All too often I hear some politician, talking head or actor in a show (Jimmy Smits, West Wing) claim that the label of Liberal is something to be proud of.
If you want people to think positive thoughts when they hear the word Liberal,
I have few suggestions on how to rehabilitate the name:
1) Admit that Communism was and is a failure and had horrible consequences for the people of the Soviet Union, China, Cambodia, Cuba and Vietnam.
2) Admit that Socialism is simply watered down Communism.
3) Quit “inventing” rights from the penumbra of the Constitution and stick to the actual rights laid out in the Constitution.
4) Quit attacking traditional marriage.
5) Quit calling Republicans idiots.
6) Quit idolizing vicious killers like Mumia Abu-Jamal and Tookie Williams.
7) Quit believing proven liars like Dan Rather, Mary Mapes and Fred Barnes.
8) Quit assuming all corporations are evil.
9) Quit assuming the worst of American soldiers every chance you get.
10) Quit calling a reduction in a spending increase a “Cut”.
11) Admit that many liberal social programs have failed and offer new ideas.
12) Quit assuming all pharmaceutical companies and HMO’s are out to screw the “little” people. (see #8)
13) Quit telling people how to live, where to smoke and what to eat.
14) Admit that there is a big difference between our rough treatment of terrorists and Saddams old torture chambers.
15) Admit that Yasser Arafat was not a man of peace.
16) Admit that “one mans freedom fighter” is not always “another mans terrorist”.
17) Quit acting like Al Sharpton is a legitimate “leader” in the black community.
18) Stop acting like Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice are not “really” black.
19) Admit that when a married boss gets a BJ from a female subordinate in his office, it is unacceptable.
20) Try supporting democratic movements anywhere outside of America.
21) Instead of insisting that the Courts make laws, try supporting democracy in America
22) In war, quit making perfection the enemy of good.
23) Admit that every war or conflict is not like Vietnam.
24) Quit calling the voters stupid when they elect a Republican.
25) Admit that tax increases do not increase tax receipts for the US Treasury.
26) Admit that being debated on a subject is not being censored.
27) Care more about reducing our dependence on foreign oil than a Caribou herd in Alaska.
28) Admit that solar power doesn’t work at night.
29) Admit that taxpayers have rights too.
30) Admit that Global Warming is less of a threat to world peace than Nuclear Weapons in the hands of Iran or North Korea.
Actually we found lots of components for chemical weapons, in the same locations but NOT assembled into weapons ...
So, its like saying that we found gunpower, empty shell casings, bullets and guns in someones house but we didn't find any illegal weapons there ...
An excellent post on the lie that is "No WMD's in Iraq" ...
I especially like the following quote:
"It seems Iraqi soldiers were obsessed with keeping ammo dumps insect-free, according to the reading of the evidence now enshrined by the conventional wisdom that 'no WMD stockpiles have been discovered."
Add to that the David Kay testimony ...
12:46 p.m.: Libby is charged with obstruction of justice, false statement and perjury in five-count indictment. Libby appears to be only person indicted so far.
12 noon "information" released ... Instant Analysis: What the Hell ???
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFRIDAY OCTOBER 28, 2005 www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc PRESS CONTACTS:
DOJ Public Affairs (202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888
*******MEDIA ADVISORY*******
SPECIAL COUNSEL PATRICK J. FITZGERALD TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald will hold a press conference at 2:00 P.M. EDT today, Friday October 28, 2005, regarding the status of the Special Counsel's criminal investigations.
WHO: Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald FBI Special Agent-in-Charge John C. Eckenrode
WHAT: Release of public information and press conference
WHERE: Department of Justice
7th Floor Conference Center
950 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
NOTE: 7th floor access to reporters at 11 A.M. EDT Cameras allowed access at noon EDT Cameras must pre-set by 1:00 P.M. EDT NO LIVE SHOTS INSIDE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL 1:45 P.M. DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS NOTE: ALL MEDIA MUST PRESENT GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID (such as driver’s license) as well as VALID MEDIA CREDENTIALS. ONCE MEDIA ARE ESCORTED TO THE 7th FLOOR, THEY MUST REMAIN UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE. Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to the Department of Justice at (202) 514-2007. # # # #
George Freidman at RCP has an interesting overview of the role of NOC's in the CIA.
http://realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-10_21_05_GF.html
He ignores the most obvious outting of Plame, and the first public one. The op-ed by Wilson in the NYT. By admitting that he, Wilson, acted as an agent for the CIA he would have caused foreign intelligence agencies to look into his background. A public background that included the naming of his wife as Valerie Plame (Who's Who listing). At that point it would be assumed that Valerie could also be involved with the CIA. Of course the fact that she DROVE IN AND OUT OF CIA HEADQUARTERS everyday may have tipped off foreign intelligence that she worked for the CIA and under the name Plame.
My bet is that Valerie had her cover as a NOC blown years ago, blown in the private world of foreign intelligence, and any damage to her sources or contacts would already been done. This would explain the lack of attempts by the CIA to maintain her cover, her lack of working as a NOC for at least 5 years and her willingness to allow her husband to publically associate himself with the CIA.
If we were picking a new shortstop for the Yankee's (the Supreme Court) of course we would want to see someone picked that has a "record" of hitting in high school for a top performing team (i.e. the Federal Bench somewhere). But a hitter like that would be pitched around in the Senate hearings and votes and would likely be filibustered (with the 7 RHINO's of the Gang of 14 going soft again) or simply voted down by the Senate vote when the RHINO's vote to support Roe and against Miers along with every Dem.
But does that mean she can't hit the fastball on the court ? Bush, having seen her in action for 10+ years thinks she can. Professional baseball is full of superstars that didn't win any State championships and those players prove that a good player scout is more important than a good resume. I think GWB is a good player scout.
Unfortunately for the pundits at NRO Bush is an intellectual-neutral. By that I mean he doesn't automatically assume that someone with a bigger intellectual resume actually is intelligent in the real world. The folks at NRO for the most part have no real world experience that earns them any props with Bush. A career writing opinion pieces is just fluff to him.
So when it comes to judging someones character and comitment who do you trust ? Opinion writers or a card playing, ex-hard drinking, Harvard Business grad, ex-pilot, ex-governor, ex-business man, 5 year sitting President with Rove sitting on his right hand.
Gee, on paper I think GWB has a better "resume" for judging someone than the puffdits at NRO.
And missing the bigger picture ...
Today, nearly all of the national media and some bloggers on the left and right side of the blogsphere are doing a terrible job "reporting" on the important events of today, mainly Iraq and Katrina. In their desperate attempts to stand out from the crowd they rush to inform but seldom pause to educate their readers or viewers.
Imagine if a professional baseball coach had to give a press conference between innings. In todays media rush to inform it might go something like this:
Third Inning Press Conference
Reporter: "Coach, are you concerned by your lack of hits during the early innings ?"
Coach: "No, not at all. We knew the opposing pitcher would come out strong and then fade so the 2 walks followed by our single hit, a home run, in the third put us up 3-0 in the game."
The instant headline would read:
Coach Unconcerned about Lack of Early Inning Hits
The headlines in so many newspapers today have taken on a "Man bites Dog" feel in order to titallate their readers that often is not supported in the body of the underlying story. All too often the context that shows the disingenous nature of the headline is either buried "below the fold" or is left out entirely.
Too often the focus in the media is on the 5% of things that go wrong and in a large event like Iraq or Katrina that 5% adds up to alot of stories.
Imagine a hockey goalie that has a 95% save percentage over 2 seasons. In the first season he has a win loss record of 10-70 and in the second season, playing for another team he has a 70-10 record.
I guarantee you that the headlines for the first season would read like this:
Swiss Cheese goalie lets thru 5 goals, again ....
The second season headlines would read:
Hometown Hero Saves more than Jesus.
Of course the fact that season one had an average of 100 shots on goal per game while season 2 had 30 shots on goal per game might not make it into the reporting.
If you wonder why we are in such a state of racial discord in the US today this is a good primer from Linda Chavez ...
supreme courtrobertsI think its clear that Judge Roberts believes that the Constitution defines the strike zone and the Democrats think that either polls or some sort of "fairness" measure defines the legal strike zone.
