Sounds like the author of the book in question did his homework, whereas the "author" of this silly rant did not--only threw spaghetti propaganda at the wall and prayed that it would stick.

It didn't.

Al asks rhetorically (he thinks) whether attempting diplomacy with the Iranian regime will do any good.

How does he know it won't? Has the Bush administration even tried?

At all?

So until then -

Doctor, I think it's Kessler's obligation to demonstrate that diplomacy would have worked with Iran. I don't know if he does that in his book, but that'd be a heck of a feat if he does. Anyway, Brzezinski is the last guy I'd listen to about Iran.

Al has it pretty much on the ball.

Kessler basically regurgitates the usual Known Facts of the Democratic Party against Rice, especially concerning Iran, without acknowledging the theocratic, fascist nature of the Iranian regime and its eliminationist policies towards the Jews. Further, he assumes that there have been no negotiations with the Iranians. That is hogwash. Rice has been negotiating with them since 2006; their answer was to incite the Israel-Hezbollah War.

Liberals like Kessler assume Rice is at fault because she does not advocate that America wear a hair shirt and a "Kick Me" sign. She's a Republican. Democrats do that. You know; like Brezezinski and his crowd during the Hostage Crisis?

Regardless, and avoiding the stampede of straw horses, it appears that Rice has never done anything remarkable, AND she managed to overlook the famous August 2001 report that said OBL was determined to attack in the USA.

Her lack of initiative confirmed the opinion I formed of her when she worked here in the Stanford area: she's a facile speaker and knows how to get the job but doesn't know how to do it.

I would love for events to prove me wrong because her decisions are important to my survival and welfare, but alas, she just keeps on stumbling through her responsibilities.

In the end she just appears to me to be another of the incompetent yes-people that GWB has elevated to an undeserved position.

Wrong, she HAS done something remarkable: When folks were drowning in New Orleans she was buying an entire new wardrobe of Ferragamo shoes at the flagship store in New York.

If that behavior is not worth remarking on, I would really shiver to see WHAT behavior WAS.

Baronius: It is NO ONE's resposibility to demonstrate that diplomacy WOULD work with Iran (where do you get the would HAVE, BTW--has Cheney dropped the bomb on Tehran without telling us?).

The responsibility is to ENGAGE in diplomacy, not threats and gringo bravado--and that is incumbent on the US government--not on the author of a book that you didn't read but are taking to task anyway.

This place has become fucking Through the Looking Glass.

Yes Moonraven, Republicans are Evil Incarnate. But what exactly was the Secretary of State supposed to do about Katrina? Was she supposed to launch a diplomatic effort with the almighty to stop an act of God? Is it that we were all morally required to be in sackcloth and ashes during the storm, lest someone think that life goes on even during natural disasters?

The trip to the ferragamo store was an act which showed a complete lack of:

1. common sense

2. common decency

and that she thumbed her Aunt Jemima nose at all the OTHER african-americans who were dying in New Orleans,

and that she did it with YOUR tax dollars, since YOU pay her salary.

A firing squad is too good for people like her.

BTW, there is only one political party in the US--the Repubocrats--or the Demopublicans. This is not a partisan issue, but one of appropriate behavior.

The cynical bitch Rice could have phoned in her fucking shoe order, or handled it by email with the store. But NO, she had to trot her ass in there in full public view and spend federal tax dollars while no money was getting to the seat of the disaster.

Maybe you are too good for a firing squad, too, if you defend her behavior.

"The cynical bitch Rice..."

"...she thumbed her Aunt Jemima nose..."

Misogyny AND racism in just ONE afternoon.

Well done!

"The trip to the ferragamo store was an act which showed a complete lack of:

1. common sense

2. common decency

and that she thumbed her Aunt Jemima nose at all the OTHER african-americans who were dying in New Orleans,

and that she did it with YOUR tax dollars, since YOU pay her salary.

A firing squad is too good for people like her."

What arrant nonsense.

Al (#8) - Yeah, the Bureau of Indian Affairs didn't do anything to help out in New Orleans either. Or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. What's that about? I even heard that the superintendent of schools for Columbia SC stayed home with the flu!

Not racist nor misogynist, swamp creature. Wrong, as usual.

Want me to recommend an ESL program for you in South Florida?

Rice has CHOSEN the role of Toady to a Halfwit--that IS the Aunt Jemima role--I am tempted to say, in spades....and has sold out African-American´--especially the ones who DID live in New Orleans.

If Ferragamo made shoes from African-American skin that bitch would order every pair.

Moon, that last comment was swampcreaturist.

(Why am I doing this?)

If calling you a bitch is misogynistic, calling her one is, too.

You describe her as an Aunt Jemima only because she IS black. If she were another race, you'd use another term.

Ergo, it's racist.

Fish in a barrel.

MR's racism and sexism is pretty well established at this point. Having her come right out and use blatant slurs like 'aunt jemima' is not a big surprise.

Dave

"But what exactly was the Secretary of State supposed to do about Katrina?"

Well, for one thing there were millions of $$$ of relief pledged and committed by foreign nations (Kuwait put in $50million), so while the rest of the admin stood aside and let NOLA die she could have done some could in vetting the pledges and assuring that the money was properly directed. Since the GWB domestic admin just stood on the sidelines and watched.

They could have used the help, too, because NOLA is having trouble getting the money and getting it to the right people.

Oh, but I forgot. This is the USA STATE department which is long committed to NEVER serving the interests of mere citizens but only the interests of US businesses. they don't really like grubby ordinary people.

Bliffle, domestic disaster relief just ain't the job of the State Department. She's got bigger fish to fry, like trying to get a handle on the Iranians, and maybe more international co-operation in Iraq and stuff like that.

Whereas, in the childish fantasies of some leftist types, everybody in the frickin' government should stop everything else going on in the nation to personally Do Something about whatever little crisis is on the top of their personal little consciousness this week.

I suppose Condi could have gone to NOLA and rented out a little boat to go personally rescuing people, like Sean Penn.

"..domestic disaster relief just ain't the job of the State Department."

Apparently, in this administration, it's nobodies job.

Why do they try so hard to GET the job and then not DO it?

"Baronius: It is NO ONE's resposibility to demonstrate that diplomacy WOULD work with Iran (where do you get the would HAVE, BTW--has Cheney dropped the bomb on Tehran without telling us?).

The responsibility is to ENGAGE in diplomacy, not threats and gringo bravado--and that is incumbent on the US government--not on the author of a book that you didn't read but are taking to task anyway."

---------------------

This is a huge, hideous army of straw men. Rice has been engaging in direct diplomacy with the Iranians since 2006. Assertions otherwise are transparent lies.

The Iranians value the atomic bomb more than they value relations with the United States. What part of this don't you get?

For liberals, it is always America's fault when some overseas fascist commits an offense. In that respect, liberals haven't changed since the cold war.

"For liberals, it is always America's fault..."

Adding your own strawman to the horde, section?

Awww, here I thought you were taking a stand against such spurious reasoning.

I really want to see that bitch get out there and FRY THOSE BIGGER FISH you fools are slavering on about.

I believe they are only CATFISH.

And if that Aunt Jemima phony can make a decent bowl of collard greens and some grits on the side, I will take it all back.

Meanwhile, I believe she has had some nice handbags made from the skin of the Katrina victims--almost a perfect match with the stiletto(e)s.

Lots of guys on this site are clearly into being dominated.