Patterico's Pontifications

9/18/2008

Media Still Claims Palin Flubbed Bush Doctrine Question

Filed under: 2008 Election,Media Bias — DRJ @ 12:23 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Despite being schooled on this last week by Charles Krauthammer, the man who first used the term the Bush Doctrine, the Boston Globe’s political blogger Foon Rhee continues to claim Palin flubbed the Bush Doctrine question in her ABC interview:

“And, she [Palin] is given another chance to explain the “Bush Doctrine,” which she flubbed in her first national interview last week:

“I see our role in the world as one of being a force for good and one of being the leader of the world when it comes to the values that — it seems that just humankind embraces the values that encompass life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And that’s not just in America, that is in our world.”

It’s all about the narrative, you know.

— DRJ

171 Responses to “Media Still Claims Palin Flubbed Bush Doctrine Question”

  1. I used to be surprised at the depths of the media’s dishonesty. No more.

    JD (41e64f)

  2. Palin’s answer was the same as the dean of the Woodrow Wilson school at Prinston: (From The Corner)

    But ask yourself: How would a real foreign policy sophisticate have replied to Gibson’s question?

    Well, Anne-Marie Slaughter is the dean of the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton. She was interviewed by Alan Johnson, for a book titled: “Global Politics After 9/11: The Democratiya Interviews.”
     
    Here’s how the exchange begins:
     
    Johnson: What are the central differences, and what are the elements of continuity, if any exist, between ‘the Bush doctrine’ and the ‘grand strategy of forging a world of liberty under law’?
     
    Slaughter: Tell me what you mean by ‘The Bush Doctrine’.

    ROA (bea1d3)

  3. “Princeton”

    ROA (bea1d3)

  4. Let’s examine this for a second from another pair of glasses, because yes DRJ “It’s all about the narrative, you know.”

    How do you know that Gibson wasn’t referring to Krauthammer’s original coinage?

    It was used by Krauthammer in a Time Magazine story published in February 2001. He described it there as “” Its motto is, We build to suit–ourselves.”?

    Actually a brilliant accident on Palin’s part with her answer to Gibson. But assuming Gibson got the wrong meaning could be a partisan mistake. I know, I know…… assuming he got it right could be a partisan mistake on my part. But the point is, how do we know?

    Palin single handedly confused the original meaning with the hack meanings of “Bush Doctrine” contrived by both parties.

    Either a happy accident in Palin’s response, or the hours and hours of cramming for her first test paid off………. at least for that answer.

    Oiram (983921)

  5. But ask yourself: How would a real foreign policy sophisticate have replied to Gibson’s question?

    Many things have been called the Bush Doctrine. The first thing I thought when I read the interview trascript was that I could reel off 4 or 5 things that have been described as such. Palin didn’t seem familiar with any of them. And that was her flub.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  6. Please be fair to journalists. It is hard to be fair and accurate when you are biased and ignorant.

    longwalker (d671ab)

  7. Oiram,

    I don’t know exactly what Gibson was thinking when he used the term the Bush Doctrine, and I assume Palin didn’t either so she asked him to clarify. In my work and life, I clarify questions so I can answer them correctly. Isn’t that what you do, too?

    Further, it sounds like you think Palin lucked into the right answer. That’s part of the media narrative, too.

    DRJ (0754ed)

  8. Palin didn’t seem familiar with any of them.

    Demonstrably untrue.

    She asked Gibson to clarify exactly what he was referring to.

    JD (41e64f)

  9. Bet you, that unlike the magic negro, Mrs. Palin could tell us correctly just how many states there are and doesn’t need a teleprompter to make stump speeches. The lady did not blow through upwards of $150 million with some bogus Annenberg Challenge let’s-teach-kids-marxism that produced no positive results, nor did she kiss Mayor Daley’s ass working with that corrupt city government. And please tell us, idiot bastard sons moonbats just what kind of foreign policy experience Carter or Clinton had as governors? Oh right, Clinton protested the Vietnam war overseas. And Obama followed after a rock band show in Berlin and is adored by the Arbeit Macht Frei assclowns. How many German votes will count on Nov. 4th? Yes, Biden has been a senator for many years and had many fecked up WRONG ideas about foreign policy. And I do suppose his beloved MNBA will weather the banking woes, even if his own son ends up convicted.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  10. “The first thing I thought when I read the interview trascript was that I could reel off 4 or 5 things that have been described as such…”

    Well then, it proves without a doubt that you’re much smarter than Gibson, who had no idea what it entailed either. His reactions to Palin’s responses indicated that his knowledge of the subject at hand was limited to whatever the piece of paper handed to him by his producers had written on it. Don’t ask the question if you don’t understand it in the first place, Charlie.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  11. How do you know that Gibson wasn’t referring to Krauthammer’s original coinage?

    If he was referring to the original coinage, why didn’t he just say so when Palin reasonably asked him for clarification…unless of course he was less interested in getting her analysis of the question and more interested in causing her to trip herself up…which would make him disingenuous and manipulative in asking the question in the first place… No matter which way you read it, Gipson comes off the lesser of the two.

    Dana (b4a26c)

  12. Slaughter: Tell me what you mean by ‘The Bush Doctrine’.

    I think that would have been a better answer for her. I think she was caught off guard because the Bush Doctrine is an obscure detail similar to the quiz where Bush didn’t know several obscure leaders’ names. He should have known the Pakistan president but that just shows Palin is better prepared than Bush was at the time. Of course, she is cramming because the media will try to make her look uninformed.

    Mike K (f89cb3)

  13. Well then, it proves without a doubt that you’re much smarter than Gibson, who had no idea what it entailed either.

    I don’t disagree! That said, what it says about Gibson is really neither here nor there; it’s Palin that should have some kind of reasonable grasp on foreign policy. (well, Gibson should, too, but I digress)

    She asked Gibson to clarify exactly what he was referring to.

    Was that before or after she tried to BS / stall by discussing Bush’s “worldview”?

    jpe (08c1dd)

  14. ‘ “Was that before or after she tried to BS / stall by discussing Bush’s “worldview”?’

    This contention is flat – out hilarious; if The Messiah had acted in exactly the same manner, you’d chalk it up to thoughtful pauses, all in the name of his holy nuance.

    I’m sorry, but that’s total BS, and you know it. You’re seeing exactly what you wish to see, regardless of the evidence on paper – and you should read the print version of the interview, rather than looking at one of the worst hack jobs of editing seen since the re – release of Star Wars.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  15. BTW, you really should see the original film version of The Manchurian Candidate – quite appropriate, regarding the media’s treatment of Obama.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  16. Oh, please. This was a question framed to elicit one of three headlines:

    1. Palin supports Bush Doctine = More of the Same;

    2. Palin rejects Bush Doctrine = Bush is bad, GOP in disarray;

    3. Palin doesn’t know Bush Doctrine = Palin is clueless, though it’s a compound question that could never be asked in a court of law.

    Gibson could not have cared less what the answer was, as any answer was going to be spun leftward.

    Karl (f07e38)

  17. #7 DRJ

    “Further, it sounds like you think Palin lucked into the right answer. That’s part of the media narrative, too”.

    Let’s agree to disagree on this one, because you could say the same thing about what is said in the right wing media.

    Oiram (983921)

  18. you should read the print version of the interview

    I only read transcripts, actually. Real time bores me. That’s part of the jpe doctrine, by which, of course, I mean my worldview.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  19. stall ?! Like saying um uh huh ummmmm gazing into the heavens ummmm uh huh ummmmmm um ?

    JD (41e64f)

  20. #17 Karl, your interpreting through your glasses.

    “The Bush Doctrine” was used by Krauthammer in a Time Magazine story published in February 2001. He described it there as “” Its motto is, We build to suit–ourselves.”?

    We agree on this right?

    “We build to suit–ourselves.”

    Why can’t Gibson’s question be legitimate?

    Oiram (983921)

  21. Well, I guess nuance or political skill are as out of her skill-set as basic factual knowledge.

    I bet she knows there are only 50 states, and that “New Pennsylvania” isn’t one of them.

    Rob Crawford (b5d1c2)

  22. Patrick, I think you need to get a post up about McCain’s speech this morning on the economic crisis. It was excellent. This subject will dominate the rest of the campaign as the Obama people think it is a weakness of McCain when, in fact, he has been trying to rein in Fannie Mae for years.

    Mike K (f89cb3)

  23. Mike K,

    Do you mean the speech were he said he would fire the chairman of SEC?

    Too funny. What a bozo.

    For those of you who don’t get the joke the president has no authority to do such a thing.

    jharp (f4bed7)

  24. It amazes me that you care so little about our government or our future that you’d vote for someone so clueless.

    Anyone really concerned with cluelessness could not possibly be backing Obama. You’re either disengenuous or you’ve just absorbed in spongelike fashion what you see in the mainstream media where all scrutiny is on McCain/Palin. Obama/Biden are just sort of who you’re supposed to vote for if you find anything at all imperfect with McCain/Palin, the economy, the world, your job, the Yankees’ pitching staff etc.

    Give us some evidence that Obama has any fairly detailed knowledge of world affairs or anything at all for that matter. We already know he didn’t know that Russia has a veto in the UN security council – ignorance that far exceeds not knowing who the Prime Minister of a country is. PM’s change, whereas the UN security council setup has been that way for decades.

    Actually, first give us an example of an interview where anyone even asked him any detailed questions in the first place. His UN gaffe was the result of having to say something about Georgia and provided a rare window into his bizarre cluelessness.

    Gerald A (ebb8b5)

  25. “The Bush Doctrine” was used by Krauthammer in a Time Magazine story published in February 2001. He described it there as “” Its motto is, We build to suit–ourselves.”?

    We agree on this right?

    “We build to suit–ourselves.”

    Why can’t Gibson’s question be legitimate?

    That apparently wasn’t what Gibson was referring to. So what does that have to do with anything? It just reinforces the point that formally there is no such thing as The Bush Doctrine.

    Gerald A (ebb8b5)

  26. Cut McCain some slack, he’s an old guy. He’s bound to forget stuff now and again.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  27. ‘…“This would never have happened in Israel, ever” remarked a journalist friend…’

    I wonder if this journalist has discovered that the USA is a Constitutional Republic with a tri-partite form of government, and not the Parlimentary form used by Israel?

    There are probably numerous, uncountable things that happen here that could not happen in Israel –
    His ignorance is not one of them.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  28. Is it better moderate grasp of the concept of protecting american lives through preemption of to have a naive/appeasement view of solving the world terrorist problem ala jimmy carter or neville champerlian?

    Joe - Dallas (70513b)

  29. “The Bush Doctrine” was used by Krauthammer in a Time Magazine story published in February 2001. He described it there as “” Its motto is, We build to suit–ourselves.”?

    And, this is just the first iteration of said Doctrine as defined by Mr. Krauthammer.
    Last time I checked, he has written that he has discerned four different versions of the Bush Doctrine,
    and he has explained his interpretation of each of them.
    Too bad Charles Gibson doesn’t read Krauthammer, or he would know also.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  30. We already know he didn’t know that Russia has a veto in the UN security council

    As the kids say: I believe you just got pwned, Gerald.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  31. Too bad Charles Gibson doesn’t read Krauthammer, or he would know also.

    And we also know he really didn’t pay attention to foreign policy news for the past several years. We also know that Palin didn’t, either.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  32. Well it looks like Obama did not technically make a gaffe. So I guess Obama’s real knowledgeable about world affairs after all.

    Maybe you can point me to some interview where people probed him with detailed questions to see what he knew, but I’m not holding my breath.

    Gerald A (ebb8b5)

  33. Oiram #22 – You apparently need a new set of glasses.

    We don’t agree that there is a specific “Bush Doctrine”, and neither does Krauthammer, the person you quote as its originator.

    So you are forced to lie and pretend that it is a straightforward question.

    You, along with Drunken Master, are so busy spreading lies and contradicting yourselves that your lack of consistency debunks your own arguments.

    And yes, Drunken Master, you are inconsistent. You essentially agree with Karl’s assertion that the question was a trap, while simultaneously throwing scorn at Palin for not showing “political skill”. You do this while supporting a candidate whose platform is based entirely on being “post political” and “post partisan”, which would imply that honesty is preferable to such “political skill”.

    You don’t see your own inconsistencies, and yet you pretend to yourself that you have a depth of understanding that Karl does not possess. No one with the least bit of consistency who reads your tripe shares your opinion.

    You’re both jokes.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  34. You essentially agree with Karl’s assertion that the question was a trap, while simultaneously throwing scorn at Palin for not showing “political skill”.

    Why can’t both be true? Gibson’s question was daft, and Palin is a dolt. Seems to fit the facts best.

    jpe (08c1dd)

  35. Why did god put me on a planet of idiots? What did I do in my last life?

    You were a leftist. You still haven’t caught on.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  36. Why did god put me on a planet of idiots?
    What the fuck did I do in my last life?

    You were a cockroach. This life too. Must be karma.

    Mike K (6d4fc3)

  37. And they still insist Bush was holding a plastic turkey. All we can do is point and laugh, I guess.

    Jim Treacher (592cb4)

  38. Hey jpe – I know transcripts are boring and all, but that’s not Karl’s point. Karl’s point is that the question was designed to supply a talking point against Palin, and it didn’t matter how she reacted to it.

    It wasn’t a question. It was a campaign attack to help Barack Obama. Supplied by ABC.

    And we continue to hear the BS about the MSM attempting to find the ‘truth’ about Palin. DM admits it himself. It’s a sham. There’s no journalistic process here, just secret campaign contributions.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  39. The latest from Ace on the Palin e-mail hacker: It looks like he’s a prominent Tennessee Democrat’s son.

    qdpsteve (dc65ab)

  40. How the fuck is she going to handle Putin or Ahmadinejad or the Prime Minister of Spain!

    Better than Obama. And that fact is what has the left and the MSM jumping all over a VP candidate.

    And, there’s that consistency thing again – Why was ABC locked out of the Obama ‘inner media circle’ if Gibson and Stepehensjsodpspsdspsoupoulous are such easy opponents?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  41. #37 Apogee,
    Interpret how ever you like.

    href=”http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999353,00.html” target=”_blank” title=””>Time Magazine

    Oiram (983921)

  42. Sorry, try this one.

    Oiram (983921)

  43. I’m bad at linking.

    Cut and paste please

    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999353,00.html

    Oiram (983921)

  44. Not to nit pick, Oiram, but my interpretation of #47 is that you’re having trouble with the link function in the comment window.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  45. OK, got it. Oiram – that’s from 2001.

    Try this.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  46. #50 Great Observation Apogee 🙂

    Oiram (983921)

  47. Anyone with an ounce of sense can spell out the Bush doctine. Lie about another countries intentions and connect them to a real enemy, pretend you are interested in peace while you prepare for war, then disregard the worlds desire and invade, ridicule those that disagree and then claim you are making the world safer for us all..

    Former head of National Review has defected to Obama..guess its time to Swift Boat him!

    Why do Conservatives seem so intent on destroying America?

    http://www.dmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?nm=Core+Pages&type=gen&mod=Core+Pages&tier=3&gid=B33A5C6E2CF04C9596A3EF81822D9F8E

    VietEraVet (543dfe)

  48. I don’t get on people for having trouble with computers. Plenty of thoughtful, intelligent people have difficulty interacting with mechanical and electrical devices.

    However, when a commenter goes on and on about their superior intelligence while making grammatical and spelling errors. . . (I’m not picking on you Oiram)

    Apogee (366e8b)

  49. “…We also know that Palin didn’t, either…”
    Comment by jpe — 9/18/2008 @ 2:30 pm

    Well, unlike Gibson, who is paid to keep up on small details such as this,
    Gov. Palin was otherwise involved in matters that were, to her and her constituents, more pressing.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  50. #45 Oh, son of a prominent Tenn. pol? His daddy surely has some pull. All the punk kid has to do is play the crazier than a shithouse rat card since he’s already been institutionalized twice. Mere youthful exhuberance and surely the kid of yoot Sarah Palin would have seduced based on the insane speculations of skanky airhead america talking anus randi rhodes.

    madmax333 (0c6cfc)

  51. #54 Ask anyone here who has read me and debated me on a regular basis. I have never claimed “superior intelligence”. In fact I have admitted mistakes on several occasions.

    But thanks for not picking on me Apogee.

    Oiram (983921)

  52. “…unless we someday reverse the last 70 years of constitutional law…”

    Now, that’s talking like a true, small-government, Conservative!

    Welcome to the club.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  53. Maybe you can point me to some interview where people probed him with detailed questions to see what he knew, but I’m not holding my breath.”
    And I’m not holding my breath that you’d try using google.

    Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Policy Brain Trusts: Obama’s Advisers

    I asked for an interview where people asked questions like who is the President of such and such. Like the McCain interview. There’s no interview there. It lists his advisors.

    Gerald A (ebb8b5)

  54. VEV – This is swiftboating?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  55. #57 – Oiram – I specifically included that note to you so that you wouldn’t think I was asserting that you had made those type of claims. Perhaps I worded it poorly. No – we disagree on almost everything, but you’re not one of those people.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  56. #61 Thanks Apogee, I probably misread (I’ve been doing that a lot today 🙁

    Oiram (983921)

  57. “According to Article 27 of the UN Charter, a party to a dispute must abstain from voting”

    Funny, but the 5 permanent countries (P5) of the UNSC (Britain, France, China, Russia and the U.S.) seem to be immune from this requirement (i.e., Suez, 1956 and Afghanistan, 1980).

    Seems that the P5 all possess a veto. Specifically, substantive decisions by the UNSC require “the concurring votes of the permanent members”, meaning that any of those permanent members can prevent the adoption, by the Council, of any draft resolutions on ‘substantive’ matters. For this reason, the ‘power of veto’ is also referred to as the principle of ‘great Power unanimity’.

    Nope. Obama didn’t have it right, after all

    belloscm (cf0c5e)

  58. Comment by belloscm — 9/18/2008 @ 3:20 pm

    Facts sure are an inconvenient thing.

    But of course, to contradict The One, and his flock of followers, has to be at least demeaning – if not racist!

    belloscm, I denounce you.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  59. Why do Conservatives seem so intent on destroying America?

    Why do fraudulent poseurs continually come on to this site and demonstrate their utter ignorance? Answer that question first, and maybe we’ll get to your rabies – inspired frothing later.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  60. A most amazing thing is people here and elsewhere think Obama is able to act the executive which he aspires to, whereas Palin, whom they doubt, is an executive with proof of her capability. Somebody is trying to snow you. Confidence in one who has never done the job while demeaning one who has. One side is pure stupid. Ayers/Obama 08

    Zelsdorf Ragshaft III (e18128)

  61. …and if your ID is something called “Drunken Master,” you take that as an accurate portrayal of the poster in question. DM, better lay off those Jagermeister shots in the future, mmmkay?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  62. Yep, it’s 1984!

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  63. I would agree that there are several different definitions of the Bush doctrine, so it was perhaps not unreasonable for Palin to ask for a clarification. That wasn’t the end of it, though:

    GIBSON: Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?
    PALIN: In what respect, Charlie?
    GIBSON: The Bush — well, what do you — what do you interpret it to be?
    PALIN: His world view.
    GIBSON: No, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war.
    PALIN: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that’s the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to do things better.
    GIBSON: The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Do you agree with that?
    PALIN: Charlie, if there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend.

    Gibson does clarify what he means. Palin still doesn’t get it. The most controversial aspect of the Iraq war was Bush’s policy of aggressive war. John McCain said it best:

    The Bush Doctrine is that preemptive strikes or preemptive conflicts which were never contemplated in the past now have to be contemplated in certain scenarios.

    In other words, we go to war without an imminent strike that Palin mentions.

    She did flub the answer, and clearly hasn’t been paying attention to foreign policy for the last six years.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  64. Ah, so one sentence clarifies things for Big W(R)ussy. Big (W)Russy says so!

    Dmac (e639cc)

  65. As Condi Rice said, we don’t wait for some American city to be a smoking ruin if we have actionable intell.
    If you disagree with that policy, please indicate which city in America you are willing to sacrifice to a foreign foe,
    so that we may alert the residents of same, and relocate them – and intern you there.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  66. As Condi Rice said, we don’t wait for some American city to be a smoking ruin if we have actionable intell.
    If you disagree with that policy, please indicate which city in America you are willing to sacrifice to a foreign foe,
    so that we may alert the residents of same, and relocate them – and intern you there.

    I was not arguing the merits of the policy, and so I will not submit my application to be put in a concentration camp to be slaughtered.

    FWIW, mutually assured destruction worked fine against an enemy ten thousand times as powerful as Iraq and Iran put together. But that wasn’t my point.

    I was arguing that Palin clearly doesn’t understand what that hugely controversial policy is.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  67. I know transcripts are boring and all, but that’s not Karl’s point. Karl’s point is that the question was designed to supply a talking point against Palin, and it didn’t matter how she reacted to it.

    That makes sense, but it doesn’t negate the fact that Palin responded like a dimwit. ie, Gibson invited Palin to sound like an uninformed fool, and she obliged.

    My reading of the criticisms of Gibson is that they’re purport to be defenses of Palin when they’re really nothing of the sort. Both Gibson and Palin came out the worse on that exchange.

    jpe (bd88bc)

  68. #70 Great Comment Russel; I’m finally putting this comment in at 4:14pm. I’m going to guess there is going to be about 5 ridiculous replies when I check.

    Oiram (983921)

  69. Wow….. only two. Sculls aren’t as thick as I thought.

    Oiram (983921)

  70. …and Russell,
    I believe that you don’t know what the Bush Doctrine is either. What part of it applies to what foreign crisis?

    MAD…
    This was a policy vis-a-vis a foe that wanted to be able to survive such an exchange.
    The IslamoFascists demonstrate no such desire.
    They desire to martyr themselves to attain what they believe will be a salvation with 72-virgins.
    When dealing with people who wish to die, you cannot rationally use the policy that worked with people who wished to live.
    Different mind-sets – different policies.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  71. #77 Do we even know if Bush knows The Bush Doctrine?

    Oiram (983921)

  72. #77 Question:

    Another Drew, what do we do with a person who murders another person in the name of a religion in this country?
    However he or she did it doesn’t matter. Could even be someone who hires someone else.

    How do we deal with them?

    Oiram (983921)

  73. I believe that you don’t know what the Bush Doctrine is either. What part of it applies to what foreign crisis?

    The Bush Doctrine, as I said earlier, is the policy of aggressive war against a perceived threat. No waiting for attack from the other side. The Iraq war is, so far as I can tell, the only example of it thus far. A spectacular failure is putting it lightly.

    MAD…
    This was a policy vis-a-vis a foe that wanted to be able to survive such an exchange.
    The IslamoFascists demonstrate no such desire.
    They desire to martyr themselves to attain what they believe will be a salvation with 72-virgins.
    When dealing with people who wish to die, you cannot rationally use the policy that worked with people who wished to live.
    Different mind-sets – different policies.

    There are no “IslamoFascists” in charge of any country. And don’t say Ahmedinejad, he isn’t even the #1 in Iran. Saddam Hussein was not a suicide bomber.

    The doctrine of aggressive war has failed everywhere it has been tried throughout history. If one was really concerned about nuclear attack, one would be working on nonproliferation and securing Russia’s nuclear stockpile.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  74. “There are no “IslamoFascists” in charge of any country.
    Could this possibly be the stupidest thing ever typed on an internet comment board?

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  75. “And don’t say Ahmedinejad, he isn’t even the #1 in Iran.
    Gee and how exactly would one describe the ones who ARE in charge of Iran?

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  76. “The doctrine of aggressive war has failed everywhere it has been tried throughout history.”
    Oh do elaborate with an extensive list of examples “throughout history”, if you please, professor.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  77. Last time I looked the Arab countries have managed to work their “doctrine of aggressive war” c. 1967, into a nice little worldwide propaganda coup against Israel.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  78. There are, as Charles Krauthammer explains in great detail here http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091202457.html, four different permutations of the Doctrine, that have come about in response to changing world conditions.
    What may be the “Doctrine” today, might not be what was used at another point-in-time. So, in explaining, or defining, the “Doctrine” requires a time-specific explanation.

    Even the use of force in Iraq, and Afghanistan, is subject to several of these variations (it is just a bitch when foreign-policy has to be so nuanced).

    Our world-wide foe at this time is IslamoFascism!
    They want us dead, they want Western Civilization destroyed and buried. Those who fail to recognize this existential threat are dead-men walking to their own destruction.

    Oiram, we’re not talking about law-enforcement issues within this country; we are talking of a war of survival against a foreign foe – one who is trans-national in its’ scope.

    Earth to Russell…
    We are dealing with non-proliferation issues (that is the heart of the conflict with Iran and North Korea), and the control of the Russian stockpile – we pay the Russians $M’s to dismantle their nukes under the auspices of the treaty signed between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. back in the Reagan years, that set these two countries on a coarse of drawing-down the numbers of weapons in each’s stockpile.

    And, as an historical note, aggressive war was very successful in the defeat of an implacable, domestic foe, which is why the “Native Americans” can be a bit testy at times – plus it does complicate our relations with Mexico from time to time.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  79. #85 Another Drew…….

    Another Question:

    Where do I find Islamofacistan on your map?

    Oiram (983921)

  80. 11 million more democratic voters then republican voters. Enough said, its time to realize the Republican party is going the way of the Whig Party. Republican party can’t recruit people of color to its party and white American’s will soon be a minority. Even if a miricle happens and Leslie McCain and trailer park trash win the election, they won’t be able to do anymore damage to this country because congress will be in Democratic and able to protect the working class American. For all you people who think that republicans are so great for the economy…lets both invest our money in the stock market and I will take the average market rate of return during a democratic administration and you can take the average market rate of return during a republican admin.

    stu (a7f174)

  81. Comment by Oiram — 9/18/2008 @ 4:56 pm

    See Comment #85, para #4.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  82. Russell, it is amusing that you have to make up so much to “prove” that Palin was wrong. You were pre-debunked in the post above and you don’t even know it.

    Russell whines about nonproliferation but ridicules our efforts against Iran on that very topic.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  83. Oh yeah someone ought to tell Trailer Park Trash that its a McCain/Palin ticket…not like she said today…Palin/McCain…and today in Alaska they put a new stoplight in Juno!

    stu (a7f174)

  84. stu, Democrats have been bragging about greater registration than Republicans for years – and losing presidential elections for years too. What you are ignoring is that neither party is anywhere near half of the electorate in registration.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  85. A stoplight in a computer email program…
    How does that work exactly?

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  86. Yes true, there are lots of indy voters. Still doesnt change the fact that you can’t recruit people of color and the make up of the united states is changing. Your morally bankrupt party will soon be irrelavent

    stu (a7f174)

  87. Drunken Master wrote: Why did god put me on a planet of idiots?
    What the fuck did I do in my last life?

    Probably what you’re doing now. That doesn’t bode well for your next destination.

    L.N. Smithee (0931d2)

  88. stu, you are just full of namecalling. And independant voters, while blindingly clinging to their guns and religion, don’t like that about you Democrats.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  89. NEWS FLASH: T. ODD Palin shows disrespect for American Law and refuses to testify. Not a suprising for someone who has such disrespect for America. He probably only recongnizes Alaskan Independence Party law, since he hates the US so much. Also, someone please tell him to shave that face vagina he has going on. It looks so unprofessional. He should be a better rep. of the United States then that!

    stu (a7f174)

  90. I never name called today. Just like a republican, making things up. SPQR…if you say it enough maybe people will start to believe your lies. Isn’t that what the right does?

    stu (a7f174)

  91. “”You can argue that nobody is ready to be president … You can argue that even if you’ve been vice-president for eight years, that no one can be fully ready for the pressures of the office.”

    Who said that?

    🙂

    L.N. Smithee (0931d2)

  92. Drew if you want to talk about how a computer works you need to talk to leslie mcain…and if he can’t explain that then I’m sure he can explain the interworkings of a blackberry. He invented it you know. He reminds me of an old punk rock song…”you’re old and gray and out of style”

    stu (a7f174)

  93. Hey, stu! Quick, what’s the capital of Alaska?

    L.N. Smithee (0931d2)

  94. stu, so you think “Trailer Park Trash” is namecalling?

    Stu, you are the typical Democrat – too stupid to remember what you last wrote.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  95. Hey, Stu…
    To answer #100, Anchorage, Fairbanks, & Wasilla don’t count.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  96. “There are no “IslamoFascists” in charge of any country. And don’t say Ahmedinejad, he isn’t even the #1 in Iran.”

    OK, Russy – then what do you call the ruling Mullahs in Iran, then? Christians? Freedom – loving Persians?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  97. “I never name called today.”

    I like Stewie’s masterful grasp of grammar here – let’s try some examples of same:

    “I don’t not say that.”

    “I are edumacated.”

    “I are good at computering.”

    Nice brain there, Stewie.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  98. Oh, by the way, jharp when you said “Do you mean the speech were he said he would fire the chairman of SEC? Too funny. What a bozo. For those of you who don’t get the joke the president has no authority to do such a thing.”

    You did not know what you were talking about. The President can fire the chairman of the SEC.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  99. Please don’t confuse the Harpster with facts – they tend to give him headaches.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  100. “which she flubbed in her first national interview”

    She didn’t seem to recognize the term, or even what a ‘doctrine was’ (‘his worldview?’). I don’t know what the big deal is. Other candidates have debated the bush doctrine without all this hand-wringing.

    imdw (23c2b4)

  101. imdw, no, you are wrong. Palin knows that the term is misused and misrepresented. And Gibson was the one who screwed up.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  102. Russell ; Remember the Punic Wars? Rome versus Carthage. Visit Carthage lately? Your statement has been uttered by almost every left wing pundit despite their inability to furnish any evidence to support it.

    Of course, at one time, it made political sense not to be the party that fired the first shot. It was a bit hard on some soldiers and/or innocent civilians but those few deaths were tolerated. However, that policy does not make sense when weapons of mass destruction are used.

    Student to master : Master, how do I deal with multiple enemies?
    Master to student : Fight them one at a time!
    Student to master : How can I arrange to fight my enemies one at a time?
    Master to student : Don’t ask me. I teach strategy not tactics!
    Anonymous

    longwalker (c36902)

  103. Dmac likes to insult my use of grammer….on the internet non the less…I guess I better go get my Phd, cause I already have a Masters and a graduate certificate. My house hold income is roughly 4 times the national average. The great thing is I pretty much just chill at my job. Not rich but hardly poor. Guess I am such a dummy. I will be dumb any day if it gets me a great house, in a neighborhood that people wish they lived in, a good kid in college. Shit always seems to break my way… Oh man, my grammer skill on the internet have really held me back. HaHa Its so much easier to view the left as a bunch of poor deadbeat losers. Dmac equals just another dupe in a trailer park.

    stu (a7f174)

  104. How amusing, stu, since your little internet resume does not match the rather less educated remarks you actually make.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  105. Stu, your mother’s calling from upstairs, she needs you to come up from the basement and empty the litter box. Thanks a bunch, sweetie.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  106. Y’all must certainly be aware that I’m making up stu for your amusement. You can’t have thought he was for real.

    Although I *do* bow before the power of his “grammer.”

    Patterico (694251)

  107. Oh yeah, then there is drew…who wants to give me a geography lesson when he has never been out of his home state of Mississippi and Drew your trip to trip to Alabama doesnt count as a trip outside the country, although all my trips there have seemed that way. I’ll be glad to compare world travels anyday. Hey drew get a passport, even dogface palin has one.

    stu (a7f174)

  108. Hey Dmac…the principle just called…he said to stay away from his school yard….

    stu (a7f174)

  109. I heard there is a new law to keep patterico out of public mens rooms. patterico get your buddy Sen. Craig and move along.

    stu (a7f174)

  110. “Palin knows that the term is misused and misrepresented.”

    I’m talking about before Gibson explained what he understood the Bush doctrine to be. (“his world view?”). I think he or others have asked other candidates about it too, without all this whining. You didn’t get the sense that she didn’t recognize the term like everyone else seemed to?

    imdw (513533)

  111. Sprq…you can doubt my resume…doesn’t hurt my feelings…the diplomas still sit on my wall and the bank account still gets filled each payday. Oh yeah…im sure you think I am a teenage scum. I am also a decorated retired military member who fought in this farce of a war, to protect your right to be an idiot.

    stu (a7f174)

  112. Thats right you republicans should start kicking a vet…god knows you don’t support vets.

    stu (a7f174)

  113. If stu didn’t exist, we would have to invent him.

    Evil Pundit (843b74)

  114. Just a bunch of chickenhawks who are really cowards. I’m sure you all had something more important to do then serve your country.

    stu (a7f174)

  115. Oh scary evil pund..nitwit

    stu (a7f174)

  116. Everybody keeping track of all the things that Commander McBragg has done in his life? Other than take a course in English Composition, I mean?

    I’m thinking high school, yes.

    Where do all these trolls come from? Gresham’s Law in the flesh, methinks.

    Eric Blair (2708f4)

  117. There again…its so much easier to view me as a high school kid, then someone who was a leader of your children. I’m sorry poor eric, but my DD214 says otherwise.

    stu (a7f174)

  118. retired military stu? I doubt it. You don’t display anything like the squared up attitude of real retired military.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  119. You fool…20 years 8 months and 8 days. I’ve spent my adult life living my core values of my service. Squared up is what I always am.

    stu (a7f174)

  120. Not here, stu. Here you’ve acted like a sad sack.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  121. stu,

    If you are an adult living by core values, then take back your claim in comment 90 (9/18/2008 @ 5:33 pm) that you didn’t name call tonight, and admit that you did just that in comment 83 (9/18/2008 @ 5:04) when you referred to Sarah Palin as “Trailer Park Trash.”

    DRJ (0754ed)

  122. I heard there is a new law to keep patterico out of public mens rooms. patterico get your buddy Sen. Craig and move along.

    I heard there is a new commenter in moderation. His next approved comment on this blog will contain an apology for the above comment.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  123. My banning finger is itchy lately.

    Patterico (cc3b34)

  124. Good.

    DRJ (0754ed)

  125. I believe Patterico is making stu up. It fits with his recent cathartic Sullivan post. You go, James! I bow to your grammer – especially since you know how to google dd214.

    stu, when you ‘left the country’ how many sets of undies did mom pack?

    carlitos (8850b6)

  126. sorry – posted before i say the banning thing. i denounce myself

    carlitos (8850b6)

  127. saw

    carlitos (8850b6)

  128. Dmac likes to insult my use of grammer….on the internet non the less…I guess I better go get my Phd, cause I already have a Masters and a graduate certificate

    Question – what the hell is a graduate certificate?

    I know what a masters is . . . I know what a PhD is . . . and those encompass graduate certificates (I guess, though they’re usually referred to as degrees). . . but I’ve never heard of someone having a masters *and* a graduate certificate which is apparently some new distinct level – what is it?

    BTW, it’s spelled “grammar.”

    Anon (03ab2e)

  129. She did flub it. The Bush doctrine has multiple aspects. Palin offered none of them. She said “His world view?”. Her voice rose at the end to indicate she was asking a question. Much like a student guessing at an oral exam.

    She also apparently favors an export ban on oil. Meanwhile, John McCain doesn’t know who the prime minister of Spain is and thinks the President can fire the SEC commissioner (he can’t). McCain/Palin are looking unqualified to run a bodega.

    Josh (28c35c)

  130. “Meanwhile, John McCain doesn’t know who the prime minister of Spain is”

    To be fair, he does at least know how many states there are in the U.S., unlike someone else.

    Anon (03ab2e)

  131. McCain does seem to know the role of Zapatero in the GWOT.

    It’s called AWOL.

    Surely stu knows what that is. I also love these great patriots with anonymous IDs. let us know who you are stu, so we can honor your service. My ID is there for you to see.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  132. Josh — 9/18/2008 @ 9:10 pm:

    John McCain … thinks the President can fire the SEC commissioner (he can’t).

    McCain said he would fire Cox as Chairman and, according to Todd Zywicki at Volokh, if he were President he could:

    True, the President cannot fire a member of an independent agency. But the Chairman does serve as Chairman at the discretion of the President. The President can designate any of the 5 members of the Commission as Chairman. Or change the designation. Confirmation to be a Commissioner requires Senate confirmation; confirmation to be Chair does not. The Chairmanship of independent agencies does not operate the same way as the Supreme Court. For the Supreme Court, a sitting Justice who is elevated to Chief must be reconfirmed for the new post. But a sitting Commissioner who is designated Chair does not need a separate confirmation. Thus, the President can “fire” Cox by removing him as Chair but cannot fire him as a Commissioner.

    DRJ (0754ed)

  133. The only legitimate answer that Palin gave to the Bush doctrine question was:

    GIBSON: The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Do you agree with that?
    PALIN: Charlie, if there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend.”

    So, Gibson gave a particular definition of the Bush Doctrine, agreed to by John McCain: the policy of aggressive war. Palin utterly failed to engage and talked about the normal foreign policy situation of imminent threat–self-defense? no one questions that.

    But let’s look at Krauthammer’s article, just for giggles. He gives four different definitions of the Bush doctrine:

    1) Unilateralism–withdrawing from the ABM and Kyoto treaties.
    2) Cowboy style you’re with-us-or-with-Teh-Terrorists diplomacy.
    3) Aggressive war–Iraq.
    4) Spreading democracy in the Middle East (through war).

    Now, all four of these are stupid beyond belief, but I can’t see in Palin’s comment anything having the remotest bearing on any of them. As Allahpundit said:

    That said, it’s pretty clear she doesn’t know what he means by the Bush Doctrine and can’t answer the Pakistan question in anything but platitudes about stopping Islamic extremism. Even the gimme about the 9/11 hijackers’ motivations comes out garbled: She’s trying to make the basic neocon point that terrorism is a problem caused by political repression and solved by democracy, but it sounds as if she’s trying to patch it together from mental index cards, which … may in fact be what she was doing.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  134. “To be fair, he does at least know how many states there are in the U.S., unlike someone else.”

    It really is delightful that you think this is being “fair.”

    imdw (934684)

  135. McCain does seem to know the role of Zapatero in the GWOT.

    It’s called AWOL.

    Spanish troops fight in Afghanistan.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  136. Josh, how does it feel to know that John McCain knows more than you do?

    SPQR (26be8b)

  137. He didn’t say he would remove his chairman status. He said he would fire him. Not demote him.

    Josh (28c35c)

  138. You must mean “less”, SPQR.

    Anyone got any views on that Zapatero thing? Maybe McCain should have accompanied Obama to Europe. He might have learned something.

    Josh (28c35c)

  139. #129, McCain knew where Spain was. You bought the spoon feeding.

    “TPM now seems to be backtracking. A subsequent post has another TPM blogger phoning the reporter who interviewed McCain.”

    From the actual interviewer of McCain on what she thought (via a phone call with TPM),

    She tells me she doesn’t believe that McCain didn’t know who Prime Minister Zapatero is or where Spain was. Instead, she believes that McCain was deliberately ducking the question of whether he’d meet with the Spanish Prime Minister. “I didn’t get the impression that he didn’t know who Zapatero was or where Spain was,” the reporter, Yoli Cuello, told me. “Honestly, what I thought was that he didn’t want to answer the question with a yes or no answer.”

    If you read up on Pm Zapatero, you’ll get a clearer understanding of why McCain didn’t want to commit to a yes or no answer.

    Dana (213b94)

  140. Josh, nope. Pretty much meant “more”. And he still does.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  141. That’s interesting spin. I guess maybe we’ll be kicking Spain out of NATO to make room for Georgia. For Mr. Foreign Policy to have such a tenuous grasp of who is who (see also, Sunni v. Shia) is quite comforting. No wonder he wanted Russia expert Palin on his team.

    Josh (28c35c)

  142. “For Mr. Foreign Policy to have such a tenuous grasp of who is who (see also, Sunni v. Shia) is quite comforting.”

    Again, though, Josh, the problem here is I’m not more interested in a candidate who is looking for more Arabic speakers to help out in Afghanistan.

    Anon (03ab2e)

  143. Anon, LOL – that’s a good one. It will go right over Josh’s head unfortunately.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  144. I guess you’re more interested in one who can’t get the basic chronology of the Awakening/Surge right. Whatever sinks your boat.

    Josh (28c35c)

  145. Lolz Obama said Arabic when everyone knows they mostly speak Pashtun in Afghanistan!1! Totally on the same level as not knowing who did what when in Iraq.

    You’ve totally convinced me that Mr. 6 bills in 22 years has the mavericky experience and knowledge we need to totally reform Washington! Which of McCain’s accomplishments is your guys favorite? The amnesty debacle? McCain-Feingold? The toothless torture amendment? The gang of 14?

    Josh (28c35c)

  146. Josh, you really are not too bright if you are going to think that Obama will win a contest of legislation accomplishments.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  147. But getting back to foreign policy, Obama is the one who claimed that he’d invade a nuclear-armed ally of ours – Pakistan.

    Christopher Hitchens was having fun with that recently.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  148. “I guess you’re more interested in one who can’t get the basic chronology of the Awakening/Surge right.”

    Josh, the problem you guys had from the beginning and the reason so many people on your side expected the surge to fail is that you didn’t get that a key component of the plan was a change in tactics – something McCain had been complaining about and pushing to get for years. Was an increase in troops the only reason things have gotten better there? No. It was intended to be–that’s what the plans encompassed, they included fighting in a different manner as well as working with locals and so to say, as you guys do, that the increase in troops wasn’t the only factor and to point to stuff like Anbar completely misses the point.

    In addition, I am interested in a candidate who doesn’t go behind the back of an administration in order to hinder its negotiations in a place like Iraq for his own political advantage – so that crosses out Barack Obama.

    Anon (03ab2e)

  149. Lolz Obama said Arabic when everyone knows they mostly speak Pashtun in Afghanistan!1! Totally on the same level as not knowing who did what when in Iraq.

    Yeah, and I’m sure if someone walked up to you and the other Dems on the street a year ago (or even today for a lot of you, admit it), you all would have known who the Prime Minister of Spain was and would have been able to explain all the different facets of Sunni v. Shia. (I would have, because I’m awesome, but it takes a little bit of hubris to assume you know more about politics and world affairs than somebody who’s been involved in it for three decades.)

    Anon (03ab2e)

  150. Yeah, and I’m sure if someone walked up to you and the other Dems on the street a year ago (or even today for a lot of you, admit it), you all would have known who the Prime Minister of Spain was and would have been able to explain all the different facets of Sunni v. Shia. (I would have, because I’m awesome, but it takes a little bit of hubris to assume you know more about politics and world affairs than somebody who’s been involved in it for three decades.)

    Righto, Mr. Awesome. Hubris is definitely clouding the air.

    Russell (c2db8a)

  151. “It was intended to be”

    1:00 in the morning…typos…”it wasn’t intended to be”

    Anon (03ab2e)

  152. Righto, Mr. Awesome. Hubris is definitely clouding the air.

    Comment by Russell — 9/18/2008 @ 10:10 pm

    What can I say? I like the smell.

    Anon (03ab2e)

  153. re Stu…
    Thanks to our host for ridding us of another anoying pest.

    Now, Pat, you’ve got to be careful to take those meds for your schizophrenia.
    We might not be able to be so civil to your next alternative identity.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  154. Josh,

    I can’t find a direct quote for what McCain said about the SEC Chairman, but the AP report states McCain said:

    “… he would fire Securities and Exchange Chairman Christopher Cox if he were president …”

    You choose to interpret that to mean McCain would fire Cox as a Commissioner, but I believe McCain’s words also mean he would fire Cox as Chairman. Thus, I don’t think your statements that McCain was clearly wrong are accurate.

    It is odd in one respect. After all, some people thought McCain might pick Christopher Cox as his running mate.

    DRJ (0754ed)

  155. “Obama is the one who claimed that he’d invade a nuclear-armed ally of ours – Pakistan.”

    No idiot, he said he would take military action without consulting the leadership of Pakistan. AND BUSH JUST DID LAST WEEK!!
    Read a newspaper sometime, or stop voting. Either take responsibility or don’t, but stop lying about it.

    And McCain would of course replace Cox (who does not serve “at the pleasure of the President by the way) with Phil “a nation of whiners” Gramm, who’s more to blame for all of this than anyone, though the blame can still be spread around.
    The era of deregulation is over.

    Impatience is a Virtue (bec964)

  156. Comment by Impatience is a Virtue — 9/18/2008 @ 10:47 pm

    And obtuseness is overabundant.

    Why is it that the jr. fascists are so quick to re-regulate everything (stupid rhetorical question)?
    They all think that because they are so brilliant, it is only logical that they will be the regulators.
    What they forget, that in the top-down society that they visualize as the new utopia, it is not brilliance that is rewarded, but thugishness, brutality, and a complete lack of conscience.
    Some might qualify, but it will be a fight that they must engage in with those who respect freedom more than authority.

    Another Drew (c78d34)

  157. Amazing, 156 comments about the color of shit from humans!

    That is if they shit!

    Well since you actually asked….. Forget it, you were just pulling down yer pants fer a rise. Didn’t happen..

    She could have asked the all knowing Gibson which of the 31 pages of the so called BUSH doctrine he was referring to. But probably already knew he was knee deep in quick sand so let him off by NOT throwing the rope in a “man” like direction. She could say, oh gosh, I’m so not good at rescue ropes

    Gibson, (a reporter), came off as sort of arrogant wipe, while interviewing the Governor of Alaska! A position that Gibson on his best day could NEVER attain! EVER!

    The worst taht came fgrom him, was that he would not DARE to ask the half breed the same questions! EVER!

    TC (f398ed)

  158. “No idiot, he said he would take military action without consulting the leadership of Pakistan. AND BUSH JUST DID LAST WEEK!!”

    Palin said she’d do it too. *blink*

    imdw (f469f7)

  159. And McCain would of course replace Cox (who does not serve “at the pleasure of the President by the way) with Phil “a nation of whiners” Gramm, who’s more to blame for all of this than anyone, though the blame can still be spread around.

    Neither Gramm or any deregulation that has occurred has anything to do with the subprime mess.

    Gerald A (138c50)

  160. Russell (quoted Obama-style):

    I can’t see.

    Indeed.

    Russell (quoted honestly):

    But let’s look at Krauthammer’s article, just for giggles. He gives four different definitions of the Bush doctrine …

    [Four gross distortions of four otherwise sensible policies deleted for space]

    Now, all four of these are stupid beyond belief, but I can’t see in Palin’s comment anything having the remotest bearing on any of them.

    In other words, you weren’t listening. She talked at length about the fourth and most recent, which is the most intuitive answer to have given since he forced her to guess which one he had in mind (he was thinking of #3).

    The bad news is that Palin really did flub the Bush Doctrine question in Sean Hannity’s softer-than-softball interview this week, by basically ignoring the question and talking about other stuff instead. The good is that no one is likely to care. [No, Russell changing his vote from “Obama” to “I really, really, really love Obama and hate those meanies running against him” doesn’t count as caring. Only shifting one’s vote, either from one candidate to the other, or between voting and not-voting, does.]

    Xrlq (b71926)

  161. For Mr. Foreign Policy to have such a tenuous grasp of who is who (see also, Sunni v. Shia) is quite comforting.

    McCain has not to my knowledge confused Sunnis and Shites. The idea that his statement that Iran was supporting al-Qaeda means he thinks they are Shiite or that Iran is Sunni is spurious.

    Gerald A (138c50)

  162. Gerald A – It is all that they’ve got. Don’t go trying to mess with Teh Narrative.

    JD (41e64f)

  163. DRJ, I found another quotation from AP of McCain that is more clearly refering to Chairman:

    “The chairman of the SEC serves at the appointment of the president and, in my view, has betrayed the public’s trust,” McCain told a rally in this battleground state. “If I were president today, I would fire him.”

    Again, McCain knows more than Josh, or Keith Olbermann.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  164. “McCain has not to my knowledge confused Sunnis and Shites.”

    That’s because you don’t know anything

    “Neither Gramm or any deregulation that has occurred has anything to do with the subprime mess.”
    You should be paying me for this

    Please, pay attention or just give up. People like you are damaging the country.

    Jusus Cripes (563863)

  165. “McCain has not to my knowledge confused Sunnis and Shites.”

    That’s because you don’t know anything

    Jesus Cripes (563863)

  166. Yet another poster who seemingly is unaware of how revelatory his screen persona actually entails.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  167. Dmac, shh! I WANT my favorite ‘tard to stick around.

    Icy Truth (0b6250)

  168. I just cannot imagine the outrage that JC must extend toward the Chairman of the House Intelligence Cmte over the Sunni/Shiite question?

    Another Drew (909672)

  169. Jeeze I Cry’s response: “hunhhhh? Mhhhhphg?”

    Dmac (e639cc)

  170. Spain…
    The last time I cared a whit about Spain was 110-years ago.
    They’ve been irrelevant since then.

    Another Drew (909672)

  171. and another thing…
    Comment by jesus Cripes — 9/19/2008 @ 9:21 am

    Are we seeing another iteration of a lost Problem Child, the evil “L”?

    Another Drew (909672)


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