Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rules 10/21/11

😆 @ “Flame Out.” Enjoy! 🙂

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New Rules 10/21/11 229, posted with vodpod

A Lot Can Happen…

When work drama takes you away for a couple days.

1. A Dictator Dies
Wow. I didn’t think it would happen this fast. Dude’s dead. After 42 years of tyranny, Qathafi was killed. I’m glad that’s over so we can get the hell out of Libya now. I wish them well with their new government. Maybe tribes can appoint one person to represent them in Tripoli, and they can work it out that way. Whatever happens, transition is hard. And despite what some say, the Arab Spring is a good thing. The regular people will have more input into the government they create.

2. A War will Come to an End
Double wow and a “SHUT UP!” The pull out of the 40K troops from Iraq by the end of this year was nearly unbelievable. It’s finally ending after 9 years. We have enough problems here. I think I’ll be extra excited on January 1, 2012, and they’re all home. Part of me is holding back from true elation until it actually happens. I’ll believe it when I see it.

3. A Little Earthquake has Strange Timing
Here in the Bay Area, there was a small earthquake 3.9/4.0 last night around 8:00 PM. It was a jolt and then a little swaying. The epicenter was in Berkeley. The Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill was held at 10:20 AM yesterday morning! A lot of companies and schools participated, and people learned what to do when an earthquake hits. Looks like some of them got to test those new skills last night.

I’m so happy it’s Friday. Time to rest up and read up on your guys’ takes on what happened in these past couple days. Have a great weekend, everyone!

McCain’s “Isolationism” Smackdown of GOP Candidates

McCain Rips Republican Candidates for “Isolationism”

McCain is not cool with the growing “isolationist” vein running through the GOP. I can understand that, considering he is a POW who went through things most of us could never imagine. He invoked Reagan, the Republican demigod, saying that he would be disappointed with the debate and the candidates’ not willing to “stand up for freedom for people for all over the world.”

Yikes. Honestly, it’s not about that. The candidates are picking up on Americans’ feelings. A lot of us, including Republicans, are tired of war.

• Iraq

Saddam and sons are dead. We helped them set up a government. What are we still doing there? Sure, we’ve “drawn down,” but at this point, shouldn’t we be able to leave? No contingent troops. Everyone home.

• Afghanistan

It’s going on 10 years. Ten. It was the forgotten war when Bush decided to go after Saddam and his make believe WMDs. Obama made good on his promise to concentrate on the war that should have been center stage. I understand that thinking, but I believe any shot we had we blew a long time ago. That said, it was a pleasant surprise that we got Osama bin Laden. Awesome! This could be the turning point – our signal to leave. al Qaeda has long since moved their headquarters, and Osama bin Laden is dead. If we stay, what are we doing? Fighting the Taliban? That is not what we signed up for. We got the guy who masterminded the attack. And we can continue keeping our eye on al Qaeda through intelligence. Time to wrap it up, and go home.

• Libya

War? Not a war? The sooner Qathafi dies, the faster we can stop the air strkes. Here’s hoping.

Since we have a lot of domestic problems to deal with, maybe an isolationist mindset is needed right now. How about we spend what we’re spending on the wars to pay down our debt? How about trying to win the hearts and minds of cynical Americans instead of people a half a world away?

Americans are growing weary of war. The GOP candidates know this, and they’re using it to their advantage. It can increase pressure on Obama to start packing it up in a huge way. At this point, I really don’t care who gets us out of the wars. Just get us out.

Senator Graham Yells, “Kill! Kill!”

Graham: Bomb Gadhafi’s Inner Circle, End Stalemate

Senator Graham was pretty spicy on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. He got all G.I. Lindsey on everyone.

He said,

“So my recommendation to NATO and the administration is to cut the head of the snake off, go to Tripoli, start bombing Gadhafi’s inner circle, their compounds, their military headquarters. The way to get Gadhafi to leave is have his inner circle break and turn on him. And that’s going to take a sustained effort through an air campaign.

OK, I agree with him that Qathafi definitely needs to die. However, an air campaign isn’t going to kill him. There’s just going to be a lot of civilian deaths, and he’ll escape.

This is something that has to be done from the ground. Since we’re not supposed to assassinate a leader of a country, I guess we have to find him in some spider hole, and let his people execute him.

By “we,” I mean the other countries in NATO. Lindsey and John McCain want our weapons and air power back in the game. I guess. They can use our “stuff,” but definitely not our soldiers. No “boots on the ground.” None of our guys and gals dying. We have two other wars on our hands. I hope they and everyone else up on the Hill are keeping that in mind.

Dear Obama, Please Make It Stop. Love, Qathafi

That’s the short version of his letter.

Here’s the original text:

Libya: Col Gaddafi’s Letter to Barack Obama in Full

Wow, Qathafi sure did cut open a vein and bleed on to this letter.

Part 1. Guilt You hurt me, son. I love you. I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.

Part 2. Well-Wishes Good luck in the election. I’m pullin’ for ya.

Part 3. Sympathy We have suffered greatly under that Republican Reagan.

Part 4. World Peace Friendship, cooperation, and security is the ultimate goal.

Part 5. “But You Said” I heard you say that the US shouldn’t police the world. You’re not taking it back, right?

Part 6. Begging Please, please get NATO to stop with the air strikes.

Part 7. Warning You’ll be sorry because those are al-Qaeda rebels, you know.

Let me write Obama’s response:

Step down, “Dad,” and all of this will stop.

Libya Airstrikes: Extensions Aren’t Just for Taxes Anymore

US Extends Airstrike Role in Libya through Monday

See? Keep your expectations low, and you won’t be disappointed. We handed over control over to NATO last Wednesday. Because of “weather conditions,” they asked for our help with airstrikes. Just until Monday night.

Senator Graham believes we should still be in control:

“To take the best air force in the world and park it during this fight is outrageous,” Graham said. “When we called for a no-fly zone, we didn’t mean our planes.”

Hey Lindsey. Why don’t you take your trigger-happy ass and climb into a fighter jet?

I mean, hey, what’s a couple days? Or a couple weeks? Hell, a couple years even. We are only in two other wars and have a deficit the size of Libya itself.

Ugh. Can’t someone just go in there, kill Qathafi and his crew so we can be done with it?

A Letter from Qathafi to Obama

To our Son, the Honorable Barack Hussein Obama,

As you are aware, two in my inner circle have turned their backs on me and defected. Even though we are crushing rebels in the east, more wish to leave me.

Frankly, my son, I am growing more weary as this battle continues. I am no longer that young colonel who successfully led the coup d’état of King Idris. I am nearing 70 and have been thinking very hard lately about my life and legacy. It is time to live out the rest of my days in peace. I have been offered refuge by many countries. I am considering Venezuela as my good brother Hugo has been very supportive.

I am willing to step down from power if you will unfreeze my assets. This will allow me and my family to live comfortably in exile.

Upon acceptance of my proposal, my exit will be swift. I look forward to your response. I hope there are no hard feelings. As I have stated before, you would remain my son, and I would always love you.

Very truly yours,

Colonel Muammar Muhammad al-Qathafi

P.S. April Fool!

Farrakhan, Put Down the Bean Pie

Farrakhan: Gadhafi No Monster, has Helped Muslims

Whatever is in it is making you high. I guess you have to defend your sugar daddy donor. $8M is huge, I know, but seriously? He has slaughtered innocent civilians, man.

You really need to read the Good Book again.

“Nor take life — which Allah has made sacred — except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand retaliation or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the Law).” Quran 17:33

He is a monster, and he will pay.

Qathafi Must Go…but Where?

Top Diplomats Agree that Libya’s Gadhafi Must Go

They haven’t decided where. I have three locations in mind, in descending popularity.

1. Hell
Qathafi should die. He actually should have died under Reagan’s watch, but I will take a better late than never on this one. On live TV on February 22, 2011, he stated that he will never leave Libya and die a martyr. Please make it happen. Somebody. Anybody.

2. The Hague
If we can’t send him to the afterlife, international court is the next best. Hopefully, execution for the slaughtering of civilians will be his sentence.

3. Exile
If there is a country willing to take psycho and sons, they can have them.

I really want number one to happen. Number one can happen through number two, but it is a lot longer process.

I still am unsure of the role the United States will play. Since the transfer is supposed to happen today, maybe I will know tomorrow. Like Qathafi, this confusion and lack of clarity I have with Operation Odyssey Dawn needs to die.

Libya, Oh Libya, Wish I Could Get Rid of Ya

A little twist on K7’s song “Move It Like This” after listening to President Obama’s speech this afternoon.

The speech was great. It would have been a lot more comforting 9 days ago. But better late than never, I guess.

This whole Libya situation is one big confusing nightmare. He started out by saying that we would support the UK and France. Less than 24 hours later, we took over. After a hundred or so Tomahawk missles and some B-2 bombers, we’re transferring control to NATO. On Wednesday. Should I be happy now or expect the worst so I won’t be disappointed again?

When NATO takes over, Obama said, “the United States will play a supporting role – including intelligence, logistical support, search and rescue assistance, and capabilities to jam regime communications.” Along with other countries, we will also help provide food for the people and medical care for the wounded. We have also frozen his assets so the money he stole from his people can be used to rebuild Libya.

That really does sound like a supportive role, but I am still extremely hesitant to break out the Moët. Will we hear another speech a few months down the road that we need to take control again? Or worse, since the transfer will be on Wednesday, will we hear, “just kidding” on Thursday? Not that inconceivable considering that’s exactly what happened at the beginning – Pre-Operation Odyssey Dawn.

I hope Qathafi and sons meet their way past due deaths soon, which I believe will end the conflict more quickly. Then, we can help Libya rebuild. Rebuilding what we blew up. Again. Ugh.