Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
by John Cole| 2 Comments
This post is in: Politics
Everyone is talking about the Washington Post Editorial slamming Kerry’s speech. Read the whole thing, but my favorite part was this:
Yet in economics as in national security, Mr. Kerry missed an opportunity for straight talk. His promises to stop the outsourcing of jobs and end dependence on Middle East oil are not grounded in reality.
Holy loads of euphemisms….
by John Cole| 23 Comments
This post is in: Democratic Stupidity
Via Talk Left:
By e-mail we’re told that in an attempt to limit John Kerry’s message, the Republicans will release a 12 minute video to embarass Kerry tonight, and that it will be all over the news tomorrow and this weekend.
Anyone know if this is true? What’s the appropriate response if it is true?
Update: Minipundit advises it’s true and you can watch it here.
I watched the video yesterday. It is 12 minutes of Kerry completely shifting his opinions on Iraq, starting with his very hawkish behavior and belligerent attitude toward Hussein in 1998 (so spare me the “how was he supposed to know Bush was lying” bullshit) until the Iowa caucus, when Dean’santi-war position was cleaning Kerry’s clock in thepolls. Once that became clear, Kerry took on a more ‘nuanced’ position.
Only in the weird world in which Democrats reside could this be considered an ‘attack’ ad. Is it embarassing? Yes. But so is John Kerry.
by John Cole| 35 Comments
This post is in: War on Terror aka GSAVE®
Score one for the good guys:
Pakistan has arrested a senior al Qaeda figure with a bounty of up to $25 million on his head, Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat told CNN television Thursday.
He said the suspect had been captured during a raid in central Pakistan a few days ago. He did not identify the captive but said he was “a person who is most wanted internationally.”
Al Arabiya satellite news channel quoted Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf as saying the suspect was arrested Sunday.
“The Pakistani president said the arrested person is Tanzanian who is married to an Uzbek woman, and who is wanted by the United States,” the station said.
Al Arabiya said the suspect may be Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani. Ghailani is the only Tanzanian on the FBI’s most wanted “terrorists” list, for his alleged role in the 1998 bombings by al Qaeda of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Now, if we can only keep him away from an International Court.
*** Update ***
The usual suspects are calling this the “July Surprise,” which is silly for numerous reasons:
1.) Of course we are pressuring Pakistan to turn over terrorists. That kinda is the goal of the War on Terror- to find and kill/neuter/prosecute terrorists. Oddly enough, it is a goal of the Kerry-Edwardsticket- to work with our allies in the fight to keep America secure. Imagine that.
2.) This will have no impact on the election whatsoever, and not even bump Kerry’s acceptance speech off the headline of ANY paper.
3.) Only the kool-aid drinkers who think that we really were ‘distracted’ by the War in Iraq would think that we have ever stopped aggressively persuing these scum.
I am just happy we caught the a-hole, and it is not going to impact my opinion on the election at all.
*** Update ***
Ezra, in his usual calm, reasoned self, resonds in the comments:
Liar. We’re questioning it because a TNR report came out three weeks ago saying the Bush Administration was pressuring Pakistan to deliver them DURING the convention. Liar liar liar. This is beneath you.
Actually, I had no idea there was such a report. The link in your post today only mentioned pressure to deliver targets ‘before the election,’ which of course is a no-brainer.
At any rate, I stand corrected. But you really need to upgrade the meds, Ezra. I guess the only innocent mistakes in the eyes of Democrats are when you slip and stick your dick in an intern or shove secret documents down your pants.
Really- being civil with the political opposition pays off, doesn’t it?
by John Cole| 4 Comments
This post is in: Outrage
A U.N. war crimes tribunal Thursday ordered a Bosnian Croat commander’s early release from prison after clearing him of responsibility in a 1993 massacre, a decision that could make it harder to convict high-ranking officials accused of masterminding ethnic violence in the Balkans.
Overturning a ruling by a lower chamber, the five-member panel of judges dismissed 16 of 19 war crimes charges against Gen. Thiomir Blaskic, exonerating the 43-year-old of ordering ethnic bloodshed in Bosnia. The judges upheld lesser charges of illegal detainment and inhumane treatment of Muslim prisoners. His sentence was reduced from 45 to nine years.
A summary of the 300-page ruling read out in court found that prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Blaskic planned or even knew about war crimes being committed by his forces.
Great.
The appeals chamber also said that it had taken into account Blaskic’s good behavior, clear prior record, poor health, voluntary surrender and his young children.
“The trial chamber also erred in failing to consider the appellant’s real and sincere remorse,” the ruling said.
Apparently, if you keep your cell clean after being arrested for the wholesale slaughter of hundreds, you get a pass.
In short, Hitler’s real failing as a person was that he was born 60 years too early and neglected to have kids.
BTW- this is who John Kerry wants to turn Iraq over to…
by John Cole| 3 Comments
This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance
Starting in a couple of weeks, I am going to really have to begin finishing a project that is several years old and long overdue. Therefore my blogging tie is going to be limited, and I will be unable to post at the same rate as normal.
Fear not- I am not going anywhere. I will have time for a 2-3 posts every day, but not much more. At any rate, I am thinking about inviting a co-host aboardfor several months, andhell, if it works out, forever.
At any rate, if you are a Republican with a more moderate approach towards social issues, a libertarian, or a straight up flaming liberal and interested, drop me a line. The only qualification is that you can write (the rules are not applied to me, damnit) and you don’t act like a barking moonbat.
I would prefer people that will not talk about religion or abortion, however. Not because I dislike theocons, but because I would rather shower in prison than discuss abortion or religion or both. People who are deeply religious, from my experience, are deeply and profoundly religious, and can not help but let their religious perspectives dominate their philosophy, and inevitably the conversation turns to abortion. That is not a fault, but just not the direction I want this blog to take. If you need an example, check yesterday’s stem cell thread at Red State, which after 4-5 comments on stem cell research turned into an abortion debate. Again, I would rather beat my big toe with a ball peen hammer than spend 3 hours sorting through a comments thread devoted to when life starts.
At any rate, I know there are plenty of capable contributors out there, so let me know if you are interested. And please, don’t feel rejected if I choose someone other than you. Although technically, you will have been rejected. Oh, well, life is tough.
Thanks in advance.
by John Cole| 15 Comments
This post is in: Democratic Stupidity
When I was in the army, my platoon sergeant had a particular saying he liked to use whenever someone started a sentence with “I hope…” His gruff response was always:
“Hope in one hand, and then shit in the other. Tell me which one fills up first.”
At any rate, John Edwards promises that “Hope is on the way.” He better hope so, because according to his speech last night, he and Kerry are going to, if elected:
– Provide all Americans with the same health care provided to the Senate.
– Pay for that coverage with tax breaks.
– Create a new education system.
– Put the ‘best’ teachers in the subjects and places they are needed.
– Ensure the safety of 3 million school children daily.
– End the two economies.
– Strengthen and lift up families.
– Pay for college.
– Keep the Bush taxcuts in place for 98% of the people.
– Lift 35 million people out of poverty.
– Feed hungry children.
– Clothe cold children.
– Raise the minimum wage.
– Finish the job on Welfare Reform.
– Say no to anyone inpoverty in America.
– Lead strong alliances.
– Safeguard and secure our weapons of mass destruction.
– Strengthen our homeland security.
– Protect our ports.
– Protect our chemical plants.
– Support our firefighters, police officers, and EMT’s.
– Always use our military might to keep the American people safe.
– Win the war in Iraq because of the strength and courage of our own people.
– Take care of veterans.
– Strengthen the military.
– Double our Special Forces.
– Get NATO into Iraq.
– Get Syria and Iran out of Iraq.
– Forgive Iraqi Debt.
– Bring peace to the Mid-east, including Israel/Palestine.
– Bring the world together.
– Secure loose nukes in Russia.
– Close loopholes in the Nonproliferation Treaty.
A point by point fisking of the speech is unnecessary. One aspect of the speech is correct, though- there are ‘Two Americas.’
One who buys this shit, and one who sees right through it.
*** Update ***
The Reason folks are making fun of the laundry list, too.
This post is in: Democratic Stupidity
Please look up post hoc ergo propter hoc. Then get back to your regularly scheduled cheerleading for the deaths of Americans.