May 2004 Archives
This is so great! Even when he tries a simple symbolic gesture, W can't win. Tee hee.
Sorry about the down time. Well, actually, I'm not very sorry. Spent a long weekend in Carlsbad, experiencing the force of nature that IS Paseo Place.
Had a great time. Can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. Thanks, guys!
Wow. The light quality outside right now is truly gorgeous. The tree leaves are glowing in the late sunlight. How amazingly fortunate to have such a view be relatively commonplace in one's daily life. Love ya, Cali.
The American Military Operation Name Generating Device! Tell your friends!
Courtesy of Hellblazer.
...if you saturate yourself with only one perspective, or you choose a path wherein you are blasted to the core every moment with the worst humanity has to offer, well, the world responds in kind and is nothing but bleak and sad and torturous, full of little tiny leeches with sharp jagged teeth and Lynne Cheney's face that devour your large intestine while you sleep.
But most of all, the reason I don't write about immigrant abuse or prison rape or abortion rights or the stench of BushCo every column and the reason you don't read it every time is the exact same reason you do not right this minute see the world outside your window running through a giant storm of hellfire with its hands slapped to its screaming face as the buildings explode and the children melt into goo. It's because that vile dark matter is not all there is.
Another funny, insightful, and scarily perceptive column from the fabulous Matt.
You know, it amazes me the lack of faith some folks have in their Redeemer. One would think that policing whether or not you made moral voting choices would be between one's Self and one's god. Apparently, the Catholic Church thinks they need to help their's out.
Dressing up in a flight suit and pretending to be a soldier is not serious. Bragging to the cameras that a war is over, when the struggle has barely begun, is not serious. Real soldiers understand that the guns are loaded and uniforms should be worn only by those who risk their lives in defense of our country. Serious presidents understand that, too. Now more than ever: Isn't it time for the United States to have a serious president again?
Actually, this was sent to Kos by a reader. It would be astounding if the Kerry Camp had the courage to use it.
After all of the troops have come home, a powerful cleric is ruling Iraq with a theocratic government and Bush has been retired to his ranch by an angry electorate, the president's closest friend will be undaunted. Years from now, when historians begin to insist that Iraq was the greatest geopolitical mistake ever made by an American president, she will be there disputing their interpretations.
Karen Hughes will always believe.
Check it out in Salon.
Inhofe's America is one that is glutted on pretension, cut free from all its moral ballast, and hungry to sit atop a world run only by violence. Lady Liberty gets left with fifty bucks, a sneer, a black eye, and the room to herself for the couple hours left before check out.
Josh is on a roll this week. An excellent series of posts about the Armed Services Committee hearings.
Contrary to what Mr. Bush has said, the growing numbers of Iraqis supporting the insurgency do not “hate freedom.” It is just that they define “freedom” as freedom from American rule. Now, in this regard, the administration hopes it can placate Iraqi nationalism by handing over “sovereignty” on June 30. But Iraqis are not fooled by this, and Americans shouldn’t be either. As things now stand, Iraq will be sovereign in name only because the U.S. will still be wielding military, economic, and political control in Baghdad.
This isn't a new position to the anti-war contingent. What's significant here is that the above is quoted from The American Conservative. Not familiar with this publication? You may have heard of one of its editors, Patrick Buchanan.
A senior general at the Pentagon said he believes the United States is already on the road to defeat. "It is doubtful we can go on much longer like this," he said. "The American people may not stand for it -- and they should not."
Asked who was to blame, this general pointed directly at Rumsfeld and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz. "I do not believe we had a clearly defined war strategy, end state and exit strategy before we commenced our invasion," he said. "Had someone like Colin Powell been the chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff], he would not have agreed to send troops without a clear exit strategy. The current OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] refused to listen or adhere to military advice."
More and more ammunition for the Kerry campaign. Can they use it to their advantage?
At Instapundit, every move Kerry makes is a potential disaster for his campaign.
At Instapundit, every member of Bush's administration who jumps ship is a disloyal Judas in search of a book contract.
At Instapundit, every time a cabinet member is hauled before Congress to answer for the latest screwup, it's a dignified and statesmanlike performance. (If we get much more of this "statesmanship," we're really going to be f--ked.
At Instapundit, every time a former ally criticizes the U.S., it's a cold political gambit. (I'm shocked. Shocked! Did you know that some of these countries actually believe their opinions matter?)
At Instapundit, every time the U.S. botches something else in Iraq, we are reminded that Saddam killed little babies and once shared a cab with Osama bin Laden's third wife's fourth cousin.
At Instapundit, every time the media shows flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq, it could be running stories about that school Halliburton painted (for a mere $100,000).
They believe this because they must believe it. Once they concede the point -- any point -- the dam will break. They, like the president, are ardent believers in the continuum that drives the GOP strategy -- 9/11=Muslim=Patriot Act=Saddam=war=orange alert -- to the point that it is a mantra to be repeated ad nauseum, a quasi-religious statement of belief, an article of faith long past the need for any empirical evidence.
Read the rest at Approximately Perfect
I just watched the Beltway Boyz have a complete meltdown over the idea that someone would ask Rumsfeld to resign over such minor infractions as torture, abuse and the suspension of 200 years of legal precedent and international treaties. After all, as Mort indignantly cried, "This is not My Lai!" (Fred added that Stalin was much, much worse because he killed millions.) When you look at the great historical sweep of political malfeasance, depravity and corruption it is really the lowest of the low to ask for the resignation of a cabinet secretary over such a silly little thing.
``Do you feel his death is justified?'' she asked the president. ``What are we liberating, Mr. Bush? . . . Did he die for liberty and justice for all? I think not, Mr. Bush.''
Of course, all Dorothy Turney-Stacy received was a form letter reply.
The past few weeks have been miserable for John Kerry. Not calamitous or terminal. But since he won the Democratic primaries on a wave of Bush-beating acclaim, Mr Kerry has failed to show either the character or policies of which winning campaigns are made. It has been, at the least, a period of lost opportunities.
Some free advice for the Kerry campaign via The Economist
May 3, 2004
Dear Comcast Customer,
This is a letter from Comcast High-Speed Internet - with important recommendations on how to protect your computer from malicious attack.
Several critical vulnerabilities have been identified in Microsoft's operating system software that could allow an attacker to gain remote access to users' computers. To help protect against such attacks, Microsoft has developed a patch and made it available.
Please Note: Macintosh Computers are not affected by this vulnerability
LaLaLaLaLaLaLa!
Ever wondered what real Texans think of Dubya? Well, wonder no more:
While suturing a laceration on the hand of a 70-year-old Texas rancher (whose hand had caught in a gate while working cattle), a doctor and the old man were talking about George W. Bush being in the White House.
The old Texan said, "Well, ya know, Bush is a 'post turtle'."
Not knowing what the old man meant, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.
The old man said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."
The old man saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain, "You know he didn't get there by himself, he doesn't belong there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, and you just want to help the poor stupid guy get down."
Indeed.
Courtesy of The Agonist.
Groups promoting extremist brands of Islam have gained a foothold in American prisons, and counterterrorism officials believe Al Qaeda are likely to try to use the prisons "to radicalize and recruit inmates," according to a Justice Department investigation.
Oh goody. Looks like we're redefining "getting our money's worth" for our increasing investment in the prison industrial complex. Maybe they'll have to start calling in the Abu Ghraib experts to get this situation under control.
Hmm, maybe this explains, at least in part, the bizarre identity crisis exhibited by the third movie in "The Matrix" series.
Things getting weird enough for you?
Yet another excellent analysis piece in Salon, this one about Ahmed Chalabi.
Enhance your pleasure by reading Josh's intro.
Don't get me wrong, it's great that Dole and Lugar and McCain and Hagel are standing up for John Kerry. But where are the Democrats?
Have I mentioned lately how much having a Mac RULES?
My condolences, dear friends in Wintel World.
My good buddy, Hal, helped me out today with style sheets. Site is getting a little more customized. Thanks, Hal!
