Comments for Inside Washington Weekly

Comment on Obama’s “bitter” comments, Bill brings up Bosnia, Countdown to Pennsylvania by Berin Szoka

Berin Szoka — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:16:20 +0000

I wasn’t surprised when, after Dave Weigel mentioned seeing Ron Paul signs all over Pennsylvania in the lead-up to the primary, Jamie Kirchick immediately commented on the number of white supremacists in the state. It doesn’t surprise me that Jamie continues to slander the dedicated “lumpenlibertariat” of Ron Paul supporters by writing them all off as bigots, but I was shocked that not one of the other panelists took the slightest offense at this and that Dave Weigel intead wise-cracked that the white supremacists were splitting their vote between Paul and Clinton.

You don’t have to be a fan of Dr. Paul to recognize how grossly unfair this is to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have supported Paul’s unprecedentedly libertarian campaign. Shame on all of you. Silly me for thinking that AFF was supposed to be in any way a libertarian organization.

I look forward to hearing more from Mr. Kichick about how anyone who doesn’t agree with his neo-conservative, openly militarist and imperialist pseudo-libertarian agenda is a bigot.

Comment on Obama’s “bitter” comments, Bill brings up Bosnia, Countdown to Pennsylvania by David Donar

David Donar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:37:50 +0000

Barack has a bad habit of taking a mental nap when he has a lead. I know his intentions were to paint a realistic picture of the plight of midwestern industry, but take a cue from John McCain who lost the Michigan primary…the truth can hurt and so can losing a political campaign.

http://politicalgrafitti.blogspot.com/2008/04/bitter-midwesterners.html

Comment on Obamentum, Hillary’s last stand, and Mike Huckapain by Patriot

Patriot — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:47:42 +0000

So here we are, heading into the 2008 presidential election. The Democrats have been blessed with several good candidates, currently narrowed down to two great choices. Two candidates so good people can’t choose. And though Democrats are energized by the possibility of real improvement, the bitterness remains from two terms of the Bush administration.

Why isn’t all that behind them now? Because, they still wonder if anything has been learned, and whether Bush supporters can connect the dots. The Democrats want unification, but wonder if Republicans share this “value.” Put aside the fact that there will be no apology about the Iraq war–though we told you so–because many conservatives still believe in the Bush Doctrine, in unilateralism, preemption, and well, “strategery.”

And of course conservatives are still doing their spin, incorrectly referring to redeployment as “cut and run,” and now increasingly referring to universal health “socialized medicine” (you need to look that up) and a whole laundry list of sound bites.

That’s not what is really bugging liberals and moderates right now. Though Hillary is very qualified for the presidency, Republicans hate her; perhaps more than Democrats detest good ole Dubya and the incompetence of his administration. Okay then, we present to you Obama, who is another fine candidate.

But there’s no appeasing the Republicans. If they can get past Obama’s middle name, then the problem is he’s an unknown, even secretive, perhaps the anti-Christ? Well not only is that untrue (and even ignorant), these folks have short memories.

Beyond the Bush family name, how vetted was George W. Bush? Did these folks bother to learn who he really was before supporting him? No! If they had, they would have learned of his DUI, mediocre academic record, playing hooky during service in the National Guard, failures as a business man, etc. Ross Perot should have made folks wary (that was a close call), but conservatives still seem resistant to doing the homework. Is it part of the anti-intellectualism movement that they don’t do research?

Obama has written a couple of books, one of which is about his life, and a very forthcoming book at that. The media has not always done its job, but Obama’s background has been discussed openly on the news—-perhaps not on FOX—-but on other broadcasts, which have even provided in-depth biographical documentaries on presidential candidates including Obama. I went on Google and found credible articles in seconds (please note the word “credible”). Even Obama’s wife Michelle was interviewed by Larry King, and what an excellent job she did. I’d like to know more about McCain’s wife, but no one seems to be curious about that.

What is it that the conservatives feel is being hidden from them, and more importantly, why don’t they have these same concerns about their own candidates? I think about Al Gore’s book and the Rule of Reason, and realize I’d prefer if this was just propagandistic spin. But unfortunately, I don’t think it is. It is failure to connect the dots, which means history will repeat itself. That’s the deeper problem that continues to bug Democrats and Independents like me.

Comment on Bill Clinton’s flip flop on Iraq, Giuliani’s skeletons, Huckabee’s rise, the CNN/YouTube debate by J. Castiglione

J. Castiglione — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:03:17 +0000

con·ser·va·tive (kn-sûrv-tv)
adj.
1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.
2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.
3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.
4.
a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.
b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.
5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.
7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.
n.
1. One favoring traditional views and values.
2. A supporter of political conservatism.
3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.
4. Archaic A preservative agent or principle.

Hello!
I thought I was a conservative…I voted for Bush and Reagan etc. way back as far as Kennedy (when I was a Democrat)
But one day, I woke up! I gave it all a good hard look and lots of thought.
I realised all that talk of Patriotism and flag waving and being proud, which I always admired….was just talk…talk to bring a tear to your eyes….feel good flag waving…(I still honor the flag…but I will not love our flag above a human life.)
When our leader honors others above his own family, the American family who elected him…this wonderful United States of America family…and sends ALL of our resources and human lives to other lands…and ignores US and our poor, and our children and our people without jobs, and our American auto co’s etc…then….Dear God, I cannot call myself a Conservative anymore!!
It’s shameful, when our leadership has ignored US so badly….and then has the gall to speak of Patriotism & Pride!!
Over 600,000 people have experienced homelessness at some time in their lives, and 23% of those are our Veterans!!…the jobless rate is soaring, and yet we keeping moving the plants to other countries!! Over 200,000 Veterans have come home to find no work.
Conservative?? I guess I am not. If you look at #1 up there in the definition of “Conservative” I am half that. I have values and beliefs that I adhere to….but…I believe it is now the time for change (I’m not speaking of voting Democratic here either)
It’s time for people to change their hearts, and begin asking themselves “What is really right?”
Thank You For letting me voice my opinion! Janice Castiglione

Comment on Obama’s South Carolina victory, Bill Clinton’s role in Hillary’s campaign, Florida’s Republican primary by Jack's Son

Jack's Son — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:49:27 +0000

If Hiliary is elected president then that means that a majority of the voters have this time decided to install her as the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces. I suppose that makes Bill the First Man, with not a whole lot to do except manage the female aids. That sounds like the fox guarding the hen house dosen’t it. But wait, Bill can also devote quite a bit of time to his foundation and contributors. What a deal, it sounds like having your cake and eating it too. Or to make the situation even more profoundly absurd if something happens to Hiliary then Bill’s back. Vote Republican and your worst concerns are over.

Comment on The latest from the campaign trail and Ron Paul’s newsletters by branden

branden — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:38:19 +0000

Ron Paul is the least racist of all the candidates. Why is it that the most racists are calling him a racist? Oh, because deceit is what they do.

“Newslettergate: Did Dondero Do It?”

http://libertariansurge.blogspot.com/2008/01/newslettergate-did-dondero-do-it.html

Comment on Larry Craig, Hillary’s lead, Republican fundraising, Rush Limbaugh, and SCHIP by Chris L.

Chris L. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:05:32 +0000

Excellent panelists! Thoughtful and analytical. Have these guys on here more often.

Comment on Gonzales’s resignation, Guiliani’s upcoming 9/11 speech, and Larry Craig’s visit to the bathroom by Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 16:39:35 +0000

While I realize to be relevent it’s impossible to not address issues of the day, but frankly I think I’d enjoy IWW more if it had brief headline discussion 5 minutes or less, then a big topic, then your below the fold segement. More following the model of the AFF Roundtables and addressed upcoming issues and/or the future of Libertarian-Republican relations on a particular issue. This seems to be AFFs policy strength, I only listen to 50% of the current shows because of topics I hear everywhere else.

Comment on The Iowa Straw Poll, Fred Thompson’s campaign, Karl Rove’s departure, and Giuliani’s family by Shimmy

Shimmy — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:19:24 +0000

Karl Rove, unemployed, rubs his cheek against the bathtub spigot because he misses that heavy, stick-to-your-ribs Ukrainian home cooking. Karl Rove capitulated completely, offering total loyalty as he accepted the position of White House Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda: “I love him,” Karl Rove wrote, rubbing his chubby little hands together, “because he has thought through everything. Such a sparkling mind can be my leader. I bow to the greater one, the political genius, the President of the War on Terror.” Karl Rove rubbing his porcine body along an arm or leg of its human is not only a way in which to attract attention (and perhaps a morsel of food); it is also a way of “marking” the United States as his own.

Comment on Bloomberg, Giuliani and the ISG, Torture, and the Take Back America straw poll by Joe Strummer

Joe Strummer — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:58:35 +0000

Why did anyone let Continetti get away with his statement that we shouldn’t be so quick to call Abu Ghraib torture and that what we need is an open discussion about torture. The last thing this administration has wanted was an open discussion on torture, and the last thing that their allies in Congress and in the Weekly Standard have permitted is an open discussion. Instead, they trotted out fictional 24 scenes and then told those of us opposed to torture that we were unpatriotic or treasonous because we didn’t want to permit such acts that Jack Bauer routinely deploys on Fox tv. What a crock.