He almost sounds sincere.

April 3, 2003 12:07 PM

Everyone in America, including me, has been driven completely insane by this war. Neal Pollack once again graces us with his opinions of America, freedom and war. Really, give it a chance
posted by elwoodwiles (48 comments total)

I haven't "been driven completely insane by this war", and belligerence breeds reprisal.
posted by mischief at 12:19 PM on April 3, 2003

hell, i was squawking: "the world has gone insane" last week.

I included the whole world as not to leave anyone out.
posted by clavdivs at 12:20 PM on April 3, 2003

Hear, hear. I have spent the entire day in MeFi/NewzCrawler/Outlook/Radio expounding my nutcase peacenik theories. Time to give it a rest. Until tomorrow, at least.

Now, at 9pm, I have to get down to some work. The joys of being self-employed!
posted by cbrody at 12:21 PM on April 3, 2003

I like the way this guy writes and thinks. Anyone who is pro-sanity and pro-drunkenness is OK with me, regardless of their political views.
posted by cell divide at 12:24 PM on April 3, 2003

Anyone who is pro-sanity

seriously, fuck all the religions, fuck the left, fuck the right. how about a little fucking sanity for a change. we've become a nation of assholes.
posted by donkeyschlong at 12:28 PM on April 3, 2003

i think if you are Aware of being insane then you aren't actually insane. If you have no worries about being insane then you most likely are. If you worry about being insane and then realize you can't be because you are worrying about it you may be insane depending on how much you think you aren't. I've felt insane lately, and haven't been drinking nearly enough and i did like the article.

there has got to be a middle ground between moore and limbaugh. right? though not as effective, and with no political power and...arrrr, i'm not insane, i'm just depressed.
posted by th3ph17 at 12:32 PM on April 3, 2003

It's been a very polarizing event--there's very little middle ground--and to watch events unfold left us all stressed at times. I heard George Johnson, who wrote Blowback, make a remark on NPR's The World the other day. He said he was at the end of his years and could remember living in peacetime--he must be talking about the 50s, I guess---and he didn't envy the young who, in his opinion, face an endless uncertain future....

So it may be like this for awhile. Those of us old enough to remember the Vietnam war are not unfamiliar with this sort of social climate.
It's no picnic.
posted by y2karl at 12:34 PM on April 3, 2003

My favorite from the article:

"When President Bush referred to the Americans as a "peaceful people" in his 48-hour-showdown speech, I had to wonder: What "people" was he talking about?"
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:44 PM on April 3, 2003

Good article. Scary.
posted by signal at 12:47 PM on April 3, 2003

Dead-on article. For my own part, other than outlined reports, I've largely ignored the war because I've seen ordinary, rational people turn into raving marsupials. Even the swing of their arms has changed. And I know that if I were to read and watch every "embedded" nicety, a small but certain possibility would include becoming one of those belligerent bastards in a bar. The coverage is one-sided, the approach is sensationalized through obscene After Effects montages on CNN, the real answer for what's going on will probably only be uncovered long after this situation ends.

As Clint Eastwood once said, a man's got to know his limitations. Which probably puts my insanity potential somewhere close to Yahoo Serious.
posted by ed at 12:57 PM on April 3, 2003

neil pollack has a long and prosperous future ahead of him.
dear god don't let him turn into a 'hip' dave barry.
posted by car_bomb at 1:01 PM on April 3, 2003

I love Neal Pollack, but he needs to get away from starting fights with people.

Ditto George W Bush.

...except for the love.
posted by soyjoy at 1:14 PM on April 3, 2003

Maybe we can all find common ground in pointing out that "God Bless the U.S.A." is not a country song? And that Lee Greenwood is not a country singer, but rather a lounge crooner with a hat?
posted by hackly_fracture at 1:17 PM on April 3, 2003

At a rodeo in Houston, a guy starts a brawl because a kid and his friends don't want to stand while Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." plays over the loudspeaker.

when we get to the point where i have to stand the f*ck up when lee greenwood collects another tragedy-inspired royalty check, i'm buying a ticket to anywhere and i am leaving.
posted by grabbingsand at 1:27 PM on April 3, 2003

Have you ever see Lee Greenwood and Saddam Hussien in the same place?

Think about it.
posted by Cyrano at 1:32 PM on April 3, 2003

"ever seen"
posted by Cyrano at 1:33 PM on April 3, 2003

It's weird how the last few weeks have been. I've, for one thing, have avoided political conversation in bars, even with people I agree with. Somebody eventually gets pissed about something and ends up raving and yelling and spills the precious, precious beer. Conversations can go from quiet to ballistic in seconds.

When I do talk about the war I tend to lower my voice, like I'm telling secrets, like I'm worried someone will overhear. It's not paranoia either, total strangers are suddenly willing to explain their depthy analysis of geopolitical events at length while waiting for buses. It doesn't matter is someone is anti-war (no blood for oil, Bush knew, etc,) or pro-war (clear channel gave me this t-shirt and you kids should just shut up,) I don't want to listen to the conspiracies or the jingoism (a word I learned thanks to W, who also taught me where Qatar is in relation to Syria) while waiting for the god-damned bus.

I just want to curl up in a fetal ball, or yell "LALALALALALA!" while running in circles with my hands over my ears, but mostly I just want a drink.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:39 PM on April 3, 2003

so does neal pollack = dave eggers or no?
posted by xmutex at 1:42 PM on April 3, 2003

> so does neal pollack = dave eggers or no?

N O.
posted by COBRA! at 1:47 PM on April 3, 2003

The left's insanity takes the form of people who think they're smarter than anyone else who are, more often than not, mistaken.

The right's instanity takes the form of edgy anger, that can and one of these days probably will spill over into violence.

I'll take the left's craziness, thank you.
posted by kgasmart at 1:47 PM on April 3, 2003

doesn't matter if someone....

And I should put a period after "shut up"

On preview: xmutex, they are two different people. Some article went around a few months ago claiming that Pollack = Eggers, but it isn't true. They are friends and have conspired worked together.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:47 PM on April 3, 2003

elwoodwiles: you sir, are one smart fellow. i avoid warversation while working, drinking, or getting laid.

mostly I just want a drink.
truer words have never been spoken.
posted by car_bomb at 1:49 PM on April 3, 2003

kgasmart

"probably will"?

hhhmmmm...aren't we way beyond that by now?
posted by filchyboy at 1:59 PM on April 3, 2003

Lets give this war a chance. It's going extremely well.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:05 PM on April 3, 2003

"Give war a chance". Yeah right. Poor Bush, so misunderstood.
posted by cbrody at 2:10 PM on April 3, 2003

kgasmart> The left's insanity takes the form of gulags. The right's insanity takes the form of holocausts. I'd rather have neither if I can, thank you.
posted by Pseudoephedrine at 2:14 PM on April 3, 2003

I dunno, I feel pretty sane. There are a lot of people who just arn't paying attention.
posted by delmoi at 2:27 PM on April 3, 2003

I would like to just inject that "Yorba Linda" is a kickass name for a city.
posted by delmoi at 2:28 PM on April 3, 2003

This Just In: 75% chance Saddam Hussein is DEAD!

(All those video tapes appear to have been made pre-War)!
posted by ParisParamus at 2:36 PM on April 3, 2003

So Neal Pollack says he's "been driven completely insane by this war. "
That's not a drive, it's a short putt.*

*Yes, I stole that line from somewhere, but NOT stratfor
posted by wendell at 2:48 PM on April 3, 2003

So is ParisParamus a pentagon PA or what?
posted by zekinskia at 2:49 PM on April 3, 2003

ParisYorbaLindaParasmus was a tap-in.
posted by wendell at 2:50 PM on April 3, 2003

IT's cool how some people didn't need the war to drive them crazy, and can now use it to get even crazier.
posted by cell divide at 2:51 PM on April 3, 2003

So is ParisParamus a pentagon PA or what?

I dunno, but he reminds me of someone I met at a bus stop.
posted by elwoodwiles at 2:53 PM on April 3, 2003

This just in - CIA no longer 75% sure tapes are not current. God, I LOVE MSNBC. They have breaking news that corrects the breaking news from 10 minutes ago.

Now, y'all realize that, by the time I post this, there may be new breaking news that recinds the latest breaking news, that brings us back to the old breaking news.

The Velvet Fog of War...
posted by Perigee at 2:55 PM on April 3, 2003

Blah, bah blah. The Mefi left never leaves.
posted by ParisParamus at 2:58 PM on April 3, 2003

...And the Mefi Right is never wrong.

Snarf.

BWAAAA-HAHAHAHA!!!!
posted by Perigee at 2:59 PM on April 3, 2003

Anyone who is pro-sanity and pro-drunkenness is OK with me, regardless of their political views.

I wouldn't call this guy pro-sanity. There were amusing aspects of that article, but basically, he was saying, "I'm being an asshole, but it's not my fault: look how many other assholes there are. Damn this war."

Free speech is a great thing, but a bar is not always the smartest place to exercise it. Drunk people don't always have the greatest judgment. I'm not a big fan of this war, but if he wants to stop insanity, he should stop being a jerk first.
posted by anapestic at 3:15 PM on April 3, 2003

And how many MeFites have apologized for stupid posts with the comment "I was drunk at the time"? (Or am I the only one who has noticed that like, a dozen times?)

Feature request to mathowie: Breathalizer on login page.
posted by wendell at 3:38 PM on April 3, 2003

President Bush himself called the repulsive anti-French backlash "an interesting phenomena taking place here in America," right before saying that "there will be a certain sense of discipline" imposed if other countries, such as Mexico, dare oppose the United States.

Is this true, or is he completely spinning it out his ass? Pretty disturbing quote, but with more than half of it in the columnists' words, and that guy being an admitted jackhole... Well, I'm just curious what basis this has in reality. If it's true, it may be another disturbing quote from Heir Bush.

What really got me worked up is that "punk" story. True, the alleged "redneck" shouldn't have been in the bar. He should have known, as I do, that those bars are full of "punks." Not "punk rock" or "cool" punks, but little punk bitches who constantly talk trash and never back it up. If you have any sense of respect, and the capability to use violence, you should never go near them. It is literally an invitation to jail time.

I can't believe this guy is over 30. In my experience, it's usually underaged kids who create these kinds of situations. It would be way too hard to feel sorry for a grown man, pregnant wife or not.
posted by son_of_minya at 4:04 PM on April 3, 2003

War? It's available at the click of a button.


posted by DragonBoy at 4:17 PM on April 3, 2003

Lame writing.
posted by Postroad at 4:27 PM on April 3, 2003

funny how Pollack writes:

How very sad, particularly because Michael Moore is, inarguably, a bad writer--a bad writer who really knows how to give a lousy, self-promotional Oscar speech.

cuz that's exactly what I think about Pollack. especially the self-promotional part.

oh and he, unlike Moore, almost starts a bar fight around his pregnant wife by acting very immaturely. and he writes critical pieces without offering any positive suggestions for action or change, unlike Moore.

bad Pollack.
posted by kv at 4:39 PM on April 3, 2003

Well, we all have something in common:

Claims for Jobless Benefits Are Highest Since April 2002

A second report offered more unsettling news: Activity in the service sector -- normally the engine of job creation in the United States -- contracted in March, ending 13 months of growth.

The Institute for Supply Management reported that its nonmanufacturing index sank to 47.9 in March, from a reading of 53.9 in February. An index reading below 50 means activity contracted; a reading above 50 signifies growth.

Say goodbye to the old no job, say hello to new no job.

Upon review: Literary criticism from a guy who neither spell, spell check, punctuate or even finish a sentence is the equivalent of Amateur Chef Night at the All Fugu Sushi Bar.
posted by y2karl at 4:42 PM on April 3, 2003

Good God it's entertaining when MetaFilter discusses a creative work.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, discuss.
posted by bingbangbong at 10:11 PM on April 3, 2003

bingbangbong:

Good God it's entertaining when MetaFilter discusses a creative work.

Those who can, do. Those who can't, discuss.

If you're saying the guy was only making this up, that's a welcome relief.

I enjoy the "Tracy's World" column in my local "underground" paper. It's about the fictional exploits of a stuck-up bar-hopping gold-digger, who seems a lot like women most people know. This guy's article just hit a little closer to home for me, so I thought it was serious.

I don't know if I'd "do" this sort of thing. I think I'd rather discuss it. I mean, a newspaper column might be kind of fun, but it's not anything to be proud of. If you are into that kind of thing, maybe you could compete against your peers and feel proud and whatnot...
posted by son_of_minya at 11:45 PM on April 3, 2003

Those who can, do. Those who can't, discuss.

if you get a chance, hop off the pedestal and explain that one a little more. I mean, if it's not above you.
posted by mcsweetie at 3:14 PM on April 4, 2003

Re: bingbangbong: MetaTalk.
posted by y2karl at 4:42 PM on April 4, 2003