Politics: A new beginning

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by bilmore
I always liked how Hitler made the trains run on time. Seems a shame we had to disturb that.

It doesn't surprise me that it doesn't matter to you. What the fuck do you care? You just sit in front of the computer all day in that law library in your cushy chair. No one has come around to knock the dick out YOUR mouth. Yet.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
I always liked how Hitler made the trains run on time. Seems a shame we had to disturb that.

No. BUT, unemployment in West Germany post-WWII was indeed a tremendous problem that we had to help address as part of our effort to rebuild the country and transform it from an enemy to a Cold War ally.

It seems that the same is true for Iraq (even if, as you propose, we address it by sending unemployed Iraqis into the Western Desert to tame the land at the risk of pissing off the local tribesmen).

It also seems uncontroversial to say that high unemployment remains a festering problem in Iraq which necessarily contributes to general disatisfaction and disatisfaction with the powers that be (who are for the present the U.S.). It should also be uncontroversial to say that some of the decisions by the CPA (which were and remain somewhat controversial) substantially contributed to the rising unemployment rate in the aftermath of the War. With a bit of luck, we can help straighten that out over time.

I don't think that this means -- or that Coltrane suggested -- that Iraqi unemployment was a reason not to go to war.

S_A_M

P.S. Gratuitous Nazi reference -- you lose.

[ETA : That quote was about _Mussolini_.]

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
It doesn't surprise me that it doesn't matter to you. What the fuck do you care? You just sit in front of the computer all day in that law library in your cushy chair. No one has come around to knock the dick out YOUR mouth. Yet.

Now, you see Coltrane! You went and did it. Stuff like that makes it almost impossible to defend you, even if you're basically right.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
That wasn't my point dipshit.

Swearing at people got Tyrone into management, maybe it'll work for you! Good luck!

My point was that unemployment was WAY up. Jesus, I fucking know how to calculate the employment rate. I have no idea what the actual unemployement rate is in Iraq. It was a fucking estimate that tends to show a large increase in unemployement. I haven't polled the Iraqis who are out of work yet actively seeking work.

You made up a number that made no sense. I made fun of it with a sarcastic post. What you're missing is there is only a degree of difference in suffering between 50% and 70% unemployment.
Most unemployed now, were unemployed then, The only difference is now they can complain.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
It doesn't surprise me that it doesn't matter to you. What the fuck do you care? You just sit in front of the computer all day in that law library in your cushy chair. No one has come around to knock the dick out YOUR mouth. Yet.

I can't help but think -

"Hm! She is made of harder stuff! Cardinal Fang! Fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!"

[Hank Chinaski]

quote:
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Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
It doesn't surprise me that it doesn't matter to you. What the fuck do you care? You just sit in front of the computer all day in that law library in your cushy chair. No one has come around to knock the dick out YOUR mouth. Yet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Now, you see Coltrane! You went and did it. Stuff like that makes it almost impossible to defend you, even if you're basically right.

Actually, substitute "cigar lit by $100 bills" for "dick" and he does describe bilmore pretty accurately.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by bilmore
I can't help but think -

"Hm! She is made of harder stuff! Cardinal Fang! Fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!"

God damnit you went and made me laugh...

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Now, you see Coltrane! You went and did it. Stuff like that makes it almost impossible to defend you, even if you're basically right.

You can't defend me b/c I'm funny?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Here is the top story in the Boston Globe today, reporting that Republican staff members in the Senate Judiciary Committee and Frist's office were accessing computer files of the Democratic members and distributing selections to Bob Novack and other press members.

Apparently, Hatch is mortified and some of the Rs are lining up the (IMHO rather spurious) defense to criminal charges that the documents discussing strategy were not "official business".

Two questions for the board: First, is this getting play elsewhere? I didn't see it on the front page of the times. Second, if this is the Republican's definition of "official business", can I get all their political files without any redaction through an FOIA request (the files are government property)? How about Cheney's?

(On the editorial side, it strikes me it is time for Hatch & Frist to hang some staffers out to dry and give them some free government funded room and board for a while).

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
No. BUT, unemployment in West Germany post-WWII was indeed a tremendous problem that we had to help address as part of our effort to rebuild the country and transform it from an enemy to a Cold War ally.

I understand all of that (and I even understand that it was BM, not AH, but felt that such a reference would go right over his head) and my whole effin' point was that post-war UE in G was sort of . . . similar to this situation, and the argument/thesis/theme/crap I'm seeing is analogous to the premise that us entering WWII was fucked up because we left G with high UE. There were some other, maybe more important, considerations.

Jesus, "subtle" just doesn't fly here, does it?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Most unemployed now, were unemployed then, The only difference is now they can complain.

Cite?

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
...a degree of difference in suffering...

"Well, they already had a leg chopped off, what's an arm? They'll still have one of each left."

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by bilmore
I understand all of that (and I even understand that it was BM, not AH, but felt that such a reference would go right over his head) and my whole effin' point was that post-war UE in G was sort of . . . similar to this situation, and the argument/thesis/theme/crap I'm seeing is analogous to the premise that us entering WWII was fucked up because we left G with high UE. There were some other, maybe more important, considerations.

Jesus, "subtle" just doesn't fly here, does it?

You keep setting up straw men.

The argument being made was that the high unemployment needs to be addressed. You decided you'd rather argue over whether it affects the decision to go to war. Yes, some people here are subtle challenged.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Cite?

from his original post, which said unemployment was 50%, now 70%. look, all I was doing was fighting his argument. till club comes back, I've no time for research

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
I understand all of that (and I even understand that it was BM, not AH, but felt that such a reference would go right over his head) and my whole effin' point was that post-war UE in G was sort of . . . similar to this situation, and the argument/thesis/theme/crap I'm seeing is analogous to the premise that us entering WWII was fucked up because we left G with high UE. There were some other, maybe more important, considerations.

Jesus, "subtle" just doesn't fly here, does it?

If you leave too much unsaid, people have to read between the lines or read into your post the meaning you intended. That's dangerous on this Board.

I understood the basic point you were making, but (since I did not see Coltrane's premise the same way you did) did not see its pertinence.

S_A_M