random thoughts and thoroughbred selections

Friday, May 16, 2008

Blind Fealty To Israel Means The Only Good Palestinian Democratic Elections Are The Ones That Elevate Candidates Who Like To Roll Over And Have Their Belly Scratched

I went back and forth a little with The Fat Guy in his comments about why you can't simply say "Hamas is a terrorist organization," as they have the majority of democratically elected representatives on the Palestinian council. You can disagree with them, you can call their violent acts out for the abhorrent terrorist attacks they are, but you can't simply say they're an illegitimate organization that we won't talk to - unless, of course, your aim is not for Israeli/Palestinian peace, but instead for the full subjugation of the Palestinian people to Israeli demands.

What, exactly, is wrong with this position:

Here is the crucial part of our exchange:

I asked: "Do you think that American diplomats should be operating the way they have in the past, working with the Palestinian government if Hamas is now in charge?"

[Obama] answered: "They're the government; sooner or later we are going to have to deal with them, one way or another, and I understand why this administration and previous administrations had such antipathy towards Hamas because of their dedication to violence and the things that they not only espouse but practice, so . . . but it's a new reality in the Middle East. I think the lesson is people want security and a decent life and decent future, that they want democracy. Fatah was not giving them that."

Are we interested in peace, or are we interested in cleansing the Palestinians out of Israel? Frankly, I don't really give a shit either way, as long as we're honest about why we're supporting what we're supporting, and have an honest discussion about the consequences. That being said, if it's peace we're trying to foment, and if we really are a country who is genuinely interested in promoting democracy in the Middle East, we need to talk to Hamas. Period. They're the brokers who can stop the violence, and they're the democratically elected voices of the people.

Unless, of course, by "promoting democracy in the Middle East" we really mean "installing illegitimate lapdog governments who will bend to American whim." Then, I suppose, whatever our little Imperialist hearts desire is probably the Good and Noble choice to make. Because, you know, promoting democracy tends to generally be defined as allowing the will of the people to speak, whether or not you like what they have to say.

Just be honest. Our partnership with Israel is too valuable for some reason to allow the people of the Middle East to speak for themselves, right? Forget negotiating, just throw some razor wire around their territory, fortify the checkpoints and squeeze the shit out of them until they capitulate. Is that the plan for peace?

Tell me what's wrong with the quote above.

[>>]posted at 9:32 AM by BG - click to email
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Update

Just joined Twitter - no promises.

My username is Gamblingblues.

[>>]posted at 4:28 PM by BG - click to email
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A Comprehensive List Of Things From My Youth For Which I Am Nostalgic, That Hollywood Has Not Yet Appropriated Into A Major Motion Picture

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Mary Lou Retton
Nerf Footballs
The Pass, Dribble & Shoot Competition
M.A.S.K.
Sledge Hammer!
You Can't Do That On Television
Spaghetti Night
The YMCA Pool
Dairy Treat Soft Serve Cones
The Commodore 64
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
My Fifth Grade Crush Courtney
My Kindergarten Crush Tori
Building Forts Out Of Pillows And Blankets
The Bubba Baker Lions Years
Eric Hipple
Wiffle Ball
That One Time I Won That Nickelodeon Contest
Happy Meals
Posing For Every Picture In My Batting Stance
~~Fraggle Rock~~

I can't wait for SPAGHETTI NIGHT: THE MOVIE in the fall of 2010.

[>>]posted at 12:24 PM by BG - click to email
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Insert Your Democratic Candidate For The House Here

Special election last night in Mississippi for a House seat, with two challengers running in a district that voted Bush in 2004 by a 25 point margin. Here's one of the Republican ads that ran attacking Dem candidate Travis Childers, which might serve as a preview of what you'll be seeing in September and October all over your TV in the run up to the election:

Childers won last night by eight, despite his obvious white black nationalist politics (if what this ad implies is true, which I'm sure it is).

[>>]posted at 6:26 AM by BG - click to email
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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mothers(-ILF) Day

My favorite clip of my favorite recent TV Mom

From the underrated "Grounded for Life," it's Megyn Price ladies and gentlemen...

[>>]posted at 9:29 PM by BG - click to email
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From Last Night's SNL

[>>]posted at 3:51 PM by BG - click to email
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More Jazz

I've got a post up over at Pauly's Coventry blog featuring a zip file of jazz music for your enjoyment.

There's some overlap to what I've posted here before, but a few new tracks to be sure. Always happy to hear if you've enjoyed the music, and let me know if there's anything I can pull and post for you (more tracks by a specific artist, for instance).

[>>]posted at 7:59 AM by BG - click to email
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