Open Thread and Diary Rescue

Tonight's selections are brought to you courtesy of the Rescue Rangers.  SusanG

This evening's Rescue Rangers are nyc in exile, jennyjem, fatbyjhnsn, Dump Terry McAuliffe, dannyinla, skrp23 and pico, with Cordelia Lear earning her editor stripe under pico's wing.

Six years ago on September 11, 2001, after reading My Pet Goat and hiding on Air Force One all afternoon, George W. Bush told the nation

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

Senator Russ Feingold summed up that search

...the myopia of Iraq.

Mission effing accomplished George.  Thanks.

9/11 Memories and Tributes

• In Memoriam by AaronBa: "They were the spirits of the lives snuffed out, sparkling one last goodbye." (fatbyjhnsn)
• Two beautifully written personal remembrances of 9/11: newfie53523 remembers the love and care of a dear canine friend in Sitting with Shadow, watching the world change and beneldon recounts being a substitute teacher on that day in "Get off my plane!" (srkp23)
• Daniel K writes a reality-based look at the chain of events set off by the Day That Changed Everything in Remembering Tuesday, September 11, 2001. (jennyjem)
• Andrew C White tells a poignant, personal 9/11 story about a sister diagnosed with cancer and their parents' diverted flight in How dare they! - 9/11, Gander & Iraq. (dannyinla)

The March This Saturday

• If you need another reason to go to DC this weekend, Got a Grip provides one in Don't Think Protests Matter? The Freepers Do... (jennyjem)

Katrina Chronicles

• The latest diary in YatPundit's Katrina series, entitled The destruction of healthcare in New Orleans, describes what happened after the storm destroyed a Level 1 trauma hospital built by Governor Huey Long. (Dump Terry McAuliffe)
• In the first of what promises to be an incredible series, mbair highlights the struggles of those returning to New Orleans to secure affordable housing in Maxine Waters: "I will publicly denounce him". (nyc in exile)

Iraq War

• Jeff Huber says that General Petraeus's four stars don't exempt him from criticism, then explains why he ought to be criticized, in A Petraeus by Any Other Name. (Dump Terry McAuliffe)
• dday takes down the "standing down when they stand up" lie and tells it like it is in The Iraqi security forces: Why we cannot succeed in Iraq. (srkp23)

Social Studies Lessons

• Democrats are adopting a forward thinking strategy by reaching out to Hispanic voters. davidkc seems to think it's working in "Democrats Gain Points With Univision Debate." (fatbyjhnsn)
• One hundred and fifty years ago today, on 9-11-1857, a religious massacre of innocents called the Meadow Mountain Massacre occurred. The only convicted perpetrator was John D. Lee, the great great great grandfather of diarist Brahman Colorado who emotionally connects that tragedy to the religious intolerance that led to 9/11/2001. (dannyinla)
• AnnArborBlue catches an influential Republican in a rare moment of candor as he reveals his strategy of packaging the Party for an easy sell in Grover Norquist Tells the Truth. (jennyjem)

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