Peculiar Irony

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 10:50 AM

Show suits her perfectly.

Beautiful scenery, no actual substance.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 01:11 AM

I saw a FOX news channel panel of experts discussing the new Sarah Palin SHow on open mics during a commercial break.

One guy said her show should be on the cartoon network. Another quoted the TImes quip regarding the bear being scared of the Palin family while the Post said "the Sarah Palin Alaska Show is like the Sound of Music except there are no Nazis, no romance and no music.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 06:15 PM

The best one ever...

An incoming Republican Congressman is pissed that he cannot get his government health care right away.....

After campaigning on repeal of government health care!!!!!!!!

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/11/16/gop_congressman_healthcare

click

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 09 Oct 09 - 09:07 AM

Some local irony...

Gun-toting soccer mom shot dead

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 11:03 AM

Just had to resurrect for this one....

George Bush had lunch with Nancy Pelosi to discuss.....wait for it...





"the importance of working together"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 08:30 PM

a peculiar irony.....so to speak.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 07:08 PM

These old threads where the sequence of the posts have got all jumbled up are really strange to read, like being stuck in some kind of time machine that is on the blink.

It's actually oddly appropriate with some topics, such as when discussing the antics of political leaders...

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: robomatic
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 06:38 PM

In the election of '00, Al Gore did not win his own state.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 17 Oct 05 - 07:42 AM

Hear tstopping irony/hypocrisy:

Newt Gingrich moments ago on Fox News... he was saying ..."there is good evidence that Ambassador Wilson outed his own wife, and the investigation of Rove and Libby has become THE WASHINGTON GAME OF 'DID THEY BREAK THE LAW DURING THE TIME THAT AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THEY DID NOT BREAK THE LAW'..."

Emphasis mine of course.

Does he remember the Clinton impeachment? Does he remember how that played out? Does he remember that he instigated and goaded it? Do you Fox News viewers remember any of this? Can you see through this? Or, do you just not care as long as it's your team in power?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 02:19 PM

Resurrected again because...

"I think it's also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn."

G.W. Bush on the subject of Kosovo, June 5, 1999.



"It doesn't make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable, you're — you're conceding too much to the enemy."

G.W. Bush on the subject of Iraq, June 25, 2005.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 May 04 - 09:40 PM

On the senate floor, Senator Inhofe contended that the incidents were no more than college pranks. John McCain left the room.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 14 May 04 - 08:21 AM

I'm resurrecting this one (again). This irony is not just peculiar. It's shameful and disgusting. Hypocritical, hyperpolitical, inhuman. No, I'm not a Bush-Hater, but go ahead and call me a DeLay-Hater.

"I am outraged at the inhumane treatment of American POWs by Saddam Hussein's brutal regime," said Tom DeLay. "I am fighting to hold down a deep anger at these purveyors and practitioners of torture and terror who've been wickedly exhibiting their captives over the last few days. One thing is certain – this is an immoral regime.
[April 12, 2003]

"Democracies do not starve their citizens, nor torture their dissidents"
[Tom Delay, July 30, 2003]

"Ted Kennedy said there was 'no compelling reason for war.' There are 25 million Iraqis no longer threatened by torture chambers who might disagree."
[Tom Delay, January 14, 2004]


[May 12, 2004]
After viewing pictures of Iraqi prisoners undergoing torture by US Service personnel (including one of a man being sodomized with a broomstick and bleeding) House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he thought "some people are overreacting. The people who are against the war are using this to their political ends."

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: DougR
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 12:12 PM

TIA: I heard the same thing at the time of the first Gulf War. Bush, Sr. was intentionally insulting Saddam.

DougR

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: TIA
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:43 AM

Hey, me too. I heard somewhere that the Bush Sr. pronunciation was purposeful - that it meant something like "the guy who cleans your shoes", and that Sr. was doing it to piss him off. Is this true or another urban myth? If true, maybe the Iraqis are gettin' in some licks now that he's dead and/or gone.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: MMario
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:33 AM

regarding Bush Sr.'s pronunciation of Saddam - I have heard the same pronunciation used by several Iraqi's being interviewed.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: TIA
Date: 25 Apr 03 - 08:31 AM

Had to resurrect this thread, 'cause here is a beautiful example of peculiar irony:

regarding protests associated with the war in Iraq, who just said
"...there's discussion, debate, protest -- all the hallmarks of liberty."













George W. Bush (April 24, 2003)

when asked by a reporter in Ohio whether he was concerned about the massive Shiite protests against US troops in Iraq, he responded:
"In Iraq, there's discussion, debate, protest -- all the hallmarks of liberty..."

So, it's okay for Shiites, but not for Americans?
The right wing talk show bullies are all calling for American protestors to apologize.
Will they demand that the Shiites apologize?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 05:55 AM

Doug, don't put words into my mouth. I was offering the quote as another bit of irony. As to 9/11, you say there have been many terrorist attacks on the US since 1991...I hope you haven't forgotten that one of the major ones was OK City, perpetrated by one of the US's very own. But, then you are "scared to death" so I guess that won't matter.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Sam L
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 03:37 AM

I don't know if Bush Sr.'s use of Saddam was meant ironically, but I do remember his pronunciation of it was unique, like Adam, with an S. As in the parody "The only thing this ruthless dictator understands is the clear and consistent mis-pronunciation of his name. Saddam."

It's a bit ironic and very troubling when a nation's military is so much more effective than their diplomacy.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: DougR
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 02:57 AM

kat: that was then, this is now. Er...ah...you do remember 9/11, right? A lot of terrorist activities against the U. S. have happened since 1991.

You may say, "But Saddam was not involved!" I will say, "Wait and see."

DougR

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Forum Lurker
Date: 08 Apr 03 - 12:08 AM

Troll-The possibility of winning the guerilla war may have changed; on the other hand, the Israelis in Palestine have equipment of the same quality, and soldiers with much more experience in urban fighting, and they haven't had much luck. I don't think the political problems, "turning the whole Arab world against
us, And mak(ing) a broken tyrant into a latter-day Arab hero" are any different.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Troll
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 11:03 PM

Our armed forces have technology that was not available five years ago and was certainly not available in '91. Also, our intel is better now, so, while what Bush 41 wrote in '98 about Gulf War I was accurate, it does not necessarily apply in '03.
Events on the ground seem to bear this out.

troll

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: robomatic
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 07:43 PM

I think there's multiple levels of irony involved in this affair, from multiple points of view. Whatever his faults, what W. has assessed correctly is that while technology has changed drastically, human nature has not.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: MAG
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 05:57 PM

check out Zeke Hoskin's companyhalt.com website for a take on this ..

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 04:55 PM

George W. Bush has the courage of Paul Wolfowitz's convictions.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 04:39 PM

That was an ominous find, kat...

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 04:32 PM

My apologies if this has already been posted, but my Find function didn't, well...find it, so:

"We should not march into Baghdad . . . . To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against
us, And make a broken tyrant into a latter-day Arab hero . . . assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerrilla war. It could only plunge that part of the world into even greater instability."

Former President, George Bush, in his 1998 book "A World Transformed", co-authored with his National Security Advisor, Brent Scowcroft

Looks like little Dubya didn't pay attention.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: NicoleC
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 01:59 PM

Here's an article from several years ago on Slate:

What's the Name of Saddam Hussein?

Although it doesn't go into detail on Iraqi names (for example, it ignores the Arab tradition of the name including the father and grandfather's names), it does give the fundamentals.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Forum Lurker
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 01:53 PM

Troll-Do you think maybe our hours and benefits might be related to our tax rate?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 01:24 PM

Nicole, I haven't been able to find anything to corroborate your thesis that 'Saddam' is a title. (Could it be that Saddam means 'the Destroyer', the same way that Michael (or David) means 'Beloved of God'?)

The earliest accounts of Hussein's life that I have read call him Saddam. Today he appears to be called President Saddam Hussein.

Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: NicoleC
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 01:10 PM

During the 1991 war, most of the news sources couldn't figure out what to call him at all -- and many of them were slinging arrows at each other while doing it wrong themselves :) There were any number of Muslim clery or linguists or college professors that could have pointed them in the right direction, but the only "specialists" the news channels hire are retired generals.

Bush the Elder MAY have meant it as an insult ('yeah, "the Destroyer" ha-ha'), but it seems more likely that a) no one looked up his name and told the president what to say, or b) Saddam is just easier to say -- which I have a hunch is why most of us use it.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: DougR
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 12:49 PM

It seems to me that during the 1991 war, George Bush's using "Saddam" when referring to the dictator was considered an insult, as reported by news sources. Not so?

DougR

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 07:06 AM

Or Bullwinkle the Moose.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: NicoleC
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 03:16 PM

Some middle eastern countries use family surnames in the last place, like Western names. Although this is a recent convention; it isn't historical. Historically, surnames from most of the middle east referred to a placename, much like the origins of surname in Europe.

"Saddam" is not a name, it's a title. Hussein al-Takriti is his given name (i.e. Hussein of the town of Takrit). Saddam was adopted as kind of a political name, and it means, roughly "the Destroyer."

Technically, we should use the full "Saddam Hussein" ala Ivan the Terrible or Richard the Lionheart.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Sam L
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 02:48 PM

I don't know, it may actually be a matter of Iraqi ettiquette that I'm unaware of, like gender endings of surnames in russian. Anybody know?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 01:03 AM

I've been wondering about that myself, Fred. I don't like calling him 'Saddam', sounds too chummy. On the other hand, did you see the Iraqi airport that's named after him? That's right- it's called Saddam Airport. Is it possible that Saddam is part of his surname? And his first name is something like Willie?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Troll
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:12 AM

The average worker in the US now works more hours per week than any others in the industrialized world, for fewer benefits and less time off. On the other hand, we have the lowest taxes.
JFK was the first TV President and it's been downhill from there ever since.
Like I said, it's all creative accounting; smoke and mirrors.
Do you know how to tell when you are a success as an accountant?
When they name a loophole after you.
Do you know why people go into accounting?
They don't have the personality and charisma to be a Funeral Director.
Ba-dum-bum....ching!

troll

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Sam L
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 01:14 AM

Troll,

Well, I'm not an economist, but I never saw the boom of the Clinton economy in the people around me. And I've read that the US gnp was and is counted in a different way than elsewhere, and formerly. The basic idea is if you're a baker, how many loaves of bread can you bake in a work day. But in the US we count the value, the idea that the bread is enhanced, is just better. Also, many tech advances used to be in the area of work reduction, now they are mostly work-expansion. You can work at home, in the car, on a boat, on a plane. It's hard to count the baker's hours, baking those loaves, anymore. And the added values especially in the computer and digital industry are hard to account for in terms of real value to anyone. How many of the things your computer could do do you ever get around to using?

    If we have to have tv presidents--they're all repulsive, Clinton biting his lower lip, acting EARNEST as HELL, or Bush wrinkling his brow, acting like he's Thinking--if we must, I suppose Clinton did the right thing in cheerleading the economy. Because that can add up, actually, I suppose.

   I think Saddam deposed is important in and of itself. The means is a question. But it's odd how it's been the thing to call him by his first name, as Bush does, in posing questions about how nations feel about "Saddam". Substitute any familiar-sounding name and it sounds like one is discussing how to kill a playground bully. Even Hitler was "Mr.Hitler" in the news back then.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,Cliint Keller
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:10 PM

Well, I understand GWB himself said there was a surplus, so we could lower (some) taxes and keep spending. Would George deceive us?

clint.

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Troll
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:10 PM

How Clinton managed to get that surplus with a Republican dominated Congress has always puzzled me, Kendall. How'd he do it? And where did Bush spend the money?
Or is the whole thing just smoke and mirrors; the surplus only existed on paper and it wasn't spent, the Govt. just changed bookkeepers.

troll

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: NicoleC
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 08:16 PM

But haven't you heard? There will be no Saddam on a stick -- it's been declared that we don't have to get Saddam to "win."

Which is a good thing, after all, since we've been having a little trouble actually finding those pesky enemies lately. And no doubt 40 years from now, people will be reporting the saw Saddam or bin Laden living in Brazil -- roomies in the house Hitler used to live in in *his* ninties :)

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:17 PM

He's not sleeping as well as he used to, kat... seems the war dead are starting to pay him nightly visits, as they will for the rest of eternity... sad for him... the only thing that can redeem his soul at this point is Saddam's head on a stick. Not much redemption there...

Clinton didn't just have 'elicit' sex, he was 'set up' and persued by an informant prostitute, a self fulfilling prophecy directed by entrapment oriented right wing fledgelings...

I have had a taste of that nonsense myself... girls decide to nail you... get you hot... when you're not... ttr

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 02:07 PM

LH, the shrub certainly thinks his mission is Divine. Commerce Secretary Evans was quoted as saying this about him: He understands that he is the one person in the country, in this case really the one person in the world, who has a responsibility to protect and defend freedom.

One person in the whole wide world...wow...how does he sleep at night?!

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:51 PM

It's politics, baby. Politics is a game some people play to WIN, not to render service to the public. There may be a certain crew in charge now who literally believe they are rendering service to Almighty God in launching a war in the Middle East, however, and if so, that is very dangerous. In any case, whatever way you look at it, they are playing to "win" (on their terms). That means most of us lose.

- LH

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: kendall
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 09:49 AM

It's common practice for the opposition to mis quote their "enemy" and, the republicans are very good at that! They are downright paranoid about a democrat getting elected.

A classic case, in Florida, Claude Pepper was running for re election, and his republican opponent had people going around telling the truth about Pepper. Problem was, the people had no clue what the words meant; all they knew was, they sounded bad. The statement was:

When Claude Pepper's wife lived up north, she "matriculated with thespians."

We all know about Nixon and his dirty tricks dept.
He came in promising us law and order and to uphold the constitution. He gave us,
Breaking and entering
Perjury
Lies
extreme paranoia.
Reagan came in with a promise of balance the budget. He never even SUBMITTED one.
Iran- Contra
Arms for hostages
He left with a 5 trillion dollar debt.

Clinton came in with a promise to end welfare as we know it. He did it. He left with a huge surplus, which "resident Bush" spent along with every bit of goodwill we had after 9 11
Clinton gets a little nooky on the side, Reagan lies to us on TV, yet Clinton gets tarred and featherd while "the actor" gets an airport named after him.
Can someone explain how our priorities got so screwed up?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Alasdair
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 06:42 AM

Illicit sex is both fun and natural. Illicit war, well, I guess that depends on your perspective

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:03 AM

Me again. For a really funny take on the FIRST Gulf War, read "George Carlin on the Bush War," available at

http://www.the-broadside.com/satire.htm

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:00 AM

It's quite funny (and sad) that the entire country was in an uproar about Clinton's sexual behaviour in the White House, and yet when Bush commits his military masturbation, the people are divided on the issue.

What is worse, illicit sex or illicit war?

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:46 PM

Thanks for the surprised guffaw, Rick!

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 03:43 PM

As gayly we go off to war, for reasons sure unknown
To get a taste of blood and gore, with billions in bombs thrown
Our president, the resident, T'will think on nothing else
Persistant gent, not hesitant, nor guilesome with his stealth

Betwixt and t'ween, with peaceful lean, does Europe wish conclusions
Our standard mean, a deviant dean, ignores allied collusions
This road is clear, both far and near, of happy resolutions
Instead we've fear, all in one ear, deriding constitutions.
ttr

PS. Make peace, people!

Subject: RE: Peculiar Irony
From: GUEST, heric
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 02:28 PM

I think it depends on what the definition of "that woman" is. I think he was referring to a woman off camera at the taping. Or to Marlo Thomas, perhaps.