Republicans Are Masters of the "Reverse Spin"

I really believe that it is possible the leak of the National Intelligence Estimate report was another example of shrewd "reverse spinning". I got this feeling when I saw the CNN TV report last night when, after the initial comment that "jihadists will grow in number as a result of the Iraq War", the list given pointed out a list of positive results in an admittedly nasty undertaking.

For example, the NIE states that while the jihadists consider the Iraq War a "cause celebre", it is clear that doing well in Iraq will help diminish the urge of muslims to join the cause. Also, "the loss of key leaders, particularly Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and [Abu Musab] al-Zarqawi, in rapid succession, probably would cause the group to fracture into smaller groups."

Therefore the stratagem of the Democrats may fall flat since they will have trumped up the negativity of the report which does reveal some very negative things, but in fact illustrates some very plausible advice. Such as "exposing the jihadists' radical ideology and urging respected Muslim leaders to denounce terrorist tactics, according to the report." The respected-Muslim-leader approach is very valid, in my opinion.

I think comments like those of Rep. Jane Harman, will be thought of as ones that missed their target, because there was no target. Harman said "I hear it paints a grim picture. And because it does, I am told it is being held until after the November elections. If this estimate is finished, it should not be stamped 'draft' and hidden from the American people until after the elections." (CNN)

So the point is that the Democrats accused the administration of hiding a report that was negative. So they release the report that , surprise, surprise, has some good points. Sure it ain't nearly perfect, but it throws a bucket of water on the Democrat's plan.

I still wonder if the Plamegate affair was choreographed. Ok, perhaps this is too ridiculous, but the affect was advantageous to Bush and co. And the combined issues of the Clinton-Wallace interview cum The Path to 9/11 story, showing the underbelly (and bare calves, 1, 2, *) of the Democrat beast? It seems that these embarrassments are being prepared by a few clever puppet masters. Ok, now I am dreaming.

*great video last night mentioning the finger pointing and bare calves of Bill; I must find the link!

onal Intelligence Estimate

N

l Intelligence Estimate

National Intelligence Estimate

Osama Lewinsky

Kudos to those that posted here.

"As a member of the infidels I am outraged."

That is how Marc at Neverdock qualifies the new move of British police to brief the Muslim Safety Forum before any raids are made against suspected terrorist cells in the UK.

 

Apparently this is a flawed approach (doh!) as some of the characters in the MSF are linked to unsavory groups.

 

Color me skeptical.

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Can he speak the truth?

First watch this:




And then watch this:



I mean, CAN he?

Ok, they all lie. (politicians)

Lightning response, or um, static-cling?

 

Iran warns of 'lightning' response to any attack

 

"We want peace but we warn the expansionists not to think of an aggression against Iran as we can defend the fatherland and Islam," Vice President Parviz Davoodi warned.

"Our lions are so powerful that they can strike the enemy like lightning and destroy him," he added.

 

Somehow this seems like all the other weak tyrant-rap. 

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Kinky video

Had the idea to look up Kinky on youtube. Came up with this beauty.

 

Watch the ending, after Bob Dylan and Kinky Friedman end their playing. The presenters of what appears to be a telethon fundraiser, seeme, to me at least, to be Brooklyn accented rabbis that start doing a schmaltzy dance. Great comedy.

 

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Kinky the target

Apparently someone dug back in the past to find dirt on Kinky and came up with him doing something that, taken out of context, could look fairly discriminatory. I would like someone to direct me to that advertisement (used by his opponents) or the original source.

Kinky Friedman Campaign Statement

While Rick Perry was cheerleading in college and Chris Bell was being potty trained, Kinky Friedman was picketing segregated restaurants in Austin to integrate them. Now that Kinky’s in second place and a serious threat to the two-party system, Perry and Bell have paid political assassins to dig back as far as 30 years through fictional books, comedy shows and satirical song lyrics, desperately seeking to paint Kinky as a racist.

Republicans and Democrats have created an entire industry-- called Opposition Research-- whose sole purpose is to tarnish and destroy people’s reputations. This is why regular citizens don't run for office. If you do, and you start to threaten the system as Kinky has, you’re going to be attacked.

Kinky has overcome all of the obstacles placed before him - getting on the ballot, raising millions of dollars, building the largest grassroots network Texas has ever seen, and breaking 20% in the polls months ago. He's a serious threat to the establishment, and when you threaten the political establishment, they use the money generated from their formidable fundraising machines to pay for "dirty tricks" tactics to manipulate the press.

It's a slimy industry that exists for the sole purpose of destroying people and -- like cockroaches-- scurries for the shadows whenever a light is shined on it.

The latest political assassination attempt takes completely out of context a controversial word that Kinky was using in a 1980 stand-up performance to lampoon racists. Playing a character on stage, Kinky was exposing bigotry through comedy and satire.

It’s pathetic that the major-party candidates have sunk to this – trying to paint Kinky as a racist when, in fact, he was poking fun at racists. Shame on the press for being complicit. Rather than confront our opponents on their tactics and get the full story, they are allowing industries like opposition research to exist and operate outside the understanding of most voters.

Posted by Kinky Web on September 21, 2006 04:18 PM |

By the way, I use one of Kinky's quotes in my normal email signature. I, too, am a dog person.

“They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you've ever had in your life come running to meet you."
- Kinky Friedman

* I sincerely wish that this statement is true. I had some good dogs and cats and hope to see them again.

dantravels

North Turramura nsw

I am watching sitemeter. right now someone from North Turramura is on , presumably reading my blog.

who are you?

dantravels.

This sucks

I liked this guy and the show.

TV presenter 'stable' after crash

The presenter is being treated at Leeds General Infirmary

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is stable but remains seriously ill in hospital after he crashed a jet-powered car during filming for the BBC show.

The 36-year-old was thought to be driving at about 300mph on an airfield near York when he crashed on Wednesday.

The BBC, which is likely to be closely scrutinised, and the Health and Safety Executive will investigate the crash.

Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson, who was visiting the hospital, said many motorists were "rooting for" Hammond.

More here

Longing for Oz

Feeling blue, missing Australia (again).

So here is a happy snap from Phillip Island

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Aussies, again.

Its so nice to see some memorable people praising the Aussie government for saying what they really think (1, 2, 3, 4) as regards some events of the last few years.

In case you don’t get the point, I have found Aussies to be very direct, although perhaps a bit more colourful. I lived there for 7 years and came away with citizenship (proudly, I might add).

So as an adopted Aussie, and a born American, I have to say that lately I recognize that what John Howard says is more accurately representative of my way of thinking.

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What the...?

Earlier this evening I was reading something about Warren Buffett saying that a nuke attack on US soil is “inevitable”.

And then I read this.

Being in Prague has some comfort. But where I really want to be is OZ.

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He Watched It

Bill Gertz’ book, “Enemies” supposedly recounts a number of oddities that only the world of spies knew. While most are shocking and sad (since they show how the security services of the USA are more like a Jackie Chan movie), others are simply priceless for their ironic humour.

 

Apparently, if what Gertz says is true,

 

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il was so upset by the 2004 puppet comedy film “Team America: World Police,” that he ordered his intelligence agents to assassinate the producers.

 

 

Ha! When I saw Team America, and saw how Kim Jong-il was portrayed, I am sure I wondered if Kim had seen himself. What would he have thought?

 

It begs the question, do all leaders watch themselves portrayed in movies, cartoons or in print. Think about Saddam watching the South Park movie, (no, I mean before 2003, not the latest viewing, force-fed by his jailers), and the translator wondering if he was going to get himself killed for saying the real words.

 

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Aussies Say It Better (III)

Yet again, Howard Government speaks plainly, accurately and in a way that I wish many other politicians would speak: without being encumbered with Political Correctness.

"We live in a world of terrorism where evil acts are being regularly perpetrated in the name of your faith," Mr. Robb said at the Sydney conference.

"And because it is your faith that is being invoked as justification for these evil acts, it is your problem.

"You can't wish it away, or ignore it, just because it has been caused by others.

"Instead, speak up and condemn terrorism, defend your role in the way of life that we all share here in Australia."

 

That was from Andrew Robb, multicultural spokesman (ok, so the neologistic title is a bit PC) as noted on Instapundit .

 

The point here is that many do not wish to offend sensibilities. Crap! And look at the statements by the Pope! That was a ludicrous example of someone going nuts, taking the whole quoted passage out of context.

 

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Ok, this is wierd.

For some reason I have recently noticed a huge site visit rise to my blog. I am not happy. I am ultra suspicious.

Perhaps it began with the "Path to 9/11" post. Or because I mentioned the Democratic Underground. Or ... ?? what could it be.

Did someone like Instapundit mention me? Hardly. I am a nobody.

What could it be? Please tell me.

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Kinky Taps People

I think Kinky is treading in a mine field (and also a snake-infested field) when he speaks about legalizing Marijuana. Just when he might have got some of the older folks ready to trust him (about schools and paying teachers; about cleaning house and change in government; about oil and other energy for the great state of Texas) he plays the drug card. I think that was a misstep.

This article does mention some salient points however. Some people he would like to 'tap' or join his team. I especially like the answer he gave when he was accused of saying that all the Katrina evacuees were "crackheads and thugs."

Friedman said Wednesday that his plan to give $100 million to Houston to hire more police "was not in any way racist."

"How can you possibly regret that, telling the truth?" he asked. "I am not a racist, I am a realist. In looking at the statistics, I know that 20 percent of the homicides in Houston have been committed by the element in the evacuee population.

"I never said what color their skin was. I never said all evacuees are crack dealers or crackheads. I'm smarter than that."

I am really, really rooting for this guy.

Master Play by ABC

I think that ABC knows full well what it is doing. The publicity for The Path To 9/11 has been dramatic, inspired, choreographed and, well, damn good.

Why?

Well, it seems that they have 'edited' the version that will go to air on Sunday night. Perhaps this was the plan all along. I am no expert in film making but isnt there quite a lot of lead time necessary? I mean, to shoot the film (lets say it was shot 9 months ago) and to do all the post production stuff, normally takes a lot of effort and time. To re-shoot seens in not unheard of, but always something to avoid.

So, they probably have many, many endings to the same scenes. My point is, that they were 'on purpose'.

Think about it. No, really. I read that there are 900 screeners out there. (you know, the things that are 1.given to reviewers and tv stations, 2.copied illegally and distributed over bit-torrent clients). These screeners may have included the most inflamatory scenes and probably were delivered directly to Clinton aides, and the like.

So, they see the inflamatory scenes, make a comment on it, press goes into a frenzy, and even the Democrats ask for it to be pulled!. Can't get much better than that!!

But when the final cut is shown? The mild scenes will probably be used.

I think the public could even say that the Democrats would have gone overboard to hide it. So ABC will come out smelling like a rose, the Democtic Underground will be marginalized for their efforts (You can bet that the DU supporters will be the most active viewers; isn't that ironic?)

Now don't get me wrong, I am sure it will be schlocky (or shabby) but I will still watch it because of this publicity.

See, ABC wins.

--

On a another note, I wonder if you might say that some of these actors were conservative types. I mean, they have Harvey Keitel. Sure the rest are not very well know. But they must have realized they would be up for blacklisting.

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The Path to 9/11

I guess my only comment about this movie is that Democratic Undergrunts are trying 'bomb' Google and Technorati so that when people search the movie, they will come up with DU supporters' criticism. This post is my protest against the DU tactic.

I mean, what do Google and Technorati have to say about this? I would not agree with conservative bloggers doing the same (although I am sure someone will tell me it was the dark side's invention). Really, is it ethical/legal? Does it not further invalidate Google and Technorati?

Have not seen the film. I am certainly no fan of Clinton. I found him to be smarmy, like a car salesman.



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"The Path to 9/11" ABC Path 9/11

Croc Shoes Euorpe?

I want to find Croc shoes in Europe. And I want to work for Croc shoes to help market in Europe (in case Guy happens to check.)

Purchased in Maryland. Worn by a group of us on my last visit to the States. We bought 4 pair.



I am seriously thinking they need someone like me to market their product in Europe. They have the websites, but not the real presence.

And the shoes are worth the hype.


I have these.






But for next summer, I want these.






Yeah, yeah, yeah, they are supper comfortable, but they GRIP the pavement and are great in wet spots. I read somewhere that they were designed by boat enthusiasts for boat decks.

The open holes are cool for those of us who like sandles but don't favour the toes being naked for all to see in public.

I want them because my feet are hot, and I want the Islanders since they have a bit more collar,like the old Sperry (r) Topsiders.


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Biodiesel

"There was an incident in colorado where a bear attacked a truck full of biodiesel because it smelled like french fries."

"This is the downside of biodiesel. "

- Kinky Friedman

(national public radio pod cast on Deep-Fried Fuel: A Biodiesel Kitchen Vision )


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Kinky For Governor.:You got to love the guy.

Could Kinky Friedman really be our next governor?


I am fascinated by this guy. He won my admiration first for his love of dogs. No, really. He runs a dog sanctuary(?) that has a 'no-kill' policy.

But then I heard he had written a few humourous, pulp crime novels.

Then I heard that he was the front man for a country music band, called the "Texas Jewboys", and hangs out with Willie Nelson.

The Wikipedia entry about the Texas gubernatorial election, 2006, describes him as "Richard "Kinky" Friedman - Country Music Singer, Mystery Author, and Jewish Cowboy." Yuk , yuk, "jewish cowboy"

All this is in reverse, mind you, and I recognize theh fact that many people were probably well aware of his notoriety long, long ago.

Nevertheless, you got to love the guy.

Oh, yeah, he really is doing well in the Gubernatorial Race.


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