Please Don't Quote Bin Laden

There has been much talk today of OBL's latest video, and understandably so. The last one he put out was days before the tragic 2004 election, and arguably helped sway the total toward Bush and the resulting hell we have suffered ever since.

Nowadays he puffs his chest out and talks shit about the Democratic Congress. I am actually quite disappointed with the folks we put into power. But I will never allow Osama bin Laden to make my point for me.

This is the man who handed the 2004 election to Bush by talking shit. Do you honestly believe he is not now trying to throw the election to Giuliani, or whoever, who will promise to "continue the struggle," or whatever Orwellian slogan they are pushing this week? (Oh plus Pakistan is our ally.)

Let's not use this guy as a source for our entirely credible arguments. We have the facts on our side.

•  Our argument stand on its merits.

  We don't need anyone except those we elected to make it for us.

  by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:25:42 PM PDT

  •  What argument?

    So shoot me, I lost track. Not that I would defend OBL but:

    "You elected the Democratic Party for this purpose," he says, according to a translated transcript of the tape. "On the contrary, they continue to agree to spending of tens of billions to continue the killings and the war there."

    Wanna argue with that? I don't.

    And, yep, we elected them. Go figure who is supporting whom.

    by MrSandman on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:41:53 PM PDT

    •  There is plenty of evidence besides his testimony

      by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:57:09 PM PDT

      •  Evidence for which??? What???

        That our dems have caved? That the dems we elected to put an end to this travesty can't triangulate a response that appeals to the pollsters?

        Check it out. The pre-emptive capitulation thing. The facts are really, really depressing. Which doesn't make OBL right; it just makes him more clear than our own elected reps.

        by MrSandman on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:22:15 PM PDT

        •  Actually, that does make him right...eom

          by Jacques on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:48:22 PM PDT

•  He's not even worth a diary. DELETE!

  by Pitias on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:31:49 PM PDT

  •  Okay but that was kind of my point. n/t

    by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:33:30 PM PDT

    •  I know :-)

      by Pitias on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:35:22 PM PDT

      •  Ha - sorry

        second week of law school classes (although it feels like the 15th); my snarkometer is a bit off. :)

        by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:36:23 PM PDT

        •  Guess mine is off too. Glad we're cool.

          Law school classes? Ouch. Good luck.

          by Pitias on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:38:21 PM PDT

          •  Thanks, P. Much appreciated :)

            by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:50:30 PM PDT

  •  Don't agree

    on the delete command.  Reagan said what he wanted to say, why should he delete it?  We are big boys, we need to deal with all issues.

    by TurkeyCreek on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:45:53 PM PDT

•  He recomends chomsky this time

  does that make Chomsky wrong?

  by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:34:15 PM PDT

  •  exactly. he mentions men-made global warming

    does that make it wrong too?

    by duha on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:38:49 PM PDT

    •  Nope

      Of course both of his points are "right." But there are plenty of other people to quote for it.

      He is using this great nation for propaganda purposes.

      by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:40:09 PM PDT

      •  so, nobody's using Bin Laden

        as an expert on U.S. politics or global warming so I don't get what the point of your diary is.

        by duha on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:42:55 PM PDT

        •  There have been several diaries posted n/t

          by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:49:37 PM PDT

          •  what diaries posted

            have cited Bin Laden as an expert on U.S. politics or global climate change?  

            by duha on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:53:54 PM PDT

  •  No but

    the logic of that argument is that Chomsky:OBL as Democrats:OBL. That's not my point here.

    The Dems are wrong, to a great extent, but I don't want the WTC butcher to make that point for us. It has nothing to do with whether or not he has an accurate point every once in a while. If OBL says it's beautiful outside and it is, I don't want to quote him saying it. I can say it myself.

    by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:39:20 PM PDT

    •  OK. What are you on?

      by VelvetElvis on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:36:29 PM PDT

      •  Nice substantiative reply. n/t

        by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:25:32 PM PDT

•  hmm

  This is the man who handed the 2004 election to Bush by talking shit.

  he has done more than that

  by TurkeyCreek on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:38:31 PM PDT

  •  Well of course.

    I have friends who lost their parents in the Pentagon, so I understand your point. :)

    But I am talking about influence upon our politics here. OBL clearly doesn't give a shit about life; he is pushing an agenda. And I fear it is working.

    by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:42:03 PM PDT

    •  I agree with you

      we should not doubt our ideas because a villian pushes them.  Who knows why he does this?  But I DO think we need a plan to defeat Al Queda, I would really like to see a good plan.

      by TurkeyCreek on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:43:57 PM PDT

      •  Oh absolutely.

        In addition to all the other tragedies that have occured, we have left the US more open to attacks. Very good point.

        by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:58:37 PM PDT

•  Please don't quote George W. Bush

  Let's not use this guy as a source for our entirely credible arguments either. We have the facts on our side. At least we think we do.

  by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:41:54 PM PDT

  •  Please don't quote keirdubois

    Let's not use this guy as a source for commentary on anything whatsoever. His opinions are biased and he smells like elderberries.

    by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:43:40 PM PDT

    •  Now I'm all for that ;-P

      by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:45:11 PM PDT

      •  Then you are compromised

        Please appropriately refrain from commenting on anything concerning my comments.

        by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:46:33 PM PDT

        •  Heh

          n/t

          by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:47:44 PM PDT

          •  

            by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:50:02 PM PDT

            •  

              I know how you did that, smarty pants.

              by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:51:04 PM PDT

•  Osama ought to have his own ...

  ...weekly cable show. Perhaps he could come on right after Sean or Bill-O. Then, at least, maybe he could finally be tracked down at the studio and locked up for good where none of us will ever have to see his visage again.

  by Meteor Blades on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:44:12 PM PDT

  •  complete with

    Dear Ayman segments...

    by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:47:07 PM PDT

  •  I would totally stand outside and wave a sign

    saying "Hello Idaho!"

    by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:48:07 PM PDT

  •  Truth vs lies...

    What struck me from what I've seen of the Osama tape on the evening news shows tonight is how much more of what he said was true than clips we see now and again in Bush speeches.

    by mrgardon on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:57:43 PM PDT

•  So...

  If I'm doing research on a particular AQ related topic, I'm not supposed to quote one of the biggest spokesfolks even when he explains why his group does something?

  by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:46:30 PM PDT

  •  Say "You-Know-Who", won't you?

    Don't you know the name's taboo?!?!?!?

    by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:47:28 PM PDT

    •  awww shyte...

      we're gonna play the Voldemort game?

      by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:48:48 PM PDT

      •  Yeah

        Either that or the Beetlejuice game.

        by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:50:31 PM PDT

        •  sigh

          and here i was lookin for a quiet eve curled up with the cat...

          by kredwyn on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:53:58 PM PDT

          •  Be the change you wish to see

            Waste not a care on things like me.

            Seriously. It's Friday! You say "quiet evening with the cat," I say "fun romp to people-watch at the mall!" Bin Laden can go fuck himself- I'm gonna go be a slavish capitalist, dammit!

            by keirdubois on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:57:22 PM PDT

•  Bush vs Osama

  Well Osama killed about 3000 at the world trade center, pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania.  So Bush turns around and in retribution has so far killed nearly 4000 and maimed 10's of thousands.  

  by mrgardon on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:47:19 PM PDT

  •  They're both scumbags.

    Don't know which one I hate more.

    by Reagan Smash on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 05:59:52 PM PDT

•  Why Osama released the video now

  Osama wants us to stay in Iraq. The formula for his propaganda is simple. Whatever he suggests will be entirely and automatically rejected by Americans. So if he suggests a way to end the war, America will be inclined to support the war. Thats what he did in the video.

  by Fishingriver on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:09:11 PM PDT

•  I don't believe any of this

  We keep getting these bin laden videos with politically oportune messages for the bush administration.

  Frankly, after the release of the binladen video
  showing the guy wearing a watch...and now this
  one with bin laden using "just for men" on his
  beard...

  I don't believe any of it.

  I don't believe any claim by intelligence agencies that these are real.

  I don't believe the videos are real.

  I don't trust anything they say about these things.

  This is just another form of the "Iraq is buying
  uranium in Africa" thing.....not so cleverly put
  together attempts at creating a ruse.

  by LakeSuperior on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:18:49 PM PDT

•  I read the transcript of

  the OBL video.

  This man is deranged-not unlike Bush. In my opinion neither men have stated anything worth quoting.

  I understand your point though.

  by Esjaydee on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 06:59:56 PM PDT

•  OBL and BUSH

  OBL and W. Bush are both rich brats: trust fund babies; the bushes
  and binladins are members of the carlyle group: the saudis are the bushes best friends.
  On their own without their dads' money and power behind them,
  OBL and W. Bush would be unknown.

  As for the video: it is a vido from a bogeyman to frighten the
  american people.

  Sad. Very sad.

  by galaxy33 on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:28:16 PM PDT

•  don't toss OBL down the memory hole...

  Of course using his "observations" to justify progressive Democrats is stupid, but let's not bury our heads, either.

  by Astoria Chris on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:38:39 PM PDT

•  having read most of his speeches...

  ...i disagree with your statement.

  it is better to know more about what motivates people to want to destroy you than less.

  i would correct your statement by saying 'don't MIS-quote bin laden' by relying on state department spliced transcripts, but, reading a true transcript is definitely a worthwhile exercise.

  by james risser on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 07:49:38 PM PDT

•  Can't I even quote him about tax cuts?

  He sounds like a Republican. Grover Norquist in fact.

  by Danjuma on Fri Sep 07, 2007 at 09:58:31 PM PDT