Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > June > 12
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Will wonders never cease?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just got back from a press conference at the governor’s office and saw and heard Sonny Perdue stress the importance of getting commuter rail operational between Atlanta and Griffin and announce $13 million in new funding for commuter buses operated by GRTA.
He also acknowledged that rail service would have to be subsidized. “But we know that roads are subsidized too, that they don’t pay their full fare.”
I know you won’t believe me. But I was there. I saw it in person.
Permalink | Comments (44) | Post your comment |
Mahmoud and Nouri, sitting in a tree…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Earlier this week, neocon cheerleaders Fred and Kimberly Kagan published a piece in the Wall Street Journal in which the opening sentence stated: “America is very close to succeeding in Iraq.” The piece lauded the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.
That sparked the following response, sent to me by a senior U.S. military officer with service in Iraq who has served as a source in the past. He seems much less enthralled with Maliki, particularly given his embrace of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Don’t look now, but the Kagans are taking a victory lap.
Yes, that adorable, bloodthirsty (other folks’ blood, mind you) husband-wife duo did their end-zone dance this week on the editorial pages of (you guessed it) the Wall Street Journal.
Fred and Kim Kagan, you’ll remember, were masters of the obvious last year as they pushed their plan to “surge” (so-named because we quickly discovered we couldn’t “sustain”) additional US forces into the explosive cauldron of Iraq.
Just send more manpower, they explained and good things will flow.
Getting ahead of the president, Gen. Petraeus and every other military leader with sense enough not to whistle past the graveyard, the Kagans announced Tuesday that “success is in sight.” Presumably, they were not referring to the sloppy wet kisses Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and Iranian President Ahmadinajahd were seen bestowing on one another that same day.
I’ve never figured out why “The Liberator” Bush has to sneak into Iraq like a thief in the night, while the presumed Axis of Evil top dog, Iran’s “I’m-a-Dinner-Jacket,” is feted as a state guest every time he pops in to see bosom buddy Maliki. Gee, The Liberator has videoconferences with Maliki every week. Suuuuurely that counts for something?
You bet it does. As the Kagans reminded us this week, “America is very close to succeeding in Iraq.” In fact, “the political process builds momentum.” Ah, that explains the Shi’a smooches between the region’s two (former) most bitter enemies.
Any more “momentum” and Maliki and Ahmadinejahd will have to get a room.
But wait, the Kagans warn: Just because “we are winning today,” “these tremendous gains could be lost to skillful enemy action.”
Presumably, these “skillful enemies” are not the same ones the Kagans alternately describe as those who “cling desperately,” yet are certain to “conduct spectacular attacks” in the months ahead.
You see, the “enemy” is weak now….. except when they’re strong.
“No one could have imagined how far we would have come in 18 months,” the boastful duo crows. Right they are. But if we could have imagined we would lose 1,154 brave men and women over these last 18 months, oh how we would have praised the Kagans for their wisdom, right?
By the way, for those keeping score, this 18-month “success story” would translate to 76,933 more American caskets under the McCain 100-year Plan. McCain calls that “victory.”
Turning logic on its head, “defeat” is how McCain describes an Obama plan that removes Americans from the killing fields before the “enemy” can rack up such an eye-popping tally.
And there you have it. Given how pleased Sen. McCain seems to be with the “success” of the “surge,” I think we have a couple of prime nominees for his cabinet.
Madame and Messieur Kagan, thanks for the hard work.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment |
‘Champagne Bill’ Campbell and FoxNews: Sleazy to their DNA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sometimes prison can change people. There is no sign whatsoever it has changed Bill Campbell. The story of the former mayor’s attempt to shorten his prison term by getting treatment for an alcohol problem he did not have is classic Campbell: He tries to scam the system; he gets people to lie for him; when he gets caught, he “became angry and tried to derail the questions by recounting his opinion about the unfairness of the justice system and his prosecution,” like the little crybaby he always was.
Campbell had an addiction problem all right: He became addicted to power and drunk on easy money, but there are no rehabilitation programs for that kind of thing. Well, except for prison, and that clearly isn’t taking.
Meanwhile, our friends over at FoxNews run a news crawl that states: “Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama’s baby mama.” The “baby mama” in question is Michelle Obama, the married mother of two daughters with degrees from Princeton and Harvard and very possibly our next first lady. (Read updated story from Associated Press on Friday)
Vile to the core…. Fox, like Campbell, once again showing their true colors. Like the scorpion, it is in their natures.
