Politics: A new beginning

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Notably, he's regretting the tone, but not saying he was incorrect.

Uh, he's saying the press got it wrong - that he did not imply that Bush was planning on invading Iraq early in his admin. This is the main claim that's getting the hype on democraticunderground.com, etc. The feeding frenzy was wrong. That's a little more significant than "regretting the tone". But, nice spin.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by bilmore
On another note, O'Neil is backtracking fast:

The Daily Show last night had a good bit where they played the 60 Minutes clip of O'Neill saying "why would I be worried? I'm just telling the truth" and then flashed to Stewart shaking his head with a knowing smile.

I think O'Neill had a dinner meeting with Tom Hagen over the weekend, figuratively speaking. But this time, the bandleader story was replaced by the "CIA operative" story.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

sgtclub suggested recently that the size of the federal budget deficit is not excessive by historical standards. However, it turns out that that's true only if you disregard the Social Security surplus. Otherwise, we're at historical highs, and -- as sgtclub repeatedly observes -- that's without many of the tax cuts having kicked in yet.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by The Larry Davis Experience
I think O'Neill had a dinner meeting with Tom Hagen over the weekend, figuratively speaking. But this time, the bandleader story was replaced by the "CIA operative" story.

even though you picked the Irish Corleone, this reference was clearly to an I'tie. It was Luca Brazzi, not Hagen. I guess its okay to racist, or profile as long as its olive skinned from North of the Med.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by bilmore
Uh, he's saying the press got it wrong - that he did not imply that Bush was planning on invading Iraq early in his admin. This is the main claim that's getting the hype on democraticunderground.com, etc. The feeding frenzy was wrong. That's a little more significant than "regretting the tone". But, nice spin.

Nice spin, indeed. You guys are raising damage control to new levels.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by bilmore
Uh, he's saying the press got it wrong - that he did not imply that Bush was planning on invading Iraq early in his admin. This is the main claim that's getting the hype on democraticunderground.com, etc. The feeding frenzy was wrong. That's a little more significant than "regretting the tone". But, nice spin.

Isn't this the sort of thing that got him kicked out of the administration in the first place? Some comment gets out to the media, the dow drops 200 points because of the comment and then he comes back and says "the quote was taken out of context and you should have listened to the whole speech instead of that one soundbyte."

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
... although now that you mention it perhaps we ought to hire them only if they can explain Nietzsche.

I've always considered the key to Nietzsche understand that when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you.

So can I search your luggage?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
It occurs to me that a lot of the concern about the erosion of individual privacy rights has as much to do with the pace of technological change and improvements in information technology as it does with the specific leaders we have. It's just a lot easier to locate and compile information about people now than it used to be.

This is a very interesting observation. If I may take it a step further (without any reductio ab absurdem being intended), there seem to be more people on this board concerned with telemarketers calling them at night than armed guards denying access to common modes of transportation or people being held by our government without access to counsel.

Perhaps our society is in the throes of severe decline.

[Hank Chinaski]

in Iraq K's

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108237,00.html

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
This is a very interesting observation. If I may take it a step further (without any reductio ab absurdem being intended), there seem to be more people on this board concerned with telemarketers calling them at night than ....... people being held by our government without access to counsel.

Perhaps our society is in the throes of severe decline.

I think we'd all be comfortable allowing you to provide the Defense work.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
even though you picked the Irish Corleone, this reference was clearly to an I'tie. It was Luca Brazzi, not Hagen. I guess its okay to racist, or profile as long as its olive skinned from North of the Med.

Come on Hank, don't just disagree with me for the sake of disagreeing. Brazzi went to see Salazzo later in the movie. Hagen went to see the movie producer who said he wasn't no bandleader and then
(SPOILER SPACE)
...
...



woke up next to the severed horse head.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Perhaps our society is in the throes of severe decline.

Perhaps telemarketers have a natural affinity for affluent lawyers, and the government has other fish to fry.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Isn't this the sort of thing that got him kicked out of the administration in the first place? Some comment gets out to the media, the dow drops 200 points because of the comment and then he comes back and says "the quote was taken out of context and you should have listened to the whole speech instead of that one soundbyte."

Yeah, exactly. The guy has no conception of the "think, then talk" paradigm. He never understood (understands?) that, if a soundbite contains a discrete thought, it will be used without the footnotes and addendums. If you say "John's an idiot", followed by "but then, I think everyone in the world is an idiot", guess which part gets quoted.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by bilmore
I just see some of this as a rational reaction to dangers that we didn't necessarily perceive several years ago.

McCarthy perceived it 50 years ago. What's new?


scroll then post? (preemptive to eliminate need to edit, if any)

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Perhaps telemarketers have a natural affinity for affluent lawyers, and the government has other fish to fry.

I'm not sure, but I think you just called us all fish.