(Photo via the White House website, and taken by Paul Morse on 8/29/05.)
Gee, that birthday cake doesn't taste so sweet these days, I bet, eh St. John McCain?
The war in Iraq followed Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) to Iowa on Saturday, as the Republican presidential candidate faced a series of skeptical questions about the lack of progress in the conflict and whether he or anyone has a plan for success.
It became clear from the opening minutes of his first meeting of the day just how much the presidential aspirations of the senator, who is one of the leading advocates of President Bush's troop-increase policy, may be tied to events in Iraq.
During the hour-long town hall meeting, McCain drew questions about the cost of the war, the prospects for success, the dangers of failure, the treatment of veterans and the new threats from Iran.
Throughout, he walked a line between strong advocacy for the troop buildup as the best chance to avoid a bloodletting in Iraq and defensiveness over the lack of progress and the growing impatience on the part of the public over what he said has been a badly mismanaged war effort dating back years.
Nothing like hitching your wagon to a ball of hot gas you thought was a star.
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Fitz
So true. Hope you’re feeling better, Christy. Who will be with you in court tomorrow?
Johnny-boy wants his cake and eat it too!
GRRRR and just why is Gov Janet smiling(in green suit)?
Look at that cake melt in the 105 AZ heat where secret service employees pointed machine guns at peaceful protesters on street corners from the motorcade to the event. The Code Pink and Raging Grannies…. machine gun barrels pointed at them…….
They look like Siamese twins don’t they?
I saw that McCain was slamming Rumsfeld. Boy that takes courage huh?
Spring-like weather for you all tomorrow in DC.
We eagerly await your reports. Good luck!!!
OMG I remember that day…. I was flying out of Phoenix for business and the airport was FU due to this visit and then arrived in California and guess where Bush was landing….. same airport!
katymine @ 4
They’re all goosing each other?
A slightly different take on McCain:
Nothing like hitching your wagon to a team of runaway horses after they have already gone over the cliff.
Oooh, those darn partisans!
“Given that you’ve said that you are ’scared to death that it’s going to be a very hot spring in Afghanistan,’ and given that you have also said, repeatedly, that only a substantial increase in troops in Iraq would make a real difference, why not send the 21,000 troops headed to Iraq, in what is clearly an act of desperation, to Afghanistan instead?”
During his response, McCain equated those opposing his position with “the far left.”
“Do you consider Sam Brownback part of the far left?” I jumped in.
The Senator flared and told me that if I’d only let him finish his answer instead of interrupting, we could have “a civil discussion.” …
[emphasis mine]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..39788.html
McCain’s been having this trouble for a while, and it’s going to keep getting worse. At least, he will if there’s anything remotely like karma at work in the universe.
Perhaps it’s because President Bush has never been held accountable for his actions is what explains why this man seems so ruthless, self-centered, brutal toward our soldiers, selfish and sure of himself. This man appears to never have had to grapple with the concept of self responsibility. I have a feeling George Bush, not too long from now you are going to be in for a very rude jolt of reality. You know Mr. President, like in how most of the rest of us live our lives. We are sometimes made to take responsibility for our very bad and naughty behavior.
Apologies Christy, OfT, Attorney admonished for statements on Libby
Someone else mentioned this on a prior thread.
I hope Judge Walton is a lot tougher on Toensig and the WaPo for the four page op-ed, Trial in Error, than he was on Sloan for a few sentences.
Dana Priest is on PBS NEws reporting on the horse shit care of wounded troops at Walter Reed. What a shock.
I think McCain’s gambit had been to advocate for more troops thinking that was the one option not going to be considered in the wake of the Iraq Study Group.
That way, he could wash his hands of any problems in Iraq by saying he had been on the side of the angels. He was royally reamed when the Royal Reamer-In-Chief actually agreed with him. Now he’s the one thing he never could afford to be–the apologist for the troop buildup that won’t work.
That means, in firedog years, he is screwed.
Lest we forget – that iconic picture of the moron-in-chief getting ready to eat cake with the moron-in-waiting was taken on a day when hundreds were drowning beneath their flooded roofs and in the streets, byways and alleys of New Orleans…
Well, yes, of course McCain’s tied to events in Iraq, but he pulled out the silk sashes and knotted himself to the Baghdad bedpost (which, of course, all the GOP candidates save potentially Hagel are doing right now), which will lead to quite the gyrations over time to be loyal to shrub while sticking as many knives in his back as possible….
If you think Hillary’s got it tough ’splaining her war authorization vote, these guys have no credibility on managing the war, while she who wasn’t wrong at least was trying to get some answers from her perch in the Senate.
Most of my charitable giving last year was to the Democratic party (and yes, they should have been a charity they were so woebegone for so long), so now I’m on some mailing lists. For $2,300 I could have dinner with Hillary in March; for $4,600, I could go to a special private reception with her. But I just can’t bring myself to give her any money, even to be in the room and ask, very politely, and without the “F”, WTF…
raven @ 13
I saw that. Put Rumsfeld on trial.
In the Hawkeye State the old line country club Republicans and their country corn growing cousins have turned against the war. As such,
McCain has lost most of them. Look for them to suport either Romney or Giuliani. If Hagel gets in, he could do very well.
McCain’s play for the evagelicals, who are not going to be able to suport Giuliani or Romney, is going to be thwarted by either Brownback and/or Huckabee.
In sum, the old double-talk express doesn’t have many riders in the Tall Corn State. He will be lucky to place third.
McCain is the annointed successor to Bush. If of course brother Jeb doesn’t cave to Poppy and Jr.’s admonishments to run.
…and, OT, haven’t heard from Ms. Hamsher around the Lake in the past few days – everything OK with her?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 17
During Vietnam at the U.S. Army Fitzsimons General Hospital they emptied the indoor swimming pool to put in beds because they were not prepared for the numbers of wounded. Sound familiar? Where’s the NorskeFlamethower?
At what point will the media stop with the “Maverick McCain” spin and point out the maverick is headed for a cliff?
That and the continued reference to “America’s Mayor”, cross-dressing Rudy.
-GSD
Another wasted trip, by a waste of a Sec. of State, to the Middle East.
Hugh, LMAO at 3:18
Below is an op-ed in the Sunday WaPo that scarecrow linked to this am by retired General William E. Odom
“Victory Is Not an Option
The Mission Can’t Be Accomplished” “It’s Time for a New Strategy”
We’re all used to retired Generals telling Bush he’s full of it. What makes this one different is that Odom is on the payroll of the Hudson Institute, yep, the same wingnut welfare outfit that pays both Scooter and Judge Bork. Sounds like James Baker 3 is having some success turning at least some of the neocons against the WH.
Oh, former gun control advocate Mitt Romney joined the NRA late last year.
What a howl.
-GSD
Mutant Poodle,
Jane is scheduled to be at the Courthouse with Christy, Pach, Marcy, and Sidney Blumenthal this week
Boy, do I look forward to the day when the hagiography of St. John McCain is merely remembered as a very bad joke, as is the senator himself.
He’s been a fraud from the beginning.
And he’s a fraud who doesn’t bother even responding to his constituents if they don’t agree with him. It never mattered how polite I was in voicing my disagreement and framing my questions of him — he never once responded to me in all the times I wrote to him.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Janet was laughing because she was laughing AT those two arrogant jokers standing next to her, holding a melting cake.
I can’t believe Froomkin gets Presidents Day off. Disturbing.
Off to make mashed yukon gold taters with goat cheese and basil.
JC,
Odom has been off of this war for some time. He was the first military man I heard call Bush’s war the worst strategic blunder in American history.
Harry Reid lifted Odom’s line.
-GSD
It is almost criminal to promote sending more of our soldies to Iraq. I’m preparing to become angry.
That coordinated attack on a small joint outpost in Iraq today that killed 2 and wounded 17 is what a lot of US troops are going to have in their future thanks to Bush and St. McCain.
-GSD
John Casper,
better yet, Odom was the guy -
in January 06
talkleft
I want a united front from my party, the Democrats, on stopping the madness that is Iraq and preventing the lunatic Bush from attacking Iran.
More on Lord McCain:
http://therealmccain.com/
GOP grassroots defeat McCain
Recall petitioning started by Iraq War Vet.
Yes it is legal in AZ.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 23
And we’re not surprised ’cause it’s what she does best!
GSD @ 22
I caught a teensy bit of The Tweety Show today — from what I heard there was conversation about the two sides of The McCain Mouth. (The specific subject on Tweety was St. McCain’s pandering to the fundie contingent — now there’s yet ANOTHER wagonload of hot air going over a cliff that’s he’s hitched his star to. The American public is no longer so much interested in fundie whining in the political arena. McCain just can’t win for losing. Warms my heart.)
My money is on Huckabee to emerge from the pack. He has a Reaganesque charisma–dumb but sincere–and right-wing credentials without the baggage of a sitting Senator. Giuliani has too much baggage–he married his second cousin for Chrissake! The War issue toasts McCain and Romney is like a Republican platypus–weird parts of things put together in one animal.
You heard it here first. Another man from Hope versus a playah to be named later.
cbl @ 32
It’s sad that this guy could recognize the truth two years ago (at the time he was warning us that all we were likely to accomplish was arming and training all sides in Iraq), and the Bush Administration still don’t see it.
Thanks GSD, cbl, I didn’t realize the Hudson Institute allowed so much latitude.
Judge
strict constructionistBork is the one at the Hudson Institute, who has always really pissed me off. He watched in silence as Bush gutted the Bill of Rights, but suddenly when Bush nominated Harriet Meiers for SC, he’s on camera everywhere criticizing the choice.froggermarch, I’m with you – I think Huckabee’s gonna be the candidate…
St. McCain? I think he’s gotten senile…
John Casper @ 39
The only real contribution Bork ever made to society was the use of his last name as a verb.
AP – Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday the war in Iraq has been mismanaged for years and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will be remembered as one of the worst in history.
Gawd I dislike McCain.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 33
good luck with that…grrrrr. from today’s interview with Hedges on Democracy Now!
(bold mine)
http://www.democracynow.org/ar…..19/1545218
froggermarch @ 37
I’d agree with you except for one thing – I hadn’t realized Huckabee was running until now. I suspect he’s a bit behind the pack in name recognition. That might be a good thing, but he’s going to need more buzz, I think.
OldCoastie @ 40
I agree that McCain sounds really bad. He doesn’t look well these days either. What about Hagel?
Firepups have to be ever vigilant -
Odom is Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute
but I like some of his ideas, just the same
Terry Olson @ 45
Hagel’s got such big bags under his eyes these days, it looks like he’s got his carry-on luggage with him at all times.
I will continue to hold my party’s feet to the fire.
The DLC gave strong support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Prior to the war, Will Marshall co-signed a letter to President Bush from the Project for the New American Century endorsing military action against Saddam Hussein. During the 2004 Primary campaign the DLC attacked Presidential candidate Howard Dean as an out-of-touch liberal because of Dean’s position of only pursuing Osama Bin Laden instead of invading Iraq. The DLC dismissed other critics of the Iraq invasion such as filmmaker Michael Moore as “Anti-American” and members of the “loony left” [7]. Even as domestic support for the Iraq War plummeted in 2004 and 2005, Marshall called upon Democrats to balance their criticism of Bush’s handling of the Iraq War with praise for the President’s achievements and cautioned “Democrats need to be choosier about the political company they keep, distancing themselves from the pacifist and anti-American fringe.”
What does the DLC have to say about Iraq today?
Another man from Hope
I thought that was Obama.
If Bush is not held accountable for anything, the next guy (McCain ? ) get a big green light to take the destruction of our democracy to the next level. This is a nonstop nightmare.
Hi Mrs K8…. how are you?
New Bush Quote, new definition of the war:
Bush links terror war to independence war
snip:
Today, we’re fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life. And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone,” Bush said.
“He once wrote, ‘My best wishes are irresistibly excited whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom,’” Bush said.
http://today.reuters.com/news/…..-topNews-5
LMAO.
Oklahoma kiddo @
19
He’s self-greasing for the VP to C-in-C pardon stamping role (played earlier without a helmet by Gerald Ford) that will be vacated when Spiro Cheney resigns for ‘undisclosed health reasons’ and Junior has no one to enable his delusions anymore, IMO.
There is only one good thing about seeing McCain in the news. The look of the man admits defeat. I’m sure he has the smell of defeat as well. Poor McCain, he’s not the only candidate reordering his positions, he’s just the one who is easiest to dismiss. As he scurries about pushing rocks up the hill, they fall back down upon him, threatening whatever political life he has left. He has become such an unsympathetic character that most voters don’t even hear him. Ah well, he can still count on the MSM to try to preserve the illusion of his importance.
McCain says it was Rumsfeld’s fault.
I forgot this part:
Bush is locked in a dispute with the Democratic leaders of the U.S. Congress over his deployment of 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq, which Bush considers a central front in the war on terrorism.
snip
Reuters makes it sound like no Gop voted Democratically.
I believe that the Israeli government, most Republicans and many Democrats have for decades acted in a most fascistic and racist fashion toward the Palestinians.
Boudica @ 55
Sounds like a good name for a Gop cologne: DEFEAT
OK Kiddo –
The DLC is a dinosaur, as yet in denial about its own in-process extinction.
Even if someone surveying the scene is amoral in their analysis, it’s obvious they have ZERO energy left. All the energy in the new growth of the party has nothing to do with the triangulators.
As the obscenity of GOP rule becomes ever more glaringly apparent (see the WaPo series on the sins-which-cry-out-to-heaven —> the gov’t’s treatment of injured veterans for just one example of the ugliness-on-parade which is coming), those who bargained with evil all along will be even less popular than they are now.
When neither St. McCain NOR Hillary can go ANYWHERE without hearing rough questions from citizens, it’s clear what direction things are moving in. And the momentum is just STARTING.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 23
Has there ever been a SS who has traveled so much and done so little?
scarecrow @ 56
It was only partly Rumsfeld’s fault IMHO. The entire WH supported him as did many repubs in congress (as well as some dems). Why does he still have an office and staff in the pentagon? Presumably that means he also has a paycheck.
#41- Mrs.K8-
His name is also useful as a rhyme in dirty limericks.
Ha..ha…The Lou Dobbs poll that was supposed to whip up an anti-pot frenzy turned up 75% supporting legalizing pot.
Boo-hoo Lou.
-GSD
Hugh–this ones for you…un-named sources, from Faux:
WASHINGTON — Usama bin Laden and his No. 2 man, Ayman al Zawahiri, are rebuilding the Al Qaeda terror group along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, but the bases are smaller and lieutenants are less experienced, a U.S. official said Monday.
The American official was confirming a story reported in Monday’s New York Times that said a band of training camps has popped up in Pakistan along the Afghan border and the leadership chain of command has been re-established despite an “erosion” of leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,252766,00.html
New Bush Quote, new definition of the war:
“And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone,” Bush said.”
Oh.My.Gawd.
Honestly, my 1st reaction on hearing this a.m. that chimpy would be speaking at Mt. Vernon was that the Mt. Vernon Ladies Assoc. should forbid him to set foot on the property.
How dare he in any way remotely compare himself to Washington?
(I’ve been reading some revolutionary history and have gained respect for Washington’s skill in war and politics.)
The only thing those two have in common is the first letter of their family names. Yuuck.
katymine –
Hi there, good to see you!
Guess you heard about our car accident?
Late last week someone was kind enough to warn me about PTSD. What that thoughtful soul didn’t know is that I was diagnosed with that years ago — a variety of consecutive traumas piled on to give me a whopping case of it.
Recently I had been doing very, very well on that score. Unfortunately, the accident triggered it all over again. Nightmares, crying jags, sudden need to fold up in a fetal position, etc.
The advantage I have, which really IS an advantage — is that I know exactly what I’m dealing with. It’s not a surprise. And I know what kind of soothing things I need to start the healing process over again — and Mr. K8 is being a huge help.
Thanks for asking!
How the heck are you? Have your heater/AC woes been solved finally? When your boyfriend got back from the Superbowl did he have any interesting stories?
Someday (soon I hope) I’ll get back to going to our local meetings again. I look forward to seeing your bright smiling face again! Your energy helps my morale!
Why is Faux spelling Osama the pre-911 way, USAma?
barrelhse @ 63
LOL!!!
True, that.
lectric lady @ 61
I cannot think of any. At least in my life time.;0)
OMG: Sounds like Jeb is getting ready for the trial tomorrow:
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – He’s been spotted parallel parking at a South Miami shopping mall and buying popcorn…
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/m…..731933.htm
Are we saying the DLC no longer has any power or influence within the Democratic Party? ;0)
John Casper @ 12
I don’t understand why he’s singling Wilson’s attorney out. I hope he is an equal opportunity reprimander.
Is it because she’s an “interested” party?
Mrs. K8 @ 4:00 pm (#67) – Can you ever get over PTSD? A guy I work with is a Vietnam vet with PTSD. He still gets the shakes when he hears gunfire.
Can congresspeople be tried by the ICC if they fail to prevent a nuclear attack on Iran?
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/hi…..leid=10544
should get their attention at least.
Richard Engel on Hardball, just had the best summary of combat in Baghdad and Iraq over the last three years, that I have heard from the MSM.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 72
No, not at all. At least I’m not saying that. But I think their trajectory is really clear, don’t you?
All the energy in November was for folks like Tester and Webb — people with a genuinely populist message. It doesn’t matter if the cocktail weenie crowd sneers at populist messages. The American public takes it to heart, and are way, way ahead of the weenie set in ALL ways that will ultimately matter.
IMO.
lectric lady @ 61
The Israeli press was speculating over the weekend, after she pre-emptively announced from the Bagdhad Green Zone her unwilligness to accept the new Hamas-Fatah alliance, that she would therefore “have more time to shop.” Sorry, too busy to find the link…
From Atrios:
———————-
Tweetylogisms
Tonight on Hardball, Matthews gave Mr. Maverick a new nickname: Senator John McBush.
hey !
this guy was Secretary of State
ccmask @ 59
Well ya never know. Maybe it’s contagious, I think McCain caught the stench, um, fragrance from Bush. By the way I’ve heard that Jeb really likes Romney, so if that’s his choice who thinks he’s on the same page as the rest of the clan? Forget where, but someone had an article today saying that Mitt needs to be defeated early or he could end up being a strong contender. What do you think?
Thank God I will be going back to work tomorrow. Teaching a bunch of high school kids algebra and trig beats sitting around on Prez Day looking at all the naughty political news.
John Casper @ 76
Taylor Marsh highlighted his interview on MTP yesterday, which she said is something of a rare event:
MR. ENGEL: Call in Farsi. Yeah. They will ask, when you make reservations in Najaf or Karbala, they’ll answer the phone in Farsi, they will quote you the price…
MR. RUSSERT: The Iranian language?
MR. ENGEL: The Iranian language. They’ll quote you the price in toman. They—it is very much an Iranian—part of the Iranian sphere of influence. ..
http://www.taylormarsh.com/arc…..p?id=25176
It sounds like the Iraq thing is really going well, just not for us or the Iraqis.
*xyz @ 79
What a scream!
If the Republicans were able to paste Kerry as a “flip-flopper” Romney will be tattoed with that characterization.
Not to mention, the “religiuous values voters” think that Romney belongs to a cult.
The Republican base won’t be able to support a Mormon. Wacky, left wing, tofu and gay commie liberal Massachusetts could vote for Romney but not the values crowd.
Quite funny.
-GSD
McCain: Against forced-birth before he was for it.
Oh, and too old; he’ll be 72 in 2008. St. Ronnie was 69 when elected President, and look where that got us.
John Casper @
24
So far as I know, Odom was never a neocon. He was head of the NSA for many years, and was something of a hawk. I’d compare him to Brent Scowcroft or Zbigniew Brzezinski.
McCain looks like he’s aging in Bush years too.
-GSD
Odom is an anagram for doom by the way.
-GSD
OldCoastie @ 40
… and what’s with his chipmunk cheeks. Is he on steroids?
Boudica: I’m not up on Romney. I don’t know too much about him. But Jeb sounds like he’s enjoying life giving expensive speeches. I don’t think he’ll be running in 2008 though. Unless Babs tells him to, of course.
Looking at Dana Priest on “Hardball”. The Administration treatment of returning wounded Iraq vets is atrocious. I’m starting to get angry.
GSD @ 88
Look how tan Bush is compared to Mr. McWhite.
Cujo359 @ 74
Not COMPLETELY.
But with time and help and self-understanding (especially of what types of situations can set it off) it’s possible to minimize the effects.
For instance, one of the major contributors to my PTSD was TWO major, very serious accidents (one in a car, one was a serious fall). There was a time when seeing an ER scene on the show NYPD Blue — where the character was being wheeled into the ER with a shattered leg from a car accident — sent me into full-out hysterics.
Over time that subsided (now it’s BACK again).
BUT — I came to discover that whenever I could feel in control of some OTHER areas of my life (random accidents are not foreseeable) it helped ease my underlying sense of panic.
It also helps enormously to have a husband who will hold me in his arms, and rock me back and forth, and tell me I’m safe, and stroke my face for as long as I need it to be calm again. Then he tells me how strong I am — and I can stand up and go back to work around the house and feel all the stronger — PARADOXICALLY because I didn’t have to hide my fear from him. I could wail my heart out, freely, with no bad judgement of me to worry about.
OTOH — my obnoxious sister called last night and her first comment was “My, my, you just seem to act as a MAGNET for bad things to happen. Hahahah. Joke, just a joke. Haha.”
I had a big set-back after that call. But again, Mr. K8 helped pull me through.
I don’t know if my comments here help in understanding — and I’m sure in lots of ways it’s much, much worse for those who’ve lived through war. But I think it can be managed — like a lifelong illness is managed — with the help of loving relationships — people who understand and don’t patronize or give lectures, and just give the PTSD sufferer a chance and a warm space to feel safe again.
ccmask @ 91
Babs is the ringmaster in the Bush circus. Make no mistake. This woman gets what her ruthless heart wants. ;0)
wigwam @ 90
those are his carefully hoarded fecaliths.
:O
ccmask @ 93
According to last month’s Vanity Fair article, Maverick slathers on layers of zinc oxide when going out in the sun, after his face cancer scare.
raven @ 21
I gotcher grade A Norske rant right here if I copied the code right.
The Administration treats the military like a box of tissues. When used up they are discarded. It seems harsh, but then they want that funding for more able bodied troops. It doesn’t seem to concern the President overmuch, remember he said he sleeps very well.
(((((MrsK8 and MrK8)))))
Hope you both are recovering ok.
Cujo359 @ 74
If my 83 yr old WWII Vet father as an example, no you never get over PTSD. He choose a profession where he would have lots of time alone, Wildlife Biologists working for the US Forest Service. As a child I knew when things were getting to him. He would pack up the carryall and head out for a week in the boonies.
What has made his worse?
This war. Watching the news, Michael Moore’s F911 film, reading stories in the paper, see the new crop of Vets at the VA when he goes into for his care.
All my life my father has never talked about his war experiences, now, we have lots of long talks about them and how he is dealing with it. Thank God for Habitat for Humanity because if he could not go pound nails two days a week with a bunch of other geezers it would really get to him.
Cujo –
An additional thought –
the panic is biological. Adrenaline floods the system, setting off all sorts of alarm bells in the body and the mind.
Fight or flight.
The person having the attack physically NEEDS to rock back and forth, or to pace, or to go running — usually, for some reason, I find that rhythmic movement is very, very helpful.
So, socially speaking, it’s a big help if the people around the sufferer understand that and encourage this to work off the adrenaline — and NOT to see the person as “weird.”
Does that make sense? There’s nothing weird about needing to pace, or to rock back and forth in a rocking chair, furiously. But some people will gawk and say, “oh how weird.” But it’s physiological as well as psychological. Necessary to bring the system back to a normal, more calm state.
Boston 1775: Left you a comment at the end of “Grey Lady” post. Hope it helps. And hope this wasn’t doesn’t get EPU’ed too.
Mrs. K8 – I, too, have PTSD and have resolved over the years how to fight it. the accident just about one year ago this time of year left me fearing every phone call was going to reveal another one of my family had died a tragic death. I cried every time the phone rang — irrational but persistent.
Be patient and know that facing forward is always the easiest way to get anywhere.
What is sweet is Murray Waas’s latest.
The money quote:
Just saw Dana Priest on Hardball–the repeat edition. Building 18. That name should be on the lips of every citizen of this counry. Everyone of us should ask our Senators and Congresspeople now, this week, how many times they’ve been to Building 18 at Walter Reed.
BushCo gives Halliburton no-bid war profiteering contracts. BushCo gives pallets of unaccounted-for billions of dollars. BushCo gives our wounded soldiers rodent traps and moldy rooms.
Disgrace. This is high crimes and misdemeanors.
egregious @ 100
Thank you, egregious! One of the biggest helps for me, personally, is this place at the Lake — and friends like you.
This FirePup Place is another of those very few safe spaces.
Mrs K8…
Life is back to normal here(what ever that is)
(((((MrsK8 and MrK8)))))
In the UK, healthcare professionals are provided with counseling when they are involved in trauma care. Many nurses who immigrate to the USA are surprised that counseling is not available as part of their work. Working in the ER can be like working in a war zone at times, inner city trauma centers even more so.
egregious @
98
Thanks, I missed that entire thread.
St John McBush is now flip flopping on Rumsfield.
Telling what we all know.
http://apnews1.iwon.com//artic…..2H400.html
Oklahoma kiddo @ 92
Matthews is congratulating her and ssying she’ll be up for a Pulitzer.
Will the press question Bush about Building 18 at Walter Reed? Will he say he’s not going to answer, as he did when questioned about staff involvment in the outing of Valerie Plame? Will the Press laugh again, if he repeats “not gonna talk about it”?
GrandmaJ @ 104
Yes! I know that well. The body kicks in with the adrenaline — without conscious thought intervening, it happens too quickly — at the mere sound of a telephone.
You know this inside and out. And that, almost unbelievably, over time (and with great patience) a person can come to hear a telephone again without levitating off the chair.
But nothing will circumvent the initial need for many, many tears and fears and wailings and fetal positions in bed FIRST.
Maybe this isn’t universally true, but my impression is that the more a person tries to hold in the physical need to wail or to contain the physical aspects of grief, the longer it takes in the long run for the heart to heal. Do you think that is true, too?
Thanks Viget for the Waas scoop, that’s huge!
Thanks Cujo for the Taylor link.
Thanks Wigwam, I just assumed anyone at the payroll of the Hudson Institute was a neocon, my mistake.
As far as gunfire and loud bangs, I think there is also a condition called “hyper-vigilance” that impacts folks on a lesser level than full blown PTSD. I’ve been home 37 years but it hasn’t subsided a bit.
re: calling Romney a flip-flopper—
have you EVER seen it done to a Repub? As far as I can tell, it’s only applied to Democrats.
Lots of flip-flopping in the last year or two – haven’t seen a single MSM use the word.
Remember, many, things are only crimes when done by Democrats.
At least to the trad media.
Related to McCain/Bush: There is an exceptional post at HuffPo by Scot Horton describing George Washington’s commitment to treating British prisons captured in the revolutionary war humanely, just the opposite of the brutal treatment the British inflicted on their American prisoners. Washington insisted on this policy partly because he believed it was consistent with the American character the patriots were trying to convey to all, and because he believed that allowing torture and mistreatment caused a break down in discipline in American forces.
Read this post.
They just announced that 9 troops died today on MSNBC…
Boy the Republicans are loving the troops to death!
Please, can we not toss preznintial candidates out for rank stupidity?
Because for John Wayne McCain, to joyfully book PUBLIC passage on the BushTANIC, at this point, has to rank as one of the most dumbshit policy decisions in the history of campaigning.
For a man who, as Driftglass puts it, would “personally fellate every voter in the United States if they will just, please GOD, let me be preznit” to do THIS, is almost scary.
McCain is now so tarred with equal parts blood, bullshit, snakeoil, and bushCo koolaid, that the doesn’t even have a chance for “caretaker” president.
When Cheyney resigns 6 months from now, clearing the way for the republicans (who are looking at 2008 like a Brontosaur looking up at the Jurassic Meteor, only with more cognitive ability for what it portends) the last thing they’ll want, is to have ANOTHER drool-chin, knee-jerk jingo, for whom to have to apologize to the voters.
BAGHDAD, Feb. 15 (UPI) — Five U.S. troops died in action in Iraq Wednesday, Defense Department officials said Thursday.
Defense officials identified two service members who died earlier this week as Army Pfc. Nickolas A. Tanton, 24, of San Antonio, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Laquita Pate James, 23, of Orange Park, Fla.
Tanton was died of non-combat related injuries Kirkuk Tuesday and James died of natural causes aboard the USS Bataan.
http://www.dailyindia.com/show…..ed-in-Iraq
Grandma J –
I forgot to mention this –
“anniversaries” can be tough, and can sneak up on you (emotionallly speaking) almost subconsciously. You may find yourself, suddenly, unexpectedly, bursting into tears at a time and place you wouldn’t have predicted.
I just want to send you extra special hugs and offer prayers for you and your whole family now.
Maybe you won’t have the “anniversary” phenomenon — these things are all so individual, too! — but if you do, please feel you can lean on us here for anything we can do for you. Even if it’s just an ear, a place you can let it all hang out.
Much love to you.
I remember when George Bush the First was running for re-election(1992)and he publicly said he would do “whatever it takes” to win that election. – I recall being struck by the cynicism in that statement. And I prayed that whatever he did would not be enough.
I remember the 2000 election primary, where I was literally fooled by McCain and his maverick reputation, and I requested a republican primary ballot for the first time in my life because I thought voting against Bush was more important than another vote in the already sewn up Gore column.
After being on the losing side in the two most recent presidential elections, I thought my own cynicism had peaked. No politician could surprise me any more.
But I find my reaction to the current self-reinvention of McCain challenges my powers of description. There is flip-flopping, but the word is too small to encompass the magnitude of this transformation.
I looked up the word “feckless” – origin from the Scots “feck”, meaning effect. So essentially ‘effectless’, ie: ineffective, incompetent, futile. (Sounds like someone else we know helping hold the cake.)
To so roundly embrace all that you once condemned. To so brazenly seek approval from those you professed to despise. To prove so unprincipled that even those you court cannot trust you to stand by your words. Is it feckless to abandon ALL in such a bald grab for power? Shakespeare is needed, I don’t have the words.
looseheadprop up on deck.
(((((GrandmaJ)))))
We love you.
scarecrow at 117 -
great post. thanks for the link. Heard David Hackett Fischer, author of Washington’s Crossing (about much more than dec. 26 1777)discussing the same thing, with the same Washinigton quote,on Saturday NPR weekend edition.
And he pointed out that the policy has worked well for us for 200 years, until…you-know-who.
He also pointed out that one in four Hessian troops ended up settling in the US after the Revolution;in large part because of their astonishment (expressed in letters home) at being treated humanely, instead of put to the sword or tortured, when captured by Continental troops.
But our Decider-in-Chief, the evader of any military service, knows better, of course.
#123, Don’t need Shakespeare. The word is LOSER!
John Casper @ 24
Just got back and read the comments. Thanks, John for the link. It’s a good description. I agree with wigwam too that some of the old cold warriors like Odom and Zbig are horrified by Bush, the disaster of Iraq, and the thought that Bush can’t get past his ego to get us out of there.
Odom mentions and I would like to hear more discussion by him and others about how to manage the aftermath of our departure from Iraq. This is where the focus of discussion should be, I think.
Parenthetically, it is interesting to see how quickly the Sunni insurgents and Shia militias have adapted themselves to the new Baghdad security plan. The Sunnis are using car bombs to attack Shia neighborhoods and the new US incity posts. The militias are backing off and by doing so are pushing us to use most of our resources against the Sunnis, an outcome which they want. The tradeoff is that this leaves their neighborhoods more open to car bombing.
This is making the best of a plan they did not want, which I have called the “inside” strategy. The Shia preferred an “outside” strategy with the US combating Sunni in areas around Baghdad and leaving the Shia in control of the city itself. Bush went for an inside strategy and so the Shia have tried to modify it and aim it against the Sunni in the city. It is a clever move although irrelevant to the eventual failure of the Bush strategy.
there once was a Saint named McCain
who’s words about war were profane
rather than admit a mistake
he ate melted cake
if only he gotten ptomaine
yeah, I know, new thread . . .
Defense officials identified two service members who died earlier this week as Army Pfc. Nickolas A. Tanton, 24, of San Antonio, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd class Laquita Pate James, 23, of Orange Park, Fla.
Geez, that will be the 3rd death from San Antonio in about 3 weeks. Last week (epu’d earlier) the second of 2 soldiers from one high school was buried.
We’re not a small town, but we are low-income, comparatively, and minority-majority. Also a proud military city, with lots of retired military and vets here.
new thread – Prof. Prop in da house
epu’d again??????Noooo—
my home computer is sick – how can I do without my FDL fix? But this trying to post and work at the same time – not working too well…..
Muahahahaha.
My band was just leaving the Hotel Ft. Des Moines as the McCain contingent was taking over the lobby.
One of our entourage (ha! I kill myself!) muttered “Not gonna happen, guys,” as she walked by, and oh the stares she got from the assembled suits…
Sorry, McCain supporters. She’s right. Not gonna happen.
Regarding McCaine’s comments about Rumsfelt, before the 2008 election hits, Rummy will look like a medical-school skeleton; the GOP will have flayed EVERY micron of tissue off of his leathery ass, AND Paul Bremer’s, AND sundry other politicians and generals, and made a “Mulligan’s Stew” out of the meat, to offer to the voters. They’ll be channelling the Donner Party like it was the fucking Sans Souci restaurant. :o)
Over the next 20-odd months, in the republican party, “scapegoating” is going to be elevated to an art form. :o)
I’m happy to say, that I don’t think it will be enough. They’re going to have to drag bush up the steps of the Capitol like it was Chichen Itza, and politically speaking, rip his heart out and throw it to the electorate, as “mea culpa”.
I can hardly wait… :o)
James Robinson @ 133
HAHAHAHAH!!!
Oh, that’s good. I especially like the touch of tossing the comment casually, without breaking stride. Like it’s not even worth more than a throw-away line. Perfect.
Well it is more than karma going to do in McCain. He is and will continue to have Saturn transits reigning him in and spoiling his fun for the rest of the year and into 2008. In terms of his campaign, he will continue to lose support and interest in him as a candidate will wane until he is just a speck of dust in the desert – as viewed from outer space.
James Robinson @ 133
Well, I was struggling to think of reasons to be in Iowa rather than California in mid-February, but spooking the McCain campaign certainly makes the list…
Terry Olson @ 62
–SCARECROW. RUMMY AND HIS STAFF OF 8 ARE VERY BUSY SHREDDING THE DOCUMENTS ON THE HALIBURTON CORRUPTION IN IRAQ THAT SENATOR WAXMAN WANTS — AND NEEDS TO PROVE HIS BILLION DOLLARS MISSING CASES. IMHO OF COURSE THAT INVOLVES GETTING A GOVERNMENT CHECK WITH HIS NAME ON IT…
Let me see if I get this straight. McCain says Rumsfeld was terrible, but his boss, Bush is okay?
McCain says:
“I have been saying for 3 1/2 years that we would be in this sad situation and this critical situation we are in today,” he said.
McCain’s bid for president was sidetracked in South Carolina in 2000 after a victory in New Hampshire. George W. Bush won the primary here and went on to win the nomination and White House.
“In life, one of the worst things you can do is hold a grudge,” he said. “I felt the important thing for me to do with my life was to move forward after we lost our race. You have seen other people who have lost who mire themselves in bitterness and self pity. That’s not what my life is all about.”