Asymmetric warfare

Tonight George W. Bush and John F. Kerry square off in a debate. I feel there are far too few of these (3 !?!), and that they are poorly orchestrated, but they are all we can get in America for some reason. Wouldn't it be nice if we had as much time to pick a President as we did a Lord-of-the-Flies/Survivor champion?

C'est la vie!

James Fallows analyzed GWB's and JFK's debates and gave a detailed opinion of what to expect from the upcoming oratory. I think he does a good job and maybe you will too:

In this corner...

George on George

If you would like to hear what George Soros has to say about President Bush, then you can read a transcript of a speech he gave to the National Press Club here:

Why We Must Not Re-elect President Bush

Now you know why Bush-heads hate George Soros, as well as why George Soros is spending his money to defeat W.

Clearing muddy water

I periodically like to post polling papers by James Carville's Democracy Corps organization because I think:

A) Carville knows his trade
B) Democracy Corps clarifies muddy waters

Here is their latest analysis of the battle for Pennsylvania Avenue:

Neck and Neck

The short version of their analysis is a statistical dead heat, with each candidate having exhausted their convention bounce. In other words, it'll be a close race.

The upcoming Presidential debates (starting Thursday night) ought to help Kerry syphon off the undecideds, since he was a founder of the John Winant Society (they debate issues) while Bush was a male Cheerleader and avid beer-tipper.

I would advise John Kerry to adopt the words of James Carville while debating President Bush, "If your opponent is drowning, throw him an anchor." I would also advise that he fires anybody that recommends kid gloves with President Bush. You must attack him, kick him when he's down, and call him a whiner when he complains.

An Un-American Way to Campaign

The folks at the New York Times are upset at the way President Bush's campaign continues to insinuate that a vote for Kerry is a vote for Osama.

Gutter politics

Their editorial seems somehow quaint, since I don't think Karl Rove cares a fiddlers fart what those "intellectuals" at the NYT think. He will probably have their movements tracked by a drone and send the FBI to "investigate" their staff. Then they'll sing a song of six-pence by golly.

Another tree falls

Republican and former EPA chief Russell Train says he'll vote for Kerry because of Bush's bad environmental track record.


Russell Train on Bush


It is now safe to say that clear-cutting is going on in the Republican wood. As the trees fall can you hear them?

Double dang

Here are two bits of news.

Oil price hits $50 a barrel.

US forces bomb slum

Neither story supports George Bush's rosy portraits of his own prowess, but then again, he is the one that promised sweets and flowers to our troops and proclaimed "Mission Accomplished" to their parents.

Comparing Bush-speak with the facts

Here is an article which compares President Bush's happy-talk with some cold, hard, contradictory facts in Iraqmire.

Glaring discrepancies

More Happy talk

The happy talk:

President Bush claims that he'll reduce the defecit by half over the next five years (he will conveniently be out of office when it is time to check).

The reality:

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said President Bush's policies would contribute to a deficit rise of more than 3.6 trillion dollars in the next decade.

Rose-scented turd?

I am hopeful fiscal conservatives will abandon Bush the way he has abandoned fiscal discipline for happy talk.

Iraq - It's Worse Than You Think

The folks at Newsweek are starting to realize that Iraq looks like a giant catastrophe born of miscalculation, hubris, and poor planning. If Americans start to realize the same thing, then George Bush's confidence will be exposed as denial.

Course change or catastrophe?

A campaign strategy for Kerry

Joshua Micah Marshall has put forth a campaign strategy for John Kerry that looks like a winner to me. In this article he also talks about the recent attack ads and why Kerry *should be* fighting back mercilessly.

The abbreviated version is this: Explain Bush's policy failings in terms of his moral failings. Because he thought the Iraq war would be a difficult sell, he lied, but we pay the price in dollars and lives. Because he cannot admit tax-cuts aren't working we sink deeper in debt. Because forward planning for the war in Iraq would have made it a tougher sell, he ignored it and we can't establish peace on the ground. Because he cannot admit his mistakes he hasn't attended a single funeral for a soldier.

A battle plan for JFK

I think Josh does do a great job at laying the whole idea out. Whether or not John Kerry uses it, you certainly can when you talk to your friends and neighbors.

Our way works better

Here is a summary of John Kerry's economic policy, and the one I hope will prevail in November.

Kerry's Economic Policy

When you look at his record you see that Bush is all talk. His choices have turned a surplus into a deficit while increasing the trade deficit, lost 1.6 million jobs since January of 2001, made health care less affordable, and led to falling family incomes.

It is time for America to head in a new direction and all it takes is your vote. Kerry is not in the habit of leaving people in trouble behind.

I'll be taking a short break

I'll be back on Sunday after a short break. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Beheadings aren't success predictors

There is a side to the recent beheadings that I haven't seen discussed much by the press. Zarqawi is purportedly demanding that the Iraqi female prisoners should be released.

"Is Zarqawi risking his life in a gesture of chivalry?", I wondered.

DEBKAfile reports that of the five female prisoners two are:

"Dr. Rihab Taha, a microbiologist known as Dr. Germ, and Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash, head of his anthrax project and member of the Baath ruling command council"

More...

Maybe a neocon should be shot every time something like this happens. Those idols of idiot worshipers would deserve it for cheerleading our soldiers into Iraqmire.

Jimmy Swaggert votes Republican

Jimmy Swaggert does not seem to embody the teachings of Jesus Christ when he speaks thusly about homosexuals:

I've never seen a man in my life I wanted to marry. And I'm gonna be blunt and plain: if one ever looks at me like that, I'm gonna kill him and tell God he died.


More...

I am going to be blunt and plain: If you vote Republican you will be strengthening the power of men like Swaggart and making it acceptable to gay-bash in America. If you are gay and vote Republican look in the mirror and introduce yourself to an idiot.

Three GOP Senators Urge Refocusing of Iraq Policy (washingtonpost.com)

These Republicans (McCain, Graham, and Hagel) think we're doing a lousy job in Iraq and I agree. We differ on the solution. I suggest getting rid of the incompetent Bush administration and replacing it with one run by John Kerry.

They want Bush to refocus.

Personally I'd like to see President Bush refocus on large-mouth bass and drinking beers with the fellas down in Crawford. If he can't focus on the war he started then he isn't a man I want in the Whitehouse.


Three GOP Senators Urge Refocusing of Iraq Policy

John Kerry Speech at New York University

John Kerry is defining his strategy to fight the war on terror and delivered a speech to New York University on September 20th to that end.

The line I find most interesting is this one:

"...we must have a great honest national debate on Iraq. The President claims it is the centerpiece of his war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden and the terrorists. Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and, if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight."

I think that is a crucial point and whether or not you agree with it will probably decide where you cast your vote in November. I agree with that assessment, since even the President's administration publicly declares that they think Osama is in Pakistan, not Iraq.

Read the speech here

Republican's like to shadow John Kerry with flip-flops. I think Democrats should start bringing Osama Bin Laden's face on a stick and chant:

Smoke him out!
Bring 'em on!
Mission Accomplished!

Smoke him out!
Bring 'em on!
Mission Accomplished!

Britain's ambassador to Italy snubs Bush

Britain's ambassador to Italy called President Bush "the best recruiting sergeant" for al Quaeda.

If I had to guess why he said that, I'd guess he felt that the invasion of Iraq solidified our enemies and divided our allies. Chances are it was a comment not intended for public consumption and Tony Blair will introduce his foot to Mr. Robert's backside.

The story

Look out Virginia!

There is a bill in the House of Representatives called H.R. 163. whose purpose is:

"To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes"

I couldn't figure out how to provide a decent link, but if you go to this website and enter HR 163 as the bill number and press search you'll get the full details.

Type "HR 163", press Search

The machine men are coming for the children, including the women folk. Consider yourselves warned.

More happy talk in the face of the sad truth

President Bush makes Stalin look like an amateur in the use of happy-talk in this article.

Bush 'pleased with the progress' in Iraq

Is this what pleases him?

Group threatens to kill hostages

Or this?

Iraq: Signs of desperation

I hope the good Lord is in the mood to answer prayers today. Mine will be offered with conviction and sincerity.

Voices of the grandfathers

American culture has an open contempt for the wisdom of the old that I don't understand. Why shouldn't we look to those who have been and have seen a great deal for guidance?

If we did, this is what we'd hear:

Dean of Senate on Bush