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How McChrystal And Co. Blew The Rolling Stone Profile
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A general, his aides, and one reporter, stuck on a bus from Paris to Berlin, and drinking case after case of Bud Light Lime ...
That's the movie trailer version of how Gen. Stanley McChrystal ended up with a trainwreck of a profile in Rolling Stone, in which he and his aides ended up on the record trashing President Obama and virtually every other important civilian decision-maker on the Afghan war.
Rolling Stone's Michael Hastings, still in Afghanistan, told NBC that it all started with the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano -- which prolonged Hastings' time with McChrystal and his team. The ash cloud forced the general to take a bus from Paris, where he celebrated an anniversary with his wife, gave a speech. and met with French officials, to Berlin.
Hastings told NBC that McChrystal and co. were boozing on the bus "the whole way." He added: "They let loose." The general may now lose his job as a result.
We also learned from Hastings' story that McChrystal's favorite beverage is Bud Light Lime, so we can only assume the bus was well stocked. The real question is where in Paris would one procure such a wondrous delicacy (and which foul-mouthed staffer's job it was).
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June 22, 2010 3:43 PM
Imagine that, McChrystal managed put his foot in his mouth up to the ankle before puking.
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tinsk
June 22, 2010 5:31 PM in reply to Ernest
Bud Light Lime? Drinking that stuff is analogous to making love in a canoe. They're both fucking close to water.
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unknowncitizen
June 22, 2010 8:36 PM in reply to tinsk
Love that one
My usual delivery:
This _____ is like love in a canoe.
How?
It's f*ckin' near water.
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SQLInjector
June 23, 2010 11:46 AM in reply to Ernest
See here's the thing: This is a serious story- with implications on how America continues it's longest running war. The media has turned it into a teen drama. I saw this Obama Unfriends McCrystal (link) article yesterday and thought it was relatively amusing- but after watching today and last night's coverage- it seems to be QUITE on point.
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CityGuy
June 22, 2010 3:47 PM
Yeah he trash-talked McCain also. I'll bet that Johnny Mac takes that all in stride! lol
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UMSLBlog
June 22, 2010 3:47 PM
From my secret favorite "Dumb and Dumber"
"...gimme a couple of bowls of loudmouth!"
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Prefabfan
June 23, 2010 10:12 AM in reply to UMSLBlog
"gimme a couple bowls of loudmouth soup!"
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billmc
June 22, 2010 3:48 PM
If what Hastings says about these comments coming in the "first 24 hours" (see the MSNBC link) is true, it sounds like suicide: McCrystal ready to blow, ready to go, and damn the consequences. The question then becomes was it deliberate or unconscious?
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bmora
June 22, 2010 3:50 PM
Bud Light Lime? Gag.
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happily independent
June 22, 2010 3:54 PM in reply to bmora
and to think he probably could have passed the time with some of the local stuff from Belgium, Holland, or Germany. Ah, the things that might have been...
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ratfood
June 22, 2010 5:05 PM in reply to happily independent
30 years ago a coworker visited Germany and while there he and his friends reputedly paid $80 for a case of Budweiser... In GERMANY, home of the world's best beers. Still makes me laugh.
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blkblt
June 22, 2010 5:43 PM in reply to ratfood
I was in Ireland last summer. All the Americans were drinking Guinness and all the young Irish kids were drinking Bud.
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paulfromstpaul
June 22, 2010 4:06 PM in reply to bmora
For that alone, he should be fired.
Obama drinks lite beer, as I recal from last year's summit, which is bad enough.
But Bud Lite Lime?
Ewwww.
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EH
June 22, 2010 4:39 PM in reply to bmora
I know, right? Was it in a pink cozy?
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Quaker in a Basement
June 22, 2010 5:30 PM in reply to bmora
Yeah, I'd fire 'im for that before I'd fire 'im for anything he said.
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barrelhse
June 22, 2010 5:42 PM in reply to bmora
Ladies whiskey.
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rbeats
June 22, 2010 3:52 PM
Bud Light Lime? Does he chase it with a Zima?
This man is a general? My god what a douche bag.
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Metzengerstein
June 22, 2010 4:00 PM in reply to rbeats
Yah, I would say "that sounds so gay" if it weren't for the irony.
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nvalvo
June 22, 2010 5:20 PM in reply to Metzengerstein
You're not supposed to ask! Or tell!
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mcrose68
June 22, 2010 5:24 PM in reply to Metzengerstein
Bud-light Lime.
Is that McCrystal's "tell"?
Is he trying to get out of his commitment, via the back door?
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rufus
June 22, 2010 6:03 PM in reply to mcrose68
He either engineered his career change or he actually manages to get drunk on Bud Light Lime.
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AdAbsurdum
June 22, 2010 4:46 PM in reply to rbeats
I longingly hope this is recorded in all historical references of him for posterity. Bud Light Lime on a bus to Berlin.
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ns
June 22, 2010 5:01 PM in reply to AdAbsurdum
No kidding.
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traitorjoe
June 22, 2010 3:52 PM
If only McChrystal left McCain out of it, he'd enjoy Johnny as his #1 defender.
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Chris Brown
June 22, 2010 3:52 PM
Bud Light? What wimps.
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Signalman
June 22, 2010 3:55 PM
Well, it wouldn't be the first time alcohol caused a serviceman to screw up and talk out of turn. The fact that it happened on a bus with a reporter present just makes it that much more of a rookie mistake -- the kind a private might make, not a general.
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alyoshakaramazov
June 22, 2010 4:08 PM in reply to Signalman
bingo.
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CT Voter
June 22, 2010 4:36 PM in reply to Signalman
It's a pretty appalling lapse in judgment.
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slb
June 22, 2010 4:39 PM in reply to CT Voter
Yes, and -- isn't judgement what generals get the stars for?
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ejg3
June 22, 2010 4:00 PM
I wonder if he would have gotten the Bud Lite for free from a President McCain, former publicist for Hensley Distributing, one of the Country's largest beer distributors.
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hyperRevue
June 22, 2010 4:00 PM
Bud Light Lime? [enter don't ask, don't tell joke here]
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An Outhouse
June 22, 2010 4:01 PM
"They let loose." after drinking Bud Light Lime? According to my wife, that's a beverage for chicks. What a loser. Fire him.
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GSM
June 22, 2010 4:12 PM in reply to An Outhouse
Talk about a loser. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, you have to consult with your wife! Time for you to open up the rooti and play with the little kitty (or is that a rat) in the picture.
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samifloo
June 22, 2010 4:50 PM in reply to GSM
Rude.
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An Outhouse
June 22, 2010 5:37 PM in reply to GSM
It could be a rat. I had to ask my wife about the Bud Lite because I have never had it before and she has. I prefer beer with more texture.
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Turnaround
June 22, 2010 4:02 PM
Time for a little budlightlime-boarding.
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June 22, 2010 4:03 PM
http://www.lyrics007.com/Brad%20Paisley%20Lyrics/Alcohol%20Lyrics.html
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hollywood
June 22, 2010 4:04 PM
I love it when people get drunk and tell you the truth instead of always lying to you. Now Obama and everyone else knows what and who they are dealing with and can do what they need to instead of guessing about who is stabbing them in the back. Thanks Bud Light!
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teemunney
June 22, 2010 4:04 PM
Pretty ridiculous, but getting wasted on a bus isn't as bad as snorting meth off a toaster oven.
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alyoshakaramazov
June 22, 2010 4:11 PM in reply to teemunney
reminds me of this quote:
"Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know."
Groucho Marx
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tinsk
June 22, 2010 4:08 PM
So, in addition to insubordination, it seems he is also guilty of IUI (interviewing under the influence).
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
June 22, 2010 4:08 PM
I was indifferent to whether he got fired until I found out he drank that swill.
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EnnuiDivine
June 22, 2010 4:43 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Same here.
If you're going to slam your Commander in Chief during an interview, make sure you're sober.
If you're going to drunkenly slam your Commander in Chief during an interview, make sure you're drinking quality booze, dammit.
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slb
June 22, 2010 6:12 PM in reply to EnnuiDivine
Except -- what did he say in that interview that slammed Obama? I read the interview. I didn't see it. What did I miss?
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gharlane
June 23, 2010 12:39 AM in reply to EnnuiDivine
Agreed. In fact... time to uncork my new 1.75 l bottle of Woodford Reserve and contemplate the day's events....
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HusseinTenaX
June 22, 2010 4:09 PM
My, Mother Nature seems to be taking over. I guess she's tired of watching us blow it everywhere.
What tough guy drinks Bud Light Lime? Jebus.
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jfields
June 22, 2010 4:10 PM
McChrystal should be fired for being too lazy to squeeze his own limes.
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KeithL
June 22, 2010 6:24 PM in reply to jfields
Absolutely! Why else does he have a batman?
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June 22, 2010 4:10 PM
Obama needed to call the troops home along with McChrystal. This longest war has become a failed occupation...
http://www.facebook.com/campaigncorner
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jbentley4
June 22, 2010 4:13 PM
Militaries and Embassies get every lousy over-processed junk food from the U.S. that you can think of from Twinkies and Doritos to Bud Light Lime shipped over to them and provided through commissaries and that sort of thing. I'm afraid no aide has the privilege of shopping for food and drink in Paris.
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AdAbsurdum
June 22, 2010 4:55 PM in reply to jbentley4
American ex-patriots frequently live in a bubble in countries in which they perform corporate, diplomatic or military activity, never mingling among the population, except the prostitutes, seldom walking the streets and familiarizing themselves with the culture, despite frequently being in a position to make important decisions impacting these very same people's lives.
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slb
June 22, 2010 6:09 PM in reply to AdAbsurdum
Ex-patriates. There may be some who are ex-patriots as well, but let's hope they don't include the military and the diplomatic corps.
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whiterosebuddy
June 22, 2010 4:21 PM
I think that McChrystal wanted out. McChyrstal according to Alter's The Promise had been contemptuous of Obama previously and recall he let those papers leak from London last time.
McChrystal remained in command because he was the known expert on COIN that is the strategy Obama chose to execute and since McChrystal basically wrote the book on COIN he was put in charge.
COIN has turned out to be a failed strategy. A failed strategy that Eikenberry never believed in.
McChrystal wants out rather than to have to be accountable for his failed COIN strategy...instead the blame goes to the Obama administration for having this contemptible, dishonest, inept General in charge of the biggest buildup of troops since Vietnam.
THAT's why McChrystal ran his mouth. This was no accident..this is the outcome he desired.
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Mimi katz
June 22, 2010 4:38 PM in reply to whiterosebuddy
This is my feeling too. He realized he was failing and his strategy along with him. How does a macho, tight-wired guy like him deal with it? He screws up big-time under the inluence and gets fired. Then he can blame it all on the wussy President.
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rufus
June 22, 2010 6:12 PM in reply to Mimi katz
Hate to say it but "Ditto". Next he'll run for President. That Rolling Stone article was no accident. He created an image that fits right in with the right wing. The beer thing was kind of a mess-up but he will try to overcome that by driving around in a Jeep or a Hummer or something.
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billmc
June 22, 2010 4:42 PM in reply to whiterosebuddy
Agreed. Suicide. You said it much better.
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Lovelynina
June 23, 2010 10:46 AM in reply to billmc
If this measly strategy (an act of cowardice as well as contempt for your C.O.) is confirmed to be true, he should be made an example of, & lose a star.
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tytester
June 22, 2010 5:07 PM in reply to whiterosebuddy
No, I don't think he wants out. He is just PISSED at Obama for removing him from his previous job. Which was to run the DoD special ops (read: targeted killings) team reporting directly to Rumsfeld and (when Rumsfeld left) directly to Cheney. So in his previous job McChrystal was as powerful as Eric Prince. At the time I thought Obama made an excellent move - promote McCrystal to a higher commission so that the DoD special ops team can go under regular chain of command. And since McCrystal could not turn down the higher commission, he is apparently VERY PISSED at Obama...
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JohnBTipton
June 22, 2010 6:51 PM in reply to whiterosebuddy
Getting out without a pension? It'll have to be a hell of a book.
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beowulf
June 22, 2010 4:21 PM
On the plus side, McChrystal was instrumental in allying the US Army with the Gracie brothers...
In 1995, Matt Larsen, then a squad leader in 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was charged with bringing back to life a practical style of martial arts for the Army by then battalion commander, Lt. Col. Stanley McChrystal... Larsen, on the recommendation of Vietnam-era Ranger and University of Minnesota wrestling head coach J. Robinson, decided the Brazilian jiu-jitsu taught by the famous Gracie family was the way to go.
"I remember the Gracies came up and we had a class with them; Royce Gracie, he was the first guy...He had 30 guys from the battalion and he went down the row and beat each dude individually in a row, no breaks, and he was barely breaking a sweat by the end. He was choking dudes out, arm bars, leg bars - you name it, he was throwing it on these guys. He was just destroying these guys. And then he was like, 'OK, now let me show you how I did it.' And that's what started the combatives program"... That training is now a requirement for passing initial entry training and is included in the Warrior Tasks List, which is required knowledge for every Soldier.
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/06/27/10431-army-combatives-training-is-helping-todays-soldier-become-more-effective/
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commie atheist
June 22, 2010 4:31 PM in reply to beowulf
"Brazilian jiu-jitsu" is one of the funniest terms ever.
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Backcountry
June 22, 2010 4:35 PM in reply to beowulf
So what? He's a piece of shit.
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psyclone
June 22, 2010 4:24 PM
I have to say, it boosts my self-esteem to know that I drink harder than a 4-star general.
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GSM
June 22, 2010 4:28 PM
The guy has become fed up with having a Community Organizer-in-Chief as his boss and most likely did this on purpose to get fired.
I agree, let's fire him and replace him with the politically correct Wesley Clark. Clark can then implement the Community Organizer-in-Chief's military strategy of appeasing the enemy (much like Neville Chamberlin). Clark can have the soldiers hand out flyers to the enemy and then hold town hall meetings to apoligize and decide just why they (the enemy) are so angry. Clark can then give them all that they want because we all know that once appeased, they will go away and the war can be over!!
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Backcountry
June 22, 2010 4:32 PM in reply to GSM
Eat shit, asshole troll.
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Signalman
June 22, 2010 4:37 PM in reply to GSM
Clark's retired, idiot. Maybe you'd like to recall Dave Hackworth from the grave and give him a try while you're at it?
Moron.
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Matt Jones
June 22, 2010 4:38 PM in reply to GSM
Wow, that's a really nice strawman you've built there. Did they teach you that in troll college?
And just what exactly would *you* prefer we do? Nuke them all?
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Stephen Daugherty
June 22, 2010 4:43 PM in reply to GSM
You'll have to clear something up for me: Clark actually won a war. Indications are, McChrystal is not doing the same.
Aside from the fact that Clark is retired, He didn't screw up his job.
Let's clear something else up: Republicans were isolationists in the run up to WWII. Your people were likely pushing the Chamberlain compromise just as hard as anybody else.
You can make up myths to convince yourself that you're tougher than Democrats, but Republicans so far have shown themselves fairly poor at winning actual wars.
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Ugg the Repug
June 22, 2010 4:47 PM in reply to GSM
Har har har. So you want general who gets drunk on girl beer and blubbers? Har har har.
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Backcountry
June 22, 2010 4:29 PM
A drunk ass general. Just what we need to run the Afghan war.
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c-dawg
June 22, 2010 4:30 PM
There are two ways to drink Bud Lite Lime. In the bottle, or in the can.
Looks like, as per this video below, McChrystal is going to be getting it in the can.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBBcZjxd-bk
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rbeats
June 22, 2010 4:56 PM in reply to c-dawg
There is only 1 way that I know of that would result in a Bud Lite Lime beverage being drunk. That is when you run out of vanilla extract and it's 3am and all the stores are closed.
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Clarance Vine
June 22, 2010 5:09 PM in reply to rbeats
LOL! Bud Lite Lime Lame - fucking GAG ME!. This is the modern General? What a wimp. Ah yes, the vanilla extract brought back good/bad memories. Creepy actually - after the extract (if it didn't have desired effect)I started looking for the Robitussin AC. What a group, sittin' around knockin' back Bud Lites!!! What a pathetic image.
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voreason
June 22, 2010 4:43 PM
McChrystal is a disgrace to the uniform.
He should be given the opportunity to resign or be fired.
What an idiot. Who the F... does he think he is?
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DaveJ
June 22, 2010 4:44 PM
It should also be noted that his favorite movie is "Talladega Nights." Apparently he is unfamiliar with "culture" in general. I mean, goddam. You'd think he'd have a more hardcore movie, like Goodfellas or Scarface or Miller's Crossing or any number of movies featuring known badasses, as his favorite. But...Talladega Nights? Bud Light Lime? Sheesh. Did he graduate from the University of Miami in 2005?
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rufus
June 22, 2010 6:22 PM in reply to DaveJ
Doesn't it sound more and more like image creation or at least the attempt at it? If he was going for Patton he missed by a few dozen miles.
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lamonth
June 22, 2010 4:55 PM
if mr obama does not fire or have this gentleman resign, then he should just get a stamp with "chief wimp" on it and stamp it on his forehead. and if anyone under your command says that mr mcchrystal is to valuable to lose - fire them.
this event will tell you all you need to know about mr obama
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
June 22, 2010 4:55 PM
Okay, travelling way off topic, I know, but what the hell is it about beer that makes you want one just because you're talking about it or, worse, watching them being poured? Even bad beer. We're ragging on bad beer and, bam, suddenly here I am thinking that a Sam Adams seasonal of some kind, or a couple of Sol's with some lime (real) or whatever they're making at the local brew pub would go down just real good after work today.
I can talk about bourbon without automatically craving bourbon, watch it poured, even smell it. Ditto wine, ditto coffee, ditto tea, Coke, water, and Fresca. And I like all of those things (except Fresca).
But damn, talk about beer and I'm off to the the Megamart.
Yes, I digress, but you know you want one too.
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Hobbes83
June 22, 2010 5:24 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Never really noticed it until you brought it up Steve, but that is the truth. I think I'm going to go get a Heiniken in a couple minutes.
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AdAbsurdum
June 22, 2010 5:51 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Beer is not booze; the Germans call it liquid bread, Irish stout precedes heavy labor. You're just hungry.
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erica
June 22, 2010 5:05 PM
This is great news...for the budweiser people. I'd be calling for a summit and storyboarding the commercial spots right now. Rolling stone can host it.
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rbeats
June 22, 2010 5:08 PM
Well he resigned.
https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/16797399172
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happily independent
June 22, 2010 5:13 PM
Bud Light Lime - The Summer State of Mind!
Looks like Gen. Stan Mc C might have lots more opportunity this summer to imbibe his favorite summer-time beverage.
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Lycurgus
June 22, 2010 5:14 PM
Isn't that the plot of ALMOST FAMOUS?
That was a great movie.
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Ugg the Repug
June 22, 2010 5:15 PM
McMouth has resigned. Har har har.
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Sedulus
June 22, 2010 5:29 PM
1. Let's see if the resignation is accepted (should be).
2.Anyone who hasn't should read Richard Rovere's The General and the President about MacArthur and Truman. HST set the standard!
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ericAZ
June 22, 2010 5:29 PM
This is more like Patton's numerous screwups than McArthur's plan to invade China. Fortunately, FDR had Marshall and Eisenhower to slap Patton around and this flawed but valuable general was around for the Battle of the Bulge.
It is hardly surprising that military men in Afghanistan, in unguarded moments, reveal some unkind opinions about members of other agencies.
Obama might do well to be bigger than this. After all, it is not the first time anyone has ever talked trash about him. He could let Gates send McCrystal back to Afghanistan with a hard kick in the butt and a reminder to not talk to the Rolling Stone while he is drunk.
Obama should decide the general's fate on his performance in leading the was effort. The country and Obama would both be better off.
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CherStoleMyFace
June 22, 2010 5:34 PM
Bud Light Lime, are you kidding me? My god, they were in Europe, heading for Germany for god's sake, I mean, hello, there was real beer right in front of your faces and you bought bud light lime on base. I would never want to party with people that cheap.
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barrelhse
June 22, 2010 5:37 PM
Hunter Thompson would have loved bein' there for the bus ride!
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Deborah in Seattle
June 22, 2010 5:49 PM
What's next? Zima? Mike's Hard Lemonade? Wine coolers?
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CherStoleMyFace
June 22, 2010 6:08 PM in reply to Deborah in Seattle
All sorts of win here, all sorts of win. Well played fellow Seattlelite, well played.
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Msinformed
June 22, 2010 6:27 PM in reply to Deborah in Seattle
Margarita coolers without tequila.
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AZskeptic
June 22, 2010 7:30 PM in reply to Deborah in Seattle
electric bud light lime?
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slb
June 22, 2010 6:02 PM
OK, I have finally read the actual article in Rolling Stone. I have obviously missed something. Can someone explain to me just what all the flap is about?
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ooo ooo
June 22, 2010 6:39 PM in reply to slb
its about beer. did you miss that?
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Owen
June 22, 2010 7:31 PM in reply to slb
Thank you for actually reading the article! I guess a lot of folks in the media didn't realize soldiers like to bitch.
The weird thing is, McChrystal was right about Holbrooke. And Biden should give him a break because they are both afflicted with foot in mouth disease.
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June 22, 2010 7:05 PM
If the rest of the troops say DITTO will they all be home tomorrow? Well now that we can blame the media for every thing. This must surely mean that a Viet Nam like Victory must be very close at hand. They renamed Saigon with the Name Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate that media victory. Will Afghanistan have its capitol city named after Bin Laden? Will Baghdad be renamed Saddam City? Ain't it amazing WE WILL NEVER GUARD OUR OWN BOARDERS?
Gracious Amigos...
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Jon Lester
June 22, 2010 8:10 PM in reply to John
Boarders pay rent.
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Owen
June 22, 2010 7:27 PM
Holbrooke's favorite beer is Bud Light Strawberry, so he should be the one out of a job. Bring back Khalizad!!
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Turnaround
June 22, 2010 7:40 PM
I think it's all a McCain set-up to undo Obama in Afghanistan.
"Make sure you say something stupid about me too. Cover my trail!"
Meanwhile, Bud Light Lime is flying off the shelves in Phoenix, delighting Cindy and her grimacing, gold-digging attachment.
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chinshihtang
June 22, 2010 10:27 PM
I think it's Obama's big chance to be a big person. McChrystal must personally apologize to Biden, promise to give no more public interviews (without clearing the contents through the politically more experienced superior Petraeus), and stick to the job through the end of 2011. Then he should be allowed to continue...unless they're really not satisfied with how he's conducting military operations. Then, they should shit-can him in a sec.
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absurdity 007
June 23, 2010 12:58 PM
American in Paris drinkin Bud Light lime? wow! He's not very keen on strategy if he passed up on Panache for some BLM!
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