tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post4905470023220251688..comments2024-03-01T00:27:42.852-08:00Comments on Hammer Of The Blogs: Up Your ArsenalHeywood J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05627748699423939682noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-54308711723461337672007-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:002007-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:00That Rees essay really is one of the more brillian...That Rees essay really is one of the more brilliant fiskings I've seen in some time. And he couldn't have done it to a more well-deserving wanker than Ignatieff, who at the end of the day is nothing more than a manufacturer of weaselly excuses for indifferent policy-makers.Heywood J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05627748699423939682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-30288948471226348522007-08-19T14:11:00.000-07:002007-08-19T14:11:00.000-07:00Zakaria is one of the few whom I can actually cut ...Zakaria is one of the few whom I can actually cut a bit of slack; he has qualified his support from the very start, and had very precise observations about how easily things could go wrong. He has not been a witless Bushie tubthumper, nor has he had to whack off a contrived column of crocodile tears to placate his inner demons.<BR/><BR/>But still, yeah, can we still afford to remain neutral on a moving train, as the saying goes? I don't think so. Zakaria has been too tepid for my tastes in his placid repudiations of Bushtard doctrine, but since he's never going to encourage troglodytes like Kristol and Hayes to do the honorable thing and fuck off and die already, it's about the best one can hope for, in terms of literate commentary.<BR/><BR/>It really comes down to finding a way for individuals to make a concerted, collective effort to push this commentary "clerisy" off their pedestals, and find people who can do more than just regurgitate compromised wisdom. In other words, why does anyone in their right mind still watch, say, Tweety Matthews, other than in the hope of catching him saying something stupid?Heywood J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05627748699423939682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-35014483292359966912007-08-19T13:01:00.000-07:002007-08-19T13:01:00.000-07:00I have to say, David Rees's take on Ignatieff made...I have to say, <A HREF="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-rees/cormac-ignatieffs-the-r_b_59363.html" REL="nofollow">David Rees's take</A> on Ignatieff made it all worthwhile.<BR/><BR/><I>just having them on actually serves to legitimize them further. It should not be an opportunity for weasels and hacks to show that they can be good sports and take a joke; it's not a fucking joke.</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, yes, yes. This is the main thing that drives me nuts about TDS; I'm so sick of watching Jon pal around with useless tools like Kristol, McCain, Zakaria and Brian Williams (the latter two aren't in the same league as the former, but still, fuck 'em and their puddle-deep insights). I saw C&L hyping his interview with Kristol, saying "this is how it's done!", so I watched it on my TiVo and was underwhelmed. He almost sounded apologetic and whiny. I can't remember what exactly Jon said to him, but my recollection of the gist of it was "gosh, you know, we love America too, and it hurts our feelings when you call us names and say we hate freedom, especially when you guys are, you know, kinda sorta wrong about a lot of things."<BR/><BR/>I know he does a lot of good work that more than makes up for his softball interviews; it's just beyond maddening to see people who should either be in the Hague, or, as TBogg says, making an appointment with Mr. Noose and Mr. Stout Overhead Beam, getting talked to and joked with as if they're buddies. <BR/><BR/>I guess I wish a "comedy" show would take advantage of that status to allow on more of the <A HREF="http://thismodernworld.com/2774" REL="nofollow">Dirty Fucking Hippie</A> types that we know will never make it onto a "real" news show. Scum like Kristol and McCain don't need yet another fucking outlet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-41726654889375988372007-08-19T11:05:00.000-07:002007-08-19T11:05:00.000-07:00So yeah, first against the wall and all. But at th...<I>So yeah, first against the wall and all. But at this point, I would just settle for responsible media outlets....</I><BR/>"[R]esponsible media outlets"; I love that. Your satirical touch is still nonpareil.<BR/><BR/>Just as an aside, filed under irony of ironies, Billy Baby is currently giving lectures, at Hahvahd no less, on Xenophon. Xenophon was an advisor and aide de camp to Cyrus the Younger in his mercenary battle against the Persians. Before deciding to take the job, he was advised by Socrates to seek guidance from the Delphic Oracle. Xenophon never asked whether the idea of battle was a good one, just which gods to entreat for success.cavjamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432022308089888205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-9444918664794042242007-08-19T01:01:00.000-07:002007-08-19T01:01:00.000-07:00Heywood,A sincere thanks for your rapid response. ...Heywood,<BR/><BR/>A sincere thanks for your rapid response. It is comforting to know you are out there.<BR/><BR/>I should tell you that soon I shall festoon some the local highway overpasses in my neck of the woods(a dense neck, indeed) with calls for IMPEACHMENT and I shall drink a toast to you as I do so.<BR/><BR/>Keep the faith and I sincerely hope you continue writing--in whatever format is to your liking. Consider your facility with language a rare gift to be nurtured and used often and well.<BR/><BR/>I shall be in contact as inspiration dictates and time permits.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for all you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-77504143001164207392007-08-18T23:53:00.000-07:002007-08-18T23:53:00.000-07:00Cavjam:I agree with you that many of these idiots ...Cavjam:<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that many of these idiots are indeed malign in intent and execution, and thus categorically war criminals. Kristol is at the head of that gang, made all the worse because, for all their high-minded rhetoric, they always make sure to sub out the wet work. No dirt under our Billy's manicure, no sirree.<BR/><BR/>So yeah, first against the wall and all. But at this point, I would just settle for responsible media outlets just having the guts and sense to openly repudiate them, turn their backs on them. That would be an enormous step.Heywood J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05627748699423939682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-87542278715049174742007-08-18T23:49:00.000-07:002007-08-18T23:49:00.000-07:00Woodguy:Wow....I definitely appreciate the words o...Woodguy:<BR/><BR/>Wow....I definitely appreciate the words of high praise. I always hope that these little virtual jeremiads will hold up to scrutiny, both now and later. I check in on some of the old stuff at random from time to time. Most of it seems to have aged pretty well, which surprises me as much as anyone else.<BR/><BR/>Things like commenters and hit counts, I do wonder about the quantity, but I try not to worry about those things too much. It can be counterproductive and demoralizing to sit by the hit counter and wait. Although after 2½ years at this, I can't shake the feeling that I should be averaging well over 100 hits per day. I'm just not sure what to attribute that to.<BR/><BR/>But the commenters that do come in from time to time are uniformly excellent, and I enjoy engaging them, and I appreciate their input. The relative lack of volume might be that the posts tend to be long, and that I go for elaboration over concision. I also haven't really gone about cultivating a "community", primarily because I have no idea how to, and not much time in the day to begin with.Heywood J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05627748699423939682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-83581737580497331662007-08-18T23:30:00.000-07:002007-08-18T23:30:00.000-07:00It is tempting merely to assert that as he has bee...It is tempting merely to assert that as he has been wrong about everything, he should be, were there a free market function to punditry, consigned to the remainder bin; but Bill Kristol is a criminal conspirator in a war of aggression, a war crime.cavjamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432022308089888205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908604.post-47164775038959588862007-08-18T22:56:00.000-07:002007-08-18T22:56:00.000-07:00Heywood,I have been a regular reader of your websi...Heywood,<BR/><BR/>I have been a regular reader of your website for probably a year or so, although I suppose I am technically a "lurker" in blogosnomenclature, reading you with awe and profound appreciation each and every time (well almost) I visit. I was an English Lit major in college--eons ago--and this latest post forced me to finally comment on what I have found herein.<BR/><BR/>I am in awe of your turn of phrase and command of language. I look forward to reading your perspective on the mess in which we find ourselves and agree with your comments in almost every instance (which makes us both brilliant, I think). You are an island of sanity in a sea of excrement. I find your writing succinct and rare in today's world of illiterate prosthelitising.<BR/><BR/>I drone on...The primary impetus I have for contacting you tonight is my complete bewilderment at why I see post after post of yours devoid of comments. Surely there are others who share your (our) feelings about where we find ourselves; why the paucity of reaction from "out there"? I read other blogs and witness readers' comments arriving at a fast and furious pace. What gives? I see links to other sources at this site, yet I don't remember having ever seen a reference to you at any other site. I love to steer others your way, but my sphere of influence is severely limited, and my rantings may well be a detriment rather than an incentive for others to puruse and profit from your wisdom.<BR/><BR/>I drone on...The lack of commentary on your wise and literate musings and unique perspective has bothered me for some time, and tonight I had to get this off my chest.<BR/><BR/>Suffice it to say my appreciation is genuine and profound and I look forward to your next posting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com