Forgive me if you’ve heard this before, but this is a written version of the one hour rant I delivered during Tuesday’s radio broadcast. It was prompted by the obligatory series of emails I recieved concerning the Eliot Spitzer scandal, specifically what a trivial distraction it all was.
The premeditated targeting of a powerful Democratic on the ascent is by it’s very nature not a distraction. It goes to the root of the corruption that is rampant in modern politics. First of all, Spitzer presented himself as a goody-two-shoes, the gold standard for all that is right and just and true. “Mr. Clean”. So when the high minded crusader, who as New York Attorney General once busted with great self-satisfaction a high-priced call girl ring, is brought down in a sex-for-hire scandal ($6000 per hour???!! Talk about inflation!!), it’s a story not a distraction.
Furthermore, it appears that Spitzer was singled out by the feds. The original story that broke in the New York Times was that Spitzer was accidentally snared by wiretaps that were targeting the call girl operation. The next day, ABC quoted law enforcement sources as saying that it was unusual bank transactions that put the spotlight on the Governor, essentially that they thought he was on the take and was trying to move money around to various off-shore accounts. My take is that the Feds recieved a tip about client #9 and were ready to pounce. Heard much about clients 1 through 8? Didn’t think so.
The so-called Gonzo-gate of a few years back that exposed the politicalization of the Bush Justice Department, specifically the removal of various of Federal Attorneys for their alleged even-handedness, should have blown the lid off the vicious lynch mob mentality of the Chimp In Chief and his cronies, but instead Attorney General Alberto Gonzales reluctantly fell on his sword (or was pushed) and the much vaunted investigation has gone nowhere since. Since the rhinestone cowboy stole his way into the White House, the so-called Public Integrity unit of the Federal Justice Department has investigated nearly 6 Democrats for every one Republican. Think that’s a coincidence?
As far as the Spitzer affair being a distraction for the great teeming masses out there who have now taken their collective eyes off the big picture, specifically the Occupation of Iraq and the impending doomsday scenario with Iran (see “Cent Com Commander William “Fox” Iran-invasion-not-on-my-watch” Fallon’s forced retirement), those yokels took their eyes off those balls a long time ago. The hordes of everyday Americans demanding Justice and Peace are so distracted already by on-line poker tournaments, American Idol, and the fate of Roger Clemens, they’re not even aware of Eliot Spitzer, much less Bush’s murderous foreign policy. I saw recently that 80% of American adults did not so much as read a book in the last calander year.
The Great Distraction Myth is a cop-out, a convenient excuse for why Americans don’t give a shit about big issues. And corruption works both sides of the political aisle. But there is hope on the horizon. With our $12,000 tax rebate checks in the mail, we can all (at least us guys) get distracted Spitzer-style, if only for two hours.
Heard much about clients 1 through 8? Didn’t think so.
Ha Ha, good point! Who are clients 1-8?
Comment by Virginia M — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 8:55 am
I have noticed that the source of the investigation has been confused and blurred in all the media coverage.
Look at this Yahoo story http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080312/ap_on_re_us/spitzer_prostitution
excerpt:
The case started when banks noticed frequent cash transfers from several accounts and filed suspicious activity reports with the Internal Revenue Service, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The accounts were traced back to Spitzer, leading public corruption investigators to open an inquiry.
Banks noticed???WTF? The New York Times article said federal investigators noticed. This could very well be a case of the Bush Administration using Federal law enforcement agencies to target Democratic politicians.
Comment by Virginia M — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 10:54 am
As Stacy pointed out on the show yesterday the amounts involved were too small to trigger an IRS investigation. Who IS this unnamed law enforcement officialquoted in the yahoo article who is muddying the waters?
Comment by Virginia M — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 10:56 am
ummm…those refunds are only $1200. not %12,000. You’ll have to be satified with $300 an hour services.
Comment by Virginia M — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 11:14 am
i could hear the complete frustration in your voice. this obliviousness & fixation on the simpleminded can drive you nuts if you let it.
About all we can do is speak up, shine a light, try to explain…..and all the while you know heaps of corpses demand something more in the way of response. but thats pretty much all there is.
I think the WS2 hearings- IF REPORTED, big if- might add to the load, which will be all the more closer to that “tipping point” I hear about.
And I note Vets for Freedumb, a WH front group, is holding its “support the war” rally at 6.30PM Fri, on the Midway…..after its closed to the public.
hmmmmm. You think they cant pull off thier ralley in a public area? thats my take: screened guests, no public, & its completely consistant with the Cheney admin.
looks like Spitzer got caught up in drug war/9/11 regs re: banks as snitches.
it looks like he committed a criminal conspiracy to evade blahblahblah, the sort of thing guys like Spitzer use every day to go after whomever.
Idont really care, its up to his obviously extremely pissed off & embarrassed wife…but he decided to make a Federal case out of it.
How many sad whores get busted every day in that city? How many end up in jails, pushed around again….well, if the creep didnt go after prostitution, it’d be one thing. But he did, screw him, D or no, so long.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/leaker-who-fingered-spitzer-co.php
Comment by mutt — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Yeah, what mutt said. Did anyone happen to see Bill Mahr’s jaded and cynical response to the Spitzer thing in the Huffngton Post today? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-maher/spitzers-trysts-stop-ov_b_91141.html
Comment by Lorelei — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Mahr’s a leading contributor to Global Smarming…….
Comment by mutt — Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
—
And why is Senator David Vitter (R-LA) still in office?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Vitter#D.C._Madam_controversy
—
Comment by SHRED — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 3:45 am
SHRED - Vitter is still in office because he’s not as much of a hypocrite, he lives in the south where “boys will be boys” and because he hasn’t resigned.
Comment by Lorelei — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 9:03 am
And you dont have to go to the usual nitwittery that large amounts of citizens seem devoted to. Nitwit distractions also exist under the guise of political commentary. Take Stacy’s show, yesterday, for instance. Stace has a IVAW Marine- a Falloujah Marine, talking about Iraq, the Winter Soldier hearings coming this weekend, the barbarity of occupation, the screwing of the troops returning by this corrupted, swinish Administration….a real soldier, who’s Been There, and know whereof what he speaks. Saying things “patriots” wilfully, proudly ignore. And theres a cross show promo for Marklars AM show, wherein he’s gonna tell us TERRORISTS prefer DEMOCRATS. They’ll dance in the streets! Tune in tommorrow for some guest wingnut spouting rubbish. And Im thinkin: this guy claims the war is proceeding well, we are “winning” the “war” on “terror”, AND the economy is FINE, why its the naysayer terrorist loving Dem simpletons who are driving the economy down. His opinion as a Serious Observer and a True Patriot. Cant fool him, Mr. Tersymp MSM……….and this is a guy who believes the planet Earth is just 5,000 years old! He’s as convinced of that as he’s convinced cheney, rummy, bush are all honorable men.
And theres nitwits out there, listening to this wingnut, nodding all the while,who will swear up & down they got all the facts.
They aint got a LEG to stand on. Metaphorically speaking. Unlike, say, vets who actually DONT have a leg to stand on, thanks to gullible Americans and cheerleaders for stupidity like Marklar.
i know he gave you a slot, Stacy, but the juxtaposition of the IVAW rep & you, and Marklars promo…..well it spoke volumes. Made the Sgt’s point, drove it home like a sledgehammer.
you CANT make this kinda stuff up. These fools just parade simple-mindedness as a virtue.
Idiocracy is NOW………
Comment by mutt — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 11:29 am
The question is, Why is it were so fragmented in our thought process? Seperating truth from fiction, hypocracy from self riotousness. Those who go out attacking things that they themselves have desires and longing for, will in the long run, be tempted to go there themselves and be destroyed. I’m not sure what happens to good people who go into the political arena with ideals and crusades for “the little people” and after a while come out corrupt and on their way to jail or disgrace. Is it the heady feeling of power and money that can corrupt the average Joe? Why are we so frail? There seem to have been to many years where both parties have forgotten why our form of government even exhists. The rule of law has escaped us and were in a great downward spiral, the flushing sound is deafening. Impeach George, Out of Iraq, Hang the Bastards, Elect a black man, elect a woman elect a Mexican, Christ, DO somthing that will move us foreward, not into the dark ages. : Hey! Pieces Didget, whats the big hard on for Bill Clinton, Lets move the conversation to a higher ground
Comment by knifemaster — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 11:51 am
I was listening to the show yesterday afternoon and was privileged to hear Adam Kokesh from Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Then mutt called in to talk with him.
For me, it was very humbling to listen to these two talk. The debt we owe these guys is tremendous. It was incredibly inspirational it was to hear them.
Comment by goodguy — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Does anyone have trouble podcasting Stacy’s show?
I am not able to. As a test I tried podcasting Mark Larson’s show and WAS able to.
Just wondering if anyone else has had problems with this.
Comment by sharona — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 1:56 pm
“The debt we owe these guys is tremendous.”-
Gol durn right! Why, if it wernt fer my cohort, why, our money would have pictures of Ho Chi Minh, Pham van Dong, Le Duc Tho- hell, Gen. Giaps birthday would be a national holiday! And rats would be on the menu!
Durn close run thing. You can buy me a beer……
Comment by mutt — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
I could add something here, but Bill Maher already took my point. Thanks for the link Lorelei.
Comment by Justin — Thursday, March 13, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
—
Some more perspective provided by one my favorites…Robert Scheer:
—
Spitzer’s Shame Is Wall Street’s Gain
Posted on Mar 12, 2008
By Robert Scheer
Tell me again: Why should we get all worked up over the revelation that the New York governor paid for sex? Will it bring back to life the eight U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq that same day in a war that makes no sense and has cost this nation trillions in future debt? Will it save those millions of homes that hardworking folks all over the country are losing because of financial industry shenanigans that Eliot Spitzer, as much as anyone, attempted to halt? Perhaps it provides some insight into why oil has risen to $108 a barrel, benefiting most of all the oil sheiks whom our taxpayer-supported military has kept in power?
Sure, the guy, by his own admission, is quite pathetic in all those small, squirrelly ways that have messed up the lives of other grand public figures before him, but why is an all-too-human sin, amply predicted in early Scripture, getting all this incredible media play as some sort of shocking event? The answer is that, while having precious little to do with serious corruption in public life, it does have a great deal to do with stoking flagging newspaper sales and television ratings.
The sad truth is that reporting on major corruption, say, the rationalizations of a president who has authorized torture, doesn’t cut it as a marketing bonanza. Just days before this grand exposé, the president vetoed a bill banning torture, and instead of being greeted with horrified disgust, the president’s deep denigration of this nation’s presumed ideals was met with a vast public yawn. Torture, unlike paid sex, doesn’t have legs as a news story.
Sex sells, and frankly it would seem far more exploitative for the news media to pimp this tale to the public than anything that VIP escort service did with the pitiable governor. His behavior was not really any more wretched than messing around with a young and vulnerable White House intern who didn’t even get paid for her efforts, yet Bill Clinton survived that one, whereas Spitzer was presumed dead on the arrival of this “news.” The New York Times, which editorially has supported the candidacy of Hillary Clinton, whose vast White House experience clearly did not include corralling her husband, now editorializes contemptuously about Spitzer’s betrayal of the public trust as well as about his exploitation of his “ashen-faced” wife, who, like Hillary, stood by her man.
Article continues here:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080311_the_real_shame_about_eliot_spitzer/
Comment by SHRED — Friday, March 14, 2008 @ 6:07 am
good one, shred…..
Comment by mutt — Friday, March 14, 2008 @ 9:32 am
For those of you with computers, Im getting the Winter Soldier hearings loud & clear just by going to thier website. I got whatchacallit- not a modem. that probably helps…..
Comment by mutt — Friday, March 14, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Folks, there is ONE entity screwing us, and that is the world bankers. Unless you are at least a multi-millionaire, you are screwed, your children are screwed, and your grandchildren will be slaves. Look for the YouTube The Money Masters. It’s two parts, 1:45:00 each. A history lesson in both, a sad reality awakening for most.
Now, I’m not excusing W or his minions, or any of the previous Presidents. It’s just that we have been dumbed down, and at this point, we deserve to be blasted off the face of this earth for the evil we have perpetrated. We better hope there is a just god/dess.
Yikes, I can’t find the videos I just watched. Typical, I guess. Too “radical.” I’m sorry. Aha, I think it’s here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936 All together it should be about 3 hours. Fish, take a dive as it’s obvious you can’t comprehend anything as deep as financial lies.
Watch it and weep or rage.
Comment by Kathleen — Friday, March 14, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
a neat campanion piece to what Kathleen referred to…..and it features Spitzer, who stepped on his dick in more ways than one…..
http://www.gregpalast.com/elliot-spitzer-gets-nailed/#more-1979
Comment by mutt — Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 10:18 am
Mr. Finger, (may I call you that?) I have never heard such phycophrinic babbling in my life. Please retreat to your place of comfort say 25 Hail Marys, spin 3 times around on your beads, crawl under the covers, stick your thumb between your lips and suck real hard and pray to your imaginary god to save you from eternal stupidity
Comment by knifemaster — Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 11:14 am
Fishfuck, go away. Quit imposing your God shit on us. I’m sick of you self-righteous Jesus freaks insisting that your way is the only way. You really think those Jesus fucks (Huckabee, Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson) have your best interest at heart? If you think that then you’re even more stupid than I ever imagined. Those fucks want to get rid of our constitution in favor of the bible. This is not a “Christian country,” as you fundamentalist assholes like to say. This is a country built on religious freedom and freedom from religion. Now you’re really showing your stupidity. Go read a 3rd grade history book.
Have you asked Jesus for forgiveness for the way you talked to Mutt? He’s a real hero who fought for your freedom, asshole.
Comment by Lorelei — Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 4:51 pm
The God thing isn’t always devoid of intelligence. Look at Peter Navarro’s book, (on line), “The Difference Between God and Newt Gingrich”. http://www.peternavarro.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/sandiegoconfidential.pdf
It has a few years on it but so far as San Diego is concerned it still rings very true as we crash over our pothole routes, and corruption, at least as fowl as that of the New York Governor, reigns right here except for the City Attorney who hardly stands a chance and will fall along the lines of Congresswoman Lynn Schenk. Used to hear you create some good informative entertainment from people like Peter, who could explain the economics of the trashing of our city as well as the nation.
Comment by Bob Phelps — Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
Have you asked Jesus for forgiveness for the way you talked to Mutt? He’s a real hero who fought for your freedom, asshole.
pardon me, Lorelei- we werent fighting for ANYONES freedom in Viet Nam. Thats the point. It was a complete fraud, start to finish, just like the current, unnoticed war. Or this dipfish creature.
And, really- I dont need anyone wasting thier time recognizing dipfish on my account. i dont care what this patheticly unpleasant headcase thinks any more than I care what the mold growing in the old takeout container in the back of my fridge thinks.
Now, lets address the actual issues of the day, shall we? Perhaps Stacys nerd can provide a feature Ive seen on other blogs-with-comments- a button to push so mysogynist assholes or trolls comments wont appear on your screen. Its not like he adds anything.( We COULD use an articulate, sane (if thats possible) bushie, to test out thinking & mettle as we test his/hers, clearly this specimen isnt it.) Then the imaginary ” free market”- fetish object for many- will decide. And dipfish can talk to his unpleasant, nitwit self……win/win, way I see it. And this is all the thought Ill give to him/her/it………
Comment by mutt — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Mutt; I have the pleasure of not defending you or your thoughts from any nitwit, let alone him. trading barbs with idiots is fruitless and, as you say hardly worth the spit. I ‘too’ recognize that Nam was a folly from the begining, in a long line of government fuck ups.History proves we are incapable of realizing past mistakes. A great change must take place, lest we loose this great experiment to ignorant fools like the afor-mentioned.
Comment by knifemaster — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 10:39 am
Christcreeps On The March- caught this & thought it hilarious-enjoy!
(Concerns manufactured outrage re: Obama’s pastor, if you dont follow such things…)
A MODEST SNARKPOSAL
From TPM Reader EM …
What drives me crazy is how this could have been avoided so easily if Wright was the slightest bit media-savvy. Had he merely controlled his tongue and limited himself to advocating an attack on Iran to encourage massive worldwide Muslim attacks leading to a fulfillment of the biblical prophecy of end-times and bringing about Armageddon and the summary slaughter of every Jew, Muslim, Catholic, and non-believer on the planet while rapturing him and his flock up to heaven, then followed it up by denouncing Catholics as cult members and blaming Hurricane Katrina on gay people, this story wouldn’t be metastasizing like this. One five minute milquetoast repudiation by Obama and it would all be behind him.
But what does Wright do instead? He spews this vile “God damn America” bile. What a psycho.
Comment by mutt — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
I’ve finally almost come to peace with the vote I have to make. Obama. I’m not excited because it isn’t Edwards. So be it. I found time to read all of the great conversations on the blog. A lot has been going on with sex scandals, church scandals and Cheney going to Iraq to keep the war going. It’s turning into blah,blah,blah for me.It must be political overload.The only thing that really matters is the war and it’s effect on the economy period.I don’t want to say that the market is going to crash
Can’t we just impeach him NOW?
Comment by Julie in San Diego — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
Sorry to have went off topic…but geesh. And Fish Head…pleeeeeese. You are such are such a phony.
Comment by Julie in San Diego — Sunday, March 16, 2008 @ 10:57 pm
mutt, you’re right, you weren’t defending our rights in Vietnam, however, many right-wing lunatics continue to believe that, which is why I pulled it out. Also, many believe that we’re in Iraq now defending our rights, just as the bush administration is stripping them from us. And, you’re still a hero.
The right doesn’t have the God market cornered. We have plenty of religious people on the left. In fact, Jimmy Carter was the first evangelical president in the white house. The right, however, seems to have the fundamentalist freaks and I have no tolerance for their intolerance. While I believe that the God is mythology, I respect other people’s views as long as they don’t try to impose their beliefs on me.
Answer me this fish, if Adam and Eve had two sons and then they had sons, where did they get the wives to produce those sons?
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 8:20 am
On the way to work this morning I was accidentally tuned to Mark Larson for a few minutes.
Before I had a chance to turn the dial I heard him bleating about how supposedly Obama was in church when Wright was saying some really mean things about America that are making some poor guys cry.
Well, guess what — he wasn’t.
Check it out.
In fact there’s video showing that Obama was on an airplane instead!
Just another example of the right-wing-noise machine spreading lies and hate.
Great post, mutt! Your summary of right-wing Christianity is perfect. It’s good there’s now a chance to give the right-wing kooks some of the flak the Limbaugh-wannabies have been spewing for decades.
Comment by goodguy — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 8:41 am
well, it seems that Petraeus is stating the so called “surge” has failed. Not surprising at all, given if you looked at his requirements for it to “work”, it required both 500,000 PLUS US troops, AND a willingness on the part of broad sectors of Iraqi society to go along with the corrupt government whose rule dosnt extend outside the bunkers in the Green Zone. It was bogus on its face.
Cole isa a useful chap to check in on for rational & educated (in Mid East history/politics) takes on this collossally corrupt, , profitable, crackpot war http://www.juancole.com/2008/03/reflections-on-petraeuss-comments-on.html
in other news: for those of you fretting over this Obamas’ preacher story, Andrew Sullivan (at the Atlantic)has written more than you need to know at his blog. Sully, a mixed bag politically, is a decent human being, & takes religeon (too) Seriously.
yup- you go to various blogs-with-comments, and you find that many have a button you can push to eliminate the unpleasant stench of fools….maybe with 1700’s less than bare bones budget, its a feature that costs too much, or Stacys compunerds skills dont cover that sort of thing. Let the “Free Market” speak, when it comes to dipfish & his clones. Then those who like to stir a turd and are contantly amazed by the resulting smell can amuse themselves thusly, those who know what a turd smells like already can pass on another lesson. Win/win, I say.
Comment by mutt — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 9:29 am
and Jesus also said “I have only one commandment LOVE one another”
Comment by nobody special — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
you didn’t answer the question fish.
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
say, lorelei……were you at the peace beatnik gathering? I saw a new copy of ”
Fateful Triangle’ there…. its still in print. 25 years, not bad. Mr Gore Vidal was as acerbic & sharp as ever, & an Iraqi lass kicked some serious butt, a king hell speech. The rest was, alas, the usual script, and then overwrought poetry & some ghastly din with ukeleles & people who needed to work on thier harmonies, to be polite. sent people fleeing…..
About the same size as the crowd at the Midway, for the pro war propaganda outfit. Ate a lot of thier swedish meatballs & chicken teriyaki, and ascertained the vast bulk of the people there had no idea they were at a choreographed neocon photo op. while the hippies had no chow, but everyone knew why they were there……
i eagerly await your usual venom spewing hateful rage response- helmet-check. flak jacket-check….. (harharhar! THAT was funny…..looks like a blind pig found a turnip……)
Comment by mutt — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Get ready mutt, here it comes…
Yes, I was there because despite the venom I spew at FF, I am a peace-loving person who cares about the military personnel serving in a war that is so WRONG. Far too many people, not just Americans, have died or are maimed and/or tortured.
I talked to our friend Mike Lumpkin one time about how we shouldn’t even be in Afghanistan, and he politely set me straight. See, I was thinking that we could find Osama and his merry men, have a fair trial and set them free in the general population at Rikers or somewhere equally or even more distasteful. But as I said, Mike set me straight. The Taliban wouldn’t let us in so we had to use force. It’s just so unfortunate that George W. has such a short attention span. I was fortunate to see Gore Vidal, et al. My friend cried when the overwrought poetry was read…
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
OK mutt, here comes some more…
I haven’t actually picked up that book yet, but I will. I have a stack next to my bed that I said I would get through before I buy any more books. I also have a list going.
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
*******But as I said, Mike set me straight. The Taliban wouldn’t let us in so we had to use force****. ……. well, true as far as it goes. Mikes being a bit simplistic here because he conflates need (nabbing the sinister Binster & his crew) with method (high altitude bombing, massive artillery, and installing the very packs of mercs, thugs, & thieves- torturers & murderers damn near to a man-that the long suffering Afghans cheered the Taliban on to oust.) And we STILL didnt get bin Laden, if thats what ya want.
Mikes a great guy, but he’s still a Commando of the highest order, and the further reaches of politics arent anything he’s concerned himself with. til now. I give him time- several years- on that.
We blew it the moment we unleashed the B52’s, & the civilian corpses started piling up. We made it irreversible when we allowed guys like Dostrum & Hekymatyr BACK into life & death power over the lives of common Afghans. I remember clear as hell that first “loya Jirga”- tribal meeting after the Taliban was vanquished. The “Northern Alliance” was seated, armed, in the front row, & that was the end of any hope of a civilian based gvt, as Karzai himself has said often enough. His corner asked the US to prevent the meeting from being dominated by armed militias, we WANTED these thugs in actual power. Mr Karzai is a fine fellow, Im sure, but he is just a figurehead, unable to stop the slaughter of his people at the hands of the overwhelming military force that put & keeps him in power.
Miserable, sad, ongoing story.
I remember sneakin out of the wire to have dinner with a Viet gentleman, w/ my bud Tom, who spoke French. The old boy showed us the Croix de Guerre he was awarded fightin for the French- they dont give them away- and he said- I can talk to the NLF (VC)- I can talk with those from the North. But I cant talk to you tanks, artillery, or aircraft. never forget that night.
And theres no paralell between diciplined, politically aware, nationalistic Viets with a coherent history of resisting foriegn occupation, & small, discrete , tribal entities with no overarching common history, but the Iraqis & Afghans cant talk to our weapons any more than the Viets could.
Me, I think with some actual craft, & thinking, & splitting off factions, Al Queda could have been isolated in Afghanistan, and either siezed or located and killed. Just them. the Taliban would be in power, and frankly would have faded if outside forces actually supported some sort of pluralistic order. As it stands now, women are NO better off now than before, people arent safe in thier homes, and we could of had THAT outcome without us wrecking the place.
But war is very profitable for some, & craft & thinking isnt a cheney regime strongpoint, any more than it was for Clinton or Carter.
christ, usually when Im gassing on its coz someones buying me drinks. I think all your venomous hate spew got me nervous
Oh, just read Fateful Triangle. Put it on the top of the pile. It should be required reading for Zionists, princesses or not……then youll know what you are supporting……
Comment by mutt — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
C’mon fish, tell the truth, you can’t think of a good answer can you?
Interesting point you make about Mike. I didn’t see him as “hawkish” until last week at a meeting I attended. OK mutt, I’m going to the bookstore tomorrow buy the book and put on the top of my stack. You’re making me break my own rules you know. How’s that for hateful rage? Am I doing well?
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
OK ff, let me ask you this then. Do you get extra points in heaven for converting a Jew?
Dude, you don’t get it at all do you? I’m not Christian. I don’t want to be a Christian. I have read the bible. I’m so over it. Go find another atheist/ Jew to convert.
Comment by Lorelei — Monday, March 17, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
OK fish, I’ll try again to get along with you.
My particular theory is that women were so devalued by society at that time that they were just left out of the bible.
Comment by Lorelei — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 9:06 am
Reading this blog top to bottom, I have come to the conclusion that my conclusions I came to before were incorrect. Trying to follow some of the thought processes written here is truly mind boggling. No wonder electing a president of any skills and intellect is beyond this group. Pick a Subject-Thought-Deed, concentrate and follow through with it. Stop getting distracted with trivia and then waking up one morning with John (old fart) McCane as your bumbling leader with king George leaning over and jacking him off.A hundred more years of this kind of war? You’re Kidding!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!
Comment by knifemaster — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
Hi Knifemaster - I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m completely bored by other people’s sex lives. Somebody paying for it is kind of gross, but I really just don’t care. I know that was the topic to begin with…today online I read that the new New York Governor held a press conference to say that he and his wife had both had affairs. Was that really necessary?
Again, I can’t speak for others, but I’m awake, I’m well versed on our candidates, but I can admit to having a short attention span. No worries dude, most of us are relatively intelligent people.
Comment by Lorelei — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 2:31 pm
“Trying to follow some of the thought processes written here is truly mind boggling.”
Hell, Knife, just edit out dipfish. Collective IQ goes up exponentially……
But I will cop to allowing myself to go into “stream of consciousness” mode….Im hoping more people find this small oasis & add to the effort…..
Comment by mutt — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
fish, you had me until you started bashing mutt and knifemaster. Talk to all of us in a civil tone and don’t call any of us names, or I’ll have to start spewing venom again…
Comment by Lorelei — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
What had to have happened is that Adam and Eve also had daughters as well as sons and plenty of sons other than just Cain and Able. After all they lived for over 900 years. The sons and daughters of Adam and Eve became couples and procreated and so it went on from there. Not until the law was given by Moses, or it could have been a bit sooner than that was it told to anyone that they should not marry their sister, cousin or close relative. That is a specific law of the Jews in the O.T. I don’t think it is written about anywhere else in other cultures but I could be wrong on that.
At any rate most societies don’t marry their sisters, cousins etc these days. How that got going I really and no expert on. But simple logic and common sense dictate that the son’s and daughters of Adam and Eve intermarried and created the early population of mankind. Later things changed. It’s really the only way it could be if we take the Bible at it’s word that Adam and Eve were the first people. The facts that is is not mentioned or spoken about as to how many children they had throw lots of people. It never says they didn’t have many sons and daughters. It only mentions the two boys. So we can just put 2 and 2 together in this case and figure it out. After all God does not tell us everything. Other wise the Bible would be so thick it would go to the moon and back several times no doubt.
Please excuse all of my spelling and grammer mistakes. I was never a great English student nor do I claim to be.
Comment by Jesse east county — Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 11:59 pm
“Can’t we all just get along?”
~ Rodney King
Comment by Lorelei — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 7:45 am
Funny how when I make a post with curse words and talking like BDJ just did that it gets removed yet all others are left to stand. Spike….is that you doing the censoring or to you have a moderator that does you dirty work around here? Just curious as to what the standard if any is. It’s seem there is a double standard. On several occasion my words have been removed. A few times I have re posted them but most times I just move on and laugh at this bs.
Comment by fishfinger — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 6:14 am
The bible is total bullshit at best; all you doing are just reading other individuals spiritual experience NOT yours. So if you chose to waste your life trying to find meaning in the bible good luck. I personally do not give a fuck what you call your god whether it’s a fishfinger, a rock, or nothing I do not care. You freaks think that you get a special reward for memorizing the bible or any other religious book I would think that god could see through your petty sales pitch (my havens better then yours) the western mind is so fucked up.
Why doesn’t the bible explain DNA it was occuring around the first micro second of creation?
All the bible is for is finding some foolish person on the lower rungs of the food chain called life that has realized their life sucks and they are not mentally capable of over coming the position they are in. Then the bible thumpers butter the fools’ brain with bull shit by telling them to say some fucked up prayer and Ba Da Bing you’re SAVED no questions asked. You can just keep acting like the asshole you really are and you will be able to rationalize anything from an illegal war (bush & Co.) to selling out the troops (Duke Cunningham) hypocrisy with out any limits. Your lord and savior Jesus Christ only Hated one type of animal that was the religious Hypocrites. So if by chance you are a bottom feeding religious hypocrite save your jerk off pray of forgiveness, Jesus said many, many times he hates your fucking guts. So what is it; you can be a lying religious hypocrite mumble a few words and you are still good to go its all ok? What would Jesus say?
Comment by Jesse east county — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 9:09 am
I thought about making a joke about sleeping with Jesus, but right now I’m praying to Ahhhnold, the God of state employees. Let’s hope I get to keep my job.
Comment by Lorelei — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 10:55 am
Hi mutt,
I went to the library today and borrowed the book. I thought it was going to be pro-Palestinian to the detriment of the Israelis, but after reading through page 4, I was pleasantly surprised that Chomsky is pro-Israel as well as pro-Palestinian. This is much more palatable than I expected.
Comment by Lorelei — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
HOOORAAA! Jessie and another one bites the dust. If we could all just pray at the alter of George Carlin we could forget all the end zone dancing and pointing to the sky as if someone is actually looking down at you saying (ATTA Boy) We gotta stop listening to all the members of the FLAT EARTH SOCIETY and get a grip on reality.
Comment by knifemaster — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
w2hat5 o9n e3r4t5h ar4e3 y6o9u7 r4e3fe3r4ring to, w2hat5 t5he3????
W@e3 go9t5 a p0r4o9ble3m……
Comment by mutt — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
crap…my messages are coming out with numbers inserted as above. ive gone back & deleted the numbers i8n t5hi8s post.
YO STACY!
Comment by mutt — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
OK fishfuck, kiss my fishnet-wearin’ ass. I have given you several chances and you blew them all. I will no longer be talking with you.
Comment by Lorelei — Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Way back on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 @ 10:22 pm, fishfinger wrote “Your and idiot…”.
Hey fishfinger — Your and idiot too, so there!!
(By the way, just in case you don’t “get it”, what I’m doing here is making fun of your posts by repeating your words. The way you misused “your” and “and”, as well as the evident silliness all of your comments, is perfectly represented in your “your and idiot” post.)
Comment by goodguy — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 6:19 am
Wrong again FF keep defending your holy book.
I will let Jesus turn my salvation over to let’s see 12 up right contemporary Christians of the day to determine my eternal fate. Those 12 are all filled with the holy sprit by their own admissions that would make them have the same consciousness as Jesus Christ so these top notch christian members can decide my fate. Remember what Jesus said when three or more gather in my name it’s as good as him being there. The following have shown and declared Christian values in all their dealings here are the 12.
Tom Delay, Mark Larson, Kenny Boy Lay, Duke Cunningham, George Bush, Pat Robertson, Ted Haggard, James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Ralph Reed, Karl Rove, Jack Abramoff.
Alternate jurist: Grover Norquist, Larry Craig
Comment by Jesse east county — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 8:34 am
But Jesse, They’re fine upstanding people. As good Christians Jesus is sure to forgive them (note the sarcasm).
Comment by Lorelei — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 9:59 am
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 @ 10:22 pm, fishfinger wrote “Your and idiot…”.
Hey fishfinger — Your and idiot too, so there!!!
Comment by goodguy — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 11:26 am
I note the right-wing haters are bleating now about that big meany, Rev. Wright, and all the real mean things he said that make right-wingers start to cry.
Meanwhile, the righties love to spew hateful stuff all the time. There’s a song that’s been sung at Republican conventions with really disgraceful lyrics about America — Thanks to Southern Beale for the post about it: “Where was the outrage? What talking heads, columnists, pundits, newscasters have mentioned this as the Obama-Rev. Wright issue has hit the headlines?”
Comment by goodguy — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 11:41 am
It’s rich how the right-wing haters are bleating about that big meany, Rev. Wright, and all the real mean things he said that make right-wingers start to cry.
Meanwhile, the righties love to spew hateful stuff all the time. There’s a song that’s been sung at Republican conventions with really disgraceful lyrics about America — Thanks to Southern Beale for the post about it: “Where was the outrage? What talking heads, columnists, pundits, newscasters have mentioned this as the Obama-Rev. Wright issue has hit the headlines?”
Comment by goodguy — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 3:22 pm
I will always defend the holy book. and show the hypocrisy of the left as they keep electing Christians while at the same time spewing away against them at the same time. And by the way Jesse. Jesus said where ever “2″ or more are gathered in his name, there he is in the midst of them. Not 3. You really need a Bible study course badly Dude. You should let it go and not try usuing the Bible since you have no idea as to what it actually says and teaches. You have not gotten a quote correct yet and the ones you are trying to use are totally out of context and have next to nothing to do with what you are trying to argue.
Comment by fishfinger — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Good for you FF it just goes to show that it has nothing to do with anything as long as you can out quote the next person. So keep your christian heaven for all you special people because only christian get to run through the clouds, chase the little sheep,play with jesus, meet the clever family,and never have to work again, meet ted bundy, and everyone else that made the last second conversion. A reward I am not worthy of nor want burry me with all the indians and anyone else that never Knew the words or spoke them.
Comment by JesseEast county — Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 4:24 pm