Because I can. Because it's Friday. Because it's been a long week for everyone.
How about a round of good song, craptastic video? I'm in for Pat Benetar and her Love Is A Battlefield video. Love her voice. Love this song. The dude with the teeth? Not so much. The hooter shimmy? Crap-tacular.
Today's comment of the day goes to Renee from Ohio:
Just saw this headline:
Bush Sheltered During Tornado Alert
When is that man *not* sheltered?
Mwahahahahahahaha! So painfully true…and yet amusing, nonetheless.
And in case anyone was wondering: I'm with Digby. Consider this an open thread. Please post a link to your favorite craptastic video…that last thread was way too fun.
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I’m pulling out some Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong for our Holiday Party, which begins at 7:00 pst.
not the zed!
Perhaps one day Bush and Saddam can share the same cell in hell. For eternity.
Happy New Year, CHS!!11!
Hmmm…. ok… not craptastic, but super fun and cheesy!!!
Lucy in the Sky with William Shatner!!!
http://www.newsfromme.com/arch…..tml#011504
And Bush will continue to be sheltered. He will never see the inside of an earthly cell. But justice will still be served. There just might be ethereal jails, George. You do profess to believe in Heaven and Hell. Don’t you?
For some reason, this from the Dire Straits just feels appropriate on so many levels today.
This is probably old news to some, but Taylor Marsh just put up this article about the Gerald Ford/Richard Nixon relationship and the pardon:
http://www.taylormarsh.com/arc…..p?id=24988
Read the Woodward article she links. It was a bit of an eye-opener to me.
Just for a fun break — the Pachelbel Rant.
I was quite surprised to see my comment in the new thread. Well, my husband’s comment–that was his quip when I read him the headline. But he almost never blogs any more, so I get to use his stuff. ;)
Christy Hardin Smith @
7
But… but… but that song’s not craptastic!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 7
The Brothers In Arms album also contained one of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
SteveNS at 11 — I know. But I felt the need for some Mark Knopfler, so indulge me. I love that whole album.
CHS @7…
For sure.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 13
Gladly! That album is one I listened to all through high school.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..mp;search=
Average White Band. Oh how I loved them!
y’all need to chill with some tape of Todd Rundgren doing Real Man live in 1978.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfYb36rgxM
(I used to go out with men who dressed like this).
I don’t have a craptastic video to link to, so I’m watching MSNBC. Where I just saw some hatchet-faced broad explain to me that Saddam’s uncle was aligned with the Nazis and that was Saddam’s major influence growing up… (Hmmm… Was his uncle buddies with Prescott Bush who also had some shady German friends?? Just kidding…)
Well, I guess live craptastic video counts, doesn’t it?
Well there was a good thing about the 80s–it was before the dawn of 24 hour cable news networks.
Cujo359 @
12
Great song from possibly one of the best albums from the 80s. I wore out two vinyl copies of that album before I got it on CD.
OK this is a great video someone put together recently about our craptastic chimp-in-chief, with vocals by George Michael…FREEDOM!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm2OXQh3duI
I have this picture in my mind of the Chimp pushing Pickles out of the way to get into the shelter first. Come’on you know he did!
Deacon Blues @ 22
Not before he kicked Barney out of the way…
You said craptastic video? Here (holding his nose). I officially nominate this for worst video evah.
The Bush family fortune derives from this family’s financial dealings with the Nazis during the run-up to WWII. This is not rumor. It is factual information readily available.
a song I like from the early 80’s – that’s entertainment
.
I’ve gotta go check into the family life. I think the oldest wants to kick my butt on the Chess board (ha! a challenge)
But, in parting, I just need to represent that Minneapolis (specifically Bob Mould and Husker Du) invented the whole grunge scene. We were just cleaner!
I believe that much of the music from the sixties was the greatest when it comes to anti-war, anti-corruption and peace messages.
Fini at 27 — Oh yeah? That Warrant video sucks. But I’ll raise you a Rupert Holmes. Mwahahahaha.
Christy Hardin Smith @
7
Looks like you and I had the same idea at about the same time LOL. I suggested the same tune in the last thread.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 25
True, the modern fortune was made investing in Nazi business partners, banking and supplying the Reich. The Bush clan however goes back to the founding of America and I believe were Loyalists descended from King George III’s family. Explains a lot doesn’t it?
Don’t have one to put up. Haven’t been able to bear watching the tube the past few days. Went to a movie last night. Before that we watched 5 episodes of West Wing on Wed. night. About to go back and pick up where we left off. Still have about 144 to go. That should be able to cover over the garbage that is on the tube, all 200 channels of it.
Grateful to have the WW to go back to.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @
24
got my vote. did the video editor even listen to the music?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 28
HEAR!! HEAR!!! (Arthritically clapping…) Yeah, that was music. Disco happened, and that’s when I turned the radio off.
brownandserve at 30 — Good minds think alike, I suppose. I keep finding myself humming that tune lately. The news has been so grim, and it keeps popping into my mind.
If your daughter leaves home in anger, never tell her she can’t come back.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 24
Of course, the music was craptastic there, too. Hair bands are responsible for some of the worst music videos. This one, for instance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pzkmj3IE3Q
or this one (the music’s not so bad here, though):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrdGcINdDk
As to injustice? I am going to keep on, keepin’ on. Fighting it. It will soon be 2008. And there is so damn much work ahead. And so little time.
Riesz at 36 — That’s a cryptic comment. You okay?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 29
Oh! It’s like that eh? I’ll see your Rupert Holmes (albeit with scorched retinas) and raise you a Milli Vanilli.
Dire Straits can do no wrong. No one can hear this song and be sad.
Also, The Pretenders.
OMG. How the hell did I miss this?
Just poked around after lina’s Todd Rundgren link and found Rundgren on Power Lunch.
Jeepers. We are ALL getting old.
Craptastic? You want craptastic? Craptastic from the 80’s?
The Flying Pickets
Here’s the original, Yaz, which was a cool 80’s song.
“….cool 80’s band.”
Fini at 40 — Ouch. Okay, that one hurt. But you asked for it…try this one. If you dare.
Cujo359 @ 37
Oh my, this one escaped me back then (thank gods). I didnt mind Ratt as much as the really crappy Warrant/Poison/Winger MTV manufactured male model “bands”. I hated the glam rock scene with a passion.
EPU at 43 — Oh lordy. Those sideburns belong on stage in a Gilbert and Sullivan production. Yeeeeowch.
Agh!! My eyes!! My ears!!
I just watched RATT for crying out loud!!!
There should be warnings posted, something like, “Bring an XXL-sized hair net and hearing protection before opening link!”
per msnbc.com, federal judge in dc denies saddam’s attorney’s request for a stay.
FFT – I think my choice wins for most craptastic video – but of course I do.
And this is the greatest video of all time – I dare you, infinity dog dare anyone, to find a better one. You can’t, so don’t waste your time.
Weezer – Buddy Holly Video
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 46
I’m not intimately familiar with the form, personally. I just plug band names into the YouTube search window and up pop these gems. I remember being alternately appalled and entertained by some of the clowns you mentioned, and their fans.
CHS – I refrain from commenting beyond craptastic.
Hey, tomorrow I become a Californian, ofically. :))))))))))!
Evil Parallel Universe @ 43
That. Defies. Comment. You are so lucky you posted the original as antidote or we’d be having words (j/k). I do love me some Yaz.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 45
MY EYES! MY EARS! THEY’RE MELTING! AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
Rayne @ 42
that is truly bizarre.
and Power Lunch seems like two eras ago.
Barbara Boxer withdraws a “certificate of accomplishment” to Sacramento activist Basim Elkarra after learning that he serves as an official with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Excerpt:
EPU at 52 — Congrats! I hope it ends up being as fun as you are hoping it will. :)
You guys are killing me… I am on a cellular wireless or dial up…. I can get the first 10 seconds and the whole thing chokes….. grrrr …
No fun… not fair… boo hoo…
Fini at 52 — I didn’t want to have to do it to you, man. It hurt me more than it hurt you, believe me. *g*
Rayne @ 42
Then there is always Frank Zappa on Crossfire!
katymine at 57 — well, I’ll save you the pain. Don’t bother with my last one at 45 — it was “Afternoon Delight.”
Evil Parallel Universe @ 50
I bow to your craptastic video hunting skillz. I concede, that thing was horrid.
COMPLETELY off both topics (craptastic videos and live blogging All Saddam All The Time Until He’s Dead), but this is good news that was new to me:
http://www.savetheinternet.com…..-congress/
AT&T seems to have signed off on net neutrality for at least 2 years… Yeah, it’s a bribe to get the merger, but it’s a start…
FFT – More Yaz – who were really good – LIVE !!! (or at least pretending to be).
Nobody’s Diary
Though I’ve always really disliked Depeche Mode.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 58
The radiation from it. Owie. Hold me! (faints)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 60
One of my best milking goats was named Afternoon Delight…. a registered Alpine goat…. What a sweetie too…..
CHS – Thanks. I think it will turn out that way :)
That’s it, I have to pull out the big guns after all the abuse to which I just subjected my retinas and ear drums. Even my laptop is dry heaving.
One.
Two.
Three.
EPU, welcome to Callyforne, don’t be offended by those many inhabitants of this fair state who believe they are the universe. They just don’t know any better.
May I ask, NorCal or Lala land?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 60
They were a DeeCee band, and played at a big party during the Virginia statewide campaign I managed in the Seventies.
Howdy EPU — all the fruits and nuts roll down here eventually, why not the Universe?
LaLaland – Brentwood to be exact.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 61
You mean the irony wasn’t intentional? I kinda liked it.
Evil Parallel Universe @ 63
You know that Yaz/Yazoo was Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet and that Clarke was a founding member of Depeche Mode before he left to form Yaz. He then formed Erasure after Yaz broke up.
Evil Parallel Universe @ 71
brutal, dude.
OT but Riverbend’s posted again.
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/
FFT – Yes, I did know that, which is why I thought I should note my dislike of Depeche Mode.
Kurlan at 75 — Since this morning’s post? *goes to see…*
Cujo359 — yeah, that’s what I made of Weezer, too, very ironic stuff, rather cute. There was a cutting edge to it, if subtle.
Inadvertently posted this downstairs…
As a songwriter wannabe, I always felt this song was underrated because of it’s got such a strong hook but the video adds nothing IMHO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSEcTNvfKgw
Backstreet Boys- I want it that way
I always liked this video, too. I just wish it wasn’t in a crappy little flashmedia format:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fq-0ucXXc90
The scenery is gorgeous. I’ve always liked visiting the desert.
just saw a glimpse of judy kneepads on msnbc talking about saddam….
Cujo – There was no irony. Weezer’s Buddy Holly is the greatest video ever made. Now, I love Weezer as a band, but simply judged as a video, it wins.
brownandserve — oh, that inadequate video for that Backstreet Boys was fixed, didn’t you know?
It’s now a classic.
Rayne @ 67
Okay. I’ll cut you some slack here, because maybe you were unaware you were bombing the civilian population. Number 2 (and boy, oh, boy, isn’t it just?) goes beyond the pale. When that piece of crapola was #1 I was running a press in a print shop as the low (wo)man on the totem pole. The radio station chosen by the more senior pressmen played that thing about 287 times a day until I thought I would lose my mind. I still have scars… What did I ever do to you??? Please… I IMPLORE you… No more…no more… no more {collapses into a Billy-Ray-Cyrus-induced coma}
I see your vanilla ice and raise you a baby back
Rayne @ 67
Oh man, I almost went nuclear before I realized I might offend with what I wanted to respond with. I will refrain in the interests of peace.
Muzzy @ 85
Too late someone nuked anyway.
Helloooo….There are those of us who can not play in the reindeer games…. Can ya just put a few hints so I know what I am missing?
Food for thought:
America’s top 1% of wealth owners currently have title to just under 50% of all stocks, bonds and business assets. Government statistics show that even a tinier group – a mere 2/10 of 1% – made more money from the sale of stocks and bonds than all other taxpayers taken together in the most recent year for which data is available (1999). This is the reality behind the rhetoric of the Bush “ownership society.”
Gar Alperovitz – CommonDreams.org, 10 May 05
The modern peddlers of free trade, on the other hand, who must get rid of their commodities at any price, stress the quantitative side of the relative form of value. For them, accordingly, there exists neither value, nor magnitude of value, anywhere except in its expression by means of the exchange relation, that is, in the daily list of prices current on the stock exchange.
Karl Marx – Capital, Vol I, Chap 1, p153
Show me the money.
Peace.
Never give up.
Rayne @ 67
You’ll have to do better than that, Rayne. Like this for instance:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kYva5cs-qPs
Now that’s bad…
Cujo359 @ 80
You know you can expand YouTube vids to full screen by clicking on the lower right corner of the video player if you are on the video’s page at YouTube. It doesnt work when they are embedded in a page like they do here at the lake, but if you are on the YouTube site page for the video it can go full screen that way.
Best video on treadmills…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vs7Mb5c5zAs
Jeralyn says the final arrangements are in place for the Hussein execution.
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2006/12/29/17463/653
I wish I knew how to make a link!
My nominee for most craptastic song and video:
Billy Squier: Rock Me Tonight
The call to prayer for the start of Eid has already been heard in Baghdad … and yet it appears the execution is going ahead.
katymine @ 88
Good point, sorry. Part of the fun of a YouTube war is getting someone to click through not knowing what horror awaits. I’ll post band and title from here on out for mine for you.
ccmask at 92 — That is too fun!
Marion — all’s fair in love and war, doncha’ know? There’s going to be collateral damage from time to time. ;-)
What’s really frustrating is that Cyrus has a lovely little daughter Miley that is very popular with the tweenage set, can be found on Disney’s Hanna Montana — and Daddy Cyrus actually appears on the show. Gives me the heebie-jeebies that I can’t explain fairly to the kids.
Gotcha on that Cyrus-spawned damage, though; I was stuck in a corporate drone job sitting next to the boss’s pet who was a country music freak. Mind you, the only two kinds of music I detest are country and western…ugh. I thought I was going to have to gnaw my leg off to get out of that trap.
ccmask @ 92
I cannot find the words to describe how deeply, deeply weird that was… Is it just because I’m an old fart, do you think? Nah… It’s just WEIRD.
Kentucky Woman @ 94
When you find the video on YouTube they have a little box with the link to the video displayed next to it labeled Permalink.
katymine @ 88
Sorry, bout that. MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Toby Keith. Not to mention Ratt, and Cinderella.
My #80 was Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”, which so far is the only video I’ve linked that you might actually want to watch.
Fini at 96 — Even knowing that the nettiquette was not to post what awaited — I came oh so close to telling you I was posting Afternoon Delight because having you click thru unannounced seemed like cruel and unusual blogging.
RBG @ 93
And, therefore, no more trials of any kind. No referrals to the ICC, where embarrassing information about US involvement in those crimes of Saddam’s might be revealed.
Quick and tidy. Poopy’s reputation saved again….
Was somebody talking about the interests of peas?
Christy — the really disgusting part about that Afternoon Delight vid is the permed hair and wretched monster glasses; I can’t take my eyes off them while he’s crooning “Aaaafternooon Deeelight…”
Gah.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 91
Yes. I tried it just to be sure. It just looks like a 240×180 pixel video blown up to the size of Montana. A bunch of blurs, in other words.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 100
No YouTube…still searching
Rayne, just shook off the coma… I’ve seen previews for “Hannah Montana.” If that little girl is Cyrus’s daughter maybe he’s not all bad… She seems a cute little thing.
The Rude One on Saddam:
“. . . Dry Saddam’s organs and grind them into a powder and pour it into the water supply of the United States so we can each consume a little bit of the man who so drove our leaders crazy that they destroyed our economy, our military, our morality to topple him, yes, let us all drink that in, toasting the hanging of Saddam Hussein as a demonstration of what great and noble and righteous and merciful humans we are.”
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/
Christy Hardin Smith @ 102
LOL you should have! You know that song is like kryptonite, sulfuric acid, lava and shredded glass driven into all open orifices for a musician type person like me don’t you? I forgive you this time but please pretty please spare the horror for other musician type folks in the future, give em a warning!
Montag – precisely, precisely.
The most efficient way to shut him up. And CNN is loving every minute of it … never noting the lack of due process. This is horrifying.
Thank you Fini FiniTOOBZ! & Cujo359… ;)
Forgive me, but sitting in front of a Christmas tree talking about people at the gallows seems so repellant to me in so many ways I can’t even describe it…
I think to reach a true epistemological understanding of craptastrophy – to see Crap that is – you need a wee bit more obscurity than a lot of the links being posted.
God help America
EPU — welcome to Calif.
Have you made an appt. to get your car detailed yet?
One report that the execution has taken place … 10 minutes ago.
shame
montag @
103
Montag—not sure I’ve said it before, but I sure do like what I read on your blog.
Cujo359 (90) — THAT. WAS. WRETCHED.
Ugh. I think I barfed a little.
Lina – No, not yet. The furniture doesn’t arrive till next week, so cars can wait.
CNN reporting local reports say Saddam executed ten minutes ago.
Have to love all of the production CNN put into this.
Al Arabia also reporting the execution has taken place.
Apparently the deed has been done. Tikrit is under a 4-day curfew. Watch for the rest of Iraq to blow…
Breaking news from MSNBC: Ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein hanged in Baghdad, Iraqi TV reports
I just got finished reading Trex’s post last night with the visit from joe. That has got to be one of the funniest threads ever (except for sandpaper snatch). And, I made my hotel reservations for yearlykos. Yahoo.
Evil Parallel Universe @ 120
well, I hope you’ve had your house feng shui’d.
Saddam execution reminds me of the Timothy McVey… the fastest federal execution in history!
Typical BushCo MO…. kill the evidence
Oh, looky, they moved the Christmas tree, or changed the camera angle, or dragged in a black curtain…
katymine @ 128
I’m certainly conflicted about this. I’m against capital punishment, but if ever there was a guy who deserved it, it was Saddam. I’m also concerned about what the Iraqis will make of this. To say there are strong feelings on all sides is an understatement of epic proportions.
Marion in Savannah @ 113
shoulda crucified Saddam, that would have messed with the Xtianists’ little minds….
Apropos of the execution:
Good thing God is more merciful than I am. Celebrating the death of a human being would be grounds for locusts and boils if it was left to me.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 87
can it get worse? yes it can! even greater suckitude …
“>please don’t ban me
yeoch. That has got to be offset with some opposite 80’s
i feel love
“>poison arrow
a little respect
OK you asked for it!!!
Billy Don’t Be a Hero by Paper Lace! Yeech…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDq_xJlF0TE
Am I supposed to feel better now?
California mystery billionaire pays $200m in back tax – and keeps a state afloat.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/a…..02,00.html
lina @ 116
good one!
Siun @ 117
I am so incredibly ashamed of my country and her “leaders”.
I can’t believe that I am crying– Saddam will be with those that have gone before, but my nation has lost her soul and any semblance of justice.
NOT IN MY NAME.
Oh, goody. The execution was recorded. Watch for the YouTube video, coming soon to a toob near you…
Cujo359 @ 130
I worked as the audio engineer for 6 months in the largest country dancehall in downtown Indy in 1991 at the height of the line dancing craze. The place was called The Raging Bull and was complete with a mirrored saddle for the discoball over the dancefloor. Imagine the things I saw and imagine further with my musical taste how drunk I had to stay to deal with it.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 135
Good question. The notion of rejoicing about a death–ANY death–makes me want to throw up. I’ll instead express my remorse that Saddam wasted his life and human potential on greed and power-lust, and just leave it at that.
The day George W. Bush dies, I’ll say the same.
From Fark.com
Saddam Hussein officially starts his homosexual relationship with Satan. No link yet
http://www.fark.com/?saddam
angie @ 138
It wasn’t in our name. I think most American officials wanted this to never take place, or at least take place much later. This was something the Iraqis did, because there are millions of them who have been waiting all their lives for this day.
Angie … I join you. This is a horrible thing and sadly the people of Iraq are the ones will suffer once again.
Kangaroo court, controlled by occupiers, murder of how many lawyers … such a perversion of any sort of justice …
and when will Saddam’s friends like Rummy face justice?
ccmask @ 136
How do you get $200 million in arrears in your taxes without going to jail??? HMM??? They’re holding up my measly $2000 IRS refund in some sort of audit hell pit, and this f*cker can get 200 million frickin’ bucks behind??? John Edwards, I hope you’re paying attention here…
Saddam is dead
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2006/12/29/221147/20
Maybe it was Arnold?
With several tabs open in firefox I was able to catch up and still listen to the music. Way to go Redd. Maybe I won’t have the nightmares tonight after all.
Cujo .. that is not accurate and if the US wanted to stall or stop this execution, our forces were the ones who held Saddam – not the Iraqis. The trial was decried by all major human rights organizations …
it was done in our name by our puppets
Oh, great. No official WH statement yet, but talking head speculation is that they’ll say it was all the Iraqis’ idea, and it shows there’s democracy happening there, and besides they can’t comment because they’d have to wake the Chimperator up…. Excuse me while I go and puke.
Kelven @ 21
WOW! That rocked! Thanks.
OK technically this isn’t a “video” but a TV performance recorded on video no doubt. Behold the horror!
You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaAb6kF_8lw
Siun @ 144
When will Henry Kissinger face justice?
(Of course, only dirty hippies would think these treasonous thoughts. Too bad we can’t be upstanding patriots like Bob Novak.)
RBG @ 118
Yes, you did a while back. Very kind to say so. I should be doing more on it, but I’m trying to block out in my mind how to approach another long writing project (along with just diddling around during the holidays :) ).
Mike Whitney at ICH wrote:
What right does Bush have to kill Saddam? What right does the author of Abu Ghraib, Falluja, Haditha and countless other atrocities have to pass judgment on the former leader of a nation which posed no threat to the United States?
So I guess it’s official! Leaders of countries are now elligible to be executed.
Classic video this evening on CNN with reporters standing around a little bonfire saying “We just don’t know anything here Larry.”
angie – I don’t know how I am able to maintain a revolving sense of shame but it sure looks like it wont stop anytime soon.
Oh. My. God. They executed him just before Eid, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Oh. Holy. Crap.
katymine @
146
Jeralyn posted that and then put up Sympathy for the Devil.
I’ve heard there are a few countries like Chile Henry can’t go to or he would be arrested for war crimes, is that true?
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 153
Hanging a two-bit dictator:
-Several thousand dead American soldiers.
-Tens of thousands of wounded American soldiers.
-Half a million dead Iraqi civilians.
-Millions of wounded and suffering Iraqi civilians.
-Hundreds of billions of dollars.
-The collapse of American prestige, credibilty, and good-will.
Impeachment of a two-bit psychopathic pretenderer in Wash DC?:
-priceless.
ccmask @ 156
Well, not until after being convicted by a kangaroo court, after how many judges and however many lawyers have been killed. There are precedents now that must be followed….
ccmask @ 156
If anyone deserves to be executed, leaders of countries do. I move to indict Bush and Cheney for war crimes.
Marion in Savannah @ 158
Brilliant, isn’t it? And I’ll bet that all any American in authority was thinking was that it would be a great New Year celebration for Der Shrubbenfuhrer.
I weep for decency.
Marion in Savannah @ 162
So I guess it’s official then. Kangaroo courts certainly are.
Marion – the call to prayer for Eid had already sounded in Baghdad.
Pam Spaulding’s got some advance word on the freeper’s reaction.
Oh. Even better. It was apparently a trifecta and they hanged 3 people. Isn’t democracy wonderful! Appeals? Appeals? We don’t need no stinkin’ appeals… Oh, never mind… You get one, and if you lose you drop in 30 days. I love the brand of democracy we’re exporting. Expect it here soon…
The original premise of the war was enforcement of UN Resolution 1441; the prosecution of Saddam should have been handled entirely by either the Iraqi people (and not by our puppets) or by the international court for violations of UN Resolutions and international law.
We have now set precedent for any other government to do the same — ignore the will of sovereign people and ignore international law.
Even my right-leaning spouse thought this execution was wrong.
Siun @ 149
Yes, it is accurate. I realize that human rights organizations are against this, both because of the proceedings and because they’re against capital punishment. Nevertheless, the people who hate Saddam for what he did to their country vastly outweigh the ones who still support or admire him.
The U.S. could have kept Saddam alive, but that would have ended up being as unpopular with the people who want him dead as his death will be with those who didn’t. It was a no-win situation, and I suppose for whatever political reasons it was decided to go ahead with the execution.
It’s just one more reason why this war was a bad idea to begin with, or perhaps just one horrific illustration of why it was a bad idea.
Not everything is about us. This was about Iraqis wanting justice. That it happens to work out to the advantage of some folks in this country is, I think, largely irrelevant at this point.
XTC – Burning With Optimism’s Flame
Great song, completely ruined by Andy Partridge’s mugging for the crowd in this ‘82 live performance on West German TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRrm22b__vA
I wonder if W feels “relieved” now that Saddam is dead.
Jeralyn’s got the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil up…
somehow sounds quite appropriate…
Kelven @ 160
I don’t know, but I think if I were Mr. Kissinger I’d avoid traveling to Spain. They seem to have a wide jurisdiction there.
Mary McCurnin @ 172
He’s just sitting down to make a new hit list. heh heh Call the FBI, it’s time to warm up the printin’presses.
Contrast this situation with the one during WWII when the Allied war effort, with non-military assistance, had essential insights into Asian societies whereby the terms of Japan’s surrender were separated from the question of the emperor’s abdication. The emperor was understood to embody the country’s soul. By separating it, it allowed the Japanese to accept unconditional surrender.
This is not a parallel comparison but something about the way this has gone down, Saddam being held in US custody all this time followed by a brief handover for execution, feels not only damaging to our overall effort, but so wrong in a way that only those who are a blight on the progress of humanity could perpetrate.
.
Mary McCurnin @ 172
He’s apparently asleep, and they won’t wake him up to tell him.
Mary McCurnin @ 172
Dubya no doubt creamed himself. He loves a good killing.
Marion in Savannah @ 168
He had some co-defendants. I suppose this isn’t too surprising. Was one of them Chemical Ali?
I guess this will free up some time to look for that guy Osama now.
ah … and our american created fake iraqi news channel shows the celebrations in Dearborn to the people of Baghdad …
Cujo – this execution was an american decision, the timing on a holy day, an american decision and the kangaroo trial, an american decision. Will there be people who celebrate in Iraq – perhaps. But the gross violations of Human Rights in the trial and under this occupation are crimes and we are responsible.
EvilDrPuma @ 164
Based on Chimpy’s interest and knowledge of Iraqi culture while cultivating and growing this mess, I doubt very seriously they would know the meaining of Eid before we would.
Having said that, maybe one of Mr. Mcnamara’s “whiz kids” figured this out a few months back…
I just cannot give the cabal that much credit.
OldCoastie @ 173
One of their best songs, I think. It certainly says a lot about where evil comes from.
Do you think W will get his own video of the deed?
Tom – Not sure how you missed this XTC. Seems appropriate to the evenings events.
Howie’s take:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspo…..g-too.html
Mary McCurnin @ 184
He’ll watch it every day, and reflect on how it makes him a man.
Muzzy @ 176
This implies the abilities to think, reason, and learn. All sadly lacking in the present administration.
SeanPaul Kelly has it precisely right:
http://agonist.org/20061229/ir…..ther_death
see photo esp
The hanging was a maxus of medieval.
ccmask @ 180
Who?
EvilDrPuma @ 188
More to the point, what sort of conversations is Bush having with God at this moment? *eeeeek*
EvilDrPuma @ 178
it’s his ambition to turn the middle east into an extension of Texas.
W does one thing well. Kills people.
Marion in Savannah @ 192
Osama Bin Forgotten.
It’s called Eid ul-Adha in wiki.
Thanks Marion.
StevenD at Booman has a very good post on Saddam or rather on Rummy:
http://www.boomantribune.com/s…../14122/316
Mary McCurnin @ 195
That makes two things. He’s been pretty successful at avoiding the consequences of his many failures.
This is good. Good night all.
http://concerts.wolfgangsvault…..yList.aspx
Put to death before our complicity in the chemical bombing deaths of others could be told…
(you know, the weapons we supplied and graciously asked to be used… tut, tut.)
Blast from the past:
Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer criticized Gov. George W. Bush for making fun of an executed Texas woman in an interview Bush gave to Talk magazine. “I think it is nothing short of unbelievable that the governor of a major state running for president thought it was acceptable to mock a woman he decided to put to death.” Just before her execution date, Tucker appealed for clemency on the grounds that she had become a born-again Christian. Bush’s reply: ” `Please,’ Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, `don’t kill me,’ “
Eureka Springs, AR @ 197
I’ve seen a few different spellings. The important point is that this is one of the biggest Muslim holidays. As was already noted, it comemmorates Ibrahim’s devotion as demonstrated by his willingness to sacrifice Isma’il (not Isaac as in the Jewish and Christian tradition); the culmination of the hajj coincides with this event.
Evil Parallel Universe @
186
A little heavy-handed, IMO.
WRT Saddam, watch the shit hit the fan now.
David Olsen @ 200
PILE the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work—
I am the grass; I cover all.
And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:
What place is this?
Where are we now?
I am the grass.
Let me work.
Carl Sandburg
EvilDrPuma @
199
Soon. Very soon W will feel the unfamiliar power of consequence. He will be impeached.
EDP – Thanks, it’s all new to me.
What do Saddam and McVey have in common?
EDP, thanks for the clarification. I used the names I’m familiar with, from the story I’m familiar with.
You’ve forced me to use force
;>)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHEXzoT6RW4
O.K, I’ll behave…Even with dodgy video quality, this one ain’t cheesy.
Utopia – Swing To The Right 1982
Eureka Springs, AR @ 208
It’s fairly new to me too. I taught a course on the anthropology of human and animal sacrifice during the fall semester, and I had always intended to give Islam some decent treatment. Learned a few interesting things about the variability in celebration of the Eid around the world, too.
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 196
Oh. Him.
Aren’t eid’s bombs?
[Mod note; did you mean IED’s?]
ccmask @ 214
The bombs are IEDs… Improvised Explosive Devices.
So we teach the Iraqis that we have no faith in due process and the rule of law, we teach Iraqis that we will desecrate their holy day, we teach Iraqis to fight back even harder.
We will regret this day.
that’s right marion–duh on me.
So Saddam is dead. Does this mean Bushco/Bank of Carlyle can keep all of his seized bank accounts?
Eureka Springs, AR @ 218
Apparently, they can do anything they want to.
“What irritated the Iraqi government is that they had to go through this farcical trial…”
I swear to heaven above I just heard that on MSNBC. Who’s Jack, with the gray hair? He’s the one who said it…
There is a federal death penalty isn’t there?
Anyone else surprised they haven’t raised the threat level here yet?
Anyone thinking of the South Park movie?
BaltimoreBabe @ 222
Nah, the elections are over.
Seriously wimping out here, at 11pm. Might have something to do with staying up during the kids’ party late last night? Hm.
Spakoineh noch/gute nacht amigos.
Any word of the sunni reaction to the hanging? Seems that they were promising Saddam a little going away party- with american troops as the main course.
egregious @ 225
Sleep well, egregious.
Siun @ 216
yes, we will indeed.
Who on earth can blame those that we have harmed, killed, murdered, tortured, humiliated, demonized and desecrated?
BaltimoreBabe @ 222
Wasn’t it already at “Be Very Afraid”?
rwcole @ 226
Gee RWC, Let them finish breakfast.
Siun @ 216
As an aside, there was some talk earlier that Sistani would not sign the execution order (holding to his personal beliefs against capital punishment). Has there been anything said about who signed the order, if he did not?
Color threat was orange at the airport the other day while I was traveling. As usal, I got pulled out of line and searched three times. Turned out it was my extra cell battery in my purse.
rwcole @ 226
Seems like the timing of the execution has been changed up quite a bit. I expect we’ll be finding out what the Sunni reaction is later.
Here’s the Beeb on the execution:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6218485.stm
Late Night’s available upstairs.
Evil Parallel Universe @
186
I see your Dear God and raise
Generals and Majors
which has the dual virtues of being a craptastic video and an amazing song
Cujo359 @ 229
I thought it was ALWAYS at that!
montag @ 231
I’m a little unclear about what role Sistani plays in the government. Why would he be required to sign off? Seems a bit like asking Howard Dean or Ken Mehlman to sign off on an executive order.
It’s pretty clear that PM Maliki had no reservations:
“No-one can oppose the decision to execute the criminal Saddam,” Mr Maliki was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6217725.stm
Maliki is our used-up puppet, we are searching for a new one …
OK – time to go to bed – IMing and posting starting to get confusing. Thanks for being here FDL – the first place I turned when I heard the news. Peace.
Mack @ 235
Right on both counts. It gets more incoherent with repeated viewings, if that’s possible. The lead singer bears a remarkable resemblance to British actor David Tennant.
Siun @ 238
He’s had no reservations about telling us to pound sand lately, as he did to Bush in Jordan last month. He needs the Shiite parties more than he needs us, or at least he has less control over them in this situation.
Maliki is also a Shiite, and he’s never been shy about demanding that Saddam be put on trial and executed. I’m not even sure if he was interested in what order those things occured.
Christy Hardin Smith @
39
Yeah, I’m OK. That was just what I got from the video– she seemed so angry and her Dad was bummed.
Thanks for checking :-)
Sistani has no role in the execution. He is a Shi’ite religious leader who lives in Najaf. I think you are thinking of the Iraqi President Talebani. He is against the death penalty. If I had to guess, his signature was not required, as in he could have but didn’t need to for the execution to proceed.
Here’s your craptastic video. Three and a half minutes of some of the the best soul singing of all time, from the soundtrack of the worst movie of the 80s. Check out the hommages to JB and the Motown era in the backup singers’ moves. Un-be-LIEVE-able.
Dan Hartman, “I Can Dream About You,” from Streets of Fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzKnz9hnL3Y
Isn’t that dance the same one used in Michael Jackson’s Thriller?
Alexander @ 245
Beat me to it! That was my reaction.
Also, what are all those gay boys doing at the beginning? Is she supposed to be leaving home to be a fag hag?
A quote from ICH tonight:
“Herein lies a riddle: How can a people so gifted by God become so seduced by naked power, so greedy for money, so addicted to violence, so slavish before mediocre and treacherous leadership, so paranoid, deluded, lunatic?”
Philip Berrigan – Source: Hell, Healing and Resistance Veterans Speak”
Thanks for the amazing music – esp. Dire Straits and Dan Hampton.
and, sadly, what siun said nearly all evening.
dan hampton = dan hartman
Softail and Alexander at 245-47:
I suppose I should have set that up a little.
The little snippets of action spread through the clip are what is going on outside the club while the concert is going on. The Hero (Michael Pare, with shotgun) is on a quest to resuce Damsel in Distress (Diane Lane) from the clutches of Bad Guy (Willem Dafoe, in latex and big hair). I don’t remember how the brunette fits into the story — she might be the Hero’s Girlfriend.
If that sounds incoherent, it’s because the movie was. Totally. It’s so bad that it almost qualifies as a guilty pleasure movie, but nothing could unseat Road House as the Guy’s Ultimate Guilty Pleasure Movie.
Leslie … great Berrigan quote … thank you!
Sorry I’m so late with this. I hope it’s still appropo.
This clip does tend to make me feel a LITTLE bit better during episodes of monumental stupidity. (Usually other peoples)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…..&eurl=
Kelven @ 5
Oh, that was goood!! He really sang that?? How deliciously awful!
Renee in Ohio @ 19
Good point
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 24
**shudder** You’re making me ashamed of liking the 80’s now.