Washington Post on Freeman's 'Crackpot Tirade'

Washington Post on Freeman’s ‘Crackpot Tirade’

PoliticsMarch 2009 • Views: 2,259

A Washington Post editorial on Charles Freeman’s paranoid “Israel lobby” rant.

What’s striking about the charges by Mr. Freeman and like-minded conspiracy theorists is their blatant disregard for such established facts. Mr. Freeman darkly claims that “it is not permitted for anyone in the United States” to describe Israel’s nefarious influence. But several of his allies have made themselves famous (and advanced their careers) by making such charges — and no doubt Mr. Freeman himself will now win plenty of admiring attention. Crackpot tirades such as his have always had an eager audience here and around the world. The real question is why an administration that says it aims to depoliticize U.S. intelligence estimates would have chosen such a man to oversee them.

UPDATE at 3/12/09 8:19:38 am:

The New York Times, on the other hand, is defending Freeman and lending credence to his antisemitic lunacy: Israel Stance Was Undoing of Nominee for Intelligence Post.

Also see

Chas Freeman’s Paranoid Statement National Intelligence Council Nominee: ‘What 9/11 Showed is That If We Bomb People, They Bomb Back’

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144 comments

Sharmuta Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:02:30am

The real question is why an administration that says it aims to depoliticize U.S. intelligence estimates would have chosen such a man to oversee them.

Cluelessness comes to mind.

rightside Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:03:56am

Stupid is, as stupid does?

Kosh's Shadow Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:04:26am

If Freeman were right, and Jews controlled the world, why did 0bama get elected?

BTW, Freeman has now said he is Native American, a member of the
Arab-a-ho tribe.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:04:42am

re: #1 Sharmuta

Cluelessness comes to mind.

Yes, for sure. . .and while we are at it, how about "what were we "journalists" thinking when we shilled for this pisher?"

coquimbojoe Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:05:10am

The answer to the rhetorical question is, the administration lies continually.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:05:30am

re: #3 Kosh's Shadow

If Freeman were right, and Jews controlled the world, why did 0bama get elected?

BTW, Freeman has now said he is Native American, a member of the
Arab-a-ho tribe.

Hey now, you know most Jews voted for him. . .except for this Jew, and several others I know. . .:) //

Sharmuta Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:05:41am

It's quite obvious that 0bama is in over his head. He has no idea how to vet people, or doesn't think the issues that do come up in vetting will be problematic if exposed. Either way- he demonstrates that he has no idea how to assemble an administration. It's not exactly community organizing.

Sharmuta Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:06:50am

re: #4 DisturbedEma

Yes, for sure. . .and while we are at it, how about "what were we "journalists" thinking when we shilled for this pisher?"

I don't think the press is at that point yet and I question if they ever will be.

lawhawk Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:07:06am

Because solid ethics and morals, and those individuals from from the stink of criminality are not welcome in the Adminstration?

This Administration continues to proffer people ill-qualified to handle these kinds of positions, whether it is because of their odious positions on the issue, criminal behaviors (up to and including Aldolfo Carrion, Tim Geithner, and all the other tax cheats), and ethical flaps.

All of this is a symptom of the real problem - that Obama remains ill qualified to be President and his choices and judgment remains as it has always been - suspect.

After all, he's got more than a thousand nominations to get through, and he's barely provided a fraction of the names for the confirmation process. He's hamstringing his own ability to govern because key policy positions remain open. This is particularly bad in Treasury - where Geithner is heading up a Department devoid of top policy people. He has no deputies to institute policy, let alone provide advice to the Secretary.

All that rests on Obama - and it is a massive failure that is only getting worse by the day.

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:07:25am

If the Washington Post is publishing doubts about the eternal perfection of The Obamessiah, he's in deeeeee dooo dooooo.

YAY! A crack in the Wall of Fawning MSM Support?

Walter L. Newton Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:08:07am

re: #7 Sharmuta

It's quite obvious that 0bama is in over his head. He has no idea how to vet people, or doesn't think the issues that do come up in vetting will be problematic if exposed. Either way- he demonstrates that he has no idea how to assemble an administration. It's not exactly community organizing.

Isn't all this procedure already in place? I mean, there shouldn't be much of anything that the Obama administration has to make up on the fly. I think the country has worked out these little issues a long time ago.

Can't he read instructions?

Kosh's Shadow Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:08:08am

re: #6 DisturbedEma

Hey now, you know most Jews voted for him. . .except for this Jew, and several others I know. . .:) //

Neither did this Jew, or most of the others I know from the Chabad I go to.

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:08:51am

Obama is a complete mess. Freeman is whining.

Lefties complained about politics and ideology twisting the intelligence so we could go to war with Hussein. Now they're whining that an ideologue doesn't get a pass in this instance?

Hypocrites.

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:08:56am

WHY? I KNOW I KNOW PICK MEEEEEEEEEE!

Because they are incompetent, Jew-hating, anti-American, anti-Western assholes!

jcm Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:09:29am

Anti-semitism runs deep in Marxists.

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:09:41am

HA.

"Deeeeee" doooo dooo actually = "Deeeeeep doooo dooo".

PIMF

Gus Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:09:44am

The most alarming thing about Charles Freeman is that he himself withdrew from consideration as National Intelligence Director and that President Obama did not withdraw him from consideration. This indicates that Barack Obama remained supportive of this half-baked nominee until the bitter end.

turn Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:10:04am

re: #7 Sharmuta

It's quite obvious that 0bama is in over his head. He has no idea how to vet people, or doesn't think the issues that do come up in vetting will be problematic if exposed. Either way- he demonstrates that he has no idea how to assemble an administration. It's not exactly community organizing.

I agree, and Bush bent over backwards to try and streamline the transition of power and O still screws it up. I was wondering last night on the walk about O being so unqualified for the job, almost like a puppet, that there must surely be someone pulling his strings.

vxbush Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:10:40am

re: #7 Sharmuta

It's quite obvious that 0bama is in over his head. He has no idea how to vet people, or doesn't think the issues that do come up in vetting will be problematic if exposed. Either way- he demonstrates that he has no idea how to assemble an administration. It's not exactly community organizing.

I love the post that someone shared yesterday:

[W]hen he was at the HLR you did get a very distinct sense that he was the kind of guy who much more interested in being the president of the Review, than he was in doing anything as president of the Review.
A lot of the time he quote/unquote "worked from home", which was sort of a shorthand - and people would say it sort of wryly - shorthand for not really doing much. He just wasn't around. Most of the day to day work was carried out by the managing editor of the Review, my predecessor, a great guy called Tom Pirelli whose actually going to be one of the assistant attorney generals now.

He's the one who did most of the day to day work. Barack Obama was nowhere to be seen. Occasionally he would drop in he would talk to people, and then he'd leave again as though his very arrival had been a benediction in and of itself, but not very much got done.

So, you know, you see that and you think, gosh, maybe that's the way the guy operates, hut then you figure ok, obviously he always had his eye on bigger and better things.

But now he's President...there really isn't a bigger or better thing.

I get the impression that Obama is either micromanaging to the point of insanity or that he's doing nothing. Based on this comment, I'd say he's doing nothing. And thinks he can get away with it.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:10:44am

re: #5 coquimbojoe

The answer to the rhetorical question is, the administration lies continually.

And MSM gave dear eader a pass, vetted him not at all, and yet are surprised that he turned out to be exactly what many said he was. . .

I realized something @ work yesterday- BTW- I am on drive thru ALL THE TIME now. . .sucks!

My husband and I went without to attain our goals- we scrubbed toilets, floors, windows, and in my husband's case, cars, to get through school and support our family- and we did it, both college grads, and up until this election, I had a career in teaching that I loved, high school social studies for 7 years. . .

If giving my job to someone "behind me" is not punishing me for my success, what the fuck is punishment?

Sharmuta Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:07am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

I think lawhawk pretty much nailed it.

mj Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:11am

Last night I noted that the NYT j published an article on the Freeman matter.

The article blames the "Israel Lobby".

The article does not mention Freeman's lobbying on behalf of the Saudis.

The article does not mention his being paid by the Saudis.

The article does not mention the opposition to Freeman by Chinese dissent groups in the US.

The article is what you would expect from the Jew-hating New York Times.

Israel Stance Was Undoing of Nominee for Intelligence Post

Sheepdogess Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:16am

It seems to me Obama is going out of his way too appoint incompetent cabinet members. Me thinks the Obama presidency is one big intelligence/litmus test for America being administered by the commies and the Islamists. And how stupid are we? Very stupid.

Stalin is singing in his grave. His edjit worshipers in media, entertainment, academia, and government have succeeded splendidly in dumbing down the masses.

From C. Krauthhammer...

The joys of being a cynic, you expect nothing, you get less, and you remain serene.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:20am

re: #8 Sharmuta

I don't think the press is at that point yet and I question if they ever will be.

Hey I can still dream, right? Or has dear leader outlawed that
:)

VegasRick Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:40am

re: #2 rightside

Stupid is, as stupid does?

Stupid is on FOX as we speak.

yesandno Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:11:53am

we bomb people, they bomb back......

And sometimes when they bomb us first, we bomb them back....

/can we say moral equivalent, YES WE CAN

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:12:01am

turn Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:12:03am

re: #9 lawhawk

Yeah, and he doesn't even have the balls to sign a budget in front of photographers either. WTF?

Kosh's Shadow Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:12:58am

re: #24 DisturbedEma

Hey I can still dream, right? Or has dear leader outlawed that
:)

Have you paid your "dream tax"? If not, the administration will take your dreams away.

Spare O'Lake Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:13:42am

Obviously the WAPO is controlled by the Jews./

Golem Akbar Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:14:04am

Freeman gets to join Jimmy Carter and many others who claim the Israel Lobby has done them in. Pretty soon (with luck and maybe more) the whole Obama team will be saying the same thing (after their early demise).

VegasRick Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:14:22am

re: #28 turn

Yeah, and he doesn't even have the balls to sign a budget in front of photographers either. WTF?

I blame Rev. JJ.
/

jcm Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:14:37am

re: #17 Gus 802

The most alarming thing about Charles Freeman is that he himself withdrew from consideration as National Intelligence Director and that President Obama did not withdraw him from consideration. This indicates that Barack Obama remained supportive of this half-baked nominee until the bitter end.

Chas Freeman and Samantha Powers have a common view of Israel. Chas is forced out but not by Obama, Powers is still around.

What's Obama's view on Israel? The views of who he appoints are major indicators.

vxbush Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:14:45am

re: #23 Sheepdogess

It seems to me Obama is going out of his way too appoint incompetent cabinet members. Me thinks the Obama presidency is one big intelligence/litmus test for America being administered by the commies and the Islamists. And how stupid are we? Very stupid.

Stalin is singing in his grave. His edjit worshipers in media, entertainment, academia, and government have succeeded splendidly in dumbing down the masses.

From C. Krauthhammer...

The joys of being a cynic, you expect nothing, you get less, and you remain serene.

I have to disagree here. Obama is appointing people who agree with him in philosophy and ideology. The problem is, these folks are having their views shown to be the vacuous, anti-semitic positions they are, and they are being called on it. Obama is getting no such vetting, even now.

turn Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:14:56am

re: #25 VegasRick

Stupid is on FOX as we speak.

With his trusty teleprompter no doubt.

red satellite Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:15:27am

The Obama administration's latest failed nominee...

There's something oddly reassuring about that statement....

pcalver Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:15:33am

Please go read the vile, anti-semitic comments on the Post web site following Pincus's article. I encourage you to engage the scum there in force:
Pincus article comments

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:15:33am

re: #9 lawhawk

Because solid ethics and morals, and those individuals from from the stink of criminality are not welcome in the Adminstration?

This Administration continues to proffer people ill-qualified to handle these kinds of positions, whether it is because of their odious positions on the issue, criminal behaviors (up to and including Aldolfo Carrion, Tim Geithner, and all the other tax cheats), and ethical flaps.

All of this is a symptom of the real problem - that Obama remains ill qualified to be President and his choices and judgment remains as it has always been - suspect.

After all, he's got more than a thousand nominations to get through, and he's barely provided a fraction of the names for the confirmation process. He's hamstringing his own ability to govern because key policy positions remain open. This is particularly bad in Treasury - where Geithner is heading up a Department devoid of top policy people. He has no deputies to institute policy, let alone provide advice to the Secretary.

All that rests on Obama - and it is a massive failure that is only getting worse by the day.

And all the while passing spending bills that have money by the boat load going into the huge morass of corruption and greed. . .I mean Congress. . .Senate. . .House. . .you know. . .:)

mj Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:15:37am

re: #22 mj

Last night I noted that the NYT j published an article on the Freeman matter.

The article blames the "Israel Lobby".

The article does not mention Freeman's lobbying on behalf of the Saudis.

The article does not mention his being paid by the Saudis.

The article does not mention the opposition to Freeman by Chinese dissent groups in the US.

The article is what you would expect from the Jew-hating New York Times.

Israel Stance Was Undoing of Nominee for Intelligence Post

Here's a taste of the NYT defense of Chas Freeman. Keep in mind this is a news story- not an editorial though you'd never know the difference:

After complaints from some pro-Israel groups during his presidential campaign, Mr. Obama distanced himself from Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser under President Jimmy Carter, who has sometimes been critical of Israel.

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]
Brezinski is always critical of Israel- not sometimes.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:15:59am

re: #26 yesandno

If

And sometimes when they bomb us first, we bomb them back....

/can we say moral equivalent, YES WE CAN

Upding CHA CHING!

jjmckay1216 Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:16:32am

re: #35 turn

With his trusty teleprompter no doubt.

right before that Biden told that group that this is worse than the great depression. We'll see if market reacts. Do these idiots have to flap their jaws every frickin day? Geeeeez

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:16:37am

It'll be nice to stay on top of Powers, too. See how many times she can be made to step down.

turn Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:17:24am

re: #32 VegasRick

Ha! Hey Vegas, is downturn in the economy really bad there?

jcm Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:17:30am

re: #19 vxbush

Obama looks in the mirror every morning and says "I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!"

Then he gets the PDB and reality sucks.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:17:51am

re: #27 buzzsawmonkey

Starting with self-hating Jew Karl Marx himself.

Do we HAVE to claim him? After all his dad converted the whole family when litle Karl was 6. . .

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:17:54am

eschew_obfuscation Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:18:05am

re: #16 WriterMom

HA.

"Deeeeee" doooo dooo actually = "Deeeeeep doooo dooo".

PIMF

Heh.... spell check just aint what it should be ;-)

Dark_Falcon Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:18:14am

re: #3 Kosh's Shadow

If Freeman were right, and Jews controlled the world, why did 0bama get elected?

BTW, Freeman has now said he is Native American, a member of the
Arab-a-ho tribe.

Whose chief is Dances-with-Facts (aka Ward Churchill, the phrase is Dennis Miller's).

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:18:26am

re: #44 jcm

Obama looks in the mirror every morning and says "I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!"

Then he gets the PDB and reality sucks.

Because I'm good enough, nice enough, and gosh darn it people like me. . .

turn Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:18:39am

re: #41 jjmckay1216

right before that Biden told that group that this is worse than the great depression. We'll see if market reacts. Do these idiots have to flap their jaws every frickin day? Geeeeez

Oh gawd, dumb and dumber.

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:19:16am

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:19:17am

re: #41 jjmckay1216

right before that Biden told that group that this is worse than the great depression. We'll see if market reacts. Do these idiots have to flap their jaws every frickin day? Geeeeez

The market is TESTING dear leader, don't cha know. . .

vxbush Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:19:17am

re: #44 jcm

Obama looks in the mirror every morning and says "I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!"

Then he gets the PDB and reality sucks.

Heh. Bingo. Well done and updinged.

BingoBunny Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:19:22am

"when you bomb people they bomb back"

bang! Mr. Freeman.. bang!

rightside Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:20:00am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

The teleprompter was turned off or broken, so no.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:20:27am

re: #37 pcalver

Please go read the vile, anti-semitic comments on the Post web site following Pincus's article. I encourage you to engage the scum there in force:
Pincus article comments

I'm going in. . .lay down some cover fire, huh?

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:21:50am

re: #29 Kosh's Shadow

Have you paid your "dream tax"? If not, the administration will take your dreams away.

Timmmmmmmy can you hook me up on this tax mess, do me a solid. . .now that you are T man? //

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:22:07am

Has anybody mentioned that Chas Freeman had absolutely no experience in the intelligence service? It's not like he was a professional intelligence official with "controversial" views. He was a career diplomat.

What were his qualifications for the job in the first place?

Gus Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:23:10am

re: #33 jcm

Chas Freeman and Samantha Powers have a common view of Israel. Chas is forced out but not by Obama, Powers is still around.

What's Obama's view on Israel? The views of who he appoints are major indicators.

Samantha Powers is a perfect example of "one that got away." She perhaps did not face as much scrutiny as Freeman because she was appointed early on in the administration. Also because her position isn't as sensitive to national security -- however it is likely she will pose a threat to international security and consequently national security.

The fact that Samantha Powers made it into the administration at all is repugnant. However, it is just but a long strong of typical left wing Chicago (union) style cronyism prevalent in the Barack administration. How many other left-wing lunatics and conspiracy nuts has he put into sensitive positions that we are not aware of?

kansas Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:23:43am

re: #25 VegasRick

Stupid is on FOX as we speak.

Dow leveled off and headed down.

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:23:44am

re: #58 Kenneth

Has anybody mentioned that Chas Freeman had absolutely no experience in the intelligence service? It's not like he was a professional intelligence official with "controversial" views. He was a career diplomat.

What were his qualifications for the job in the first place?

Stop with the VETTING already! You are gonna make people think that they should have facts.. . .sheesh!//

BTW- Should I register at wapo, any spam issues with such a thing? Hate spam. . .

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:24:03am

re: #51 buzzsawmonkey

Buzz, by now you have enough for a double CD.

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:24:30am

re: #58 Kenneth

Racist!

LC LaWedgie Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:24:54am

Calling this sh*t-for-brains a crackpot?

the mental colonoscopy of a polygraph

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:25:01am

re: #17 Gus 802

Actually, in cases like these it's not uncommon for the President to ask the candidate to withdraw. This saves face for all concerned.

albusteve Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:25:22am

re: #62 godfrey

Buzz, by now you have enough for a double CD.

working on an entire box set...stay tuned

DisturbedEma Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:25:30am

re: #59 Gus 802

Samantha Powers is a perfect example of "one that got away." She perhaps did not face as much scrutiny as Freeman because she was appointed early on in the administration. Also because her position isn't as sensitive to national security -- however it is likely she will pose a threat to international security and consequently national security.

The fact that Samantha Powers made it into the administration at all is repugnant. However, it is just but a long strong of typical left wing Chicago (union) style cronyism prevalent in the Barack administration. How many other left-wing lunatics and conspiracy nuts has he put into sensitive positions that we are not aware of?

Yeah- she was under the bus election season, brought back under stealth, and the MSM assumed the position and that was that, I think she should have been the first "problem" for dear leader. . .but was not even on the radar!

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:25:43am

re: #65 Kenneth

So this is more diplomatic incompetence from Obama, domestic-side.

Killer Tomato Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:26:19am

For more than two centuries, newspapers have been the indispensable source of public information and a check on the abuses of government and other powerful interests.

Maybe if you actually were, people would be purchasing your product. What you're currently publishing is basically a fan club newsletter.
Newspapers continue collapse

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:26:42am

re: #61 DisturbedEma

Stop with the VETTING already! You are gonna make people think that they should have facts.. . .sheesh!//.

I know, I know... it's a bit silly expecting Obama's cabinet members should have any prior on-the-job experience. After all, the boss doesn't.

yma o hyd Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:27:38am

Regardless of that POS Freeman - how on earth is it possible that Peeb0 has not managed to get a team together - he's had time since Nov 6th?
(Won Nov 4th, time out Nov 5th for hang-over cure ...)
Thats more than four effen months?

Its more than plain incompetence, I think, it is irresponsiblibility and shows that he never expected to be where he is right now.

yesandno Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:27:42am

re: #9 lawhawk

Because solid ethics and morals, and those individuals from from the stink of criminality are not welcome in the Adminstration?

This Administration continues to proffer people ill-qualified to handle these kinds of positions, whether it is because of their odious positions on the issue, criminal behaviors (up to and including Aldolfo Carrion, Tim Geithner, and all the other tax cheats), and ethical flaps.

All of this is a symptom of the real problem - that Obama remains ill qualified to be President and his choices and judgment remains as it has always been - suspect.

After all, he's got more than a thousand nominations to get through, and he's barely provided a fraction of the names for the confirmation process. He's hamstringing his own ability to govern because key policy positions remain open. This is particularly bad in Treasury - where Geithner is heading up a Department devoid of top policy people. He has no deputies to institute policy, let alone provide advice to the Secretary.

All that rests on Obama - and it is a massive failure that is only getting worse by the day.

Like it or not, this also points to the lack of governmental experience. He had no ties of his own, networks he had worked out, that would have made him ready to take over on the first day. Without these connections, he has to lean on the 300+ advisers...and he has no capacity for telling the difference between valid suggestions based upon objective criteria and those based simply on subjective criteria by the political manipulators.

Ego means he cannot tell those who give him false praise instead of real truth...and because he is egotistical, he doesn't really care as long as the photo op can be cut out and added to his personal scrap book.

He is the titular head with no connection to the rest of the body politic except in the most tenuous way. I suspect that by the end of this year, we will recognize the petulant and adolescent aspects of his persona very clearly. This is a lazy man.

It isn't that he wasn't prepared to be President on day one....it is that he has no characteristics that indicate he will ever be ready.

Gus Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:28:01am

re: #65 Kenneth

Actually, in cases like these it's not uncommon for the President to ask the candidate to withdraw. This saves face for all concerned.

Yep, I'm very aware of that and frankly it's rather fraudulent. Have the candidate or administration member agree to withdraw or force them to resign behind the scenes. Didn't save face in my view.

rightside Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:28:58am

re: #58 Kenneth

The same as Leon Panetta's

jamgarr Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:29:20am

OT - Sorry for the early OT but I need to make a request

Will the lizard who posted the link to the Ari Fleisher schooling of Chris Matthews please repost it. The video was 16 minutes long and by the time I got done watching it the sheer volume of links today had shoved it off the top 25. Everybody needs to see that smackdown!

Gus Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:29:23am

re: #74 rightside

The same as Leon Panetta's

Darn, you beat me to it!

jester6 Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:30:01am

re: #3 Kosh's Shadow

If Freeman were right, and Jews controlled the world, why did 0bama get elected?

BTW, Freeman has now said he is Native American, a member of the
Arab-a-ho tribe.

Joos do control everything. They just make mistakes sometimes. That's how Obama got elected.

Opinionated Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:30:28am

After his lunatic paranoid rant, which PROVED he was a danger in that office, the American people should should thank the ANYONE that had anything to do with preventing this crazy from holding such a vital intelligence position in our Government.

If it was the "Lobby"- thank you.
If it was bloggers- thank you.

It it was us (collectively)- well done to us.

MJ Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:31:11am

re: #75 jamgarr

OT - Sorry for the early OT but I need to make a request

Will the lizard who posted the link to the Ari Fleisher schooling of Chris Matthews please repost it. The video was 16 minutes long and by the time I got done watching it the sheer volume of links today had shoved it off the top 25. Everybody needs to see that smackdown!

Is this what you're looking for?

[Link: jewishworldreview.com...]

Van Helsing Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:31:16am

re: #9 lawhawk

Because solid ethics and morals, and those individuals from from the stink of criminality are not welcome in the Adminstration?

This Administration continues to proffer people ill-qualified to handle these kinds of positions, whether it is because of their odious positions on the issue, criminal behaviors (up to and including Aldolfo Carrion, Tim Geithner, and all the other tax cheats), and ethical flaps.

All of this is a symptom of the real problem - that Obama remains ill qualified to be President and his choices and judgment remains as it has always been - suspect.

After all, he's got more than a thousand nominations to get through, and he's barely provided a fraction of the names for the confirmation process. He's hamstringing his own ability to govern because key policy positions remain open. This is particularly bad in Treasury - where Geithner is heading up a Department devoid of top policy people. He has no deputies to institute policy, let alone provide advice to the Secretary.

All that rests on Obama - and it is a massive failure that is only getting worse by the day.

He is applying the same care to cabinet appointments that he did to his associations as a private citizen. One of the reasons I would become so, er, disturbed when people gave him a pass on who he chose to associate with.

The only ones that couldn't see this coming were the ones with their lips so firmly glued to his ass that all they could see was the ass cheek in front of them.

Gus Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:31:28am

So, when does Charles Freeman get to be interviewed by Alex Jones?

MJ Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:32:40am

re: #81 Gus 802

So, when does Charles Freeman get to be interviewed by Alex Jones?

//

Doesn't need to. He was interviewed by NPR which also promotes Jewish Conspiracy theories.

godfrey Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:33:07am

I was told by some diplomat types that Obama was "smart" and though inexperienced "would learn quickly." They presented him as some sort of genius. Well, all the evidence points to Obama's being unable to learn quickly. Time after time, he blunders. He'll probably continue to blunder.

We know he reads well from a teleprompter. Where's the evidence he can do anything else?

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:37:26am

yma o hyd Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:38:36am

re: #83 godfrey

I was told by some diplomat types that Obama was "smart" and though inexperienced "would learn quickly." They presented him as some sort of genius. Well, all the evidence points to Obama's being unable to learn quickly. Time after time, he blunders. He'll probably continue to blunder.

We know he reads well from a teleprompter. Where's the evidence he can do anything else?

That evidence is nowhere!

In fact, it looks to me as if teleprompter-reading is his only skill, otherwise he seems to be as thick as two planks.
He's ok in situations for which he's been thoroughly schooled, like unfriendly debates with opponents to his marxist world view - they teach you that in commie schools.

I've seen no evidence at all that he's even 'learned on the job' so far.

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:38:44am

yma o hyd Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:40:06am

re: #84 buzzsawmonkey

There was a link yesterday in the spinoffs in which one of the people who served on the Harvard Law Review with Obama said that, basically, he never, or almost never, showed up; that he was "working from home"--i.e., doing nothing--and that the basic management of the Law Review was done by one of the subordinate editors; that when he did deign to show up it was basically to briefly grace the others with his presence, after which he would leave with a "keep on doing what you're doing" admonition.

The woman who said this--who was the first woman editor of the Review--said that she hoped that once he attained the Presidency his behavior would change, but it was clear that she did not think it had.

We can surely bet our bottom dollar that this sub-editor was not appointed by Obama!

samsgran1948 Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:40:20am

Not even two months in, and this thing is assuming proportions of an epic, out-of-the-park, over-the-top failure. Not even in my scariest nightmares did I think Bambi was going to fail so massively and so soon. I thought for sure that it was going to be like Chinese water torture -- little idiot things that over time would bring eventual failure; not the fricking tap turned on full blast from day one.

So many appointments left unfilled. So many blatantly unsuitable candidates for unfilled offices. The sheer ungodly rudeness Obama, his wife and his minions showed the Browns. The inability to focus on any one issue at a time. The non-stop campaigning for re-election in 2012.

And we've got another forty-six months of this ahead of us. GA-A-A-CK!

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:42:20am

re: #74 rightside

The "experience gap" in the Obama administration:

Secretary of State Clinton: no prior diplomatic experience
CIA Director Leon Panetta: no prior intelligence service experience
Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano: no prior security or law enforcement experience
Secretary of Energy, Stephen Chu: no experience in the energy industry

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:43:32am

re: #42 godfrey

BEHEAD THOSE WHO PUT STAY ON TOP AND POWERS IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:43:56am

re: #83 godfrey

Racist!

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:44:00am

re: #84 buzzsawmonkey

Which link, please?

jcm Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:44:47am

re: #83 godfrey

I was told by some diplomat types that Obama was "smart" and though inexperienced "would learn quickly." They presented him as some sort of genius. Well, all the evidence points to Obama's being unable to learn quickly. Time after time, he blunders. He'll probably continue to blunder.

We know he reads well from a teleprompter. Where's the evidence he can do anything else?

He's organizing a community.

He's not acting the least bit like an executive.

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:46:10am

re: #84 buzzsawmonkey

buzz, he also doesn't have any academic publications. It appears that his only bi-lines in major mainstream publications were also as the President. No academic publishing history.

razorbacker Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:48:00am

re: #88 samsgran1948

Not even two months in, and this thing is assuming proportions of an epic, out-of-the-park, over-the-top failure. Not even in my scariest nightmares did I think Bambi was going to fail so massively and so soon. I thought for sure that it was going to be like Chinese water torture -- little idiot things that over time would bring eventual failure; not the fricking tap turned on full blast from day one.

So many appointments left unfilled. So many blatantly unsuitable candidates for unfilled offices. The sheer ungodly rudeness Obama, his wife and his minions showed the Browns. The inability to focus on any one issue at a time. The non-stop campaigning for re-election in 2012.

And we've got another forty-six months of this ahead of us. GA-A-A-CK!

See? You see, people? The man exceeds all expectations and still some complain.

Lordy Mercy. You could hang some people with a brand new rope and they'd still kick.

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:48:30am

RaiderDan Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:49:10am

Hopefully this episode will plant a few seeds of doubt in the remaining pro-Israel Jews in the Democrat Party that their "home" is no longer that.

Obama is no friend of Israel. Charles Schumer may be the last to realize that, but its coming, folks, its coming. The anti-Semitic wing of the Democrat party, the uber-Euro-socialist pro-Palestinian left, the Guardian-left, the Jimmy-Carter-left, the WASPy-Harvard-Walt Meirshimer-left, the Amesty International pro-UN, anti-Israel left, the Durban "anti-racism" left, the Ray McGovern CIA analyst-left, the Yalie-WaPo left, will swallow the moderate Democrats very soon. Anti-Israel, (and anti-Semitic views) are increasingly popular in sophisticated international left-wing circles. Its fashionable. Charles Schumer may not see it yet, in his little New York bubble surrounded by wealthy Jews, but its out there.

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:51:26am

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:52:30am

100

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:54:19am

101

itellu3times Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:54:55am

Hey a fact-based, rational editorial by WaPo and the MSM.

Can't we get a flying pig here?

102

nyc redneck Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:55:35am

re: #14 WriterMom

WHY? I KNOW I KNOW PICK MEEEEEEEEEE!

Because they are incompetent, Jew-hating, anti-American, anti-Western assholes!

o keeps picking these losers because they reflect his mind set.
he is such a derelict he thinks they are great choices.
o must be stunned that his s.o.b's keep getting slapped down.
he has no idea why.
because he is such a misguided narcissist.
he will try to bring more bums. it is all he knows.

103

itellu3times Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:56:24am

re: #99 Iron Fist

He is no more qualified to be President than I am.

Give yourself a break, man!

104

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:56:49am

re: #102 nyc redneck

Bums, slugs, Jew-haters, tax-cheaters. His arrogance knows no bounds. He is probably so shocked that Americans have 'issues' with his choices.

105

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:57:16am

106

WriterMom Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:57:36am

re: #100 buzzsawmonkey

And third-rate people hire tax cheats, Jew-hating scumbag, and self-hating Americans.

107

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:58:30am

re: #96 buzzsawmonkey

Thank you!

This article was linked to from your item, worthwhile noting:

Is Obama lazy?

Well, it's becoming obvious he's not really much of a manager, decider, legislation-craftsman, or supervisor. His vetting process is in shambles and key Treasury slots are still vacant. His Treasury Secretary is a classic under-performer and Obama encourages that tendency by talking about everything other than our immediate recovery needs. He lets Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid do the legislating - and they've come up with an embarrassing stimulus and an omnibus spending-bill even Democrats aren't swallowing.
What does he like to do? Summits. These are in essence campaign events - faux town-halls where nary a discouraging word is heard and no real work is done. And he loves those campaign rallies around the country.

And what about his "law career":

Allison Davis, a former partner in Miner's firm,... occupied an office next to Obama's at 14 West Erie Street. "He spent a lot of time working on his book [Dreams from My Father]," Davis recalls. "Some of my partners weren't happy with that, Barack sitting there with his keyboard on his lap and his feet up on the desk writing the book."
I am sure his colleagues, other lawyers, who actually had to work killer hours to pay his salaries, appreciated his work ethic.

(BTW, he kept getting extensions on the deadline to submit a manuscript, then he flew off to the South Pacific to "work on it")

And as a Senator:

Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who made a request common when Capitol Hill news conferences are in the offing: "Hey, guys, can I come along?" And when Obama went before the microphones, he was generous with his list of senators to congratulate -- a list that included himself.

"I want to cite Lindsey Graham, Sam Brownback, Mel Martinez, Ken Salazar, myself, Dick Durbin, Joe Lieberman . . . who've actually had to wake up early to try to hammer this stuff out," he said.

To Senate staff members, who had been arriving for 7 a.m. negotiating sessions for weeks, it was a galling moment. Those morning sessions had attracted just three to four senators a side, Sen.. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) recalled, each deeply involved in the issue. Obama was not one of them.

108

itellu3times Thu, Mar 12, 2009 8:59:38am

re: #102 nyc redneck

o keeps picking these losers because they reflect his mind set.

Wait a second, I'm going to defend Obama here.

I will not say that any particular loser reflect Obama's mindset. Like a good liberal, he pretends he doesn't have a mindset (just as he/they do pretend they do have minds ...). Let's just say he wants to have a broad spectrum of opinions, including many who would probably qualify as wack jobs by most standards.

/ok, i'm going to take my meds now and lie down for a while

109

brainsample Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:01:03am

For real cluelessness (is that even a word?) read David Broder's piece.

[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

In Broder's mind, it's an embarrassing loss to the country because Freeman is fluent in mandarin and accompanied Nixon as his translator. As Taranto would label it, "two papers in one!"

110

Creeping Eruption Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:01:26am

When I woke this morning you can be sure that I did not anticipate publicly applauding the Washington Post.

Ehem . . .excuse me while I pull this Crow feather from my mouth.

Here Goes:

. . . Bravo WaPo, Bravo.

Now don't get used to that, y'hear?

111

FrogMarch Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:02:58am

In the mid to late 1930's in Germany - there was another Jewish conspiracy. I'm trying to think what that was?

112

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:03:14am

113

yma o hyd Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:04:59am

re: #104 WriterMom

Bums, slugs, Jew-haters, tax-cheaters. His arrogance knows no bounds. He is probably so shocked that Americans have 'issues' with his choices.

See - all that doesn't matter to PB0, as long as said cheaters/bums/slugs/Jew haters are of the right, clean commie ideology.

Stalin did that as well - with the one difference that the decades of persecution meant that the criminals at Stalin's court had to be clever enough, else they wouldn't have survived the Tsar's police.

114

Sheepdogess Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:05:40am

re: #51 buzzsawmonkey

You've got talent!

115

Creeping Eruption Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:06:10am

re: #112 buzzsawmonkey

The picture of Freeman accompanying Broder's article is disturbingly reminiscent of Edward Arnold playing his fascist-boss roles in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Meet John Doe."

Freeman kind of looks like a puffy Broder.

116

MJ Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:08:29am

re: #109 brainsample

For real cluelessness (is that even a word?) read David Broder's piece.

[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

In Broder's mind, it's an embarrassing loss to the country because Freeman is fluent in mandarin and accompanied Nixon as his translator. As Taranto would label it, "two papers in one!"

It's typical a David Broder conventional wisdom column. Someone needs to tell Broder this isn't 1972 any more.

117

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:08:38am

re: #109 brainsample

From Broder's gibberish is this gem:

Had the lobbyists not prevailed, Freeman would have assigned the intelligence analysts this week to figure out why the Chinese provoked a naval incident off their coast and what lessons we could draw from the mixed reactions of other nations.

First of all: assigning intelligence analysts was never part of the job description for which Freeman was a candidate.

Secondly, we know why the Chinese did that. They wanted to stop or limit the work the US Navy was doing mapping the sea floor in that region.

118

Bloodnok Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:09:10am

re: #107 Kenneth

Thank you!

This article was linked to from your item, worthwhile noting:

Is Obama lazy?

"I want to cite Lindsey Graham, Sam Brownback, Mel Martinez, Ken Salazar, myself, Dick Durbin, Joe Lieberman . . . who've actually had to wake up early to try to hammer this stuff out," he said.

Raving narcissist. No person with a shred of humility thanks themself!

"Actually had to wake up early"? Buddy, it's your JOB and you are paid quite well for it. Getting in to work at 7AM is not uncommon in the Dreaded Private Sector.

119

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:11:43am

120

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:14:09am

121

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:15:25am

re: #118 Bloodnok

"Getting in to work at 7AM is not uncommon in the Dreaded Private Sector."

Not like he would know anything about that.

Yes. Obama is a narcissist.

122

Ben Hur Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:17:57am

Ahhhh....The NYTIMES.

After 8 years of screaming about HALIBURTON and CHENEY, (BTW, when is The One going to cancel all THOSE contracts?)they have no problem with a Saudi-mized lobbyist who sat on the board of....wait for it....a CHINESE OIL COMPANY (not evil Haliburton).

The NYTIMES is done.

They sold their building and their jet this week.

It's only a matter of time until some Joo comes in and saves them.

123

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:18:11am

Obama's choice for Deputy Attorney General, David Ogden:

Should a man with a long list of pornographers as clients—and a long, outspoken record of objecting to attempts to regulate the pornography industry in order to prevent child sex abuse—be confirmed as deputy attorney general? For Obama nominee David Ogden, even requiring pornographers to keep records documenting that their subjects are not underage would “burden too heavily and infringe too deeply on the right to produce First Amendment protected material.” Does Obama really want a deputy attorney general so deeply committed to the right to produce porn?

124

Max Darkside Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:18:34am

The Times is dead. I'd just forget about 'em. I think 3 grandmas subscribe and only to paper the floor for their dog.

125

jcm Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:18:46am

re: #122 Ben Hur

Ahhhh....The NYTIMES.

After 8 years of screaming about HALIBURTON and CHENEY, (BTW, when is The One going to cancel all THOSE contracts?)they have no problem with a Saudi-mized lobbyist who sat on the board of....wait for it....a CHINESE OIL COMPANY (not evil Haliburton).

The NYTIMES is done.

They sold their building and their jet this week.

It's only a matter of time until some Joo comes in and saves them.

Maybe some Ukrainians will buy it out.... justice and irony.

126

califleftyb Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:24:44am

Get this, Larry Johnson who spread the Michelle Obama "Whitey Tape" rumor in order to build an internet following has been pushing for Freeman and his Arab buddies. Many of his readers correctly posted reasons why Freeman was bas for America. Today Johnson,while leaving the anti-Semitic shit intact, purged all the anti-Freeman comments and had this to say: "I am not interested nor tolerant of your stupid repetition of Israeli talking points and propaganda. Ambassador Freeman is a good and decent man who has served his country honorably. If you disagree, then go fuck yourself. It is that simple."

127

Blastforth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:26:05am

Coming late in the discussion, so sorry if this has been covered:

As of 9/10/01, who had we bombed to justify 9/11? Iraq maybe? Didn't OBL say that our treatment of Iraq (sanctions, patroling the no fly zone with airforces stationed sacred Saudi Arabia) was part of the reasons behind 9/11?

128

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:28:04am

Get Ready for Obama’s Department of ‘Extreme’ Justice

A whole list of pro-abortion extremists, left wing radicals and political partisans: Eric Holder, David Ogden, Thomas Perrelli, Elena Kagan, Dawn Johnsen, Anthony West

In sum, President Obama has nominated individuals who are extremists on issues such as abortion, pornography, and euthanasia. He has nominated individuals who have demonstrated a palpable hatred for our military, whose members are fighting and dying to protect our freedom. He has nominated political partisans who helped provide pardons in exchange for political contributions and to secure votes, or who have chosen to represent terrorists trying to kill Americans. He has nominated individuals who want to disarm our military and intelligence services, and bring back the infamous days of the 1990s, when the Clinton Justice Department did everything it could to limit the effectiveness of our efforts against al-Qaeda.

129

Lynn B. Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:28:47am

re: #118 Bloodnok

"I want to cite Lindsey Graham, Sam Brownback, Mel Martinez, Ken Salazar, myself, Dick Durbin, Joe Lieberman . . . who've actually had to wake up early to try to hammer this stuff out," he said.

Raving narcissist. No person with a shred of humility thanks themself!

"Actually had to wake up early"? Buddy, it's your JOB and you are paid quite well for it. Getting in to work at 7AM is not uncommon in the Dreaded Private Sector.

And yet, he didn't, as that mutilated quote (part of it got lost over at American Thinker) doesn't make quite clear. Here's the whole thing.

As the half-dozen senators -- including John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) -- headed to announce their plan, they met Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who made a request common when Capitol Hill news conferences are in the offing: "Hey, guys, can I come along?" And when Obama went before the microphones, he was generous with his list of senators to congratulate -- a list that included himself.

"I want to cite Lindsey Graham, Sam Brownback, Mel Martinez, Ken Salazar, myself, Dick Durbin, Joe Lieberman . . . who've actually had to wake up early to try to hammer this stuff out," he said.

To Senate staff members, who had been arriving for 7 a.m. negotiating sessions for weeks, it was a galling moment. Those morning sessions had attracted just three to four senators a side, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) recalled, each deeply involved in the issue. Obama was not one of them. But in a presidential contest involving three sitting senators, embellishment of legislative records may be an inevitability, Specter said with a shrug.

Unbelievable.

130

nyc redneck Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:34:39am

re: #129 Lynn B.

Unbelievable.

and typical.

131

[deleted] Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:38:34am

132

itellu3times Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:43:01am

re: #117 Kenneth

From Broder's gibberish is this gem:

First of all: assigning intelligence analysts was never part of the job description for which Freeman was a candidate.

Secondly, we know why the Chinese did that. They wanted to stop or limit the work the US Navy was doing mapping the sea floor in that region.

Third, I daresay someone else is doing the assigning and analysis - as if it weren't known before the mission started anyway.

133

MJ Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:47:39am

From the JTA:

Freeman: there’s got to be a morning after. Or two.
By Ron Kampeas · March 12, 2009

The New York Times and the Washington Post top-front-page the Chas Freeman story two days after he turned down a job chairing the National Intelligence Council and weeks after his nomination became controversial. Cue: crowing from the blogosphere. (I'm linking to Mickey Kaus simply because he's the latest to note Freeman's invisibility until now in the mainstream media; Freeman's defenders and detractors alike have wondered why this has not been a story.)

The Times seems to take Freeman at his word that it was "The Israel Lobby" that dunnit; so does a Los Angeles Times editorial. At the Post, Walter Pincus has the gravitas to at least quote Freeman as making the claim instead of being coopted by it; he also interviews Steve Rosen, Freeman's initial detractor and the former AIPAC foreign policy chief now facing classified information leak charges. Rosen claims that it would be hard to coordinate a campaign with a lobby where employees are under strict orders not to talk to him.

Appearing opposite a Washington Post editorial that essentially says "good riddance," David Broder regrets Freeman's "loss" while acknowledging that some of his past statements about Israel and Tibet were "pretty startling." Broder also credits equally the Israel and China human rights lobbies.

More here:
[Link: blogs.jta.org...]

134

rexatosis Thu, Mar 12, 2009 9:53:28am

The base problem with Pres. Obama's Administration (other than it is full of radicals, but that was to be expected since he won and "elections have consequences') is that Pres. Obama has absolutely no administrative/executive experience to begin with and as a result came to office with no vetted core of White House staff from which to build an administration. Essentially President Obama is trying to build the equivalent of the Place at Versailles upon the foundation of an outhouse. All that will happen is Place Obama will continue to sink into a hole of Sh*t.

135

Kenneth Thu, Mar 12, 2009 10:02:11am

re: #132 itellu3times

Third, I daresay someone else is doing the assigning and analysis - as if it weren't known before the mission started anyway.

Office of Naval Intelligence does that for the US Navy.

136

dhg4 Thu, Mar 12, 2009 10:19:14am

re: #17 Gus 802

The most alarming thing about Charles Freeman is that he himself withdrew from consideration as National Intelligence Director and that President Obama did not withdraw him from consideration. This indicates that Barack Obama remained supportive of this half-baked nominee until the bitter end.

Which is why I think that it's the foreign ties that did him in, not the "Israel lobby."

1) Since the appointment got virtually no attention in the MSM, the number of people who knew about the controversy was very limited. So President Obama wasn't going to be hurt one way or another by the appointment.

2) Virtually all of the condemnation of the Freeman appointment came from people who are opposed to the Obama administration in the first place. Jonathan Chait and Martin Peretz are the exceptions. Again, the President had no reason to do their bidding.

3) The Washington Post reported (even while taking a nearly identical approach to the NYT) that the opposition to the nomination really took off after a congressional request to the NIC's IG was made to investigate Freeman's foreign connections. Certainly that the Saudi money he received was more than previously reported, was a big red flag. My guess is that he knew he wouldn't survive the scrutiny, but blamed the "Israel lobby" because he knew he could mileage out of it.

137

Opinionated Thu, Mar 12, 2009 11:24:51am

re: #109 brainsample

For real cluelessness (is that even a word?) read David Broder's piece.

[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

In Broder's mind, it's an embarrassing loss to the country because Freeman is fluent in mandarin and accompanied Nixon as his translator. As Taranto would label it, "two papers in one!"

Just read that. But maybe it's me but the picture of Freeman that accompanies the gushing opinion says so much more. Deer in headlights would be a compliment.

138

J.S. Thu, Mar 12, 2009 11:55:14am

re: #109 brainsample

Apparently, Freeman voiced support for Mao Tse Tung (among others). I posted a link yesterday...here...

139

Sunlight Thu, Mar 12, 2009 12:32:52pm

re: #7 Sharmuta

It's quite obvious that 0bama is in over his head. He has no idea how to vet people, or doesn't think the issues that do come up in vetting will be problematic if exposed. Either way- he demonstrates that he has no idea how to assemble an administration. It's not exactly community organizing.

A quick google comes to mind. Isn't Obama supposed to be the blackberry metro dude? And these things come up that would be cleared out by simply googling these people?

Therefore, I think he is purposeful (rather than over his head).

140

thebigolddog Thu, Mar 12, 2009 1:14:01pm

Also see:

Freeman's soft spot for dictatorships

Opening Paragraph:

On May 26, 2006, Chas Freeman sent an e-mail to a confidential listserv called ChinaSec. The subject under discussion was the Tiananmen Square massacre, the 1989 Chinese government crackdown on peaceful democracy demonstrators. Sounding like a hard-line Chinese Communist Party flack, he referred to the young activists as constituting a “mob scene,” termed their appeals for liberalization “propaganda,” mocked the “goddess of democracy” they had erected in honor of the Statue of Liberty and deemed the government’s response — which resulted in over 2,500 deaths — “overly cautious.”

141

samsgran1948 Thu, Mar 12, 2009 1:56:37pm

re: #119 Iron Fist

I got sent home Tuesday because I was non-functional. My bloodsuger was in excess of 600 (around 100 is normal), and I simply could not function.

Just how many donuts did you eat?

Seriously -- you've got to get your blood sugar under control there, Iron Fist. I've lost friends who were way too young to complications of diabetes. Another friend lost a toe a couple months back, and is really afraid of having more pieces whacked off here and there. I am a Type II diabetic, and I know it's hard some days, especially if you're like me: a stress and boredom eater. (What do mean there are problems chocolate can't solve?!?) Good luck.

142

Render Thu, Mar 12, 2009 2:27:39pm

I read the comments linked in [Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

I'm not going to respond on the WashPoo website. In fact my sole public response will be here.

Everything written in those comments has been written before. A billion or more times over the last 5,000 years it has been written and said. I'm old enough that I've heard and read every one of those comments hundreds of times before, in hundreds of different places.

There is only one realistic response to that much distilled hatred.

===

I'm locking the doors and counting the ammo. Come and get me, fuckers.

BRING
BODYBAGS,
R

143

OrtegaGasset Thu, Mar 12, 2009 3:13:01pm

The Freeman situation is only a symptom of a greater problem:

About ten years ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article concerning corruption of US ambassadors.

American ambassadors to Saudi could expect, after office, to receive highly lucrative "consulting contracts" (bribes), providing that during office the ambassador acted not as the US rep to Saudi, but as the Saudi rep to the US. That is, during office, the ambassador looked out for Saudi, not US interests.

Such a situation is clearly deleterious to the USA and should be stopped.

144

bunny Thu, Mar 12, 2009 7:16:19pm

The pro-Freeman forces do not mention two things: 1. He was on the board of a Chinese oil company 2. He worked for a Saudi-funded Mideast council. Why not expect a security analyst who has not been bought by foreign interests? None of this has anything to do with Israel or the "Israel lobby."

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