Bill Kristol offers solution: Yep, you guessed it
War.
Whatever the problem, the ever-eager Bill Kristol believes that other people dying can solve it. The ardent cheerleader of our invasion of Iraq, where more than 4,400 U.S. soldiers died for a cause yet to reveal itself, now champions that same “solution” for Iran, a much more difficult problem. And in a piece in the Weekly Standard, complete with requisite Churchill quote, he and co-author Jamie Fly argue that if President Obama doesn’t do it, Congress should intervene:
Bill Kristol
“President Obama says a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. The real and credible threat of force is probably the last hope of persuading the Iranian regime to back down. So: Isn’t it time for the president to ask Congress for an Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iran’s nuclear program?
Instead of running away from it, administration officials could be putting the military option front and center and ensuring it is seen as viable. And if the administration flinches, Congress could consider passing such an authorization anyway. While any commander in chief has the constitutional authority to take urgent action to protect Americans and their interests, such legislation would give weight to the president’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It would strengthen the president’s hand. It would show Tehran that America’s policy of preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon is a credible one. Bipartisan support for such an authorization would remove the issue as much as possible from the turmoil of election year politics. And the authorization could also make clear that the United States would come to Israel’s aid in the event that it decides it needs to take action….
We don’t expect the Obama administration to request an Authorization for Use of Military Force. But Congress can act without such a request. By doing so, it would serve the nation’s interest, and, indeed, the administration’s, if the administration means what it says.
Surely it is time for a concentration of congressional opinion and force capable of lifting our efforts to the level of emergency. The Obama administration may be committed to leading from behind, but Congress can choose to lead from the front.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3,136 comments Add your comment
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
9:06 pm
josef
I bought a bottle of Lillet just recently ’cause I was intrigued with the drink The Vesper (1 part Lillet, 1 part Vodka, 3 parts Gin) featured in a James Bond film.
Lillet is a citrus-y aperitif.
Josef
June 17th, 2012
9:14 pm
Orange
The taxes should be factored into that fair price, overhead if you will. It’s not adding on.
Josef
June 17th, 2012
9:17 pm
K’chak,,,
It’s wine based and that’s sorta “adulterating” to me…
Soothsayer
June 17th, 2012
9:21 pm
Well, will it be Furyk the grinder, the Laddie from Ulster, the country boy from North Carolina or the elder statesman from RSA? We’ll know soon.
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
9:24 pm
Joseph,
I never considered it that way. True, you pay property tax however you also get a pretty good bump at the end of the year for your homeowners deduction. I just never figured any portion of the charged rent as tax. This is apples and oranges anyway.
Common Damn Sense isn't Very Common
June 17th, 2012
9:25 pm
Geesh, go away for a while and see what happens here.
Are we talking golf? affordable healthcare? or grocery stores within a reasonable distance to everyone in America?
I have an opinion on all of them, but entering late they have probably been covered
JamVet
June 17th, 2012
9:25 pm
12, I go to the VAMC.
And rave about them.
Not perfect, but by far the best I’ve ever encountered.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
9:29 pm
This should be a very interesting week for Supreme Court rulings …………………. just everyone remember whether you agree with the ruling or not it doesn’t matter.
Pending a Constitutional Amendment, they get the last say.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
9:29 pm
Sooth
The most amazing factoid to come out of this Open: they cut down one of the cypress tress on one of the fairways and 105 golf balls fell out of that tree.
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
9:32 pm
Jam,
Yeah, me too. I am considering Prime this year and just trying to solicit some responses from VA users to try and figure out if it’s going to be worth it. The parking deck they put in at Claimont seems to have cut down on the wait considerably. Not real sure what the price is going to be but I hear the cost might be going up all the way around.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
9:33 pm
Amazing rendition !
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=QEGlsHS6tSQ
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
9:35 pm
Orange 12:
I laid in the stuff, drank the water out of the streams, etc., etc.
So far so good.
USMC
India Company
3rd Battalion
4th Marines
DMZ (1967-68)
Josef
June 17th, 2012
9:40 pm
Orange
Understood..the point is that most rentals are corporate owned complexes where such is a factor. The little guy with a property or two probably doesn’t consider it.
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
9:41 pm
USN
75 – 95
Common Damn Sense isn't Very Common
June 17th, 2012
9:42 pm
Thulsa Doom@6:59 pm
josef,
Well that’s true about preventive care but people can get preventive care all day long. There are doctors that will see poor people that can’t afford to pay. A lot of doctors will also see patients for cash as low as $50 a visit. I know 3 of them personally that will see you for $50 cash. If someone has a condition that needs to be treated but can’t afford $400 a month insurance they can afford to see a doc for $50-$150 a month including tests and labs in order to be treated. And generics are as little as free to $4 for many common generics. Metformin for diabetics is $2-$4. And if you’re so poor you can’t afford these small fees than you are poor enough to be on Medicaid and get it paid for.
———————–
Such utter BS.Medicaid is limited to the people MEDICAID decides qualifies.
Many extremely low income people don’t qualify because Medicaid doctors decide they can still work.
Free or reduced clinics are not located within a reasonable distance for everyone. If you are just talking about Atlanta possibly. $50 to see a Dr. is sometimes a families budget for food for a week so healthcare is put on the back burner.
Get a grip TD, I think you are smarter than that ( I don’t know for a fact, but I do THINK it)
getalife
June 17th, 2012
9:44 pm
All hospitals suk.
That shot from Furyk looked like my shot.
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 17th, 2012
9:46 pm
Go for it , Common Dreams. Jump on in. Orange 12 is here, so what else do you need to know?
Common Damn Sense isn't Very Common
June 17th, 2012
9:52 pm
G Mare
Here I go
Healthcare is out of reach for many families since Medicaid is being streached to its limits.
In a rural area (where I currently reside the nearest store (convienient type is 7 miles away with no public transportation)).
And the Open looks like everyone should have left their putter in their pocket
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
9:53 pm
Hippocratic Oath?
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 17th, 2012
9:56 pm
Totally off topic: I read msnbc on line which lets me choose if/how many local stories I want to see. I have to wonder what it says about us as a community, a state, etc. when seven of the eight stories are about sports? Really?? SIGH!!!
Don't Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:04 pm
Why watch golf when there are so many putts on the blog?
bman
June 17th, 2012
10:05 pm
aside from it’s politics, the Huffington Post is actually a good site to visit.
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:05 pm
josef,
I looked up grove park. There are 3 grocery stores there in that area that offer fruits and vegatables. Also I thought about my own poor, pitiful plight. Living out here in the country I have to drive 6.5 miles to one grocery store and 7 to another. Why is it not an issue out here where there are poor people but its supposedly such a big issue in the city? Sounds to me like you guys got the excuse machine kicked into high gear. And there are plenty of small locales out here where people are even farther from a grocery store than myself.
Oddly enough I don’t see any news stories about the plight of these rural people having to drive so far to the grocery store. Why is that? Same question to kamchak.
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 17th, 2012
10:07 pm
Okay, so maybe my last wasn’t so far off topic after all. I just want to scream, “WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?!?!?” There has to be SOMETHING wrong when people care more about SPORTS than about people who are hurting, being repressed & abused, not to mention disenfranchised. Damn, just damn!!
Don't Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:07 pm
Some docs will see poor people for a lower fee, and hospitals will negotiate on a bill. Pharmaceutical companies often have assistance programs and even medical device makers will sometimes help with hardship cases but if you’ve got nothing it’s still more than they can afford. The one “playa” that never seems to help is the one that has nothing to do with actually providing care, the middle man a.k.a the insurance companies.
Don't Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:10 pm
Oh, and one other thing the ER’s don’t offer, cancer treatment unless it’s an emergency.
G Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 17th, 2012
10:10 pm
Yeah, I am a “bleeding heart liberal.” I care, so sue me. SOMEBODY HAS TO CARE!!!
bman
June 17th, 2012
10:13 pm
Never fails. It always seems to get a little nutty around here @ the 10pm mark….
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
10:14 pm
An insurance company is in business to make money. Like it or not that is the cold hard truth.
Don't Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:16 pm
Now, as for the wait times with single payer. I’ll take your word and I believe it’s at least somewhat true. But consider that fact that most of those countries have longer life expectancies and spend a smaller amount of their GDP on healthcare too.
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:18 pm
Gmare,
1- You will be fine with your advantage plan and while you will have more out of pocket expenses the odds are heavily in your favor that overall you will save a lot more money on that plan.
2- “Also, have never seen fresh fruit or veggies. ‘Nuf said?”
We’re talking about grocery stores not convenience stores. I don’t see convenience stores out in the suburbs that sell fruits and vegetables either.
3-Mare 71(PLEASE VOTE NO ON TSPLOST)
June 17th, 2012
9:00 pm
It seems to be con think: I got mine & tough s–t for everybody else. Ah, see these ——- how they love one another.
G-mare,
Lets talk about the I got mine and tough sheet for everyone else attitude. The ultimate I got mine and screw you attitude is from liberals in liberal cities like NY, San Fran, San Jose, Berkley, and many other coastal cities in California run by liberals. How and why? Easy. In the name of “rent control” “open space” and “green space” and “smart growth” policies those cities oddly enough have the highest housing costs in the nation.
They got theirs and once they did they artificially cut off between half and 3/4 of the land for development in their respective counties- thus artificially jacking up current housing prices sky high. And making housing unaffordable for young families looking to buy and minorities in particular. Its always amusing to see San Francisco being so liberal and preachy to the rest of us while at the same time enacting housing policies that have driven out minorities- blacks in particular, over the last 2 decades due to the high cost of housing.
Talk or rather sloganeering is cheap. Actions are what I look at. And the actions of liberals in many of these cities with high housing are nothing more than “I got mine and screw you” housing policies.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
10:19 pm
Why watch golf…
“Why Ask Why? Drink Bud Dry.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Don't Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:19 pm
An insurance company is in business to make money. Like it or not that is the cold hard truth.
They are nothing but middle men and simply add cost to the system, no value whatsoever. Cash checks, write checks, take a cut.
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
10:21 pm
Don’t Forget,
Agreed, but what can you do?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
10:23 pm
Hard to grip a golf club when you got two hands around your throat.
Just sayin’.
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:25 pm
Don’t Forget
June 17th, 2012
10:16 pm
Now, as for the wait times with single payer. I’ll take your word and I believe it’s at least somewhat true. But consider that fact that most of those countries have longer life expectancies and spend a smaller amount of their GDP on healthcare too.
Don’t forget,
Yes. They do. And health care is better in many of the industrialized countries of Western Europe. Medical care, which is a subset of health care, is not. Medical care is far superior in the U.S. We have more drug and medical device innovation than anyone, superior cancer survival rates, more medical and technology per 100k residents than anyone. For example take a look at the paltry number of MRI machines in Britain or Canada relative to the U.S.
Health care also includes what you can do for yourself. And unfortunately Americans drink more, smoke more, we’re fatter, lazier, we don’t exercise or walk as much. As a health care professional you know all these things.
And the other thing about medical care is that you get what you pay for. It may be more costly here but its also not rationed as it is in single payer systems.
The real debate here should be about what’s more important-higher cost, freedom, and superior medical care of the present system? Or medical care that is cheaper but with waiting times and lower quality- in effect rationed care of other systems. I’ll pay a little more to get better access to better care. But that’s just me.
bman
June 17th, 2012
10:27 pm
” I don’t see convenience stores out in the suburbs that sell fruits and vegetables either.”
Some do. However, they cost 3x’s as much as in the grocery stores.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:27 pm
Orange 12:
Ooo Rah !
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:29 pm
Don’t Forget,
Insurance co. profits are on average 3-4%. That’s not the driver behind exploding health care. They do add a layer of bureaucracy of course but then if we went to single payer then of course you would just be transferring a layer of bureaucracy to govt employees. And a govt employee is much more expensive than a private sector employee. And no. That’s not a criticism of public sector employees. Just a fact.
Orange 12
June 17th, 2012
10:33 pm
0311
Yeah, kneeknockers to you too.
TaxPayer
June 17th, 2012
10:33 pm
So the healthcare system that should be made available to US is one that offers tiers. For the lowest cost, you have to schedule an appointment for such things as MRI’s and you might have to wait a week and for the highest premium, you get access within an hour of a doctor telling you that you need an MRI. Works for me.
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
10:34 pm
Wow. Just went to Loco’s and ordered a bunch of food. When it came time to pay, the waitress said that someone else picked up the tab for us. What a nice surprise.
(Must have been a Con)
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
10:34 pm
Every penny of profit, is a penny of health care denied. Just a fact.
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
10:36 pm
And unfortunately Americans drink more, smoke more, we’re fatter, lazier, we don’t exercise or walk as much. As a health care professional you know all these things.
I deal with people who refuse to take good care of themselves week in and week out. Meanwhile, PB and I ran 5 miles tonight and barely broke a sweat. Just love that girl…….
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:42 pm
Common damn sense isn’t very common,
First of all there is peachcare which provides for the children of working class poor parents so that right there lets us knocks down your point. That leaves the parents. There is absolutely no reason why a parent can’t buy a catastrophic policy on him or herself.
There is also no reason why someone can’t work 60 -70 hours at a 2nd part time job to help pay for important things like health insurance. Why do people have this strange idea that if folks don’t make enough money that they can’t work more than 40 hours a week.
When my dad first started his business he was working up to 90 hours a week his first year. When I have open enrollment season I’m working 7 days and usually 70-90 hours a week. At the turn of the last century the majority of the nation I think still lived in rural areas and on a farm a typical work week was 90 hours. If you don’t make enough you get a 2nd part time job. I’ve done it plenty of times in my life.
I just can’t understand all the excuses you guys come up with. Like Orange 12 I was Navy and when you’re at sea you’re working a 13 hour day 7(91) hours-7 days a week and no one thinks a thing about it.
CommonMan
June 17th, 2012
10:43 pm
I’d love to see someone strap on an AK47, a backpack and a helmet on Billy Checkenhawk and ship him to the front lines so he can experience real war up close – and then let him come back and give us his opinion on sending others to war!
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:44 pm
Bruno,
It was me that picked up the tab by accident. You can remit payment to….
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
10:47 pm
When I work construction, I carry 650 lbs. of tools on my back and I walk 25 miles to work every day, barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:47 pm
Thulsa:
I once worked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a year (including all holidays) !
Where was my “union” ???
getalife
June 17th, 2012
10:48 pm
Bruno,
That is socialism.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:48 pm
Thulsa:
When I worked as a brakeman on the railroad (I was in a union) I got paid often for stuff I didn’t even do !
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
10:49 pm
They are nothing but middle men and simply add cost to the system, no value whatsoever. Cash checks, write checks, take a cut.
DF–Hard to see what you’re complaining about. Without the insurance companies, your salary would be cut in half over night since you would have to charge your patients directly for their care. At that point, the ridiculously over-inflated fees that your hospital charges wold go out the window.
The stark reality is that health care is too expensive in this country because health care workers earn enormous salaries.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:50 pm
Thulsa:
In my 34 years with the federal goverment I worked tons of overtime (free for the taxpayers) as it was just part of the “career”. You worked until the mission was complete.
I would have worked another job (from time to time) but it was prohibited by regulation.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:51 pm
“Everybody stand up and holler for the union,
Let’s give the brotherhood a cheer.
Everybody stand up and holler for the union,
We ain’t hit a lick all year !”
getalife
June 17th, 2012
10:52 pm
Muslim Brotherhood won Egypt.
Boo.
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
10:53 pm
Bruno,
That is socialism.
I have to admit, getalife, it’s been a long loooong time since anyone picked up my tab at a bar. In return, I’ve picked up many a bar tab. Turns out it was actually someone that PB knew……
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:53 pm
Ah ………………….. Arab Spring !
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
10:56 pm
In my 34 years with the federal goverment I worked tons of overtime (free for the taxpayers) as it was just part of the “career”. You worked until the mission was complete.
I’ve averaged 50 hrs per week for the past 30 years or so, Scout. I never too any vacation time until last year. What was your average weekly total?? How many weeks vacation??
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
10:56 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c5VCWUbeUM&feature=related
getalife
June 17th, 2012
10:57 pm
“someone that PB knew……”
Uh oh. Better watch that guy.
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
10:58 pm
“Every penny of profit, is a penny of health care denied. Just a fact.”
Nope. Fallacious economic thinking that is similar to zero sum fallacy where one thinks that in an economic transaction that one party is necessarily better off and the other is necessarily worse off for the transaction.
Bruno
June 17th, 2012
11:00 pm
Uh oh. Better watch that guy.
If that were the case, I’d have to watch every guy we come across. Every guy we meet has the hots for her. Just ask JamVet……..
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
11:01 pm
I’ve averaged 168 hrs per week for the past 50 years and had to pay for my employers vacation out of my own pocket.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
11:01 pm
Bruno:
I’m just trying to make a point re: unions and not get in a comparison with others on here.
That said, our pay was based on a monthly system. You got your base pay and the first 40 hours of overtime for the month was paid at time & a half ……….. after that ……….. you worked for free.
There were many months when my “unpaid” overtime was between 100-200 hrs. That’s right 100-200 hrs. of unpaid civilian work. And yes that’s averaging over sixteen hours a day for a month ……….. did it many times especially during a “campaign year” !!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
11:01 pm
Cammie:
Most people don’t know what real work is.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 17th, 2012
11:06 pm
Most people don’t know what real work is.
That’s just crap.
Sitting behind a desk, running one’s mouth on the phone all day is real work, just not real hard work.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
June 17th, 2012
11:10 pm
Cammie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7CclVneVpw
getalife
June 17th, 2012
11:13 pm
Watergate is 40 years old today.
nixon was a kook.
Thulsa Doom
June 17th, 2012
11:19 pm
Scout,
You and Bruno are embarrassing me. I’ve gotten to be quite the slacker. Been plenty of years where I worked 60-70 hours a week but this past year or 2 I’ve been a slacker and worked about 30 hours a week. Except during open enrollment when I’m 7 days a week 10-12 hours for around 12 weeks.
Bruno,
Not good. You really should take a 7-9 day vacation. It relaxes you, recharges you, and really refreshens you. Do yourself right and start taking at least 1-2 good vacations a year. I’m leaving next Wednesday or Thursday for a 10 day vacation. Libs sure won’t miss me.
clestes
June 17th, 2012
11:58 pm
Kristol must have some big investments in companies that produce war weapons or other war implements.
Mitt Romney Refuses To Say If He'd Overturn Obama's Immigration Decision
June 18th, 2012
6:00 am
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney criticized President Barack Obama Sunday for failing to pass long-term immigration reform through Congress, but he repeatedly refused to say whether he would overturn Obama’s decision to end deportations for some young undocumented immigrants if he becomes president.
“First of all, we have to secure the border, we need to have an employment verification system, to make sure that those that are working here in this country are here legally,” Romney said in an interview with “Face the Nation” on CBS. “And then, with regards to these kids who were brought in by their parents through no fault of their own, there needs to be a long-term solution so they know what their status is.”
He criticized Obama for “jump[ing] in” and implementing a “stop-gap measure,” despite the fact that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) had been working on legislation to address the issue.
Host Bob Schieffer asked Romney three times whether he would repeal Obama’s directive as president.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/17/mitt-romney-immigration_n_1603549.html
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
6:28 am
Good Monday morning to all y’all…
http://news.icanhascheezburger.com/2012/06/17/political-pictures-and-theres-other-people-on-it/
Dekalb comments
June 18th, 2012
6:55 am
Starting a war with Iran should be the very last option. I don’t believe the Russians will sit idly back this time around. Iran is a very populous country. They have sophisticated weapons systems.
So while I have no doubt that we could win a war with them, it would be much more costly than either the Afghan or Iraq wars.
While we should never rule out the use of force and make sure Iran knows that, one needs to be cautious in brandishing that sword. Mr. Kristol is of the “not me” generation that never served their country. It is easy to be a chicken hawk.
cloudodust
June 18th, 2012
7:06 am
Whatever happened to the DEM’s like JFK that weren’t afraid to stare down nuclear threats..? Answer : They’re today’s REP’s…
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
7:06 am
Dekalb,
Our troops are just about used up physically and emotionally. Suicides are up, domistic violence is up. Incidences like Sgt Bales will continue to happen. Nope, we are over taxed and we would not win a war with Iran, mainly because the political powers would not let it happen. As with medicine where the prevailing attitude is, “Why find a cure, when you can make millions with band-aids”, the weapons manufacturers say, “why end a war when you can keep it going and make even more millions”…with a side benefit of culling the population. Remember that minorities make up a large portion of our military.
But, bottom line, I’m seeing what I saw with Viet Nam in the latter stages of the war…burned out, used up young men with no hope. You would have thought we would have learned something there.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
7:11 am
Cloud,
As much as I loved and respected JFK, he made so many mistakes in the beginning of the “Missile Crisis”, that if, undone, we would not have had a crisis at all.
Nuclear war was not survivable then and is not now. Something always to remember.
straitroad
June 18th, 2012
7:13 am
When will you blog about someting relevant to the economy? Or are you part of the Obama deflection team? Bill Krystal? Really? Jay, you’re a talented writer but but some of the topics you choose are real yawners.
Dekalb comments
June 18th, 2012
7:24 am
Normal @ 7:06….
I completely agree with you. This environment of never-ending war with an all volunteer military comprised disproportionately of minorities and those from lower-income families is unsustainable. Our men and women in uniform deserve better from our civilian leaders.
But I am also aware that a nuclear Iran would represent a significant threat to world stability. As such we cannot ever rule out the need to take military action. But that should be the very last resort. Sanctions, diplomacy and other forms of engagement must be pursued to their end before we take that step. I don’t want to see a Chamberlain moment in my lifetime but I think sanctions and diplomacy have to be given a chance.
Mick
June 18th, 2012
7:30 am
Yeah baby, let’s get the repubs in office ASAP, first item on on the agenda? WW3..
Hello from Wichita, one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to in the US? Haven’t fished in years but caught two cat fish in about 10 minutes! Now thats what I call service….the best of all was riding harleys in this great fly over country, it’s an incredible lifestyle out here, really needed this to cure the miami blues…
stands for decibels
June 18th, 2012
7:31 am
When will you blog about someting relevant to the economy?
Four times in one week isn’t enough?
(For the record…)
Ga. now nation’s worst in foreclosure: What it portends
11:49 am June 14, 2012, by Jay
Poor, poor pitiful and put-upon Wall Street…
1:44 pm June 13, 2012, by Jay
The consequences of vanishing wealth
10:14 am June 12, 2012, by Jay
Would Romney-nomics differ from Bush-nomics?
June 11th, 2012 by Jay
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
7:31 am
Dekalb,
I agree that Iran would be a threat, but we must never take them on alone. Israel, who would have the real danger, might need to, but I would think that it would have to be a NATO moment, especially if Russia gets in the mix.
Jm-pass Tsplost unless you really love congestion
June 18th, 2012
7:52 am
Greece elects austerity!
only Obama is against fiscal discipline.
independent thinker
June 18th, 2012
7:52 am
When any of Romney’s five sons volunteer for military or any form of public service ( like Joe Biden’s son) he will be entitled to talk about military involvement only if the Repubs pay for it and W’s Iraq escapade with new taxes. A chickenhawk draft dodger whose father refused to enlist in WWII has no right to follow idiots like Kristol in waging war.
Peadawg
June 18th, 2012
7:59 am
Have Bill Kristol’s kids served in the military?
Ol' Timer
June 18th, 2012
8:08 am
All members of congress who vote to involve the country in another of these unwinnable adventures in the middle east should have to immediately return home to lead their National Guard or Reserve Units into the conflict.
A law to this effect would bring to an end once and for all time these expensive, wasteful and useless adventures.
Peadawg
June 18th, 2012
8:10 am
Ol Timer,
I say put in an amendment to where everyone that has authority to send troops overseas…Congress, President, etc….should serve themselves before being elected. Then they’ll know what it’s like.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
8:12 am
Peadawg
June 18th, 2012
8:10 am
I’m beside you there 100%.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 18th, 2012
8:13 am
Except, when I think about it, I don’t believe any career military man or woman would want the job…
stands for decibels
June 18th, 2012
8:13 am
Not to dredge up the same-old/same-old, but skimming some of the commentary upthread about Rodney King reminded me how, last month, I was bracing myself for some similarly classless jibes at the expense of RFK Jr. over his estranged wife’s suicide.
And now I’m thinking that some folks managed to keep such stuff in check, only to let it all spill out on Sunday. Kind of sad, but very much the nature of such things.
Paul
June 18th, 2012
8:16 am
Mornin’, Matti
That countryside has a way of getting the whole psyche realigned into a better perspective, doesn’t it?
independent thinker
“A chickenhawk draft dodger whose father refused to enlist in WWII ”
Your comment pegs you as someone who came to maturity in the post Vietnam era with no understanding of military service of that time, who is also grossly ignorant of WWII service standards, particularly for married adult males with children who were executives in industries involved in the war effort.
But slogans make for a great basis to formulate opinions, don’t they?
______________________________________________
I view all these statements of “did so and so or his kids or wife or significant other or life partner or parents or grandparents ever spend a couple years in the military?” as pretty irrelevant – especially when about 90 percent of those who serve never see combat – more, depending upon the historical period under consideration, and especially since, for decades, we have had a volunteer militar comprised of people who want to serve as professionals, in a system tailored for that particular mindset.
Paul
June 18th, 2012
8:21 am
Peadawg 8:10
That’d be a pretty slim pool of applicants.
Have you ever thought that by concentrating on such a group you could actually increase the chances of military intervention? Or of completely blowing the political aspects of a military conflict? Just look at the some of the attitudes represented by some of the “I served for a couple years and sat in a foxhole and know how to say ‘ooh-rah’” posters we see here.
Not exactly the broadest perspective.
stands for decibels
June 18th, 2012
8:23 am
PD, I have to admit I have no idea about Kristol’s 3 children’s military status, but when googling a few pertinent keywords this horror appeared:
http://news-cottage-two.blogspot.com/2012/06/bill-kristol-jew-that-ordered-america.html
I’m just saying, anything nasty we DFHs on this here blog might say about the man pales in comparison to this ^^ head case.
Mr_B
June 18th, 2012
8:29 am
stands for decibels:
I was bracing myself for some similarly classless jibes at the expense of RFK Jr. over his estranged wife’s suicide.
She wasn’t one of “those people.”
Mick
June 18th, 2012
8:29 am
Hey paul – thoroughly enjoyed my time in plano! This is only the beginning of an odyssey like summer…
Paul
June 18th, 2012
8:29 am
Another way to look at this: do we really want to restrict candidates to those who had the foresight to say “I’d like a career in politics so I’d better join the military and get that box checked off”?
Or do we want to use ‘he served in combat’ to get the ‘manipulate the system for my personal benefit’ colonel who wangled an extension over a weekend on a short temporary duty assignment in Bahrain so he’d get it on his record he served in combat and also qualify for a nice little tax exemption on part of his pay?
I see the point about those who are the most militaristic among the press corps who don’t seem to know the difference in uniforms, but extrapolating from that to ‘everybody who makes a decision or recommendation on a national level has to have been in the military’ is, I think, a bit extreme.
stands for decibels
June 18th, 2012
8:31 am
Just look at the some of the attitudes represented by some of the “I served for a couple years and sat in a foxhole and know how to say ‘ooh-rah’” posters we see here.
Paul, I can see one benefit to adopting Peadawg’s limiting factor you might not have considered.
Given the vociferousness of those on the right AND on the left who’ve served, and who post here, as a representative sample? They’d possibly be too busy beating each other up, to ever get around to strategizing an actual invasion/occupation.
Peter
June 18th, 2012
8:31 am
YUP the GOP will never learn…..But hey if the cannot bankrupt America, then what are the goals ?
Paul
June 18th, 2012
8:31 am
Mick
I really enjoyed lunch with you. Next time thu you’ll have to schedule some other sights a bit further afield, but I do understand the draw of Plano (grin!).
Paul
June 18th, 2012
8:32 am
stands,
Leave it to you to see the ray of sunshine in any storm!
Mr_B
June 18th, 2012
8:33 am
“But I am also aware that a nuclear Iran would represent a significant threat to world stability.”
Why is Iran a more significant threat than Pakistan? Or Israel, for that matter?