(you can look here for the answer and the rest of the piece if you don't want to guess)

"Whether or not the Internet can elect any particular candidate in any particular race, it's clear that all of you and our many friends across the blogosphere and the Web are part of a true information revolution. That's why so much of my effort has been focused on talking to Americans through this medium. By empowering individuals and building communities, the Internet provides a way of going around the inside-the-beltway crowd to reach people in numbers unheard of not that long ago.

I believe this direct communication and discussion is going to have an enormous impact on our political process. Our nation is facing unprecedented threats, and the challenges of globalization. We have a 70-plus trillion dollar entitlement shortfall and a government that is not effective in important ways.

To solve our problems, we have to realize that our country is pretty evenly divided along party lines. With close numbers in the House and the Senate, there will be no real reform without real bipartisanship. Too often, what we are seeing isn't an effort to find solutions, but rather insults and purely partisan politics. There are many good and responsible people in government who are willing to work together, but the level of bipartisanship needed for real progress can only be achieved when politicians perceive that the American people demand it."

h/t BethC

Run, Fred, Run!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 10:52 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Dear Mooreon,

You really shouldn't attempt to play big boy games until you are potty trained and no longer wail for Mommy at the drop of a hat.  Oh, and BTW, not that you care, but you can't hide behind Mommy's skirts and question her parenting skills at the same time....

Love and Kisses,

CTG

Posted by: caltechgirl at 08:53 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Ladies and Gentlemen, the wussification of America, illustrated:

Lost cause my ass.  Kudos to our troops and their commanders for pursuing the LEAST bloody war in this country's history.  Quit whining you pussies and step in and support the men and women out there who really put themselves on the line FOR YOU.

h/t Michael Totten, who found it here.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 12:02 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment
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1 I love it when you talk politics!

Posted by: Beth at May 15, 2007 04:21 AM (7o0yk)

2 Excellent!

Posted by: Wild Thing at May 15, 2007 08:24 AM (t259v)

3 *clap* *clap* *clap*

Posted by: Janette at May 15, 2007 08:24 AM (5R+zg)

4 Love this chart!!! Who would know that from the press reports?

Posted by: Anita at May 15, 2007 09:02 AM (jjxde)

5 Glad to see four votes for raising taxes to actually support our military, but I have to wonder how many Iraq vets you folks know. I know quite a few, which might be why "the way these kids talk to me" includes fewer of the problems identified in the 14 May posting. Anita: Anyone with a brain and a knowledge of history would know those facts from press reports, but you might not know how many mercenaries (Blackwater, et al) have died. That, and the high wages those soldiers earn, are not reported. They would also know that the number of deaths is unrelated to whether the cause (creating a democratically elected government free to ally itself with anyone it chooses, or form a Shiite state sort of like Iran) is lost or not.

Posted by: CCPhysicist at May 15, 2007 10:11 AM (PKc+G)

6 Look at that -- it's all right there in blue and red!

Posted by: Marie at May 15, 2007 01:20 PM (ocfI9)

7 Beth, it would only be a non sequitur if I had been replying to your comment about politics rather than the posted assertion "Quit whining you pussies and step in and support the men and women out there who really put themselves on the line FOR YOU." At this point in time, only a minority of Americans have sacrificed anything for our troops, mostly family members. And, yes, I would cheer if we paid for this war rather than putting it all on a credit card to be paid by kids just starting school today. That is what it means to support our troops. AFAIK, the only person who agrees with me is a Republican Congressman from Michigan. What "kind" does that make him? I find it merely amusing that someone whose strongest closing argument is a series of ad hominem insults would think that the simple fact that the press regularly reports the death rate in Iraq and the fact that history books tell you that hundreds came home every week from Vietnam are anything but simple facts. You could check my memory by looking up an old newspaper or Time from 1968, but AFAIR the press reported the numbers from the official DoD press release then just like they do now. Nothing personal (or sexist) was directed at Anita. Her knee-jerk reaction is typical of many people who say things like that but then can't point to a newspaper article that claims the military death rate in Iraq is worse than Vietnam. My comments would be exactly the same if the poster was male. Don't you think she should be treated equally in a discussion? I wrote "They would also know that the number of deaths is unrelated to whether the cause (creating a democratically elected government free to ally itself with anyone it chooses, or form a Shiite state sort of like Iran) is lost or not." in response to the originally posted conclusion of "Lost cause my ass." based on that graphic from Appeal for Courage. I don't see your "reply" as relevant to either point. Were you actually reacting to my other observation about mercenaries? I only know about that because one of my engineering students told me he was thinking about leaving the army for the > 10x raise Blackwater would give him for the same work. One tour and his entire education is paid for along with a house and car. Quite a good deal, but he also told me how risky it is. As for your question: Appeal for Courage does not provide any source for any of their data. IIRC, the DoD has generally excluded accidental deaths from the numbers they report. I don't remember what the policy was during Vietnam, but I do remember that US soldiers died in Vietnam before 1964. They use August 1964 because the Tonkin Gulf Resolution is generally regarded as the declaration of war in Vietnam.

Posted by: CCPhysicist at May 15, 2007 07:35 PM (a7rwO)

8 Let's not forget to health care that these soldiers are getting on site and in military hospitals. From those there saving lives, the survival rate for those wounded are also much higher. I have talked to both vets of this war and those who survived multiple tours in Vietnam. Those members would fully agree with that report. As it was said it's in red white and blue for all to see.

Posted by: Sarah at May 15, 2007 10:38 PM (S2S0R)

9 Why aren't you over there?

Posted by: Angryflower at May 17, 2007 04:48 PM (Bss6w)

10 EXCUSE ME MA'AM! AngryFlower, there are reasons why CTG is not there. If she could, she would have probably joined up in our nation's military, but that is not physically possible. Why aren't YOU there, or are you? Oh, before you ask, I have already served this country, and have been HONORABLY DISCHARGED from the best Army in the world. That is all I have to say

Posted by: GMT at May 17, 2007 05:02 PM (r0kgl)

11 What are we fighting for? Somebody please stop that war. What for?

Posted by: I am a soldier at May 18, 2007 06:33 AM (B1l1L)

12 It always amazes non-americans the way you glorify the deaths and killings of other peoples. Could you post that graphic but include the Iraqi death toll? and about that part of "...on the line FOR YOU"... are you sure of that? or should it be "FOR THE SELECT FEW OF YOU". But im sure ill be flamed for that remark anyway, seeing the political inclination of this site, which i just stumbled upon. Please try to take off the Red/Blue/White lenses from your eyes and start seeing the world as it is, not as you see it on CNN/Fox/Whatever....

Posted by: LuckilyNotAmerican at May 18, 2007 06:37 AM (qAfKU)

13 LuckilyNotAmerican, I am American and sadly you are quite correct. I am still a proud American, for what we were, not what we have become.

Posted by: ProudAmerican at May 18, 2007 07:24 AM (LGSgL)

14 Thanks for showing this chart. Of an age where many of my friends served willingly in VietNam, I am happy to support the brave people who are protecting us now.

Posted by: Joanne at May 18, 2007 09:15 AM (9EUYf)

15 For the critics and for those who demand, "If you support the war, why aren't YOU over there?" I do support the war. I am not over there because I am 52 and have one ankle held together with screws. But my son WAS over there, and he WILL be rotating back again. He is a First Lieutenant. He experienced some very, very hairy stuff: he had four vehicles blown out from under him. He lost three of his men. He was decorated with a Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. I.e., he should have absolute moral authority. So what does he say? "Dad, you don't end a war by leaving, regardless of what Hillary Clinton says. A war doesn't end until BOTH sides agree to end it. They don't want it to end, so it won't end: it has to be finished. "Dad, we need to be there. If we don't fight there, we'll fight here. "Dad, it's getting better. They need us there. If we leave, it will be a bloodbath." I normally don't comment on blog posts: it is like preaching to the choir (on one side), or like talking to a brick wall (on the other). But don't use that tired, crappy, useless pseudo-argument "Why aren't you over there?" on me, weasel. That dog don't hunt. _____________

Posted by: RJGatorEsq at May 18, 2007 09:20 AM (ceues)

16 LuckilyNotAmerican, Be careful what you wish for... If I take off my "Red/Blue/White lenses", I'll be able to see you for what you really are. There's no guarantee that I'll like what I see.

Posted by: Streaker at May 18, 2007 09:41 AM (/1VeP)

17 lets put up some more stats. how about the number of deployed troops to the region and the death percentage. how about the fact that we aren't fighting an organized military. when you single out numbers like you did you can twist the facts. lets get all the numbers out there.

Posted by: Tim at May 18, 2007 11:00 AM (5WoSZ)

18 Why don't we see this in the news. It's political gold!

Posted by: Uri at May 18, 2007 11:20 AM (ToS25)

19 The fact that more people died in an earlier (and arguably stupid) war doesn't make the current one any less stupid.

Posted by: Eric at May 18, 2007 11:51 AM (x75Se)

20 LickilynotAmerican, during the election in Iraq people stood in line as mortars fell to vote. That is a very powerful thing and they were willing to die for that ability. This is a process and it is one that most Iraqi's are now buying into. Al-anbar province has seen a steep decline in the violence because people have finally chosen to stand up and pick a side. I am curious in which country you live so I can get some sort of context to your point of view.

Posted by: Therapist1 at May 18, 2007 11:58 AM (AeOZo)

21 Working back up the list... Tim: Figure roughly year tours (12 for the Army, 7 for the most Marines, more Army over there). Four years. 160,000 troops(ish). So call it about 640,000 troops cycled through. 3,000 or so battle deaths... 0.4%. I dont know what the actuary tables say for that demographic. Happy now? Lucky: I think we're lucky you're not an American, too. Everybody's happy, it's just that we're not bitching to you in your home country. Angryflower: Been over there three times, heading back for a fourth. I trust that you've been to at least that many peace rallies. Or, better yet, thanked that many gold star families for their sacrifice. Not holding my breath. But I'm sure you care about the humanity. Ah, so sensitive. CCPhysicist: I didn't take your comments as particularly negative. Glad you speak to a lot of vets. Everybody fights their own war over there. I believe it's worth it, for any number of Americentric, humanistic, and realpolitik reasons. I'm baffled by the failure of folks to see the Americentric, humanistic, and realpolitik reasons for being there. Takes all kinds, but I prefer the kind that don't undermine if they can't support. Caltechgirl: Thanks for the post.

Posted by: MDC at May 18, 2007 12:01 PM (OhX3E)

22 No, MDC, Thank YOU, For your service. Be safe over there.

Posted by: caltechgirl at May 18, 2007 12:04 PM (r0kgl)

23 Anyone who supports this so called "war on terror" aka the endless war to support the military industrial complex in it quest to rule the world is completely clueless. My country has embarked on becoming an empire, but it has cost us our constitution and the values that made us a great country. These endless wars are not for anyone but the elite; this war is not fought for freedom, not democracy, or any legitimate reason at all. Wake up America; we are getting screwed along with the rest of the world. Impeach for Treason!

Posted by: Robert at May 18, 2007 12:11 PM (awWan)

24 yeah, lets support our troops. lets stick little ribbons on our gas guzzlers and wave our american flags. seriously, quit believing the neocon line of crap that says anyone who disagrees with the war is unpatriotic. you redneck f-ers are dying to go and shoot shit up anyway. Quit bitching and go kill them sand niggers. no one cares about you or them, we just care about our own miserable lives. f-you blogger assholes, enjoy being shit on... wipe. i won't be back to read you meaningless responses.

Posted by: blogcrapper at May 18, 2007 12:30 PM (rUqAM)

25 Well, blog-sis, there *IS* a downside to attention from the Puppy Blender... I know I've seen these stats somewhere before, but not on such a lovely visual aid. ;-) God bless the brave men and women over there, who have the courage and perseverance to serve our country - and who want to finish the job! -- Kat

Posted by: Kat at May 18, 2007 12:35 PM (meMqE)

26 There is no job to finish in Iraq, Mission Accomplished remember. All we are doing is buying time until we move on to the next phase of the war by illegally bombing Iran. Wake up people, this is not just, this is not moral, and this is not American. No one fighting over there is serving out country, which is a misconception. They are being taken advantage of by the elite neo-cons that have a very selfish agenda and donÂ’t care for life or liberty. They are using our honorable soldiers as pawns in a corporate war. Impeach for Treason!

Posted by: Robert at May 18, 2007 12:46 PM (awWan)

27 Hello. It's called perspective. And FWIW, my husband IS stuck over there proudly being 'taken advantage of' because as John Kerry so aptly noted, he was too stoopid to study hard and he don't read gud either so he only got a Masters degree from a very competitive skool. That durned tinfoil really hurts his head too, but he can't take it off or the mind control rays from the Pentagon just fry his 3 remaining brain cells. Waaahhhh!!!!

Posted by: Cassandra at May 18, 2007 12:57 PM (G/Ncc)

28 Luckily Lex posted you'd gotten yourself an Instalanche or I'd not have caught all this. (I read it when you first posted it.) Amazing isn't it at how times like these, the scum like 'blogcrapper' rears their ugly head and can't think of anything but vulgarity to express themselves. Their Mama must be so proud of the eloquence. How fortuitous that he/she will not be back. On the flip side, it is always good for the soul to read people like RJGatoresq. I'll be keeping his son in my thoughts in prayers as I do the rest of our men and women serving this country so honorably.

Posted by: Bou at May 18, 2007 02:05 PM (2zVEj)

29 I'd just like to point out here that the deaths of united states citizens from suicide have consistently outgrossed the deaths of united states citizens from combat etc. ir iraq as well. Therefore it seems to me that if the preservation of the lives of united states citizens and the prevention of deadly tragedies is so important to some of those posting here, shouldn't they be directing their efforts to outreach towards the suicidal? And may I suggest in specific that they focus on reforms to the family court system, in light of the strong correlation between the standard denial of equal custody to fathers and their likelihood of committing suicide? Now, I don't expect any of you to have been aware of this previously, of course, so I'm not criticizing your actions until this point. But I do expect you to change your priorities now that you do know -- because I do believe that you believe in your stated principles.

Posted by: Acksiom at May 18, 2007 02:25 PM (gfq6w)

30 It is really sad that both parties want to make this a political issue. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RIGHT OR LEFT, IT IS ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG!.......Impeach everyone supporting this for Treason!

Posted by: Robert at May 18, 2007 02:32 PM (awWan)

31 Isn't it amazing how the worms come to the surface after a rain? Lex sent me over. God Bless our men and women in the field. A Proud Navy Mom

Posted by: babs at May 18, 2007 02:41 PM (iZZlp)

32 "Ladies and Gentlemen, the wussification of America, illustrated..." This article really made a lightbulb go off over my head. Americans shouldn't be woosies anymore! We need to double the surge, double the occupation forces to 300,000, get more troops over there to get blown up (oil is VERY expensive these days, costs money AND blood sacrifices...) Anyway, we'll simply HAVE to send more troops if we're ever going to get that wimpy death toll above the respectable 2000-per-month line, like in our good old non-wuss days of Vietnam. God bless our troops who have done practically ALL the sacrificing. If a condition for invading Iraq had been prime time TV without American Idol, America would have tarred and feathered Bush for saying go. And that's sad. Now we need to either crap or get off the pot, but unfortunately we've wasted all the toilet paper, so either way we're gonna have crap on our hands...

Posted by: JoeC at May 18, 2007 06:01 PM (qJaz7)

33 It seems that robert has his frilly panties of fascism all in a bunch. FWIW, robert I agree,We should Impeach the treasonous in the government. Let's start with Poloser and Reid and throw in JFKerry and Swim coach Kennedy. Of course the punishment of Impeachment is not strong enough, IMO we should convene a firing squad.

Posted by: unkawill at May 18, 2007 06:29 PM (YwdKL)

34 Bravo, Caltechgirl, for having the guts to speak up for common sense. To hear all these whiners on the news, you'd think the terrorists were lining our troops up against the wall and mowing them down by the thousands. My brother came back from The Land Of Very Bad Things, and he tells me, wothout the thin camouflage line, the Iraqis would be thoroughly screwed. What is very sad is, most of these soldiers think they are making a difference. The vast majority of Iraqis KNOW we are making a difference. Yet, the butt-heads that are whining on the news ever night are telling us how we are in an unwinnable war. Gee, maybe if our troops weren't so hamstrung by all the rules and regulations DC insists on piling on them, the terrorists would have packed up their Semtex and headed back to Saudia Arabia, Iran, Syria and Jordan.

Posted by: Lord Darth Beavis at May 18, 2007 11:53 PM (zAOEU)

35 Robert, "Endless wars to support the military industrial complex"? Have you forgotten about 9-11? Have you forgotten that these islamofacists have promised us "convert or die"? Have you forgotten about the millions of Iraqi's that are COUNTING on us finishing the job? Do you realise thst a withdrawl now would mean death for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis? Or are you just trotting out your tired old tripe and hoping someone as stupid as you will fall for it?

Posted by: Jim C at May 19, 2007 03:41 AM (ON55K)

36 Robert, Get over your pillow-biting, get back to work, and offer more ketchup to those in line. Study the controlled demolition of the WTC on your own time, and stop telling everyone here at work that "Bush Stole Your Dentures". Most of all, pullllease, stop playing with the tin foil. You don't need yet another hat. -SJBill

Posted by: SJBill at May 19, 2007 07:12 PM (NqlA+)

37 Wow. The freaks come out in surges, don't they? Geebus. *commence eye rolling* Thanks for posting this. And thanks to those of you who serve (or have served). You rock.

Posted by: Mia at May 21, 2007 12:24 AM (8yLzc)

38 Hey CalTech Girl. The freaks really do come out in surges don't they? The guy who has to give himself a nick 'doctor' is a hoot - he must be compensating for something. I'm GLAD to be an American and glad I can ignore most of the nonsense in the comments. Thanks for posting that CalTech Girl

Posted by: beth at May 22, 2007 06:34 PM (u79qt)

39 Wow, what a stupid chart... For every soldier dying in Iraq there are 16 wounded ones saved. In Vietnam many of them would have died of their injuries - the ratio was 3 wounded per one dead. This is no surprise, considering the advances in medical supply. Today they get a few things amputated and spend some months in the hospital but eventually they will be able to return home. So, hey, young Americans, chances are good to get out there alive! So what are you still waiting for? Join the troops! You might only be spending the next 60 years with an amputated leg, a burnt face or something worse, probably unable to live on your own.. Plus that is for an _unjustified_ war, commanded by a government that has been lying you quite a lot. Still sounds good to you? Fine with me. I guess you're too brainwashed to save yourself. Poor people..

Posted by: oh my god at May 28, 2007 10:24 AM (wyb/3)

40 On this day after Memorial Day, thank you to all the veterans who served and for all of those who gave their lives on behalf of our freedom.

Posted by: Matt Keegan at May 29, 2007 11:47 AM (qI/YT)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

See today's Friday F**k Off for details.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:49 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Today Fred asks the tough questions about gender oppression in the Middle East and elsewhere:

One of the worst examples of this gender oppression was Afghanistan during the Taliban days. Women were not allowed to go to school, to work outside the home or even go out in public without a male family member. A woman with a medical emergency, but no male relatives to take her to a doctor, was expected simply to suffer or die. An aged woman with no one to bring her food was expected to starve. Too many did.

Life for women under the Taliban and similar governments ought to inspire anger and indignation in everybody, especially human rights advocates. IÂ’m constantly surprised, however, by the apparent apathy among many who say they care about the rights of women and other minorities.

I doubt, for example, that our television networks have spent as much time exposing the horrors of life for millions of women in pre-liberation Iraq and Afghanistan as theyÂ’ve spent covering Abu Ghraib. For some reason, everyday atrocities such as the endemic beatings, honor killings and forced marriages of women just donÂ’t seem to be newsworthy.

The other side of that coin is that we also rarely hear about dramatic improvements in the lives of women when they come about due to American actions.

Fred's right.  Where is the outrage at the perpetrators of these crimes?  Where is the praise for those who come in behind and right the wrongs?  Whether the hero is from the US or anywhere else?

Why does the media CONSISTENTLY portray the US as the world's only bad guy?  Because we supposedly know better than the savages who live in other, less-advanced countries?  Are they saying that people from other countries are STUPID?  Or just that we should expect this kind of behavior, as we would from children, or animals who don't know any better?

Evil is evil.  Cruelty is cruelty.  Period.  It shouldn't matter whether it's a battered wife in Peoria or a widow starving to death in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.  Everyone should be brought to task for their bad acts equally.

On the other hand, good is good, too.  And it should be praised.  Yet we never hear the good stories, the uplifting moments, the people and programs that reach out.  All we hear is the bad, when it finally gets reported.

We should challenge ourselves to do as Fred ultimately suggests, to look at both sides of the story and ask "Where is the outrage?  Whence comes the help?" and put these events back into real-life perspective, rather than seeing them only in the harsh blue glow thrown off by the boob tube.

h/t HWNNL

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My gal Ricki has some words for college students as they are about take their spring semester finals and receive their grades. It's as true for my students as it is for hers:

[T]his is aimed at everybody who fails to understand that going to college means they're supposed to put some effort into their education:

1. No, I don't offer extra credit. Especially AFTER the final exam, when you would be the only one with the opportunity to do it.

2. I'm really sorry you got a D, but if you had paid attention to what I was saying earlier in the semester, and if you had paid attention to the fact that all the grades on the tops of the papers I handed back to you were Ds, it should not come as a shock to you.

3. I'm terribly aggrieved that you will, in fact, not be able to graduate. However, there are consequences for one's actions and one of the consequences of not doing the work in a class is that you fail the class. And one of the consequences of failing a class may be that you do not get to graduate. However, after the final exam is not the most opportune time to consider this possibility.

4. No, I cannot give an "incomplete" because you failed the class. "Incomplete" is for people who are PASSING, but, say, give birth three weeks before the semester is over. Or break their leg. Or have to care for their post-op father. Do not demean the purpose of an "incomplete" by trying to use it to save your own sorry ass.

5. And to all the people who call me on the phone 20 minutes after a (non-machine-graded) exam is over to ask me if I "have [their] exam graded yet" - stick that phone where the sun don't shine. First off, I'm not a mindreader, so I can't predict you're going to call me, and so, grade your exam first. Second of all, you're not entitled to get your exam graded any faster than anyone else's. Third, if you call me on the phone, it just slows me down, and it makes me annoyed to boot. Fourth, if I WERE clairvoyant and knew you were going to call me up asking if I had your exam graded, you can bet your sweet bippy that exam would be at the very bottom of the stack.

On the first day of class, I give my students Ricki's Super Secret Advice For Success In College. It is: "Don't piss off your professors."

Please consider that advice in the coming week. I still have your grades to assign.

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Yeah, I missed it last night (I've watched parts of it, since).  It was pointless.  For two very important reasons:

1. In one hour, 10 guys get about 5 minutes each, which isn't really enough time even for soundbites.

2. No Fred.  Why should I watch a debate over a YEAR AND A HALF before the election if it doesn't even include the guy I suspect I am going to get to vote for?

Turns out, I was entirely right in my thinking about this.  Michelle Malkin, who liveblogged the whole thing was "getting whiplash" trying to keep up.

From what I've seen/ read, looks like (as expected) Giuliani was the big loser.  Didn't prep well enough and stumbled through the few hardball questions he was tossed.  Tancredo may have helped his cause by focusing on his major issue, and the other "small dogs" probably helped themselves by getting their names out there more.  Romney and McCain, the other "tall dogs" either stayed steady or lost a bit.

The whole thing was mostly unremarkable except for the puerile questions.

Sister Toldjah also has a pretty in-depth liveblog post.

If you didn't see it the video is here (behind a commercial, and a disclaimer that doesn't apply), just hang on for the video. When the first video is over, it will tell you which is the next segment, so just click.

On the Fred front, he'll be speaking tonight to a gathering in Orange County, CA, to be shown on C-SPAN.  Catch the best non-candidate in the race live!

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Fred Thompson either needs a paycheck SO badly that he's settled for making political commentary, or he's setting himself up BRILLIANTLY for a presidential bid in '08.

Today Fred tackles "healthcare" (**cough, bullshit, cough**) in Cuba, and a possible documentary on same by Michael Moore:

You might have read the stories about filmmaker Michael Moore taking ailing workers from Ground Zero in Manhattan to Cuba for free medical treatments. According to reports, he filmed the trip for a new movie that bashes America for not having government-provided health care.

Now, I have no expectation that Moore is going to tell the truth about Cuba or health care. I defend his right to do what he does, but Moore's talent for clever falsehoods has been too well documented. Simply calling his movies documentaries rather than works of fiction, I think, may be the biggest fiction of all.

While this PR stunt has obviously been successful -- here I am talking about it -- Moore's a piker compared to Fidel Castro and his regime. Moore just parrots the story they created -- one of the most successful public relations coups in history. This is the story of free, high quality Cuban health care.

The truth is that Cuban medical care has never recovered from Castro's takeover -- when the countryÂ’s health care ranked among the world's best. He won the support of the Cuban people by promising to replace BatistaÂ’s dictatorship with free elections, and to end corruption. Once in power, though, he made himself dictator and instituted Soviet-style Communism. Cubans not only failed to regain their democratic rights, their economy plunged into centrally planned poverty.

As many as half of Cuba's doctors fled almost immediately -- and defections continue to this day. Castro won't allow observers in to monitor his nation's true state, but defectors tell us that many Cubans live with permanent malnutrition and long waits for even basic medical services. Many treatments we take for granted aren't available at all -- except to the Communist elite or foreigners with dollars.

For them, Castro keeps "show" clinics equipped with the best medicines and technologies available. It was almost certainly one of these that Moore went to, if the stories in the NY Post and The Daily News are true.

Nothing about this story inspires doubt, though. Elements in Hollywood have been infatuated with the Cuban commander for years. It always leaves me shaking my head when I read about some big-time actor or director going to Cuba and gushing all over Castro. And, regular as rain, they bring up the health care myth when they come home.

What is it that leads people to value theoretically "free" health care, even when it's lousy or nonexistent, over a free society that actually delivers health care? You might have to deal with creditors after you go to the emergency ward in America, but no one is denied medical care here. I guarantee even the poorest Americans are getting far better medical services than many Cubans.

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Former Senator Fred Thompson has something to say about the criticisms heaped on the US by her "allies":

It bothers Americans when we're told how unpopular we are with the rest of the world. For some of us, at least, it gets our back up -- and our natural tendency is to tell the French, for example, that we'd rather not hear from them until the day when they need us to bail them out again.

But we cool off. We're big boys and girls, after all, and we don't really bruise that easily. We're also hopeful that, eventually, our ostrich-headed allies will realize there's a world war going on out there and they need to pick a side -- the choice being between the forces of civilization and the forces of anarchy. Considering the fact that the latter team is growing stronger and bolder daily, while most of our European Union friends continue to dismantle their defenses, that day may not be too long in coming.

In the meantime, let's be realistic about the world we live in. Mexican leaders apparently have an economic policy based on exporting their own citizens, while complaining about U.S. immigration policies that are far less exclusionary than their own. The French jail perfectly nice people for politically incorrect comments, but scold us for holding terrorists at Guantanamo.

Russia, though, takes the cake. Here is a government apparently run by ex-KGB agents who have no problem blackmailing whole countries by turning the crank on their oil pipelines. They're not doing anything shady, they say. They can't help it if their opponents are so notoriously accident-prone. Criticize these guys and you might accidentally drink a cup of tea laced with a few million dollars worth of deadly, and extremely rare, radioactive poison. Oppose the Russian leadership, and you could trip and fall off a tall building or stumble into the path of a bullet.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 01:01 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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