Letters to the Editor
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Blame America First?
"In their assessment of what is going on in the world, they seem to start off with a default assumption that we are in the wrong."
Well, who are "they" and do they start off with a default assumption that "we" are wrong, or do they just "seem" to? I've never really been aware of any meaningful discussion of who is right or wrong concerning US involvement around the world. Whatever administration happens to be in control at the moment always says "we" are right and "they" are wrong and then proceeds to vilify the opposition, both local and foreign. Just because one disagrees with the powers that be doesn't mean they are necessarily wrong. More often than not, these people are proven right.
Wouldn't it be great to delve into the history of the Middle East including Iraq and find out which came first, the chicken or the egg. Who is right and who is wrong, or is it a mixed bag? All I know for sure is that the US is over in their country and we have made them miserable for no good reason that I know of. And we seem to be making ourselves miserable also.
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MBF:
It's not just assiging attributes, it's also inventing an entire movement. There is no liberal movement, there is no progressive movement. There are peole who oppose Iraq, or various measures taken by President Bush, but this does not comprise an organized, funded, large political movement with specific goals and an infrastructure to achieve those goals.
This is a good and important point. What "the Left" has come to mean is "anyone who opposes the extremist policies of the Bush movement." The collection of people referred to as "the Left" have not really had any affirmative agenda or anything in common beyond that, because everything has been devoted to trying to limit and fight against everything from more Middle East invasions to torture and rendition to lawlessness at home. You're absolutely right that the only real movement with any discernible agenda has been the Bush-led right-wing movement, and everything else has been an attempt to fight against that or limit its reach in some way.
That's why people who probably have quite disparate political views on a whole range of matters end up as full-scale political allies -- there has been very little ability for any Bush opponents to do much of anything politically other than work against the damage they have wrought on the country.
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The Salon is making me feel like a Scrooge.
If you keep kicking the maladministration as if you thought YOU are in a mule-kick-contest, be careful. My request...is when the whirlwind ends, I'm going to still be saying, "Stop the War." A kiss is still a kiss. Lovers will still be lovers as time fly bye...
But, I hate to imagine we need to turn the planet inside-out before things get more cheerful? Wow....What drudged haters! How did they become such rotten eggs?
Oh, don't think you can clean the White Collar turnaround's the dirty-collar by purchasing a Laundromat from a lawyer real-estate tycoon in the commonwealth state of Arlen Specter's, lawmaker's oversight chairman's oversight, in his state of Pennsylvania...(hint)...
And if you, Glenn, are going to invite a fight with a beast mule, rt-lf, I advise to wear a 'cup.'
With respect,
Art James (brotherbruz)
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Glenn, you've saved Salon for me...
Glenn, the fact that you don't even read Dickerson, and your analysis of Paglia's irrelevance, has redeemed Salon at least in part. I will hold off deleting my bookmark -- actually, I'm shifting my bookmark over to your blog permanently.
I can't think of a better place to consider Salon's "Front Door" these days...
Keep up the amazing work.
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Some help for Mr. Barone
Here's a quote Mr. Barone can trot out to highlight the blame-America-first mentality:
"If we're an arrogant nation, [other nations will] resent us; if we're a humble nation, but strong, they'll welcome us."
Oops! That was George W. Bush in the October 12, 2000 foreign policy debate with Al Gore.
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I wonder
the cheap and lazy cliches that otherwise frame everything they write
I wonder if Jerry Reubin and Abbie Hoffman knew that they would be trotted out as typical examples of antiwar thought 40 years after the fact?
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@m.b.f.
Your post goes right back to O'Reilly's comment that "there isn't much of a far right in this country" and that's why he spends so much time talking about "the far left."
He has it completely opposite. As Glenn notes, your point is vitally important. Would the right wing noise machine be able to function if it became clear to everyone that there is no larger "left" or "liberal" or "progressive" movement? That's where their real war is. I guess that's why they had to manufacture a movement. Movement Conservatives need an enemy to push their policies. If they don't have one, they'll just create one.
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#2 #2 #2!
Re: Howard, Michael, Michelle and the rest of the "mouse club" -
They are not reasonable people and reasoning with them has never been effective. The only thing effective tactic is to use their tactics against them.
While it may be true that "wrestling with a pig just makes you as muddy, and the pig likes it", taking the high road or turning the other cheek is not just unproductive, but counter-productive because they perceive and portray it as weakness.
I enjoy your writing and support your work. More pompous windbag and pusillanimous prevaricator deflating, please!
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Is Salon a big enough megaphone?
My question is whether Greenwald's column in Salon is picked up by enough of the MSM to make any impact?
The arguments and data he comes up with here seem to be virtually flawless -- and mostly ignorned by people who don't want to hear it. How much is Salon read in the newsrooms of the Washington Post or the Times or ABC or wherever? As much as Matt Drudge?
I'd like to know. How about it Ms. Hambrecht? Care to spill the beans from your log files as to who is reading Greenwald since he came here?
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Tears flow freely
There are times when reading the blogs is inspiring, times when it is frustrating, and times when tears flow freely and without warning.
http://roxanne.typepad.com/rantrave/images/enw30war1.jpg
I picked this image up at a Roxanne post at Pandagon, and was floored. Literally. Evidently the photo is from a piece
'It Wasn't Supposed to Go Like This'
http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,SS_042904_Baghdad,00.html