Ahmadi-Nejad Makes A Good Point About The Uselessness Of The U.N.
First of all, if anyone knows where I can find a transcript of Ahmadi-Nejad's speech please link me to it.
I've been surfing the cable news channels on TV tonight, and now I know much more than I ever need to know about that baby they found, I haven't seen a single show mention anything about half-pint's speech.
Here's a quote from anti-American, pro-terrorist Associated Press's account of the speech:
"The question needs to be asked: if the governments of the United States or the United Kingdom, who are permanent members of the Security Council, commit aggression, occupation and violation of international law, which of the U.N. organs can take them into account?," he asked.
"If they have differences with a nation or state, they drag it to the Security Council," and take the roles of "prosecutor, judge and executioner," he said. "Is this a just order?"
He pointed to Lebanese suffering during the recent Israel-Hezbollah war as an example.
"We witnessed the Security Council ... was practically incapacitated by certain powers to even call for a cease-fire," he said, referring to the fact that the conflict lasted 34 days despite calls for an immediate truce.
Ahmadi-Nejad was trying to slam the U.S. and Britain, but on the way there he made an excellent point. The structure of the United Nations has proven itself to be unworkable, if the purpose is to solve international crises. The General Assembly has never had any real power, and was never intended to have any. The Security Council has never been able to act decisively because of the veto power (with the exception of the Korean War, which was an unusual situation that proves the rule).
I say scrap the U.N. Scrap the whole thing. We don't need it, and it does more harm than good. The legitimacy it is supposed to afford is only an illusion. Witness the string of unenforced and unenforceable resolutions regarding Sudan, Rwanda, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, etc. It's incapable of producing a consensus on the really important stuff, and then the lack of consensus is used to thwart perfectly legitimate actions.
Maybe we should keep some sort of administrative body for UNICEF* and shit like that, but get rid of the rest of that utopian nonsense once and for all.
_______________
* I'm not really sure what UNICEF is, but I think it has something to do with "the children."
1
The purpose of the UN is to bring tinhorn despots into the fleshpot of NYC, let them taste the good life, put a few sheckles in thier pockets, and send them home with a hook in them. The mistake is to think that the body has a purpose beyond that. The real usefulness of the UN is as a conduit for intelligence, and all real espionage works below the radar.
Posted by: Casca at September 19, 2006 08:47 PM (2gORp)
2
Your question is a legitimate one, which has been asked by various people over the last several decades. But before we commit ourselves to this, we need to ask ourselves what a UN-less world would be like. Clearly bilateral negotiations would become more important, but to be honest, that's pretty much what goes on today.
Without a UN, could a group of nations obtain moral backing for a Kuwait liberation-type action?
Then again, without a UN, could a group of nations obtain "moral" backing for an "Israel sucks"-type resolution?
There is another alternative, in which the United States quits the UN and tells it to pack its bags and head to Geneva, or perhaps Gaza City. Some would argue that this is a win-win for everyone, since the US wouldn't have to finance the UN any more, and the UN would be free to pass any danged resolution that they wanted to pass.
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at September 19, 2006 10:00 PM (3Jn9R)
3
The speech can be found at: http://www.nu.org/webcast/ga/61/pdfs/iran-e.pdf (but replace NU with UN... had to do this to get through the Annikafilter)
Posted by: mitchell porter at September 19, 2006 11:30 PM (brUxR)
4
I've had this debate with a colleague of mine several times over the years. I'm with you. (What's more, it's not as if a U.N. with real power would be an improvement: Some large proportion of the governments that participate in the U.N. are illegitimate if, like me, you see legitimacy as a function of free elections.) Much like Ontario Emperor, my colleague thinks the U.N. is worthwhile because: (1) it has all the features Ahmadi-Nejad complains about and (2) many people nevertheless seem to give a shit what the U.N. says. In other words, he likes it because it can't really hurt us, and it can give an air of legitimacy to what we do.
I don't really buy that argument, but it's not crazy.
Posted by: Matt at September 20, 2006 06:30 AM (10G2T)
5
I have to agree with Ontario Emperor; boot their asses out of the US, and let them find someone else to give them a sandbox where they can pound sand on someone else's dime.
Posted by: BobG at September 20, 2006 09:05 AM (NjIC1)
6
Somebody explain to me why the U.S.A, the greatest force for good the world has ever known, should be part of any organization that gives a forum to that fanatical, tie-less midget and that fat fucking South American pig AND gives veto power to China?
p.s. am I the only one thrilled to no longer have to listen to that condescending, anti-semitic, tyrant-coddling, crook Kofi?
Posted by: Blu at September 20, 2006 09:10 AM (j8oa6)
7
Blu,
I really liked Chavez's remark about the smell of sulpher. Very powerful olfactory allusion designed to reach our primitive limbic areas and far more sophisticated than saying it still smelled like a lying sack of shit had been standing there.
W's remarks were such stultifying bullshit I watched like I watch an NF patient on the subway; mesmorized by the horror. Unfortunately the NF patient will die an agonizing death and W may not.
Posted by: Strawman at September 20, 2006 02:38 PM (tuy00)
Posted by: Strawman at September 20, 2006 02:49 PM (tuy00)
9
Straw,
Specifics please. What exactly was bullshit?
Unlike the pig and the midget, Bush sounded rational. Perhaps as a commited communist you have special abilities to extract capitalist BS where the rest of us just sit around dumbfounded.
Please enlighten us poor, stupid peasants.
Posted by: blu at September 20, 2006 02:49 PM (j8oa6)
10
Sorry Blu,
No time tonight to set you straight. Without any irony I tell you I am going to join my distaff side and will be seeing the HISTORY BOYS on Broadway.
As I cross the Queensboro bridge I shall roll down my window so as to catch a waft of the brimstone.
Posted by: Strawman at September 20, 2006 03:34 PM (tuy00)
11
Hmmmm, I wonder if a nuclear chain reaction smells like brimstone? No doubt you'll smell it soon enough, and you like your Nazi bund forebearers will have had a hand in it.
Posted by: Casca at September 20, 2006 05:03 PM (2gORp)
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Correctemundo as usual Blu. Not only do we let these nutf-----s insult our president on our soil, we also seem to be (with some uncorrupted allies) the only country to actually take action when a U.N. 'resolution' is dissed. (Iraq)
Audible laughter after what Chavez said- unbelievable. Perhaps they should take him up on his offer and move the whole stinking shit tank to Caracas!
Posted by: Mike C. at September 20, 2006 05:57 PM (vFS/o)
13I am going to join my distaff side and will be seeing the HISTORY BOYS on Broadway.
More like, keeping going two blocks to the Port Authority. There, in the shitter, you'll have your BOYS (and paramour Chavez) stretch your leather starfish into the next Grand Canyon.
Posted by: Radical Redneck at September 20, 2006 07:59 PM (lA9NT)
14
I've never heard of a chocolate (or choccy) starfish being called that before.
Posted by: reagan80 at September 21, 2006 05:41 AM (dFOlH)
Posted by: Casca at September 21, 2006 06:51 AM (qmJpf)
16
Hmmmm, I wonder if a nuclear chain reaction smells like brimstone? No doubt you'll smell it soon enough, and you like your Nazi bund forebearers will have had a hand in it.
Casca,
What the fuck are you talking about? My forebearers were isolationists? I'm afraid they were all christians you dope.
Hey Blu,
I saw Bill Gates at the theater last night. Great play too.
Redneck,
Sounds like you are trying to displace Casca as the sites resident neanderthal?
Posted by: Strawman at September 21, 2006 12:01 PM (tuy00)
17
"I saw Bill Gates"
Well, I wish you would have bitch slapped that fuck for me cuz Word is being a pain in my ass today!
Posted by: blu at September 21, 2006 01:30 PM (j8oa6)
Iranian Supreme Leader Calls For Attacks On The United States — AP Hides It In Paragraph 20
I think it's big news when the Supreme Leader of Iran calls for "attacks" on the United States.
Lest there be any confusion about what he meant by "attacks," here's the quote. Note that the word is distinct from "protests."
Those who benefit from the pope's comments and drive their own arrogant policies should be targeted with attacks and protests.
Yet, here's how the anti-American, pro-terrorist Associated Press announced the news — in paragraphs 19 and 20!
In Iran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used the comments to call for protests against the United States. He argued that while the pope may have been deceived into making his remarks, the words give the West an "excuse for suppressing Muslims" by depicting them as terrorists.
'Those who benefit from the pope's comments and drive their own arrogant policies should be targeted with attacks and protests,' he said, referring to the United States. [emphasis added]
WTF? Did they not see the word "attack?"
Maybe I'm missing something, but when the real power in Iran (more so than Ahmadi-Nejad), a country actively seeking a nuclear weapon not to mention a well known sponsor of international terrorism, says that the United States should be attacked because of something the Pope said, I think it deserves to be in the headline.
And we need to start taking the Iranian problem seriously.
Update: Curiouser and curiouser.
Ahmadi-Nejad comes to the Pope's defense.
Mr Ahmadinejad said: "We respect the Pope, and all those interested in peace and justice."
He said he accepted the Vatican view that the pontiffÂ’s words had been "taken out of context" and he was "given to understand" that the Pope had later modified them. He said Benedict had been "misinterpreted".
And Mehmet Ai Agca, the Turk who tried to kill the last Pope, warns Benedict against his planned visit to Turkey.
Mehmet Ai Agca, the Turkish gunman who tried to murder John Paul II in 1981 and is now in prison in Turkey, urged the Pope not to visit Turkey in November as planned.
"I write as one who knows about these matters very well," Agca said. "Your life is in danger. Don’t come to Turkey — absolutely not!"
The letter, published by La Repubblica, was seen in Rome as a friendly warning, not a threat.
1
I agree RE: take the Iran problem seriously.
I've set up a prediction market covering the likelyhood that there will be some sort of October surprise (attack Iran, find bin laden)prior to the Nov election.
Come by and share your thoughts.
Posted by: Justin Hamilton at September 18, 2006 11:21 PM (H5mug)
2
I have a thought. You're an idiot.
October surprises exist only in the fevered imaginations of liberals, and in the nefarious minds and actions of their union thug allies. Democrats are like the cheating spouse. They're always sure that the other one is doing the same thing.
Posted by: Casca at September 19, 2006 06:14 AM (Z2ndo)
3
Actually, a more interesting market might look at what the Democrats'/media's October surprise(s) will be. It's much more certain that they will have a bunch of them lined up, since there hasn't been an election in recent memory that they haven't tried (thankfully unsuccesssfully) to throw by means of some strategically timed news story (often proved false after the election).
Posted by: annika at September 19, 2006 09:35 AM (zAOEU)
4
taking a flyer here - the competing Iranian quotes appear(superficially) to be an example of speaking different things to different audiences. Reminds of Arafat saying one thing in English, and another in Arabic.
It's a good point about the Dems/media recently always having October surprises. It doesn't take much, either, for the media/press to generate a breathless crisis which will surely bring down the Repubs. My money is on another Repub Congressperson found to have taken Jack Abromoff money. It's a crisis! Failing that, it will surely be a worldwide crisis that Tom Delay is running for election.
Posted by: gcotharn at September 19, 2006 05:08 PM (Rhyyb)
5
You guys hear that evil freak at the UN? He is straight up scary. He even busted out his 12th Imam stuff. Apparently the "news" services didn't think it necessary to report this. I'll bet though that they make it crystal clear that Iran has no intention of trying to build nuclear weapons and all his ranting about how the UN needs to be more representative of the world community.
Posted by: Blu at September 19, 2006 05:41 PM (TVuWZ)
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One other thing: Every time I see this guy I am reminded that he is heir to what Jimmy Carter gave us. Was there ever a worse President? How many deaths can be linked to that imbecile?
Should this crop of Democrats ever gain power, we can all count on more Jimmy Carter-like foreign policy, which means American weakness and a lot more body bags.
Posted by: Blu at September 19, 2006 05:52 PM (TVuWZ)
7
Hey Blu,
Did you read the lead editorial in the Times today? Just read it and dont' whine to me how you woouldn't read that MSM, LW biased piece of drivel. Just read it.
Posted by: Strawman at September 21, 2006 12:29 PM (tuy00)
8
I went to the site and read an editorial called Keep Away the Vote, which could have been written by a Howard Dean staffer as it was written so poorly and devoid of even a single shred of evidence that the current House Bill associated to Voter IDs was somehow "unconstitutional." (Who writes the NYT editorials? They read like the work of a slightly above-average 8th grader.) Is this the editorial of which you speak? If so, let me go on: They throw out the very lame argument about how there is "no evidence that a significant number of people are showing up at the polls pretending to be other people, or that a significant number of noncitizens are voting." Says who? Where's the evidence supporting that argument? Yet, they feel perfectly comfortable throwing out this line of BS: "The actual reason for this bill is the political calculus that certain kinds of people — the poor, minorities, disabled people and the elderly — are less likely to have valid ID." First of all, so what? They have a right to vote if they are citizens. BUT, they need to prove it. Secondly, where is the proof that this bill will somehow have such a huge impact on these groups? They act as if this would adversely impact large portions of each of these groups. It's nonsense. (Again, typical liberal logic: Members of "Groups" are all the same and must be treated as such. No individuals exist.) The "actual reason" the NYT is against this bill is their own political calculus: get as many undocumented, non-citizens voting as possible.
But, the topper was this inane crap: "Noncitizens, particularly undocumented ones, are so wary of getting into trouble with the law that it is hard to imagine them showing up in any numbers and trying to vote." Really? Again, can I have just a tiny bit of proof? Yeah, they are so afraid of "the law" that they congregate by the dozens at street corner all over America waiting for day-labor work. That's after they stroll across our borders in total disregard of our laws. Yeah, they are fucking petrified of the law. The NYT has NO proof of this load of crap. There are upwards of 20 MILLION illegals in this country that Democrat party is actively encouraging to vote fraudulently if possible. Political calculus indeed.
But, hey, if you were suggesting another editorial, then I apologize for the tangent - my bad.
Posted by: blu at September 21, 2006 02:12 PM (j8oa6)
9
bLU,
I think you have the concept of proof turned around. For Congress to become pro-active and produce a bill that throws impediments, any impediment in the way of voting THEY must produce the proof of the need: That the infractions and fraud occur. It would be pretty hard to prove the negative. The onus lies at the feet of the sponsors of the bill who either can or cannot produce the data that supports their and your claim that significant numbers of illegals, or dead folks, or felons (in states that prohibit felons) are voting.
Every god damned time the republicans pull this shit a court overturns it because they can't substantiate the claims and jee Blu, go figure, judges are more concerned that the constitution be protected and that ALL those with a right to vote have easy access than worry about an insignificant or non-existant amount of fraud.
"20 million potential voters from the ranks of the illegal pool" is just absurd.
How about absentee ballots? Used mostly by wealthier white Republican voters. This is a loop hole isn't it Blu? No picture ID is required. They just send you the ballot if you are a registered voter who voted in the last presidential election or a first time voter who is in the military. Why is the standard lowered for those who vote in this manner? if you go to the poll and do not thave the ID, regardless of whether or not you are in the book and voted in the last election you can't vote. Does this pass the smell test?
Posted by: Strawman at September 21, 2006 04:08 PM (tuy00)
10
"Why is the standard lowered for those who vote in this manner?"
As much as I hate to admit it, you got me on this one. During this entire debate, I've totally forgotten about it.
At some point, this debate will get to the Supreme Court, and we will see who is right.
Posted by: blu at September 21, 2006 04:14 PM (TVuWZ)
11
What will you say to those who will claim the mid-term election was stolen (should the RP maintain control of the H.) if the ID laws go into effect in some states and the Supremes strike them all down later?
Will you say this was Just honest American lawmakers trying, with good hearts and intentions to keep our democracy pure and fair? Honest men and women making a well meaning but unconstitutional law? Or might you take your head out of the sand and realize it was A crime purpetrated against the American people with malevalent intent and premeditation planned by the central committe and execuited by the party loyalists in the statehouses. Sounds like the old commies in the USSR don't it?
You'll let me know. I may yet meet you at the barracades.
Posted by: Strawman at September 21, 2006 05:43 PM (tuy00)
12
"What will you say to those who will claim the mid-term election was stolen?
They are gonna say that regardless.
(In fact, watch the news over the next few weeks. I guarantee the MSM will start running stories about the "dangers" of electronic voting blah blah blah. The Reps are going to keep both Houses despite the MSMs best efforts. I can't wait to hear the excuses.)
Posted by: blu at September 21, 2006 06:14 PM (TVuWZ)
A Match Made In Heaven
My boyfriend Chris is a huge pastrami fan. And I am a big time gouda fan. We both like football, and tonight we combined all three things.
That's my sandwich. Being a purist, Chris harshly criticized my decision to include the roasted red peppers. But I considered it a major victory when I convinced him to try the gouda on his simplistic masterpiece.
Is it match made in heaven? If you mean pastrami and gouda, definitely.
Posted by: Jay at September 18, 2006 07:39 PM (CknKD)
2
Obviously a good man. Red Peppers dear Annie? Sometimes I do wonder. If you want to jazz it up try grilled onions, and gardinare from Chicago
Posted by: Pursuit at September 18, 2006 07:50 PM (n/TNS)
3
Nah, red peppers are definitely the match with pastrami, complimentary flavors. Grilled onions would get lost there. Although they are my favorite flavinoid.
Posted by: Casca at September 18, 2006 08:04 PM (2gORp)
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Goodness, I agree with Casca on something. The red peppers definitely hit the spot. Good creative culinary thinking.
Posted by: will at September 18, 2006 08:18 PM (h7Ciu)
5
Looks Great! Good Football food.
Hey I just posted a bunch of articles on my site, give it a look see.
Posted by: kyle8 at September 19, 2006 02:45 AM (jpfLf)
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Mmmmm. A few hot cherry peppers might zing that baby up beautifully.
Posted by: Tuning Spork at September 19, 2006 08:20 AM (Fx9jN)
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Lucky boyfriend. Good food, good sports and a good woman who enjoys them.
Posted by: JJJet at September 19, 2006 05:43 PM (NgtAX)
8
Such a sandwich deserves a larger picture.
Kevin
Posted by: Kevin Kim at September 20, 2006 05:52 AM (1PcL3)
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You forgot the sauerkraut and horseradish mustard...
Posted by: BobG at September 20, 2006 09:06 AM (NjIC1)
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It looks tasty but the combination is a little strange. I will try it and hope that I will find a new taste of fast food.
Posted by: Sports Bet at September 20, 2006 12:43 PM (XmiKm)
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Oh yes..Definitely. You should cherish the match and eat as much as you can!
Posted by: Addiction at September 20, 2006 01:58 PM (Qy5Tg)
MNF Week 2
I can't figure out the oddsmakers this week. The line opened with Jacksonville favored by 2 points, and now they're 2½ point underdogs. Ben Roethlisberger is recovering from appendectomy surgery and despite practicing all week, he had a temperature of 104° at 2:00 today.*
I'm taking Jacksonville plus the 2½ points.
Which probably means you should bet Pittsburgh.
______________
* Personally I don't believe it. It would be too dangerous to start him if he really had that high of a temperature only 6½ hours before game time. Nobody would risk the franchise and his salary on one early season game like that.
1
I didn't even need your input. I already did it! Pretty fucking tight game so far.
Posted by: Casca at September 18, 2006 06:51 PM (2gORp)
2
Fucking Pittsburgh, they just aren't that good. I forgot how they stole that superbowl. Fucking Rothlesburger, rolls out and throws for 1st downs in the first series, and doesn't do it again for the rest of the game. And Parker, what a pussy! I can't believe that he stops and let's the tacklers whack him!
Posted by: Casca at September 18, 2006 08:13 PM (2gORp)
Westminster Cathedral
When I lived in London, every Sunday morning I would take the Circle Line four stops to St. James's Park. I loved to walk through that peaceful garden on my way to church. I loved the Duck Island, with all the geese and swans. It's my favorite of London's parks.
Usually I would go through the park to a very pretty Jesuit Cathedral in Mayfair called Immaculate Conception. But when I was running late (which was about half the time), I'd stay on the Buckingham Palace side of the park and visit Westminster Cathedral (not to be confused with the most famous church in Britain, Westminster Abbey).
So it was sad for me to see the scary pictures posted by A Catholic Londoner and taken outside Westminster Cathedral last Sunday.
Imagine having to run a gauntlet of hate-filled masked protesters, some of them quite possibly terrorists if not murderers, just to go to church.
1
If it were Christians protesting at a Mosque, you can bet the police would be bending over backwards to protect the poor innocent muslims, and there would be no gauntlet. In fact, they's probably arrest the Christians for having the temerity to protest another person's religion.
But, as my blog motto states, all animal are equal...
Posted by: Casca at September 18, 2006 12:34 PM (Z2ndo)
3
Annie, are you sure the protesters aren't demonstrating against the garish architecture at Westminister Cathedral? It is one of the ugliest buildings ever built before the modern period.
Posted by: Hugo at September 18, 2006 01:26 PM (yLeev)
4
Interesting you should say that, Hugo. I hesitated to mention the garish two tone style of the cathedral, but I do remember it. However, I remembered being surprised to learn that it was built relatively recently.
The cathedral's website states that it "was designed in the Early Christian Byzantine style by the Victorian architect John Francis Bentley. The foundation stone was laid in 1895 and the fabric of the building was completed eight years later."
Posted by: annika at September 18, 2006 01:44 PM (zAOEU)
Posted by: annika at September 18, 2006 01:47 PM (zAOEU)
6
As new as that? I thought it was mid-19th century. Thanks for the picture.
Posted by: Hugo at September 18, 2006 05:33 PM (yLeev)
7
Wow.
Thanks for the link, annie. You've inspired me to get back into the whole going-to-church thing... while I still can. Nothing like having someone take aim at your faith to make you remember why you have it.
Posted by: The Law Fairy at September 18, 2006 06:29 PM (XUsiG)
Gunmen have shot dead an elderly Italian nun and her bodyguard in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
The attackers shot the nun three times in the back at a children's hospital in the south of the city, before fleeing the scene.
It is unclear if the shooting is connected with strong criticism by a radical Somali cleric about the Pope's recent comments on Islam.
The nun, who has not been named, is believed to be in her seventies.
The nun was taken into surgery in the Austrian-funded SOS Hospital, in Huriwa district, but she died from her injuries.
A fluent Somali speaker, the nun was one of the longest-serving foreign members of the Catholic Church in Somalia, a former Italian colony.
A Vatican spokesman said the killing was "a horrible act" which he hoped would remain isolated.
Yusuf Mohamed Siad, security chief for the Union of Islamic courts (UIC) which controls Mogadishu, said two people had been arrested.
I guess that whole thing about demanding that the Pope apologize in person was just a bluff. Once you make the list, you're on it for good. And now, it seems, all Catholics are on the list.
1
The Pope, who quoted a conversation between a Byzantine ruler and a Persian Muslim, in which a discussion occurred on the forced conversion of people by jihad, rather than by logic or reason, is threatened with violence. Let's see, the Pope quoted someone who said that Muslims are violent, and the Muslims react violently by killing, burning and threatening. Self-fulfulling prophecy? Or patently obvious murderous thugs hiding behind a so-called religion? Hobson's choice? I know, lots of questions.
Posted by: jesusland joe at September 17, 2006 05:55 PM (rUyw4)
2
Just think of the money we could make if we started mass-producing "Pope-Effigies." We could open stores all over the Arab world called "Effigies 'R' Us."
We could probably quell the violence if while producing said effigies we loaded them with C-4. Then all of the maniacal whackjobs who go to the burning parties would be blown to smithereens. Sounds like a great idea to me, but, who am I?
Posted by: tony at September 18, 2006 05:29 AM (lEHiv)
3
Annika,
While I completely sympathize with your pain and abhor the brutality committed in the name of the Prophet Muhammed, I would no more condem Christainity because (fill in the name) shot and killed a doctor for working in an abortion clinic. You can't have it both ways Annie and the demonizing only breeds more hatred. They both felt compelled to act because of their religious beliefs.
AS I have said many times before, until we pass out of this religion phase here on Earth, we will not be allowed to enter the galactic community. Maybe in two or three thousand years people will look back at these needy times and chuckle about religion the way we do at polytheism and the Olympian gods. At least we have progressed from many to only one: The arrow is pointing in the right direction.
Posted by: Strawman at September 18, 2006 06:45 AM (tuy00)
4
The true pox on our time isn't the unwashed heathen of the dirt world, but the smug pseudo-intellectual fucktard in our midst who sleeps under the blanket of freedom provided by better men.
Posted by: Casca at September 18, 2006 06:51 AM (Z2ndo)
5
But Annie, it's the Religion of Peace!!! In Bizarro World, of course, but hey, at least it's somewhere.
Posted by: physics geek at September 18, 2006 07:55 AM (KqeHJ)
6
Not the abortion clinic canard, Straw. Quick, how many abortion peddlers have been killed by so-called Christians? How many abortion clinics bombed? These Islamo-fascists kill 10 times more people in an afternoon in Afghanistan than any Christians have abortion doctors. You have tossed out that comment before. It's old, but, more importantly, it's absurd. Why do you always fall back on your pathetic moral relativism?
Posted by: Blu at September 18, 2006 09:26 AM (j8oa6)
7
yah but Strawman. when that dude shot the abortion doctor it was something that rarely happens... worldwide. and he was caught, thrown in jail, and where is he now???!
But when someone makes the mistake of saying something that might be construed as possibly negative about the moslem religion whether it was intended as an insult or not, a violent reaction worldwide is not a surprise to anybody. In fact, it is expected.
You can say the Pope should not have included that quote, which he should have known would be taken out of context, and I agree totally. But there's something seriously wrong when the entire non-moslem world must walk on eggshells around these people.
Posted by: annika at September 18, 2006 09:31 AM (zAOEU)
8
oh, and, p. fucking s.
"AS I have said many times before, until we pass out of this religion phase here on Earth, we will not be allowed to enter the galactic community"
Oh really? I was thinking that the atheist utopias of Mao and Stalin would be excellent examples of your New World Order without religion. You atheist worldview is responsible for more slaughter and depravity than any religious doctrine - even more than this current crop of sick Islamist bastards.
As Annie mentions above, if you want to make the claim that the Pope made a bad PR move, then fine; you are right. If you want to say that the Pope should have more to say about current Islamo-fascism, then fine; you are right. But don't pull the silly moral relativism/all religion is equally bad crap. And please don't give us the fucking retarded John Lennon if there were no religion line of crap. The 20th century showed us exactly what happens when that worldview is allowed a foothold.
p.p.s what the fuck is the "gallatic community?" I'll have to keep an ear out to determine if Rosie O' picks up on that gem. Perfecf left-wing slogan: Sounds kinda nice and means absolutely nothing.
Posted by: Blu at September 18, 2006 09:54 AM (j8oa6)
9
"what the fuck is the 'gallatic community?'"
I saw him use that phrase at Moxie's a couple years ago. Basically, we can't cure AIDS, have world peace, make soylent green, or build the Starship Enterprise until we became atheist or something.
Posted by: reagan80 at September 18, 2006 10:43 AM (dFOlH)
10
Oh you idiots.
Its a metaphor you dumb fucks, for a time in the FUTURE when I feel mankind will have tossed off the blanket of religion, confronted his mortality and the questions that may remain unaswered by that time with out bowing and scraping to some higer idea of existance and someone elses plan. Mankind will do itself some good when we are willing to accept the reality that we are it! And contained within homo sapiens is all that is necessary for life to flouriish and prosper on this temporal orb.
Talk about canards blu, athiests and atheism was not responsible of the canage of Stalin or Mao, just as Christianity was not responsible for the carnage of Hitler. Mall rats would laugh at you if you put forth that kind of thinking.
And where do you get off telling me I am soft on the Islmist crazies. For ten years I have told thoses who would listen that this would be the biggest problem the civilizations of earth would face in the next 25-50 years.
Abortion bombers/shooters are not prevalent and our society brings them to justice, not our religion. Shooters of nuns or filmakers go free because the civil government is incapable for the most part of connteracting the force of of the religious community. To a lesser degree that goes on here. Look at that stupid bill brought up today to remove the loser pays rule in establishment cases. Religion infiltrating civil government.
I am not a relativist. You are. I think ALL killing is horrible and that done in the name of ones god or prophet particulary heinous. I don't equivicate about how they do it more often and don't get caught. Murder is murder.
Posted by: Strawman at September 18, 2006 11:54 AM (tuy00)
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"our society brings them to justice, not our religion"
Our society and its laws are derived from our founding Christian faith. Learn a little bit about Western Civilization and the founding of your country. It's interesting stuff. Really. It will require reading, however. So, if you get a headache, just take a break. It gets easier the more you practice.
Christianity was never an important element of Hitler's Germany. Atheism, however, is a fundamental principle of communism - and it was rigorously applied under Stalin and Mao. The mall rats in whom you place so much faith probably couldn't tell you much about either man, so they might buy into your history re-write. I won't. I know you love to make excuses for the dirty history of communism - whether it's practiced by Castro or Mao, but the facts always get in your way
I never said you were "soft" on the sub-humans - just that you are willing to equate crimes that rarely ever occur with crimes that occur on a daily basis; that you are willing to say that Christian culture inspires that same death-cult that Islam does. Propounding such crap is silly because it is so easily refuted by the evidence.
Posted by: Blu at September 18, 2006 01:17 PM (j8oa6)
Posted by: tony at September 18, 2006 04:26 PM (lEHiv)
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Blu, Annika,
Sorry for my outburst at the beginning of the last post. You know I only have love in my heart.
Blu, I don't think the teachings of Christianity any more than those of Islam or Judaism or Confucism are instructing people to be hateful, intolerant, murderous etc. I do think however, that, like your belief that Article 3 of the GC allows for to much interpretation to be useful, that scripture is erratic and inconsistent and becomes all things to all people. Clear minds usually do OK with it and cloudy ones do not.
To say that atheism was a fundamental tenet of communism is I think an exaggeration in principle (yes I know what Marx said but I also think they were realists so that by applying subtle and consistent pressure to reduce religious practices and removing houses of worship that in a few generations religion would disappear) and certainly in practice. To make some kind of equation that accounts for differences in motive for massive human tragedy out of the statement that "religion did not play to important a role in Germany" and your speculation about how important Atheism was to the Communists is worthy of my mall rat logicians. It is just a silly piece of speculative psychohistory not worthy of Harry Selden's attention.
Posted by: Strawman at September 18, 2006 05:16 PM (tuy00)
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No worries, Straw. Sometimes things get heated in a debate. Human nature and all that jazz.
Posted by: Blu at September 18, 2006 05:24 PM (TVuWZ)
A Woman For U.N. Sec Gen
I know I've already endorsed Elton John to succeed Kofi Annan as U.N. Secretary General, but there is a new candidate who has sparked my interest.
Latvian President Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga announced her intention yesterday to run for the post. Her competition includes South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon; U.N. undersecretary-general for public affairs Shashi Tharoor of India; Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai; Jordan's U.N. Ambassador Prince Zeid al Hussein; and former U.N. disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka.
Conventional wisdom says that Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga's chances are slim, due to Russian opposition and the informal tradition of rotating the U.N.'s top post between regions. Asia is next in line and therefore many believe Ban Ki-moon to be the front runner.
In Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga's announcement, she addressed the regional rotation issue:
[T]he member states of the UN should be able to select the best candidate for the post of Secretary General in an open, transparent process. We do not accept the principle of regional rotation as the principal and sole factor in the selection of a candidate. While I deeply respect the candidates that have already been nominated, the selection procedure should not restrict the rights and opportunities of other potential candidates. I hope that the choice made by the Security Council and the General Assembly will be based solely on the candidatesÂ’ qualifications, personal qualities and vision of the future of the UN.
I agree, especially given what I learned about Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga's qualifications after only a little bit of research.
She's very popular in Latvia, a country that has done amazingly well since declaring independence from the Soviet empire in 1990. As she told the Danish Foreign Policy Society last month:
The transformation of my own country, Latvia, has taken place at every level. We take pride in having one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. Since 2002, LatviaÂ’s GDP growth has averaged at close to 8% (7.7%) per year. In 2005 it reached 10.2%, the highest rate of growth since the restoration of our independence. And during the first quarter of this year, it was registered at a stunning 13.1%, the highest rate in the European Union. Economic forecasts predict that this stable growth will continue in the coming years.
Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga is also proud of Latvia's progress on integration and education of its ethnic minorities.
Latvia has had to work very hard to overcome the tragic legacy of Soviet rule. One of the greatest challenges we have faced is the integration of those persons who settled in our country during the occupation, and their descendants. By the end of July of this year, nearly 114000 persons had naturalized to become citizens of the Republic of Latvia. When we regained our independence in 1991, less than a quarter of those who represent Latvia’s ethnic minorities could speak Latvian. By the year 2000, more than half could, and that percentage continues to rise. We have begun to implement an education reform that balances Latvia’s traditional respect for the rights of minority languages with the need to build a cohesive society. The motto adopted by the EU two years ago is “Unity in Diversity.” Latvia is a multicultural country that adopted one of the first laws guaranteeing education in minority languages close to 100 years ago, in 1919. Our experience with integration can serve as an example at a time when tolerance based in shared values is essential to Europe’s future. Unity and diversity need not necessarily be perceived as contradictory terms.
In regards to international policy, I'm impressed that Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga seems to understand the threat of totalitarian ideologies motivated by racism. In her July speech to a Holocaust scholarship conference in Riga, she alluded to the obvious parallel between the Nazis and today's Islamic fascists:
And this is something that is extremely important for us to study because ideologies that demarcate some human beings under a special label and anybody who belongs to that special label then being marked for extinction, are the very root cause, the very basis of murderous genocides. Elsewhere in the world we see them happening on the basis of tribal belonging, on the basis of religious differences in various parts of the world, in the name of an ideology, in the name of a religion, whatever. It is extremely important for us to understand the principles, by which racism is defined and how is it that not just oppressive regimes and totalitarian governments, but also free movements of volunteers can be seduced into following such ideologies, where the destruction of somebody labelled either as an inferior or as an enemy is part and parcel of oneÂ’s being and when the aim is so high to destroy the other that people even come to the point of destroying themselves, where the hatred becomes so deep that they literally are ready to explode themselves in that hatred in the hope of bringing others along.
Those depths of human hatred have not disappeared from the world. They are still everywhere around us. And even when they are not official policies of some totalitarian government, when they become part of seductive ideologies that actually sway young people to join them, we have to be very very concerned and we have to continue working to understand them.
Her philosophy appears somewhat conservative to me, although I am troubled by her belief that the E.U. should adopt a common foreign policy. She favors a more "flexible" approach to labor, which would lower unemployment. And she recognizes that the E.U. is over-legislated and their regulatory scheme needs to be simplified to stimulate business.
Latvian troops are currently in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo and Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga is considered an ally of the Bush administration. While that's probably enough to doom her candidacy, I can't help wondering what it would be like to have a pro-American Sec Gen for a change (or at least one who is not openly anti-American and anti-semitic).
Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga concluded her speech to the Danish Foreign Policy Society with these words:
Naturally, every nation has its own, national interests. In today’s world, however, relations between nations are not a zero-sum game. It is in every nation’s interest to overcome the mistrust that prevents the effective functioning of multilateral institutions. In today’s world, no nation can stand alone against the challenges of our era. We will only overcome terrorism and other 21st –century threats if we co-operate more closely and reform the structures that make co-operation possible.
I can easily picture a U.N. leader exhorting member states to work together with similar words. But the meaning behind those words changes dramatically depending on whether the speaker is a Kofi Annan type or someone with the type of values I think Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga holds. I'd like to see her win.
Posted by: annika at September 16, 2006 06:05 PM (qQD4Q)
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Two things:
STFU MUSSFUCKER! Nobody but nobody gives a flying fuck about AFLAC trivia.
Running the UN is all about being a corrupt third world toad. Being economically viable is an automatic non-starter. She's just not fit for the job.
Posted by: Casca at September 16, 2006 06:09 PM (2gORp)
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I thought Bill Clinton was campaigning for the job.
Think of all the strange booty he could get in THAT job...
Posted by: shelly at September 17, 2006 07:32 AM (ZGpMS)
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There would be no end to the hilarity if Lyin' Bill stepped back up on the world stage.
On another note, Annie must be in an orgasmic haze with Andrew Walters in the Oakland lineup. Funny the difference that one player in a key position can make.
Posted by: Casca at September 17, 2006 11:25 AM (2gORp)
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I wouldn't know. We got a new cable box from Time Fucking Warner yesterday and the damn thing won't work. I hate Time Fucking Warner in all of it's various manifestations.
Posted by: annika at September 17, 2006 12:00 PM (qQD4Q)
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Have the BF climb the pole, and pirate the signal. The service will be the same, but the price will be right.
Actually, you were spared watching the fucking hapless Raiders piss themselves in public. It was an Old School East Coast Thug, meets West Coast Punks. Even with last minute fucktard officiating giving them half the field, and whistling a fumble dead, they STILL couldn't get in the endzone. Walter went in during the 1st quarter, and stayed in the game. As the boys in the box said, "At least he can take a snap".
On a personal note, God bless Art Schell. He's made me richer today.
Posted by: Casca at September 17, 2006 01:25 PM (2gORp)
Posted by: shelly at September 17, 2006 07:03 PM (ZGpMS)
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Annie:
No posts about the Golden Ones?
C'mon, they found their game this Saturday and you give 'em the silent treatment.
Posted by: shelly at September 17, 2006 07:05 PM (ZGpMS)
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Yes, i read on the internets that Cal won. Since i was unable to watch the game without the picture breaking into a million little digital rectangles every two seconds.
Has anyone noticed my new rotating epigram?
Posted by: annie at September 18, 2006 09:35 AM (zAOEU)
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They may have declared independence in 1990, but it was well after we went through this crap in Lithuania that they won it. Really, all of the Baltics won de facto independence in August 1991, in the wake of the coup that ousted Gorby and elevated Yeltsin.
Posted by: John at September 18, 2006 06:41 PM (YFWw+)
Welcome To The Next "Cartoon" Riots
I predict we're seeing the beginning of the next round of worldwide riots by the "religion of peace." This time over the Pope's remarks at the University of Regensburg.
In case you had any doubt whether the mainstream media would act to pour fuel on the fire or remain objective, here's how Reuters (via CNN) misquoted the Holy Father:
In his speech at the University of Regensburg on Tuesday, Benedict quoted criticism of Islam and the Prophet Mohammad by 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who wrote that everything Mohammad brought was evil and inhuman, "such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."
Note the subtle and unnecessary use of paraphrasing. What Benedict actually said was this:
The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war. He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.'
Reuters continues,
The head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, whose organization is one of the oldest, largest and most influential in the Arab world, said the pope 'aroused the anger of the whole Islamic world and strengthened the argument of those who say that the West is hostile to everything Islamic.' [emphasis mine]
Hold it! Stop right there! As Peter Pumpkin would say, whut the fuk??
The Muslim Brotherhood is "one of the oldest, largest and most influential" organizations in the Arab World? Is it older than say.... the Catholic Church!? I don't get Reuters' point. Never mind the blatant editorialization of the statement (Reuters didn't even try to mask it by turning it into a quote by some supposed expert), am I supposed to give greater weight to Mr. Akef's objections because he's the "leader" of a religious organization that's been around a long time? If so, then I gotta go with the Pope, because they've been around a bit longer.
But that's neither here nor there. Because the organization in question, the Muslim Brotherhood, is in fact an evil organization. And I noticed also that Reuters/CNN neglected to mention that important point.
The Muslim Brotherhood? Isn’t that the group whose last part of their motto says ‘death for the sake of God is the highest of our aspirations’? Aren’t they the ones who assassinated Anwar Al-Sadat, the leader of Egypt and made several attempts on the life of Ghamal Al-Nasser? Wasn’t Ayman Al-Zawahiri a long-time member of this group before joining Islamic Jihad and uniting it with Al-Qaeda? Isn’t the Muslim Brotherhood outlawed in its ‘normal’ form in several Arab countries today? Isn’t the Muslim Brotherhood one of the largest supporters and benefactors of Hamas? Isn’t the Muslim Brotherhood’s stated goal to unite the entire world as one nation under Islam? Why should we be alarmed that the Muslim Brotherhood’s leader, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, said the Pope ‘aroused the anger of the whole Islamic world and strengthened the argument of those who say that the West is hostile to everything Islamic’? The Pope was simply quoting a man, Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who was one of the last Byzantine rulers who was very often being attacked by the Muslim Ottomans. Manuel II had seen what Islam was doing to his nation.
Of course as we know the meaning of jihad can only be understood by Muslims . . . Only Muslims can understand what jihad is. It is impossible that jihad can be linked with violence, we Muslims have no violent character."
In Iraq's Shiite Muslim-stronghold of Kufa, Sheik Salah al-Ubaidi criticized the pope during Friday prayers, saying his remarks were a second assault on Islam.
'Last year and in the same month the Danish cartoon assaulted Islam,' he said, referring to a Danish newspaper's publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, which triggered outrage in the Muslim world.
And we all know what happened then.
In Britain, Muhammad Abdul Bari of the Muslim Council said:
One would expect a religious leader such as the pope to act and speak with responsibility and repudiate the Byzantine emperor's views in the interests of truth and harmonious relations between the followers of Islam and Catholicism.
Riiiight. Like Muslim leaders have been so very quick to repudiate the views of their most vocal representatives, Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al Zawahiri, Hassan Nasrallah, et al.
In Turkey, . . . Ali Bardakoglu, the head of Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs, . . . describ[ed] the pope's words as 'extremely regrettable.'
'I do not see any use in somebody visiting the Islamic world who thinks in this way about the holy prophet of Islam. He should first rid himself of feelings of hate,' NTV's Web site quoted Bardakoglu as saying.
Look who's talking about hate.
Bardakoglu . . . recalled atrocities committed by Roman Catholic Crusaders during the Middle Ages in the name of their faith against Orthodox Christians and Jews as well as Muslims.
Atrocities? Again, the muslims show how long their memory is. But it's a selective memory, as author Cearly points out:
I believe that Benedict touched a nerve with these people and that nerve has direct historical roots the Muslims are refusing to consider. Where does the Muslim responsibility to rid themselves of these feelings and reign themselves in begin and end? Constantly falling back on harkening to the Crusades is for their audience, which is an audience that forgets, or refuses to remember, that the Arabs forced scores of people from many nations and religions in conquered territories to convert over the centuries. In many countries these periods of forced conversion were the most bloody chapters of their history. And even more important, these Muslim leaders ignore the fact that at varying times the Muslims took their own ‘Crusades’ to Europe, pushing their way to Austria and to the Pyrenees mountains at different points in history. These pushes into Europe both pre-date the Crusades to the Holy Land by several centuries and they continued after the Crusades to the Holy Land, again for several centuries. Standing eye to eye and toe to toe, Islam has more to answer for in the West than the West has to answer for to Islam but you will never hear this from a Muslim ‘spokesperson’.
I am not one of those who thinks that publishing of the Mohammed Cartoons was "regrettable," "unfortunate," or whatever other weasely word you want to use. What Jyllands-Posten did probably needed doing, and it certainly clued a lot of formerly clueless people in to what radical Islam is all about.
That said, I do think Pope Benedict might have been better off leaving that one particular quote from Manuel II out of his speech. But what's done is done. The bell can't be unrung. What's next is for us to see once more how tolerant the "religion of peace" is towards any type of criticism. Especially in this case, when the Pope's speech was not meant as criticism.
Update: Here's another laughably ironic comment from a muslim writing in London's al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. First he says that "there is no difference between" the Holy Father, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Regarding the Pope's speech, he goes on to say:
These are ignorant comments previously made by Adolf Hitler, who spoke of a supreme white race against all the other races, especially the African race.
(Ummm, and the Jews? Interesting that he didn't say the Jews.)
Michelle Malkin has a roundup of the unsurprising violence now beginning in the muslim world. These idiots are lashing out at anything and everything non-muslim. They're confusing Anglican and Greek Orthodox churches with Catholic ones, and they're calling the anti-war Pope a part of the Zionist American conspiracy.
1
Speaking of ironic quotes:
"Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
Posted by: Tuning Spork at September 15, 2006 01:10 PM (S1+EF)
Posted by: Scof at September 15, 2006 01:41 PM (a3fqn)
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Annika,
I read the Pope's remarks over lunch today and nearly spit my sausage and eggs into my assistants soup.
While all that you say about the nature of these Islamists and all the sorted history that has transpired over the last millenium and a half, it was a really, really wrong headed quotation to include in Benny's remarks.
What were they thinking? It would just float by as a piece of historical fluff? Like Condi thought the "determined to attack" memo was?
These people are seriously looking all the time for anything that is a slight of Mr. M. and they are NEVER looking to have their understanding of Islam and Mr. M's deeds upgraded especially by the pope!
And BTW, if a Muslim leader ever spoke such nastiness about your lord JC and his efforts to convert and the violence and destruction it inspired, you would be pretty pissed off. I am sure, however,that you would not be burning trash in the street since it would make your cloths reek and get soot and stuff in your hair.
Posted by: Strawman at September 15, 2006 02:06 PM (tuy00)
4
Jesus didn't make a 10-year "ceasefire" deal with infidels and break it after 2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Hudaybiyyah
Posted by: reagan80 at September 15, 2006 03:06 PM (dFOlH)
5
Strawman, what are you doing eating sausage? don't you know what goes into that stuff?
Posted by: annika at September 16, 2006 10:19 AM (qQD4Q)
6
Pope John did the world a great favor by pointing out the evils of Communism. It created a fault line in the love affair of the Western left and the media with the brutal regimes in the Soviet Union.
That love of Communist brutality has now been transferred to the brutality of Islamic Fascists. The Pope can render the world a great service by continuing to speak out against that Fascist brutality. Maybe the Fascist collaborators in the media and the left will wake up.
Posted by: Jake at September 16, 2006 10:40 AM (r/5D/)
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Congrats Straw. You've now achieved the exact intellectual status of Rosie O'Donnell. A step up for you.
I stand with the Pope.
Posted by: gcotharn at September 16, 2006 11:24 AM (NoXBk)
8
Gotta hand it to ya, Straw, you're absolutely consistent and dependable.
Posted by: Blu at September 16, 2006 01:23 PM (TVuWZ)
9
Ya know Blu, when the empty lot at my corner has two nutty and aggressive pit bulls tied to a stump I don't think it take an act of courage to stand in front of them dangling a small child by it's heels to demonstrate how savage they are. It is dangerous. I am NOT defending the sensibilities of those offended just trying to point out careless behavior that seems like throwing gasoline on the bonfire.
Please tell me what was insightfull, neccessary or courages about Bennies comments? As if the world needed to be told that some 14 century intelect thought Muhammad was not the nicest fellow pitching a tent in the desert. Why didn't the Pope open his own mouth and tell the world what he thinks of Muhammad's CURRENT apostles?
Posted by: Strawman at September 16, 2006 01:59 PM (tuy00)
10
Shit annie, you had me there for a minute. I thought that first pic was from Columbus after the win last Saturday.
Posted by: Casca at September 16, 2006 06:13 PM (2gORp)
11
Strawman, what are you doing eating sausage? don't you know what goes into that stuff?
Posted by annika on Sep. 16, 2006
"Those who love the law and sausage should watch neither being made."
Otto von Bismark
Posted by: shelly at September 16, 2006 06:51 PM (ZGpMS)
12
BTW, the Mainsteam Media are not Fascist Collaborators; they are simply, as the former Vladimir Ilyich Ulanov put it, "Useful Idiots".
Posted by: shelly at September 17, 2006 07:45 AM (ZGpMS)
13
"And BTW, if a Muslim leader ever spoke such nastiness about your lord JC and his efforts to convert and the violence and destruction it inspired, you would be pretty pissed off."
Muslims don't generally say nastiness about Jesus, but instead about Christianity, since they regard Jesus as a Muslim prophet, and often treat Western secular disregard for Jesus as blasphemy against Islam, deranged as that may be.
"Those who love the law and sausage should watch neither being made."
Even for one who worked in the sausage-factory of a state legislature, that quote never get old.
Posted by: Dave J at September 17, 2006 10:51 AM (SKqxt)
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Dave J.
I stand corrected. Things christian and most things theological tend to allude me. Personally, being a jewish carpenter myself JC is a hero of sorts.
Otto V B was correct no doubt. I don't know if Annie's comment was about sausage in general or that it probably contains pork and was a thinnly veiled threat that she was going to rat me out to the Rabbi.
Posted by: Strawman at September 17, 2006 11:10 AM (tuy00)
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"Why didn't the Pope open his own mouth and tell the world what he thinks of Muhammad's CURRENT apostles?"
Fair question and challenge. I hope the Catholic Church begins to get more vocal in regard to these barbarians.
Posted by: Blu at September 17, 2006 08:42 PM (TVuWZ)
Al Qaeda Passes McCain Style Bill?
As reported by Point Five:
On the heels of the Warner/ McCain/ Graham legislation passed out of Senate committee today, which offers expanded rights to terrorists over the bill proposed by President Bush, al Qaeda reportedly has considered changing its long- standing rules on prisoner treatment to include greater protections for Americans in custody.
The new guidelines would set strict requirements for the type and quality of beheading blades, limit the time spent on- camera in execution videos, and place new rules on the use of burning alive, dismembering, and dragging through the streets.
. . .
Under the new al Qaeda guidelines, gasoline would be strongly discouraged as a fuel for blackening infidel corpses, favoring high-temperature, fast burning fuels such as acetylene or MAPP gas. The use of accelerants such as oxygen to more quickly extinguish the cries of agony from the infidels would be “greatly pleasing to Allah.”
1
Yeah, no shit. Those Cocksuckers; i.e. McCain, and his minnie me from SC deserve a public ass whipping.
Posted by: Casca at September 14, 2006 07:31 PM (2gORp)
2
That idiot from SC has been auditioning for the role of McCain's running-mate for couple of years now, and it sickens me that he's willing to compromise the GWOT for - what he thinks are - political points. I
Hugh Hewitt easily dissected him on the radio today. If you are interested in the interview, go to Hewitt's site and you'll find a link to the transcript.
Posted by: Blu at September 14, 2006 07:59 PM (TVuWZ)
3
Yes, I agree. i think America should always take the behaviour of the worst actor and shape its legislation and policies accordingly. The Chinese have been demonstrating for 50 years how we might reshape our civil controls to get rid of all the thinkers and dissenters. Implimenting their methods would solve the many problems of Democracy related to the document that W calls the "Bill of Wrongs". Or the "Bill of Insecuritys". You know the one, that group of paragraphs that are going to get us all killed by the nasties who want to eat our freedoms out of envy.
I think if we were going to be really smart we might offer some of the out of work (I hear their command and control centers and networks have been devistated) Al Qaeda operatives some serious dough to come to work for us interrogating and extracting intel. Now those guy's really know what's up with protecting their shores.
Posted by: Strawman at September 15, 2006 07:42 AM (tuy00)
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Ralph Peters still had the best solution to our prisoner "abuse" problem: no more taking prisoners!
http://tinyurl.com/h2c7j
Posted by: reagan80 at September 15, 2006 08:27 AM (dFOlH)
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Strawman,
Your post demonstrates once again how ill-informed you are about this debate. The issue here is the ambiguity of the Geneva Conventions, (which shouldn't even apply to AQ or any of its members – or any terrorist - as they do not serve a country nor are they signatories.) So, please get a clue, then comment. The President is simply asking the Congress to clarify specifically what they will allow in terms of interrogations, so our men in the field can stay within the law. Perhaps, you can enlighten us and describe specifically how this in any way encroaches on the Bill of Rights and your personal freedoms.
No doubt the leaders of China, N. Korea, and AQ spend a lot of time debating their interrogation tactics with leaders of the legislative branch and the Press, trying to codify those standards in a very clear way.
Don’t you get tired of me pummeling you? It’s really too easy. Time to bring your “A” game Straw because right now you are just my bitch.
Posted by: Blu at September 15, 2006 10:06 AM (TVuWZ)
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bLU,
That sounds so sexy, Blu, I don't know if I'll even look for my A game again.
But, of course, as in the past you dodge the irony and humor of our president's lame position. Just clarify a few things so my professionals know what to do to protect the good people of our fine country, because if they (the professionals) are not clear, they'll sit back on their asses and punt. Oh, and the other thing that will inhibit them is the possibility of prosecuition. What horse shit.
It does affect out rights, blu because W will use the same rules on you or me if for instance we set off the sniffers at the airport because some Nitrogen molecules are in our sock from playing touch football on a recently fertilized lawn. They will bag you and carry you off to who knows where and classify you as a enemy combatant until they prove otherwise which they will be in no hurry to do since hurrying is antithetical to being thorough and to not be thorough is to jeopardize the nation.
You would like me to believe that W and his crowd do not know what article 3 allows because it used vague words like "mutilation, cruel treatment, torture, humiliating treatment, outrages against personal dignity, caring for the sick and wounded, violence to life and person, execution, and no judgement without regularily constituted courts that offer ALL the judicial guarantees which are recognizes as indespensible by civilized people" Yea Blue, that's really vague.
I don't have a clue what I might or might not do to a captive had this been my only guide line.
I know pulling out a fingernail really hurs but its not mutilation since it will grow back, right?
And, hey, dogs bite people everyday all over the US so why is it such a big deal if terrorists are nipped on their peckers a little?
And when you stuff my underpants in my mouth and tell me to play with myself so you can watch, I still get up and go to work the next day, don't I? Mastubation and underpants are a part of your everyday life, right big fella?
And what about all those collge kids making pyramids and laughing and falling all over each other in the gym? Just because they not naked and don't have bags over their heads dosen't mean they wouldn't try it if the coach told them to.
I guess your right, as always, it is so very difficult to know what you can do or can't do when it comes to protecting our sacred shores. Come over here ya big slob and rub my belly some more.
Posted by: Strawman at September 15, 2006 10:47 AM (tuy00)
7
Define any of these terms:
"cruel treatment," "torture," (I love this one - I'll bet when you were getting your ass-kicked all through grade school you experienced this a bunch) "humiliating treatment," and the always horrible "outrages against personal dignity."
Hey is loud music and a cold room "torture?" Just curious.
Oh and how many free lawyers, special food, and special religious services should these semi-humans be allowed?
Finally, Straw, if prisoners were forced to read your tortured English prose, would it be considered an "outrage against personal dignity?"
Posted by: Blu at September 15, 2006 11:15 AM (TVuWZ)
8
I don't know Blu, I think it reads kinda good other than spelling which I don't put too much stock in.
Of course a cold room and loud music are torture. Go out to you garage this winter, get naked and turn up your boom car to 120db and tell your mom not to look for you for 4 days. Then call me.
Mostly though, its like Justice Stevens said about porn, hard to define but you know it when you see it. Unless less of course you have a big investment in the industry. Like you and Billy Frist do having to lick the porn king's ass every day.
Posted by: Strawman at September 15, 2006 11:33 AM (tuy00)
9
To be fair, you writing is pretty good. It's your ideas that are bad.
Posted by: Blu at September 15, 2006 12:13 PM (TVuWZ)
Dean Martin Appreciation Day
I had no idea it was DMAD. In fact, I'd never heard of DMAD until today. It's not his birthday (that's June 7). Anyways, I'm up for it. Go and celebrate at Sheila's. Nobody blogs classic Hollywood better than Sheila. There are some great pictures too. Dean cooking with the Duke. Dean, Mia and Sharon Tate. Dean and the boss, naturally. Dean stepping onstage with Judy (I think it's Judy). And of course, Dean and Jerry.
Update: Youtube is amazing. Look what I found.
That scene of Dean the father kissing Dean Paul is sad, isn't it? Captain Dean Paul Martin died in 1987 when his Air National Guard F-4 Phantom crashed into Mount San Gorgonio.
Dean Paul "Dino" Martin, 35, son of entertainer Dean Martin was killed when the Phantom jet he was piloting crashed into the San Gabriel Mountains. Permission was given by March Air Force Base ATC to perform a "maximum climb" takeoff. The aircraft was seen disappearing into a scattered cloud ceiling at 4,700 feet. Radar contact was lost 9 minutes into the flight. The crash site was found on the 3rd day of searching in the San Gabriel Mountains. An investigation revealed the aircraft flew, inverted, into a solid wall of granite between two mountain peaks at an estimated speed of 560 mph. The aircraft was literally pulverized into the granite. The "maximum climb" takeoff, g forces assoctiated with this type of flight and the dense cloud cover negatively affected the pilots ability to know his position and aircraft attitude.
The death hit Dean very hard, and he apparently was never the same afterwards.
1
Thanks for the link!!
I'm kinda having a manic episode (ha!) - but I loves me some Dino!
Posted by: red at September 14, 2006 10:02 AM (rNgdr)
2
Oh - and I totally made up DMAD. In order to justify how obsessed I am with Dino right now.
Posted by: red at September 14, 2006 10:32 AM (rNgdr)
3
Well, it's very nice Sheila. Although someone should gag Jerry.
Posted by: Casca at September 14, 2006 11:53 AM (Z2ndo)
4
"I had the most amazing dream. I was riding on an ice cream donkey with none other than Mr. Dean Martin, and even though the donkey melted just outside of Walnut City, Dean didn't care, because that's just the kind of man he was."
"Aye, he was the Dean of Martins."
"Amen."
Posted by: The Law Fairy at September 14, 2006 12:06 PM (XUsiG)
5
Oh, and yes, Annika, you are correct - that is Judy, welcoming Dean to the stage for a duet at the Coconut Grove. Uhm - what I would give for a time machine!!!
Posted by: red at September 14, 2006 03:58 PM (hJ+VA)
6
Guess I'll have a scotch to celebrate. I always liked his old variety show.
BTW, I am writing this only four hours after Lasik eye surgery. Its great not to need glasses anymore.
Posted by: kyle8 at September 14, 2006 04:41 PM (PBHAA)
7
Here's a classic Dino story:
In "The Sons of Katie Elder", they wanted Duke and Dino to escape from jail and Duke was supposed to hide a knife and hold it to the neck of the jailor and threaten him to let them out. Duke said the didn't use knives and would never do it.
The director turned toward Dino and before he could speak a word, Dino said "So, where do I hide the knife?".
By the way, Dino would not appreciate any Jerry Lewis shit. He hated his ass for breaking up the partnership and striking out on his own.
In the end, it was Jerry who rued the day he did so, but Dean had no use for him at all.
I think I'll have a Scotch myself, although I'm pretty sure Dino drank Gentleman Jack on the rocks, or, whatever someone handed him from the audience.
Posted by: shelly at September 14, 2006 06:00 PM (ZGpMS)
8
Well, since we're going to reminisce. Deano was from the heart of union thug country, Mingo Junction, OH. Oh yeah, everything says Steubenville, but the locals always know the fine points.
I love that he was such a true friend. He helped his buddy Frank during JFK's election, because he was supporting Frank. JFK's team pressured Frank and the Ratpackers not to attend Sammy's mixed race wedding to that Swedish beauty, and Deano didn't think twice about not attending. That was the end of it between Dean and the Kennedy Clan. I'm not sure if Frank attended or not.
Posted by: Casca at September 14, 2006 07:46 PM (2gORp)
9
BTW Kyle, given your extra-curricular activities. You'll need glasses again in no time. Just make sure you stop before you go blind.
Posted by: Casca at September 14, 2006 07:48 PM (2gORp)
10
Now, that is funny.
But, Kyle is an easy target, he is such a weenie.
Posted by: shelly at September 15, 2006 02:59 AM (ZGpMS)
Essay Exam
One of the purposes of this blog, as I have said before, is to learn from my readers. I have a theory in mind, and I'm wondering if I'm on the right track. Please help me by taking this short answer essay test. One sentence answers are best.
Why did the Confederacy bomb Fort Sumter?
Why did Germany invade the Soviet Union?
Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor?
Why did Muslim terrorists bomb the World Trade Center in 1993?
Why did Muslim terrorists bomb the World Trade Center in 2001?
Generally speaking, is there a common motivator among all these acts?
Update: Thanks for all the great responses. Now I think my theory is not so good. And probably question number one doesn't really belong there since, as many of you pointed out, Ft. Sumter was bombed in response to Federal resupply of the island, and was not a surprise attack.
I had been thinking that all of the above actions were pre-emptive strikes by inferior forces against a superior power. And the common theme would be that each of the attackers had a particular vision of society, and in each case the attackee uniquely stood in the way of the attacker's vision.
However, the Germans and the Japanese planned to shorten a war of conquest by their surprise attacks, while the same cannot really be said of the WTC bombers. The terrorists are not capable of fighting any war of conquest, and I don't really believe they expected the response they got after 2001.
1
Obviously, I misread your questions. Perhaps if you had asked for the "Strategy" behind these acts. Actually, I'd group 1 with 4, 5, and 6. South Carolina wanted blood, and got it. To the extent they had a strategy, it was childish in it's sophistication, just like our muslim brothers. They have a strategy. Convert the infidel.
Posted by: Casca at September 15, 2006 06:29 AM (Z2ndo)
2
What they all have in common is one thing; miscalculation.
It is the cause of every war, isn't it?
Posted by: shelly at September 15, 2006 07:01 AM (ZGpMS)
3
I was trying to get the spelling of somebodys name to do with WWII and ran across a Wikipedia article on Stalins plans to attack Hitler first. The 2 of them and their armies were like blind men groping around in the dark with knives. The eery thing about it. You remember that literally crazy dumb ass Rudolf Hess who flew to England to make a separate peace. Well, Stalin had been worried about a posible union of the capitalist countries, in which he included Germany, against the USSR. So with this he put off his planned attack, waiting to make sure that wasn't in the offing. Hess flew in early July and the Germans attacked first about Aug 1 as I recall. It is said the Russian attack would've ended WWII 2 years earlier, getting themselves together before the attack the Germans were low on ammo, unorganized for defense. The Jews just couldn't catch a break.
Posted by: michael at September 21, 2006 09:04 PM (ADwf0)
1
In other news, ElMondoHummus yawns and gets out the words "Who gives a f..." before getting mobbed by a crowd of angry teenagers dressed in schoolgirl outfits screaming "BRITNEY'S MY HERO!!" and "I (heart) BRITNEY SPEARS FEDERLINE!!".
Rescue workers tried valiently to extract Mr. Hummus from the mound of CD's, posters, barbie dolls and bubble gum, but were unsuccessful.
Reactions from the street:
Beth, Bamapachyderm: "Britney, that f****n' ho!"
Shelly: "Al Davis, that f****n' ho!"
Casca: "So how do I get mobbed by teens in plaid skirts?"
Strawman: "About Bush and Iraq..."
Blu: "About that f****n' Strawman"
Casca: "SO HOW THE HELL DO ***I*** GET MOBBED BY TEENS IN PLAID SKIRTS??!!"
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 13, 2006 03:47 PM (xHyDY)
2
Pretty close, but I've moved beyond teens. I prefer thirty-somethings.
Posted by: Casca at September 13, 2006 04:07 PM (2gORp)
3
Hmmm... I know a couple of thirty-somethings, and a nearly thirtysomething I'd luuuuuv to see in a plaid skirt & white shirt. Mmmmm...
Yes, they're all female! No Scottish bagpipers in my fantasies! Get'cher minds outta the gutter!
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 13, 2006 04:51 PM (xHyDY)
4
annika, I was thinking the same thing. She's not giving that thang a snowballs chance of regaining any snap.
Posted by: Victor at September 13, 2006 04:52 PM (l+W8Z)
5
good stuff mondo!
casca: i don't believe u
victor: eeeew!
Posted by: annika at September 13, 2006 05:18 PM (qQD4Q)
Wednesday Is Poetry Day
If Edna St. Vincent Millay were alive today, it's probably even money that she'd be against the Iraq War. She was a complicated person: pacifist, socialist, activist, feminist and bisexual. Yet when World War II threatened she put aside her pacifism, and argued strongly against the isolationists. She also wrote several poems urging us to take the Nazis seriously.
Here's one. Replace "Hitler" with the contemporary height challenged dictator of your choice, and the poem's warning sounds true today.
And Then There Were None
Ten white ptarmigan
Perching in a pine;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were nine.
Nine white ptarmigan
Trusting in their fate;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were eight.
Eight white ptarmigan
Putting trust in Heaven;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were seven.
Seven white ptarmigan
In a pretty fix;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were six.
Six white ptarmigan
Hoping to survive;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were five.
Five white ptarmigan
Wishing they were more;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were four.
Four white ptarmigan
Trying to agree;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were three.
Three white ptarmigan
Feeling very few;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there were two.
Two white ptarmigan
Cried, "It can't be done!"
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
And then there was one.
One white ptarmigan
Looked about and blinked;
Hitler gave his solemn oath:
The race is now extinct.
Another Millay poem from 1940, definitely worth reading is the longer "There Are No Islands Anymore." In it, Vincent chastised the Isolationists and promoted American support for England against the Nazis.
On English soil, on French terrain,
Democracy's at grips again
With forces forged to stamp it out.
This time no quarter!—since no doubt.
Not France, not England's what's involved,
Not we,—there's something to be solved
Of grave concern to free men all:
Can Freedom stand?—Must Freedom fall?
(Meantime, the tide devours the shore:
There are no islands any more)
Posted by: red at September 13, 2006 08:54 AM (rNgdr)
2
I have never read that -- you're right, "no more islands" is powerful enough that even a feminist pacifist can say, "right on."
Posted by: Hugo Schwyzer at September 13, 2006 01:22 PM (yLeev)
3
Your post inspired me to post another poem from the WWII era, this one by Stephen Vincent Benet.
Posted by: david foster at September 14, 2006 01:49 PM (/Z304)
4
Here is another by ESVM:
Make bright the arrows
Gather the shields:
Conquest narrows
The peaceful fields.
Stock well the quiver
With arrows bright:
The bowman feared
Need never fight.
Make bright the arrows,
O peaceful and wise!
Gather the shields
Against surprise.
Posted by: Retread at September 15, 2006 02:05 PM (mtsTe)
Stingray Revenge Killings
The stingray that killed Steve Irwin ignored the most important law of the jungle.
Ye may kill for yourselves, and your mates, and your cubs as they need, and ye can;
But kill not for pleasure of killing, and seven times never kill Man!
Here is why the wolf pack codified that rule:
A number of stingrays have been slaughtered in an apparent wave of revenge killings over the death of conservationist and television personality Steve Irwin.
Ten have been found with their tails cut off near Hervey Bay and Deception Bay in south-east Queensland.
. . .
. . . to hear that people are actually going out and killing stingrays and cutting off their tails is barbaric. It's ridiculous. Steve would really be abhorred by this whole event. It's not something that should be happening.
1
The real tragedy here: this proves that the IQ of the general population is DANGEROUSLY low. Um. Revenge killings? Revenge against stingrays? What, did they have a worldwide meeting of all the stingrays and decide it would afford stingraydom a tactical advantage in its plot to take over the world if they killed a TV star and conservationist? Do these people actually think animals can commit premeditated murders??
I say we find the people who are doing this and sterilize them. Not out of revenge, but for the good of the human race.
Posted by: The Law Fairy at September 13, 2006 06:50 AM (6KMvp)
2
Your ire is easily stirred LF. In any case I'm backing the stingrays. Those fuckers are EVERYWHERE. Now, can we move on to DWTS?
Posted by: Casca at September 13, 2006 06:56 AM (Z2ndo)
Posted by: annika at September 13, 2006 07:06 AM (IWWC3)
4
Well Aesop Annie, nothing against stingrays but I am positively swimming with glee, for although I cannot fathom how you have foundered into this fable about Iraq I am pleased.
No Iraqi's stung us or were even associated with the bad rays that did yet that, as the LF points out, the low IQ'ed reprobate and his henchman, while not the general public, non the less attacked any who looked like rays and were helpless.
Annie, you must unconscientiously be as repulsed by the reality of Iraq as you are by the carnage on the GBR.
Posted by: Strawman at September 13, 2006 07:36 AM (tuy00)
5
casca, eh. I just don't like sharing a planet with stupid people. If that makes me irate, so be it. Personally I'd go with "bemusedly cynical," but hey, potato, po-tah-to.
Posted by: The Law Fairy at September 13, 2006 08:57 AM (XUsiG)
6
Heh, who does? Better get used to though, or either substance abuse or insanity will be in your future.
Posted by: Casca at September 13, 2006 09:44 AM (Z2ndo)
7
"Be abhorred by"? No, no.
He'd abhor the activity; it would not abhor him. It can't, not being an actor.
Posted by: Sigivald at September 14, 2006 04:03 PM (4JnZM)
Syria, Hezbollah, North Korea Violate UN Security Council Resolution... World Yawns
From Reuters:
A ship bound for Syria from North Korea and detained in Cyprus on an Interpol alert for suspected arms smuggling was carrying air defense systems, Cypriot authorities said on Monday.
The shipment was billed as weather-observation equipment on the freight manifest of the Panamanian-flagged Grigorio 1 and officials said the Syrian government had asked Cyprus to release the seized consignment.
"To my knowledge their name doesn't appear anywhere on the manifest as the consignee, but they have got involved," a senior shipping industry source in Nicosia told Reuters.
He said the vessel had been tracked over a long period of time.
The ship was carrying 18 truck-mounted mobile radar systems and three command vehicles. "The radars on the 18 trucks appear to be part of an air defense system," a police spokeswoman said.
And to think people mocked the president when he included North Korea in the Axis of Evil.
10 bucks says the "international community" does squat about this violation.
1
20 bucks says the "Wartime President" and his administration do just as little.
Posted by: Doug at September 12, 2006 11:59 AM (Xrw9x)
2
Any ocean carrier/freight forwarder/port operator that is involved with fraudulent cargo manifests should be barred from all international trade activity in any civilized country.
Posted by: david foster at September 12, 2006 01:23 PM (/Z304)
3
I wonder how today's events at our embassy affect the political calculation.
Posted by: Blu at September 12, 2006 02:03 PM (TVuWZ)
4
Sure Doug... and $30 bucks says it'll be because of the lack of cooperation and, in some cases, overt hostility and interference from the International Community.
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 13, 2006 06:13 AM (DXodP)
5
"And to think people mocked the president when he included North Korea in the Axis of Evil."
Everybody is on the North Korea, it's just that the term is archaic and sensationalistic.
And it depends on what kind of air defense system it is, especially with so many trailers (obviously not shoulder mount). SA-4b? 6a? 8b? The systems the NK have are getting very old and their effectiveness approaches zero.
Posted by: will at September 13, 2006 10:31 PM (byKa1)
Raiders Chargers
What's MNF without the Raiders? And they're three point underdogs! That's crazy. The Raiders always come to play on Monday Night, especially at home.
Posted by: wayne at September 12, 2006 06:47 AM (IrbU4)
6
I was the President of the Coliseum Commission when the Raiders left LA for Oakland.
We had no protests from anyone. No one cared that they left. Al Davis had alienated everyone.
My favorite team is whoever the Raiders are playing that week.
Posted by: shelly at September 12, 2006 07:44 AM (ZGpMS)
7
Oh, Kyle, I feel for ya. One of my buds was trying to get me into a fantasy league last week, luring me with the news that Trent Green was still available at quarterback.
And I was thiiiiiiis close to doing it.
One of my coworkers is telling me that the poor sap in his fantasy league who's got Trent Green as his starter has Drew Bledsoe as his backup. So he's even worse off than you are.
Shelly,
What is it with Al Davis? Does that man have any friends at all? Or does he go by the logic of nations i.e. no friends, just interests?
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 12, 2006 12:18 PM (xHyDY)
8
Al Davis has no friends; he has a business associate, Amy Trask, who is his Vice President.
She is the female incarnation of Al; wears only black, white or silver. And, like Al, she's as mean as a sbake.
Posted by: Shelly at September 12, 2006 07:37 PM (ZGpMS)
9
LOL...
Yeah, those nasty sbakes, really hurts when they sbite you.
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 13, 2006 05:27 AM (DXodP)
10
Just win baby!!, not. My favorite team, not to cover. Don't wast your time with them, root for the 49rs, rofl.
Posted by: steve s at September 13, 2006 11:48 PM (7iFql)
The 9/11 Coverage Replays
This morning, I tried to find CNN's replay of their 9/11 coverage, but it wasn't on tv. I did find NBC's replay, which was broadcast on MSNBC. What I saw bothered me a lot, and I waited all day to post something about it.
Now that I'm home, I was able to view the CNN coverage from that day, thanks to Hot Air. I was able to compare CNN's excellent coverage to NBC's, or I should say, contrast. I've often been critical of CNN, but all I can say is I do miss Aaron Brown.
Kiki Couric and Tom Brokaw were incredibly bad by any standard, and I can't understand why. Somewhere, somehow, the two of them got the idea that good journalism means completely divorcing yourself from all human feeling. Or, perhaps, that the "citizens of the world" ideal that today's elite media have fetishized required them to abandon any sense of horror in order not to offend those viewers who might have been happy about the deaths of thousands.
Or perhaps the two of them thought that by remaining scrupulously objective, they might win some sort of award or peer recognition for their level-headedness. Instead, Couric and Brokaw came off as more wooden than Mr. Spock. Or Al Gore. I don't know what made them think that emotionlessness was required on that day, of all days. The most memorable newscasts during tragic events have always included the broadcaster's personal reactions — and yes emotions — while simultaneously reporting the news. Think Walter Cronkite and JFK, Frank Reynolds and Reagan, or to go way back, Herb Morrison and the Hindenburg.
Amazingly, as I watched the South Tower collapse, Kiki and Tom said nothing. It was as if they didn't see it. But how could that be? It was their job to see it. Then, as Manhattan disappeared behind a thick wall of smoke they continued to act as if nothing had happened. I waited and waited, but they made no mention of the incredible scene unfolding before their very eyes. In fact, it wasn't until eight long minutes later that another correspondent said the first thing about the tower collapsing!
Which brings up an interesting point. Michael Moore made a career out of criticizing Bush's "seven long minutes." But here were two experienced and celebrated journalists, who's job it was to report what was happening, and they completely failed to mention the biggest thing either of them had ever witnessed or would ever witness in their entire careers. Eight long minutes they sat there repeating banalities while lower Manhattan was entirely engulfed in smoke and neither of them said a word about it.
Here's a clip of when the other correspondent stated the obvious for the very first time, "When you look at it the building has collapsed. That building just came down." Listen to what Kiki says at the very end. Instead of reacting to this horrific and unimaginable event, she immediately cuts the reporter off and goes to "Bob Bazell who's at St. Vincent's Hospital..." Infreakincredible.
Which is why Aaron Brown's coverage stands out. When the South Tower began to fall, he interrupted another remote immediately. He then described what we all watched, as it happened, with words like "extraordinarily frightening," which is exactly what it was.
It's a disgrace that Aaron Brown is now teaching at ASU, while Kiki Couric is making $15 million a year.
1
Katie Couric is a news reader. Nothing more and nothing less. Words flow from the teleprompter to her eyes and then to her mouth. There are no intermediate stops during that trip.
Posted by: Jake at September 11, 2006 07:38 PM (r/5D/)
2
Jake, you left out matronly and surgically enhanced. And while we're at it. Her husband died of nut-cancer. I'm just sayin'. She may be a carrier.
Posted by: Casca at September 11, 2006 08:05 PM (2gORp)
3
I scrupulously avoided all 9-11 coverage today; didn't want to go through it again.
That having been said, an argument can be made that when something horrific happens, and you know the TV cameras are covering it, there's no point in saying anything.
If Couric and Brokaw had shut their mouths, that would have been understandable. However, it sounds like they kept on talking about other stuff.
Wasn't this the time that Brokaw was spending every waking hour covering every moment of every soldier who fought in World War II? Did he refer to the hijackers as "Huns" during the 9-11 broadcast?
Posted by: Ontario Emperor at September 11, 2006 10:09 PM (HvByG)
4
I didn't become a habitual Fox News viewer until a couple months after 9/11.
CNN soon reverted back to their deadpan "citizens of the world" coverage of the War on Terror. It seemed like Fox News was the only place where the reporters genuinely emoted their disgust for our enemies and rooted for the "good guys" in our military.
Plus, it helped that Fox & Friends had all of those Mancow segments.
Posted by: reagan80 at September 12, 2006 05:24 AM (dFOlH)
5
When I see her I just really want to spit on my TV screen.
Posted by: Blu at September 12, 2006 07:42 AM (TVuWZ)
6
I've watched her for a few segments on a few different days (none of the 9-11 stuff however) and agree with Jake. Garbage in garbage out and 15 million into her account. What a great thing capitalism and the free markets are. The best always rising to the top! ItÂ’s uncanny.
Posted by: Strawman at September 12, 2006 03:16 PM (tuy00)
7
We'll see if capitalism is functioning correctly if she is still sitting in that chair a year from now if her ratings continue to plummet. Now that she is there, however, they have to deal with the political backlash if she is "reassigned." The femi-nazis will cry bloody fucking murder if she is let go and replaced by a man - God forbid a White Man. It's more than just economics at work here....unfortunately.
I'll bet if the State chose the Anchormen/Anchorwomen that the cream would really rise to the top! Then we wouldn't have to worry about stupid, ol'Katie Couric...
Straw, thanks for always being good for a chuckle. You really are the gift that just keeps on giving. Site wouldn't be the same without you.
Posted by: Blu at September 12, 2006 04:10 PM (TVuWZ)
8
Well,
You have to understand Aaron is paid to actually MAKE a contribution to society.
Stik
Posted by: stiknstein at September 12, 2006 05:30 PM (SlV03)
9
Blu,
I saw you spit post and thought this might be the solution to your distance from Kikki:
Blu, only spitting? (I wrote) I should send you a Nippon video clip I saw where the news reader, a classic long necked Japanese beauty, hair in a bun, business suit with pearls and collared pastel blouse, nice Armani frames, sits stoically reading the international news when in no particular order, members of the crew, audience, and control room staff stroll down across the stage and nonchalantly ejaculate on her face then go back to their seats or boom mic or camera while she continues reading without raising a hand to protest, wipe or wave. Quite the broadcast!
I never tire of the incredibly sick psychosexual disorders of modern Japanese culture.
You Blu could get a pal more versed in video doctoring than you probably are, to insert Ms. Couric's punim in the clip and save your precious bodily fluids from going to waste. Or, maybe CBS will, when KikkiÂ’s ratings are in free fall like W's, offer up a similarly based reality show and you can send in a resume. PBF be damned! Or maybe the White house will for W. Could be fun.
Posted by: Strawman at September 12, 2006 07:01 PM (tuy00)
10
I watched that rerun too, and I was surprised too. I remember hearing how, on 9/11 all media coverage was raw and punctuated by "oh god"s, but that's not what we got on MSNBC. They almost seemed to sound like they'd seen it all before. "Oh look, a building is falling down. Now back to you, Chuck." I didn't get to see the TV coverage five years ago, so when I watched it yesterday, it wasn't quite as *powerful* as I expected it to be. Well, I mean MSNBC wasn't. It was powerful enough if you just tuned them out.
Posted by: Sarah at September 13, 2006 06:50 AM (YL5y0)
Today's Homily
The churches around here suck. Here's a direct quote from today's homily:
What if, instead of bombing Afghanistan, we had dropped food, medicine and ecucation?
What an idiot.
Did that priest ever stop to think that dropping food and medicine is exactly what we tried to do in Somalia? And Somalia is one of the reasons cited by Osama Bin Ladin himself for attacking us?
The problem is not the needy people in the world. It's the guys with guns that want to kill us. That priest, if he really wants to do some good, should head on over to Afghanistan himself and try to convert the Taliban. He'd either save some lives, or more likely, he'd get an education real quick.
If you want to pray for peace, try asking God to grant victory to the brave men and women fighting terrorism overseas and at home.
1
The food would have been destroyed as being unclean, since it wasn't goat penis. The medicine? Shitcanned. The education? Put in a field and have howiter and RPG rounds fired at it.
Posted by: Casca at September 11, 2006 06:28 AM (Z2ndo)
2
Annika,
I can't tell what you are saying about Binny and Somalia. Binny attacked us because we dropped food on Somalia or Binny attacked us for things not realated to food and Somalia.
I tried praying to god for victory and he told me that train had already left the station since spreading terror was their goal they seemed to have won. They convinced us to spend 300 billion dollars we didn't have, to get an equal number of soldiers killed as they did civilians at the WTC and the toppling of a government they hated. He thought they had done pretty well for them selves considering they used our planes and only a handfull of warriors.
What should I pray for next? Cash for the treasury? Enough bullets to kill a billion Muslims? Any hints?
Posted by: Strawman at September 11, 2006 08:18 AM (tuy00)
3
I'm just impressed that Straw has a direct pipeline from God. Kinda like that actor in that one episode of Highway to Heaven, where Michael Landon said that even he didn't get to see God, even though he was an angel who'd been Melissa Gilbert's father, or something.
Posted by: Leif at September 11, 2006 08:38 AM (MKlM3)
4"What if, instead of bombing Afghanistan, we had dropped food, medicine and ecucation?"
1. How exactly does one drop "education"?
2. Re food, medicine: We DID! Doesn't this dumbass remember? It was criticized at the time; I distinctly remember the slams on food (What Afghani eats peanut butter? The food packets are the same color as ordinance", etc.).
It's gullible to the point of being pollyannaish to think that avoiding fighting will avoid war. It merely accomplishes the opposite.
And to answer his question: What would happen? The Afghanis would still be oppressed by the Taliban. And none of us anywhere would be any safer.
Posted by: ElMondoHummus at September 11, 2006 08:40 AM (DXodP)
5
I'm glad to hear that Strawman is a fiscal conservative now. I'm also glad to hear that he doesn't approve of our government's liberal social engineering policies either.
Posted by: reagan80 at September 11, 2006 09:32 AM (dFOlH)
6
Giving food and medicine is easy but giving education and kindness hoping that we will receive at least a bit of understanding from the other side itÂ’s the hard part. LetÂ’s pray for the best for every single being here and everywhere in the world.
Posted by: flower at September 11, 2006 01:21 PM (CX8JT)
7
I always laugh out loud when I read this. From the pen of WFB, enjoy:
Writing a generation ago in his novel (Pictures from an Institution) about the adamantly fair-minded liberal faculty wife, Randall Jarrell said, "If [Flo] had been told that Benton College, and [her husband] Jerrold, and [her son] John, and [her daughter] Fern, and their furniture had been burned to ashes by the head of the American Federation of Labor, who had then sown salt over the ashes, she would have sobbed and said, at last-she could do no other-'I think that we ought to hear his side of the case before we make up our minds.'"
That's a shoutout for all the fucktards who can't see the forest for the trees.
Posted by: Casca at September 11, 2006 01:54 PM (Z2ndo)
8
"What should I pray for next?"
A clue, a brain, wisdom, intellect, an education, sobriety, class, taste, spirituality, knowledge, humility, common sense, and a mind free of marxist brainwashing.
Too bad your prayers will go unanswered because you are a such a colossal ass.
Posted by: kyle8 at September 11, 2006 03:39 PM (2xr5o)
9
Since you asked, Straw, I would advise you to pray for your own ass, and hope that Casca's kid and his buddies never find your address.
It is the likes of you that kills our guys overseas, just as surely as if you were there pulling the trigger on a sniper rifle or pushing a cell phone button to detonate a cowardly IED.
And, pray for our guys to overcome your stupidity and save your own worthless ass from the IED's in your hometown while you are at it.
We will spend hundreds of billions more to beat these asshoes if we have to, but beat them we will, and the cut and run group as well.
We are smarter, tougher and more determied than they, despite the albatrosses like you that we carry around our necks.
Posted by: shelly at September 11, 2006 05:17 PM (ZGpMS)
Posted by: annika at September 12, 2006 07:28 AM (qQD4Q)
13
Shelly dearest,
Please stop the chest beating, threats and school yard bravado. You're an officer of the court for christ sakes. Whats next? Bearing your teeth like a big kodiak? My address is available for any that care to look whilst you are, of course, anonymous.
I think what is demonstrable is that guys like you get our children killed everyday with your armchair patriotism and careless regard for human life. And as long as it is someone elseÂ’s son or daughter you are loud and proud. You are a pontificating ass, smug and I am sure insulated from the "terrorist" fray but inoculated with fear none the less.
The only dead thing America carries around its neck is the failed policies GB and friends who have lied to you in just the way you like, the way that panders to you baser instincts. “Kill the assholes!” Very poetic and surly, too.
DonÂ’t get me wrong Shell, I like you like a brother, Casca too, and I think there truly is an enemy out there. I just don't think there is a plan for success afoot. Beating up on Iraq makes no sense. Letting Binny escape so as to not loose momentum toward Iraq was the height of cynicism, and the number of those who hate America and are committed to her destruction grows day by day. It is not necessary for there to be an Al Qaeda to organize them. Groups will affiliate spontaneously catalyzed by their rage and launch attacks as they see fit. Ten guys with hand grenades could destroy the movie industry in America if over a ten week period they blew up a theater a week. Five AliÂ’s with bags of baking soda could shut down the NYC subways every day for a week. We are not safer now, we cannot ever be safe, and that is why short of praying for a billon rounds of ammo, this whole plan of confrontation is childish, murderous mayhem posing as a policy.
Get a grip Shelly, what good has come of the last 5 years of struggle?
Posted by: Strawman at September 12, 2006 03:46 PM (tuy00)
14
Six days after the capture of Saddam, Libya admitted that they had a nuclear weapons program and agreed to dismantle their WMD's under unconditional inspections.
Before the war, there were 4 rogue nations suspected of having nuclear weapons programs. That has been halved so far, unless if Pakistan turns jihadist, post-Musharraf.
Though, I'm having second thoughts about the administration's Wilsonian nation-building effort in Iraq.
Posted by: reagan80 at September 12, 2006 06:40 PM (dFOlH)
15
Ray,
Qudaffi just looked for a better economic outcome and got it. He had no real program.
Posted by: Strawman at September 12, 2006 07:02 PM (tuy00)