"Chain, chain, chain, Chain of dupes!" -- Derbig Mooser

No Respect for these MoFos, that'd just give them some Satisfaction. But if we really want to reach back, without having to deal with Clear Channel (anybody remember their list of 'inappropriate' songs after 9/11? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_deemed_inappropriate_by_Clear_Channel_following_the_September_11,_2001_attacks ), I'd say say the song would be "Dupe Of Loot" w/ Gene Chandler.

LOOT . . . bad stuff happens when freedom busts out. Loot . . .

That's what it's all about, Alfie.

Electro-lux peeps in: "You don't know WTF of what you speak

When I lived in Africa, those guys do dictator right and well. Americans think that no MTV is privation and a warcrime."

Actually, no. But what Americans do think is that they have to salute the President because he's the C-in-C. No, you don't. Not unless you happen to be stuck in a uniform. Americans also believe that the smaller the gummint is, the better. They bitch & moan & piss all over themselves about spending a dime for the public good, but show 'em the bill for the military and they don't even blink. Americans think Jay Leno is funny. And they seem to think that if they elect a new President suddenly America isn't going to be an asshole anymore. That's what American's think.

Bill Kristol (not Billy Crystal -- one is a comedian, the other aspires) writes: "He (Obama) felt no need to tell the graduating seniors in the lovely groves of Middletown that they should be grateful to their peers who were far away facing dangers on behalf of their country.

Nor did Obama choose to mention all those college graduates who are now entering the military, either for a tour of duty or as a career, in order to serve their country."

And that's the whole ball of wax. That's the whole deal in a nutshell -- or rather nutcase. That's the sickness that gnaws at America's heart. That going into the military, supporting the military, that big bloated Wackenhutts (read your Smedley Butler, please) is somehow serving AMERICA. Fightin' fer freedom. Defendin' Democracy. Protectin' America's interests. All that other stuff. No, sorry. Time to move on. And can we get over, well, these guys never served a day in the military, they're chickenhawks, yadda yadda yadda. All that means is that they probably did read their Smedley Butler and figured out which end of the racket they wanted in on . . .

Nothing like getting a lecture . . .

LMW illuminates the way: "Few people want to take Smedley Butler seriously more than I. And there isn't much to read of Butler's. Serious historians, academics, not writers of pop history, have looked at him and that's quite a different picture than the one painted for you by all the sanitized on-line antiwar shrines in his name. He's not the "hero of peace" you think he is. He was quite a character. Doesn't anyone go to the library anymore? "

Yes, dad.

I do take him seriously. And he certainly wasn't a peacenik. I don't think I said he was, but I digress. Let him speak for himself.

"I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service in the country's most agile military force, the Marines. I served in all ranks from second Lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service."

So that would let Ollie North off the hook, I suppose. He was, as he said, following orders. No better defence than the good German defence. Unfortunately Ollie hooked his wagon to the C-in-C, and forgot about the Constitution. Actually, I read somewhere recently that a lot of people have been pledging allegiance to the C-in-C and not the Constitution.

Stuff happens when you're busy exporting democracy at the point of a bayonet . . .

libertyson posits a chunk of LaBamba's speech: "I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.

So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today . . . . "

And on it goes.

I wonder what speech he'll give to right-wingnut AIPAC folks when he speaks / panders to them on Wednesday?

. . . Obama's pandering and recommitment of SAP (Stupid American Policy) to the AIPAC group, even while the bloom was still on the rose, was disgusting. Sigh. Old wine, new bottles.

(whom I'd thought was the best, last bet for a self-devouring, over the edge, gone to seed, dead excuse of a nation) who said:

"I'm so pretty . . . . "

kitt proclaims, batting his eyes demurely: "I'm not unpopular on this board, Omooex. Not with the multitude of posters, and not with Glenn Greenwald. So please, don't try to build your reputation by attempting to trash me by dragging in other people who haven't expressed what you have expressed in regards to me."

And then, kitt (hit the music, say, "To Sir, With Love"), when cornered, will simply tell you to phawk off. But not so nicely. <<Roll your eyes here, and wait for the expected response . . . >>

What you'll get is A LECTURE from Der Googlemeister / aka Mr. Wiki / aka Father-Knows-Best / aka Elmer Post-it. Eat your vegetables!! Listen up!! Heed your betters!! Respect your elders!!

I don't mind the pomposity, it goes with the territory when you deal with contol freeks (don't you just thank Haysus that these guys don't teach at real Unis??), but the total lack of humour is what sucks, reeeeally bad . . .