Of course, Egyptians still have their grievances with America, and will in the future no matter who is president — and we’ve got a few grievances with them, too. But every once in a while, America does something so radical, so out of the ordinary — something that old, encrusted, traditional societies like those in the Middle East could simply never imagine — that it revives America’s revolutionary “brand” overseas in a way that no diplomat could have designed or planned.
I just had dinner at a Nile-side restaurant with two Egyptian officials and a businessman, and one of them quoted one of his children as asking: “Could something like this ever happen in Egypt?” And the answer from everyone at the table was, of course, “no.” It couldn’t happen anywhere in this region. Could a Copt become president of Egypt? Not a chance. Could a Shiite become the leader of Saudi Arabia? Not in a hundred years. A Bahai president of Iran? In your dreams. Here, the past always buries the future, not the other way around.
Seriously, read the whole thing; even if you disagree, I think it’s an incredibly informative piece.
My favorite quote by that moron Thomas Friedman will always be this one as he sold the Iraq war and sold us out…
“What they needed to see was American boys and girls going house to house, from Basra to Baghdad, um and basically saying, “Which part of this sentence don’t you understand?” You don’t think, you know, we care about our open society, you think this bubble fantasy, we’re just gonna to let it grow? Well, Suck. On. This.”
Notice that he was have a ‘Nile side dinner’ when he had the conversation in this article…yeah he’s really in touch with the average person.
Having in the past , prior to 2001, enjoy Friedman’s work, I can only say blind pig meet truffle. His recent work is so soiled with stupidity, blood and propaganda that I must also examine said truffle to make sure it is not completely rotted through.
If there is anything that a person can generalize about America it is that we are pragmatic people. The fact is that over the last 20 or so years we have seen Republican governance and have made the rightful decision it is a failure. George Bush is just the worst example of what incompetence and even competent Republicans, who dislike the very idea of government for the common good, do when allowed to govern. They screw it up beyond belief with ideological foolishness.
Iraq proves the perfect example of how not to go to war, how not to occupy and how not to spend tax dollars. The Republicans have long ago used up any notion that they were fiscally responsible. In the whole history of America, Republican administrations have caused larger deficits and had the worst performing economies of all administrations. The latest fool and his credit card warring ways has almost sunk us forever. Venal, stupid, greedy… the dictionary is just crying out for new words to describe the Republican mess made of our government.
Obama represents a practical people trying to save themselves from the likes of Cheney, Bush and yes, Grandpa McCain or is that McSame?
“Iraq proves the perfect example of how not to go to war, how not to occupy and how not to spend tax dollars.”
Thats true. But what you dolts do not realize is that if it does snow in Hades and Obama is elected to office, you are setting him up for a mighty big fall.
The crap I’m reading from the feverswamp promises that within days of Obama assuming power all of us little people are going to be walking on golden paved streets.
We’re gonna strut into the doctor’s office any time we please and never see a bill.
We’re gonna see our incomes soar and our taxes dry up.
The world is gonna gather us up in it’s collective arms and plant a big, wet kiss on our foreheads.
I read one account (from the SF Chron, I think) that claims Obama is going to “evolve our species”…
pffft. One-huge-disaster; just add Obama.
Swiftee, I agree 100%,
You exactly describe what Obama has been running on.
These moonbats believe everything you say, too. Keep taking them down so very well.
keep on spreading discontent on the internet and sending “Leftists” to the third ring of hell.
Great Job!
I could not disagree more.
The first clue to something really wrong is the line, “I cannot tell a lie”. Anytime anyone says that, they are about to sell you a stack of lies so high that the sun will be blocked.
The subtext is that Obama is only significant because he is black. As proof trying replacing every “Obama” with “McCain” and replacing the “black” references with a “senile very old man” references. Offended yet? This story is a complete and total lie because Obama’s color, shoe size or bowling alley scores are totally completely irrelevant. The appeal to pride is only used for selling the lie that Obama is only significant because he is black.
Obama would be the best president!
McCain would be an even worst version of Bush presidency!
Lets talk about McCain’s connections to lobbyists and Obama’s rejection of lobbyists. Let’s talk about out lobbyists causing really bad government like excessive payments for Medicare drugs.
Where should our political conversation be? Are you listening to the booming voice or looking at the man behind the curtain?
Swiftee… do you actually read the crap you spew?
No one in the United States of America believes that made up crap. The fact is that most Democrats are happy we found somebody willing to go in and try to clean up the massive mess you Republicans created. We all know it is going to be tough. Your little straw-man assumes that everyone in America is as stupid as the Ronald Reagan worshiping whores you hang with.
Since you and George Bush love having a war but refuse to pay for it… everybody knows that belts need to be tightened and taxes raised on “somebody” to at least pay down the massive Republican debt. All that money that Bush Republican henchmen siphoned off has to be repaid some way or how. They certainly are not giving it back.
The fact is that Obama might just spend some money in America instead of the deserts of Iraq. Money that might end up some where besides a Swiss bank. You know money that creates jobs, safer infrastructure and technological advances. And you and the Republican swine you wallow with will be bitching every step of the way as he tries to fix what you fucks broke.
Swiftee do you make more than $250,000 in your household? Because if you don’t, there is absolutely no reason to vote for John McSame.
Swiftee.. here’s another op ed I think you might find interesting. It comes from that dubious Liberal Rag The Wall Street Journal…
Republicans Gird for Big Losses in Congress
By SARAH LUECK
June 11, 2008; Page A5
WASHINGTON — Republicans are bracing for double-digit losses in the House and the prospect of four or five losses in the Senate, as they fight to hold a wide range of districts and states normally seen as safe for them, from Alaska and Colorado to Mississippi and North Carolina.
The feared setback for Republicans, coming two years after their 2006 drubbing, is unusual for several reasons. It is rare for a party to lose two election cycles in a row. And many expect losses even if their presidential candidate, John McCain, captures the White House.
Could not happen to a nicer bunch of grand old perverts…
Well said, amuseinc.
Swiftee- you are an idiot.
I’m simply thankful that we had democrats willing to clean up the goddamned mess that Bush/McSame made over in Iraq.
“No one in the United States of America believes that made up crap.”
Pfft. It’d be great if that were true, but the sad fact is that 40% of the country votes Democrat.
Not only are you dolts cluelessly setting Obama up for the big fall, you never stop to contemplate the consequences of removing the half a brain you were born with to earn your Democrat card.
Utter, stultifying idiocy is the heart and soul of the Democrat platform…and from time to time the rest of us are left with paying the price that demands.
One-huge-disaster; just add Obama.
Not only are you dolts cluelessly setting Obama up for the big fall, you never stop to contemplate the consequences of removing the half a brain you were born with to earn your Democrat card.
???
Utter, stultifying idiocy is the heart and soul of the Democrat platform…and from time to time the rest of us are left with paying the price that demands.
This from the guy that wrote the first sentence I pasted here.
Your concern for Obama is really touching tom, but I think he’ll be fine without you. My main worry is for you. Are you sure you’ve got enough blood pressure medicine stocked up to survive the next 40 years of Democratic governance? Thanks to folks like yourself, it’ll take that long to repair the GOP “brand”.
Say, Richard?
I would revel as much as anyone watching an Obamanation administration crumble under the weight of the assinine promises that put in power; sorry if I gave you the impression I was in any way concerned about that.
But as I alluded to, Obama has as much chance of being elected as Howard Dean does of reviving his practise, so it’s nothing more than another astoundingly astute observation on my part.
Keep telling yourself that tom. The GOP brand might be ready again for the prime time in 2032 but very likely it ain’t going to be your daddy’s GOP. A new political animal might emerge, the progressive Republican. Liberal and frequent applications of distilled spirits will get you through tom.
“the progressive Republican”
*snort* OK, now you owe me a coke, Richard!
That was a good one, haha….
Grace: I respectfully disagree. I don’t think Friedman intended, as flawed an opinion as his has been at times, for this to be a be-all end-all of why Obama makes for the best choice. Were it that, I might agree with you, but I just don’t think it is.
Instead, I think this is simply an illustration of one small facet of a candidate that is compelling on many levels. Not only that, I think it’s a phenomenon on an international level that is worth pausing to consider. And not necessarily because it defines Obama, what he’s capable, or even us as Americans, but because it offers, I think, interesting insight into how America does and doesn’t capture the attention of the world.
I too would take great offense if I thought Friedman were characterizing this superficial awe as Obama’s one great strength, but I don’t think he means it that way; or, at the very least, I don’t choose to see it that way.
Three (3) posts and now this [the 4th post]?
Two-Putt Tommy has often written, “You’re a sick man.”
Say, rocketman? Are you a progressive Republican, a conservative Moonbat or an independant rocket dodger?
Swiftee, I agree 100%,
What a moonbat that guy is!
Keep spreading discontent on the internet and sending “Leftists” to the third ring of hell.
More than anything, keep on calling these people who hate America and want to surrender to terrorists moonbats.
You take down moonbats so well, I can’t even fathom doing it as well as you do.
Great Job!
Swiftee… does McCain winning and then staying the course mean anything but the complete END OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I mean we got your $4 gas, up from $1.11 in 7 short years, you got your 4,000 dead soldiers in Iraq which will translate into how many under McSame, and then because of the over-stretched military and Iran we got your possibility of a draft… plus more jobs going overseas with Republican tax policy… recession… Hell you better hope McBush loses. Otherwise the complete destruction of your sorry criminal gang is complete. At least with Democrats running the place you get to sit on the sidelines and snipe.
and don’t forget drink,, there will lots of sniping and drinking from the GOP’ers. They completely screwed the pooch and now their party is done.
Oh Friedman
I was initially tempted to label it self-congratulatory crap but it really is an accomplishment for our country. A benchmark if you will. Hopefully in President Obama’s time in office, there will be other benchmarks set that we can be proud of. There’s a lot of repair work to do.
Voting Republican? Here, take a lookie at why it’s a “good” idea…
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385
x146213
Friedman’s piece was sophisticated…we can always use some worldliness…
Swiftee - so glad you want only the worst for America.
For myself, no matter who wins the presidency, I can only pray that things go well. The last thing I want for our country, as a patriotic American, is to have our next president fail.
You don’t have to be a Democrat to appreciate the fact that we have an African-American nominee for the Presidential election. It is great that we’re here after so recently being in such an ugly place.
So when I walk into the voting booth in November, will making history with our first ever non-white President cross my mind? Absolutely not. I’m still voting on the issues, as are most of you based on your posts, as it should be.
Ruthie, that convinced me I’m Voting Republican!
Absolutely not. I’m still voting on the issues, as are most of you based on your posts, as it should be.
Agreed.
whats so amazing about Tom Friedman….its just self agrandizing bullshit. We prop up repressive societies like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and then wonder why they are such closed societies
Other countries like even Iraq, Bangladesh etc and now even African countries have had female leaders and non-majority religious leaders. What is common in those countries — -> they are not dictatorships propped by us.
@ swiftee:
“Obama has as much chance of being elected as Howard Dean does of reviving his practise, so it’s nothing more than another astoundingly astute observation on my part.”
In the words of another poster, I agree completely. Dean could go back to his practice with his wife at any time.
News: Obama is within 2% in NORTH CAROLINA. That means McCain is going to have to allot some of his preciously scarce resources in another state any other republican would win in a walk.
Gotta hurt to be you, chum.