Michael Mukasey drew closer to becoming attorney general Friday after two
key Senate Democrats said they would vote for him despite his refusal to say
whether waterboarding is torture.
The decision by Sens. Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein to back President
Bush's nominee came shortly after the chairman of the committee, Patrick
Leahy, D-Vt., announced he would vote against Mukasey, a former federal
judge.
There you go. Ipse Dixet.
On 11/1/07, joe green <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> If one cares to look here
> http://www.armysecurityagency.org/asaballd.htm
>
> you can begin to sense the difference draftees make. No final difference,
> of course, but see the Napalm Song. No not great poesy as if that makes a
> difference. Horror, then forgetting...and people are surprised now? To
> repeat a line from the poem above "This was back when wars were really
> fucked up."
>
>
> On 11/1/07, joe green <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > Yep. I love that little guy.
> >
> > On 11/1/07, kasper salonen < [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >
> > > it'd be a nice parallel
> > >
> > > KS
> > >
> > > On 02/11/2007, joe green <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > In fact if you view this
> > > >
> > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuTuUAl66Rg
> > > >
> > > > and imagine Lugosi as the usual literary apprehension of war and the
> > > skull
> > > > and the guys behind it as the usual poesy of war this poem is the
> > > dwarf --
> > > > doing what the dwarf does -- or isn't it pretty to think so?
> > > >
> > > > On 11/1/07, joe green < [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Yeah -- the last two lines make it (for little old me).
> > > > >
> > > > > I ran across this in an interview with Mark Strand:
> > > > >
> > > > > "Strand began publishing poems in the 1960s, and says the status
> > > of poetry
> > > > > has changed since that time. "I think that poetry in the '60s and
> > > the '70s
> > > > > in America was a lot more popular, because they were writing a lot
> > > against
> > > > > the war in Vietnam and we had a huge audience of people who wanted
> > > to hear
> > > > > us. Today, you know, no one listens. People are writing poems
> > > against the
> > > > > war in Iraq and no one notices. Things have changed. I think that
> > > the big
> > > > > difference is that in the '60s and '70s, there was the draft. The
> > > war hit
> > > > > the middle class. Today there is no draft. And in addition, wars
> > > have become
> > > > > a lot more abstract than they were."
> > > > >
> > > > > Maybe -- or maybe always were. The horses in my verse come right
> > > out of
> > > > > the Wright poem recently under such intense and numinous
> > > scrutiny. All the
> > > > > tired, pretty horses.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 11/1/07, kasper salonen <[log in to unmask] > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > well that was quite a ride. I wanted to stop reading at one
> > > point, and
> > > > > > I thought I had, but turns out I was sucked in. this is sad, I
> > > don't
> > > > > > like it for its sadness, but for its sad poetry I guess. I like
> > > it.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > KS
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 01/11/2007, joe green <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > > > > A Short History
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have been very good.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have been very good for 8 years.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I told my wife that our children looked like tiny skeletons
> > > only
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > three times.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I spat blood I did so discreetly into monogrammed
> > > hankies.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I told my wife that at last I had a single integrated action
> > > plan
> > > > > > (SIAP).
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The time I went to Disneyland and blew the head off the hippo
> > > in the
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > jungle ride was an aberration.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The time I spent 2 weeks in the Rocket Motel with a topless
> > > dancer
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > named Baby Madonna was truly unusual.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I no longer think I am a wolf.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I vomit on family holidays I do so with some grace and
> > > never at
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > table.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It has been years since I insisted on going into the woods to
> > > shit.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have been interested in organizational development.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I no longer drink wine from bottles wrapped in paper bags
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > with guys named Spider and Bullethead. I especially avoid
> > > doing
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > this in our driveway.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I am meek at work and participate with enthusiasm in group
> > > activities.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I run in 10 kilometer races it is hard to tell that I
> > > itch all
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > over and am imagining that I am being chased by hearts with
> > > mouths.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I only speak to the dog in my command voice.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I go dutifully to all the Vietnam movies to learn what I
> > > should
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > think. I explain to my son what a dustoff is. I do not
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > mention the fact that to me it looks like people in the
> > > audience
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > have the heads of hyenas and jackals.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > My son looks like a tiny skeleton.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When he was born I went down in the cellar and built him a
> > > coffin.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I will send this with him when he goes into the army. From
> > > Dad.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If all dads did this it would save our government considerable
> > >
> > > > > > expense.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Dads should also build coffins for the sons our sons will
> > > kill.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I have a complete set of plans for coffins for sons of many
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > nationalities. Spider told me that this was a waste of time.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Just send along some extra-strength garbage bags. He said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And what about the mommas and babies. He said. And, anyway,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > you dumb shit. He said. There ain't nothing to bury most of
> > > the
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > time. He said. You dumb old fucker. You think we're back in
> > > > > > Vietnam.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I still think that it would demonstrate our compassion.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I often imagine my daughter on fire.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I was reading "Come Away, Joe" to her and she was curled up in
> > > my arms
> > > > > > and
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I imagined that she was hit with white phosphorus and burned
> > > from the
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > inside out. The white phosphorus looked like a star in her
> > > belly.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I imagined that she was also hit with napalm. Have some
> > > jelly, honey.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > We called people burnt up by napalm "crispy critters." This
> > > was
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > a popular breakfast cereal at the time.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here is how I am telling you I make love to my wife.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I imagine that we are both dead and holding each other. We
> > > are under
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > a hill. The hill looks over a blue and peaceful town. The
> > > town
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > is not a town. It is the shadow of a tone. The bank, the
> > > church,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > the little stores and tiny houses tremble and dissolve in a
> > > soft mist.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > No-one can see the town. It is not in any government records
> > > or on
> > > > > > any
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > maps. Our children live there.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > For a long time I was unemployed. I drove a car the color of
> > > a cloud.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I would pick up our children from school. Your father comes
> > > for you
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > in a car the color of a cloud.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > At night I imagine that our dead cat is walking in the garden.
> > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I imagine I am in the garden and she treadles my chest. She
> > > licks
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > my eyes thinking the moon's rays are milk. Her eyes shine
> > > with love.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Lay down with me lay down in the humility of death.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > You see that I am very sentimental.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This morning we all sat at breakfast and I said "I am worried
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > about Goethe."
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Why, Dad?" My son said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Ok, dear." My wife said. "You have been good for eight
> > > years.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > You can have that party."
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This is a lie. My wife left me 10 years ago. She lives with
> > > our
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > children and her new husband in a very nice rambler on a
> > > cul-de-sac
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > in the very nice state of California.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I often imagine that my children are dream children.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I still live in the same house which is where I grew up. My
> > > father is
> > > > > > dead.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > My mother is dead. They are buried in Fairview
> > > cemetery. Just off
> > > > > > Oak
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > street. Warrensville, Pa, 19380.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > They are on a very nice cul-de-sac.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Old joke.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I spoke to my mother the other night.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Do you have your gloves on?" She asked.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Yes." I asseverated.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I came home from Vietnam when my father died.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Your father died." They said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Complete this form." They said. "Be back in two
> > > weeks." They said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I got off the plane in Honolulu they hung flowers around
> > > my neck.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Then they unloaded the bodies.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > This was back when wars were really fucked up.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I saw my father in the coffin I saw that they put glasses
> > > on him.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > He only wore glasses to read. They wanted a homey look. I
> > > vomited
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > in the men's room. I held my mother at the grave. Her cloth
> > > coat
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > smelled the same as it did when I was little.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > We went home to the funeral meats which were Vienna sausages
> > > in tomato
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > sauce. This is how a lot of people live. My cousin turned on
> > > the TV
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > to watch a football game. True. He was down in the
> > > basement. True.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Other males were enjoying the game. I threw my father's
> > > hammer
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > through the screen. Incoming. I kicked my cousin in the
> > > face.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Everyone was embarrassed.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here's who was dead when I came back.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Daniel Mitchinok
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Carlos Gonzalez
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > John Rollins
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > William Latoff
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Gross weight: about 710 lbs.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I bought a tape recorder to record my thoughts about war and
> > > letters
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > to my mother.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here are my thoughts about war as recorded by me at Landing
> > > Zone
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > X-Ray adjacent to the Chu Pong Range:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here is a continuation of those thoughts as recorded by me
> > > trekking
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > overland with the 5th Cav:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Here are my thoughts as I surveyed the 800 dead of a famous
> > > battle
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > that you can read about in a coffee table book available at
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > a discount rate from Barnes and Noble:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > My letters to mother were equally eloquent.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Is this too easy? Yes.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Do you want to know the truth?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > My wife told me she was leaving. I am tired of this shit.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Blah. Blah. She said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I asked her to wait. "Don't pack yet." I said.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I went to the mall and bought a camera. Plenty of film.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When I came home she was crying. She was on the couch.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I took pictures of every room in the house.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I opened every closet and drawer and took pictures.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I took her picture.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When the kids came home I took their pictures.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > They left.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Then her mother and her brothers came over and took
> > > everything.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It took me two years to complete the reconstruction. Now I
> > > have
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > a lifesize wife weeping on the couch. My son sits at his desk
> > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > and plays Pac Man. My daughter plays with her doll.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Some of that shit was hard to find.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > You understand. You are also sentimental.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > One year I drove to California to see my children. In the car
> > > the
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > color of a cloud. In Oklahoma I woke up at dawn and went
> > > outside
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > the motel room. It was next to a pasture. There were horses
> > > in
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > the pasture. I stood at the fence. The horses were the color
> > > of
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > the dawn. They came to me.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Then I kicked in the bedroom door.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Shot this picture.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Reader. Rider. Horses.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Slaked. Plausive. Ignorant.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
|