Centerfield

Charles Rangel had some choice words as well. The translation of which is somewhat the same as a line from The Addams Family:

"Don't torture yourself, Gomez. That's my job."

Or Animal House:

"He can't do that do that to our pledges. Only WE can do that to our pledges!"

It's sure not often that I can say that I am very proud of Charles Rangel and Nancy Pelosi.

I wonder if anyone has asked Lamont for a comment? ;)

Of course not! He's in actual tight race, whereas all Pelosi and Rangel have to do to keep their seats is not die.

Bravo, Nancy. Couldn't have said it better.

Chavez insulted all Americans and the silence of many Democrats is sad. How many of our allies at the UN walked out or applauded? Bravo to those who haven't lost their minds. Some Lefty blogs do not like Pelosi’s response.

Thanks to Bobby and Pat for educating armchair generalists on another thread. Great thread on the Supreme Court decision over detention on Stubborn Facts. I am appreciative of the intelligence, civility and seriousness you all hone your posts with (and the proof reading). My apologizes to Pat for my initial exchange months ago (though I think Iraq data would have confirmed years ago what Ricks is talking about now -no detective work needed), to Tully for my never taking a linear route, and to all for my anti-Jihadist rants.

On another note, recent BBC poll indicates the WORLD believes Iran's nuclear drive is benign by only 17%. The large majority of China's neighbors fear its military and the use of its economic advantage (besides the human rights abuses). Europe is uncomfortable with Russia energy extortion and the lawlessness that leaves top Bankers dead in their streets (not to mention Russian support of our adversaries). Extremists now demand the Pope's removal and many call for the outright defeat of the West. Syria's neighbors deplore the return of hit squads in Lebanon, and although Chirac is against sanctions (what?), the majority of French polled still want military action against Iran if it refuses to negotiate and continues to enrich. Germany soldiers patrol the Lebanese coast. New figures point to much more genocide in Sudan than reported while the President of Somalia narrowly escapes being blown up by extremists.

None of this is Bush's fault or America’s. And what did our allies say to Chavez and Iran? What did Dean and Kerry say? At what point does a country's action become acts of war?

I hope Chomsky is feeling better tonight having become Chavez's most recommended reading. Perhaps Lamont is reading Chomsky tonight.

Thanks again to all for your tolerance and blogger professionalism.

Tom Harkin is defending Chavez's speech.

Read the excerpt of the Harkin speech. What a guy. He must bring a lot pork to Iowa because I just can see the average Iowan being to happy with this response.

Harkin is sad. He could harness a lot of power, but his mouth gets him in trouble. I genuinely believe his heart is in the right place, but he lacks a filter. He should take the advice of his steak-fry guest last weekend, Barack Obama, who said the President was an honorable and good man who wanted to do right by America, but had different ideas.

Could my estimation of Harkin drop even lower?

Tully, just watch the Democrats find a way to reach threepeat by November given the huge lead they "ought" to have.

I hope you all don't mind: when I find a "reputable blogger" that is inflaming the discourse by posting garbage, I will dare them to post it here. Ex-military, constitutional lawyers, foreign policy experts......

Excellent comments Tully on the Powell thread. The "experts" that inflame discourse on other sites are amazing. As though Bush was suggesting we rape women and kill babies. No wonder American intelligencia is so confused. Sh*t may hit the fan, but there is a level-headedness here that is commendable.

I am glad to finally find a line Pelosi and Rangel won't cross in slamming this nation's President.

But yesterday, as I heard Chavez, I couldn't help but fault Democrats for his sense he could get away with such drama: Carter this summer in Germany's Der Speigel spewing a monstrous depiction of a sitting President; Gore, back at some conference in Saudi Arabia, doing the same. If such figurehead Americans go abroad and air that kind of rhetoric, doesn't that cue all other leaders that our leadership is fair game?

I'm afraid those antics and more have forced me to decide I will be voting a straight Republican party line for the foreseeable future, grit my teeth no matter how good or bad, as my personal message to that party that has so failed me.

Yeah, that's the corollary to it being offensive for foreign leaders coming here and slamming the President, and to me it's at least as offensive. Namely, former American leaders going overseas to slam the President.

Two things, Max. First, remember what Will Rogers had to say about being a Democrat. Second, I have a post over at Stubborn Facts that links to some of the actual details of the deal struck between the McCain/Graham faction and the White House today, and the inside info strips away much of the rhetoric and hysteria for an informative glimpse of the real issues involved.

Tully,
I am proud of my Liberal streak, but if I stick around here long enough I will certainly add to my understanding. I promise not to clutter Stubborn Facts with buckshot, but perhaps you can explain the following to me. Every time I type in the security letters and numbers that appear below my comments, Stubborn Facts generates another set for me to copy. On and on until I give up. Is it the level of security on my browser? Or something more sinister? LOL.

As for this thread, not only is it disheartening to see former officials berate the President abroad (as though he completely works outside of the constraints of government and a large segment of the AMERICAN PEOPLE), it fuels the hatred against us. The many former military, government officials and Ivy League educators that take to the web to spout high sounding nonsense is dumbing us down more than any partisan bias towards social conservatism. I had my fill today listening to them defend their weak objection of just the "style" of what Chavez was saying, adding, "how can so many be so wrong to think Bush is the world's greatest threat"? I love the line that Chavez made about reading Chomsky. The Russians and Chinese must be enjoying all the attention cast far from their behavior, which includes the murder of bankers, the weapons used by terrorists and the duplicity in containing Iran and North Korea.

My Grandfather spent almost three years in a German prison camp during World War 1. My Father delivered classified documents to Eisenhower from command posts in France during World War 2 (he landed first in Italy). Being Jewish in a time when America wasn't exactly an equal opportunity employer, they loved this country and considered defending it their moral duty. The Democratic Party they knew was different than the one today. I have issues with the Republicans, but this nasty behavior by the opposition has gotten way out of hand at a crucial point in American leadership.

I wonder what Orwell would think of the world today. What would he make of our threats to "bomb Pakistan into the stone age" if they did not help us in our conflict with Jihadist Bin Laden? Orwell saw first hand what happens when you fail to nip fascism and totalitarianism in the bud. How would Orwell judge the "Clash of Civilizations" and the extremist threat? Would he really think the US government was the sinister threat of the world? Something tells me he would not be reading Chomsky. Perhaps he would lament that his fears exponded in 1984 back in 1947 have become a mindset for today's generation to elevate the fear of ourselves beyond all others regardless of reason and fact.

I wish we could clean house......

Max,

Thanks for the kind words about our work over at Stubborn Facts. As for the technical difficulties, I'm not sure. At this point, I believe it is set to just ask math questions, not the text-image stuff. It should only ask the question once (unless of course you get it wrong).

Have you registered an account at the site? Once you do that, you shouldn't have to do the math problems and stuff ever again. I haven't yet figured out how to have the site cause extra problems for unwelcome visitors, but I'm still working on that... ;-)

Today would be a fine time for everybody to pop over and visit us at Stubborn Facts. We've got a fine open thread, featuring an animated video (not too graphic) of male public bathroom etiquette, for your blogging enjoyment.

Pat,
The more I travel the internet, the more I think sites like this and Stubborn Facts are critical in countering the partisan trash circulating. Political loyalty ought to have little to do with an honest discussion and establishment of FACTS (when possible). I think policy is built upon such foundations.

I have solved the posting problem and it had more to do with my security settings and browser. I was mistaken in my description of numbers and letters. It has been a while since I attempted a reply.

It was for the best. I was forced to read and not comment.

I will do my best to steer "experts" into your line of fire. You would be surprised (or maybe not) at how many bloggers are rattled by comments I make that ring in a similar way to many posted here. No wonder a few who visit consider this a Republican site. Perhaps THEIR movement left makes this "seem" the case. It appears this is a moderate bunch here of Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

I can understand armchair bloggers spouting nonsense (lots of free time and ego), but when so-called "experts" (persons with great resumes) do it in a destructive way (see the Huffington Post), the public is misinformed. Such unsupported fiction by those who ought to know better encourages their fans to remain prisoners of partisan ideology, rather than beneficiaries of somewhat impartial insight. This phenomenon leads to uninformed debate (when media misinforms too) and policy failure. The repercussions of a grand failure now will adversely effect the course of American history. Judging from the political trends, you all must extend your service in the internet trenches until we are out of this mess. The survival of Liberalism depends on it.

It is often a thankless job.

Gracias, from a political refuge..

NYC