Decision ‘08

My Apology To Debbie Schlussel

Debbie Schlussel has not apologized for the abuse she heaped on the head of freed hostage Jill Carroll on the very day of her release. Far from it. In fact, she expects me to apologize:

I’ll be waiting (but not holding my breath) for YOUR apology. I NEVER cited the video. I cited other things that remain facts, despite the video recantation. Apparently, premature articulation has struck you too, quite harshly. I suggest for you, Mark, a big reading comprehension refresher, and then read this (assuming your thick skull can handle it, and I have my strong doubts based on your two imbecillic posts on my work, thus far)…

At the risk of boring you by immersing you in a - pardon my French - pissing match (interestingly, Jim Geraghty was moved to use nearly the same terminology - or should I say, I was moved to use similar terminology, since his post was from yesterday - we know our pissing contests when we see them!), it’s obviously Debbie who, incoherent rage aside, has a problem with reading comprehension. Here’s what I said about Schlussel:

Jill Carroll is not the enemy. The right to dissent is a precious one, and the fact that you bash her on the day she was released from nearly three months in captivity is, frankly, a disgrace. It is a happy day when ANYONE, of any political persuasian, is released from unjust captivity. If your heart doesn’t rejoice, perhaps you need to look inward…

I mentioned nothing about the video - my chastisement was based on the fact that on the very day an American was released from captivity, Schlussel chose to heap all sorts of harsh venom on her head.

Do we now only care about American hostages if they are Republicans? Bush supporters? Supporter of Israel? Our Iraq policy? Do we cease caring if they support Palestinians? Sunni Muslims? Where are the boundaries?

Or should it be that we care about Americans because they are Americans - or better still, that we care about people of any nationality, race, or creed who have been abducted and threatened with death unjustly.

Debbie, if you can’t understand that basic bit of humanity, then you’re truly lost - and nothing any blogger says or does will make any difference.

An American hostage was freed. I rejoice in her freedom. I don’t ask her political views. Ted Kennedy and Michael Moore are every bit as American as Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. I don’t have to agree with them to say that, should they be taken hostage, I would pray for their safety, and thank God upon their release.

It’s morality at so basic a level any child could grasp it…

So yes, I’ll apologize. I’m sorry I assumed you knew that the right to dissent is one of the most basic rights a citizen of a democracy has…and I’m really sorry you couldn’t wait one day to start tearing down Jill Carroll - one lousy day, to celebrate the freedom of an American captive. And I’m sorry you feel the need to misrepresent my work…

I’m not sorry, however, that Jill Carroll is free…can you say the same? If so, please do so…

22 Responses to “My Apology To Debbie Schlussel”

1 Rick Moran Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Do we now only care about American hostages if they are Republicans? Bush supporters? Supporter of Israel? Our Iraq policy? Do we cease caring if they support Palestinians? Sunni Muslims? Where are the boundaries?

Say it loud, Mark.

Her point is that Carroll is disqualified from our sympathy because she, from all reports, loves Iraq and the Iraqi people and supports the Palestinian cause.

Your point is WTF Debbie?

I like your point better.
2 Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler » Blog Archive » Hey, You’re On My Turf, Vinnie! (Updated… Four Times Now) Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:21 pm
[…] Are you trying to KILL me? I mean, the rest of y’all, take a look at this, then go read this. Are you trying to make up by providing me with stuff to ridicule? If so, please cease and desist, because I’m not sure I can read another post without dying. It’s OK, you cupid stunt, all’s forgiven, just don’t torment me any more. PLEASE! Posted by Emperor Darth Misha I @ 3:51 pm | […]
3 Don Surber Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Pray for her, Mark. Pray.
4 Colin Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:14 pm
It’s quite a shame that you’ve been drawn into the wingnut fever swamp Debbie Schlussel inhabits. This site has provides such a nice oasis of reason and sanity. Conservatives and moderates and liberals conversing with each other without any of the hyperbole that defines so many other corners of the blogosphere. I’d rather read a hundred well-spoken, logical, rational, liberal Peters than have to deal with a fanatic who does her own side much more harm than good. At least its nice to see so many others out there on the Right raise their voices in opposition to her provocations.
5 Stop The ACLU Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:33 pm
How To Alienate Yourself From The Blogosphere

Now why would someone erase comments if you disagree with them? What the heck is everyone in the entire blogosphere talking about? Threating? Hey, its not like its the first time. ….or the second time even. ….or even the third. Who need…
6 Beth Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:46 pm
She makes me want to vomit every time I read anything of hers. Even on the (rare) occasion she’s actually right about something, she buries it in so much hyperemotionalism, venom, and deceitful rhetoric that she destroys her own argument. My seven year-old daughter has FAR better persuasive skills and logical thought than Debbie Schlussel has.
7 Mark Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Thanks, Beth - but if your daughter takes after her smart mom, that’s not a fair fight!…
8 Mark Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Colin, Don, Rick, et al…you know, looking at the quality of the people offering words of support, there may just be hope for civilization yet…thanks, guys!…
9 In Search Of Utopia Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 10:31 pm
And while we are criticising Debbie….

Shouldn’t this be recieving a bit more attention? “I’ve been watching this traitor bitch fawn all over her captors this morning. “Nice furniture, safe, nice clothes, they NEVER threatened me”. I’m very glad you were so comforatble while working t…
10 Don Meaker Says:
April 2nd, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Glad someone has a big tent for released hostages.

The FBI has a protocol for kidnap victims. Get them back first. Then catch the bums.

That she is a naive liberal made her easier to catch, easier to manipulate. They say a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged. Perhaps now that she has been mugged, (not to mention the murder of her translator) she will grow a little horse sense.

I think it was a Prime Minister of France who, when told that his son was a Communist “If he is not a communist when he is 20, he has no spirit. If he is still a Communist when he is 30, he has no sense.”

We always hope that the school of hard knocks teaches well, while leaving a minimum of bruises. For those who are resistant to learning from gentle abuse, the school of hard knocks saves its best lessons.
11 Milinda Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:30 am
“I’m sorry I assumed you knew that the right to dissent is one of the most basic rights a citizen of a democracy has…”

Will you idiots ever get it? The right to dissent in a time of war in favor of the blood-thirsty enemy seeking to kill us is rightly questionable. We are really getting tired of protecting your butts from yourselves. Pathetic.
12 Mark Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:35 am
Milinda, you have serious problems understanding the word ‘democracy’. I’ll take a backseat to no one in my support of the War on Terror - but if you want to declare a War on Jill Carroll, you’re on your own…
13 Chris Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:38 am
Jill Carroll is a seditious rat and I could care less if she got released.

Debbie Schlussel is right.

Oh, and your buddy Jim Geraghty is a real gutless puke. I was feeding him emails from Teresa Heinz’s charities during the 04 election (posted on my site). After the 10th email I sent him, I asked what he planned to do with them. He replied, “Nothing. I’m afraid of legal action from Heinz-Kerry. But keep sending them. They are a great read.” Since then, I can’t stand the spineless bastard.
14 Mark Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 11:46 am
Dear Chris - tell Satan hello when you see him, okay?…
15 All Things Beautiful Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Suspicion (FURTHER UPDATED)

UPDATE IX: The London Telegraph attacks the right wing Blogosphere in a major way….Embittered’, the ever hateful and bitter Mahablog, who cannot string two words together without spitting out venom, who calls me “ever-brainless” and a “dimwitt”
16 megapotamus Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Schlussel is consistently emotional and shrill. Her relatively lofty perch in Punditland has been a puzzlement to me for many a day. Now, with Carroll’s recant and frank declaration that she had a gun to her head (which I figured was likely anyhow) should satisfy all carpers.
Yes?
No.
17 AST Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
I think that calling Carroll a traitor is silly. I’m glad she’s home. I’m also saddened that her translator was killed during her kidnapping. That tells me all I need to know about her captors.

To me, Carroll was fooling herself by thinking she could mix into Iraqi society and not be endangered. Yes, she loves Iraq, but did that lead her to take risks? Did it lead her into providing PR for the criminals who took her? I don’t think that’s very professional for a journalist. What if she were covering the White House and said she had come to love the President and his administration?

Now she’s become the story instead of what she reports.

She’s being a reporter the way she’s been taught, but the current model of journalism as taught in our J-schools, with its emphasis on hostility toward our government and military while giving our enemies the benefit of every doubt. The news media today seem to think they’re entitled to run their own foreign policy, and it’s caused a number of their employees to be murdered. If I were an editor, I’d be leary of reporters who want to go in and humanize the people who are blowing up their fellow Iraqis. Would they do that with Organized Crime?

They make excuses for terrorists and criminals, and make this war harder by encouraging the enemy and sapping political support here for what we’re trying to do.

I don’t agree with Debbie Schlussel, but I can’t excuse the media organizations of which Carroll is a part, either. Are they going to support the family of her translator from now on?
18 Chris Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Dear Mark - Tell Jim Geraghty I said hi when you can find the time to stop tossing his salad.
19 Mark Says:
April 3rd, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Man - you got me good…hey, it’s 9:30, does your Mom know you’re not in bed yet?…
20 Polimom Says » Is America losing its mind? Says:
April 18th, 2006 at 9:24 am
[…] Nasty as that was, the rightwing blogosphere, for the most part, separated itself from her, and one blogger posted an article that has since stuck in my mind (here’s a snip, with my emphasis): Do we now only care about American hostages if they are Republicans? Bush supporters? Supporter of Israel? Our Iraq policy? Do we cease caring if they support Palestinians? Sunni Muslims? Where are the boundaries? […]
21 Kewalo Says:
April 18th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I’m not sure how I got here, just idly following some links. But I am so glad I meandered over. Kudos on your great post. Nice to see that there are things we can agree on…I wish more of us realized that supporting other Americans regardless of party or ideology is what made this country strong.

I’ve bookmarked your site and will be back. I’ll look forward to reading something from the right that doesn’t consider me an enemy and call me unamerican for having different beliefs.

Thanks,
Kewalo
22 Mark Says:
April 18th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Thanks, Kewalo…we’ll be glad to see you, and feel free to jump in and disagree anytime…a lively comments section is more interesting for us all…