scale. Look at what Henry Ford did to the cost of a car with mass production.
Mick
August 25th, 2010
11:53 pm
bruno
Yeah, no irish or dogs allowed. They were however, european and thats the difference. Gotta hit the hay….night.
Don't forget
August 25th, 2010
11:54 pm
Ugh, I’m exhausted, sorry for the typos etc in that last one.
landry
August 25th, 2010
11:57 pm
i’m irish and i love jameson
Scout
August 25th, 2010
11:58 pm
Mick:
Here’s one thing people fail to realize. For those of us who have a few Muslim friends, they are basically from the professional class – doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc. They left (sometimes fled) their country to obtain the freedoms we have. Many of them are Muslim in name only and are trying to assimilate.
Then you have what could be called the “blue collar” Muslims, many uneducated, who come here to the U.S. and plop down in a Muslim neighborhood and never assimilate. It is from these ranks that we will have trouble as they are fed the worst of Islam and are prone to violence. The Imams use them like so much canon fodder.
Scout
August 26th, 2010
12:00 am
“And so he bowed” ………. but I won’t !
TAPS !
Don't forget
August 26th, 2010
12:08 am
And so they kissed and held hands.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
12:14 am
“Top it all off with the fact that we keep subsidizing fossil fuels to keep them cheap and you have energy policy that will keep those “lines on the graph” from ever meeting. There are all kinds of promising energy solutions that are well beyond the “research” stage but can’t get off the ground because you can’t do anything cheaply on a smaller scale.”
DF–Solar energy is very appealing, but despite fairly wide-spread production now, it still isn’t very cost-effective despite heavy subsidization from many governments such as the US and Germany. Ditto for wind turbines. Nuclear fusion is still a long way off. Am I missing anything??
The most intriguing source of energy to me is the vast heat sink that the ocean holds. Certain metals can produce an electrical flow driven by the difference in temp from the bottom to the top of the ocean. It’s clean and completely renewable, but produces so little electricity that it;s not practical either.
The bottom line is that necessity is the mother of invention, not the other way around.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
12:23 am
My nightly present for the morning crew, “The Cellist of Sarajevo”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7nJxmwY3f8
From the youtube description:
“The Cellist of Sarajevo – a piece by the English composer David Wilde. He was inspired by the Bosnian Cellist Vedran Smailović. He was called “The Cellist of Sarajevo”. He stayed 1992 during the siege in Sarajevo and played there for 22 dead civilians for 22 days. I think that this man is a hero and beautiful I didn’t find this beautiful piece on Youtube. The cello is played by Yo-Yo Ma. It can be found on his CD “Solo”. In the pictures you can see Vedran Smailović playing in the destroyed Sarajevo.”
In the end, the human spirit triumphs, as the Cellist of Sarajevo proved to the world in 1992.
oldguy
August 26th, 2010
12:28 am
Kayaker 71
Late to the comments…. I came back in 69 from the 607th MPs Siagon. I can tell you one thing..it was a good thing they made us turn in our 45s prior to leaving “in country” because this old southern boy would have happily emptied a clip into that crowd of hippie freaks at SFO. I had 10 times the respect for the VC as I did (and do) for them!!
Don't forget
August 26th, 2010
12:39 am
Bruno,
Solar keeps going down in price. It’s one seventh the cost that it was 20 years ago. I understand the price of silica has plummeted in the last year as well. Wind has not been exploited to anywhere near it’s potential and the effects of mass production are not yet being realized. The midwest is referred to as the “Saudi Arabia” of wind. It’s a perfect fit for “central pivot” irrigation farms where the growth in the corners of the fields is poor anyway. Instead of subsidizing farms with cash to not grow crops, why not put turbines on the land and use the revenue to subsidize the farmers? There’s also “small wind” which is smaller turbines that can be used on the tops of tall buildings to harvest the updraft that is almost always blowing and there are designs for more compact generation of wind energy. Ever heard of the “Bloom Box”? Google it. There’s a 60 minutes story on it. Some very well know people are involved. It’s basically a fuel cell but it’s made with common materials and can burn any combustible gas whether it be natural gas, methane, etc. It is something like 67 % more efficient than a conventional power plant and could eliminate the need for a massive power grid which would also save tons of energy that is lost during transmission. It also makes solar and wind more feasible because you can use excess energy from wind and solar to make hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis of water which can be used in the Bloom box. Algae farms produce an oil that can be refined into combustible liquid fuels that could be used in vehicles. There’s an MIT professor that has come up with a lithium battery that can be recharged in about a minute. That would make the electric car much more user friendly and could revolutionize the transportation industry but it needs more research to before it goes to production. The potential for geothermal has gone way up with the simple yet brilliant idea of an entrepreneur in Alaska. He drilled 500 feet to hit some hot water but it was only 70 degrees C. Gotta have steam to run a steam turbine. Well he simply build a heat exchanger and a sealed turbine system that he filled with freon. Just run the freon by the heat exchanger then allow it to drive a turbine. It’s limited to cold climate or cold seasons but you have free energy once you pay for the hardware.
Left wing management
August 26th, 2010
1:00 am
“The Iraq war hasn’t been won anymore than the Vietnam war was won.”
Boy is that ever words of truth.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 26th, 2010
4:25 am
The libs went a long way to find someone to tell them what they want to hear, and I’m talking about out there-
Unemployment may rise and home sales may fall, but Atlanta’s economy is poised for “quasi-growth” the next two years, the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University predicted Wednesday.
Fears of a double-dip recession and deflation are unfounded “provided we don’t have a steep drop in home values,” director Rajeev Dhawan said. -Urinal
Your spaceship is boarding, homey.
Kent
August 26th, 2010
4:56 am
Everyone has an opinion…
How do you define propoganda?
Don’t believe what you hear in the news!
= Kent
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 26th, 2010
5:42 am
At a time when painful unemployment numbers continue to bear down on the tattered economy, many are frustrated that the nation’s leader is enjoying another luxurious trip. On CBS’ “The Late Show” Tuesday night, David Letterman took a jab at the president, saying: “He’ll have plenty of time for vacations after his one term is up.”
I actually wish our little Nero would take more vacations, but that’s just me…
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
5:45 am
B-man – (shaking my fist at the computer) – dangit! taunting me with such a great writeup, when you know I’m going to have to wait until I get home to click on the link!!!
“As for Europe, the reality is that they’ve invited Muslims in, but offer little chance for citizenship”
mmmm …. half right. While a lot of European countries have opened the door to Muslims, you forget that a lot of said immigrants currently living in countries like France automatically ARE citizens because they come from French colonies.
Additionally, the EU opened borders between all the member countries, so that you can not only travel freely between Eurozone nations, you can relocate, as well, without needing to become a citizen of your new country. I think that THAT situation has discouraged people from assimilating as much as anything else – (which includes Eastern Europeans settling in England, English settling in Spain, etc)
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
5:46 am
“I actually wish our little Nero would take more vacations”
not everyone can be W
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
5:48 am
from way upthread
All you guys on the Left, you did note this past Sunday one of your standard bearers, Friedman, stated the Iraqi war was important.
That gets a little funnier every time I read it.
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 26th, 2010
5:50 am
Scientists have created a new kind of artificial cornea, inserting a sliver of collagen into the eye that coaxes its own natural corneal cells to regrow and restore vision.
Wow, and they didn’t even have to rip it out of the eye of some little baby, imagine that…
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
5:54 am
dB – 5:48 –
talk about comedy GOLD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedman_(unit)
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
5:58 am
whiner … here ya go … just like in your favorite weekly reader, find the baby in this picture
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/stemcell/images/pluri.jpg
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
6:00 am
Scout must be so proud.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/nypd_charges_man_with_hate_crime_after_allegedly_stabbing_muslim_cabbie.php
Cool thing is, the TeaTards can play up the Terra Baybeez angle, since this cabbie has four kids born here in the USA.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
6:01 am
UnU, think we should introduce JohnnyCSA4Evah to Friedman’s infamous “Suck on this” video?
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
6:04 am
dB – I just want to know whose standard he’s bearing?
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
6:05 am
dB – 6:00 – I’m just waiting for Michelle Malkin to tell us what kind of cabinetry and counters the cabbie has …
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
6:08 am
waiting for Michelle Malkin to tell us what kind of cabinetry and counters
ya know, mentioning that really doesn’t do much for my anger management program.
bbl…
Gomer Pyle
August 26th, 2010
6:49 am
Bush Campaign Chief and Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman: I’m Gay
Gaa aal lee! That jest might help to explain why Bush and Ken had such eyes for each other. How many more closet doors are yet to be opened.
@@
August 26th, 2010
7:15 am
RW:
Interesting article at NRO. I read an in-depth piece, written (years ago) by a Muslim reformist. It mentioned Ahmadi (sp?).
What I took away from the NRO piece was that…by declaring imam’s like Rauf as moderate, we’re letting down the reformists who really ARE seeking to change.
I would think Obama’s CHANGE supporters could identify.
Gomer Pyle
August 26th, 2010
7:32 am
Based on the tough talk coming from the conservatives on this blog, I can’t help but wonder if they is all career military folks that ain’t never been a civilian since they was in diapers. All they talk about is how much other folks needs to be funding their soldier friends and family to go out and kill other folks that done gone and looked at them cross like. I reckon these folks doin’ all this tough talkin’ is the generals and such too ’cause I ain’t never run into no one else that has took such a liking to killing, ‘cept maybe them serial fellas.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:32 am
I don’t think anybody anticipated that placing a senile buffoon on the Catfood Commission might lead to embarrassing stories like this.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:37 am
regarding my post @ 7.32: This. Also.
mike
August 26th, 2010
7:39 am
Don’t you love how Jay only remembers Iraq when something bad happens? What a joke. How sad that Jay is so personally invested in failure in Iraq.
barking frog
August 26th, 2010
7:42 am
The imam of the Park51 project has a very interesting wife.
Daisy Khan is a name to contend with. She also doen’t quibble
as he does. She simply says the center will be built but
maybe at a different location.
Gomer Pyle
August 26th, 2010
7:46 am
If we send one soldier for each Iraqi to Iraq, we can have a successful surge and give everyone a job at the same time.
barking frog
August 26th, 2010
7:46 am
The only American oil company to get an oil contract
with Iraq was ExxonMobil. Remember where Condi
Rice worked?
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:48 am
What a joke. How sad that mike is so personally invested in failure in the ajc.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
7:50 am
“B-man – (shaking my fist at the computer) – dangit! taunting me with such a great writeup, when you know I’m going to have to wait until I get home to click on the link!!!”
I put the Cellist of Sarajevo link up not so much because it is a beautiful piece of music (it’s good, though), but due to its inspirational value. I don’t know if you remember the story behind it, but during the siege of Sarajevo in 1992, Vedran chose to play his cello publicly despite the risks in order to make a statement, a statement that some of the gloom-and-doom posters of the JB blog need to hear as well, IMO.
Yes, there are some crazy Muslims in the world who are bent on destroying the freedom we enjoy and returning us to the Dark Ages. But I still believe that light will triumph over darkness, both here in the US and in all the dark corners of the world where repression is the norm. The history of mankind proves it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedran_Smailovi%C4%87
Gomer Pyle
August 26th, 2010
7:50 am
What a joke. How sad that mike is so personally invested in failure in the ajc.
Perhaps he was never vested in the company retirement plan.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
7:55 am
“ya know, mentioning that really doesn’t do much for my anger management program.”
sfd–You still wearing your WWHDD bracelet??
As for mike, I feel sorry for him as well as for the other posters whose gear seems to be stuck in reverse. In spite of my recent setbacks, I keep reminding myself to look forward, not back.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:56 am
Perhaps he was never vested in the company retirement plan.
That reminds me. You know what I miss? I miss having Jim Wooten, who has enjoyed and will continue to enjoy company-paid health insurance bennies for the remainder of his days, tell me that I’m a filthy commie pig for trying to secure such benefits for lesser American citizens. Good times.
ken
August 26th, 2010
7:57 am
Like others, I do not care. I want my fellow Americans to have a job, family , vacation and a house.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:57 am
sfd–You still wearing your WWHDD bracelet??
uh, it’s around here somewhere…
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:58 am
found it. Yes, mike is one of God’s creatures, and I’m sure he loves puppies, kittens and apple pie.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
7:59 am
BTW–Final interview on Monday for the Columbus job.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
7:59 am
Bruno, I mighta missed something–did the good news you were expecting to hear on Wed. not turn out to be so good?
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:00 am
oops. obviously I missed Bruno’s 7.59–prayers/good vibes going your way, my man.
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:00 am
Bruno – who’s HD?
popeye
August 26th, 2010
8:01 am
Gomer….You mean to tell me paperboys are eligible for retirement programs? What next health insurance!
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:02 am
Brunooooooooooooooo – 7:59 – gooooooooooo BDOG!!! tear’em up!!! grrrrrrrrrr.
we’re cheering you on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF–ldYIBnM
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:04 am
dB – “mike is one of God’s creatures”
so is the herpes virus.
just sayin’
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:05 am
here ya go, B-dog … one more for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-egfEb2igSI
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:06 am
“I’m a filthy commie pig for trying to secure such benefits for lesser American citizens”
I won’t disagree with your good intentions, though I will likely argue with you how to go about achieving such a noble goal. Socialism/communism in its purest form tends to put a damper on the spirit of achievement, such that the overall standard of living is lower for everyone. This isn’t a point of conjecture, history has proven it time and again.
Soames
August 26th, 2010
8:07 am
AmVet – 29 out of 50 of the Democrat Senators voted FOR the war in Iraq. 82 out of 208 of the Democrat Representatives voted FOR the war in Iraq. You can throw stones at the Republicans all day long but the truth of the matter is the Democrats voted FOR the war in Iraq as well. The “axis of evil” is not restricted to a single political party.
But you keep blaming Cheney, Bush and everybody else for the Democrat’s shortcomings…the truth becomes more apparent with the passing of each day.
All of these folks who say the Republicans are the party of no or they are blocking the Democrats from doing what they want, Don’t the Dems have the majority in both the House and Senate? How can REPUBLICANS be responsible for OBSTRUCTING when they are in the MINORITY. Apparently some Democrats are voting against some of this ridiculous legislation..
Just pointing out your hypocrisy..I could get in to the Clinton – Mogadishu thing but I’m wasting no more of time on you…
“Soames…good day”
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:07 am
who’s HD?
Hillbilly Deluxe. (who is also Highly Def, in the late-80s hiphop sense of the term.)
I once posted that I have WWHDD and WWSCD bracelets that I try to wear when I post here, since I tend to think of Messrs. Delux and Comfort as two of the most level-headed, reality-based individuals posting here.
Erudite Erasures
August 26th, 2010
8:07 am
All we’ve done is arm the four sides of the Iraq Civil War: Sunni, Shia, Kurds, and those creepy ninja turtle guys.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:08 am
“Bruno – who’s HD?”
Hillbilly Deluxe. We’ve nominated him to be the standard bearer of what it means to be a Christian here on the JB blog, though I’m sure he would humbly reject any such nomination.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:10 am
Socialism/communism in its purest form tends to put a damper on the spirit of achievement
I doubt you’d get much argument from the dirtiest of hippies posting here on that. I probably hated the USSR as fervently as you did (and I still don’t trust the sumbitches running Russia any farther than I can throw them.) I just don’t tend to think of (say) Canada as a socialist country; their single-payer health insurance plan seems to be a rational approach to the issues we face, and I figure the sooner we get on track to such a thing the better.
But what do I know.
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:10 am
dB –
I think we should all have t-shirts made with What Would Hillbilly Deluxe Do … just for the looks we would get walking down the street …
interested observer
August 26th, 2010
8:15 am
Bring the troops home from Germany and Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan and save big bucks?
True, we can cut defense spending (actually, most “defense spending” is little more than an economic stimulus program) with troop reductions, but what are those men and women going to do in the real world where there are no jobs?
Still, there is merit to reducing the presence of U.S. troops where they’re not wanted or not needed or should not be. Iraq was a disaster from Day 1, like Vietnam just not on the same scale.
andygrd
August 26th, 2010
8:15 am
In Iraq today, Muslims were attacking Muslims….. The religion of “peace”.. right…
I must admit, I think I am turning into a Liberal Democrat…. I was for the building of the Mosque in NYC before I was against it. All kidding aside,,,, No Mosque near “Ground Zero”.
I refuse to be politically correct anymore…. How many Muslims’ in the US have denounced the attack on 9/11? How many Muslims in the US have denounced HAMAS? How many Muslims in the US have denounced the “Muslim on Muslim” attacks? How many Muslims in the US have denounced the rants against Israel? How many…..
Muslim is not a religion, it is nothing more than a way to oppress people. Kinda like Christianity back in the 1600 -1800’s. Back then is was enslavement for gold and silver, now it is enslavement for power…. How many thin Imam’s have you seen? People starve around them and they are well feed……
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:16 am
UnU @ 8.10, until then, there’s this:
http://www.cafepress.com/VirtualSpeaking/7159441
(you do know of the fabulous http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/ – yes?)
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:17 am
LOL at USinUK @ 8:02 and 8:05.
My problem during interviews is that I often get “test-takers anxiety” and don’t always put my best foot forward. The reason I want this job so badly isn’t just for the money ($200 more per week than the last one), but that the guy truly seems like a good person who represents the profession well. After my last job, that’s a critical factor for me. No more compromising my principles just to make a buck. That may change if my financial situation gets any more desperate, however.
Per your 8:04, herpes viruses need love too!
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:20 am
Bruno – I think “love” is how they got here!
mmmm … the best piece of advice I ever got waaayyyyy back when I was in university was that you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you. you need to make sure it’s a good fit for your health and happiness as much as they need to make sure you’re good at whatever widgety thing you’re supposed to do. keeping that in mind helps keep the jitters away!
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:22 am
How many Muslims’ in the US have denounced the attack on 9/11?
(Odds that our “andygrd” has ever bothered to look outside his right wing echo chamber to discover the answer to this ancient question?)
Here’s a freebie: You might start with the folks behind Park51.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:23 am
“their single-payer health insurance plan seems to be a rational approach to the issues we face, and I figure the sooner we get on track to such a thing the better.”
I don’t want to get sidetracked into a health care debate, especially since Kyle is currently running a column about it, but I firmly believe that there is a good capitalistic solution to cure what ails our health care system–overinflated prices due to over-reliance on the third-party billing system. Go to Kyle’s if you want to see my thoughts as both a doctor and actuary on the subject.
The bottom line is that people need to start taking control of their own health in this country. The obesity rate here is nothing short of disgusting in my book.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:24 am
Anyway, I gotta go help pay for Scout’s lifestyle-to-which-he’s-become-accustomed. Later, all.
stands for decibels
August 26th, 2010
8:24 am
oh, and Bruno, when time permits, I’ll be happy to check out Kyle’s blog.
USinUK
August 26th, 2010
8:25 am
OH!!! Bruno –
here’s the other video I was telling you about yesterday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqZ_15A6G8E
@@
August 26th, 2010
8:30 am
Bruno:
Hillbilly Deluxe. We’ve nominated him to be the standard bearer of what it means to be a Christian here on the JB blog, though I’m sure he would humbly reject any such nomination.
I don’t know of anyone here who doesn’t admire Hillbilly. Maybe you’d be better served by emulating HIS humility. I recall when Hillbilly said it’s not his job to judge others….so why do you feel the need to do so when it comes to Christians like myself? Why do you jump in line behind jay’s left-wingers who do the same thing?
By saying one thing and doing another, you contradict yourself. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It simply discredits your argument.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:31 am
USinUK–It’s probably a good thing that you met your hubby down in SoBE and not me. We’d probably sit around all day playing music for one another and never get anything done.
Looks like a new thread is up.
mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama - BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!
August 26th, 2010
8:37 am
MORE lies from the LIAR in Chief:
BACK DOOR CITIZENSHIP FOR ILLEGALS MEMO”
The stated purpose of the memo, prepared by four officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and addressed to USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, is to offer ways to promote immigrant “family unity” and economic prosperity, and “to reduce the threat of removal for certain individuals present in the United States without authorization.”
USCIS is the benefits arm of the Department of Homeland Security, dealing with the status of green card and visa holders. For immigrants, it is the bureaucratic key-holder to citizenship.
The memo appears to discuss a sort of back-up plan for USCIS should no immigration reform be passed by Congress.
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:41 am
“so why do you feel the need to do so when it comes to Christians like myself?”
@@–If you will reread your own post, I believe you have answered your own question in the second paragraph.
williebkind
August 26th, 2010
8:57 am
Muslims are good Christains are bad!
Don't forget
August 26th, 2010
9:00 am
Bruno
August 26th, 2010
8:06 am
“I’m a filthy commie pig for trying to secure such benefits for lesser American citizens”
I won’t disagree with your good intentions, though I will likely argue with you how to go about achieving such a noble goal. Socialism/communism in its purest form tends to put a damper on the spirit of achievement, such that the overall standard of living is lower for everyone. This isn’t a point of conjecture, history has proven it time and again.
——————————————–
I think there’s no doubt about that and it’s because achievement isn’t rewarded. But, at it’s extremes, capitalism can do the same thing. If all the rewards of success go to the top 1% then the bottom 99% will do just enough to get by. No organization is successful without people performing at all levels. And some of the best ideas and innovations come from the lower ranks. The middle class has gone nowhere for the last 30 years and it’s really starting to take its toll.
Scooter (the Original)
August 26th, 2010
9:35 am
America has established a reputation in Asia of many things. One is providing hope by making people think we are committed friends, then giving up and leaving them to be slaughtered in our wake. As a result they have learned to fall in line with the power brokers of “next year” and that is what they will do because of defeatist and retreatist Americans like Jay.
Big D
August 26th, 2010
9:46 am
Like it or not this will escalate until Iran jumps in,creates another large terrorist state,attacks Israel and they bomb them back to the days of Mohamed.
Kill them all “let Allah sort them out”…..still sounds good.
john
August 26th, 2010
12:35 pm
We will leave and declare victory. Then Iraq will go up in flames.
Civil war will start. We will abandon the Kurds. Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Russia , Isreal and others will be drawn in. The whole middle east will begin to burn. Oil will be over $140 a barrel if we are lucky. Isreal will bomb Iran’s nuke sites. Iraq will splinter. Some victory.
Sunraynews | Top US news
August 27th, 2010
3:55 am
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