Comments on: The First Biennial “Predict the Surprise” Contest! http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/ America's favorite blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:28:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: George http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20628 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:58:19 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20628 Check this out for some October Surprises: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6368073 Check this out for some October Surprises:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6368073

]]> by: Mieke http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20487 Thu, 19 Oct 2006 08:50:21 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20487 If they wait long enough, maybe Saddam's trial will go the way of Milosovich's trial. If they wait long enough, maybe Saddam’s trial will go the way of Milosovich’s trial.

]]> by: YLlama http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20440 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:45:17 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20440 October Surprise: Bin Laden still not caught. October Surprise: Bin Laden still not caught.

]]> by: Siobhan http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20438 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:06:26 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20438 It could bite them in the ass if there is an outbreak of violence in the wake of the decision. I mean, a bigger than usual outbreak of violence, not the mundane 50-60 killings a day. (I shudder to think what level of violence it would take to seriously grab the attention of the media these days. Maybe if there was an outbreak of s-e-x instead?) It could bite them in the ass if there is an outbreak of violence in the wake of the decision. I mean, a bigger than usual outbreak of violence, not the mundane 50-60 killings a day.

(I shudder to think what level of violence it would take to seriously grab the attention of the media these days. Maybe if there was an outbreak of s-e-x instead?)

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20433 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:40:17 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20433 Pulling out all the stops, they are. It will cause the news cycle that day to be all Saddam, all the time. Perfect timing. Karl is a pile of diarrhetic dingo dung, but a clever pile. Pulling out all the stops, they are. It will cause the news cycle that day to be all Saddam, all the time. Perfect timing. Karl is a pile of diarrhetic dingo dung, but a clever pile.

]]> by: ice weasel http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20424 Tue, 17 Oct 2006 02:37:34 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20424 Proving once again, one need only dip into the news to find things better than can be made up (you know, that fiction stuff)... <i>Court may give Saddam verdict on November 5 <a href="http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1533672006" rel="nofollow">By Mariam Karouny</a> BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi court trying Saddam Hussein for the killing of Shi'ite villagers in the 1980s could deliver a verdict on November 5, officials said, a ruling which could send the ousted leader to the gallows. The U.S.-backed court was due to announce on Monday a final date for verdicts on Saddam and seven of his former top lieutenants for crimes against humanity, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of death by hanging. But the court said it needed more time to review testimony. Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said the Iraqi High Tribunal could announce a verdict when it reconvenes on November 5. "Right now they are checking some testimonies and details. If they finish by then, then they will definitely announce the verdict on November 5," he told Reuters.</i> What they forgot to mention was that the court has been sitting on this since when? <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15285264/" rel="nofollow">July 27th.</a> Scroll down, it's there. Ok, that's a pretty tepid surprise but still, once has to respect the timing of that <i>"U.S.-backed court"</i>. Proving once again, one need only dip into the news to find things better than can be made up (you know, that fiction stuff)…

Court may give Saddam verdict on November 5
By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi court trying Saddam Hussein for the killing of Shi’ite villagers in the 1980s could deliver a verdict on November 5, officials said, a ruling which could send the ousted leader to the gallows.

The U.S.-backed court was due to announce on Monday a final date for verdicts on Saddam and seven of his former top lieutenants for crimes against humanity, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of death by hanging.

But the court said it needed more time to review testimony. Chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi said the Iraqi High Tribunal could announce a verdict when it reconvenes on November 5.

“Right now they are checking some testimonies and details. If they finish by then, then they will definitely announce the verdict on November 5,” he told Reuters.

What they forgot to mention was that the court has been sitting on this since when? July 27th.

Scroll down, it’s there.

Ok, that’s a pretty tepid surprise but still, once has to respect the timing of that “U.S.-backed court”.

]]> by: Mieke http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20405 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:49:36 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20405 Yes, indeed. W does indeed seem to be going in the "dear leader" direction. As far as Iran, I think that an attack on that country would be a massive risk for the administration in terms of public opinion. Yes, historically people stand behind the government in times of war. However, with our troops stretched thin in Iraq, billions of our taxpayer dollars being poured into the war, and general weariness (and growing wariness) about the whole mess over there, I think the Republicans may suspect invading another country could actually be the straw that broke the camel's back and have disasterous effects on their popularity amongst their remaining supporters. In my opinion, this is the only reason they haven't done it yet. THAT SAID, nothing surprises me with these people when it comes to unbridled hubris and unchecked arrogance. They tend to do whatever they want and explain it away with a wave of the hand, (correctly) assuming their supporters will blindly march behind whatever flimsy talking points they issue forth. Yes, indeed. W does indeed seem to be going in the “dear leader” direction.

As far as Iran, I think that an attack on that country would be a massive risk for the administration in terms of public opinion. Yes, historically people stand behind the government in times of war. However, with our troops stretched thin in Iraq, billions of our taxpayer dollars being poured into the war, and general weariness (and growing wariness) about the whole mess over there, I think the Republicans may suspect invading another country could actually be the straw that broke the camel’s back and have disasterous effects on their popularity amongst their remaining supporters. In my opinion, this is the only reason they haven’t done it yet.

THAT SAID, nothing surprises me with these people when it comes to unbridled hubris and unchecked arrogance. They tend to do whatever they want and explain it away with a wave of the hand, (correctly) assuming their supporters will blindly march behind whatever flimsy talking points they issue forth.

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20404 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 03:39:32 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20404 Mieke, Iran is still the best bet for an October surprise, only they'll dispense with marching in and instead just bomb away. I think the major behind-the-scenes battle is between people in/somehow connected to the administration who want the attack on Iran, for which logistical steps have already been undertaken and are at stage 2, I think, and those who consider this plan suicidal stupidity of the highest order and are doing everything they can to stop this madness, possibly including trying to cripple the neoconidiots. It's hell having to make educated guesses over matters of such import which the bastards deign citizens unworthy of being allowed to judge or have a say regarding. "I get to decide," the Asshole-in-Chief said and apparently believes in an egocentric absolutist sense, in which regard I have trouble distinguishing him from Kim Jong-Il. They both strike me as mentally ill. Mieke,

Iran is still the best bet for an October surprise, only they’ll dispense with marching in and instead just bomb away. I think the major behind-the-scenes battle is between people in/somehow connected to the administration who want the attack on Iran, for which logistical steps have already been undertaken and are at stage 2, I think, and those who consider this plan suicidal stupidity of the highest order and are doing everything they can to stop this madness, possibly including trying to cripple the neoconidiots.

It’s hell having to make educated guesses over matters of such import which the bastards deign citizens unworthy of being allowed to judge or have a say regarding. “I get to decide,” the Asshole-in-Chief said and apparently believes in an egocentric absolutist sense, in which regard I have trouble distinguishing him from Kim Jong-Il. They both strike me as mentally ill.

]]> by: Mieke http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20398 Mon, 16 Oct 2006 02:50:46 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20398 George, how does the news story you provided a link to support the idea that it wasn't a nuke? I think the North Korea story is an October UNsurprise. I think it proves that the administration never even believed that Iraq had WMD or that they believe Iran has intentions beyond a nuclear energy program. With North Korea, which has actually now tested a nuclear weapon (or at least claims to), they talk about sanctions and diplomacy. That is how they deal with countries that they actually believe have a nuclear weapon, I'm assuming because, well, they have a nuclear weapon. Notice how they fearlessly march into a country they accuse of having WMD, find nothing to that effect, and then start bombing? Wouldn't that strongly suggest they didn't actually fear Iraq having WMD, when we see how they react to a country which does? I'm also UNsurprised that the media haven't been relentlessly drilling them about that bit of inconsistent behavior. Anyway, bit off-topic but in response to George. George, how does the news story you provided a link to support the idea that it wasn’t a nuke?
I think the North Korea story is an October UNsurprise. I think it proves that the administration never even believed that Iraq had WMD or that they believe Iran has intentions beyond a nuclear energy program. With North Korea, which has actually now tested a nuclear weapon (or at least claims to), they talk about sanctions and diplomacy. That is how they deal with countries that they actually believe have a nuclear weapon, I’m assuming because, well, they have a nuclear weapon. Notice how they fearlessly march into a country they accuse of having WMD, find nothing to that effect, and then start bombing? Wouldn’t that strongly suggest they didn’t actually fear Iraq having WMD, when we see how they react to a country which does? I’m also UNsurprised that the media haven’t been relentlessly drilling them about that bit of inconsistent behavior. Anyway, bit off-topic but in response to George.

]]> by: cooper http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20381 Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:04:22 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/10/10/predict-the-surprise/#comment-20381 Harold, Allahu Akbar! Model rocket motors (Estes type), no problem. High power motors, oh yeah, Mr. Cheney still has a death grip on those and even a harmless person such as myself has to get the dreaded LEUP, submit to a background check, get fingerprinted, and have a minor government employee from the BATFE come to your premises, perform an inspection and read the Riot Act to you. They're hoping that all the hoops you have to leap through will discourage you from even trying to get the larger, more powerful motors. But they underestimate the fanatic! Harold, Allahu Akbar! Model rocket motors (Estes type), no problem. High power motors, oh yeah, Mr. Cheney still has a death grip on those and even a harmless person such as myself has to get the dreaded LEUP, submit to a background check, get fingerprinted, and have a minor government employee from the BATFE come to your premises, perform an inspection and read the Riot Act to you. They’re hoping that all the hoops you have to leap through will discourage you from even trying to get the larger, more powerful motors. But they underestimate the fanatic!

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