Regarding the equal application of logic (GG):

The application of Party 1's logic by Party 2 to Party 1's premise is a perfectly resonable approach to a debate.

If the logical application to the original premise is an inconsistant result--then the logic is flawed and therefore the debate is invalid.

As stated--this approach is a means to rapidly deflate the original premise and thus end further efforts using this kind of tactic.

This also assumes we are talking above a 5 year old's intellect.

Regarding the Movon and Congress (Mona):

Considering the question as to whether Congress should have done what it did in regards to the Patreaus ad--no they should not have done this as it does smack of Mcarthyism.

However, since we are where we are in regards to the Moveon ad, Congress' reaction, descending into the trench where the fight is and becoming the beast...

Three questions come to mind--one academic. Two concrete:

1) Can becoming the beast be ethically supported? No.

2) Is there a time when becoming the beast is necessary? Yes.

3) Are we at that point in time when it is appropriate to desend into the trench? My heart says yes...my brainpan says No.

...and remember your weapon is built by the lowest bidder.

Fox 'news' military "expert" David Hunt did not mention specifically by name even one of these generals who he feels should be court marshaled. It was a broadside against a whole bunch of them he refused to identify.

Is this significant? Well, in a way maybe.

Because if he had named one general specifically, he would be caught red-handed in hypocrisy. This way, he gets a little bit of cover because he did not slander the reputation of one general, as was charged by the Right in the case of the Betrayus ad.

Maybe if MoveOn would have had an ad that did what Hunt did, damn a whole class of generals without naming any, then MoveOn would have gotten a pass from Fox and their "friends"?

Eh. Probably not.

At first glance it seems stupid: why are these people wasting their time on this issue? It should be trivial matter if an organization makes use of free speech rights, correct?

Yes.

ANd precisely the fact that they ARE spending time on this should tell us that it's not stupid. It's dangerous.

It IS happening here.

<<<"This article as well as the recent hysterical attacks on Rush Limbaugh clearly demonstrate the desperation of the radical left, who earlier this summer thought they were in the cat bird's seat and on their way forcing a humiliating defeat upon us in Iraq. But events of September (the Moveon ad versus Gen. Petraeus' brilliant testimony, Ahmedinijad's visit, etc.) blew their dream (our nightmare) completely out of the water.">>>

Is this sarcasm? It's so hard to tell these days, when the Oreillys and Limbaughs and Fox nuts seem unable to recognize irony or projection when it comes out of their mouths.

I was named after my favorite Aunt. Your post made me hungry too. I think I'll go slice a beefsteak,(my favorite tomato), and have a sandwich.

Glenn, these revelations and analyses you offer up have always been nothing short of shocking glimpses into the bottomless abyss of our everyday political world, but I have been particularly nauseated these last few days.

Our "leaders" priorities - Democratic as well as Republican - are so fundamentally backwards now that I am rapidly losing what little respect I had remaining for the laughing stock that is Congress. Sadly, it goes so much further than that - to the media that enables these pernicious tropes and canards, and cheers on every fraudulent narrative ever to be woven from the busy spider legs of the scorched-earth neoconservatives.

Your post today fills me with a corrosive mix of sadness and rage. To be repeatedly let down by a government led by the party that gave us unnecessary war and civil rights violations is one thing - being slapped across the face by the so-called "opposition" party, having been elected into a majority on the mandate that they reverse these trends, is quite another.

More fantastical wizardry can't be found in a JRR Tolkien book than the prevailing myth that Republicans' taking a firm stand is "acting out of principle" or "responding to their constituency," while Democrats' doing so is "pandering their radical left wing."

I agree with you that this new standard of iron-clad rhetorical protection for all military personnel must be aggressively shoved back in the sanctimonious faces of those who violate it with such revealing alacrity. But this is so very unkempt a tactic, and far below the self-destructive gentlemanliness of our absurdly pro-forma Democratic Party.

They are too busy trying to get "patted on the head" - as you have described it - by those who hate them most. Revolting.

When you were a little kid, did you always want to grow up and save the world? Thanks for your efforts again.

If there is one thing the general public recognizes and hates, it is blatant hypocrisy. They are counting on us not to fight back.

You can't effectively fight an asymmetrical war.

I have my Mother's 'Alice in Wonderland'...childhood version book with sketches.

She has crayon colored throughout the beautiful book.

_

I spent time in a village 6- km from Mai Lai. My sons and I went there as guest of an Amerasian Lady who was swindled of homes, a Laundromat, and all her saving in a predator Lending scam.

All this during this maladministration. What I'm saying, as guest in the peasant village, neighboring My Lai, one day we were visited by the local police. The concern was, just maybe, a vengeful armed V.C. (not a venture capitalist) may bear a grudge? The host-family wanted to assure the police we were safe. After a few Bali-Bali-Bali's (3-3-3 beer) with the police, we agreed to stay in a luxury hotel down the dirt road.

I just have a difficult time remaining quiet some days.

I know I feel safer in a peasant village helping plow a mud rice field, when knowing, this government frowns upon me.

O, I feel like writing HSSec. Mr. Chertoff!

I wear my shirt all day today and got a green shirt with 'matter seeds splattered on it from yesterday.

I (ego-I-ailments?) did promise to help harvest. People kill, ya's know. It is nice to transcend the EGO...YEP!

People will kill you for a bowl of mild tender greens with wild blueberry vinegar? And say it is done "Legally." Gads.

Vinaigre aux bleuets sauvage. Gee.