Young, good-looking, athletic, and with a smoking-hot wife; no wonder these pudgy chickenhawks can't stand him. W was such an obvious wimp that they didn't feel threatened by him.

Read on Crooked Timber a post that crystallized much of this for me. Of course, it's just speculation, but it does make sense. Have thought this was the case for some time.

Much of it comes down to how people are treated when young, at school, socially, etc. Right wingers were probably picked on mercilessly by the "cool kids". Being a "conservative" is never cool. They grow up hoping for and working toward revenge. Add to that dynamic the people who, like Cheney, Limbaugh, and about 99% of the neocons, avoided war at all cost, and they forever have an internal need to square their cowardly actions with their words.

Talk tough, after they run from battle.

The cowardice comes into play by failing to match words and deeds. As in, the Cheneys, Limbaughs, et al were stridently prowar but did everything they could to duck and cover. If a person is sincerely, authentically against a war (like Vietnam, for instance), and moves to Canada, he's got the courage of his convictions. That's not cowardice. But the chickenhawks were prowar fanatics who made sure THEY never had to fight, and then have the nerve to belittle others for being against wars they cheerlead for from the safety of their penthouses and mansions.

Internally, they never get over how they were treated as a kid. Internally, they never can live down their own moment of cowardice. Externally, they talk tough to try to make up for both.

The President was signaling his willingness to pull up stakes and leave Afghanistan. He knows the stakes are too high, and given the breakdown in talks between Karzai and Abudullah, Afghanistan's fate may be sealed. I sincerely hope this is the case.,

Brooks and Krauthammer, pftt.. seriously, these two never met a war they did not agree with, it is always the one who will never spill their own blood that thirsts most for the blood of others. They can go fuck themselves, along with their best buddy, five deferment Dick.

How did his parents know that would be the most appropriate name for him.

I don't think Obama will do the right thing in Afghanistan. Which is to get out. But I do think he'll be much smarter about the occupation. A small consolation.

It's incredible that people in America don't see how insane it is to pour trillions into endless wars, while at the same time complaining about spending on health care, roads and bridges, etc. etc. here.

Sane people would want us to put our resources into improving life for all Americans here, now, today.

Of course, all of that pales in comparison with the cost of human life in both theaters.

We are becoming a hollowed out old power, and it's completely preventable.

Dismantle our empire and focus on home. That's the best thing we could do to make this country far more prosperous, and improve our moral and ethical standing by light years.

Call in the Pot Luckers

Time to get it on

With the U.S.

A.

Of ClusterFuckers

Can we get some falafel with our pot luck and our cluster-goat?

Hi Cuch! I hope it does signal a willingness to get out, but withdrawal does take time. His going to Dover and allowing those pictures to be shown just might be the signal, telling folks everywhere, but in particular Karzai, you didn't do right, time to go, Kerry might be signaling such an action as well, he seemed quite unhappy with Karzai, and Sec Clinton really gave the Pakistani's a big time lecture. I just believe changes are coming. Big changes.

I have to keep a positive view of this, no doubt about it. But he isn't dumb and he can almost see the ghost of Johnson breathing down his neck, just as we all can, and the next election is important to him. Time will tell though.

Those other folks have themselves measured around 150% on the scrotometer that measures douchebaggery... Shit I still think that is hilarious! If those asshats aren't careful they will break it, although I think it is readily available at cafepress. :D

as the Nazis were to European anti-Semitism.

The fact that you actually lived through the nineties without understanding this destroys for me all the moral credibility you accrued in your fight against detainee abuse and torture.

The Taliban do not wear blinkers against the modern world. They are not living in the past. At no time in Afghan history was the treatment of women as uniformly horrible as the it was under Taliban rule.

They are something new trying to be born, not something old trying to stay alive.

Shame on you for not knowing this, and shame on you for throwing Afghan women under your political bus.

Do you really think the other non-Taliban, Northern Alliance warlords are better than the Taliban? Not trolling, trying to get your opinion. From what I've heard, they don't have a good human rights record either, especially with treatment of women and children.

I know this is not related to the topic, but any time anyone mentions Charles Krauthammer, I have to close my eyes lest I catch sight of him and turn to stone. That is one serious case of unattractiveness. His politics and belief system only magnify it-one look could blow up the DeathStar.

I've said the same thing myself but about Rupert Murdoch!!!!! LOLz.

I want to be optimistic, too, and I think Obama is doing very well on other fronts, internationally. Quietly, there has been a resolution, apparently, to the Honduran issue, for instance, brokered by the White House and HRC. And I definitely think Obama is right to go to Dover, and that Liz Cheney further proves she's truly creepy to say anything about it.

But I just don't know how Obama will be able to fight against all of that pressure to remain caught in a quagmire.

Hoping he surprises all of us . . .

And:

Hope you had a fun Halloween.

:>)