Cheney is just the kind of guy who will probably react in a foolish and emotional way to this attempt on his life. You know: fight or flight. Now we can be pretty sure that Cheney doesn't seeing himself fleeing (translation: "withdrawing") so I'm thinking this will just make him dig in even deeper in Iraq.
Which is probably exactly what the attackers were planning on from the get-go.
Did you hear about the truck bomb that killed 18 children on a soccer field in Ramadi? Well, that's the story the Iraqis tell, anyway. The U.S. government said no, it's nothing as bad as all that. We just set off a controlled explosion *near* the soccer field, and only 30 people were wounded.
I like this "Purge Dean." It's more honest. I think next he should kick people off who believe that HIV causes AIDS. And then, people who people Terri Schiavo was brain-dead and that her husband tried to help her, not kill her.
Then, maybe everyone who has any sort of problem with the Iraq Experiment. Oh wait - he already did that.
"I'm glad to know that you believe that the desire to do better is bigotry."
Personally, that’s one thing I’m not a bigot about. Race and gender are two more. But I judge people by their silly beliefs, religious or otherwise, all the time. They really are the things that most differentiate and describe us.
Mark Adams, who's always correct, get used to it. (mail) (www):
Wince, the "enemy of the good," stuff. I know he didn't think of it first, but Bill loves to fling that old saw around.
I haven't had the opportunity to say this in a long time, but I love Arnold Harris. We agree maybe 35%-40% of the time, but he really does "get it."
But none of this probably addresses the point that I think you are trying to make. Which is that you want a litmust test in regard to acceptability of Islam on the part of American citizens.
Which flies directly in the face of:
"Defending the liberal tradition in history, science, and philosophy."
I think your latest gauntlet, if you are serious, makes a real joke of that. So maybe you ought to pull that off your masthead if you intend to exercize thought control about Islam over your contributors and commenters.
"Your last comment is entirely self contradictory. I leave it as an exercise to you to tease out the contradiction."
Not at all. I simply don't think that most people adopt silly beliefs "to do better". Feel better, maybe but we both know that isn't the same thing at all.
"Which is that you want a litmust test in regard to acceptability of Islam on the part of American citizens."
I've always liked Arnold too. Though it seems to me that, in this case, the "litmus test" is not having a closed mind about it. That is very much in the liberal tradition.
Now please don't make me defend Dean again. *Please*
Not at all. I simply don't think that most people adopt silly beliefs "to do better". Feel better, maybe but we both know that isn't the same thing at all.
You came so close! Sorry, but if some people adopt beliefs you think are silly "to do better", then your post was contradictory. Don't need most. Need one, actually.
Pesky logic.
Mark,
Lots of people use that saying. I cannot remember Clinton doing so. I've usually encountered it in terms of software development. When Clinton said it, I doubt it had anything to do with software, so I missed it.
Well, if you're going to pick nits (I'm shocked) I said "all the time" not always.
I try to judge people's earnestness at least as well as I try to judge their beliefs. If there's one thing you know about me personally by now, it's that I don't reject people who are earnest and sincere, merely because they hold silly beliefs.
I like Cheney. All the more so since I watched him flatten former Senator John Edwards in their vice presidential debate in summer 2004.
As for his shooting? Well, I do a great deal of that. Except around here we shoot federally-registered submachine guns in action marksmanship matches. And with firearms such as these, if somebody -- anybody -- is downrange of us, the firearms are unloaded and cased.
But we didn't elect him vice president because of the way he handles shotguns.
I also like the dignified way he defends his daughter's civil liberties without allowing himself to be drawn deep into arguments about rights of homosexuals; arguments that are typically presented in a format designed to embarrass him.
Mark Adams, who's always correct, get used to it. (mail) (www):
"But we didn't elect him vice president because of the way he handles shotguns."
I thought is was because of his manly good looks (in a totally hetero way -- not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Did ya catch this, where Cheney goes on background for a reporter on his Asia trip, but says his quotes are only to be attributed to a "senior administration official?"
The senile old fart's quoted as saying ""The reason the president wanted me to come, obviously, is because ..."
Note: People on heroine should not drive -- truck-bombs.
I wonder if he took his shotgun along.
Which is probably exactly what the attackers were planning on from the get-go.
Did you hear about the truck bomb that killed 18 children on a soccer field in Ramadi? Well, that's the story the Iraqis tell, anyway. The U.S. government said no, it's nothing as bad as all that. We just set off a controlled explosion *near* the soccer field, and only 30 people were wounded.
I feel so much better.
No way. I watched the vice-presidential debates. Cheney is cool, methodical and unflappable. John Edwards actually shares that trait, but adds charm.
Yours,
Wince
Don't even think of leaving w/o some buckshot in Osama's face -- that will only embolden the terrorists.
The U.S. government said..."
So, what you are saying is, we don't know what happened yet.
Yours,
Wince
Them's fightin' word. ;-)
Yours,
Wince
It looks like Dean just kicked religious bigots off his blog. Good for him.
Like the Islamic fanatics, your orthodoxy is yours to reject.
Still not good at logic, then? Don't understand the phrase, "The best is the enemy of the good"?
I'm glad to know that you believe that the desire to do better is bigotry.
Yours,
Wince
Then, maybe everyone who has any sort of problem with the Iraq Experiment. Oh wait - he already did that.
Personally, that’s one thing I’m not a bigot about. Race and gender are two more. But I judge people by their silly beliefs, religious or otherwise, all the time. They really are the things that most differentiate and describe us.
You know Wince, it's one thing to highjack a thread, I do it all the time.
But you give me the Heebee Jeebees when you start embracing Clintonisms for your own.
Your last comment is entirely self contradictory. I leave it as an exercise to you to tease out the contradiction.
Mark,
But you give me the Heebee Jeebees when you start embracing Clintonisms for your own.
Huh?
Hey, Clinton was the second best candidate for President in 1992 and 1996. That's not bad!
Yours,
Wince
I haven't had the opportunity to say this in a long time, but I love Arnold Harris. We agree maybe 35%-40% of the time, but he really does "get it."
That masthead has been a joke for years.
Not at all. I simply don't think that most people adopt silly beliefs "to do better". Feel better, maybe but we both know that isn't the same thing at all.
I've always liked Arnold too. Though it seems to me that, in this case, the "litmus test" is not having a closed mind about it. That is very much in the liberal tradition.
Now please don't make me defend Dean again. *Please*
Not at all. I simply don't think that most people adopt silly beliefs "to do better". Feel better, maybe but we both know that isn't the same thing at all.
You came so close! Sorry, but if some people adopt beliefs you think are silly "to do better", then your post was contradictory. Don't need most. Need one, actually.
Pesky logic.
Mark,
Lots of people use that saying. I cannot remember Clinton doing so. I've usually encountered it in terms of software development. When Clinton said it, I doubt it had anything to do with software, so I missed it.
Yours,
Wince
Well, if you're going to pick nits (I'm shocked) I said "all the time" not always.
I try to judge people's earnestness at least as well as I try to judge their beliefs. If there's one thing you know about me personally by now, it's that I don't reject people who are earnest and sincere, merely because they hold silly beliefs.
Wince, interestingly enough, I couldn't find the quote where I first heard Clinton say that as I got sidetracked.
The Washington Post claims the phrase is the Senate's unofficial motto, but it seems it goes clear back to Voltair.
As for his shooting? Well, I do a great deal of that. Except around here we shoot federally-registered submachine guns in action marksmanship matches. And with firearms such as these, if somebody -- anybody -- is downrange of us, the firearms are unloaded and cased.
But we didn't elect him vice president because of the way he handles shotguns.
I also like the dignified way he defends his daughter's civil liberties without allowing himself to be drawn deep into arguments about rights of homosexuals; arguments that are typically presented in a format designed to embarrass him.
Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI
Or his liquor.
I thought is was because of his manly good looks (in a totally hetero way -- not that there's anything wrong with that.)
Did ya catch this, where Cheney goes on background for a reporter on his Asia trip, but says his quotes are only to be attributed to a "senior administration official?"
The senile old fart's quoted as saying ""The reason the president wanted me to come, obviously, is because ..."
That said, I often wish I could slap Cheney upside the head.