Comments on: Daydream Believers-A Book Review

By: Rachel Dixon

Rachel Dixon — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:37:13 +0000

Jon, speaking of policies based on faith rather than reality, and anti-missile defence, I can highly recommend, if you haven’t read it, Frances Fitzgerald’s “Way Out There In the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars and the end of the Cold War”. It’s a remarkably well-balanced narrative about the kind of thinking that eventually led people like Feith to power. Fitzgerald is very generous toward Reagan, btw.

http://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-There-Blue-Reagan/dp/B0000C37EJ/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203715841&sr=8-4

By: Note From Baghdad « Jon Taplin’s Blog

Note From Baghdad « Jon Taplin’s Blog — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:17:22 +0000

[...] strongly held opinions, backed by facts. This morning I got a comment from a reader on my review of Fred Kaplan’s new book. It’s comment like this that make it all so cool. Oh Mr. Kaplan, how right you [...]

By: Cy

Cy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:41:19 +0000

Oh Mr. Kaplan, how right you are!

I’m an American working in Baghdad right now. It is a staggering scene of waste and stupidity all based on fictions propagated by fools. After eight months here, I realized Catch 22 was a non-fiction novel! A bittersweet revelation indeed.

Enjoying your blog Jon, keep up the good work.

By: Zhirem

Zhirem — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:14:22 +0000

STS, I hope you are saying that in a ‘free speech zone’…

Silly President, the free-speech zone exists from the border of Canada, south to the border of Mexico, and is bookended by the oceans Pacific and Atlantic…

That said, the next administration will have an unequaled opportunity on their hands: they can reunite the American people by simply being competent. The bar is so low now, as evidenced for over 7 years from Commander 19% Approval Rating that the next President will likely trip on it.

- Zhirem

By: STS

STS — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:43:32 +0000

Thanks, Jon. That quote really nails it. The Bush crowd don’t even understand how freedom works here, and can’t begin to understand how to cultivate it elsewhere. Let’s hope the next administration manages to keep its head above the angry partisan waters (to say nothing of economic and budget flood waters) long enough to get us on some reality-driven dry land.

By: Iraq » Daydream Believers-A Book Review

Iraq » Daydream Believers-A Book Review — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:59:23 +0000

[...] Jon Taplin’s Blog wrote an interesting post today on Daydream Believers-A Book ReviewHere’s a quick excerptThe amazing Slate military reporter, Fred Kaplan has just come out with an important book, Daydream [...]