Politics As Usual

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Gore's a twit.

As I said about Gore a few days ago, the guy was by all accounts a decent vice president. Consider, e.g., the story about Gore telling Clinton and Cutler to break international law to grab a terrorist. And we all know that he invented the internet as a senator. He's a crappy politician, but apparently a solid governor, in generic sense, and if you set aside partisan preferences, in the sense that Pete Dominici seems to be a capable guy but James Inhofe reminds me of something Penske met in hotel bathroom in Cleveland, NTTAWWT. All the bad things you say go to how bad Gore is at getting people to vote for him, not at what he did once he got the votes.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
As I said about Gore a few days ago, the guy was by all accounts a decent vice president. Consider, e.g., the story about Gore telling Clinton and Cutler to break international law to grab a terrorist. And we all know that he invented the internet as a senator. He's a crappy politician, but apparently a solid governor, in generic sense, and if you set aside partisan preferences, in the sense that Pete Dominici seems to be a capable guy but James Inhofe reminds me of something Penske met in hotel bathroom in Cleveland, NTTAWWT. All the bad things you say go to how bad Gore is at getting people to vote for him, not at what he did once he got the votes.

FWIW, the guy plays pretty well in person. One on one, in smaller crowds, the guy is articulate, charming, and displays the skills of what you'd expect in a national politician.

When the cameras switch on, though, or if the crowd grows to above 20, the man completely loses it. I was completely flummoxed at the difference anytime he was on TV, where it became clear that (unlike Clinton, or even Bush) Gore doesn't have a single ounce of Elvis in him. Maybe his morphing into Democratic Attack Dog is the way that he can find the acceptance he craves.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
As I said about Gore a few days ago, the guy was by all accounts a decent vice president.

Which is not that far off from saying he's a twit.

Gore was apparently quite effective in his "reinventing government" effort (i.e., dealing with a bunch of silly rules that caused inflated costs). But being a good technocrat and being the public face of the party are very different things. Gore rose to his level of incompetence when he attempted the latter.

None of this is to say that I didn't vote for him, of course. The alternatives being what they were.

[SlaveNoMore]

ironweed
When did you start caring about what happens in Boston?

They have a lot of Irish there, don't they?

You may make a good point.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Which is not that far off from saying he's a twit.

True.

[Skeks in the city]

Originally posted by sgtclub
The WSJ editorial page made an interesting point this morning in connection with torturegate, which essentially is: Haven't we just severely hampered our interrogation efforts, given that the world now knows what we are and are not willing to do?

No problemo, we just hand terrorists over to countries with fewer scruples. The Saudi's regularly decapitate more people that al qaeda.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Skeks in the city
No problemo, we just hand terrorists over to countries with fewer scruples. The Saudi's regularly decapitate more people that al qaeda.

We've only hampered our efforts if the rest of the world thought we were previously willing to torture people but are now unwilling. The outrage about the former suggests the first part is wrong, and what we all know about the Bush administration suggests that the second part is wrong too. Which is just confirmation that the WSJ is primarily interested in beating people over the head with the idea that they're soft on terrorists, even as they're completely uninterested in brutal, ideological incompetence with which the Bush administration is prosecuting this war.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
brutal, ideological incompetence with which the Bush administration is prosecuting this war.

Because there hasn't been the concern for international treaties that caused the whole hand wringing re. grabbing up OBL, you know, where Al tried to clear heads?

HC
41-4

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Because there hasn't been the concern for international treaties that caused the whole hand wringing re. grabbing up OBL, you know, where Al tried to clear heads?

HC
41-4

I didn't realize you were 41-3 before this one. What the fuck are you talking about? Al Gore said we should violate international law to kidnap a terrorist, and so no one should have a problem with torture? Yeah, that follows.

T.S.

3.1415926535897

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I didn't realize you were 41-3 before this one. What the fuck are you talking about? Al Gore said we should violate international law to kidnap a terrorist, and so no one should have a problem with torture? Yeah, that follows.

T.S.

3.1415926535897

Ty, Have some wine before you get abusive. When you get this belligerant this early you scare eveyone away. We should kill terrorist, ceptin when if we tortue them they might tell us where we can find some more. i thought you read Orwell? bg Brother sorted it out in the end, remember?
42-3 penalty point

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
HC
41-4

37
SS

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I didn't realize you were 41-3 before this one. What the fuck are you talking about? Al Gore said we should violate international law to kidnap a terrorist, and so no one should have a problem with torture? Yeah, that follows.

Not meant to be rhetorical:

What international law is violated by kidnapping or killing a stateless person in a lawless land where he is tolerated while he plots war upon the state that kills him?

Just a gut feeling, but I'm with Gore on the topic, if he really said it. Partly because I think a 5 year old could argue his way out of the courts that even try to enforce any such law, if it exists. Personally, if any such court ever tries, convicts, attempts to punish etc. any, and I mean any (i.e., including any Democrat or whatever), American official for undertaking such a course of conduct, I'll be in favor of declaring war on the court.

Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain
For purple mountains' majesty, above the fruited plain
America, Americ God shed his grace on thee
And crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!

Now, let's get reaaaadddddy to rrrrruuuummmmbbbbllllleeee

Hello

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
37
SS

699

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
699

Math is hard.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Ty, Have some wine before you get abusive. When you get this belligerant this early you scare eveyone away. We should kill terrorist, ceptin when if we tortue them they might tell us where we can find some more. i thought you read Orwell? bg Brother sorted it out in the end, remember?
42-3 penalty point

I've had some wine now, and (a) I'm less cranky, and (b) you're making a little more sense. An Australian chardonnay, Wynn's Coonawarra or something like that, if you're wondering.