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Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007
Chirac Was Right; Feinstein Was Wrong
In a comment thread, a discussion arose about who was right and who was wrong about the war. This prompted me to dip into the archives.
On March 17, 2003 I posted this quotation from a March 16, 2003 edition of 60 Minutes. On March 20, 2003, President George W. Bush launched the clusterfucktacular invasion of Iraq.
France is not pacifist. We are not anti-American either. We are not just going to use our veto to nag and annoy the US. But we just feel that there is another option, another way, another more normal way, a less dramatic way than war, and that we have to go through that path. And we should pursue it until we’ve come [to] a dead end, but that isn’t the case.
Jacques Chirac, President of France
On March 16, 2003, I sent this letter to Senator Diane Feinstein.
Jacques Chirac, President of France
Hey Diane,
How's it going? I noticed you're working on identity theft. That's an important issue. Please be thorough. But, now to the point of my letter.
Do you now regret writing a blank check to Mr. Bush on October 11, 2002? Seriously Diane, didn't you get a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach last August when Bush sent some low level policy functionaries to the Sunday talk shows espousing the opinion that Mr. Bush needed no further authorization from anyone to proceed with an invasion of Iraq?
On February 26th, you raised doubts about Mr. Bush and his policies. You're an experienced politician. Why did you fail to foresee the arrogance and unilateralism that you now deride?
The likely outcome was clear, as noted in my letter to you of September 26th, 2002. Please re-read this letter now. It's one of my better ones. You should also take time to re-read the words of Senator Byrd.
You had the power to stand up to Bush. You failed to use it. You were granted by the constitution a power of fundamental importance, the power to declare war. You gave that power away.
Did you spend time at the recent CDP [California Democratic Party] convention in Sacramento? Do you have any idea just how pissed off people are? Do you have any plans to redeem yourself to the state of California before the 2006 primary? And finally, have you given any thought to joining the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party?
cheers,
-Mark
Feinstein's office did not respond to this letter. Sadly, Feinstein ran essentially unopposed in 2006.
How's it going? I noticed you're working on identity theft. That's an important issue. Please be thorough. But, now to the point of my letter.
Do you now regret writing a blank check to Mr. Bush on October 11, 2002? Seriously Diane, didn't you get a queasy feeling in the pit of your stomach last August when Bush sent some low level policy functionaries to the Sunday talk shows espousing the opinion that Mr. Bush needed no further authorization from anyone to proceed with an invasion of Iraq?
On February 26th, you raised doubts about Mr. Bush and his policies. You're an experienced politician. Why did you fail to foresee the arrogance and unilateralism that you now deride?
The likely outcome was clear, as noted in my letter to you of September 26th, 2002. Please re-read this letter now. It's one of my better ones. You should also take time to re-read the words of Senator Byrd.
You had the power to stand up to Bush. You failed to use it. You were granted by the constitution a power of fundamental importance, the power to declare war. You gave that power away.
Did you spend time at the recent CDP [California Democratic Party] convention in Sacramento? Do you have any idea just how pissed off people are? Do you have any plans to redeem yourself to the state of California before the 2006 primary? And finally, have you given any thought to joining the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party?
cheers,
-Mark
I contacted my elected representatives to declare that this war a mistake in September of 2002, four months before the bombs began to fall. And I was not alone in this sentiment. The voices of reason were too often drowned out by the voices of bloodlust, but they were there to be heard. For those who are turning anti-this-war now, welcome on board. But you might want to take a pause to recognize.
Sometimes foresight is 20/20.
Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007
Jurors Gone Wild
I didn't think very highly of the jurors who convicted a Connecticut teacher for being a victim of malware. After reading comments from a juror in the case, OMGWTFBBQ? This guy should be condemned to use a heavily infected Windows 3.1 machine for the rest of his days.