Well, the War party, as designated by Juan Cole, led by the doubtable "Kommander in Chief" himself, are singing the praises of the new "de-Baathification" law recently passed as further PROOF that It's Morning in Iraq. In an effort to pre-empt the Charlie "The surge is WORKING, Losers" Gibson and all of his weenie swilling ilk, I'd like to point out a few facts; again pointed out by the REdoubtable Juan Cole.
First, as to the PROGRESS being made in "reconciliation":
Parliament has been able to get a quorum on several recent occasions, and barely mustered a quorum on Saturday, with 143 members in attendance out of 275. The new law passed with a narrow majority. The vote count was not published anywhere I could find it, but it could have been as low as 72.
If the new law was good for ex-Baathists, then the ex-Baathists in parliament will have voted for it and praised it, right? And likely the Sadrists (hard line anti-Baath Shiites) and Kurds would be a little upset. Instead, parliament's version of this law was spearheaded by Sadrists, and the ex-Baathists in parliament criticized it.
What are the ex-Baathists afraid of? Well, they are ex-Baathists in politics. So this objectionable passage seems to make it possible for the Sadrists, e.g., to keep people like Iyad Allawi from ever again enjoying high office. His secular, nationalist Iraqi National Dialogue party could easily just be branded too close to the original Baath Party and dissolved, and he could be excluded from high office by this new provision.
You know, it must be that thing about unintended consequences. The crazy conicidence is: The headlines are all saying that the law permits Baathists back into public life. It seems actually to demand that they be fired or retired on a pension, and any who are employed are excluded from sensitive ministries.
Based on these helpful consequences of the ever-so-successful (McCain-induced) surge, the Wise and All Powerful Imperial Commander of all the AmeriKan Christian Army has said, With Petraeus at his side, Bush said, "My attitude is, if he didn't want to continue the drawdown, that's fine with me, in order to make sure we succeed, see. I said to THE general, `If you want to slow her down, fine. It's up to you.'
So, if THE General decides, the President listens. But, of course, since the surge is working so well, why should we change chargers mid-whirlpool? We seem destined to head into the next Presidency, (hopefully in 2009) with the same troop levels, around 130,000 that we had since the Democrat Party took control TWO CHENEYING YEARS earlier!
I am in AWE of such effective "leadership". Maybe Karl Rove's fat folder of, 8 x 10 color glossies and NSA intercepts won't be completely useless, even if The Goracle miraculously becomes the Candidate of Champions. Hey Harry! What happened in Las Vegas was supposed to STAY in Las Vegas!
Posted by DeminNewJ at January 13, 2008 04:02 AMWatching Meet the Timmeh...it's difficult for me as I have avoided it at all costs because of his gotcha cherrypicked bs style questions.
Here's the question. Is Obama ready to be preznit. Hillary answer...um, I'm just trying to explain why I'm qualified and informing voters as to why that is so. Timmeh follow-up. So in other words what you're saying is that Obama's not ready to be preznit and then he's not ready for VP. Hilllary:(most likely like myself thinking to herself WTF timmeh do you speak english because lord knows you really don't understand it?). Hillary actual response...Oh talk about mischaracterizing my answer Tim.
The logic of these stupid Villagers and this man is just plain NUTS....sigh why oh why can't we have a better media/pundit world.
Truthfully I think she's handling him pretty well. (although I haven't seen her cry yet so maybe I can't vote for her /snark).
emal, I couldn't watch for more than a couple minutes when he was grilling her on the 2002 AUMF vote. Gee, Timmeh, you didn't seem so concerned about the NIE back then, did you?
Posted by iamcoyote at January 13, 2008 08:19 AMFinally, someone's paying attention to this:
The New York Times found 121 cases in which veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed a killing in this country, or were charged with one, after their return from war. In many of those cases, combat trauma and the stress of deployment — along with alcohol abuse, family discord and other attendant problems — appear to have set the stage for a tragedy that was part destruction, part self-destruction.
The infrastructure for the returning soldiers is going to have to be beefed up exponentially if we're going to prevent these numbers from surging...
Posted by iamcoyote at January 13, 2008 08:24 AMEmal, it's called 'let me put words in your mouth so the media can run with a headline.'
Posted by Judith at January 13, 2008 08:30 AMAs a veteran said recently on NPR, "I've been hearing the same old bull since WWII about how our politicians are going to get us veterans help." "It's just plain bull."
Posted by Judith at January 13, 2008 08:36 AMiamcoyote....yes Timmeh hammered on that area quite a bit but I do think it is fair...this is definitely an area of her record that concerns me. I see what her ratiionale was today and I'm still not totally convinced.
But I totally agree... wish someone asked Timmeh why during that same time period he was sitting on his fat arse holding Cheerleading war pom poms while taking "everything's off the record unless otherwise specified" phone calls from the Cheney administration underlings instead of say, like doing his job as a part of the independent 4th estate questioning the current administration about their motive/and information ...like when it might have made a difference?
I didn't get to watch the end of the intervniew r so not really sure how it continued to go, but what I saw was Mrs. Clinton doing a nice job of handling his questions. (sick kids sleeping in late and needing Sunday breakfast/medicine).
Judith...that's exactly what it is called. Fits in nicely with the corporate Kewl Kid agenda...Let's keep the masses so ignorant and uninformed of the real issues by distracting them with stupid junior high Brittney-style fluff stories/questions instead.
Posted by emal at January 13, 2008 09:02 AMMr. Bush said Sunday that Iran is threatening the security of the world, and that the United States and Arab allies must join together to confront the danger "before it's too late."
Bush added:
1. Iran funds terrorist extremists
2. undermines stability in Lebanon
3. sends arms to the hardline Taliban
4. intimidates its neighbors with alarming rhetoric and defies the United Nations
Mr. Bush said governments will never build trust by harassing or imprisoning candidates and protesters. "You cannot expect people to believe in the promise of a better future when they are jailed for peacefully petitioning their government," Bush said. "And you cannot stand up a modern, confident nation when you do not allow people to voice their legitimate criticisms."
Speaking of chutzpah! Look in the mirror you dolt and you will see the real threat to the security of the world.
I just watched Meet the Press. I watched Tim Russert show a carefully edited clip that totally changed the meaning of Bill Clinton's comments. Tim Russert just gave up the right to call himself a journalist. I am shocked. Seriously.
Posted by Oleta at January 13, 2008 09:10 AMyes Timmeh hammered on that area quite a bit but I do think it is fair...this is definitely an area of her record that concerns me.
It's absolutely fair, I agree, because it is a concern to a lot of people. My point is that the last person to have the credibility to bring it up is Russert. Because you just know, he's going for the humiliating apology clip; he doesn't care whether she was right or wrong. Personally, I don't need an abject apology from her because I can see how someone might not expect the people the people briefing her lie to her face about their "evidence" and intent. It was a tough call, I think, but it would have passed with or without her vote. And it wouldn't have stopped Bush from invading - nothing could have done it. Alls I'm saying is, I'm not as bothered by the AUMF as some folks are, but I don't begrudge anyone for their feelings on it.
Posted by iamcoyote at January 13, 2008 09:24 AMcoyote...good points...i see what you meant by it now.
Posted by emal at January 13, 2008 09:36 AMReversal Of Alzheimer's Symptoms Within Minutes In Human Study
With a father suffering from the hideous malady, I hope more studies are created and soon. This project needs to take off immediately, if this is indeed a positive breakthrough!
Posted by Seven of Six at January 13, 2008 10:16 AMThis kind of story, attributions to various candidates, is going to continue. This is the only way that Republicans can win, to divide the Dems.
All candidates should pledge to not use divisive tactics, such as race-baiting, gender-baiting, etc., in order to defeat the Rovian plan to divide and conquer. And candidates should not publicly accuse their opponents of using these tactics until it's confirmed where the comments come from. For ex, the absolutely stupid, divisive Gloria Steinem op-ed. Who's payroll is she on? Her NYT piece only served the interests of the Repubs.
Posted by Bob In Pacifica at January 13, 2008 11:40 AMBob In Pacifica, exactly!
Posted by Judith at January 13, 2008 07:41 PMSeven of Six, thanks for the article. My Dad died of Alzheimer's disease eight years ago, and it is indeed a long journey into darkness. My Mom is showing signs of short term memory, and we plan on putting her on Aricept, which has helped many suffering from the disease. A friend put her Mom on Aricept, and where she was once content living in a nursing home, is no longer. It helped her that much.
Posted by Judith at January 13, 2008 07:47 PM