Gteat post by Ian Welsh over at Firedoglake. Every Dem in Congress should read it.
Posted by chris at July 14, 2007 06:24 PM"...so I completely missed the ongoing absurdity of Michael Gordon and imploding credibility of the Times ..." -(Paradox)
-This reads as if at one time the Times did have credibility. The point here is to try and train oneself, for the future, not to succumb to counter productive fantasies of what has never been.
A cogent analysis of American society cannot proceed without first, in advance of anything else, have a complete distrust, a total abjuration of the power institutions of that society.
One only wishes the Times was only now merely "imploding."
Posted by Jill Bains at July 14, 2007 08:34 PMHappy 85th birthday George McGovern.
Posted by peter at July 14, 2007 09:18 PMI wish I could do a favicon for my blog, but Blogger apparently doesn't support them.
Posted by Elayne Riggs at July 15, 2007 07:20 AMThanks for the shout-out. Credit where it's due for our lovely favicon: August Pollak drew the panda and my consort Punkass Marc adapted it into a favicon.
Posted by Amanda Marcotte at July 15, 2007 08:04 AM301,139,947 (July 2007 est.) Population of U.S.
29% of 301,139,947 = 87,330,584 (mostly trolls)
That means 213,809,363 think Bush is doing a terrible job. Yet he continues ticking like the Energizer Bunny. Will someone please take his batteries out? IMPEACH!
Posted by Judith at July 15, 2007 08:22 AMCasualties in Iraq
The Human Cost of Occupation
Military Casualties in Iraq
Date Total In Combat
American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 3613
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03)
3474
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):
3152
Since Handover (6/29/04):
2754
Since Election (1/31/05):
2176
American Wounded
Total Wounded: 26695
Official Estimated
23000 - 100000
http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/
Posted by Judith at July 15, 2007 09:47 AMJudith,
When you post statistics of death in Iraq try not to just include the American dead.
It appears insensitive and ill mannered.
Always include the Iraqi dead as well.
Always include the Iraqi dead.
Always include the Iraqi dead.
The dead Iraqi's.
The dead Vietnamese.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 15, 2007 10:24 AM"When you post statistics of death in Iraq try not to just include the American dead. It appears insensitive and ill mannered."
Well, you know Jill, I have been posting American deaths for over a year now, and no one else has complained. I think everyone here is fairly intelligent and knows, without my posting the statistics, that the casualities on the Iraqi side are horrific. I have been posting here for over three years, and I don't think I need someone now to tell me how to post. Thank you.
Posted by Judith at July 15, 2007 01:30 PM"Well, you know Jill, I have been posting American deaths for over a year now, and no one else has complained... I have been posting here for over three years, and I don't think I need someone now to tell me how to post. Thank you." -(Judith)
-That no one has mentioned this much less 'complained' to you- bespeaks of exceedingly low standards for the entire blog. Perhaps the blog is riven with a classic case of American exceptionalism? And I cannot say I'm surprised.
You may 'think' that everyone here knows that 'the casualties for
Iraqis are horrific" and that may or may not be true. But since it is obvious you see no need to inform them (which you don't), you seem to clearly hold the life of Iraqi's in contempt.
What is the ratio here Judith, 100 Iraqi deaths are equal in value to 1 one American death?
But don't sweat it, even if you did care for the Iraqi dead, you would be the exception to the rule. For let's get the not so secret dirty little secret out in the open: American's care ONLY for their own dead; the Iraqi dead are incidental.
And unless you mention it loud and clear that you care for more than your own dead, I don't think many will believe you. But then being an American, god forbid someone asking you to care for others who are not Americans.I know that is too much to ask.
That would be disrespecting what it really means to be an American.
I'm sorry if I made it seem I was telling you 'how to post.'
Forgive me if I had expected more.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 15, 2007 07:13 PMJill, one of the issues that got Scout in trouble on this site was his arrogance and his unfounded belief that he was right and the rest of us were wrong, if we disagreed. I see the same tendencies in your way of interacting with others.
I won't respond to your post, as it is not worth my time, and those who know me here at TLC, certainly know my stance on death and dying, whether that death be American, British, Iraqi, etc.
You come to this site and the first thing you do is insult Steve Soto, the founder of this site. Not a good way to start out when you are new on a blog. I would suggest you move on to another site where your intellectual needs are met. We are just a group of people, trying to relate our feelings to one another, and all of us resent someone coming here dictating, with all their hubris on how, why and where we should post or whether or not we are right. We just got rid of one pain in the ass, and I have a feeling your not far behind.
Posted by Judith at July 15, 2007 07:37 PMBy-the-way Jill, if you had been reading this post for longer than a week or two, you would know that I have posted the Iraqi death total more than once. But, then again, being so full of yourself you assumed I didn't care. Try educating yourself before jumping in and calling anyone out on something you know nothing about.
Posted by Judith at July 15, 2007 07:51 PMJudith,
I must have got you where you live. You've gone apoplectic. You're not cushy and cozy any more saying your usual silly little trifles. Sounds like you want to rally the executioners and the censors? Maybe you should conduct a poll? I could care less.
Liberals and Democrats don't like to be called to the carpet rolling around on their soft underbellies.
There is no burden of proof here as to who is right and who is wrong. Nor can there be. This is just a blog, not an exegetic text. The rules of engagement are different.
I say what I say and do what I do in the style I do it.
When I see stuff I like I compliment it; when I see garbage I attack it. Isn't that simple enough?
You are free to take it or leave it. But you should get used to it.
Seeking vengence is most unbecoming.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 15, 2007 11:04 PM