Lets change the tone a bit and while no self criticism will be given, still a little introspection would be good.

Dimitri Shostakovich’s musical satire and modern expression irked Joseph Stalin who was very sensitive to music in HIS STATE, and considered all art ( an extension of the Revolution, and so Shostakovich was required to undertake the long journey of self-criticism and public path-correction twice in his life.

Still Shostakovich was eventually chosen (or had been chosen) to play solo at Stalin’s wake. One little man, a survivor, one Grand Piano’s singular voice. On that day, Shotaskovich did not play the music that had gotten him into so much trouble, the kind of trouble that many artists had literally disappeared into, or had supposedly committed suicide because of. That day Tchaikovsky was good enough.

I am not assigning rolls to anyone here, but if political ideas aren’t allowed to be tested in the fires of real discussion, then just like the machines, the devices and the programs I usually work with, they will never, ever progress.

“… keeping the real Jodi (not sure if I can change her name back her own name, though), and putting a “one troll blog” policy in my commenting policy. Something to the effect of, “we’ve got our troll, we like her, she found us Beamish once, and we don’t need another troll.”

That sounds like an equitable plan and has my vote.

The logic is something like this:

Intel on Iraq said they had WMD. Intel on Iraq was wrong. Intel on Iran says no nukes. Intel on Iran must also be wrong as intel on Iraq was. Therefore Iran DOES have nukes and we must attack Iran ASAP.

I am sure the plans are already in motion.

I love the idea of “a” pet troll!

Adds to the ambiance.

The College Republicans at the University of Massachusetts are hosting an event called “All I am Saying is Give War a Chance.” It is devoted to the “costs, necessities, consequences, and benefits of war.” The speaker is grizzled warrior Jonah Goldberg. Is there anything more outright ludicrous than a bunch of combat-avoiding, prime-fighting-age College Republicans and Jonah Goldberg sitting around in Amherst chatting with each other about the Glories and “benefits of war”? GG
@Salon

The C.I.A. said today that the decision to destroy the tapes had been made “within the C.I.A. itself,” and they were destroyed to protect the safety of undercover officers and because they no longer had intelligence value. The agency was headed at the time by Porter J. Goss.

Shorter Porter: “When Viagra won’t do…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12…..el.html?hp

C.I.A. Destroyed Tapes of Harsh Interrogations

The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials….were concerned that tapes documenting controversial interrogation methods could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy, several officials said.
The C.I.A. said today that the decision to destroy the tapes had been made “within the C.I.A. itself,” and they were destroyed to protect the safety of undercover officers and because they no longer had intelligence value. The agency was headed at the time by Porter J. Goss. Through a spokeswoman, Mr. Goss declined this afternoon to comment on the destruction of the tapes.

GWB-RBC “Hey world! Suck. On. This.”

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/…..index.html