The Evil Empire Strikes Back?
(Big ups to Heather for the movies)
In the latest Presidential debate, two of the questions dealt with Russia and while both candidates tried to stress their differences they both sang pretty much the same kneejerk tune (although John McCain sang it with feeling).
McCain, seemingly forgetting his own admonition to Obama that you don't telegraph your thoughts or intentions to a nation you want co-operation from, repeated his tone-deaf claim that he sees the letters KGB when he looks in Vladimir Putin's eyes. McCain would need the goodwill of Russia on containment of loose nuclear materials or on supply lines to Afghanistan and would likely want its co-operation of on energy policy and on responses to Iran, the financial crisis and a host of other issues. How's he going to get that by attacking the Russian Prime Minister in such a personal way?
What he sees in President Medvedev's eyes he hasn't said yet, but it's doubtful he's even noticed the shuffle in Russia's top leadership. It wasn't "K.G.B." because the guy leading Russia now was never one of the "former apparatchiks" Putin has supposedly surrounded himself with.
McCain's rhetoric was in keeping with someone so close to the luridly fascist and virulently anti-communist U.S. Council for World Freedom.
I warned about Vladimir Putin. I said I looked into his eyes and saw three letters, a K, a G and a B. He has surrounded himself with former KGB apparatchiks. He has gradually repressed most of the liberties that we would expect for nations to observe, and he has exhibited most aggressive behavior, obviously, in Georgia.
Yet again, no mention of the tiny fact that Georgia started the war and Russia finished it -and is now on timetable for withdrawal as agreed with the EU while American leaders were hyperventilating about the Return of the Red Menace.
No-one seriously imagines that Putin and Medvedev are trying to reassemble the U.S.S. R. except old Cold Warriors like McCain and neocon youngsters who love any excuse to keep fearmongering and warmongering. Most analysts say that they are instead trying to reassert Russian pride after decades of being made to understand, in a way that was humiliating for Russia, that the Soviets lost the Cold War - and to reassert their traditional vested interests in the affairs of smaller bordering nations just as the U.S. has an (often heavy handed) interest in Latin America and the Caribbean. Obama said "it is important that we understand they're not the old Soviet Union but they still have nationalist impulses that I think are very dangerous." He gets that dynamic in a way that McCain doesn't.
But neither acquitted themselves well on policy towards a newly resurgent Russia, which has the backing of the overwhelming majority of its own people - even those opposed to the current government's domestic civil rights crackdowns - for its reassertion of its local power. McCain said that the U.S. must show "moral support" for Georgia and Ukraine and "advocate for their membership in NATO". He can advocate all he likes but neither the UK, France or Germany will allow any nation with an ongoing feud with Russia to join, and they all have a veto. It's nice to say but empty of serious policy content. Obama wants to "provide them with financial and concrete assistance to help rebuild their economies" Where he'll get the money even as he admits the US must tighten its fiscal belt during the current financial meltdown he doesn't say. Again, nice words but empty of real doable policy.
Both candidates also dodged on the question of whether or not Russia was an Evil Empire. Obama said the Russians "engaged in an evil behavior" while McCain prevaricated even more, saying "If I say yes, then that means that we're reigniting the old Cold War. If I say no, it ignores their behavior." You could tell he wanted to say "Yes" but his own advice had belatedly caught up with his mouth.
Such rhetoric might go down well with listeners - no-one's ever lost a U.S. presidential election just by appearing too hawkish that I'm aware of. But even Kissinger is at odds with McCain and more liable to extend the diplomatic hand of co-operation than Obama.
"We have a number of common issues that we have to settle, if possible, with Russia. We need Russia for a solution of the Iranian problem. We may need Russia if Pakistan evolves in some of the directions that it might. And it is helpful to cooperate with Russia not just on the [nuclear] question, but on the issues of energy. It is an effort that should not be decided by what happened in Georgia." [CNAS, 9/15/08, NPR, 9/23/08]
Obama appeared to get that too, again in a way that McCain, with his renewed call to kick Russia out of the G8 and ostracize it from the world's democracies, did not - but only wins on points on this one even though he was a clear winner overall on the night.
Its time to FIGHT! Strike back against these media weapons of mass distortion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K50TS0UZE7w
That video was a complete waste of time.
Pure propaganda and zero depth mixing short quotes from all kinds of contexts.
John McCain as a regulator? Puh-leeze.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/fanniema...
4
Isn't McCain tired of having the floor mopped with himself yet?
I keep hearing about "big, bad old Russia" stepping on Georgia in these debates, but just ONCE I'd like to hear somebody mention the fact that South Ossetia voted 95% in favor of independence from Georgia, and that "big, bad old Georgia" keeps on stepping on them.
Amen.
How about the fact that Georgia was bombing South Ossetia.
Fox News Cuts off Girl Telling the Truth About Russia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBPBdW2wXpc
I think Obama could have scored a direct hit on McCain in the first debate if, while McCain was badmouthing him about urging BOTH Russia and Georgia to exercise restraint (which was the CORRECT position to take), Obama had turned around and said:
"yes, and I still stand by that. It's all well and good to try and reduce the world to a comic book story about 'good guys' and 'bad guys,' but I'm afraid the world isn't that simple, and we're doing the American people a disservice by telling them that it is. George Bush said in the 2004 convention that he's from Texas, and 'we don't DO nuance in Texas.' And where has that gotten us? Maybe we NEED somebody in the White House who doesn't see the world in such simplistic terms. Maybe we NEED somebody who can do nuance.
John, what exactly IS your position on the South Ossetian independence movement? How do we DEAL with provinces in foreign countries that have voted overwhelmingly for independence, but their national government refuses to let them out? Do we stand for democracy, or don't we? If you supported the independence movement in Kosovo, how can you now turn around and say you DON'T support the independence movement in South Ossetia? What's your position on this? I think the American people have a right to know."
That would have stopped him dead in his tracks, because he wouldn't have a clue to respond. Probably wasn't even aware of the 2006 referendum, and would look like an idiot when asked about it.
But no...I guess Obama figured it was safer to just jump on board the good-guy/bad-guy narrative about Russia and Georgia because it's already too well established, and he didn't want to take it on when he only had two minutes to do so.
But I'm hoping he might find a way to sneak it into the final debate.
Keep in mind that Pakistan is also a tribal country with almost every family having small arms in their houses. If we cross the border, without their permission it will escalate the problem in the region for both us and Pakistani govt and only people who will benefit from this is Taliban and Al-Qaeda!!!!!!!!
Tax Cuts Create Jobs!
The International Monetary Fund, in a World Economic Outlook released Wednesday, slashed growth projections for the global economy and predicted the United States — the epicenter of the financial meltdown — will continue to lose traction.
It is conceivable that we could simply have sit on the fence in the midst of the developing world and beamed articulate sympathy at all sides this past 8 years.
Permitting the USSC to install Bush was the biggest mistake this country ever made.
An audience questioner asked the candidates if they would defend Israel militarily if Iran were to attack Israel.
Now, I'm not sure what makes the questioner think that Iran might attack Israel, but he could have asked the same question about say Lichtenstain attacking Luxembourg or what if Uganda attacked Gambia, should we then defend Gambia ? Why should Israel get any special treatment from our military that we wouldn't provide any other ally we have anywhere else on Earth ?
It's in the Bible, y'know.
When McCain looked into Bush senior's eyes - did he see a C an I and an A?
Just going through some of the so called progressive blogs following the debate last night. Amazing at Firedoglake there was no write up or response to Senator McCain lying again repeating the debunked claim that the Iranian President "allegedly" said "Israel should be wiped off the map" When Professor Juan Cole and others who agreed that what the Iranian President said was Zionism "will vanish from the pages of time". Why is this false statement that is incredibly inflammatory allowed to be repeated without anyone challenging
Now we know there is not one MSM journalist who challenges, McCain, Lieberman, Cheney ,Palin or any other warmonger who repeats this lie. But when Progressive blogs do not mention when they repeat this lie..it is disturbing.
Firedoglake had a live blog from Blog 1- Blog 6 not mention of this repeated lie
http://firedoglake.com/2008/10/07/debate-live...
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This is the fifth time I have heard McCain repeat the false and debunked claim that the Iranian President said “wipe Israel off the map”. The second time during the debates. McCain has been allowed to repeat this lie on the Chris Matthews show, This Week, and Face The Nation. (those are the times that I have heard him, sure there have been other times). Palin repeated this false and inflammatory misquote during the Biden/Palin debate.
Now we know Lieberman, Ledeen and many other warmongers repeat this false statement…but why does the press allow them to repeat this lie?
Of course the only question about Israel was “would the U.S. attack Iran if Iran attacked Israel” We know what the answer is. Yes.
We know the more likely scenario and the question should have been. If Israel pre-emptively attacks Iran based on unsubstantiated claims will the U.S. follow?
The Israeli Palestian conflict and the strong possibility that Israel is far more likely to attack Iran than it is that Iran will attack Israel is barely mentioned in the so called progressive blogosphere. Not even a mention when the Presidential debate provides a perfect opportunity.
We have lost the ability to have the rebellious resourcefulness to be a freedom fighter without hating anyone.
Israel already has nuclear weapons and could wipe Iran off the map any time. I seriously doubt Iran would actually attack. It's certainly not Ahmadinejhads call but if they did do something that stupid I doubt Israel would need any help from the US.
(A)lthough John McCain sang it with feeling).
___________________________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLP958zpnLU
I'd pay a dollar for that.
)O(
"Bomb Bomb bomb..bomb bomb..da Reds...bomb bomb bomb..bomb bomb..da Reds...bomb da Redddds...like PNAC saaaays...bomb bomb da Reds...forget the Ayatollahs...make the Kremlin smolder...bomb da Reds...bomb bomb...bomb bomb da Reds"
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
In that picture, McCain looks like that guy that says the rotisserie ovens on early morning tv.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
It's funny that the title mentions the old Reagan phrase "evil empire" because when McCan tried to pass off singing "Bomb-bomb-Iran" as a joke it reminded me of Reagan's "joke" when he was testing a mic and he said something like "We've found and answer to the Russian problem. The bombs launched 5 minutes ago." Or whatever it was. HA! That sure is funny! Bombing anyone who disagrees with you.
That is because no military support is available. Most of it is located in the Middle East and the Russians are aware of that fact. We can lay the blame for that blunder on McCain and the Bush Administration. Obama is correct though. We need to anticipate situations like this. Apparently, John McCain, "the man who knows how to win wars" is lacking in that particular ability where Obama is not.
Attention Everyone:
John McCain plans to attack Obama on character issues from now until November.
John McCain made this announcement earlier this week.
Stay tuned for further attacks.
End of announcement.
IO think you mean he's going to keep throwing Hail Mary passes that fall lifeless to the turf.
The time to go negative IN the debates was last nite. If it didn't play well, it would have left you time to recover before the next debate...and then you could use the last debate to repair damage.
I don't see McCain going right wing hate filled lies negative in the last debate because it could really damage him beyond the election.
Then again...if this really is his last go round in politics..he may say..aww...the hell with it...and just become a frothing at the mouth right wing lunatic...or in other words...a member of the Republican base.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
McCain sees the Presidency as something he deserves, something that is a right, not a privilege. The angry, bitter old man who can’t stand his opponent and can’t conceal his contempt for the uppity black man from Chicago who stands in his way on the road to the White House.
and he feels the same way about voters as he does about Obama. nothing but contempt.
I was so incredibly offended last night by McCains whiny contemptuous tone. I thought he was was totally condescending and patronizing to everyone.
McCain had the form he does best in and he lost. Now there is one last chance to make points. Can he do it? Like the Cubs it's over for McCain this year. All the attacks and racism isn't going to chance the fact Obama is a better choice. Americans today are more interested in the Economy then giving an old man his life's dream. Millions have lost homes, jobs and life savings and McCain showed in his 26 years of office as we get to this point. McCain plans to do the same thing as Bush as we will truly get the same results. Change always brings light and a way out of this mess.
To suppose that Medvedev is anything but a hand picked puppet of Putin requires considerable credulity. Russia prior to it's revolution was an expansionist imperial power. That philosophy was not abandoned after the revolution it was merely reframed as an inevitable consequence of the victory of the proletariat. As a courtesy one must diplomatically refer to Medvedev as the Russian head of State. Putin is in charge. The fact remains that their hydrocarbon driven economic renewal has also revived their ambition to control their neighbors in a way that is unacceptable by today's standards. I refer, of course, to their very overt military threats against the Ukraine. This idea that either the US or Russia is entitled to some sphere of influence and to negotiate away other peoples sovereignty and rights by way of securing desired diplomatic goals is neither right nor acceptable. I agree with Kissinger's statement. Diplomatic engagement with Russia as equals, putting the cold war behind us, is absolutely essential if the NPT and other matters of mutual interest are to be achieved but neighboring countries aren't negotiating chips.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
On pretty much it all. Although the "overt threats" against Ukraine aren't quite all they seem. Over half of Ukraine's population supports a Russian presence there but the President, potentially another Sakashvili, doesn't. However, even his former PM has rebelled against him.
Still, that wasn't how it was framed in the debate. Both candidates attacked Russian "imperialism" (which is nowadays a 'soft' form for the 21st century of eceonomic and military control rather than outright occupation) while glossing over America's invasions and strongarm tactics (e.g. the SouthAm fleet reactivation) as well as economic imperialism. That is to be expected in American debate, especially a presidential debate, but it's still hypocrisy.
Regards, C
Age and experience has somewhat inured me to electoral hypocrisy but it hasn't stopped me for hoping for better in the future. I confess that I am conflicted about the very idea of American exceptionalism. It's not a bad idea when the ideals it supposedly represents drive diplomacy but there is almost no Boolean overlap between that policy and Realpolitik. Keep up the foreign policy analysis. We need more of that here.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
A little OT but did anyone watch the wrap up with Chris Matthews and catch that the McCain spokesman when defending McCain's "Not you, Tom" moment actually said that it was McCain that mentioned Warren Buffet as a possible treasury secretary? I watched that part with interest and the only one McCain mentioned was the Ebay lady it was Obama that mentioned Buffet. I wonder if I am the only one that caught that cause Matthews just let it completely slide by. But the dude was pretty apoplectic by that point. And totally rude. LOL
Simply two peas in a pod.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7trIpspUILg&fe...
FOX "breaking news" Hannity. is frantically making excuses for Palin's teen age son's "domestic terrorism" calling it a "prank" PALIN "family's values" son CUT BRAKE LINES ON A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE USED TO BUS KIDS AROUND
We can assume his "family values" and pro-life Christian Compassion training at home resulted with his attempting mass murder of those kids
It was reported today in Anchorage on talk 1080 KUDO - quoted from judicial source, that Track Palin was was charged for this attempted murder.
Did this just happen or is this something that happened in the past? Was her kid charged? Give us more info if you have any.
diamondmc
...or is it now "an Army of 1". whatever. isn't he the guy who's now defending our freedoms that the terrorists hate so much? sounds like a good career fit.
Boys will cut schoolbus brake lines, it's boys being boys!
I'm sure they want the kid who guessed Palin's email password to get the death penalty for his treasonous terrism.
Wall Streets run out of other peoples money to gamble with and blow at everyone's expense.
Rev up the presses to keep the addicts happy.
Try a Methadone Money approach
While I think that McCain's responses to questions about Russia have been completely unhelpful and show a deep lack of understanding of the very complex relationship that exists between Russia and the US, I think it's also important not to fall into the trap of thinking that if McCain is wrong then the opposite of what he says must be right. It's difficult to say how big of a military threat Russia currently is, but it's certain that many of its bullying moves towards Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union show a foreign policy that is bent on increasing its influence in these countries and around the world. Many of the countries near Russia don't want to be controlled by Russia, any more than Iraq or other Middle East countries want to be controlled by us.
The situation in Georgia is complex. I personally believe that any nation that wishes to be free, should have this right. However, it's important to note that neither South Ossetia or Abkhazia were until very recently majority Ossetian or Abkhazian. Many Georgians have been forced from their homes there and have not been allowed to return for years. Russia's record of respecting the rights of minority nations, especially in the Caucasus region, is abysmal, and for it to act as a guarantor of 'safety' or 'rights' of these small territories is difficult to believe as it has ignored those same rights so completely in other regions nearby, such as, Chechnya and Daghestan. However, the Caucasus is historically and ethnically an extremely complex region. Ultimately, since Georgia is a sovereign state, it should be permitted to join any organizations or alliances it wishes, but right now allowing it to join NATO would only destabilize the overall situation and needlessly antagonize Russia. Probably the best role for the US is to use its soft power and not permit either side to get away with human rights abuses.
Putin is, in fact, ex-KGB. As I recall, he was stationed in East Germany for many years, and as a result speaks very good German. Most analysts I have read agree that Medvedev really is just a figurehead and that Putin becoming PM after the end of his presidency was just a 'musical chairs' routine where the roles were shuffled, but the power remained concentrated in Putin's hands.
I think that the logical way to deal with Russia is pragmatically. The author of this piece is right in saying that we need Russia as a partner, but at the same time I think it's vital to recognize that Russia, just as China, for example, is mainly looking out for its own best interests. I'm happy that Obama seems to be showing this kind of wisdom and understanding in statements about this situation.
"It's difficult to say how big of a military threat Russia currently is,"
Load of bull. Russia simply ISN'T a military threat to anybody except small, weak neighbors like Georgia. This isn't my personal opinion- it's the opinion of the European militaries that risk of a Russian military invasion of west or central Europe is smaller than it's ever been. Russia's power over East Europe (or rather, what remains of it) is not military, it's economical.
"it's important to note that neither South Ossetia or Abkhazia were until very recently majority Ossetian or Abkhazian"
It's more important in my opinion, to note that there was virtually no ethnic strife AT ALL until Tblisi cranked up the Georgian nationalism.
Realize that the USA's interest in Georgia has _very_ little to do with human rights, etc. If it was, then the US would be relating to Georgia the same way Europe does. The neo-cons intend to use Georgia and Ukraine, as pawns against Russia. For this reason, the USA is tainted. We're not neutral, and we've forfeited any ability to play a constructive role in solving that conflict.
"Russia simply ISN'T a military threat to anybody except small, weak neighbors like Georgia."
So that's not important? My family comes from Latvia, one of these small weak neighbors. Many of my family members were killed by the Soviets when they occupied Latvia in the 40s, or when they conducted ethnic cleansing in the Baltic States later that same decade. I don't think that nationalism, Georgian or Russian, is helpful or a force for positive change, but I can sympathize with Georgian feelings about not wanting to be dominated by Russia.
Also, it's short-sighted to think that Russia will stop at threatening its smaller weaker neighbors. The really disturbing resurgence of government-sanctioned virulent nationalism and militarism in Russia seems to be brewing up trouble for the future. I think that the best thing to do is not to give in to these bully moves by Russia, but help it understand that the most positive direction for Russia, its people, and its neighbors, is a true engagement between Russia and the world...sans the bullying and threats.
"It's more important in my opinion, to note that there was virtually no ethnic strife AT ALL until Tblisi cranked up the Georgian nationalism."
The problem with places like the Caucasus and the Balkans is that there is an almost infinite regression of who did what first. My earlier comment was intended to show that the situation in Georgia is more than "Good Georgia"/"Bad Russia" or "Bad Georgia"/"Good Russia." I think that the emptying out of these regions of all of their Georgian inhabitants is one of several contributing factors in the Georgian actions later on. Personally, I think that at this juncture it would make sense for Georgia to just let Abkhazia and South Ossetia go, because Russia seems intent on holding on to these territories and the populations living there have absolutely no interest in being reintegrated into Georgia. Georgia itself is being crippled by trying to force this issue. Better to just let it go and move on. Ultimately, the acquisition of these territories would probably prove a pyrrhic victory for Russia anyhow. Once these regions get a taste of what it's like to be a minority nationality in Russia, they may not really want to be there either.
"Realize that the USA's interest in Georgia has _very_ little to do with human rights, etc. If it was, then the US would be relating to Georgia the same way Europe does. The neo-cons intend to use Georgia and Ukraine, as pawns against Russia."
Well, sure. But when you're a powerless little country, it makes sense to go with the big guy who'll treat you best. If it were about human rights, the US would be tied down in countless operations around the world, setting things right. Certainly, the Latvian-American community heard 50 years of promises of friendship from the US government, but when push came to shove in the early 90s, neither the US nor any other major country in the West was rushing to recognize the Baltics' right to self-determination. They had to go this difficult road themselves, and I'm proud to say they did it non-violently.
Bottom line, and trying to bring it back to the election, I feel the reason it's so important not to permit Russia to dominate those weak little neighbors is that it just validates Russia's current imperialist nationalist politics. Historically, I think this is pretty much a dead end. However, If Russia sees that it has to deal with its neighbors and the world in good faith, that's a better road ahead for everyone, including Russia.
It's all over except for watching the stock market slide and Caribou Barbie skits on SNL. Oh, and four weeks of watching right wing pundits trying to flog the living daylights out of a dead horse/moose/wolf. Hilarious.
And helping those who do not have a mortgage on their home, do not have car loans, have no loans whatsoever, do not need mortgages or loans to continue to purchase goods and services, those who do not rely on earned income from a job to support themselves, and those who do not rely on social security or any fixed and or defined pension plan.
(The Rich and Wealthy)
mccain's performance last night was pathetic. the 'evil empire' question was ridiculous.
That question was a sop from Brokjaw to McCain.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
latest gallup obama/biden up 11 points nationally over mccain/palin. i'm not sure if this is post-debate, i doubt it. i expect even larger margins tomorrow.
Be ready for double digit leads everywhere for Obama/Biden during the next three days as a "debate bounce". All indicators and trends are pointing that way right now.
Today's speech in Indiana had a crowd of over 20,000 and Obama knocked it out of the park. Instead of inciting crowds to violence, he spoke of unification - about how this economic crisis has made clear that "we are all connected and in this together" - something americans have realized with this bailout more than ever.....the intrinsic and intimate connection we all have to the greed and failed policies of the Bush Administration. We're paying for their mistakes right now and people are rising up, uniting, and demanding accountability for these mistakes from Bush & Cheney (and McCain who was Bush's biggest cheerleader in these failed policies).
The people will vote for real change. The people are rejecting the smear and fear tactics and empty, vacuous, hollow rhetoric of Bush and his idiot counterpart. We've seen enough division and the ONLY HOPE for this country's future is that we unite for the common cause - the cause supported and promised to us by Barack Obama.
During this moment, McPappy looked more ancient and out of touch with the country than ever. What the hell is he now? A Psychic? Or a physic? Hurry....someone give this poor old geyser a physic immediately - the blockage of feces is hampering his brain now?
I.T...I.S....O.V.E.R.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
Now this is interesting. If you go through the top 25 censored stories at Project Censored over the last four years somehow the investigation and upcoming Aipac /Rosen Weissman Trial is not even mentioned....just like in the MSM and the progressive blogosphere. NOT WRITTEN ABOUT NOT MENTIONED NOT DISCUSSED. No folks the Israeli lobby has no control over our media No control over the so called progressive blogosphere.
How is it that this very serious investigation and upcoming trial did not even make "Project Censored" list
http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/pu...
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An investigation and a four time delayed trial having to do with Aipac officials alleged passing of highly classified documents having to do with Iran onto Israeli officials not only is not being written about in our MSM, so called progressive blogosphere but does not even make a Censored news list over the last four years.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/franklin_fac...
http://www.fas.org/sgp/jud/aipac/index.html
Did it ever occur to you that this particular hobby horse you've been riding (for some time now) is being largely ignored by the media because there are a couple of more significant issues occupying the world just now. Give it a rest will you. There is no conspiracy of silence in the media and on the blogs. It's just not newsworthy.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
The KGB that Davis was a lobbyist for?
If this isn't a joke...dude, read some history, it's much more fascinating than they make it seem in high school and your sorely lacking basic knowledge of the 20th century.
You're sorely lacking basic high school grammar skills (e.g., you're not your) and since McSame's campaign manager lobbying ties to the KGB is more of a current event than history (you know, 21st century) you might want to try "teh Google" to get informed about the Davis-KGB connection before you embarass yourself again. With all due respect.
imagine coming into the Oval Office in 09 knowing that there are no capital reserves left, the nation is $20 trillion in debt, $53 trillion in worthless IOU's, all of the capital marketplaces are dead, and the nation is bleeding red ink at the rate of $1.43 billion and more per day.
Any ideas?
Jump off a cliff? Pray? Seek comfort in eating? Drinking? Go to sleep for 4 years?
Come on there has to be somebody out there in this World willing to finance great ideas and agendas and initiatives to make this a better world for everyone.
Hello? Is there anybody out there?
Please step forward.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081020/ames_be...
The whole world laughs when U.S.leaders lecture Russia about invading another nation. Iraqi deaths and the destruction of that country looms large in the rest of the worlds view of the U.S. and will for a very long time.
Those 5 million Iraqi refugees that are a direct consequence of our invasion of Iraq sure do not provide much credibility when McCain, Bush or any other U.S. leaders lecture Putin or anyone else.
You've hit the nail squarely on the head. By us invading a sovereign country illegally, we have no leg to stand on with any claims and have even a shred of integrity or respect.
Just imagine if we'd had another president following 911 (but then 911 probably wouldn't have happened either??)....the international community, even Iran!!!, offered to help us out. This was a colossal and unprecedented show of unity by the international community at that high point in our history.
What did Bush do? He used it as an excuse to invade a country we had no business invading. He squandered all sense of integrity and good will this country has ever had - and tanked our reputation internationally back 200 years. We can thank George Bush and his demented group of neo-fascists (AIPAC) for this criminal error in judgment.
Criminal invasion = war crimes. The moment any of these frauds step into a foreign country, they will be slapped in jail.
And they are still pushing hard for a military confrontation with Iran. Scott Ritter's book "Target Iran" is worth the read. Scott keeps pushing for a complete investigation into the alleged "smoking" laptop from Iran. Just watch there will not be a whisper about the upcoming aipac espionage trial. there has not been a whisper in the MSM or the progressive blogosphere for three years.
Firedoglake and other blogs are as complicit as the MSM on this topic
Rick Davis, Chairman of McCain*Palin campaign, has become a total liability for John McCain.
Not only did McCain lie about Rick Davis's payments from Freddie Mac which we now discover he'd received right up until last month to provide "access" to the candidate but he also took hundreds of thousands from Fannie Mae as a lobbyist there as well recently. More McCain lies!
But there's still more indicting evidence against Rick Davis and his "kremlin ties" - I think this shoots holes in McCain's bullshit last night about Russia etc. Check it out.....
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081020/ames_be...
Because of the neocons...we no longer have the moral high ground.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
http://aftermathnews.wordpress.com/2006/10/16...
Even some Republicans know what's going on and what has destroyed our reputation. I find it totally incongruous that a lackey like William Kristol even has an arena from which to mouth his ridiculous fascist commentary.
His grandfather, Irving Kristol, is dubbed the Grandfather of NeoFascism just as Grandpappy Bush (Prescott Bush) was aiding the Hitler third reich - hey, guys.....what's that expression? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree? It's time to root these fascists out and bring them to justice for what they've done to destroy this democracy.
Just look at the roster of AIPAC and you've got everyone who needs to be prosecuted right now.
"If The Kremlin Could Vote, It Would Vote For McCain"
Ivan Krastev knows of what he speaks, and I agree. The muscle-flexing in Georgia was in part another move by Russia to encourage Americans to support the War Candidate that Putin wants to look across the Atlantic and see: John McCain.
And just imagine the glee in the Kremlin should Sarah Palin become president...
meant PNAC roster....
Thanks for linking it.
Regards, C
Obama hitting Ohio hard the next couple of days
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ohhome
Dayton,Cinci, Portsmouth, Chillicothe, Columbus.
Former Senator Lincoln Chaffee stumping for Obama in Columbus (only Republican Senator to vote against the 2002 war resolution). Also hammered John Bolton during the nomination hearings Have the deepest respect for this man.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/ohhome
meant PNAC not AIPAC
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 10:53 — Anonymous (not verified)
meant PNAC roster....
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Where's Yogi Berra to steal that PNAC basket?
Sounded to me like McCain was describing America. It'spretty hypocritical for McCain to be criticizing the Russians for doing the very things that Bush and a complicit Congress and Courts have done to America...every bit of it with McCain cheerleading the process and voting in lockstep with it. That asshole has helped push this country towards becoming a totalitarian police state and he has helped turn this country into the only rogue nation of significance on planet earth, and he's attacking Putin? The crazy bastard needs to look in the mirror if he wants to see one of the bad guys.
What is that old saying..."Don't critize your neighbor for the splinter in his eye when you have a log protruding from you own"/em>.
What an idiot.
They must have given John McCain some powerful psychotropics when he was a POW.
http://i34.tinypic.com/2a6qjoh.jpg
What a coincidence, I looked into McCain's eyes and saw 3 letters also, K, K, & K.
How wonderfully Orwellian. I wonder if they were double-thinking of Hegemony or Domination when they chose "Freedom"?
"If The Kremlin Could Vote, It Would Vote For McCain"
Of course. What people don't get is that there already is a world government, and has been for at least a century. Not the UN, dope. That is a council of national leaders, a very different things. A de facto system of government of the rich, for enrichment, by their riches. What there is not is a peoples' government. There is supposedly "universal" suffrage, but in truth it is national suffrage.
The last thing they want is nations working together.
Is this how the new system works? My comment has disappeared.
[Go to the upper right corner of the page and register. You'll receive an e-mail in your in-box with a password. then you can log in and, I think, track all of your comments (I might be wrong about the tracking part- maybe it only works for those of us who work here). As for your last comment: I didn't see it at all. Maybe it was off topic and another monitor deleted it; maybe you didn't hit "save". Where and when did you post it? Site Monitor]
In a time when we need to offer a hand of friendship to Russia, more than ever, in the hopes that we can repair this damaged world, McCain's words are more than irresponsible.
They will only serve to further alienate what ought to be one of the United States biggest partners.
Russia isn't perfect. But clearly, neither is the United States of America.
It's time to get off the high horse, and adopt a posture of humility and responsibility.
McCain is clearly not the man who can do that.
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