Reason Live Tweets Obama's Syria Speech NOW!

Join the Reason staff as we live tweet Obama's Syria address.

Comments

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Alright everyone, rally 'round the flag!

[CE]

Remember the Maine!

[Spiny Norman]

54-40 or fight!

[plusafdotcom]

WD-40 or stick!

[Bam!]

Link to a web feed?

[NebulousFocus]

http://www.bloomberg.com/tv/

[Fist of Etiquette]

Here he comes! Isn't he dreamy?

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSm4kp-uJoE

[plusafdotcom]

I thought he looked very CG, but that might have been the makeup to prevent the sweat from running...

[Fist of Etiquette]

OMG this is boring. I'm out.

[Bam!]

He strolled down "I Killed Bin Laden" Lane.

[CE]

And now I'm gonna shoot some fireworks at Assad? But not that many, really?

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Notice how Obama's ears twitch every time he speaks lies?

[CE]

I've noticed that his lips move every time he lies.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Does the drinking game call for a shot of vodka for each Godwin?

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

The Nazis used gas, but not on the battlefield..

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Love is its own battlefield.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

The Assad regime is responsible, and God knows this president is all about president's being held responsible for possible lethal screwups by low-level functionaries.

[PapayaSF]

ZING!

[SIV]

Obama Pukes Lies

[Heroic Mulatto]

Pukes?

Dude is standing on his hands with his back to us.

You do the math.

[Zakalwe]

Wouldn't live updates of comments be more useful than live tweeting?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Man, the Tea Party has changed.

[Zakalwe]

You just followed the wrong parts of the movement.

[Heroic Mulatto]

You know, I think you may just be right.

[benji]

Thank god we finally have a President who will oppose weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists or dictators.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Finish what you Started. Don't leave Obama hanging

[Goldwin Smith]

You Know Who Else gave a speech?

[Zakalwe]

John Galt?

[Francisco d Anconia]

Francisco d'Anconia?

[Guy LaGuy]

MLK Jr?

[Slammer]

Churchill?

[SIV]

Jomo Kenyatta?

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

The Royal We is in full-effect tonight.

[Goldwin Smith]

You Know Who Else attacked Syria?

[Calidissident]

Ramesses II?

[Nazdrakke]

Alexander the Great?

[Goldwin Smith]

You Know Who Else didn't want other countries intervening in Syria?

[Spiny Norman]

The Vichy French?

[Red Rocks Rockin]

Queen Zenobia?

[Eduard van Haalen]

He's focused on ending wars, not starting them!

[CE]

If the world draws a red line, but then doesn't want to do anything when someone maybe, probably, using the common sense test crossed that line, and let me be clear, it's a red line the world drew, not us, any tyrant who crosses that line can be sure that we will respond, and respond with force, but not too much force, with or without Congressional approval, which we don't need, but which we are seeking, despite misgivings about starting another war by Michelle, and maybe even by some of the constituents back home, but which the world must know, we will use all available means to enforce the moral standards of the free world, but not enforce them too hard.

[Marshall Gill]

So, you are the "mind" behind the teleprompter?

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

"I spent four and a half years trying to end wars, not start them."

Wow.

[RBS]

He actually said that?

[CatoTheElder]

Sad, but true.

He actually said it.

Pathetic.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Well, he didn't say he was any good at ending wars, just that he tried.

[Killazontherun]

The man who ran on 'we are fighting the wrong war' where he meant he was (and did) escalate our Afghanistan commitment instead of drawing it down? That dude said ThAT!?!

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Matt Welch ?@mleewelch 27s
TOM FRIEDMAN REFERENCE! DRINK GASOLINE!

[Bam!]

So we're going to bomb his chemical weapons, huh? What could possibly go wrong?

[mr lizard]

WAR! it's FANTASTIC

[Eduard van Haalen]

It won't be like Libya, lol!

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Oh yeah, Libya. I guess our democracy would not have been served better by asking for a blessing on that one.

[Eduard van Haalen]

He doesn't want to be responsible for what happens after intervention!

[mr lizard]

And the US Military doesn't do pin pricks... You know who else?.... Oh fuck it

[Boisfeuras]

The military pins all sorts of pricks, but the official term is "general officers".

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Fuck this, my mom made lasagna for dinner.

[mr lizard]

Oh shit fuck this speech... I'm on the way

[playa manhattan]

From scratch? I could eat a second dinner...

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Nah, not from scratch.

But still infinitely better than swallowing horseshit from the president.

[playa manhattan]

WHERE IS MY INVITATION? I THOUGHT YOU WERE A GENTLEMAN!!!

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

I told ya about the rib place in Long Beach.

[Slammer]

Katherine Mangu-Ward said you won the thread Serious Man

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Really? Qapla!

[Bam!]

This pin-prick is going to make Assad think twice? Why? You just committed to doing practically nothing.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

[Eduard van Haalen]

OK, sure, there are extremists in the opposition, but children, political solution, etc.

[benji]

Reject the forces of tyranny and extremism!

[benji]

DEEPLY HELD BELIEF IN PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS

[Bam!]

There is no internal logic to this speech. It's just poll-driven empty sentences dryly delivered.

[RBS]

That pretty much sums up his presidency.

[Gilbert Martin]

And his entire life.

[CatoTheElder]

I thought it was the best and most persuasive speech that Obama has ever made.

But I've never been a fan of his mendacious and sentimental style of rhetoric, and remain unpersuaded.

[Cyto]

Obama at his most effective is a Rorschach test. He'll speak in platitudes that can be taken to mean just about anything, so everyone who is willing can hear what they want to hear.

"When you are in debt, you have to tighten your belt and make tough choices. So let me be clear, we must invest in our future and rebuild our infrastructure." Conservative and liberal at the same time. But really signifying nothing.

It works great when people are only half paying attention and you don't have to bring any specifics to the table. Notice how badly he did selling healthcare reform trying to be all things to all people (without having read his own bill).

This time around the entire thing is so small and well defined that it is very difficult to pull off the rhetorical doublespeak that he normally uses to be all things to all people.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Another Godwin! FDR quote!

[Andrew S.]

So I'm not listening, because I don't hate myself enough. At least the comments and tweets make things entertaining.

[Bam!]

I wonder what has a higher body count: Syrian gas attack or American drone attacks?

[Fist of Etiquette]

OMG he's still talking? What did I miss? Are we convinced?

[Bam!]

You missed Obama obligating to be the world police while stating we are no such thing.

You missed Obama stating it will not be a pin-prick while outlining a pin-prick of a mission.

You missed Obama firmly arguing that the American military must punish Assad while firmly stating that the authorization vote should be delayed.

So on and so on.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Sounds like a hoot.

[Konima]

So, the rebels are made up of Al-Qaeda members. Does anyone really think the shit that they do to people is more humane than being gassed? I'll take the gas, thank you.

Seriously, what the hell? How do people not realize how insane that this all is? We spend a decade fighting Al-Qaeda, claiming that they are the epitome of evil, but now we are going to help them take over a country. God forbid we look back to the past and learn from our previous mistakes.

I am genuinely tired of appeals to emotion. Politicians have made me completely impervious to that shit.

[Heroic Mulatto]

So, the rebels are made up of Al-Qaeda members. Does anyone really think the shit that they do to people is more humane than being gassed?

Video: Syrian rebel cuts out soldier's heart, eats it

[Bam!]

Those are the moderate Muslims John McCain talked about.

[CatoTheElder]

The moderates offer the infidels an opportunity to renounce their religion and convert to Wahhabi Sunni Islam. If they refuse, well, of course they get decapitated just like Mohammad instructed.

The radicals just kill the infidels and let Allah sort it out. And they typically do it in brutal fashion.

[Konima]

What the president should do is to advise all civilians to evacuate the country. Let Al-Qaeda and Assad's military kill one another. There is no side to support here.

[CE]

You know who else cut out someone's heart and ate it?

[Slammer]

Those Injuns in Dances With Wolves?

[Bam!]

Professor Farnsworth?

[Gilbert Martin]

Montezuma?

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Do crabs count?

[Francisco d Anconia]

Daenerys Targaryen?

Okay, it was a horse, but she's hot.

[Sudden]

Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber?

[PapayaSF]

Idi Amin?

[SweatingGin]

General Butt Naked?

[DesigNate]

That guy in Temple of Doom?

[benji]

I have no idea what all of that was supposed to mean.

[Goldwin Smith]

So nothing new then.

[The Deacon]

Isaiah 17
King James Version (KJV)
The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.
The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts.

And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.

Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.

At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

[The Deacon]

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

[Guy LaGuy]

It seems backwards that Obama is plying support from the public for military action vs. taking action when required & explaining why later.

[CE]

Which would be illegal.

[Sevo]

Guy LaGuy| 9.10.13 @ 9:19PM |#
"It seems backwards that Obama is plying support from the public for military action vs. taking action when required & explaining why later."

Yes. Yes, it does.

[BoscoH]

^^^ THIS ^^^. Not that I think we should get involved, but if you're the President and you think we should, you must lead, not ask nicely for permission. What a friggin disaster for the whole idea that America has any resolve. A welcome disaster, but still, we could draw down with a little bit of dignity.

[Heroic Mulatto]

if you're the President and you think we should, you must lead, not ask nicely for permission

No. Asking nicely for permission is exactly what the President should do. Something about Article I, Section 8....

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

A1S8 has nothing to do with the president.

[Heroic Mulatto]

A1S8 has nothing to do with the president.

THAT'S THE POINT!

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

I don't think it's that clear. The founders were already ordering military action without consent from Congress in the first few decades of the Republic.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Sure, when Indians *within the United States* were attacking Americans, or when Tripoli *formally declared war* on the US. Yet I missed the part where Assad has troops in the US attacking our forces, or where he issued a formal declaration of war against the US and chopped down the flag outside the US Embassy. Am I missing something?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Not every "military action" is legally defined as "war", yes? For example, during the Quasi-War of 1789-1790, the Navy engaged in police actions against French privateers. Whether or not the actions taken by Adams constituted engaging in "war" (in the legal sense) against France is still debated today.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Yes, well that is the problem. The constitution is pretty vague on this subject of what the president can do with the armed forces that he is 'mander-in-chief of.

Of course, we weren't supposed to even have a standing army back then, which undoubtedly was expected to be a major brake on what the prez could do.

[Calidissident]

An incident that occurred during the Quasi War throws further light on the true extent of presidential war powers. Congress authorized the president to seize vessels sailing to French ports. But President Adams, acting on his own authority and without the sanction of Congress, instructed American ships to capture vessels sailing either to or from French ports. Captain George Little, acting under the authority of Adams' order, seized a Danish ship sailing from a French port. When Little was sued for damages, the case made its way to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Captain Little could indeed be sued for damages in the case. "In short," writes war powers expert Louis Fisher in summary, "congressional policy announced in a statute necessarily prevails over inconsistent presidential orders and military actions. Presidential orders, even those issued as Commander in Chief, are subject to restrictions imposed by Congress."

http://www.libertyclassroom.com/warpowers/

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

But what if Congress doesn't impose any restrictions, because it never passed any legislation about the matter?

[Calidissident]

Then the president does not have the power to engage in aggressive action. Firing missiles and bombing another country is an act of war, and it definitely requires Congressional authorization

[Heroic Mulatto]

Absolutely. A related question, which almost crosses the boundary into philosophic inquiry is, "Is a military conflict that is strictly restricted to naval engagements a war?" I can see making an argument that it's not as there is never any entrance of either nation's borders by the opposing force. However, I'm not married to that point of view.

[Calidissident]

The Adams example is, like the Jefferson one, also bullshit. The Constitution was not vague on this matter

"Supporters of a broad executive war power have sometimes appealed to the Quasi War with France, in the closing years of the eighteenth century, as an example of unilateral warmaking on the part of the president. Francis Wormuth, an authority on war powers and the Constitution, describes that contention as "altogether false." John Adams "took absolutely no independent action. Congress passed a series of acts that amounted, so the Supreme Court said, to a declaration of imperfect war; and Adams complied with these statutes." (Wormuth's reference to the Supreme Court recalls a decision rendered in the wake of the Quasi War, in which the Court ruled that Congress could either declare war or approve hostilities by means of statutes that authorized an undeclared war. The Quasi War was an example of the latter case.) ...

[Calidissident]

BTW, the lower post was supposed to go above the related post above. Fucked that up somehow. Damn squirrels!

[Eduard van Haalen]

In the Quasi War Congress exercised its power to grant letters of marque and reprisal and to make rules concerning captures on land and (more relevantly) water. That's an express grant of power, listed right after the power to declare war.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

TJ didn't ask permission to attack the Dey of Tripoli.

[Heroic Mulatto]

That's because the Barbary States declared war on us first.

When Jefferson became president in 1801 he refused to accede to Tripoli's demands for an immediate payment of $225,000 and an annual payment of $25,000. The pasha of Tripoli then declared war on the United States.

[Calidissident]

Yeah, that's bullshit. And even if he had, that doesn't make it constitutional. The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed ten years after the Constitution, doesn't mean they were constitutional

"In late 1801, the pasha of Tripoli did declare war on the U.S. Jefferson sent a small force to the area to protect American ships and citizens against potential aggression, but insisted that he was "unauthorized by the Constitution, without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond the line of defense"; Congress alone could authorize "measures of offense also." Thus Jefferson told Congress: "I communicate [to you] all material information on this subject, that in the exercise of this important function confided by the Constitution to the Legislature exclusively their judgment may form itself on a knowledge and consideration of every circumstance of weight ...

[Calidissident]

Jefferson consistently deferred to Congress in his dealings with the Barbary pirates. "Recent studies by the Justice Department and statements made during congressional debate," Louis Fisher writes, "imply that Jefferson took military measures against the Barbary powers without seeking the approval or authority of Congress. In fact, in at least ten statutes, Congress explicitly authorized military action by Presidents Jefferson and Madison. Congress passed legislation in 1802 to authorize the President to equip armed vessels to protect commerce and seamen in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and adjoining seas. The statute authorized American ships to seize vessels belonging to the Bey of Tripoli, with the captured property distributed to those who brought the vessels into port. Additional legislation in 1804 gave explicit support for 'warlike operations against the regency of Tripoli, or any other of the Barbary powers.'"

http://www.libertyclassroom.com/warpowers/

[ant1sthenes]

I call bullshit. If America hasn't been attacked, but you think war is in the national interest, you call for democratic debate. We need a President, not a King*.

*Predicted Clinton/Booker slogan when Peter King wins the Republican nomination in 2016.

[Irish]

Predicted Clinton/Booker slogan when Peter King wins the Republican nomination in 2016.

That is far too clever for Hilary Clinton's campaign.

[widget]

Christians are more civilized than Muslims. To a flaw.

[Andrew S.]

I'm not even watching, and I'm pissed at Obama for wasting my time tonight.

[Rich]

That was bad, even for O. It's not even clear what the *intent* of the speech was.

[Bam!]

Barry O is a master orator, Rich. As he demonstrated during ObamaCare, he can convince the American people of anything. The country needed to hear from him.

[Slammer]

Alex Lifeson's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acceptance speech made a lot more sense.

[Slammer]

Rand's on Fox News

[Bam!]

It would have been nice if Obama explained why this wasn't one of those "dumb wars" he warned us about back in 2002.

[Derpetologist]

"Let me be obscure: In a race between a rock and a pig, don't varnish your clams.

[long pause]

Those words are the premise of a Dilbert cartoon about the fictional land of Elbonia, a nation which ends with the same letters as Syria. Make no mistake: it is vital to the nation that I, uh, somehow manage to, uh, avoid looking like a fool over this.

God bless me and God bless the United States of America!"

[Fruit-Loops]

Almost A QUARTER of men admit to being rapists across parts of Asia.

If only we bomb their countries, give them democracy, and invite them into America they would stop.

[Calidissident]

I think Coeus pointed out some flaws in the study in the PM links

[Calidissident]

*I should say survey rather than study

[PapayaSF]

Conclusion: If you define "rape" widely enough, it becomes very common. Duh.

[CE]

I read somewhere that we all are.

[Tucker Smith]

"Papua New Guinea was the worst offender of the countries surveyed with
six men in ten admitting to violating a woman while in Bangladesh that
figure was just under one in ten."

I'm not surprised. The darker the skin, the darker the soul.

[Killazontherun]

I thought the saying was, the darker the cherry the sweeter the berry. I haven't heard that one before.

[Irish]

I see American is running multiple racist sockpuppets again. Ever get tired of this, racist?

[Killazontherun]

If I were Rand I'd rebut this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lKoo8jJzYs

instead of the prezzies little teachable moment.

[BakedPenguin]

What? Rock, flag and Eagle, bitch!

[Slammer]

Fake. The shadows are all wrong.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

is that Will Smith?

[Aloysious]

Obama's speech... ... *drink* *drink* *drink*

[ant1sthenes]

So, if we're not the world's policeman, we're what? The world's George Zimmerman?

[CE]

On the plus side, 2013 will be remembered as the year that the great bulk of the American public finally and permanently grew disenchanted with government.

[Bam!]

If only. NSA stuff didn't move the needle. I doubt this will.

[SweatingGin]

I'd like to think so, but somehow, I expect the next great threat to birth control will come along, and make them love the state again.

[ant1sthenes]

Rand Paul's rebuttal speech

[Killazontherun]

Now if he could splice that in with the midget saying, 'your soul is dog shit.' from Bad Santa, we'd have a decent rebuttal.

[Derpetologist]

"Let me be clear:

Herpy derpy, uh, jibber jabber, gobba gobba hey."

[Rufus J. Firefly]

What did CNN's snap poll reveal?

[RBS]

20% of Americans support war with Syria.
80% of Americans are racist.

[Sevo]

Well, the Chron is headlining the A's ballgame. Obama's speech is below the spread but above 'the fold', in the left column; one column width.
Comments are uniformly negative. At least the 'paper' and the commenters aren't sold.
Sorry, I refuse to watch politicians speak, so I have no idea how 'persuasive' his pitch was.
http://www.sfgate.com/

[Sevo]

Well, not totally negative; looks like shreek posts there:

ulipian6:19 PM on September 10, 2013
"A Magnificent Statement of Rationality and Far-Reaching Wisdom, by a Masterful Statesman and World Leader!"

Really! Someone posted that!

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Sounds a tad insincere, so it's not our fundament-stretching friend.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Holy. Shit.

[db]

Thanks for getting that ick all over my screen.

[DesigNate]

That reads totally sarcastic to me. If its actually in earnest that person needs to be put out of their misery.

[Sevo]

Dunno.
The handle is typically pro-Obozo, but the caps selection seems to be new.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Maybe Lonewacko converted to pro-Obama side and got a space bar.

[widget]

OK, so I found the text at HuffPo.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....r=homepage

It begins My fellow Americans,.../i

Yeah you protest kids, that's exactly how Richard M. Nixon started a speech. I think I was supposed to read more than that.

[db]

Hey guys, what'd I miss?

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Obama said he was firing Biden and resigning.

[db]

So, President Roberts?

(Boehner can't take the Oath while crying so hard)

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Here's the line of succession from da wiki; have a vomit bucket ready.

Joe Biden (D)
2 Speaker of the House John Boehner (R)
3 President pro tempore of the Senate Patrick Leahy (D)
4 Secretary of State John Kerry (D)
5 Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew (D)
6 Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (R)
7 Attorney General Eric Holder (D)
? Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell (D)[a]
8 Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (D)
9 Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker (D)
10 Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez (D)
11 Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (D)
12 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan (D)
13 Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx (D)
14 Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz (D)
15 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (D)
16 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki (I)
? Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers (D)[b]

[SweatingGin]

15 Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (D)

Like in battlestar gallactica.

[RBS]

And look how that turned out.

[db]

Why did I think the Chief Justice had a place in that list?

*cracks ruler acros knuckles*

Better get to studying.

[Bam!]

Apparently Hillary Clinton was given the Liberty medal at the National Constitution Center. No, it's not a joke; she was given a medal for Liberty at the National Constitution Center.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

"Heckuva' job, Brownie."

[widget]

But was she given a medal at the Center of the National Constitution? And where, exactly, was she standing?

[SweatingGin]

Colorado has a recall election going on tonight (over the gun vote)

Hardly any counted on the 3rd district. Apparently it's blue dog, kind of a tough one to go after.

[Slammer]

Rand is giving his response speech on Fox News

[ant1sthenes]

I already posted a link to his speech.

[Slammer]

That works too

[ant1sthenes]

What a gold mine of derp.

"Because these [chemical] weapons can kill on a mass scale, with no distinction between soldier and infant, the civilized world has spent a century working to ban them."

Unlike the missiles fired by Predator drones...

"And in 1997, the United States Senate overwhelmingly approved an international agreement prohibiting the use of chemical weapons"

In international warfare, which does not apply to Syria.

"Moreover, we know the Assad regime was responsible."

You got a mouse in your pocket? Germany says the regime didn't authorize it, Russia says the rebels are using chemical weapons, and your spokesman for the US intelligence community is someone with a history of bald-faced lies to the public and to Congress.

I can't even wade any further through this ocean of bullshit.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

"You gave the other guy his wars with no trouble, but now you won't give me any wars! No fair! I hate you! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

[Bam!]

He then ran up to his room and slammed the door shut.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

Don't worry, he'll come back down when he wants us to feed him.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Anyone know where I can watch Rand Paul's rebuttal? The Reason staff seemed impressed.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE8jeD-uB7U

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Thanks, I found it earlier and just watched it.

He hit it out of the park, IMO.

"I think US credible doesn't reside in just one person."

[Ted S.]

USA 2, Mexico 0

Nice to watch a sporting event instead of some worthless politician's speech.

If Honduras can hold on and not give up 2 goals against Panama, then the USA are mathematically qualified for Brazil with two games to spare. Mexico would also almost certainly finish no better than 4th and face a playoff against New Zealand to qualify.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Watched Italy and England today. Italy and Holland are in mathematically. Spain and Germany are sure to follow. Even caught last bit of the France-Belarus game.Like what I see in Belgium a lot.

Colombia and Belgium look like nice dark horses. Getting to see a few of their players watching Serie A.

USA is slowly getting their act together but what's with all the weird formations Klinsmann using? America is best suited for a 4-4-2.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

It depends on the 2nd round pairings, but Portugal, France, Ukraine, and Croatia will get another shot.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

I can see NZ knocking out Mexico.

[Ted S.]

Mexico still have to finish ahead of Panama first. Panama's late goal to get a 2-2 draw means they're technically ahead of Mexico. Perhaps they, like Honduras, can win at the Azteca? 🙂

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Poor NZ. Wins their continent yet doesn't automatically get in.
The weakest continent though.

[Rufus J. Firefly]

By the way, I replied to you revealing being a BVB fan in another thread.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

oh yeah? Did you convert?

[Rufus J. Firefly]

Convert? To Latvian Orthodox?

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Reformed Latvian.

[Ted S.]

Ukraine could theoretically pass England (who for some reason wind up with two home games). Or they could be passed by Poland or Montenegro.

[Ted S.]

They should be playing total football, such that any of them can play any outfield position if necessary. 😉

[Francisco d Anconia]

Insert GBN rant here.

[Mr Whipple]

While threatening to bitch slap Syria, Obama seriously underestimated the speed of Putin's backhand and quickly became the bitch.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

WHAT?

Andrew Sullivan: That was one of the clearest, simplest and most moving presidential speeches to the nation I can imagine

[RBS]

Damn, he must not have much of an imagination then.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

It sure moved me away from the TV set.

[Slammer]

I think that's just you, Andrew.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

Yes, he's still a community organizer. It's just that now, the community he is so effectively organizing is the world.

Good God almighty.

[AlmightyJB]

I thought you were making that up. wow.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

That's so pathetic it's crossed the boundary from disingenuity to full-blown psychopathy.

Even Gary Busey thinks that's batshit insane.

[Irish]

I'm tired of the eye-rolling and the easy nit-picking of the president's leadership on this over the last few weeks. The truth is: his threat of war galvanized the world and America, raised the profile of the issue of chemical weapons more powerfully than ever before, ensured that this atrocity would not be easily ignored and fostered a diplomatic initiative to resolve the issue without use of arms. All the objectives he has said he wanted from the get-go are now within reach, and the threat of military force ? even if implicit ? remains.

Oh my God, Sullivan. Everything in this sentence is a lie, including the punctuation marks.

[Ted S.]

"Every word he writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the'."

--Paraphrasing writer Mary McCarthy (sister of Kevn McCarthy from Invasion of the Body Snatchers), who wrote it about Lillian Hellman.

[AlmightyJB]

I guess we can all be thankful he doesn't have a real job he can f up. Just a few more kb's wasted.

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

Amazon kills the joke

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

WTF? That "Huge Ships" book is selling for $3420.04 plus $3.99 shipping in the third-party section.

[Irish]

I just read the speech on HuffPo. Good God.

Our troops are out of Iraq, our troops are coming home from Afghanistan, and I know Americans want all of us in Washington, especially me, to concentrate on the task of building our nation here at home, putting people back to work, educating our kids, growing our middle class.

Isn't that one of those dipshit Thomas Friedman catch phrases? When you've resorted to plagiarizing Thomas Friedman, you have fallen about as far as I can imagine.

[Irish]

Why should we get involved at all in a place that's so complicated and where, as one person wrote to me, those who come after Assad may be enemies of human rights? It's true that some of Assad's opponents are extremists. But al-Qaida will only draw strength in a more chaotic Syria if people there see the world doing nothing to prevent innocent civilians from being gassed to death.

We must help Al-Qaeda in order to defeat them.

[Bam!]

Being shot and bombed to death is a-okay.

[AlmightyJB]

Don't forget being bored to death.

[The Rt. Hon. Serious Man, Visc]

As Welch tweeted, quoting Friedman means it's time to drink some gasoline.

[Irish]

And several people wrote to me, we should not be the world's policeman. I agree.

(Later)

My fellow Americans, for nearly seven decades the United States has been the anchor of global security. This has meant doing more than forging international agreements. It has meant enforcing them. The burdens of leadership are often heavy, but the world's a better place because we have borne them.

How is enforcing rules on sovereign nations different than being the world's policeman?

[Bam!]

Because he's only planning on smacking Assad's knuckles. He's making us into the worlds nun.

[AlmightyJB]

Might as well start drinking then.

http://31.media.tumblr.com/151.....o1_500.png

[Marshall Gill]

How could a person possibly make it this far into the thread without drinking?

[Ted S.]

JPG is the proper format for photos. PNG is better suited for drawings.

[AlmightyJB]

Because he didn't say World Policeman. So it's not the same. It's World Enforcer.

[Irish]

Did you catch the part where he said Republicans need to reconcile their 'support for the military' with a situation where we should use military force and the Democrats should reconcile their belief in 'freedom and dignity for all people' with the dead Syrian children?

You see, Obama's opponents are just super hawkish military lovers, but Obama's supporters adore freedom, dignity, puppies and rainbows. Nice to see Obama shoehorning partisan political stereotyping into a speech about civil war.

[AlmightyJB]

Well he he knew he already lost the debate so business as usual.

[Ted S.]

It's like calling a used car a "pre-owned" car.

[Tony]

Enforce international law as only we can. Don't intervene in every local dispute ("world policemen").

[AlmightyJB]

Why didn't ya'll just watch the Miley Cyrus video instead? I'm sure it makes more sense then bozo did.

[Slammer]

I did. She gave the sledgehammer a BJ yadda yadda yadda

[AlmightyJB]

I have a sledgehammer for her.

[Slammer]

The Smiley Virus is cute as fuck. Just sayin'

[AlmightyJB]

I'd hit it.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I just wish she'd grow her hair back.

[Slammer]

Upstairs or downstairs?

[Archduke Trousersenthusiast]

I hope you got all your shots.

[Marshall Gill]

I would wager that she has plenty for which no shots will cure.

[Tulpa (LAOL-VA)]

The parallels are shocking.

"I don't pay attention to the negative," Obama told MSNBC News.

He went on to say "Bush's done it. Clinton's done it. Every president. Anyone that leads a country. That's what you're looking for?you're wanting to make history. Me and John [Kerry,] the whole time said, you know we're about to make history right now."

He also said about his critics, "They're overthinking it. You're thinking about it more than I thought about it when I did it. Like, I didn't even think about it?cause that's just me."

[Sevo]

"I didn't even think about it?cause that's just me."

Uh, that's what I'm afraid of.

[Ted S.]

See above. I was watching a great sporting event.

[Sevo]

Update:
The Chron now rates the speech as less important than a dispute over whether to name a bridge after a local political sleaze-bag.
Comments have died off; still strongly anti. Easy crowd, no sale. Sorry, the 'EZ Slicer' isn't moving.
http://www.sfgate.com/