Iraq: "Big Sucking Sound"

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday April 13, 2006 · 4:05 AM PDT

2006/04/13 · 04:05

Sorry if this diary duplicates another previous one. Did a quick search and didn't find anything. However, this diary discusses an article in the New Yorker from April 4, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone already diaried this.

The article is The Lesson of Tal Afar by George Packer. http://www.newyorker.com/.... A truly outstanding piece from a guy who obviously went there and really spent some time on the ground. Quite long but definitely worth reading if you want the real picture over there.

Let me confine myself to making some points that I drew from the article. Others can add their take in the comments. I don't claim to be comprehensive of my analysis of this article. Read More

Bill Moyers Gets Downright Eloquent

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday April 09, 2006 · 10:59 PM PDT

2006/04/09 · 22:59

Bill Moyers got downright eloquent in a long piece in the Washington Spectator, reprinted at truthout.org (http://www.truthout.org/...). It's titled A Culture of Corruption. He tells a number of stories about how money and lobbyists have corrupted the US political system, some of which I hadn't heard before.

Here's the lead paragraph:

Money is choking our democracy to death. Our elections are bought out from under us and our public officials are doing the bidding of mercenaries. So powerful is the hold of wealth on politics that we cannot say America is working for all Americans. The majority may support such broad social goals as affordable medical coverage for all, decent wages for working people, safe working conditions, a secure retirement, and clean air and water, but there is no government "of, by, and for the people" to deliver on those aspirations.

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday April 07, 2006 · 5:58 PM PDT

2006/04/07 · 17:58

In a previous diary, Cheney Has A Slight Ethics Problem (http://www.dailykos.com/...) I went into my career at Schlumberger. Strange times, most of them spent in the Middle East. My year in Iran was memorable to say the least. There I was, traveling half way across the country, with a beautiful wife back at Ahwaz. It was a tough game. But I was young and very stupid. I should probably have found a job in California where we could go surfing. But both of us were happy enough, for no good reason. A truly weird, indeed surreal, aspect was that there was a Mexican restaurant a few blocks away where I could get cans of Lowenbrau beer. To this day I consider Lowenbrau the Nectar of the Gods. Read More

State Department Off To War~

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday April 06, 2006 · 3:12 PM PDT

2006/04/06 · 15:12

Obviously Bush wants to drawn down troops at least somewhat before the November elections. And obviously the Iraqis aren't "standing up so we can stand down". What to do, what to do?

Well, here's a brief article by Sidney Blumenthal that says they're forcing State Department FSOs (Foreign Service Officers) to go to Iraq and head up Provisional Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). http://www.guardian.co.uk/...
Read More

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream: Bush!

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday April 05, 2006 · 2:28 PM PDT

2006/04/05 · 14:28

Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. I know. We're progressives, and hate is not in our vocabulary. What would the Buddha think? He wasn't into hate. He was a lovely, lovely man, although with something of a weight problem.

But I am not a lovely man. I am just an ordinary schmuck who thinks that ordinary men might be able to, eventually, after a great deal of effort, make some sort of a difference in this world. Stupid, I know. My father was an ordinary man, although extraordinarily physically strong. He worked hard and loved his family. He loved to tinker in his basement workroom. He made no money at it, since he had no political cronies. What a jerk. Read More

Molly Rips Dems, Supports Feingold

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 30, 2006 · 3:20 AM PST

2006/03/30 · 03:20

Molly Ivins wrote a fine article on Commondreams.org, in which she absolutely tore into every single Democrat, except Feingold, for being a bunch of craven cowards. http://www.commondreams.org/...

Mah fellow progressives, now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of the party. I don't know about you, but I have had it with the D.C. Democrats, had it with the DLC Democrats, had it with every calculating, equivocating, triangulating, straddling, hair-splitting son of a bitch up there, and that includes Hillary Rodham Clinton.

It goes on in that vein for quite a while. First time I've seen Molly go quite so pedal to the metal. Read More

Why The Iraq Fiasco?

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday March 29, 2006 · 11:18 AM PST

2006/03/29 · 11:18

Knowledge Brings Fear
Motto of Mars U, Futurama

The above is absolutely true. The more I know about the Bush Administration, the more I am afraid.

I was thinking about writing a diary about how the CPA and Bremer (remember them?) had basically shut down all state-owned enterprises in Iraq and refused to buy anything from them (like cement), which I thought might be a pretty important element in Iraq's current troubles. But TomDispatch.com beat me to the punch, and did a far better job than I would have even dreamed of. For those who are unfamiliar with TomDispatch, this is a must-read-regularly site for all intelligent Kossacks (which is all of you, of course). I read a lot of intelligent websites and blogs, but this one is right at the top of the list. Tom Engelhardt is brilliant, the people he interviews are generally brilliant, and his guest columnists are brilliant. Read More

Octobush Surprise?

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 27, 2006 · 12:42 AM PST

2006/03/27 · 00:42

Lately everyone has been getting on about how the Republicans are in trouble in the upcoming midterm elections. Even Time has now gotten on the bandwagon saying that the Repugs could lose 15 seats in the Congress (losing control) and are within a hair's breadth of losing the Senate.

If that happens then we'll have two years of calls for censure or impeachment, all sorts of investigations, and other miscellaneous whatnot. So you know it won't happen - Bush won't allow it. We can at least expect an October Surprise.

What will it be? Read More

"Some Americans...Confidence Shaken"

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 20, 2006 · 3:58 PM PST

2006/03/20 · 15:58

Today in the NY Times, Bush is quoted as saying, "I can understand how some Americans have had their confidence shaken." (http://www.nytimes.com/...) Umm, well, no.

Dubya, over 60% of Americans do not approve of your handling of the war. Only 30% or so do approve. That is not "Some Americans", that is "The Majority of Americans". I could say, "The Vast Majority", but to me "Vast Majority" means 80% or 90% or more. So since I am careful with words, unlike you, I won't say that. I'll just say "Majority".

But when Americans disapprove by a 2-1 margin then please don't say "Some". Read More

Power Corrupts...

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday March 19, 2006 · 6:46 PM PST

2006/03/19 · 18:46

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. (Lord Acton)

This is an amazing quote, when you think about it. Only seven words long, three of them repeated in slightly different forms. Brief and elegant in its use of language, it is a one-liner that most people have heard, and certainly almost everyone on DailyKos.

But it's more amazing than that. In seven short words it captures an important essence of the human condition. It's demonstrably true, or else it would be nothing more than clever wordplay and would have faded from our consciousness long ago.
Read More

Important Milestone: April 27

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 16, 2006 · 3:05 PM PST

2006/03/16 · 15:05

Many people still say that President Bush has 3 years to go in his presidency. Now, it may be that the paranoids are right and that he will simply start ruling by martial law, in which case all bets are off and he may rule indefinitely. But if he leaves office according to plan, that will be on January 20, 2009. This is, as of right now, less than 3 years. Closer to 2 years 10 months, but who's counting?

Me, that's who. So with great effort and at great expense, I determined the following fun fact for loyal DailKos readers. On April 27, a little over one month away, The Imperial Presidency of George W. Bush will officially have 1000 days left to live. If you can call it 'living'.

Let the countdown begin.

Cheney's Slight Ethics Problem

Krusty

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 09, 2006 · 6:07 PM PST

2006/03/09 · 18:07

I'm not sure this diary is necessary - we all know Cheney's got real problems in the ethics department. But I think that Cheney needs a little attention once in a while, so I'll do it anyway. I have always wondered what the hell was up with Cheney actually receiving a "deferred salary" and stock options from Halliburton while acting as VP, but this article in Truthout.org (titled See Dick Loot) really brought it all back to me with sledgehammer force. (http://www.truthout.org/...). If nothing else, I hope this diary will cause you to read the article, which I think deserves wide play.

More... Read More

Newer
Older

RSS