Comments on: Groundhog Day http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:14:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alex http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202999 Alex Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:03:06 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202999 BTW, I'm pretty sure the Umm Qasr port work was carried out back in 2003, much of it by the British Army's 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Engineers, before Stevedoring Services of America Inc took over under a CPA contract. So it's a tad poor if they're still including it in the reports. BTW, I’m pretty sure the Umm Qasr port work was carried out back in 2003, much of it by the British Army’s 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Engineers, before Stevedoring Services of America Inc took over under a CPA contract. So it’s a tad poor if they’re still including it in the reports.

]]> By: Bruce Baugh http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202987 Bruce Baugh Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:47:38 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202987 Yeesh. Pardon typos. Sinus infection has me blinking a lot more than usual and missing some things. Yeesh. Pardon typos. Sinus infection has me blinking a lot more than usual and missing some things.

]]> By: Bruce Baugh http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202986 Bruce Baugh Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:41:47 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202986 Rather than wasiting time with Jet's straw men about responsibility, it turns out to be possible to go look at actual examples of how better leaders prepare. Roger Brun's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Almost-History-Close-Twists-Americas/dp/0786866632" rel="nofollow">Almost History</a> is a fascinating collection of documents prepared for contingencies that didn't arrive. It includes things like Eisenhower's prepared statement of responsibility and resignation in case D-Day failed, and Nixon's eulogy for the Apollo XI astronauts if they couldn't come home. Circumstances and styles vary a lot, but there's the shared basic sense that the people giving the orders should be prepared to take the blame. It makes the psychopathic cowardice fo the current administration even more vivid by contrast. Rather than wasiting time with Jet’s straw men about responsibility, it turns out to be possible to go look at actual examples of how better leaders prepare. Roger Brun’s Almost History is a fascinating collection of documents prepared for contingencies that didn’t arrive. It includes things like Eisenhower’s prepared statement of responsibility and resignation in case D-Day failed, and Nixon’s eulogy for the Apollo XI astronauts if they couldn’t come home. Circumstances and styles vary a lot, but there’s the shared basic sense that the people giving the orders should be prepared to take the blame. It makes the psychopathic cowardice fo the current administration even more vivid by contrast.

]]> By: Alex http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202956 Alex Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:15:17 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202956 Part of the conundrum is that demand went way up because TVs and computers got cheap, 'cos the CPA abolished sales tax and customs duties. Part of the conundrum is that demand went way up because TVs and computers got cheap, ‘cos the CPA abolished sales tax and customs duties.

]]> By: abb1 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202955 abb1 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 18:24:59 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202955 I understand. Still, it seems weird that 80% of their full generating capacity can provide (according to the BBC link) only about 5-7% of the demand (1-2 hours/day). So, I suspect they're not running their generators at 80% of the full capacity. I understand. Still, it seems weird that 80% of their full generating capacity can provide (according to the BBC link) only about 5-7% of the demand (1-2 hours/day). So, I suspect they’re not running their generators at 80% of the full capacity.

]]> By: Alex http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202946 Alex Sun, 08 Jul 2007 17:14:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202946 James Wimberley, I command you to go away and reflect on the fact that, during the prime railway-building years, Iraq was ruled by A) a Turkish Empire heavily influenced by Germany that built a railway from Istanbul to Baghdad with German money and expertise, and then B) Britain. Abb1, hours of power is about demand as well as supply. If Baghdad=6 hours a day, 25 per cent of demand is being supplied. Even with 100 per cent uptime, if you can only get 25 per cent of demand to Baghdad, you've got to turn the lights off 75 per cent of the time or 75 per cent of the city. James Wimberley, I command you to go away and reflect on the fact that, during the prime railway-building years, Iraq was ruled by A) a Turkish Empire heavily influenced by Germany that built a railway from Istanbul to Baghdad with German money and expertise, and then B) Britain.

Abb1, hours of power is about demand as well as supply. If Baghdad=6 hours a day, 25 per cent of demand is being supplied. Even with 100 per cent uptime, if you can only get 25 per cent of demand to Baghdad, you’ve got to turn the lights off 75 per cent of the time or 75 per cent of the city.

]]> By: John Protevi http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202943 John Protevi Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:32:21 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202943 <i>On the left side of the blogsphere we see DC was a perfect wonderful Disneyland until the last 6 years when Bush and his army destroyed everything.</i> Jet, you're a smart guy, but these sort of straw men is why I said your act was old. Satiric exaggeration has to have a grain of truth in it for it to work. Are you really claiming the "left side of the blogosphere" doesn't have a systematic critique of DC, but instead suffers from Bush Derangement Syndrome? Where have I heard that before? In any event, I'm glad you recognize the good quality of the post. On the left side of the blogsphere we see DC was a perfect wonderful Disneyland until the last 6 years when Bush and his army destroyed everything.

Jet, you’re a smart guy, but these sort of straw men is why I said your act was old. Satiric exaggeration has to have a grain of truth in it for it to work. Are you really claiming the “left side of the blogosphere” doesn’t have a systematic critique of DC, but instead suffers from Bush Derangement Syndrome? Where have I heard that before?

In any event, I’m glad you recognize the good quality of the post.

]]> By: jet http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202942 jet Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:43:15 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202942 All these misunderstandings could have been avoided if I would have included one word. I meant "...but why does he get to be the <b>ONLY</b> fall guy..." On the right side of the blogsphere we see calls for government reform, more sunshine on how DC does business and whom is beholden to whomever. On the left side of the blogsphere we see DC was a perfect wonderful Disneyland until the last 6 years when Bush and his army destroyed everything. But that view is so comical it would include Plame and Wilson being Bush cronies, instead of just part of the inept bureaucracy that enabled Bush in the first place. The problem isn't Bush. The problem is the system of lobbyists and cronyism that allows someone like Bush into power. But John Protevi is right. This was a post about the dieing throws of the Iraq-is-awesome spin-meisters. Which I'm particularly gleeful in seeing as I bought into their bullshit. Bastards. All these misunderstandings could have been avoided if I would have included one word. I meant “…but why does he get to be the ONLY fall guy…” On the right side of the blogsphere we see calls for government reform, more sunshine on how DC does business and whom is beholden to whomever. On the left side of the blogsphere we see DC was a perfect wonderful Disneyland until the last 6 years when Bush and his army destroyed everything. But that view is so comical it would include Plame and Wilson being Bush cronies, instead of just part of the inept bureaucracy that enabled Bush in the first place. The problem isn’t Bush. The problem is the system of lobbyists and cronyism that allows someone like Bush into power.

But John Protevi is right. This was a post about the dieing throws of the Iraq-is-awesome spin-meisters. Which I’m particularly gleeful in seeing as I bought into their bullshit. Bastards.

]]> By: John Protevi http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202938 John Protevi Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:36:00 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202938 Dudes, we're playing Jet's game (trollish attention-seeking and thread-derailing, if I have to spell it out) by engaging with his ludicrous straw men. Best to mock him quickly and get back to the topic of the post. Which is excellent and thought-provoking: after 4 years and -- ahem -- a good bit of money, the "good news" in Iraq is not so good. And yet we hardly hear anything any more from those who used to chant "good news, good news." So thanks to John Quiggin for his analysis. For a follow-up on the oil angle, let me recommend David Bacon of <i>The American Prospect</i>: <a href="http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=iraqi_oil_a_benchmark_or_a_giveaway" rel="nofollow">Iraqi Oil: Benchmark or Giveaway?</a>. Dudes, we’re playing Jet’s game (trollish attention-seeking and thread-derailing, if I have to spell it out) by engaging with his ludicrous straw men. Best to mock him quickly and get back to the topic of the post. Which is excellent and thought-provoking: after 4 years and—ahem—a good bit of money, the “good news” in Iraq is not so good. And yet we hardly hear anything any more from those who used to chant “good news, good news.” So thanks to John Quiggin for his analysis. For a follow-up on the oil angle, let me recommend David Bacon of The American Prospect: Iraqi Oil: Benchmark or Giveaway?.

]]> By: abb1 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202937 abb1 Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:03:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202937 I protest. The Founding Fathers, The Constitution, The Liberty. American system is the best, we are Number One. Jet sounds like a terrorist sympathizer. If you don't like it here, go live in Iran. I protest. The Founding Fathers, The Constitution, The Liberty. American system is the best, we are Number One.

Jet sounds like a terrorist sympathizer. If you don’t like it here, go live in Iran.

]]> By: James Wimberley http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202935 James Wimberley Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:15:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202935 Some of the priorities indicated by the table are pretty weird. 95 railway stations? Does Iraq have that many? Against 36 village road projects, a drop in the ocean. The 911 emergency despatch system looks impressive - if you assume that Iraq didn't have one before, which seems unlikely. Perhaps they just changed the code from some suspect Euro-socialist number like 110 or 999. Some of the priorities indicated by the table are pretty weird. 95 railway stations? Does Iraq have that many? Against 36 village road projects, a drop in the ocean. The 911 emergency despatch system looks impressive – if you assume that Iraq didn’t have one before, which seems unlikely. Perhaps they just changed the code from some suspect Euro-socialist number like 110 or 999.

]]> By: Elliott Oti http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202933 Elliott Oti Sun, 08 Jul 2007 11:48:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202933 Not saying you thought that, Engels, but Jet does have a legitimate point. Not saying you thought that, Engels, but Jet does have a legitimate point.

]]> By: engels http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202928 engels Sun, 08 Jul 2007 10:16:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202928 Elliott - You don't say! And there was me thinking it was all just down to one individual! Elliott – You don’t say! And there was me thinking it was all just down to one individual!

]]> By: Elliott Oti http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202918 Elliott Oti Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:30:29 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202918 <i>Shorter Jet: It’s not you Georgie, it’s the system!</i> Well, Jet has a point. The rot is endemic: you do not get the sewage of the past six years from one single rotten apple. Shorter Jet: It’s not you Georgie, it’s the system!

Well, Jet has a point. The rot is endemic: you do not get the sewage of the past six years from one single rotten apple.

]]> By: engels http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/comment-page-1/#comment-202917 engels Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:25:18 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/07/06/groundhog-day/#comment-202917 Shorter Jet: It's not you Georgie, it's the <i>system</i>! Shorter Jet: It’s not you Georgie, it’s the system!

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