Who is Arthur Schlesinger, Jr? He is the one who wrote the splendid work some ten years ago entitled “The Disuniting of America: Reflections on a Multicultural Society.” He took to task the forces of political correctness and deserves praise for doing so. However, the real reason for Schlesinger’s fame is his intellectually shallow books pushing socialism in the United States. The Harvard historian has gotten a free ride because he glorifies Franklin D. Roosevelt’s big government policies. I highly recommend Jim Powell’s “ FDR's Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression.” Powell does his best to put the record straight.

Tina Brown and Harold Evans are thrilled to honor Josh Marshall. After all, he is contemptuous of the Bush administration and sucks up to the Old Europeans and other anti-Americans. I’m sure that Marshall will continue to receive many more awards from the liberal establishment. He knows how to grovel before Jacques Chirac and Dominic de Villepan. This is the main price that must be paid.

Wow, talk about a coincidence. I decided to visit Andrew Sullivan’s website after posting my previous comments. His very first post deals with Josh Marshall’s logical inconsistencies:

"Friday, January 16, 2004
 
WATCH JOSH SPIN II: It's busy-busy for Josh Marshall in primary time. Not so long ago, he was arguing that although Howard Dean backed unilateralism in the Balkans, the "totality" of the situation was different then and so there's no inconsistency. I think by "totality", Josh means that a Democrat was president. (For the record, I backed the Clinton administration's eventual intervention in the Balkans, and wanted him to intervene much earlier when it could have prevented tens of thousands of murders). Now it's Clark's turn. Marshall does the usual snooty put-down of Drudge and claims that the full context of Clark's remarks to the Congress show indeed that Clark was always against the war. In fact, the testimony is a little more interesting than that."

Haha, the reason I read this blog is because it's sometimes so *funny*. Where else could you read a self confident no-name ideologue like David Thompson denounce Arthur Schlesinger, Jr for "intellectually shallow" writing? In comparison, it's hardly worth laughing at a denounciation as too liberal of an awards ceremony that honored, among others, Thomas "we had to smash something at random in the Middle East" Friedman.

What incredible intellectual ability you conservatives have.

BTW Thompson, here is some good news for you. Recall our little conversation here a few weeks ago? The "great strategists" at the White House *ARE NOW ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER 180 DEGREE TURN* by allowing the so-called "Axis of Weasel" nations to submit bids for the Iraqi reconstruction contracts after all.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3947836/

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'Back-pedaling'
In another sign Washington wants to mend divisions with countries that opposed the war in Iraq, U.S. officials said the Bush administration was leaning toward reversing policy and allowing French firms to bid for prime contracts from $18.6 billion worth of U.S.-funded reconstruction projects for Iraq.

Washington was also considering allowing all countries to bid on the next round of contracts, one official said, a move that would abandon Bush’s previous stand that only nations whose troops risked their lives in Iraq could apply.

“I’ve heard people back-pedaling all over the government on this,” one official said.

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As Dan Drezner has previously pointed out, this is amazingly incompetent behavior on the Administration's behalf. They picked a fight with Europe over a totally trivial issue, and their initial petty refusal produced yet another round of negative anti-American headlines here in Finland, Sweden and undoubtedly elsewhere as well. For no good reason whatsoever, since the Iraqis (and Americans) need all the help they can get. The idea was supposedly to show that "actions have consequences", but now the Administration is changing course again (Canada is already in) as the President is forced to eat his words...

MARCU$

“BTW Thompson, here is some good news for you. Recall our little conversation here a few weeks ago? The "great strategists" at the White House *ARE NOW ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER 180 DEGREE TURN* by allowing the so-called "Axis of Weasel" nations to submit bids for the Iraqi reconstruction contracts after all.”

Nonsense. You fail to comprehend the need to slap some people upside their head to get their attention. This is essentially what we did with our Canadian and Old European “allies.” After that, you can play nicey-nicey with them. By the way, this is why President Bush still needs the mediocre Colin Powell. The man is useless when it comes to strategy and common sense. But Powell is valuable as a good cop to complement the bad cop.

Finland, Sweden and other such wimpy countries are parasites. They tend towards “anti-Americanism” because they know that the United States does the dirty work for them. Parasites always have contempt for those they are suckering.

> Nonsense. You fail to comprehend the need to
> slap some people upside their head to get their
> attention.

Um, please tell me what "concessions" the Euros have been forced to make as a result of this. If anybody is being forced to swallow his pride here, it seems to be the President of the United States who is now about to reverse his policy for no apparent reason.

MARCU$

He's a self-proclaimed unrependent Clinton supporter and apologist. With that kind of insight, why does anyone read his blog or take anything he does or says seriously.

There are already too many great blogs that I can't find time to read as often as I'd like to bother with Joshie.

that's hilarious. but, what's confusing about a washing machine, rhinoceros, and a sandwhich? in my neighborhood we called that a "landing tillamook." but, you know, i'm not from....anywhere....

So Bush reverses a policy that you complain about and now you're mad because you have to find another complaint? I guess since he's been "forced to swallow his pride" here we won't be hearing you(Marcus Lindroos)call Bush arrogant and stubborn. Or will we eventually?

I read Josh's blog for the same reason that I eat my vegetables before dessert. While I more or less agree with erp's characterization of him, I notice that he usually posts seven days a week and often rapidly replies to an email. That's something you don't get everywhere.

Furthermore, I would hardly characterize pointing out that Drudge re-arranged statement sequences as a "snooty putdown".

> So Bush reverses a policy that you complain
> about and now you're mad because you have to
> find another complaint?

No -- I am just gloating.

MARCU$

Gloat while you can my friend. November is coming.