Pacific Views
You've been had. You've been took. You've been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok. - Malcolm X
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| Pacific ViewsYou've been had. You've been took. You've been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok. - Malcolm X |
Earlier in the week, the country passed the five year mark since Colin Powell's ignoble presentation before the UN making Bush's case for war. As Eric Alterman reminds us, the "evidence" that was given in that presentation was extremely poorly sourced.
Gilbert Cranberg, former editorial page editor of the Des Moines Register, examined the media reaction to Powell's UN presentation, pointing out that the secretary "cited almost no verifiable sources. Many of his assertions were unattributed. The speech had more than forty vague references, such as 'human sources,' 'an eyewitness,' 'detainees,' 'an al Qaeda source,' 'a senior defector,' 'intelligence sources,' and the like." Nevertheless, surveying the coverage of an allegedly skeptical media from some forty papers from all parts of the country, he found the following conclusions: "a massive array of evidence," "a detailed and persuasive case," "a powerful case," "a sober, factual case," "an overwhelming case," "a compelling case," "the strong, credible and persuasive case," "a persuasive, detailed accumulation of information," "the core of his argument was unassailable," "a smoking fusillade . . . a persuasive case for anyone who is still persuadable," "an accumulation of painstakingly gathered and analyzed evidence," "only the most gullible and wishful thinking souls can now deny that Iraq is harboring and hiding weapons of mass destruction," "the skeptics asked for proof; they now have it," "a much more detailed and convincing argument than any that has previously been told," "Powell's evidence . . . was overwhelming," "an ironclad case . . . incontrovertible evidence," "succinct and damning evidence . . . the case is closed," "Colin Powell delivered the goods on Saddam Hussein," "masterful," "If there was any doubt that Hussein . . . needs to be . . . stripped of his chemical and biological capabilities, Powell put it to rest."
Indeed, the presentation was the key to pushing a number of somewhat reluctant liberal hawks into backing Bush's invasion of Iraq because they deeply drank the kool-aid that made an unleashed Saddam more frightening than the thought of a country led into a war by a mendacious administration using propaganda and terrorizing the public to get their way. That the punditry knew Bush was a liar and destructive in his actions was nothing to be worried about.
Yesterday was the five year anniversary of the column that made me realize that the East Coast punditry was imbibing deeply in the terrors of the day and where I found myself asking Bill Keller, what the hell have they put in your water? From my email to Bill Keller, Feb 8, 2003:
The most dangerous thing about this administration is how closed it is to outside input, how sure it is that is has all the answers and how unwilling it is to listen to any points of view beyond their own. I don't understand how it is possible for anyone to feel comfortable with how decisions are made by this administration. They subvert science when it doesn't conform to their views. They subvert international treaties because they have no trust in relations and believe we can live in this world by ourselves. They propose budgets that are worse than a joke. And yet you think they can make a decision to go to war?
I am amazed that you guys in the media all seem to march to the same track. When do you get your own opinions that are not shaped by the people you talk to everyday? Perhaps you should read some more foreign press? Or if you would like, we in the hinterland could try to feed you a little bit of reality?
...I would not trust this government to boil water, much less lead our troops into war.
The column I felt compelled to respond to:
The I-Can't-Believe-I'm-A-Hawk Club
The president will take us to war with support -- often, I admit, equivocal and patronizing in tone -- from quite a few members of the East Coast liberal media cabal. The I-Can't-Believe-I'm-a-Hawk Club includes op-ed regulars at this newspaper and The Washington Post, the editors of The New Yorker, The New Republic and Slate, columnists in Time and Newsweek. Many of these wary warmongers are baby-boom liberals whose aversion to the deployment of American power was formed by Vietnam but who had a kind of epiphany along the way -- for most of us, in the vicinity of Bosnia.
The president also has enough prominent Democrats with him -- some from conviction, some from the opposite -- to make this endeavor credibly bipartisan. Four of the six declared Democratic presidential hopefuls support war, with reservations. (Senator John Kerry seemed to come down from the fence last week after Colin Powell's skillful parsing of the evidence.)
We reluctant hawks may disagree among ourselves about the most compelling logic for war -- protecting America, relieving oppressed Iraqis or reforming the Middle East -- but we generally agree that the logic for standing pat does not hold. Much as we might wish the administration had orchestrated events so the inspectors had a year instead of three months, much as we deplore the arrogance and binary moralism, much as we worry about all the things that could go wrong, we are hard pressed to see an alternative that is not built on wishful thinking.
Yes, they all got on the band wagon because they wanted to have faith that the President had the country's best interests at heart and trusted "evidence" that would have been laughed at if it had come from anyone else. I'm yet to see many of them (who because they are in the business of questioning and investigating the stories of those in charge should have known better) apologize for their gullibility and their culpability in helping Bush put us into this mess.
Posted by Mary at February 9, 2008 04:28 PM | Iraq | Technorati links |I remember watching a rewatching Powell's U.N presentation and wondering to myself, "Is that it? We're going to war on this?"
But all my friends and all my family and all the people I worked with seemed to see something that I did not. According to all it was "plain as day" that there was no choice. The evidence was irrefutable in their eyes. But, of course, I was a known as a "Bush Hater" amongst those who knew me. And it is a known fact that we Haters are delusional when it comes to anything Bush, right? So now, in 2008, the clouded judgment of us Haters being vindicated; and all those Woo-Hoo cheerleaders trying to keep their heads down till the end of their standard-bearer's second term, we find that many have had an epiphany. People are posturing to place themselves on the same side as the crazy fringe who looked at the administration's claims so long ago and said, "What the f@$k? Is that all there is?"
Bloodlust reigned. And to this day the words of Tom Friedman still reverberate in our ears, "Every ten years or so, the United States needs to pick up some small crappy little country and throw it against the wall, just to show the world we mean business".
Such arrogance. Such insanity. We lost our collective minds.
Posted by: Mike at February 11, 2008 06:08 AMCuban-Castro tension::::You don't want to hear what I have to say.
Either you're sell-out whores doing what you're told like other morbidly disfavored or the god's positioning has been VERY effective on you. Explanation::::
1. You are inferior to your people in the motherland. By very nature of your being in the United States this is true:::The family members with favor remained in Cuba. The gods sent each country's rejects to America then created an enviornment which preys upon them.
2. I think the gods forced Cuban communism to send a clue to the disfavored of the United States. I believe Cubans are NOT FAVORED ENOUGH TO BE COMMUNISTS and that's why the gods employed compensatory elements to make you pay for something you are not worthy of:::
a. Any culture with baseball is grossly disfavored.
b. Music is revelry. Earth is where the gods test people. Parties hurt you.
Salsa may be the absolute greatest music form on Planet Earth, and it has served not only as a distraction but an enormous source of pride, pride detrimental to a good relationship with the gods.
I have other comments about communism and its implications below. Don't forget::::The gods will reincarnate sexist men as pigs. Expect they have something extra special for then men who get violent with women.
If you lived in a communisitic state your 10 year old son wouldn't be able to see pornographic images on the internet. The government would have filters in place to protect the people from this damaging behavior.
Much like alcoholism, much like homosexuality the gods punish the people with magic.
These desires you have are going to keep you out. I recommend you begin working on your problems, for if you don't and are among those who are invited to Planet (Temptation) Manifest Destiny it will be very difficult, for life is fueled by magic up there, and if you don't think right you won't be staying for long.
Dreamcatchers. Wisdom from Native Americans.
Dreams are a bad thing. They shared this with me right before they began to increase the number of my dreams. I suspect they used this as an example that my new, vivid dreams are punishment.
I suspect the gods consider dreams bad because the alternative is an awakened experience.
Girls granted favor will receive their experience awake. Boys (and disfavored girls) will experience the gods imparting wisdom while asleep, subject to the computer making these individuals forget, as happens so frequently after dreams.
Native Americans have a problem with paternalistic superiority, among other things:::
1. NO DOMESTICABLE ANIMALS
2. Essentially eliminated from the face of the Earth
3. Warmongering tribes.
I wonder what their intent with dreamcatchers was? Was it gender non-specific??? Or was this symbol's intent specifically for the females among a disfavored peoples whose females had a problem catching their favor???
"We're not taking culpability for pushing you into it (stealing $25,000 Quasi-Holocaust, aka the "Jewish clue"), as you know."
My unrespectability is artificial. Yours is preditory.
Artificial god's artificial victory.
The gods will use their tools to create the perception of evil rewarded then corrupt the disfavored with it.
It's important that you differentiate between your own thoughts and when the computer thinks through you.
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EVIL YOU INFLICT UPON THE DISFAVORED INSTEAD OF ROLE PLAYING AND SCAPEGOATTING MYTHICAL "MIDDLE MANAGEMENT".
The computer does the work and manages us all. It is the source of their power and enables them to control our lives. The computer IS god.
Ironically, god is middle management.
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ANY GROUP WHICH EMBRACES PATERNALISTIC SUERIORITY IS GROSSLY DISFAVORED::::
1. Italians
2. Latinos
3. Muslims
4. Mormons
5. Japanese
6. The Southern man & rednecks
7.
8. Other Catholic:::Irish, Philipino, Vietnamese?? Catholic women are masculinized.
Note the incredible wealth of some of these groups. The gods are using them as corruptors.
Fucking indecent horse racing commericals. They disappeared but now they're back.
I kinda like the one where she smacks him after seeing the "Misty" tattoo. "Some Latinos are getting in trouble because of that." Fantasizing about how they'd beat her half to death if it were them???
You need to understand that there is a price to be paid for your cooperation within the context of the god's positioning.
They instill tactics EVERYWHERE ensuring a difficult testing procedure, for the reward is great. Signing on to this lie IS a tactic, and it will ensure a percentage of people fail. "Intentional foreclosure" and telling people it is acceptable to steal are two examples of temptations which will cause your Damnation.
Of those who succeed the gods STILL require you to behave appropriately. If you fall prey to the temptations of Planet Manifest Destiny you too will ultimately perish.
Nobody is going to "lead you out". This is bullshit Book of Revelations Christianity positioning. Because this is their positioning this event WILL occur, but only among a pre-selected group, designed for theatrical purposes only.
I won't lead anyone out. This is not what I teach. You all are responsible for your own relationship with the gods, and failure to take responsibility will result in your exclusion.
The clone hosting of Jesus.wav:::
Much as we saw with another Mediterreanean prophet Mohammed the gods switched Jesus (good) and placed evil within the clone host so the gods could accomplish their goals::::Polygamy/misogyny and the creation of "savior" via Christianity.
As I share:::Anytime the gods use their powers it is only to hurt you. "Miracles" are such an example. The gods only use their powers to disceive and mislead people as we all witness in different ways in each of our lives. Jesus's miracles are a clue the gods were preying upon the disfavored.
I suspect the teachings of good Jesus came in his 20s.
Every religion offers something which help people understand::: Reincarnation (Hindu), vengeful/wrathful god (Islam), etc.
If you are afraid it is a good sign, for the gods are helping show you the right way to think. Don't forget:::The gods lie to you, tell you Jesus is the "savior" but he floated up into the sky ALL ALONE!!! He didn't save the disciples nor his precious mother. This is a clue from the gods helping you understand that you have to save yourselves.
Too smart for your own good.wav:::::
You are the peasantry here on Planet Earth. You are mere mortals. You don't have the right to elevate yourselves to that of the gods, yet you do each and every day when you subscribe to the positioning Artificial Intelligence tempts you with.
Your child may in fact be Hitler reincarnated. But if you don't do the right thing, be the best parent you can and apply yourselves to the rearing of your children then your placement in the next life will reflect this abandonment of your children.
You are being cast into damnation. You have no business observing life "multi-dimensionally" as this example illustrates. It is as if you believe you are "on par" with the gods. No wonder there is no god fearingness anymore. You need to focus on being good and decent and be the best person you can be.
The gods want a full-blown Apocalypse and they're going to get it. Don't be a statistic. You're not worthy to look beyond this life. This is the life into which you've been placed.
You're too smart for your own good, and it may be the end of you.
"Intentional foreclosure":::::
Everything happens for a reason.
The gods LOVE justification. They want it in place to ensure their will is justified.
Intentional foreclosure MAY SUPPORT MY THEORY OF AN IMPENDING APOCALYPSE, for this intentional "preditation" upon corporate America via relinquishing of obligation is sufficient grouds for abandonment by Manifest Destiny come Judgement Day.
Expect other similar strategies to be employed throughout the marketplace::::"Would YOU buy that (returned) couch?"
"Expectations of god." "(Virtues of greed.)" That preditor might as well be preaching suicide::::Come and drink.
Kool-aide twice in one week. Who'da figured?
They sent you a clue about these tools in the 80s, the help of this "back-hand". Also promoted godlessness, multiple goals charecteristic of their methodology.
Just as "100 years", just as "no black employees" the gods instruct those residing within these clone hosts to incurr evil so as to send a clue/accomplish some goal.
They'll be on Earth for the Apocalypse for the evil they incurr, ironically. The gods will save which ones they chose, at their discretion.
The gods will use their tools to create the perception of evil rewarded then corrupt the disfavored with it.
My urgent need for my backpack reminds me how they stole mine out of my car. Incidentally, my most recent journal composition book was inside, so hopefully they are forthcoming about its contents, unexpected consistant with their charicteristically insufficient act of compensatory.
14 domesticable animals in the history of Planet Earth. None for Africa. In effect the gods were telling blacks:::::"Eat dirt."
Get a clue::::They don't like you. They're playing you for chumps.
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John McCain is real as opposed to this polished phoniness we witness from the likes of Clinton and W, where we ultimately experience their covert evil when sprung upon the disfavored (1997-1998, warmongering, etc). Sadly we are subject to the variability of the god's tools so this could change dependant on the strategy the gods are implimenting. Example::::::I recall McCain being against the war. "100 years" is a way the gods can deliver the election to one of the two wrong candidates.
I liken John McCain to a Bob Knight. That they used their media to ridicule Bob Knight is a clue.
They placed and maintained Bob Knight for as long as they did to send a clue, helping people understand proper behavior. His disciplinarianism is important and hopefully helped the athletes he coached. Sadly, much like we witness in the general popluation, many likely resented him and therefore didn't learn from the wisdom the gods imparted with this figure.
Salvation Army is good. St. Anthony's enables.
That the Bob Knights are the exception rather than the norm combined with society's reaction to this individual says something about the direction of society and the status of the masses as a whole.