One of these war criminals is not like the others

[gottaB]

Poll question: One of these war criminals is not like the others

But, if you had to choose, who would rather have a beer with?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. None

For one thing, I can't imagine what I could say to any of them, as their values and world view is so different than mine.

For another, I don't drink alchohol.

[gottaB]

5. How different could they be?

A 2000 poll found that more Americans would rather have a beer with Bush than Gore, 40% to 37%. That slight (statistically insignificant) advantage for Bush became a major meme of the 2000 campaign and arguably helped propel him into the Whitehouse.

So I'm thinking, either the media totally distort what's going on in the world and what really matters in electoral politics, thereby leading people to make stupid choices, or else Americans really do have an affinity for war criminals like Ta Mok and Agusto Pinochet. I don't know.

Anyway, I think I'll choose Bush just because he hasn't been arrested yet (I rather suspect Taylor's exile in Nigeria will be short-lived). No reason to visit some inhospitable prison cell just to knock one back with a war criminal. Heck, I even heard that Bush* has great barbeque, and more Americans would rather barbeque with Bush than Kerry:

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11342.xml

Yummy.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. Not even if they were buying!

None of the above!

[joeybee12]

3. Charles Taylor--Would like to hear what he has to say about Pat Robertson

Then I'd slip some strychnine into his drink.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Other: Mussolini

I've read some of Mussolini's writings and he seems like a reasonably intelligent fellow. At least we could discuss something on the higher plane of the intellect, even if his ideas were basically a lot of hooey.

Bush the Frat Boy might be the choice of a number of people outside of DU. I don't know why. My rejection of him is on a personal level. If I'm going to get drunk with someone, I'd like to get drunk with someone who can discuss philosophy and art. Bush has expressed nothing but contempt for those things I hold dear and beautiful.

[gottaB]

9. The Dehumanist Tango

Mengele contributed to medical science. Heidegger contributed to philosophy. Riefenstahl contributed to cinema. Ezra Pound contributed to poetry. Fascists all--well, Pound at least issued a sincere apology and renounced fascism, but still, one has to wonder, WTF?

WTF kind of humanists, WTF kind of human progress does this represent? Who needs it?

In a very real sense Mussolini also expressed contempt for those things you hold dear and beautiful. What's the old koan, Don't mistake the pointing finger for the moon.

[wellstone dem]

6. I need clarification

Would the beer be free and can I bring a book to read?

[gottaB]

7. Yes and yes

but please say which book

[MasonJar]

8. I'll take Sadaam over Bush any day. Sadaam was basically an

aging, soon to be gone dictator with little clout...all shout, but Dubya is as dangerous as any terrorist. He is breeding them by the hundreds and could bring on a nuclear war. The world has had it with the America of Bush so if the world does survive, we will be the pariahs of the 21st century, deservedly so.

[gottaB]

10. Do you judge people by the company they keep?

http://www.impeach-bush-now.org/Articles/Rumsfeld/shakinghands.htm