In the ArenaUncategorized
I’m really beginning to notice the excellent work of Marc Santora for the New York Times in Baghdad. Today he shows how the rape of an Iraqi woman, possibly by the Shi’ite police forces, becomes a political football in Iraq.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki plays a particularly dreadful role in all this. Promising a full investigation, …
In the ArenaUncategorized
This is a suicidal waste of time. I especially love this from Kos, who promises a “vicious [primary] fight” for Ellen Tauscher’s seat:
“We’re creating real democracy,” he said.
Thus spoke Robespierre.
Update Fair point from Arbitrista:
have you made any similar observations about the decision of Hugh Hewitt to support challenges
…
In the ArenaUncategorized
The Brits are leaving. They say 3000 by the end of the year, but here’s a prediction: All 7500 by the end of the year. The reason is Gordon Brown, who’ll replace Tony Blair as PM in the next few months. Brown will want to build a head of steam for his agenda–and to keep the Tories away from Downing Street–and the best, fastest way to …
Some safe bets:
• At least one reporter will lead with a description of Libby’s lawyer Wells tearing up as he delivered his last lines.
• No one will be able to make much sense of what those last lines were; as near as I could tell, they were “I’ve been protecting him for a month. Give him back to me … [sob] Give him back to …
Maybe it was the holiday, but I’m surprised more attention hasn’t been paid to the fascinating piece in yesterday’s New York Times by David Kirkpatrick suggesting that some of the most hostile and active opponents of the Clintons from their White House years are no longer so hostile or active. One of the long-held assumptions about a …
By now, even those of you are so cut off from the outside world that you are reading Swampland on your holiday have probably heard about Tim Hardaway’s bone-shatteringly stupid explication re: the gays:
“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic.
…
Hillary’s “never apologize, never explain” approach to her Iraq vote has confused me for awhile and I agree with Joe that, as far as primary voters go, it will soon become clear that hewing to this line was a mistake on her part. (Though she’ll never admit that, either.)
Her stubbornness is puzzling not just because the vote itself may …
Amanda Marcotte, no longer restricted by working for the Edwards campaign, tries out for the Clinton one.
Not that getting this rather cliched — yet irresistible — joke out here and now will stop others. Prediction: A version of this joke, even less funny and by that time unbearably dated, will appear on next week’s “Half-Hour News …
In the ArenaUncategorized
This is a first, and a demonstration of why the application of counterinsurgency tactics will be so difficult in the midst of a civil war. The joint patrol bases–they’re precinct houses, really–are vulnerable to enemy attack, which is why Generals Abizaid and Casey opposed the strategy. Two other thoughts:
–When John McCain says he’s …
In the ArenaUncategorized
I must admit I’m boggled by the question now on the table: Whether to support John Murtha’s clever plan for limiting funding for the mission in Iraq. On the one hand, Murtha has it exactly right–a great many military people say (privately) that units are being deployed to Iraq with insufficient training and equipment, and that those …
In the ArenaUncategorized
It is amazing that the well-oiled Clinton machine, bristling with consultants, could get itself into this kind of mess. I mean, you ask her why she voted for the war and she says:
“If the most important thing to any of you is choosing someone who did not cast that vote or has said his vote was a mistake, then there are others to choose
…
The AP reports that while all the other presidential hopefuls have rejuggled their weekend (read: campaign) schedules to make tomorrow’s Senate vote on Iraq, John McCain is proceeding as scheduled to Iowa. His spokeswoman calls the vote a “political stunt” by Majority Leader Harry Reid.
After days of intense and emotional debate, the House, as expected, has passed a non-binding resolution opposing President Bush’s plan to deploy more than 21,000 additional troops to Iraq. The final tally was 246-182. However, only 17 Republicans broke ranks with the President to support the Democratic resolution. (Two Democrats sided …
