The Quagmire of Fallujah

Quagmire is acquiring a new meaning. It used to mean "to be bogged down, as in quicksand, slowly sinking until dead." Exhibit A for the Left has, and apparently always will be, Vietnam.

But after all the left's use of the word, quagmire has come to mean any military campaign that, while initially difficult, becomes a success over time. One more required peice of the definition appears to be that while the going is difficult, the media must covers it obsessively, but the story must be covered less and less as the successes mount.

By this new definition, Fallujah stands as exhibit A of the word Quagmire.

The Legacy of Watergate

Ben Stein's column will provide a great psych test:

If you find yourself nodding your head as you read it, wishing you had written it, you can have a seat on the right side of the aisle. If you have developed a cramp in your neck from nodding so much, and find yourself cheering yourself hoarse that someone has finally told the truth, go lay down in the beds provided at the far right of the aisle, and avail yourself freely of the tranquilizers provided there.

If on the other hand, you find yourself shaking your head, and getting more angry the more you read, have a seat on the left side of the aisle. If you find yourself so angry you can't stop your heart from racing, find your blood pressure rising, and wishing someone would stop these lies, please be at rest in the beds conveniently placed on the far left of the aisle, and avail yourself of the conveniently placed psychotropics. You may quietly mingle with others who suffer with neck problems and no voices. You will find you have much in common...

I'm one of the head nodders. No cramps, but definitely nodding my head. I have no illusions about the lies told by Nixon and his men, anymore than I have illusions about Clinton and his minions. I see the two as similar in some ways, like two sides of the same coin. They represent the currency of corruption. Their motives may have been different, but in the end, their corruption was similar. Yet their legacies are vastly different, as Stein makes clear:

That is his legacy. He was a peacemaker. He was a lying, conniving, covering up peacemaker. He was not a lying, conniving drug addict like JFK, a lying, conniving war starter like LBJ, a lying conniving seducer like Clinton -- a lying conniving peacemaker. That is Nixon's kharma.

When his enemies brought him down, and they had been laying for him since he proved that Alger Hiss was a traitor, since Alger Hiss was their fair-haired boy, this is what they bought for themselves in the Kharma Supermarket that is life:

1.) The defeat of the South Vietnamese government with decades of death and hardship for the people of Vietnam.

2.) The assumption of power in Cambodia by the bloodiest government of all time, the Khmer Rouge, who killed a third of their own people, often by making children beat their own parents to death. No one doubts RN would never have let this happen.

So, this is the great boast of the enemies of Richard Nixon, including Mark Felt: they made the conditions necessary for the Cambodian genocide. If there is such a thing as kharma, if there is such a thing as justice in this life of the next, Mark Felt has bought himself the worst future of any man on this earth. And Bob Woodward is right behind him, with Ben Bradlee bringing up the rear. Out of their smug arrogance and contempt, they hatched the worst nightmare imaginable: genocide. I hope they are happy now -- because their future looks pretty bleak to me.

No President more fully represented the worst of the Baby Boomers who grew up in the Vietnam era than Clinton. Nixon and Clinton represent bookends on a chapter of American History we would do well not to repeat. And those on the left may not realize it, but their defense of Clinton's lies puts the lie to their cheers at the fall of Richard M. Nixon.

Deep Throat, Deeper Yawn

When I first heard the story yesterday, I said, "Huh, that's interesting." then went on with my life. Then I heard the story again a few minutes later. Then CNN went wall-to-wall. Then MSNBC did the same thing.

I know, I know. I'm supposed to be awestruck that Mark Felt (gasp!) is Deep Throat. At the top and bottom of each hour throughout the night, and on through today, I've heard the earth-shattering news, again and again. The Washington Post (Be still my heart!) confirms it!!!! We (gasp!) KNOW (gasp!) who Deep Throat was! (gasp! pant! gasp!) Frankly, I think the MSM needs an asthma treatment.

History is one of my favorite hobbies, as anyone who has read Liberty for any length of time can attest. The finding of thousands of ancient greek scrolls, the face of King Tut and the question of rather Lincoln was gay have been prominent posts here. So why isn't this story making me do the backflips I'm seeing among the journalists
reporting this story?



I think part of the answer lies here:

But more than solving a legendary Washington riddle, Felt's admission also breathed some much-needed life into the dying support for anonymous sources, which seems to have crippled journalistic credibility in many areas. From WMDs to the Valerie Plame case to Newsweek's recent stumble, confidential sourcing is a much battered journalistic tool.

A legendary Washington riddle. Yep. It was legend in Washington, alright. But, except for a movie decades ago, the rest of the country really didn't care much. But the right and left coasts sure did.

But the bigger reason for the media frenzy lies in the rest of the paragraph. Mainstream Journalism has been under attack by the bloggers for the past 2 years, finally bringing anonymous sourcing into the light of day. And now the media can breathe a huge sigh of relief, as their most successful example of anonymous sourcing can be brought forward. It doesn't change the shoddy journalism that the bloggers have brought to light. But it gives the liberal media a chance to stand tall for a minute or two, and remember their mythology of bringing down a President.

So, what did journalism's hunt for Nixon really do? The answer lies in the Ben Stein's column in the next post.

Arthur Andersen Conviction Overturned: Too Little, Too Late

So, NOW the court decides to overturn the conviction of Arthur Andersen. It only cost 28,000 jobs, and broke a major investment company to a small buisness handling lawsuits. Someone asked me the other day if I ever disagreed with the Bush Administration. Yep. Going after Arthur Andersen, and other executives just to make the Left stop whining was a huge mistake, and a gross miscarriage of justice. As this decision makes clear.

McCain For President?

Brendan Miniter explains why it won't happen. A must read for 2008.

The Rings of Saturn

Makes you feel like you are there, doesn't it? An amazing, enhanced veiw from Cassini.

Answers.com

Just found a new search engine, Answers.com. Okay, so I need another search engine like I need another book, right? Well, this one actually seems to give me the answers I'm looking for, rather than pages and pages of irrelevant info.

I used it on one of Patricia's more obscure druid references, and got exactly what I needed. And if it works on those kind of searches, it just may replace Google in my heart. One drawback: You can only look up one word at a time.

Memorial Day: Remembrances

MEMORIAL DAY.

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore

~By C W J (C W Johnson)- May 1975~

France Reject the EU

Make no mistake. This is a big story. For France to reject the EU Constitution has huge ramifications globally. While it will likely spell the end for Chirac, we could end up with someone far worse at the helm of our oldest ally/enemy. Patricia over at Ancient Eyes has a great post about this development.

Memorial Day: The Wounded Warrior Project

Many organizations ask for your hard won dollars. Wounded Warrior is a request you should answer this Memorial Day. This explanation is from the website:

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded on the principle that veterans are our nation's greatest citizens. The Project seeks to assist those men and women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world. Many of the injuries are traumatic amputations, gunshot wounds, burns and blast injuries that will retire these brave warriors from military service. These wounded soldiers will return to civilian life minus one or more limbs, or with serious wounds or disfiguring scars, and will face greater challenges today obtaining assistance and finding opportunities that would enable them to provide for themselves and their families.

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded to give a voice to this new generation of veterans facing unique issues and problems. The Project fills the vital need for a coordinated, united effort to enable wounded veterans to aid and assist each other and to readjust to civilian life.

Veterans are indeed are most prized citizens. Those who return from battle wounded deserve our respect, and our assistance.

Memorial Day: A Great Video

Great video tribute to our Armed Forces. Worth watching, no matter what your political affiliation. I would happily post a similar video from the DNC, but the only thing on their website is a harangue from Dr. Dean. If someone could find a similar video from the Democrats, let me know.

Gulags of the Mind

Kent over at Right From Left has a great post on Amnesty International's latest stupidity. Wish I had said it.

Memorial Day: So Help Me God

An excellent look at the ACLU's continued attacks on the Boy Scouts. What does that have to do with Memorial Day? Read on.

Memorial Day: Ways to Remember

Not a one of these suggestions involves a Barbeque or Beer. Nothing wrong with either one, as long they don't become the main focus of the day off.

Spoiled Elites: VDH

A final suggestion for these unhappy and privileged few: To end your obsessions with the pathologies of America and the West, find a way to create your own alternative sports, literature, corporations, soft drinks, and filmmaking in the non-West.

It is not that we Americans are mad at what you say. It is just that you have all become so hypocritical, then predictable, and now boring — you are all so boring.

Amen.

Memorial Day: Dear American Soldier in Iraq

Over the Memorial Day weekend, most of my posts will be reminders of what this day is about. Today, Dennis Prager speaks for many of us directly to our men and women in Iraq. This was written in 2003, and is more true today than it was 2 years ago.

Memorial Day: I Can't Cry Hard Enough

This has become a traditional post for Memorial Day here at Liberty Just in Case. We spend alot of time debating and arguing the issues here, but there comes a time when we must realize what issues are important, and how that day in September continues to affect us all. If you have a slow connection, be patient. Or download the tribute to your hard drive. This is worth seeing, hearing, remembering. And like me, you may find that even 4 years later, you can't cry hard enough.

The Clinton Legacy: Rainbow Parties

It's so good to have had such an influential figure in the White House, don't you think?

Depends on What the Meaning of "Is" is: When Comity Becomes Comedy

It's so good to see the Senate functioning without filibusters these days, isn't it? The vote on Bolton went flawlessly, and the Democrats kept their word not to engage in filibuster to the letter. Of course, they did refuse to vote for cloture, which is exactly what they've done for four years on Priscilla Owen and the other judicial nominees. But it wasn't a filibuster, because the Democrats say it wasn't a filibuster. Therefore it wasn't a filibuster. Well, that's good enough for me.

Wonder if Lindsay Graham is getting any sleep tonight?

Looks Like France Will Not Ratify the EU Treaty

Well, this is a surprise, and very good for the United States. At least I think so.