Couldn’t make this stuff up, could you? Imagine if McCane is elected…

And I thought American *and the world* had already paid the price for Rice being the Worst Secretary of State Ever. Perhaps, though, the worst effect is yet to come. That’s a sorry state of affairs if true.

I’m sick of people doubling down against Putin when they have trash in their hands. Don’t bait the bear unless you’re sure you have the upper hand.

Bushies don’t play poker – or chess. Or diplomacy. “Go Fish” is the more their speed, after extensive tutoring, of course.

Isn’t Russia supposed to be Condoleezza “no one could have anticipated” Rice’s area of academic specialization?

Well, yeah, it *was*, until Saint Ronnie ended the Cold War. Now her “expertise” is about as useful in modern-day diplomacy as having graduated as a phys-ed major.

If I can judge from several long conversations w/old friends who are former colleagues of Dr. Rice @ Stanford, Condi’s touted expertise on Russia/the Soviet Union is primarily in her head. The descriptions “stodgy,” “simplistic,” & “outdated” were used. Also, apparently Rice hangs onto those outdated conceptions harder than a squirrel does to a stash of walnuts. Her belief in her own knowledge of Russia is tota,l & she can be very convincing to those who don’t know much about the subject themselves.

But those who do, well…

“no one could have anticipated” that the Worst National Security Adviser Ever would also be Worst Secretary of State Ever. I mean, what were the odds..?

Huff Post says Prez sending Biden to Georgia this weekend. Strange – does he think Condi can’t do the job?

What’s the difference between the Bush administration and the Boy Scouts?
The Boy Scouts have adult supervision.
This is part of the consequences of not impeaching the President, or even making him worry about it.
I think the MIC is starting to see the Iraq war winding down, so they are ginning up a better enemy. One with some staying power.

Well, yeah, it *was*, until Saint Ronnie ended the Cold War. Now her “expertise” is about as useful in modern-day diplomacy as having graduated as a phys-ed major.

I seriously doubt if she has any ever been an expert in anything besides sycophancy. Her credentials were always exaggerated. We were supposed to be wowed by the fact that in addition to her vast knowledge of foreign affairs, she was a “classically trained pianist.” I heard her play, like everything else about her, her ability was greatly overstated.

OT – Frank Rich offers a clear-eyed assessment of John McCain.

I can confirm those statements, from conversations with similar specialists. No one says she’s stupid. You have to be clever to get to the top of the greasy pole, but her knowledge of Russia and Eastern Europe was always superficial. Why am I not surprised?

Just a quick note to set the record straight…It would be great if Chimpy sent Biden..It would speak volumes about Condi’s lack of anything, but it’s actually better than that. Here’s the headline from HuffPo…

“Biden To Georgia At Saakshvili’s Request”…..

IT’s the President of Georgia !! HA!

does he think Condi can’t do the job?

You really began a question about Georgie with the words “does he think…?” heh.

I’m thinking it’s more likely Condi put her foot down, complaining that she’d already been forced to interrupt her vacation (vacation from what? – might be a relevant question), that she has tickets to something really, really, good on Broadway, or maybe there’s a sweet sale at Feragamo’s (sp?) coming up this week….

It’s a rather strange feeling that I have such contempt for the entire administration. I have never felt that way before – didn’t like some people but I just can’t respect anyone involved now. Condi is just a write-off from start to finish. But she is loyal.

looks like I’ll have to decorate more freeways…

http://freewayblogger.blogspot…..uitar.html

signs on I-80 and some classical guitar faves. “Orientale” is gorgeous.

I really enjoy your signs and have gratitude that you take the time and effort to this for us. Thank you.

But she is loyal.

And I hope that she reaps every single “reward” possible for that loyalty in the very near future.

What kind of wrapping paper should properly be used when presenting an indictment? Should it be accompanied with a nice card?

Would Miss Manners know?

I forgot to “snark” the loyal part. I am amazed that so many people have been willing to put their heads on the block for Bushco. Not all of them can be idiots, thugs or worse. There must be some people involved who know that all of this is wrong and they do it anyway. And I don’t think it can all be money because a lot of them aren’t making millions. So, Why?

scarlet–how did you attach the ‘peace’ sign onto concrete?

thanks for the music.

When did our government become so f*cking stupid — seriously. Our entire foreign policy now carries the same depth as a plot-line from a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. God help us all.

What kind of wrapping paper should properly be used when presenting an indictment? Should it be accompanied with a nice card?

the newspaper from the bottom of the bird cage?

no card

Biden was a key advocate and supporter of NATO bombings in the area formerly known as Yugoslavia. Personally, I was ambivalent about the whole thing–what does civil society do in the face of genocide?

Point is that Saakshvili certainly knows this and expects a better outcome from the future VP of the United States. Hope Biden keeps his mouth shut.

On this, Ian, I agree with you. What are they all thinking?

Rove (the devil) went down to Georgia looking for a soul to steal. He went to dupe the Georgians into thinking that the US would have their backs against Russia. When really, Bushco is on Pooty’s side.

Now Pooty’s peeved b/c Bushco wants nukes in Georgia to point at Pooty.

I guess its all about money and the MIC, bleeding the US treasury by any means for any bellicose cause on any side that will line the pockets of the key players.

Now for some smooth jazz.

When the key criteria for advancement up the slippery pole is “Loyalty,” why should it be a surprise that those near the top – who have repeatedly demonstrated their loyalty to get there – continue to demonstrate their loyalty?

There is a social selection pressure in the current White House for loyalty, with loyalty clearly prized well above competence or good sense. We are observing the winners of that competition. We just don’t see all the losers.

no card

phew ! – thanks.

I know I’ve never seen a “Happy Indictment” card at the local Hallmark stores….

Biden and shut mouth = oxymoron. When Biden trips on his dick, Bushco and the MSM will have the democrats for a scapegoat. Send Condi. This is another set-up wherein Lucy(R) holds the football for Charley Brown(D).

When did our government become so f*cking stupid

When the John Birchers and related batshit insane extremists took over the Republican Party and the Republican Party took over the federal government. That’s when.

Which high level democrat with self-identified foreign policy chops is egotistical enough to think he can kick Lucy’s football high into the sky this time?

new thread upstairs…

Thanks Ian. Bullseye, as per usual.

Sorry Ian, if it makes you feel better this is the second time today I’ve had to apologise for not resisting temptation. Evil-war-mongering-monkey see Evil-war-mongering-monkey do

Oops sorry everyone No: 32 was me and yes it should be accompanied by a card

regarding Biden going to Georgia this weekend at the request of Saakashvili , I wonder if Saakashvili might have a squeeze play in mind for Bush/McCain. The leverage for Saakashvili being, cluing Biden into what assurances Bush/McCain/Scheunemann gave Saakashvili before leaving him twisting in the wind.

.

Sakashvili is going to pull a Harper trick and will make some outrageous statement or promise that he claims Biden has made on behalf of Obama.

Bank on it.

Saakashvili is a tie eating kook. Here’s the proof.

-G

We live in hope. I doubt Sakaashvili’s smart enough to carry it off, seeing as he was conned by Rove.

Hi Ian, fancy your entré, usually they are awaiting the start of a new day here. Have you seen this? The neocon lapdogs are at work, yapping at the bear, why will they never learn? What is the eejit Sarcozy going to do, bite Putin on the ankle? Don’t these bankrupt ideologues realize Russia does not need to go far to halve Georgia for all practical purposes. They are not even planning to move until after Monday. The world gone mad.

Good post.

Link http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..ia.russia4

I think he’s smart enough (getting where he is speaks for something), but it’s a matter of how scared he is right now about his own wellbeing given all the people that got killed and how wrong it turned out for Georgia.

He might be weighing the fact that his path to survival does not go through Bush/McCain/neoconservative influence right about now. He may well not use it, but by requesting Biden to travel to Georgia Saakashvili might be setting up an out for himself, and at the very least, creating an opportunity for leverage over BushCo. simply by the threat of revealing the unknown extent involvement by us promoting the initial attack on Ossetia.

.

What the fuck is wrong with those people?

I know we discussed this over at Mercury Rising, and I contended that an attempt at military reconquest of Ukraine by Russia was going to bleed Russia a lot more than Medvedev or Putin could probably imagine. This is NOT a good time in history to think about building empires. Not for anyone. Tactics and technology are going to combine to make life unbelievable hell for the aggressor state, and the would-be empire builders are going to find the cost will probably grossly outweigh the benefits.

But Viktor Yushchenko has gone out of his ever-loving mind. If he’s really counting on the US to pull his chestnuts out of the fire when this goes sour, he got a free lesson in geopolitical reality to ponder just last week. If the Russians use this as a pretext, they may lose. But it’ll probably tear Ukraine to pieces anyway.

The Iraqis basically won the Iraq War by about couple of years ago. When the US occupation regime was reduced to an appendage of whatever Shia faction could swing the most weight. That’s why they silently collaborated in the ethnic cleansing of Baghdad in 2006.

But Iraq is in chaos, without a government the population at large considers legitimate. The infrastructure has been wrecked for the last five years, and nobody is going to build much that’s stable with fresh suicide bombers doing their thing every single week.

That’s what I’d call a Pyrrhic victory at best.

Does Yushchenko really want to see the same thing happen to Ukraine?