QUESTION: Why did the president pick a man who is so contemptible of the public servants in Washington to be his domestic adviser, saying, People in Washington are morally repugnant, cheating, shifty human beings. Why did he…
SNOW: Apparently an opinion that’s…
QUESTION: Why would he pick such a man to be a domestic adviser?
SNOW: You meant contemptuous as opposed to contemptible I think.
QUESTION: Pure contempt.
SNOW: I’m not sure it’s pure contempt. I know Karl Zinsmeister pretty well and he is somebody who expresses himself with a certain amount of piquancy. You’re perhaps familiar with that, aren’t you, Helen?*
Heh.
From a later part of the exchange to which Kate linked:
SNOW: No, look if, you look at the bulk of what Karl Zinsmeister has done at the American Enterprise and elsewhere, I think you’re going to find somebody who’s done some pretty meaty and interesting research on a variety of topics.
Actually, hardly anyone familiar with actual research, who went on to look at what Zinsmeister has done for the AEI, would confuse any of his feeble efforts with ‘research,’ let alone ‘meaty’ or ‘interesting’ research.
You might as well term a column by Zinsmeister’s think-tank-mate David Frum ‘research.’
The intellectual shallowness of today’s ‘Conservative’ movement is sad indeed.
Where’s George Grant when we need him?
Stephen: “Where’s George Grant when we need him?”
Probably rolling over in his grave now that his nephew, Michael Ignatieff, is running for the party of Trudeau.
I imagine he’d consider the intellectual shallowness of today’s Liberal movement pretty dismal, too.
George Grant actually had a great deal in common with Ignatieff. As a university professor, he manifested a similar elitism, self-importance, and an affectation of greater profundity than an examination of his actual words would justify.
Reporter: so have you stopped beating your wife and biting the heads of kittens yet?
Sigh! too bad the credibility of the MSM is at such a low ebb…there really are important qustions to be asked….like why did Bush pardon 20 million illegal aliens and attempt to criminalize patriots who want to stop the IA invasion of their country? OR why does Bush spend so much photo-op time with Hillary and Bill Klinton? ….but these will be washed away with the rest of the self serving fecial matter the media wade in daily
Couldn’t possibly be any worse than the incompetent losers who have infested Ottawa for the past 30 years.
Must be worse…look at the space there getting on a Canadian site!
Just what Bush needed, another Karl.
This guy is more of the same.
Everything he has written has been a kiss up to everything Bush.
Schooled at Yale(surprise). I will have to see whether he was skull and bones Yale like Bush.
So there will be nothing new in terms of input from this guy because he is nothing more than a cheerleader. The single possible,and this is a long shot, redeeming quality Karl may have in his quiver is that he is from the North East and not Texas.
Now this new Treasury Secretary looks like a good choice. How did that happen??? What did they do to get a man who knows something about economics to take a $40 million cut in pay to serve a failing president????
Steve: Perhaps nobody else wanted the job?
(Same way that Cruton and Martin ended up with the cabinets they had……)
Davie
That may explain Karl but Paulsen? Paulsen left a dream for a nitemare. There has to be a lot more than meets the eye on this one.
steve d. said:
“Davie
That may explain Karl but Paulsen? Paulsen left a dream for a nitemare. There has to be a lot more than meets the eye on this one.”
At the risk of sounding cornball and jingoistic, perhaps he did it for the good of the country. This is a concept foreign to most Canadian politicians and the public for that matter. Remember “entitled to my entitlements”?
Slag at will.
huggybear99
You’re right I think cornball is a good way of describing your take. Cornball is over, This is 06. Cornball was Father Knows Best or The Flying Nun or Happy Days. Its over Huggy, weep and move on.
That’s right, cornpone is so 50’s.
Today’s version consists of yaking endlessly about sustainble development and shouting “I love Canada” at the end of every empty meallymouthed statement. Sort of like saying “All the scientists agree so it must be right”.
DDT
Yeah, I like your take better, “All the scientists agree, so it has to be wrong. Us non-scientists(philosophers) know more science(thats the same as faith isn’t it?) than actual scientists.”
I haven’t seen much of Zinsmeister’s stuff, but I really rather liked the one bit I have seen:
Zinsmeister, Karl. 1993. “MITI Mouse: Japan’s Industrial Policy Doesn’t Work.”
Policy Review 64 (Spring): 28-35.
‘Twas a nice little study, that.
Ahhhhh, just let it Snow!
And let Helen Thomas make a fool of herself some more…
Eric
Just google his name, you will get an excellent bunch of his writing. It is all exactly what a Bush apologist would write. The war is over…troops are basically rebuilding…blah, blah…etc. He was embedded three times. Everything is coming up roses.
Democrats are the party of the rich.
If you love the Republicans, if you love Bush, you will adore Karl.
Do not love the Republicans… but don’t hate Bush. Republicans could use a good kick in the ass these days. Bush? I have not liked some of the things he has done and some he has not.
He has been very friendly with the Clintons. He has not done what was necessary regarding immigration or the border issue with Mexico ( Canada’s border with the US is a vastly different issue and is treated as such) Mexico and Fox need to be told the way of it. Bush wants to schmooze. I dislike that.
I hate that Bush did not realize the extent to which the government agencies were infiltrated wiht Clintonistas.
Clinton should have been arrested and tried for treason in my view, but no, he continually runs around the world embarassing himself no matter where he goes..latest is he cheats at golf too, according to Tiger Woods.. but, that is minor compared to the harm he has done to the US and to the West… we will never hear from the media about that…only that Bush did or did not do this or that and the war in Iraq..blah, blah, blah..
Karl can do no more harm and might possibly do some good..
As Tony Snow is delighting my heart every time he takes another round out of Helen the Witch during the White House press briefings.
We could have done worse these last 6 years. We could have had that moron Gore in the WH. And God only knows where that might have got us. ( we may find out sooner that we like if the Dems are grooming him to run in 08.. [is the bloom off ole Hill?]Or is her baggage a bit to pricey?
As to Karl… if he is a Bush supporter and can articulate what the prez wants articulated then he has my vote.
Bush was right about Iraq is right about Korea and Iran… the war is over in Iraq…the violence there is what one would expect in the aftermath and all things have developed as they should in a time line that in any other time would be considered wildly successful.
The campaign in Afghanistan and Iraq were both very successful. The upswing in violence in both areas are due to the enemy knowing this is where they have to make their play if they are ever going to make one and the press’s delight in reporting every damn negative thing they can find regarding violence. They have so skewed the reality of what is Iraq that they should be tied to the same stake as the Clintons.
Snowbunnie:Well said.
I’m on your side, snowbunnie and craig, (and probably the rest on this site.)
Thanks Katie a big bunch for the work you do:
Stephen. Parksville BC ww 2 vet.
snowbunnie
Amazing. How did you know that Clinton started the Iraq war, was behind Abu Gharib, the Haditha slaughter, the Katrina debacle, exposing a CIA agents identity thereby endangering dozens of other operatives around the world, warrantless wiretapping, signing addendums to over 700 laws saying that the president is exempt from having to follow those laws. That damn Clinton’s power is such that it may never go away. We may have to elect ten or more Republicans just to get the White House back to being Christian. Oh yes, Clinton obviously got to Bush on the immigration issue. Bush wouldn’t have disappointed you except Clinton got to him big time. I am afraid that Clinton will charm his way into the next White House too. What are we going to do????
Steve’s tongue is firmly planted in cheek, of course!…
If it were not for Clinton we would not be in Iraq today and Bin Laden would be in jail or better still, with the proverbial virgins. And do not for a second forget that the media touted ‘no link to Al Queda in Iraq’ bull has been refuted over and over again with credible evidence that is ignored completely.
We may be in for another Clinton White House or a Gore White House , and that is a real possibility but it won’t be for the lack of information by the electorate. THEY seem to get it. Even with all the media and the Kerry spin they still elected Bush to a second term… Just who will be the Republican candidate in 08? And more to the point, what is going to happen in the mid terms this year? The Repub base is mad as hell and with every right…
So, IF there is to be a Clinton return to the White House with Bubba as First Husband,or worse luck, a Gore White House with his environmental idiocy in tow, it will be the Republican spinelessness that will have aided that hapless possibility. Then again, we could have a Rudy Guiliani running and that might just change things ALL together.
You can switch cheeks, now, Steve.
snowbunnie
If you want to go to origins go back to Reagan. He told the CIA to feed the Afghan resistance against the Russians. That is what brought Bin Ladin to life.
Then after the first Gulf War, Bush senior left American military bases in Saudi Arabia. This happens to be the Islamic holy land. BinLaden was furious that the Infidels military inhabited the holy land. That is what set him off.
Clinton came closer to getting Bin Laden than George Bush ever has. But you go ahead and keep your hate on Clinton even though Bush has broken more laws and killed more people than 1000 Clintons.
If ideology is more important than right and wrong then go ahead and rail against any or all Democrats. Thankfully there are enough non-ideologues to save America from the gross corruption that is engulfing the Administration and the Republican party.
The old saying goes something like.. ‘we must know history in order not to repeat it’… Sadly, many do not know the Clinton history. That they took money they should not have taken to fund their campaigns.. many times… and have been fighting these very issues in court for years.
Clinton , the highest law maker in the land and a lawyer not only was impeached but lost his licence to practice law. Banned from practicing at the Supreme Court of the United States. Deemed guilty of obstruction of justice and sedition. He escaped a complete removal from office by the Senate , whose self interest was far more influential than right and wrong.
He ruined a young woman and did not care. He has a trail of the ruined (and worse)the dead a mile long but continues to schmooze his way around the world…Meanwhile the likes of Sandy Burger, Richard Clark, Jamie Gorelick threw themselves under the political bus to clear the way for him, to hide his mismanagement and incompetence as the Commander in Chief. The Clintons hate the military and the police, for these are the forces of the people, to protect them and their rights and freedoms. Hillary knows him for what he is but continues to tie her ambitions to his fading popularity in the party. SHE is popular there but he is not…and now? Looks a lot like the party is turning on Hillary.. for whatever reasons they have decided to do so… it can’t be a bad thing.
I do not dislike Democrats as a whole. Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman come to mind as decent democrats who care more for their country than they do partisan politicking. The democrat party however has been hijacked by left wing radicals who will destroy that party in time. Perhaps why Hillary has moved to the center, or at least has pretended to move to the center.
The Clintons do not care who they ruin as long as they get out of their way. I think the American people have had enough of the Clintons on the political stage and the democrats are not far behind. ( the next arena of danger is the world stage, where Clinton is vying for the head of the UN. Do not be fooled..there is a reason for this and a reason for Gore’s pretense to environmental concern. Just as in Kyoto, a bogus and mindless creation to offload wealth from the West to the likes of China and Russia, the environmental platform is the springboard from which globabl governance hopes to attain it’s ultimate goals.)
The grass roots republicans are going to do something about their witless and spineless repubs in the Senate come mid terms… and in the house as well…
As for Bush being responsible for more lives lost than a thousand Clintons? ( it simply must be that you do not know the things one should know about those 8 years in the White House)..You DEFEND the likes of Bin Laden as being ‘provoked’ by the US in Afghanistan during the 10 years of Russian invasion?( The US left in 88) I really don’t care who took on Afghanistan for whatever reasons..Nor do I care that there are American military in Saudi Arabia.
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The Taliban is a brutal and muderous entity as Bin Laden is and his Al Queda.
They mean business and intend no quarter and do not give it. They want us either dead or under the rule of Islam. This is not some pie in the sky wishful thinking on their part. They intend to do it and intend to see to it that we are under the thumb of the Mullahs to the everlasting ruin of our way of life, OUR religions and our freedoms. They intend that we do what THEY say and live as they dictate. We fought two world wars over this very issue and Thank God most of us do not intend that that sacrifice be wasted on the panty waisted likes of Clinton and the majority of the left in this country and the US who would have us appease and try to ‘please’ those who would wipe us from the face of the earth. 55 million men , women and children died in WWll and our soldiers fought and died in brutal battles to see to it we live free.
President Bush and PM Tony Blair and their coalition understand what is at stake and have acted on our behalf.
The brave men and women who fight are owed a huge debt of gratitude. To be ignorant of the risks Clinton took with our freedom and our way of life is to be dangerous in these times of war. A war of culture, religion and freedom that will mark our place for all time and determine our future and that of our children.
Take that tongue out of your cheek and hit the history books, Steve. Education is sadly lacking.
Steve D,
American funding of the Afghan Mujahdeen started during the Carter administration. It wasn’t properly equipped until 1986 with the introduction of Stinger missiles.
American military bases were in Saudi Arabia since the end of WWII.
Gottta nip these things in the bud, lest people think what you are saying is, well correct or something.
Snowbunnie
American foreign policy creates these monsters and then, as monsters will, when they go too far the Americans have to get on their high horse and reign them in. They created Bin Laden, whether in the 70’s or 80’s(Bin Laden is an 80’s monster KRYDOR(lest some think you know something). They also created that other monster Saddam Hussein. He was a small time despot until the Reagan administration needed a puppet willing to fight Iran. Saddam couldn’t wait. He saw all those American arms that he was going to be fed and galloped into Iran. America was the cheerleader,benefactor and arms supplier. Rumsfeld was secretary of defense and just had to go to Baghdad and shake Saddams hand and thank him for his fine work!
I have read but been unable to comfirm that Saddam asked George Senior if he would retaliate if he went into Kuwait. Apparently he didn’t get an answer and took that to mean America would look the other way. They thought he was a hero in willingly attacking Iran. The Americans looked the other way when he poison gassed the Kurds. So why would they get upset if he took a small country like Kuwait? Big mistake.
My point is that, in the end, whether democrat or republican, the foreign policy is generally the same. The quality of leadership is the real variable. The quality of leadership is in decline and that could have dire long term consequences for all of us.
I don’t think there is anything to fear from radical Islam. It is a small part of the Islamic picture, it is seen as a cancer in most countries and is therefore, watched, pursed and punished. Unlike, fascism which took control of governments and began an armaments buildup. These people are scattered, desperate and can only do limited acts of terror. They have an especially hard time gaining a foothold in first world countries with relatively small Islamist populations. While vigilance is our most effective weapon I don’t see any significant problem arising here. I think one of the best ways to defend against any kind of internal discord is to have good, solid, representative government that doesn’t leave large numbers disenfranchised.
Steve,
Was I incorrect in refuting two of your points or not? The Carter Administration originally funded the Mujahadeen. The US airbases were in Saudi Arabia since before Bin Laden was born. You’ve also completely confused the two different groups in Afghanistan at the time. The CIA backed/funded folks weren’t the same as the foreign fighters Bin Laden funded. Yes, funded.
Just point me to where this can be disproven, ’cause I will happily link where it can be proven over at my blog. I’m not using Kate’s as a place to expand upon this. Drop me an email if you wish to continue.
Krydor
Tried to leave a comment at your site. no luck.
Here is a link which shows how long military bases have been in Saudi Arabia and why they are leaving. It supports what I said above.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030430-psab01.htm
The DAY anyone can tell me just what country besides the United States of America will take their enemies and vanquished as conquerors and REBUILD their land, economies and people is the day you can criticize US Foreign Policy.
Weak leaders? Bush is among the best and far and away better than Clinton , who was too busy with cigars and the like, to pay any attention whatsoever to the security of the country and any credible terror threats, and there were many and documented. Or would one prefer a Gore , for God’s sake ! Gore sold his soul to the Russians about 25 years ago and takes a hell of a lot of money from them still. He is owned by them and those NGO’s that pretend they are all about environment… read Earth Council… George Senior TOLD Hussein DO NOT GO INTO KUWAIT..we will kick your ass if you do.
Once again Steve is all over the place with his take on things and the errors are too numerous to mention. Frankly I don’t have the time or inclinaton to undertake to educate those so far behind the times and events of our time. But it is an education that is sorely needed. None of us should be ignorant of world events, why they happen and who made them happen and be willing and able to get behind the ‘media spin’ and propaganda to find the REAL story. For these events will shape our future for good or ill.
Apologies to Kate for this:
http://lexicorient.com/e.o/saudi_5.htm
Specifically:
“1940-45: Saudi Arabia is on the allied side during World War II, giving room for an US air base in Dhahran.”
Which didn’t “close” until the full withdrawl. Sorry, Steve. The US presence was there since WWII
Steve: There are none so blind as those that do not see. That is you. You should fear Islam. They have been waiting and fighting for almost 2000 yrs to control the world. With the way the left is aiding them now, they wont have to wait another 500 yrs. Clinton was offered bin laden as a prisoner, by the president of pakistan, but he said no, I see no danger. The only time clinton took action of any kind was to keep the press of a new bimbogate. Does anyone really believe that if canada and the US left Iraq and Afghanistan within a month, there would be peace.