Saturday, September 08, 2007
Mendacious Hacks, Then And Now
The real question, of course, is why the Washington Post continues to publish such people.
The answer is left to you, my dear readers.
The answer is left to you, my dear readers.
Startled
I don't really understand these people either.
Anyway, I've been mulling a long post for awhile now, but the short version is that local newspapers, which have in most locations been effective local monopolies, convinced themselves that their market power was justified by their status as Very Important Institutions and have since had an inability to pull their heads out of their asses and get over themselves.
That isn't to say that local journalism isn't important and that the best hope for that reality hasn't been newspapers, but no specific newspaper is especially important.
Anyway, I've been mulling a long post for awhile now, but the short version is that local newspapers, which have in most locations been effective local monopolies, convinced themselves that their market power was justified by their status as Very Important Institutions and have since had an inability to pull their heads out of their asses and get over themselves.
That isn't to say that local journalism isn't important and that the best hope for that reality hasn't been newspapers, but no specific newspaper is especially important.
Peace
The real question we face is what the 2012 candidates for president think about when we should withdraw from Iraq.
In a report to be released Sunday, a panel of experts assembled by the U.S. Institute of Peace calls for a 50 percent reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq within three years and a total withdrawal and handover of security to the Iraqi military in five years.
"The United States faces too many challenges around the world to continue its current level of effort in Iraq, or even the deployment that was in place before the surge," the report says. " . . . It is time to chart a clearer path forward."
Meanwhile
Over there.
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber drove through a checkpoint and blew up his car in Baghdad's Shiite district of Sadr City, killing at least 12 people in an attack apparently aimed at a nearby market, police and hospital officials said.
Iraqi police fired at the attacker after he refused to stop at the checkpoint, but he managed to detonate the explosives, officials said. Thirty-five people were wounded and many cars and shops were destroyed.
New York Is Lovely, Bob
Please, stay out of the Senate.
Bob Kerrey is one of those very very serious people. He's so serious that he talks in impotent gibberish, the preferred lingo of that tribe.
Bob Kerrey is one of those very very serious people. He's so serious that he talks in impotent gibberish, the preferred lingo of that tribe.
It's 16 Months Until The Next President Takes Office
Yglesias:
In more general terms, the stark inability of Democrats to think 6 or 12 months ahead on the issue has been revolting. Waiting for the ponies, or president Bush to come around, or the ISG to save the universe, or sensible Republicans to do the right thing has always been their strategy. But should have always assumed the obvious, that 6 or 12 months from now there would be no ponies, no sensible Republicans, and no wise old men of Washington to save the day. September is here, nothing will change... and these people appear to actually be surprised by this.
As for the presidential candidates, 16 months from now the US death toll will likely stand at just about 5000. Billions more will have been wasted. Still there will be no sensible Republicans, no ponies, no wise old men of Washington, etc.
Oh, and there will be lots more dead, maimed, and displaced Iraqis.
In both political and policy terms, I think all of the candidates should consider that in the real world they need not Iraq policies that will make sense in the fall of 2007, but Iraq policies that will make sense in January 2009 after over a year of additional political stalemate in Iraq, continued bloodshed and refugee flows, and continued deterioration of the readiness of the American military.
In more general terms, the stark inability of Democrats to think 6 or 12 months ahead on the issue has been revolting. Waiting for the ponies, or president Bush to come around, or the ISG to save the universe, or sensible Republicans to do the right thing has always been their strategy. But should have always assumed the obvious, that 6 or 12 months from now there would be no ponies, no sensible Republicans, and no wise old men of Washington to save the day. September is here, nothing will change... and these people appear to actually be surprised by this.
As for the presidential candidates, 16 months from now the US death toll will likely stand at just about 5000. Billions more will have been wasted. Still there will be no sensible Republicans, no ponies, no wise old men of Washington, etc.
Oh, and there will be lots more dead, maimed, and displaced Iraqis.
Bipartisanship
Saint McCain's view:
Suckers. Every time.
(Ht reader j)
Now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying a new approach: He wants to find common ground.
"We're working on consensus," Reid said. "We're willing to go halfway with [Republicans] as long as everyone understands that we're not going to do something that's cosmetic in nature."
Some Republicans, like presidential candidate John McCain, say Reid is talking with Republicans only because Democrats are losing the war of public opinion.
"They've lost the momentum," McCain said. "Otherwise, they wouldn't want to sit down with Republicans and negotiate a different resolution."
Suckers. Every time.
(Ht reader j)
Deep Thought of the Day
Republican support for this war is largely driven by their understanding that its continuation really pisses off liberals.
But they're very serious.
But they're very serious.
Countrywide
Narrowing its wide stance.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Countrywide Financial Corp, the largest U.S. mortgage lender, said on Friday it plans to cut 10,000 to 12,000 jobs to cope with weak housing demand, rising foreclosures and tightening credit markets.
The cuts, which amount to as much as 20 percent of the lender's work force, will be completed over the next three months and include reductions already made, Countrywide said.
Well, Yes
I don't do endorsements, but what Bill Richardson says in the WaPo really needs to be the baseline of the Democratic position on Iraq. For me (and I'm not Atrios), the following ought to be the absolute minimum we expect of the Democratic nominee:
I am convinced that only a complete withdrawal can sufficiently shift the politics of Iraq and its neighbors to break the deadlock that has been killing so many people for so long.He's right on the merits. This is the responsible position and the one that will resonate with the country.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Excuse Me, Napoleon
Is there anything on the planet more dangerous than a general who believes his own press?
Just curious.
Just curious.
Olbermann surges in the "money" demo
Has almost caught O'Reilly in the "25-54 demo".
And Tucker, truly the most ignored pipsqueak on television.
And Tucker, truly the most ignored pipsqueak on television.
On Osama bin Laden
I agree with most of what Josh says about the new message from bin Laden. That bin Laden now has the status of a valid enemy (rather than that of a criminal) and the foghorn that comes with that status is mostly due to choices the Bush administration made earlier.
And In Today's Employment News
We learn that Judith Miller, the former New York Times reporter, has joined the conservative Manhattan Institute as an adjunct fellow.
I'd post something in more detail...
But I'm trying to break into Atrios's liquor cabinet.
(don't tell him)
(don't tell him)
Final Requests
Roll Call (sub. req):
Of course, when the final requests appear the bill willl have to be passed RIGHT NOW OR ALL THE TROOPS WILL DIE. Unless, of course, our great leaders learn to get out in front of this stuff for a change.
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, said Thursday that an upcoming Iraq spending bill likely will wait until October and potentially later because Congress still does not have final requests from the Bush administration.
Of course, when the final requests appear the bill willl have to be passed RIGHT NOW OR ALL THE TROOPS WILL DIE. Unless, of course, our great leaders learn to get out in front of this stuff for a change.
No More Polling
Without suggesting any broad conspiracy, I do wonder why news orgs don't seem to be polling presidential approval much anymore.
Keep Smiling
Is there really nothing more important for Washington Post columnists to be writing about than prices paid for consumer items by early adopters?
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
It appears "increased chance of rate cut due to shitty jobs news" has been trumped, for the moment, by "shitty jobs news."
Meanwhile
Over there:
Serious people agree, more strategic patience is necessary.
BAGHDAD, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Seven U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq, including four in the western province of Anbar, the U.S. military said on Friday.
In a statement, the military said four Marines were killed in the vast desert region on Thursday while conducting combat operations. It gave no further details.
U.S. President George W. Bush visited Anbar on Monday and hailed improved security in the province, previously the most dangerous region in Iraq for American soldiers.
Serious people agree, more strategic patience is necessary.
Under
New Jobs report comes out today. Consensus forecast is +110K new jobs. I'll take the under bet.
Going Forward
The Democratic leadership will try to put through a crap bill which does nothing but provide political cover for Republicans. Crazy liberals like me will encourage other crazy liberals to vote against it. This will be seen as deeply unserious by serious people, who think that it's very important that there's a bipartisan consensus to let George Bush do whatever he wants.
And we'll be back in another Friedman, another $100 billion, another 500 US troops, etc...
And we'll be back in another Friedman, another $100 billion, another 500 US troops, etc...
Dealing With Critics
This McClatchy article dealing with the various criticisms it received is notable because it manages to do it without adopting the typical ombudsman Voice From On High, and instead actually engages.
Certainly news organizations don't always have the time and resources to do that kind of thing, but this one is notable not just because they bothered to do it but because they manage to do so without making it The Final Word.
Certainly news organizations don't always have the time and resources to do that kind of thing, but this one is notable not just because they bothered to do it but because they manage to do so without making it The Final Word.
Petraeus
Krugman:
Second, Gen. Petraeus has a history of making wildly overoptimistic assessments of progress in Iraq that happen to be convenient for his political masters.
I’ve written before about the op-ed article Gen. Petraeus published six weeks before the 2004 election, claiming “tangible progress” in Iraq. Specifically, he declared that “Iraqi security elements are being rebuilt,” that “Iraqi leaders are stepping forward” and that “there has been progress in the effort to enable Iraqis to shoulder more of the load for their own security.” A year later, he declared that “there has been enormous progress with the Iraqi security forces.”
But now two more years have passed, and the independent commission of retired military officers appointed by Congress to assess Iraqi security forces has recommended that the national police force, which is riddled with corruption and sectarian influence, be disbanded, while Iraqi military forces “will be unable to fulfill their essential security responsibilities independently over the next 12-18 months.”
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Hierarchy
Someone's probably already made this point and I missed it, but I haven't actually seen it anywhere. Some seemed puzzled about why Bush says he doesn't have anybody's shoulder to cry on except God's. The point is that Bush can only cry on the shoulder of, and get comfort from, someone more important than him. The only name on that list is God.
"Looks Like a President"
Does anyone have any idea what that phrase, and its associated adjective, "presidential," even mean?
Solutions
Obviously the only solution is "strategic patience" because it's worked so well up until now.
The report by CRS, Congress' research and analysis arm, was completed Aug. 15 for the House and Senate.
"My assessment is that because of the number and breadth of parties boycotting the cabinet, the Iraqi government is in essential collapse," Kenneth Katzman, the author of the report, said. "That argues against any real prospects for political reconciliation."
Without a political infrastructure in Iraq, any military progress would be short-lived, he added.
Katzman, who grew up in Long Island, also challenged the success of the Baghdad Security Plan, known as the troop "surge," which President Bush claims is working.
"I would even question the military progress," he said.
Many senior State Department officials in Iraq believe a political solution to the war is now "hopeless," according to a top diplomat.
"I would agree with that," Katzman said.
Cooking the Books
Ever more creative ways of counting, or not counting, the victims of violence in Iraq.
"If a bullet went through the back of the head, it's sectarian," the official said. "If it went through the front, it's criminal."
"Given a lack of capability to accurately track Shiite-on-Shiite and Sunni-on-Sunni violence, except in certain instances," the spokesman said, "we do not track this data to any significant degree."
Attacks by U.S.-allied Sunni tribesmen -- recruited to battle Iraqis allied with al-Qaeda -- are also excluded from the U.S. military's calculation of violence levels.
...
Challenges to how military and intelligence statistics are tallied and used have been a staple of the Iraq war. In its December 2006 report, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group identified "significant underreporting of violence," noting that "a murder of an Iraqi is not necessarily counted as an attack. If we cannot determine the sources of a sectarian attack, that assault does not make it into the data base." The report concluded that "good policy is difficult to make when information is systematically collected in a way that minimizes its discrepancy with policy goals."
...
Attacks labeled "sectarian" are among the few statistics the military has consistently published in recent years, although the totals are regularly recalculated. The number of monthly "sectarian murders and incidents" in the last six months of 2006, listed in the Pentagon's quarterly Iraq report published in June, was substantially higher each month than in the Pentagon's March report. MNF-I said that "reports from un-reported/not-yet-reported past incidences as well as clarification/corrections on reports already received" are "likely to contribute to changes."
You Think?
No one could have predicted that building a massive $600 million fortified embassy compound in Saddam Hussein's palace would maybe send the wrong signal.
I know it's so stunningly obvious that no one bothers to point it out anymore, but didn't anyone raise their hand at a meeting [meetings? -ed.] and say that maybe, just maybe, taking control and occupying Saddam's palace might not be such a good idea?
I know it's so stunningly obvious that no one bothers to point it out anymore, but didn't anyone raise their hand at a meeting [meetings? -ed.] and say that maybe, just maybe, taking control and occupying Saddam's palace might not be such a good idea?
What's the Goal?
One reason it's impossible to measure the "success" of the surge is that the goal keeps changing to whatever they can spin something happy out of. So, no, increased US casualties aren't a sign that the surge failed, though the increased casualties are, you know, an obvious cost of what a Wank of Kagans, George Bush, and Michael O'Hanlon thought was an awesome idea. No, Michael, that blood won't wash out. The original goals have all been swept away as apparently they aren't important anymore.
It's a faith based occupation.
It's a faith based occupation.
Morning Thread
I don't have the stomach to deal with Roger "I HEART THE EUSTON MANIFESTO" Cohen's call for "strategic patience" so you'll have to hunt it down and poop on it yourself.
And the Man In Charge of Oversight
Is, of course, the very serious Joe Lieberman.
Hobbled by inadequate funding, unclear priorities, continuing reorganizations and the absence of an overarching strategy, the Department of Homeland Security is failing to achieve its mission of preventing and responding to terrorist attacks or natural disasters, according to a comprehensive report by the Government Accountability Office.
The highly critical report disputes recent upbeat assessments by the Bush administration by concluding that the DHS has failed to make even moderate progress toward eight of 14 internal government benchmarks more than four years after its creation.
Unpossible
This cannot be true:
Maliki told me they'd be ready by the end of 2007.
And almost two years ago Bush told me that "steady progress" was being made in training them.
(We may remember, just a couple of Friedmans ago, the whole purpose of staying in Iraq was to train the Iraq army to "stand up so we could stand down." Haven't heard any of that lately)
Iraq's army, despite measurable progress, will be unable to take over internal security from U.S. forces in the next 12 to 18 months and "cannot yet meaningfully contribute to denying terrorists safe haven," according to a report on the Iraqi security forces published today.
Maliki told me they'd be ready by the end of 2007.
And almost two years ago Bush told me that "steady progress" was being made in training them.
(We may remember, just a couple of Friedmans ago, the whole purpose of staying in Iraq was to train the Iraq army to "stand up so we could stand down." Haven't heard any of that lately)
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Foreign Policy Experts
Just recieved an email from the fine folks at Disney News which contained the views of "foreign policy experts."
Remarkably, all of those experts supported the invasion of Iraq. Experts!
Serious!
Wankers!
Remarkably, all of those experts supported the invasion of Iraq. Experts!
Serious!
Wankers!
Outsourcing All My Work To Big Media Matt
TEH BLOGGURZ ARE TEH STUPIDDDDDZZZZ!!!!!!
The idea that beltway journalists are uniquely experienced or informed about anything other than what it's like to be a beltway journalist is absurd, and of course says quite a bit about what beltway journalists actually know about the world. The Great Orange Satan hasn't just traveled outside the country fairly regularly. In fact, he wasn't even born here much of his childhood wasn't spent here. He holds an advanced degree which presumably required him to read a wee bit. I, myself, wasn't born in this country and have lived, worked, and otherwise have spent plenty of time outside of the country. I, too, have an advanced degree which required that I read a thing or two, a habit which I occasionally manage to continue. Glenn Greenwald actually lives in Brazil, and I'm reasonably sure John "knows a few languages" Aravosis has spent a moment or two outside of Lubbock, TX.
Moments like this, I just have to rerun Richard Cohen's greatest hit. Well, actually, the correction to his greatest hit:
The idea that beltway journalists are uniquely experienced or informed about anything other than what it's like to be a beltway journalist is absurd, and of course says quite a bit about what beltway journalists actually know about the world. The Great Orange Satan hasn't just traveled outside the country fairly regularly. In fact,
Moments like this, I just have to rerun Richard Cohen's greatest hit. Well, actually, the correction to his greatest hit:
Correction: In my column of Sept. 6 I mistakenly attributed the quotation, "Our nation is chosen by God and commissioned by history to be a model to the world" to Joseph Lieberman. In fact, the quotation was from George W. Bush.
Nuclear Joy Ride
I have no idea if it really has anything to do with Iran, but the idea that nukes just happen to accidentally climb aboard a bomber is a wee bit absurd. There's some story here.
"We're" Kicking Ass
The horror.
"We're kicking ass," he told Mark Vaile on the tarmac after the Deputy Prime Minister inquired politely of the President's stopover in Iraq en route to Sydney.
Boehner
This isn't the only goalpost shifting he's done. Almost 4 months ago, Boehner gave us:
That particular 2/3 of a Friedman comes due tomorrow.
"We don't even have all of the 30,000 additional troops in Iraq yet, so we're supporting the president. We want this plan to have a chance of succeeding," Boehner said.
"Over the course of the next three to four months, we'll have some idea how well the plan's working. Early signs are indicating there is clearly some success on a number of fronts," he said.
That particular 2/3 of a Friedman comes due tomorrow.
Timeline
I don't know what it'll take to make Democrats understand that they can oppose this hated president and this hated war and get away with it. They can keep sending him the same funding bill over and over until he signs it, going on the teevee every night fretting that the preznit wants to leave our troops in Iraq without food and bullets.
Surge Protectors
Greg Mitchell reminds us of the failure and cowardice of our elite press last winter.
Shorter Greg Mitchell:
Shorter Greg Mitchell:
Our Absurd Discourse
Greenwald reminds us, yet again, that no matter how often Fred "Wrong About Everything" Hiatt is wrong, the real silly people are the ones who were... what's that phrase? Oh yes, proved fucking right about everything.
Our Betters
Since one rutting journalist declined to name me or link to the context, here was my invective-laden tirade against Broderism.
In the future I would hope that when he quotes me, trash-carrying Andy refers to me as Dr. Black.
We normally think of "High Broderism" as the worship of bipartisanship for its own sake, combined with a fake "pox on both their houses" attitude. But in reality this is just the cover Broder uses for his real agenda, the defense of what he perceives to be "the establishment" at all costs. The establishment is the permanent ruling class of Washington, our betters who know better. It is their rough agenda which is sold as "centrism" even when it has no actual relationship with the political center in a meaningful way. Democracy's messy, in Broder's world, and passionate voters are problematic. It is up to the Wise Old Men of Washington to implement the agenda, and the job of the voters to bless them for it. When the establishment fails, the most important issue is not their failure, but that the voters might begin to lose faith in and deference for their betters. Thus, people must always be allowed to save face, no matter what their transgressions, as long as they're a part of his permanent floating tea party.
While this basic attitude isn't unique to Broder, his apparent lack of interest in the actual details of policy makes him a more absurd figure than some. For him it's not about results, but about the right people being in the right places. It is terribly elitist in all the wrong ways. Arguments can be made for certain types of elitism - you do want a brain surgeon conducting brain surgery - but Broder's elites are simply aristocrats. It's their town.
In the future I would hope that when he quotes me, trash-carrying Andy refers to me as Dr. Black.
Changing Course
Well, that's the starkest admission yet that Maliki does indeed serve at the pleasure of the president, at least in Bush's mind.
Why are we in Iraq again?
Why are we in Iraq again?
Almost Missed It
Apparently there was another round of blogs are stupid and sucky because they aren't ALL POWERFUL like they claim to be, refuse to buy me a pony, and won't post about my pet issue.
Always a good time.
Always a good time.
It's A Secret
Military vs. the GAO:
It's true because the military says it's true. Why do you hate the troops?
And why does General Petraeus have so much time to spend with people like Tom Friedman?
But Walker said the GAO received different assessments of the levels of violence. The report, he noted, recommended that the administration reflect such divergence in its own reports. It was unclear whether sectarian attacks had dropped, he said, "since it is difficult to measure intentions and there are various measures of sectarian violence from different sources. . . . Some show increases, some show decreases, and some show inconsistent patterns."
Walker said the GAO consulted with the military until Thursday. "We asked for, but did not receive, the information through the end of August," he said. "But we obtained their views for where the situation was . . . as of August 30th."
It's true because the military says it's true. Why do you hate the troops?
And why does General Petraeus have so much time to spend with people like Tom Friedman?
And on and On
Critical few months.
BAGHDAD - The No. 2 U.S. commander in Iraq said Tuesday that the next three to four months will be crucial in determining whether the United States can start to withdraw troops from Iraq without sacrificing security gains since the troop buildup began early this year
Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno said the number of attacks in August fell to their lowest level in more than a year, although he gave no figures. Odierno insisted that overall violence was declining — a sign that the buildup ordered by President Bush was working.
"I think the next three to four months are critical," Odierno told reporters. "I think that if we can continue to do what we are doing, we'll get to such a level where we think we can do it with less troops."
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
State secrets!
An unusual defense for the DC Madam.
Well, why not? Works for everyone else....
Meanwhile, Echidne finds some lame science.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Well, why not? Works for everyone else....
Meanwhile, Echidne finds some lame science.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Lindsey Sees the Future
Lindsey Graham on FTN:
Either Lindsey is speaking out the megaphone attached to his ass, or he's just foreshadowing an the inevitably 300th iteration of the "IRAQI LAWMAKERS HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME WE REALLY MEAN IT."
Still, no one will ever call him on his prediction if it fails to materialize. Except this lowly blogger, of course.
I'll make a prediction on your show. In a matter of weeks, we're going to have a major breakthrough in Baghdad on items of political reconciliation -- the benchmarks -- because the Iraqi people are putting pressure on their politicians. That's the best pressure that could be applied where people vote is have the people themselves, frustrated with their own elected representatives, having their say. And I saw that all over Iraq.
Either Lindsey is speaking out the megaphone attached to his ass, or he's just foreshadowing an the inevitably 300th iteration of the "IRAQI LAWMAKERS HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT THIS TIME WE REALLY MEAN IT."
Still, no one will ever call him on his prediction if it fails to materialize. Except this lowly blogger, of course.
Camp Cupcake
Froomkin's back from vacation. Must be a Spaniard:
What Bush Saw
More than four years after declaring " Mission Accomplished" in Iraq, Bush still can't make an announced visit to the war-wracked country.
But his supposed "visit to Anbar Province" was in some ways even more cynical -- and accepted even more gullibly by the media -- than his June 2006 visit to Baghdad. There, at least, he actually set foot on Iraqi soil.
This time, Bush visited Al-Asad Air Base -- an enormous, heavily fortified American outpost for 10,000 troops that while technically in Anbar Province in fact has a 13-mile perimeter keeping Iraq -- and Iraqis -- at bay. Bush never left the confines of the base, known as " Camp Cupcake," for its relatively luxurious facilities, but nevertheless announced: "When you stand on the ground here in Anbar and hear from the people who live here, you can see what the future of Iraq can look like."
Progress
This is actually already addressed in zoning, there just isn't any enforcement. But what's the problem? As older urban row houses were subdivided into apartments, we should expect that some McMansions will receive the same treatment. And if they aren't easily subdivided, then they'll just be rented to groups. Big houses fit lots of people.
Unanimous: John Bambenek is a Wanker
Well, the FEC didn't exactly say that, but the point is still clear.
Your Liberal Think Tanks
Was the Iraq war the most awesome idea in human history, or just slightly less awesome than that?
We have a serious problem.
We have a serious problem.
"THHHHHHPT!"
I take back some of the things I've said about Crisco John:
“At that moment,” Goldsmith recalled, “Mrs. Ashcroft, who obviously couldn’t believe what she saw happening to her sick husband, looked at Gonzales and Card as they walked out of the room and stuck her tongue out at them. She had no idea what we were discussing, but this sweet-looking woman sticking out her tongue was the ultimate expression of disapproval. It captured the feeling in the room perfectly.”
Unchanged
So, US deaths are still high. Civilian attacks are still high. Civilian deaths still high. There's been no political reconciliation.
It's been an awesome surge, with hundreds more dead US troops because of the vanities of old men.
Mission accomplished!
It's been an awesome surge, with hundreds more dead US troops because of the vanities of old men.
Mission accomplished!
Death By Car Bomb Not a Death
I pointed this out before, though I'm too lazy to hunt it up right now. Basically, they're differentiating between types of violence, focusing only on sectarian violence, and then assuming all car bombs are from the "insurgency" or "al qaeda" which doesn't count.
How this squares with all the "we're there to fight al qaeda" rhetoric I do not know.
Still, I smell a pony... somewhere...
How this squares with all the "we're there to fight al qaeda" rhetoric I do not know.
Still, I smell a pony... somewhere...
Viceroy Jerry
Ultimately it doesn't matter whether Mr. Timberland was freelancing or if he got his orders direct from Dear Leader, though of course dishonesty about such things should matter. [silly atrios, there are no blowjobs here - ed.] Either way, Bush was in charge. Or should have been, despite his busy mountain biking and brush clearing schedule.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Rerun for the Oldtimers
In honor of the "surprise" visit to eyerak.
I can't believe I'm still writing about this fucking war.
I can't believe I'm still writing about this fucking war.
All About the Benjamins
What's been painfully obvious over the past few years is that the big records companies decided that their job was to cling desperately to an increasingly outdated business model rather than try to, you know, make money.
But it's hard to see how anything other than their own rank incompetence would really consign them to oblivion. They've got first mover advantages, name recognition, extensive back catalogs, marketing muscle, etc... There are certainly economies of scale - even in this exciting new world - in that industry to support big players. Perhaps they should stop filing lawsuits against their customers and start thinking up exciting new ways toscrew newly signed bands out of all of their money obtain their appropriate share of revenues from exciting new talents.
If I were Rick Rubin, I'd commission a spoken word album by one Tom Friedman. The title, of course, would be "Suck On This."
But it's hard to see how anything other than their own rank incompetence would really consign them to oblivion. They've got first mover advantages, name recognition, extensive back catalogs, marketing muscle, etc... There are certainly economies of scale - even in this exciting new world - in that industry to support big players. Perhaps they should stop filing lawsuits against their customers and start thinking up exciting new ways to
If I were Rick Rubin, I'd commission a spoken word album by one Tom Friedman. The title, of course, would be "Suck On This."
Fresh Thread
Let the mustache of understanding explain everything to you.
According to icasualties.org, at least 1674 Iraqis sucked on it in August.
According to icasualties.org, at least 1674 Iraqis sucked on it in August.
The Deal
As we head into the Month Which Everything Changes, here's the basic outline of The Deal:
1) Democrats, to court Republicans, agree to declare a bit of victory ("situation improving...")
2) They compromise on a bill which suggests very strongly that maybe, just maybe, if security conditions "continue to improve" that Bush should consider, if he wants, bringing some troops home. But, you know, nothing that constrains his authority as Supreme Leader to do whatever the hell he wants.
3) Since troop levels can't be sustained, this is in fact what happens beginning April so that by November of 2008, the number of troops in Iraq is just about precisely what it was two years (!) previously, when the awesome surge began.
4) Everyone owns the war now.
1) Democrats, to court Republicans, agree to declare a bit of victory ("situation improving...")
2) They compromise on a bill which suggests very strongly that maybe, just maybe, if security conditions "continue to improve" that Bush should consider, if he wants, bringing some troops home. But, you know, nothing that constrains his authority as Supreme Leader to do whatever the hell he wants.
3) Since troop levels can't be sustained, this is in fact what happens beginning April so that by November of 2008, the number of troops in Iraq is just about precisely what it was two years (!) previously, when the awesome surge began.
4) Everyone owns the war now.
Staying
Yes, I've been saying for along time that Bush's Iraq policy is "staying." He's helped by all of the Wise Old Men of Washington who are unable to admit their errors, so they send more of other peoples' kids off to die to prop up their sad little egos, and an opposition party still frightened of Karl Rove.
Little Tommy Friedman
Only the very serious Tommy Friedman could write an op-ed about the joys of Kurdistan and the awesomeness of partition without mentioning Kirkuk.
Creepy
It's truly weird when politicians are this thin-skinned, and obviously completely creepy when they're arrogant and stupid enough to do something like this.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
More And Better Libertarians
Economic freedom depriving laws and regulations largely do originate in state and local governments, so one would find it a bit easier to cheer on libertarians who focused on such things. They aren't as sexy, but they're sometimes the kind of things even this big gov't loving liberal can love to hate.
Solved?
As any regular viewer of TV cop shows knows, homicide investigators are obsessed with some version of "the board" which contains the color-coded names of open and closed cases. Failure to close cases is very bad.
Many people get killed in Philadelphia. It's very bad. I've noticed recently that the press doesn't really have a version of "the board," or at least one that I can find. That is, while there's a regular tally of deaths, there isn't a regular tally of how many of these cases have been solved.
Many people get killed in Philadelphia. It's very bad. I've noticed recently that the press doesn't really have a version of "the board," or at least one that I can find. That is, while there's a regular tally of deaths, there isn't a regular tally of how many of these cases have been solved.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Document the atrocities.
Awesome.
NBC’s “Meet the Press,” — Guests: James Carville and Bob Shrum, Democratic strategists; Mary Matalin and Mike Murphy, Republican strategists.
•“Fox News Sunday,” — Guests: Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vermont Democrat; Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican; Ed Gillespie, White House counselor and former Republican National Committee chairman.
•ABC’s “This Week,” — Guests: Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat; Sen. John Ensign, Nevada Republican; former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a Republican.
•CBS’ “Face the Nation,” — Guests: Sen. Joe Biden, Delaware Democrat; Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican.
•CNN’s “Late Edition,” — Guests: Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabama Republican; Rep. Kendrick Meek, Florida Democrat; Laith Kubba, former Iraqi government spokesman; Lanny Davis, former special counsel to President Bill Clinton; Ben Ginsberg, former counsel to the Republican National Committee.
Awesome.
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