Politics As Usual

[sgtclub]

Drudge is reporting that Khaled al-Harbi, a "close associate of OBL" has surrended to the Saudis.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Nevertheless, as he clearly never intended to be an unbiased fact finder (for all of the reasons I've previously stated), but for his wife's connections, he would never have been considered for the job.

"Clearly". Basic rule of written advocacy is that the better your argument, the fewer adjectives and adverbs required.

On this one, you are sitting on the tree limb baying at the Moon.

P.S. What in Wilson's report was WRONG? or SLANTED? In order to give your position any credibility, you'll at least have to identify _something_. Does the CIA or White House now disagree with Wilson's assessment in any meaningful way?

S_A_M

[Sidd Finch]

As Not Me noted yesterday, the stories about the attack on the French mother outside Paris are coming into serious doubt. CNN reports that surveillance cameras show no images of anyone fitting the attackers' description running from the station. No witnesses have come forward and, despite the initial report that passengers just watched the attack, there are doubts as to whether anyone else was even on the train. The alleged victim has reported being violently assaulted several times before.

Interestingly, the alleged attack happened on the day that French ministers were meeting to discuss how to respond to the rising problem of racist, and particularly anti-Semitic, crimes. France has Europe's largest Muslim community (5 million). It also has Europe's largest Jewish community (600,000). The alleged attack was widely condemned by officials throughout the French government.

Despite all this, I think the Wahhabi Repubs were absolutely right to take the supposed attackers as indicative of the nature of France overall, and of the French government in particular. After all, 60 years ago one portion of France helped the Nazis slaughter Jews. In the same vein, the rest of the world would be absolutely right to see American skinheads and Klansmen as indicative of the nature of America overall, and of the American government in particular. After all, 140 years ago a portion of America enslaved people of African descent, and more recently another portion of Americans pursued the genocide of Indians.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Kerrey/Edwards down 56-41 amoung likely voters in NC.

Not shocking, but that gap is 5% better than Bush/Gore, and Bush will have to spend money to keep ahead.

Yee-ha!

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Drudge is reporting that Khaled al-Harbi, a "close associate of OBL" has surrended to the Saudis.

Maybe. We'll probably know when the Good Guys' allies are done peeling the skin from his body.

"Islam is a Religion of Amnesty."

S_A_M

[Tyrone Slothrop]

This explains a whole lot.

edited to remove ungodly big picture

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
"Clearly". Basic rule of written advocacy is that the better your argument, the fewer adjectives and adverbs required.

On this one, you are sitting on the tree limb baying at the Moon.

P.S. What in Wilson's report was WRONG? or SLANTED? In order to give your position any credibility, you'll at least have to identify _something_. Does the CIA or White House now disagree with Wilson's assessment in any meaningful way?

S_A_M

I think the White House has adopted the position that anyone who questions or disagrees with administration policy is biased, at best, and possibly treasonous.

[sgtclub]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...iage_amendment

[Kerry and Edwards to miss procedural vote on marriage amend]

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Drudge is reporting that Khaled al-Harbi, a "close associate of OBL" has surrended to the Saudis.

And he has been granted amnesty by the Saudis. How long do we wait before we go in for a snatch-and-grab?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Despite all this, I think the Wahhabi Repubs were absolutely right to take the supposed attackers as indicative of the nature of France overall, and of the French government in particular. After all, 60 years ago one portion of France helped the Nazis slaughter Jews. In the same vein, the rest of the world would be absolutely right to see American skinheads and Klansmen as indicative of the nature of America overall, and of the American government in particular. After all, 140 years ago a portion of America enslaved people of African descent, and more recently another portion of Americans pursued the genocide of Indians.

I don't know much about the specific attack, but antisemitism in Europe has been latent for years. Take a look at how the Europeans view and treat Israel vis a vis the Palis and you get a smiggen of it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I don't know much about the specific attack, but antisemitism in Europe has been latent for years. Take a look at how the Europeans view and treat Israel vis a vis the Palis and you get a smiggen of it.

No doubt. But while there is a bad trend in rejection of Israeli policy morphing into anti-Semitism, that is not actually a requirement -- one can disagree with Israeli conduct towards the Palistinians without being an anti-Semite (in the way that, say, a substantial number of Israelis disagree with Sharon's conduct).

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Slave has inspired me to post. I wonder why Bush doesn't cite the Niger uranium as support?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Jul12.html

Link to article on Pres. Bush's speech yesterday defending the decision to invade Iraq. His remaining justification -- the John Wayne approach to foreign affairs (i.e. "His ass needed kicking."):

"Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, we were right to go into Iraq," Bush said during a brief visit to east Tennessee.

* * *

"We are defending the peace by taking the fight to the enemy," Bush said in a subtle reformulation of the idea of "preemption" that has been a centerpiece of his foreign policy since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. "We have followed this strategy -- defending the peace, protecting the peace and extending the peace -- for nearly three years. We have been focused and patient, firm and consistent."

* * *

Bush acknowledged what he called "some shortcomings" cited in the Senate report, but added: "Our intelligence sources do an essential job for America."

Yeaaah, That's the ticket! That's exactly what my Giiirllfrieend, CINDY CRAWFORD told me yesterday.

S_A_M

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...iage_amendment

[Kerry and Edwards to miss procedural vote on marriage amend]

If it were to pass by two votes or less, yes.

Question -- where's "W"aldo today -- in Crawford, at Camp David, or at fundraiser? Does he still take his afternoon naps, like when he was Governor? [Wait, that was Reagan.} I mean, does he still work out for 2 hours each afternnon?

S_A_M

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by sgtclub
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...iage_amendment

[Kerry and Edwards to miss procedural vote on marriage amend]

The lead story in this morning's SF Chronicle is that the sponsors are in trouble to get a simple majority, let alone the two-thirds that they would need to pass it. So maybe Kerry and Edwards think this is a safe vote to miss.

I was going to say more, but S_A_M covered it.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
The statement that I heard many times in the last decade (not from Kerry) is that there are more African Americans in the criminal justice system than in college. The criminal justice system includes more than jails and prisons; it includes people on parole, on probation, or under other form of supervised release.

I don't know if the statement is true today, but the stats I saw years ago when I first heard this statement supported it.

Are you counting prison guards? Cops?