Loyalty Oaths, Part II

Quick Update: I linked via Mary to the Buzzflash interview with George McGovern: thanks for the reference, Mary. This is well-worth reading, especially in light of another Prudenism that I recalled in mid-read: Wes also mentioned, in the course of chucking mud at Scott Ritter, that "Americans haven't left a battlefield in disgrace since the Civil War." Hmmn--does that mean that the mad dash to exit Vietnam, culminating in the infamous airlift from the Embassy compound, was some sort of smashing victory? (Ritter correctly noted, BTW, that we've essentially LOST the war in Iraq, regardless of how you look at it. We kicked Saddam's ass, to be sure, but in the process destroyed civil society, and furthermore DID NOT shock or awe the population. Does any sane person think that Iraq will be the "showcase" for our "new" policy in the Middle East)?

In contrast to Scott Ritter, who apparently uses his cerebral cortex, Wes Pruden prudently sticks to thinking with his medulla oblongata. Hence, his comments this morning, again on C-Span, but he got the 8 am CST slot.

Pruden is "editor in chief" for the Washington Times--why does this sound like being the "main chef" at Der Wienerschnitzel? Anyway, he took time out of what must be a busy day of digesting and subsequently regurgitating propaganda to--well, regurgitate propaganda for those of us who fell asleep last night watching C-Span...

For the record: I have extremely lame cable tv--only about twenty channels (and here in Baton Rouge, about half are damned religious channels). I got cable to get a small discount on a cable modem, and I watch too much tv anyway. But I digress...

If they recast this morning's show, take a little time to watch this guy (keep a bucket handy in the event you need to hurl yourself). Talk about having read the memo: Pruden managed to slime Kerry, even as he praised the latter's military record. Damn, what were the exact words? Something about "I can't criticize his military record, but...," which means he's been clearing out the phlegm in his throat for at least a half hour, in preperation for launching a massive loogie. In this case, it was to allege Kerry "slander[ed]" the GI's he "left behind" in Vietnam.

Here's the fish wrap editorial. Judge for yourself. (excuse me while I shower. I've now linked to the Washington Times TWICE).

Additionally, Pruden managed to dredge up the spectre of Jane Fonda, saying that V.V.A.W. was "financed in part" by Hanoi Jane. So there.

Wes also managed to get in the dig that Kerry "was discharged early" (never mentioned that there was a "three (Purple) Hearts and You're Out" policy at the time--and Kerry got three), while defending Bush's "National Guard" service by claiming that "the story came out and was thorougly investigated" in 2000. Pruden, though, couldn't carry the lie to tull term: he punted to Bush himself, indicating that "the President will have to decide if he wants to discuss that," or words to that effect. As far as the story being "thoroughly investigated:" I don't recall the Washington Times having anything, although I'll admit that I'd read toilet paper before picking up Pruden's rag.

Finally, if you've managed to view the Times' main page and still have a functioning keyboard, take a look at the Kerry "Botox: Did He or Didn't He?" story. Pruden, true to form, tried to weasel his way out of that one, claiming that "well, it isn't a 'serious' story--and we only stuck it on the front page because we don't have a style section." He then explicitly compared the Senator to Abe Lincoln, adding that "if Lincoln was running for president today, he'd probably need a botox treatment."

And that's the kind of shit we get from the "editor in chief" of admittedly the "other" Washington newspaper, although it is the rag of choice for the wingnuts. BTW: sure enough, someone called in this morning to repeat another wingnut mantra, namely, "the deficits are running at only 4 percent of GDP--roughly equal to the Reagan Administration, and the first years of Clinton."

Gag. I had to leave for work anyway, but I also didn't want to throw a brick at the screen.

I'd seen enough. Wes Pruden gets an "A" this morning--for "asshole."