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Neocons ‘pushed’ mindless Bush into ‘idiotic war’ — Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews on Hardball last night, at 13:00 or so

One other applaud for your dad [Ronald Reagan]. I will say this, he would not have taken us into that idiotic war in Iraq. No way in the world would the neocons have pushed him into that war like they did with that guy W who had nothing in his head to fight back with.

This is an important moment from the streetsmart sage. Even though the Israel lobby has paid for Matthews to go to Israel, and MSNBC refuses to come clean on the junkets, he knows why we went to war in Iraq, because of a feverish ideology that captured a stupid president. Joe Klein explained this long ago, as did Walt and Mearsheimer. Don’t confuse the issue with talk about oil (the Russians and the Chinese have the big concessions now), or American imperialism (Iraq is now against the U.S. on Iran) or Cheney or Bush being deciders. The neocons had a powerful theory, and powerful positions. They were the best and the brightest all over again; and many of them were ultra-Zionists.

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Yeah yeah yeah Chris Matthews has made strong statements about how stupid the invasion of Iraq was and that is a good thing. Chris Matthews had Bill Kristol, David Frum, Frank Gaffney etc on before the invasion allowing them to repeat their WMD dangerous hooey. He did lightly challenge them. But he did not go so far as to have those who were seriously questioning the validity of that “pack of lies” like former weapons inspector Scott Ritter (inspector in Iraq for close to 8 years,) Former President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Zbig, former CIA analyst Flynt Leverett, Prof Cole, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern…all of these folks were questioning the intelligence before the invasion. Matthews could have easily had them on. Now he might have gotten fired like Phil Donahue but Matthews balls had all ready shriveled..too worried about his paycheck. Ok the MSM royally f—ed up before the invasion of Iraq that is why many of us went on line for our news.

But now let’s just say Chris Matthews had learned his lesson (but he has not) he could easily have on middle east experts on who are questioning the push for an attack on Iran and questioning the validity of the claims that Israel and the I lobby are making about Iran like Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett..come on these folks are serious professionals. He could have on Professor Juan Cole, Mearsheimer and Walt. Weapons inspector Robert Kelly who is questioning the claims about Iran being made. Guess what? Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, etc do not go there. They make no effort to have legitimate and professional experts on these issues on their shows to help inform the public about IAEA reports etc. Nope Rachel repeats the unsubstantiated claims and Matthews just allows that space to stay neutral…silent.

Lessons learned from Iraq in the MSM…0

I think it is interesting how often Hollywood folks and lay folks alike are using Iran as an example of the bad bad bad guys. Normalizing demonizing Iran. Larry Davis did it during his young people go vote spot (Chris Matthews showed it) I had a friend on facebook do it this morning. Using Iran as the example of the bad bad bad guy is common place now just the way the neocons wanted it. Rachel Maddow does it. Terri Gross has done it a great great deal. Have not been listening to her as of late.

Normalizing demonizing Iran. Done deal

Clear as a bell, Phil. Short, smart, and direct. Nailed it.

Add General Clark–7/8 min.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m58jF8_KgzI

We really dilute the message when we allow people to mealy-mouth this (and write interminable inches obfuscating it…especially in the age of twitter). The ‘sunshine’ on the web are direct clear statements like this. ‘This is who caused it. Bam‘.

The war in Iraq had its own logic. It was more than just revenge and elite incompetence. Stimulus spending that got the US out of the recession of 2002. Debt added to the national account. US taxpayers are now seeing the bill. Would you like Medicare or a balanced budget ?

On mindlessness

Romney Blasts Supreme Court, Calling Health-Care Act “Worst Idea I Ever Had”

Posted by Andy Borowitz

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Just minutes after the Supreme Court upheld President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney slammed the Court, calling the law “the worst idea I ever had.”

“I vow to repeal this law on my first day in office,” he told a crowd at a campaign rally. “Until then, I will work tirelessly to make people forget that I used to totally love it.”

At the White House, President Obama greeted the news of the Court’s decision in muted fashion: “I haven’t been this pumped since I smoked bin Laden.”

Dissenters in the 5-4 decision included Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote, “The only medical procedures the government should pay for are forced transvaginal ultrasounds and exorcisms.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also had harsh words for the health-care law, telling reporters, “Under Obamacare, you will be forced to marry a gay doctor.”

But perhaps the most negative appraisal came from Speaker of the House John Boehner: “This is a dark day for America. If we are forced to have health care, it’s only a matter of time before we have education.”
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Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/06/romney-blasts-supreme-court-calling-affordable-care-act-worst-idea-i-ever-had.html#ixzz24Uoe69ul