Read “Abandoning Iraq”

This column is a nice recap of all the main points regarding our difficulties in Iraq: Abandoning Iraq, by David Warren of the Ottawa Citizen. A snippet therefrom:

So far as President Bush can be blamed, it should be for showing insufficient ruthlessness in a task that could not be accomplished by half-measures. Alternatively, for failing to grasp that America was psychologically unprepared for real war, not only by the memory of Vietnam, but by the grim advance of “liberal” decadence in domestic life over the generation since.

The great American jurisprude, Robert Bork, expressed his foreboding to me four years ago, before Iraq had even been invaded. “It took the New York Times five years of war in Vietnam to turn on President Johnson; but this time they are at the President’s throat from day one.”

…and what about the war in Iraq?

My single issue was the war, and that is my single fear with the loss of the House and perhaps the Senate. It is difficult to believe that this won’t give insurgents, terrorists, and sectarian forces a boost, and that it won’t lead to a premature withdrawal. A couple of other people have the same thought:

Dave@Garfield Ridge: This Morning, I Have Only One Question. Who is going to win this war now?
The Anchoress : The “sat home and taught ‘em a lesson” folks have let our troops down, for sure. Hope they can live with that.

At least we have the consolation offered by Junkyardblog:

V. I’m encouraged by one fact. Notice the Right’s immediate reaction was to blame our leadership and examine our ideas, not the American voter. That’s a great sign. No one I’ve seen yet is saying that voters were unable to comprehend the subtleties of our programs, and I hope no one does.

Voting in Denver

Most of the rest of Colorado had no problems voting yesterday, but Denver itself was a disaster. Lines wrapped around blocks as voters were forced to wait for up to 3 hours for their turn. Apparently the voter registration verification system slowed down to the point that voting machines were available while lines for registration were out the door. The Election Commissioners are now on the hot seat. Sez Mayor Hickenlooper:

“It’s one of the most frustrating days, if not the most frustrating, I’ve had since becoming mayor”
…
“I want a thorough explanation of why these things were not anticipated”

None of the big races were close enough to warrant a lawsuit, I believe, so that’s a relief. Everybody I talked to yesterday was just happy the attack ads, phone calls, and mailings were over. Nobody wants to prolong the agony with legal challenges.

Note to GOP – your automated calls and attack ads nearly cost you my vote. If we weren’t at war they would have cost it. In 2008 we won’t be at war. Plan accordingly.

The marijuana initiative didn’t make it, by the way.

Daily Debunking

Thought I’d start a daily feature debunking a common myth. Let’s start with one of my long-time favorites:

The 10% Brain Myth

This myth tells us that only 10% of our brains are used, and that the unknown 90% may be the repository of mysterious abilities. This is false. While it may be true that only 10% of your brain is used at any given time, all parts of your brain are used at some time or another. The brain has been thoroughly mapped and there are no areas marked “Unknown” or “Monsters be Here.”

The brain is a miracle and we may not have tapped all of its potential, but that untapped potential is more like 10% improvements in existing abilities, not the creation of fantastic new abilities. Believers in the 10/90 myth would be better served striving to maximize the use of what they’ve been given, rather than searching for imaginary powers.

References:

Do we only use 10% of our brains?
The Ten-Percent Myth
Myths About the Brain: 10 percent and Counting

The merits of divided government

Seeing a lot of the “a divided government is a good thing” argument today. This article is typical: United We Stood, But Divided We’ll Stand Taller

But the liberal agenda is aggressive and manifold, as exemplified by the preceding post. Is it really that healthy for the governing of the country that the first 100 hours of legislation are going to involve witchhunts and active intervention in the marketplace?

Divided government can be good when it leads to compromise solutions, but Ms. Pelosi doesn’t appear to be in a compromising mood. I just hope the Republicans took notes on the obstructionist techniques used by the Dems for the past 6 years.

The first 100 hours

Payback Time: Who the Democrats Will Target

The staffers say Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), now expected to become speaker, has told top Democratic donors there is a “100-hour agenda” she wants to push through — taking on the minimum wage, drug and energy prices and corruption.

Defense contractors, including Halliburton, the intelligence rationale for the war in Iraq and CIA secret prisons are what one staffer called “uninvestigated scandals.”

Nothing wrong with investigating corruption, but the rest of the agenda is either a waste of time or more federal fiddling with the marketplace.

And so it begins.

I need a hug

Dems up ~ 30 seats in the House

Dems up 4 seats and leading for 2 more in the Senate

Democrats up 6 gubernatorial slots

All three gains give them majorities. I’ve got a quick errand this morning and a dental appointment in the late morning, but otherwise I’ll be here whining all day.