tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post8666237507235739677..comments2024-03-29T06:03:45.545-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: The Herd of Independent Minds and Life at the Periphery of NothingGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-87906424930242346582008-03-27T10:34:00.000-07:002008-03-27T10:34:00.000-07:00But the typical leftist embarks on a mission of "s...<I>But the typical leftist embarks on a mission of "saving" others before he can even govern, much less save, his own soul.</I><BR/><BR/>Something I heard from a radio preacher some 30 years ago:<BR/><BR/>"All these Activists with their Great Plans to Remake the World, and they can't even control their own masturbating!"<BR/><BR/><I>Contrast this with the often piggish personal behavior of those who favor "phone-in" morality, ie., those who "love *the people* but don't care much for people.</I> -- Will<BR/><BR/>"...where I learned with little labor<BR/>The way to Love My Fellow Man<BR/>And hate my next-door neighbor."<BR/>-- G.K.ChestertonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-8890039564425772932008-03-22T22:46:00.000-07:002008-03-22T22:46:00.000-07:00Anonymous,Perhaps in habit I associate Anonymous w...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>Perhaps in habit I associate Anonymous with aninnymouse too much and expect the same.<BR/><BR/>By your last comment, I'll assume I misunderstood the intent of your initial one and apologize for assuming insult where there was but disagreement.<BR/><BR/>(Get a comment nic!)<BR/><BR/>;-)Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-13417976763909059772008-03-22T21:07:00.000-07:002008-03-22T21:07:00.000-07:00Van,As this is not your blog, I was actually not c...Van,<BR/>As this is not your blog, I was actually not commenting to you, but to the author of the blog. In any case, you responded to me thusly: "Wow. That's a lot of stupid crammed into one little comment. Well done". My initial comment certainly had nothing ill-mannered about it, and certainly nothing directed toward you. So, I did not come into this discussion in any framework other than you, and this is how you responded to me. And then, someone named mariamoishe said to me: "Oh.<BR/><BR/>Ohoh.<BR/><BR/>Ohohohohohoho!<BR/><BR/>Oh, that is rich. You "progressives" get a sword that cuts both ways with this one. Since fighters weren't "even close" to handle the problem, you get to whine and bitch about that issue."<BR/><BR/>So, my ideas may be wrong, or ill-considered, but I believe you, at best, are reading me wrong. I never said anyone here was stupid. Nonetheless, it occurs to me that some people, even me, may see certain things that others do not, and that these others, in the interest of the truth, might be interested in that. Indeed that is why I enjoy this blog, even though I don't agree politically with its author very often. Moreover, I am inclined, in this case to comment because I find he uses the term "conservative" far too loosely, and this is the jist of my meanings.<BR/>In any case, humility requires regular apology for even unintended offences, for which I readily offer mine to you, with all my best wishes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-46560728738929545462008-03-22T15:49:00.000-07:002008-03-22T15:49:00.000-07:00You won't find me making any arguments, that any p...You won't find me making any arguments, that <I>any</I> president over the last 50 years, starting with Eisenhower, responded as they should have in what has led up to our current islambie conflict. <BR/><BR/>I think, and thought at the time, for clearly obvious reasons, that the 911 commission was mostly a joke, that doesn't take cynicism, that just takes seeing the information, how it was spun and demagogued Right and Left - and what was completely ignored; including Saudi's, etc.<BR/><BR/>They represent the level of thinking in the world we find ourselves in. <BR/><BR/>I don't necessarily support the strategy and tactics of the current military actions, most of which I find anemic at best, but I grasp that there at least is action occurring, and that at least in spirit it is pro-American and Western, and I hold on to that for dear life.<BR/><BR/>The politicians in power, left and right, agree that our Rights and Property are their's for the taking, they differ only on to what degree. Neither party believes that those who threaten us should be utterly and completely destroyed. I don't have the options of voting for a party that is in agreement with me, let alone a single candidate. Pure reality and fact. My available option is to support those who at least tilt towards what I see as being the right thing to do - surveying the options - that leaves me with the republicans, currently led by Bush.<BR/><BR/>I have no need to give him or any of them a 'pass' - in most areas they fail the test to begin with - however, where they do catch on, and to the extent that they do what is necessary, in however much they do do it, while they are the ones who grasp that most, they will get my support. The other option is suicidal - by fast working poison, versus slow working poison. By choosing the slow working poison of the republicans, there is a slim chance of surviving long enough for an actual antidote to surface.<BR/><BR/>Your comments do not seem to reflect any such considerations. The impression given off by your statements and choice of words, and manner in blurting them unsupported and out of context, can be summed up as: "Bush & Co. are lazy incompetent boobs and you all support them because you are brainwashed dupes. Wake up and be smart like me, you stupid lemmings. There are no good guys or bad guys, just foolish conservatives and smart leftists."<BR/><BR/>I don't believe they are fools, and I don't believe they were willingly negligent, and I don't believe they are knowingly selling us out to protect their interests. I believe they are representative of a degraded philosophy (that of Classical Liberalism whose high point was with the Founders), and that degraded as the conservatives grasp of those philosophical issues and ability to act on them are, I also believe they believe they are doing what they see, still shaded by the old Classical Liberalism, as right. The leftists philosophical grasp is beyond degraded, they are corrupted, and in many cases willingly so and reveling in it - as is the inevitable result of believing in that which has corrupted it - the Rousseauian branch of the Enlightenment thinking.<BR/><BR/>That makes the Conservatives, infirm as they may be, my allies and feeble friends, and the leftists dissolute and corrupt as they've chosen to become, and continue so - in no way my allies or friends.<BR/><BR/>I take no pleasure in my evaluation, and I would not choose to enter a leftist arena and espouse or chortle it (or a National Review style site either). I will and do reply and engage leftists thoughts as they are raised or assumed in daily life, but that is merely judicious response to a veiled threat.<BR/><BR/>Your actions, comments and manner however, intentional or not, in choosing to enter here in this manner, is nothing short of ill-mannered. There are plenty of ways you could have raised your 'issues' in a civil and productive manner - you chose not to. <BR/><BR/>And that, by implication, puts you in the camp of cretins and fools. If that is wrong, you can change it fairly easily by changing your manner and tactics, you don't need to alter or betray your judgments of the competence or ideals of conservatives at all, a discussion can be had on the issues, but not in your manner, and my guess is that you won't alter it.<BR/><BR/>Care to prove me wrong?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75798782947910437392008-03-22T13:14:00.000-07:002008-03-22T13:14:00.000-07:00Van,You might consider reading Kean and Hamilton's...Van,<BR/>You might consider reading Kean and Hamilton's book on the commssion, and how many aspects of it were a sham. I know you think such things are "cynical", as the truth sometimes appears to be. I am neither cynical nor progressive. Conservatives often do appear to be cynical because they are skeptics about the untried and untrue. The Founders knew all too well about the temptations of power to decieve.<BR/>Nonetheless, you seem to protest too much as I never even suggestd that Bush had anything to do with 9-11. I am suggesting he failed to do anything about it either prior, or while it was going on, and this, oddly enough, I got from reading the Commission report, all by his own admission. He hung out in a Florida school and then flew away, without, again, according to his own testimony, a conversation with anyone about what to do. If that is cynical, it isn't my fault, it is his. Again, free pass. I'll bet you would be cynical if Gore were president. <BR/>In fact, I'll bet you were one who might have thought that Clinton bombed that pharmaceutical plant during the "Lewinsky" scandel to keep the press occupied on someone else. Was that cynical or just understanding your leftist president? To understand the truth of things, wherever it may lead is not cynical, even if it is unpleasant. To speak it is also not cynical, though you do seem to find it unpleasant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-24737541487831968662008-03-22T11:40:00.000-07:002008-03-22T11:40:00.000-07:00Hey Van: Lookit!Typical Progressive Voter now on Y...Hey Van: Lookit!<BR/><BR/>Typical Progressive Voter now on Youtube<BR/><BR/>http://uk.youtube.com/watch?<BR/>v=mmVaLp8icoUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-16163941777107379832008-03-22T10:56:00.000-07:002008-03-22T10:56:00.000-07:00aninnymouse said "I'm neither progessive nor a Bus...aninnymouse said "I'm neither progessive nor a Bush "hater""<BR/><BR/>Cynic, Skeptic, Progressive, whatever. You obviously possess a far seeing rear view wisdom which humbles and astounds us with your ability to put the pieces together and discover the hidden truth of conspiratorial plots and incompetence. How Bush got away with it all without even an investigating commission on 911 and report about it, probably even could have staffed it with some hyper leftie Bush haters and scored some political points against chimpy... maybe, had they had your suspicions, they could have called it something like the <A HREF="http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf" REL="nofollow">"911 Commission Report"</A>... nyah... too derivative. <BR/><BR/>"I do know how to read, though"<BR/><BR/>Truly, your list of accomplishments and talents are stupefying. Intriguing to wonder what you'll be able to tell us about tomorrow, seven years later.<BR/><BR/>I can wait.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-47840467686875527762008-03-22T06:55:00.000-07:002008-03-22T06:55:00.000-07:00mariwhatever,I'm neither progessive nor a Bush "ha...mariwhatever,<BR/>I'm neither progessive nor a Bush "hater". I do know how to read, though. Planes were in the area.<BR/>I would not have hated Bush at all, in fact. But, according to his own account, he knew nothing of the plane heading towards the Pentagon until it was hit. Oddly enough, neither did Rumsfeld, who was actually there, somewhere, though he can't remember. Somehow, though, Norman Mineta was fully informed of the plane at least 30 miles out.<BR/>I recommend you look into it. You will see, in fact, as the world now knows, we are actually defenseless against an air strike.<BR/>Pretend conservatives like Bush get a free pass. Always will. Just like the Dems gave Clinton a free pass. Herds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-65043106107325346302008-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:002008-03-22T00:01:00.000-07:00Yes, it was a surprise until about 9:00 AM (actual...<I>Yes, it was a surprise until about 9:00 AM (actually, more like 8:30, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt). The Pentagon was hit at around 10:00. Still, no fighters even close.</I><BR/><BR/>Oh.<BR/><BR/>Ohoh.<BR/><BR/>Ohohohohohoho!<BR/><BR/>Oh, that is rich. You "progressives" get a sword that cuts both ways with this one. Since fighters weren't "even close" to handle the problem, you get to whine and bitch about that issue. <BR/><BR/>But let's imagine that the Bush administration had been as proactive with the Air Force as you obviously wish they were. Let's just imagine what it would have been like on 9/11 if Bush had ordered F-16s into the sky to <I>shoot down multiple commercial flights with American citizens on board, in cold blood</I>. I can hear the progressives baying for Bush's blood over that one, all the way from this timeline.<BR/><BR/>Don't spew any more crap about how Bush should have used military force to "stop" 9/11 in progress. You would have second-guessed, censured, and hated his administration even more if he'd done what you apparently wanted him to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-84980376453676987502008-03-21T21:47:00.000-07:002008-03-21T21:47:00.000-07:00Van,You should ask The CIA director how many times...Van,<BR/>You should ask The CIA director how many times he told Bush that an attack was imminent. Again, free pass. <BR/>Curiously, FDR was a Democrat, and a terrible one at that. Indeed, we've never had a more "leftist" president, except maybe Johnson. Both, however, were very tough against America's enemies, which proves my point.<BR/>If Gore had been president when 9/11 happened, the "conservatives" like yourself would have been constantly blaming him--and rightly so. Again, just look into what the leader actually DID that day. I am not suggesting they were behind it, I am simply saying that at the time we were being attacked, they did, by their own admission, quite literally, nothing. <BR/>Yes, it was a surprise until about 9:00 AM (actually, more like 8:30, but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt). The Pentagon was hit at around 10:00. Still, no fighters even close. In other words, they were unprepared, unimaginative (as they all say), and immobilized. At least at Pearl Harbor there was a response.<BR/>Still, since the attackers were primarily from Saudi Arabia, we did take it to them....oh, wait, we just sold them weapons, didn't we? And we hold their royal hands, don't we. Oh, well, thank God for the "conservatives" who protect us! Makes me wish for FDR and Johnson again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73814975833829409432008-03-21T18:43:00.000-07:002008-03-21T18:43:00.000-07:00"we haven't had another 9/11. This one super-benef..."we haven't had another 9/11. This one super-benefit"<BR/><BR/>Checker, how true. And how quickly we forget what we all feared at the time.<BR/><BR/>Have to wonder about the ages of these know-it-all aninnies. It's been 6.5 years. Just how old were they when the event happened? They mouth-off & it's clear they lack context & are mimicking things they've heard elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>How sadly uninformed they tend to be. Scary thing is: they most likely are of age to vote.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-75300192613154009602008-03-21T17:29:00.000-07:002008-03-21T17:29:00.000-07:00aninnymouse said "...No fighter planes ever made i...aninnymouse said "...No fighter planes ever made it to the skies in time..."<BR/><BR/>Wow. That's a lot of stupid crammed into one little comment. Well done. Might want to look into the meaning of 'Surprise' attack. Perhaps Pearl Harbor would be a good place to start your research (you might even find a few fellow nutjobs who think chimpy McFDR was involved - imagine the amazing 'interesting links' you'll be able to find!).<BR/><BR/>"In any case, stopping terrorism is hardly conservative. Putin stops terroists, too."<BR/><BR/>What we can perhaps say, is that stopping terrorism is hardly dhimicrat - for reference see actions and statements of Reid, Pelosi, Clinton, Obama - pretty much the only Man in the party, left and became an Independent.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-39402973112403270662008-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:002008-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:00Well, but we did have 9/11 on Bush's watch, and, b...Well, but we did have 9/11 on Bush's watch, and, buddy, that was one miserable defense failure from beginning to end. No fighter planes ever made it to the skies in time; the president was incognito; the vice president was incognito; the secdef was incognito; the acting joint chiefs head was in a meeting with a Democrat. Meanwhile, four planes were hijacked, including the Pentagon. None of them ever had to account for their behavior. Free pass.<BR/>In any case, stopping terrorism is hardly conservative. Putin stops terroists, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7048526526074984202008-03-21T15:15:00.000-07:002008-03-21T15:15:00.000-07:00Say Van, can you expouse on the benifits that we, ...<I>Say Van, can you expouse on the benifits that we, as a country, have gained during the last 7 years of conservative rule?</I><BR/><BR/>You might want to decide whether the word you want is "expose" or "expound"--"expouse" sounds like what Hillary might like to do to Bill, for example. Also, the word is "benefits." You really should know it by heart if you're an American leftist.<BR/><BR/>The one benefit that overshadows all others, to my way of thinking: since Bush made the decision to oppose, fight and defeat Islamist terrorists, we haven't had another 9/11. This one super-benefit has allowed other benefits to obtain, too numerous to mention.<BR/><BR/>I apologize to regular readers, for whom this super-benefit is so blatantly obvious it is equivalent to stating that human beings breathe air (preferably through the nose) to live, but it's clear that most of Bob's essays are far beyond the ken of our canine guests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41634056993265027172008-03-21T11:53:00.000-07:002008-03-21T11:53:00.000-07:00GotchaGotchaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-40840615462480669382008-03-21T11:27:00.000-07:002008-03-21T11:27:00.000-07:00Say Van, can you expouse on the benifits that we, ...Say Van, can you expouse on the benifits that we, as a country, have gained during the last 7 years of conservative rule? I'm interested in knowing your spin on the shape we're in. As I said the proof is in the pudding and again conservatism has shown itself to be a miserable failure.<BR/><BR/>And ximize, you show your and your cohorts true colors with your ad hominem attack. Oxy moron, indeed. But this is something that I expected from mouth-breathers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10132589588778255745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-57438847360878480592008-03-21T11:13:00.000-07:002008-03-21T11:13:00.000-07:00Anonymous said "Bush and McCain are leftist as wel...Anonymous said "Bush and McCain are leftist as well."<BR/><BR/>Leftist thought is nothing but relabeled Progressivism. Progressivism was a popular philosophy long before it became so identified with the Democrat party. Teddy Roosevelt (R), was a Progressive, as was his rival, Woodrow Wilson (D). Teddy floated the trial balloon for nearly every program that FDR later implemented, and Wilson attempted to practice what he preached, so much so, that afterwards the Progressives were running for the hills from their name, and began to take the name they formerly ridiculed, 'Liberal'.<BR/><BR/>By this time, the Conservatives realized that the Progressives ideas were incompatible with the Classical Liberalism they cherished and sought to conserve. Most left the Republican party for the Democrat party, and vice versa - those Classical Liberal 'Liberals' among the Democrat party, realized that the new dominance of Progressivism, contradicted the Liberalism they cherished.<BR/><BR/>That was the process whereby the Democrats became Leftists, and the Republicans became conservative Classical Liberals, rather than just traditionalists.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, after 16 years of drubbing by FDR & his policies, the Republicans as a party, decided to sign on to some 'me too'isms, which has been growing over the years. The Conservatives from time to time succeed in reminding them that such leftist policies as corporate welfare are deeply at odds with the philosophy they supposedly represent.<BR/><BR/>"Bush and McCain are leftist as well."True enough - but to a lessor degree than the alternative.<BR/><BR/>Still though, the Republicans are far less infected with proregressive leftism, than the Democrats, who are eaten up with it. Also fun to note, that now that the Dem's have again dishonored their label, this time that of 'liberal', most when pressed to identify themselves, like billary, say they are 'progressives'.<BR/><BR/>The more things change....Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-31239440937825706982008-03-21T10:27:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:27:00.000-07:00Will said:"Contrast this with the often piggish pe...Will said:<BR/>"Contrast this with the often piggish personal behavior of those who favor "phone-in" morality, ie., those who "love *the people* but don't care much for people."<BR/><BR/>Aye! WFB was noble, decent, courteous...you don't see those qualities among lefties, or if you do, it's shallow and inconsistent, and only for the purpose of getting what they want.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72950890054407703662008-03-21T10:24:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:24:00.000-07:00Excellent analogy, Johan! :^)Excellent analogy, Johan! :^)USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-57935651360478339512008-03-21T10:23:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:23:00.000-07:00There's nothin' quite as pathetic (nor as deservin...There's nothin' quite as pathetic (nor as deserving of a good kick in the ass) as a rot-whiner mutt.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, like his pal, old yella, these particular broods are untrainable. <BR/><BR/>The crap in the house, and bark at the hands that feed them. <BR/>IOW's, they are not only worthless, they make everything around them worthless.<BR/><BR/>Equal worthlessness for all.<BR/>A bone in every pot(head).<BR/>These dogs return to their same vomit.USS Ben USN (Ret)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07492369604790651538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-61717999815276718622008-03-21T08:25:00.000-07:002008-03-21T08:25:00.000-07:00I agree the dems are leftist. But what about corp...I agree the dems are leftist. But what about corporate welfare, subsidies, and no child left behind programs? The "right" has an incredibly long history of drinking at the government treasure trove of taxpayer dollars. Many of them, to put it quite bluntly, lie about being conservative and for a free market. <BR/>This is not a criticism of the "corporation", but of corporatism, which is a hallmark of fascism, whether from the "left" or the "right", as these are simply words to describe nothing in this country.<BR/>Yes, Obama and Clinton are leftists. Bush and McCain are leftist as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-24052907328423573662008-03-21T05:53:00.000-07:002008-03-21T05:53:00.000-07:00Rickdog obviously didn't grow up with Lileks. Or ...Rickdog obviously didn't grow up with Lileks. Or anyone else, for that matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-77861161233137607722008-03-21T05:31:00.000-07:002008-03-21T05:31:00.000-07:00dog said ""Saw your original post. Saw your site (...dog said ""<BR/><BR/>Saw your original post. Saw your site (take Jim's advice folks). Your (dumb as a) post, as with your delight in showing pictures of woman who've made a claim to fame through their beauty, next to pictures of those moments they'd consider their worst, that, your thoughts and you, are vile.<BR/><BR/>"... I grew up..." (please, no more lies) "...he's the most intolerable piss-ant that I've ever met..."<BR/><BR/>I'll bet you find yourself having that reaction to a lot of people. And I'm sure that most of those people have the same reaction as we do to your missing post - you enhance a place with your absence.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-43274383535919349352008-03-21T03:32:00.000-07:002008-03-21T03:32:00.000-07:00Just as I expected, you delete my critical post an...<I>Just as I expected, you delete my critical post and replace it with a fake piece.</I><BR/><BR/>Think of it as edited for brevity. He has distilled you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-17340061956864511312008-03-21T00:13:00.000-07:002008-03-21T00:13:00.000-07:00"enlightened progressive leadership"oxy yo..."enlightened progressive leadership"<BR/><BR/>oxy you moronAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com