Voldemort defeats Hermione

dwicks

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Wednesday November 09, 2016 · 11:17 AM PST

2016/11/09 · 11:17

Death Eaters rejoice.

Gryffindors vow to protect muggles.

Why wasn't Obama at Iraq-Kuwait border?

dwicks

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Thursday August 19, 2010 · 5:13 PM PDT

2010/08/19 · 17:13

I don't mean that literally. President Obama welcoming the troops out of the danger of Iraq and into the safety of Kuwait would have been incredibly cheesy and manipulative, like W landing on the aircraft carrier. But let's not forget, as much as we mock W today for "Mission Accomplished", that was a damn successful photo op in its day.

dwicks

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Saturday March 20, 2010 · 5:40 PM PDT

2010/03/20 · 17:40

Health care reform, as currently formulated in the Senate bill and the planned reconciliation, is much better for the insurance industry than it is for the public. While I am sympathetic to my fellow progressives who support the current bill, I believe base political pragmatism and not the public good is the real reason it will (probably) pass.

Here's why . . .

dwicks

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Sunday June 22, 2008 · 12:48 PM PDT

2008/06/22 · 12:48

Amid our anger at Pelosi and Hoyer, most of us are dissappointed at the lack of leadership shown during the FISA mess by our Presidential nominee, Barack Obama. As others have pointed out, this bill could not have passed the House, could not even have come to the floor, without Obama's tacit approval.

Given the clear nonsense spouted by Pelosi and others in support of this travesty, one wonders what led these intelligent people to work so hard to make such a blunder, and why a presidential candidate believed to be "transcendent" by his supporters (me included), would go along with it.

dwicks

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Saturday May 10, 2008 · 5:53 PM PDT

2008/05/10 · 17:53

One of the frustrations of being a Democrat is the ongoing failure of our representatives to even try to make a case for leaving Iraq now. Perhaps they fear the Republican "cut and run" tag, or are content to let the Republicans "own" Iraq and run against it. Even Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton are vague on when and if they would extricate our troops from the mess President AWOL dumped them into.

This position is convenient politically, perhaps even smart. Letting the public vote against Republicans is probably sufficient to extend our Congressional majorities and hopefully get our Presidential nominee elected. But this safe course is neither brave nor bold, and doesn't really give anyone much reason to vote for Democrats.

Despite this political expediency, what puzzles and disappoints me is that one can make a simple but compelling case for leaving Iraq now . . .

dwicks

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Sunday August 05, 2007 · 8:50 AM PDT

2007/08/05 · 08:50

The email I sent to my Representative, Bud Cramer of Alabama's 5th District:

Dear Congressman Cramer,

I am very disappointed in your vote in favor of the FISA update. This bill is destructive of civil liberties, and is the product of the fear mongering that this administration is so well known for. This bill furthers Dick Cheney's grandiose notions of a unitary executive, not the security and interests of the American people. Will you look back with pride at putting the laughingstock of Washington, Alberto "I cannot remember" Gonzales, in charge of eavesdropping on American citizens?

This bill is not in the interests of the Democratic party either. Again and again, Democrats cave to pressure from the White House, afraid of "looking weak". Voting for this bill, giving in to the least supported and most disliked President of all time, is weak. Furthermore, as with the Homeland Security bill and the AUMF, the Republicans will still use it against you.

Both politically and (infinitely more importantly) in the interests of your constituents, your support of this bill is a terrible mistake.

Sincerely,

Iraq: Decisive Ideological Struggle?

dwicks

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Friday January 05, 2007 · 1:48 PM PST

2007/01/05 · 13:48

This is the most concise and apt summary of our current choice in Iraq that I have seen. From Tim Grieve, proprietor of Salon.com's "War Room":

[E]ither the war in Iraq is the central front in the "decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century" or it isn't. If it is -- and if there's a chance of winning it -- doesn't it make sense to flood the zone with every last resource we can muster? Raise taxes to pay for the war effort, reinstate the draft and send every last soldier we can muster to win a decisive, "shock and awe" sort of victory that will wrap up the battle of Iraq in short order and send an unmistakable message to the rest of the world.

And if it isn't? That is, if the war in Iraq isn't really the central front in the "decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century," or if it is but can't be won anyway, then how can you justify maintaining current troop levels there, let alone sending 20,000 more troops to fight in a cause that is either A) not important enough to fight big, or B) not winnable even if you do?

Paper Trails and Puppydog Tails

dwicks

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Sunday September 17, 2006 · 5:28 PM PDT

2006/09/17 · 17:28

Late November, 2004: Following the Ukranian presidential election, it is the official policy of the U.S. Government that discrepancies between exit polls and vote tabulations, along with anecdotal evidence of vote suppression, are strong indications the election was rigged by the incumbent government. The U.S. Government refuses to recognize the election results.

Early November, 2004: Following the Ohio presidential election, it is the official policy of the U.S. Government that discrepancies between exit polls and vote tabulations, along with anecdotal evidence of vote suppression, were made up by whining Democrats.

If a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, outrageous inconsistency is S.O.P. for elected officials wanting to hold on to power.

dwicks

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

Saturday September 16, 2006 · 2:19 PM PDT

2006/09/16 · 14:19

A staple of all softare books is the "Hello World" program, the simple first program that gets the programmer into the syntax of a new language. This is my "Hello World" diary entry on Daily Kos.

Most of my diary entries will be of the "op-ed" variety, commenting about current political events, hopefully with intelligence and a bit of insight. (We'll see.) I may write snippy things about individual Republicans, but I will try to avoid sweeping generalizations about conservatives. Baseless generalizations are for brain-dead douchebags like Coulter and Limbaugh. (There: My first snippy comment about individual Republicans!)

I am excited to be a part of the Daily Kos community. The liberal blogosphere is a growing voice and an infusion of spirit within the Democratic party, and the emerging counterpoint to the right-wing echo chamber. For now, my part is to yell "Amen" when Markos and the other front-pagers make a good point. Eventually, I hope to add some good points of my own.

RSS

Voldemort defeats Hermione

Why wasn't Obama at Iraq-Kuwait border?

The Sad Bottom Line on Dem Health Care "Reform"

FISA and the Limits of Transcendence

Two simple reasons to leave Iraq NOW

Email to my Congressman on FISA

Iraq: Decisive Ideological Struggle?

Paper Trails and Puppydog Tails

My "Hello World" Diary Entry