Maureen Dowd is categorized in my head as “that one liberal, you know, writes for that big newspaper back east…” The other day I realized the lady I thought was Maureen Dowd was really Helen Thomas.
Now I’ll have to figure out who this Olberman guy is people are always talking about. Because apparently he’s not the guy who plays the pan flute and used to sell records on TV.
US officials defend swine flu vaccination plan – There’s a plan?
There are some prisoners at Guantanamo Bay who can’t be tried or released, ever. President Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay. What to do? Mister President, here are some options.
Why would I link to a web log that includes coarse language and inappropriate humor? Go see. Look! A Baby Wolf!
One bad idea followed by another: Illinois the next Gitmo? – “Near-empty prison a leading contender to house terror suspects.”
New-born French and German babies cry differently. To scientists this suggests some component of language acquisition occurs in utero. To me it suggests a joke, but I haven’t been able to think of a punch line.
There’s a raging storm of politically-correct denialism about Hasan’s motivation – Who ever heard of such a thing? What could have caused it? Incomprehensible! Inexplicable! Inconceivable! Things will have to get worse before they get better. Others have written about this and will continue to, but let me consider a few things.
Hasan was upset because people talked mean to him; called him names. I’m sorry, but wtf? A major in the US Army? It’s not like he was a junior nco and the sergeant major called him a dumb ass. Did an enlisted man or junior officer call him a rag-head? Rip the offender a new one. Did a colonel call him a sand-jockey? Have it out with him on the spot, or file a complaint if you’re that kind of guy.
And again, a major, and a medical officer; so he shoots civilians, unarmed junior enlisted men, and a physician’s assistant; while shouting “Allah Akbar.” Yes, God is great. Hasan is a contemptible coward.
His relatives say Hasan’s worst nightmare was being deployed to Afghanistan. Even if he was thinking of his personal safety or comfort, it’s not like he would have been going out on patrols. He’s a Major, and a psychiatrist. He’d have been sitting in an office in a rear area, talking to people and writing reports, eating in the officer’s mess, sleeping in officers’ quarters – field-grade officers’ quarters, if they still divide it up like that.
Okay, that’s not seventy-two virgins in a garden watered by rivers of honey and wine. But he didn’t die in his attack. He was shot (by a woman) and taken into custody. When he regains consciousness and sees his circumstances, he’s going to have a different worst nightmare. Hopefully one productive of repentance, about life in federal prison and the fate of sinners in the hands of an angry God. A year at Bagram airbase may not look so bad then.
Got the conservatives locked up? Thinking your votes will ingratiate you with the left while your speeches energize the base? Think again, and read the post-script. Having an R after your name won’t magically make conservatives vote for you.
Normally it’s pointless to link to the Insatpundit, but it’s necessary for this quote: “They’d never dare to do this sort of thing to subcultures they’re afraid of.” That explains a lot about the regrettable rise of the British National Party.
The underlying story involves yet more heavy-handed government intrusion: Parents banned from watching their children in playgrounds… in case they are paedophiles. England is a few years ahead of America on this one, but we’re headed in the same wrong direction.
