Comments on: Hitchens to Debate Galloway http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/ Free Minds, Free Markets, Free Booze Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:50:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Danimal http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1558 Danimal Wed, 14 Sep 2005 02:28:49 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1558 That's just it, Casey: whoever is in charge of a country DOES have to rationalize these deals with the devil. Whereas the peanut gallery is free to pick and choose whatever is their view of the morally cleanest foreign policy. So why let Galloway, a member of said peanut gallery, off for choosing the morally dirtiest? It makes no sense. (Also, regarding the peanut gallery: Not that you or I will ever be President, but I guarantee you'd ditch the Pat Buchanan school about 5 hours after your inauguration. What would Pat Buchanan do at Yalta? And if it's really "America first baby!", and the best thing for America at a given time is a temporary alliance with a murderous despot, why are we arguing?) That’s just it, Casey: whoever is in charge of a country DOES have to rationalize these deals with the devil.

Whereas the peanut gallery is free to pick and choose whatever is their view of the morally cleanest foreign policy. So why let Galloway, a member of said peanut gallery, off for choosing the morally dirtiest? It makes no sense.

(Also, regarding the peanut gallery: Not that you or I will ever be President, but I guarantee you’d ditch the Pat Buchanan school about 5 hours after your inauguration. What would Pat Buchanan do at Yalta? And if it’s really “America first baby!”, and the best thing for America at a given time is a temporary alliance with a murderous despot, why are we arguing?)

]]> By: Casey http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1557 Casey Wed, 14 Sep 2005 00:38:25 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1557 Hey, rationalize it anyway you want. Personally, I don't see how you can draw a distinction between the Sauds and Sadamn (who Rummy held hands with not too long ago) other than the Sauds have more shit we collectivley want. Then again I'm from the Pat Buchanan school of foreign policy. America first baby! Hey, rationalize it anyway you want. Personally, I don’t see how you can draw a distinction between the Sauds and Sadamn (who Rummy held hands with not too long ago) other than the Sauds have more shit we collectivley want. Then again I’m from the Pat Buchanan school of foreign policy. America first baby!

]]> By: Danimal http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1556 Danimal Tue, 13 Sep 2005 23:36:00 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1556 Casey, however galling the tighty-tight relationship between the Bush family and the Saudi Royals may be, as a general matter it is a diplomatic impossibility for the United States to be tough on every repressive regime at once. Reality dictates that the enemy of your enemy must sometimes be your friend. Galloway, however, is not the leader of a nation; it is not necessary for him to make nice with the occasional maniac. Rather, he seems to take a perverse thrill in cozying up to whoever happens to be worst at the time: the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein, Syria, Hezbollah, al-Zarqawi . . . unfailingly, he favors repression over freedom. An odd, dare I say, looney position for a democratic politician to take. Casey, however galling the tighty-tight relationship between the Bush family and the Saudi Royals may be, as a general matter it is a diplomatic impossibility for the United States to be tough on every repressive regime at once. Reality dictates that the enemy of your enemy must sometimes be your friend.

Galloway, however, is not the leader of a nation; it is not necessary for him to make nice with the occasional maniac. Rather, he seems to take a perverse thrill in cozying up to whoever happens to be worst at the time: the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein, Syria, Hezbollah, al-Zarqawi . . . unfailingly, he favors repression over freedom. An odd, dare I say, looney position for a democratic politician to take.

]]> By: Timothy http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1555 Timothy Tue, 13 Sep 2005 23:03:25 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1555 Yes, because sucking up to the Saudis is exactly the same as telling Saddam: "Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability." Sucking up to the Saudis is, at least, the traditional passtime of all world-leaders. Yes, because sucking up to the Saudis is exactly the same as telling Saddam: “Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.”

Sucking up to the Saudis is, at least, the traditional passtime of all world-leaders.

]]> By: Casey http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1554 Casey Tue, 13 Sep 2005 22:43:27 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1554 I don't think Galloway is the only politician supporting repressive regimes. Who was that guy that W was holding hands with in Crawford again? http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0426/dailyUpdate.html I don’t think Galloway is the only politician supporting repressive regimes. Who was that guy that W was holding hands with in Crawford again?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0426/dailyUpdate.html

]]> By: Timothy http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1553 Timothy Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:09:45 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1553 Charlie In The Trees! Charlie In The Trees!

]]> By: bryan http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1552 bryan Tue, 13 Sep 2005 19:37:04 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1552 Perhaps it's only a matter of time before Jane is doing photo ops with insurgents' rocket launchers-- didn't she promise not to concern herself with matters like these when she begged the American public's forgiveness for laying about on VietCong tanks back in her glory days? Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before Jane is doing photo ops with insurgents’ rocket launchers– didn’t she promise not to concern herself with matters like these when she begged the American public’s forgiveness for laying about on VietCong tanks back in her glory days?

]]> By: Ian http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1551 Ian Tue, 13 Sep 2005 19:23:38 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1551 I think it's perfectly acceptable to call someone who supports the Assad family a loon. You'd have to be crazy to think that such an incredibly repressive regime is good for the Syrian people and world community as a whole. Well, either that or a financial beneficiary. I think it’s perfectly acceptable to call someone who supports the Assad family a loon. You’d have to be crazy to think that such an incredibly repressive regime is good for the Syrian people and world community as a whole. Well, either that or a financial beneficiary.

]]> By: Olly http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1550 Olly Tue, 13 Sep 2005 18:48:37 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1550 Dan: according to Urban Dictionary it's a "senseless fucker tryin to diss ya out. Casey: Galloway is a loon and worse. (When I say "loon" I mean that he is a proponent of political ideologies I find repugnant. I don't mean, for instance, that he would be mentally incompetent to stand trial.) From an American standpoint, it's easy to find him voguish and titillating - after all, he's anti-Bush, right? - but I think this would be a serious error for reasonable Americans to make. Here are a few pointers. It's an over-used saying, but I really think it holds for Gorgeous George: he's not anti-war, he's just on the other side. Dan: according to Urban Dictionary it’s a “senseless fucker tryin to diss ya out.

Casey: Galloway is a loon and worse. (When I say “loon” I mean that he is a proponent of political ideologies I find repugnant. I don’t mean, for instance, that he would be mentally incompetent to stand trial.) From an American standpoint, it’s easy to find him voguish and titillating - after all, he’s anti-Bush, right? - but I think this would be a serious error for reasonable Americans to make. Here are a few pointers.

It’s an over-used saying, but I really think it holds for Gorgeous George: he’s not anti-war, he’s just on the other side.

]]> By: Danimal http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1549 Danimal Tue, 13 Sep 2005 18:40:37 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1549 Well, Casey, if only all Galloway had to say was "Iraq was a bad idea." That I can get with, but that's not the looney bits, is it? Well, Casey, if only all Galloway had to say was “Iraq was a bad idea.” That I can get with, but that’s not the looney bits, is it?

]]> By: Casey http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1548 Casey Tue, 13 Sep 2005 18:22:34 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1548 Galloway is no more a "loon" than Hitchens is. Say what you want about Galloway, but so far, nothing that has happened in Iraq has proved wrong his opinion that it was a bad idea. I don't think Hitch could say the same. Galloway is no more a “loon” than Hitchens is. Say what you want about Galloway, but so far, nothing that has happened in Iraq has proved wrong his opinion that it was a bad idea. I don’t think Hitch could say the same.

]]> By: Danimal http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1547 Danimal Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:19:51 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2005/09/13/hitchens-to-debate-galloway/#comment-1547 Before this round begins, could Olly please help us 'Merkuns to understand what "popinjay" means? Before this round begins, could Olly please help us ‘Merkuns to understand what “popinjay” means?

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