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TWO GUEST EDITORIALS
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AN ASSAULT ON LOGIC
Interesting how, when a world-class mistake occurs, everyone involved runs for the exits.
Giant tragedies like the 1914 Great War assign guilt all around, because there was an historic class of contrary forces that left no choice but destruction, and many hundreds of leaders willingly take the blame -- Russian, Serbian, Austrian, French, British and German, among others.
But the tragedies of Viet Nam and Iraq, a sort of "gratuitous massacre" of a small, prickly country, seem to have no beneficiary (except perhaps those who supply the arms, or the gods of Folly), no admitted cause or even planners, and no goal, no upside, no potential for "victory", or even any definition of what "victory" might be.
Surely, the nincompoops that Bush put into power -- the aggressively incompetent and sputtering Rummy, the drunken Cheney, and dozens of others -- continue in ignomy and failure. But beyond mere mistakes, something else is going on, an assault on the very concepts of logical thought themselves.
To understand the tragedy in Iraq, look to the analogies with Viet Nam. A hint is given by Perle, the chief architect of the war, when he complains, in pissant fashion, that the "neocons" were not able to direct the war after they started it.
In the time of Viet Nam, we had futile, funny conceptual "wars": "...on Drugs", "...on Poverty", and "...on Communism". The terrors of the "Domino Theory" were touted as well as the goal of making Viet Nam into a "democracy" and rescuing it from "Communism". As many voices which never reached the toady mainstream press cautioned at the time, the Vietnamese were our greatest fans, and only wanted to do business with us.
Our politicians, misled by the language, clung to the false concepts of the "War on Communism" and the "Domino Theory."
The forces termed "Communist" won, Saigon was renamed "Ho Chi Minh City", and the Americans were kicked out. But contrary to the mythology promulgated by the architects of that disastrous war, Viet Nam did not join our enemies; in fact, Viet Nam skirmished with China, and helped save the Cambodians from Pol Pot, whom we funded until 1978. This war was really started in 1946, when we ferried French client troops to Viet Nam, betraying our wartime ally Ho Chi Minh, and lasted until 1974. Two generations of Vietnamese grew up with the need to fight, using stone-age tools, against modern military establishments with world-class resources and no moral proscription against blowing up civilian targets. Pretty tough, after their long war to kick Japan out of Viet Nam, following their centuries-long historic issues with China.
The falsity of the jingoistic concepts held dear by American politicians was revealed later, as Viet Nam showed its essential desire to do business with the world, and expressed its own character in its own way -- and even extended forgiveness to the USA and to Senator McCain for carpet-bombing women, children and men and even for once terming them "gooks" during a return visit.
So Viet Nam, what ever else it was, and whatever other false reason for the massacre, involved a conceptual failure, a failure to understand the Vietnamese, a failure to grasp the essential problem, and a divergence between the "terms of discourse" of the American ruling class and our media from the reality it was supposed to represent.
One old academician stated that, conceptually, it was as difficult to understand what is going on in a political grouping, once it gets larger than about 5,000, as it is to extend our normal concepts of the everyday world to the microcosm of sub-atomic particles or the macrocosm of "warped space".
When you look for historic, gigantic tragedies like The Great War of 1914, look for the class of societal and cultural forces and the inevitable destruction, which seems unavoidable.
But when looking at arbitrary tragedies, voluntary, gratuitous insults to reason as "destroying Viet Nam to save it" and "killing the Iraqis to save them from the insurgents", look to conceptual failure. Look to small minds and the arrogance of power. The refusal of those intellectually conceited, mean-spirited folks to admit their mistakes, and their refusal to give up their erroneous ideas and incompetent, precious theories.
In the case of Iraq, there is not only the same divergence between goals and reality, there is not even a vague assessment of what the existing society was like or what the end result Bush is supposedly seeking.
What is, then, "victory in Iraq"? What would be the "exit conditions" which would justify all the effort?
But even prior to that, how accurate is our assessment of what Iraq's reality consists of? What are its culture, goals and people like? We cannot know, we don't even speak the language, and, even if we did, we might disclaim an interest in finding all these things out. But by becoming the occupying power, we really assume, historically, the obligation of knowing all these things.
"What are Bush, and the American Armies, doing in Iraq?? What the HELL are they thinking??"
The point is, they are thinking, but their terms of discourse don't match the reality of the world, and they are too proud to admit it. Hubris...
- Doug
*** **** ***
Yer Old Pal Jerky's Words of Wisdom #319:
Even though the system is rigged, vote anyway. Make the fuckers work hard to steal it.
*** **** ***
ONE MORE DAY...
Just One More Day Until We have the chance to change this peacefully. Let’s go back over the reality of the past six years:
A President Hand-picked by Katherine Harris and the Supreme Court and who know else
Misleading a Nation into War
Outing an undercover CIA operative
Smearing a Vietnam Veteran Senator who lost his limbs in combat
No bid contracts
Swiftboating
Another Presidential Election Decided by Unanswered Irregularities
Terri Schiavo
New Orleans
Jack Abramoff
Cronyism
Releasing nuclear secrets on the web
Abuse of Power
Supporting torture
My fellow Americans, This is not a struggle of Democrats against Republicans. This is the true struggle of all Americans to return respect for law to our government. None of the Republicans that I have spoken to those I know that voted for Bush, had any idea he would trample the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in this manner. None of them think any form of torture is appropriate for Americans. Although many of them are uncomfortable about voting for the Democratic Candidate in their district, none of them are going to vote for anyone who supports this President.
This is not about a blue dress and lust. This is about the desecration of the American way of life by a smug puppet of nation-less billionaires. What will they have the Bush Administration do next? The only way to restore checks and balances is by electing a new Democratic Congress. That is, if our votes are counted. If not, well this is still our nation. Here is what you can do to help:
First, Vote.
Second, make sure everyone in your family and your friends vote. Call them now.
Third, if you can, help us on our final drive to Get Out the Vote. To volunteer to help out today or on election day, go to the DCCC volunteer site. You can also contact your local Democratic Campaign to see how you can help on election day. Karl Rove just dismissed Democratic GOTV efforts as "sporadic and episodic" – let’s prove him wrong on election day.
Fourth, if you experience or see any irregularities, immediately call 1-888-DEM-VOTE (1-888-336-8683). You can also call this number to obtain information on poll locations. Do not sit by and let anyone steal votes. Stealing votes is treason.
Finally, let’s check out the returns together. If you have time, ask to stay in your precinct and oversee the counting.
Thank you for reading. I promise I won’t do this again. And please vote.
I trust you and I believe in you.
Your Friend,
J.B.
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Send all Jokes, Letters and other stuff to Jerky:
jerkyleboeuf@gmail.com
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JOKES!
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Today's first joke was sent in by Seamus O'Blimey!
Q: What's the difference between ignorance and apathy?
A: I don't know and I don't care.
*** *** ***
Thanks to our old pal Tuchus for sending in today's second joke.
A liar, a deserter, and a war criminal walk into a bar.
The bartender says, "Good evening, Mister Preznit! Will you be having the usual this evening?"
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WORST JOKE OF THE DAY
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Today's groaner was sent in by Tone Loke...
A cabbie picks up a nun. She gets into the cab, and notices that the very handsome cab driver won't stop
staring at her.
She asks him why he is staring.
He replies, "I have a question to ask you, but I don't want to offend you."
She answers, "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that. You have to be single and you must be Catholic."
The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"
"OK" the nun says... " Now pull into the next alley..."
The nun fulfils the cab driver's fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush.
When they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.
"My dear child", said the nun, "Why are you crying?"
"Forgive me but I have sinned I lied and I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."
The nun says, "That's ok. My name's Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween party."
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THEY SAID IT!
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"Those in power need checks and restraints lest they come to identify the common good for their own tastes and desires, and their continuation in office as essential to the preservation of the nation."
- Justice William O. Douglas (1898-1980), U. S. Supreme Court Justice. Quoted in "We, The Judges", 1956.
*** **** ***
"I was really fat. I made a promise to my family that I would lose weight. And I lost 70 pounds. I always keep my promises. And I promise if I am elected Insurance Commissioner, I will lower your insurance rates."
- California Democrat Cruz Bustamante provides evidence that rampant Republican scams aren't the only reason Democrats lose so many elections.
*** **** ***
"Ask yourself who the most powerful people in the White House are. They are women who are in love with the president: Laura, Condi, Harriet Miers, and Karen Hughes."
- In Vanity Fair's cleverly-titled neoconservative exposé, Neo Culpa, fascist scholar Michael Ledeen blames "the bitches" for Preznit Dubya's innumerable catastrophic failures.
*** **** ***
"If you ask me, this country could do with a little less motivation. The people who are causing all the trouble seem highly motivated to me. Serial killers, stock swindlers, drug dealers, Christian Republicans. I'm not sure that motivation is always a good thing. You show me a lazy prick lying in bed all day watching TV, and I'll show you a guy who's not causing any trouble."
- George Carlin is right... again!
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CLASSIC DIRT
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February 24th, 1999 -- first response to authentic reader mail
Dear Jerky: Hi... I guess Pig has moved on and now it is somebody called Jerky. Anyway, I want your advice on something. I am 26 and a pretty good looking girl I think or that is what everybody tells me. I have slept around some and have gotten a bad reputation because of it. What makes me super mad is how guys can do the same or much more and they are known as being 'studs'- while girls of course gets reps as 'Sluts.' This makes me sick. Especialy that other girls are the ones who come down on me the worse. Why is it like this? (I want to know!) deeanne
Dear deeanne: Basically, other women see you as a threat to their security. By having sex whenever and with whomever you please, you're taking away their single greatest tool in the quest to bag a husband: PUSSY LEVERAGE. The laws of supply and demand apply to the world of relationships, just as they do to the world of economics. In effect, you and others like you are creating a PUSSY GLUT. And when there is a PUSSY SURPLUSS on the market, it makes for a lackluster buyer's game, if you get my drift. I'm not saying your friends are right to think this way... I'm just telling you why they hate your guts.
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FIRST AMENDMENT ZONE / ASK JERKY!
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MOP, Jerky, Let me ask you a question I've been wanting to for quite awhile but keep forgetting it. (72 years old) Why is everybody pissed at the Dixie Chicks about talking about Dubya? God-damn, everybody talks about him, including you and me. He's the laughing stock of the world. All it's done is make them more popular than ever. YOP, Kenny "B"
[Apparently some folks are pissed off that Dixie Chick Natalie Maines criticized Preznit Dubya in England, instead of the good ol' US-and-A. Of course, nobody here ever bothered to ask them about Dubya, so the point is kind of moot. - Jerky]
*** **** ***
Jerky; In regard to Rembrandt's comment about giving Bush a little credit because there has been no more terrorist attacks. That's like saying I have no lions come into my yard because I grow roses. It is not a cause and effect. J. Scoby
[So there you go. - Jerky]
*** **** ***
Jerkmeister, So happy to see you once again. A couple of questions if they are not to personal. What the hell is your other job? Who the hell are your bosses? Will you marry my sister who just won the lottery? Good to see ya, Dave H.
[Same place, different jobs. My bosses are the same as always. And please give your sister my e-mail. - Jerky]
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