"After all, they don't have to live in any of these places. And none of their children or relatives have to do the dying--or the killing."

I wonder how many hawkish eyes glazed over that. It is for stuff like this that I continue to read this blog. Thank you so much for all your hard work. You carry the rage and frustration of decent, honest Americans that want nothing else but to see our soldiers return home in one piece, and the neocons sent to Iraq in their place.

This piece was screaming for a shot at the war. If Bush is against murder then what's going on in Iraq? Yeah, yeah I know that's a no brainer but, the obvious is not clear in America these days. Sorry you didn't mention it. I read the piece because I was assuming the war parallel would be drawn.

Sorry, Jennifer. Sometime a stem cells article is just a stem cells article.

David, you really know how to frame an issue. Thank you for your insight on the stem cell research conundrum bush has created for himself.

On another note regarding dead Lebanese. Remember the old joke about Dr. Wernher von Braun saying, "We aim for zee stars, but sometimes we hit London."

Well, this latest nugget from the NYT made me think of that:

"...Beyond the desire to give Israel time to weaken Hezbollah militarily, administration officials said Ms. Rice should not go to the region until she can actually produce results. Israel, which is trying to destroy the military capacity of Hezbollah and secure the release of two captured soldiers, said it is targeting only Hezbollah and not the Lebanese Army, although attacks on Monday and Tuesday killed 19 Lebanese soldiers."

They shoot like dick cheney, with little regard for their target.

#3 You know, I like it that you refer to stem cells research, rather than stem cell research. Of course, you're correct. I will follow your lead.

Mr. David Corn,

"the media, in their coverage of the Middle East crisis, devoting more attention to Americans trying to flee Lebanon than to Lebanese being killed by Israeli attacks--or the smaller number of Israelis being killed by the Hezbollah rockets?"

The "media" has been failing for some time. It is a sad commentary. I am glad you write about it.

And:

"Sometime a stem cells article is just a stem cells article."

HA! - and lol

Thanks

Kirk

Bush simply believes in the sanctity of life until you are old enough to lose it fighting one of his phony wars. Hypocrites outnumber all others in this warped administration.

I would love to hear bush's and tony snow's definition of "honor-bound."

snow said that bush is "honor-bound" to veto the stem cells research legislation.

David, thanks for removing the troll droppings.

Bush thinks stem cell research is murder. I am for adult stem cell research. Scientist believe that adult stem cell research takes too much time for results. With American ability and ingenuity we should be able to find a way to effectively carry on adult stemm cell research.

I love how Warmonger Bush picks and chooses murder. I guess his murders and war crimes Iraq are not consisdered murders and war crimes or the fact that he is giving Israel more time to slaughter Lebanese is not murder. Hitler Bush is a hypocrite. He is totally evil.

COnsidering that bush has no honor, how can he be honor bound for anything? We already know that he has no clue about domestic policy and now we know that he has none about foreign policy. How exactly do we get this terrible administration to stop their headlong rush off the cliff of history and into the abyss? Well, I guess just time will do it, but we are going to take a huge hit also.

There are several tragedies going on at once in this crisis. One concerns the lack of American leadership. It's sad to say but true that the current crisis afforded Washington an opportunity--thanks to Hezbollah's miscalculation. When Hezbollah decided to exploit the medium-sized crisis (triggered by Hamas' capture of an Israeli solider) by seizing two Israeli soldiers, it angered the leaders of other Arab nations, most notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, who denounced Hezbollah's "adventurism." This was a historic first--a prominent split in the Arab world on Hezbollah. Had Bush's foreign policy not been bogged down (and delegitimized) by the White House's own adventurism in the Middle East, Bush might have been in a position to seize the moment for a round of effective diplomacy aimed at isolating Hezbollah and reducing its influence.

He shoots, he scores.

Our adventurism is Iraq undermined our moral authority and kneecaped our diplomatic influence for eight+ critical years. Thank you W and neo-con cabal.

9 Den, which ones? This thread? The last?

#13 this thread, a not very complimentary comment about Capt, typical disgusting troll droppings wielded by the addled minds of the reich that often appear here.

I read an article and the writer puts to whole blame on Americans who believe what Hitler Bush says. We must be a nation with the vast majority of the people who are low functioning amoebas. The evolution of our stupidity has taken 230 years since our founding. Just think how much more stupid we will be in 30 or 100 years?

Shhh,

Let's not even talk about them lest we invite more of the same. I think they are purposely trying to tax David whie he is very busy working hard to finish his book, write columns, post posts, etc.. I am embarrassed David has to do anything on the blog but very thankful he does.

Quiet celebration is called for.

IMHO

capt

Nazi America may be in the evolutionary cycle of stupidity. It is truely frightening to think that we could be even more stupid in the future.

David,

Yeah...what you said.

-T

Gerald, there is an old saying; With wisdom comes sorrow. It is not a good time to be or express intelligence. Of course the reich wingers think they are smart but thinking is one thing, being is another.

Peres: Iran, Syria not in Israel´s sights

Israel won’t extend its fight with Hezbollah to Iran and Syria, Shimon Peres said.

Asked about media reports Wednesday that Israel’s offensive in Lebanon could soon spill over into attacks on Hezbollah’s patrons, Iran and Syria, the vice prime minister told Army Radio, "No, God forbid."

Peres described the eight-day-old campaign of shelling as a targeted response to a Hezbollah border raid last week in which eight Israeli soldiers were killed and two others abducted.

"It is important to stress that this is self-defense. We are not trying to create a new world order," he said.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

I hope he is being honest and sincere. I also hope this is not some tricky language that just means some other country would attack either Syria or Iran. The NWO is in stark contrast to the plans made before #41 (GHWB).

Either Peres is not on board or he is being less than candid.

capt

The Bush administration is the government for and of the most radical religious fanatics in christiandom. It is no wonder that islamic fanaticism is gaining converts everyday.

TP,

No kidding, it really is the extremes on both sides. UGH!

KKKristo-facists vs. Islamic militants in the war on fear? Seem more like the war to terrorize everybody with a moderate view?

capt

"The NWO is in stark contrast to the plans made before #41 (GHWB). "

I meant to say:

The NWO COMMENT BY PERES is in stark contrast to the plans made before #41 (GHWB).

capt

This is an outrage!

United States to Israel: you have one more week to blast Hizbullah

Bush ’ßave green light’†for limited attack, say Israeli and UK sources

Ewen MacAskill, Simon Tisdall and Patrick Wintour Wednesday July 19, 2006 The Guardian

The US is giving Israel a window of a week to inflict maximum damage on Hizbullah before weighing in behind international calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, according to British, European and Israeli sources.

The Bush administration, backed by Britain, has blocked efforts for an immediate halt to the fighting initiated at the UN security council, the G8 summit in St Petersburg and the European foreign ministers’†meeting in Brussels.

"It’≥ clear the Americans have given the Israelis the green light. They [the Israeli attacks] will be allowed to go on longer, perhaps for another week," a senior European official said yesterday. Diplomatic sources said there was a clear time limit, partly dictated by fears that a prolonged conflict could spin out of control.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

Kill Hizbullah but save the blastocysts? How about the Lebanese children? Just like the issue of choice, the actual living children take a backseat to the blastocysts. This is what happens when belief takes over science.

capt

Inside source from a liberals point of view!

More email from Eileen in Haifa

Email of my husband's schoolmate in Haifa | 07/19/2006 | Eileen in Haifa

Dear Everyone,

The enclosed is from Strategic Forecast (“Stratfor” on Google). It gives incredible insights into what is going on from a solely strategic viewpoint. No politics. I recommend running off hard copies and studying them. These reports end with 16 July, so you will have to search the Web site to find the ones from 17 July on.

Yesterday was another five-alarm day, but nothing dropped on Haifa. Today no sirens, but we heard rockets hit, so they must have hit close by. But no warning siren. Figure that.

Haaretz is your best online option for finding out what is going on. The trailer announced the hits in Haifa within a minute or two. The lead article explains why the IDF needs 10 to 14 more days to finish the job it set out to do. Fox News is your best 24-hour network news reporting for cutting through the nonsense through to the chase and telling it like it is. My left-leaning, liberal heart really hurts to admit it, but O’Reilly on Fox News is telling it exactly as I feel it is concerning the war.

What do people do when they feel anxious? They eat!!! There’s food all over the office. Since Bahá’ís prohibiting from drinking alcohol or doing drugs, sugar is our “drug of choice” in times like these.

At least I don’t have to leave my office whenever something happens. Any indoor location away from windows facing the port is considered a safe room, so I work through whatever is happening.

Love to all,

Eileen

Capt, the Bush administration had to be well aware that Israel was going to invade Lebanon.

Kill Hizbullah but save the blastocysts? How about the Lebanese children? Just like the issue of choice, the actual living children take a backseat to the blastocysts. This is what happens when belief takes over science.

capt

What about the children of Israel? Are they not as worthy to a liberal? David can sensor us all he wants, but it still doesn't hide your bias of Jews!

2 Children Killed by Hezbollah Rocket
Jul 19 10:47 AM US/Eastern

JERUSALEM

A Hezbollah rocket slammed into a building Wednesday in the mainly Arab town of Nazareth, killing two children and wounding at least two other people, Israeli authorities said.

Smoke billowed from the damaged building and its roof appeared to be mostly destroyed, television video showed. Residents ran to the building and helped firefighters.

The two children were killed by a direct hit from a Katyusha rocket on the building, the army said.

This is the Hizbollah that liberals are supporting! Nice!

FBI eyes Hizbollah in US as tensions with Iran rise

Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:07pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The FBI is trying to ferret out possible Hizbollah agents in the United States amid concerns that rising U.S.-Iranian tensions could trigger attacks on American soil, FBI officials said.

Relations between Washington and Tehran, which soured after the 1979 Islamic revolution, have deteriorated further recently over Iran's nuclear program and its support for Hizbollah, the militant Islamic group whose capture of two Israeli soldiers last week prompted Israel to launch retaliatory strikes in Lebanon.

American law enforcement officials are concerned the Lebanon-based Hizbollah, which has so far focused on fund-raising and other support activities inside the United States, could turn to violence in solidarity with Iran.

"If the situation escalates, will Hizbollah take the gloves off, so to speak, and attack here in the United States, which they've been reluctant to do until now?" said William Kowalski, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Detroit.

You go David, way to put your laser brain on the issue. The MSM generally disregards Lebanese lives , Iraqi lives, you know somehow those lives are just not as important.

David you mentioned Hezbollah and Hamas and the parts they have played in this escalation. But somehow Israel's outrageous actions and responsibility in this escalation failed to be mentioned.

"It's sad to say but true that the current crisis afforded Washington an opportunity--thanks to Hezbollah's miscalculation. When Hezbollah decided to exploit the medium-sized crisis (triggered by Hamas' capture of an Israeli solider) by seizing two Israeli soldiers, it angered the leaders of other Arab nations, most notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, who denounced Hezbollah's "adventurism."

Most of us know that Israel's illegal and violent actions are brushed over here in the states in the MSM. I hope David is not intimidated to address this issue honestly, Israel has "some" role in all of this.

Amy Goodman at Democracy Now is producing and conducting some of the most honest U.S. reporting and coverage about this situation. Amy really cuts through the BULL

Neocons Resurrect Plans For Regional War In The Middle East

In 1996, Richard Perle, Douglas Feith and David Wurmser (all later senior officials in the Bush administration) had a plan for how to destroy Hezbollah: Invade Iraq. They wrote a report to the newly elected Likud government in Israel calling for "a clean break" with the policies of negotiating with the Palestinians and trading land for peace.

The problem could be solved "if Israel seized the strategic initiative along it northern borders by engaging Hizballah (sic), Syria, and Iran, as the principal agents of aggression in Lebanon." The key, they said, was to "focus on removing Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq an important Israeli strategic objective in its own right as a means of foiling Syria's regional ambitions." They called for "reestablishing the principle of preemption." They promised that the successes of these wars could be used to launch campaigns against Iran, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, reshaping "the strategic balance in the Middle East profoundly."

Now, with the U.S. bogged down in Iraq, with Bush losing control of world events, and with the threats to national security growing worse, no one could possibly still believe this plan, could they? Think again.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

PNAC Plans, no doubt. These guys are clinically insane and they are running the planet? UGH!

capt

We have been down the Lebanon road before.

In Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, there is a Cedar of Lebanon. It stands over a small memorial. The Cedar marks the graves of some of the more than 300 American military, embassy, and civilian personnel who were killed in Beirut in the 1980s. On October 23 each year there is a remembrance service on the anniversary of the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks. I have had the sad honor of speaking at two of these remembrance services. Just as we remember our dead, it is worth remembering why we sent the Marines to Beirut and what we did wrong so that we can try to avoid the same mistakes in the future.

Will we go down that road again?

Damn, what are the Dems going to do now?

Rasmussen Poll: Bush JA @ 45%

Rasmussen Reports ^
President Bush Job Approval For the first time since April 13, the President’s Job Approval rating has moved up to 45%.

Bakers' plan:

In a key speech delivered in May 1989 to AIPAC, US Secretary of State James Baker III placed the blame on Israel for the Arab-Israel conflict, and seemed to echo Arab propaganda, urging Israeli leaders to abandon the "unrealistic vision of a Greater Israel" that includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He then laid out the American position on what is now called the Arab-Israeli peace process. He urged self-government for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in a manner acceptable to Palestinians, Israel, and Jordan, a formula designed to provide ample scope for Palestinians to achieve their full political rights while also providing ample protection for Israel's security. This utopian vision has failed to materialize.

That time the PLO was the boogeyman

More bad news for Panty and his Dem party:

Hispanic voters tilt away from Democrats

Backing for GOP is up 2 percent in 4 years, survey says

THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal

July 19, 2006

Hispanics are feeling more unified after the immigration-rights marches that took place in the spring, many say.

More and more plan to vote during the November elections.

But it's unclear which political party will benefit from the Hispanic vote. A majority expresses increasing dissatisfaction with both the Republican and Democratic parties.

In a recent poll by the Pew Hispanic Center, most Hispanic voters blame the Republican Party for what they say is an increase in discrimination as a result of the debate about immigration.

Yet the share of Hispanics who support the Republican Party grew in the past four years, albeit by a small gain.

The survey found that the number of Hispanics who support the Republican Party increased from 20 percent in 2002 to 22 percent in 2006.

Traditionally, Hispanic voters have favored Democrats over Republicans.

But according to the Pew survey released last week, the number of Hispanics identifying with Democrats dropped from 49 percent in 2002 to 42 percent in 2006.

Neocons See Chance To Make Another Mess

that's as close as you have ever come to even suggesting that all this bumbling incompetence might possibly be part of the grand scheme.

If you aren't FOR U.S. government policies than you are for the terrorists.

Hezbolla ARE TERRORSITS!!!

I like it when one side wears white hats and the other black hats. It is a black and white world.

Sometimes war is necessary to effect a positive outcome. The time is now. Crush the terrorists so we don't have to fight them over here.

#36, LOL

bush did it... vetoed the stem cell bill

David's online, so I wonder if he'll post something on the first veto of this idiot's presidency.

Once the terrorists are crushed over there, they will find fertile land over here.

WAR!!!
What's it good for?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Psalm 130:2

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Happy

Den and Cornnuts Inc. do not support war only terror!

Strap on a suicide belt and you're a hero to them.

Behead a person of the military or a private contractor and you're a freedom fighter.

Blow up innocent women and children and you were forced to do it because of occupation.

They quote Ghandi and then preach hate.

They lecture us about global warming and then drive SUVs.

Thank God they are such a small minority in this country. The average American is more intellgent than your average liberal and does not subscribe to there idiotic beliefs.

#43 MORE LOL!!

newest, and heaviest element on the chart...

A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium".

Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons,
75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 311.

These 311 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert.

However, it can be detected, as it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium causes one reaction to take over 4 days to complete, when it would normally take less than a second.

Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but, instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.

In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.

This characteristic of *****-promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a certain quantity in concentration.

This hypothetical quantity is referred to as "Critical Morass". When catalyzed with money Governmentium becomes Administratium, an element which radiates just as much energy, since it has 1/2 as many peons but twice as many morons.

oh the paradox of it all--i can't take it. Bush says the veto will spare the lives of the "boys and girls" yet in fact the veto merely makes their destruction mandatory. So in essence, he is saying it is okay to kill them by complete destruction, but not okay to kill them by using them for research to develop future therapies. I wonder which way he wants this to be understood????

also, US/Eisenhower sent 10K marines into Lebanon in 1958, so it is unlikely that Bushco would find anything troubling about supporting a similar invasion now.

Bolton kicks ass on appeasers!

Bolton ridicules UN Demands for a Ceasefire
yahoo ^ | July 19th

The United States dug in its heels on Wednesday against U.N. calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, saying such a measure made little sense between a state and a "terrorist group" like Hizbollah.

Speaking hours after France proposed that the U.N. Security Council consider a resolution calling for a lasting ceasefire, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the council should focus on disarming the Hizbollah militia and extending Lebanese government control over the entire country.

"It is very hard to understand from the people calling for a ceasefire how you have a ceasefire with a terrorist organization like Hizbollah," Bolton told reporters.

"I am not sure that conventional thinking about a ceasefire makes any sense when you are dealing with a terrorist group that fires rockets at civilian populations and kidnaps innocent Israelis," he said.

U.N. official: War crimes charges possible

Ongoing fighting in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian areas could constitute war crimes, a U.N. official said.

Louise Arbour, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, cited the need to protect non-combatants under international law, which she said "defines war crimes and crimes against humanity."

The "scale of the killings in the region, and their predictability, could engage the personal criminal responsibility of those involved, particularly those in a position of command and control," Reuters quoted Arbour as saying Wednesday in Geneva.

Arbour said the "indiscriminate shelling" of cities and the bombing of sites where innocent civilians would suffer are unacceptable. Israel says it has been trying to control its bombing raids to limit civilian casualties, but that Hezbollah fighters often hide in civilian areas.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

If we only killed terrorists there would be no issue. It is the civilian targets, the grain silos, the refugees that makes what they are doing a war crime. The green light from Bush is even more despicable because he is not the king of the planet. He has no authority to offer his approval to kill Lebanese civilians, that is ethnic cleansing.

What part of crimes against humanity does Bush have trouble understanding? He thinks blasocysts are people and can be murdered (he is against that) while anybody with the unfortunate luck of being born in the missle east could be a terrorists (even the children) so they need to be killed to distract from his major failures both here and abroad?

What kind of inhumane jerk would ever think that is okay?

capt

41
WAR!!!
What's it good for?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Tell that to the 6 million Jews killed during WW II, you brain dead piece of shit. Why don't you whining bunch of anti-semites move to Lebanon and join up with you brothers and sisters. Oops that would entail getting off your lazy fat asses.

#49...#41 has more brain power than you could hope to have in a million life times.

I blog here among the stupider-than-average liberals becuase it boosts my sense of superiority. They r so lame, OMFG.

They think peace and prosperity is the objective. As they saying goes, you can't make an omlet without breaking a few Lebanese.

You know what Shakespeare said? First, kill all the terrorists, then kill all the librals. OMG i hate them so much and equally. I don;t know what is worse, the terrorists or libruls. I'll find out from Libaugh and Hannity later and let you losers know THE TRUTH!

Regretably, i spend all day here posting and no one will respond to my posts. stupid lame-ass brown-nozing stupis libruls. there, that feels better.

Mr. Corn,

Hezbollah has called for the destruction of Israel.

It has fired Iranian Katusha rockets delivered by Syria deep into Israel.

Hezbollah is funded by Iran to the tune of at least $100 million now.

This is a war that should not, will not, end unless and until one side or the other achieves total victory.

Israel would cease its military action if Hezbollah unilaterally disarmed. Does anyone not believe for a minute that Israel would be annihilated if it unilaterally disarmed?

While a tragedy, the killing of innocent civilians by Israelis is collateral damage, an unintended consequence. The killing of innocent civilians by the suicide bobmers and rocketeers of Hezbollah is the primary objective, the absolutely intended consequence.

We can debate all day about the legality of unauthorized wiretaps or who outed Valerie Plame or whether or not there is global warming. They are honest debates, and while I often like to poke fun at people and their positions on various subjects (mainly to get a rise), I understand their sentiments.

However, on this particular subject, I don't believe there can be a debate. With the escalation of the conflict, either Hezbollah will be destroyed or Israel will. We have a choice on which side to be. I choose Israel's.

Experts rip Rove stem cell remark

Researchers doubt value of adult cells

When White House political adviser Karl Rove signaled last week that President Bush planned to veto the stem cell bill being considered by the Senate, the reasons he gave went beyond the president's moral qualms with research on human embryos.

In fact, Rove waded into deeply contentious scientific territory, telling the Denver Post's editorial board that researchers have found "far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells."

The administration's assessment of stem cell science has extra meaning in the wake of the Senate's 63-37 vote Tuesday to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The measure, which passed the House last year, will now head to Bush, who has vowed to veto it.

But Rove's negative appraisal of embryonic stem cell research--echoed by many opponents of funding for such research--is inaccurate, according to most stem cell research scientists, including a dozen contacted for this story.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

No surprise as the neocons are not just NOT fact based, they are actually ANTI-fact based. They believe so they never get confused by thinking. If you never have to think you can follow dear leader.

capt

"brain dead piece of shit" HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
I guess we told you Jeanne, the piece of SHYT machine. I HATE. I HATE. I HATE. U

he he he

This is a war that should not, will not, end unless and until one side or the other achieves total victory.

I'm with you neo-con war monger! HATE HATE HATE These stupid fuc%in librals can all ....

I'm off to to negotiate a $3.4 M contract with 17% margin. I'm rich beaaatch! Later losers.

Moral relativity is sickening.

Pick who you think is going to win? I will decide who I think is right and what I think is right a NEVER waiver like some finger in the wind politician.

That is not a weak moral compass it is a missing moral compass.

Shame on anybody who has no morals or sense of what is right. If you just live to pick a winner you are the loser. You are gambling with your personal values?

I can assure you the USA and Israel will likely win any military challenge today, maybe even for years to come but how does the "pick a winner" over values work when the enemy is stronger and is likely to win? You would side with the enemy. You are a spineless traitor.

Relative value is neoliberal thinking, it makes me sick. Classic neocon philosophy.

Maybe it is just me.

capt

Ongoing fighting in Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian areas could constitute war crimes, a U.N. official said.

Capt

Now that's funny! Is this the same UN who was involved in the Oil for Food scam that left millions of Iraqis straving to line there pockects with oil blood money?

First, Israel's actions in no way can be seen as a legitimate response to the small-scale attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah. Instead, what Israel has done has used the pretext of those pin-prick attacks a couple of border raids and a handful of errant rockets to launch a strategic attack whose goals are to crush Hamas and the remaining institutions of Palestinian self-rule and decapitate and destroy Hezbollah politically and militarily in Lebanon.

Second, it's clear that Israel would never have launched this war without having made the calculation that it would win the support of the United States. The rest of the world is solidly aligned against Israel's outrageously disproportionate attacks, but none of that matters. No diplomatic mission from the feeble United Nations, no angry statements from the Arab League, no fulminations from Western Europe will deter Israel. As long as Israel has the support of the United States, it will forge ahead relentlessly. So far, in a shocking display of craven capitulation to the Israeli fait accompli , President Bush has repeatedly endorsed Israel's aggression. But Israel is clearly counting on more than just Bush's support for its actions in Gaza and Lebanon. More broadly, Israel is seeking to shift the balance in the Bush administration back in favor of the neocons, the hawks and their radical "New American Century" comrades.

From Tom Paines site.

I can assure you the USA and Israel will likely win any military challenge today, maybe even for years to come but how does the "pick a winner" over values work when the enemy is stronger and is likely to win? You would side with the enemy. You are a spineless traitor.

Relative value is neoliberal thinking, it makes me sick. Classic neocon philosophy.

Capt

I guess Capts moral values = Hezbollahs "adverturism"

Not even the Arab nations support your idiotic moral values!

Hezbollah decided to exploit the medium-sized crisis (triggered by Hamas' capture of an Israeli solider) by seizing two Israeli soldiers, it angered the leaders of other Arab nations, most notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, who denounced Hezbollah's "adventurism."

Please don't feed the trolls.

House GOP Majority Leader says it's okay for GOP to use 9/11 flag-draped coffins in political ads but not for Dems to use military flag-draped coffins

We wrote about this on Saturday, and now the mainstream media is pushing the House Republican Majority Leader John Boehner about it. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it's still pretty cool. Check out the interview, below - this is what real journalism is about. Dogging a politician repeatedly when he just doesn't make any sense.

Questioned by reporters on what the difference was, Boehner seemed tongue-tied. "These were American citizens killed by terrorists. That is a very different policy issue than American soldiers dying on the battlefield protecting the rights and freedoms of American people."

"How so?" a reporter asked.

"How so? You want me to describe the difference between men and women of the military out there defending the American people, and victims - victims - of terrorist activities?" Boehner asked.

"They were both killed by opponents, right? Terrorists or Islamic insurgents?" a reporter pressed.

An exasperated Boehner said: "The World Trade Center victims were victims of a terrorist act here on our shore and I think all Americans were appalled that this did in fact happen. But I think the differences, in terms of the images, are as clear as night and day.

"Some heroes are more equal than others? More from Dkos and the American Prospect.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

This is what happens when relative values are put to the most simple test. What is the difference?

"They were so strong in their beliefs that there came a time when it hardly mattered what exactly those beliefs were; they all fused into a single stubbornness." ~ Louise Erdrich

capt

From Democracy Now.

ROBERT FISK: What's happening is obviously the mass punishment of a whole people, the Lebanese, in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of three others on Wednesday of last week. The death toll now has just topped 240 in the last few minutes. We've -- almost all of the Lebanese dead are civilians, of course, as usual. The Americans, in the usual pusillanimous way of Mr. Bush, are doing nothing to prevent this from taking place.

It amazes me -- I mean, living here in Beirut, as I have for 30 years. Here are the Lebanese people, sophisticated, educated, cosmopolitan, people who don't look like the Arab world, they look like us; I mean, people who could be quite at home on the streets of Paris or New York and London, and some of them are; people who read, who are very well educated; people who speak English fluently, French beautifully, and fluent Arabic, as well, of course; and who, when they die in such large numbers, the best we can produce is a call for restraint by the State Department and a claim by the British, our own dear Tony Blair, that the Israelis are using disproportionate force.

....I think the massacre of the innocents must obviously apply to both sides. The Israeli dead have an equal right to that claim. But the scale -- I mean, "disproportionate" is not the word for it -- the scale of the response is obscene. Even a small example, I'll give you. Yesterday, something fell out of the sky over a small area of Beirut called Qurashim [sic]. I think it was part of the wing, the wingtip of an F-16. The Israelis say it's not, but I think it probably was. And it crashed in a fiery volcano glow and burned trees, bushes, the roadway, and decapitated a young man in his car who was driving home to his family.

I got there in about eight minutes. And there were three very friendly Lebanese soldiers. By chance, I knew one of them, the sergeant, who said, "Mr. Robert, you must be very careful. The Israelis will come back and bomb again, but we'll take you into the fire and show you as much as we can." And they stood around me and protected me as we went up the road for about a mile walking -- or running, to be very honest with you, because Mr. Fisk here is not a very brave warrior. And I saw parts of what appears to be a wing. I think it was burning fuel all over the road. I think it came out of whatever the aircraft was. I think what actually happened is a Hezbollah missile probably hit an F-16, and the Israelis didn't want to claim it. They said that it was part of a barrel containing propaganda pamphlets and leaflets, which -- well, I didn't see leaflets anyway, and I know they burn on fuel, but anyway, I saw what I could and got away afterwards and said, you know, waved at the soldiers and thanked them.

And the Israelis did come back some hours later and bombed the barracks of these soldiers, which were members of a logistics unit. Their job was to repair bridges and electrical lines. They weren't combat soldiers. And they killed ten Lebanese soldiers, including the three young men who had protected me the previous day. This was outrageous, because the Israelis know what each individual Lebanese army unit is doing. They know if it's a combat unit, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, whatever.

And they picked on this sole barracks to destroy those men, to exterminate them, because, of course, their job was to keep Beirut alive, to keep the power systems running, to repair the bridges which were being destroyed...
------------------
This kind of violence is cruel, no matter the decade, no matter the culture. A past cruelty does not make future violence acceptable. War is good for nothing.

The KKK isn't that the same country that elected Ronald Reagan for President?

Reed concedes defeat in GOP race for lieutenant governor

Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed became the first election casualty in the Jack Abramoff scandal on Tuesday as he conceded defeat in Georgia's Republican race for lieutenant governor.

It marks a stunning turnaround for Reed, who had entered the race as the seemingly invincible front-runner. Dogged by questions about his ties to Abramoff, Reed faced a surprisingly strong challenge from state Sen. Casey Cagle.

Tonight my candidacy for the lieutenant governor comes to an end, Reed told a crowd of cheering supporters.

A seasoned behind-the-scenes strategist and former leader of the Georgia Republican Party, Reed was making his first bid for elected office. While the lieutenant governor post in Georgia is a largely powerless, ceremonial position, it is viewed as a steppingstone to the governor's mansion.

More HERE

*****end of clip*****

This is what happens to demagogues that do business with relative values. They wreck themselves. The "end justify the means" is just a pathetic excuse for "anything goes" and the natural progression is to become amoral and criminal.

Abramoff, Ney, Libby, etc. This is the worse criminal enterprise on the planet and still they have some drones and lemmings march in goose-step headed for a cliff singing "Onward Christian Soldiers" never thinking for themselves. That is tragic.

"Cheering supporters" are clearly a group of criminal enterprise supporters all of whom should be thrown in jail.

The so-called "Christian Coalition" was the main reason I left the GOP and never looked back. They are not "Christian" unless it serves their petty purpose at that point in time. Just another example of what happens when you try to live by relative values.

capt

"There's no reason whatsoever to continue this showdown" Yossi Beilin, Israeli opposition leader

This is what happens when relative values are put to the most simple test. What is the difference?

Capt

There is no difference. They are both wrong! You Cornnuts and Murtha supported using them for the Dems and Bush & Co. supported using them for the Repubs. Cornnuts are no better than the Bushbots that wanted to use the 9/11 coffins. You're both dispicable.

Den

What Mosque do you belong to? Were you converted to Islam in prison? That would explain a lot!

Dear Honorable Representative Wilson,

Please support Rep. Dennis Kucinich's House Concurrent Resolution 450 calling upon President Bush to call for a cease fire in the current hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli Government and to call for immediate diplomatic efforts.

Around the world, people are watching in fear and horror as the Middle East sinks further into iolence. We are witnessing human rights violations and civilian deaths on a massive scale in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. And now, the conflict has escalated with added violence between the Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel. All of this comes on top of the chaos in Iraq caused by the unjust and ill-considered U.S. invasion and occupation.

The world is on the brink of war. It is time for America to lead toward peace. Please contact Rep. Kucinich's office and ask for details of this Concurrent Resolution and sign on as a cosponsor.

This is one of the most critical issues of our time. If you do not lead with Rep. Kucinich on this, we will remember your passive non-leadership during the upcoming election!

Sincerely,

capt

LBH, there stupid fuckn muslim convert liberals. he he he

Happy has been given a yellow card. Next infraction will merit a red card.

I deserved the yellow card. No more head buts from me.

The offending posts are largly absurd mockeries of the troll droppings. Maybe, I'm too good. Anyway. I was wrong and I'll behave. Thank you for the warning. You won't regret it.

David, In all fairness, you should know I am Happy 2, not Happy 1 but I'm sure you know that from the IP address, anyway. I wouldn't want Happy 1 to be banned unfairly or me to be banned due to his indescretion.

#67,Bigotry is very becoming on you!LOL!!

Another Arab that disagrees with Capts Morals:

Arab world is 'contaminated'

Arab Times ^ | Ahmed Al-Jarallah

THE Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is supposed to be more frank and forthright, and talk about everything without any reservations. He should call spade a spade and declare that it is the adventurists who have destroyed his beautiful country. Siniora should have been frank from the beginning. Now the situation has become unbearable and unacceptable after Hezbollah became a state within the state of Lebanon. With his uncalculated and reckless adventures Hassan Nasrallah has led the people of Lebanon and the Arab world into disaster. He has exposed Lebanon to unnecessary risks under the orders of outsiders, who are telling him what to do. These outsiders are instructing Nasrallah to play political games, which are not in the interest of Lebanon or people of Arab countries.

In this situation remaining silent is not an option. Frankness and transparency have become necessary. Siniora should tell Nasrallah that he has put Lebanon in a critical situation. With his irresponsible adventures Nasrallah has emulated Saddam Hussein, who put Iraq in a dilemma with his deceptive military parades and empty threats. As a result of Saddam's antics Iraq has been destroyed and is still under occupation. It is getting closer to an ethnic and sectarian war. The destruction of Iraq was caused by one person. Similarly the ill-advised actions of one person are destroying Lebanon.

Like Saddam Hussein, Hassan Nasrallah has done some grave miscalculations. Maybe he thought that the capture of the two Israeli soldiers will be limited to the kidnapping incident and his conditions for their release will boost his popularity. Maybe Nasrallah assumed this will help him achieve the ambitions of another country, which wants to have a presence in Lebanon. However, Nasrallah has led himself and the people of Lebanon into a dangerous situation. He must be aware Almighty Allah prohibited such behavior when He said "Do not put yourself in danger."

#67,Bigotry is very becoming on you!LOL!!

DEN

What bigotry have I displayed asking if you're a Muslim?

On the other hand, your bigotry (intolerence) of Israel is not at all funny! You hit all four -group, religion, race and politics!

big·ot ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bgt)
n.

One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

More good news that Arabs aren't listening to Cornnuts!

Arab world's awakening brings hope

NY Daily News ^ | July 19 2006 | Michael Goodwin
With bombs and rockets falling and civilians getting killed in three countries, it is hard to see any good news in the Mideast. But amid the carnage, there is hope. Like a ray of sunshine piercing the darkness, some Muslims are beginning to awaken to the danger of the Islamic extremists in their ranks. A handful of Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, are openly criticizing Hezbollah for starting the war with Israel. In the annals of Arab versus Jew, it is rare for any Arab country to publicly air the family's dirty laundry, especially during a war. Yet that...

To Hezbollah leader in hiding - you can run but you can't hide! Lights out!

Israel drops 23 tons of explosives on Hezbollah bunker

CNN | 7-19-06 | CNN

23 tons of explosives were dropped on a Hezbollah bunker. Top Hezbollah officials are believed to have been inside.

One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ,by LBH. Nice of you to point that out about yourself, we all knew it, but were waiting for you to admit it. LOL!!!!!!!

One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ,by LBH. Nice of you to point that out about yourself, we all knew it, but were waiting for you to admit it. LOL!!!!!!!

Den

I have utmost tolerence for the intolerable, Jew bashing, America hating, cornnuts here! Being right against those you differ with, is not the definition of intolerence, it's the definition of being right. nNow that's LOL!!!

Canada doesn't even support Capt and Dens bigotry

The G-8 leaders, including Bush, Blair, and Putin, are showing no signs of pressuring Israel to go easy - yet. In the U.S., there's talk of World War Three.

World leaders meeting in a suburb of the Russian city of St. Petersburg at the G-8 summit have come down squarely on Israel's side. They called for Hamas and Hizbullah to return the Israeli soldiers they are holding captive and for the cessation of rocket attacks on Israel - as conditions for Israel's cessation of its offensive on Lebanon.

The G-8 is a self-proclaimed Group of Eight industrialized nations, namely, the U.S.,
Russia, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan.

Canada took a surprisingly pro-Israel approach when Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters before the summit that Israel "has a right to defend itself," and that Israel's offensive in Lebanon was a "measured" manifestation of that right. He clearly blamed the current warfare on Hamas and Hizbullah.

LBH,

Great bitch-slapping of these guys with your quotes. A lot of the people here have no moral or intellectual integrity. They are mentally weak and intellectually lazy.

All they can cling to is their blinding hatred for Bush and capitalism.