Good to see you around.

And I completely agree with you.

It is simply that I am fed up with much of what is going on in the world of politics. I am far happier - and far, far, far calmer - watching rented movies and an occasional local news broadcast instead of the stuff discussed here.

Nothing against anyone or anything here. I just find myself far happier.

There are times I want to curl up in a ball and chant "Koyaanisqatsi" after reading about some (much) of the stuff going on in the world.

To happiness...

to "The Shire" until the world is at peace. Once and for all, an end to senseless wars over religion, power and more money for the rich. If not my lifetime, perhaps in future generations.

Ignorance is bliss. I couldn't agree more.

would like to hear why you give Obama 10% of the blame? Is it because he did not fight harder to keep troops in Iraq? Because other than that excuse I am really really struggling to allocate 10% blame to Obama on Iraq?

Criticizing Obama is what we are suppose to do when he needs it but some here on DU seem to think that means one must find ways to place full or partial blame on him for everything that goes wrong & I find that to be missing the point.

Afghanistan 10% sounds about right as Obama tried to fix Bush's mess there when he should have done exactly what he did in Iraq.

Don't go away Stinky. Stay, your voice has been needed.

is doing well

I've needed a vacation from here from time to time, myself and will probably need another one fairly soon, the word jumpers and thought police are getting me down.

However, if I can come back into the affray, so can you.

with our policy.
Just consider that PNAC founder Kagen's wife is right in the middle of the events in Ukraine

this was inevitable.

and I WILL keep saying this - IT STUNK when these bastards were not held accountable

FINALLY???

Are you suggesting we go back in time to win more seats in Congress, with more liberal candidates?

you just do NOT fucking get it, do you? The issue should have been out front and center for the American peple to understand - that Bush Inc LIED THEIR WAY INTO A SENSELESS WAR - it should have been hammered home in speeches and hearings (YES you can have them even if you're the minority) - *ANYTHING* but "LOOK FORWARD", which essentially COMPLETELY LET THEM OFF THE HOOK

the issue was definitely put to the people in '04 and '06. There simply were not enough people that supported your proposition. And in light of the Great Recession I certainly am glad Obama and the Dems didn't waste any more time trying to convince people who had already made up their minds and instead went about taking emergency measures that were needed.

it would be amusing if not sad and tragic, but whenever the Democratic leadership really really wants something, they get it done.

They were all about impeachment until they secured the Democratic majority in January of 2007. Then suddenly, impeachment was off the table.

They did manage immediately after that to pass a most unfair bit of legislation wherein the largest publishing entities in the world get a US Postal discount, while small businesses pay through the nose.

I imagine if Wall Street or Big Insurers had been willing to give them campaign contributions equivalent to whatever was spent promoting the war or the ACA etc, for the purpose of impeaching Bush, Cheney et al, then we would have seen an impeachment.

you get it

that is just plain head-in-the-sand "DEULSIONING"

Is it a waste of time to investigate crimes? Especially ones that resulted in the 4000+ deaths and 32000+ injured soldiers in addition to Billions lost in a war that never needed to fought? All based on lies? Not to mention the deaths of up to a million Iraqis and the destruction of an entire nation, the destabilization of an entire region?
This is not a fucking political 'difference' of opinion. This is looking the other way crime.

Same thing with the Great Recession. Where are the prosecutions of the Bankers and their Congressional allies? Where are the break-ups of big banks? Who is being held accountable?

Elections do have consequences, just not in the way you perceive them. Negative consequences for justice and equality for the American people.

RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

They fucking let Bush and Cheney off the hook without a peep. The Iraq war was one of the most disgusting episodes in the history of our nation. We went to war for no good damn reason. Committed war crimes. And NOBODY was held FUCKING accountable!!!

And YES I think we should go back and prosecute. HOLD THESE WAR CRIMINALS TO ACCOUNT!!!! Otherwise they face no consequences for these heinous murderous lie-based consequences - and even more critical: OTHERS WHO WILL COME AFTER THEM will point to this and say "well, nobody did anything. Musta been okay then. Precedent is set. Let's go do it again!" There needs to be a lesson learned, and a corresponding lesson TAUGHT.

and you and me, Calimary, are backing it.

I agree with both of you!

thousands of dead people in a senseless war get a pass as long as the prez concentrates on the economy? ODS rears its ugly head.

to see people that rationalize not prosecuting the bastards that committed war crimes in our nation's name.

It makes me even sicker to note that they would be just as strident about condemning the war criminals if it was an (R) behind their name.

That is what TRULY disgusts me more than anything.

I'm for their prosecutions, as well. Render all the parties to the Hague, where they must stay until a verdict is reached.

Everyone else is lawless but the liberals too huh.

It's not only Iraq. We will probably see a repeat of the financial fiasco before it is over.

it is DISGUSTING

Line with you, Skittles. This whole situation is pot stirring by the MIC for profit, the CIA waggling their fingers in it, and a seriously volatile area. You end up with blood soup. Lives lost for nothing, but the vultures are thrilled - they get to devour treasure off of the backs of those who sacrifice themselves because it profits them.

DISGUSTING is the only word to describe it, other than HEINOUS, DEPLORABLE, and EVIL.

chump change to what they will extract this time ...because they are all setup for it now.

would prevent this. And that is our point. I do not think they want to prevent it.

Just giving a free pass on this disaster is a huge mistake.

They can fight them back a million times but the underlying issue is the Sunni's need to feel like they are part of the Gov.

and you posts.

Hope you and Sparkly are doing okay aside from politics. I'm pretty glum myself.

....but we can no longer afford to be involved in it. That's the cold hard truth... no matter what side of the politics you favor. It sucks but we have to let Iraq decide if they want to be ruled by the idiocy of Jihadism, or decide they are fed up with it, then centralize their own efforts to combat it, and prevail against it. If one good thing comes of our involvement there, it is to persevere and establish a more democratic mindset. I THINK IRAQ CAN DO IT !

Sometimes you just need to sit back and let the disgruntled parties sort things out.

stick around.

but I aint gona beg you to stay. I might ask politely, but never beg. Oh hell, plez stick around.

we'll be bombing at the very least. Bush, Cheney and the rest should be confined in Abu Ghraib. The blood and oil administration aided by compliant congress and cheer leading media. I too can't always face this shit.

The everyday western world has no idea of the underlaying problems and conflicts that are making up the troubles in the Mid-East.
This conflict has been going on since the time of Mohammad. It is basically a difference of opinion between religious sects. Many different people and countries have tried to quell the problems.
Not all, but most of us have no desire to learn about the problems there. It would mean learning a little about Islam. Oh, oh, my, terror at the thought.
At most we should offer humanitarian aid.
Get out, don't go back. We have enough freaking problems here.

And it started with Daddy Bush -- George H.W. Bush.

Let well enough alone. That's what we as a nation can learn from this. Don't go starting trouble. You may be taking on more than you can handle. You may just make things worse.

history with the Oval Office. H.W. Bush was their front man.

Please don't be gone for long! I miss you! DU needs you and your voice of reason!

It was a war for profit.

if you consider the claims about the Iraq War the Bush administration made. Everything should have been settled in Iraq long before President Obama took office. It should not have taken four Presidential terms or more for Iraq to be a done deal. If the Bush/Cheney administration had predicted we would be fighting in Iraq through four presidential terms do you think anyone would have went for it? No.

So no it's not Obama's fault because Iraq should have been a done deal back in the Bush administration.