officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq

[greglondon]

Really? I'm shocked!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_violence_figures

U.S. military and intelligence officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq in order to suit the Bush administration's policy goals, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group said.

Someone, please, turn on the spin machine!

[dclary]

Those damned neo-cons! Bastards! All of them!

[MattW]

Casualties must be well in excess of 6 million...

[dclary]

3 carriers, 2 destroyers, and a triton-class submarine all sunk with IEDs (improvised explosive dolphins) just this month alone.

[billythrilly7th]

Those damned neo-cons! Bastards! All of them!

I agree!!

How long are we going to put up with this?!!!

It's too much!!!

[billythrilly7th]

Casualties must be well in excess of 6 million...

No.

A zillion!

[dclary]

"How many is a brazillion?" -- George W. Bush

[robeiae]

No.

A zillion!It's not funny.

And animal populations are suffering, as well. Since the U.S. invasion, not one single caribou has been seen in Iraq.

[MattW]

No.

A zillion!

Jokes aren't funny in reruns.



Edit: Read dclary above.

[dclary]

Rule of threes, Matt. We took your comedy gem and made it a diamond.

I'll expect a paypal payment within 48 hours.

[William Haskins]

Really? I'm shocked!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_violence_figures

Someone, please, turn on the spin machine!

"this breaking news just in -- generalísimo francisco franco is still dead!"

[billythrilly7th]

Rule of threes, Matt. We took your comedy gem and made it a diamond.

I'll expect a paypal payment within 48 hours.

Yeah yeah.

Me too.

[Sheryl Nantus]

3 carriers, 2 destroyers, and a triton-class submarine all sunk with IEDs (improvised explosive dolphins) just this month alone.

you sure those weren't sharks with fricking lasers?

:D

[dclary]

Only now does the Bush administration realize they should have used an 8-deck shoe for their Iraqi hitlist.

[billythrilly7th]

Jokes aren't funny in reruns.

Yeah, that's why classic sitcoms like Seinfeld and Cheers just seem to tank in syndication and on DVD.

:rolleyes:

Thank you.

[robeiae]

you sure those weren't sharks with fricking lasers?

:DUmm...we couldn't get the sharks.

[GPatten]

Never trust the living; they are undependable in doing what is expected of them.

Trust only the dependable dead. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v67/pattengr/OldSeaCaptain.jpg

[greglondon]

It's OK folks.

I mean, the government was only lying to you
to continue a bad policy and stay in office
as long as possible.

It's not like anyone got a blowjob or anything.

[William Haskins]

somebody throw greg a bone so he can act superior. this isn't fair.

[dclary]

I drew short straw, dangit.



Greg! That's not fair! Bush just wanted to protect us from the hard-core left-leaning liberal drive-by media! Not like that clinton bastard who destroyed the integrity of the office!

[greglondon]

:e2yawn:

[William Haskins]

is that emoticon tied to the blowjob reference?

[greglondon]

Apologies Mr. Haskins. Let me 'splain it for you:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/...olence_figures

Quote:
U.S. military and intelligence officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq in order to suit the Bush administration's policy goals, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group said.

Cue inevitable peanut gallery.

Yawn.

You guys are too predictable to bother with.

[William Haskins]

You guys are too predictable to bother with.

if that doesn't win today's most ironic statement award, we're all fucked way worse than we thought.

[greglondon]

Ooh, more peanut gallery comments.
Who would have thunk it.

yawn.

[English Dave]

I've noticed this board has been strangely quiet on the Iraq Study Group report. So good for Greg. You can say he sometimes sounds like a broken record but I could say the same for a lot more in the rah rah Bush brigade. You know who you are.

[William Haskins]

ditto that. thank you, greg.

[greglondon]

Sorry, Billy, but it aint a "ditto".

I brought up the topic for discussion.

peanut gallery ensues.

I at least was trying to have a conversation about the report.

You've done nothing but obstruct and derail any serious conversation.

which is why I say you guys are too predictable to bother with.

The bush cheerleading crew is laughable.

Anyone actually want to talk about the REPORT?

or just say really impressive things like "ditto"?

Billy has already given his predictable answer.

[English Dave]

That's William to you son.

[robeiae]

I at least was trying to have a conversation about the report.
You were? With this thought provoking analysis:

Really? I'm shocked!

and

Someone, please, turn on the spin machine!

If you wanted to have a conversation you could have approached it from a much better angle, imo.

[English Dave]

If you wanted to have a conversation you could have approached it from a much better angle, imo.

Can't argue with that. And won't argue that the same tone is taken by a good number on the other side of the political spectrum from Greg when starting threads.

Ironic that the letter accompanying the report made reference to the fact that the toxic nature of Whitehouse politics over the issue of Iraq was precluding intelligent debate.

[greglondon]

If you wanted to have a conversation you could have approached it from a much better angle, imo.

So, I'm to blame for your behaviour?
fine.
whatever.
Anyone want to talk about the actual report?

[robeiae]

So, I'm to blame for your behaviour?
fine.
whatever.
Anyone want to talk about the actual report?In the same way the U.S. is to blame for terrorist behavior? Cool.

But you posted a link, a snippet, a sarcastic comment, and a call for spin. Seems to me, you got exactly what you asked for. Why are you whining about it?

As to the report, I haven't read it yet. So all I can add is imbecilic comments, for the moment (now that kinda set-up ought to make you happy).

[greglondon]

Greg -

Something I did want to mention. This is not unlike the accusations made during and post Vietnam.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Westmoreland that sued Rather over the reporting of Westmoreland's casualty numbers? And didn't it end in a draw - sorta, kinda?

It's dissimilar in ways, too.
This was a bipartisan group appointed by congress.
slightly different than a news corporation and reporter
trying to get or create a scoop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Study_Group

[greglondon]

In the same way the U.S. is to blame for terrorist behavior? Cool.

But you posted a link, a snippet, a sarcastic comment, and a call for spin. Seems to me, you got exactly what you asked for. Why are you whining about it?

As to the report, I haven't read it yet. So all I can add is imbecilic comments, for the moment (now that kinda set-up ought to make you happy).

wow.

I totally did not expect that kind of reply.

not.

[William Haskins]

Sorry, Billy, but it aint a "ditto".

I brought up the topic for discussion.

peanut gallery ensues.

I at least was trying to have a conversation about the report.

You've done nothing but obstruct and derail any serious conversation.

which is why I say you guys are too predictable to bother with.

The bush cheerleading crew is laughable.

Anyone actually want to talk about the REPORT?

or just say really impressive things like "ditto"?

Billy has already given his predictable answer.

listen, smartass. you lumping anybody together as "bush cheerleaders" is what's laughable, as you're nothing more than a cookie-cutter, color-by-number, far-left bush-bashing talking point generator.

you're the biggest political one-trick pony i've ever seen and you might want to sell your holier-than-thou political thinker bullshit to someone who'll buy it. and it ain't me...

if you ever explored anything but the sound of your own monotonous voice, you might see this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=967205&postcount=7).

maybe instead of relegating everyone who doesn't engage you in your rant-of-the-day as being a "peanut gallery", you might want to face the truth that you're in no way interested in debating anything, that you're a sheer propagandist. and i'll tell you, buddy, even among shrill, shrieking bumper-sticker prophets, you're right out of amateur night.

[billythrilly7th]

I totally did not expect that kind of reply.

not.

1992 called.

It wants it's catch word back.

[billythrilly7th]

1992 called.

It wants it's catch word back.

Billy,
2002 called. It wants IT'S catch phrase back.

Duly noted.

Thank you, Billy.

Gotta keep'em fresh.

[GPatten]

You know... You’re all just arguing partisan politics; your favorite partisan news source’s opinions and none of you have a solution that suits me.

You have a world full of radical Islamic Muslims who follow no other rules than torture, rape, beheadings and killings and they hate you, and they hate you even if you are a Muslim.

We don’t play the same rules as they do and they are gaining on us like water over Niagara Falls. We’re fighting superior warriors who’ve the same kind of warfare since time began and there are so many rules we have to follow that we’re bogged down.

Tracking them down is like tracking down a nuke before it tracks you.

Yes, I want to see a change in strategy. I want to throw a few thousand nukes at them – sort of spank the baby like it should be spanked before it spanks us.

Or, pull the troupes out, bring em home and let the chips fall throughout the world as they may fall. Then when all hell breaks loose, dig in and let em have it.

It’s going to go that way eventually and no mater how much the rest of the world hates us; they’ll look to us to bail them out and save their azz.

That’s my rant for today. this ol man is angry! I’m sick of the pacifists.


:rant:

[billythrilly7th]

You know... You’re all just arguing partisan politics; your favorite partisan news source’s opinions and none of you have a solution that suits me.

You have a world full of radical Islamic Muslims who follow no other rules than torture, rape, beheadings and killings and they hate you, and they hate you even if you are a Muslim.

We don’t play the same rules as they do and they are gaining on us like water over Niagara Falls. We’re fighting superior warriors who’ve the same kind of warfare since time began and there are so many rules we have to follow that we’re bogged down.

Tracking them down is like tracking down a nuke before it tracks you.

Yes, I want to see a change in strategy. I want to throw a few thousand nukes at them – sort of spank the baby like it should be spanked before it spanks us.

Or, pull the troupes out, bring em home and let the chips fall throughout the world as they may fall. Then when all hell breaks loose, dig in and let em have it.

It’s going to go that way eventually and no mater how much the rest of the world hates us; they’ll look to us to bail them out and save their azz.

That’s my rant for today. this ol man is angry! I’m sick of the pacifists.


:rant:

Today's first "post of the day" nomination!!

Congrats, Jerry!!

[billythrilly7th]

We don’t play the same rules as they do and they are gaining on us like water over Niagara Falls. We’re fighting superior warriors who’ve the same kind of warfare since time began and there are so many rules we have to follow that we’re bogged down.

They laugh at us.

They're laughing at us.

We have Iraq study reports and everyone is running around yelling about it and "what should we do!!?"

They don't have study reports.

They wake up in the morning and figure out plans to kill as many people as possible.

There are no bi-partisan commisions. There are no rules to abide by. They have the will and they carry out their missions.

"Kill. Period!"
Colonel Trautman
First Blood

They laugh at our study reports. And they laugh at how easy it is to get us all flustered.

They predicted it. Just keep the violence rolling and the West will crumble like a house of cards.

I predicted it too.

They've exectued their plan to perfection.

While we screw around, don't fight the way we should fight, a perfect example being Sadr still alive, and debate, and whine and point fingers.

And Jerry said the rest.

It's clear to me where this is heading.

It's too bad.

Oh well.

:Shrug:

[English Dave]

What a crock of sh1t.

[Bartholomew]

I'm not sure what you want, Greg. I think most of us are aware, without the news reporting it, that the government has been downplaying the violence in Iraq. It isn't exactly a revalation.

I agree with you, if its any consolation.

[dclary]

listen, smartass. you lumping anybody together as "bush cheerleaders" is what's laughable, as you're nothing more than a cookie-cutter, color-by-number, far-left bush-bashing talking point generator.

you're the biggest political one-trick pony i've ever seen and you might want to sell your holier-than-thou political thinker bullshit to someone who'll buy it. and it ain't me...

if you ever explored anything but the sound of your own monotonous voice, you might see this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=967205&postcount=7).

maybe instead of relegating everyone who doesn't engage you in your rant-of-the-day as being a "peanut gallery", you might want to face the truth that you're in no way interested in debating anything, that you're a sheer propagandist. and i'll tell you, buddy, even among shrill, shrieking bumper-sticker prophets, you're right out of amateur night.

Wow.

(and I mean that in a good way)

[GPatten]

What a crock of sh1t.

Dave, you haven’t a clue how the world hopes you’re right. Thing is - you’ll probably live to see the outcome; I’ll most likely be long dead before the chit hits the fan. :D

[greglondon]

listen, smartass.

I'm sorry. did you say something?
I couldn't hear it over you, dclary, and billythrilly
patting each other on the back.
Well, I can't tell what exactly your patting.
I just hear a lot of slapping noises whenever you
guys get together.

The first how many posts in this thread are nothing
but you three doing mutual patting, back or otherwise.

You guys need to get a room.

[English Dave]

Dave, you haven’t a clue how the world hopes you’re right. Thing is - you’ll probably live to see the outcome; I’ll most likely be long dead before the chit hits the fan. :D

I've also lived long enough to see The Cold War, Vietnam, The Falklands, The Balkans, and innumerable other conflicts all billed as 'potential catastrophies' and you know what, thanks to modern technology the common man can look back at WW2 and say never again.

Politicians can say and do what they like. But they better not try to head down the road to oblivion. Because they know we have more sense than to back them up, no matter what color creed or religion.

[GPatten]

:e2drown:

Oopsy.

[greglondon]

My point about Westmoreland is that he wasn't entirely exonerated.

Ah. Yes. He was not.
There are a lot of folks right now, though, who when presented
with this sort of information, suddenly start thinking long range
and "well, that's in that past, what are we going to do NOW."

I just find it funny that a blowjob apparently deserves years
of government investigation and impeachment, but lying to the
american public about the war you launched is old news, in the
past, yada, yada, yada.

Those calling for Clinton's impeachment are notably absent from
the list of critics of Bush's lying about the war all these years.
I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation for it.
Not enough sex, probably.

Like Iraq, Vietnam was extremely unpopular, so it doesn't surprise me that numbers would be manipulated to try to keep Americans optimistic. Of course, I find it appalling and well, downright sinister. I also find it interesting that some of the same people who despise KGB Putin have no problem with our administration's conduct, e.g. this article or the Patriot Act.

The mentality seems to hinge around the argument that this, whatever this is, is different. We are not like the Soviet Union, we are not like China, we are not like all those governments who have trashed people's rights, thrown checks and balances to the wind, torture innocent people, surveil without warrants, ship people off to third world countries for years of torture, completely subvert due process, etc, not because we're doing exactly the same thing they do, but because somehow we as a people or as a government are of a better internal character. Yes, we do these things but we would never ABUSE our power, because of some subjective non-definable thing internal to who we are that gives us license to do what we please. It's a great copout. surprisingly common sometimes.

Oh, that, and there's a ticking bomb, fercripessake, don't you know they're trying to kill us? We can't possibly survive this unless we intern everyone with brown skin and towels on their heads. We have to surrender our rights or we will be destroyed.

[English Dave]

Jeez Greg. Imagine Michael Jordan passing to Carrot Top for a lay up and Carrot hits some poor fan 8 rows back?

Iraq Study Report = Jordan.

[greglondon]

Jeez Greg. Imagine Michael Jordan passing to Carrot Top for a lay up and Carrot hits some poor fan 8 rows back?

Iraq Study Report = Jordan.

Bush is Carrot Top?
I don't know if that's what your saying,
but the image is damn funny.

;)

[greglondon]

I'm not sure what you want, Greg. I think most of us are aware, without the news reporting it, that the government has been downplaying the violence in Iraq. It isn't exactly a revalation.

I agree with you, if its any consolation.

What do I want? I don't know, maybe some sort of response
that uses the baseline response that a blowjob gets a year
of government investigation and impeachment, and then
responds in line with lying your country to war, lying to your
country during war, lying to your country about intelligence,
waging a war without any sort of real plan, getting hundreds
of thousnads of people killed, throwing out due process,
torturing poeple, warrantless searches, and so on.

That would at least mean certain people aren't hypocrites.

[dclary]

The Falklands

Number 1 lesson learned here: Stop skimping on cheaper aluminum warships.

[MattW]

aluminum warships.Pull tab or pop top?

[dclary]

Either.

When they asked the commander of the battleship Missouri what he would have done if they'd been hit by a kamikaze during WWII, he said "probably just issue an order like "Break out the brooms."

They knew how to build a ship for the long haul back then.

All I can remember from the Falklands are images of british destroyers crumbling under a single missile hit.

[dclary]

That would at least mean certain people aren't hypocrites.

By this you mean your democratic congress, right?

I mean, the republican congress took fault in clinton and attempted to impeach him.

A democratic congress has -- by your count, clearly -- massive evidence and reason to impeach bush.

What does that make them, if they don't?

[MattW]

What does that make them, if they don't?Traitors to the socialist cause?

[greglondon]

He did, Greg. And I think you should contemplate why.

Someone who calls me a smartass isn't saying anything worth contemplating.

[English Dave]

Someone who calls me a smartass isn't saying anything worth contemplating.

Smart or ass?

[billythrilly7th]

Politicians can say and do what they like. But they better not try to head down the road to oblivion. Because they know we have more sense than to back them up, no matter what color creed or religion.

Tell that to the Jihadists.

That's the funny thing about war protesters.

They only protest one side of the war.

The side that is actually good. The side that has the freedom to protest in the first place.

I didn't see any Nuke protests in Moscow in the 70's, 80's.

I don't see any protests in the middle east about war and Giving Peace a Chance.

But, ED, I know you are a brave man, so I look forward to seeing you organizing a war protest march for the Afgahnistan mountains or Hezbollahian Lebenon and any other hotbed of dangerous activity.

Please take pictures and let me know how it goes.

[greglondon]

Do you deny it? Seriously. Think about it for just a minute.

OK, let me think about it a minute:
I post a link about the report.
18 comments by the peanut gallery.
Post 19, I try to get anyone to respond seriously.
post 20, William wants to throw me a bone so I can feel superior
by post 39, he's calling me a smart ass.

No, there's nothing to contemplate.

[English Dave]

Tell that to the Jihadists.

That's the funny thing about war protesters.

They only protest one side of the war.

The side that is actually good. The side that has the freedom to protest in the first place.

I didn't see any Nuke protests in Moscow in the 70's, 80's.

I don't see any protests in the middle east about war and Giving Peace a Chance.

But, ED, I know you are a brave man, so I look forward to seeing you organizing a war protest march for the Afgahnistan mountains or Hezbollahian Lebenon and any other hotbed of dangerous activity.

Please take pictures and let me know how it goes.

You can be funny Billy. And sometimes you can sound like one of those 'Jihadists' but from a different angle.

[billythrilly7th]

You can be funny Billy. And sometimes you can sound like one of those 'Jihadists' but from a different angle.

If the Jihadist put down their arms, they can go home and live a long healthy life, raise children, pursue goals, etc.

If the non-Jihadist puts down his arms, they will die.

You think I want to be bothered with this crap?

You think I want to have to nuke Iran?

I want to live in America, watch the Yankees, go to Bruce Springsteen and U2 concerts, sell my screenplays, make out with hot girls, raise a family, go on cruises and then die an old happy man.

I want Israel to live in peace and prosperity and security.

I want Palestinians to have their own country and be prosperous.

I want the world to be at peace.

Sadly, English Dave, we got a bunch of lunatics hell bent on destruction and death that need to be confronted or everything I and others want is in jeopardy.

Some people are Chamberlains.

And some people are Thrilly's.

"Mr. Thrilly says he will protect you, you better subscribe to that point of you, believe me when I say to you, Mr. Thrilly loves your children too."
Sting
2005

I'd rather be a Thrilly. And without Thrillies, god help the peace loving people of the planet who want to live their lives in freedom and prosperity.
But sometimes things got to get ugly. That's where we're heading. But seriously, go see if you can get the Jihadists on board for "Give Peace a Chance." If you can, I'm game.

[William Haskins]

original post (please note that there are no questions asked). we have:

subject line: officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq

Really? I'm shocked!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_violence_figures

A) greg feigns shock to make the dramatic point that he is, in fact, not shocked. my response: neither am i.

Someone, please, turn on the spin machine!
B) asks for spin. i have none (please see A)

there. i have addressed the so-called substance of your original post.

[English Dave]

original post (please note that there are no questions asked). we have:

subject line: officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq


A) greg feigns shock to make the dramatic point that he is, in fact, not shocked. my response: neither am i.


B) asks for spin. i have none (please see A)

there. i have addressed the so-called substance of your original post.

Okay it wasn't the greatest attempt at inviting discourse. And Greg is an arsehole. But I don't care about that. The Iraq report backs up what the majority of people think and have thought from the outset.

Make fun of it, deflect it, do what you will. It's out there. That's Democracy.

[William Haskins]

Okay it wasn't the greatest attempt at inviting discourse. And Greg is an arsehole. But I don't care about that. The Iraq report backs up what the majority of people think and have thought from the outset.

Make fun of it, deflect it, do what you will. It's out there. That's Democracy.

but you notice in subsequent posts that greg has no interest in discussing the report, or where we go from here.

he is fixated on a very specific and subjective view of the reasons for the war in the first place. this is not discourse related in any way to the work of the iraq study group, but rather simply more political axe-grinding, which is on parade in just about every thread he posts in, delivered in the tiresome rhetoric that has dominated far-left criticism of the war for years.

he also seems to continue his obsession with clinton's blowjob.

[greglondon]

i have addressed the so-called substance of your original post.

Wow. I'm impressed.

Now, tell me, where did the first personal insult occur on this thread?

My first post wasn't calling anyone a smartass or saying someone needed a bone so they could feel all superior. feigning shock is not a personal insult. And in message 19 when I compare the government lying about a war to clinton's blowjob, no one was insulted (except, maybe, clinton)

But I'm pretty sure the thread devolved into personal insults when you said someone needed to throw me a bone so I could feel superior.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=968338&postcount=20

And because I didn't run away all crushed by your fifth grade insult, you call me a smart ass.

Sorry Bird of Prey, there is nothing to contemplate here. No, I didn't start the thread out on the level of a university lecture. Yes, I was feigning shock and showing my opinion about the report, but no one was insulted until William decided to bring it down a notch, and then calls me a smartass because I didn't feel like taking any of his lip.

I have addressed the so-called substance of the unfolding of this thread

[English Dave]

If you're as smart as I think, you will learn a great deal from William Haskins.

YES. Fvck that toadying wanker Haskins . Do what you do Greg.

But don't be so fvcking obvious. It's a turnoff.

[dclary]

Someone who calls me a smartass isn't saying anything worth contemplating.

So... truth automatically gets sent to the spam filter?

[dclary]

post 20, William wants to throw me a bone so I can feel superior.

You're saying that this isn't exactly what you wanted? You thrust both left feet clearly into the ring with a "bring it on!" glare and a smug little cock to your walk. And then you get pissy because we all knew this was your MO, since your playbook is even MORE predictable than the DNC's and chose to blow you off. And then you get pissier because Haskins calls you on it.

Pathetic, Greg. Even more pathetic than me.

[greglondon]

Persuasive points are usually made in within the framework of comradery. We never get anywhere in an angry, adversarial arena.

I'm not the one who started the personal remarks on this thread. William had to drag it down into that realm, and when I refused to put up with it, he's calling me a smartass.

Look at my first two posts on this thread. Tell me where I insult anyone. Then William comes in with his first dig about me being "superior", and when I push back, he's calling me a smartass.

Did I bring up the topic like a university lecture? No. Does anyone on this forum? no. But did I start out by insulting anyone? No.

I don't need to contemplate anything here. I posted a thread and william made it personal.

[Unique]

Pathetic, Greg. Even more pathetic than me.

>''<
sorry, d. i just had to save it.



okay. that report is 84 pages long. try not to get any threads locked whilst I go read.

[dclary]

It's ok, Unique. My first moniker here was A Pathetic Writer, because I liked the double entendre.

[dclary]

I'm not the one who started the personal remarks on this thread. William had to drag it down into that realm, and when I refused to put up with it, he's calling me a smartass.

Look at my first two posts on this thread. Tell me where I insult anyone. Then William comes in with his first dig about me being "superior", and when I push back, he's calling me a smartass.

Did I bring up the topic like a university lecture? No. Does anyone on this forum? no. But did I start out by insulting anyone? No.

I don't need to contemplate anything here. I posted a thread and william made it personal.

I like how you pretend you don't write with subtext, and then get bent out of shape because they see that you do.

[English Dave]

I'm not the one who started the personal remarks on this thread. William had to drag it down into that realm, and when I refused to put up with it, he's calling me a smartass.

Look at my first two posts on this thread. Tell me where I insult anyone. Then William comes in with his first dig about me being "superior", and when I push back, he's calling me a smartass.

Did I bring up the topic like a university lecture? No. Does anyone on this forum? no. But did I start out by insulting anyone? No.

I don't need to contemplate anything here. I posted a thread and william made it personal.
Boo hoo. If you've got something to say then say it. Left, right, centre, who gives a sh1t? State your truth, if it's true mockers become mocked.

[Bravo]

greg, im on both sides of the fence on this.

i dont mind you, i think its good that youre here and are passionate about your beliefs.

personally, billy & dclary used to piss the hell out of me, but that really only lasted about 1 or 2 weeks. honestly, after that, i found there were things to like about them.

im just using those two as examples (mostly b/c we differ so glaringly w/ our foreign policy) but really, it can be applied to any1 here. i think you just need to argue on point.

just to give you an idea of how a lot of threads esp about the war and ME go even for regulars: just posting a link gets more of a hassling than providing some analysis. and even when you give an analysis, they might still heckle you.

big deal.

as i said to you before, there's just no reason to either take it personally or insult ppl EVEN when youre right and theyre wrong.

just give us analysis, argue on point, & work w the ppl that are inevitably going to take the topic seriously.

for what its worth, i personally think youre doing much better since your arrival.


~uncle bravo

[greglondon]

Greg, what's being addressed her goes back well before this thread. Now I've kept a sharp eye on you but not everyone has. So I'm asking you, don't get defensive, try some introspection and consider your goals. And then, as you were. Take it up with Haskins.

The rest is up to you.

Whatever went on before this thread, was a while ago. I've been out of this forum for a couple weeks. And I didn't start anything with any personal digs to anyone on the forum or the thread.

That isn't being defensive. That's reporting the facts. I don't need to get introspective because I know I didn't start this thread with anything personal. And I know I'm not the one who started the personal insults.

If William has some grudge because he thinks I wronged him, he'll either have to bring it to me so I can clean it up, or he'll have to deal with it on his own. If he's insulting simply because he doesn't like my political position, he's going to have to get over himself. I'm not going to stop posting threads simply because he doesn't like me. And I'm not going to make sure the topics I post about dont' upset him. I started this thread without getting personal. I even tried to bring it back on topic without getting personal. He then brought in the personal comments. And I'm not going to pussyfoot around personal insults.

[dclary]

personally, billy & dclary used to piss the hell out of me, but that really only lasted about 1 or 2 weeks. honestly, after that, i found there were things to like about them.
~uncle bravo


Thanks unca B!

Will we be seeing you at Christmas?

[Jean Marie]

Well, Haskins, there you have it; it's in your court.
Haskins is a teddy bear--everyone knows that.

[English Dave]

Greg, don't you reaslise that the fact you gave any credence to how people thought about you means you are either a web geek or a writer?


Actually there is no either or.

[Bravo]

Thanks unca B!

Will we be seeing you at Christmas?

only if you promise not to dress up as santa and play "get on my naughty list" this year.

[greglondon]

I like how you pretend you don't write with subtext, and then get bent out of shape because they see that you do.

Ah, so I insult with my subtext. I see. so when I said

officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq

Really? I'm shocked!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/...olence_figures (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_violence_figures)

Quote:
U.S. military and intelligence officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq in order to suit the Bush administration's policy goals, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group said.

Someone, please, turn on the spin machine!


It was really a subtext to personally insult you?

And when William asked someone to throw me a bone so I coudl feel superior, that was just friendly joshing? No insult intended?

That's pretty convenient, actually. Because you get to invent whatever "subtext" you want and say it was a personal insult. Meanwhile William is making personal comments directly to me by name, and that's response to the imaginary "subtext".

But I detect some subtext in your comments in post number 2 that says you were insulting me. And then there's some subtext over here and some subtext over there and WAAAAAA!.

Hey, I got an idea, how about you take your "subtext" and stuff it. Because if you're just going to invent insulting statements from me, the word you're really looking for is "bullsh!t". That's what people call when you make crap up.
[/B]

[dclary]

Escalation Levels Graph, Thread 48338


x................................................. .
x......................................OOOOOOOOOOO O
x................................................. .
x................................................. .
x................................................. .
x.....................................O........... .
x...................................OO............ .
x.........................O..OO.O..O.............. .
x..........................O...O.OO............... .
x........................O........................ .
x.......................O...O..................... .
x................................................. .
x...................OOOO.......................... .
x.......O..........O.............................. .
xOOOOOOO.OOOOOOOOOO............................... .
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x
.1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 0
..........1.........2.........3.........4......... 5


Ok, if you notice how the thread escalated... Greg's "Oh I'm so innocent, Haskins is a mean old bully" COMPLETELY ignores his MULTIPLE calling of Haskins both "Billy" AND "The Peanut Gallery." as evidenced through posts 24-30.

Maybe those aren't personal insults to you Greg, but they are to folks from Texas.

[dclary]

It's high-tech computational functions like these that make me the perfect Mod candidate. Tell your friends.

[greglondon]

Greg, don't you reaslise that the fact you gave any credence to how people thought about you means you are either a web geek or a writer?.

I certainly don't give William's digs any credance.
I just don't put up with it.

[dclary]

Hey, I got an idea, how about you take your "subtext" and stuff it. Because if you're just going to invent insulting statements from me, the word you're really looking for is "bullsh!t". That's what people call when you make crap up.

I didn't invent any insulting statements. The only master of bullshit here is you, my friend.

[English Dave]

I certainly don't give William's digs any credance.
I just don't put up with it.

Meh, it'll all die down eventually. Bit like the Middle East.

[whistlelock]

Billy,
2002 called. It wants IT'S catch phrase back.

Duly noted.

Thank you, Billy.

Gotta keep'em fresh. I generally go with "Welcome to YEAR-ville, population: you."

works well.

Feel free to use it.

[William Haskins]

If William has some grudge because he thinks I wronged him, he'll either have to bring it to me so I can clean it up, or he'll have to deal with it on his own.

i have no grudge. i just find your political discourse somewhat shallow and delivered with dime-a-dozen rhetorical talking points. you seem to mistake constant repetition for substance and you talk down to anyone who doesn't completely share your view of an american police state helmed by fascists. you are, in many ways, a walking cliche of contemporary anti-war passions. i respect clearthinking analysis, not simple regurgitation of widespread framing of issues, and the majority of what i see out of you is just that.

If he's insulting simply because he doesn't like my political position, he's going to have to get over himself.

that's just silly. my best acquaintances on this board (and in life, for that matter) are people with differing political views.

I'm not going to pussyfoot around personal insults.

good man.

[dclary]

Dc, like it or not, this is the guy you want right next to you on the front line. He's got alot of guts. Now cut him some slack.

I said I liked it, BoP. ;)

I had a problem with Greg back in the day, but he and I have worked it out. Now it's just friendly hack-n-slash.

[dclary]

Your mod application just dove airplane style into the circular bin.

Yes... but sooner or later... Sooner or later, dear Simba-wannabe...

That can will be so full, the application will land on a desk.

[billythrilly7th]

I generally go with "Welcome to YEAR-ville, population: you."

works well.

Feel free to use it.

I will.

It's fresh.

I haven't heard it before.

I can't wait to try it out in a real time setting.

Thank you.

Thank you.

[greglondon]

Escalation Levels Graph, Thread 48338


x................................................. .
x......................................OOOOOOOOOOO O
x................................................. .
x................................................. .
x................................................. .
x.....................................O........... .
x...................................OO............ .
x.........................O..OO.O..O.............. .
x..........................O...O.OO............... .
x........................O........................ .
x.......................O...O..................... .
x................................................. .
x...................OOOO.......................... .
x.......O..........O.............................. .
xOOOOOOO.OOOOOOOOOO............................... .
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx x
.1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 0
..........1.........2.........3.........4......... 5


Ok, if you notice how the thread escalated... Greg's "Oh I'm so innocent, Haskins is a mean old bully" COMPLETELY ignores his MULTIPLE calling of Haskins both "Billy" AND "The Peanut Gallery." as evidenced through posts 24-30.

Maybe those aren't personal insults to you Greg, but they are to folks from Texas.



I suppose historical revisionism comes naturally to you. But you completely avoid mention of William saying someone throw me a bone so I can feel superior after my second post. my two posts were not directed at anyone. William says I'm acting superior.

Oh sorry, he doesn't say those EXACT words, but he says it via his SUBTEXT. someone throw Greg a bone so he can feel superior.
My first response was to ignore his personal remarks with a yawn.

(perhaps you think I should have rolled over and profusely apologized to his infinite wisdom and personal insults. sorry to disappoint you)

It wasn't until after all that that the peanut gallery comments started.

so, cry me a river about your fantasy escalation levels and how I started the personal insults. Just dont' expect me to buy any of it.

[Bravo]

let's just say the anti-war crowd, the europeans, the arabs, hell the whole world was right, the neocons were absolutely monumentally wrong about everything, they lied to get us where we are now, and now that pretty much all of america sees that they are wrong, they are finally drowning.

let's just say that and call it a day.

i wish i can feel proud for being right, but the entire thing is just sickening actually, so im going back to my bunker again.

but RIP neocons.

:e2violin:

may we never see any of you in power ever again.

[billythrilly7th]

I blame English Dave.

[English Dave]

I blame English Dave.
I blame Primary eduction.

[dclary]

I suppose historical revisionism comes naturally to you. But you completely avoid mention of William saying someone throw me a bone so I can feel superior after my second post. my two posts were not directed at anyone. William says I'm acting superior.

No I didn't. And your statement is untrue.

Your second statement at post 19 is correctly assessed an escalation of +1. Haskins gets a +1 escalation at post 20 for his reply.

My first response was to ignore his personal remarks with a yawn. which was benign, both you and I kept the escalation level stable.

But then at post 24 you bump the escalation GREATLY by talking down to haskins "apologies, let me 'splain it to you" and then immediately pre-interpreting his reply as coming from the peanut gallery AND pre-brushing it off by declaring any forthcoming response as boring and predictable.

My graph is accurate, and it's you, not me trying to reinterpret history.

[dclary]

I hope someone saves this thread. That graph is fucking awesome and I'd hate to lose it in a thread-deletion.

[billythrilly7th]

let's just say the anti-war crowd, the europeans, the arabs, hell the whole world was right, the neocons were absolutely monumentally wrong about everything, they lied to get us where we are now, and now that pretty much all of america sees that they are wrong, they are finally drowning.

A. Lie.
B. Lie.
C. Lie
D. Not True
E. Not True.

Hey, I have an idea!

Let's debate the Iraq war.

What led up to it.

I can pull out my quotes from democrats about WMD's. You can pull out whatever it is you want to pull out.

What happened during it?

The mistakes made. Troop levels. The way Al Queda knew that they'd break the will of the American people and with the media as their partner, executed their plan to perfection. No media, this thing would have been over two years ago. But...Al Queda used the Vietnam playbook. Just keep it rolling and they'll start doing reports and having commisions and they'll crumble like a house of cards eventually.

And the future:
Should we stay or should we go?

Come on!! Let's really get into the Iraq war!!!

You see, Bravo, I don't know you or how you formulate your opinions or how easily you sway in the wind.

But for me to drown, I'd have to be convinced I was wrong or have big regrets.

Not me. I wasn't wrong. Right or wrong isn't based on results. It's based on principle. Would have liked more troops. Wish I'd not overestimated the Iraqi people's desire to be a prosperous, democratic nation. That's about it.

If a woman was getting mugged, I'd go help her and if I was stabbed or shot, I'd have no regrets. See...you being "right" is like saying to your friend "don't go help the woman" and when he doesnt you watch the other guy get stabbed and then say..."see I was right."

Just because the results aren't the way we wanted, doesn't mean you were right. Not by a long shot. Not even close.

It was the right thing to do based on the info we had.

R.I.P. Uday and Qusay. These pyschopaths are dead and buried. Thank god.

Soon R.I.P. Saddam.

Good luck, Iraqi people. Either step up to the plate or slaughter each other.

It's your choice.

:Shrug:

Thank you.

[dclary]

Your graph is idiotic, O.K? But extremely creative in a Pollock kinda electronic transition kinda way.
Master of the snappy comeback, Greg is thy name.

"This is why you are wrong."

"Oh... and you're... idiotic!"

Nice. They teach that kind of cutting-edge rhetoric to you in grad school?



What does Kevin Pollock have to do with anything?

[English Dave]

That's easy enough. I can't tell if he's Lawrence Olivier or Terry Thomas.

Think teeth!

[billythrilly7th]

You see, Bravo, I worry that you're the kind of guy that would dedicate ten years of his life to screenwriting, despite what some naysayers may say about it.

And after sacrificing money and security for the life of a struggling artist, when the ten years were up, you'd call the naysayers and say "You were right. I was stupid. What was I thinking?"

Not a good way to live life.

You make the best decisions you can based on the information you have. You follow your heart. And then let the chips fall where they may. No regrets.

That's a champion. That's a legend.

That's Bush.

I wish it for you.

[Bravo]

You see, Bravo, I worry that you're the kind of guy that would dedicate ten years of his life to screenwriting, despite what some naysayers may say about it.

And after sacrificing money and security for the life of a struggling artist, when the ten years were up, you'd call the naysayers and say "You were right. I was stupid. What was I thinking?"

Not a good way to live life.

You make the best decisions you can based on the information you have. You follow your heart. And then let the chips fall where they may. No regrets.

That's a champion. That's a legend.

That's Bush.

I wish it for you.

i wouldnt even begin to compare failing at a career with invading another nation.

but hey, that's just me.

thank you.

p.s. i wont fail something i put my mind to. never have, never will. thank you. :)

[billythrilly7th]

i wouldnt even begin to compare failing at a career with invading another nation.

but hey, that's just me.

thank you.

p.s. i wont fail something i put my mind to. never have, never will. thank you. :)

A. I would. :) Same principle. It doesn't matter the situation.
B. Heyyy...who's your best buddy? Me. BillyThrilly. And if you actually can live up to that last statement, don't forget the people who love you and you love and make every effort you can to help them. Thank you.
:D

[William Haskins]

this thread has really turned a corner. it's nice to see people loving each other again.

kumbaya.

[dclary]

This does NOT mean we're gonna stand in the shower and swap spit, dude.

[SpookyWriter]

This does NOT mean we're gonna stand in the shower and swap spit, dude.Hey, I dropped my soap. Mind picking it up for me? :tongue

[dclary]

By the way, and let's be honest here... When you implied that all following rhetoric was going to be predictable, did that INCLUDE my fantastic graph?

I mean, honestly? Did ANYONE expect a graph?

That's a piece of freakin' internet-history that is. Beautiful and awe-inspiring and pure genius.

I need a tissue and a cigarette.

Thank you.

[billythrilly7th]

Have I mentioned how much I love the graph?

I think I even repped you for it.

Good work.

[dclary]

Sometimes I even amaze myself.

Well, I'm off for a while. Back in 3.5 hours.

[billythrilly7th]

Sometimes I even amaze myself.

Well, I'm off for a while. Back in 3.5 hours.

Thrilly has the conn.

[Bartholomew]

listen, smartass. you lumping anybody together as "bush cheerleaders" is what's laughable, as you're nothing more than a cookie-cutter, color-by-number, far-left bush-bashing talking point generator.

you're the biggest political one-trick pony i've ever seen and you might want to sell your holier-than-thou political thinker bullshit to someone who'll buy it. and it ain't me...

if you ever explored anything but the sound of your own monotonous voice, you might see this post (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=967205&postcount=7).

maybe instead of relegating everyone who doesn't engage you in your rant-of-the-day as being a "peanut gallery", you might want to face the truth that you're in no way interested in debating anything, that you're a sheer propagandist. and i'll tell you, buddy, even among shrill, shrieking bumper-sticker prophets, you're right out of amateur night.

I shudder to think about how you consider me. :p

[billythrilly7th]

I shudder to think about how you consider me. :p

I'd guess he doesn't.
:D

[greglondon]

i have no grudge.
Well, tehn the short version of teh rest of this rambling is that you insulted me because you didn't like my political opinion. Because that's all you talk about here is my political opinions.
i just find your political discourse somewhat shallow and delivered with dime-a-dozen rhetorical talking points. you seem to mistake constant repetition for substance and you talk down to anyone who doesn't completely share your view of an american police state helmed by fascists. you are, in many ways, a walking cliche of contemporary anti-war passions. i respect clearthinking analysis, not simple regurgitation of widespread framing of issues, and the majority of what i see out of you is just that.
Since this is a forum about political topics, I suggest you get over yourself. If I say something that you don't like or don't agree with, go home and kick your dog, or beat your wife, or do whatever it is you normally do when the world doesn't give in to your bullsh!t, your name calling, and your tirades. You seem to have confused "talking points" with "opinions that differ from your own". You seemed to have confused "substance" with personal insults. You'll note this thread started with a topic and no personal insults. You didn't like the topic, and you quickly pulled it into the gutter with your insults directed at me. Yeah. Nice "clear thinking analysis" there. You're a legend in your own mind, I'm sure. And you're not worth the bother.

[William Haskins]

i don't care about your political opinion one way or the other. it's not the underlying dogma at all, but rather the sort of herd-mentality delivery of it. on any given day, i could find the same phrasing, framing and parsing you share here on dailykos or truthout or huffingtonpost. it's the sort of pre-packaged, unimaginative political rhetoric that is designed more to fool the naive than move any conversation forward.

but if you want to believe it's politics, fine. i suspect bravo, bird of prey, sc harrison, blackbird and others can all attest to extensive civil debate and more than a little merrymaking with me, and we've disagreed vehemently on many political topics.

no matter...

obviously you are the one who holds a grudge, since you mention the great insult you've suffered in your last several posts. small hint: it's a tough play acting like a victim while implying i kick my dog and beat my wife.

isn't that your argument against torture? that we should be bigger than the barbarians.

be bigger, greg. be bigger.

[billythrilly7th]

And you're not worth the bother.

I think you've said that a few times now and yet you keep going.

:Shrug:

[greglondon]

obviously you are the one who holds a grudge, since you mention the great insult you've suffered in your last several posts. .

I point out the facts for those who missed it. This thread started on fair footing. I tried to bring it back to topic. You started with the personal insults, and I tried to ignore them the first go around. I know dclary has his bullsh!t graph and powerpoint presentation that explains how I started the personal insults with subliminal messages and "subtext". But for folks living in the real world, I was playing a fair game. You're the one who couldn't contain yourself. But, I'm sure, in the mind of someone as legendary as you wehre the world revolves aroudn your every whim and you cuss and scream and name call until it does, you were the innocent here. Whatever. Entertain your fantasies. Pat dclary on the back and have him pat yours.

small hint: it's a tough play acting like a victim while implying i kick my dog and beat my wife.

That's all you've demonstrated you're capable of, bringing personal insults to a political conversation. Name calling when you don't get your way. Yes, we should be better than the barbarians. But I don't expect 100% of the population will go along with that. You appear to be the unconvincable barbarian. And it isn't worth my energy trying to teach a pig to sing.

[William Haskins]

now you're just flirting.

[greglondon]

:e2flowers

[billythrilly7th]

And it isn't worth my energy trying to teach a pig to sing.

You just said it again!!

What is going on?!

I can't take it!!!!!!

Thank you.

[BottomlessCup]

This is the best TIO thread in months.

Five fucking stars, boys.

[dclary]

I shudder to think about how you consider me. :pEasy... He doesn't consider you at all... :|

[robeiae]

I shudder to think about how you consider me. :pHi Bart-hol-o-mew (did I say it right?)! Welcome to AW!

[robeiae]

Should we stay or should we go?I love it when I can sing the answer...

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know

This indecision’s bugging me
Esta indecision me molesta
If you don’t want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly who’m I’m supposed to be
Dime que tengo que ser
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me?
¿sabes que ropas me quedan?
Come on and let me know
Me tienes que decir
Should I cool it or should I blow?
¿me debo ir o quedarme?

[dclary]

Yeah, but he was talking about the 37th Street bar and grill, and their uberhot bartender Wendy. Not AW.

[robeiae]

Yeah, but he was talking about the 37th Street bar and grill, and their uberhot bartender Wendy. Not AW.
Doofus. Her name is Ashley (http://www.umm.ca/bartender/hb24-ashley.html).

[dclary]

Mercy!

I will have a shot of that.

Make it a double.

[oswann]

Doofus. Her name is Ashley (http://www.umm.ca/bartender/hb24-ashley.html).

And she's a philosopher:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take. But by the number of times our breathe has been taken away."

Her height is written as 57. 57 What? Inches. Photos certainly make her seem taller.


Os.

[Unique]

too bad for you guys:
"Best Date: Anything that included TG."

Hey, Teddy! Your date is looking for ya!

[billythrilly7th]

Maybe you've met your match, Billy.

My match is dclary.

Thank you.