Interview on NPR
John Adams
Credit: Deborah O'Grady Copyright 2003
John Adams is one of the most oft-performed and influential living American composers.
He's featured today at NPR.
Internet muse.
Daring, bold, never sold.
My daily weblog of politics, humor, philosophy...and a constant and nagging reminder of the existence of universal love....
Monday, January 12, 2004
Paul O'Neill Exposes the Ugliness of Post-Reaganites
This WSJ opinion is only a beginning for the poison-pen articles and columns soon to be written about Paul O'Neill.
In reality, O'Neill's honest tattle-tales could fall out in unseen yet healing ways.
It's time to heal our nation. What will that entail?
It will entail exposing everything that was wrong about the Reagan era.
Ultra-Conservative Republicans want to perpetuate a myth about the greatness of it all.
They hope to hold on to the highest power over Americans by perpetuating the myth. We need an honest conversation.
We need to expose the Dick Cheneys, the Karl Roves and the Grover Norquistians (I certainly didn't say Christians) for what they are. They are greedy, ugly-souled, unAmerican devils with a vicious, blind and unjust ideology. They are pulling the strings of the 2000-carefully-placed Howdy-Doody Bush in our White House.
I'm glad Paul O'Neill had the ego sufficient to remain an honest Lone Ranger. It allowed him the opportunity to see what really went on in the secretive Bush administration and survive to tell the gory tales.
When Dick Cheney says: "Reagan proved deficits don't matter", he conveniently forgets that the visionary Bill Clinton came along for eight years to cover his ass. Deficits do matter to American parents who don't want to pass all their greedy debt onto the backs of their children.
This WSJ opinion is only a beginning for the poison-pen articles and columns soon to be written about Paul O'Neill.
In reality, O'Neill's honest tattle-tales could fall out in unseen yet healing ways.
It's time to heal our nation. What will that entail?
It will entail exposing everything that was wrong about the Reagan era.
Ultra-Conservative Republicans want to perpetuate a myth about the greatness of it all.
They hope to hold on to the highest power over Americans by perpetuating the myth. We need an honest conversation.
We need to expose the Dick Cheneys, the Karl Roves and the Grover Norquistians (I certainly didn't say Christians) for what they are. They are greedy, ugly-souled, unAmerican devils with a vicious, blind and unjust ideology. They are pulling the strings of the 2000-carefully-placed Howdy-Doody Bush in our White House.
I'm glad Paul O'Neill had the ego sufficient to remain an honest Lone Ranger. It allowed him the opportunity to see what really went on in the secretive Bush administration and survive to tell the gory tales.
When Dick Cheney says: "Reagan proved deficits don't matter", he conveniently forgets that the visionary Bill Clinton came along for eight years to cover his ass. Deficits do matter to American parents who don't want to pass all their greedy debt onto the backs of their children.
Poll: Alternative News Gaining Influence
"....People are turning increasingly to alternatives such as the Internet for news about the presidential campaign, shifting away from traditional outlets such as the nightly network news and newspapers, a poll found..."
If this means a reliance upon cable news and SNL, I'm very afraid to tell you we're being dumbed down. Beware.
SNL has become nothing more than entertainment (without the intellect). Cable news is tabloid schlock.
If it means the Daily Show and the blogs are kicking in as a meaningful influence, it's encouraging news.
The fact that network shows like Nightline and any newspapers are being ignored/abandoned is very discouraging.
Like them or hate them, the newspapers are a wonderful source of learning about some of the most important issues.
Perhaps people are becoming discouraged in the lack of truly liberal treatment of issues in today's newspapers.
The Internet has taken up the flame that was once carried by bold newsprint journalists. In a way, that's sad. But I guess that's progress in (small d) democracy.
"....People are turning increasingly to alternatives such as the Internet for news about the presidential campaign, shifting away from traditional outlets such as the nightly network news and newspapers, a poll found..."
If this means a reliance upon cable news and SNL, I'm very afraid to tell you we're being dumbed down. Beware.
SNL has become nothing more than entertainment (without the intellect). Cable news is tabloid schlock.
If it means the Daily Show and the blogs are kicking in as a meaningful influence, it's encouraging news.
The fact that network shows like Nightline and any newspapers are being ignored/abandoned is very discouraging.
Like them or hate them, the newspapers are a wonderful source of learning about some of the most important issues.
Perhaps people are becoming discouraged in the lack of truly liberal treatment of issues in today's newspapers.
The Internet has taken up the flame that was once carried by bold newsprint journalists. In a way, that's sad. But I guess that's progress in (small d) democracy.
Notes on last night's Democratic debate
Maria Celeste Arraras, who co-facilitated last night's Democratic debate was unprofessional to throw in her personal statements after candidates had respectfully replied to her open-ended questions. I thought it was a poorly-led debate which produced nothing more than soundbites and barely-explored ideas. Adam Nagourney at the NY Times said "The debate revealed no major new differences among the candidates, and for the most part allowed them to use their last joint televised appearance to restate the themes most of them have been sounding in the state for more than a year."
I think that's a fair statement.
I'll give you an example of how Maria Celeste Arraras was unprofessional. Howard Dean was asked if those non-citizens who went to war for the U.S. should be granted citizenship. Howard Dean, while generally in support, said the issue needs to be carefully thought out to avoid Hispanics eager for citizenship disproportionately signing up to serve. Rather than asking him to explain, Maria Celeste Arraras said (not once, but after TWO of Dean's statements, that Puerto Ricans sign up for the military because "they want to".
"Because they want to"?! HELLO? What the hell does that mean? it could mean anything from -they need money; -they think it's their only route to citizenship; -it's their only hope of paying for an education; it's the only way to support their family...or maybe they really DO want the thrill of being in the middle of a war where people shoot at them daily.
"Because they want to" could mean anything.
If Maria Celeste Arraras had asked Dean the right questions rather than defensively assuming he was trying to keep "her kind" out of the white-man's United States, here is what I think she would have heard:
Dean, out of compassion and fairness to all people, doesn't want to use poor Hispanics as toy soldiers for the pleasure of chickenhawk-dreaming.
John Kerry pandered to Arraras, reassuring her (at any cost,apparently) that legal immigrants in the military have already met certain standards and should get automatic citizenship. This, in my opinion, only assures that it will be easier for our leaders to send needy young men to their fact-manufactured wars. We'll have more (poor/brown) bodies to play with.
Howard Dean is right in saying we need to have a bitterly frank conversation about race in this country.
I wish Dean would have stood up a bit more to Al Sharpton. Sharpton had every right to bring up the record of
having no people of color in his Vermont cabinet. I think Dean should have shamelessly explained that Vermont has
less than 1% black population as compared to nearly 13% in the entire country.
Sigh. Lester Holt brought up the Confederate flag issue again. (Sadly creating division rather than drawing out some new ideas from these 9 candidates). Both Dean and Edwards hopped on the bandwagon, calling the Confederate flag a dreaded ugly symbol. Edwards said that the flag was offensive "to all Americans." While I realize that's how many people see it, I also realize it's because many people are not properly educated about the Civil War. I hate seeing politicians perpetuating ignorance. Pardon my blatant honesty here, but I have no choice. I'm compelled to step aside politics and tell the truth.
Yes-the Confederate flag is a symbol of where we never want to be again as a nation. But the flag is a symbol of where we were..under which many American men died in a tragic and lengthy confrontation between fellow citizens..fellow immigrants..fellow brothers.
I think they both miss a fact that would ring true with many southern families (and perhaps citizens of other American states who have since relocated). A lot of American family ancestors died in the Civil War. The flag stands for a heritage that is not exclusively tied to slavery. The Civil War was about much more than slavery. The Emanicipation Proclamation turned out to be Lincoln's resort...not Lincoln's initial goal. While Lincoln believed slavery was "founded on the selfishness of man's nature---opposition to it on his love of justice", he also made it politically clear that, before becoming President, he'd had "no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races....". In a debate with Stephan Douglas on August 21, 1858, in Ottawa, Illinois, Lincoln said: "I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position."
This is something not commonly known or taught in the public schools, but it is very true. Lincoln thought the black race was beneath the White. He said so himself...so please do not read this and consider me a race-beater. I am merely citing historical fact. In reality, I am a member of a racially-mixed family.
We cannot bury the truth, as hard as we try. We cannot bury the Confederate flag. And I don't think Democrats or Republicans should necessarily embrace it, but at the same time, they shouldn't totally toss it to the trash bucket of American history. I believe that, if we'd been taught HONESTLY in the public schools about the realities of the issues surrounding the Civil War, we wouldn't be living in this divisive twisted fantasy of Noth good/South bad today.
An honest discussion of America's perverted race-relations history is very necessary. Politicians must be honest about their stand on Reparations, too. Joe Lieberman was called on the issue last night and gave a vague-yet-fairly-appropriate reply (considering being put on the spot).
Governor Dean said a payroll tax cut would most likely come out of the general fund in the form of a tax credit. I hope he hurries. Thanks to smelly pigs like Grover Norquist, the general fund has been sucked nearly dry.
Maria Celeste Arraras, who co-facilitated last night's Democratic debate was unprofessional to throw in her personal statements after candidates had respectfully replied to her open-ended questions. I thought it was a poorly-led debate which produced nothing more than soundbites and barely-explored ideas. Adam Nagourney at the NY Times said "The debate revealed no major new differences among the candidates, and for the most part allowed them to use their last joint televised appearance to restate the themes most of them have been sounding in the state for more than a year."
I think that's a fair statement.
I'll give you an example of how Maria Celeste Arraras was unprofessional. Howard Dean was asked if those non-citizens who went to war for the U.S. should be granted citizenship. Howard Dean, while generally in support, said the issue needs to be carefully thought out to avoid Hispanics eager for citizenship disproportionately signing up to serve. Rather than asking him to explain, Maria Celeste Arraras said (not once, but after TWO of Dean's statements, that Puerto Ricans sign up for the military because "they want to".
"Because they want to"?! HELLO? What the hell does that mean? it could mean anything from -they need money; -they think it's their only route to citizenship; -it's their only hope of paying for an education; it's the only way to support their family...or maybe they really DO want the thrill of being in the middle of a war where people shoot at them daily.
"Because they want to" could mean anything.
If Maria Celeste Arraras had asked Dean the right questions rather than defensively assuming he was trying to keep "her kind" out of the white-man's United States, here is what I think she would have heard:
Dean, out of compassion and fairness to all people, doesn't want to use poor Hispanics as toy soldiers for the pleasure of chickenhawk-dreaming.
John Kerry pandered to Arraras, reassuring her (at any cost,apparently) that legal immigrants in the military have already met certain standards and should get automatic citizenship. This, in my opinion, only assures that it will be easier for our leaders to send needy young men to their fact-manufactured wars. We'll have more (poor/brown) bodies to play with.
Howard Dean is right in saying we need to have a bitterly frank conversation about race in this country.
I wish Dean would have stood up a bit more to Al Sharpton. Sharpton had every right to bring up the record of
having no people of color in his Vermont cabinet. I think Dean should have shamelessly explained that Vermont has
less than 1% black population as compared to nearly 13% in the entire country.
Sigh. Lester Holt brought up the Confederate flag issue again. (Sadly creating division rather than drawing out some new ideas from these 9 candidates). Both Dean and Edwards hopped on the bandwagon, calling the Confederate flag a dreaded ugly symbol. Edwards said that the flag was offensive "to all Americans." While I realize that's how many people see it, I also realize it's because many people are not properly educated about the Civil War. I hate seeing politicians perpetuating ignorance. Pardon my blatant honesty here, but I have no choice. I'm compelled to step aside politics and tell the truth.
Yes-the Confederate flag is a symbol of where we never want to be again as a nation. But the flag is a symbol of where we were..under which many American men died in a tragic and lengthy confrontation between fellow citizens..fellow immigrants..fellow brothers.
I think they both miss a fact that would ring true with many southern families (and perhaps citizens of other American states who have since relocated). A lot of American family ancestors died in the Civil War. The flag stands for a heritage that is not exclusively tied to slavery. The Civil War was about much more than slavery. The Emanicipation Proclamation turned out to be Lincoln's resort...not Lincoln's initial goal. While Lincoln believed slavery was "founded on the selfishness of man's nature---opposition to it on his love of justice", he also made it politically clear that, before becoming President, he'd had "no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races....". In a debate with Stephan Douglas on August 21, 1858, in Ottawa, Illinois, Lincoln said: "I, as well as Judge Douglas, am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position."
This is something not commonly known or taught in the public schools, but it is very true. Lincoln thought the black race was beneath the White. He said so himself...so please do not read this and consider me a race-beater. I am merely citing historical fact. In reality, I am a member of a racially-mixed family.
We cannot bury the truth, as hard as we try. We cannot bury the Confederate flag. And I don't think Democrats or Republicans should necessarily embrace it, but at the same time, they shouldn't totally toss it to the trash bucket of American history. I believe that, if we'd been taught HONESTLY in the public schools about the realities of the issues surrounding the Civil War, we wouldn't be living in this divisive twisted fantasy of Noth good/South bad today.
An honest discussion of America's perverted race-relations history is very necessary. Politicians must be honest about their stand on Reparations, too. Joe Lieberman was called on the issue last night and gave a vague-yet-fairly-appropriate reply (considering being put on the spot).
Governor Dean said a payroll tax cut would most likely come out of the general fund in the form of a tax credit. I hope he hurries. Thanks to smelly pigs like Grover Norquist, the general fund has been sucked nearly dry.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Hmmmmmm....
Pentagon auditors set to clear Halliburton
"...The Defense Contract Audit Agency said Army Corps of Engineers officials overseeing the oil contract had promised a "business case" that showed prices billed by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root for fuel delivered by a subcontractor were "fair and reasonable" and the issue would then be closed..."
"....Pressure eased on the company over the pricing issue after Army Corps chief Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers signed a waiver on Dec. 19 that KBR did not need to provide certified "cost and pricing data" related to a sole-source fuel contract with Altanmia....."
~~~~~~~~
"..The Pentagon audit agency said earlier in the week that the Corp had already said the business case would show prices billed by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) for fuel delivered by a subcontractor were "fair and reasonable."
"...Neither the Army Corps nor the Pentagon would provide details about the document, but they are expected to knock down price-gouging allegations against the company once chaired by Vice President Dick Cheney...." LINK
The DCAA seems to have waved a magic wand here...POOF! $61.7 million in overcharges gone!
Oye.
~~~~~~~~~
HMMMMMMM UPDATE--
Report: Pentagon Auditors Altered Files
Time for an investigation on the accuracy of the Halliburton/KBR overcharge whitewash?
Pentagon auditors set to clear Halliburton
"...The Defense Contract Audit Agency said Army Corps of Engineers officials overseeing the oil contract had promised a "business case" that showed prices billed by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root for fuel delivered by a subcontractor were "fair and reasonable" and the issue would then be closed..."
"....Pressure eased on the company over the pricing issue after Army Corps chief Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers signed a waiver on Dec. 19 that KBR did not need to provide certified "cost and pricing data" related to a sole-source fuel contract with Altanmia....."
~~~~~~~~
"..The Pentagon audit agency said earlier in the week that the Corp had already said the business case would show prices billed by Halliburton unit Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) for fuel delivered by a subcontractor were "fair and reasonable."
"...Neither the Army Corps nor the Pentagon would provide details about the document, but they are expected to knock down price-gouging allegations against the company once chaired by Vice President Dick Cheney...." LINK
The DCAA seems to have waved a magic wand here...POOF! $61.7 million in overcharges gone!
Oye.
~~~~~~~~~
HMMMMMMM UPDATE--
Report: Pentagon Auditors Altered Files
Time for an investigation on the accuracy of the Halliburton/KBR overcharge whitewash?
This could be THE most important issue for Election 2004:
Verifiable Paper Trails - H.R. 2239
H.R 2239 is a bill in the house insuring a verifiable paper trail in the upcoming election.
There is a website which is hosting a petition: Working for Change
I'm urging you to go and sign.
You can write a letter (easily) here:Electronic Frontier Foundation. See Action page.
Also, write Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio who is the head of the committee holding H.R. 2239 hostage.
Give him a piece of your mind.
See ARMACT blog for more information
This is intimidating..check it out.
Verifiable Paper Trails - H.R. 2239
H.R 2239 is a bill in the house insuring a verifiable paper trail in the upcoming election.
There is a website which is hosting a petition: Working for Change
I'm urging you to go and sign.
You can write a letter (easily) here:Electronic Frontier Foundation. See Action page.
Also, write Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio who is the head of the committee holding H.R. 2239 hostage.
Give him a piece of your mind.
See ARMACT blog for more information
This is intimidating..check it out.
Dean and Clark-Dream Team? This is a time for caution/wisdom
I think Josh Marshall has a great point HERE.
Personally, I envision Clark and Dean as a dream team. The quickest way for Dean to lose ground to Clark would be to beat the "he-was-pro-war" drums. Clark, like Dean, is coming in from the outside of the Washington inner-circle. Just as I take Governor Dean at his word today, (giving trustful benefit of doubt about past statements), I personally believe General Clark's words about his stand on the war today. Governor Dean cannot employ the same tactics used by the corporate media to attack past statements made by another popular candidate. It only demeans his own campaign.
To me, it would be the most patriotic move these two gentleman could EVER make to come together in a refreshingly new way and fight Bush together.
We Dean-supporters should be very careful in distributing unofficial campaign literature. It could hurt Dean as easily as help. We know the type of media atmosphere against which we are fighting.
I think Josh Marshall has a great point HERE.
Personally, I envision Clark and Dean as a dream team. The quickest way for Dean to lose ground to Clark would be to beat the "he-was-pro-war" drums. Clark, like Dean, is coming in from the outside of the Washington inner-circle. Just as I take Governor Dean at his word today, (giving trustful benefit of doubt about past statements), I personally believe General Clark's words about his stand on the war today. Governor Dean cannot employ the same tactics used by the corporate media to attack past statements made by another popular candidate. It only demeans his own campaign.
To me, it would be the most patriotic move these two gentleman could EVER make to come together in a refreshingly new way and fight Bush together.
We Dean-supporters should be very careful in distributing unofficial campaign literature. It could hurt Dean as easily as help. We know the type of media atmosphere against which we are fighting.
Shrines
They may be the center of our daily experience or exist on the fringes of our consciousness. They may be intentional, or accidental; they are the border between yesterday, today, tomorrow; between heart and spirit, despair and hope, time and timelessness.
"Meister Eckhart, the medieval Christian mystic, said that 'if gratitude were our only prayers, then that would be enough.' These little shrines here are very much an expression of that," he says. "They are filled with pictures of friends and family, and little things that I have picked up along the way - seashells or pieces of bark. Some of them I remember distinctly; over time, I have forgotten the specific significance of other things. But they all trigger a sense of gratitude in me, a sense of connection to people and places."
Shrine of a different color
900 "illegal" shrines demolished in Mumbai, India
'At all places where the eye rests, and also at places where the eye does not rest, the busy chisel of the artist has worked incessantly. The abode of god has been enveloped by a variety of figures depicting the good and the evil, the great as well as the insignificant, the daily occurences of human life....'
-Rabindranath Tagore
They may be the center of our daily experience or exist on the fringes of our consciousness. They may be intentional, or accidental; they are the border between yesterday, today, tomorrow; between heart and spirit, despair and hope, time and timelessness.
"Meister Eckhart, the medieval Christian mystic, said that 'if gratitude were our only prayers, then that would be enough.' These little shrines here are very much an expression of that," he says. "They are filled with pictures of friends and family, and little things that I have picked up along the way - seashells or pieces of bark. Some of them I remember distinctly; over time, I have forgotten the specific significance of other things. But they all trigger a sense of gratitude in me, a sense of connection to people and places."
Shrine of a different color
900 "illegal" shrines demolished in Mumbai, India
'At all places where the eye rests, and also at places where the eye does not rest, the busy chisel of the artist has worked incessantly. The abode of god has been enveloped by a variety of figures depicting the good and the evil, the great as well as the insignificant, the daily occurences of human life....'
-Rabindranath Tagore
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Paula the Whore (Or: 'Paula, You Ignorant Slut!')
Atrios reposts part of an interview with Dean manager Joe Trippi conducted by Paula Zahn, one of the queens of disinformation-spread. Joe handled it well.
I'm really getting sick of this shit. I know I'm not the only one.
The cable news media is overdue to be overthrown.
I propose an American revolution against these lazy gossip journalists.
Update/ABC News: "The Bloggy, Bloggy Banks
Twas There that Trippi Parted...with CNN's Paula Zahn"
Atrios reposts part of an interview with Dean manager Joe Trippi conducted by Paula Zahn, one of the queens of disinformation-spread. Joe handled it well.
I'm really getting sick of this shit. I know I'm not the only one.
The cable news media is overdue to be overthrown.
I propose an American revolution against these lazy gossip journalists.
Update/ABC News: "The Bloggy, Bloggy Banks
Twas There that Trippi Parted...with CNN's Paula Zahn"
Whaaaa????
I don't see any latte or sushi.....Where?
I've got some hot dogs on the grill and a Bud in the cooler.
No! That's not a Volvo, that's my raft.
What the heck are you goofy Growth Clubbers talking about, anyhow?
Are you nuts?! That's not a purebred..it's my darling mutt Mike!
"Gee whiz, Bill! Maybe them Deanies aren't the latte-sippin' Hollywood-lovin' weirdos we suspected them to be! The elderly couple on that there TV ad were only Hollywood actors tryin' to look like one of us, anyhow. Let's go crack a Bud with the gal and ler her tell us about Howard Dean!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the great grassroots campaign of the modern era, built from mouse pads, shoe leather and hope.
We seek to build a community of millions and strengthen the voice of the people.
And like the founders of our republic, we seek change.
Our campaign is about who we are as Americans. This President has forgotten ordinary people-- but you have the power to reclaim our nation's destiny.
Do so by taking action today:
Join the Dean Campaign.
I don't see any latte or sushi.....Where?
I've got some hot dogs on the grill and a Bud in the cooler.
No! That's not a Volvo, that's my raft.
What the heck are you goofy Growth Clubbers talking about, anyhow?
Are you nuts?! That's not a purebred..it's my darling mutt Mike!
"Gee whiz, Bill! Maybe them Deanies aren't the latte-sippin' Hollywood-lovin' weirdos we suspected them to be! The elderly couple on that there TV ad were only Hollywood actors tryin' to look like one of us, anyhow. Let's go crack a Bud with the gal and ler her tell us about Howard Dean!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are the great grassroots campaign of the modern era, built from mouse pads, shoe leather and hope.
We seek to build a community of millions and strengthen the voice of the people.
And like the founders of our republic, we seek change.
Our campaign is about who we are as Americans. This President has forgotten ordinary people-- but you have the power to reclaim our nation's destiny.
Do so by taking action today:
Join the Dean Campaign.
Of Pipelines, Wars, Survival
Ted Rall has further thoughts on our reasons for the attack on Afghanistan.
An anonymous party wants us to think about unspoken reasons for war, too. Where will you be when the great Oil Crash comes?
Ted Rall has further thoughts on our reasons for the attack on Afghanistan.
An anonymous party wants us to think about unspoken reasons for war, too. Where will you be when the great Oil Crash comes?
I knew all along that a superior man could not stay with the blind Bush
"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
-The superior man loves his soul; the inferior man loves his property.
-The superior man always remembers how he was punished for his mistakes; the inferior man always remembers what presents he got.
-The superior man is liberal toward others' opinions but does not completely agree with them; the inferior man completely agrees with others' opinions, but is not liberal toward them.
-The superior man is firm, but does not fight; he mixes easily with others, but does not form cliques.
-The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.
-The superior man is always candid and at ease with himself or others; the inferior man is always worried about something."
-Confucius
"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
-The superior man loves his soul; the inferior man loves his property.
-The superior man always remembers how he was punished for his mistakes; the inferior man always remembers what presents he got.
-The superior man is liberal toward others' opinions but does not completely agree with them; the inferior man completely agrees with others' opinions, but is not liberal toward them.
-The superior man is firm, but does not fight; he mixes easily with others, but does not form cliques.
-The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.
-The superior man is always candid and at ease with himself or others; the inferior man is always worried about something."
-Confucius
Josh Marshall is talking in the mainstream media today. Josh is laying David Brooks out for his irresponsible slandering
"...Let's be clear on what's going on here. Pressure groups exist in politics. The loose association of people generally termed "neoconservative" use the term to describe themselves. And while no group is monolithic in its thinking, neocons generally think of themselves as a group and act in that fashion. The point is that this is an ideological group in American politics. The people who are a part of it see it as such, as do its critics and opponents. And yet many now want to use blanket criticisms of anti-Semitism to stigmatize and ward off any and all criticism.."
I am so glad this has been said.
As I mentioned earlier this week, injustices by so-called professional journalists need to be pointed out. They need to be shown as examples of what not to do if you plan to be seen as a credible journalist.
Again, Josh, thank you.
"...Let's be clear on what's going on here. Pressure groups exist in politics. The loose association of people generally termed "neoconservative" use the term to describe themselves. And while no group is monolithic in its thinking, neocons generally think of themselves as a group and act in that fashion. The point is that this is an ideological group in American politics. The people who are a part of it see it as such, as do its critics and opponents. And yet many now want to use blanket criticisms of anti-Semitism to stigmatize and ward off any and all criticism.."
I am so glad this has been said.
As I mentioned earlier this week, injustices by so-called professional journalists need to be pointed out. They need to be shown as examples of what not to do if you plan to be seen as a credible journalist.
Again, Josh, thank you.
Listen to the media, the GOP, and the DLC screeching about how Dean is left-wing extremist. Consider the actual left-wing view. Get real.
If we're going to unseat the Bushies in November, we'd best get real. This isn't a game we're playing. Our troops are dying every day in a land in which we know they don't belong. The Bushies have gotten them into a quagmire situation.
They cannot leave Iraq for years and years because the moment they leave, the Iraqi government will be overthrown by the "occupied" people. Because we do not have world-cooperation in a true sense of the word, the coalition-propped Iraqi governing council will not be given legitimacy by the Iraqi people.
All this must change, and there is absolutely no indication that the Bushies plan to turn this around.
Left extremists are pie-in-the-sky to abandon the potential of Howard Dean to take this reality and turn it back to sanity. The more they rip away at Dean, the higher the chance they'll be handed the nightmare of the Bushies for another 4 years. And they'll be whining and protesting about the same thing all through those 4 years. How foolish. Bloody foolish.
When will we learn?
If we're going to unseat the Bushies in November, we'd best get real. This isn't a game we're playing. Our troops are dying every day in a land in which we know they don't belong. The Bushies have gotten them into a quagmire situation.
They cannot leave Iraq for years and years because the moment they leave, the Iraqi government will be overthrown by the "occupied" people. Because we do not have world-cooperation in a true sense of the word, the coalition-propped Iraqi governing council will not be given legitimacy by the Iraqi people.
All this must change, and there is absolutely no indication that the Bushies plan to turn this around.
Left extremists are pie-in-the-sky to abandon the potential of Howard Dean to take this reality and turn it back to sanity. The more they rip away at Dean, the higher the chance they'll be handed the nightmare of the Bushies for another 4 years. And they'll be whining and protesting about the same thing all through those 4 years. How foolish. Bloody foolish.
When will we learn?
We've known about this long before Paul O'Neill confirmed it.
Today's Drudge Report top-headline goes like this:
"FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY PAUL ONEILL SAYS INVASION OF IRAQ WAS PLANNED IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LONG BEFORE 9/11, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SUNDAY ON "60 MINUTES"
This big news flash on the Drudge Report is something we have known for a long time. Why is it that, just because Paul O'Neill suddenly says so, it's now "legitimate" and headline-worthy whereas before it was left-wing lunacy?
I guess the reason the dusty old news is worthy of a headline today is because a Bush insider finally lets a truth pass over his previously-sealed lips (GASP).
May 4, 2003 /Iddybud:
LADIES AND GENTS- MEET YOUR WAR CABINET
9-11 was not caused by Saddam Hussein....
Hussein (granted, not a great guy) was nowhere CLOSE to having
WMDs that would threaten our national security...
but 9-11 was the perfect catalyst..the
"springboard to a dream" for the PNAC.
Jude 2:28 PM May 4, 2003
Today's Drudge Report top-headline goes like this:
"FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY PAUL ONEILL SAYS INVASION OF IRAQ WAS PLANNED IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION LONG BEFORE 9/11, IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SUNDAY ON "60 MINUTES"
This big news flash on the Drudge Report is something we have known for a long time. Why is it that, just because Paul O'Neill suddenly says so, it's now "legitimate" and headline-worthy whereas before it was left-wing lunacy?
I guess the reason the dusty old news is worthy of a headline today is because a Bush insider finally lets a truth pass over his previously-sealed lips (GASP).
May 4, 2003 /Iddybud:
LADIES AND GENTS- MEET YOUR WAR CABINET
9-11 was not caused by Saddam Hussein....
Hussein (granted, not a great guy) was nowhere CLOSE to having
WMDs that would threaten our national security...
but 9-11 was the perfect catalyst..the
"springboard to a dream" for the PNAC.
Jude 2:28 PM May 4, 2003
".."I owned a horse once. I loved him better than my own son," said Yusuf Majid, 58, a dignified but threadbare man who was eagerly pressing against the fence to watch one race. "Here in Iraq, times are bad, security is bad, work is bad. The only things we have to enjoy are these beautiful horses...."
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