Day: October 8, 2004

For a clear-headed, non-fire-breathing, genuine old-time Reaganesque Conservative take on things, Jerry Pournelle is just about as balanced, fair, insightful and clear as any reasonable human being could ask for. Example:

“As we all surmised, everyone including Saddam’s generals believed he had chemical and biological weapons; and close reading of the report indicates that he thought his threat to use them DETERRED BUSH I from taking Baghdad. Thus he wanted to maintain the illusion of having those weapons, both in laboratory and in deployable stockpiles. Each general thought some other general had them.

Given his success in deceiving his own people, is it any wonder that he was able to deceive Bush II, Blair, the French, the Germans, and probably even Mossad although some say the Israelis knew he didn’t have any — but if that is the case they didn’t tell us that. Just about everyone thought he had chemical and biological weapons…”

(And “…just about everyone” includes a universal set of members of the Senate intelligence committee… Let’s see, can anyone recall sKerry and Kid Edwards saying that they believed Saddam had WMD? I thought so. The set of those who can recall the Senator from Taxachussetts and Senator Gone saying exactly that is virtually universal, excepting only those who are too stupid to be allowed to vote under any reasonable system.)

Visit what is arguably the oldest “blog” on the web.

For a clear-headed, non-fire-breathing, genuine old-time Reaganesque Conseervative take on things, Jerry Pournelle is just about as balanced, fair, insightful and clear as any reasonable human being could ask for. Example:

“As we all surmised, everyone including Saddam’s generals believed he had chemical and biological weapons; and close reading of the report indicates that he thought his threat to use them DETERRED BUSH I from taking Baghdad. Thus he wanted to maintain the illusion of having those weapons, both in laboratory and in deployable stockpiles. Each general thought some other general had them.

Given his success in deceiving his own people, is it any wonder that he was able to deceive Bush II, Blair, the French, the Germans, and probably even Mossad although some say the Israelis knew he didn’t have any — but if that is the case they didn’t tell us that. Just about everyone thought he had chemical and biological weapons…”

(And “…just about everyone” includes a universal set of members of the Senate intelligence committee… Let’s see, can anyone recall sKerry and Kid Edwards saying that they believed Saddam had WMD? I thought so. The set of those who can recall the Senator from Taxachussetts and Senator Gone saying exactly that is virtually universal, excepting only those who are too stupid to be allowed to vote under any reasonable system.)

Visit what is arguably the oldest “blog” on the web.

While it’s easy, this close to an admittedly important election, to concentrate on political events that will have an effect on the War to Preserve Civilization, it’s also important to check ourselves to see what we believe (no, not “believe” as in “I believe the Yankees will win ______”; believe as in, what informs and compels our true assent in our deeds) and why.

Here’s a kick in the pants:

“Most of us look in Abraham’s direction and long. Job’s response is easier. I certainly couldn’t play Abraham in front of a flamefaced child. We’re all heads-down, counting mint and anise and cummin, while the Trinity puts on this amazing opera of history. Oh, to have the instincts of Abraham. To be quick enough to recognize the dangerousness of God in the face of evil and respond in awe: `Dammit. You’re going to raise him from the dead, aren’t you?’ ” –Douglas Jones, “Playing with Knives: God the Dangerous” Credenda Agenda, Volume 16, Issue 3

Hie thee to Credenda Agenda and strengthen your foundations. Even if the strength comes from arguing with Doug Jones, Doug Wilson, Duck Schuler and the others, you’ll come away having done some real thinking. Jared Miller’s article, “Schools, Secularism, and Slippery Slopes” is a clear exposition of the dangers to society when schools make religious expression forbidden. Just read it. It’s not necessarily what you think…

And who, having once been exposed, could live without the ultimate curmudgeonly commentary, “The Cave of Adullum”?

“Umm . . .
Someone sent on to us a fundraising letter from, er, a somewhat specialized charitable organization. This organization is dedicated to the noble goal of preventing the National Park Service from torturing donkeys in the Mojave Desert. And we quote, “Please— the innocent donkeys of the West are being tortured . We can save them together. Please rush your DEMAND FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR BURROS back today—along with the most caring gift you can spare to save their lives!”

Underlining and caps are all from the original. The problem is that this is from California (surprise!), and their governor is pro-choice. Nothing we can do.”

Just go.

While it’s easy, this close to an admittedly important election, to concentrate on political events that will have an effect on the War to Preserve Civilization, it’s also important to check ourselves to see what we believe (no, not “believe” as in “I believe the Yankees will win ______”; believe as in, what informs and compels our true assent in our deeds) and why.

Here’s a kick in the pants:

“Most of us look in Abraham’s direction and long. Job’s response is easier. I certainly couldn’t play Abraham in front of a flamefaced child. We’re all heads-down, counting mint and anise and cummin, while the Trinity puts on this amazing opera of history. Oh, to have the instincts of Abraham. To be quick enough to recognize the dangerousness of God in the face of evil and respond in awe: `Dammit. You’re going to raise him from the dead, aren’t you?’ ” –Douglas Jones, “Playing with Knives: God the Dangerous” Credenda Agenda, Volume 16, Issue 3

Hie thee to Credenda Agenda and strengthen your foundations. Even if the strength comes from arguing with Doug Jones, Doug Wilson, Duck Schuler and the others, you’ll come away having done some real thinking. Jared Miller’s article, “Schools, Secularism, and Slippery Slopes” is a clear exposition of the dangers to society when schools make religious expression forbidden. Just read it. It’s not necessarily what you think…

And who, having once been exposed, could live without the ultimate curmudgeonly commentary, “The Cave of Adullum”?

“Umm . . .
Someone sent on to us a fundraising letter from, er, a somewhat specialized charitable organization. This organization is dedicated to the noble goal of preventing the National Park Service from torturing donkeys in the Mojave Desert. And we quote, “Please— the innocent donkeys of the West are being tortured . We can save them together. Please rush your DEMAND FOR SAFE HAVEN FOR BURROS back today—along with the most caring gift you can spare to save their lives!”

Underlining and caps are all from the original. The problem is that this is from California (surprise!), and their governor is pro-choice. Nothing we can do.”

Just go.

When I can figure out how to add a blogroll to the sidebar, Carol Platt Liebau’s blog will have to be there. Worth reading.

When I can figure out how to add a blogroll to the sidebar, Carol Platt Liebau’s blog will have to be there. Worth reading.

C’mon, Hugh, quit it! Nobody ought to come up with such lines day in and day out. It just ain’t fair!

What Hugh Hewitt’s done in “Silent But Deadly,” his Weekly Standard srticle today, is slice and dice sKerry’s blunders in last week’s debate… and ask why in the world so many of the bubbleheaded mass media podpeople missed sKerry’s blunders.

Stop wasting time here. Go read it!

C’mon, Hugh, quit it! Nobody ought to come up with such lines day in and day out. It just ain’t fair!

What Hugh Hewitt’s done in “Silent But Deadly,” his Weekly Standard srticle today, is slice and dice sKerry’s blunders in last week’s debate… and ask why in the world so many of the bubbleheaded mass media podpeople missed sKerry’s blunders.

Stop wasting time here. Go read it!

Don’t waste any more time here. Go directly to Jerry Pournelle’s site and read the News from Iraq post. I think I may even compile a list of places where the “rest of the story” is told more than the mass media podpeople would have you know. (BTW, Pournelle’s not only smarter than I m, he’s smarter than just about any or all of the top dog pajamajadeen, and he attracts a lot of really bright and well-informed folks to his site (of which number I could only wish I could be counted in… but my smarts cain’t breathe the air up there for long 🙂

We have some really fine people running the show and doing the day-to-day work of “taming the wild jihadists” over there…

Sidebar: In passing, I heard Geraldo Rivera commenting yesterday (on Fox?) about how the terrorists in Iraq are managing the news—getting their demonstration demolitions, attacks, etc., prominently displayed and crowding out accomplishments in Iraq by the coalition and the Iraqis—the real Iraqis.

Don’t waste any more time here. Go directly to Jerry Pournelle’s site and read the News from Iraq post. I think I may even compile a list of places where the “rest of the story” is told more than the mass media podpeople would have you know. (BTW, Pournelle’s not only smarter than I m, he’s smarter than just about any or all of the top dog pajamajadeen, and he attracts a lot of really bright and well-informed folks to his site (of which number I could only wish I could be counted in… but my smarts cain’t breathe the air up there for long 🙂

We have some really fine people running the show and doing the day-to-day work of “taming the wild jihadists” over there…

Sidebar: In passing, I heard Geraldo Rivera commenting yesterday (on Fox?) about how the terrorists in Iraq are managing the news—getting their demonstration demolitions, attacks, etc., prominently displayed and crowding out accomplishments in Iraq by the coalition and the Iraqis—the real Iraqis.