Whiskey Fire

Something That You Said or Implied Makes Me Doubt You

Jules Crittenden, military strategy supergenius and keen observer of ass, or perhaps elbow, he's not sure which:

Persians magnanimous agree to call off their Shiite militias. I guess this means we don't have to "alleged" or "U.S. accuses Iran of involvement" or any other qualifiers anymore. Apparently the mullahs are calling the shots. Iraqi lawmakers went to Qom over the weekend to ask an Iranian general to kindly stand down his murderous stooges....

Iran can be a partner for peace. But if anyone had any question, it has just been amply demonstrated that Iran has the power to turn it on and turn it off. That makes Iraq, in the absence of American troops, Iran's bitch.

Dumbass. The more obvious point is that makes Iraq, in the presence of American troops, Iran's bitch.

Someone who failed to see that Iran was going to win the American invasion of Iraq has some frickin' balls getting snotty about the predictions of the "peaceniks." Crittenden is such a tool.

Mr. Spit

My erstwhile correspondent Robert Stacy McCain, who really is kind of a douchebag, answers a question I had a while back as to how Greater Wingnuttia will ever get over the fact that the media obviously lurrrrrves them some St. John McCain. The central tenet of the wingnut faith is that the MSM hates Conservatives like they hate Santa. That McCain is Santa to the media, & that the media likes blowing jolly guys who hang out with green-tighted elves... well, that kind of fucks with the right wing received wisdom. (Of course it's also what they themselves were whining about three months ago, before they realized Fred Thompson was dead -- which, to be fair, still seems to have escaped Fred himself).

But Girlname McShithead has a rather elegant solution to this puzzlement: talking complete crap!

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each, individually, have been getting twice as much network TV coverage as John McCain. Combined, the Big Three networks give the two Democrats four times as much coverage as they give the lone Republican.

The former POW is now MIA as far as MSM coverage is concerned.

The sad part is that he's probably proud of that. I myself though am prouder of this: KMRIA & STFU, POS. (As well I should be.)

The true fun though comes a bit later in Girlname McShithead's post:

If liberal bloggers want to chastise the MSM for its long love affair with Senator Amnesty -- hey, get in line. Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin have been complaining about this MSM-McCain romance for years, and Rush Limbaugh's been doing it since at least 1999.

So John McCain, then, only unfairly benefits from a supplicant press when wingnuts complain that this is the case. When liberals point this out, they are "demented."

Well, it's elegant! Retarded and nauseating, but elegant. Like a vomiting halfwit bigot ballerina, I suppose.

UPDATE: Oh, before I forget, Girlname McShithead describes himself thusly:

Award-winning columnist, reporter, editor, author, bon vivant and raconteur.

Jesus Christ fucking a pogo stick, what an absolute douchebag.

His Abrupt Delivery

Someone has his hat on too tight. Or, excuse me, his "proverbial" hat.

Shit Yeah It's Cool 2

Well, I guess the panel went well. Altmouse put in a brief appearance, wine box and all. Ted Rall rocked, the Rude Pundit was rude, TRex was the therapod we've come to know & love, watertiger brought the funny. Lots of good discussion, a lot on the difference between liberal and conservative humor. My glib response was "we have humor." That doesn't quite say everything; the point was made that conservative humor is just mean; Ann Coulter is not witty. Spocko from the remarked on how the Melanie Morgans of the world like to say vile, hateful shit and then laugh maniacally -- the "it's just a joke!" defense of hate. Ted wryly suggested that he's rarely extended this kind of benefit of the doubt. (He also has a pretty great series coming up that might get him extended back onto Hannity! Ted has a pretty good Hannity impression. I do too.)

Shit Yeah It's Cool

So here we are at EschaCon. Everything is chaotic, but that's the typical situation. Molly I, who's running this thing, is literally run off her feet. She's outside handling registrations and so forth, and I'm watching the first panel, Jane Hamsher, Atrios, NTodd, and Digby. Seems to be going OK; NTodd's running off at the mouth, but what else is new? Jane is asking about how we can get everyone to start dissing McCain and stop slagging each other off over the primaries. It's a good question. Maybe we need more obscene John McCain limericks.

UPDATE: the general sense is that we need to annoy the media more, because the media respond often most fully to getting whacked on the nose with a rolled up newspaper. And it's the media who lurve their McCain! (Atrios called McCain "Joe Scarborough's bride-to-be"). Atrios also suggested this book, which is a good idea. Jane was pissed that the idiot media is ignoring McCain's hypocrisy on campaign finance reform, which is aggravating as hell.

Myself, I don't think the McCain thing will change until the Dem candidate starts giving him hell, and we

My smartass panel is up next.

And We're Finally Here

Arrived at the hotel for EschaCon -- about to go out to see if there are barber shops in Philly, because I need a haircut. Also I need to buy pants. Don't ask. And a box of Almaden. Again, don't ask.

The One You Envision, The One I Have Heard

Andrew Sullivan is a famous pundit because he is very good at analyzing political figures and he always makes lots and lots of sense. For instance. John McCain gives a speech and says nice things. Andrew Sullivan nods sagely and says:

We should not dismiss the McCain candidacy.

And why not?

I am waiting to see how the candidates respond to shifting and currently impenetrable events in Iraq. There are no good options. To my mind, the criterion must be who can most prudently and effectively get us out of there as swiftly as possible.

I bet it never would have even occurred to you that John McCain might just be the candidate who is going to get us out of Iraq "swiftly." You clearly lack Andrew Sullivan's amazing insight. This is exactly why you'll never be invited onto Bill Maher to fondle your ass on national television.

The Heavens Split in Half

I've been a bit down on HRC lately, but credit where it's due -- this is the right thing to say:

Hillary Clinton pleaded for partisan unity on Thursday, urging Democrats not to abandon their party to vote for John McCain if their preferred candidate fails to secure the nomination.

Clinton was asked by a questioner in the audience here what she would tell frustrated Democrats who might consider voting for McCain in the general election out of spite.

"Please think through this decision," Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word "please."

"It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country."

The crowd applauded loudly....

Clinton stressed that there are "significant" differences between her and Obama, but said "those differences pale to the differences between us and Sen. McCain."

“I intend to do everything I can to make sure we have a unified Democratic party,” she said. “When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we’re going to close ranks, we’re going to be united.”

I've said it before, but however this turns out (and I think it will be Obama getting the nom, but then I'm just some guy who likes to say "fuck" on the Internets, remember), it will be the duty of the person who doesn't get the slot to get their supporters to the polls. I see no reason to think that either of them will fail to see that, or will fail to do it. For one thing, both of them are well aware that if they screw up in this regard they will face the full wrath of my powerful blog, and that is a threat they will take very, very seriously. GRRR! RRRRROAR! ARRRRGH! (Making extremely intimidating face at computer screen)

Via.

Don't Take This So Seriously

Thanks, EGN, BTW -- long may you purr!

Roll Out the Pain Killers

Megan McArdle, on why she was wrong about the war in Iraq, and What She Has Learned from Her Chastening Experience:

The biggest thing I've learned is simple humility.

Megan McArdle, replying to those who are less than satisfied with her account of this error:

I have no particular interest in the opinions of my harsher critics on this topic; the only interesting criticisms of my thought process so far have been made by me.

Shazam!

Also, what Roy said.