OK, that just made me laugh! Priceless!

ConspiracyTheoryLand is a place that is indeed fun to visit, or even vacation in for a week. But it is a strain to live there, that's for sure...

:-)

Still haven't seen an adequate explanation of why WTC7 collapsed... or the JFK "magic bullet"... heh... and we're off again!

-CW

In my opinion, it was a close call between Snowden and Pope Francis. Time Magazine went w/ Francis.

I've been having some rather strange conversations w/ a couple of libertarian conspiracy theorists (who believe everything from 9/11 was an inside job to the government is hiding free energy sources developed by Nikola Tesla in 1906) and one of my favorite arguments has been: Why weren't any of your conspiracies revealed by Snowden (who they also revere)?

They believe most of these: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3483477/The-30-greatest-conspiracy-theories-part-1.html

I know, I know ... arguing w/ conspiracy theorists is pretty pointless. But it has been an amusing way to learn about some interesting conspiracies.

Happy Holidays folks!

-David

"We're talking leadership, not rank and file grunts or bomb makers.."

Right, but the effectiveness of the leadership is judged by the effectiveness of the grunts and bomb makers they lead. The grunts and bomb makers don't seem to be getting worse at their trade, and in fact seem to be learning new tricks

"But the GOAL is attained. Fewer foxes."

Marginally fewer foxes in the short term, but every time a missile hits a wedding party or other gathering of noncombatants, you can expect loyalties will shift and recruitment of grunts and bomb makers will increase. The psychological equivalent of "Remember the Main...Pearl Harbor...World Trade Center." Overall, there are enough foxes, well enough lead, to keep the conflicts going.

"It effectively kills the information that HASN'T been passed on." Well yeah, but that's marginal. These guys know how to pass information effectively. They have cell phones, computers web sites and good old fashioned on the job training.

"Has there been another 9/11??" No, but there hasn't been another New Madrid Quake or Chicago Fire either. You Tube, Twitter and Facebook all came out post 911, I wouldn't attribute the lack of a follow on attack to them either.

Basically, the use of drones to decapitate terrorism hasn't worked, what's worse, seems counterproductive. I fear it persists because the technology is there, it's a career path, produces compelling video and because it doesn't seem to directly contribute to friendly casualties (although it may well contribute to them indirectly). All in all a very bad idea, and my nominee in the worst idea category.

In closing, I propose a Christmas Truce in our long standing debate. Too bad we can't just hop out of our respective entrenchments, kick a soccer ball around Weigant No Man's Land, sing a few carols and exchange trinkets. Before having at again Thursday.

It's based on the fact that you haven't pointed out any of the things that DEMOCRATS and Obama has screwed up on...

:D

Michale
0269

And yet, you support this POTUS to the hilt...

THAT is what I can't understand...

Your statement is based on???? What? The fact that I call out the right for being just as reprehensible as the left? or could it be that I called out the 40+ votes on Obamacare as being wasteful? Or is it that I find it offensive for the right (who put the cuts in the budget in the first place)to be acting very righteous and saying publicly that they were trying to protect vets from cuts when in fact they have 5 bills to cut vets benefits even more?

Let me repeat I am equal opportunity I hate ALL politicians equally.

We're talking leadership, not rank and file grunts or bombmakers..

Fewer foxes, but smarter, more capable foxes.

But the GOAL is attained. Fewer foxes...

The information used by militants, terrorists, whatever you wish to call them comes from lots of sources, and it's passed on from masters to apprentices. Killing the master doesn't kill the information within the network.

It effectively kills the information that HASN'T been passed on...

The US has been at this game for over a decade It's proven indecisive. Israel has been at it even longer, with more or less the same results.

Not so..

Has there been another 9/11??

When something doesn't work, you try something else.

And yet, there is absolutely NO evidence to indicate that the drone strikes are NOT working..

Michale
0266

Has a "vacated" position ever gone unfilled? Until that occurs, the number of aspirants willing to step in is effectively unlimited.

If replacements were dumber or less experienced then their predecessors, you would expect IEDs etc would become less sophisticated and less effective. I've seen no evidence this is the case. Rather reports indicate a continual evolutionary ratcheting up (on both sides) through time.

Why should we expect drone strikes to make our opponents dumber and less experienced? In fact, drone strikes may be making our opponents smarter and more experienced by preferentially weeding out the less capable and less experienced combatants. Fewer foxes, but smarter, more capable foxes.

The information used by militants, terrorists, whatever you wish to call them comes from lots of sources, and it's passed on from masters to apprentices. Killing the master doesn't kill the information within the network.

The US has been at this game for over a decade It's proven indecisive. Israel has been at it even longer, with more or less the same results.

When something doesn't work, you try something else. Repeating the same mistake over and over is generally considered something close to the definition of stupidity.

Drone technology has a lot of military potential, but not when it's fundamentally misused.

My only disappointment is the biggest lie award in that you did not point out that the really and truly biggest lie is yet to come. If one examines past surveillance issues it becomes apparent that when the POTUS get's his apologies on and lets us know they are going to fix it and it will never happen again, it just means that the programs have just evolved into something bigger, darker, and more intrusive and that is truly the biggest lie.

And yet, you support this POTUS to the hilt...

THAT is what I can't understand...

Let's break it down to brass tacks...

Bush is evil incarnate because of his torture, rendition and domestic surveillance policies.

The Left takes a (ostensibly) *moral* stand against those policies.

"We're good people and we don't allow or condone such brutality"...

Exit Bush. Enter Obama.

Obama expands these policies to unbelievable heights.

NOW, all of the sudden, it's more important for the Left to be "good Democrats" rather than "good people"...

If a policy is morally wrong and reprehensible under a POTUS with a '-R' after his name, shouldn't the EXPANDED version of those policies be ALSO wrong, even MORE wrong, if the POTUS has a '-D' after his name??

I mean, the Left spoke in moral absolutes under Bush...

Under Obama, those "absolutes" became "nuanced" to the point of non-existence.

"Can you explain this, Colonel? There was no transfer order. Santiago wasn't going anywhere. Isn't that right, Colonel?"
-Tom Cruise, A FEW GOOD MEN

Which is why, even though I am a registered NPA, I hold a special disgust for our Democrat (so called) leaders...

When the rubber hit the road, when it was time to strike while the iron was hot, Democrats chose their political agenda over the safety and security of this country..

And that's something I can never forgive nor forget.

Michale
0261

How many times do we have to kill the 1st 2nd or 3rd highest ranking member of a terrorist group before we realize that there is an endless supply of new appointees willing to take up the vacated position?

Based on my own expertise in the field, I can assure you that there is NOT an endless supply..

Further, each one that DOES step up is dumber and less experienced then the scumbag they replaced..

Which, all things being equal, is good news for the Home Team...

Michale
0257

-XW

Awwww right, WHO are you and what have ya done with CW!!!???? :D

Michale
0256

It is not too late for nominations for part 2. Keep those ideas coming, people!

goode trickle -

First, you'll probably like one of my "predictions" (which is the final category, although I'm not sure I included it on my list or not).

Second, yeah, but Obama won't be telling that lie until January. You're likely right -- these programs will probably just morph into something a lot more hidden.

Until the next Snowden comes along, that is...

-XW

My only disappointment is the biggest lie award in that you did not point out that the really and truly biggest lie is yet to come. If one examines past surveillance issues it becomes apparent that when the POTUS get's his apologies on and lets us know they are going to fix it and it will never happen again, it just means that the programs have just evolved into something bigger, darker, and more intrusive and that is truly the biggest lie.

If it's not too late, I'd like to nominate a candidate for worst idea:

Continued use of armed drones as a primary means of combating terrorists in remote regions of the globe.

It's misuse of technology and it's proven to be indecisive. Yes drones can hit what they see, and kill what they hit, but it's much less certain if targets hit are being properly ID'd let alone selectively targeted.

How many times do we have to kill the 1st 2nd or 3rd highest ranking member of a terrorist group before we realize that there is an endless supply of new appointees willing to take up the vacated position?

It's past time for Obama to conclude that our reliance on aerial assassination isn't working for us, it's just recruiting new terrorists and terrorist sympathizers.

For the record, Snowden IS a traitor..

But I have to admit to a small part of me that appreciates what Snowden did, but ONLY for the fact that it has proven beyond any doubt whatsoever that every Democrat on the planet is hypocritical for not condemning Obama as voraciously and as definitively as they condemned Bush.

If you DID have a Biggest Hypocrite category, Democrats planet-wide, would win it hands down..

Michale
0248

And don't think I don't appreciate THAT lil bit o irony... :D

Michale
0247

In any case, Snowden was, in my humble opinion, the most influential. Glad to hear you (kind of) agree.

I do agree and for the same reason..

I think back to when TIME choose the Ayatollah Khomeini as it's PERSON OF THE YEAR. Holy crap, the uproar...

As for Worst Lie, well, I just wanted to be a bit contrarian, I guess. Personally, Obama's "we welcome this conversation" was the one that sent me into belly laughs this year, so that's what I picked. But I did note that the other one is likely to be the one he'll be remembered for, as an addendum to the following list (fair or not):

Perhaps then, Most Funniest Lie or Most Ironic Lie or Most 'Sheeya, Right!!' Lie.. :D

Bush (GWB), (take your pick): "Mission Accomplished!";

For the record, Bush had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Mission Accomplished banner... :D

AS for gay marriage, the best proof of my concept was: while I was writing this, another state (Utah, even!) legalized gay marriage. I mean... really... while I was writing the column!

And I submit to you that, if it wasn't for the bigotry and the hate-mongering of the professional activists, gay marriage MIGHT be even further along than it is now..

There comes a point when the actions that have HELPED in the past begin to hurt...

People need to know when enough is enough..

Michale
0243

I find it interesting that you agreed on the Person Of The Year. I guess I would have figured you for one of those "Snowden's a traitor!" types.

I almost added to the text an explanation of how "Time" has always said that the "Man Of The Year" (as they originally called it) was always about the person with the most influence and not something like the best person of the year. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed in them in 2001, since Osama Bin Laden was the obvious choice, but that's an old argument.

In any case, Snowden was, in my humble opinion, the most influential. Glad to hear you (kind of) agree.

As for Worst Lie, well, I just wanted to be a bit contrarian, I guess. Personally, Obama's "we welcome this conversation" was the one that sent me into belly laughs this year, so that's what I picked. But I did note that the other one is likely to be the one he'll be remembered for, as an addendum to the following list (fair or not):

Reagan (paraphrased): "Contras? What Contras? Iran? Say what?"

Bush (GHWB): "Read my lips: no new taxes!"

Clinton: "I did not have sex with that woman."

Bush (GWB), (take your pick): "Mission Accomplished!"; "You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie!"; "Compassionate conservatism"; or "I run things, not Dick Cheney."

OK, that last one was pure snark, have to admit...

Heh.

AS for gay marriage, the best proof of my concept was: while I was writing this, another state (Utah, even!) legalized gay marriage. I mean... really... while I was writing the column!

18 states + DC, and counting....

:-)

-CW

I'll calm down after the holidays..... A little.. :D

Michale
0240

I'll begrudge that...

But one simply cannot make mention of that without mentioning the HUGE credibility hit that the gay activists has taken over recent events..

Basically, the gay activists have gone on record as saying, "If you have an opinion about the gay lifestyle that is contrary to what WE want it to be and you express that opinion, you will be hounded, harassed, threatened and extorted. Free speech be damned!!"

It's nice to have them come out of the closet as the bigoted, intolerant hate-mongers that they really are..

If any member of GLAAD or the gay activist community would like to challenge this assertion...

"BRING IT ON"
-President George Bush

Michale
0234

Then you laid into Seibelus and Obama and then everything was good and right with the world. :D And to add that special topping, you put Snowden front and center. A person that I know every Democrat on the planet would wish he had never been born. Because he showed that world that, when it comes to violating people's privacy and escalating domestic surveillance, Obama is Bush and Cheney on steroids..

My only change would be the Worst Lie category. I think the bigger lie would be the If You Like Your Health Plan, You Can Keep Your Health Plan. That's the lie that is going to sink Obama so low that he is going to look at Bush's final numbers with wistfulness. Obama is going to be wishing that his numbers would be as high as Bush's..

All in all, very satisfying.. :D

Michale
0233