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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Svensker
Published Letters: 642
The "X" in Xtian and Xmas is actually from the Greek word for Christ, Xristos (Romanized letters, obviously). The Greeks, who know a thing or two about Christianity, frequently used and use "X" to signify Christ. There is nothing disrespectful or un-Christian about using Xmas or Xtian. Those ignorant of the philology think it is either insulting, or insulates the speaker from the dreaded word "Christ", but it is not and does not.
Glenn, I'd agree that Reynolds fits into the authoritarian worshiping mindset. But I don't think Ledeen does. He is a smart and slippery operator, a proponent of PNAC, "destructive chaos" and Israel uber alles (even when, in a rational world, his actions and goals are clearly against Israel's interests). He knows very well what he is doing. He ain't no follower -- he is one of the architects of the neo-con world view that we are seeing in action. (Some people -- oops there I go -- like Justin Raimondo, believe he was either the forger or the architect of the forgery of the letters used to scam the Niger yellowcake deal.) "Faster please" he said, and he meant it and he's doing everything in his power to implement it. Don't make the mistake of underestimating him.
Who was the source behind Ross' claims? Who forged the Niger yellowcake letters? Who worked so hard to get the U.S. to go to war? Time to start turning on the lights.
Would it really make any real, positive difference for ABC News to issue a mea culpa retraction of its Saddam-anthrax stories at this point in time?
It would make a small difference, in that it would reflect the fact that they finally realized that their reporting does have an impact on people's lives. Not that that has made any difference with the NYTimes, as they have carried water for the administration on recent claims of Iran's horrible intent.
It would be nice if they learned from their mistakes and acted like real journalists, not propaganda tools.
BUT, what would really make a difference is for them to investigate WHO gave them the bogus info and WHY. Like the song says, I wanna know who the men in the shadows are.
I find it hard to believe that these ABC stories were planted in accordance with some over-arching narrative by some shadowy Washington apparat. More likely there was a great deal of sheer stupidity involved, and that stupidity is what Schneider would prefer not to have exposed.
Yes, of course, stupidity is involved whenever the Bush administration gets its hands on the wheel -- but there is also overarching narrative. It's just that it appears there are two narratives at the WH -- the Bush/Rove/Rice story, and then the Cheney/Addington/Abrams story. The two sometimes work in concert, but frequently don't -- witness the recent Abrams kybosh of Condi peacemaking attempts in the Middle East. I would bet the Cheney group was behind the anthrax/Iraq leaks, while the "other" WH was denying.
Interesting that you should find examples of Pipes and Mylroie pushing the Iraq/anthrax/bentonite claim. The two of them are neo-con extremists (they might even make Cheney look rational) who have been pushing to blow up the Middle East for years. Pipes is particularly horrifying for his anti-Arab/Muslim racism. Google if your stomach can stand it.
But the fact that those two were on the bentonite train adds credence to the Cheney/Addington/Abrams wing being the "sources" behind that particular lie.
How Self-Important Is Brian Williams?
I've heard him described as "the only man in America that can strut sitting down".
Do you have a source for that quote? I'd really like to know -- you can e-mail me at stupidfilm@aol.com. thanks!
Many Canadians think Diefenbaker coined that insult, but he didn't.
In "Inherit The Wind" (1955), Hornbeck (the Mencken character) says of Brady (the Bryan character), "He's the only man I know who can strut sitting down."
The phrase was popularized in 1948, when it was one of many insults thrown at Dewey, but the insult has been kicking around for at least the past 90 years, probably far longer.
-- sysprog
Thanks! (And, needless to say, I feel very dumb, but I'm used to that, so it's no problem!)
Meanwhile back at the emails, let's see the Congress show the way by disclosing all their communications. I have no doubt they have broken laws along the way, that should be enough to demand disclosure. Anything else is high hypocrisy.
Gosh, shooter, these blistering diatribes of logic have plumb got me convinced. You are absolutely right that if anyone else has done anything wrong (particularly if they are defeatocrats), then the Bush administration has done nothing wrong. It's so simple! It's practically genius! In fact, it IS genius! I doff my cap to you and herewith become a true believing red blooded super patriot Bushie. Yippee!
One can learn quite a bit about another by observing how they treat people that have no avenue for retribution.
Shooter, I agree completely, which is why I find our government's treatment of prisoners is so repugnant.
Glenn, you are being unfair. What if the Glorious Surge works and everything turns out hunky dory and there is a wonderful new baby democracy in the Middle East and the bad guys in Syria and Iran fall down and die and Hamas acts like Chief Joseph and fights no more forever and glorious angels come and put the Crown of Deservenitude on our leader's (George W. Bush, for those who have forgotten) fair and balanced head? What about that? Then won't you be sorry you and the defeatocrats tried to mock the Wonderful Victory? Won't you?!!! It's a question that deserves answers.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
