Jon Gelberg
- : NJ
- : 51
- : Left
- : Democratic
- : http://www.blogezine.com
- : talkingpointsmemo.com wonkette.com blogezine.com huffingtonpost.com
- : Dead Souls, Rabbit is Rich, Cat's Cradle, Even Cow Girls Get the Blues, anything by Philip Roth
- : "If I'm talking over your head, raise your head." "I'd tather have an empty bottle in front of me, than a full frontal lobotomy."
Quotations From Chairman McCain
Every time I worry about John McCain actually becoming our next president, I just remember what happens to McCain every time he opens his mouth: he puts his foot in it. Now that McCain has a one-on-one battle ahead...more »
Posted on June 12, 2008 11:52 AM
Great Expectations… Huge Disappointments
As each day goes by, Hillary Clinton reminds me more and more of the Miss Havisham character in Great Expectations. In the great Charles Dickens’ novel, Miss Havisham, a wealthy and powerful woman, was left at the altar. The disappointment so...more »
Posted on June 4, 2008 12:53 PM
Scott McClellan… War Criminal (Part II)
Last week, I took Scott McClellan to task (I guess calling someone a War Criminal is taking them to task) for his gutless, opportunistic, after-the-fact, attack on the George Bush administration in his new book- What Happened: Inside the Bush...more »
Posted on June 1, 2008 2:24 PM
Scott McClellan... War Criminal
Scott McClellan, George W. Bush’s former propaganda minister, is trying his hardest to convince America that he is a hero. He has taken it upon himself to take Bush and his administration to task for myriad offenses. McClellan’s book,...more »
Posted on May 29, 2008 1:19 PM
Willie Randolph, Barack Obama and the Race Card
As anyone who has followed the 2008 presidential campaign knows, racism is a fact of life in America. Much of White America will not vote for Barack Obama purely on the basis of his race. We have seen that...more »
Posted on May 27, 2008 10:47 AM
An Open Letter To Hillary Supporters Who Plan on Voting for McCain
To all of the Hillary Clinton supporters who are devastated by the reality that your candidate is not going to become president- I feel your pain. To all of the Hillary supporters who say they will vote for John McCain...more »
Posted on May 22, 2008 1:48 PM
Talking Point
Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I’m stupid. Maybe I’m just missing the point. Someone needs to explain to me what terrible thing happens when we meet directly with our enemies. What is so terrible about diplomacy being an integral part...more »
Posted on May 21, 2008 5:43 PM
The Fat Lady Sings Tonight… but The Other Lady Won’t Be Listening
Finally- It ends tonight. A battle that has seemingly taken longer than the 100 Years War, will end with a whimper this evening. When the smoke clears from the Kentucky and Oregon primaries, Barack Obama will emerge with a guarantee...more »
Posted on May 20, 2008 9:09 AM
A Bush League Peace Plan
Two Hundred and Forty-Five days. That’s the good news. Two Hundred and Forty-Five days. That’s the bad news. If you haven’t figured it out already, the 245 days are the number of days George Bush has left in office....more »
Posted on May 19, 2008 1:47 PM
Sports: Musings From Retirements to Indictments
Just a few musings on recent developments in the sports world: Goodbye Justine. Farewell Annika: The sports world will dearly miss Justine Henin and Annika Sorenstam, two of the greatest women athletes in history. Both, still at the top of...more »
Posted on May 14, 2008 12:34 PM
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Wish I could have thought of that line!
Posted at May 3, 2008 9:46 PM in response to Frankly My Dear, I Don't Give a Guam
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Casablanca is the greatest movie of all time... in the blog I made the distinction between purely political movies and movies about the political process. Casablanca falls into the first category.
Posted at April 29, 2008 1:59 PM in response to Gentlemen, You Can't Fight in Here
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Mia Culpa on the Citizen Kane.... typo!!!
Posted at April 29, 2008 10:54 AM in response to Gentlemen, You Can't Fight in Here
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Jon Stewart always says it best
Posted at April 28, 2008 12:49 PM in response to Elite of Our Own
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I disagree with virtually all of McCain's policies, but the John McCain of 2004 was a man with principles. But the John McCain who is campaigning in 2008 bears no resemblance to that man. He has sucked up to President Bush, courted the religious right and has engaged in the same kind of political tactics that he so despised when they were being practiced against him.
The war hero is now nothing more than just another desperate politician willing to do anything to become president.
Posted at April 24, 2008 4:37 PM in response to The Swiftboating Begins
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Blood and Treasure
The war in Iraq is a debacle.
We have turned Iraq into an incubator for terrorists.
We have emboldened Iran.
To many, it looks like a war we can’t win.
Sure sounds like the rantings of a liberal pundit or a Democratic Party candidate, doesn’t it?
Only these are the views of the National Defense University- a research branch of the Department of Defense. These are the words of Jim Collins, a senior Pentagon official and key advisor to Donsald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz.
This week, the National Defense University released its report, Choosing War: The Decision to Invade Iraq and its Aftermath. Authored by Collins, it goes into great detail about the series of blunders that led us into the war, the miserable execution of the war, and the dismal prospects for a successful end to the war.
The first line of the report sums things up pretty well:
”Measured in blood and treasure, the war in Iraq has achieved the status of a major war and a major debacle.”
Here are some of the more damning findings of the report:
* ”[O]ur efforts [in Iraq] were designed to enhance U.S. national security, but they have become, at least temporarily, an incubator for terrorism and have emboldened Iran to expand its influence throughout the Middle East.”
* “[T]he war in Iraq and its aftermath have exposed a flawed decision-making process and weak decision execution mechanisms. In planning and executing operations in Iraq, basic organizations, organizational cultures, operational procedures and legislative support systems have all been found wanting and in need of fundamental reform.”
Collins finished his 60-page report with a wonderful and pertinent quote from Winston Churchill:
“Let us learn our lessons. Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The Statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Antiquated War Offices, weak, incompetent or arrogant Commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant Fortune, ugly surprises, awful miscalculations—all take their seats at the Council Board on the morrow of a declaration of war. Always remember, however sure you are that you can easily win, that there would not be a war if the other man did not think that he also had a chance.”It is good to know there are still some honest, brave and dedicated people in senior positions in the military. There always have been and there always will be.
What is so sad is that the voices of honesty and dignity have long been ignored by the likes of George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Condoleeza Rice.
When dealing with war and human life, not to listen to reason is tantamount to treason.
Read the full report HERE
www.blogezine.com
Posted at April 19, 2008 3:08 PM in response to Today's Must Read
