Jim Treacher's Blog That Is on the Internet

wow.

Amen.

Do I see the next cover of TIME there ? I hope so...

Absolutely breathtaking. Makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?

Reading the leftie blogs today has been instructive. Hell hath no fury like a vulture-dove deprived of carrion, it seems.

Wow, best ink-finger picture yet.

It must be tough to be a member of the reality based community these days.

It's not so bad. I finally get to say a bit of "I told you so" to the many fellow lefties who thought/think the whole thing was/is a mistake. This isn't a total victory, but it's a big win. It certainly solidified the progress in the two-thirds of Iraq that can tell the insurgents to fuck off. But those who live in the parts that are filled with insurgents (I use that as a universal term to include all of the dead-enders, terrorists, anti-Americans, Iraqi Minutemen, bomb-enthusiasts, shared-suicide advocates, and others who are still doing everything they can to keep disorder) aren't much more free today.

Most of Iraq is on the way toward democracy, but the thuggish insurgents aren't going to watch the election results pour in and decide to open bakeries and shoestores. They oppressed those they could, can still do so tomorrow, and will do so until they are stopped. It's still a military problem, and we aren't much closer to solving it than we were the day we invaded.

It's a good day, but there will still be many bad ones.

Damnit, even when I try to be optimistic, the reality-based assessment comes through. I hope for many more good days than bad, but I'm not that good at predicting things.

This has been a great day. I hope and pray it will be a major tunring point and I really believe it will. Because about two weeks ago there was an article about Iraqis sending text messages via cell phone, turning in would be insurgents, etc. First one I have seen and another way of voting, I suppose. The election underscores that our presence is indefinite, but ultimately self-limited. Good picture and thanks.

Let's hope that tear isn't because of a contact lense, because that will just ruin everything for me.

You pretty much said it better than any other blogger I've read.

But Chimpy McFlightsuit lied! And...and..there was only 60 percent turnout! And...and...Bu$hitler lied!

I'm glad Iraqis have taken yet another step to being free people and not just the cattle of a stronger man.

Kickass.

That is one amazing photograph. All I can say is - Iraq, Fuck Yea.

fuck religion, long live democrati. the picture says it all

Woah, my mom cursed on a blog. Typos and everything. Far out.

Thank you for posting the picture.

jon-

They will never let you into the gated reality-based community if you keep talking like that.

I hate gated communities, anyhow. They're filled with people too busy for even elementary groupthink, so they let committees decide which series of colors are acceptable for mailboxes and garden gnomes and flagpoles. I'm an American, damnit! If I want to put a basketball hoop in my front yard, use old tires to create a wall, let the children dig holes all over the lawn, and paint my home bright orange, I can do it! And no busybody will tell me my flag is three inches too large and put a lien on my property if I don't fix it within thirty days, either. Gated communities are for cowards, morons, and fascists.

As a supporter of this war, I've gotten grief from both sides. "How can you support Bush's imperial plans?" and "You must be a terrorist sympathizer if you are concerned over this so-called 'torture'" are two sides of the same idiotic coin. I've had the best and worst of both worlds: getting assumed to be a Bush supporter, getting assumed to be a Bush supporter, and the rest of the time I'm assumed to be a Bush basher.

This war and occupation has been troubling, painful, costly (in every possible way), demoralizing (no WMDs and the government's apparently unofficial endorsement of torture), and risky. Do I think the war could have been done better? Yeah, probably. Do I think Bush is an idiot? He's a bit myopic from his ideals, but not stupid. Is he a lying sack of shit? Usually, but that's politics.

When ABC World News Tonight does their "Person Of The Week" this Friday,
my vote goes to the Iraqi citizens who got out and voted. They have
risen from their erstwhile status, denizens, living in a country that
they inhabited, and built, but could not direct. All I had to risk come
election day was light rain and getting my ear talked off. God, Allah,
and Jehovah bless every one of them with the same liberty and prosperity
that we take for granted. Hurrah for everyone who gave "The Purple Finger" to Saddam, and for the brave men and women who sacrificed so much to make this possible.

jon-

Ever consider wearing a t-shirt or a tattoo that lets all the world know how even-keeled you are?

Wonder if we could see her smile after voting on allowing women in her culture to drive, wear clothing of their choice or talk with male non-relatives.

I wish we could interview her to ask her what she thinks of John Kerry, Michael Moore, George Soros, Jacques Chirac, Hollywood, Chomsky, et al.