Monday, May 25, 2009

Will The Left Apologize To Bolton?

On May 20, 2009, John Bolton wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal titled "Get Ready for Another North Korean Nuke Test" in which he noted that the complacency of the Obama administration about North Korea's nuclear ambitions (and Iran's) was misplaced:
"The curtain is about to rise again on the long-running nuclear tragicomedy, "North Korea Outwits the United States." Despite Kim Jong Il's explicit threats of another nuclear test, U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth said last week that the Obama administration is "relatively relaxed" and that "there is not a sense of crisis." They're certainly smiling in Pyongyang."
As usual, the Left lashed out at Bolton, who may be third after George Bush and Dick Cheney in being portrayed as crazy and paranoid. Bolton has been derided as "the neocon's neocon" who "laps up the hosannas of fellow knuckle-draggers."

Allison Kilkenny at Huffington Post applied the left-wing attack on Bolton specifically as to Bolton's North Korea position, in a post titled, Update: John Bolton Still Crazy:

You have to hand it to the Wall Street Journal. At a time when the newspaper industry is desperately trying to remind America it's important and relevant, the WSJ has carved out a nice little niche for itself as a halfway house for discredited political figures. I think it's really humane of them. Their most recent charity case is John Bolton, America's former ambassador to the United Nations....

Today, Bolton chose to growl at the old, but reliable, enemy of North Korea. This is a particularly vintage move when one considers North Korea already tried to strike fear into the hearts of Americans last month when they tested a missile that fizzled and fell into the ocean 1,300 miles off the east coast of Japan. Bolton's stance is pretty brave because his frenzied ideology flies in the face of scholarly counsel.

It turns out that Ms. Kilkenny's post proved just who still is crazy, and it's not Bolton. Please read all of Ms. Kilkenny's anti-Bolton diatribe. It is a lesson in why we cannot, cannot, cannot, trust the Left with our national security.

Don't take my word for it, read today's headlines:

North Korea declares it conducted nuclear test
Outrage over N Korea nuclear test
North Korea Announces 2nd Test of Nuclear Device

Which gets me to Iran. Here is what the Left is saying about the Iranian threat, the same psycho-political babble as Kilkenny, as in this guest-post, Break Out The NeoCon Fainting Couch, at Attackerman. The author argues that since Iran's religious leaders have said nuclear weapons are bad, Iran's military and intelligence leaders could not possibly want nuclear weapons:
The Supreme Leader [of Iran] can not get up and preach against the morality of nuclear weapons and call them "un-Islamic" and then wink and nod to his followers and have everything work out fine. One of the consequences of a theistic society is that the citizens follow the leader's spiritual teachings for better or for worse. So how would they even find someone to work on a program that they have been taught will guarantee them a corner of Hell?
Let's hope that the North Korean nuclear test is a wake up call for the Obama administration on Iran. So that we are not in a position of demanding another apology from left-wing bloggers when Iran detonates its nuclear device, or announces that it has constructed a device based on the North Korean testing.

UPDATE: Don Surber has a good round-up: Lefties on North Korea. And so does Troglopundit: If John Bolton writes a column predicting that I win a hundred million dollars, I’ll split it with him

UPDATE No. 2: There will be no apology. Quite the contrary, you should not believe your lying eyes when you read Kilkenny's original post quoted above, at least if you read the new post North Korea’s Unsurprising Actions:
I apparently have to clarify an important point. No one should be entirely surprised that North Korea has detonated a bomb. Kim Jong Il launches a missile or detonates a bomb whenever he wants attention or aid from the United States. He tested a bomb back in 2006, and also launched a missile in April. The detonation of this latest bomb does not somehow de-crazy the rest of John Bolton’s Wall Street Journal column from last week in which he orders Obama to “put down Kim Jong Il’s script.” Whatever that means. One presumes he means to “get tough.” Whatever that means.
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Related Post: Playing The Nork Card


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44 comments:

Pat Austin said...

Well BHO popped out into the Rose Garden and "strongly condemns" this nuclear test and then he told them they'll never get respect by issuing threats. ( He ought to know.)

I bet that scared the bejeezus out of them.

K T Cat said...

Thanks for the link on Blog of the Day! I put up a post in honor of this momentous occasion.

In all seriousness, I'd love it if you stopped by and gave me some idea of just why The Scratching Post was picked.

JohnManyJars said...

Just remember, we need Kilkenny and her ilk. What better way to marginalize the far left than to point to intellectually corrupt loons like this? She provides the perfect case study in why the far left is incapable of constructively adding to solutions: first she shows she's childishly biased against Bolton, then she shows she's comically wrong about N. Korea, and any minute now I'm sure she'll find a way to shove her third foot in her mouth. Great stuff.

Seriously, anyone not riddled with Bush Derangement Syndrome (most of the population) will look at people like Kilkenny and reach the obvious conclusion – not only are they incapable of adding to solutions, they actually have no interest in solutions. So thanks Kilkenny, please keep up great work in getting the far left spayed and neutered. For the rest of us, make sure when you talk to you kids about how to disagree with someone that they understand Kilkenny demonstrates how NOT to be taken seriously.

Master Doh-San said...

Actually, Bolton comes in fourth. Don't forget Karl Rove.


As to Kilkenny and the rest of the Lunatic Left, if John Bolton were to predict that the Sun will rise in the East tomorrow, they'd still ridicule him.

sarastro33 said...

So, are you telling us that North Korea whipped up a nuclear bomb in 4 months? Correctly predicting a test doesn't make any of his judgments for Bush suddenly correct. He was one of the central players in the Defense Intelligence Agency whose job it was to generate intelligence to support the neocons and Cheney's war ambitions, which were laid out in PNAC in 1998 - a complete disaster for the the US, except for Bush's buddies who have robbed us blind. Bush/Cheney was the biggest failure this country has suffered thru, and Bolton certainly played his part. I hope to see him in the docket at the Hague with his bosses.

davemartin said...

Screw John R. Bolton.

He's a Riech-wing neocon Chickenhawk who's just itching to take American to war again at the drop of a hat.

The Warden said...

Wow, you're really breaking new ground here. Haven't heard of this left vs. right dichotomy in U.S. politics before. Thanks for reminding us that conservatives are always right, the left always wrong and crazy. Four legs good, two legs bad! Nice to see you putting all your expensive college degrees to work. Really, your original take on American politics is refreshing. You're a more polished Joe the Plumber, as far as I can see.

www.wardensworld.blogspot.com

Peg C. said...

John Bolton is crazy like a fox. Lefties are just crazy, period. The ones above me are prime examples.

davemartin said...

I'll bet Bolton gets up out of bed everyday wishing he could smell burning napalm in the morning.

The Warden said...

When is Bush going to apologize to the nation for starting a war in Iraq that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and over 4,000 American soldiers? Or is that crazy, too, Peg C.? You think calling people crazy Lefties is contributing something to the political discussion? Please... I come to my political opinions honestly and your juvenile response is quite unlikely to alter it. Your side lost the election, and now that you find yourself on the wrong side of democracy, you can't deal with it. That's too bad. Why do you hate America so much?

scott said...

First there will never and I mean NEVER a docket at the Hague with any American President or his buddies. What would it be first Bush and then Clinton for not acting. I wonder where it would stop. It takes a very goofy person to even think of it. And having been a Democrat all my life, I would be the first in line to protect any President from the so called Hague. I think we can take care of our own and we don't need any outside help. Instead of crying about the past, I say lets get on with the now.

Jose Lopez said...

Give it up Warden, you are making an idiot of yourself. Trying to promote your soft blog by posting comments on someone else's website? Why should anyone take credit in what you're saying when you shove your domain name next to your rantings.

The Warden said...

Hey Jose, I'm really gonna miss your readership. You're saying I should post comments anonymously, otherwise I'm shoving my domain name down your throat. You're bordering on incoherency: "Why would anyone take credit in what you're saying..." What the hell does that even mean?

On your best day you couldn't shine my shoes as a writer or as a commenter! And I am amazed that you could go through 4 years of my posts and come to the conclusion that it's soft. That makes you a moron in my book. Where's your contribution, coward? You're a sycophant for this lawyer clown's Website.

I'm done with you.

ManBearPig said...

"davemartin": Put the Hooka down... It's empty already...


"The Warden": Take the kotex out...It's full already...

The Warden said...

Wow, what a brave man, ManBearPig. You're very tough from the safe confines of your mommy's basement. I have a feeling face to face you wouldn't be so brave, chickenhawk. Any time, ANY PLACE, punk!! You're a true intellectual giant. You lost the election, now enjoy the next 4 years!!!!!! I know I will.

mishu said...

TheWarden has too idle hands. He continually sips the leftist koolaid. You can tell by his reference to the discredited Lacent numbers.

Jose Lopez said...

Warden, four years of blogging and you're still posting comments on other people's websites to gain readership? What's your day job?

mishu said...

On your best day you couldn't shine my shoes as a writer or as a commenter!Remember, you're unemployed.

Hank said...

I think the left will apologize to Bolton for being correct as soon as the right apologizes to Richard Clark for being correct and Scott Ritter for being correct.

Soooooooooo, it might be a while.......

ZZMike said...

"Reich-wing neocon chickenhawk..."

That's really clever. Did you hear your mom say that?

The Warden said...

Great point, Hank. Good to see some logic on this post.

"Remember, you're unemployed." What's your point, Mishu? Belittling someone who lost your job? Typical right-wing class, and a major reason why your party has been marginalized to the point of parody: a total lack of empathy for anyone who's down.

And Jose, I'll post wherever and whenever the hell I want. You don't like contrary viewpoints, switch on Fair and Balanced Fox News like the rest of your dwindling party base.

Does it matter the exact number of Iraqis who died? What's your number? And it's "Lancet" by the way. And discredited by whom? Yeah, I'm the one drinking the kool-aid! Bush supporters are the real cultists in this country, with the likes of Rush and Cheney attacking Colin Powell because he dares deviate from right wing talking points. Nice company you keep there, Mishu.

davemartin7777 said...

There is a reason why John Bolton was a Bush stealth interim recess appointment and resigned before he could be voted on... he's Chickenhawk with a lust for war and could never get confirmation from the Senate.

Jose Lopez said...

Warden, what does your lack of blogging success have anything to do with the notion of empathy?

davemartin7777 said...

A "kiss-up, kick-down kind of guy".

You wingnuts can have him.

Eli said...

i find it funny that we would apologize. Was he not in charge when North Korea detonated the first bomb???

This was during the whole let's not talk to our enemies approach.

The Warden said...

Nice reading comprehension there, Jose. I'll try to go slow here for your benefit. I was responding to what Mishu said in his/her comment: "REMEMBER YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED" which I said was a typically classless comment from your side, probably from someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth who never worked a day in their life. Do you follow my point now, genius?

Again, a non-entity like yourself could never discourage me. I'll ask one more time: where is your contribution? Point us to your accomplishments in life. I've been a journalist, a freelance writer, a short story writer. I've been published more times than you've commented. \

The blog is a hobby. I don't expect to make money from it or rise anywhere close to your station in life. I didn't even mean to post the website address along with my first comment here, I only did it because I had trouble signing in with my screen name. Sorry you were so threatened by it. Says a lot more about you than me. AS IF I OWE YOU some kind of explanation. You can't refute my points, so you attack the person like PigFaceBore above.

What else ya got, bozo?

Beaver7216 said...

Warden,
You may want to do some independent research on Iraqi deaths. According to UN figures, the Iraqi mortality rate actually dropped over the past 5 years, compared to every year from 1980 to 2002. And the infant mortality rate, which increased steadily from 1980 to 2002 is dropping.
Lancet published figures a month or so prior to US elections in 2004 and 2006 using highly suspect data.
But, if you are concerned about civilian deaths, how do you feel about the 5,000 or so Serbian civilians killed by Clinton et al or the increasing number of Pakistani civilians killed in the Bush-Obama Pakistan Drone wars. At last count, it was 700 civilians killed along with 14 Al Qaeda.

NthrnNYker49 said...

Bolton 'predicts' that N. Korea would test another nuclear device ?

Wow ! I'm impressed !

About as 'intuitive' as him 'predicting' that Israel would eventually slaughter another 1000 innocent civilians in some Arab nation.

It's a given.

davemartin7777 said...

Thanks Warden, I just see the right's ad hominem attacks as success in getting the point across.

mishu said...

Obsess much warden? I guess you got a lot of time on your hands. Oh, sorry. "Bad luck". Right. Not competence issues or poor work habits, no never.

Those Lancet numbers were a political stunt, not science. Careful with that link. It has some math in it. But you published allegedly. You can hack it.

esquibunny said...

This is my first time on this site and, while the blog is interesting, the comments are like reading a bunch of middle school kids insulting one another. Seriously, maybe it is about time we stick to the issues and not the distractions. No president is perfect - not a single one. Let's hope Obama has the cajones to handle N Korea and Iran so that America and the lives that we know (and have fought for in the past) survive ...

davemartin7777 said...

Got WMD?

Iraq was a phony-baloney war based on cherry picked intel sold by by Cheney, Rumsfield and a plethora of neocons.

In his rush to war, Bush kicked out the UN inspectors who in country, doing their jobs.

He gave the inspectors 48 hours to leave.

Google

"U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq".

The Republicans hate Social Programs... unless of course it's in a foreign country.

Iraq, at a TRILLION DOLLARS PLUS is the most expensive Social Experiment in American history.

Bush had no business invading that country while the UN weapons inspector were there doing their jobs and keeping Saddam in check.

The Muslims in Iraq see America as Christian Crusaders and want us to die.

"U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq"

Steve J. said...

It is a lesson in why we cannot, cannot, cannot, trust the Left with our national security.On the contrary, after the fiascos in Afghanistan and Iraq, we can't trust conservatives.

ErikZ30 said...

Great point, Hank. Good to see some logic on this postWhy didn't you start off with it then?

Re-read your first post. Do you not see what you're doing?

Jordan said...

I wonder if discredited writers include Thomas Frank.

Zombyboy said...

"He's a Riech-wing neocon Chickenhawk who's just itching to take American to war again at the drop of a hat."

Yes, Mr. Martin, wouldn't want to taint the debate with ad hominem attacks unsullied by pure, crushing logic, would we?

oneshot1 said...

I have to laugh when i read the comments from the
Left-Wing looney bin!!! How stupid can people be? You all make REAL Americans SICK!!! Those that see the truth, Admit if they are wrong, Are not for babysitting terrorist captured on the field of battle, etc, etc, Can yo all not see what those handling Obama are doing...'O' is bought & paid for...This Nation grows WEEKER daily, At home & Internationally, China 'bitch-slaps' Obama daily as does the rest of the third-world dictators & nuts! It is quite sickening if you let yourself look at the ENTIRE picture with an OPEN mind.

William said...

Warden,
as far as class, what would you know of it . You sure don't exhibit any.

Darren Lenard Hutchinson said...

I have no particular animosity towards Bolton, Bush, or conservatives (although I cannot really stomach Cheney - but this has nothing to do with Obama). Anyway, as a Leftist, I had no doubt that North Korea would do something "nuclear" and scandalous. So, I do not understand why others would doubt this. I do believe, however, that many conservatives wrongfully blame Obama for North Korea's latest round of defiance. This has been going on for decades. The old "Korea" is split in half for a reason!

grinder said...

So much for Boy George W's approach to North Korea. His "agreement" with them was complete bullshit. As with everything else in the evil idiot's term, he merely kicked his failures down the road for someone else to deal with.

And you nutcases want an apology? Welcome to the wilderness, assholes. There's a reason this country is looking at you and puking its guts out.

Testarosa said...

N. Korea launches a missile over the protected air space of Japan, no big deal. N. Korea lights an underground nuke, no big deal. When Iran tests an nuke underground, it too will be no big deal.

When will it be a big deal? When one of these out-of-control countries actually uses one? Will that get Obama's attention?

We wouldn't be having this discussion about N. Korea if Clinton hadn't provided the tools necessary to help N. Korea make a nuke back in the 1990s; it was provided for "peaceful electrical power generation". Isn't this what Iran is saying their nuclear program is all about?

People are living in squalor in N. Korea yet they the money and resources to maintain a nuclear bomb program. Who is looking to invade N. Korea? What are they protecting themselves from? S. Korean aggression?

Until N. Korea dissolves it tyrannical control over its people (re: sets them free), frees people from re-education, work and political prisons, then the world can and will support N. Korea. Until then, the only thing one can do is to isolate them until they realize bad behavior will not be rewarded.

Testarosa said...

BTW, I find the left attacking people who post, and not sticking to the problem a sign of their lack of maturity and lack of understand on dealing with out-of-control governments. This is a typical tactic when one tries to destroy the truth and won't admit it. Really sad.

oldwolves said...

You'll never get an apology from the ' arrested development' crowd on the left. That would mean taking responsibility.And therefore the consequences there of.They will never accept that their actions have meaning. But they can't even accept the concept of right or wrong, so they lay secure in their belief that nothing matters but what they want. No reality. Only their desires matter. They don't accept or they don't care that their actions may have consequences. So their actual existence has little meaning. So why bother to apologize when you know your worthless? You'll find that in their world everything is everyone else's fault, not mine, so why should I say sorry?
Try having any sort of reasonable diolouge with them.( See Warden, for example) He obviously acts on his emotional intuition, which is shaped by his poor attitude. Will he admit this? No, never. Instead he will thrive in the rantings and incoherent raves of his fellow children.Sorry is never having to say your sorry.

J. Woodard said...

"You'll never get an apology from the ' arrested development' crowd on the [removed]. That would mean taking responsibility.And therefore the consequences there of.They will never accept that their actions have meaning. But they can't even accept the concept of right or wrong, so they lay secure in their belief that nothing matters but what they want. No reality. Only their desires matter. They don't accept or they don't care that their actions may have consequences. So their actual existence has little meaning. So why bother to apologize when you know your worthless? You'll find that in their world everything is everyone else's fault, not mine, so why should I say sorry?
Try having any sort of reasonable diolouge with them.( See Warden, for example) He obviously acts on his emotional intuition, which is shaped by his poor attitude. Will he admit this? No, never. Instead he will thrive in the rantings and incoherent raves of his fellow children.Sorry is never having to say your sorry."

Wow, I read through your statement and thought it was a critique of neo-con philosophy of pre-emptive war. In particular, I thought of John Bolton's strategy toward Iran, Syria, Iraq and N. Korea and how he became so marginalized by Bush 43 he began to lecture against his former administration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuqNWG9sbuE

I think the entire argument by the author is the essence of beating up a strawman -- comparing a self-described humorist/satrist thoughts on N. Korea to a former (even if discredited) UN Ambassador.

I'm amazed as well that Bolton's neo-conservative neo-colonialist expantionist foreign polices actually unite liberals, conservatives and libertarians.

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