We wish all readers (and non-readers, for that matter) a joyous and safe Festivus. The Stiftung likely will be on vacation until January 2nd. We plan to pour new steel reinforced concrete for the bunker to withstand the Campaign 2008 assaults. Naturally, we will interrupt this necessary but mind numbing task should breaking news compel comment.
See you when we see you!
Comment says
Happy New Year to all – We awake to a New Year, turn on the tube and see Mitt Romney telling tale tales. Plus ca change.
Dr.LeoStrauss says
Cheers to one and all !!!
Aldershot says
*raises glass*
To the Stiftung! Happy New Year to all!
Aldershot says
I don’t know much about Rwanda; it was just such a depressing thing for her to say…I think she’d have been much better off agreeing that she advised Bill to intervene, and leaving it there.
Apparently, there was a request for the City Hall of Green Bay, Wisconsin to display a Festivus pole (see green sidebar):
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/GPG0101/712200561/1206/GPGnews
Comment says
We’ve never been impressed with the theory that we could have prevented what happened in Rawanda – If for no other reason than it would have been politically impossible for anyone at that time to do what would have been needed. We know that Samanta Power says otherwise and that a few troops here or there would have ended it – But we doubt her operational expertise and predictive acumen.
Aldershot says
http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/hillary_bill_will_have_no_formal_foreign_policy_role_in_my_white_house.php
In this same interview with Stephanopoulus this morning, George said that Bill said in a speech that Hillary had encouraged him to intervene in Rwanda. In part of her reply to this observation, she said something like, ‘yes, he apologized to the people of Rwanda, to women who had their arms hacked off…’ Not a shining endorsement of her influence during the White House years.
Aldershot says
Speaking of Matt Y:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/punisher.jpg&imgrefurl=http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/09/the_punisher.php&h=871&w=524&sz=227&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=bqJ6NFZt_Jm_YM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmatt%2Byglesias%2Bgun%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den
Anon says
Classic Frum use of a possibly bogus anecdote to undermine a no longer historically useful narrative featuring traditional morals:
http://frum.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGE1NjE2ZGI1OTlmMDZkNTEyZTliZWQxYzEwZTgyZDk=
Anon says
“When you put a termite in a block of wood, you expect [him] to do [his] job without a lot of supervision.” (Ehrlichman}
http://www.newsweek.com/id/81883/page/2
A Random Quote says
“… it may be necessary for Iraq to move to something closer to a cantonal system along Swiss lines.”
~Kenneth Pollack
12-28-07
(reflecting)
Anon says
Slaughter is one of those foreign policy establishment mysteries – There is no doubt that her resume is huge and indicates a world mind and broad education – But then she spouts drivel that seems no different that what one hears from a well informed waitress or news junkie who likes to complain about her NewYorkers piling up cause she is so busy. Consider her defense of unilateral action by pointing to Rawanda = In fact, if such action occured and prevented genocide, no one would have believed the genocide actually would have happened – In short, Clinton would have been excused, but not congratualetd. Lots of liberals who love war just a bit all have their favorite examples.But it seems to us that she represents the hollow core of the modern liberal elite opinion classs.
Anon says
We question Ann-Marie Slaughter’s commitment to making a true break with warlord’s ways:
http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/12/the_duty_to_prevent_revisited.php
Anon says
Hey – did Biden steal (plagerise?) the Chinese Communist part star symbol on the bottom left of his website?
http://www.joebiden.com/issues/
Just asking – It’s worth noting that much of his worse than useless comments about Pakistan show up on his blog in an easy to spot way.
Comment says
Just a side note – Bhutto’s story has hovered between #8 and #5 on the NY Times most emailed all day – Way behind skin care developments, articles about aging.
The most blogged stories reflects a smaller snapshot of readers, but Bhutto did not fair to well on that list in the Times either. Right now even – a story about Apple aesthtics is number 3, to Bhutto at 8. Story number 6 is about dog whisperers
Comment says
Elsehwhere on The Corner Mark Steyn tells reads that he liked Benizar Bhutto very much. Steyn is so caring.
What do you think she’d think about him? Probably regard him as a sometime troublemaking schmuck. But that’s just speculation. Steyn says:
“As Andy noted earlier, according to one recent poll, 46% of Pakistanis support Osama bin Laden. – What should be easy to agree is that Pakistan is getting worse.”
——
Well to the extent you can trust polls – This poll suggests the opposite, if anything. UBL was polling in the near 90 percent range in Pak a while ago. For Steyn – too may wish he listened to Mush and spoke out againt invading Iraq.
A Random Quote says
“Derb, you ask how they would set out to destroy us? Only lack of imagination limits the possibilities. But nuclear and biological weapons might certainly play a role. A series of 9/11’s would not destroy all of us but would have more impact on America as we know it than anything that the Communists or the Nazis ever managed — whatever lethal potential they may have had within their arsenals and armies.”
~Cliff May
NRO, The Corner 12-27-07
Comment says
It’s interesting to read Cliff May regurg a popular media trope – even thought it contradicts his own magazine and history:
“The point about MAD — Mutally Assured Destruction — is just this: the Soviets were evil but they were rational. Very few were willing to die for the sake of Communism. To a Russian — even one who had become a corrupt, vodka-swilling apartchik — the idea of Moscow devastated by a nuclear attack was terrible to imagine. The consequence of all this was a certain level of restraint. … None of this applies to suicide bombers, to would-be martyrs contemplating black-eyed virgins in Paradise …”
Rudy uses this line to much applause and it would be a plausible speculation save for the fact that we know for a fact that Soviets did infact prove themselves more than willing to let their cities be bombed and their soldiers and civillians killed – By the millions?
We can only speculate that the some Arabs might want that – Surely the Iranians don’t and neither do must Arab rulers.
Just as with Bush – we know for fact that he will bomb and invade countries, torture suspects, and conduct illegal surveillance – This is not left wing speculation – But as Tweety noted, they just try to forget.
Anon says
Flippancy aside – Steyn could, in theory, have a point – But his interest in Steyn’s singling out the word “democracy” is interesting he is implying Bush’s words were meaningless or dishonest. There can be no doubt that “democracy” was the crux of Bush’s comments – Sure he differs from Richardson about course of action. But “democracy” was the word of the day. Steyn must believes that Richardson is sincere. That’s why he breaks down and gets all flippant.
Anon says
Here’s an example of unmanly flippancy, capriciousnous, and lack of seriousness. Steyn singles out Richradson for his words about “democracy” – the exact same thing other Republicans and Bush mentioned. The Cliff May posts are pretty funny too – He can’t resist playing Meme games even when no one is absorbing new propaganda now:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjYxMjY4YmZlOTNiODUyNGIyMzE4Y2FhMzczYTlkNDE=
Anon says
On a side note – Continetti & Co. are finally catching up to us re Goodboygate
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/CampaignStandard/2007/12/romneys_english.asp
Dr.LeoStrauss says
re Bhutto, indeed bad and sad news. She was brave, smart and committed but the hateful gyre indeed proved too much. Such a poisoned chalice for Pakistan, the region and the next Administration.
Anon says
Beyond satire – The Case for Festivus:
http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/7656
Comment says
The next couple of days is the time to make sure to read The Corner and Daily Standard. This is when they are most likely to print things that will embarass them later. That’s because they are a moody lot – full of caprice and uncertaint. Opposite of what they think of themselves.
Comment says
Bad news re Benizar Bhutto. Very bad. We were worried that would happen, but we never thougt it actually would happen.
Comment says
Happy Festivus – hope all show feats of strength and a healthy Festival Frivolity.
Hunter says
Happy holidays to the crowd at the only place I comment anymore!
Aldershot says
Merry Christmas and Happy Festivus to all my Bunker buddies. It’s been a great year getting to know you.
A Random Quote says
“Condoleeza Rice holds the key to Bush’s credibility.”
~Elizabeth Bumiller
Comment says
The Festivus Song
~Deck The Halls With
Whatever You Want!
Yada Yada Yada
Work the Vinyards of
National Security
Yada Yada Yada
Comment says
The War on Festivus has barely begun!