I’ll be watching the State of the Union tonight and offering running commentary on the blog. Feel free to whip up some nachos and watch along.
PAD
I’ll be watching the State of the Union tonight and offering running commentary on the blog. Feel free to whip up some nachos and watch along.
PAD
• 
No jalapenos, please.
WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! Talk about apointment blogging. After way too many times listening to this crap I can almost write Bush’s speach for him and as much as it pains me to say it, I can almost write the smart ášš responses by the other side also. My only question is this. Do any of the people on this blog who constantly whine about how the Republicans are doing it sooooo wrong belong to any organization that is actively trying to do something about the issues or are they simply content with whining? In a previous post I put forth the request for submissions showing how it can be done right and fixed, and got very few replies. I love this blog and the free expression of everyones ideas but after a while it just gets old and both sides end up sounding like Charlie Brown’s teacher, bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa.
I’m looking forward to a refreshing lack of claptrap.
Lets set up the rules for the drinking game first!
some ideas:
Referring to more of the same as a ‘New’ stratgey should only be worth a sip or livers may explode.
Giving billions to ADM and calling it an energy policy could be worth a full drink since it isn’t a sure thing.
OK, Mike Abbott gets my vote for President. THAT is a strategy. Now I seriously can’t wait for tonight. Thanks, I needed that.
“My only question is this. Do any of the people on this blog who constantly whine about how the Republicans are doing it sooooo wrong belong to any organization that is actively trying to do something about the issues or are they simply content with whining?”
Well, putting aside that offering commentary IS a form of actively trying to do something about issues, I’m a card carrying member of the ACLU (at least I was; I have to check if my membership is up to date), and am on the board of directors of the CBLDF, an organization dedicated to preserving free speech in a political environment that’s dedicated to systematically eliminating all rights of privacy (except, of course, gun ownership, God forbid). Oh, and when I provide my opinions, I attach my name to it so that people know I’m all grown up, instead of cutesy monikers like…I dunno…Shadowquest.
PAD
For those interested in an external perspective:
“A dámņìņg global judgement on Bush”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=430692&in_page_id=1770
Cheers!
Peter David: “I’m a card carrying member of the ACLU (at least I was; I have to check if my membership is up to date), and am on the board of directors of the CBLDF, an organization dedicated to preserving free speech in a political environment that’s dedicated to systematically eliminating all rights of privacy (except, of course, gun ownership, God forbid).”
Yeah, but what are you doing besides that??? 😉
I’m only going to listen to Jim Webb’s response.
I hope he says something ballsy… like a declaration of democratic support for universal health care.
Congratulations PAD, I too am a card carrying member of the ACLU (and mine is up to date I assure you), and as far as the CBLDF thanks to your blog I am in the process of donating to them also. But once again as always, all I see is your criteria for being right in your discussions, not an actual idea about how to fix things other than talking about them. Point blank question. What would you do different in Iraq now that the situation is already admittedly clustered. As far as the “cutesy moniker” there were already 5 different variations on my name with Typekey already in use on the main blog that I popst to so I chose to go with a product that my company is producing. I really love the fact that some people on here, when backed into a corner result to name calling. Hey I can remember third grade too.
Drinking game suggestions:
If Bush mentions 9/11 and Iraq in the same sentence (again), take a shot.
If he mentions Saddam’s hanging as bringing a dictator to justice, take two shots.
Stock words like “surge”, “new way forward”, etc. are all worth a shot.
If he mentions a bold new initiative he has no intention of paying for, like a manned mission to Mars or curing our addiction to oil, take four shots. Save one shot for the next morning when Tony Snow has to explain that Bush didn’t realy mean it.
Any mention of health care reform, take a shot. Then schedule an appointment with your doctor to make sure you don’t have any preexisting conditions. Take a second shot if the camera pans over to Hillary Clinton while he’s talking about health care reform.
If he points a hero in the gallery, take a shot. Two shots if he’s in uniform. Three if he’s sitting right next to Laura. Four if he’s flanked by the twins.
If Ðìçk Cheney leans over to Pelosi and tells her to “go fûçk yourself” (might have to read his lips), take a shot.
If the camera catches a shot of Condi Rice smiling, take a shot.
If Pelosi manages to avoid laughing when Bush mentions his eagerness to work with the new Democratic majority, take a shot.
If Fox preempts the Democratic response with a repeat of American Idol, take a shot.
If he mentions bin Laden at all, chug the entire bottle of tequila.
“What would you do different in Iraq now that the situation is already admittedly clustered.”
Pull out.
Are there excuses not to? Sure. There always are. Plenty of excuses not to pull out of Vietnam as well. Except here’s a simple fact: Iraqis are going to continue to kill each other and our guys . It’s not going to stop. Which means sooner or later we’re going to pull out with the situation unchanged. Me, I vote sooner.
At the very least, if we believe in Democracy, then urge the Iraqi government to offer a special referendum to its voters as to whether America should leave or not. If they vote yes, we’re gone. If they vote no, then maybe–maybe–it might help pull things together.
“As far as the “cutesy moniker” there were already 5 different variations on my name with Typekey already in use on the main blog that I popst to so I chose to go with a product that my company is producing. I really love the fact that some people on here, when backed into a corner result to name calling.”
And dI love the sense of self-aggrandization that makes you think you’ve backed me into anything, and the observation that grown ups sign their names to their opinions–especially when they’re insulting people–is somehow namecalling.
PAD
In a previous post I put forth the request for submissions showing how it can be done right and fixed, and got very few replies.
If anybody thought there was actually a way to fix the mess Bush has gotten us into,…
shadowquest: “Congratulations PAD, I too am a card carrying member of the ACLU (and mine is up to date I assure you), and as far as the CBLDF thanks to your blog I am in the process of donating to them also.”
If Peter’s blog has inspired you to engage in political activism (and supporting a politically activist organization is a form of political activism), then you have inadvertantly undercut your own assertion that postings in this blog constitute mere “whining.”
shadowquest: “But once again as always, all I see is your criteria for being right in your discussions, not an actual idea about how to fix things other than talking about them.”
You asked Peter if he was involved in any “organization that is actively trying to do something about the issues.” Peter demonstrated that he is indeed. You called Peter out on the carpet, his cards were better, and the honorable thing to do would be to concede that point.
shadowquest: “Point blank question. What would you do different in Iraq now that the situation is already admittedly clustered.”
Perhaps it would help if you read the blog before commenting on it. Peter has repeatedly advocated for a complete withdrawal from Iraq. I disagree with his stance somewhat (I think we owe it to the Iraqis to make a good-faith effort to try to fix things before we give up and leave, although I’m forced to admit that with Bush in office it’s highly unlikely that we’ll do such a thing), but it does qualify as a clearly articulated alternative.
shadowquest: “I really love the fact that some people on here, when backed into a corner result to name calling. Hey I can remember third grade too.”
How has Peter been backed into a corner? You asked if anyone here was involved with organizations “that [are] actively trying to do something about the issues.” Peter is. So now you’re trying to move the goalposts. Only you didn’t move them far enough, as Peter (and for that matter, plenty of other posters) have articulated alternatives to the current strategy in Iraq.
That’s twice you’ve called people out, and both times you had a losing hand. I’d suggest you abandon this losing game, take a deep breath, relax, and just discuss ideas. Most people here do the same.
As far as the Typekey thing, no one is forcing you not to end your posts with your real name.
“In a previous post I put forth the request for submissions showing how it can be done right and fixed, and got very few replies.”
Probably because those ideas had already been expressed in an endless number of posts that date back to before the invasion of Iraq and nobody felt like reposting entire threads just for you. One good one was the people here pointing out that the Intel Bush was flogging was crap, the information coming out of just about every source other then Bush’s mouth was contradicting the “slam dunk” status of what Bush was peddling and that we shouldn’t get into a war for no reason when it would just tie us up in Iraq for years, if not decades, rather then the “no more then six months” estimate being expressed by the VP and others of this administration.
Didn’t stop us from invading Iraq.
So we pointed out what President Chimp was screwing up and how. Many times we had all expressed good alternatives to what Bush was planning prior to when he actually implemented his bungles in “winning” Iraqi strategies . Didn’t change what he did, so we didn’t keep repeating the same post and discussed what was actually happening at the time due to Bush’s screw ups.
Just after the elections, many posters here expressed what they felt was the right course for Iraq. Some said get out ASAP, some discussed a slower withdrawal and some of us discussed the need to increase the trop levels to the numbers that we should have had to begin with and dealing with Iraq with a two year (with some wiggle room) plan.
Hasn’t stopped Bush from pushing his masterfully genius plan of putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound in the form of his troop surge.
So now we post about what a wonderful screw up Bush is engaging in yet again. And tonight we’ll likely discuss what utter loads of horse pucky the man will be shoveling onto America during his speech.
As to what I do outside of these virtual walls to help out….. Most of it’s not really your business and I see no reason to give you the long list of those things just to respond to a snotty post that’s “challenging” us to prove something to you. Had you actually been reading many of the threads here and engaging in the discussions, then you would have easily picked up on the fair number of things that many of us practice, both professionally and personally, that more then supports our credentials to post here and preach.
🙂
Bill and PAD. Thank you. I do concede the points that were made. My original posting was not intended as an insult to PAD or any individual member on this board. I am just getting tired of the whole political situation in Iraq and all of the bickering back and forth on both sides (as I said originally I could write both). I have too many friends over there that are going to be hurt either way that this goes. Some that can not pull out because while they are there, they are already home. I should never have posted this and I apologize to anyone that I offended.
James Fowler
“”shadowquest: “Congratulations PAD, I too am a card carrying member of the ACLU (and mine is up to date I assure you), and as far as the CBLDF thanks to your blog I am in the process of donating to them also.”
If Peter’s blog has inspired you to engage in political activism (and supporting a politically activist organization is a form of political activism), then you have inadvertently undercut your own assertion that postings in this blog constitute mere “whining.””
Nice point, Bill. See, I got all hung up in the snotty aspects of the post and just plum missed the obvious that was right there in front of us.
Active discussion of ideas that inspire real action by those involved as well as those who just observe the debates. That’s way more then the get-along-gang in Bush’s camp and the critics of anyone who criticizes Bush or his war have done.
Any chance you’ll pay attention when the person delivering the Democratic response is introduced, and talk about something more substantive than his eyebrows this year?
James, the situation in Iraq is making a lot of people tense right now, so don’t feel bad. You’re only human.
Besides, it takes a really big person to step up and acknowledge when they’re wrong. You’ve shown yourself to be a person of decency and honor. It’s not my blog, of course, but I do find myself hoping that you’ll continue to post here. The very fact that you’re willing to listen to and consider what others have to say suggests to me that you would add much of value to the dialog here.
Say, are you by any chance the “Jim Fowler” I bumped into over at Newsarama? I tried to e-mail you some months ago but the e-mail address was defunct. If you’re “that” Jim Fowler, I’d love it if you’d use the link at the top of my post and drop me a line to let me know how you’re doing.
“I am just getting tired of the whole political situation in Iraq and all of the bickering back and forth on both sides…”
“I have too many friends over there that are going to be hurt either way that this goes.”
Amen.
Welcome to the club, brother.
And I’m sorry for calling you snotty in my last two posts. I mistook your frustration for being flip. My screw up.
Good for you, James. It is okay to be frustrated. I think that Peter is right on this issue in that there are no great solutions. Only bad ones. It is just the best of the bad ones is to pull out.
You know, if there are this many posts before the address, I shudder to see the volume afterwards. Like the rules to Brockian Ultra-Cricket did in Life, the Universe, and Everything, the sheer weight of the thread might cause it to undergo gravitational collapse and become a singularity.
That’s the problem. We are in a true no win solution. The neocons are still pushing for “victory” so that they can then say that it was all worth it. I really don’t see any positives coming out of our continued direct involvement, so I’m for pulling out and letting the civil war burn itself out.
Say, are you by any chance the “Jim Fowler” I bumped into over at Newsarama?
No that is not me, he is one of the reasons that I use shadowquest though, just for that reason at that blog. Of course I will continue to read and sometimes post. As I said I love this blog and PAD, I just screwed up today 😉
James
James, many of us here have screwed up worse. Like me. So, y’know, that just means you’re part of the club now.
What do you get for being in the club? Uhm, let’s see… *rummage*… uhm, here’s an old toothbrush… *rummage*… a Michelob bottlecap… hey, there’s my blue sock! I’ve been looking for that for months!!!
What….no STNF Decoder Ring??????
I’ll swing by tomorrow to read the amusing observations and responses, but I will be skipping the first State of the Union that I have in several years. It has come to a point when I am driven away by a complete lack of trust in the “facts” and comments presented, have no interest in spin control and have better uses for my time. I honestly get too angry and can get some solid synopsises from various news websites, etc in a fraction of the time it would take to sit and watch the guy.
I’m with you, Fred. I’ll be at the gym. Maybe I’ll check in later tonight, but I have no desire to watch the STOTU address.
Besides, after looking at my drinking game list, I’m afraid of getting alcohol poisoning.
That’s the problem. We are in a true no win solution. The neocons are still pushing for “victory” so that they can then say that it was all worth it. I really don’t see any positives coming out of our continued direct involvement, so I’m for pulling out and letting the civil war burn itself out.
Yeah, that’s the thing. Too many people are focussing on the alternatives themselves and not WHY people are choosing one over the other. “Being a coward” may not LOOK or FEEL right, but if it saves more US and Iraqi lives while giving up the same result as “trying to win”, then it should at least be considered as a viable alternative. Too many people are taking a shortcut.
That’s indicative of too much political discourse these days. Even such gross motives as WHY are being tossed out the window (let alone nuances and multiple outcomes).
Thanks for the open invite PAD, but I think I’ll spend my time watching something a bit less depressing; I’m planning on seeing Children of Men tonight.
Also, I spent last night watching the exploits of a certified lunatic running a nation–The Last King of Scotland. Why bother watching *our* lunatic-in-chief?
There are things we can do, and are SUPPOSED to do as voting Americans- write/call your elected officials- that’s what they are supposed to do, act on our behalf. I’m sure Peter is eloquent enough to write to Chuck Shumer, Hillary Clinton et al. They do respond.
I for one will be finishing off the bottle of Mead we have, maybe mix it with some Sam Adams for a “Bee Sting”
also if you like mead- check out http://www.limeadery.com
Heh. Corporations AND environmentalists are agreeing on something—mandatory caps on emissions. Is Bush going to go along with this? Not a chance….
Pay attention to how long they shoot the action scenes without cutting. The movie is being compared to Bladerunner, but they didn’t destroy an entire neighborhood with artillery in Bladerunner.
Thanks for the open invite PAD, but I think I’ll spend my time watching something a bit less depressing
I don’t blame you, Joseph, although I’m gonna try to watch it, just because I don’t want to be ignorant of what he’s up to. Obviously he’s not going to reveal his deepest, darkest secrets or anything, but if he says something tonight that he later goes back on or that is later proven false, I’ll know about it even if the mainstream media or the Daily Show somehow miss it.
John–had to look up mead. Can’t say it sounds appealing at first…is it sweet? Is there anything you could compare it to?
Wow. This like watching the whole Northern Ireland debate all over again, only sixty times bigger. And that’s gone so well… call in the U.N., say that you’re sorry, it was all a horrendous mistake, and call it a day.
well seeing as how I doubt that the president will announce that he’s sending the Justice League into Iraq as I had guessed on a recently aired episode of Penn Jillette’s radio show, I’ll most likely be watching DVD’s – maybe an episode of Bulls*it.
well seeing as how I doubt that the president will announce that he’s sending the Justice League into Iraq as I had guessed on a recently aired episode of Penn Jillette’s radio show, I’ll most likely be watching DVD’s – maybe an episode of Bulls*it.
well seeing as how I doubt that the president will announce that he’s sending the Justice League into Iraq as I had guessed on a recently aired episode of Penn Jillette’s radio show, I’ll most likely be watching DVD’s – maybe an episode of Bulls*it.
“I should never have posted this and I apologize to anyone that I offended.
James Fowler”
You, James, are a genuine Mensch.
Hëll, I may check out your product now…
PAD
Shadowquest: Do any of the people on this blog who constantly whine about how the Republicans are doing it sooooo wrong belong to any organization that is actively trying to do something about the issues or are they simply content with whining?
Luigi Novi: Speaking only for myself, yes, I do. As a law-abiding and tax-paying U.S. citizen, I vote.
Shadowquest: But once again as always, all I see is your criteria for being right in your discussions, not an actual idea about how to fix things other than talking about them.
Luigi Novi: I don’t see why it’s Peter’s responsibility to come up with one, since he’s not the President. I don’t understand why some criticize him ad hominem because he’s “just a comic book writer”, simply for stating his opinion (as if the U.S. requires its voters to be political science experts), and others act as if expressing his opinion isn’t enough, as if it’s his job to do way more than that, as if he’s the guy elected to do so. Stating one’s opinion (not to mention voting) is arguably enough. In order for my political views to have validity, I don’t have to be able to describe a new tactical strategy. I also wonder why it is that this only occurs in politics, and only with public figures that Republicans/conservatives/right-wingers don’t like. If Peter bought a car, and it turned out to be a lemon that breaks down if you sneezed at it, no one would argue that he’d have to be a mechanic with a repair estimate in order for that criticism to be valid?
And I don’t think that those who employ this reasoning have an alternate plan whenever they criticize politicians they think aren’t doing a good job.
In this case, I don’t think Bush is doing a good job, and I do have an idea that I’d like him to pursue: I’d like him to adhere more closely to the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations.
Shadowquest: As far as the “cutesy moniker” there were already 5 different variations on my name with Typekey already in use on the main blog that I popst to so I chose to go with a product that my company is producing.
Luigi Novi: I’ve gone on record as stating that I’m do not find usernames dishonorable in and other themselves, because some people may feel ambiguous about using their real names on the Internet. But I tend to lean towards Peter’s and Tim Lynch’s view of them when those using those names do so when employing dishonest or uncivil debate tactics. I’m not saying that you’re a troll or anything, Shadow, but the somewhat pejorative and fallacious nature of your challenge to Peter may not give the appearance of good faith to him. I don’t think that’s name-calling, but just a feeling about usernames that some have. 🙂
Shadowquest: I really love the fact that some people on here, when backed into a corner result to name calling.
Luigi Novi: Well, some here do engage in name-calling, but Peter didn’t do this. I don’t see how he was “backed into a corner”, since you issued him a challenge, and he answered it. In the second place, criticizing someone for a practice that one dislikes (usernames) does not constitute “name-calling”. And he only issued that criticism after he answered your question directly, rather than as a substitute for it.
Shadowquest: As I said I love this blog and PAD, I just screwed up today 😉 James
Bill Myers: James, many of us here have screwed up worse. Like me.
Luigi Novi: Been there myself, James. Mea culpas all around. 🙂
Dear Peter: Thanks for say all the things I would be fired if I say in any american mail list.
If justice would exists, Doc Savage would send mr. Bush to the Crime College.
Best,
FABIO
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
BillMyers said: “Say, are you by any chance the “Jim Fowler” I bumped into over at Newsarama?”
Jim Fowler said: “No that is not me, he is one of the reasons that I use shadowquest though, just for that reason at that blog.”
Isn’t Jim Fowler the guy from Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom that wrestles the crocodiles, sharks, and lions while Marlin Perkins sips cocoa in the air-conditioned studio?
–Captain Naraht
(an Official Cutsy Moniker)
P.S. For the record my real name is Raymond Will. A 37 year old married guy from NH. Favorite color: Royal Blue. Turn-ons: cats, sci-fi and Municipal Land Use Regulation. Turn offs: Lifetime movies, losing money in vending machines, and people who construct straw-men arguements.
This year was hilarious. Did you see Hillary? She looked like she wanted to use his blood as ketchup on her dinner table! Every time they cut to her she was mentally shooting DAGGERS!
I seriously think we need to contact the E! channel w/ your fashion suggestion.
-Look forward to next year!