Paul Waldman: "Republicans Help Terrorists"

Good essay by Paul Waldman from last week over at TomPaine.com, detailing how Democrats should take the partisan battle to the Republicans, instead of always being on the defensive when attacked. Here's an excerpt worth pondering:

The truth is that in 2006 and 2008, if Democrats can just stay even with Republicans on national security, they should win in a rout since they have wide advantages on almost every domestic issue. And for the first time in years, the public does in fact rate the two parties essentially equal on matters of war and terrorism. But if Democrats want to win on national security—not just stay even, but win—they have to be tough. And not tough in the way Democratic centrists have been thinking about it for a while—“If I say I stand with Republicans on every war, I’ll look tough”—but tough in a way that demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the nature of toughness, both with foreign enemies and domestic opponents.

The first step is to address Republicans the way they usually address Democrats: with ridicule and contempt.

Last week, Orrin Hatch said that terrorists are “waiting for the Democrats here to take control, let things cool off and then strike again.” I can just see bin Laden, deep in a cave on the Afghan-Pakistani border, saying to Ayman al-Zawahiri, “Ayman, did you see the latest poll from the 7th congressional district in Colorado? I think Ed Perlmutter could pull it out, Allah be praised!” Hatch’s statement may be ridiculous, but it’s not unusual. In fact, we hear virtually the same thing from Republican voices all the time: not just that Democratic policies are unwise, but that terrorists actively support Democrats, and Democrats actively sympathize with terrorists.

Think about what happened when Osama bin Laden released a videotape just days before the 2004 election. John Kerry said it showed that Bush should have caught bin Laden at Tora Bora. Bush’s allies said it showed that bin Laden supported Kerry.

The truth, of course, was just the opposite. As Ron Suskind reported in The One-Percent Doctrine, when the bin Laden tape was released, CIA officials agreed that bin Laden was actually doing what he could to aid Bush’s re-election. The terrorist leader is many things, but stupid is not one of them. He understands that Bush is not only the perfect symbolic foil for him, but that Bush’s actions, most particularly the invasion of Iraq, were exactly what bin Laden had been hoping for. Bin Laden knew his future depending on having George W. Bush to kick around for a few more years.

So Democrats need to say just that: When Bush invaded Iraq, he answered Osama bin Laden’s prayers, and everyone who thinks the war was a good idea has al-Qaida’s gratitude. Furthermore, if a Republican wins the White House in 2008, bin Laden and Zawahiri will be popping the champagne. Don’t imply it, say it: Republicans help terrorists.

It seems that there are more people waking up to this fact every day, but that's no reason to sit on our hands. We've got to go on the offensive, and make the Republicans have to defend their anti-American positions.

There's more there at TomPaine.com, and it's worth a read. Check it out if you get a chance.

Flickr Monday Blogging Random: IMG_3280

"I wish I could quit you. I wish I could quit you. I wish I could quit you, too. And you. I wish I could quit you! Hey! I'm talking to you -- all of you! I wish I could- HEY!! I said, I wish I could... aww, the hell with it." *sigh*

(Original image posted here.)

Yet Another Reason to Impeach

As if we needed any more reasons, here's one BIG reason to impeach this bumbling imposter (and his puppetmaster) ASAP:

(On getting US troops out of the Iraq occupation) "We're not leaving, so long as I'm the president. That would be a huge mistake."

No, Mr. Frezuhdint, what would be a huge mistake is invading a sovereign nation based on lies and manipulated intelligence, with no plan for securing the peace and no plan for restoring that nation once you've rained destruction down upon it and no plan for ever withdrawing troops once the damage has been done. What would be a huge mistake is attacking a country in response to an incident which that country had absolutely nothing to do with. What would be a huge mistake is thinking that you and your sociopathic gang of chickenhawks are in any way, shape or form capable of conducting foreign policy and military adventures without exponentially increasing the world's hatred of the United States and making us decidedly less safe. What would be a huge mistake would be allowing you to stay in office for the next two-plus years, with your tunnel vision and your detachment from reality and your refusal to admit error. THAT'S what would be a huge mistake.

ITMFA. Impeach the motherfucker already.

RFalnidcokmr MBolnodgagying

With the crops planted, the ditches dug, the roads built and clean water established for the community, all the Peace Corps volunteers had left to do was to hire themselves out as human backpacks for the people of the village.

Original photo, IMG_0736, posted here.

Letter to the Editor

Yet another in a series of letters I send to the SF Chronicle that probably won't get published...

Editor --

It is sad -- but not surprising -- that the president and his dwindling band of apologists have come out so strongly against the recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor finding the NSA warrantless wiretapping program to be in violation of the Constitution (Chronicle, 8/19). This president apparently has no use for the Constitution of the United States, and has never felt that he was bound by its restrictions on his power. Moreover, this ruling, if it is upheld (and it should be), would seem to open up the very real possibility of impeachment and criminal prosecution for his actions. No wonder the president disagrees with it.

What is sadder still is the attempt to paint supporters of this correct decision as unpatriotic and abetting terrorism. No one on either side of the debate disputes the fact that keeping tabs on suspected terrorists is necessary in this day and age; all we ask is that the president follow the law of the land and obtain the proper warrants to do so. Given the nature of the FISA court, this should be a simple enough process, and should in no way hinder any legitimate investigation that the NSA might want to carry out.

In other words, we want the president to not break the law and not violate the Constitution. What part of "warrantless" do Republicans not understand?

Stooged

A Brief Open Letter to Iggy Pop:

Iggy, I love you, love your music, have been a fan for years, but... there comes a time in every man's life when he should always put a shirt on in public.

Sincerely, etc.

Hot Links With Mustard!

Apologies for the lack of postings lately, blah blah blah and also yadda yadda, etc. etc.

To take your minds off my lack of focus and dedication to this space, here are some links to other sites that I think many of you will enjoy. For instance, here's some good news about the NSA wiretapping scheme being declared unconstitutional (can I get a resounding "Duh!!" from everyone?). Glenn Greenwald has plenty to say on the subject, which should be big news if it weren't for that guy who killed JonBenet Ramsey getting all the press at the moment.

Now how soon can those articles of impeachment be drafted?

Speaking of impeachment, here's an interesting site on the subject. I'm waiting for a new car to be delivered in the next few weeks myself; maybe I'll order up one of those ITMFA vanity license plates for it when it gets here.

My pal Bob Geiger has a neat piece (cited in yesterday's Salon.com, no less) on which Democratic Senators are backing Ned Lamont in Connecticut, and which are hemming and hawing, or are outright sticking with Traitor Joe. Shame on any Democrat who won't back the Democratic nominee! Bob lists some links for you to contact the wafflers and tell them to get with the program.

Reading this post yesterday at Unscrewing the Inscrutable led me to a website I'd never seen on the internets before -- the scary, sometimes hilariously funny, Fundies Say the Darndest (sic) Things. Be warned, though -- the virulent racism and hatred of many of these people who call themselves Christians is on full display here, and can be extremely offensive. You know, like "Macaca."

If reading some of the quotes there leaves you feeling like you need a bath in bleach and hot water, you can always visit this anti-racist site for a pick-me-up.

Personally, I stopped being a Ralph Nader fan in 2000, but this open letter to Preznit Air Assault is hard-hitting and certainly worth a read. Somewhat along those same lines is this entry at Daily Kos regarding Iraq War apologist-turned-critic Thomas Friedman's recent excoriation of Vice-Preznit Chicken Hawk, with some pointed questions for Friedman himself included.

Finally, for those of you in California (or who are just interested in the state), here's a new site set up to support Phil Angelides in his quest to send Arnold back to Hollywood. Or Austria. Or anywhere but Sacramento.

Okay, kids, now get off my lawn!

Monday: Blogging. Flickr: Random. Image: 5929.

At the Good Humor family reunion, Good Humor Man Stan and his Good Humor Cousin Rheanna enjoy a few light hors d'oeuvres before the main course, which consists, naturally, of Fudgesicles, Push-Ups, 50-50 Bars and Bomb Pops.

Original photo posted here.

Wednesday Vacation Blogging: Twin Lakes

There's a little slice of heaven not far from Bridgeport, California, just west of Highway 395 and northeast of Yosemite, called Twin Lakes. The first time I camped there I was 10 years old, and have been going back ever since. Mrs. Generik and I try to go there at least once a year, and will be there for a week in September. We camp at a place called Mono Village, and if you don't already know how to get there, too bad.

I mean, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

As Mrs. G demonstrates, it's all about the fishing here.

The Sawtooth Ridge overlooks the campground. If you were to fly directly over this mountain and glacier, you'd end up in Yosemite valley.

Deer are everywhere in the campground, and they're not afraid of anything. Unfortunately. It's also bear country, so you have to be careful about leaving food out.

Robinson Creek runs along the south end of the campground, sounding like a rush hour freeway and providing some good fishing.

You can hike from Twin Lakes up to Barney Lake through this meadow. It's actually much prettier in real life.

It takes half the apartment for Mrs. G and me to rough it properly.

I pride myself on the ability to start a campfire with just one match.

And here you can see the results.

Lower Twin early in the morning.

My friends Mary and Rick on a pontoon boat on Upper Twin.

The view from the boat. More of the Sawtooth Ridge.

Like I said, it's all about the fishing. Not necessarily catching, but definitely fishing.

Marty at the helm.

My very good friends Mary and Jon, who just celebrated their first anniversary in July.

"Like a damn mirror!"

Upper Twin just before twilight.

Occasionally we get weather. We've been rained on and snowed on, but nothing keeps us from going back.

Wednesday Nomentum Blogging

Today we here at the Generik Brand are thanking any and all deities which may or may not exist for some good news for a change. Voters in Connecticut said no to Joe Lieberman yesterday, and made Ned Lamont the Democratic candidate for Senator. Unsurprisingly, Joe didn't get the message -- because, after all, it's all about him, isn't it? -- and couldn't even wait until his concession speech was over before declaring that he doesn't give a flying fuck what the Democrats in Connecticut want, he still wants to be a Senator. And he's willing to shoot the party -- and himself -- in the foot trying. Not everyone believes that Joe can win, however, or that the Republicans will benefit from his running as an Independent.

It's actually sad, watching Clueless Joe rail about "polarization and partisanship" and telling his supporters that he "will not, can not" let this decision stand. Joe -- the voters have spoken. Shut up and go home. You've been wrong from the start on the war and occupation of Iraq, and a solid majority of Americans disagree with your stance. Not only that, but Connecticut Democrats (and a whole hell of a lot of Democrats from other states) are sick and tired of your kissing up to George Bush and castigating your fellow Dems using Republican talking points. Get the message, Joe. It's time to go. Now be off with you. I'm sure Fox News has a nice, cushy job just waiting for a turncoat Democrat like you.