Fake It 'Til You Make It

How painful can it be to fake the Pledge of Allegiance?  C'mon, put your hand over your heart and think of Che.

DRJ, posting at Patterico, tells us that Barack is a stealth candidate on guns.

And to the tune of "Don't You Want Somebody To Hate" Jeff Dobbs tells us how the Dems can save their party and this election.

Comments

[SteveMG]

Hmm, not sure the Dobbs Amendment will muster much Republican support. Can you filibuster votes on a constitutional amendment?

Let's face it, if we had known that the C-in-C hat would be worn this much, we'd all would have supported McCain eight years ago.

Okay, I may be the founder and only member of that club.

[Pofarmer]

Steve, I think you've got yourself a pretty exclusive club there.

Sorry.

But Hell, whadda I know, I'm a Fredhead through and through.

[Ann]

I bet I can guess who is putting his hand over his heart this week and his arms around his son...HoosierHoops!! Isn't this week when his family is in California for the big reunion?

Sending my best and sincere thanks to you and your family HH.

[Danube of Thought]

Doesn't much matter what his supporters do. This lightweight is going down hard in November.

[Neo]

Yeah. Central Pennsylvania is like "Deliverance" without the in-breding. They have been known to have school holidays at the beginning of hunting season. Some kids even do a little hunting on the way to school, then put their rifles in their lockers.

[bgates]

I'll second Steve. I'm all for Frederalism, but it's hard to see how support for small government and border control would lead someone to support Bush over McCain.

Besides, President Maverick would have been a real unifier. He offers something for everybody: Republicans like somebody who will fight for America, and Democrats and Europeans like somebody who's spent time locked up.

[MayBee]

Okay, I may be the founder and only member of that club.

That's a club I'd join, but maybe hearing that makes you want to quit.

[SteveMG]

That's a club I'd join, but maybe hearing that makes you want to quit.

Groucho's line comes to mind: I don't want to be in any club that would have me (us?) as a member.

The late William F. Buckley, Jr. had Marx on his show in 1967 discussing the question: "Is the World Funny?" (Link).

The summary says in part:
(The answer to the title question, by the way is: No, it‘s damned sad.) GM: "I have said the things that no one else has dared to say." WFB: "Why? Why?" GM: "Because the audience loves it." WFB: "All right." GM: "If you have a general, like I had General Bradley on the quiz show--nice man, very nice man; might even conceivably be a good general--well, I kidded him all through the show and the audience loves that because they don‘t get a chance to do that to mayors or politicians or bank presidents..." WFB: "But it‘s very healthy, isn‘t it?" GM: "Yes, it is. There‘s not enough of it."

No, actually it's a funny world. We're born, we live, we die.

Now, that's hilarious to me.

It's people that are sad.

[Fat Man]

This is the link to the picture taken at Harkin's steak fry last summer.

[M. Simon]

BTW the Pledge was written by a Socialist.

Making The Pledge.

If Republicans can recite it what is wrong with Obamacrats?

[M. Simon]

"I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the Republic which it creates, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Now that would be a real pledge. We don't follow a flag, we follow the law.

[M. Simon]

Steve,

Bush has done well enough and now we have McCain. Not a bad trade off.

[ths]

Rice wants to be McCain's VP. I wonder what he thinks of Rice's affair with Bush?

[kim]

You wander as you wonder.
==================

[sbw]

Bellamy was from Rome, NY, and is buried here. We have an elementary school named after him. No one here gives a flip whether he was a socialist any more than they care about Francis Scott Key's background or proclivities.

For the last 250 years -- well before the Constitution -- from Fort Stanwix to Griffiss Air Force Base, people in this community have been standing up for the liberty and the community the flag represents. We can make the distinction between the flag and that for which it stands.

[Ann]

Anyone watch John Adams, tonight? In Part Five:

"As Adams tours his presidential residence with Abigail, they find it stripped bare by his predecessor's staff. Undaunted, Abigail tries to rally her husband out of a melancholy brought on by the burdens of the presidency--and the nation's uncertain future."

I thought The Clinton's and their staff left the White House dishonorably. Just goes to show that history does repeat itself. Who knew!

[Avril Dion]

Slamming doors and squeaky floors.

I often wander about the jitters; the minimum would be the new capsule escape system.

[Ann]

This dreg should fit nicely in this thread:

More on Patriotism by Joe Klein

Highlight:
"..and to hope that the better angels of our legislators--acting in concert, in compromise--will produce a universal health insurance system and an alternative energy plan that we can all be proud of."

And who would be those better angels???

[M. Simon]

sbw,

I think it should be like the Oath of Citizenship. Or the Oath you take when you join the military.

As it is currently it is just pap. Meaningless pap. Perfect for Obama if he could only see it.

[M. Simon]

There can be no good alternative energy plan without better technology. Which we have not got. Yet.

[Cokuses]

Universal health care involces taking care of the disabled. They should be paid at the same rate as someone who could work. The average income. This would be socialism, Obama, but he missed the health care angle. So, he's a Che guy and Hillary's advisor isn't.

http://www.printsandphotos.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Category_Code=General+Military&Product_Code=3744

[Jane]

Rice wants to be McCain's VP. I wonder what he thinks of Rice's affair with Bush?

ths,

I'm sure McCain is looking forward to his own affair with Rice. He already has one black child, conceived in South Carolina in 2000. Perhaps he wants another.

[Pofarmer]

"..and to hope that the better angels of our legislators--acting in concert, in compromise--will produce a universal health insurance system and an alternative energy plan that we can all be proud of."

He'd have a better chance of a Monkey flying out of his butt.

[sbw]

M. Simon: I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America and to the Republic which it creates, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I don't believe we equip our students to understand this either. We certainly don't equip the teachers -- who are only students who stuck to it long enough to get a degree -- to teach it.

Others here have heard this before, but we don't even understand the value of democracy, which is not that majority rules or one person one vote, but that democracy codifies humility -- the possibility that we just might be wrong, and that there may be a better way -- and empowers the least of us to suggest what that better way might be. It is why we learn to listen, value sound ideas over those that are simply our own, and respect all who, like us, engage in the continuous, never-ending process.

I pledge to do my best, and to work with others to do the same.

[HGF]

Do Foreign Ministers work with their intelligence services?

She spent time with Peter McKay too.

[bio mom]

I think that Rice rumor about the VP is put out there by clever people who would love for it to happen and it has been picked up. She has no intention of being the VP. And that slur about an affair with Bush is really low and doesn't even deserve an argument.

[Appalled Moderate]

TM:

I know you want the multitudes to think, here, that the mainstream of Obama supporters have pangs of nostalgia for Che, Fidel, and others of the unkempt but totalitarian generation. Nevertheless, it would help if you identified the Democratic caucus district not wanting to do the pledge as one in the district that sends Jim McDermott to the house regularly. Sorry, but you are talking about a district similar to Berkley. Think how outraged you be if someone applied racusm to the whole GOP based on the actions of some Republican party branches in, say, Louisiana.

The link .

[Sue]

Wow. An African-American and a woman. I can't see her doing it. Not even sure I want her to. But what a ticket. The Maverick and the Minority. If she was a little more conservative than McCain, I could get behind her. She isn't.

[boris]

the mainstream of Obama supporters have pangs of nostalgia for Che ...

Never once got that impression. Perhaps that's just because I had BHO pegged as a fellow traveler with the Che nostalgia crowd very early on ... nah that's not it. More likely you are applying the well deserved disdain for that group to yourself and calling it unfair.

If you are not a Che groupie, the disdain is not intended for you. Your support for Obama does not shield him. His close associations and family connections may simply be personal affection and share none of the pathologies, but it is a valid concern.

[royf]

Off topic

From Al-Rooters if you can believe that. Boy that Sadr sure knows how to celebrate a overwhelming political victory. Nancy Pelosi hasn't responded to requests for a comment, she was last seen walking toward the center of the Golden Gate Bridge /s.

Al-Sadr follows Democrats lead and surrenders (must check polls first).

By Khaled Farhan 14 minutes ago

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will consult senior religious leaders and disband his Mehdi Army militia if they instruct him to, a senior aide said on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The surprise announcement came on the day Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in a television interview, ordered the Mehdi Army to disband or Sadr's followers would be excluded from Iraqi political life.

It was the first time Sadr has offered to disband the Mehdi Army, whose black-masked fighters are principle actors in Iraq's five-year-old war and the main foes of U.S. and Iraqi forces in a recent upsurge in fighting.

Senior aide Hassan Zargani said Sadr would seek rulings from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most senior Shi'ite cleric, as well as senior Shi'ite clergy based in Iran, on whether to dissolve the Mehdi Army, and would obey their orders.

That effectively puts the militia's fate in the hands of the reclusive Sistani, 77, a cleric revered by all of Iraq's Shi'ite factions and whose edicts carry the force of Islamic law, but who almost never intervenes in politics.

(snip)

[glasater]

Referring to AM's comment @ 9:44--Obama's delegates "during last February's primaries aren't even registered to vote or were elected in the wrong precinct".

And McDermott and Murray are just an embarressment period.

[clarice]

Having spent more time than I care to with Seattle's bien pensants, I must say that despite its deliciois food and gorgeous Pike's Market, I have turned down countless opportunities to return there.

[clarice]

**delicious***

[sbw]

Clarice: bien pensants

Ah! And to think there was a time when les salons were filled with intellectual fervor and bas bleu were well thought of.

[Bill in AZ]

Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will consult senior religious leaders and disband his Mehdi Army militia if they instruct him to, a senior aide said on Monday.

That will last as long as it takes for the retinal image of the laser dot painted on his chest to fade. Took several months last time.

[clarice]

Probably, Bill--But it comes at a fortuitous moment--just as theDems are about to question Petraeus and were hoping the NYT latest disaster in Iraq scenario would hold. No?

[PMII]

With what we have to pick from, a third party candidate would do well this year.

[Bill in AZ]

I 'spect there are some special forces types who keep tabs on him and "paint" him when he starts feeling his oats. He doesn't seem to be one who puts a lot of stock in the 72 virgin thing - but doesn't mind if his guys do.

[Jane]

There is a link under my name for Lawrence O'Donnell's piece called "4 Days in Denver". I'm only half way thru but it's a pretty funny parody of what to expect.

[kim]

In Sistani We Trust.
============

[Sue]

I just read where he will consult Sistani and other religious leaders in Iran.

[kim]

A year and a half ago, Sistani quit answering questions in the political field and announced that he would only render answers to spiritual questions. He did it in frustration at his lack of influence on the two branches of Shia militia, Sadr in particular. At the time, I thought he was fundamentally pulling rank on Sadr, hoping to shame him into line. The course of events has borne out that theory. First, Sadr ran out to Iran, now has been humiliated by a Shia government.

Sistani is a quietist. In other words, he wants a secular government. Sistani read Jefferson and de Tocqueville for lessons in democracy because it is not covered in the Koran. Muslims have a similar concept, roughly translated as 'justice', meaning that even the least powerful man still has a share in the community.

Sistani is Master of the Mosque; Chalabi, Master of the Bazaar. Without these two wise and powerful men, Iraq would be a hellhole, orders of magnitude worse than it has been.
==================================

[clarice]

kim, you and I have always seen eye to eye on Chalabi and Sistani.

[kim]

Yup. Too bad nobody, er, not many, listened to us.
================================

[Jane]

A year and a half ago, Sistani quit answering questions in the political field and announced that he would only render answers to spiritual questions.

I think I'll do that too.

[clarice]

Heh--
Here's a great NY Sun editorial on the firing of Penn by Hill:

http://www.nysun.com/editorials/penn-central

[sbw]

As a courtesy to the link-clickers as opposed to the link-pasters: Clarice-provided Penn Link

[GMax]

Sorry, but you are talking about a district similar to Berkley.

Unfortunately there are 50 some of those districts nationwide, all filled with Democrats ( well except one who just went ahead and called himself a socialist).

Since there are only around 230 Democrats in the House that is nearly 20% a not insignificant number. Nearly all of them seem to line up on the Obama side which if you consider it roughly a 50%/50% split that would be 40% of the Obama supporters.

Is this still insignificant.

Plus you seem more exorcized by the implication that it has for you, than the implication that is quite real and supported by numerous associations, that being that Obama may well be one even if you are not. Lenin called folks that came along for the ride without understanding "Useful Idiots." Sorry to point out the amazing parallel.

[kim]

We poor Luddites have to link-type and are easily discouraged. Thanks, sbw.

Fine idea, Jane. I'm with you. Line forms at the egress.
=============================

[GMax]

close those tags!

[Appalled Moderate]

Gmax:

I haven't had an exorcism lately...not since the time since I sprayed green pea soup all over the keyboard, and my wife made me go down to the parish before I ruined yet another computer...

[GMax]

If that was an attempt at making it seem like I dont understand the word, you might look at an unabridged dictinary as it also means "called up" or "conjured up".

Since we had not heard from your moderate voice in awhile, it funny that you were conjured up to defend the supporter of Obama.

Stay away from that priest in downtown Chicago, I think Damian has coverted him...

[GMax]

Dictionary SHEESH

Typing in jr. high 40 wpm with ONLY 3 mistakes, unfortunately a high water mark...

[Appalled Moderate]

GMax:

Actually I thought you had meant to type "exercised" and had a Freudian slip.

[PeterUK]

Moqtada al-Sadr inherited the respect that his venerable father bequeathed,he is a cleric.As such,whilst not being red dot proof his person is rendered somewhat inviolate.Certainly Sistani would probably not like to set a precedent of cleric killing.Since Mookie is a Shi'ite cleric it would send the wrong message to the majority in Iraq.
al-Sadr doesn't strike me as voluntary jihadi-virgin interface material,so it will have to be left to the Iranians to arrange such a meeting.

[Hoosierhoops]

I bet I can guess who is putting his hand over his heart this week and his arms around his son...HoosierHoops!! Isn't this week when his family is in California for the big reunion?

Sending my best and sincere thanks to you and your family HH.

Posted by: Ann | April 06, 2008 at 06

Thanks Ann.. We all fly out the 19th to greet Jordan getting off the bus.
The hours are just DRAGGING by!!
And when he comes home to indiana for the month of May there will be flags, Marine and american, signs, banners and balloons galore..That may not qualify for a hand over the heart but i'll definately salute.
Thanks again Ann.

[ben]

Appalling Moderate tries to cover for Obama with this classic red herring statement:

"I know you want the multitudes to think, here, that the mainstream of Obama supporters have pangs of nostalgia for Che, Fidel, and others of the unkempt but totalitarian generation."

The FARC guerillas are marxist terrorists who bomb, maim and kidnap as a way of advancing their cause. Recently, one of their leaders died in Ecuador after an attack by the Colombian armed forces. From his computer we gleaned that he was excited about an "Obama victory, someone who was against the security agreement with Colombia and the free trade agreement". So list FARC along with other enemies of the US rooting for an Obama victory. Last week Fidel came out against McCain. So forget what the "multitudes here" want people to think, read the statements from the "totalitarian generation" themselves. Appalled, did you ever think why FARC, Fidel, Al Qaeda, Black Panthers, Hugo Chavez, Rev. Wright and other America-haters prefer Obama? Could it be they think they would be better off with him....??? Nah, so farfetched, must be another reason......he loves puppies? kittens? teddy bears? re-runs of Casablanca? Hot chocolate on a cold day?