Blogcritics Comments on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Comment by Dave Nalle on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:17:22 EST

In a parliamentary democracy one can have communists within the government and not have a communist government. Is France a communist country? Is Spain, is Italy, is Germany, is England? Well, they all have communists serving in public office at one level or another. Dave ]]>

Comment by Temple Stark on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:10:23 EST

Is South Africa a communist country, then? A couple of reporter friends I have there would be most surprised. ]]>

Comment by Scott on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 19:28:45 EST

"Which would be charming, but makes no sense in context." It's called a joke Dave. Humor doesn't work on the internet I guess. My bad. By the way, Dick Cheney just stuck his head in the door and told me to fuck off. I told him it was charming but out of context. ]]>

Comment by Dave Nalle on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 19:20:27 EST

Mandela has many fine qualities, but even he would admit he's a communist. As for his release from jail, I'm not sure how Cheney who at that time was in the US Congress would have had any ability to vote one way or another to free Mandela from jail, since that would be the domain of the South African government, not the US government. Dave ]]>

Comment by RJ on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 18:07:21 EST

Mandela is pretty much a communist. He's pretty chummy with Castro... ]]>

Comment by HW Saxton on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 16:57:21 EST

I think that the Bush administration are pure evil.Dick Cheney in particular is a real fucking prick in my book. He called Nelson Mandela a communist for his work to help end apartheid and voted AGAINST his(Nelson Mandela's)release from prison back in the day. What a nice guy! ]]>

Comment by Dave Nalle on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Wed, 2 Feb 2005 01:12:09 EST

RJ: Not the reporters from FOXNEWS. They were at polling places. As were the ones I was watching on MSNBC and the BBC and second hand I've heard that Al Arabiya AND Al Jazeera also had reporters at polling places. Now, they may have been selected polling places, but at one point Geraldo was inside Baghdad. Scott:Did Dave Nalle vote for Bush? Me thinks so. On what basis? Because I don't hate and despise him? I don't hate and despise Kerry either. Does that mean I voted for Kerry? In fact, I voted for my friend and neighbor Michael Badnarik. But had I been in a swing state I might have voted for Bush. Scott: I don't know, Dave. If you told Dick Cheney that, he might tell you to fuck off. Which would be charming, but makes no sense in context. Dave ]]>

Comment by Scott on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 22:46:12 EST

Did Dave Nalle vote for Bush? Me thinks so. "I don't think that Bush or his administration are inherently evil." I don't know, Dave. If you told Dick Cheney that, he might tell you to fuck off. ]]>

Comment by RJ on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 21:57:05 EST

"the reporting of the results was done under pretty severe press conditions (as in the press generally couldn't go to the actual polling places)" Not the reporters from FOXNEWS. They were at polling places. ]]>

Comment by Dave Nalle on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 19:29:43 EST

Actually, Z does come after A+B, just not immediately after it. I may have perhaps drawn his comments out to their logical conclusions. Sort of like Z being the inevitable end of what starts with A+B. BTP just doesn't seem to have much confidence in anything in Iraq working out well - or more specifically he assumes that if Bush is involved only evil can be the outcome. I think it's too soon to feel that way and I don't think that Bush or his administration are inherently evil. Dave ]]>

Comment by Temple Stark on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 19:17:55 EST

Then you're a cynical pessimist who has lost faith in America, BTP. Dave, that was a complete disconnect from what BTP wrote. Whether he's right or wrong, Z doesn't come after A+B. ]]>

Comment by Dave Nalle on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 19:06:51 EST

Then you're a cynical pessimist who has lost faith in America, BTP. The president isn't in control here - he rarely is - American public opinion is in control. As for Iraq, it sounds very much like Ayatollah Sistani is in control and he's a very sharp, relatively moderate guy. He's neither pro nor anti American, not an enemy of political diversity, and not a complete religious crazy. The best thing is that he doesn't want to personally be in charge - unlike some other Ayatollahs who live next door. Oh, regarding statues, have you heard that the Mayor of Baghdad wants to put up a statue of President Bush? No further details of his plan have been forthcoming, but it's not something I would have expected. Dave ]]>

Comment by Big Time Patriot on Spinning the Iraqi Election

Tue, 1 Feb 2005 17:43:57 EST

Elections are nice... Saddam had them, Cuba has them... I think it is in general a good thing. The day when ex-CIA employee Allawi leaves office and is replaced by someone elected by Iraqi's will be a bit more of a real proof of Democracy. Elections only go so far, I recall a year when our elected President had the SECOND most total of votes cast by Americans... So enjoy the elections, keep in mind that the reporting of the results was done under pretty severe press conditions (as in the press generally couldn't go to the actual polling places). The video of Iraqi's celebrating is nice, but don't forget the widely desseminated video of Saddam's statue being "spontaneously" torn down, which later turns out to have been done under the suggestion of armed American soldiers.... I hope to god that democracy DOES take hold, but am not at all convinced that it is the TRUE wish of the administration. After all, a President who can't face an opposition t-shirt in his personal appearances doesn't imbue me with confidence that he would let an anti-american candidate actual take the leadership of Iraq at some point. ]]>