[UPDATE: I’ve included a post from Registan with a totally different take] I confess to great ignorance, when it comes to this conflict and the region in general. But Sean-Paul’s latest makes great sense to me.
“Where’s NATO?”
I remember the conversation so clearly, as if it happened yesterday. I was meeting with Alex Rondeli, a tall, smart, well-connected Georgian involved in the formation of the country’s foreign policy. Everyone interested in the foreign policy of the region, I was told, who traveled to Tbilisi, had to meet with him. So I did. Obviously I don’t have my notes of the interview with me, as they are in storage back home in America, but I remember when the conversation turned towards NATO and America helping Georgia. Alex was clear that he thought, from a rational, realpoplitik perspective, that Georgia’s best hope was in joining the West and all its institutions. But he was also realistic enough to realize that Georgia had to find a way of living with its giant northern neighbor.
And I asked him, point blank, “what makes you think the US will keep its promise to Georgia in the event of war with Russia? Can you really trust the US?” And then I made it clear, before he answered, that I thought it was folly to trust the US, that Georgia’s best course was to find a modus vivendi with Russia and develop its economy on its own terms because the Russians aren’t going away.
They haven’t. Now they are attempting to split the country. And Georgians are wondering, where is NATO? NATO isn’t coming. Deal with it. Read more
I just can’t help it. I went over, via another link, to conservapedia.com or whatever the winger answer is to wiki (which I actually don’t endorse, but anyway). I swear to you I just copied this from their own “most viewed” linkee not three minutes ago:
Atheism (3,891,753)
Main Page (3,269,704) Homosexuality (3,153,454)
Wikipedia (522,521)
Theory of evolution (335,601)
Examples of Bias in Wikipedia (328,215) Ex-homosexuals (320,928)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (269,183)
Aesthetics (260,60
Snicker. Or, Sin-KKKer. Or, something /sound of male lips slobbing phallus/. Heh. Read more
Heh, I won’t tell you where I heard it, as it is out there on the Intertubes and you can find it yourself with a little effort. And I’m posting because one of my sort of in-the-know friends didn’t poopoo it when I ran it by him. What would you say to “Vice-President Feingold?” The rumor goes that all the other names you’re hearing are a distraction/diversion and that Obama really prefers Russ, but wants to vet him quietly.
The Obama camp is filled with many different kinds of people, but not all of them are wholly addicted to “consultant-logic.” They know that many of you here, and elsewhere, are already very unhappy with him and may go as far as withdrawing your support althogether, as very publically, some already have. Feingold would be a significant olive branch to progressives, no? Also, the bitterness between the BHO and HRC camps seems to be proving real and lasting, and it’s always easiest, when choosing whom to screw over, to pick feminists. But anyway, beyond being a wonderful dream to someone like me (I enjoyed Russ as my Senator for a time, he’s the Real Deal), it makes sense in a darkly ugly yet realist sort of way. Feingold is a kind of assassination-insurance for Obama; kill him and you get a real progressive in charge of the country. I bet that idea scares the master class a lot. Anyway, consider this a silly Sunday post entirely not based on anything significant or fact-related.
So, first off: Happy Birthday MJS! We miss you! And love you! And your beautiful, gracious, thoughtful wife, who in turn gave me a gift by asking me to give you one. I hope you enjoy your book. Secondly, I’m too heartbroken to explain Tel Asmar; just google “Tel Asmar UChicago dig house” and you’ll understand- it’s gone. My pain is nothing to the families of the dead who have lost infinitely more than that thanks to a reckless war of lies and greed.
Seeing as how Corrente is now a High Literary Society, I thought I should contribute something. The background on this short fiction is this: it’s “historical” in feel and tone, but in no way up to the scholarly standards of my past. I feel badly I’m fuddling some historical and philological fact for the sake of fiction, so to my Assyriology friends: take it easy on a sister, yo? Also, due to a mix-up on the due date, I wrote this in exactly one morning and gave it all of one look-thru before publishing it for MJS’ gift. So forgive the slightly choppy and unfinished element to it, it’s essentially a first-draft. Someday, I may go back and clean it up and turn it into a long book; I’ve been sitting on a larger story of which this is part for some time. Anyway, here you go, Birhtday Boy and Gentle Readers.
“The Ashes of the House of Ur”
I
The tall brute looked and sounded exactly like his name implied; son of the war goddess indeed. Hulking over Ibrahim’s second wagon like a trained ape at the temple fair, he could hardly articulate the goods of passage, let alone write them. Lucky for him, a clever palace scribe was there to cover his ass and get the job done.
“Twelve woven blankets,” the brute slurred.
“Actually, your honor, “ said Ibrahim. “That’s ten. The other two are for the flooring.” He tried his best to look unconcerned, but the high ranking palace scribe’s presence implied that the political scene was as dangerous for him as ever, perhaps more so. “That looks like more than ten to me,” the hulking mass of a beer-guzzling Akkadian said. “Are you saying I can’t count?” His muscular concern mirrored the urgency with which his scribe sought to insert herself into the conversation. Ibrahim took advantage of this.
“Lady Lali,” he said to the skinny scribe and using her nickname, which was known to him because they shared the same blood of the old families. “What say you of these blankets?” His deep, liquid eyes pleaded with her. He knew she knew all he wanted to do was leave; to escape the increasing burdens of all merchants of the Old Blood in a crumbling empire. To take his family, herds and goods to a new land; one long since abandoned by the ancient people of the sea, where the hills where green, and lightly populated by wild flocks or predators. The rumors of the place had spread in the last famine, when the empire had failed to provide for the people. Ibrahim had spoken out against the temples and their increasingly anti-traditionalist leadership then. He had paid for it ever since.
Lali looked at the small herds and poor-quarter quality of Ibrahim’s carts. Another reject of the new order, refugees taking flight, she thought. They were so common these days, what with the empire restricting its support to the “loyal families” and all. Sad, she thought. In the old days, merchant princes like Ibrahim would’ve been invited to compete for choice temple bids, their herds culled for the finest representatives for use at the city festivals and temple competitions. But no longer; the young prince was woefully easy to sway, and mostly a fool. His advisors had convinced him that a “loyalty” purge was long since due, and that the gods demanded it.
“Geb,” she called to her co-worker. “I’ve got to get some beer, and take a piss. It’s too fucking hot for this shit.” It was true, the midday was nigh, and they’d been processing passers at the gate for six hours. Some beer and dates, and an indoor break, were long overdue. Read more
War is always about money, in the end. I’m way behind on my newsreading, and so I totally missed this until this morning. At least some civilians are being allowed to flee. What’s at stake here? Who are the key players? And Thanks, Chimpy, for opening the Pandora’s Box of “wars of choice are great!” Anyone with details willing the share them, I’m grateful. It bodes ill that he’s already using rhetoric like this:
“I must protect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are. We will not allow their deaths to go unpunished,”
Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President
In a sort of sick way, I’m almost glad for this update from our friends at BAR. Because it means I’m going to have even more soap for my favorite soapbox, which is “turn it off, it’s killing you.”
So it is that when the transition to digital TV occurs in February of 2009 and the number of TV stations multiplies by from four to ten times, no local entrepreneurs, no unions, community organizations, colleges, universities or other noncommercial, nonprofit broadcasters have any hope of gaining access to the new stations. All the new stations will be the provate property of the folks who already have broadcast licenses, with no obligations to do local news or public service, or educational or even local programming. The existing broadcasters get this gift of public spectrum, thousands of TV channels conservatively valued at $80 billion, for less than what a family in Wilmington NC pays for the yearly state tax on a used Ford —- for nothing. And they get it without the bother of new station licenses being issued, since that might attract undue public attention, with people inquiring about why someone else doesn’t get a crack at them.
I will never understand why so many otherwise smart people seem so addicted to propaganda, crap, and lies. I know folks will forced to make some hard choices as the economy tanks, and I sincerely hope that one of them will be, “I guess I don’t really need that $100/mo cable bill and $3,500 HDTV after all.” Read more
Darcy is One of Us. So it’s nice to start my Friday with this bit of excellent news, which must mean even more to her since the destruction of her home in a fire. Way to go, netroots! HA
Burner kicks Reichert’s ass in July
by Goldy, 08/07/2008, 9:49 PM
Darcy Burner and Dave Reichert released their July fundraising totals today in advance of WA’s August 19 primary, and as reported by Postman (or maybe Emily Heffter, I’m kinda confused) it wasn’t even close.
Rep. Dave Reichert, the two-term Republican incumbent, raised $115,474 during July, compiling $929,113 in cash on hand.
Democratic challenger Darcy Burner raised more — $350,837– during July, and reported having almost $1.5 million in the bank. Read more
One essay on them vs (ironically following at the same site by a different author) another. What do you think about all the hype? Are you looking forward to watching the Olympics, or are you so outraged at the Chinese government’s treatment of various minority and dissenting groups you think them an obscene dressing for tyranny? Is it a mockery of environmental awareness to host them in a smog-filled metropolis, or a hopeful sign that the ChiComs are willing to do so much to improve conditions there, albeit for a short time?
I wouldn’t want to be an Olympic athlete these days. I can’t say I was “close,” although I did go to Nationals while in high school and play at the varsity level at a Big Sports College. So at least I can relate to what athletes must do to and with their bodies to compete at the top levels. I’m also glad: I think I was part of the very last generation of top athletes who could compete safe in the knowledge that my competitors weren’t regularly doping left and right. Read more
This will surprise no one here, but it’s important to remember as the PB2.0 attempts to regain some of the political influence pissed away by the previous incarnation. RPR:
If indeed Wal-Mart is mobilizing its employees to vote against Democrats, it’s sending a mixed message with its political action committee donations.
Wal-Mart is on pace to give more money to House Democrats this cycle than House Republicans for the first time ever. And as Wal-Mart’s contributions reach further and deeper into the Democratic Caucus, it’s becoming more difficult for the company’s critics to demonize the corporate giant. Read more
Well, I said I would and here you go. Food and Fleur this time. Usual Warning to those on dial-up, this is a motherlode of pics. And, I’m going to share some failures as well as successes with you. What a funky growing year it’s been for us here- too wet, too dark, too dry, to hot. Proving that farming in MI is as hard as it is to be an honest Republican in today’s rethug party. Anyway…
Is there anything better to view and smell in high summer than phlox? Perhaps, but I’ll enjoy the torment of trying to decide which of mine I love best.
Bruce E. Ivins, reportedly on the verge of being indicted for capital murder in the anthrax killings, was a registered Democrat, according to the Fredrick County, MD, Board of Elections. He had been registered there since 1982 and records indicate that he voted in “every election since 1996,” including Democratic primaries, according to the official who responded to a request from West Virginia-based radio host Bob Kincaid.
Now, obviously, one can be a regular Dem voter and still despise them, but it seems worthy of more discussion, this latest detail. It’d be nice if “serious” reporters could dig a little deeper and get more info about what the fuck really happened. Not that any will, but I remain convinced that we’re still not getting anything close to the truth about the Why, How and Who of the anthrax events from that increasingly forgotten and inscrutable past.
I guess I’m one of the few people who were there the first year as well as last year, and recall the last minute “fuck off” that we Little People received in Chicago from Her Nibs. Hint: She didn’t show. Blah, Blah, order and security and Seriousness blah, but if this is true, I’m even more glad I saved the money for the garden instead of the trip to Austin:
Gina Cooper opened the event by letting us know that any organized disruption would result in the protesters’ being escorted out and badges taken. As for the questioning of Speaker Pelosi, she said that impeachment and FISA questions were consolidated into 2 summary questions. Congressman Lloyd Doggett just introduced Speaker Pelosi. She got a standing O.
I guess condemning MoveOne and passing FISA along only sweetened such fruits as taking impeachment “off the table” and failing to find a way to stop war funding bills, despite the ability to do so when it suits her on other issues. Whatever.
“Thank you Sir, may I have another!” The motto of the “progressive” blogospherical leadership. Here is what I read today, instead of self-congratulatory gossip and back-slapping filling my inbox from attendees. But I suppose that middle picture isn’t Good Form, and Nanci shouldn’t be troubled with such. I will laugh long and loud and with irony-driven bitterness when Rahm replaces her in the Speaker’s job. And he will.
So I can’t tell you why, but let me pose it as a hypothetical, because someone I know is going to try it in real life soon. What, if anything, do you believe Little People like us, can do to pressure Obama to remain true to progressives Democratic values, right now? When I say “Little People,” I mean all of us who ’only’ have several dozen to thousands of readers, or dollars, or connections- in contrast with those of the big Playahs, who have millions of those things.
I know a lot of you have chosen not to vote for Obama in the fall. That’s your right, for all that I don’t agree such a choice is constructive. But pretend with me: if you could march up to him right now and say, “Stand up and fight, publically and proudly, for [fundamental progressive value/issue X] right now, or else!” what would the “else” part be? Beyond, “or you won’t get my vote in the fall or contribution during the campaign.”
So I think most of us can agree on two points: 1) the economy is tanking, fast and 2) very few Dems (or any pols, for that matter) are speaking of solutions that will make a difference in the lives of we Little People most affected by that. Others have told me that even if the Phonebook Theory proves true, it will be very hard, well-nigh “impossible” in terms of realpolitik, for a Democratic administration and Congress to find the money needed for stimulus and aid programs. Now, I’m too radical to buy that excuse, “the money just won’t be there,” but I’m practical enough to believe that no politician elected this fall will propose an 80% cut and redirection of the DoD and war budgets to social programs. Short of a ’pitchforks and torches’ movement/takeover of DC, that’s just not going to happen.
But I was sorry to hear some news from a friend yesterday, news that was depressingly familiar. Job loss, and loss of health insurance, and the derailment from her plan to retire soon in minimal comfort. I’m fond of the saying, “No one will save you but you,” and I’m starting to think it’s time to take the next step along the path of that particular faith. My question is: are we ready to start helping each other? Read more
We don’t really have what I’d call “power” here in the blogosphere, not yet at least. But and still: it’s fascinating to read Open Left of late. If anyone can be said to be ’connected’ and ’in touch’ with the Village establishment, it’s these folks. And Dayum! Can you say, “not happy with Mr. Hope?”
It’s funny. Since I took my Pledge not to say anything negative about him until after November, it seems I can’t find anything but that in the progressive blogosphere. The feeling I have isn’t quite schadenfreude, nor bitterness, or even ’I told you so-ism,’ but the hope (heh) that it’s finally beginning, and we’re coming together to see that ’third way’ centrist DLC crap is just that. Crap. When ’mainstream’ blogs are getting it, I can’t help but smile. Read more
It’s really true that the full moon brings out the Crazy in people. And completely unrelated to that point, JimmyJeff Gannon runs a blog for the National Press Club. If that’s not a Zen moment of truth about our times, I don’t know what is. Read more
No pics and just a short one from me today, as it’s too durn pretty outside to stay on the machine for long. But: in case you don’t know, many vegetable plants only require 30-90 days of growth before harvest. And many are very easy to grow; lettuce and chard and potatoes and even tomatoes. There are many foods that freeze well, or can be stored dry.
Why am I reminding you of this? Because the flooding in the Midwest is going to utterly ruin a lot of our corporate farms, the farms that we still rely upon for our system of cheap and readily available food. No, I don’t predict starvation and food shortages, but yes, I do predict a rise in the price of food starting this fall or sooner, an even more dramatic rise than is already coming due to inflation and energy prices.
Spade up some grass. Fill a couple of pots. Head over to a community plot, or just create one on some unused land in your ’hood. It’s not too late.
Yessssss…it’s nice to see the case of Glenn Murphy, Jr. resolved during the campaign season. It’s a reminder that the GOP ranks are rife with Republican Sexual Hypocrites, perpetrating their sexual and criminal deviant behavior while presenting a pious, judgmental image to the public.
The former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party pleaded guilty today to criminal deviate conduct as part of an agreement that could result in two years behind bars.
Glenn Murphy Jr. was arrested after authorities said he performed oral sex on a sleeping man following a July 28 party at a home in Jeffersonville.
…Murphy, who was also chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, resigned from both posts when the allegations were made public in August.
Read more
You don’t have to click on the icky WaTimes link, here’s the funny part:
Tom DeLay will vote for John McCain but the former House Republican leader said his wife, Christine, is planning to vote for Libertarian presidential nominee Bob Barr.
Ha-ha!
Anyway, I hope Dems do more to convince Real Republicans that the only True Conservative Choice is Barr. After all, as we heard so much of in the primary, real conservatives know that “McCain is too liberal.” Remind a conservative friend today.
That’s what someone from Iowa just said to me. Take a look for yourself:
More here. This is apparently the independent teevee station in the area and doing a good job of covering events there.
If you have money, or time, think about donating some to the Red Cross or similar organizations. It seems Bush’s cronies at FEMA can’t do more than give speeches.
And if you can’t afford a gift, let me suggest sending him this link. I’m sure with a little research the remainder of the originals (cause of course they were all scrubbed as soon as Grandpa’s Crack Intertube Team slept off the cow manure hangover) can be found as well, but the choice ones are up at JC’s place.
I’m so glad he’s on our side now. /princess hair toss/ Try to remember that I was one of the first people here to link to him, despite his membership with the jammymedia crew. He’s not the first conservative to see the Light, nor will he be the last.
