Elections in Iraqe Power of Democracy

Lets take a moment to honor, really, the brave Iraqi people who voted today in the countries first election, amoung flying bullets, mortors, and suicide bombings.

Take a moment to think about the power behind the idea of the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

Now, plug your ears for the next week or so as every third-rate conservative,mouth breather, fundy, GOP hack uses the Iraq election to say, "I told you so."

Well, guess what, you didn't tell us so. Not when you where selling this war. You said WMD and terrorism, less you need to be reminded.

So get off your high horse, mouth breather and remember, the Iraqi people and the soldiers in theatre made this happen, not you.

And unfortunately, it's not over.

No Way Jose!

Its great to see opposition to Bush Flunkies Rice and Gonzalas. The U.S. must take a strong stand against torture if for no other reason then to protect our own guys.

Gonzales did a legal-two around the Geneva Convention when he should have told the President that it wasn't right, moral, or legal.

He should have stood up and been a man.

Gonzalas has proven himself a lap dog rather then a trusted legal advisor.

If Senate Democrats had any spine, and they showed some opposing Rice, then they would all vote NO on Gonzalas. He'll still be the US AG, but we will have made our point.

Delusional as a State of Mind

Its not a case of liberal versus conservative.

It’s a case for thinking viruses not thinking.

I believe that there a many people out there who do not want to think, do not want ambiguity, do not want to live in a world that is anything but black and white. These people love conservative rhetoric because it is just that, black and white, for or against, right or wrong, America's way, or the highway.

Where are the conservative thinkers explaining their position with nuisance and intelligence?

I read George Will for that very reason, his opinions are at the very least, well-reasoned and supported.

Are there any othesr?

Found one the other day through a link from Eric Altererman's blog: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=76&ItemID=7056

I like this graph:

"Because of the triumph of delusional "new conservatives" and the demise of the liberal media, this war is different from the Vietnam war. As more Americans are killed and maimed in the pointless carnage, more Americans have a powerful emotional stake that the war not be lost and not be in vain. Trapped in violence and unable to admit mistake, a reckless administration will escalate."

People want to be delusional because it requires no effort, just belief.

but freedom requires effort, not just guns and tanks, but mental and emotional effort as well.

Et tu Colin Powell

If the American people are Caesar, Cheney/Rumsfield Antony, then Colin Powell must surely play the part of Brutus, the good man acting for what he thinks are rational reasons, only to discover, as the knife plunges into Caesar's heart, differently.

America says, "et tu Colin Powell."

I took the guy as a model after I read his book, My American Dream. Of course, no man can be as golden as Powell is portrayed in his book, but none the less, Powell was a man among men, a soldier, a leader, a church going, moderate Republican who liked to tinker with Volvos.

But now, he is a tragic figure, like Brutus.

The chief criticism is that he could have resigned as Secretary of State to protest the war.

I am convinced this topic was discussed around the Powell breakfast table, with Alma, maybe even Mike and their daughter.

But ultimately, as we know, Powell stayed.

It was a terrible moment thinking back to his presentation at the UN, a performance that convinced me, and now to think back, was all exaggerations, if not outright lies.

In Powell's biography what stood out for me was his love of his men, his since of responsibility in commanding them, his understanding that to put them in harms way required clear objectives and genuine threats. Iraq had neither at the time.

Of course, tragically, it is all that and more now.

Powell most pain at the daily numbers of his beloved soldier returned dead or maimed.

He must pain too, when he see the video of his UN performance.

Oh well, another one bits the dust under the grinding wheels of the Bush Admin.

Charger's Wildcard Lose

The old saying goes, play the same game that got in the big game, er, something like that. On Saturday, the chargers didn't figure this out in late in the forth quarter.

Why? Why the hell not play the down-field-to-Antonia Gates-game that got you 12 wins in the regular season against much better defenses than the Jets?

Hmmm, not sure but I have my theories.

First, we played scared and we game-planned scared.

Players are not the only folks that tighten up on big games, the coachers and coordinators do too. Right from the kickoff, it was apparent that the Charger offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, tighten up, got scared, played it safe.

No guts no glory. Playing not to lose is a first-time-in-the-playoffs-in 10-years mistake. Lets hope he doesn't do it again.

The defense played its normal game. Gave up twenty points. That is consistent with season.

The offense, which usually puts up 28 on average, played with fear as if they were not sure they belonged, as if they where afraid something would go wrong. Well, it did.

The Jets were eminently beatable, tired, traveled-out, but to their credit, persistent. They kept the game close while the Chargers tried to decide if they really belonged.

I agreed with many callers over the weekend that said a rookie missing a FG in a playoff game in overtime was not the problem. There would not have been an OT without a personal foul call on the last Charger play of the (at the time) season.

The problem and ultimately the reason for the lose, the offense play calling played not to lose.

Great season, great lesson learned. Next year Chargers, remember, dance with the game plan the brung you.

You deserve to be there.

Jackal and Hyde Administration

I can't figure out this administration. Are they evil geniuses or mildly incompetent boobs?

Iraq: Express US military might into the Middle East, topple the PITA Saddam, help Israel, secure oil production, create jumping off point to go after terrorists
-or-
Find and destroy WMD-that doesn't exist, topple Saddam because of his ties to terrorism, be welcomed with open arms in Iraq.

Torture: Lets torture guys under the radar because its necessary for National Security
-or-
Try to wiggle our way through the Geneva Convention by redefining the definition of "is."

Social Security: Dismantle a social safety net to which we are ideologically opposed and drive profits on wall street
-or-
Hey, social security is going to run out of money in 5 years, the sky is falling, lets do something!

I think there are evil geniuses in the admin pushing an ideological agenda, but the boobs are making up the reasons for change.

Maybe they need a little augmentation.