It's a brand-new dance/We're bringin' it back ([info]ms_xeno) wrote,
@ 2008-01-27 16:55:00
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Entry tags:eat the duopoly, isms galore, music, war is a racket

A New, Improved Modest Proposal, PLUS Vi Redd Wails Like There's No Tomorrow

I wonder how far Obama is willing to go with this collective punishment idea. Obviously, denying Palestinians access to food and medicine isn't intended to directly prevent the missile attacks (unless Obama lives in a magical world in which missiles are constructed of pita bread and fueled by aspirin). So the only "strategy" here is to inflict enough pain on the Palestinians to cause them to rethink their support of Hamas.

But if it's really about bringing the pain to people who aren't attacking Israel, in the hope they'll turn on the guys who are attacking Israel, then why stop with cutting off food? Why not give them food, but put poison in it? Too extreme? Okay, how about putting something in the food that gives them really, really bad stomachaches? I mean, they have to be shown there's a cost for their "support" of terrorists, right?

And can anyone think of a historical example where a "strategy" of this sort actually worked? Where it didn't cause people to rally around exactly the leadership we don't want them to support? Did the blitz cause Londoners to turn against Churchill, did 9/11 cause Americans to turn against Bush?

But sometimes I forget, they're not like us. -- "Steve B," as quoted by John Caruso 1/25/08.


The Distant Ocean is always a good read. The thread that inspired this quote is right before it.

I had somebody comment in my direction earlier today that, well, of course Obama has to take a hard line with the Palestinians so he can remain (cough) "viable." Ah, yes. The eternal argument that a guy who lies to you to get the job will magically stop lying once he has it safely secured for four years. Pull my other one, True Believers.



Vi Redd on saxophone with Linda Hopkins singing "St. Louis Blues:"





Now I'm going to have some more coffee and some more headache powder. I've fucking earned it.

(Post a new comment)


[info]nevikmoore
2008-01-28 06:29 am UTC (link)
All American politicians suck when it comes to Palestinians. Obama will have the dubious distinction to suck less than the others, because he thinks they are human. Expect the Right to hammer on it during the general election.

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[info]varro
2008-01-28 07:35 am UTC (link)
Everyone sucks when it comes to Palestinians, except possibly Israeli building contractors who hire them.

Israeli wingers view them as subhuman; Arab politicians use them as distractions from their own thievery; Leftists use them to peddle guilt and distract people from the fact that their parents and grandparents winked at the Soviets and Chinese killing millions of their own people...

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)
IOW...
[info]ms_xeno
2008-01-28 08:04 am UTC (link)
If everyone's an asshole, just vote for the tallest, best looking asshole. Brilliant. I can't believe that I entertained for one moment the thought that spending Election Day at the shoe store would be more meaningful than spending it in line (metaphorically) at the polls. Well, I'm glad we settled all that.

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???
[info]ms_xeno
2008-01-28 08:02 am UTC (link)
This is your rejoinder ? "He thinks they are human ?"

Well, I think that yams are edible tuberous roots. What the fuck does that have to do with anything ?

Next time you comment, try putting your back into it a little bit, huh ? I may be a Crank, but I'm not fucking nine years old. Thanks.

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Re: ???
[info]nevikmoore
2008-01-28 02:19 pm UTC (link)
Hello, irony detector? The point is that everyone else in the field either doesn't acknowledge their existence or simply views them as terrorists. I'm not giving Obama brownie points, but relative to the other candidates in both parties, he offers the best chance for a decent U.S. policy regarding Palestinians.

And I am not nine years old. But I am your friend, so chill the fuck out.

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Re: ???
[info]ms_xeno
2008-01-28 03:33 pm UTC (link)
Sounds about as "decent" to me as what we did to the Iraqis between Gulf Wars. Also, why should I particularly care if the Right attacks him ? He's supposed to be in opposition to Right wing views. If he's sincere about using that as an opportunity (which I doubt) that shouldn't be any reason to curl up and die over it.

Also, I wouldn't have quoted Caruso's buddy if I found his reasoning to be logically unsound. Grinding the already-downtrodden into the dirt has a distinctly poor record in terms of making them revolt against their leaders. If we have to go around fucking with duly-elected governments in other countries let's at least do it the old-fashioned way: By sending the CIA over in the middle of the night with a garrote and some drugged steaks for the guard dogs. This idea that starving and dehydrating masses of people into loving us is going to sell democracy any better than bombing them is bogus. It's well past the hour for it to be thrown into the trash.

I would have snapped at you about five times harder if we weren't friends. But frankly Obama isn't worth it. None of them are. I wish I could spend the next eleven months talking about nothing but pretty flowers and fuzzy ducklings with all you true believer types. But it doesn't seem possible.

My best hope is that so much mud is flung by Memorial Day that you all end up burnt out for the remainder of the year and as totally disinterested in the whole pathetic mess as I'd personally like to be. Then I can just follow your lead.

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politics = poison
[info]kevinelynch
2008-02-03 04:17 am UTC (link)
I have to ask, once again, why the anger? there are no fast remedies or trustworthy politicos that are going to change Murka overnight into the great and holy land the masses of sheeple believe it to be. been pointing out for years that the beast is dead and we need to wait for inertia to drag it to the ground. the nation spends too much on war and and coddling the wealthy. it also gets way too little for that expenditure. the odds get even, so you can be sure that snake-eyes are on the way. gnashing your teeth and spewing with all your fury won't make it happen any quicker. it'll only make you spend more on headache powders and stuff you apply directly to the forehead!

hello, and welcome back to the land of the semi-living! good to see you again

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Re: politics = poison
[info]ms_xeno
2008-02-03 08:05 pm UTC (link)
Welcome back yourself. :)

The way I see it, life itself gives the ultimate headache, and there's only one permanent cure for that. So in the meantime, I might as well have it for a legitimate reason. As opposed to having one because I never got that Hawaiian winter home (next door to Oprah's) and that diamond tennis bracelet that I so obviously deserved.

Plus, it's a great way to meet people without having to buy anything. Unlike, say, Amway.

:p

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[info]elevenoclock
2008-02-05 09:35 pm UTC (link)
hi, i'm trolling around for new people to read and came across you in [info]sadie_sabot's J. perhaps your seething anger was a shining beacon from afar!

~11

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[info]ms_xeno
2008-02-09 04:37 pm UTC (link)
You shoulda' seen me during the 2000 campaign, and in its aftermath. Now THAT was seething. ;)

Welcome, and Thank You.

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obamestine
(Anonymous)
2008-02-13 06:05 pm UTC (link)
long time no visit
on short rounds these months

love to see you pulling
the meat hose
of the lobbocracy

paine

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Re: obamestine
[info]ms_xeno
2008-02-13 08:26 pm UTC (link)
It's just too bad that all my best lines are borrowed from somewhere else. :/

Here's a little snack for your enjoyment. ;)

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Hey
[info]kevinelynch
2008-02-14 01:09 am UTC (link)
Everyone, please take a moment to head over to my new Livejournal home: Poetry is Dead!

Nothing is more cheering than having someone comment on a dead art form

Kevin

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Re: Hey
(Anonymous)
2008-03-10 04:36 am UTC (link)
"But frankly Obama isn't worth it. None of them are. I wish I could spend the next eleven months talking about nothing but pretty flowers and fuzzy ducklings with all you true believer types. But it doesn't seem possible. "

Me too. I was just thinking, how does one endure the next eight months until the election? It will be interesting to see if the folks that are engaged in the Obama vs Clinton wars will be able to then engage in the "anyone but the evil Republican" mantra when either one of them (or neither one of them because there's always room for convention intrigue) gets the nomination.

How about talking about bunnies and pretty flowers? I got some more purple lavender passion flower vines. To enjoy for several days until the swarm of egg-laying butterflies come.


--Radfem

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Re: Hey
[info]ms_xeno
2008-03-12 05:42 pm UTC (link)
I have accepted your demands, O Wise One. Please see my most current post.

;)

And I'm guessing the warring Demo factions are praying for a strong showing by either Nader or McKinney, so they have somebody to vent their anger on. Hey, it's always worked before. [groan]

(Reply to this)(Parent)

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