Waiting for Fitzgerald - Page 266

sebastian_dangerfield · 10-27-2005, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by taxwonk
I think you are completely wrong if you think that nobody decries the internment of both Japanese and German Americans during WWII. Many Americans view that as one of the darkest periods of our modern history.

Just below disco and tab collars.

Hank Chinaski · 10-27-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
I think McCarthy is fascinating because never before had a demented alcoholic channeled his obvious disease into such a monstrous power grab. Hitler was crazier than shit, but he wasn't a drunk. To think that McCarthy held the country in a white knuckle grip while simultaneously holding a fifth of Dewars in a similar grip is amazing.

You may want to go back and read my early days on the PB when I would actually engage with these twits. Wouldn't use Dewars for anything other than rinsing my mouth though.

Spanky · 10-27-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by taxwonk
I think you are completely wrong if you think that nobody decries the internment of both Japanese and German Americans during WWII. Many Americans view that as one of the darkest periods of our modern history.

I hear about the Japanese all the time but never about the Germans. The Japanese was clearly bad because all Japanese were thrown in. Not all Americans of German decent were thrown in but many were thrown in without a trial. I have never heard anyone condemn that.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-27-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I hear about the Japanese all the time but never about the Germans. The Japanese was clearly bad because all Japanese were thrown in. Not all Americans of German decent were thrown in but many were thrown in without a trial. I have never heard anyone condemn that.

The issue in Korematsu etc. was not that it was done without a trial but that it was done solely on race, and a presumption that someone of a particular race posed a threat. If not all Germans were put in camps, presumably someone was being selective. And presumably they had a non-arbitrary basis for selection.

The issue of no trial is of course a fair one. We're still trying to figure it out today with respect to gitmo.

SlaveNoMore · 10-27-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

spookyfish
Is Olson a "caretaker" justice then, kind of like the current Pope, because he's pretty old, isn't he?

He'll appease all the conservative types and is very confirmable.

And yes, it is preferable to go younger.

SlaveNoMore · 10-27-2005, 12:37 PM

Quote:

sebastian_dangerfield
What are they currently giving away for correctly predicting the sun will rise tomorrow?

A set of steak knives.

Third prize is you're fired.

Sparklehorse · 10-27-2005, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I hear about the Japanese all the time but never about the Germans. The Japanese was clearly bad because all Japanese were thrown in. Not all Americans of German decent were thrown in but many were thrown in without a trial. I have never heard anyone condemn that.

This may be because the Germans of concern were predominantly on the East Coast and you live in the middle of the area from which the majority of the Japanese-Americans were removed.

There's also some difference of scale -- a quick google reveals 11,000 German-Americans interned and 120,000 Japanese-Americans.

sebastian_dangerfield · 10-27-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spookyfish
Alberto Gonzales?

Depends. If Fitz indicts, then Bush may not go with Alberto, because he won't want the controversy/fight. If Fitz acquits, I think Alberto gets the nod, and Bush enjoys a hhuge fucking resurgence from the depths. Expect a press conf with a smiling Bush saying "Its a new day," and patting Gonzales on the back.

ltl/fb · 10-27-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Depends. If Fitz indicts, then Bush may not go with Alberto, because he won't want the controversy/fight. If Fitz acquits, I think Alberto gets the nod, and Bush enjoys a hhuge fucking resurgence from the depths. Expect a press conf with a smiling Bush saying "Its a new day," and patting Gonzales on the back.

Do they seriously think that having the withdrawal today will in any way distract people from indictments, if any are issued? Sheesh.

ETA what a disappointment -- when I posted this, I thought today was Friday already. Damn.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-27-2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Depends. If Fitz indicts, then Bush may not go with Alberto, because he won't want the controversy/fight. If Fitz acquits, I think Alberto gets the nod, and Bush enjoys a hhuge fucking resurgence from the depths. Expect a press conf with a smiling Bush saying "Its a new day," and patting Gonzales on the back.

Interesting take, but doesn't it go the other way? If Rove/Libby is indicted, Bush's "political capital" is further diminished. Gonzalez apparently is palatable to the Senate, and so would be more confirmable (and he had nothing to do with the leak). If no indictment, the cloud is lifted and Bush may have renewed energy to fight for someone like Owen or Clement, or one of Penske's wackos.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-27-2005, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ltl/fb
Do they seriously think that having the withdrawal today will in any way distract people from indictments, if any are issued? Sheesh.

ETA what a disappointment -- when I posted this, I thought today was Friday already. Damn.

No, but better today before the indictments than after when it looks like she was pulled for that reason rather than the fig leaf of executive privilege and documents.

SlaveNoMore · 10-27-2005, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
.... or one of Penske's wackos.

Alito, Luttig, McConnell, Brown, Jones et. al. are "wackos"???

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-27-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Alito, Luttig, McConnell, Brown, Jones et. al. are "wackos"???

Brown yes. And the rest of them were down around 10-15 on his list.

spookyfish · 10-27-2005, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Interesting take, but doesn't it go the other way? If Rove/Libby is indicted, Bush's "political capital" is further diminished. Gonzalez apparently is palatable to the Senate, and so would be more confirmable (and he had nothing to do with the leak). If no indictment, the cloud is lifted and Bush may have renewed energy to fight for someone like Owen or Clement, or one of Penske's wackos.

FWIW, I completely agree with this reasoning.

Spanky · 10-27-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
This may be because the Germans of concern were predominantly on the East Coast and you live in the middle of the area from which the majority of the Japanese-Americans were removed.

There's also some difference of scale -- a quick google reveals 11,000 German-Americans interned and 120,000 Japanese-Americans.

What was done to the Japanese sucked and was wrong. No question. But that is a side issue.

The point is that during WWII, any German that might have Nazi sympathies was thrown into a concentration camp by the US government. In addition, Nazi sympathisers were interviewed and asked their political views during the 1930s when we were not at war. Not a complaint from the liberals.

During the Korean War, when American fighter planes were being shot down by Soviets, and we were fighting the Chinese communists on the ground and there was a massive espionage campaign by the Soviets in the United States, some hollywood employees had to face a committee and lost their jobs because of their affiliation with the communist party. A party that was siding with the North Koreans against the United State and was being run by Moscow. And this was the crime of the century? This was a witch hunt?

Nothing happened to these people. If they had worked for me I would have fired them and told everyone I knew not to hire them.