# A Second "Downing Street Memo" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 12, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930 "2005-06-12T03:38:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/121 "2005-06-18T06:08:05Z")
Besides the one adorning your mid-sagittal suture? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/122 "2005-06-18T06:32:49Z")
Good one **EddyTeddyFreddy**. > [@New Iskander](#): > > Oh, dear, dear… > > Can we agree on anything just once? How about us “right-wingers” being evil bastards, who will cheat, lie, misuse and abuse at a drop of a hat? Can we agree on this? We can? Well, then, what is Mr. Durbin doing giving us the opportunity to create smoke screens precisely when the whole country need to concentrate on THE MEMOS? The person who misuses and misunderstands without knowing does so out of ignorance, the one who does it knowing the purpose is to mislead is a demagog. > [@](#): > > What, you take it back? We are not evil bastards? No? We still are evil bastards but we are not supposed to behave like them, ever? Then what the hell is the point in being evil bastards? Or what’s the point to behave nicely if you still call us evil bastards? _What’s the Bloody Point_? Hey! \*\*december \*\* showed that rightists can indeed behave nice and still be bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/123 "2005-06-18T08:13:50Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Is there any price that you would regard as higher than the price of doing nothing? What price is that? Feel free to be specific. This question. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/124 "2005-06-18T15:10:32Z")
Like I said, no idea. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/125 "2005-06-18T16:16:06Z")
Actually, there is a method in left insanity. If you start with Bush = Hitler, it’s only fitting to proceed with GiTMO = GULag, from which it follows that Iraqi Freedom = Watergate. It’s like deranged maniac starts by shooting at perceived enemies, proceeds to attack the world at large, finishes by shooting himself in the head. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/126 "2005-06-18T16:52:44Z")
> [@New Iskander](#): > > It’s like deranged maniac starts by shooting at perceived enemies, > > proceeds to attack the world at large, > > finishes by shooting himself in the head. **Isk** , baby, would you do us a favor and skip step two? Thank you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/127 "2005-06-19T10:01:59Z")
> [@New Iskander](#): > > Like I said, no idea. I think we can agree on something: you have no idea. Though perhaps not: you’re clever enough to play dumb when asked a specific question you no it would hurt you to answer. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/128 "2005-06-19T10:03:05Z")
no = know ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/129 "2005-06-19T18:40:56Z")
Downing Street memo & Iraq war meeting on C-SPAN now ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/130 "2005-06-19T18:51:43Z")
Also, the _New York Review of Books_ has a good article in its most recent issue. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/131 "2005-06-19T21:24:46Z")
**Princhester** , I still don’t understand what your question is. I can’t believe you don’t know that doing nothing in the face of evil is the worst possible thing, as attested to by [Burke](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/000896.html) and [Einstein](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/002847.html). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/132 "2005-06-19T21:46:45Z")
> [@New Iskander](#): > > **Princhester** , > > I still don’t understand what your question is. I can’t believe you don’t know that doing nothing in the face of evil is the worst possible thing, as attested to by [Burke](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/000896.html) and [Einstein](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/002847.html). Speaking of Einstein… “He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.” “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.” “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/133 "2005-06-19T21:55:13Z")
As for Burke: Our patience will achieve more than our force. The wise determine from the gravity of the case; the irritable, from sensibility to oppression; the high minded, from disdain and indignation at abusive power in unworthy hands. They defend their errors as if they were defending their inheritance. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/134 "2005-06-20T00:47:08Z")
> [@New Iskander](#): > > **Princhester** , > > I still don’t understand what your question is. I can’t believe you don’t know that doing nothing in the face of evil is the worst possible thing, as attested to by [Burke](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/000896.html) and [Einstein](http://www.wisdomquotes.com/002847.html). Yes you do: if you didn’t you wouldn’t have written your second sentence. Answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/135 "2005-06-20T00:55:53Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > if you didn’t you wouldn’t have written your second sentence. If we take the Downing memos seriously, evil had nothing to do with it: > [@](#): > > “For Iraq, ‘regime change’ does not stack up,” advises Manning. “It sounds like a grudge between Bush and Saddam.” ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/136 "2005-06-20T01:45:14Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Yes you do: if you didn’t you wouldn’t have written your second sentence. > > Answer the question. OK, I’m still completely in the dark, but I’ll try. It seems you are trying to insinuate that the only thing worse then not acting against great Evil (such as Saddam) is using that Evil as an excuse to produce even greater Evil (as you insist Bush has done). Is that it? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/137 "2005-06-20T03:28:44Z")
Forget what you think I’m trying to insinuate, forget what you think I insist, just answer the question. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/138 "2005-06-20T03:40:55Z")
What Is Your Question? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/139 "2005-06-20T03:45:31Z")
[For the love of Og](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6275578&postcount=123)! [Just how many times do you have to read something before it sinks in?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6271372&postcount=90) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930/140 "2005-06-20T04:03:40Z")
Ta, **FinnAgain**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-second-downing-street-memo/307930.md?page=8)