Got Me!
So...I had this clever plan for a blog item. Remember Walid Jumblatt, the Lebanese Druze leader who the American right never much cared for when he was anti-American but who suddenly became an absolute authority on the course of History when, seeking US support for his political party, he told The Washington Post that the Cedar Revolution was all thanks to the Iraq War? Well, the plan for the item was to see what he was saying about the current crisis and throw what were sure to be strident anti-Israeli remarks back in the faces of the hawks. Unfortunately for my plan, that actually didn't work out. Couldn't find many quotes at all, but the ones that are out there, though somewhat ambiguous, are basically supportive of the hawk p.o.v.
Plan B was to scrap the whole thing. But then I remembered that a liberal is somewhat who doesn't know how to take his own side in an argument, so I figured I should just right the saga up: Walid Jumblatt can remain neoconland's go-to Lebanese politician in good standing.
But then I remembered that a liberal is somewhat who doesn't know how to take his own side in an argument
Sometimes I wonder if you ever read your posts before hitting submit.
July 17, 2006 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm...clicking through to Google News, it looks like he alternately blames Iran and Syria for backing Hezbollah.
July 17, 2006 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
well, Matt, like you I believe that honesty, esp. intellectual honesty, is its own reward.
And that makes us liberals, alright.
July 17, 2006 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
so I figured I should just right the saga up
How did you right it?
July 17, 2006 8:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Broke liberals, maybe.
July 18, 2006 12:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think this incoherent post was meant to say the following (correct me if I'm wrong, Matt):
1) Jumblatt was anti-American.
2) Then he became a neocon ally.
3) Since the Israeli invasion, Matt figured Jumblatt would make anti-Israeli statements, thus putting him on the outs with the neocons.
4) But he didn't - he blamed Syria and/or Iran.
5) So he's a neocon ally anyway.
7) So Matt's plan to quote Jumblatt anti-neocon statements backfired.
Suggestion, Matt: Next time, try to see what the reality is before making your blog plan.
In other words, don't "AssUMe".
July 18, 2006 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Matt: I appreciate the spirit of this post. I wish you'd taken the time to proofread it though (typos: "a liberal is somewhat who", "right the saga up"). The main point is that you formulated a hypothesis favorable to your worldview, tried to verify it, instead refuted it, and then reported on it instead of burying it. You're getting dangerously close to the scientific method here. That is what we expect from the reality-based community, right?
July 18, 2006 6:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe he's "right"ing it up by making an assertion of fact without having any actual evidence.
July 18, 2006 7:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
As I mentioned below I think the "right the saga up" was meant as a jab at the idea that he is making an assertion without any evidence.
July 18, 2006 7:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm likin the exclamation-point blog post titles, keep it up.
July 18, 2006 7:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's pretty humorous.
July 18, 2006 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Israel Lobby Watch
George Bush's October Surprise arranged in May, delivered in June by Olmert Express.
July 18, 2006 8:24 AM | Reply | Permalink