X Misses The Spot

Five years into the "Sweets and Flowers" festival in Iraq, Craig Unger reviews the crunchy cluster that got the party started in the first place.

"X seems to suggest that all this could have been the result of mere ineptitude. However, I cite, on the record, no fewer than nine former officials in the military and intelligence worlds who characterize the Niger document episode as black propaganda or part of a disinformation campaign that was intentionally done to mislead the American people into supporting a war."

Five Years Into "Stay The Course"

Op Ed in the NY Times - Mission Still Not Accomplished:

Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney refuse to let these facts interfere with their benighted notion of keeping troops in Iraq indefinitely and insisting that Iraq — not Afghanistan and Pakistan where Al Qaeda and the Taliban have gained ground — must remain America’s top priority.

It was clear long ago that Mr. Bush had no plan for victory, only a plan for handing this mess to his successor. Americans need to choose a president with the vision to end this war as cleanly as possible.

Happy Birthday, Man

Happy 50th.
But what have you done for me lately?

BBC Headline Of The Day

"They have urged them to get tetanus vaccinations before they flagellate themselves and are nailed to crosses, and to practise good hygiene. "

Because it doesn't matter if people think you're crazy. They'll be won over by that fresh Irish Spring scent.

Barack Lichtenberg Obama

Speaking of Roger Lichtenberg Simon, did you know Lichtenberg was also the site of the extensive headquarters complex of the Stasi!!!???
Isn't that an important and relevant observation?!?

Turns Out He Did It For The Air Conditioning

A poetic response to Roger Lichtenberg Simon from TBogg.

In the end, one must ask: "Is Roger L. Simon good enough to be the next Kirk Van Houten?"

Sadly, No.

Hey, Did You Smear The One About Obama?

Ari Berman on the smearing of Obama.
Basically he explains why it is I double over in fits of laughter whenever the right complains about the lack of civility in the political discourse.

Seeing No End In Sight

Just saw No End In Sight on CBC's Passionate Eye documentary series.
It's a must see.

From the film's website:

NO END IN SIGHT examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy – the use of insufficient troop levels, allowing the looting of Baghdad, the purging of professionals from the Iraqi government, and the disbanding of the Iraqi military – largely created the insurgency and chaos that engulf Iraq today. How did a group of men with little or no military experience, knowledge of the Arab world or personal experience in Iraq come to make such flagrantly debilitating decisions? NO END IN SIGHT dissects the people, issues and facts behind the Bush Administration’s decisions and their consequences on the ground to provide a powerful look into how arrogance and ignorance turned a military victory into a seemingly endless and deepening nightmare of a war.  

Sunday Sermon

TBogg supplies a few well chosen words regarding what I can only assume is a very authentic Panic™ that has gripped the bedwetters on the right who are losing so much sleep due to their fears that Barack Secret-Muslim-Manchurian-Candidate Obama may turn the White House into the Black House.

"A Torrent Of Lies Under Oath"

A must read on the U.S. Attorney firings.

Geography Lessening

As one wades through all the Very Serious smear jobs being levelled at Barack Look!-His-middle-name-is-just-like-Saddam's-so-he-must-keep-a-summer-home-in-Gaza Obama, we must remember the kind of brilliant minds on the right who have been leading the charge.
A prime example:
The ironically named Astute Bloggers with their history making geography lesson:
"OBAMA IS A KENYAN-AMERICAN NOT AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN"


You cannot make this stuff up.


Unless of course you're an Ass Toot Blogger.

Hypocritter

Over at Hullabaloo, as dday points out, W can't give advice without being a hypocrite.

Update:
Atrios adds an "Indeed".

The Knob On My Television Set

That would be Tim Russert.