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January 30, 2005
Iraqis vote - who's happy, who's not
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Iraqi elections went "better than expected" Sunday, despite conflicting reports about the extent of voter turnout in areas plagued by intimidation and violence.The more Senator Doom&Gloom gets MSM face time and continues down the "Iraqis are genetically incapable of democracy" line, one would hope people will be thanking God that despite all the money and physical violence and voter fraud committed by the Democrats and their minions, Kerry was unable to steal the White House. Kerry would have been sworn in January 20th and Saddam would have be reinstated as stablizing leader who promises to "be good" on January 21st. As for the "legitimacy" of a vote that blocks of disgruntled Sunnis boycott, maybe Kerry should review the history of the Election of 1864 Let's continue with another of Kerry's bon mots ...She also called insurgents "terrible thugs" who will not succeed in stopping voting and the progress of democracy in Iraq
"Every indication is that the election in Iraq is going better than expected," Rice said on ABC's "This Week."
But Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., sounded a note of caution in an interview on NBC's "Meet The Press."
"It is hard to say that something is legitimate when whole portions of the country can't vote and doesn't vote," Kerry said.
"What the administration does in these next few days will decide the outcome of Iraq. And this is — not may be — this is the last chance for the president to get it right," Kerry said.Is he trying to campaign for 2008 or is he still under the impression it's October 2004?
Who else is bad-mouthing the Iraqi vote - either through bigotry or BDS? Oh, the usual: KosKiddies and dem-underground-moonbats. And it appears even a "professor of history" will ignore the election of 1864 where Iraq is concerned because the election comes about under a Republican President. (Wonder if the prof recalls the term "Copperhead"... I certainly thinks it's apt.) Now at Asstrios the host and his "commenters" haven't even paid attention. They are too busy screaming hatefilled screeds at Glenn Reynolds or calling for the death of any Republican that criticizes Social Security. Gotta be almost amused by Leftists who pretend to be ignorant of the concept of private property. Wankers, indeed.
UPDATE: The irrepressible Jeff Goldstein puts on the hipwaders and posts on the sheer mendacity of willing BDS sufferer Oliver 'gimme me another Krispy Kreme' Willis. Jeff points us to John Cole's challenge on cataloging what Jeff so aptly labels as pissing in Freedom's Punchbowl.
UPDATE II: Poli Blog has an excellent round-up (with promises for updates) of what the commentary is around the blogsphere. He, too, notes the absence of comment from Asstrios and the nattering negativity of dKos, Kreme Willis and "Prof" Cole.
UPDATE III: Michelle Malkin covers "Women Voting in Iraq" and asks "Will American feminists be celebrating these amazing images and this historic day?" Well, a quick look at the front page of NOW shows that Iraq is not even on their radar. Nope, demanding Lawrence Summers' head on a platter plus getting their panties in a bunch because the FDA balks at letting 12 year olds get "emergency" contraception over-the-counter ... well, NOW really is not about "women."
UPDATE IV: Looks like the addlepated at Asstrios (though not the big-cheese himself) have finally taken notice of the election. Consensus -- they hate it, natch. Pretty funny, in a sick sort of way, reading the comments.
Posted by Darleen at January 30, 2005 08:57 AM
Comments
Wow! You are perceptive, and awesome, and such a great writer!
Posted by: yasonyacky at January 30, 2005 02:05 PM
Acutally, we're all for honest and legitimate democracy and elections. The Iraqi election is another opportunity for Bush to engage in McPatriotic masturbation and ensure his cronies in the business world get that sweet ride he promised them in 1999. Of course, you already know that, right?
Also, you might want to consider how the Republicans run their campaigns before you start spouting innuendo about Democratic fraud and violence. Their hands are not nearly so clean as you give them credit for. Of course, you know that already, too, don't you?
PS - "I saw a man that with all the things he must have been dealing with at the moment that he was informed that we were under attack, he thought of the children in that classroom above all." Are you kidding me??? You think the president should be concerned with children reading a book when America is attacked by terrorists??? That is probably the most inexplicable comment I've seen from a Bush supporter yet. You honestly scare me.
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 02:29 PM
Ripley
Maybe you want to point out where Republican's in 2004 physically invaded Dem headquarters and beat people up.
BTW, as a parent who has on more than one occassion found herself in an emergency situation, the last thing a RESPONSIBLE parent does is lose it and cause fear and panic in the children they are around.
Obviously you don't give two f**ks about kids.
Why doesn't that surprise me? (I hope you don't procreate)
Posted by: Darleen at January 30, 2005 02:48 PM
Darleen, I think kids are great. Bush wasn't their parent, he was supposed to be the president. A real leader would have said "Bye, kids" and left to be a leader. You think fear and panic for a room full of 3rd graders is worse than fear and panic in an entire country under attack? It's worse than the possibility of more citizens (possibly children) dying? Bush, Rumsfeld and Rice failed this country in a manner that words can't even begin to describe.
Obviously you don't give two fucks about anything that's not warm and fuzzy.
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 03:05 PM
So Iraq had 79% turnout. Whoops, it's actually 72%. Now they are saying 60%. Could it be that more level-headed bloggers are waiting for the smoke to clear before they comment on this election? Naah, it's all a conspiracy of "democraps," "MSM," and "Senator Doom&Gloom."
Posted by: The Kenosha Kid at January 30, 2005 03:08 PM
Ripley
Know anyone in law enforcement who is also charged with security details?
GW was on in the classroom, and not freaking the kids out long enough for his security detail to make sure it was safe for him to leave.
Real life is not Hollywood.
Posted by: Darleen at January 30, 2005 03:37 PM
They were at an elementary school, how long could it take - it's not as thought it would have been safer for him to stay. Why wasn't he on the phone with someone, anyone, trying to find out what the hell was going on? And for god's sake, stop using the children's peace and quiet as an excuse. You don't think they were freaked out when school was cancelled and everybody was sent home in a rush?
Your apologies for Bush are noted
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 03:42 PM
I've never used the tag "democraps". And I don't buy into conspiracies (unlike some who think this is all a :::ahem::: Zionist/NeoCon thing)
Have I claimed anywhere what the percentage of the turnout is? No?
I find it historic and a huge purple-dyed finger in the eye of Islamists that large numbers of Iraqis (including WOMEN) turned out to vote despite the promises of violence. It is a time of celebration.
But, what the hey, for Leftists (and not all liberals are leftists) democracy is only legitimate when it puts THEM in power.
No wonder there is such a love-affair between Leftists and jihadists.
Posted by: Darleen at January 30, 2005 03:46 PM
No wonder there is such a love-affair between Leftists and jihadists.
Good thing you "don't buy into conspiracies." Or that last line might sound a little weird.
Posted by: The Kenosha Kid at January 30, 2005 04:13 PM
- the braideads among the AssHats apparently think that Bush should have grabbed one of the secret services agents Gluck and run outside screaming "Kill all the Muslims". what a bunch of sour grapes losers. If they're not yammering about Cheney's wardrobe their nit-picking something they have no leg to stand on. Lets see what their fearless candidate sKerry was doing when the attack hit...."We were just sitting at a table in the conference room for 20 minutes or so....no one could think or say anything..." J. Kerry..... then a few secret service people escorted the dazed Senators from the room to safety....Oh yeh ripley....LurchKerry would have been the Man to have in charge.... Right....you know this BLullshit screed was beat to death months ago.... why don't you at least come up with some new stuff once in awhile.... I have one thing to say to all you barking moonbats.... lock and load......
Posted by: Big Bang Hunter at January 30, 2005 04:15 PM
Darleen avers: No wonder there is such a love-affair between Leftists and jihadists.
Kenosha japes: Good thing you "don't buy into conspiracies." Or that last line might sound a little weird.
To qualify as a conspiracy, it would have to be surreptitious, Oscar Wilde.
Posted by: malaclypse the tertiary at January 30, 2005 06:40 PM
Lock and load? What is that supposed to mean? Are you some kind of tough guy that's going to start shooting American citizens because they disagree with you and BushCo?
Bush doesn't seem to have any problem killing the Muslims now, though. "Bring it on" - real cute for a world leader but it sells in the red states, eh?
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 06:41 PM
Whenever I read those remarks about Bush being expected to Do Something on 9/11/2001 I wonder if such remarkers expected the President to stand up, pull open his shirt revealing a 'W' symbol and then go fly off to save the day.
Posted by: Patrick Chester at January 30, 2005 06:43 PM
Aww.... Ripley's trying to play wannabe martyr and projecting his own prejudices upon those icky red staters. Iddn't he cuuuuuuuute?
Posted by: Patrick Chester at January 30, 2005 06:44 PM
Martyr? Please, do expound... prejudice? Red states basically voted for Bush, right? Right.. So explain how I'm projecting prejudices onto red staters. It seems to me your comments are based on "liberals are icky because they don't agree with me" playground psychology. But please, go ahead and explain to me what's wrong with me - you seem to have such a firm grasp of personality and social psychology.
Bush is a man - no man is perfect. I hear very little from the Right that leads me to believe anyone can accept that Bush isn't perfect nor are his decisions.
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 06:57 PM
Ripley as an exemplar of sophistication and lofty rhetoric: "Obviously you don't give two fucks about anything that's not warm and fuzzy."
Hey Ripley, believe it or not, you're not winning anyone over with the snark.
“Bush is a man - no man is perfect. I hear very little from the Right that leads me to believe anyone can accept that Bush isn't perfect nor are his decisions.”
Then you need to get out more. Nursery Nietzsches with hare-trigger rhetoric seem to inveigle the same – irrespective of ideology. Let me help you out a little: start with Adam Smith, then Alexander Hamilton – once you’re done there, try Alexis de Tocqueville. For something recent, try Friedrich Hayek, or Bill Buckley, or Norman Podhoretz.
Political philosophy is not merely a barbershop gambit. Say what you will about Bush the man, but he assumes the mantle of a philosophy much greater than the man himself. It is ultimately that philosophy to which any serious commentator must address themselves – everything else is mere adolescence.
Posted by: malaclypse the tertiary at January 30, 2005 07:16 PM
Okay, I will admit that Bush is not perfect. He refuses to close the borders. He signed the Anti-1st admendment Campaign Finance Bill. He believes that Islam is a religion of peace. He said that if the anti2nd amendment Assault weapons Ban was extended by congress, he would sign it.
I think President Bush has made lots of mistakes.
Posted by: Right Wing Nut Job at January 30, 2005 07:17 PM
Darleen,
Don't worry about Ripley and the other d***heads. They are still spouting the uninformed and ill-considered cant they absorbed during the last election.
I for one am elated that the Iraqi election went well. The work continues. The process of democracy hit a major milestone today and goes forward. The attention devoted to the election in al Arabiya and the other Arab media confirms that it was a significant event for the region.
As to the resurrection of the 9/11 reading story - I for one think it was characteristic of a leader who understood both his role and the role of his staff in crisis mode and had confidence in their ability to do their jobs. Any fool can rush out and start barking demands for information and calling frantically around trying to be in control. But if you have the team and the process in place, then the most effective thing to do is to wait for the process to work. In the meantime, why not finish the task at hand? It was at least as important and meaningful as running around in the parking lot trying to accelerate things that were already in motion or demanding updates from people who were desperately gathering facts and already knew that the President needed data ASAP. President Bush, that morning in Florida, acted, well, Presidential. He acted like a man who knew that his team was doing their utmost to get him the information he would need to make decisions and who was mature enough to give them the time to do their jobs without losing it. Those who have never been a part of that kind of team, at whatever level, probably wouldn't understand. They would be more impressed by the self-important macho men who rush out into parking lots and begin to bark orders and demand answers and issue statements to the press - because you see more of that in the press coverage. The quiet, capable leadership is not so dramatic and doesn't play as well on the 6 o'clock news. Actually, it is almost never public.
But that is history. And now, the Iraqi election is history, as well. And historical. And we will all see, in the coming months and years, what other democratic history remains to be written in Iraq and the Mid-East.
Posted by: Dave at January 30, 2005 07:44 PM
"Obviously you don't give two f**ks about kids. Why doesn't that surprise me? (I hope you don't procreate)"
Just keeping in the spirit of the vernacular, Malaclypse.
I think de Tocqueville would be equally as vocal an opponent of the Bush admninstration as I, were he alive today. Thomas Paine as well.
I agree with your position that the position and philosophy of the Presidency are greater than the man who takes them on. However, I fail to see a credible history from Bush, thus far, that he has the greater good of America, by which I mean All of America, in mind when he acts. I wonder how much reading Mr Bush did in preparation for this monumental task.
I appreciate your civility and calm reply, by the way. Regards -
Posted by: Ripley at January 30, 2005 07:59 PM
Darleen
LOL!!
Amazing how posting a few facts gets people all riled up. Bush has brought freedom to Afghanistan, Freedom to Iraq, sent terrorists hiding in caves and holes in the ground instead of palaces, stood up to the UN and the other American hating nations, stood his ground, more black families own their own homes and businesses than ever before, We have an admistration that TRULY looks like America, people are getting tax relief, the list goes on and on--- but all these people seem to be able to do is whine about the fact that our President did the one thing that makes me love him the most-- he thought of children before anything. If my child were in that classroom- I would be so happy. Imagine the memory of that child- spending the day at school with the President of the United States coming to THEIR school and reading to them- IMAGINE! Then the unthinkable happens. He is a leader-- OUR LEADER-- HIS behavior will forever help shape how those young children react to tragedy and danger. They will be like him and like the brave forefathers of this wonderful nation. They will show strength, calm, resolve, and courage. THIS IS THELEADER I WANT! I would want it from my mother, my father, my pastor, my PRESIDENT. These people whining will go on living in darkness and turmoil until they CHOOSE to move on- they can't change the past- no matter how hard they stomp their feet-- they can't change it.
Posted by: Sherri Reese at January 30, 2005 08:48 PM