Comments on: Iraq, Iran, War, Money, Me, and US

By: Richard Love you

Richard Love you — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:49:21 +0000

I have read a number of your post and I love it, can’t wait to read some more.

By: Michael Markman

Michael Markman — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:46:19 +0000

Sadly, no. The president serves a four-year term. Political appointees serve at the pleasure of the president–meaning as long as he’s pleased and not a nano-second longer. Impeachment is a legal process that has nothing to do with pleasure or lack thereof. (Even in Clinton’s case, it wasn’t about Monica pleasuring him, but about his lying about it.) We don’t have the “no confidence” vote that can end the term of a prime minister. Our consitituion came down on the side of stability over pleasure.

By: Lunabean

Lunabean — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:38:33 +0000

I don’t have time to get into any of this right now, but I do feel the need to say one thing, and that’s about your “Independent” status. I’m all for independant voting. However, I do get a little twitchy when self-proclaimed Independents feel the need to almost put down those of us who align themselves with one party in an attempt to make themselves look more thoughtful, unbiased, and, well, independent.

Like many Americans, I’m a proud Democrat, but I certainly don’t “live my life on party lines”. If there’s a good Republican running, I will (and have) vote for them. I’ve just studied enough of the political system to know that my politics fall more with the Democrats than with the Republicans (particularly over the past few years), and I take pride in the fact that I get to vote for Dems in primaries because of that.

In other words, just because I align myself with one party doesn’t make me a less thoughtful, more biased, and less independent voter. In fact, I see some “independents” as being independent because they like to pretend they’re above the political system, while they’re usually too lazy to get their hands dirty and figure out what, exactly, they believe in politically (present company excluded, of course).

Sorry if it seems I’m going after you, here. I’m not. I’m just taking out my aggression toward my “Independent” brother in law on this incredibly thoughtful entry. Thanks for noting the video, as I’ve been meaning to rent it. Thank goodness for Google Video!

By: paulmorris

paulmorris — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:52:59 +0000

As I said in my year ending post about Canadians, which also applies to any western country and its people, the sheep mentality needs to change. When most people think about sheep mentality they associate it with those who blindly follow conservative aka republican politicians. It also applies to left wing aka Democrat aka Labour aka Liberal parties and their followers. I read a wide variety of blogs and journalists online as well as various news sources.I try to sift thru it all to arrive at a balanced viewpoint- unlike Dukrous. Jack, in his post made a valid point. The problem is Jack, the Lib lefties don’t want to face facts like yours, and the righties may choose to use it as propaganda to validate their positions also. I read an article online recently by an Arab Palestinian Christian who outlined why it was a disaster for Israel to listen to the UN and the Russians (and their ilk) and by doing so withdraw from Lebanon last year without a conclusive victory over Hisb’Allah and Hamas, Iran and Syria. This is first hand observation from someone who lives in the milieu every day. I would strongly urge anyone who wants such a first hand view to email me and I will forward it (I received it from a Dutch friend).A lot of the points would also apply to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
If you want really different but definitely interesting reading, I can point you to more resources.

By: Solo

Solo — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 09:36:09 +0000

I am not American. I do not live in the US. But I can tell you, most of the world no longer looks up to the US as a ‘leading’ nation because of the fascist-like Bush Administration. I studied in the US and liked the US a great deal, but you guys need to get your act together and impeach Bush and Cheney ASAP. The Bush administration is leading the entire America into a no-return path of hatred.

Thanks to the wonderful world of BT and my local pay TV service (legality issue aside for the moment…if I could purchase these programs via iTunes, I would, but iTunes only work if you live in the US and a few selected countries), I am able to watch quite a bit of US TV, from the ridiculously biased Fox News to the most ‘liberal’ shows like Real Time with Bill Maher. Of course, I also get to watch shows like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. Much of the media (less FOX News) seem to have it together, but people on the Internet needs to get their acts together and just impeach Bush asap.

The administration is a joke. Show the world what true democracy is. With such a low approval rating, I do not see how he can remain as president.

By: francine hardaway

francine hardaway — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:12:24 +0000

In the 1950′s, Dwight Eisenhower warned about the permanent war economy and the buildup of the military-industrial complex. I remember a particularly stirring New Yorker cartoon in which tanks were rolled off the end of a pier into the ocean so that we could build more tanks. Nothing has changed in fifty years.

By: Luke

Luke — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:00:55 +0000

“I seriously can’t believe that my fellow Americans continue to put up with this shit”

This is what the rest of the world has been thinking for years.

I agree with the most of the comments, your post sounded intelligent until you quoted Rosie.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 16:41:40 +0000

So the UK sent 15 Sailors (one woman) into two rubber dinghies to start a war with Iran? The UK hasn’t even got any Naval air support at present and is reducing it’s armed forces quite dramatically.

The UK sailors were there under a UN mandate and were checking boats for anything illegal.

The Iranians told the British THREE times the co-ordinates where they were captured. When Britain pointed out these were co-ordinates in Iraqi waters they changed their mind.

You my friend, are an idiot.

By: zach

zach — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 15:31:10 +0000

The moment you attempted to give Rosie O credibility.. I lost all interest in this article. That woman is off her rocker.

By: michael

michael — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:55:07 +0000

Dukrous, i also agree with you great comment

By: bobmorris

bobmorris — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:48:29 +0000

The Net can help enormously in getting the word out, but it can’t substitute for face-to-face organizing, for getting in the streets, for mobilizing in communities, and I say that as one who has helped organize multiple antiwar protests, some of which have drawn hundreds of thousands or people.

That war profiteering has always occurred doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be opposed now!

“If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation…want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters…. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” — Frederick Douglass

By: michael

michael — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:48:03 +0000

i think rosie missed the times article about the iranian troops that came into iraq trying to start a fight. and yes war profiteering sucks but it has happened in every war, i dont like it because it takes money away from what would go to the military as combat pay (when the war started the military got $250 month combat pay now they only get $50 for combat pay) having a brother serving his second tour in iraq this upsets me.

By: Andrew Leyden

Andrew Leyden — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:37:33 +0000

You had me until Rosie…

Then the irrelevance factor went up. Way up…

By: Iran - The New York Sun

Iran - The New York Sun — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:43:18 +0000

[...] Iraq, Iran, War, Money, Me, and US Chris Pirillo | Apr 2, 2007 2:27am EDT [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:27:54 +0000

Dukrous, that was the most brilliant comment I’ve ever read on any political post. You nailed it. People try to make thinks WAY more complicated than they are. I agree with you totally.