"Sure, Armani Dinner Jacket, as I like to call him, has the right to speak, or at least would were he an American citizen..."

The founders, and I hope most americans, differ on that point. As the founders saw it: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The country--I'm sorry, this country--was founded on the bedrock principle that these unalienable Rights were universal, not just american. Didn't they tell you that at Columbia? You may well not be an American, as many foreign students attend ivy league schools. But here, in this country, we believe that President Ahmadinajad was born with the right of free speech, regardless of his nationality. We love free speech, and we certainly aren't afraid of it.

Those who are against his right to free speech are also against mine. Those who oppose his speaking at Columbia are weak, cowardly, and unamerican.

Thanks for sharing the pics. You know, anonymous liberal has a good piece on this today also, and notes Bill Kristol wrote urging Columbia students not attend the event. In a piece titled "Boycott Ahmadinejad", Kristol writes:

There might be one form of protest that would be effective both in showing appropriate disgust for the Iranian regime, and in shaming the Columbia administration: A total student boycott of Ahmadinejad's speech. Let the Iranian president (and the Columbia president) look out on, and speak to, a sea of empty seats on Monday.

By the looks of it, Kristol is as influential (and perceptive)as ever...

"If I am footing the bill for something, I sure as heck want SOME say in how it is being accomplished."

Last I heard, neither the state nor federal legislatures were made of of hundreds of university professors, chancellors, regents or presidents. And yet anonymous proposes that they micromanage every little event and program, which they are totally incapable of doing.

I say let General--I'm sorry, President Bollinger run his university. He's the expert. The legislators should just STFU and keep the money coming.

Here's a pumpkin picture for you bebop. They would dry the flesh in strips, then braid it into these mats. Apparently it would keep this way for months.

http://memory.loc.gov/award/iencurt/ct19/ct19011v.jpg

The condition of the army, it seems to me, is not really relevant to our capabilities for continuous bombing in Iran. If I remember correctly, between the carriers and their groups, and aircraft based in other countries, Iran could be bombed around the clock for a number of days without having any impact whatsoever on resources needed for the Iraq occupation.

Another, new variable that might be thrown into the equation is the seeming reversal of France under Sarcozy. France seems downright bullish against Iran these days, and while I doubt this would ever lead to them lending military support against Iran, they might certainly send encouraging signs to Bush behind the scenes, or provide political cover at the UN security council, if they cared to.

One can also see the Cheney administration adopting a false "compromise" position, involving "just" two or three days of bombing, presumably enough to delay nuclear development by several years. "Focused". "Limited". "Moderate". "Measured".

It's very difficult to imagine that Iran would not strike back at the US fleet if this happens. The congress has blundered badly by failing to strictly go on record forbidding use of force against Iran without their approval. They have left the door open.

The only substantive reason that has been given as to why impeachment was "off the table" in this session is that the Congress would be prevented from conducting its serious business by doing so.

Impeachment requires that all other business must be set aside, until the impeachment issue has been debated and concluded, one way or another.

Look at the relatively short list of legislation that has actually been voted out of congress and signed by the executive--most of it having horrible outcomes for our republic. This is the "work" that the Speaker said was more important than impeachment, and absolutely had to be done for the good of the country.

Next, look at the degradation the Congress is putting itself through with this current foolishness.

All this--the FISA collapse, the Iraq funding collapse, this Iranian madness--all of it. Remember--we gave up impeachment in order that this could be accomplished.