27
More Common Delusions
Sometimes a piece is so all over the map in terms of idiocy that there is really no comprehensive way to sum it all up and say “This is why it’s wrong.” Sometimes, the sheer amount of throw-away innuendo, general ad hom insults, brainless platitudes and taken-for-granted conspiracy nonsense just makes me look at it and shake my head and say, “Man, I’m not cleaning up this mess.” Like when your dog gets loose while you’re away and paws his way into the trash can, tracks mud all over the kitchen floor, chews on the sofa and then ceremoniously takes a dump under the kitchen table. You just really don’t know where to begin to address the problem, being overwhelmed by the sheer ubiquitous complexity of the mess.
That’s sort of how I feel about this, “As If it Matters…” The author, Bill Davis, doesn’t really have anything substantive to say, just a lot of sorta clever turns-of-phrase to dole out, and he ends up sounding like a slightly more somber, certainly more earnest, yet equally vacuous Maureen Dowd. We’re helpfully informed at the the bottom of the page that the man’s a playwright.
Well, “melodrama” doesn’t begin to describe it.
Writing and protesting have in common the fact that one has to do each as if it matters. It’s a leap of faith that words put to paper will nudge a consciousness here or there or that raising your voice against the monolithic mobilizing military machinery will somehow put the brakes on.
Alliteration like that should be made illegal. No, scratch that. Idiocy should be made illegal. I know, I know, this worries you. “But who,” you may ask plaintively absolute beastiality. “Will write our plays then?”
Simple. Monkeys on typewriters. Lots of monkeys. Lots of typewriters.
I’m curious whether Mr. Davis recognizes that the amount of monolithoscity in our military machinery that is currently mobilizing is no greater (and probably much less substantial) than, say, his own dear protesters’ pillaresque purity of pensive philosophy.
I wonder if Davis has any real knowledge of how our military operates. A single civilian Commander in Chief, but one whose inexperience in military matters leads him to consider the opinions of sundry experts, both within the military’s command structure and without, among whom, as the media has been all too happy to inform us over the last few months, there is a wide diversity of opinion in the administration and in the minds of the generals who report to them. The only curious part is that before, this was used as a justification to not go to war, because the administration was crumbling apart. “There’s no unity!” we were told, as if there must a single monolithic voice shouting down pronouncements from the mountain of supreme authority.
“People, Americans, countrymen, the Lord hath spoken to me and bade me give you these ten commandments which will lead us to victory over the evils of Saddam!”
For the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and for Bush and company, the protest didn’t matter. For at least 150,000 people in Washington D.C that day, it did. If one letter to a congressperson is indicative of 100 people feeling the same way, what does one person getting on a bus in Wisconsin or Michigan or Minnesota to come to Washington in person mean?
Could mean several things my friend. First of all, it means you can’t be trusted to give numbers about the protest, since reliable sources put it at 100,000 (you might want to look into a lucrative career as an accountant for Enron). It might indicate that there are only about 100,000 people out 270,000,000 who are against the war, but that they’re all really really against it and also happen to have too much time on their hands. And yes, maybe it means that there are significantly more than 100,000 people in this country who think we’re going off half-cocked here, but you might be aware of the fact that the query of “just how many more?” is the $40,000 question horse sex galleries. And polls that actually try to answer that question, rather than simply throwing out vague notions of “more than 100,000″ have showed that the majority of the public is still for the war.
The relief after the sniper’s capture was short-lived since my chosen mode of transportation was Amtrak. Word went out that the U.S. rail system was a target for Al Qaeda according to information coaxed from prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. I decided to take the comforting position that the warning was just more of the same terror alerts meant to keep us all off balance and in our cars buying more gas.
It’s pretty sad to realize that this man takes comfort in the notion of a sinister conspiracy by the US government. But I suppose there is comfort to be found there for such a one as he, where his bizzarro world of Adolf Bush and the global hegemony of BIG OIL is still able to be clung to, however desperate and pathetic it appears to sane people.
In between the terrorist surveillance I read the paper and learned that the captured sniper was a Gulf War veteran and that the gun he used was something called a “Bushmaster.” This, as much of the past two years, comes under the heading of - overwritten. When the motifs and literary devices are too thick with resonance an editor might say, “It’s overwritten.” “Bushmaster” is overwritten. And yet there it is. A Gulf War veteran - a weapon named Bush - anonymous targets - murder maybe motivated by money, maybe not - a combination of pathology and greed - and the streets feel more and more like enemy territory and the populous suffers under a low grade and palpable depression.
In other words: “The point I’m making is ridiculous and has no relevance or the slightest fiber of common sense because it’s all based on silly puns and the like, but, at the same time, there it is!”
Where? I’m honestly looking, and can’t really see anything. Perhaps if I even had an idea what “it” was, I could be more effective in my search. At the very least, I’ll bet “it” is something endorsed by Gore Vidal wife sex with dog.
What with all this conspiriatin’ goin’ on in the above paragraph, one is left to wonder why Davis neglects to mention the perhaps salient point that the sniper was a Muslim convert who expressed sympathy with Al Qeada? Wouldn’t that keep us on our toes and off balance? Then we could go and buy some more SUVs and gas and the like, cuz I don’t know about you, but whenever I feel like my equilibrium has been disrupted, the first thing I do is slap down some money and gobble me up some of that sweet comforting unleaded American goodness.
The chant that defined the protest for me was “No blood for oil.” The Washington Police were great but then so were the protestors; an ardent, passionate and peaceful lot. The image that was most arresting was the sight of the empty White House surrounded by citizens. The “Surround the White House” protest was supposed to have taken place on September 29th 2001. But that day was pre-empted by 9/11. So here it was one year and one month later, the unoccupied people’s house surrounded by the occupied people.
Always inconvenient when the Bush Junta and the CIA creates an enemy like Bin Laden so they can mastermind the death of thousands of American citizens to add a few million to line their pockets, in addition to all those millions they already have, eh? Though he doesn’t say so explicitly, Davis here raises the familiar moan that went across the pantheon of the left after 9/11: “Fuck! All our causes are going to suffer because of this. Damn Bin Laden! Wait, wait, no. I shouldn’t say that. Damn Bush and the Republicans! Yeah, that’s the ticket. I am absolutely sure they actually caused this, if only indirectly. And as soon as Noam Chomsky writes something about it, I’ll be able to tell you why.”
But no need to worry your addled little head off, Davis. After all, the “Surround the White House” gig went off anyway. Just for completely different reasons, but hey, we’re still out and protesting something, and that’s what’s important right?
“As if it matters. k9 erotic stories..” and all that good stuff. Don’t let the cracks show now, Davis! You might actually let on that a protest of a hodgepodge of malcontents, one of which can’t write an article without throwing in just about every silly fallacy and talking point of the left, actually doesn’t matter. We can’t have that.
that blatantly called for some rhetorical bitch-slapping.The article also points to this site, which maintains a running clock of how long it will be until Mitnick can start
Falwell was a "mercenary and must be killed," the Farsi-language daily Abrar reported Saturday.
I see. Did you talk to this "everyone" at your International Socialist Organization direct action planning seminar or
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
I was already in a state of "moving on" and being "over it" before I even heard about the Bali attacks, with the result
rivals.
not just "fear," as if we're going to indiscriminantly nuke the floor under our beds because monsters might be hiding there.
To quote a boozed up, cynical and misanthropic individual whom I greatly admire: "Making fun of these people is like
I urge anyone in the bay area who has the time on the 16th to come as well and lend credence with your example to the
It may be a sad illustration of my lack to find sympathy within myself without reading descriptions or seeing pictures,
not just "fear," as if we're going to indiscriminantly nuke the floor under our beds because monsters might be hiding there.
Don't worry, I'll sit here with my rifle ready to take out any airborne porcines, should they come flying by.
I finally went and did it.
Heaven forfend them not being on board with us!
that boiled up to the surface when I read things like this.
An insightful, well-written and quite simply excellent column somehow found its way in the SF Chronicle's website today.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
world that even today harbors and offers succor to the same groups that piloted the 9/11 planes, right?
it is shoved, in all its detailed horror, right into my face.
University or Diversity
Don't worry, I'll sit here with my rifle ready to take out any airborne porcines, should they come flying by.
Well, being the abject conformist that I am, I would like to welcome all new and oldcomers to my new blog, which will
the world to stomach the imperial scent of our newly enunciated military doctrine that proposes pre- emption of any powerful
a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying.
of fist.
A taste, just a taste...
Saddam is so hot to get his grubby hands on nukes is enough evidence of aggression. What's he going to do with them once
superiority.
about equal probability.
course grew out of the experience of 9/11.
that I hadn't thought of it first!
which is all about the biggest threat to the security of all companies: their own employees.
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
If a good education is meant to produce independent thinkers, I've seen precious little evidence it does. Education is
"approach parody" is too mild. They sprinted towards parody, jumped on top of it and proceded to give parody a spirited
Another Australian tourist, 18-year-old Rachel Hughes, said she and her boyfriend had just arrived in Kuta when the blast
has been built up around Mitnick, a basically curious guy who just as often used old face-to-face (or voice-to-voice)
To quote a boozed up, cynical and misanthropic individual whom I greatly admire: "Making fun of these people is like
really just put Saddam in a better situation than he was before because the presence of inspectors invites complacency and
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
morally, that this is the right thing to do.
cutting-edge performance art group impersonating real anti-war folks, as the whole ordeal seemed to approach parody. No,
economic stupidity, especially when their ideas would do such a better job of it by themselves. Case in point:
What it does not mean however, is that this suddenly signals that we are going to be going after China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
vaunted proof of yours. Then you could be really sure.
That is, until this morning. Now I'm glad to say that I've gotten over getting over it, and am thoroughly pissed again.
just now. Admittedly they do face significant challenges in carrying out their duties due to their imaginary nature,
Quite the contrary, Bush's aggressive rhetoric, disregard for international law, and his lack of any vision other than war
During the last half of the 20th century, this principle was expanded internationally through the United Nations. The U.N.
chanting in his face and moved in front of him every time he tried to get around her.
needed now was healing, closure; in short, to "get over it" and "move on."
the efforts to find these people and eradicate them, to ferret them out from their cowardly hiding places and vaporize
destroying the technological infrastructure of Western civilization again. And it's only 3 months away!
But it's not really fair to denigrate someone's ideas just because they themselves come from an organization riddled with
so that he will be better equipped to fulfill point 1). Show me another nation that's like that today.
During that protest, my girlfriend had to take a midterm in Wheeler auditorium and had to step over the bodies lying in
vaunted proof of yours. Then you could be really sure.
he revealed himself to be a seriously dishonest debater (that, or he was so stupid that it wouldn't be safe for him to
Why are you still here?!
In theory, I was of course angry, but I had a vaguely detatched sense about the whole thing. A large part of that of
not just "fear," as if we're going to indiscriminantly nuke the floor under our beds because monsters might be hiding there.
cause, but I,
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
assures everyone that "Don't worry, the problem is being taking care of by the inspectors."
Shiite Muslim clerics in Lebanon and Iran have reacted with rage at the Rev. Jerry Falwell for calling Islam's prophet
It is time for a new day to dawn in the Blogosphere, my gnome brothers. A glorious day. A day when no longer will we
when you apply your own internal calculus of death and suffering and conclude that it isn't something that you need
a careful, precise argument, what point is there in engaging them verbally anymore?
chanting in his face and moved in front of him every time he tried to get around her.
Do you mean the Muslim world that celebrated 9/11, saying the US deserved it all along? Or perhaps you mean the Muslim world
My sentences, thus decreed, will be subsequently carried out by my elite brigade of Beheading Gnomes, whom I made up
Quite the contrary, Bush's aggressive rhetoric, disregard for international law, and his lack of any vision other than war
So seeing as how we've got massive approval from the House of Representatives and similar support in the senate is likely,
has been built up around Mitnick, a basically curious guy who just as often used old face-to-face (or voice-to-voice)
needed now was healing, closure; in short, to "get over it" and "move on."
the efforts to find these people and eradicate them, to ferret them out from their cowardly hiding places and vaporize
destroying the technological infrastructure of Western civilization again. And it's only 3 months away!
rivals.
Kevin Mitnick will be able to use a computer again in approximately 3 months.
to really concern yourself with, except in a somewhat general, theoretical way.
conflict.
news editors of Cannel 7 to allow, as the segment ended right there.
being the reaction described above.
but they make up for any lack of actual existence with pure unadulterated enthusiasm.
going to be monitored so closely that I'd be surprised if he were able to put in a phony name at a porn site and not have
looks like a green light, no?
for the life of me, cannot see it. The news showed a clip of a guy trying politely to walk around a woman so self-righteous
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
Hey, didn't there used to be a city where this smoking crater is?
Heh. Didn't Nostradamus write something about "a bespeckled plague rising in the West..."?
One of the great advances of the modern era has been the spread of the rule of law. This is the now common idea that
Now of course I'm sure that these open-toed folks have a flurry of perfectly well thought-out reasons as to why pissing
I see. Did you talk to this "everyone" at your International Socialist Organization direct action planning seminar or
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
serves? As far as I can tell, all they did was take some people who were probably overwhelmingly against the war anyway,
fact that these people are thugs, bullies and liars.
slope proposition, claiming that because we go after Saddam, we'll suddenly be all aggro-ed up to obliterate any country
Stand up to these thugs This Wednesday, the 16th at noon, an apparent composite of the Students for Justice in Palestine
During the last half of the 20th century, this principle was expanded internationally through the United Nations. The U.N.
computer systems.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
By tossing out any reasonable standards of evidence as a prerequisite for military action, the White House puts us in a state
Iranian cleric Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, addressing weekly Friday prayers in the northwestern town of Tabriz, said
economic stupidity, especially when their ideas would do such a better job of it by themselves. Case in point:
information with your heads crammed so far up your asses, so I'll give you a pass.
So I hereby declare myself Ayatollah Mustardah of Blogistan. From this day forward, I will call down, on any Idiotarian
"What I found personally to be true was that it's easier to manipulate people rather than technology," he said.
That is, until this morning. Now I'm glad to say that I've gotten over getting over it, and am thoroughly pissed again.
The fact that this is being published in the Chronicle is no small feat. Even more reason for you to go read it.
going to be monitored so closely that I'd be surprised if he were able to put in a phony name at a porn site and not have
looks like a green light, no?
you could see stink lines of self-satisfaction coming off her so that he could simply get to his job. She of course started
Do you mean the Muslim world that celebrated 9/11, saying the US deserved it all along? Or perhaps you mean the Muslim world
them into a thin paste of protein on a cave wall, to wipe out every last vestige of the disgusting stain they have left
cutting-edge performance art group impersonating real anti-war folks, as the whole ordeal seemed to approach parody. No,
that boiled up to the surface when I read things like this.
I don't know about you people, but I'm already stocking up on extra food, water, and electrons.
To quote a boozed up, cynical and misanthropic individual whom I greatly admire: "Making fun of these people is like
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
I tried to present my ideas in an honest and truthful way, and not be seriously offensive, even when he acted in ways
but I hope to do that soon. I also hope to win the Nobel Prize in Kickboxing, and judge each of those things to be of
that has the temerity to look at us cock-eyed.
owned," she pontificated, in that snotty "52% of my clothes are made of hemp which therefore makes me morally superior
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
Whereas the Cold War doctrine of deterrence and containment rested on strength, the new idea of pre-emption insists on U.S.
Also, I've printed out and made a bunch of copies of some flyers from this site and will be passing them out.
morally, that this is the right thing to do.
hacky-sack?"
economic stupidity, especially when their ideas would do such a better job of it by themselves. Case in point:
of fist.
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
really just put Saddam in a better situation than he was before because the presence of inspectors invites complacency and
that blatantly called for some rhetorical bitch-slapping.
alternative economy." I suppose that's better PR than saying they want to impose a grab bag full of sociialistic silliness
care. Just don't let me hear anything about how this bombing that specifically targeted Australian civilians was somehow
, "I don't believe the American people support this war. Everyone I've talked to is against it!"
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
Containment and deterrence were responses to US weakness, you silly-headed dunderpate. It was obvious that using direct
I urge anyone in the bay area who has the time on the 16th to come as well and lend credence with your example to the
in words so much more exacting than even those who actually live in that time would be able to produce?
"The death of that man is a religious duty, but his case should not be tied to the Christian community," Shabestari,
by both Instapundit and Cold Fury (and probably by sundry others by now):
information with your heads crammed so far up your asses, so I'll give you a pass.
find testimonials to diversity. Flip through any recent social sciences or humanities textbook and diversity pops up with
to penetrate.
the world to stomach the imperial scent of our newly enunciated military doctrine that proposes pre- emption of any powerful
nothing may stand in our way!
to really concern yourself with, except in a somewhat general, theoretical way.
Maybe I can't change the fact that I have to be intimately confronted with the death and pain in order to really feel the
Eventually he got a little ticked off and said roughly, "Get away from me!" I was hungrily anticipating the energetic dissenter
that continues to characterize the US as the Great Satan and preach jihad against all things Western? Oh I know, the Muslim
of constant uncertainty and increased insecurity where almost anything could lead to war.
"approach parody" is too mild. They sprinted towards parody, jumped on top of it and proceded to give parody a spirited
looks like a green light, no?
lying in order to gain information that gave him access to restricted systems.
For that reason and others, I didn't actually start reading the news coverage until this morning.
assures everyone that "Don't worry, the problem is being taking care of by the inspectors."
and make them wish that congress had instead passed a resolution authorizing military force against people
agree that [insert additional badly-forced car metaphor here]!
care. Just don't let me hear anything about how this bombing that specifically targeted Australian civilians was somehow
During that protest, my girlfriend had to take a midterm in Wheeler auditorium and had to step over the bodies lying in
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
nuclear weapons. Containment was born out of a realization that we were effectively restrained by our lack of strategic
So welcome. If this is the first and/or only post you can see, it means I haven't imported my archives from Blogspot yet,
way why we're doing all of this, and why, if they still choose to berate us about "root causes" and "birds coming home
a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying.
threaten the United States, he said we must "assume the worst." Essentially, the White House is proposing that the
Whereas the Cold War doctrine of deterrence and containment rested on strength, the new idea of pre-emption insists on U.S.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
over the heads of the world's nations as threat so that he can act willy-nilly in whatever new adventure captures his
Russia and shit. Besides, it's just the Russians. Why don't we just contain them or something? Hey, who's up for some
But it's not really fair to denigrate someone's ideas just because they themselves come from an organization riddled with
when you apply your own internal calculus of death and suffering and conclude that it isn't something that you need
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
And exactly how do you go from no "final proof" to there being no evidence of impending aggression? The very fact that
use grown-up scissors), but nevertheless, even though he really didn't deserve it,
about equal probability.
go it alone. What he failed to do was tell us who the members of his war coalition are. Why? Because there is no coalition.
University or Diversity
sloth, or as an instrument to further the ends of despotism or anarchy.
However, several of the exchanges I have had have definately been with those you might describe as "challeneged" in
who has been deprived of food for at least 6 hours - sounds like an unusually cruel thing to do, I know, but I'm sure
who like to chant slogans and can't come up with any better rhyme than something that has to do with the number "four" and "war."
One of the great advances of the modern era has been the spread of the rule of law. This is the now common idea that
of the mass moron movement.
Wheeler Hall last spring.
I guess not. The fact that the UN is anything but democratic since the vast majority of countries represented there do not
nuclear weapons. Containment was born out of a realization that we were effectively restrained by our lack of strategic
50 Ways to Leave Your Folly Common Dreams, that goldmine of general silliness, showcases this piece, The Folly of Pre-emptive
Quite the contrary, Bush's aggressive rhetoric, disregard for international law, and his lack of any vision other than war
and the decisions to do so would based on (as in this case) measured calculations of the relative benefits and costs,
of righteousness; and it becomes a very evil thing if it serves merely as a mask for cowardice and
The experience made me think of the instructions from all corners of the media after 9/11 that what we, as Americans,
who has been deprived of food for at least 6 hours - sounds like an unusually cruel thing to do, I know, but I'm sure
Saddam will use these nukes when he gets them, whether that use takes the form of vaporizing a city or merely being hung
rivals.
to the San Francisco federal building to protest the passage of Bush's resolution for action against Iraq.
only be revealed as more useless than it already seems), there is right now a coalition prepared to go into Iraq with the
a careful, precise argument, what point is there in engaging them verbally anymore?
"What I found personally to be true was that it's easier to manipulate people rather than technology," he said.
world that even today harbors and offers succor to the same groups that piloted the 9/11 planes, right?
slope proposition, claiming that because we go after Saddam, we'll suddenly be all aggro-ed up to obliterate any country
going to be monitored so closely that I'd be surprised if he were able to put in a phony name at a porn site and not have
looks like a green light, no?
In fact, the idea of pre- emptive attack depends on fear. It presupposes insecurity and assumes we will always be threatened.
In your face, Space Coyote!
"I said it's being taken care of, dammit. Mind your own business."
Russia and shit. Besides, it's just the Russians. Why don't we just contain them or something? Hey, who's up for some
But it's not really fair to denigrate someone's ideas just because they themselves come from an organization riddled with
What it does not mean however, is that this suddenly signals that we are going to be going after China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba
Now at this point, most people would just say, "let it go, and move on."
rather than submit to infamy or see those that are dear to him suffer wrong.
he revealed himself to be a seriously dishonest debater (that, or he was so stupid that it wouldn't be safe for him to
but they make up for any lack of actual existence with pure unadulterated enthusiasm.
Quite the contrary, Bush's aggressive rhetoric, disregard for international law, and his lack of any vision other than war
So seeing as how we've got massive approval from the House of Representatives and similar support in the senate is likely,
cause, but I,
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
the efforts to find these people and eradicate them, to ferret them out from their cowardly hiding places and vaporize
I figured that was the way to go. But then I read this.
You mean everyone in America aren't like San Franciscans?
Don't you people ever get tired of just pulling shit out of your asses?
anger that is so justifiable -no, demanded- by these despicable acts, but if that must be the case, then from on, I'll be
computer systems.
I finally went and did it.
of constant uncertainty and increased insecurity where almost anything could lead to war.
curiosity that trumps any sort of legal resriction placed on him, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that he's
According to the president, "we cannot wait for the final proof" that Saddam Hussein's government is planning an imminent
of fist.
hunting dairy cows with a high-powered rifle and scope."
that off my list of things to do. Now, on to learning how to square-dance."
superiority.
be harried by idiots who have full compliments of heads and genitals! With the ranks of my imaginary gnomes rallied,
Don't you people ever get tired of just pulling shit out of your asses?
I mean come on, when you're arguing with someone who's just going to call you a Nazi when you spend 2,000 words making
which is all about the biggest threat to the security of all companies: their own employees.
The Muslim world -- whose support is vital to any real effort to end the causes of terrorism -- is adamantly opposed.
Finally, long after the fad has grown tiresome, everyone's attention turns to another scrap of dogma for the next decade.
Heh. Didn't Nostradamus write something about "a bespeckled plague rising in the West..."?
that boiled up to the surface when I read things like this.
or any other simply crappy country in the world, because none of them satisfy both those propositions.
the way. Apparently that wasn't enough for the however, because they then started pulling at her legs to keep her from
really just put Saddam in a better situation than he was before because the presence of inspectors invites complacency and
and make them wish that congress had instead passed a resolution authorizing military force against people
about equal probability.
Sorry folks, but slippery slope arguments don't hold water by themselves. We're going after Saddam because he 1) has shown
An insightful, well-written and quite simply excellent column somehow found its way in the SF Chronicle's website today.
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
I suppose you mean that it's not "multilateralist" unless France says so?
If a good education is meant to produce independent thinkers, I've seen precious little evidence it does. Education is
psychopathic fancy without fear of retribution.
democratically decided laws - - not the capriciousness of individual rulers -- should govern human affairs.
I don't know about you people, but I'm already stocking up on extra food, water, and electrons.
information with your heads crammed so far up your asses, so I'll give you a pass.
And at most, UN weapons inspectors have delayed conflict by a few years, not averted it. In actualyity, I think they have
Now could someone please tell me what concrete purpose that woman's behavior, and that of her great chanting unwashed bretheren,
War, by three fellows that hail from Global Exchange. You know who I'm talking about. The folks that want to "build an
When I first heard about the bombing in Bali, my initial reaction was, "Another terrorist attack? Well, of course."
that I hadn't thought of it first!
We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but
And perhaps because of the collective weight of all those accumulated exhortations, perhaps from the psychic weariness
them into a thin paste of protein on a cave wall, to wipe out every last vestige of the disgusting stain they have left
Heh. Didn't Nostradamus write something about "a bespeckled plague rising in the West..."?
One of the great advances of the modern era has been the spread of the rule of law. This is the now common idea that
of the mass moron movement.
I see. Did you talk to this "everyone" at your International Socialist Organization direct action planning seminar or
vaunted proof of yours. Then you could be really sure.
he revealed himself to be a seriously dishonest debater (that, or he was so stupid that it wouldn't be safe for him to
but I hope to do that soon. I also hope to win the Nobel Prize in Kickboxing, and judge each of those things to be of
Quite the contrary, Bush's aggressive rhetoric, disregard for international law, and his lack of any vision other than war
a representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying.
you could see stink lines of self-satisfaction coming off her so that he could simply get to his job. She of course started
And perhaps because of the collective weight of all those accumulated exhortations, perhaps from the psychic weariness
the teacher trying to impress both of them.
When they aired some actual interviews with the protesters, I started to honestly think they were part of some sort of
Replace "powerful" with "crazy and armed with nukes" and you'd be right. Otherwise, your statement is nonsense.
so that he will be better equipped to fulfill point 1). Show me another nation that's like that today.
I see. Did you talk to this "everyone" at your International Socialist Organization direct action planning seminar or
making a point of reading in depth about any such future atrocity to ensure that I don't allow myself to be instantly "over it."
Containment and deterrence were responses to US weakness, you silly-headed dunderpate. It was obvious that using direct
My sentences, thus decreed, will be subsequently carried out by my elite brigade of Beheading Gnomes, whom I made up
Bush also spoke of an "international coalition" that would disarm Hussein. Bush knows the American public is loathe to
So seeing as how we've got massive approval from the House of Representatives and similar support in the senate is likely,
has been built up around Mitnick, a basically curious guy who just as often used old face-to-face (or voice-to-voice)
Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard at 09:13 PM | Comments (4)
the efforts to find these people and eradicate them, to ferret them out from their cowardly hiding places and vaporize
superiority.
about equal probability.
After 3000 of your countrymen die in a couple hours, anything less than that is wont to be downplayed in significance
I mean come on, when you're arguing with someone who's just going to call you a Nazi when you spend 2,000 words making
which is all about the biggest threat to the security of all companies: their own employees.
to elicit empathy had been raised considerably since 9/11,
just now. Admittedly they do face significant challenges in carrying out their duties due to their imaginary nature,
cutting-edge performance art group impersonating real anti-war folks, as the whole ordeal seemed to approach parody. No,
democratically decided laws - - not the capriciousness of individual rulers -- should govern human affairs.
of fist.
trying to get an education
And at most, UN weapons inspectors have delayed conflict by a few years, not averted it. In actualyity, I think they have
I tried to present my ideas in an honest and truthful way, and not be seriously offensive, even when he acted in ways
about equal probability.
join the majority of the world's nations in distancing themselves from Washington in a fashion not seen since the Vietnam War.
During the last half of the 20th century, this principle was expanded internationally through the United Nations. The U.N.
which is all about the biggest threat to the security of all companies: their own employees.
Well I wouldn't be surprised if this Wednesday at Sproul there will be similar behavior, and I plan to be there. Maybe
"I said it's being taken care of, dammit. Mind your own business."
Russia and shit. Besides, it's just the Russians. Why don't we just contain them or something? Hey, who's up for some
agree that [insert additional badly-forced car metaphor here]!
when you apply your own internal calculus of death and suffering and conclude that it isn't something that you need
a careful, precise argument, what point is there in engaging them verbally anymore?
vaunted proof of yours. Then you could be really sure.
that continues to characterize the US as the Great Satan and preach jihad against all things Western? Oh I know, the Muslim
My sentences, thus decreed, will be subsequently carried out by my elite brigade of Beheading Gnomes, whom I made up
go it alone. What he failed to do was tell us who the members of his war coalition are. Why? Because there is no coalition.
looks like a green light, no?
you could see stink lines of self-satisfaction coming off her so that he could simply get to his job. She of course started
The experience made me think of the instructions from all corners of the media after 9/11 that what we, as Americans,
Hey, didn't there used to be a city where this smoking crater is?
last update : 10-3-2010
