Doing the Math

There is another report by the "bipartisan" commision led by James Baker. We have been told that this report will also not be released until after the election and it's devastating to the stay the course stupidity. This administration is incompetent in everything but causing death and destruction in whatever it does. Saving the comments of senators or withholding reports until after elections to hold power, blackmailing sexually deviant or corrupt representatives and twisting facts about financial dealings of Harry Reid while ignoring Denny Hastert's deal to make him millions through his office are just par for the course this this administration. Sometimes I wonder if the administration needs the wire tapping bill to gather info for blackmail?

Media Matters is singing your praises on this entry. Say it on the air, Jake! So what if you get fired -- you're young. You have power. Use it.

My math calculation would have been written more like this: 1 untenable war unsupported by any logical rationale (such as "imminent danger") + 1 unpopular and unconvincing President who hasn't made any compelling argument as to how this war affects terrorism (instead, we're "spreading freedom") = 1 dangerously unstable country in civil war with American troops in the middle of the fighting and serving as an incubator for terrorism. And as for Sen. Biden's comment, I wholeheartedly agree with DKNY's posting; I'd take the Senator's comments with an entire box of salt.

DKNY writes "HOWEVER....” and stands tall in his analysis.

We do not agree on the Iraq war but I do applaud your open mind.

"God, sometimes it's hard to work in this town and not grow deeply cynical..."

groans the correspondent, dramatically squeezing his septum and rubbing his head, relishing the drama of his revelation...

jjeeeeeezzzzz

We're at the point now where the only question is, "Who will be the last American soldier to die for for Shrub's refusal to admit his error, an error visible to the entire rest of the world?"

As a long-time poster on this blog, I have written many times about Iraq. I have been opposed since day 1. There have been thousands of senseless deaths as a result of this unprovoked attack. We are now less safe as a result. And it is intersting to consider, as an academic matter, Biden's statement, particularly since, taken at face value, it makes at least two Republicans sound like heartless political hacks, or worse.

HOWEVER, can we tak at face value Biden's statement about what he's been told by two unnamed Republicans? Biden has been known to be a little loose with his langauge and this just sounds goofy. Why would these unnamed Republicans share this information with Biden, a leader of the Democratic Party and a possible Presidential candidate? An even more intertesting question: If Biden knows their identities and disclosing their identities both saves lives and helps Democrats get elected, why doesn't Biden name names? I have some questions about this one.

Great Piece of writing Jake! Just reminds me of how gut less so many politicians are from ALL parties in that so few speak up against the INSANITY and STUPIDITY of the Iraq ... insanity. Every time I see the numbers of more dead I think of how Bush is responsible for it all and so many that are now dead from all sides would be alive now ... and if a few politicians had some courage to raise a voice against this insanity... a few more from ALL sides could live.

OOPS! I sincerely apologize to Mark for crediting the quote in my Oct 8, 2006 10:03:59 AM message. The person I was quoting was Charles Perrigo. and his Oct 7, 2006 5:08:18 PM message

WHAT HYPOCRITES LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ARE. NANCY PAOLSI RODE IN THE GAY PRIDE PARADE THIS YEAR IN SAN FRANCISO CALIF. WHO WAS THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THE PARADE? THE HEAD OF THE MAN,BOY,LOVE ASSOCIATION. DID SHE PROTEST AND REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE? NOT IF SHE COULD GET VOTES. WILL OUR PAGES BE SAFE IF SHE BECOMES HEAD OF THE HOUSE? That's an interesting statement. Being a Liberal Democrat I'm curious. Perhaps, Mark, the original poster can name the head of the organization for which he did not provide a full name. Who is the head of the *Man, Boy, Love Association? Is that the same organization as the North American Man Boy Love Association? I googled their website and couldn't locate the name of it's head. I googled the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade and could not find the name of a grand marshall linked to any such association. I'm curious about the attempts Mark made to vet this information before he posted it, or was he just repeating something he heard?

I wonder how a Senator who opposes the current Iraq war policy -- but hasn't stated so publicly -- calculates how many lives it's acceptable to have killed pursuing that policy before stating his opposition to it ….for the sole purpose of protecting his political party in an election.Been there, lived that, as has hundreds of thousands of other disabled vets and their survivors. At least in my case I could count on the press to champion the struggle of the grunt on the ground while relentlessly scrutinizing the politicians and their policies who put them there.

Career politicians are inherently evil. The system was originally designed to be a part-time job. In today's world, on the national, state, and local level, it is a life-time career to suck at the public trough. The current system is screaming for term limits. Two terms and you are out for life.

WHAT HYPOCRITES LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ARE. NANCY PAOLSI RODE IN THE GAY PRIDE PARADE THIS YEAR IN SAN FRANCISO CALIF. WHO WAS THE GRAND MARSHAL OF THE PARADE? THE HEAD OF THE MAN,BOY,LOVE ASSOCIATION. DID SHE PROTEST AND REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARADE? NOT IF SHE COULD GET VOTES. WILL OUR PAGES BE SAFE IF SHE BECOMES HEAD OF THE HOUSE?

That's what Schindler asked.

And that's why we need term limits. Career congresspersons aren't true to anyone but themselves.

It's the job of the press to be deeply cynical, Jake. How can you expose corruption if you are a government lapdog?

Really good, honest piece. thank you.

I hope some of those who have to make this "strategic" decision read your piece. This optimist in Boston is hoping it's just that they haven't considered all of this in such stark terms.

...and then those people wonder why oh why we journalists are so cynical. Pfah.

if i had even the most slim amount of faith in the system or those that represent it, tis' gone now. what a clear delcaration of importance. pathetic.
thanks for posting this, jake.

It has always been hard to live in the heartland and not be deeply cynical about Washington or any government. Glad you are catching up with the mainstream!