Day: November 3, 2004

  • World Leaders React to Four More Years

    Under the headline “Europe Allies Extend Olive Branch to Bush,” the AP has put forth a piece addressing the reactions of several international leaders. The responses seemed to range from “Crap! I guess we have to find a way to deal with you” to “We’re already dealing with you, but try to find a way to deal with the crap from these other countries.”

    French President Jacques Chirac:

    “We will be unable to find satisfying responses to the numerous challenges that confront us today without a close trans-Atlantic partnership,” wrote Chirac. He addressed the letter to “Dear George.”

    Shut up and get back to us when you show a greater willingness to address the radical Islamist movement outside your borders. And when you show a greater desire to have your decisions driven by anything other than setting France up as an alternative to U.S. leadership. Oh yeah, how about you try paying attention to which pieces of crap you deal your weaponry?

    German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder:

    “The world stands before great challenges at the beginning of your second term: international terrorism, the danger of weapons of mass destruction, regional crises — but also poverty, climate change and epidemics threaten our security and stability,” Schroeder wrote. “These challenges can only be mastered together.”

    Shut up and let us know when you remove your lips from Chirac’s ass. It’s unseemly. Just break up with him and conquer Paris already; this time we might just let you. Oh, and wave goodbye to our bases.

    Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero:

    [His] government wants “a relationship of efficient, constructive cooperation with the U.S. government and with President Bush, respecting the ideas of each side.”

    Zapatero, who angered Washington by withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq, stayed up most of the night to watch as Republican red crept across the U.S. electoral map.

    How about an “efficient, constructive” shut up, you yellow-bellied, short-sighted socialist piece of crap? Is that good for you?

    Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer:

    “We’ve had a very good relationship with them for the last four years and I’m sure we’ll be able to keep building on that over the next four.”

    Much love to the Aussies.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin:

    “I would feel happy that the American people have not allowed themselves to be scared and made the decision they considered reasonable,” Putin said at a Kremlin news conference

    We absolutely have to realize, as a nation and very damn soon, that the Russians are facing the same enemy of Islamist bastards that we face.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair:

    “A world that is fractured, divided and uncertain must be brought together to fight this global terrorism in all its forms and to recognize that it will not be defeated by military might alone but also by demonstrating the strength of our common values, by bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq as we have done to Afghanistan, by pursuing with the same energy peace in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine,” Blair said.

    Much love to Blair and the courage and fidelity of the Brits. He has been a stalwart ally since 9/11, and his people should rank him, in time, with the likes of Winston Churchill.

    Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka:

    “It is not natural to have — maybe not a cold war — but, in any case, a chilling of relations along theses lines …. I hope that European leaders and President Bush will show initiative in this area.”

    Poland needs to be rewarded for their valor and friendship. We earned it with Ronald Reagan; we need to repay it under Dubya.

    Terrorist Yassir Arafat:

    An ailing Yasser Arafat congratulated Bush and expressed hope that a second term would help give a new spark to the Middle East peace process, an aide to the Palestinian leader said.

    Arafat’s death may well be the spark needed for peace in the Middle East. That, or it could be the fuse that sets off the powderkeg he played a huge role in concocting. Either way, Bush cannot trust a living Arafat in any peace process.

  • Hungary to Bail from Iraq

    Hungary announced plans to withdraw its troops from the Iraqi coalition, though its defense minister plans to ask for an extension on the current Hungarian commitment until after the planned Iraqi election.

    Hungary will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq by the end of March, the country’s new prime minister said Wednesday.

    The announcement is a blow to President Bush’s efforts to hold the coalition together despite increasing violence in Iraq. Hungarian officials said they delayed the announcement until after the U.S. presidential elections.

    The Hungarian force, a transportation contingent, is based at Hillah, 65 miles south of Baghdad, and is under Polish command.

    The parliamentary mandate for Hungary’s mission in Iraq will expire Dec. 31. Peter Matyuc, a defense ministry spokesman, said the government would ask the parliament Monday to extend it until March 31.

    Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said it was the country’s duty to stay through Iraq’s January elections. “To stay there much longer is impossible,” he said.

    One Hungarian soldier has died in Iraq, killed when a roadside bomb exploded by the water-carrying convoy he was guarding.

    Hungary on Wednesday abandoned its military draft system after 136 years.

    Hungarian withdrawal is a shame, but understandable in light of the troop-level difficulty they could soon face without a draft. They should have our thanks for their brave involvement to date, as well as their wisdom in delaying their announcement so as to not have an impact on the U.S. presidential contest.

    The announcement will have no impact on Polish involvement.

    Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Wednesday that Hungary’s decision to pull out of its troops from Iraq will not influence his country.

    He said Hungary has the right to make its own decisions. Poland also wishes to withdraw its troops and cut the number of soldiers there, but his country has to strictly abide by the withdrawal schedule and complete its mission to maintain stability in Iraq.

  • Election Wrap-Up

    It was a banner day for the Bush-Cheney administration and the GOP. Bush is the first since his father in 1988 to capture a majority of the popular vote. It looks like a probable 286-252 electoral victory, with Iowa and New Mexico currently leaning to the administration narrowly.

    In his concession speech, John Kerry was emotional, something to be expected in a man who had aimed for this election his whole life. His speech was dignified and conciliatory, but his running mate John Edwards struck a poor note when he again spoke of two Americas during his own concession and Kerry introduction.

    In declaring his victory, the president reached out Kerry supporters and vowed to reach out to those who opposed him. Some may question his claim of a mandate, but I agree, given his popular majority and Republican gains in both houses of Congress.

    Now, let’s go take care of Fallujah.

  • Target Centermass Declares W the Winner

    CBS gives Nevada to Bush but restrains on Ohio. The nets all seem to be battling on which state to hedge.

    Up all their asses. Dubya wins.

  • Going to Bed Soon

    Election decided … seriously. We can wait some hours on Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa, but it’s essentially done.

    Now let’s get back to the business of saving our civilization.

  • Bush Can’t Lose Tonight

    Per MSNBC.

    They have currently called 269 electoral votes for Dubya, meaning worst case scenario a tie.