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Weekend Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Fri Sep 01, 2006 at 08:00:47 PM EST
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Here's an open thread to keep you going. Comments are open, if you don't see your's, it may be in the "junk" folder on MT, and I'll be clearing them a few times a day in batches over the weekend.

Also check out the great sites on the right on our blogroll. And check back in case TChris or LNILR or Big Tent Democrat has something to say...no promises, it being a holiday and all, but you never know.

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    Weekend Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical)
    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#1)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Sep 01, 2006 at 08:06:41 PM EST
    Operation Whack-a-Mole is a failure.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#2)
    by Che's Lounge on Fri Sep 01, 2006 at 08:08:02 PM EST
    Oh well, it bears repeating.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 03:34:47 AM EST
    Does this count as out-sourcing? The Autorantic Virtual Moonbat Give it a shot.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 03:56:19 AM EST
    More silliness here.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 06:24:21 AM EST
    Supporting our troops with a knife in the back.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#6)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 08:06:35 AM EST
    Joseph - Doing a bit of self promotion, eh? Well good luck in life, but I must tell you, your link takes us to a theme so old that it has whiskers. First we have the old, I can oppose the war but support the troops. Not really, Joseph. You just can't, as some of the more honest on the Left have admitted. Why? Because the troops and the war are unseparable. If you say you don't support the war, that means that you don't support what it takes to wage war. That would include supplies for the troops. But why would people think the Left doesn't really support the troops? Well, let's read: What Molly NYC wrote in this Talk Left on 2/28/06 at 8:41PM. I think it is instructive of an attitude held by many on the Left.
    So who's entering the military? People approximately as dumb as, or dumber than, Bush. Dumb enough to believe Saddam had some connection with 9/11 (besides being an Arab and a Muslim--all the connection some people need).
    Pretty nice, eh? Hey, dummy! I support you! And then we come to the old, "equipment issue." And that's a good question. Why did NYC have a new Buffalo and the army group in question have an old one? Maybe to protect Molly NYC? But Rumsfeld did make a good point. Two budgets. NYC evidently had enough money, the army didn't. Now, why didn't you raise cain about the distribution of funds, as well as zapping Rumsfekd? No fun in that? Why didn't you call for everyone to call the Mayor of NYC and demand the vehicle be given to the Army? Oh, I know. No fun in being proactive, eh?

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#8)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:39:06 AM EST
    Joseph, Great article. You point out the hypocrisy of the Republican Guard, and their apologists (see above), who claim to support the troops but really only support their own agenda of conquering the middle east (not fighting the so-called WOT). We all know that Operation Iraqi Liberation (OIL) is a failure. There is NO WAY we will be able to install a successful "democratic government" into Iraq. The most recent incarnation of this attempt has only led to increased violence, and the neocons (and again their apologist above) have no solution other than to continue the failed policies. They are down to playing military Whack-a-mole and crossing their fingers in the hopes that somehow, some way, the clouds will suddenly break and democracy will shine through. Talk about fantasies... Their arrogant racist attitudes have killed untold thousands of US soldiers and marines,and Iraqis. The country is a major humanitarian disaster that makes the Indonesian Tsunami look like high tide. The US military has done their job (because there were so many - removing Saddam,done - New Govt, done - WMD, never there). Their presence there has been reduced to being just one more faction in the sectarian disaster that was precipitated by the incompetence of Donald Rumsfeld (too few troops), Doug Feith (De-Baathification), Paul Bremer (dismantled the Iraqi army) and the other war mongers who failed to maintain a stable society (widespread looting of everything-including explosives) in the wake of the invasion and susequent occupation (though I doubt our troops actually occupy anything other than their own bases). What the pseudo intellectual (aka blind) patriots like Jim fail to account for is the resolve of an oppressed people. The palestinians have not lost that resolve for over fifty years. Nor have the Tibetans, the Chechnians, Falong Gong, the Tamil Tigers, nearly ALL of South America, and now Mexico. The neocon agenda cannot factor in the human element of pride and honor. They believe that their way (fee market capitalism) is the right way, and that everyone else will either see the "light of democracy" or else the blinding flash of a fireball.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#9)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:51:22 AM EST
    Che - Guess you suport the troops too, eh? Pardon me while I laugh at you.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#10)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:53:23 AM EST
    And what will the world do with millions of blind peole? The suvivors of WW III will not need artificail limbs. They will need skin grafts, dark glasses and red and white canes. Think about it rightards. Bush is insane.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#11)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:55:19 AM EST
    Pardon me while I laugh at you. No. There are no excuses for you anymore.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#12)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 10:04:44 AM EST
    Besides, this never was, is not, and never will be about supporting the troops. Jim knows this but has no valid arguments to support his failed position. Therefore, and as usual, he attacks the messengers.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 10:27:56 AM EST
    ...support the troops...
    In the wingnut lexicon the word support is redefined to mean "give them free headstones" after we've killed them.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#14)
    by desertswine on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 10:54:57 AM EST
    If you say you don't support the war, that means that you don't support what it takes to wage war. That would include supplies for the troops.
    Jeez, your ideas are now officialy bankrupt.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 10:57:38 AM EST
    PPJ, nobody has appointed Molly, NYC, as a spokesperson for the rest of us. You are free to think going into the military is a smart thing these days, and you should be out there recruiting for this noble cause, starting with those family members and friends who are young enough to be of benefit to our armed forces in this time of dire need.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#16)
    by zaitefftheunconvicted on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 11:03:21 AM EST
    I have a question. A few weeks ago there was a Supreme Court decision that weakened 1st amendment protections for whistleblowers involving a prosecutor working in the LA prosecutors office. He told the truth about a bad situation and was subject of retaliation by Gil Garcetti or something like that and the USSC upheld the right of the LA DA to discipline or demote or retaliate against this guy for telling the truth. My question is this: California has, supposedly, a strong whistleblower protection law. It is supposed to protect any whistleblower from retaliation, etc., when he observes, refuses to participate in or reports on any illegal conduct or any conduct that would be a violation of any federal, state or local rule or regulation. I don't know if there is a federal or state law or regulation against faulty prosecutions that fail to disclose to the defense the weakens of one's case, but that is surely contrary to the normal code of ethics that is supposed to govern lawyers. How come the Cal. law re whistleblowers doesn't protect this guy?

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 11:06:31 AM EST
    I was having a little root in my archives for an article to post in the "boredom and binge" and came across this, I have no atribution for it but more than likely it would be Arthur Silber.
    This is why I have emphasized that the overall Western perspective and worldview -- the perspective that views the West, and more particularly America, as the end point of human civilization, which entitles the West to "civilize" the rest of the world, at gunpoint if necessary -- is not confined to any one point in the political spectrum. It is a Western outlook, one that all of us are immersed in and, if we are not on guard against it, one that influences our judgments in countless ways. Political affiliation does not innoculate anyone against its profound dangers. No matter what happens in Iraq, we have committed immoral, unforgivable acts on a vast scale. To sum up: we now occupy Iraq as aggressors. In terms of our military actions in Iraq, we are today's equivalent of the invading hordes of the past, those that we correctly condemn and vilify. We have vastly superior military might -- but our moral authority is non-existent. No moral or legal argument supports our presence in Iraq. None.
    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 11:11:15 AM EST
    FIASCO by Thomas Ricks, as Terry Kindlon noted in a previous thread, is an outstanding and clear-headed analysis of the Bush administration disasters in Iraq. It's the story of ignorant civilian leaders, and just enough compliant and poor military leaders (Tommy Franks being the most glaring example), playing out their prejudices and egomania and lack of everything needed to succeed.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#19)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 12:52:18 PM EST
    Anon writes:
    PPJ, nobody has appointed Molly, NYC, as a spokesperson for the rest of us.
    How do you know? But in any event, what I wrote was:
    I think it is instructive of an attitude held by many on the Left.
    You may desire to focus a bit and note the word "think." You may also note the word "many." You may also want to open the Link to the thread in which Molly NYC's comments were in, and note that the thread started in 2/28 at 8:41PM and ended on 3/6 at 9:21PM, six days and approximately 45 comments later. There was absolutely NO CRITICISM of Molly NYC's comment. Not your spokesperson?

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 02:25:20 PM EST
    there was absolutely NO CRITICISM of Molly NYC's comment Which meant that you agreed with it at the time, so why the change in opinion, PPJ?

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 04:02:50 PM EST
    "Give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man". Be afraid, be very.....

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#23)
    by Sailor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 05:00:39 PM EST
    OW, "Give us a child until he's five and he's ours forever." - Jesuits.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#24)
    by Aaron on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 08:29:15 PM EST
    Dennis Leary rips on Mel Gibson

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#25)
    by Aaron on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 09:19:25 PM EST
    (February 20, 2009) George W. Bush's last day (2-20-09)

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 11:39:49 PM EST
    Hmm, guess I'm Anonymous now. That last post was by Dadler.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 12:33:51 AM EST
    How is Your Earth Ball coming along I hope We Meet Up on the DC Mall Sept 5 - 21 http://www.EarthBall.org

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#26)
    by roger on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 06:15:28 AM EST
    Aaron, Thanks, I needed that!

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#29)
    by John Mann on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 04:27:49 PM EST
    George W Bush's very last day.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#30)
    by Aaron on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 06:47:30 PM EST
    So good I had to post it again. An Irish Catholic defending Jewish pride, that's what America is supposed to all about. Rescue Me on FX, is my favorite show, it's easily the best written show on TV, the only thing close is Deadwood on HBO. Nice plug for the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), Leary wears one of their shirts on an episode of his show. Dennis Leary rips on Mel Gibson

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#27)
    by dutchfox on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 11:31:55 PM EST
    Judge Cashman says he'll retire from bench
    September 2, 2006 By David Gram Associated Press MONTPELIER -- A judge who sparked outrage when he sentenced a sex offender to two months in jail said Friday he will retire. Vermont District Court Judge Edward Cashman didn't mention the case that had made him a target of heated criticism from lawmakers, editorial writers and national cable news commentators. In January, he imposed the short sentence on Mark Hulett, 34, who had been convicted for repeated sexual assaults on a young girl.
    Barre-Montpelier Times Argus story link More here.

    Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0) (#28)
    by Bill Arnett on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 11:31:55 PM EST
    Y'know, I had hoped Aubrey would show up here after making this comment and accusing our little community here of worshipping terrorists as "heroes". I challenged him to reprint or link to ANY comment by ANY poster praising terrorist as "heroes", but that challenge was lost in the ether, so to speak, when the commenting went whacko. So, that challenge still stands, and if Aubrey can prove his statement that we consider terrorists heroes, well, let him put up or shut up.

    Weekend Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical)