I am still in shock about the revelation in the update on my previous post about what Nancy Soderberg said. I probably shouldn’t be by now, but I am. The hateful anti-American rhetoric of the left is amazing, and even more so because it’s not some looney fringe, it’s from a former member of the National Security Council under Clinton.

From 1993 until 1997, Soderberg served as the third ranking official of the National Security Council at the White House, including as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. She was responsible for day-to-day crisis management, briefing the President and developing U.S. national security.

From 1997 until 2001, Soderberg served as alternate representative to the United Nations as a presidential appointee, with the rank of ambassador. Her responsibilities included representing the United States at the Security Council. She has also worked as senior foreign policy adviser to Sen. Edward Kennedy.

And this is what she said about the chance for a historic peace deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

it may well work. I think that … it’s scary for Democrats, I have to say.

And regarding Stewart’s comment that Bush may end up “greater than Reagan”… she said:

Well, there’s still Iran and North Korea, don’t forget. There’s hope for the rest of us.

Regarding democratic results in the region of the middle east:

There’s always hope that this might not work.

Nancy Soderberg appears to be saying that she hopes that we fail completely in our quest to spread freedom and democracy around the world, because it would be bad for the democrats. That is truly a jaw dropping perspective on things. How do these people ever hope to connect with main street America again?

UPDATE: Joining OTB’s Linkfest

UPDATE 2: Mark at Section 15 has pointed out to me that they were both being sarcastic (this is Comedy Central after all). I stand corrected here and probably should not have jumped so hard on this… I read a transcript rather than watched it. See the comments on this thread for additional perspective. What is it that makes satire funny?

UPDATE 3 (3/7): MSNBC has linked to this blog entry.

See if you can find the link in the following paragraphs. :-)

James Taranto transcribed the interview and insisted that Nancy didn’t make a convincing case for the book. (Gee, on “The Daily Show?” That’s surprising) That’s here. The next day, the Washington Times covered it here.)

Then Rush Limbaugh read about it in the Washington Times and goes on a rant about it even suggesting, without having read the book, that Nancy argues that we should cede our role as a Superpower. He also reads from the transcript instead of playing it, because if he played it, you’d see she was joking.

Apparently Laura Ingraham was on it the next day, with her typical commitment to accuracy and journalistic integrity. Now it’s all over the web and will follow Nancy around like gob from Cathy Young. Look, for instance, at this doofus (who at least had the good grace to recognize his mistake and apologize—making him far more of mensch [sic] that [sic] Rush or Laura.)

Alterman states:

Anyway, that’s the way it works; not an ounce of truth in it anywhere, but nobody involved could care less. [”It”, as I read the article, is referring to this, a couple of paragraphs earlier: “They now have their proof that Nancy, indeed, all liberals, hate America.”]

Well, at least we got it all cleared up. And being more of a mensch than Rush or Laura has to count for something, doesn’t it?

Oh, and regarding the name calling, I ran across this great quote (guess who said it!!)

That’s OK, hits are hits. Negative attention, for a Web site, is still attention, and MSNBC.com and I will take anything we can get.

So thanks for stopping by, and while you’re here, check out some of our other recent posts on the sidebar. :-D

UPDATE 4: At least someone thinks I’m not a doofus. I feel much better now, thanks Mark! And LaShawn Barber and Jeff Harrell (here) agree with the “I don’t care what you say as long as you link to my blog!” sentiments.

UPDATE 5: Taranto has weighed back in, and links to Section15:

The it-was-only-a-joke line we’re hearing from Alterman, Francis and Soderberg herself, though, is just too simplistic to take seriously. Why would it be funny to suggest that Democrats are hoping for America to fail–as Soderberg did four times–unless there’s an element of truth to it?