Happy Veterans Day, it is now time to reflect on how America needs another insane trillion-dollar war, for Unity probably, and also Fear! (Afghanistan is not doing the trick these days, boo.) Manly man Mitt Romney TO THE RESCUE with his pasty career corporate office-dweller chest puffed out as far as it will go in a huffy new op-ed promising to overturn wimpy loser Barack Obama’s policy of not bombing the shit out of Iran if he is elected. What is the Mittens Plan of Attack?
Ha ha, we’ll sum it up for you so you don’t have to click on the Wall Street Journal link: mostly his “attack” is just to rehash in his typically dull way how Barack Obama has failed to bomb Iran and meddle in their social uprisings literally every day of the year since he became President. God, Obama and his dumb sanctions! So many sanctions! Blah blah, lots of TUFF TALK. At long last at the end of the piece, here is Mitt Romney’s bold new plan to deal with Iran:
I want peace. And if I am president, I will begin by imposing a new round of far tougher economic sanctions on Iran.
Yep. Well anyway, we did say in the post title that Mitt Romney promises a new war, right? Oh yes, here we are, a couple sentences later in the same paragraph:
I will back up American diplomacy with a very real and very credible military option.
Hooray for war! In conclusion, Mitt Romney went to Harvard:
Si vis pacem, para bellum. That is a Latin phrase, but the ayatollahs will have no trouble understanding its meaning from a Romney administration: If you want peace, prepare for war.
He is a real Winston Churchill, that one! [WSJ]
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Today, on this Veteran's Day, I would like to thank all of you who served this great nation of ours in times of both war and peace. Thank you for your dedication and your sacrifice in the name of every American that enjoys the freedom that you have secured. I salute each and every one of you and I owe you a great debt of gratitude.
Back to snark now….
F***in' A! Go easy and stay safe, people.
Supporting the troops means not asking them to risk their lives for all the wrong reasons.
There it is.
Hooray for the brave fighters of the US imperialist war machine, past and present, conscious or unconscious, for their noble efforts to pillage and lay waste to the enemies of America's bankers and businessmen throughout the world!
Si vis bellum, para bellum.
Now, you're not really getting into the patriotic spirit here. You've got to frame your Veterans Day perspective by going back to WWII, WWI, (skip the Spanish American War), include the Civil War (but not the traitors in the South) and the Revolutionary War. Don't include anything since Korea, except Gulf War I if you want.
Try not to think about all those other cockups and shitstorms and clusterfucks and naked power grabs and random killings of browns and be proud of our armed services! They didn't *ask* to be the pawns of moneygrubbing fearmongers. Most of them thought they were signing up for college benefits or something.
Didn't we go to war in Grenada for a week or two? I forget why- and didn't bother to look it up
And Panama! We liberated the shit out of Panama!
We had to liberate a few snotty medical students who, despite rich parents, couldn't get into any US medical schools.
In all fairness, a lot of those signer-uppers come from military families. There's a long tradition that sons go into the army, at least ONE son goes into the army, serves the nation. It might be poverty or lack of opportunity or education that moves them, but not always. Pat Tillman felt called upon to serve, too, and he was intelligent, educated, and opposed to the war. I can't fault the men and women who serve, although I abhor the military and abhor violence and war. To those who serve, my respect. It takes courage to contemplate the possibility of one's own death or dismemberment, even if one is manipulated into that courage by some of the best mind-altering techniques.
Right on the money. My own sense of political awareness came into maturity during Dubya's tenure. As such, it took me a while to reconcile my violent distaste for wars and the plutocrats who start them with real and genuine love for the troops who fight them.
Set aside the loud-mouthed, self-righteous flag wavers, and the empty, car-magnet patriotism, and all that vapid nonsense about soldiers "fighting for our freedoms" by killing a bunch of hapless brown people, "over there so they don't have to kill them over here." America has a culture of soldier worship, and I'll never buy into it. The real reason to support the troops is that they are our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children, friends and classmates. We are they and they are we.
thanks for saying that cuz it pretty much sums up my views exactly, the folks who consciously or un-consciously participate in the US Dept of War fight only for the Corporate States of 'Merka and if there's one thing I can guarantee it's NOT about four FREEDOM or anyone else's…personally I *celebrate* each Veterans day by re-reading Marine General Smedley Butler's classic "War is a Racket"…this guy KNEW what he was talking about and expressed it better than anyone, if you have never read this I HIGHLY recommend it… http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisarack...
Back to snark now?
Buttsecks!
Now legal in the military! Let the santorum fly!
Yeah, but I bet you'd still get your ass kicked out for BDSM and stuff.
Thank you, but if you had really wanted to thank me for my dedication and sacrifice, you would've helped me get laid lo those many years ago when I was discovering that crippling shyness in a uniform was still just crippling shyness.
Can we make it up to you now? Or are you going to selfishly claim it's too late and keep all your good pot to yourself?
Uh. OK Barb. But I would be remiss in not stating that in my case at least, it was not my idea.
I'm sorry. That must have truly sucked ass.
Thank you, Barb, for those sincere sentiments. As I told my Marine friends yesterday (it was the USMC's birthday, so I was nice to them instead of asking them all why Marines can't eat peanut butter [Answer: "Because their heads won't fit in the jar."]), "It's a team sport, protecting the United States from its foreign policy mistakes."
That's awful. If I ever find my favourite marine again, I'll be sure to tell him that one. Last I heard, the bastard had run off to Jakarta, so who knows?
How to destroy Iran:
* Let Bank of America issue mortgages
* Let Goldman securitize them
* Let Bain Capital securitize Iranian companies, then sell them
* Let Faux News create a Crazy Mullah Channel in Tehran
Let Donald Al-Rumsfeld run the "defense" department
Needz mohr fear of creeping Sharia Law.
Here's the way to destroy Iran: watch them develop their own strong democracy, then when the Prime Minister nationalize the oil industry launch a coup against him on behalf of the US and British oil companies, install a US/UK puppet dictator in his place so that fundamentalist religious nationalists can draw up the anger of the population to overthrow the dictator and replace him, not with another democracy, but with a far-right theocracy.
Again?!
No fair! You peeked at the playbook. Here's what it says in the next chapter, from which Romney is reading. After this, you should expect that the far-right theocracy will use you as a boogy-man to distract attention from their own repression, lies and massive economic failures. This will be the one note the population can be counted on responding to. (Not without much good reasons in recent memory, for example your shooting down one of their civilian passenger airlines, with missiles from one of your missile cruisers sitting just outside their own territorial waters, killing all 290 passengers and crew.) Then, when this repressive regime starts seeing some stirrings of dissent – protest movements, democracy strivings – make sure you do everything you can to allow the theocracy to paint these protest movements as orchestrated and supported by YOU. Give them lots of money, even if they desperately beg you not to. And don't do it on the sly, either. What's the point of that? Announce your intention to do it in an op-ed piece in a major newspaper. Remember – you absolutely must associate those protests with your country. Do everything you can.
God that Romney is a maroon. Nincowpoop.
gawd you guys are freakin' brilliant, I bow down to the Wizards of Wonette! *golf clap*
LOL. Reruns, either way.
Maybe I'll just read a book tonight.
Have you ever considered a job in the Administration? DoD, or something?
This just in: Romney denounces Obama for being too militaristic.
Update: Romney takes it back.
…but in the next sentence he refers to Obama as the Warmonger in Chief.
…and then denounces him for being a wimp.
This just in: Romney accuses Obama of overstepping his Constitutional authority with his use of the military.
NYT Headline:
Like Superheroes Flash and Vision, Romney Dithers Individual Atoms Of His Body To Flip-Flop Through Walls
"I want peace. And if I am president, I will begin by imposing a new round of far tougher economic sanctions on Iran."
And when China vetoes that in the UNSC? What will you do then, Mittens? Pound your little fists and blame Obama, I expect.
Don't forget the Russkies, either. They aren't exactly pro-sanctions.
Never mind that the French generally "enforce" sanctions about as well as they defended Paris in 1941, and that US companies just play subsidiary hopscotch to avoid them (Koch Bros., anyone?)
Of course, that's hardly an excuse not to try anything other than saber rattling.
Will fight for peace.
Will fuck for chastity.
I'd rather fuck for virginity.
Sounds like jihad to me.
Freedom is slavery.
FIRST STRIKE NOW! lives shmives, the important thing is to keep the Koch bros/teabaggers/military contractors happy.
Happy Birthday, Kurt Vonnegut! And let's remember that it's really Armistice Day:
November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy… all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the Voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.
Armistice Day has become Veterans' Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans' Day is not.
So I will throw Veterans' Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.
From Happy Birthday, Wanda June:
Wars would be a lot better, I think, if guys would say to themselves sometimes "Jesus—I'm not going to do that to the enemy. That's too much."
Meanwhile, the Pentagon builds microwave rays to literally cook enemy soldiers, and probably 'enemy' civilians for the hell of it, because a bullet was just too fucking merciful.
don't forget liberals. we all know that shit is coming soon to a "theater" near you.
This is where the tinfoil body suit comes in handy.
jiffy pop.
Thank you.
Plus it was in that book (Mother Night, right?) that he referred to "drum majorettes" as "dildo-twirlers"
This bit is from Breakfast of Champions, but Mother Night contains a scene with similar sentiments, when Howard W Campbell learns that the holiday has been "stolen."
EDIT: Mittens might want to remember Vonnegut's "moral of the story" from Mother Night:
"We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be."
And Herman Cain might want to forget the third moral of the story:
"Make love when you can. It's good for you."
Love them both, MN especially. Schlachthof fünf!
Also, too: "The Second World War was over — and there I was at high noon, crossing Times Square with a Purple Heart on." –God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
I remember that my fifth grade teacher "old" Mrs. Worthington (she retired at the end of that school year after 40 years of teaching) had our class stand and remain silent for one minute at 11:00 on what she always called Armistice Day. Your post brought back that memory, wish I knew more about her story.
I remember going "downtown" (DC) shopping with my Mom and standing in Kann's Department Store at 11 am on November 11. Everything came to a halt, and there was silence over this (then) busy store. No one moved for a minute. We've lost a lot, we have. Let's not let Mitt Moran take us into another colossal carnage in order to prove something, I know not what.
"You want to know something? We are still in the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages — they haven't ended yet."
Strange that 90-odd years ago, my wife's grandfather was doing his level best to kill my grandfather and his two brothers, who, of course were trying their best to kill him. Happily for us, they all failed. Sadly for my wife's grandfather, those best buddy's of the Bush clan, a certain nazi party, decided to murder him, despite his holding the Iron Cross.
I suppose it makes sense to someone, somewhere, but then again, maybe not…..
We have Labor Day because celebrating labor on May Day like the rest of the world would turn us into communists. Likewise, we have Memorial Day to honor the war dead and gave Armistice Day to the veterans because, after all, they can still vote. And as a Deathstorm, Dubya-Dubya 1 was just a warmup for the greatest single event in human history
Kim Kardashian's weddingWorld War II.In the words of the great war historians Pink Floyd: " 'Forward' they cried, from the rear, and the front ranks died".
Writing as VN vet, Pink Floyd nailed it.
Agreed – one of the better three-line summaries in history. Not likely that a wanker like Mitt every sullied his ears with Pink Floyd though.
And here's the graphic, Passchendaele before and after. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325536/A...
This was shelling, not aerial bombardment.
Thank you. for that link. We are very good at destroying things, but that "gift" has been with us for some time.
War: The Republican jobs plan.
U.S. Congress: We Never Forget Who We're Working For [the major shareholders of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing, Raytheon, etc., etc., etc., etc.]
Sounds suspiciously like a Keynesian stimulus package.
I just read an interesting article on Keynes. While not discounting the stimulative qualities of war, he much preferred the long-term multiplier effect of investing in infrastructure. And didn't advise deficit spending in times of economic growth.
Who knew?
Also, for while, he liked to bone dudes.
"Weaponized Keynesianism."
Grist for the mill
Fodder for the canon
Dollars for the war profiteers.
The trickle-down economy.
That should be a bumper sticker if it already isn't.
I think we should bomb Greece, Ireland and Italy first to fix the world's economy.
We could bomb ourselves too.
I'll see if Milo Minderbinder is available.
And remember, everyone has a share!
A drone strike on Goldman Sachs might go along way in achieving that end, as well.
I'm good with that to a degree, but there's a serious flaw. US policy dictates that we may only bomb swarthy people, so you'll need to leave us pasty micks out of it.
what if our pilots use British accents on the mission? can they bomb the Irish, then?
Only the Orange ones.
John Bolton's moustache just got a boner…
Whats that?
Oooh, that is John Bolton…
He kind of sappy, but I do like his covers of Rod Stewart classics.
No snark. I also have some Latin for Mr Romney. http://www.illyria.com/owenpro.html
Dulce et Decorum Est
And today we have Naming of Parts.
Also deeply sad.
First read that in 1966. Still makes me tear up. Thanks.
For me it was what made me realise I loved literature and poetry as long as it said something important, I was thunderstruck when we first read the World War One poets in High school and that one was especially memorable.
Whatever sins the old Empire’s aristocracy can be blamed for, there was this: they at least went to their own goddam wars, they were “in the trenches” before that term was misappropriated into near-meaninglessness by everybody who is slightly inconvenienced.
Yes. There are Oxford colleges where the entire entering class of a given year fell in the Great War.
Wow. Thanks for sharing, LL.
Wow. Provocative and humbling, Lizzie.
More relevant Latin quote:
"All of the Middle East is divided into 3 parts…"
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres
and
Carthago delenda est
Isn't Carthago delenda est the motto of the Cato Institute?
I'm thinking Romney may have kids and grandkids who could go and sit in some armored vehicles in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan, just like the children of the poors.
They're too busy with other patriotic duties – namely, trying to get Mittens elected.
I would laugh, but I know that is exactly what they would say, devoid of irony, if pressed on the subject. My only recourse is to drink.
Worse – it's exactly what Mittens did say during the last primaries, when he was asked about why none of his kids were serving in the wars he was such an enthusiastic proponent of. More specifically he was asked by a woman at a town hall if any of his kids were in the military and “If none of them are, how do they plan to support this war on terrorism by enlisting in our U.S. military?”
Romney replied “one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/que...
11/11/11 Turn it up to 11!!
I named a cat for Nigel Tufnel.
Yes!
Happy Nigel Tufnel Day!
~
Happy Nigel Tufnel Day to you, too
Smell the Glove baby!!!!
I actually wrote 11 on my amplier's volume knob. It's one more than 10 louder now.
Our Band name is Max Gain… and in the logo there lies a knob with an 11.
Yes, yes, but when do we celebrate David St. Hubbins? Perhaps on St. Hubbins Day? But when is the feast day for the patron saint of quality footwear?
Here lies David St. Hubbins, and why not?
Will there be a puppet show?
In this day and age, the number is 63.
"it's called Lick My Love Pump."
Of course Romney’s sons will enlist for the cause.
As posted above:
“one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping to get me elected.”
– Mitt Romney
The Syndicate at least had the balls to put some skin in the game. You want an alien fetus so you can work on a black oil vaccine? Hand over your kids!
Trust no one.
yes, the unemployed ones.
"I will back up American diplomacy with a very real and very credible military option."
Dude, that goes without saying… everyone knows how dickish you guys are when in The White House.
Funny how brave politicians become when they have access to bodyguards, armoured limos, and nuclear bunkers. Most elephants are grey, but then there is a rare yellow species, native to the N. American continent…
Mittens Bombney for Pretzeldent!
He was for war after he was against it, after he was for it, etc.
~
He could have Walnuts sing his theme song at the Inauguration.
He could enlist all those employees he laid off for the ground forces we'd need.
So he is advising the Iranians to prepare for war, in order to preserve the peace? Hey, I have a great idea, they should develop nuclear weapons, that way, by being well armed (preparing for war) they will be able to preserve the peace (Israel and the US would not dare attack them if they have nuclear weapons). Great advice, Mitt, wow.
Hey, wait a minute, that "Si vis pacem, para bellum," you think it might already be Iran's strategy?
You mean it would be rational for Iran to try build a nuclear weap…I mean, nuclear energy, since our government threatens them with military action at least once an week and our army is stationed along the majority of its border? Ya don't say!
Well, look what having nuclear weapons has done for Pakistan. They gave refuge to our worst ever enemy ever, the ogre Bin Laden, for 10 years, and we can't say "boo." They support the Taliban in their war against us, and not only can we not say "boo," we pay them billions per year for the privilege of letting them piss on us. Who wouldn't want that deal?
They'd be crazy not to.
Look Yossarian, suppose, I mean just suppose everyone thought the same way you do.
Then I'd be a damn fool to think any different.
Oh god, thank you. I get such weird looks when I act like Iran wanting nuclear weapons might not be a heinous plot by a demoniac madman.
It's certainly not ideal for the world at large that Iran has nuclear armaments, but that doesn't mean we need to step in and DO something about it, militarily. That would be worse.
I have to imagine that policy wonks in the Pentagon, neocon think tanks, and Israel just sort of have temporary blindness whenever they see a comment or article that says anything to this effect.
And to ensure that there's no bad economic effects, our war with Iran will be off the budget–in fact, it will pay for itself!
Freedom isn't free–just put it on my tab.
I'm not promising, but we should be home by Christmas.
And they will greet us as liberators.
Stuff happens.
Iranian sand. That's what we will go to war for. Once we control their sand we will be sand-sufficient and we won't have to depend on that damn Chinese sand any longer.
Veterans: Thank you for your service.
Mittens: Why don't you read Mark Twain's "The War Prayer."
"O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it — for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen."
It was believed afterwards that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.
Unclear on the concept… man people have been clueless for a while now.
Thanks – really amazing.
That Twain. He knew which Gawd the Christians of his day had been praying to all along.
Iran is for pussies; what Mittens really seems to want is a war with China.
Gen. Buck Turgidson he ain't.
Hmmm, what's his stance on precious bodily fluids?
[How's that for a Wonkette setup? You're welcome.]
So Turgidson supports Rick Santorum, eh?
(Thank you for the low-hanging fruit.)
Yeah, happy veteran's day, 'cuz we respect the troops sooooo much in this country:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northam...
"Remains of US troops killed in Iraq dumped in a landfill"
So that's where they end up.
The airline my father flies for has a contract with the US military. Part of that contract involves bringing those bodies from Germany to the base in Dover. He tells me that in Germany they give them a big ceremony before they send them home. It's beyond fucked up that they chuck them in the landfill when no one is looking.
For my Memorial Day I will be watching my favourite war porn The Black Book, which is fantastic if your idea of erotica involves, the Resistance, saving as many Jews as you can , thwarting the Nazis at every turn and having really , really , steamy sex with a Nazi who eventually becomes a good man.
Today, we are all bleaching our pubes.
I don't need to do that, natural reddish blonde all the way! I love that film, it's so crazy and sexy.
This?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389557/
Yes!!! It is fantastic, in an over the top war porny kind of way. It's the man who brought you Showgirls returning to his Dutch roots, yet still keeping the nipples as an important part of the film.
Verhoeven is weird. The only film of his I've seen is "Starship Troopers," a snarky combo of Nazi chic satire and WB Network horny twenty-something drama, with giant CGI crabs.
You must watch Black Book, it is fabulous.
You should see RoboCop. The movie is violent as hell, but the script sounds like it was written by Leon Trotsky. I'm surprised it got made at all especially during the Ronnie's regime.
And the pre-Charlie Sheen Denise Richards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIklvGsU7bM
does Doogie Howser get giant crabs in that one?
I am committed to the racial purity of the Fatherland, but perhaps some steamy sex can convince me of the errors of my ways? Bitte, meine Liebe?
Naturlich, mein Kapitan.
Reddish-blonde, be still my heart
That cocksucker.
Fear and Loathing in Magic Underpants
I think everyone loathes what's in those magic underoos.
"I want peace. And if I am president, I will begin
by imposing a new round of far tougher economic sanctions onbombing the shit out of Iran." – Fixed.Anyone answer the question about why all these douchebags who have never been on the battlefield want to blow up the browns? Is it because they have small penii or are they just dicks.
Is it because they have small penii or are they just dicks.
Both.
Yes. (The two aren't mutually exclusive.)
Turns out that killing a bunch of darker-hued folks is the entirety of the GOP's foreign policy.
Besides, none of their kids will have to fight. Only the kids of poor people, thus decreasing teh surplus population of moochers and parasites.
For them, it's a win/win!
This is just like when he fought Ho Chi Minh while carousing around the French countryside.
The VC will quake in fear at this rather cheeky Sancerre!
Tough talk from a candy ass more than willing to send 99%er's sons and daughters but not his five sons off to war.
And war wimp / chickenhawk as well, leveraging deferments to keep his candy ass out of Vietnam.
He's going to need all those sons for the next Holy War, which is totally separate from the wars we're fighting against all those Muslims.
I'm still a relatively young guy (30) so I don't really know these things. Were the Republicans always unreasonable, warmongering, hate-filled assholes?
Thanks in advance for clearing this up, older folks.
Not always; after WWII broke out but before Pearl Harbor they were the ones who didn't want the US fighting their good German and Italian friends.
No, but they tended to be the type to advocate doing the wrong thing at the time.
In WW1 and WW2, Isolationist.
In the Cold War. Nuke'em all.
In Korea: Nuke China (which was proven to be a bad idea–at the time the Sovs moved their miniscule atomic bomb arsenal to Siberia just in case.)
In Vietnam: Go all in
In the post Cold War era: bitch when Demrat Preznits dropped bombs, salute the flag when a GOPer Preznit put US America into a war that shouldn't have happened.
They overcompensated with Tsar Bomba.
See: Richard Milhouse Nixon.
In fact Romney's father was one of the early OPPONENTS of the Vietnam War.
Yes, always, always. Reagan went around invading every other little latin american country and caribean island he could, and the amazing thing is, each and every little comical enemy of the day was always compared to Hitler. The world is filled, filled with Hitlers, to the republicans, there was Hussein-Hitler, Ayatollah-Hitler, Qaddafi-Hitler, and even Pineapple-faced Manuel Noriega-Hitler. Lebanon had some kind of multi-headed Hezbollah-Hitlers. Yes, we simply have to invade all countries and kill their Hitlers, all the time.
And every politician who opposes invading whatever the tiny non-threat of the year is is another Neville Chamberlain.
In the GOP, having a rudimentary knowledge of Neville Chamberlain makes you an intellectual and a historian, like Newt Gingrich, or Cliff Claven.
Knowing any more than the basics, however, makes you an elitist and a RINO
Though I think Bernard Coard, the guy holding the reins of power in Granada at the time of the invasion (just a few days after the public relations catastrophe of the bombing of the Marines in Lebanon and the withdrawal of all soldiers – just a coincidence I'm sure) was such small potatoes that even they couldn't call him Hitler with a straight face. But boy they really wanted that invasion badly – even Reagan's bff Margaret Thatcher was furious at him for it.
The most they could accuse him of was being Castro
Not so much. In fact, Democrats are the ones who used to be the hawks (see: Kennedy, John F; Johnson, Lyndon B.). the GOP also used to have a few moderates willing to work on real policy solutions, even up until the 80s.
But after Civil Rights, they decided they no longer liked brown people (making Lincoln roll in his grave) … then came Nixon and his epic paranoia and drive to destroy any political opponents … and then Reagan and his magical (and unfounded) belief that lowering taxes on rich folks magically increases revenue … and, the coup de gras, the 1994 takeover of Congress by Newt and his gang of clinically stupid pals and their Contract With America (since revoked for breach).
THAT is when things really started to implode in terms of cooperation.
Their focus turned from at least acting like they wanted to find real solutions, to destroying Democrats. Period. Any Democrats. Doesn't matter who they are, their gender, their race, nothin' — just attack them and create an entire philosophy based on pissing off liberals. That's it. Nothing more.
Add in 9/11 and they were able to add "Eternal Wars to Re-subjugate Brown People" into the mix.
So, um, shorter: No. It's a relatively recent phenomenon.
Let's not forget the now largely discarded Republican catchphrase about all the "Democrat wars."
Yeah, the one thing people remember about the 1976 VP debates was that Bob Dole used that line. I'm sure Dole wishes people remembered something else. Mondale's reply:
“I think that Senator Dole has richly earned his reputation as a hatchet man tonight. Does he really mean that there was a partisan difference over our involvement in the fight against Nazi Germany?”
"the GOP also used to have a few moderates willing to work on real policy solutions, even up until the 80s."
Some say it's myth; others say it's legend. Myself, I don't know why people would be so willing to destroy the land they love just to prove some elusive ideological point.
So I quote the eloquent words of Dean and Gene Ween: "Don't shit where you eat, my friend."
I would so give you eleventy million upfists for the Ween reference if I could.
The thing we have to remember is that the GOP doesn't give a rat's flea infested ass about our country. They just don't.
George Orwell put it best in the book the GOP now uses as an instruction manual:
Pretty sure that's in the Ryan budget plan as well …
This is the right answer. History didn't begin with Ronald Reagan, kids.
How did they change so much, so quickly? Was it really watergate? Or civil rights and the southern strategy? Notice that when the south was democratic, the democratic party warmongered, and when the south turned republican, the republican party warmongered. Hmm, there is some kind of a pattern. Where was Scoop Jackson from?
Read Rick Perlstein's Nixonland.
I second the recommendation above to read Nixonland.
IM(NS)HO, I think they realized that, with Dems having a huge chunk of the Af. Am. vote locked up thanks to the Civil Rights Act (votes that used to go to the GOP thanks to Lincoln), they just had to do something.
So they chose to appeal to angry, bitter, not-very-educated white folks (Southern or not) as a countermeasure. As a bonus, similar messages worked with rich white folks as well, though there were fewer dog whistles (folks can see: Atwater, Lee for more on those).
The thing is: It worked! We've now had nearly 40 years of GOP dominance in our government — particularly w/ economic and social issues.
But the politics of spite can only be maintained for so long, as it's a terrible way to run a country. We're seeing that now and, thankfully, folks are starting to catch on to the fact the GOP has stopped being a political party and become a full-on cult.
And, yes, I tend to craft a thesis when discussing these issues without snark …
True… However, history almost came to a screeching halt once or twice when Reagan had his crusty fingers resting on the nuclear launch button.
Jesus, I almost forgot the Sandanista-Hitler-Stalins, who were on the verge of actually invading Texas, true story. Reagan wanted to invade Nicaragua and kill the Sandanista-Hitlers, but Congress, being full of commie socialist demmycrats, wouldn't let him, but no problem, because Reagan invoked the Fawn Hall Doctrine: "Sometimes, you have to go above the law, to kill a Hitler."
After Ronald Reagan mentioned that the Sandinistas were only "two days' drive from Harlingen, Texas" there was much mirth — but the old bastard funded the ex-National Guard troops who used to repress their countrymen in the name of dictator Anastasio Somoza, who was driven into exile by the evil commies (who asked Jimmy Carter for help, and when Congress turned them down, were forced to get aid from Cuba, hence evil Soviet Hegemony in our sphere of influence, etc.)
All that was Cold War bullshit, of course, but even a flimsy excuse is good enough for the people who think our way of life is threatened by everything foreign. And for your amusement, here's a classic: Brownsville Braces for Sandinista Invasion. Some things never get old.
Other officials worry only about the Sandinistas' visit to Texas being an enjoyable one.
"If we can handle 700,000 tourists and 90,000 college kids on (South Padre Island), we're ready for anything," Harlingen Chamber of Commerce Director David Allex said. "If the Sandinistas come, we just hope they have a good time and come back to see us."
Remember when "Chamber of Commerce" used to mean civic boosterism instead of calling the Preznit a socialist?
Wife (then girlfriend) Chichikovna was working as a development economist with an international charitable organization in Costa Rica at the time. She speaks/spoke fluent Spanish, and did a lot of work across the border in Nicaragua so she had a pretty good sense of what was actually going on. I can tell you the level of dishonesty from the U.S. government about the true situation in Nicaragua, and the nature of the people the US was supporting ("moral equivalent of the founding fathers") was as bad as anything I've seen. (Mind you I wasn't here, and I was just a little kid, during the Vietnam War.) Even the Bush administration at its Iraq – stumping worst wasn't as bad as Elliot Abrams and his crowd, IMO.
As one who was in Nicaragua not long after the "triumph" (as the overthrow of Somoza was called) occurred I had opportunities to meet and talk with some of the Sandinista leaders: Miguel d''Escoto, Ernesto Cardenal, Violetta Chamorro and the Minister of Agriculture whose name escapes me at this time. What was amazing was how young most of them were, and how much they had expected the US to support their overthrow of one cruel, hated bastard. They had not reckoned that Somoza was OUR cruel, hated bastard. Naive, yes. We squashed hope in that nation and it is still a problem.
Unfortunately jingoism and thirst for war for other people's kids comes in both Democratic and Republican wrappers.
Either yes they have been, or yes I once was. As a much younger man I can recall voting for both George Wallace and Barry Goldwater. I still remember why I voted for Barry. Can't remember why I voted for George. Not particularly proud of either vote, just sayin….
Lincoln was the last sane Republican. Its been downhill since then.
Eisenhower had his moments. He thought Nixon was a douche, at least. That counts for something.
Not to mention that Ike also coined the phrase "military-industrial complex," and warned all of Merka about capitulating to its whims in his farewell speech. And triple-fuck Tricky Dick, also too.
What about TR?
He ended up on Mount Rushmore. I'm not sure why. I get the impression he was just a rich dick imperialist.
Well, yeah, that whole Spanish-American war thing was pretty fucking pathetic, to say the least.
On the positive side, however, he was the first Prez to realize the importance of protecting the environment and wasn't a big fan of monopolies (which is why he was called the "Trust Buster").
So he wasn't totally bad. A bit, yes. But not totally.
What Unholy Moses said.
And most presidents were rich dick imperialists. Roosevelt was a tough MFer, though. Through sheer force of will, he overcame a weak and sickly childhood. He survived a gunshot and kept right on speechifying. He was a big fan of war but – unlike most of the modern GOP – at least you can't call him a chickenhawk.
So, good and bad, but a titan of virtue compared to his successors.
Today is a perfect day to propose a new war, being the former Armistice Day, a day to celebrate peace, that the US turned into Veterans' Day, a day to celebrate war, showing where this country's fucked up priorities lie.
I still keep to my British roots on this one as it is called either Remembrance Day or Armistice Day .
Not only is that image awesome, the tag on it is full of more WIN than should be allowed. Nicely played, Wonketteers!
And Mittens better make sure the Magic Underwear Cult has baptized all those Iranians by proxy before dropping the bombs. American Jesus demands it!
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
Wasn't this one of the Star Wars Trillogy: Drone Wars????
Kurt Vonnegut AND Latin:
Napalm came from Harvard. Veritas! –"I Love You, Madame Librarian" (2004)
Sanctions don't work, and cannot displace an oppressive regime. That was proven in South Africa….uh, wait a minute, bad example.
Okay, here we go: Sanctions don't work because they're not good for the balance sheets of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, KBR, etc. That's what I meant to say. There's a sweet spot for a few years, before the political lackeys are directed to start whipping up sentiment against the latest "threat," when the merchants of death can sell war toys to both sides. Too late now with Iran, but we had a good run, 1954-1979.
Your children first Mitt.
Wouldn't that be an excellent law? For some reason, our august law-givers haven't seen fit to enact this. And really, why send Mitt's boys when there are so many Poors who need the work? It would almost unfair!
You go in first, you plastic-haired, empty-suited pantload. We'll meet you there later.
Well, there are thousands of countries he hasn't threatened with war.
So, this is the Warrior Mormon, eh? The Magic Underwear had better really work.
Today is also Nigel Tufnel day. This day occurs only once, on 11/11/11, in honor of one of my favoriteist movies, This is Spinal Tap. This one goes to 11.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/spinal-t...
Thanks Mittens! The best offense is to let them know were coming so they can finish that fucking bomb theyre working on. Quit being such a n00b
I see the old men all tired, stiff and worn
Those weary old heroes of a forgotten war
And the young people ask "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year, their numbers get fewer
Someday, no one will march there at all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZqN1glz4JY&
Oh, the fuckin' Republicans are just aching to stop this horrible socialist's attempts to wind up our military actions and restart their awesome War on the Whole World. Whichever of them gets the nomination, you can believe they'll be bringing back Richard Perle, Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz and all the old PNAC alumni, and we'll get to hear the Top 40 Oldies again: Remember these greatest hits?
"It's time for the people of Iraq to rise up and overthrow Saddam — oops." GHW Bush
"We know where their weapons of mass destruction are — probably in the north, east, or west." — Donald Rumsfeld
"The people of Afghanistan, who we shall never again forget…" Dubya
"Bring it on." — Ibid
"It's not an insurgency." — Rumsfeld the Prescient
The hell with these fucking ridiculous thugs. Enjoy Armistice Day, folks — the poppies are for remembrance — so don't forget that the last Republican dipshit wanted to go to war in January 2001 but lacked only the pretext.
Yeah, but he avenged a threat to daddy, right, right?
And created a million more threats to this generation's children. So — jobs, I guess.
… they'll be bringing back Richard Perle, Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz and all the old PNAC alumni…."
With a Mormon President, these people will automatically become "gentiles." I'm not sure they would like that.
Bombing Iran is fine but only if you simultaneously pass a huge tax reduction. Because this country isn't going to hell quite fast enough already.
You moran, you forgot the part about stripping every last centime from social spending and the elimination of two or..uh…three departments or…uh…agencies…that help people.
Of course. A military operation that big is going to require a massive increase in government revenue. And the only thing that can raise revenue that much is a whopping big tax cut!
(You could also try the Bush adminstration strategy of borrowing the money from the Chinese, but since Mittens assures us that on his first day in office he's going to hand down an executive order to hit the Chinese with sanctions for currency manipulation, I don't think he'll be able to go to that well.)
Sir Winston wishes he had that fucking hair. Mittens = bombs and badazz locks. And that flannel shirt he got at LL Bean, outfitter of all totally badazz humans. And lesbians.
Sounds like the War in Afghanistan needs some Viagra….
When Romney is elected next year, his first move will be to name Chris Christie to the post of Secretary of Steak.
OT: Body Man Reggie Love is leaving the White House to go full-time at Wharton Business School. I read about this first thing this morning on WaPo, and the comments were completely swamped with wingtards obsessing over the idea that Reggie and Barack spend all of their time soaping each other up in the shower. WaPo has since nuked the comments completely, so the redstaters will have to change the batteries on their remote-controlled dildoes and fap elsewhere.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/reggie-lov...
Retards, don't they know Obama is not a college football coach?
I'm trying to picture Mitt as Slim Pickens riding that bomb but it's just not working.
Shoot. A fella could have a pretty good time in Bountiful……….
Yep. You're right.
I've been to one World Fair, a picnic and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I've ever read on my web browser. (not your comment, but the idea of Mitt riding a bomb.)
Since we olde boomers are running less for office, perhaps the pejorative CHICKENHAWK will fade. But just once more, today on Veterans' Day how about one more salute to America's Chickenhawks:
Shrub Bush (AWOL), Dick Cheney, Lamar Alexander, Tom Coburn, John Cornyn III, Jon Kyl, Marco Rubio, Richard Shelby, John Boehner, Rush Limbaugh, George Will, Pat Buchanan, James Taranto, Rick Santorum, Karl Rove, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, John Bolton, Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, Grover Norquist, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Chris Wallace, Brit Hume, Roger Ailes, Carl Cameron, Matt Drudge, Steve Forbes, Michael "Savage" Weiner, Paul Gigot, Bill Kristol, Ralph Reed, Michael Medved, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Falwell, Alan Keyes, Ted Nugent, "PJ" O'Rourke, and on and on.
You forgot Joe Lieberman.
Here's some latin for you, Mitt…
Uckfay Ooyay
Si vis pacem, para pacem.
OT: HAPPY ELEVENTY DAY EVERY 1!1
ALL 1, ALL 1, ALL !
Dilute! Dilute!
Oops, should have checked up the thread. I haz an embarassed.
The Mormon Church already has a standing army of men dressed in short sleeve white shirts, navy trousers and backpacks, right?
SHIP THEM OUT…
Looking beyond the immediate policy statement, it's clear that Mitt has finally discovered the key to winning over the previously elusive knuckle-dragging Tea Bag base: Give your speeches in Latin.
And always remember to extend your pinkie when sipping your tea!
Going to war for peace is like fucking for virginity.
'Go Ask Bristol,' a compelling new novel from the creator of 'Bastards.'
Now that's hypocrisy I can live with.
"I will back up American diplomacy with a very real and very credible military option."
Roll out the welcome mat, order the balloons and flowers, and bake us a pie, Iran. We expect to be greeted as liberators, ya know.
Fuck Romney. He didn't expose himself to the draft because he was doing his 'Mormon Ministry" in the South of Frucking France. Probably exposing himself to little French boys and girls. "Hey! Little boy, do you want to see my Godhead?"
He was in a car crash and he lost his hair.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials...
Those magic undies must have been a big hit on the beaches of Nice.
The 1st Mormon Bicycle Brigade is a force to be reckoned with.
Is it really possible that this is attractive to Republicans? I mean, really? After twelve years of warring in South Asia, against the advice of noted foreign policy genius Vizzini, they would like another land war in Asia????
Inconceivable!
I love the smell of False Bravado in the morning; it smells like…….pussyfarts.
>>If you want peace, prepare for war.
If you want competency, elect a fucking FrootLoop.
Dear Mr Romney
Ede cacam et morer-eat shit and die.
Yes, the history of the last decade has been a shining example of how to achieve peace by preparing for war.
The fundamental principle of the current Republican party is that you must never, never, never look to the real world to see what works and what doesn't. Every decision must be guided by ideology, itself founded in macho posturing. Decisions dictated by this ideology are sometimes called "common sense solutions". Y'know – like it's common sense that if the earth were round we would fall off. And that if you drop two objects from a tower, the heavier one falls faster. And that if you occupy a country militarily for a decade against the will of the people in it, they will still regard you as the good guys because you're exceptional Americans. Common sense.
If you want peace, prepare for war? So Mitt is just cold giving Iran the okay to go ahead with nuclear development?
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears! I was with Caesar before I was against him!"
"I come not to praise Caesar but to bury him! And then I will dig him up, and praise him but not bury him. And then I'll praise him and bury him. And then…."
Fuckin' brilliant. lol
Et tu, Mittus?
This morning, I went to my son's Elementary School Remembrance Day assembly and it was so emotional and heartbreaking. Each class recited a poem or sang a song (including "In Flanders Fields" – the "Free Bird" of Remembrance Day). They played "Taps" and had a moment of silence. I was surprised how much of the assembly was centered on peace and the need for peace.
I never had ANYTHING like this growing up in the US and the holiday is such a big deal here in Canada that it really puts the States to shame.
Now, Canadian Thanksgiving…that sucks moldy poutine.
plato told
him:he couldn’t
believe it(jesus
told him;he
wouldn’t believe
it)lao
tsze
certainly told
him,and general
(yes
mam)
sherman;
and even
(believe it
or
not)you
told him:i told
him;we told him
(he didn’t believe it,no
sir)it took
a nipponized bit of
the old sixth
avenue
el;in the top of his head:to tell
him
Kerouac?
e.e. cummings.
Meanwhile, IRL, if you do click on the WSJ link and read Mittens' op – ed (as bad as you would expect, lots of speculative "we will never know" what would have happened had Obama taken the hard line that Mittens is advocating today), the 4th article in "Most Popular" is "US Plans Bomb Sales to Counter Iran."
Yeah, that Obama is a real do – nothing wuss…
Wiley Mittens has a brand-new rocket slingshot from Acme Inc., and the next time Iran goes by…it's all over. All five of the Romney boys will enlist to fight for the country of which their daddy is president.
that should go well for you mittens. while you're at it, why don't you bring some democracy to syria too?
you know? an economies of scale thing a bain boy like you should appreciate?
Mitt is so phony, with his Eleanor Rigby face- I wonder even he knows who he is inside.
A canard spiraling downward in a vortex of stale flatus.
Willard Mitt Romeny
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
You think the Jewish money, who would like to see Iran turned into a US annex, has anything to do with Romney repeating the neocon talking points?
Forget that Iran could mine the Strait of Hormuz, effectively putting a strangle hold on the world's economy, driving gasoline prices over 10 dollars a gallon. Forget all of that. What is important, is that the Likuds in Israel get there way!
Leave it to Mitt to make a serious threat (well, not really, it's Mitt we're talking about) sound so wholesome and adorable. Gee Whiz, Willard!
Methinks those magic underpants are riding up on him.
what's the latin for "magic underwear"?
Then,"Obama is just all Pussy and shit."
Romney promises he would overstep the bounds of the Constitution even harder.
Like Libya, what a loser, "leading from the rear," sounds gay.
Willard were never be caught dead uttering the words "pussy" or "shit."
It's because, as with Starship Troopers, a lot of the right doesn't get satire and didn't realize the movie was attacking them.
Oh yes, I did see that. I think I knew that was him, and forgot.
OMG, it's like one of your steamy comments come to life!
"Limeylizzie Presents: The Fap Book"
Can you imagine my delight when I first watched it?
Only more constitutionally.
While you ou will never find a more staunch supporter of the Constitution and the DOI.
And The Night Watchman?
I "grow" "nostalgic" for a hayloft in France or a cave in Italy…
A lot of his early Dutch films are worth watching too – not political, but the same striking visual compositions, and lots of hot sex. But very weird. The Fourth Man is my favorite of them. Spetters was as popular as Euro-films get over here when it came out, but I don't like it as much.
Or boat on Amsterdam canal would be good, easy access to Gouda.
And don't forget Soldier of Orange if you want some just plain "screw the Nazis" patriotic fervor.
in a microwave?
makes it more fun to watch.
That's the secret to time travel.
I'll show you my Mississippi Delta if you show me your Netherlands…
I'll give you a ride along my canals into the low-country.
I'll strum your guit-box, and blow hot licks on your French harp.
Jaime Wheelock was the minister of agriculture.
I'll show you where I keep my creamy Wensleydale.
I just flooded the alluvial plain!
You win!
"I tend to craft a thesis when discussing these issues without snark … "
Me too. If you want, I'll provide you a 40-page essay as to why I do this, including annotations and footnotes.
After WW1, at a river bathing spot in Oxford, one professor (CS Lewis of Narnia, I think) was appalled at the scarred bodies, missing limbs and burned skin of his contempories..
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