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Profiles in Wankery
Juan Cole Pests [Jonah Goldberg]Artful dodge of the word "wrong", as in "I was not only wrong, but absofuckinglutely wrong."
As I've mentioned before, in my spat with Juan Cole way back when, I challenged him to bet me on Iraq's future (the winner would donate $1,000 to a relevant charity like the USO). He sanctimoniously declined, claiming even the suggestion made him sick (even though he made a similar bet before). Well, the deadline for the proposed bet is looming and various leftwing pests are clogging my email box saying if I have any honor I will pay up for a wager Cole refused to accept and denounced me for offering. Well, guess what? The baiting doesn't work. I will give money to war-related charities, as I have done in the past, on my schedule not that of these goads or Cole or anyone else. I will not announce it when I do it, which I have never done in the past because it's not anyone's business (even this post is somewhat sickening in that I'm even responding to these gadflies).
As a matter of intellectual honesty, I'm perfectly willing to admit that, had Cole had the courage to accept the wager, he would have won and I would have made good on it. But, since he didn't, I won't be jumping through hoops for this crowd beyond this post.
Giuliani Files 'Statement of Candidacy'
Awesome! New York is contributing to the presidential sweepstake a "raging lefty" who's really a pro-war centrist and an "effective leader in times of crisis" who's really a momumental clusterfuckster with good marketing.
If we could only change the constitution, California could contribute a "steadtfast" windsock.
The John Warner anti-war escalation group ran an add during the Superbowl.
Four US helicopters shot down in two weeks. I'm waiting for the administration to make the charge that this must be because Iran is supplying new, more sophisticated, shoulder fired missiles to the Iraqi insurgents. Clearly we need to attack!
On a serious note, this is a bad turn of events tactically. Our air superiority is a very valuable asset. If we can't call in close air support to protect our troops for fear of losing helicopters (or AC-130s) we will be much more vulnerable on the ground. This will mean many more casualties.
sane voices in the news
molly ivins, rip.
So my own hope is that -- if the American people do not find a way to choose democracy over empire -- at least our imperial venture will end not with a nuclear bang but a financial whimper. From the present vantage point, it certainly seems a daunting challenge for any President (or Congress) from either party even to begin the task of dismantling the military-industrial complex, ending the pall of "national security" secrecy and the "black budgets" that make public oversight of what our government does impossible, and bringing the president's secret army, the CIA, under democratic control. It's evident that Nemesis -- in Greek mythology the goddess of vengeance, the punisher of hubris and arrogance -- is already a visitor in our country, simply biding her time before she makes her presence known.
To call someone by something other than the name he wishes to be called by is rude.
To make a mistake is forgivable, but to persist -- deliberately -- in declining to use your adversary's proper name is rude and insulting. It's not a big deal unless you take standing up for yourself to be a big deal. When Democrats go on TV and let a conservative get away with the phrase "Democrat Party" it's signaling that Democrats are weak. They're too weak to stand up for themselves. They're too weak to have a sense of group solidarity or party loyalty. They're inclined to let things slide. They don't want to make a scene. They don't like to have a fight. They're weak. Is a political party that can't even protect its own name really going to keep America safe?
im not following this latest attempt to embarass hillary for taking a slight jab at her hubby. but theres a great clip of her whining to the press which was just on the daily show. basically she said first they (the press) want her to lighten up and then they want to psychoanalyze her offhand remark. she actually came off as very human in her demeanor. it was sort of like ive tried everything to be what you want to be and its never enough for you sort of remark. almost made me like her.