Is This How Patriotism Works?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/08/25/why-u-s-conservatives-love-russias-vladimir-putin/

I voted against George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004, and I spent most of his presidency actively working against his administration with every tool at my disposal, but I never said or wrote that I would prefer that the country be led by a foreigner or a foreign leader. Not so, for many pundits on the right. Ann Coulter wants Benjamin Netanyahu to be our president, Erick Erickson wants David Cameron to be our president, and Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle would be okay with either Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin being our president.


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_08/is_this_how_patriotism_works051906.php

...............

He dinged Obama on his approach to Russia's advances into Ukraine and called on the president to be more aggressive towars Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Look at Russia right now," Cruz said, according to Business Insider. "Sadly, the state of the world is the Russian bear is encountering the Obama kitty cat."

Cruz stopped short of wishing Obama would act more like Putin, but some conservatives have openly expressed that they wish Putin were in charge.

Fox Host Kimberly Guilfoyle last week wished Putin were charged with confronting ISIS because he would "get it done right."


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ted-cruz-obama-kitty-cat

from the LAT:
Modern Love Incorporated
By Mike Orlock


When I was but a younger man,

still wet behind the ears,

my father gave me this advice

between his shots and beers:

"Don't waste your youth on women, boy,

Or needless complications.

If in love you're looking to invest,

find a corporation.

"Citizens United, boyo,

has changed the game of love.

A woman might be soft and sweet,

and fit you like a glove;

or men, if that's the way you swing,

might offer manly sex.

But when it comes to marriage, son,

propose to Goldman Sachs.

"They just have more to offer you

below the bottom line.

Now that they're legal people,

with rights we can define,

we must protect their interests

and court them royally,

admire their portfolios

and treat them daintily.

"For they, my boy, make no mistake,

are fickle as young girls.

They need our constant blandishments,

tax breaks instead of pearls.

Don't raise your voice in anger, no,

nor question what they do,

or overseas they'll relocate

and leave you feeling screwed."

I took to heart my father's words,

I studied contract law in school,

eschewed both kids and wife.

I fell in love with many firms,

joined the Grand Old Party,

but finally found both God and love,

wed to Hobby Lobby.


Mike Orlock is a retired teacher of high school English and social studies.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-opinion-poetry-20140831-story.html#page=1

Sometimes you read a sentence and you think to yourself: only here, only us. Here’s one such sentence.

“A 9-year-old girl from New Jersey accidentally shot and killed her instructor with an Uzi submachine gun while he stood to her left side, trying to guide her.”

That’s from a New York Times account of the death of 39-year-old Charles Vacca, who worked for the Last Stop shooting range in White Hills, Arizona. He died Monday when his preteen student lost control of the Uzi. Apparently, the gun was in “repeat fire” mode, the recoil lifted the muzzle, the little girl couldn’t master it and Vacca was struck in the head. ...

What kind of shooting range allows a prepubescent girl to fire an Uzi? What kind of instructor does not guard against recoil when a child is handling such a powerful weapon? What kind of parents think it’s a good idea to put a submachine gun in their 9-year-old’s hands? And what kind of idiot country does not prohibit such things by law?

It is the last question that should most concern us. There’s not much you can do about individual lack of judgment. Some people will always be idiots. Some companies will always be idiots. But a country and its laws should be an expression of a people’s collective wisdom. So for a country to be idiotic says something sweeping about national character.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/08/30/4317169/leonard-pitts-jr.html

August 30, 2014 3:52 PM
With Allies Like These, Who Needs Enemies?
I think lightning should strike him or something.

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/TlKso_nINDSb.XNObAVGwQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTY0MDtweW9mZj0wO3E9NzU7dz05NjA-/


So, the king let Bandar Bush create this problem and now he warns us that we’re going to be the victims of his creation if we don’t bring some serious violence to the situation:




http://news.yahoo.com/saudi-king-warns-west-jihadists-next-target-093701543.html
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_08/with_allies_like_these_who_nee051901.php

Nah. They wouldn't do that:



When asked about whether he has any regrets, the ISIS Commander shrugged and said it was a "no brainer" for him.

.........................


The use of a form of torture known as waterboarding to gain information is a "no-brainer", the US vice-president, Dick Cheney, told a radio interviewer, it was reported today.

...........................

In an interview with Scott Hennen, a conservative radio show host in Fargo, North Dakota, on Tuesday, Mr Cheney agreed with the assertion that "a dunk in water" could yield valuable intelligence from terror suspects.

"Would you agree a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it can save lives?" Mr Hennen asked.

"Well, it's a no-brainer for me," Mr Cheney replied. "But for a while there, I was criticised as being the vice president for torture. We don't torture. That's not what we're involved in."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/oct/27/usa.guantanamo
...........

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/no-brainer.html