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MajorKong

Recent comments by this user

Obama: Bush, McCain Should Explain Their Problem With JFK

Neither would Eisenhower be allowed in today's far right Republican party:

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things. Among them are a few other Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid."

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

"When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it. After my experience, I have come to hate war. War settles nothing." posted 05/18/2008 at 12:57:27

Yes there is a difference. Those other countries were actually major powers.

Here's Admiral Fallon, the guy who was supposed to be the voice of reason on Iran:

"These guys are ants. When the time comes, you crush them."

http://www.esquire.com/features/fox-fallon posted 05/18/2008 at 12:50:49

We don't care much about whether or not they're dictators as long as they do what we want. It's only when they stop following orders that we're suddenly "Shocked! Shocked I tell you!" to find out that they're an oppressive dictator. posted 05/18/2008 at 12:47:07

And after we came very close to going to war with the Soviets in 1983 (I suggest you read about the Able Archer exercise) the Reagan administration backed off quite a bit.

We also got very lucky that the hardliners in the Kremlin decided to go out with a whimper rather than a bang. It could have gotten very ugly very quickly. posted 05/18/2008 at 12:44:30

"he stated in order to do so that the U.S needed to be in a position of strength"

If having a couple carrier battle groups stationed off their coast isn't a position of strength I don't know what is. We're talking about a country with an economy the size of Alabama's, not the Soviet freakin' Union here. posted 05/18/2008 at 12:40:52

I seem to recall it was Reagan and Oliver North who were selling weapons to Iran.
It would have been nice if they'd just had tea with them. posted 05/18/2008 at 12:36:53

Khrushchev never really knew whether he should try to scare us or try to make peace with us. He was very concerned that if the hawks at the Pentagon found out just how weak the Soviet Union really was that we would attack them.

He actually preferred Eisenhower to Kennedy, because he believed that Eisenhower had a better chance of keeping the military under control. posted 05/18/2008 at 11:30:30

New Bin Laden Message To Be Issued Soon: Report

Interesting how he always seems to pop up just before an election and make a statement that helps the Republicans. Hmmmmmm posted 05/18/2008 at 11:15:58

US Soldier Used Quran For Target Practice

If you've ever had to use a Saudi toilet (and be thankful if you haven't) they don't usually have toilet paper. Just a hose. posted 05/18/2008 at 09:16:31

C'mon Chimp, you can do better than a silly straw-man argument like that. You're just phoning it in today. posted 05/18/2008 at 09:14:22

Good job idiot. You just gave the insurgents a new recruiting poster. posted 05/17/2008 at 23:50:59

"Firearms WILL NOT Be Allowed In Hall"

After they send my job overseas I'll have to sell my guns to pay the bills anyway. posted 05/17/2008 at 21:05:34

Senator Harkin: McCain Too "Military"

I think Harkin is wrong here. The problem with McCain isn't that he was in the military. It's that he's so militaristic. He's enamored with military force as a foreign policy tool. posted 05/18/2008 at 11:19:09

Senator Harkin, you need better talking points. Think what the Republicans would say about McCain if he were a Democrat:

"Professional Politician"
"Washington Insider"
"Never ran a business"
"Never had a real job" posted 05/18/2008 at 09:34:00

Only if their names are John Kerry, Paul Hackett, Tammy Duckworth, Max Cleland...... posted 05/18/2008 at 09:32:14

GOP' Needs New Slogan

Ein Volk! Ein Reich! Ein Fuhrer! posted 05/17/2008 at 18:06:24

Bush fails to win Saudi help on gas prices

Boy, sure glad I almost got my butt shot off protecting these people in 1991. posted 05/16/2008 at 21:15:10

Bush Lied About Giving Up Golf: Video Proof

In a related story, the sky was determined to be blue. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:54:02

Obama Responds To Bush, McCain Appeasement Attack

I hope so. We're dealing with the political equivalent of schoolyard bullies. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:33:28

"Dishonest and divisive attacks"? Dude, that's what they do. Remember who we're dealing with here. posted 05/16/2008 at 15:01:58

"Appeasement": Guilt-By-Analogy... When Guilt-By-Association Isn't Enough

It's worth nothing that Newt Gingrich called Ronald Reagan an appeaser for meeting with Gorbachev. He even used the Neville Chamberlain comparison. Saint Reagan no less! posted 05/16/2008 at 21:26:10

Between Vietnam and Korea we took something like 100,000 casualties. We dropped more tonnage of bombs on Vietnam than were dropped on all fronts in World War II. If that's what constitutes "stupid games" I'd hate to see what you think serious warfare is.

Keep in mind that Saddam Hussein BARELY kept Iraq together with a million man army and all the powers of an absolute despot. Not exactly the guy I think we should be emulating. Perhaps you think if we just leveled Fallujah again it would all get better. posted 05/16/2008 at 21:23:30

Since we've had several major conflicts and countless minor ones since WWII, I don't think the problem is that the United States is unwilling to use force. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:59:37

$4 Gas Literally Impossible At Some Gas Pumps

I recall when gas first hit $1.00/gallon back in the 1970s some of the old gas pumps couldn't go past .99 and they had to sell it by the half gallon. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:48:51

Hagee's Lesson Plan for Bush's Appeasement Speech

It would certainly nice to see this story get the kind of "traction" in the media that Reverend Wright did. posted 05/17/2008 at 15:45:08

Reverend Wright, for all his many faults, at least isn't in charge of foreign policy for the Democratic party. posted 05/17/2008 at 14:19:48

The Evangelical Swing Vote

That's good. We'll need all the help we can get. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:35:05

Oil sets record near $128; pump price at high, too

True but meaningless. Our modern society has been pretty much structured on cheap and plentiful energy. This is eventually going to involve major structural changes in how we life. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:42:03

Spare me the "free markets" lecture. The oil companies want "free markets" until they want a special tax break from the government or they want the "centrally planned" US military or CIA to go overthrow an unfriendly regime for them. posted 05/16/2008 at 15:09:31

Chris Matthews Eviscerates Right-Wing Host Kevin James Over Obama "Appeasement" Claims

I have to give Matthews credit here. The right wing has a collection of stock catch-phrases like "appeaser" that they use so often they don't even know what they mean half the time. posted 05/16/2008 at 08:12:44

16 Tips For Getting Good Sleep

I fly freight at night. I don't get much sleep. Such is the life of a "freight dog" as we're called in the airline business. posted 05/16/2008 at 16:46:22

Tom Friedman's Latest Declaration of War

If it wasn't so frightening I would be amused at the cognitive dissonance displayed by these people.

Iran is somehow a huge threat to our very existence but we can take them out with three days of air strikes.

They can't be a grave threat and a pushover at the same time. posted 05/18/2008 at 11:23:50

Bush Uses Holy Land Pulpit to Launch Smear Campaign

"George W. Bush is unworthy of the presidency."

I've been saying that since the year 2000. posted 05/15/2008 at 14:15:12

Gay Marriage Ban Overturned By California Supreme Court

And yet somehow I don't feel my marriage threatened in the least. posted 05/15/2008 at 14:14:24

U.S. Military Turns Back On Neocon Chalabi Over Iran Ties

Chalabi was less concerned with getting Saddam out of power than he was with getting Ahmad Chalabi INTO power. posted 05/15/2008 at 14:26:06

Fred Thompson, Blogger? Has New Online Column, Disses Obama

Ain't that Thompson feller one o' them elitist Hollywood actor types? posted 05/17/2008 at 15:40:18

McCain's New Iraq Fantasy

He's starting to sound like Nixon with his "secret plan" to end the war. posted 05/15/2008 at 14:20:47

Bush Compares Obama To Nazi Appeasers

They called Reagan an "appeaser" for talking to Gorbachev too. That one never seems to get old. posted 05/15/2008 at 09:54:08

A&E Renews Racial Slur Using Duane 'Dog' Chapman

How about taking his crappy TV show off the air? posted 05/17/2008 at 15:43:12

Ants Invade Houston, Eat Computers

Where's Delay? He used to be an exterminator. posted 05/14/2008 at 21:37:27

GOP Adviser: This is '94 In Reverse, We're Pathetic

What did they expect? They've spent the last 8 years becoming the George W Bush party and now they're following him down. posted 05/14/2008 at 18:24:58

Lieberman: Bombing Iran Has A Certain Appeal To It

The story has never made sense. Supposedly the Iraqis were building enough WMDs to wipe us off the face of the earth, but they don't know how to build a simple shaped charge? Only those wily Persians know how to do that. posted 05/14/2008 at 18:30:50

If you read a little history, we've done a lot worse to Iran than they've done to us the years. posted 05/14/2008 at 18:13:54

Please come try to deport me.
Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! Please! posted 05/14/2008 at 17:47:41

Vatican: It's OK To Believe In Aliens

How do they feel about anal probes? posted 05/14/2008 at 18:14:33

Kerry Swiftboater: "We Will Attack Obama Viciously"

"Chris LaCivita, one of the Republican strategists behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth"

Republican strategists? I thought these people were just a bunch of "concerned Vietnam veterans"? Hmmmmmmm. posted 05/14/2008 at 14:46:04

US Foreclosure Filings Surge 65 Percent

That's a great idea if you happen to live in Little Rock or Toledo. $350,000 doesn't buy much on the coasts or even in Chicago these days. posted 05/14/2008 at 15:19:10

Obama Wears Flag Lapel Pin For Second Day In A Row

He's wearing a flag thong too. Just to be extra patriotic. posted 05/13/2008 at 22:39:29

Bush: I Gave Up Golf For The Troops

I was kind of hoping he'd take up drinking again. I don't see how it could hurt. posted 05/13/2008 at 22:29:22

He went to Andover, Harvard and Yale. Sure glad he's a regular guy and not an elitist like that there Kerry feller. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:06:30

Behind The Rise Of The Iraq's Counterinsurgents (And Why They're Failing)

I'd say the fact that we're even having this conversation 5+ years after the invasion proves it's a clusterfuck. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:22:32

When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you need to do is - stop digging! posted 05/13/2008 at 20:12:16

Translation from right-wing speak; "I wish Huffington Post would act like a good propaganda outlet and print nothing but Bush administration hand-picked talking points". posted 05/13/2008 at 20:11:16

McCain To Speak At Same Event As Violent Nugent

I can certainly understand why someone would want to do that. The problem is that vigilante justice tends to get out of hand and turn into mob rule.

That's why we have police and courts and prisons. It's not a perfect system but it's better than the alternative. posted 05/13/2008 at 21:35:32

I find it surprising that a man with McCain's service record would want to associate with someone like Nugent, who went to great lengths to avoid service in Vietnam. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:19:49

How many times to we have to get our butts kicked by the Lee Atwater/Newt Gingrich/Karl Rove school of smash-mouth politics until we just admit that the Republicans aren't going to play nice. They play to win, period. It might feel good to take the high road, but it isn't going to win the election.

I really don't want it to be that way. But when you're dealing with playground bullies you need to be willing to stand up to them. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:18:43

Rumsfeld On 2006 Election: "The Correction For That...Is An Attack"

Rumsfeld, Cheney and Rove all got their start in the Nixon administration. Where do you think the "Unitary Executive" concept came from? Remember the "Imperial Presidency"? posted 05/13/2008 at 21:39:18

I'm actually surprised that we didn't install a Syngman Rhee style dictator after the invasion. There would have been a certain cruel logic to that. I wonder if Bush nixed the idea. Which would ironically make Bush the voice of reason in the room. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:03:55

Saddam didn't have any SCUDs in 2003. All they had left were some Al Husein missiles with a range of about 90 miles.

With US Air Force patrols over 2/3 of Iraq there wasn't a whole lot he could have done. He didn't even control the northern third of Iraq.

As for invading Turkey, I would have paid to see THAT. The Turks would have made short work of them. posted 05/13/2008 at 19:58:43

So, if there's no attack, they say "See, this proves how well we've been protecting you."
If there is an attack, they say "See, this proves you need us to protect you."

It's the old "Heads I win, tails you lose". posted 05/13/2008 at 17:56:07

If you're counting terrorist attacks on US troops overseas, then we've had a USS Cole a week since March 2003 in Iraq. posted 05/13/2008 at 17:47:16

Oh, I'd say there's a wee bit o' difference here.

First of all, Nazi Germany was a highly advanced country with one of the world's largest economys which had a real possibility of taking over Europe if not the world. They had defeated France and looked very likely to defeat Russia and Great Britain. Oh, and they also declared war on us right after Pearl Harbor.

Iraq, even at their peak in 1991 never came close to Nazi Germany in terms of power. They were a regional power but in no way equipped to take on a superpower as the Gulf War showed (don't recall seeing you there, by the way).

In 2003 Iraq had no navy, no long range missiles, a hollow army and an air force with perhaps 12 flyable aircraft on any given day - not one of which they even bothered to sortie when we invaded. The fact that we defeated them in 3 short weeks pretty much shows they weren't a big power.

You can't have it both ways. They can't have been a "grave threat" and a "cakewalk" at the same time. posted 05/13/2008 at 17:46:03

Very nice piece of satire. Well done. posted 05/13/2008 at 17:38:31

Pentagon "Media Analysts" Appeared On Major Networks Or Were Quoted More Than 4,500

Reminds me of Pravda and Isvestia back in the Soviet days.

Pravda meant "truth" and Isvestia meant "news". The Russians used to joke "There's no news in Isvestia and no truth in Pravda". posted 05/13/2008 at 20:09:28

The Israel I Was Fighting For

The President of Iran has also said "Iran is a threat to no other country, including the Zionist Entity". Of course, I'm only supposed to believe him when he says something that helps our case for attacking Iran. Which we wanted to do long before he became President. posted 05/13/2008 at 22:35:08

Median Home Prices Drop In Many Cities

True, but when we're all unemployed by the resulting recession, we won't be able to afford them even at the cheaper prices. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:33:07

Rebranding Republicans

There was talk radio long before Rush came on the scene. There was even liberal talk radio before Clear Channel turned AM radio into all conservatives all the time. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:25:20

"Branding" is a very good choice of words. They market political candidates to us like they were consumer goods like cars or beer. posted 05/13/2008 at 21:21:43

I'd start with a foreign policy not run by the American Enterprise Institute, a federal judiciary not staffed with a bunch of Federalist Society clones and a federal bureaucracy staffed with people who did not have Liberty University as their first, second, third or 10,000th choice of college. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:48:00

Ron Paul Supporters Plot Revolt At GOP Convention

This should be fun. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:42:55

Ron Paul, building a bridge to the 1890s. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:42:33

Man Sues Jet Blue After Having To Spend Hours In Toilet

I saw this on the airline pilot forums. Keep in mind this is third or fourth hand so I don't know how accurate it really is:

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/showthread.php?t=26381

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is what another JB pilot who talked to one of our crew members on the flight posted on the same forum:

FWIW, I talked to a crewmember on the flight.
Our fearless nonrev has slightly misrepresented facts.

Consider:
The pass rider was savvy enough to ask to speak to Captain when he discovered there were no seats.

He begged CA to help him get on flight - excersising Caring value CA said he would ASK jumpseating (Not DH) FA if she was willing to give up seat for pass rider. She was.

CA goes about business. When on bathroom break, non rev approaches barrier and again really thanks CA for helping him get on. CA replies no problem - I didn't really do anything -if you want to say thanks its the FA who gave up her seat..have a nice day.

Sees nonrev after flight - very upset. He let FA sit in his seat and she fell asleep. Other FA's would (correctly) not let him sit on FA jumpseat. He was too timid to wake up FA and didn't know what to do.

Figures out what to do and files 2 million dollar lawsuit. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:52:18

A buddy pass is a cheap or free ticket usually given to airline employees or their family members. It entitles to fly as a passenger on a "space available" basis. You're last in line after the full fare customers. It used to be a good deal but no so much anymore because the planes are usually full.

A jumpseat is for FAA inspectors or company check pilots giving line checks to the flight crew. Since they're rarely being used for that purpose, most airlines allow pilots and flight attendants to use them to get to work (a lot of airline employees don't live in the city they're based out of). As a professional courtesy, many airlines have reciprocal agreements with other airlines to use each others jumpseats. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:44:33

It's against the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) for the Captain to make a passenger sit in the lavatory. There are no seatbelts in there and it would be a dangerous place to be in turbulence.

I jumpseat to and from work all the time. It's nice to get one of the comfortable seats, but I'll gladly ride on the "ironing board" if that's what it takes to get where I'm going and I'll thank the Captain for the ride when we get there. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:39:28

Ex-officials: Bush admin. ignored Iraq corruption

Funny thing about that. The Iraqis supposedly were building enough WMDs to destroy us all, but now we're told that they didn't know how to build a simple shaped charge, only those wily Persians could do that. posted 05/13/2008 at 00:56:34

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty Jokes His Wife Won't Have Sex With Him

Thanks for sharing Governor. posted 05/12/2008 at 17:22:13

The Bipartisanship Scam

This post presumably sounded better in the original German. posted 05/13/2008 at 20:24:58

Obama Wears Flag Pin To West Virginia Rally

I'm wearing two flag pins to be twice as patriotic. posted 05/13/2008 at 01:13:13

A Fairytale Wedding, If Your Idea Of Magic Is The Sweltering Texas Desert

I guess if you always wanted to have your wedding on a former pig farm... posted 05/12/2008 at 15:19:45

Iraq: Sadr City cease-fire signed after weeks of fighting

Ghost won't be happy until we drop a nuke on Baghdad. That'll show 'em who's boss! posted 05/12/2008 at 20:12:39

Another five years and a couple trillion more dollars and we have it sewn up neatly. posted 05/12/2008 at 20:10:43

Since the conservatives here all think they're Patton, here's a Patton quote:

"Fixed defenses are monuments to the stupidity of man" posted 05/12/2008 at 20:09:59

All these conservatives like to think that they're Patton, at least when they're not busy thinking that they're Churchill. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:55:05

Great news. I guess we can leave now.

Oh wait, things aren't going THAT well, just well enough that we have to stay there forever. Which is what we wanted to do anyway. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:51:55

Nice wall. I seem to recall seeing something like that somewhere before. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:13:06

How John McCain Can Rescue the Republican Party

But he's a straight-talkin' maverick! posted 05/12/2008 at 15:11:56

Since we've found ourselves in a hole, I'd settle for somebody that will just stop digging! posted 05/12/2008 at 15:09:37

I disagree. I think McCain's handlers are trying to give the appearance that he's "above the fray" while surrogates like Limbaugh, Hannity etc. do the dirty work. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:11:41

Silence From Our Sabre Rattlers as Burma's Dying Cry Out to be Saved

We thought it was great when Saddam attacked Iran and killed close to a million Iranians. We were even happy to help him do it. It wasn't until he invaded Kuwait that we got all miffed.
He was only supposed to attack the neighbors that we didn't like.

Any wonder that people take a cynical view of our foreign policy? posted 05/12/2008 at 15:29:46

Obama Spokesman Bill Burton Compares Rove To A Funeral Director

Haven't you read his book "Necrophilia and You - The Cold Facts"? posted 05/12/2008 at 11:35:44

Cynthia Nixon: I'd Marry My Girlfriend

Personally I don't feel that my marriage would be threatened by Cynthia Nixon being allowed to marry her girlfriend. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:25:06

I think she's actually bisexual. posted 05/12/2008 at 14:24:03

Gas Prices A Boon To Bike Shops

An $1800 titanium racing bike would be the $100,000 Ferrari of the bike world, not the Prius of the bike world. You can get a decent bike for around $500. posted 05/12/2008 at 17:27:59

Dennis Farina Arrested At LAX With Loaded Gun

First of all, I've been a fan of Dennis Farina since Crime Story.

That being said, if you think you're going to be some kind of bad-ass gunfighter shouldn't you at least know where your freakin' gun is? posted 05/12/2008 at 09:02:37

The Most Important Piece of Paper in America

I just read an interesting article in Harpers by economist Kevin Phillips. He thinks that every administration since JFK has been cooking the books on the economy. posted 05/18/2008 at 11:44:50

It's worth noting what Dick Cheney said to Paul O'Neill when O'Neill questioned the second round of tax cuts: "We won the midterms, this is our due"

He didn't say "This will help the economy" or "This is what's best for the country".

He said "This is our due" - that pretty well sums it up. posted 05/18/2008 at 11:40:34

China establishes company to make its own jumbo jets

The Ilyushin 96 is pretty impressive. posted 05/12/2008 at 09:59:41

If the Russian aerospace industry is any example, engines may be a problem for them.

The Russians have always made good airframes but their engines, while plenty powerful, are fuel thirsty. For that reason they've had a hard time selling their planes even to Aeroflot, which is now using mostly Airbus products. posted 05/12/2008 at 09:11:37

I suspect that in China, smart kids aren't ridiculed for being "geeks" and "dweebs" either. There is an anti-intellectual streak in this country that is going to bite us someday, if it hasn't already. posted 05/12/2008 at 09:07:52

Rush Limbaugh: 'My Impact Will Increase"

I've posted this quote before, but it bears repeating:

"The Republican philosophy might be summarized thus: To hell with principle; what matters is power, and that we have it, and that they do not." - Pat Buchanan posted 05/12/2008 at 10:02:16

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