I spun off on the old half empty, half full dilemma and certain ideological takes of it back in early October.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 3:30 pm | #

What about the people who maintain that because there is air, the glass is always full? That "people" would be me, perpetually out-of-the-box and thinking the question doesn't really make sense. Must be the English teachers in my family--I'll blame it on them.
ggt | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 3:35 pm | #

For an engineer the glass is neither half empty nor half full--the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
nancyb | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 4:37 pm | #

Perhaps the best way to negotiate between optimism and pessimism is the old saying, "Expect the best, but prepare for the worst." That way you can cover both bases!
Jan | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 4:52 pm | #

Jan, that's kind of close to how I view things. I tend to expect the worst so that I will always be pleasantly surprised at how good things turn out.
cardeblu | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 7:06 pm | #

I wonder when the glass will break...
Vikingstar | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 7:13 pm | #

Optimism is a great thing to have ... just as long as you're not Dr. Pangloss
Ron | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 8:15 pm | #

Pat -

the cartoon ilustrating your piece
has the words "Postwar" and "Contracts"
on the two straws.

clearly the cartoonist is
of the cynical,BDS,
ChimpyBushitlerMcHalliburton variety.

if it's not the result actions of
the NGO's or Kofi and the UN,
there can be no altruistic component.

and besides all muslims and arabs
are victims of racism.

didn't you know?
gumshoe | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 8:25 pm | #

I wondered if anyone would notice the subtle message of the cartoon. The Iraq pessimists don't even allow the possibility that anyone could be optimistic--unless that optimist was going to profit from Iraq (you know, the whole "we went there for the oil" and Bush invaded to give his oil buddies the contracts" etc.) In their sick, cynical and rather warped minds, there doesn't even exist the possibility that the US went into Iraq for any positive reason (e.g.,freeing its people from a dangerous despotic ruler; ).
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:12 pm | #

the bottom of the straws say:

"Halliburton"
and
"Bechtel"

(not easliy visible
either in your C&P or on cartoonist
Clay Bennett's website...
same sized & resolution graphic
there as your C&P)

so my previous post
was just a wild-assed guess.

*rolls eyes*
gumshoe | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:31 pm | #

@ gumshoe. Thanks for the pickup. Cute. And if Halliburton weren't losing money on Iraq, it might even have been a humorous cartoon.
Assistant Village Idiot | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:45 pm | #

scroll thru some of Bennett's
other cartoons.

he's singing all the
official Party tunes.

http://www.claybennett.com/pages/
rebuilding_iraq.html
gumshoe | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:50 pm | #

better link:

http://www.claybennett.com/ pages...lding_iraq.html
gumshoe | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:53 pm | #

what does it mean
when a political cartoonist is
reliably partisan?

is a "propagandist" different
from a "political commentator"?

does it take away
some of one's sense of their
"insight" into current events?

i was noticing that the ability to see
a cartoonist's work laid out like that
on the 'Net is rather eye opening.

of course,as a friend insists,
"NPR is objective".
gumshoe | Email | Homepage | 11.25.05 - 10:57 pm | #

Hey Doc, I had one relatively miserable Thanksgiving. I am the lone Rebublican in my family, with the exception of my 20 year old son. It was my first Thanksgiving without him. He is serving our country as an Army Medic in Iraq. The MSM is definitely accomplishing their mission in regards to the President and the war on Terrorism. I have been witnessing the criticism and contempt growing in my family members at an alarming rate. They have recently said things to me that could be considered unforgivable. I was belittled and liteally mocked by people who are meant to love and support me. I pretty much endured the onslaught , hoping it would diminish and go away. I made the mistake of trying to explain how the media twists things using the example of Cpl. Jeffrey Starr's last letter home. MISTAKE ! All hell broke loose. Taunting and mocking, ' where did you hear thaaat? (laughter, not the kind variety) a little Republican blooooog?? ( more laughter) All this to say that the filthy tricks that "reporters" employ to spread their propaganda is proving to be very effective. they are permeating the hearts and souls of most Americans with their poison. I dream of a way to hold those liars accountable: I dream of exposing their lies and their tactics.It is a tragedy to me to see freedom of speech turned into a license to lie. What a perversion of the original intent of that precious "right". I close, not feeling that all is lost, but certainly aware that great damage is being done to our nation by thoughtless, ungrateful people. These people take all of their rights in this great nation for granted, as is evidenced by the way that they abuse them.
jess1dering | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 1:07 am | #

> And there is ample evidence after two major democratic votes in the face of threatened terrorism, that the Iraqi people are predominantly optimistic about their chances.

More importantly, Doc, this shows that they may well have the courage, determination, and the will power to do what is needed from their own actions to make it happen.
Oh Blutige Hölle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 1:42 am | #

> And if Halliburton weren't losing money on Iraq, it might even have been a humorous cartoon.

AVI, I don't doubt, but source? Good to have when the cynics pounce on statements like that.
Oh Blutige Hölle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 2:10 am | #

> they are permeating the hearts and souls of most Americans with their poison

I really don't think so, J1D, I think, from your description, that the vipers nest you went into was already totally predisposed to swallow that serum. People aren't that vicious with friends and relatives otherwise. They already had to be consumed with the vitriol.
Oh Blutige Hölle | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 2:14 am | #

The two perceptions--optimism and pessimism--are eternal, occuring from all time to all time. They are manifest from our differing perceptions of human nature itself: those of us who regard humanity as being inherently evil, selfish and emotional, adopt a pessimistic politics. Those of us who regard humanity as innately good, generous and rational, adopt an optimistic politics.

Essentially, those of us who have a pessimistic appraisal of human nature strongly believe in the passive philosophy of Peace, while those of us who have the opposite optimistic appraisal of human nature strongly believe in the pro-active philosophy of Freedom (see: Hayek, G.B. Madison, Von Mises, Habermas, Merleau-Ponty, Raz, et al).

This is a great post, Dr. Sanity, with far-reaching implications.
a Duoist | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 6:40 am | #

Jess1dering - here is a link that might help you with your family:

LINK
Dr. Sanity | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 8:08 am | #

@ OBH The source is Richard Miniter's new book: Disinformation. A wowzer.

@ jess1dering We are sad to hear of the beating you took. Many of us have been there -- though I get it at work rather than on holidays. Sometimes I get by by remembering my Romanian Baptist friends, who endured so many years of persecution, including sometimes being turned in to the Securitate by their relatives, but persevered.
Assistant Village Idiot | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 10:35 am | #

I agree with OBH; your relatives, j1d, were already in that mindset and have surely dwelled there a very long time. Spend Thanksgiving with friends next year. And God bless and keep your son.

I want to see consequences for the MSM for every seditious contribution, every abuse of freedom of speech, every incident of reporting bias, every MSM lie, every instance of aiding and abetting the enemy. I'm serious. Real consequences.

I'm seeing a shift - it's ever so slow, but it's real - away from auto-swallowing the MSM manure. Sites such as this one are in fact gaining traction and opening eyes. It's slow, maddeningly slow, but it is happening.
Laura | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 3:46 pm | #

p.s.

Always, strength in numbers. The more people who stand up and complain, make noise, hold the MSM accountable, the more that pressure will either implode them or call them to a public accounting, which really has to happen to get things cleaned up. It's a damned dirty pool and it needs cleaning. Disinfecting too.

One little person can't do it. I wrote twice to the NYTimes, once over their editing of Corporal Starr's letter and once over Alessandra Stanley's outright fictions. In both instances I received incredibly snotty, condescending, lengthy personal e-mail responses which were packed with blather about their editorial integrity, never once acknowledging the actual issues.

But if everyone takes advantage of this unprecedented, phenomenal tool we have, the Internet and e-communication, e-petitioning and so forth, what a difference we could make in this world. A real, true difference.

I'm old enough to have canvassed neighborhoods, run real live petition drives and personally spoken to people door-to-door on various issues and by God it works. Now we all have that ability AT OUR FINGERTIPS. Go forth and make noise.

This country, we the people, it still works, it works, it only needs to be exercised. We got rusty at it, forgot about it, during 20 years of peace/prosperity, the '80s/'90s. It is now time to get going.

During WWII kids collected metal scraps in their wagons for war drives. Gas was rationed. People drove less. Women went to work because the men were gone. Celebrities enlisted or sold War Bonds. Everybody chipped in.

This too is a War Effort. Time to do our thing, chip in, and cleaning up the MSM should be top of the list.
Laura | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 4:00 pm | #

Thank you all for reaching out to me. I had frozen my heart on Thanksgiving Day. Just the kindness of your responses melted it and allowed me a necessary time of tears and healing. Thank you dear souls, very much. Thank you more than words can say for your well wishes toward my son , who believes he is defending his country and it's future against Terrorism. I am very proud of his courage and his deep desire to serve. I also want to translate the betrayal I feel by the MSM into action and will be seeking guidance and wisdom for a beginning point. It's neat the way souls you've never seen can become precious to you. God bless each one of you.
jess1dering | Email | Homepage | 11.26.05 - 4:55 pm | #

Know that we are grateful to your son, and please tell him that. My son tried to enlist on 9/12/01 and in the weeks following but was rejected on medical grounds, to his deep and enduring disappointment.

I hope it's okay to link to something here - this is an e-petition drive you might like to look at, and is one starting point toward taking action -

http://www.areavoices.com/hottal...ttalk/? blog=864

I'm also reverting to the old-fashioned ways -

I've printed up quotes and lists of links citing both MSM lies/misrepresentations and Democratic party same - on colorful, eye-catching paper, attractively presented - I roll the 3 sheets of content up and tie with a bit of ribbon, and go house to house dropping them off on porches or sticking them in door handles. Just like the old days. (You can't put stuff in mailboxes. - I would do a mailing campaign but don't have the bucks.)

I include no personal comments or opinions - my goal is to let people see and decide for themselves. Much of the content is what elected Democrats said prior to the war and what they are saying now. When gathered together on real paper, in list form, the contrasts and hypocrisy are startling and unavoidable.
Laura | Email | Homepage | 11.27.05 - 12:53 pm | #

Laura, Would you be inclined to share the content of your distribution ? I'd love to see it and start my own door to door. My e-mail address is jackieanlee@yahoo.com in case the answers , 'yes'. Either way, thanks for the posts and link you provided above. God bless you.
jess1dering | Email | Homepage | 11.28.05 - 12:04 am | #

> I've printed up quotes and lists of links citing both MSM lies/misrepresentations and Democratic party same

Laura, J1D, take a look at this week's carnival of the insanities, item #3, the "urban legends" post. Great list of issues.
Oh Bloedige Hel | Email | Homepage | 11.28.05 - 6:48 am | #

Thanks OBH! I'll take a look.

j1d, I'm very pressed for time today but I'll gladly send you the entire content as soon as I have a minute; it'll probably not be till this evening though.

Feel free to use any or all of it, it's all public domain stuff. I'll include also some resource and reference links you might find helpful. I'm glad you're feeling inspired! Wasn't it General George Patton who said "Don't let the b*****ds get you down".

Our glasses are not only NOT half-empty, they runneth over. For the first time in history, because of the Net, we can all participate directly in the war effort AND in politics by the use of WORDS. The pen IS mightier than the sword, remember that.
Laura | Email | Homepage | 11.28.05 - 9:10 am | #

Summarized in four words:

"Ees Party Line, Comrades."

Re One Marine's Perspective and unintended side effects of the Media Party Line: What I'm starting to hear more and more on drive-time radio talk shows is "That's how Iraqis show gratitude for us liberating them from a monster! That's what all our boys have died for! We should have just propped up Saddam and kept the oil flowing! They're not people, they're wild animals! Cockroaches! And the only way to keep them from killing you is to rule them like Saddam! Or exterminate them!" (Comment re "High-level Nuclear Radiation Therapy" for the cancer...)
Ken | Email | Homepage | 11.28.05 - 2:56 pm | #

The future is looking so Bright, I have to wear shades.
newc | Email | Homepage | 12.01.05 - 9:47 pm | #

Its not about optimism or pessimism.
Its about ground realities and facts, by the most conservative estimate(please google this yourself, if you dont believe me) 40,000 innocent civilians have died in this war. Is this price worth it for the democracy of Iraq. If yes, who are you to decide. And would you make the same decision if your family member was one of those killed in US bombing raids. Nice to see democracy, but we dont see the mourning faces of the millions of people whose families have been murdered because of an illegal war. Saddam was a horrific dictator yes, but the deaths of thousands of innocent people to achieve this may not have been necessary. I find people who are cocksure to the contrary dont have a functioning heart. No offence.
jack nichols | Email | Homepage | 06.04.06 - 9:13 pm | #