Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s office said on Tuesday that an internal audit showed his aides had no improper contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, accused of seeking to sell Obama’s Senate seat. … “My inquiry determined that there was nothing at all inappropriate about those conversations,” incoming White House attorney Greg Craig said on a conference call. Craig stressed that Emanuel was the only figure within the transition team to have direct contact with Blagojevich or members of his staff and said “those contacts were totally appropriate and acceptable.”
The report conceded that Emanuel had had “one or two” telephone calls with Blagojevich and discussed possible candidates for the Senate seat that Obama vacated after he was elected president Nov. 4. “Mr. Emanuel recommended Valerie Jarrett because he knew she was interested in the seat,” the report said. “He did so before learning — in further conversations — that the president-elect had ruled out communicating a preference.” …
“No one in the Obama circle was aware of what was going on in the governor’s office or in the governor’s mind until such time as he was arrested,” Craig said.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”
YouTube Direkt
“No one in the Obama circle was aware of what was going on in the governor’s office or in the governor’s mind until such time as he was arrested,” Craig said.
An admission of gross incompetence. We want people like this running the country?!
If this level of “Audacity” or chutzpah translated into a set of brass balls and the nerve of a burglar needed to deal with policy in a crisis then, if coupled with evidence of a moral sense that would give him respect and affection for the rights liberties and security of the American people, this could be a good thing. Unfortunately there is zero evidence to support that hope. All that Obama has demonstrated is contempt for even the appearance of respect for the concept of equality before the law and an ability to brazenly gull the rubes that is already starting to fray. The powers that he will need to confront, domestic unions and bureaucrats or foreign powers and terrorists, will not be impressed.
@ 2. Lifeofthemind
It’s above his pay grade. But then he’s, despite being a narcissist sociopath one, a puppet nonetheless. He’ll be told what do do/say.
Jennifer Rubin’s Got Some Questions even if everybody else is away at the manger this Christmas Season.
D’ja think All of Hoover’s Men have got the goods on this, and won’t use it? Season of good will and all that?
Gotta go and hide, I think Santa is coming down the chimney.
Happy Christmas all. Congrats W on the best blog on the planet – it is of genius level and there will be a Nobel for this at some point. Thanks to all commenters, even Doug’s got better.
ADE
Happy Christmas everyone. A present from England:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/advent/ninelessons.shtml
So long as such beauty exists there is hope.
Jeez, what a nice guy: “Mr. Emanuel recommended Valerie Jarrett because he knew she was interested in the seat,”……oh yeah, and those “further conversations”….
Merry Christmas everyone.
Yep compadres; over the next four years all signs point to the high likelihood we are going to feted regularly with the equivalent of the punchline from the old joke of the philanderer caught in the act:
Question: How many straws will it take to break your back oh burdened beasts?
Raum Emmanuel is damaged goods, but it looks like they’re hunkering down and using the Blago Defense (“It was just a lot of talkin’, we didn’t do nuttin’, you got nuttin’ on me.) If Emmanuel is called before the Grand Jury, pleads the Fifth and then attempts to function as White House Chief of Staff, Obama’s claim of cleaning house in Washinton and ushering in a new kind of politics is revealed to be a big lie.
Ah. well a-day. what evil looks
Had I from old and young
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.
Bobal: An admission of gross incompetence. We want people like this running the country?!
As opposed to the competence of the phone-tapping Bush Administration, who is even aware that my Momma is coming to see after Yule because my family comes from Mindanao and they have terrorists there.
#5–
I agree; this is the best, most thought-provoking blog and the comments section is half the fun. Merry Christmas to all.
What I cannot understand is why His political intelligence organization didn’t fully know what Blago was doing. If they did why didn’t Emmanuel wear a wire? If for no other reason than self protection (and of the One).
Maybe its plausible deniability. (We cannot admit the fetidness of the swamp from which He has arisen spotless.)
On the other hand, if they knew not, how dumb is that? If the ones who love Him cannot protect Him, how will they protect us from the evil meanies who don’t love Him?
Questions, questions. We just need to trust that He is the One who will enable us because He said so.
via Instapundit:
Best Headline, from Andrew Malcolm at the L.A. Times: Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety.
Richard,
I second (or third) the comments regarding the excellence of your blog. This is the first place I go each morning and I am truly sorry when I read through all the the new entries and must leave. I have never been gifted in the appreciation of history (I’m more science and quantitative oriented), but your work and thought processes draw me in like no other. We certainly are living in “interesting times”.
Merry Christmas to you and yours and also to the Belmont Club commenting family.
The blind faith of the media in the soothing assurances of the Organization is staggering. We BE-LLEEEEEEIIIiieeeeeve!!!!!
Richard Nixon is rolling over in his grave laughing.
And I’ll join the well-wishers above in the compliments to Mr. Fernandez and the level of comments on this blog. Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas Richard and thanks for the wonderful blog.
I’m a former federal special agent. I reviewed the audit memo provided by the “Office Of The President Elect” at their website (http://change.gov/page/-/hem5zet3nalm2/2008%2012%2023%20PTT%20Contacts%20Memo.pdf) .
A few observations:
1. The memo gives a synopsis of interviews of the 5 involved persons at the Obama camp (including Obama). It is very short for such a document (5 pages total). FBI memos of interviews in such a matters (known as form FD-302 or “302s”) include all relevant information and would run to at least 5 to 10 pages per person. This memo seems to be superficial.
2. There is no indication that any review was done before or after the interviews of documents such as telephone logs or toll records to check the veracity of the statements.
3. None of the interviewees spoke with the awareness that if they lie they might be subject to charges of false statements to a federal agent (18 USC 1001), as would be standard in an FBI interview.
Wretchard,
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Your column is indispensible. I recently returned from a deployment to Iraq as an embedded advisor to on the insurgency – organized crime nexus a U.S. Army Brigade. As part of my duties I would frequently tell the young officers who I had the honor to mentor, “you have got to read Belmont Club”.
v/r,
MarcH
I started reading Belmont Club long before Wretchard was “Outed”.
I cite him as Exhibit A on the subject of how the Internet is The Revolution in the evolution of mankind. We’ll never be the same again.
He has taught me so much about war and the thrust of history. I am forever in debt to him.
All the best to Richard and all of those whom he loves and Merry Christmas to all.
The torch of liberty and free speech shines brightly here at the Belmont Club.Thank you Richard for the thought provoking posts and to all of the “news commentators” that are regulars here, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!
“Everything I know about politics, I learned in Chicago. Trust me.”
One wonders already whether the chief difference between the outgoing Bush administration and the incoming Obama group will turn out to be the latter’s almost preternatural ability to look good to the press, and to communicate their message in such a way that no embarrassing questions will be asked (and of course they have a huge head start in this endeavor long ago granted by the MSM itself).
The one thing that I really faulted Bush for over his eight years was the miserable way he and his “team” failed to get any of their good ideas (tax cuts, war against Islamic fascists, social security reform) across to the American people. (Of course the press, in a mirror image of their Obama efforts, were determined that he be unable to so communicate.)
I have read that Bush in small groups is hilariously funny.
I picture him being asked, in a final interview by some relatively sympathetic reporter, what he thought, reflecting back on his years in the White House, of his team’s “execution,” and answering, like coach John McKay of the hapless Tampa Bay Bucs in their earliest years, “I am all for it!”
***
Let me add to the chorus of others praising Wretchard and his work, and I agree that the comments (my own excepted!) are always interesting and often learned.
Jamie Irons
@ 9. X3NA
So what? They have a phone tap on yer mom. Oh you are so infringed! What times, what mores!
How they (them… you know who you are!
) must be thrilled to listen to your exchanges with your mother! You can even spike the comm with some batshit BSD and no one would harm a single hair on your head. Not so sure when 0 becomes the ruler, if you’ll have an 0DS and express it readily, things may get a bit iffy… his ego is sooo fragile.
I dunno, but if I had a family in an area that had terrs crawling like maggots in a carcass left alone for two weeks, I’d rather them tap and make sure my plane lands in one piece, at the airport, than not.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, of course.
Yes indeed, Wretchard’s site is a several-times-daily read.
Always the most thought-provoking and insightful.
Thank you, and Merry Christmas.
I agree with the others, this is the best blog ever. There is nothing that comes even close. I rarely comment but I read it everyday. More than once a day, actually.
Merry Christmas, Wretchard, and to you all.
#11 Herb via Insty: “Obama team probe of Obama team finds no Obama team impropriety.” That says it so well. That the MSM can hear that and not explode in attacks is still more proof of the sheer idiocy of their objectivity claims. What would have been the reaction if GWB had said that? Without a hint of irony? A priceless gift of arrogance & stupidity on Christmas Eve from The One.
Merry Christmas Clubbers. Make sure you toast Wretchard the Cat and his “hobby” this New Year.
W:
Let me join the rest of Belmont Club’s commentariat in thanking you for a fine, thought-provoking blog, and in wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy 2009. What a refreshing blog you run! Early morning read, or I feel incomplete. All the best,
F
My thanks to you, Richard, and to your many correspondents. I have learned a lot from you and them. I look forward to a New Year of learning.
Merry Christmas to all of you.
Jim
Merry Christmass to all!
(So Zena is Teresita / Rose / et al goofin’ again?)
I like Wretchard because he’s funny sometimes, spooky sometimes, and he makes my brain hurt.
I was thinking yesterday how amazing it is that Iraqi’s are acknowledging Christmas festivities in Baghdad. I can’t wait until Afghans find a way of putting up their own sparkly trees.
TonyB, thanks for the link, and a Happy Christmas to you as well.
Interesting that here in the U.S. we use the older “Merry Christmas,” and you Brits use the “Happy” version.
Herb said:
“I started reading Belmont Club long before Wretchard was “Outed”.”
I take pride in that as well. Wretchard is the brightest guy on the web.
Sigintel said:
“The torch of liberty and free speech shines brightly here at the Belmont Club.Thank you Richard for the thought provoking posts and to all of the “news commentators” that are regulars here, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!”
Ditto that. Have a Merry Christmas!
“”"”"”"”I was thinking yesterday how amazing it is that Iraqi’s are acknowledging Christmas festivities in Baghdad. I can’t wait until Afghans find a way of putting up their own sparkly trees.”"”"”"”"”
I’m astonished that the ACLU hasn’t flown out there and issued an injunction. They must be losing their touch.
Thanks as always Wretchard. I concur with all the kudos above.
Nahncee @ 27, imagine when the uTube celebration embedded by our host eminates from Iraq or Afghanistan, instead of flyover country.
Going on a very long flight to visit outlying relatives. Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and better than expected new year to all. May all zombies find their antidote.
I’m a long time lurker and very infrequent contributor. For me, BC is an island of straight talk and intellectual stimulation in a sea of disinformation and ignorance. My thanks go out to Wretchard for all he does and the regulars here for the always piquant discourse.
Merry Christmas to all. Cheers!
Why do I hang out at BC?
For the free beer and pretzels, of course!
Actually, it’s a desire for company and conversation that elevates. Heck, my IQ is 138 and I regularly feel like the dim bulb around here. Ditto others who have commented on how much they have learned. Being an English major (amidst what appears to be a bevy of engineers and hard science types on BC), I like Wretchard’s forays into literature (Brothers Karamazov, anyone?) as examples to illuminate the discussions of the socio-political. Finally there is a firm moral foothold expressed here by both the host and a number of regulars. Which, in a world that seems increasingly God-forsaking, means perhaps the most of all.
As we say in Pittsburgh:
Yinz have a great Christmas.
Richard was Wretchard ere the cat was Belmonted.
For that we are about to receive we thank Thee Lord.
Merry Christmas to All Hands on the good ship BC.
Best blog in Christendom (or anywhere else).
May the Good Lord bless all of you and all of your loved ones.
As usual, my sentiments have been stated already, except much more eloquently than I could have done.
I too have followed Richard when he was only known as Wretchard and we knew nothing else about him. In fact, Nahncee was certain that I was a troll just because I asked who he was and what was his background because I couldn’t believe the breadth and depth of discussion that Wretchard brought to the table.
That said, the BC is a daily, and more than once daily, read. It is the best thing on the web. I appreciate you Richard. Additionally, it is really amazing to see the type of commenters that you have attracted and kept. I look forward to my daily dose in 2009!
Merry Christmas to Richard and all who come here.
Amen to the Amen Chorus. Really enjoy the thought provoking commentary and analysis. It’s a 21st century Tom Paine, et al town hall meeting carving out the Republic to come. Here there is a hearty bunch pushing back against the brigands, kleptocrats and neo-Marxist eunuchs trying to tear the walls of Western Civilization down.Be strong and hold the line! Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all.
Like #33, I’m mostly a lurker– and like the others on this thread, I don’t miss a day on BC if I can help it. Heck, Wretchard is cat-friendly, what more can my three Feline Americans ask?
Bogie wheel– you’re not the only humanities person who enjoys BC because of the liberal education it offers. My academic background is in history and theology, but I’ve always been interested in other fields too. And I join the chorus of thanks to Wretchard for making this forum possible.
God’s blessings on all of you in this holy season.
I NEVER tire of that video.
Thank you, Wretchard and may all the Blessings of the Season be upon you and all you hold dear.
Wretchard’s blog gives me the same feeling that I get in a well-stocked bookstore — the human race has learned so much, and I know so little. It’s what keeps me coming back for more.
Mr. Fernandez — Thank you for sharing. And to all, a Merry Christmas & a Wonderful New Year!
I said in another post: Yeats, Keats, Geopolitical strategy, Orthodox Christianity, Capitalism and Freedom all in one place delivered with a certain je ne sais quoi. (I knew I could do that)
This place is just plain fun.
Can any one imagine what the cocktail party would be like?
I wonder what it would take to set up a music and light show like that in AFghanistan, at whatever the biggest base out in the boonies is there.
It would be Beyond Shock & Awe. It seems to me that if you had a choice between going with the Taliban and going with a group of people could put on a sound and light show like that, there would be very little hesitation in the choice … but then I’m not a poppy-addicted misogynistic illiterate Afghan citizen so there’s a small possibility they might not see the good-natured genius involved.
The Belmont Club is really that, a club. It has acquired a certain tone, with all of its good and bad points, largely from its commenters. We’ve come to recognize each other. It’s like a small town where we’ve got the Air Force Guy, the desalinization man, Gender theorist, redneck Muslim, veterans of various and sundry wars; financial expert, mysterious trader, respectable academic, author of books on cable warfare, the kooky but sometimes thought provoking lesbian, the let’s kill em all and let God sort them out types, the ex-Jesuit, the militant Jew and the borderline anti-semite. There may actually be a militant gay person in there somewhere, though I haven’t noticed. For variety we are occasionally visited by the FSB and oh, yes, the Left. And while you couldn’t actually create a club with this sort of membership without having to call in the cops to break up a riot, somehow on the Internet it works.
So whatever religion you may belong to or do not belong to, Merry Christmas to everyone and may the coming year be kind to us all.
Thank you, Wretchard. I feel blessed to even be allowed to look on.
Once out of nature I shall never take
My bodily form from any natural thing,
But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make
Of hammered gold and gold enamelling
To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;
Or set upon a golden bough to sing
To lords and ladies of Byzantium
Of what is past, or passing, or to come.
W. B. Yeats (from Sailing to Byzantium
Barack Obama investigates self. Finds self innocent. What a surprise.
I second all of the most complimentary comments above. Congratulations wretchard on your achievement in constructing this club. I appreciate your clarity of view, insight, wit and the frequent beauty of your language. A happy Christmas to you and to all of your guests.
Back on topic, those who entertain hopes that the American media will ever examine Obama need look no further than the parallel experience in Australia with Kevin Rudd, who is similarly beyond criticism. They have all of their credibility invested in their clay-footed idols.
Merry Christmas Wretchard – and to all who post and share in this great, indispensable blog. The best there is.
I want our new Executive to do well. Even where I had reservations, I wish him a great term. When some of yall aren’t having a group seething, I bet you too are pulling for him — at least part time.
I didn’t understand the transition. Emmanual said “no contact”. Then they all clammed-up and went to “no appropriate contact”. I don’t understand why the press wasn’t asking every imaginable question about that set of statements.
I can conjure up a situation that explains this. It is a low level moral hit but a super terrible one for a starting President: Emmanuel turns down Blago’s bribe request politely and says the pseudo correct thing in saying they’d pay with their appreciation.
Wouldn’t everyone decide in the end that if Emmanuel didn’t report the issue to authorities, he has just demonstrated that he isn’t what most Americans want in office?
The ball is in play. Let’s watch for the outcome together.
Now we return you to your usual rations of seething.
“We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.”
T.S. Eliot
Talkin To The Buddha
Merry Christmas, Richard, and to all the commenters on the best blog on the internet.
@ 50. Craigicus
I bet you too are pulling for him — at least part time.
Ya’ lost! Payup da twenty!
Merry Christmas.
Let me join the offer the greetings and blessings of the Christmas season to Wretchard and his fine regulars and irregulars.
As the ad men say, Thanks for all you do.
Darn! I’ve forgotten to stock up on popcorn!
Blago keeps on giving…
In a dramatic development in the ongoing impeachment proceedings, lawyers for Gov. Rod Blagojevich want two key aides to President-elect Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to testify before the House impeachment committee.
Sources tell CBS station WBBM-TV that a letter sent by Blagojevich’s lawyers to committee chairman, State Rep. Barbara Currie, asks that the committee subpoena Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and Jackson.
On Tuesday, a transition official disclosed that Obama, Emanuel and Jarrett, have been interviewed in connection with the federal investigation into Blagojevich. The transition official, speaking on a condition of anonymity, also confirmed that Emanuel had been captured on wiretaps taken as part of the investigation
“I bet you too are pulling for him — at least part time.”
I’m not pulling for him at all, any time, ever for any reason. Never. Not. None.
And I resent you trying to siphon off the good will of the day and that Wretchard has gained here to redirect it to your own damned messiah.
Talk about tone deaf. You have got to be a liberal.
@ 56. NahnCee
Their nick is a tell. I am not sure why, but many have nicks ending with -us or -os, these are all libs as a rule, perhaps they are trying to convey thusly some sort of (pseudo)intellectual flair.
I’ve met online one (1, single) guy with a nick ending on -os that was not a lib, turned out he was a honest to good Greek.
Been watching a Vatican mass on Spanish language TV. I don’t speak Spanish, and I don’t speak pope neither, and I’m not Catholic, so I have no idea what’s going on, but when I watch that rich Christian pageantry I see 2000 years of Western history. I rather like the West. And when I see the children’s choir my heart goes pitter-pat; that’s 2000 years plus the future. –This blog creates some pitter-pat.
The Belmont Club:
German Romanticism meets the military – in cyberspace, so up to now everyone is safe.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Sure, we’re all pulling for the tiger to change his stripes…
Merry Christmas All! from your friendly neighborhood Tarnsman. May your holidays be filled with family and friends.
Now as far as the subject at hand goes, well, this time last year I had high hopes that Mr. Obama might be the new blood that the Democratic party needed. Now I can clearly see that I was delusional. Going to be a long four years.
I would like to know if there has been any coordination between Fitzgeralds office and the Obama campaign?
“What I cannot understand is why His political intelligence organization didn’t fully know what Blago was doing. If they did why didn’t Emmanuel wear a wire? If for no other reason than self protection (and of the One).”
Just maybe they did and didn’t see a problem because it was business as usual.
Stille Nacht The little feller with the ear bob breaks a high note, with the camera away.
Beautiful.
Silent Night
Vienna Boy’s Choir–Stille Nacht
Hell of a year Wretchard, just gets better and better at the Club. The most insightful commentary, and the best set of commenters on the web. I don’t comment a lot myself, but I love reading the regulars.
Thanks to all involved and have a great Christmas. Looking forward to another great year at the Club.
If He has a successful term (even mildly), America will do well. If not, while our fortunes are not tied to his, He can drag us down or at least lower morale. And given the current state of affairs, we need everything going our way.
I prefer to wish ill only on the demonstrably evil or venal. Jury’s still out on this One, tho the indicators arent good.
Somebody said God looks after drunks and the United States. We’ll see.
As Bullwinkle said:”Now for something really important…..”
Merry Christmas!
65 Herb
That somebody was Otto von Bismarck. The usual version of the quote is “God has a special providence for fools, drunks, and the United States of America.”
Long time lurker since the early days of the first format. First comment.
1- To your place in our hearts and minds: The first post that truly revealed the uniqueness of your voice focused on the French in Vietnam.
2- Two questions given that we are living perhaps not through the Great(er) Depression (and yet may) but through the Great Shutdown (akin to a flash freeze):
- Where is the frostbite?
(Asian exporting countries and ?)
- What will not come back?
(Some Chinese manufactured goods and ?)
3- On a general note, I miss what was before Christmas, the antique Aristotelian secularism.
Cheers,
FtF
“Aristotle is primarily concerned with cosmology, the Perennial Philosophers are primarily concerned with liberation and enlightenment. Aristotle is content to know about the unmoving mover, from the outside and theoretically; the aim of the Perennial Philosophy is to become directly aware of it, to know it unitively, so that they and others may actually become the unmoving One.”
Huxley–Perennial Philosophy
While I have been off shopping, wrapping, and just enjoying the season, everyone here has been exhibiting the spirit that makes this a great blog (well, almost everybody and IMHO Nahncee handled that rather well for the group), so allow me to wish every one (and especially Wretchard) a Merry Christmas and a heartfelt thanks for allowing me to mangle metaphors, chase rhinoceros…es, and generally kindly ignore my occasional trollish behavior. Is this a great place, or what?
Let me say it this way….
Many, many moons ago, when my ancestors were living the lives that now many in this world study on Sundays across the globe as the “word of G-d” we of this group came up with some ideals…
As this time of year passes I celebrate Hanukkah (as every Christian SHOULD DO), Hanukkah is the absolute historic holiday that we remember for taking back our Temple (and our land of israel) from the pagans, who had made it illegal for us Jews to be Jewish.
Nothing has changed in over 2400 years…
Even today, 80 rockets and mortars have been fired at Jews IN Israel JUST for BEING…
Jews, once exiled from our lands, resettled in Bavel, where one of us spoke of when we would return and when ONE OF US, would come to set the world correct…
Now the proof is clear, the ONE that was called for, and awaited by US has not come, otherwise Jews would still not be executed for simply being Jews…
When Christians celebrate this day that they as so happy and proud of, proclaiming that the Promised Jewish Messiah has come, ask yourselves this question…
What would Jesus do for Gilad Shalit?
What would Jesus do for Daniel Pearl?
What would Jesus about throwing Jews out of his hometown?
What would Jesus say about Christian groups supporting terrorism against Israel and the Jews all the while NOT mentioning the very fact that there was never any name called PALESTINE in any way shape or for 2000 years ago…
On this day of differences, Christmas is celebrated and yet MANY Christians deny the possibility that Jews (as a people and nation) have the sole right to select who our Messiah was and is….
It’s interesting the Christmas stories i see and hear, completely anglo-izing (and now african-izing & palestinian-zining) the actual Jewish people that lived 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jerusalem & the Galilee…
Nowhere are ole Mary and Joe called settlers….
So for all you “christians” out there, singing your joyous songs on this your very holy day….
Where would you be without us?
and where will you be if you allow Israel and the Jews to once and for all to be snuffed out…..
merry christmas
WiO: and where will you be if you allow Israel and the Jews to once and for all to be snuffed out…
What is Israel doing in response to those 80 missiles?
Israel is preparing for a sizable military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials warned Thursday as rockets and mortar shells from the Hamas-ruled territory continued to pound southern Israel.
Woooo! Not only a military operation, but a SIZABLE one! That’ll show ‘em. We thought that thing in 2006 was another Israeli-Arab war, but Olmert had the idea of waging a campaign with a goal of zero civilian casualties in a combat zone where the combatants were indistinguishable from the civilians. Because maybe the BBC and Reuters would like Israel better. The result was that we watched a war against Hezbollah shivel into another “sizable miltary operation” except IDF casualties came in at war levels. Tens of thousands of rockets rained down on Israel, you didn’t get your hostages back, you lost your reputation as the regional military superpower, and BBC and Reuters hated you as much as ever. When you get serious about stomping those cocka-roaches out let us know. The Great Satan helps little Satans who help themselves.
Occupation,
We had a Hanukkah party at this Christian home on Tuesday. Mrs. Trangbang read the story.
From my view here in the Sonoran desert, you guys have divine right to your desert. My prayer is you prevail.
72. X3NA:
What is Israel doing in response to those 80 missiles?
Great question…..
quietly Israel has killed, arrested and stopped HUNDREDS of attackers without doing a hama or a fallujah…
HOWEVER even that has not worked…
You are correct, and in then end, maybe us jews need to forget our ideals, laws and morals and join the rest of humanity before we are snuffed out…
But do me a favor?
when we do start acting like you, dont complain and dont hold us to a HIGHER authority than you hold yourselves…
BC has become as indispensable as my morning coffee, and it only seems to improve with age.
Wretchard, thank you for stimulating our days with your thoughts. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and to all others at BC, posters and lurkers alike.
Merry Christmas, Richard.
Thank you.
I would like to join the rest of the commenters and heartily thank Wretchard for this wonderful site. His hard work, intelligent commentary and unique perspective are greatly appreciated. I have also learned much from the assortment of commenters here.
I sometimes read BC while at work in the university, surrounded by leftoids. I feel quite subversive!
Merry Christmas Wretchard, you’ve given the gift of the greatest blog ever better than ol’ St. Nick ever could!
May a jewish Israel live forever until the day of the second coming.
Merry Christmas.
Unsk: May a jewish Israel live forever until the day of the second coming.
I’ll take…. :May a jewish Israel live forever
Very old Jewish saying,,,
If your planting a tree and THE Messiah arrives? Finish planting your tree, the Messiah WILL wait…
I’m a day late (did an all-nighter putting together a damn trampoline for the kids), but a very Merry Christmas, Wretchard and all the rest of the Belmont Club.
And a happy New Year. 2009 has got to be better than 2008…
L3