Wednesday, August 16, 2006

TSA PsyOps Operation

* fellow aussie blogger Ghandi at Bushout (via Rimone):
‘To fully appreciate Camus, it is important to distinguish between absurdity and similar concepts such as irony and ridiculousness. For example, it is ridiculous that an intellectual lightweight like George W. Bush ever became President of the USA. It’s ironic that the man who holds probably the most powerful office in the history of our planet is a shallow, easily manipulated fool. But we begin to approach the absurd when we realize that, after half a decade of death, war, stuff-ups, and cover-ups, millions of people across the USA still do not know, or refuse to acknowledge, how criminally incompetent Bush truly is…"
Rimone has an early copy of Blinky's Camus book report.

* rudepundit:
"Beyond Lieberman, there's the near-hysteria by the right over the arrest of the terror suspects in England. Spinning like a spastic third-grader on the playground, President Bush said that the arrests are "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom." Beyond the completely erroneous use of "fascist," which is going to be part of the new right wing rhetoric so that it elevates Bin Laden even more to Hitler supervillain status, did anyone actually forget that America is "at war"? Did we need a "reminder"?

And right there is the problem that Republicans (and Democratic enablers) have going into the midterm elections. It's the reason that Karl Rove is done for - motherfucker ought to be getting his affairs in order and learning how to tie his own noose. Because, finally, at long last, Republicans have lost the frame. See, it doesn't matter if you lose an argument or if the facts go against you as long as you control the terms of the argument. To go all Lieberman, we could use a sports analogy: call it "the home team advantage." And once you lose the frame, everything you say is now interpreted through the new frame, and that which once worked for you will now be turned against you."

* Clemons:
"Shoes Off at the Airport: TSA PsyOps Operation
I've always thought that a committed band of terrorists who wanted to smuggle dangerous materials into the country would do so through cargo ships and planes, but civilian aircraft have been and are terror targets because of the ability to create high-shock impact with the destruction of a few or even a single aircraft.

But all this time, we have not had the scanning detectors in place that would deliver "real" rather than "artificial" security. I noticed recently some very impressive, new airport screening machines at Reagan National Airport that help "sniff" the passenger as well as screen for metal. However, only the US Airways wing has these screeners. All the rest of the airport wings have the old X-ray and metal detection systems.

Thanks to TSA for the long lines and screening charades."

* wow - paula zhan on cnn is doing a show on the "Politics of Terror" tomorrow.

14 comments:

Don said...

* wow - paula zhan on cnn is doing a show on the "Politics of Terror" tomorrow.

I can see it now: with special focus on how the Democratic party is politicizing the terrorism threat to bludgeon the po' ole Grand Ol' Party, while electing pro-IslamAfghanIranofascist candidates. Should be interesting... if you're looking for an insomnia cure.

Can hardly wait... I'd TiVo it but Rock Star:Supernova's doing their eliminations, and, well, at least they're not trying to appear serious or relevant to the future of the US or anything.

lukery said...

lol - you may be right. i only half-caught the advertisement for it, and i'd just watched the olbermann version of the same thing and i presumed that zahn was going to be along the same lines. you are right. shame on me.

btw - how is Supernova? i actually watched the inxs series last year and kinda got into it. (me being a longtime INXS fan)

Track said...

Good call Don. :) So true.

Another possibility is: Some might accuse the GOP of "playing politics" but you can't play anything if you're dead. :)

Watched a clip of Mary Matalin on FOX and it's messed w/ my mind. You know you're in trouble when John Gibson plays the "moderator" role in an interview.

lukery said...

lol - i'm so glad i'm not james carville

Track said...

What we want to run on is a choice. You have a choice between the peace-knick party, the defeatists, the cut and run, and the pro-defense party, the tough on security party. And if the Democrats take over or they elect or nominate even candidates the likes of Lamont, this country will be far weaker for their effort. (1)

Don said...

btw - how is Supernova? i actually watched the inxs series last year and kinda got into it. (me being a longtime INXS fan)

So far, not bad. Only been into it for a few weeks, and never watched it last year (although I am impressed with J.D. Fortune's vocals). Generally much more listenable than any of the infinite permutations of Idol-mania... once you get past Dave Navarro wearing more make-up than Brooke Burke, anyway. Show's MSN-hosted website here, clips of the performances thus far also at MSN.

Anonymous said...

fuck paula zahn and her 'politics of terror' or whatever. someone wake me up when they actually show 'the power of nightmare' on US TV--only then will i approach an approximation of satisfaction that general audiences are at least, getting a good, in-depth look at what's happening.

nb: of course, if paula zahn can put together something that nears any veracity or a decent analysis, i'll take this all back. :-)

lukery said...

Don: JD is a true rockstah.

rimone: remember when the beeb censored adam curtis' acceptance speech at the BAFTA's? i'll never forgive em.
bastards.

Anonymous said...

i don't watch awards shows but this is deplorable (and amazing to me, that BAFTA would do that. apart from tony blair, i so hate to think that Brits delve into US bullshit tactics).

lukery said...

i dont watch em either.

i think it was the beeb that did the censoring, not BAFTA.

lukery said...

Noise - thnx

Anonymous said...

I'm wondering what the hell the criteria are for being considered a pundit/consultant, like Mary Maitlin. The ability to recite inanities?

The last time I saw her, she looked like she'd been shot in the face, full-on, by Darth, with too much botox. She could barely move her lips. That could be a good thing.

Track said...

Either her marriage is insane or our political system is staged wrestling. Matalin was part of the WHIG and I believe an assistant to Cheney. I couldn't forget about that shit if I were Carville.

lukery said...

Noise - i think you are right - it's all a stage event.