The Politburo Diktat

Forecast: Leftie Hot Air Masses Getting Cloudier and Stormier

The excessive rhetoric of some Lefties bugs me. Probably more than it should. Do you know that Ted Rall accuses George Bush of "threatening a military coup over the 2000 Florida elections?" With what? The crack forces of the Texas Air National Guard? I suppose Ted has the memos to back that charge up. And then there was that DU denizen who recently claimed that the CIA blew up the Lebanese politician, thus deliberately and successfully triggering the Cedar Revolution.

None of this has ameliorated in recent weeks. What's going on?

Let's frame this a little bit. Since 9/11, George Bush has waged a "war on terrorism," with mixed results. (On the Left, many openly doubt and deride the sincerity of that war; it's all a sham to cement the Republican's Nazi-like hold on America.) We tossed the Taliban out of Afghanistan, but OBL remains at large and an low-level insurgency simmers in that country. Elections were held in Afghanistan and the elected government struggles to exapnd its real control outside of Kabul.

In Iraq, the dictator Saddam was overthrown, while no WMDs were found. Many people have died, 1500 American soldiers and many thousands of Iraqis. A violent insurgency continues; reconstruction of fuel, power, etc. lags. But elections have been held and an elected government will soon take power.

In other countries, Libya has forsworn its terrorist ways and the Palestinians have held their own elections. The prospects for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians look as good as they have in many years. There are promising noises of reform in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

While vague and minimal credit to Bush's policy of trying to spread democracy in the Middle East are given by the New York Times, Jon Stewart, The Guardian, and even al-Jazeera, backhandedly and buried deeply in the reports, most Leftie bloggers and politicians react with even greater fury and unreasoning rage. Thus the DU denizen mentioned up top. Thus, Ted Rall. At first I didn't get it. "Since Bush's policy is starting to bear fruit and even the New York Times will admit such, why won't others back off a little bit and offer some grudging concession to that effect.

Then it hit me. They won't. Not a chance. They have too much invested in their Bush hatred. If he walked on water and peace broke out all over the Middle East and OBL's head was delivered on a pike by reformed Waziri tribesmen, the Bush-haters would grouse and bitch and moan and create ever wilder fantasies to explain it all.

As things improve further, look for more of the same.

Syria Out of Lebanon

Everyone Tells Syria to pull out of Lebanon

This seems to be the world's latest hobby or spectator sport, or way of demonstrating one's populist democratic credentials. Germany, France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc. etc. have all joined in. And unlike the usual mantra of Israel-bashing, this new fad of Syria-bashing won't even piss off George Bush and risk getting a cruise missile down the palace chimney.

Who's next? Lichtenstein, Kazakhstan, North Korea, and Micronesia? Mrs. Bashir Assad? What shall we call this group? "The Coalition of the Piling-on?" Not that there's anyone I'd rather see get piled on than Bashir Assad.

The Commissar joins this august chorus: "Syria, get out of Lebanon NOW!"

Letter from a Sana'a Jail

Jane, at Armies of Liberation, has some compelling correspondence from a political prisoner in Yemen.

(Dear Friends and Fellow Freedom Lovers, I never thought I’d get to use the stars but we the blogosphere recieved the following letter from Mr. Abdulkarim al-Khaiwani smuggled out of the central prison in Sana’a, Yemen.

I have been advocating for his release since his imprisonment in September as I am convinced that he is a politcal prisoner. He is a newspaper editor, a pro-democracy advocate, and a Yemeni patriot. There are several articles on my sidebar that explain his case more fully.

Kindly read his letter, portions of which are deleted as he is already in jail for insulting the president. If upon hearing from him directly, you wish to stand in solidarity with this man, kindly sign this petition. Futhermore, please feel free to copy the letter to your site and link to the petition not to me.

Please sign the petition.

Ted Rall is Surprised

"at the amount of vicious, specific threats of violence directed toward conservative personalities by supposed progressives" in his so-called Rightwing challenge.

Color me surprised, too. Rall actually has the minimal integrity to admit this much:

So. Does the left give back as much as the right? In my heart of hearts, I'd say the right-wing challenge didn't change my mind entirely. I think the right does it more. But, as a conservative blogger wrote elsewhere, it's much easier to notice when it's your side being attacked. I notice the attacks against progressives more, so they hurt more. Bottom line: it's impossible to quantify the hatred on both sides and determine who does it more.

While I want to give Rall some credit for integrity, I'm equally amused or surprised by his claim to be "surprised." Did he really NOT know this went on? Does he really think Lefties are still the side of 'peace, love, and brotherhood?' Someone wake Ted up. He's still watching "That 70's Show." Sorry, Ted, the times have changed. You and your friends on the Left have NOTHING left but your hate. You have no ideas, no principles, no vision. And you haven't for a long time.

Leftie Blog Transformation

Let's face it comrades, our blogs need work. In the past year, Kos, Atrios, Oliver Willis and the rest have not produced. Sure, Kos' diary-driven stats are up, but we haven't had any IMPACT. Look at the wingnuts' successes: the Swift Boat story, Rathergate, Bush wins re-election, Eason Jordan, etc. etc. etc. We gotta get on the scoreboard!!

It is a disgrace. The only Leftie blog to get on the map in 2004 was Wonkette. Other progressive blogs must learn from Ms. Cox. What is the secret of her success? Ass-fucking, Washington DC sex scandal, and above all gay, gay!, GAY! And, as she likes to say, "When all else fails, I just make shit up." We must learn from Wonkette and adapt!

These will be our principles: gay ass-fucking gay Washington gay sex scandals! GaynnonGuckertGayte forever! ... Did I forget "GAY?"