Even my gf at the time -- a strong Jewess with strong opinions, many of them not pro-Musim -- was impressed by the efficacy of what she called "19 guys named Muhammad."
Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.-- Barry Fucking Goldwater
They believe that God "chooses" people to be either rich and powerful or poor and weak. So, in their minds it doesn't matter WHAT their actions are.
Good old "predestination" -- I can't force God's into letting me into heaven by being a good person; God has already seen my whole life, everything I do, and has already decided where I end up. Therefore, I should just do whatever I want, secure in the knowledge that God has already taken it into account.
This, by the way, is why the US was so prosperous in the '50s: Europe had just spent decades of time, blood, and treasure blowing the shit out of itself -- twice! -- while we were essentially untouched due to the Pacific and the Atlantic. So no surprise that the place that still had manufacturing infrastructure got rich rebuilding the rest of the world.
It wasn't some divine protection of God's favorite country, just geography.
I don’t get the Trump invincible crap the MSM keeps pumping out.
He’s historically unpopular. Squeaked into the Presidency by the strangest and slimmest of margins.
Republicans are less popular now, than in 2016, I assume, since they keep losing elections to Democrats.
The Trump invincible narrative is also driving the fear of Democratic primary voters, who are terrified that a Democrat can beat Trump, and opened the door for the likes of Bloomberg
Iran nearly went to war with the Taliban, over their treatment of Shi’ites in western Afghanistan.
Iran extended overtures they were willing to help us. Mind you, Iran was one of the major backers of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. They probably had some info we could use.
Bush & Co. told them to get bent. An opportunity was missed.
I don’t think we did anything to trigger that act of terrorism. Osama was a fanatic, who went nuts the Saudi’s invited non-Muslims (the USA military) into his country.
We weren’t hated.
People may not have liked everything we did, especially with regards to Israel. But we had a lot of respect for being a country run by the rule of law, peaceful exchange of power, etc. And even with Israel, we were getting close a peace plan, with a 2 state solution.
By 2001 or 2002 Arab states were willing to recognize Israel, if Israel guaranteed Palestinian sovereignty.
I read 'Hubris...' a couple of weeks before it became our BOTMC selection. Most, if not all, of us Wonkettes are acquainted with the events covered; we are literate and concerned and followed the stories contemporaneously and, as mentioned below, 'Hubris...' has induced 'teeth-grinding rage', again.In the interim, I have read Taibbi's 'Hate, Inc' and Maddow's 'Drift'. At times, one wishes the issues covered by all these books would go away. It appears they may have as we have not learned the lessons. We have an unsustainable military budget, drastically reduced trust in our government institutions, no faith in the 'checks and balances' we so dearly clung to, and too many nutjob R predisents and the minions that support them. Western capitalism is a dying construct and America will die as it dies. My inability to be brief precedes me...so, I'll cut to the chase: just a little disappointed that we we have so little discussion tonight. I know...we are exhausted. It seems like such a losing proposition; that the forces of evil have an over-abundance of inertia. I have only a decade or so left to me...but my chilluns and grand-kiddlies will have to suffer.To be honest, my drinking will continue until moral approves. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer.
Black Sabbath, also too:
Politicians hide themselves awayThey only started the warWhy should they go out to fight?They leave that role to the poor
itz both cuz he's lizard_people
Even my gf at the time -- a strong Jewess with strong opinions, many of them not pro-Musim -- was impressed by the efficacy of what she called "19 guys named Muhammad."
45 is the only thing that could possibly have rehabilitated the reputation of 43.
Credit where credit is due:
Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.-- Barry Fucking Goldwater
They believe that God "chooses" people to be either rich and powerful or poor and weak. So, in their minds it doesn't matter WHAT their actions are.
Good old "predestination" -- I can't force God's into letting me into heaven by being a good person; God has already seen my whole life, everything I do, and has already decided where I end up. Therefore, I should just do whatever I want, secure in the knowledge that God has already taken it into account.
This, by the way, is why the US was so prosperous in the '50s: Europe had just spent decades of time, blood, and treasure blowing the shit out of itself -- twice! -- while we were essentially untouched due to the Pacific and the Atlantic. So no surprise that the place that still had manufacturing infrastructure got rich rebuilding the rest of the world.
It wasn't some divine protection of God's favorite country, just geography.
"It ain't me, it ain't meI ain't no fortunate one,
no no"
Sadly, that didn't stop us from believing that our success was due to our moral and intellectual superiority, which is now all that's left.
I don’t get the Trump invincible crap the MSM keeps pumping out.
He’s historically unpopular. Squeaked into the Presidency by the strangest and slimmest of margins.
Republicans are less popular now, than in 2016, I assume, since they keep losing elections to Democrats.
The Trump invincible narrative is also driving the fear of Democratic primary voters, who are terrified that a Democrat can beat Trump, and opened the door for the likes of Bloomberg
Iran nearly went to war with the Taliban, over their treatment of Shi’ites in western Afghanistan.
Iran extended overtures they were willing to help us. Mind you, Iran was one of the major backers of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. They probably had some info we could use.
Bush & Co. told them to get bent. An opportunity was missed.
I don’t think we did anything to trigger that act of terrorism. Osama was a fanatic, who went nuts the Saudi’s invited non-Muslims (the USA military) into his country.
We weren’t hated.
People may not have liked everything we did, especially with regards to Israel. But we had a lot of respect for being a country run by the rule of law, peaceful exchange of power, etc. And even with Israel, we were getting close a peace plan, with a 2 state solution.
By 2001 or 2002 Arab states were willing to recognize Israel, if Israel guaranteed Palestinian sovereignty.
Lub dat tunes!
I read 'Hubris...' a couple of weeks before it became our BOTMC selection. Most, if not all, of us Wonkettes are acquainted with the events covered; we are literate and concerned and followed the stories contemporaneously and, as mentioned below, 'Hubris...' has induced 'teeth-grinding rage', again.In the interim, I have read Taibbi's 'Hate, Inc' and Maddow's 'Drift'. At times, one wishes the issues covered by all these books would go away. It appears they may have as we have not learned the lessons. We have an unsustainable military budget, drastically reduced trust in our government institutions, no faith in the 'checks and balances' we so dearly clung to, and too many nutjob R predisents and the minions that support them. Western capitalism is a dying construct and America will die as it dies. My inability to be brief precedes me...so, I'll cut to the chase: just a little disappointed that we we have so little discussion tonight. I know...we are exhausted. It seems like such a losing proposition; that the forces of evil have an over-abundance of inertia. I have only a decade or so left to me...but my chilluns and grand-kiddlies will have to suffer.To be honest, my drinking will continue until moral approves. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer.
The war started up ten years of ultra-high oil prices which enabled the current US oil and natural gas boom. Not a coincidence.
Concur.