Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 16 July 2006

Various big media television networks ^ | 16 July 2006 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, July 16th, 2006

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and George Allen, R-Va.; Philippe Cousteau, president of Earth Echo International.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; columnist Robert Novak.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Rice; Richard Haass, Council on Foreign Relations president; Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Rice; Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state; Kerri Strug, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : White House counselor Dan Bartlett; Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres; Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the U.S.; Sens. Trent Lott, R-Miss., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Mouwafak al-Rubaie, Iraqi national security adviser; Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri; space shuttle astronauts.

[Phsstpok]

Saudi Arabia is being very quiet. Maybe they are sending a message to the radical ragheads?

Apparently almost all of the Arab League, with the notable exception of Syria, are publicly blaming this on Hezbullah (see threads here, here, here, here and here, for example).  Hezbullah is largely an Iranian instrument and, right now, the Arabs appear to be far more afraid of Iran than they are of Israel.  They've discovered that they can actually cut a deal with the Israelis.  Long before they were Muslims their culture was built on "the deal." 

They're afraid that they can't do a deal with the Persians, particularly if they have nukes. 

This could get very interesting. 

[kabar]

Woolsey may be on to something. However, I don't agree with the timing. Attacking now will be seen by Iraqis and our other Arab allies like the Saudis and Egyptians as fighting alongside the Israelis, which will not help us achieve our objectives in the region.

The Syrians have been aiding the insurgency in Iraq. The government of Iraq has criticized those actions and asked Syria to cease and desist. We should use that pretext in any attack against Syria and avoid linking it to Hesbullah and the Israeli efforts.

[Phsstpok]

Woolsey may be on to something. However, I don't agree with the timing.

I agree.  That's why I'm deferring to Bush, Rummy and company... <g>

Seriously, I also agree with your analysis of the impact on the rest of the region of a lot of the moves that might come out of the current situation.  There is a clear split between the leadership of the primary Arab states and the "Arab street," with large pro Hezbullah and anti-Israeli demonstrations in most of the Arab countries that have come out as blaming Hezbullah.  This is a very precarious situation and it is likely that destabilizing the states that Iran and Al Qaeda both declare apostate is part of their objective in fomenting trouble now in this way.

This all appears to be coming out of the war conference in Iran a little over a week ago.  What we didn't realize was that it was not the normal "sound and fury... signifying nothing" type of terrorist get together.  It is increasingly likely that it was an actual planning conference for immediate action.  Scary.

[MNJohnnie]

Wolf24:many of us to realize that we are in WWIV, but not a critical mass IMHO

Here is the direct quote from Wolf I responded to in #551. You choose to ignore the origin of the disagreement in your response. My use of "you" was a direct response to his use of "us" in his original statement.

Your response is "a snarky, outrageous and unwarranted attack."; Your response is merely an example of the logical fallacy know as argumentum ad hominem. You are merely attempting to avoid having to address the issue by making a personal attack on me.

My original point that an ideas popularity, or unpopularity, in no way adds or subtracts for its intellectual merit or credibility remains unchallenged in your response.

[Phsstpok]

I didn't see this reply from you till I picked up on the thread today to finish up (I'm doing the notices this week so I'm running way behind). You apprently didn't have anyone in the To: field so I didn't get pinged.

That another example of garbage in garbage out statistical manipulation. The numbers are utterly irrelevant. What is relevant is the comparative ability to project military power and fundamentally threaten the international political structure. On that comparison North Korea and Iraq about the same power as Mexico while Nazi Germany almost became the 1st Superpower.

North Korea has already demonstrated the ability to "reach out and touch" our interests in the form of missile technology (and nuclear) to those that threaten our interests in the Middle East, South America and perhaps other places, along with the terrorist and direct action incidents mentioned elsewhere.  Don't think in terms of traditional forces and concentrate on asymetric warfare.  The Chinese People's Liberation Army leadership think it's a viable approach and they've spent a lot more time thinking about this than either you or I.  This argument reminds me of the arguments before WW2 that battleships and not aircraft carriers were the determining factor in projecting power.  Don't continue to fight the last war... they're not.

Compared to the USA both are militarily insignificant. They can throw a sucker punch. A sucker punch. The price would be the whole scale extermination of their existing political elites. The only joker in the deck is the treason of our political and junk media classes. They may honestly be kidding themselves that we are "Too decadent" to fight.

Again, you assume that they care.  And if their attacks are even arguably "plausibly deniable" in the context of things like UN debates, won't you admit that they might miscalculate?

They can ask Saddam and Mullar Omar about that.

The problem is that they think that Saddam and Mulla Omar won. 

[Phsstpok]

No, MNJ, you have chosen to make posts to multiple participants here that are all obviously personal attacks and I'm very disappointed.

I have gone out of my way rewording my posts over and over to try and phrase my statements so that I would avoid offense, yet you continue to work vigorously to find offense where none was intended.

I'm done. 

Your points may have been valid but your posts were crap.

I post crap frequently, but I acknowledge that possibility (see my tag line) and try not to take offense when someone misunderstands something I've tried to say because I screwed up.  You seem to have had a chip on your shoulder on this topic from the beginning.

It detracts from what I have always considered your especially valuable contributions to my experience here.  I count on your posts more than you know.  On this topic I think you've let emotion get the better of your reason.

If I've unintentionally offended you in prior posts I sincerely apologize.  If I've hurt your feelings here I hope you'll understand that what I have said was said with the intent of shaking you up and asking you to take a serious look at what you've said to me and others.

Lighten up.  We are not the enemy.

[MNJohnnie]

It is also worth noting that AQ was physcially located in Afghanistan. Hezbullah is mostly in Lebanon and Syria. What would we do to those countries?

What was the response after 9-11? What do you think our response would be in your scenario? Instead of 3,000 dead we would be talking what? 300,000? 3 Million? More?

We can play "What if" all we want. The point remains it is highly implausible that a nation state could successfully cover up their role in aiding a terrorists group in making such an attack Their are a couple of other points that remain to be considered.

First off is the uncertain principal. During the Cold War Nuclear strategy on both sides rested increasing an enemesis uncertainty of crippling their foe with a 1st strike. The same applies here.

No rouge nation could be certain that some where along the line their role in the atrocity would not be uncovered. Thus the level of uncertain in the caulations of the leadership would prevent them from making such an attempt.

Suicide bombers do not involve any risk for the leaders or funders of their attacks. The only person on their side who is in any way held accountable is the suicide. The leadership never pays any price for their sending the suicide. An attack of this magnitude would guarantee the complete extermination of the leadership of the nation state that sponsored the attack. The Leaderhsip of the Islamic Militants show willingness to expend foot soldiers in suicide attacks, there is no indication they are willing to expose their own, or their families, to the same risks. Bin Laden even joked about it in the tape the US captured in overthrowing the Taliban how most of the 9-11 Hijackers did not even know they were on a suicide mission. Think how much more difficult it would be to recruit enough people to carry out a nuclear 09-11.

Finally what would be the gain to the nation state leadership from such an attack? Nothing. All they managed to do is kill some Americans at the risk of their complete destruction if discover. They cannot use it in negotiations with the US, they cannot use it to recruit soldiers or funds. There is no gain at all for the sponser Nation. The "glory of dying for Allah" is a recruitment tactic used to fire up the Terrorist's cannon fodder not the policy of the Islamic Leadership.

The lesson of 9-11 from the Islamic prospective is the utter stupidity of an attack on the American homeland. They were much better off with a somnolent, inactive America. The US's response to 9-11 resulted in the utter destruction of 2 Islamic states leaderships and a fundamental shift in other Islamic nations leaders (Libya, Egypt, Saudia Arabia) away from an under the table support for the Jihadis. What do you think the response would be from a nuclear 9-11?

The danger is not nearly as likely from the use of a terrorist catpaw by a rouge nation state so much as a terrorist group getting their hands on a nuke or other WMD.

[kabar]

What was the response after 9-11? What do you think our response would be in your scenario? Instead of 3,000 dead we would be talking what? 300,000? 3 Million? More?

I have no problem with our response after 9/11. Under similar circumstances, I would respond similarly as we did in 9/11 except the response would be exponentially greater. Afghanistan would cease to exist and I would issue an ultimatum to countries like Iran, Pakistan, and other countries harboring AQ, that they must turn over all AQ members or face a similar fate. Of course, my response would probably not be the USG's.

We can play "What if" all we want. The point remains it is highly implausible that a nation state could successfully cover up their role in aiding a terrorists group in making such an attack Their are a couple of other points that remain to be considered.

Implausible does not make it impossible. There could be various cutouts and cells to make such an attack possible without linking it to the source. We know the Iranians were behind Khobar Towers. What was Clinton's response?

First off is the uncertain principal. During the Cold War Nuclear strategy on both sides rested increasing an enemesis uncertainty of crippling their foe with a 1st strike. The same applies here.

The US and the Soviets never denounced the option of first strike. However, the objective was to be able to survive the first strike and respond with massive retaliation using various strategies in terms of targets. Eventually, it became Mutually Assured Destruction. We knew who had the weapons and where they were located for the most part, excluding sea-based and mobile launchers.

No rouge nation could be certain that some where along the line their role in the atrocity would not be uncovered. Thus the level of uncertain in the caulations of the leadership would prevent them from making such an attempt.

It wouldn't have to be a rogue nation. This is asymetrical warfare. For example, China or Pakistan could furnish non-state actors like AQ with nuclear devices or carry out the attacks themselves and make it appear like a terrorist action. Nuclear materials have been stolen from some of the former Soviet republics. It could be very difficult to prove. The calculation would depend on risk versus reward.

Suicide bombers do not involve any risk for the leaders or funders of their attacks.

I think that the Taliban and most of the leadership of AQ may take issue with that statement. The Bush Doctrine says that we will go after the terrorists and the states that harbor them.

An attack of this magnitude would guarantee the complete extermination of the leadership of the nation state that sponsored the attack.

If we could trace back the state sponsor of the attack.

Finally what would be the gain to the nation state leadership from such an attack? Nothing. All they managed to do is kill some Americans at the risk of their complete destruction if discover. They cannot use it in negotiations with the US, they cannot use it to recruit soldiers or funds. There is no gain at all for the sponser Nation. The "glory of dying for Allah" is a recruitment tactic used to fire up the Terrorist's cannon fodder not the policy of the Islamic Leadership.

They could cripple the world's lone superpower. They could profit economically and politically if the US were weakened.

The lesson of 9-11 from the Islamic prospective is the utter stupidity of an attack on the American homeland. They were much better off with a somnolent, inactive America. The US's response to 9-11 resulted in the utter destruction of 2 Islamic states leaderships and a fundamental shift in other Islamic nations leaders (Libya, Egypt, Saudia Arabia) away from an under the table support for the Jihadis. What do you think the response would be from a nuclear 9-11?

Our response depends on who is in the WH and controls Congress. The attack on our embassy in Nairobi caused 5,000 casualties, almost equivalent to 9/11, albeit most of the killed and wounded were Kenyans. A US man of war, the USS Cole, was attacked. Our AF barracks in Saudi Arabia were attacked by terrorists sponsored by Iran. We essentially did nothing.

Would we respond using nuclear weapons killing millions of innocent civilians? Probably not. It would have to be a targetted response, which would more than likely incur less damage to the country that perpetrated the attack. We would have to have virtual certainty that the target nation was indeed behind the attack.

The danger is not nearly as likely from the use of a terrorist catpaw by a rouge nation state so much as a terrorist group getting their hands on a nuke or other WMD.

Chemical and biological yes, but if a terrorist group got its hands on a nuke, there would have to be a state supplier involved. Therein lies the danger of nuclear proliferation.

[MNJohnnie]

Fredrick the Great said it best.

"He who defends everything defends nothing."

Any US National Strategy has to focus on what can be done and what is the plausible enemy counter. The US Government has, or is nearly completed the ability to scan 100% of the containers entering the USA for radiation. We have enacted the reasonable prudent defense to protect ourselves from this threat. What we cannot do is eliminate every possible threat to ourselves. Life is dangerous, not one can make it risk free. What we CAN do is limit the probably dangers to us

What we cannot do is destroy any nation that MAY pose a threat to us. That is basically the argument of the "It's World War 3" crowd. They simply are arguing for an an American Imperial World Order. To their minds we should simply go destroy every nation that may possibly pose a threat to us.

The American public lack the both the political consensus and the necessary emotional ruthlessness to impose such a totalitarian solution on the world. Not only that, the current threat in no way comes even remotely close enough to make such an action morally justifiable. The Terrorists nations do not command the economic, military or political threat to our national survival that both the Sovs and the Nazis posed. The Terrorist states do not have the ability to destroy the USA.

So since we lack the ability to destroy ALL threats, we must accept what can be done within the limitations on our power. The idea that some how if we scream "It World War 3" we will convince the badly fractured American public, who all ready are expressing grave doubts about the current costs of the liberation Iraq, to support the additional costs in blood and treasure to conquer North Korea, Iran and Syria is simply ridiculous.

What we CAN do is use our economic and diplomatic power over time to aid those native forces friendly to our interests to remake those societies. It not as dramatic as screaming "Its World War 3" and getting all emotionally charged up, it IS however a politically, economically and militarily feasible way to address the problem of terrorist states. It not as dramatic and quick as the "It's World War 3" crowd would like but it DOES have the virtue of doable.

[Phsstpok]

I can't see Powell or Armitage getting Cheney off the hook by revealing that it was Pflame who sent Wilson.

They'd rather see Cheney twisting in the wind.

Well, yeah!  But remember, at the time they were on the inside looking out, playing their own game, not the President's.  They screwed up and my perception is that their friends in the media have spun it into a problem for their rivals in the White House. 

[Phsstpok]

OK, this goes into my list of top 10 posts of all time.

It has a big leg up for being brief and to the point, as well, plus the advantage of being a truth without being a rant.

To misquote Zephod Beeblebrox, 10 our of 10 for truth and several million for being important.

[Peach]

Hey, thanks :-)

This has nothing to do with the Sunday thread, but it's too delicious not to share.

MSNBC has been running a promo for Joe Scarborough's show with this:

"Did the president's profanity affect the chances for world peace." This is not a joke. Well, it is, but I'm serious - that's what MSNBC has been saying all afternoon.

[Phsstpok]

Honorable Mention Posts for Sunday Shows, July 19, 2006

I recommend these posts for your consideration.  Some I've copied the whole thing, others just a snippet or even just a header.  It's not what I've pulled out that is worthy of note, it's the whole posts.  I would recommend that you check out what was said in it's entirety and in context, in each and every case.  I feel that these posts, along with the "top 10" (posted separately) are the ones I would point people to who wanted to both get an idea and an understanding of what was said during the Sunday shows and to get the best of what was said on this thread.

AliVeritas

• #151, "From Mr. Right ... In honor of the momentous events of these last few days, I channeled my inner-moonbat and came up with (dare I say it): the world's very first Fitzmas Carol! A tune destined to be sung by joyous moonbats every Fitzmas Eve as they gather around the tree and exchange gifts! I hope you enjoy it... Ms. American Spy (Sung to the tune of Don McLean's American Pie)" (Note: hilarious political filk... would that make it a pilk?)

Bulldaddy

• #148, "Without Brit there today, Juan Williams is runnin' wild. Very aggressive. No one to challenge him (no, Bill Kristol, sitting there smirking is not correcting Juan.)" (Note: that's going to leave a mark on 'lil Billy)

cardinal4

• #576, "And Senator Dodd, AKA "Sandwich", just said this war is Bush's fault because he didnt "engage" the ME like Clinton did! Excuse me while I bang my head up against the wall in despair and frustration." (Note: oooooo, that's gonna leave a mark)

Carolinamom

• #52, "... Will Russert ever admit on air that Fitzgerald interviewed him via phone and unsworn re Libby and the non-leak?"
• #259, "It has always amused me to hear Gore, Kerry, et al in their campaign speeches shouting "I'll FIGHT for" this..."I'll FIGHT for" that....But they are always for TALKING to the enemies who want to kill us."

CDB

• #514, "Thanks again, Anita, for this week's media nuggets. All the BS today from liberal 'analysts' (plus the positive inspiration provided by nugget #2) reminded me of the U.S.-Syria shuttle diplomacy and by mad Maddie Half-Bright's predecessor, Warren Chrisopher, who seemed to be 'developing a relationship' with Assad the elder (Basher's dad) every weekend. (Do any FReepers remember how many times Christopher went to Syria?) A quick an dirty Google search for 'Warren Christopher Syria' (without the quotes) revealed this nugget written by someone at AEI in January 2000... 'And why does the United States dance with Syria? Perhaps it is because the Clinton administration has no concept of honor. Lacking that, this administration cannot understand the damage caused to its credibility by allowing a flailing Stalinist regime in Syria to humiliate it freely and repeatedly. Nor, it seems, does the Clinton administration understand that tolerating Syria’s behavior makes real peace less, not more, likely.'"

chiller

• #260, "... Brookes pointed out that the amount of recent growth in US econmy equals all of China's economy... Good perspective, and given China's growth that is quite impressive. (Capt. Quarters took exception with those figures....says they were exaggerated a bit.) ??? Nonetheless. That's why tax revenues are up."

defconw

• #130, "Just answer this for me. I have the need for a sanity check. Do I have this correct? When President Bush goes unilateral and uses force he's wrong. When he goes multilateral and sets up talks, he's wrong. When he ignores the whining of a dictator he's wrong. When he takes one out he's wrong. Am I right?"
• #153, "Expanding on this, we don't have enough troops in Iraq, even though the Democrats never wanted them there in that quagmire in the first place, and we are spread to thin, but we should have a draft for a war we don't support and in the mean time, we should attack North Korea and intervene in Lebanon. I am getting a headache."

demkicker

• #297, "And don't forget, when Bush won't have a dialogue with Hezbollah, he's inept because "talking" would make them behave and be nice... The left is all over the map in their condemnation of Bush and you're right. No matter what the Bush administration does, it's wrong... Bottom line: The left thinks it can negotiate with terrorists. Conservatives know it won't work!"

gov_bean_ counter

• #636, "Wilson is delusional at best. I believe he openly discussed his wife's CIA ties. I envision Pal Joey as the Walter Mitty type who in his fantasy world perceives himself to be not just the spouse of a "spy" but one himself. It is as by telling people he is married to a CIA "agent" he automatically cloaks himself in the same shroud of secrecy that envelopes her." (Note: perhaps the finest single basic statement about Wilson I have ever seen)
• #666, "IHMO, GW is the modern day political (and perhaps personal) version of Christian in Pilgrim's Progress. The path is truly narrow and President Bush, though taken off course early in life, now refuses to be distracted by the evils that lay in wait off the path."

johnny7

• #275, "They've had that chicken-sh*t element to them since FDR... when the first real inroads to socialism were made. They don't understand that going to war REQUIRES a winner... and a loser. Anything in between only leaves you with a festering boil...and a dramatic loss of the very essence that binds a nation... Todays Dhimmicrats are a national cancer." (Note: response to Carolinamom's post #259)

Laverne

• #617, "MSNBC gal on just talking about all the poor civilians who have been killed in Lebanon, not a word about the deaths in Isreal. I read somewhere, that Howie Dean has now issued a statement that Bush has been a complete failure of a President because he has allowed this violence to go on, and his is calling his blue forces to infilitrate all the red states to tell them Bush is a failure, and the dems will do much better on national defense. These people are beyond sick. They politicize everything."

libbylu

• #268, "Honey doll, have you ever heard of Barry Goldwater? The man who converted me to conservatism in 1964? The man who lost his run for the presidency pretty much because he advocated bombing Vietnam and getting the war over with? I think lots of lives would be saved if we took out the nuclear weapon sites in North Korea and Iran, at the same time. I mean coordinated to the minute. Today would be a great day to do it... As said, no matter what Bush does he will be reviled by the far left. Might as well do the right thing." (Note: response to shrinkermd's post #252)

MNJohnnie

• #159, "Chuck Todd of Hotline compared Hugh Hewitt of the right to Kos of the left... That really is an utterly stupid thing for any supposed Political Expert to say. Koise boy is more a kin to Pat Buchannan. At no time has Hewitt ever said anything even remotely deranged as things Kosie says every day. Kosie is a way out political fringer who is taken seriously by the Political Media, the Democrat Party Establishement and no one else." (response to anita's post #18)
• #211, "US is the only one that can stop Israel... Which is why the various complainers should thank God Bush is President. He simply will not listen to all this Staus Quo nonsense from the Political Establishment. He is a results oriented guy and will simply tune out their nonsense and do what needs to be done. Israel is killing terrorist now that we will simply have to kill later. Anything the US can do to help them get the job done, we should do." (Note: comment on Bahbah's post #58)
• #336, "Sure Slow Joe Biden. It would be SO much better with Saddam in Iraq. That way it would be Iran, Iraq and Syria aiding the terrorists instead of just Syria and Iran... For someone who is continually being hailed by the Junk Media as the great foreign policy genius of the Democrat Party, Biden sure says a lot of very very stupid things."
• #498, "According to him, military responses just make the jihadis more angry... Hey Whaaa Williams, what cause them to mass murder 3000 Americans on 9-11 then? Shouldn't they be more worried that they actions make US more angry? We are the ones with over 2000 nukes, not them."

Mo1

• #269, "Joe Biden says the war in Iraq is lost .. says the battle of the Middle East in in Jerusalem ... Has Joe Biden ever taken a look at a map of the middle east?? ... And has Biden ever noticed who was funding the Terrorists?? ... I believe it was Saddam ... and I believe it was Saddam that gave these terrorist a country to hide in and transport their bombs and missiles through"
• #282, "Biden says NK & Iran are not a threat to us with a nuke bomb ... says it would make no sense of them to use it ... says look at history .. there is no evidence of them going to use it ... BIDEN IS AN IDIOT"

Mr. Mojo

• #276, "Juan also suggested that Israel should be negotiating with Hezbollah and Hamas rather than attempting to destroy them. (Even Mara called him on his nonsense). And his comment that Israel's actions have been ego-related ("this is all about them trying to act 'manly'") could very well be the most brain-dead statement he's ever made. ....no small accomplishment."

norwaypinesavage

• #392, "... I will preface this comment by acknowledging that I am not a Bob Novac Fan. Timmy just got chewed up and spit out by Bob Novac like a wad of cheap chewing gum. Virtually every one of Timmy's talking points was completely eviscerated by Novac. I don't think Timmy will dare to address this topic with a real reporter again."

PerConPat

• #689, "Whenever I run into an appeaser, substitute most DIMs here if you wish, of the Islamofascist vermin currently threatening the planet, I ask them if they have read The Gathering Storm. If they respond in the negative, I recommend that they do so at once. If they respond in the affirmative, I suggest they seek competent psychiatric care without delay."
• #693, "'Don't you just love how the left is ignoring the Intifada unleashed by Arafat...'  ... Yes, I do. Each time one of their leading fools puts his/her dazzling ignorance of human nature on display by criticizing Israel for defending its hard won turf, the Left reinforces the widely held belief that they have no clue as to how to defend our nation... Thankfully, this fatal flaw will continue to be their undoing."

rmgatto

• #467, "Jane Harman of..."I'll get you...and your little dog too".. fame. Isn't this dingbat's qualification for office limited to a rich husband (now dead)? She is neither smart nor principled nor consistent--in short, a model Democrat."

rockrr

• #319, "... And here's the money quote (from Hugh Hewitt, speaking of McCain): 'You are a great American, a lousy senator, and a terrible Republican.'"

shadeaud

• #46, "Albright and Biden will surely conclude that we are on the verge of still another civil war in the middle-east. This is all due to the ''Cowboy Diplomacy'' of the Bush administration and how, under the Clinton administration, treaties were signed by not only the troubled middle east countries, but by North Korea. ( hoping that the American viewers will have selective memory). Russert will be in awe with Albright for sure."

SHOOT THE MOON bat

• #179, "... Seems to me that the only time the people of this country can get behind a war is when some socialist democrat is running it. It makes me want to vomit." (Note: this is a response to defconw's post #130)

Wild Irish Rogue

• #649, " I see why Newt is on with Biden..." ... When Biden said ( twice , so it wasn't a slip ) that the US should threaten to " An..ni...hi...late " North Korea - Newt helply added cover for Biden, saying he was sure that Biden had misspoken... Wow- Biden wants to annihilate an entire country- innocents and all... Biden was obviously talking nukes as he had just finished saying that the US military was broken, over stretched, incapable of getting into another war, yada, yada- the usual Dem , anti military " we support the troops !" talking points."

YaYa123

• #182, "AP breaking. US Embassy in Beirut, Helicopter Rescue Assessment Teams have landed in Beirut to figure out how to get Americans out. Anchor adds, Univ of Beirut where many American students are, is right on the beach." (Note: today is a day where the live news value of FR really comes through - when you can't possibly keep up with all that's happening you can count on someone here usually making the catch for you)

And here are some selected portions of an extended discussion of Newt Gingrich's assertion that "this is World War 3."  The discussion got heated at times, but it brought out some excellent comments on both sides of the argument.  I think it added immensely to the thread.

kabar

• #539, "You can't be serious. Except for modern weaponry, the North Koreans and Iranians can't compare with the professionalism and effectiveness of the Nazis and Japanese. They had the ability to project power with superior logistics and military expertise... Numbers are meaningless as Saddam proved. The Iranians could only achieve a stalemate with Iraq after 8 years of fighting. The Iranians would fold like a cheap suit when faced with a real military force like the US or the Israelis for that matter. To compare these ragtag armies with the Nazis and Japanese is laughable... FYI: The Nazis had 9.5 million under arms and the Japanese about 4 million. They killed over 40 million military personnel and civilians. They overan most of Europe, Asia, and North Africa... And if such weapon were to be used, Iran or NK would cease being nations. The primary threat that Iran and to a less extent NK pose to us is the state sponsorship of global terrorism and the possibility they will provide surrogates with WMD. They don't pose a real military threat to the US recognizing that any direct confrontation will result in their demise." (Note: part of the extended debate among many Freepers regarding Newt Gingrich's statements on MTP about WW3, see #159, #234, #457 and #560 for some of the other comments)
• #577, "... we demanded that the Taliban hand over UBL and AQ. When they did not respond to our ultimatum, we attacked and took them down as well as most of AQ. If the Iranians use AQ (more likely) or Hezbullah against us, we would have to first prove that they did. With all of the current squawking about Iraq being a "war of choice" and the failure to link Saddam directly to the WTC bombing, I don't know if we would have the political will to attack Iran without having conclusive evidence that they were the culprits... It is also worth noting that AQ was physcially located in Afghanistan. Hezbullah is mostly in Lebanon and Syria. What would we do to those countries?"
• #626, "You are overestimating their abilities, just like was done with Saddam's vaunted military, which was the fifth largest in the world at the time. In the end, they were surrendering to reporters..." (Note: lengthy and very informative post, part of the extended debate among many Freepers regarding Newt Gingrich's statements on MTP about WW3, see #159, #234, #457 and #560 for some of the other comments, I highly recommend that you read all of kabar's posts on this topic, particularly the extended comments here)

La Enchiladita

• #621, "Interesting, I like Newt for his intelligence and political aptitude, but believe his conceit gets in the way... Perhaps the conceit is symptomatic of insecurity? Politician's downfall = wants to be liked by too many people."

MNJohnnie

• #234, "Newt really needs to reign his instinct to be a media whore. He is a professional Historian for god sake. This is the stupidest nonsense for any Historian to be uttering. This sort of Chicken Little Bombast really, really, really undercuts the intellectually and political credibility of the various Conservatives who are saying it. When this all settles out in a month or so with no where near any of the doom and glooms hysteric predictions being any where near accurate, these Conservatives are going to take a massive PR hit... This is NOT WW3. OK everyone? This is vermin control or international gang warfare... " (Note: well done analysis, even if I do disagree with the conclusions... at least as of this point... I haven't gotten a response to my post #457 as I capture this)
• #589, "Vermin Control is precisely the correct rhetoric. Overselling is as fatal as underselling. Right now we are busy exterminating the terrorists. They cannot fundamentally threaten our national survival... What people like Newt come across as to the average American is wacko and bombastic. Right now some Conservatives are trying to out Democrat the Democrats with em flamed rhetoric and purple prose. It will not work... The Politicians who cry wolf will not win elections. You look 30 years down the road and see potential crises. I suggest you all look to Nov 7th 2006 first. Screaming "World War Three" may feed the ego of various people like Newt about how "smart they are", it will not win any elections. If we lose Nov 7th, all the ranting about "World War 3" will be meaningless since our political foes do not believe you. Trying to scare the voters to the voting booth has not worked for Democrats, why do you think it will work for us?"

NutCrackerBoy

• #516, "When this all settles out in a month or so with no where near any of the doom and glooms hysteric predictions being any where near accurate, these Conservatives are going to take a massive PR hit....This is NOT WW3. This is vermin control or international gang warfare... I disagree. No question there are stark differences between this and WW I and II, or the Cold War. Granted, the enemy does not have world domination over their immediate horizon. The dynamics are different, the peril masked by the artificial separation of states from terror nets. The term vermin control fatally undersells the effort it is going to take to avert what will otherwise metastasize over decades, with demographics, into a militant Islam that is too capable, too entrenched to do anything about it other than unthinkable destruction... The resolve within the US and the West has to form itself around a recognition of the enemy. Also, hawkish rhetoric has a point right now in that there is a window of opportunity."

OldFriend

• #673, "President Bush is operating in the real world. Newt is operating in his own construct of reality. Quite a difference, IMO"

Pukin Dog

• #266, "Your 234. Excellent analysis... Yeah, excellent. Except that its WRONG... It IS WWIII, and Freepers should welcome it. We should be ROOTING for it... What has been going on before these current hostilities amounts to nothing more then management of the situation. The time is long past to RESOLVE it.... We can "manage" this problem for another 20 years, as radical Islam grows stronger and stronger, or we can kick their asses TODAY! ... Newt was right. However, he aint gonna be President."
• #340, "I would remind you that both WWI and WWII were going on long before the US got serious about those conflicts too... The US, through the media, is in the same kind of denial, seeking to negotiate with enemies, rather then destroy them. The word I hate the most is "Diplomacy", because its only true definition is "a dammed waste of time". Eventually, we are going to have to shed American blood to kick some ass in the name of peace. That is the only way we ever got it, and the only dammed way we are going to keep it. It IS WWIII, it just hasn't reached our shores yet in a way that will force most of us off of our complacency. (or our X-boxes)"

sam_paine

• #284, "If it were WWIII, then would a civil suit by Valerie Plame still be half the panel today? ... It's not WWIII until the US is serious, and unfortunately, we are not yet... To PD's point, though, Juannie Williams and Dodd? today cheered the wonderful 1967-1999 "pax Intifada" period in the ME from Kissinger through Halfbright... Fred Barnes partly responded "yeah, great, look where that period got us today." ... I think the bigger point missed is that 'peaceful' period began with what?!?!?! ... 1967 WAR! ... The question is not whether this is WWIII yet or not, but whether this is 1967 or 1938."

snugs

• #327, "Whether we call it World War III or not the war on terror in many ways threatens our very way of life and existence that previous wars did not... They were to some extend restricted to country versus country though obviously World War I and II was more than one country and more than one continent... The WOT though is one ideology against another and the Islamic ideology not only hates everything the west is and stands for but has the religious zeal and will to destroy it if we do not break their will and destroy them first... There is no negotiating with them we are infidels and the great western whore and people need to wake up to that. Islam hates and wants to destroy Christianity and the western civilizations that was created and based on the judo/Christian philosophy even if these very countries have in many ways turned their back on their heritage."

wolf24

• #411, "... Nuclear and biological weaponry is a variable that must be added to the equation. Nuclear technology makes our current enemy potentially much more dangerous than even Nazi Germany... Sounds like many Brits talking about Churchill prior to WWII in England in the 30s." (Note: regarding MNJohnnie's post #234, above, regarding Newt Gingrich's comments today)
• #575, "... they have the ability to provide nukes to inidividuals willing to use them in our country. That makes their projection ability greater than Nazi Germany." (Note: "they" in this post refers to Iran and North Korea and is a direct response to MNJohnnie's post #570, which is part of the extended debate among many Freepers regarding Newt Gingrich's statements on MTP about WW3, see #159, #234, #457 and #560 for some of the other comments)

[Phsstpok]

And now the Top 10 for 7/16/06

I gotta tell ya, folks, this is getting harder, not easier.  I would be happy declaring just about any of these posters as the top 3 (not to take away from the ones I have listed as the top 3, but you get the idea) and I would be happy to include most any of the posters from the honorable mention in the top 10.  Either we're getting better or I'm losing my edge... or just losing it...

Have at it!

#10 Timeout

• #634, "... I think it's actaully worse than you imply... The Plame outing was the direct result of one easily-disproved assertion from Joe Wilson: that VP Cheney had sent him to Niger and supposedly ignored his findings. Beginning with the Kristoff article and then in his own op-ed, Wilson carefully crafted his words to make it sound like Cheney sponsored him (he went "at the behest of" the VP's office). I remember very clearly---in those first few weeks after his op-ed---all the talking head shows asserted "CHENEY SENT HIM AND THEN IGNORED HIS OWN MAN!!" [i.e., Chris Matthews]. Wilson appeared on these shows and now claims he never said Cheney sent him. Crafty. He sat on those panels and never corrected Chris or Tim when they interpreted it that way---you might say it became "conventional wisdom" that he'd been sent by Cheney... I'm sure the folks in Cheney's office were simply saying "Who the heck is this guy?! And who sent him to Niger?" ... THAT was the issue that led to Plame's outing. It's really very simple...if one is really seeking the truth. The Senate Intelligence Committee report showed definitively that Plame sent Joe to Africa and he had lied about Cheney. If the MSM were interested in truth, they would have recognized right then that they'd been had by Wilson."
• #651, "I heard the Syrian ambassador last night decrying attacks on 'innocent civilians'... Duh. How do the interviewers keep a straight face when a suicide bomber says such a thing?"

#9 OldFriend

• #299, "Don't forget Andrea Mitchell laughing that 'everyone' knew that pflame was at the CIA. Then trying to back off and saying she misspoke... Andrea knew before she didn't know...."
• #341, "Rememeber europeans calling the bombs dropping on Serbia as MONICA BOMBS... Everyone knew that klinton's war was a WAG THE DOG."
• #394, "Kristol had the final word, much to Chris Wallace's annoyance IMO... Kristol remarked ...then why did 9/11 happen? ... In response to Juan's silly comment that this Israeli action is making the jihadis angry."
• #673, "President Bush is operating in the real world. Newt is operating in his own construct of reality. Quite a difference, IMO"
• #674, "Don't you just love how the left is ignoring the Intifada unleashed by Arafat... And ignoring the missile fired by NK across Japan and into the sea during X42 regime."

#8 Bahbah

• #242, "Dodd longs for the days of diplomacy by "great men" and shuttle diplomacy. Be sure to see Mark Steyn on this. Allen pointing out all of the terrorist acts during the time of the diplomacy by "great men." Allen says we have never gone it alone. He's doing a very good job today, imo."
• #256, "Juan Williams makes NO sense today. According to him, military responses just make the jihadis more angry. I say they make them more dead, which is a good thing."
• #264, "Juan thinks that the Israelis are just trying to show how manly they are. Kristol has some points to make, not all of them correct (says we have been coddling Iran...recall, everyone wants us to be more multilateral and we let the Europeans deal with Iran, I think to prove definitively what a waste of time that approach is, which has been done). When we stepped in we said we will talk to you about your development of nuclear power but ONLY if you stop enriching uranium and prove it. We haven't signaled our next move yet. I have a feeling it won't be something weak."

#7 anita

• #18, "... Last time General Casey, today Condi - looks like Russert has become persona-non-grata nowadays for the admn... Another surprise! - Kevin Sullivan became Asst. to the Prez in Communications last week. Kevin has been the Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education since Aug 2005. Before that, Kevin was Senior VP at NBC for 5 years (knows the ins & outs of all things NBC). Of course President knew him well since he was spokesperson for Dallas Mavericks for a long time... Some people are going to feel nervous soon, if not already."
• #30, "Cook political report predicted before a month of 2004 election - it was Kerry's to lose. Chuck Todd of Hotline compared Hugh Hewitt of the right to Kos of the left. That says you all." (MNJohnnie has a great follow up to this in post #159)
• #172, "This sunday's Media Nuggets..." (Note: great, as usual - both great info and great news - I particularly liked the smack down of "...Washington Post writer liar Walter Pincus' advice to MSM...")
• #221, "... Couple of days ago, Russert was on Imus, when the news came that Guantanamo general to head Nato... Imus asked him about that & Russert says, that 's admn's poke on the world opinion. They never grow, it seems."
• #262, "... (McCain) is appearing in Playboy & Esquire . and arrogantly saying talk-show hosts should be taken off the air. We know who he mean by that."

#6 Txsleuth

• #338, "Maddie was disgusting....all of them are... All they can do is spew DNC talking points...instead of talking seriesly about a war being waged against an ally, by a terrorist gang... AND, for Maddie to even HINT that the Middle East was a paradise, with no conflict at all...before President Bush RUINED it all by invading Iraq...is SO laughable... However, like I said...this is a very dangerous and serious situation...AND, in Israel's benefit if done once and for all... A pox on all of them!!!"
• #393, "According to a screeching Jane Harman on Face the Nation, this is all Bush's fault in Israel/Lebanon....because of Bush's policy...and since BUSH didn't go into Lebanon and clean out the Hezbollah... After Lebanon agreed to get rid of them... So, according to her...if a country agrees to do something..and doesn't..it is BUSH's (Americas) responsiblity to unilaterally go in and do if FOR them!!! ... Her screed was so WRONG..and she is on the House Intelligence Committee... Oh...and she got her copy of the DNC talking points..saying that the Middle East would be paradise right now if Bush hadn't gone into Iraq."
• #491, "They are starting hotsoup.com...a place where politics, religion, finance, WITHOUT the partisanship??? ... LOL...there already is a sight like that Free Republic...sort of... This is NOT going to do anything, but give the radicals a place to start flame wars...IMHO."
• #581, "The very first sentence out of Harman's mouth was to blame Bush for not taking care of Hezbollah long ago!!! ... This from a woman who has become virulently anti-war all of a sudden...is mad at Bush for NOT unilaterally attacking yet another country that is harboring terrorists!! ... If this wasn't so important and deadly...it would be a joke... But remember, she is the RANKING member of the House Intelligence Committee..so she is told secrets..it is truly scary to see her go so ballistic, spewing DNC talking points today."

#5 maica

• #571, "It has always amused me to hear Gore, Kerry, et al in their campaign speeches shouting "I'll FIGHT for" this..."I'll FIGHT for" that....But they are always for TALKING to the enemies who want to kill us... This is the very example I use with the "War is not the Answer" Quaker-lady types who 'feel' that they are morally superior to people who want to defend our country. It is fun to see the quizzical look cross their faces as they process what I have said. Living in a Blue state, almost all of our politicians are "fighting" for this and that all the time." (Note: this is a response to Carolinamom's post #259, portions of which are included as the first part of this post)
• #582, "To me, the map looks like a drawing in a child's science book demonstrating how little fishies get eaten by bigger fishies, who get eaten by even bigger fish, etc... Israel, and Lebanon, little slivers on the coast. Syria much bigger, with much bigger Iraq to the east of Syria; then Iran is even bigger. If we were not in Iraq, there is no way that the situation in Lebanon and Israel would be much much worse." (Note: the map referred to is of the Middle East)
• #600, "Jane Harmon took note of the treatment that RATS are giving to Lieberman, and decided to start singing from the CaliforniaDem hymnal. She did a radical about face this spring and now is totally hysterical (in the medical sense of the word)."
• #609, "With the now established dem statements of this morning ... starting with ... Chris Wallace - "Do you think we have failed in..." and ..Dodd's "We have not spent the last five years building relationships.." and ..."not discussing..." and yada yada (oohhhh that’s an oldy) ... It is time to remind the drive by media and Sunday hosts that discussing, ignoring, dancing and drinking with Kim (and now I understand they are on EHarmony together (I can start a rumor as well as anyone) together) got us to September 11, 2001... 1993 First World Trade Center bombing, February 26th, 7 Killed, Hundreds injured, Billions ... 1994 Air France Hijacking, Dec 24,1994 ... 1995 Attack on US Diplomats in Pakistan, Mar 8,1995 ... 1995 Military Installation Attack, Nov 13, 1995 ... 1995 Kashmiri Hostage taking, July 4,1995 ... 1996 Khobar Towers attack ... 1996 Sudanese Missionarys Kidnapping, Aug 17,1996 ... 1996 Paris Subway Explosion, Dec 3,1996 ... 1997 Israeli Shopping Mall Bombing, Sept 4, 1997 ... 1997 Yemeni Kidnappings, Oct 30,1997 ... 1998 Somali Hostage taking crisis, April 15,1998 ... 1998 U.S. Embassy Bombing in Peru, Jan 15, 1998 ... 1998 U.S. Kenya Embassy blown up, 100's murdered ... 1998 U.S. Tanzania Embassy blown up, 100's murdered ... 1999 Plot to blow up Space Needle (thwarted) ... 2000 USS Cole attacked, many U.S. Navy sailors murdered" (Note: in the future I will thank you to make your especially important posts more easy to format!)

#4 Peach

• #51, "Regarding Plamegate, we are told constantly by the Wilson's that the administration targeted Valerie in retaliation for Joe Wilson telling the "truth" that Iraq was not trying to purchase uranium... I'm starting to think that not 1 reporter in 100 either knows the truth or is reporting the truth... The Senate Bipartisan Committee reported that what Joe Wilson was reporting privately in closed door sessions to Congress actually bolstered the Bush administration's position that Iraq was trying to purchase uranium... The bipartisan committee report that shows Wilson lied about what he found in Niger... The panel found that Wilson's report, 'rather than debunking intelligence about purported uranium sales to Iraq, actually bolstered the case for most intelligence analysis'..." (Note: this goes on, with more analysis and link - great post - read it all)
• #53, "As we prepare to listen to 'Great Men' on the Sunday talk shows give us their years of wisdom, it is helpful to read Mark Steyn and what he says about these people"
• #155, "... Novak: Wilson had beenon MTP and I thought he was hostile to the admin. and I was curious why the CIA would send this hostile person with no background in Niger to this mission and he said "his wife suggested him". I thought it was interesting. The CIA said she didn't initiate it, she facilitated it. That's wrong, the Senate Intel Committee has the document to prove it. The Republican majority concluded it. There's a document that confirms it. He didn't give me her name." (Note: this is important information that we've all known from the beginning, but the DBM drowns it out with moonbat rhetoric)
• #456, "Good points about the timing of Novak's column on Powell... Here's my guess... I still think it's Powell who Novak is protecting. To a lot of leftists, Powell is not a political gunslinger, and I can easily see Novak describing Novak that way... Also, Novak had previously twice said that the primary source told him Plame's name. Now he says he misspoke and should have said that his source said "Wilson's wife"... That's a pretty big mistake to make. Twice. And I don't see Novak changing his story and looking rather foolish for Armitage. But since Powell is so highly regarded by so many people (I know, I know), I can see Novak protecting Powell."
• #635, "Some days, our media really scares me. We don't have a government run media like Russia, but we do have a leftist run media which transcribes whatever the DNC tells them to and leaves the investigative work to the blogs... I remember too when Wilson wrote that he went to Niger at the best of the VP's office. In fact, I was in an argument with a freeper about this matter once and he tried to say that Wilson never said the VP sent him which is technically correct but only by a hair."
• #72, "FR will ALWAYS remain my home too, Rodguy, but I'd like to see if we can effect some positive dialog with the inevitable leftists who sign up in October and just maybe change a few minds."

#3 samantha - Excellent analysis.  Much of the work this week was done for me through posts like these.

• #228, "#81, you are right and it is always the way it is,some things never change. Russert,and all the DBM never ask the hard,probing,legitimate questions of these lightweights in Congress, and instead of making them stronger it really weakens them. They might as well be a Teacher giving the students(demorats) a test and giving them the answers in advance. When they are faxed all the talking points by the DNC that is really what they are doing. The Pubbies are always scrutinized, and the DBM makes sure they have only the Pubbies on that do not stand up very well to scrutiny like Trent Lott. How many times do you see Jeff Sessions,John Kyl,Saxby Chambliss or anyone that is really good on any of these Shows? They want the Egotistical old Goats that talk out of both sides of their mouths,like Hagel,Lugar,Susan Collins,etc. so they can make them look really stupid."
• #445, "#134, I think they see the writing on the wall and are worried that those radical Muslims are all involved, joined at the hip in the all out quest for Dominance in the World and all Religions. They (France/Russia may see this as a chance to save their own Countries from the inevitable destruction if they do act now with USA and Israel. They have let this mess happen, and have been too scared to do anything about the radicals in their country or even Criticize their behavior. They then try to do a little cracking down after the fact and their Countries are bedlam/chaos. They want Israel and USA to save their bacon as usual."
• #554, "#327, great Rant from a valued member of our freeper family. I love that we are all taking the gloves off today more than usual. We will never sound like DUmmies,but we are kicking it up a notch today..." (Note: comment on snugs post #327)
• #591, "#381, I agree Ralph Reed is an excellent spokesman and is very articulate and is mostly unrivaled (except for Karl Rove)in his knowledge and expertise on foreign and Domestic matters. He appears very humble and decent, as well as very intelligent. He has been an unsung hero in many battles and helped GWB win two elections by keeping the Christian Conservatives on our side. He has not been a way far right Buchananite, over the top kind of Guy. He has just the right stances on most policies that Americans care about. He should not be thrown out like the baby with the bath water. Pubbies need to stop running away from good people like him."
• #596, "#392, It is a really skinny tightrope that Russert is walking on this matter that he is so deep in doo doo about, and his huge feet and body,and HEAD are making him very off balance ready to fall into that sewer he has created for himself and the dirty dems. Let the chips (and Buffalo butt) fall where they may."
• #620, "#506, OK, this is going to be one helluva thread when it gets finished."

#2 rodguy911 - This was taking it easy after a tough week of travel?  Sheesh!  I'd hate to see you when you're rested!

• #113, "My biggest fear is that Israel will wind up fighting a PC war with Hezbollah and Hamas... By now Israel has learned that trying to deal with terrorists using PC(politically correct)logic will lose every time you try... It was a mistake to give back the Gaza strip as the terrorists saw the gesture solely as a sign of weakness rather that the olive branch which is the European/NYT mentality of waging war... It will also be a mistake to stop destroying terrorists and anything they use to try and destroy Israel with... What I see happening is that Israel will keep making remarkable strikes against the terrorists until they(hamas and hezbollah) cry "uncle"... Eventually, in short order, the terror types and their lackeys will claim they are ready for peace talks which will be a sign Israel is making strides in it's blitzkrieg they are currently waging... World opinion will immediately jump on Israel to stop the bombing and all will be peaceful again.And most likely Israel will pull back as it always does. But will all be peaceful again? ... We are fighting a slick enemy in the Middle East. They have successfully used left wing tactics to wage war, and the msm/driveby media is solidly against Israel even though they are the aggrieved party! They were attacked by terror types and their soldiers were kidnapped... This matters little to agenda laden media and terror types bent on the destruction of the U.S. and all it represents... We are the true, real targets or terrorists and if they have to strike us through Israel all the better for them... Islamic terrorism has become a sort of blind faith/brainwashed form of war waged on the US and it's few allies. The perpetrators have learned to use every trick in the trade against us... We are afraid to go up against Iran,who is undoubtedly behind much of the current problems in Israel, and Saudi Arabia since they control vast stretches of oil reserves that could disrupt worldwide commerce... At the same time we refuse to drill for oil in places where oil is found and every type of energy security available to us from nuclear to shale oil,which is directly related to the WOT, is demagogued,shot down by the left in a traitorous effort to regain political power at any and all costs... Meanwhile our elected reps fail to secure our own borders by killing border fence funding(in the Senate) when we know terror types cross almost daily... We are in a crossroads as a nation and we need to stand up for freedom and democracy or lose it." (fabulous rant)
• #398, "Newt Gingrich will drive you nuts... He is so brilliant yet keeps screwing up all the time. To begin with he keeps looking for tacit acceptance of his ideas from all the wrong people! Who in the hell cares what Sen Plugs thinks Newt! Get a grip,find a life! He's a bozo! You are the real thing with real ideas!You don't need tacit approval from any of the rats! ... Biden,who reminds me of the aging leader of an a Metro Sexual biker gang, carefully documents small glitches that happen when trying to run a war, so what,what an idiot! ..."
• #492, "... I saw Condi briefly on Stuffy stephy without David. She shot him down politely without even using her stiletto heels. Stuffy kept making references to why GW has not contacted Israel and she politely told him that GW "is in contact with everyone he needs to be", she could have stillettoed him but chose not to. She is a class act."
• #523, "... What stayed in the back of my mind is the part about how both Ahmaddinejhad in Iran and Lil Kim in NK are basically wack jobs... No one really knows what either one will do next. We face and have faced many other super powers with far more superior nuclear capacity but also with relative common sense. An enemy who is totally out of it, is far more dangerous. Like Newt said today Lil' Kim has starved so much of his population that over the last generation they have lost 3 inches in overall growth. And ahmaddinejad stil thinks some 8 year old kid who fell in a well in 800 Ad is going to come out and save the day. Crazy is as crazy does."
• #544, "IMHO Israel showed that they truly wanted a long lasting peace, they even gave up the Gaza strip, a huge error in hindsight, but when the terrorists would not let up and troops were kidnapped Israel went into action. Fair is fair."
• #703, "Scary stuff there Dave. Of course it's happening here as well. They hide in mosques,terrorists hideouts masking as churches,and then go out and recruit those who have no hope whatsoever and go from there, brain washing new fodder all the way. Without blind obedience to wacko beliefs there would be no Islamofascism... 100 miles North of me, in Pompano Bch. the black community has had enough and are demanding that a new mosque not be built in Pompano, the rats are in a tizzy of course."

#1 Fishtalk - Outrageously funny and spot on rants!  Some of the best posts I've seen in a long time.

• #29, "... You must understand as a Delaware citizen it warms the cockles of me very heart to have my Senator out pontificating about absolutely nothing. Not that he does anything for Delaware or anything but mine the Wilmington dead vote... Here's a little Delaware story. I live in Sussex county. Biden, indeed all liberals, hate Sussex county. We call it "lower and slower" Delaware. Heh. Anyway, ladies and gems, Sussex county is growing geometrically, with new citizens and growth every day... Sussex county needs more representatives in the state house in Delaware. In fact, they are petetitioning for TWO more representatives such is our growth... The state legislature is doing everything in their lying, cheating power to keep Sussex from getting more representatives because hey, we're all conservative here in Sussex county, NOTORIOUSLY conservative... Did I mention we all despise Biden here in Sussex county? Oh, and that same day I watched Biden on almost every cable show on the planet, going on and on about Israel and Iran and folks, do you think the man cared one whit about the mosquitoes that COULD have wrought havoc in the largest county in his state? Nope. He has to run for President and all that." (Note: great post - I left out a great story about flooding and mosquitoes - read the whole thing)
• #249, "... I watch Chrissy because to me, he is the EPITOME of NOT a manly man. Never mind my Blog post, linked above somewhere, about the first requirement of a manly man, take this to the bank, Chris Matthews is exactly the kind of non-manly man who once tried to lead this nation... Come on, he's a blow-dried egoist who wants to sit around and "talk" about idiots who are trying to kill us. Y'all know what I'm talking about, insert wink here... So I love to watch the guy as he is so much NOT a manly man and I must marvel that his ilk was once in charge... And Dan Rather! Dan Rather? Go to hell please but THIS is also the non-manly-man and now this guy is some kind of pundit? ... 'Courage'...heh, not that Rather even knows the meaning of the word. Or let us not forget his stalker. And of course, there's his infamous Bush guard story... See, non-manly men tend to attract other non-manly men... Most every soldier in Iraq has more testerone in his thumb than those jokers have in their entire body... Disdain, Rather and Matthews have my utter disdain."

[Txsleuth]

Thank you Phsstpok...I can't believe you actually put me in the top 10...you were very generous...thanks again.

[Bahbah]

I really need to read a bit from my current book and settle down for the night, but I am so enjoying reading through some of the comments. Here is one that really made me laugh: "Who in the hell cares what Sen Plugs thinks Newt! Get a grip,find a life! He's a bozo!" Now is that from the heart or what!

I am grateful to Alas for starting this whole thing. 'night ya'll.

[maica]

What a job. I would not have been surprised if the judges begged off this week. There were just too many terrific contributions.

RE #609. malia posted that list, not maica - sometimes I read the two names interchangeably, too. [Last night I watched an episode of Supernanny - a family had twin girls named Maile and Malia (not sure of the exact spelling) I call that dumb and thoughtless! Luckily they were not identical.]

Thanks for your heroic efforts, and your own contributions to the thread each week.

[Phsstpok]

I've got to thank you a bunch.  Your comment about reading through the comments makes me think that rodguy's "bozo" comment was one you had missed. If so you have just validated the reason I do this.  I know I miss comments while I try to keep up with the pace of the thread and I've always tried to point to things I would want to see if I had missed them.

That's what I try to base my "awards" on, what I would want to see if I'd missed it.  The "rankings" come as a secondary part of the process.

If I've pointed to one post for one participant like you then what I did this weekend was worth it to me. 

And the bozo comment was really good. 

[Phsstpok]

RE #609. malia posted that list, not maica - sometimes I read the two names interchangeably, too.

The process is now complete!  We have identified where I screwed up.  I always do at least one thing wrong and it always bugs me till I find it.  As things go this one is one I can correct and therefore live with.

Malia, I misattributed one of your posts to maica and I'm very sorry.  Let me expand on that.  I'm sorry for the misattribution, but I'm not sorry for acknowledging the value of the post.

It was a goody! 

[rodguy911]

Wow, how great is all this! Some remarkable posts, lots of hard work to do all this, thanks so much Phsstpok.