Molly Ivins: The definition of insanity

[Dudley_DUright]

Sometimes you look at the people Bush appoints to high public office and the only possible response is, "What were they thinking?"

Zalmay Khalilzad for U.S. ambassador to Iraq? Why not just send Richard Perle? Khalilzad is a second-rank neo-con with all the same credentials as the rest of those bozos -- pre-emptive war, world hegemony, Project for a New American Century... the whole stinking lot of it. Plus, he's been a big booster for Iran's ayatollahs, the Afghani Mujahideen and the Taliban, not to mention an oil company consultant. Isn't that just jim-dandy?

What this tells us is that the administration has learned exactly nothing from the past three years of insurgency in Iraq. The 1,700-dead, $1 billion-a-week mistake will continue to be run in exactly the same way we have already proved doesn't work. We'll keep trying to put out a growing insurgency with too small an army as the country drifts ever-closer to civil war. It's like Ben Franklin's definition of insanity -- doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

As one who has long argued that George W. Bush is not stupid, I must admit that not learning from your mistakes is a prime signal of stupidity. But of course, in order to learn from your mistakes, you have to recognize you made them. The president assured us just last week he is "heartened" by what is happening in Iraq and, "I am pleased with the progress." The vice president says there is "major progress" and the insurgency is in its "last throes." These folks are in such deep denial.

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http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=19193

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Why should Ratface do anything differently?

He's not been held to account for anything he's done, so why should he even acknowledge that he's done anything wrong?

I love Molly Ivins, but she's pushing water uphill with this one. The arrogance of these bastards is growing daily, since there's no one - absolutely no one - to call them on what they're doing.

Remember when Ratface had a "nice visit" with the 9/11 Commission? Didn't take the oath, didn't swear to tell the truth, and had Cheney with him to hold his hand and pull the string that makes his mouth move. Everyone else - including Bill Clinton - appeared under oath, and appeared alone (as far as I know).

They're not in denial. They're saying whatever the hell they want to say, in spite of every fact contradicting what they try to foist on us with their foul words, because they can.

Because they're seized with absolute power right now, and that's the damnable and horrific truth.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. Yes, I agree that Molly is being a little naive on this

They don't consider these appointments mistakes at all, since they want to destroy the organizations that these "disassemblers" are appointed to.

[Tommymac]

6. And a Lapdog, not a Watchdog, press helps too....nt

[Gman]

2. We judge right and wrong by what we know to be right and wrong

the problem is these people either 1) do not care about right and wrong or 2) have a totally different concept of right and wrong. I think its a combination of both. Therefore, our outrage doesn't mean a damn thing because they're going to do exactly what they want to do in total disregard of true right and wrong either through ignorance or, more likely, total disregard of right and wrong.

They do not expect different results from redoing things. They don't care that there are adverse results. I think they consider the adverse results consequential to their real plans.

[orwell]

4. Actually

...fundamental to the NeoCon worldview is the belief that there is effectively no right or wrong. They believe that the ends justify the means.

For example, they are quite willing, encouraged even to use religion as a propaganda tool to control the masses. Read Machiavelli's The Prince to see the root of their political philosophy. Deception is encouraged if it provides a means to an end.

They believe that the world will be safer under US dominion and they are willing to "break a few eggs" to achieve this goal. Right and wrong don't really enter into the picture. They are in control and will ruthlessly wield that power to "change the world." In that respect, that have not really strayed from their roots in radical leftist politics.

[Gman]

5. Good observation

they have not strayed from their roots in radical leftist politics. They remember what they learned way back then and apply it now.