Thursday, November 14, 2002

(The battle continues...we pick it up mid-chaos as DDDM responds to a previous email from O on Rall's piece.)   "That's not a lamp, that's O's theory about a politico-media conspiracy to ignore al Qaeda!" "So long, lamp!"   From today's New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/14/politics/14CND-TAPE.html   And the stuff you present to me about how and why is mostly (a) refutable or (b) unprovable conjecture.  Sorry. A lot of it is "refutable" by "unprovable" statements from the other side. Let me say it ONE MORE TIME.  Slow. Ly.  A small portion of what you claim to be "fact" is simply wrong.  (Like in your most recent message: "Weren't all the hijackers Egyptian?"  In fact, 15 of the 19 were Saudi nationals.)  The vast portion of what you claim are "hidden facts" are factually correct, but are not hidden at all and have been much discussed in mainstream media.  You (and others) have then strung these facts together with unbacked hypotheses about motive.  And you simply can't seem to accept the idea that most people either (a) don't care, or (b) have looked at the same facts as you and come to very different and less sinister conclusions.    If I can get you to at least consider the possibilities that shady shit is going on, I've done my job. I will admit (without sarcasm) that over the last 12 months, I've learned quite a bit about the influence of oil in our foreign policy, and that wouldn't have happened without your prodding.  It has changed my opinion (!!) about how imperative it is for the US to wean itself off of Middle Eastern oil in the near-term and oil in general in the long-term.  But this is more an eye-opening to the realpolitik of foreign affairs than a signing-up with the conspiracists.  So you've done A good job, but perhaps not THE good job you intended.   -- dddm 11:27:30 PM    comment []

(The Bush debate goes public as of now. Sorry for throwing y'all in mid-debate...we'll catch you up eventually...but Bubba's right...this is too much fun for y'all to miss.)   Thanks (to DDDM) for the O'Dowd clip, but she makes an interesting contradiction in this statement:   "It was embarrassing yesterday, given President Bush's swagger on Iraq, to watch him fawn over the Saudis. At lunch at his ranch he entertained Prince Bandar, the man who got private planes to spirit Osama bin Laden's relatives out of the U.S. after the attacks. Mr. Bush also called Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday to assure him of the "eternal friendship" between their countries and to soothe hurt Saudi feelings over a lawsuit filed by 9/11 victims charging Saudi support of terrorism."   yeah, it's embarrassing to watch Shrub fawn over Saudi Arabia, but it's precisely because of Iraq, and not despite it. I mean, he's kissing Saudi ass (right now, primarily) because he knows that kicking out Saddam is 750% more difficult without their support. At the very least, we need to stand on their sand as a starting line.  They are the most important country to the plan, bar none. Also, it ain't like Saudi has any love for Iraq.  They were first in line to help us in 1990, because they knew Saddam was coming for their ass next.   -- Sparxxx 1:26:38 PM    comment []

Couple of quick tidbits as a seemingly light week continues: - Infighting amongst Haters (most of which is not documented here) appears to be reaching a crescendo on the Bush/war stuff. Methinks Bubba's "it's a good summation of how the Haters feel" reply to my rant a few days back didn't sit well with a couple of the others. Perhaps a public display of our civil strife will be forthcoming...just so all y'all can jump in... - Though I haven't had a chance to send personal thanks, bigups to the bloggers at Rayne Today and Fried Green Al-Qaedas for taking an interest in our "work" and showing a little love on their own pages. I'm sure it helped steer a couple of new heads our way. - Big showdown in the Bay State today...my high school (Harwich) takes on a school from my former coverage area (Watertown) in the state field hockey semis. Allow me to simply state that Harwich's esteemed coach, Cheryl Poore, is -- to put it mildly -- a character. Almost everyone respects her...but everyone either loves or hates her. There's no in between, and methinks she likes it that way. I'm still not sure who to cheer for...but school spirit isn't as big of a factor as you might think, especially since my dad (the only real tie I had left to HHS) is now retired. - Note to self...it's field hockey...and it's 1,000 miles away. Why do you care? And do you think anyone reading this does? Doubtful. - I think I like having everyone either love me or hate me, too. At least that way, you know people are paying attention. - I didn't devote enough time to this the other day, but Kobe Bryant may be the most overrated player in NBA history. He's selfish (47 shots). He's been overhyped from the get-go (rigged '97 dunk contest, anyone?). He's got half the league's beat writers convinced that he's the next Jordan (because there just HAS to be one, right?). He has no street cred (although I respect the fact that he can speak fluent Italian, most inner-city kids don't care). Most importantly, he's been carried by the game's dominant force since he came into the L. Does he get that many open looks without Shaq? Not a chance. And we've seen this month how "good" the Lakers are without the big man. Without O'Neal, LA is a lottery team, and Kobe is several rungs below Duncan, KG, McGrady and Pierce (and several others) on the best-player-besides-Shaq list. - Don't you just want to shake Rick Fox and remind him that he was cut loose from the M.L. Carr-era Celtics and he merely walked into a dream situation with Shaq? Remind him that he isn't good, then punch him in the nuts repeatedly? (Sorry...I guess I DO hate the Lakers more than the Yankees. Scary.) - What goes for Rick Fox goes double for Ja Rule. If I had one bullet...actually...nah. Scratch the bullet thing...that would only make him believe even more that he's just like Tupac. I just wish he'd go away quietly...but that's not too likely, I see. - Seven Dow Fizz-Its later, my toilet still has remnants of the cruddy golden-brown bowl stains that were here when I moved in four months ago. Still...the product is a good one. Anything with Scrubbing Bubbles on it invariably kicks ass. Even if other stuff cleans just as well, it doesn't do as much cool shit in the process. Besides, those bubble things on the package look pretty cool. In my next life, I hope to be one. - Anyone know where I can cop a Bad News Bears jersey? It's the one article of clothing I truly crave...Chico's Bail Bonds what. - Felipe Alou is the best move the Giants made since acquiring Bonds. Even if the G-men don't make it back to the Series, they'll be a better team. Best manager of my lifetime. Too bad the Red Sox wouldn't close the deal a year ago. - Ditto for Billy Beane. Now I hate Oakland even more...and I'm shuddering at the possible GM hires the Sox could make. (Note to Sox ownership: I work cheap.) - ESPN.com just isn't as much of a priority now that Simmons has gone to work for Jimmy Kimmel. Even if he posted the occasional weak column, he's generally been pretty entertaining. (Note to ESPN's John Walsh: I work cheap...and you should know that, based on what y'all paid me in '97.) - Every time I consider the whole smoke-quit thing, one of the following happens: a) Bubba and Sweets come to town and goad me into an all-out "who can smoke the most?" war; b) I puss out and say I'll do it later, because...well, it's my only vice; c) Sparxxx decides there is no better gift than a new Zippo, and I feel bad wasting its shining beauty; d) I tell myself, "hey, it's not crack, right?" and light up. It's basically hopeless until I have kids (note: IF I have kids). - (*Token Old Played-Out Joke Alert*) If I DID upgrade to crack, I could be a major player in DC politics. Mayor? President? Sky's the limit... - Recommended pre-sleep routine for PC-owning insomniacs: 1) win a game of Spider Solitaire; 2) win a game of Hearts; 3) win a game of FreeCell. Do not quit until you've won all three consecutively. - If this fails, post a pointless blog entry filled with useless chitter. -- O 3:03:25 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2002 Ryan O'Leary. Last update: 12/1/2002; 1:27:06 AM.