ThinkFast AM: June 27, 2006
ThinkFast AM: June 27, 2006
50: Percentage of Americans who support redeploying U.S. forces out of Iraq “immediately or within 12 months,” according to a Gallup poll. A Washington Post survey shows 47 percent backing a timeline, up 8 points since December.
150,000: Number of additional displaced Iraqis since the bombing of a prominent Shiite shrine in February 2006.
Taxpayers lost $2 billion to fraud and waste in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, representing 11 percent of the $19 billion spent by FEMA on those reconstructions.
Warren Buffett reiterated his support for the estate tax yesterday, saying he favored equality over “giving incredible head starts to certain people who were very selective about the womb from which they emerged.”
The Pentagon is speeding up “plans to deploy advanced Patriot interceptor missiles on U.S. bases in Japan,” in response to last week’s report that North Korea finished fueling a long-range ballistic missile. But Slate throws doubt on that report: “the missile could stay ready for only a few days since the fuel is corrosive stuff and eats through things like metal. It’s now been a week.”
A study done by the minority staff of the House Government Reform Committee reported yesterday that there has been a “precipitous drop†in enforcement activity at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the last five years. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) said, “FDA can’t do its job when its enforcement arm is tied behind its back.â€
$17 billion. Next year’s cost of replacing, repairing and upgrading Army equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than triple this year’s cost.
A ballot initiative to “establish full public financing for statewide elections” qualified yesterday in California. If passed, “candidates who collect a set number of small-$5-contributions and agree not to take more private money, qualify for a grant of public money to run their campaigns.”
And finally: Time to rethink DUI laws? “Four pelicans suspected of being drunk on sea algae were being tested at a Southern California wildlife center Saturday after one of them crashed headlong into a car,” Reuters reports. Three others “were found wandering dazed in the streets of Laguna Beach.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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50% of Americans support re-deploying of trroops out of iraq. That’s as many that voted for Pres. Bush in 2004! Wow! It must be a “mandate” or something!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:10 amEven the Pelicans are drunk-tired of the Bush administration!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:12 amwe should re- deploy the troops to west 43rd st in NY city, right on the steps of the NY Times! they are the real terrorist enemy of America. Moscow on the Hudson should pay for their treason. liberal scumbags.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:14 amSo, Moonbat, you are advocating to launch missiles to NY skyscrappers? You mean, the same thing Osama did? I see how you’re a real patriot. American? I doubt so.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:19 amOK, Bill O’Lielly, (moonbat patrol)
So anyone who discloses gvt secrets during war time should be charged with treason?
You mean like outting an undercover CIA agent?
Guess that should take care of Libby, Rove AND Cheney……
June 27th, 2006 at 9:20 amAnd here I thought the New York Times were the favorite buds of Pres. Bush for sitting on that whole Vallerie Plame sotry until AFTER the 2004 election.
I guess you’re only as good as the last time you whore yourself out to a political party.
Either that, or Pres. Bush hates the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:27 amMe think’s someone needs to put more pep pills in their pablum, the same old name calling anti american reterick by some on the reich is very old and out dated indeed. We on the left would like to see some new slamming if slamming is all you can do. How about some solutions, or are all the reich winged bunch so jealious and scared of the left all they can do is attack the messengers, just like their dictator….. Blessings, we need them
June 27th, 2006 at 9:29 am$17 billion. By the time we leave Iraq (or are told to ‘get the hell out’ by their government) we’ll have run up another trillion or so in debt.
Oh, for the days when Republicans were fiscal conservatives! Now, they’re all “borrow and squander” a-holes. I guess you either “adapt or die”, and the Republican party has adapted themselves into fiscally irresponsible, big-government, pro-special-interest whores.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:31 am#8 Yep, thats bull shit bush’s government…the entire administration is corrupt and their pockets are full of our money while their hands are stained with the blood of our soldiers……Blessings
June 27th, 2006 at 9:35 amA random thought for discussion — Rather than the government confiscating wealth through an estate tax and wasting in on some pork barrel project; the super rich such as Gates, Buffett, and others should be encouraged to convert their wealth to Treasury bills and upon their deaths these bills would be destroyed. The result would be a reduction in national debt which benefits all Americans and prevents the politicians from getting their hands on the $$$.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:36 amDeep Thinker, who controls the Treasury, if not the politicians?
June 27th, 2006 at 9:39 am#3 Moonbat patrol
June 27th, 2006 at 9:40 amWhy do you single out the NYT? Why not give your same idiotic treatment to the WSJ? Bush and Co. are working to dismantle the Constitutional underpinnings of this great country, not the least of which the First Amendment, and you support them? If this is patriotism, then I take back every complaint I’ve ever made about the right wing referring to progressives as “unpatriotic”.
#10 – it would only work if the greedy group in control could stop spending like a crack whore with a stolen credit card.
Based on past performance over the past 10 years, it aint gonna happen. Without the voters holding the party in power responsible for their failures (oh so many failures) they’re just going to keep doing the same thing they have been.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:40 am#6 DS
Exactly. NYT ginned up the case for war. They sat on an illegal eavesdropping story for a year (so it wouldn’t affect Bush). Now that they act as the fourth estate and fulfill their obligation to inform the public, they are traitors.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:43 am#12 – That would require having a single standard applied across the board, and holding the people in the White House responsible for leaking classified information.
Unfortunately, moonbat has one standard for all those with whom he (she?) disagrees and another for those with whom he (she?) agrees.
Hypocrisy is a defining trait of the neo-con!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:43 amI was up very late last night watching C-Span run the Democratic hearing with four intelligence officials (Wilkerson, Ford, Pillar and White). Their reports should be in every newspaper in America. Excerpts should be run on cable news all day.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:46 amIt’s funny, yesterday I lurked several of the reichtwingnutz sites (warning, don’t go there if you’re faint of heart), and not one of them mentioned the WSJ as co-leaker. A couple listed the LA Times in addition to the NY Times but NONE listed the WSJ. I think that tells us everything we need to know about this. It’s a manufactured claim by the reichties. Duh…..
June 27th, 2006 at 9:50 amIt’s funny, yesterday I lurked several of the reichtwingnutz sites (warning, don’t go there if you’re faint of heart), and not one of them mentioned the WSJ as co-leaker. A couple listed the LA Times in addition to the NY Times but NONE listed the WSJ. I think that tells us everything we need to know about this. It’s a manufactured claim by the reichties. Duh…..
I corrected the link. Sorry all.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:51 amMore TP BS….American’s “support redeploying U.S. forces”…hinting that American’s support the Democratic plan of “strategic redeployment”. In the USA Today article:
“The percentage of Americans who say the president has “a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq” has dropped to 31%, a new low. That’s still higher than the 25% who say congressional Democrats have a clear plan for Iraq.”
…which means that American’s DO NOT support the plan offered by Kerry and Feingold.
“Precisely half support withdrawing all U.S. forces immediately or within 12 months, while 41% say the United States should keep troops there for as many years as needed. Eight percent call for sending more troops.”
…looks like about a 50-50 split for those in favor of withdrawl and those who favor staying. BTW the poll didn’t ask whether or not American favor “strategic redeployment”, it asked if American’s favor a withdrawl, i.e. bringing them home within 12 months.
June 27th, 2006 at 9:52 amkindness – I do not know how you do it. I cannot go to their sites. I cannot even stand to watch Fox “not necessarily the news.”
Sharon – I love how you end your posts with “Blessings.” You sound like such a nice person, even when you are pissed off!
moonbat – what about the WH staffer who “leaked” the info in the first place? Which, of course, would have been your own idiot Bush…two years ago!!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:56 amTaxpayers lost $2 billion to fraud and waste in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, representing 11 percent of the $19 billion spent by FEMA on those reconstructions.
You can send your thanks to Coullter Republicans and Corrupt Abramoff cabal of Bush Theocratic scumbags. [moon patrols corrupt friends]
June 27th, 2006 at 9:58 amBut Slate throws doubt on that report: “the missile could stay ready for only a few days since the fuel is corrosive stuff and eats through things like metal
Thats a SECRET, someone call Bush and Cheney, this man is giving away topsecret info, the terrorists will KNOW the missiles are there and have weaknesses!! Put somone in Jail!, Call FAUX media! Get Oreally on the Phone! My God, the Sky is Falling!
Run Run vote for GOP! FEAR!
/sarcasm on
June 27th, 2006 at 10:04 am“Four pelicans suspected of being drunk on sea algae were being tested at a Southern California wildlife center Saturday after one of them crashed headlong into a car,†Reuters reports. Three others “were found wandering dazed in the streets of Laguna Beach.â€
Bombed pelicans are preferable to pelicans bombing. Just sayin’
June 27th, 2006 at 10:07 amI love it all. The worlds second richest man is giving most of his money to the worlds richest man so he can distribute it to charity. Bill Gates gives all of his money to causes outside the country.
I think charity should begin at home. Hell fire Bill, we need all those billions distributed here in amurka just to alleviate some of the damage done by Bushco.
Gates spins that he gives to schools. He dont, he gives to school libraries. He needs to donate billions to pull Bush out of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND mess.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:09 amWarren Buffett reiterated his support for the estate tax yesterday, saying he favored equality over “giving incredible head starts to certain people who were very selective about the womb from which they emerged.â€
I must say that as a fetus, I had absolutely no standards regarding wombs.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:09 am….liberal scumbags.
Comment by moonbat patrol
That’s PROGRESSIVE scumbag to you, asshole.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:13 am#25 – Are you saying you now have standards concerning wombs?
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist! I’m in a jocular mood this morning, and even Tracy’s ramblings cannot bring me down!
June 27th, 2006 at 10:15 amThe percentage of Americans who say the president has “a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq†has dropped to 31%, a new low. That’s still higher than the 25% who say congressional Democrats have a clear plan for Iraq.â€
Bush has a clear plan, decades in Iraq. We know that.
We know these Poll numbers, what THE people don’t know is the details of the ‘Plans’ that are always on the ‘table’ yet know one, here, to this day, Knows Bush’s true course, or Cheney’s real agenda. A 50/50 split sounds about right.
But how many Americans really know whats going on in Iraq? Very Few. Besides it won’t be the polls that brong the troops home,,,most likely, as Bush said, he wil be passing this war off unto the next president.
That, unfortunately, is probably the truth and this redeployment, [dont forget bases built] is alot of re-election huff and puff, in my view.
Kerry is another harvard cut-out silver spooner, A clone of Bush and his Ilk as far as I’m concerned.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:17 am#26 – Hey! You shouldn’t call a$$holes “a$$hole”!
The proper term would be “ultra-radical right-winger lemming zombie Republi-butt licker”. ;-)
June 27th, 2006 at 10:17 am#25 Zookeeper
June 27th, 2006 at 10:18 amI actually think this quote is the BEST in its scathing sarcasim. I can see appropriating it for other progressive issues. How about for homosexual marriage: “giving rights of love and marriage to certain people who were very selective about the sexuality genetics they inherited”?
#28 – Ah, but there is a difference. Sen. Kerry served honorably. Pres. Bush ran like a coward and had his records “cleansed” so he could claim to have done his time when he didn’t.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:21 am#27 – Are you saying you now have standards concerning wombs? Sorry, I just couldn’t resist! I’m in a jocular mood this morning, and even Tracy’s ramblings cannot bring me down!
Comment by Democrat Soldier
Yes, Dem Soldier, as a post-born person I have determined that all wombs I am involved with, mainly my own, shall have only the finest this world has to offer to wombs. :P
June 27th, 2006 at 10:21 amFor the foulest ‘photo-op of all time, today GWB will be jogging with an Iraq war veteran, who lost both of his legs in GWB’s ‘WOT’. I am beyond disgusted by the thought of this.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:24 am“a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq†has dropped to 31%, a new low. That’s still higher than the 25% who say congressional Democrats have a clear plan for Iraq.â€
Comment by ][ RIGHT ][
True. But the democrats are only back seat drivers for now. Bush is not only the uniter and decider, he's the driver. No one expects those in back to know how to drive or how to get to a certain point on a map. Unfortunately for Bush and the Republicans, only the driver is expected to know the plan.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:24 am#30 – Thanks, PLC. You’re on the right track with the gay marriage sarcasm. ;)
June 27th, 2006 at 10:24 amUmm, Tracy, you forgot the talking point in that the republican party does not follow polls (even though we know they do). Regardless of how many say they are in favor of one thing or another, the right thing to do is get them trained, heck in 3 years we had 10 million men trained, equipped and shipped overseas back in WWII. We have had three years in Iraq to get these guys trained. Do we have 2 – 3 battalions (1500 – 2500 men) trained as the military guys have said? 250,000 as the politicians have said? How many are they supposed to have operationally in the field before we know we are set? If we are not at least half way there after three years, that has to be telling people something. Anyhow, nice use of the words strategic redeployment, it is exactly what Murtha has suggested for a while. Pull back over the horizon. We can pre-position equipment and men in friendlier confines, re-fit our formations and still be in a position to offer air support from our carrier group in the gulf. If a terrorist supporting government takes over, we can quickly move into place to remove them. As far as the place turning into a blood bath if we left, it already is one.
#3, no mention of the NY Times dialog with the administration about this? DO you think the government should be controlling the news? I know you wrong wingers want them to control national security news. What if they declare the drunk pelicans a national security issue? A free press is essential to a free and open government. Besides that who does not know already that the government has been looking at terrorist communications and finances? Right after 911 they started looking at the finances and this thing called the patriot act (I have read the whole thing as part of my job- we own a financial products company) has provisions for tracking suspected terrorist activity in investments.
Anyhow what the problem is is that there is no oversight. Notification is not oversight. For all we know they are tracking the communications and financial activities of their political enemies. Of course with as political as this administration is, that is a very real possibility.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:25 amFor the foulest ‘photo-op of all time, today GWB will be jogging with an Iraq war veteran, who lost both of his legs in GWB’s ‘WOT’. I am beyond disgusted by the thought of this.
Comment by Cyra Brown
Please, Cyra, please tell me this is a nightmarish joke. I’m sick…
June 27th, 2006 at 10:26 amI am a christian person, but not one of the Bush types. Tracy should realize this;
Twenty-five years ago dominionists targeted the Republican Party as the vehicle through which they could advance their agenda. At the same time, a small group of Republican strategists targeted fundamentalist, Pentecostal and charismatic churches to expand the base of the Republican Party. This web site is not about traditional Republicans or conservative Christians. It is about the manipulation of people of a certain faith for political power.
Ya think? A politician that lies? for power? Corruption? Lies?
June 27th, 2006 at 10:30 amNot very Christian are these Bush neo-cons and Coulter Republicans is it?
Better get going to work — it’s supposed to be 100 degrees today. I may be adding to my freckle collection today…*thanking the great god, sunscreen*
June 27th, 2006 at 10:31 amUnfortunately for Bush and the Republicans, only the driver is expected to know the plan.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:32 am——————————–
I wonder if the ‘driver’ is drinking again.
#37- Zoo, I wish with all my heart that I could. I first learned of this very early this A.M. on Air America. 3 different shows have spoken about this happening, as well as on AP news breaks.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:33 amWhat did we miss?
A good John Kerry speech:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062606R.shtml
June 27th, 2006 at 10:33 amGood news from the Washington Post poll:
President Bush’s approval rating rebounded from its lowest point a month ago and now stands at 38 percent. That is five points higher than it was in May …
But the survey offered some hopeful signs for Bush and the Republicans as they prepare for the midterm elections. The big advantage that Democrats held on virtually every major issue has narrowed or reversed. On the question of which party is best able to handle the situation in Iraq, the Democrats’ 14-point advantage in last month’s Post-ABC poll has been cut in half; they now have a 47 percent lead over Republicans’ 41 percent.
A month ago, Democrats held a five-point lead over Republicans on dealing with international terrorism. Republicans now hold a seven-point advantage. On the economy, the Democratic advantage has narrowed from 18 points to 13 points since May.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:36 amFor the foulest ‘photo-op of all time, today GWB will be jogging with an Iraq war veteran, who lost both of his legs in GWB’s ‘WOT’. I am beyond disgusted by the thought of this.
Comment by Cyra Brown
Is that going to be followed by a party in the rose garden, hosted by Jenna and Barbara Bush and Barbara Cheney, along with all the hundreds of congressional members’s sons and daughters who are military age but won’t, under any circumstances serve or place themselves in harm’s way.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:37 am#39- Zoo- its been in the 90’s here for a couple of days. The heat is ON! Have a good day, and stay hydrated! :) And, “Praise the Sunscreen!”
June 27th, 2006 at 10:38 am#43 – And here I thought Republican’s didn’t care about polls.
So which is it? Do Republicans care about the polls or not?
June 27th, 2006 at 10:40 amKerry is another harvard cut-out silver spooner, A clone of Bush and his Ilk as far as I’m concerned.
Comment by ][ RIGHT ][ — June 27, 2006 @ 10:17 am
i can understand the confusion… that accent and all… but i think you got it mostly wrong…
June 27th, 2006 at 10:42 amwhile his father was an ambassador, among other public servant duties, john kerry’s roots are much more humble that w’s…
no time for research just now, but from what i remember reading, there is no “silver spoon”…
36. How quickly they forget, or perhaps they never knew. BCCI ring a bell?
June 27th, 2006 at 10:43 am#46,
Of course we care about polls…We want to win just as much as you guys.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:43 amBy Hiba Moussa and Michael Georgy / Reuters
June 27th, 2006 at 10:45 amBAGHDAD – Iraq’s sectarian violence of the past four months has pushed the number of displaced people to above 130,000, parliament heard on Monday as members urged ministers to give more aid and security to contain the crisis.
I guess that is because they can buy cell phones and stuff, as Seixon put it in another thread describing his concept of progress.
Also, I guess Washington DC has a higher rate of displaced people as that US city is more dangerous than Bagdad. But, hey, those 130,000 just dont want freedom.
#44- Joe- I am unable to verify that. The information has been ‘classified’.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:45 am47. Kerry went to Yale…I just want to say that we shouldn’t begrudge ALL silver-spooners…just the arrogant assholes.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:45 amzookeeper:
A face without freckles
is like a night
without stars.
i keep that on the bulliten board for my red-haired, freckly-faced daughter…
out to the garden again…
June 27th, 2006 at 10:45 amg’day all…
Thank you Jules………Let us all not forget……2,525 lost in the bull shit bush war or occupation, distruction…..150,000 displased citizens in the south……Blessings, we need them….Back to tree hugging……
June 27th, 2006 at 10:51 amThanks God Reagan pushed for the missle defense shield, so that we were able to call Kim Jung Il on his bluff. So far, no missle launch, but July 4 is just around the corner.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:55 am#54- Sharon, may I add the two million Iraqi’s that have fled their country, to your list? And, is it hot in your neck of the woods?
June 27th, 2006 at 10:56 amExley, Tracy, Moonbat: just keep shitting on your trousers everytime a car backfires, an arabian voice talk to you and the terrorist alarm goes from “Osama is dating your daughter”-red to “Sarin gas could be anywhere” red. It is really pathetic to read your fear through your lines.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:00 amHere’s a link to an MP3 of the Kerry speech I quoted above:
http://journalism.emerson.edu/jsons/mp3/john_kerry_062606_energy.mp3
June 27th, 2006 at 11:01 am#55- The Defense Contractors are grateful as well. The ‘gift’ that keeps on taking…
June 27th, 2006 at 11:06 amA face without freckles
is like a night
without stars.
Comment by katy
Thanks for that, katy! It’s been quite the lifelong battle. But I’m tired of going to weddings in the park with zinc oxide on my nose and cheeks, so I intend to develop a new attitude (dare I say, a love) for the freckle.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:07 amDoesnt matter how many missile shields you can build to protect you or how much you praise some murderer asshole like Reagan for giving you dipers so you dont stain your pants whenever you watch Fox news. You wont have any calm as your foreign policy contributes to the making of more enemies. By the way, 9/11 was an inside job. Just have to ask the right questions.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:08 am#55 – Does that missile system actually work, Jason? Calling Kim Jong Il on his bluff would be cutting off his DVD supply, shaving his head, and making him listen to us making Condi speak to him.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:18 amGood Morning Cyra, I didn’t forgit or neglect them on purpose. I was also thinking of the 50 to 100,000 depending on who’s guess of the number of innocent men women and children in Iraq that lost their lives for this bull shit bush take over…..Some day’s I just have to turn it all off because of the enormety of the bush genocide on our planet……If and when we can stop this mess and turn it around the world will be better off.
Scorching weather here……Record heat close to 100 past 2 day’s and today appears to be a repeat. The humidity is the problem. Living on a lake has advantages and disadvantages.. Now on the dis. part……Blessings
June 27th, 2006 at 11:44 amOperation “Montain Thrust” going on now against the Taliban.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2006/20060619_5451.html
Who do they have picking out the names for these things?
June 27th, 2006 at 11:44 amJay or Silent Bob?
#36
“heck in 3 years we had 10 million men trained, equipped and shipped overseas back in WWII.”
Training American troops was alot easier under the circumstances, i.e. training them in the U.S.,…don’t you think? Not a good comparison.
“If we are not at least half way there after three years, that has to be telling people something.”
Yeah, that getting the Iraqi police trained is alot harder than people thought, especially considering the insurgent and terrorist activity.
“Anyhow, nice use of the words strategic redeployment, it is exactly what Murtha has suggested for a while.”
“We can pre-position equipment and men in friendlier confines…”
Yes, I am sure that the insurgents and especially the terrorists will respect other country’s borders and leave our troops alone. LOL! This is why this “strategic redeployment” plan is a joke. After our troops have already fought their way in, redeploying them “over the horizon” will only force them to make the same advance AGAIN if the government in Iraq gets taken over by the insurgents and terrorists. BTW which generals have backed Murtha’s plan for “strategic redeployment”?
June 27th, 2006 at 11:52 amYour hair is red.
Your nose is brown.
June 27th, 2006 at 12:09 pmHey tracy just admit you are wrong and move along, stay the course is obviously not working, we have hit the ice berg and it’s time to save the ship. Stay the course is not working. It’s nice of you to admit that the Iraqi’s are untrainable, I guess that must be their inferior dark skinned genetics? There must be a reason? One of my friends who was there said they train them and more than half end up fighting their trainers within a very short time. Kind of Ironic isn’t it? If it is impossible to train them, then perhaps that is saying that the “as they stand up we will stand down” strategy is not working and a new course is required. But beyond the don’t shown weakness reasoning, no one on the right ever offers any solid reasoning as to why we have to stay. Protecting Israel better not be the reason as it holds NO STRATEGIC VALUE for the US,
Umm, we have military equipment pre-positioned all over the world. This military equipment is usually safe and has not been threatened. Heck we had equipment pre-positioned in Kuwait since the last Gulf war. Also I don’t know if you know this but one huge supply and maintenance facility is located very close near by on Diego Garcia in the indian Ocean. Think about this if we pull over the horizon and the shiites (fuindamentalist islamic government) take over then the republicans can blame the dems for Iraq aligning with Iran, even though the republican adminsitration is advancing the shiite cause every day. Kind of a reverse catch 21.
Also take a few minutes and realize that in Iraq we have two groups vying for control of the country (Shiites & Sunnis) and one group wanting their own autonomous country (Kurds) none of these groups within Iraq had anything to do with terrorism prior to us moving in. Zarqawi was in the country, but he was in the north eastern portion of the country (the part under US air protection) fighting both Sadaam and the Kurds. At the time his group was maybe 800 strong, who knows how large it actually is today.
As to the generals advocating the phased pull back, take a little time and read the news, get away from Faux news and catch something out here in the reality based world. It was all over the news for the last couple days.
June 27th, 2006 at 12:09 pm#64- Zoo-’snicker’… I hope someone remembered to bring the K.Y. ‘titter’
June 27th, 2006 at 12:10 pm#5747. Kerry went to Yale…I just want to say that we shouldn’t begrudge ALL silver-spooners…just the arrogant assholes.
Comment by madashell
Yeah I can only hope i can resist arrogance when I grow up. I think I will try to marry rich twice… make sure my records of my purple hearts are sealed while at the same time touting how honorably I served and mixing the dates up.. pretend to go and “get me a huntin’ license” and wind surfing at the same time… oh i know and maybe ride around in SUVs and later claim they are my family’s not mine…. and please let us stay away from playing up one of my opponents’ daughter’s sexuality as a political tool….yes.. yes.. he is my humble role model indeed.
Oh! I know Howard Dean… a total advocate of the disinfranchised and affirmative action… after all… “You think the RNC could get this many people of color into a single room? Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there” Eh but hey he had alot of color in his administration for 12 years right? Ooops.. nope. Well maybe when the “humble” one releases some of his own sealed records in that bastion of diversity known as New Hampshire.
All these people in politics have something they aren’t proud of in their lives and bottom line to me is where they stood for in public office not what they did in college at a party or their previous addictions… but what they represent and stand for… You stand for nothing, you fall for anything. Or you just slip on your own banana peel as the DNC has done for the last 10 years. Put a solution on the table and quit nuancing and pandering votes.
June 27th, 2006 at 12:18 pmCYRA BROWN
I saw that on CNN this morning and immediately thought that this soldier must not have any idea of what he is doing. It is absolutely disgusting that the man would let himself be “used” in this manner.
George W. Bush is the original photo-op boy and will do any disgusting thing to get his clip on the news.
This is about as bad as it gets though. The soldier is getting his artificial legs now, but wait a year and see what happens when he needs another set and is told “sorry, the VA has not funded past the first pair of artificial legs”.
June 27th, 2006 at 12:38 pm#36
“heck in 3 years we had 10 million men trained, equipped and shipped overseas back in WWII.â€
Training American troops was alot easier under the circumstances, i.e. training them in the U.S.,…don’t you think? Not a good comparison.
You’re right. For it to be an apt analogy, there would have to be Nazis mixed in with the American troops – just like the insurgents have infiltrated the security forces in Iraq.
“If we are not at least half way there after three years, that has to be telling people something.â€
Yeah, that getting the Iraqi police trained is alot harder than people thought, especially considering the insurgent and terrorist activity.
A lot harder than YOU thought. We in the reality based community were trying to warn you warhawks about the perils of Vietnamization – but you knew better. You guys just don’t get the concept of history, do you?
“We can pre-position equipment and men in friendlier confines…â€
Yes, I am sure that the insurgents and especially the terrorists will respect other country’s borders and leave our troops alone. LOL!
Since you have already betrayed a fundamental lack of understanding of history (Vietnamization doesn’t work, no matter what its called), I suppose a lack of understanding military concepts could also be inferred. Is Kuwait a failed state? Why do you think terrorist would find the pickings as easy as they do in Iraq? There is no home-grown insurgency, or a populace willing to shelter them and give them aid. It’s like you’re just making it up as you go along – just like Bush.
After our troops have already fought their way in, redeploying them “over the horizon†will only force them to make the same advance AGAIN if the government in Iraq gets taken over by the insurgents and terrorists. BTW which generals have backed Murtha’s plan for “strategic redeployment�
Comment by Tracy — June 27, 2006 @ 11:52 am
“Fought their way in?” What world are you living on? They were met with very little resistance, as you’d know if you were following events.
June 27th, 2006 at 12:39 pmIt was after mission accomplished that things started going bad.
Only an idiot would talk about generals publicly objecting “in a time of war.” This is so stupid, that I think even you know it.
#71 Barfly
you know barfly… if the Dems would argue their point in the same manner you did… there would be a significant debate going on in the house and senate rather than the name calling which simply muddies the waters…. I am not saying I agree with everything you’ve said but it was well put
June 27th, 2006 at 12:57 pm#67
“Hey tracy just admit you are wrong and move along, stay the course is obviously not working, we have hit the ice berg and it’s time to save the ship.”
“Protecting Israel better not be the reason as it holds NO STRATEGIC VALUE for the US,”
Whatever! Abandoning the only wester style democracy in the Middle East would be the most asinine thing the U.S. could do…STRATEGICALLY.
I have never said that “staying the current course” should be maintained. I think that a draw down in troops is essential, but when that should happen should not be left up to those who don’t know the situation in Iraq, not American citizens who have absolutely no educated way to make that decision. I would actually back Murtha IF I saw some support for his plan.
“Heck we had equipment pre-positioned in Kuwait since the last Gulf war.”
It was not near the force size that would be necessary for a re engagement of the insurgents and terrorists in Iraq if it became necessary. We had to set up HUGE staging bases in Kuwait before the invasion. Again not a good comparison.
“I don’t know if you know this but one huge supply and maintenance facility is located very close near by on Diego Garcia in the indian Ocean.”
Do you actually know how far away from Baghdad, Diego Garcia, owned by British BTW, is? Try 3,400 miles! Please brush up on your geography.
“It’s nice of you to admit that the Iraqi’s are untrainable, I guess that must be their inferior dark skinned genetics?”
I didn’t admit or even reference your racist comment that they are untrainable or the their genetics are even a factor. I said training them is hard considering the circumstances or their environment.
“It was all over the news for the last couple days.”
A draw down in troops advocated by General Casey has been widely posted all over the media, but again I have not seen any military commanders call for support for Murtha’s plan for strategic redeployment. Please show some evidence.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:10 pmI am not saying I agree with everything you’ve said but it was well put
Comment by joneser — June 27, 2006 @ 12:57 pm
You would definitely be in the minority (no racial overtones intended) if you agreed with me.
But thanks for the compliment, anyway.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:20 pm#71
“There is no home-grown insurgency, or a populace willing to shelter them and give them aid.”
There wasn’t that before the Iraq invasion either, but the terroists and insurgency grew out of the local oppostion and infiltrated the country, because of huge amounts foreign troops. This is pretty recent history and somehow you think that Kuwait would be a completely safe haven for such large numbers of our troops. This strategic redeployment to Kuwait wouldn’t be considered to be very dangerous especially considering that the country is about 1/10 the size of Iraq? Do you know what the geography of Kuwait consists of?
““Fought their way in?†What world are you living on? They were met with very little resistance”
For someone that claims to know about history you haven’t payed attention to recent history. How many miles of road would a U.S. led force coming out of Kuwait have to travel in order to reach Baghdad AGAIN if it were necessary? How many IEDs do you think that the insurgents and terrorists would place along those roads in order to hamper if not stop an advance?
“Only an idiot would talk about generals publicly objecting “in a time of war.†This is so stupid, that I think even you know it.”
Only a moron would back a plan that is not supported by any gernerals active OR retired ones.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:29 pmBush urges Senate to pass line-item veto
Just what we need, a Congressional delegation of more power to the Dictator.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:35 pmOh, and Tracy yes it is easier to train 10,000,000 troops here under those circumstances, but we not only trained them, we equiped them and moved them to their theater of operations. We can not ven get 200,000 Iraqi’s trained. If they are not interested in their country, why should we be?
June 27th, 2006 at 1:38 pmBriseadh na Faire, I know the Supreme Court struck down the line item veto as unconstitutional some time in the 90s. Since your brain is currently saturated with legal knowledge, do you happen to know why it’s unconstitutional?
June 27th, 2006 at 1:40 pm“Heck we had equipment pre-positioned in Kuwait since the last Gulf war.â€
It was not near the force size that would be necessary for a re engagement of the insurgents and terrorists in Iraq if it became necessary. We had to set up HUGE staging bases in Kuwait before the invasion. Again not a good comparison.
Umm, Tracy, the equipment is/was there in warehouses. When I was in all of our equipment was kept in warehouses in Permesaince (sp?) we had a whole calvary squadron in one small warehouse. Our whole regiment in three. Once we drew our equipment, then we spread out and covered a huge amount of space for our assembly area. Storing equipment is not that big of a deal.
“I don’t know if you know this but one huge supply and maintenance facility is located very close near by on Diego Garcia in the indian Ocean.â€
Do you actually know how far away from Baghdad, Diego Garcia, owned by British BTW, is? Try 3,400 miles! Please brush up on your geography.
Sorry Tracy, I thought you knew that a few thousand miles is not that big of a distance for supply bases. I guess Bush I was screwed up because that was the main suplply depot for Iraq I. That base is where it is for a reason, perhaps you need to brush up on military logistics. BTW last I heard Britain was an allie and we have a lease.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:45 pm#78 Zookeeper
June 27th, 2006 at 1:55 pmI seem to remember that the court framed the line item veto as a separation of powers issue, arguing that the executive branch could not be involved in the drafting process of legislation but could only pass or veto bills enacted by the legislature as a whole.
#80 – PLC,
Thanks. That makes sense to me. The line item veto sounds great until I think about Incurious George having that power. *shudder*
June 27th, 2006 at 2:02 pmFor someone that claims to know about history you haven’t payed attention to recent history. How many miles of road would a U.S. led force coming out of Kuwait have to travel in order to reach Baghdad AGAIN if it were necessary? How many IEDs do you think that the insurgents and terrorists would place along those roads in order to hamper if not stop an advance?
Why not the Kosovo option? Aren’t the Iraqi gov. forces capable of directing fire to their attacking enemies? We have plenty of drones equipped with hellfires, and other forms of aerial death – capable of “sanitizing” ANY stretch of roadway in an emergency (remember what the road to Baghdad was called at the end of the first Gulf War? Ten points for a correct answer).
There wasn’t that before the Iraq invasion either, but the terrorists and insurgency grew out of the local oppostion and infiltrated the country, because of huge amounts foreign troops.
And who warned you about this before going in? Remember Vietnam?
This is pretty recent history and somehow you think that Kuwait would be a completely safe haven for such large numbers of our troops.
Please post where I said they would be completely safe, mr. strawman hitman. Would they be safer than where they are?
June 27th, 2006 at 2:10 pm#77
“If they are not interested in their country, why should we be?”
So goes the liberal mantra.
June 27th, 2006 at 3:00 pm#79
“Storing equipment is not that big of a deal.”
We are not talking about storing equipment, we are talking about having a large force ready to deploy, i.e. thousands of troops. Troops would have to be there in Kuwait in order to have a quick resoponse if the Iraqi governmentment and military need our help.
“I guess Bush I was screwed up because that was the main suplply depot for Iraq”
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/diego-garcia.htm
You have absolutely no idea what kind of base Diego Garcia is do you? This base was NOT the main supply base for troops during the Iraq invasion as you suggest. You are a few thousand miles off because they were in Kuwait and Qatar. Diego Garcia was a launching point for B-52 and B1-B bombers during the 2003 invasion, but NOT where C-5 Galaxys and C-17 Globemasters picked up supplies and then proceeded to Iraq. Being a military person, I think, but now have my doubts, you would know that the main troop supply bases with the HEAVY equipment and materials came over on ships and were unloaded in Kuwait and Qatar.
“That base is where it is for a reason, perhaps you need to brush up on military logistics.”
You need to know what military logistics are first, unless you think that a foreward supply base would be strategically desireable thousands of miles in the middle of the ocean.
June 27th, 2006 at 3:53 pm#82
“We have plenty of drones equipped with hellfires, and other forms of aerial death – capable of “sanitizing†ANY stretch of roadway in an emergency.”
So you actually think that drone armed with a Hellfire missle would be able to take out an IED buried on the side of the road?
“Would they be safer than where they are?”
Probably not…do you remember the Khobar Towers?
June 27th, 2006 at 4:04 pmFrom your source:
Thus, what began as simply a communication station on a remote atoll became a major fleet and U.S. armed forces support base by the 1980s.
What exactly do you think a support base is exactly?
By the way prespositioned equipment allows for the relatively rapid deployment of troops. My regiment was able to fly from the states (3200 people or so), draw equipment and be in the field within 36 hours when I was in the service. The regiment i was in, 3rd ACR had the stiking power of a small division and was one of the largest independent operating formaitons the army has/had. I believe the 194th brigade is still the largest independent combat formation. Occupying a country that is not ours, that we have no right being in and that serves only as a drain on our manpower is a futile exercise. All it does is hinder America worldwide.
June 27th, 2006 at 4:11 pm#86
“What exactly do you think a support base is exactly?”
In Diego Garcia’s case it was and is still used to support bombers flying missions into and out of Iraq, not to supply equipment to the troops in Iraq…as I already said.
“By the way prespositioned equipment allows for the relatively rapid deployment of troops.”
Now that does seem reasonable, but again I haven’t seen any active or retired generals come out and support this strategy. I would be on board with you tatics IF I saw support from that military itself. BTW if this tatic did work why are there thousands of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea? Why were there thousand of troops stationed in West Germany during the Cold War?
June 27th, 2006 at 5:26 pmYour hair is red.
Your nose is brown.
Comment by Bingo !
Denny, I’m sorry I offended you yesterday. I didn’t realize you would not understand my meaning. I was merely pointing out to another commenter the he was correct that Sybil was a name of a movie, with a character with many personalities, just as you use various names. You and I have had decent exchanges in the past, and I apologize for offending you.
June 27th, 2006 at 8:27 pmThat will suffice,Zooey.
June 28th, 2006 at 1:47 amAnd I apoligize for some of my ‘meanies’ too.
Thanks. :-)
June 28th, 2006 at 10:03 amMy bad.
June 28th, 2006 at 11:08 am