Right Wing Attacks Washington Post Op-Ed Calling For Iraq Withdrawal
Right Wing Attacks Washington Post Op-Ed Calling For Iraq Withdrawal
In an op-ed published yesterday in the Washington Post, John Podesta, Ray Takeyh, and Lawrence Korb noted that President Bush’s Iraq escalation strategy has failed and argued that domestic and “strategic necessities of ending the war have never been more compelling.”
Naturally, the right wing is in hysterics. Leading the charge, of course, are the primary advocates of staying in Iraq forever — the editors of the National Review — who in May 2005 asserted that “we’re winning” in Iraq and then argued two years later that the U.S. needs to “stay.”
The National Review claimed that Podesta, Takeyh, and Korb “demonstrate the bankruptcy of the antiwar cause” because “[t]hey don’t mention al Qaeda in their piece, as if it is of no consequence that al Qaeda once controlled big chunks of Iraq.” But what the National Review leaves out is that according to a recent CRS report, al-Qaeda represents only a small percentage of the violence in Iraq:
Increasingly in 2007, U.S. commanders have seemed to equate AQ-I with the insurgency, even though most of the daily attacks are carried out by Iraqi Sunni insurgents.
Podesta, Takeyh, and Korb said that it is “possible that in the absence of a cumbersome and clumsy American occupation, Iraqis will make their own bargains and compacts” to avoid increased violence after U.S. troops leave. National Review called that assertion a “smear” on U.S. troops because they are “welcomed by the locals in many areas.”
But Iraqis have actually said the “surge” has “worsened” their lives. According to a September 2007 ABC/BBC/NHK poll:
79 percent oppose the presence of coalition forces, unchanged since winter.
63 percent say it was wrong for the U.S. to have invaded Iraq, up from 52 percent in March and 39 percent in Feb. 2004.
47 percent now favor “immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces,” a 12-point rise since March.
Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Max Boot joined in the attack, criticizing the op-ed’s argument that U.S. support for the Sunni “Concerned Local Citizens” (CLCs) has undermined Iraq’s government. In an article in Commentary, Boot claimed that the CLC’s help in rooting out al Qaeda “has led to a fall in the fortunes of the Jaish al Mahdi, Moqtada al Sadr’s militia which had long postured as the defender of Shi’ites against Sunni predations.”
Yet General Petraeus — whom Boot has called “a man of intellect” — disagrees, stating in December that Sadr has not “been marginalized” and that “[h]e very much maintains contacts with his leaders and continues to give direction.”
Finally, a right-wing attack cannot be complete without a contribution from the American Enterprise Institute. Via the Weekly Standard, AEI fellow Tom Donnelly called the Podesta-Takeyh-Korb op-ed an “air of desperation,” “unsettling” and “little more than a political threat” but did not take issue with any specific claim they made.
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God bless Willian F. Buckley.
Rest in peace.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pmthe little reichwingers can't handle the truth.
They need their fuhrer telling them what to do, what to think.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pmNaturally, the right wing is in hysterics.
-------------------------------------------------------
The Left has been in a constant state of hysterics for 45 years....at least.
In fact, hysteria is a defining condition of Leftism.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:31 pmRight-whiners don't care WHAT the iraqi's think about our occupation of their country!
We're there because Pres. Bush WANT'S us there, and for no other rational reason. The oil is just a wonderful windfall for his backers, no matter the cost in American military lives.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pmRight Wing position synopsis:
"We want our soldiers to stay in Iraq and die for an unknown reason".
February 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pmcharlie- what year did you graduate from the Hitler youth(young Republicans)?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm“[t]hey don’t mention al Qaeda in their piece, as if it is of no consequence that al Qaeda once controlled big chunks of Iraq.â€
That's an interesting contention. Our own military has often said that the number of "al Qaeda" (really insurgents who wanted to look bigger and badder) in Iraq as very small. Most estimates was 2-5% of the people fighting. Now they want us to believe that small number of fighters controlled big chunks or Iraq? Sorry, I don't buy it and neither do most Americans. They are well aware that 1) There were no "al Qaeda" in Iraq before Bush invaded and 2) that "al Qaeda" has always been a very small faction of fighters and 3) the "al Qaeda" in Iraq has nothing to do with Osama and his gang.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm#3 - "hysteria is a defining condition of Leftism." Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Obstinance in the face of reality is a defining condition of right-whiners.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pmI see that our troll who is a master at projection has visited this thread. How about we ignore it. Or, if you have to, don't give it the respect it so craves by acknowledging it. Talk about it, not to it.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:38 pmWeird: I just posted a comment which included a question about why there is no blog on the debate today. Hillary looked very desperate when she complained about having to answer "all" the questions first. I referenced John Podest@ by name, and my comment never appeared.
Is there a filter for comments using his name, by chance?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pmcharlie- what year did you graduate from the Hitler youth(young Republicans)?
Comment by Uncle Ho
--------------------------------------------------
Now listen, you freak, you stop calling me a Nazi or I'll sock you in the goddamn face and you'll stay plastered.
/.....channeling William Bickley
February 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pmIn fact, hysteria is a defining condition of Leftism.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Hysteria?
Okay, now it all makes sense.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to invade a Middle Eastern country that posed no threat to us in order to prevent a smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to illegally torture prisoners, in some cases to the point of death.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to wiretap American citizens without a warrant.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to crap on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to build chemical weapons plants for Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to fund Islamic radicals in Afghanistan to drive out the Soviets.
What did I miss?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:39 pmamericangoy; our soldiers are not dieing for an unknown reason.
the KNOWN reasons are; Exxon-Mobil, BP, Shell, Haliburton, war-profiteers, war criminals, the GOP.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:40 pmOy...Should've said Buckley (not Bickley)
February 27th, 2008 at 3:41 pmWhat did I miss?
Comment by toasterhead — February 27, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
Obviously, you missed the Leftismistic hysteria that drove people to push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pmcharlie- you and what jackbooted goosesteppers?
Try it and I will flop you lower than whale shit.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pmLet's see... we invaded Iraq to stop Saddam using WMDS, no wait, to stop al Qaeda... no wait, it was to overthrow a despotic dictator (whew, that one's safe)... and to bring freedom and democracy to a grateful nation... no wait, its to stabilize the country to allow democracy to gain a foothold... no wait... we have to surge to allow the government to reach certain benchmarks.... no wait, its because if we leave now, the country will descend into chaos.... no wait, its because if we leave, al Qaeda will come in and take over... no wait, its because...
February 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pmI see that our troll who is a master at projection has visited this thread.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 27, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
bilbo, that's hardly a useful description. They're pretty much ALL masters at projection.
The RNC doesn't have many requirements for trolls (obviously) but that seems to be one of them.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:43 pmhttp://ccoaler.blogspot.com/2008/02/your-strike-control-says-yo.html
The 727 figures in the current tempest over his relationship with female lobbyist Vicki Iseman, who provided and flew with McCain on the plane.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:44 pmWith hundreds of air charter companies and airliners to choose from, the Saudis chose a company that owns “Worship Ministries†and Christian Network, Inc., turning to Paxson Communications, a “Christian broadcaster†which owned the plane, to make its corporate jet available to spirit the Saudi princes and their entourage out of the U.S. six days after 9/11.
The Saudi Royal party made good their escape from Las Vegas on an airliner sporting a Christian symbol of peace, a dove, on it’s tail, an intriguing detail and compelling human interest story—Muslims flying Air Jesus—that has to date been reported nowhere but in the MadCowMorningNews.
Go figure.
STAY!!!
WE HAVEN'T COMPLETELY EMPTIED THE US TREASURY YET - !!!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pmWilliam F. Buckley on April 28, 2007:
"It is simply untrue that we are making decisive progress in Iraq. The indicators rise and fall from day to day, week to week, month to month."
February 27th, 2008 at 3:45 pmsnip
"There are grounds for wondering whether the Republican party will survive this dilemma."
Oh, and Charlie - Satan threw a party for Buckley in Hell this morning to welcome one of his oldest and dearest pals.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pmcharlie-remember, I'm a Vietnam vet and killing charlies is what I was trained to do.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pmUncle Ho,
Sorry, I was just watching the 1968 debate between WF Buckley and Gore Vidal and I got a bit worked up listening to Vidal defend global Communism.
Please go back to you usual anti-American ranting.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:46 pmmary,
If your point is that there is far more debate and diversity of opinion in the Republican camp than in the Democratic camp, then you're correct.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:48 pmWhen profit is your prophet ethics become inconvenient. -Zz
February 27th, 2008 at 3:49 pmComment by Leftside Annie — February 27, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
I love you Annie and you just made me laugh with your emptying the treasury line, but I take exception to your dig at Bill Buckley. He was a conservative, sure, but he was a principled conservative who respected those on the other side of the ideological divide.
Conservatism isn't evil. Using conservatism as an excuse to commit evil deeds, is.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pmMarch 31 (Bloomberg) -- William F. Buckley Jr., the longtime conservative writer and leader, said George W. Bush's presidency will be judged entirely by the outcome of a war in Iraq that is now a failure.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:51 pmBuckley called Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a longtime friend, ``a failed executor'' of the war.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pmComment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
Way to miss the point, Chuckles.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm``The neoconservative hubris, which sort of assigns to America some kind of geo-strategic responsibility for maximizing democracy, overstretches the resources of a free country,'' Buckley said.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:52 pm-- Bill Clinton ``is the most gifted politician of, certainly my time,'' Buckley said. ``He generates a kind of a vibrant goodwill with a capacity for mischief which is very, very American.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=anN._IfoJo1M&refer=us
February 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pmSure doesn't look like William F. Buckley would've agreed with this Op-Ed!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pmThe one in the National Review that is.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:55 pmIn fact, hysteria is a defining condition of Leftism.
Comment by Charles James Napier
Sir, really please stop. Progressives are no more hysterical than any American seeing their government be taken away by the current squatter in our White House. Your reverence for everything Bush is truly remarkable given the totality of the failures by his administration.
Please try and find your way back to the side representing the Constitution and rule of law. I thought the right side was the law and order party. Am I wrong about that? Is it ok for Bush to win, but the entire country to lose? Is that a fair trade for you?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:56 pmthere is more debate and diversity of opinion in the Republican camp than in the Democratic camp- comment by charlie
BWAAAAHHAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAA!!! LMFAO!!
you are too funny. If you aren't doing stand-up comedy, I have a feeling that you've missed your calling.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm"...editors of the National Review — who in May 2005 asserted that “we’re winning†in Iraq..."
"winning"?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:59 pmwhat do we win?
we've lost so much already!
27 - Ralph - I'm sorry you were offended. Truly.
I've gotten to the point, unfortunately, perhaps, that I can no longer separate the "good" conservatives from the "bad" conservatives.
I dunno; to me, it's kind of like trying to separate the good Nazis from the evil Nazis, you know?
I realize that's a generalization, absolutely - but at this point, I'm sick to death of them ALL and the trouble and pain they've caused with their stupid, wrongheaded policies and the stupid, wrongheaded politicians they support.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:59 pmBuckley called Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a longtime friend, “a failed executor†of the war.
Comment by mary
-------------------------------------
And he was right...at least regarding the insugency.
Good thing Rummy was replaced by Gen David Petraeus.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:00 pmthere is more debate and diversity of opinion in the Republican camp than in the Democratic camp- comment by charlie
BWAAAAHHAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAA!!! LMFAO!!
you are too funny. If you aren’t doing stand-up comedy, I have a feeling that you’ve missed your calling.
Comment by Uncle Ho
Exactly Uncle Ho....I thought chuckles was having a stroke when I read those words. He is making even less sense than normal.
Chuckles, please take some time off and get some help. Your individual fortunes do not rise and fall according to your devotion to the Bush criminal enterprise - Bush could care less about you or your family.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:02 pmStratRat,
Your reverence for everything Bush...
-------------------------------------------------------
I rarely mention Bush, let alone revere him.
You're imagining things.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:03 pmAre they certain they didn't mix this up with another magazine? Say
Mad Magazine? What? Them Worry?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:05 pmI hear you, Annie, but there are a few good conservatives around. One fewer now that Buckley is gone, but they've just been completely marginalized by the neocons, who absolutely deserve our scorn.
I think conservatism has something to offer the nation, particularly as a counter-weight to liberalism which can overreach when unchecked. But the way things stand in our political environment now, Republicans make an ideal opposition party, and a terrible controlling party.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:06 pm"Podesta, Takeyh, and Korb said that it is “possible that in the absence of a cumbersome and clumsy American occupation, Iraqis will make their own bargains and compacts†to avoid increased violence after U.S. troops leave. "
POSSIBLE - their argument is based completely on this possibility.
I thought it an interesting moment last night when Obama was more aggressive than Hillary about re-introducing US troops into Iraq after a pull out if AQI took back large tracks of territory following our departure.
The essential question to Iraq is how much time does the current improved security situation need to truly become the status quo instead of an anomoly?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:06 pmGood thing Rummy was replaced by Gen David Petraeus.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
When was Petraeus made Secretary of Defense?
Oh, silly me -- trolls bear no responsibility for accuracy of their "facts".
February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pmIn fact, hysteria is a defining condition of Leftism.
Comment by Chump — February 27, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
this from a supporter of the administration that brought us fear campaigning.
and btw, by present day neocon standards, buckley was a flaming liberal.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pmI rarely mention Bush, let alone revere him.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Yeah, we see that a lot with wingnuts these days. Understandable.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pmGood thing Rummy was replaced by Gen David Petraeus.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
what a maroon!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pmGen. Petraeus is the Sec. of Def.? When did this happen? Has anyone told Gates?
Rumy was dead wrong on every aspect of the Iraq invasion. Wrong on the qty of troops needed. Wrong on the way to secure cities. Wrong on the fearmongering to get us there in the first place.
mr. napier, I'd really like to read where you think Rumy was right.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pmChuckie is NOT a stand up comedian. She does her best work buns up kneeling.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pmI thought chuckles was having a stroke when I read those words.
-----------------------------------------
There is no debate on the Left. One wrong viewpoint and you are purged like Joe Lieberman.
Conservatism has many strains, from libertarians to blue-collar moderates....from Wall Streeters to the Religious right...from neo-cons to Paleo-con Buchananites.
All of these various branches are in constant debate...There is no such diversity of viewpoints on the left anymore.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pmWORLD AGAINST WAR
This is a reason to get out into the streets next month for the Loose Change's world against war global antiwar initaitive, which the media is not talking about. There is a huge antiwar movement going on right now. I found a coalition that has organized OVER 200 different places that are protesting at once. This will be larger and bigger than 2003 which drew millions of protesters.
http://worldagainstwar.org
We as a nation need to protest, cause protesting moves politics for the children. My family and children watch the media broadcast war as if it were a movie and do it for the ratings and money. This is terrible place for children to grow old. And now a sold-ger thinks that cause he has experience in WAR that he is fit for office.
I am a single mother that over the years have really been not liking the media or the government (hope they dont take me away now)
February 27th, 2008 at 4:13 pmanyways, my children will have to live in this mess. What did we do? Why did we do it really? This is not freedom, this is not america, I am not religious but man this Republican and democrat parties seem worse than the Nazi party. History will look back at this and wonder why we as civilians didnt stop these few people from destroying our civized country. America is doomed if it continues its path of global jihad against all those who refuse to get in line. Either your with us or against us... I think the world has chosen to be against us and soon my children will be at war. Someday human mankind will be intelligent enough to realize that we can not continue the path of destruction of mankind to advance the mankind way. Or else mankind will be nothing but what she has created. The global protest next month http://loose-change-911.com will bring millions of angry people to the streets to protest. And then the facist government will place bombs in palces that generate media attention for more war. Its like the humankind knows but cant stop them.
I rarely mention Bush, let alone revere him.
You’re imagining things.
Comment by Charles James Napier
Not good enough, sir...Bush is the standard bearer for the right side. Like it or not, he is the image of the Republican party and attempting to distance yourself from his 7 years of lawlessness is not sufficient.
I read your posts - I really do. You do make good points, as they go. But, to me it seems you admire king george because you help spread the word. Rarely, if ever have I read that you have a problem with any of the shenanigans put forth by him or his henchmen. I'm afraid you cannot shake that image by simply saying so.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pmWhen was Petraeus made Secretary of Defense?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
------------------------------------------------------------
Of course you're right.
My mistake.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pmmr. napier, you most surely do not believe that the conservatives are the inclusive group?
Please educate us. What is the core beliefs of a true conservative.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pmChuckles suffers from the malady that causes one to believe stereotypes are reality.
Chuckles believes that a coalition whose greatest weakness (and greatest strength) is its collection of various constituencies: workers, minorities, immigrants, artists, academia, the poor and middle class, is more monolithic than his own white man's party.
Funny.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pmcharlie- what year did you graduate from the Hitler youth(young Republicans)?
Comment by Uncle Ho — February 27, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
Nappy will have to get his GED from the Hitler Youth too, he can't even graduate with that bunch of retards.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pm57 - nah, Ralph.
Our little Chuckles is just suffering from a severe case of stupidity.
Too bad it's not painful.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm"Conservatism has many strains, from libertarians to blue-collar moderates….from Wall Streeters to the Religious right…from neo-cons to Paleo-con Buchananites.
All of these various branches are in constant debate…There is no such diversity of viewpoints on the left anymore."
Comment by Charles James Napier —
That's rich. During the last few years we have had nothing but lockstep Bushism from the right's many "strains." They have sacrificed all their hallowed tenets to serve a neo-con fear agenda. No more fiscal conservatism, religious conservatism, foreign-policy conservatism, all gone.
The ideology was always a scam, but some suckers haven't yet figured it out, like people who still play the numbers after finding out they've been cheated by the bookie. But there are fewer of them every day, as they become too embarrassed to ally themselves publicly with the failed group, so that's a small plus.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm...his own white man’s party.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama
----------------------------------------------------------
Conservatives are conserned with diersity of ideas. Ones skin color or minority status is not important.
We leave it to the Left to obsess over race and divide people against each other through identity politics and class envy.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:24 pmThese Neocon pompom fluffers should spend the next six month replacing our exhausted troops. Front line duty only. And latrine clean up, of course.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:24 pmPlease go back to you usual anti-American ranting.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Look at the fascist bootlicker calling us anti-American. I wonder why the little coward isn't in Iraq fighting his favorite war?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pmThanks for having me.
You can all go back to your lockstep ranting now.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm61 - Oh, Chuckie - that's funny! Nice spin, boy.
So you say, but you can count all the diversity in the Republican Party on ONE hand, can't you?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!
February 27th, 2008 at 4:26 pmIf your point is that there is far more debate and diversity of opinion in the Republican camp than in the Democratic camp, then you’re correct.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
More likely he knew he was ill and would die before a year was over and he was trying to get on the good side of his lord. That would explain why he sounded like a Democrat.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pmCharles James Napier is a Nazi
February 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pmCharles James Napier is a Nazi
Charles James Napier is a Nazi
Charles James Napier is a Nazi
Psst. pass the word,
Charles James Napier is a Nazi
"Conservatives are conserned with diersity of ideas. Ones skin color or minority status is not important."
Yup, that's why we had all the conservatives forcing their congresspeople back into session to write legislation to stop a husband from allowing his wife to pass away peacefully. All those different viewpoints - and none that could be considered even vaguely conservative.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pmThanks for having me.
You can all go back to your lockstep ranting now.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
it;s your own party that has "had" you. You like being had? the lockstep nazi techniques of the right, the "southern strategy", the resistance to child labor laws and unions, these are the hallmarks of fascists, and republicans. you don't fool us with your "diversity of ideas" nonsense, that's pure projection.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pmSaint Augustine,
At what college did you aquire such great debating skills?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI mourned Buckley this morning, right after a cup of coffee. I feel another bout of mourning coming on, must be the extra peppers in the lo mein.
It's hard to say goodbye to a conservative, especially the sticky ones.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:34 pmChuckie is NOT a stand up comedian. She does her best work buns up kneeling.
Comment by nanlichi — February 27, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Yes HE does, we don't want him on our team though, he's all boy.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:35 pm70 - Chuckie - at which elementary school did you fail all your spelling classes...?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:35 pmAt what college did you aquire such great debating skills?
Comment by Charles James Napier
Was that supposed to be pithy? 'Cause it sounded petulant - and nerdy.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pmConservatives are conserned with diersity of ideas. Ones skin color or minority status is not important.
We leave it to the Left to obsess over race and divide people against each other through identity politics and class envy.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
What a crock of shit.
So, basically, you're saying that less than 10% of the black population supports Republicans because they... what? Aren't capable of understanding the brilliance of your "ideas"?
And it's fascinating how a concern for equality of opportunity and treatment under the law becomes an "obsession with color".
Seems to me, that in the marketplace of ideas, if Republicans really believed that their ideas were best for minorities, and that they believed minorities were every bit as important as humans as the white majority, they would be troubled by the lack of black faces among their coalition.
Doesn't seem to be the case. So either they don't care, or they don't think blacks are worthwhile. Which is it?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pmOne wrong viewpoint and you are purged like Joe Lieberman.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
So when Lieberman supports the war YOU admit he was wrong but when you're leaders support the war they are right? But you don't have blind support of the rethugs, right? What is it then?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:37 pmThere is no such diversity of viewpoints on the left anymore.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Yeah sure, Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich are identical, what an idiot.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:39 pm"Doesn’t seem to be the case. So either they don’t care, or they don’t think blacks are worthwhile. Which is it?"
Comment by ralph the wonder llama —
What, no black faces seen in the republicans' big tent?
Look behind the elephants; they're the ones with the shovels...
February 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pmWe leave it to the Left to obsess over race and divide people against each other through identity politics and class envy.
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Your writing makes Dr. Seuss sound like non-fiction. What part of bizzaro land do you live in?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pmSo you say, but you can count all the diversity in the Republican Party on ONE hand, can’t you?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!
Comment by Leftside Annie — February 27, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
That's because the they can only afford to have a few bought and paid for Stepford Negroes. That's what they call them, not African Americans. I don't make this up I just report it.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:45 pmSaint Augustine,
At what college did you aquire such great debating skills?
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Do I get a prize for the correct answer?
February 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pmAt what college did you aquire such great debating skills?
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Nobody needs to go to college to know you're a Nazi.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:47 pmAnd who let Al Qaeda off the hook to pursue his personnel thirst for blood revenge on Saddam? (And a little crony capitalism for the Veep's buddies?)
February 27th, 2008 at 4:51 pmSaint Augustine,
At what college did you aquire such great debating skills?
Comment by Charles James Napier — February 27, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
Obviously this idiot does not know the difference between debate and taunting, nor does IT know that I graduated from a University not a college.
Do I get a prize for the correct answer?
Comment by dbadass — February 27, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
Yes
February 27th, 2008 at 4:53 pmOne thing I have learned posting here,
About trolls like Cee Jay Nay Pier,
No difference can ever be found,
Twix their ass and a hole in the ground,
Isn't that funny and just somewhat queer.
(I spent too much time at C&L today I guess)
February 27th, 2008 at 5:00 pmNow your daddy Bush don't mind (bop-bop-shu-waddah-wah)
And your mommy Babs don't mind (bop-bop-shu-waddah-wah)
If we have another surge, oh yeah,
Just one more time
Oh won't you stay, just a lot, lot longer
Now please, please, please
Tell me you are going to
Oh won't you stay, just a lot, lot longer
Oh let me hear you say you will (say you will)
Won't you put your body bags, next to mine
Won't you say you'll kill them, all of the time
Oh, oh, oh yeah just a little bit longer (whoa yeah)
Now please, please, please
Tell me you are going to
apologies to Maurice Williams, Hollies, Jackson Browne, but not to the Neocons who brought you this occupation.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:01 pmSeems to me, that in the marketplace of ideas, if Republicans really believed that their ideas were best for minorities, and that they believed minorities were every bit as important as humans as the white majority, they would be troubled by the lack of black faces among their coalition.
Doesn’t seem to be the case. So either they don’t care, or they don’t think blacks are worthwhile. Which is it?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — February 27, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Man oh man....WHAT was the name of the Warren Beatty/Halle Berry flick that addressed this whole problem the Rs have with Blacks? It was a guys name, the lead characters...? Anyway there was a line in there where he - a white guy and democrat - was half taunting a black audience about why they voted for the Dems where he says "What are you going to do, vote Republican?"
Great film, name is totally escaping me.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pmBullworthy?
February 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pmThe National Review are PART of the Bush TRAITORS and WAR CRIMINALS.
They ALL need to be in Gitmo until they DROP DEAD, and go to hell with Junior, Poppy, Dick, and TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, now DEAD...
February 27th, 2008 at 5:06 pmGreat film, name is totally escaping me.
Comment by Keltoi — February 27, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Bulworth
http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:158810
February 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pmShayne,
You're right, Chuckie is a HE. I left my troll program at home and I can't keep them straight.
GG is Mighty Aphrodite
Chuck is Jake
Gin is Mr. P
Rapture Ready is Daryll
VA_Voter is justed fcked up
They keep shifting names but their arguments are old and stale.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pmobsess over race and divide people against each other
comment by charlie A@ 4:24 pm
You have just described Nixon's southern strategy employed by the GOP nonstop since 1968.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pmComment by Saint Augustine — February 27, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
NFU? Sorry. I know you told me a week or so ago. Had I known it would be prize winning I might have stored it with the better synapses
February 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pmComment by dbadass — February 27, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Sorry, UNF for Univ. of North Fla., but most say for U Never Finish.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:43 pmComment by dbadass — February 27, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Oh, by the way, the prize was a romantic rickshaw ride for two around the Oldest City.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:45 pmNot to be naive (let alone on topic) but sounds like time to reinstate the draft so we can have an AEI/NRO/Max Boot/Billy Kristol surge (insert image of Jonah Goldberg soiling himself in fear). I am sure those brave keyboard heroes could wipe up the last throes of the insurgency in no time. If not, we can build the keyboarders a monument in D.C. -- perhaps behind the dumpsters at the Watergate.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pmThey keep shifting names but their arguments are old and stale.
Comment by nanlichi — February 27, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
That's fine I just wanted everybody to have the correct vision of him on his knees with his butt in the air.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pmSorry, UNF for Univ. of North Fla., but most say for U Never Finish.
Comment by Saint Augustine — February 27, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
And still, you wouldn't have had to graduate to know Nappy is a Nazi.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:04 pmDamn. Well atleast I was close. Northern Flodida University (NFU) is similar to UNF. Do I atleast get a dangerous cab ride for one?
February 27th, 2008 at 6:19 pmKeltoi, Bulworth also had a great line about fu(king each other until we're all one color.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:53 pmComment by ralph the wonder llama — February 27, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
not to forget that they try to suppress the black vote also...
February 27th, 2008 at 10:37 pmI have not read any of the right's criticisms of this piece yet, but I'll just give my own impression (which you all know by now, I'm not shy about giving!).
I think it's interesting that they register opposition to the use of the CLCs; these groups are responsible for beating back the rise of Sunni extremest groups, particularly in Anbar, and they've made great strides in doing so. I understand that counterargument that we could be arming another militia, but I would prefer that outcome to the stranglehold that al Qaeda and others had in the province. Furthermore, we don't know if they will in fact become a very problematic rebel element in Iraq; they could just as easily be essentially to keeping some balance of power there, while the country proceeds down the road of reconciliation. Ultimately, both the Shi'a and Sunni sides will have to be given a stake in the government, which is more likely with these CLCs than with more nefarious organizations.
Furthermore, it's been one year since the surge started and we have had political progress at both the local and national level. Things are more tenuous nationally, but I think "some" progress is much better than "none" and a sign that there is some forward progress in Iraq. That, combined with the renewal of al-Sadr's ceasefire, should be an encouraging sign. Let's be real here - Podesta and the like were going to say the "surge" failed regardless of what happened. It will be a long time before those benchmarks are met, but we are at least going in the right direction. Plus, I don't think they account for de facto progress, e.g. that, even without a hydrocarbon law, oil revenues are nevertheless being distributed to Sunni territories, which is the main point of such a law.
Pizzas here. I'll have more shortly.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:26 amSo how are those benchmarks coming along in Iraq. There were 18 of them. How many do you suppose have been met. Well the number just fell by 50% today. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/28890.html
That's right, one of the primary goals of the surge was to give the Iraqi government time to act on those 18 benchmarks. As of right now they have 17 to go and the surge is set to wind down starting in March. Wow, that sure was a resounding success. In sports a manager with a 1-17 record would expect to be fired and replaced.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:51 amLet’s be real here - Podesta and the like were going to say the “surge†failed regardless of what happened. It will be a long time before those benchmarks are met, but we are at least going in the right direction. Plus, I don’t think they account for de facto progress, e.g. that, even without a hydrocarbon law, oil revenues are nevertheless being distributed to Sunni territories, which is the main point of such a law.
Pizzas here. I’ll have more shortly.
Comment by thirdparty — February 28, 2008 @ 12:26 am
ROTFL, what DUMB LITTLE LIAR YOU ARE! No, there were CLEAR GUIDELINES that were ASKED FOR, for WHAT CONSTITUTED SUCCESS, and that WASN'T MET! Your CLAIM that YOUR FAILURE is OK, because people would have SAID YOU FAILED even if you SUCCEEDED is just MORE HAND WAVING to AVOID ADMITTING YOU'VE FAILED! You must be a REAL B**CH in life, if THIS IS HOW YOU LIVE IT!! POOR LITTLE LOSER!
February 28th, 2008 at 12:56 amThe problem with your argument is that it presumes the strategy was a one year thing. It's not. It's ongoing, and the troop increase was just a part of it. In this process we have met some benchmarks, but many more are to go. But Iraq is much better off now that it was a year ago, much better off than it was in September, and much better off that it would have been had we withdrawn.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:26 amWhat we are all witnessing here with the pompous man of three names is the one remarkable talent that every Modern Bush Republicanâ„¢ possesses.
And that talent is a super-human capability for creative visualization.
The Modern Bush Republican'sâ„¢ mental imagery supersedes and overlays ANY intrusion from reality.
Their nightmares and fantasies are as opaque as they are vivid and they project them right onto your face and their tv and the newspaper and anything else that would undermine their indefensible and utterly failed world view.
How else can one explain a tortuted notion such as this:
"If your point is that there is far more debate and diversity of opinion in the Republican camp than in the Democratic camp, then you’re correct."
February 28th, 2008 at 10:43 amBut Iraq is much better off now that it was a year ago, much better off than it was in September, and much better off that it would have been had we withdrawn.
None of which address the huge pink elephant standing next to you which is that all of the above are completely meaningless had we not foolishly invaded and occupied Iraq in the first place.
Barf...
February 28th, 2008 at 10:48 amThe right wing sure has a good track record when it comes to Iraq. Here is an example from 5 years ago.
Wolfowitz: But some of the higher-end predictions that we have been hearing recently, such as the notion that it will take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq, are wildly off the mark. First, it’s hard to conceive that it would take more forces to provide stability in post-Saddam Iraq than it would take to conduct the war itself and to secure the surrender of Saddam’s security forces and his army. Hard to imagine. [2/27/03]
February 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pmIt must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to invade a Middle Eastern country that posed no threat to us in order to prevent a smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to illegally torture prisoners, in some cases to the point of death.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to wiretap American citizens without a warrant.
It must have been Leftismistic hysteria that got us to crap on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
It must have been Leftismistic asus a33-f3 battery,asus 90-nia1b1000 battery hysteria that got us to build chemical weapons plants for Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:51 am