I just walked by Bill Kristol on the street, and something struck me.

[Bleacher Creature]

Just to get it out of the way, I didn't say anything -- not even a mumble under my breath. That said, as I kept walking, it hit me that he may be the single most destructive private citizen in this country today, and that's not hyperbole.

This is the guy who, in 1993, wrote a memo that served as the Republican opposition to health care reform then and now. Kristol was the guy who pointed out that opposition to reform should be guided by the fact that it most likely would be successful in lowering costs and insuring most Americans which, while successful from a policy standpoint, would weaken the GOP politically.

He is also the guy who was the single loudest voice pushing the invasion of Iraq outside the Bush Administration. I'm not sure it's fair to say that we wouldn't have invaded without Kristol's efforts, but it's not an absurd suggestion.

And finally (although there is a ton more to criticize him for), Kristol is responsible for foisting Sarah Palin on this country. It was his visit with her on his now-infamous Alaskan cruise that started the buzz that eventually led to John McCain's decision to put party and ambition ahead of country last year. He has been her most vocal cheerleader and will almost certainly be responsible for any political future she has left.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this -- maybe I feel lame for not saying something aloud -- but it is striking just how dangerous one person can be.

[shanti]

1. also

kristol was one of the signatories to PNAC. he absolutely had a hand in what went down in iraq. one of many monsters spawned by the GOP.

[hlthe2b]

2. What would you have said..?

if you had three minutes with him as a captive audience--and didn't feel threatened by doing so?

[rhett o rick]

20. Meaningful dialog is less than worthless with his kind. I wouldn't even give him the satisfaction

of even attempting a meaningful dialog. I would make use of the time politely, calmly spewing expletives at him. And yes it would make me feel better.

[madokie]

3. You are a much better person than me

I'd at least gave thought to kneeing him in the nuts

[NYC_SKP]

4. You didn't kick him, trip him, spit on him, or otherwise pay him his due respect???

Wow, you've got some self-control.

Not that any of these would change a thing.

[smirkymonkey]

30. Yes, but just think of how great it would feel while you were doing

it!

[BuyingThyme]

5. Kristol plans on finding another stupid Christian to use as a puppet.

Just like Dan Quayle.

His latest candidate is Sarah Palin.

[Bumblebee]

25. and what does it have to do with being a Christian? or a Jew? Are

you implying it's Jews manipulating stupid Christians? Hope not!

[BuyingThyme]

33. Yes, William Kristol is a Jew and he manipulates stupid Christians to his advantage.

What part of that confuses you?

[Bumblebee]

36. the anti-semitic part

[BuyingThyme]

37. You mean your anti-Semitic tendency to ascribe the wrong-dong of one Jew to all Jews?

Yes, that's a horrible thing. Adolf Hitler felt the same way you do.

Nice goin'.

[Bumblebee]

42. so why did it matter to YOU that Kristol was manipulating people not just

as a bastard, an evil man, etc, etc -- but as a Jew manipulating Christians, if you did not mean it as an anti-Semitic statement?

[BuyingThyme]

44. YOU are the one who did that. I didn't say anything about any Jews.

Funny how you got that so wrong.

Kristol uses Christian puppets because Christians are a huge and powerful demographic and there are lots and lots of stupid Christian people in this country.

Anyways, why do you keep making these blatantly anti-Semitic statements and then pretending that I'm the one making them? That's the kind of thing Stalin would do.

[Bumblebee]

45. You are a beaut. I am actually Jewish and lost lots of relatives to both

Hitler and Stalin. Don't you dare accuse me of what you yourself are doing so blatantly -- and, as far as I can tell so far, alas, without any reaction from the moderators. This is not just cynical, it's utterly shameless.

[BuyingThyme]

46. I don't understand people who lie.

Just read it. YOU came up with this crap about anti-Semitism, etc. and I had absolutely nothing to do with it.

How about you explain to us why you think you need to lie like this?

[Bumblebee]

48. so I'll give you one more chance: please explain to me why you used the word "Christian"

in your original statement, thus juxtaposing it with Kristol? And why is it important to you that he is a Jew manipulating Christians? And how stupid do you think we all are?

[BuyingThyme]

49. Again, you're the one who put significance to the fact that Kristol is Jewish.

I made no reference to that in any way. Please stop lying about that. You are the one who went out of your way to point out that Kristol is Jewish in your effort to stain all Jews with Kristol's misdeeds. The words are not going to change except for your efforts to alert this thread in hopes of hiding your dishonesty.

And once again, as if I didn't already explain this, Kristol uses Christians, and stupid Christians in particular, because they're a powerful demographic.

[Bumblebee]

53. I give up. It's a useless exercise.

[BuyingThyme]

66. Yes.

Once you lie, it's difficult to lie the lie away.

[PassingFair]

56. Because it happens to be the TRUTH....

and it happens to be HAPPENING.

[KamaAina]

38. Oy vey.

(facepalm)

[Enrique]

6. is it true what I heard about his ass

that it's surprisingly huge?

[sinkingfeeling]

7. You should have punched him in the mouth.

[FatDave]

21. First thought that came into my mind.

If I saw Bill Kristol walking down the street, I probably would have broken my hand with his face. Of course I'd say "Hey, aren't you Bill Kristol?" first. I wouldn't want to hurt an innocent but unfortunately visaged person. And I'm not a violent guy at all, never been in a fight worse than a schoolyard scuffle. But for Bill Kristol, I'd try to take out some teeth, proudly plead guilty to the assault charge, and frame my court documents.

[Stephanie]

23. My kind of man!

Are you married? :hi:

[FatDave]

27. I'm afraid I am, Stephanie.

But thanks for the interest!

[Stephanie]

31. Well get your wife to punch him too!

:)

[sinkingfeeling]

26. Me too and I'm a 61 yr-old woman with cancer! My well-paid attorney would make the case, Bill hit me

[liberal N proud]

8. Hope you ran home and took a shower

[Captain Hilts]

9. In DC, I let the famous alone. I made an exception for David Frum and I'd make one for Kristol also

[mascarax]

41. What's your Frum story, please?

Do tell.

[Captain Hilts]

51. I've actually had two encounters with Mr. Frum. I actually liked his mother who was

a news broadcaster in Canada. I have to admit that.

I'm at National Airport picking up a buddy - who is VERY liberal - who flew down to DC for a visit. She's flying Air Canada from Toronto. She gets off the plane and who tries to push his way onto the plane - entering the exit - but Mr. Frum. The airline staff collared him and made him go through the metal detector and the proper door. This was 1996. As he quickly strode past my buddy I pointed to him and said "there goes one of the leading conservative commentators in North America." She said, "well don't let him go to Canada!" "I said HE IS CANADIAN!"

The second one was when I was out having a run on the Capital Crescent trail starting in downtown Bethesda. It was a warm day and as I ran down the trail in the direction of the Potomac, who is coming the other way on a bike but Mr. Frum!! As he went by I shouted "why aren't you working in the Green Zone?" I think for the return pass I said something like "move your office to Iraq!"

It felt good.

One of my BEST encounters with a conservative celeb was with Linda Chavez. I caught her parking her car in the handicapped spot at the Giant grocery on Arlington Blvd in Bethesda. I shook the admonishing finger at her when she got in the car, which I'd noticed parked illegally even before she got in it. Boy, did she give me a dirty look. Jeane Kirkpatrick, conversely, was a regular person at the grocery store. Using her SAFEWAY card was a bit puzzling, so I gave her a hand. Evidently, John Bolton shops there now.

I ran into the retired senator from Arkansas that was kind of a mentor to Bill Clinton - whose name escape me right now - right after he made a strong speech defending Clinton - Dale Bumpers? - I gave him an enthusiastic high five at Fresh Fields. It seemed to amuse him.

[mascarax]

70. thanks for the stories!

nice woman, that Linda. Sheesh.

I cannot stand Frum.

[Captain Hilts]

71. I can't stand Frum either. Now, he can't stand me. Ain't social reciprocity grand?

[hootinholler]

10. I was hoping it was his head

That struck your fist, repeatedly.

I stay out of downtown DC because I might run across someone that would be impossible for me to restrain myself from attempting to beat the crap out of them.

-Hoot

[valerief]

11. They're less dangerous when someone drops a piano on them! nt

[Graybeard]

12. And he did it all with that damned smirk on his face.

Kristol is by far the most repulsive of them all.

[Amos Moses]

13. If that sumbitch struck me , I'd knock his fucking teeth out.

:grr:

[leveymg]

14. I had exactly the same response to Oliver North.

I turned around on the street as he passed, and was about to say something -- it might have come out as "felon" or "traitor" -- but, the big guy he was with stared at me over his shoulder. I had the oddest feeling, not exactly fear, but it made me stop and think about it. I let them go, and walked the hundred steps or so back to work.

I worked about a block and a half from the White House in those days. It was the late '80s, about a year after North became a celebrity, of sorts. Guess Ollie was just going back to his old haunt to catch up with his pals.

DC's kinda like that. A village.

[CherokeeDem]

15. I Like the Strategic Knee Plan...

Would love to see him on his knees....the bastard deserves more than a knee to his whatever....

Did get to smack on purpose, Dick Morris in the shoulder with my carry on luggage when getting on a plane. Saw him waiting to board and thought that little greasy, short guy looked familiar. When I got on the plane and saw him (in first class, of course), I realized who he was. So as I passed by to coach, I allowed my bag to hit him...in the shoulder not too hard and I did apologize. But also apologized to myself for not aiming for his ugly face. Geez...sometimes I wish I had more guts!!!! Slimy, nasty looking guy...ugh....

[Stephanie]

16. Um, we need to THANK him for Sarah Palin

The gift that keeps on giving.

[Ilsa]

17. He also co-authored a letter to Clinton from the neocons which Clinton

appropriately had filed under N for "Nutters". The letter included signatories Richard Pearle, among other neocons, and advised Clinton to force democracy on the ME.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

18. i think he's on TDS tonight.

little willie must be a masochist to keep getting his butt kicked by jon.

[JHB]

69. Now, Him, I've seen...

JS, not Mr. Wrong-in-so-many-ways.

He was with his kid at the Tower computer store near City Hall (NYC). It took a minute or two to be sure it was him, and then...

...I went about my business and let him do the same. If you actually appreciate a celeb, let them have some sane "down" time. If I want an autograph or something I'll get a ticket to the show.

[guitar man]

19. I probably wouldn't have said anything either

But I would have done my best to fart in his general direction! :D

[ProfessorGAC]

22. He's Also An Undereducated Silverspoon Twit

Dangerous yes. But, the biggest part of his danger is that he is listened to despite never accomplishing a single thing, ever, and being wrong about everything he has said for 20 years.

The last time people listented to a know-nothing silverspoon, we got Bush.
GAC

[Stephanie]

24. What the neo-cons have in common is that none of them are very bright

I'd love to run into that hapless little twit, I'd kick his ass myself.

[TlalocW]

28. I prefer pranks

http://colddaypontooning.blogspot.com/2006/08/i-pissed-off-senator-jim-inhofe.html

TlalocW

[UTUSN]

29. I was hoping you had seen toilet paper stuck to his shoe. But he is DISPRORTIONALLY

prominent just for being given airtime:

1) As many here say, he's ALWAYS been wrong.

2) He and Fred whassisname from the New Standard run that piece of toilet paper (somehow toilet paper is on my mind with this topic).

3) "William" Billy KRISTOL has a resume full of QUAYLE, Shrub, PALIN. He needs mediocrities in order to elevate himself.

4) His NeoCon self foisted Shrub's debacle on us.

5) He's the biggest nonentity to do so much damage, yes.

6) He's a trust-baby PARASITE.

[Graybeard]

32. That was what I wrote to the NYT when they hired him.

What did he bring to the paper? Certainly not credibility, he's been wrong about everything. I'd like to think that my letter, in some small way, helped to get him fired.

[UTUSN]

35. He *was* fired?!1 Well, praise ZEUS!1 n/t

[Hissyspit]

34. Did he smell like bullshit?

[Stephanie]

52. +1

[KamaAina]

39. It wasn't his thick head, was it?

That would hurt!

[WCGreen]

40. I would have said something...

I couldn't let that go...

[rucky]

43. Post this again. Call it "Kristol Smackdown!"

and say what you wish you'd have said.

[Maru Kitteh]

47. Don't feel bad. He wouldn't have listened or cared anyway, even if he did listen

It's not like he cares about human beings.

[glitch]

50. "Mr. Kristol, do you dislocate your jaw when you swallow live prey whole?

My guess he'd consider it a compliment.

[Kablooie]

54. You should have pant'st him and run away.

[mzmolly]

55. All good points. Though, I feel we owe him a bit of gratitude

for suggesting Palin for VP. ;)

[Subdivisions]

57. You should have kicked his ass all over the street. I would have. n/t

[formercia]

58. You should have stopped him, put your arm around his shoulders

and asked the question:
" Bill, do you know the difference between an anus and an asshole?"

"You can't put your arm around an anus."

[Echo In Light]

59. PNAC

[progressoid]

61. +1

[Vinca]

60. No offense, but the story would have been a whole lot more interesting

if it ended with Kristol getting hit by a bus as he crossed the street.:rofl:

[tomreedtoon]

62. You didn't notice the sulfurous smell and slime trail?

Boy, you were REALLY oblivious, Bleacher Creature. And yes, it was lame of you not to knock him to the ground and stomp a mudhole in his chest and walk it dry.

[BlooInBloo]

63. Too bad nothing struck HIM.

[progressoid]

64. I kind of see Palin as a gift to us.

She and her ilk have so polorized the Repubs that they will be reeling from this for years.

[Bleacher Creature]

67. I go back and forth on that one.

On one hand, Palin has harmed the Republican brand so much and certainly helped us in 2008. That said, the fact that she was even on the ballot is deeply frightening. What if something had happened to Obama and Biden? What if a huge scandal had broken that left our guys unelectable and without any ability or time to replace them? I know that the odds of the latter are miniscule, but that would have put Palin one 73 year-old cancer survivor's heartbeat from the Presidency.

[progressoid]

68. Agreed.

And just as frightening to me is that she has a 50% approval rating. WTF is wrong with this country?

[otohara]

65. Karl Rove Walked In Front of My Parked Car

at the airport - and i started to shake...had he not had his cute son with him, i considered pressing the gas pedal while he was putting his luggage in the trunk of the car in front of me.
Instead I got out of my car and was going to call him a war criminal or issue a citizens arrest - but as soon as I got out of my car, they drove off.

I've met many a celebrities in my life and my physical reaction to him surprised me.

[underseasurveyor]

72. Stench?

Were you struck by stench?