Author: ek hornbeck

I am not encouraging anyone with an account at Redstate to respond there, but I think it’s an interesting question.

Redstate Front Page

WHAT SHOULD HE SAY?  A Prebuttal to the President’s Iraq War Speech.

Dear Readers:

With the President set to address the nation on Wednesday to announce his plans for a renewed commitment to the war in Iraq, RedState’s contributors will be participating in a “prebuttal” of the speech. You too can participate.

Tomorrow, put up a blog post relevant to this idea: what do you want to hear the President say on Wednesday. We’ll be using this space to provide links. Tomorrow, we “prebut” the speech with what we want President Bush to say and do to win the war.

Thanks,

The Mgt.

Not at all meta, unless you consider the cross blog pollination.
I’m conflicted about this post.  I have a record at other blogs and my rigid rule is no cross pollination.

Rigid.  Heh.  I have defended dKos at Booman, where I have an account.  I have crossed swords with Leon at My Left Wing where I also have an account.  That was about my belief in Online Integrity.  I have an account at Redstate too and this will reflect on me I’m afraid.

Except I think I’m being fair.

Do I think this question is that important?  Yes.

I expect you to answer this question appropriately for The Booman Tribune, it will probably be linked, this is a public forum.  Be honest, but respectful.

At Redstate the language would pass any department of Standards and Practices.  If you say- BushLied™, they shut their ears so if your intention is to persuade I suggest you avoid it.

My personal feeling is this- the war in Iraq, such as it is, is lost.  When we leave there will be mass sectarian violence.  Whenever we leave.

Iraq is already a breeding ground for terrorists.  There is no prospect at all of the puppet government granting oil rights that any successor government feels bound to respect.  We are bleeding our economy faster than our opponent.

Likewise we can not prevail in a wider war. The action of attacking Iran is suicidal for our military and the Republican Party.  We have the power to close Hormuz, but not keep it open.  Apples fall down.

The only difference between now and then is how many United States soldiers and Iraqis die.

Their concern is the terrorists will follow us home and seize the oil and ruin our economy.  Millions of dead from weapons of mass destruction and forced conversion to Islam.  Chadors anyone?

I was going to write a snarky channeling of an argument in favor because I am so vain that I’ll trade sides at Monopoly and kick your butt.  My family won’t play with me any more.

In this case I won’t trade.

Mister President, Saddam Hussein is dead.  We have won this war.  Time to come home.

Cross posted at Never In Our Names
Cross posted at My Left Wing
Cross posted at The Daily Kos

Site FUBAR by kos
Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 12:27:14 AM PDT

So the site is in dire straits — the 500 Internal Server Errors, the forced logouts (you’re probably not banned), and the speed problems. The problem has been that Jeremy isn’t around to do the heavy-duty maintenance stuff as he tries to move to piece back together his life. I’ve got the SB Nation programmer trying to do emergency repairs, but he doesn’t know this site as well as Jeremy, so there are limits to what he can do.

Please bear with us as we pray Jeremy has a bit of time Tuesday to get the site back up to speed. If not, we’ll have to grin and bear it for as long as it takes.

Or try this one.

Site Problems by Quacky
Tue Jun 20, 2006 at 12:29:25 AM PDT

We are experiencing site problems right now. Users are getting logged out immediately upon clicking away from the main page. Please bear with us.

We will keep the site updated, as possible through this problem. Unfortunately, as I am filling in for ct during his troubles and exhaustion, things may be a bit rough.

You’re probably not banned.

So I saw this at the WaPo and I was struck by how low we have lowered the bar.
“And there’s division there . . . and that caused the situation to change a little bit.”.  You think?

Who is Casey?  http://www.mnf-iraq.com/cg.htm (it took way longer to find than I thought).

Why talk about facts when we have archtypes and metaphors and bigotry and preconceptions to guide us.  I like the Joe Campbellness of Cassandra, but I don’t have enough of my electrons frozen in plastic to prove it.

So let me whack my Magic 8 Ball few times and see what pops out.

• October 15- Iraq Constitution (warning- .PDF) “Probably Not”
• October 28-  Fitzgerald Grand Jury Expires “Maybe?”
• Miers “Chances Are Good”
• Democrats take at least one house of congress in 2006  “Probably Not”
• Delay goes down  (This is a different question so it’s fair)  “Don’t Hold Your Breath”
• Frist goes down  “Not in this Lifetime”

Clearly something is wrong with my 8 Ball, thus my question-

      How do I get that blue goo stain off my wall?

In many ways my political consciousness was shaped in the sixth grade.  That year I was expelled from morning exercises (just for the year) and rejected Christ as my personal savior (forever).

They don’t really have that much to do with one another in my mind, but I’ll let you be the judge since today I’d like to talk about “Under God”.  (more below)
Ticking time bomb that I am, I was set off by this story at dailypress.com.  In case the link ages you could try searching on the author, Robert A. Strong; title, “Original pledge was heartfelt”; or syndicator, The Baltimore Sun.

That lead me to Francis Bellamy here where I learned some surprising things.

Bellamy was a Mason.  I am a Mason.  So were Washington, Jefferson, Madison…

“Under God” was an initiative of The Knights of Columbus, an anti-Masonic organization.  Conspiracy?  If you want to pursue that you might want to look here and here .

But that pales besides the revelation that Bellamy was a, a, a, Socialist, (shudder).

Now it all makes sense to me.  No wonder the DAR and the American Legion were all over him.

Am I free or not free?  During my moment of silence can I read my history book?  Maybe out in the hall.  Can I show up for choir practice, but blow off Sunday School?

Godless communist that I am what I really wonder is this-

Life on earth is supposed to be suffering, damnation is separation from God.  Perfect your soul any way you want to, but lift up your feet.

I want to spruce the place up a bit (earth that is, what were you thinking?).