News and Entertainment

An embarrassing "news" moment for NBC. Paddling a canoe to dramatize the considerable flooding from storms in the Northeast, this reporter was left high and dry when two gents inadvertantly passed by, walking between the camera and her. The water it turns out was barely above their ankles.

MI6 Uncovered

For years the speculation has been swirling, particularly after the 1997 Princess Diana episode in Paris. But finally the 007-like organization sees a need to come out, just to say that they are a big secret! So yes we exist, but not in any way you can know.

In truth the espionage biz as the West plays it has been an antiquated joke for about 20 years now. Lets let it RIP.

Historical Humor

Spotted on Wonkette: "Senator Rick Santorum; One of the finest minds of the 13th Century!"

DUI In DC

Most reasonable folk would agree that the country's approach to reign in the scourge of drunk driving over the last 25 years has been both noble and courageous, as well as effective and timely. And there's no doubt that countless lives have been saved and suffering prevented. But whenever fresh ideas grow stale, politicians move in to reap political profits. We have seen examples over the last 5-7 years of candidates supporting ineffective laws like reduced DUI blood alcohol levels, and increased penalties for first time offenders. The problem is that the current laws are not effectively enforced. Consider this: While most DUI related vehicle deaths involve perps who have multiple DUI convictions involving BACs 2-3 times the legal limit, legislators continue to support lower limits. The reason? In our sound bite world of politics, trying to explain this to the masses rather than simply supporting "tougher penalties" would seem weak. Here's a great example of enforcement gone wild...

Freeh to Whine

Another book, another book tour, and of course what better way to sell a book than to include some shocking tidbits. And former FBI chief Louis Freeh doesn't disappoint with his latest, My FBI: Bringing Down the Mafia, Investigating Bill Clinton, and Fighting the War on Terror. By all accounts Mr. Freeh was very effective in his earlier career, among other things as an FBI agent, a U.S. attorney and a federal judge. But he proved ineffective as the administrator of a large bureaucratic government agency like the FBI. Some would correctly argue he's not totally responsible for all this, but he presided over botched investigations of botched raids, lab scandals, false espionage charges against scientists, missed espionage charges against spies in the agency, botched technology upgrades, false accusations in the Atlanta bombings, translation department scandals, and 9/11 (he left 3 months prior). But there's one thing Freeh is just as good at today as he was then: he's a master whiner and finger pointer.

God knows, Clinton was a handful and a bundle of poor personal judgment. And being effective with Hill politics is not for the meek. But Freeh knew those things going into the job. He wore his contempt for and disagreement with Janet Reno and Bill Clinton on his sleeve throughout his term. Watching the current talk shows we see him acting as if we should be shocked that beneath what he assumes was a cool facade during those years was a man unjustly hampered by a negligent president and a self-centered congress. He already had the resume, given his hindsight about such a stacked deck, why the hell didn't he just quit? Oh, but then there'd be no book. And no chance to whine one last time.

Good Slate piece on Freeh

Stripping in Seattle

An amusing article regarding a recent Seattle City Council vote (the vote took place after this article was written; the stricter rules were passed 5-4) to toughen rules by which "Gentlemen's Clubs" are allowed to operate. What's amusing is not the topic itself, but rather the writer's apparent surprise that this would even be an issue in this "bastion of tolerance and liberalism". I've lived in a number of places in the USA, and have spent a considerable amount of time in many others. The Pacific Northwest (at least the Seattle and surrounding areas part) is just about as prude a place as they come, at least among the major population centers, IMHO.

I think there's a falicy that the sex trade is somehow synonomous with lefties; nothing could be further from the truth. One only has to look at some of the more conservative cities, like Anchorage, where there's a strip club in every neighborhood. As a matter of fact I think the lefties are about as prude as they come (myself excepting)!

As well, it should be pointed out that the sex industry is a nearly $20 billion operation, far more than all the major league sports combined. Does that sound like something the progressives could pull off?

UPDATE: Cartoonist David Horsey's take.

Please, Some Compassion

20,000 plus dead from this S.E. Asia earthquake. 220,000 plus from last year's S.E. Asia tsunami. I hope we care enough to open our hearts and see ourselves as being members of the human race, not just an island of Americans. These are people, folks.

An American Icon

Kurt Vonnegut has written another book, and as all consciencious writers these days is making the talk show circuit. I've had a chance to catch him on a number of shows, including a 25 minute conversation with David Brancaccio on the now gutted PBS news magazine NOW.

As one of those who grew up reading Vonnegut and whose life was partially influenced by the man, I was struck by how he's settled into his place as an American icon. Love him or hate him (he does say some over-the-top things that make me uneasy, a la Michael Moore), he resembles a modern day Mark Twain; witty, clever, cynical, critical, fearless. There's one glaring difference however: I believe Twain was ultimately optimistic, Vonnegut is decidedly not.

Among his pearls:

• He wants to sue cigarette manufacturers for false advertising. A long time smoker, he says there's a notice on the side of each pack promising him they'd kill him, yet he's still alive (he turns 83 next month).
• He says we have a one party government: the Winners. The Winners are the wealthy, priveleged republicans and democrats (in power). Everybody else is the Losers.
• He's proud to call himself a Luddite.
• He noted that modern day righties who call themselves "Christians" spend their time talking about the Ten Commandments and the "eye for an eye" principle (neither is part of Christ's teachings), yet never mention the Beatitudes (the central core of JC's teachings of compassion, tolerance and humility).

More at his web site. Click on "news".

Welcome New Readers!

Well this is indeed a cause for celebration! We're up to three or four readers (not all paid subscribers), more folks with nothing better to do than read this blog and thumb thru Mad Magazine! I'd like to welcome our two newest, TC and BC (or EC). TC, do ya think we could make time for lunch or after work celebratory refreshments for your birthday next week? Let me know. I'll treat, and pay for parking! Well, minus the recent increase for parking and fines in Seattle. Rock on, October..... Or, simply put, Rocktober.......

And we hope EC will soon be an alternative voice contributor!

Divine Inspiration for War

Ya' know, there comes a time in any human discourse where one needs to leave the track of rhetoric and measured political posturing, and lay bare the real issue, the 800 lb gorilla in the living room that we try to ignore. Beyond the lack of WMDs, beyond Abu Graib, beyond yellowcake, beyond the manipulation of fear politics and beyond the legal rightie problems lies the raw nerve we as progressives (given our polite, inclusive, and timid nature) refuse to ackowledge as obvious: The US is increasingly striving to be the "christian extremist" equivalent of Iran.

We see this in the increasing pressure to include specific religious teachings in our public schools, particularly in science, as well as denomination specific public, mandatory prayer. We see it in the courts, with a state supreme court judge wanting to conjoin jurisprudence with the ten commandments. And we see it in an ideology of pre-emptive violent aggression in a part of the world we understand least, against a people who meant us no harm.

Starting next monday, the internationally respected journalistic powerhouse, the BBC, will begin airing a series of specials which report among other things what we've heard before and to a large degree believe: W had a calling from god telling him to invade Iraq. If true, this is indeed a huge win for the extremists (both the Islamists and the "christians"). It also portends a loss and a death knell for the rest of us, and our democracy.

Fun With Deli Meat

Looks like Dems leader Dr. Dean stepped on his, um, salami in his recent interview on the quality journalism program called "HardBall" with Chris Matthews. Seems the good doctor forgot about his generation's sexual euphemisms, and swapped his metaphors! Color commentary from Wonkette.

MORE: For those NOT in the know.........

Good "Christian" Values

There has been a lot of chatter since the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. about the highjacking of a legitimate, mainstream, and honorable religion, Islam. Few westerners had comprehensive knowledge of the faith, but felt it was comforting to believe that the vast majority of the world's 3rd largest religion was not gunning for "infidels" and was, in fact, peaceful. At the same time there was an undercurrent of intellectuals (Salman Rushdie, and some less learned pundits) who made the case that Islam was inherently intolerant and subversive.

What we in the West seem unable to grasp is that Christianity as well has gone through a centuries long highjacking as well. Most modern evangelicals and extreme right "christians" preach hate, biased judgment, intolerance, punitive redress & retribution, and moral imposition. When you actually study Christ's teachings, it becomes apparent that he'd roll over in his grave if he could hear the stuff that's being spouted in his name, not to mention the centuries long religious cleansing and wars; remember the Spanish Inquisition?

I just can't grasp why my marriage's value and worth is somehow diminished by someone else's marriage, whether it be gay or straight. Love and commitment are just that, right?

A great example of how the right treats love, commitment, and kids' needs.

Real Life, Real People

Whether a rightie or a lefty, stiff or bleeder, I think most Americans are compassionate and can find it in their hearts to reach out to those in need. IMHO, one of the real tragedies of the invasion and occupation of Iraq is the lack of media coverage of the death, misery and suffering the Iraqi people are forced to endure everyday. These are not "tearists", not 9/11 sympathizers, not people who "hate our way of life", but innocent human beings caught in the political and ideological crossfire, not so different from the good folks of the Gulf states. Kudos to the New York Times for making a small inroad toward exposing us to this untold saddness.

Autumn Brings...........

Yes folks, its that time of year again. Hippo birdie, two ewes to favorite sister Tara Marie. Have a Crocodile Mary at the local Cafe, on me (and a mean breakfast,
6 days a week). Rocktober Rules!!!!!! The Croc Rules!!!!!! Mean Breakfasts and Any Marys Rule!!!!

Mr. Virtues Goes to New Orleans (And Planned Parenthood)

Looks like "The Gambler" stepped on it again with some enlightened remarks. These guys wouldn't be such huge targets if they didn't put on the perfect, holier-than-thou self-righteous facade. But I digress......

UPDATE: More from Wonkette.....
And the Idiot....

Spooks (the ghostly kind)

Interesting story about some of the unusual distractions down in The Big Easy.......

Orrin's Excellent Adventure (Click Me)

Drudge School of Journalism

That bastion of solid reporting, the National E and their lastest "breaking news". Did they get the phrase "the [insert publication name here] can reveal" from Drudge or he from them?

Information Overload

I'd say there is such a thing as too much information; for example, letting airline passengers watch the fate of their crippled jetliner discussed on live TV news while they circle the airport as the pilots attempt to correct it and burn off fuel. Mercifully the feed was shut off (though probably as the SOP ending of in flight entertainment prior to landing) before the successful emergency landing. I expect new in-flight cabin procedures to be discussed in the next meeting today!

UPDATE: Guess I was wrong!

The Opposite of Love.....

.....is not hate, but indifference.

Needed a Study For This???!

Hello?!

Gross Incompetence

Yet another horror story.......

On Being Juvenile

As my reader knows I'm no fan of W. But this photo of a note he wrote in a U.N. Security Council meeting recently asking Condi Rice the proper protocol to excuse himself for a bathroom break is asinine and childish. The press has nothing more important to cover??

Parents

An amusing quote of Mark Twain, in today's Dowd:

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

Most Bizarre Photos Collection I

Anna Marie Cox (aka Wonkette) snuggling up to Katherine Harris????? (Ms. Cox's hidden text: "im [sic] sure we both washed after". oops!) What the heck's going on with Harris' face of late? Campaign-itis?

Foie Gras

In what I hope will be just the start of a focus on animal food, another state is taking a critical look at the production of foie gras. Could veal be next?

Human Parity

It is so sad seeing the continuing violence in Iraq underplayed in the US. These are innocent people, like the folks in the gulf coast, being killed for no reason. Are they less "human" than Americans?

Update: And it continues. Can you say "mass graves"?

House of Cards

Michael Chertoff lost any credibility he had yesterday with the abrupt resignation of FEMA chief Michael Brown. His defensive denial of Brown's performance being in question ("he has a LARGER job to do in D.C.!") obviously was a smokescreen. While this type of whitewash is common in public life, he made it worse by not repeating the same drivel when crossed by reporters (who seem to have grown cajones of late). He said in an arrogant way "I don't know how I could have been more clear in English!"

UPDATE: Turns out Chertoff, not Brown was the guy with the go/no-go power during the hurricane.

NOPD!!

There was a heartening piece on 60 Minutes last night regarding the New Orleans police department and their experience after Katrina. Although there was a bit about the nearly 1/3 of the department which seems to be AWOL (let's wait to hear the whole story), much of it was about how people treat other people in a crisis where near lawlessness and anarchy occurs. The home and meal sharing example was priceless. Kudos to the "real" 60 Minutes (not the dumbed down Wednesday version) for airing this. It is important to see the local response for a change in addition to knowing that "Brownie" was doing a "heck of a job!".

Scary, Part I

Sean Penn roaming a lawless disaster area with a gun???!!!

And of Course..........

......in memory of all those innocent victims, their friends, and their families of the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

Another Sad Passing.......

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
April 18, 1924 - September 10, 2005

Fascism Begins at Home

Incredible. As W cruises through his (thankfully) final term, he and his ilk continue to push the edge of the accountability, this time with regard to a US tragedy. Having successfully stifled adequate coverage of the tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of the innocent killed in Iraq, as well as prevented pictures of US soldiers killed there from being published (and therefore to prevent a faster decline of support for his war), he now figured the same thing would work at home. Apparently the feds tried to prevent the media from covering the recovery of the dead in Mississippi and Louisiana after the hurricane, presumably to suppress the swelling outrage at their bungling of the rescue effort (amusingly, they said it was to protect the "dignity of the dead"..... ahhhh, right.....). Fortunately for us this time one media organization had the chutzpah to successfully call them on it.

The Fear Factor

Jon Stewart (again!) had a guest on The Daily Show the other night, a Dr. Marc Siegel (see his new book at right, and his web site). He talked about the way potential threats are reported to us, by both the government and the media. This is not a partisan issue, it has been going on for decades (tho the bushies are better at it than others). It is more a cultural issue, fed by mass/instant media. Every "threat", AIDS, SARS, "terrorism", mad cow, anthrax, North Korea, USSR, Communism, killer bees, etc., etc. are presented as a threat for each of us equally, and as an equal threat relative to each other. The result is we are not ready for the real issues, like Katrina. Give it a look.

Shut Up!

Jon Stewart had great, succinct advice on his Daily Show last night for the righties who are clamoring to vilify the local leadership in Louisiana and New Orleans while defending the federal government's response: Shut Up! (I would have told them "Shut the fuck up!") Thank you for summing it up so concisely, Jon!

The stiffie M.O. goes like this: you paste over bad news (especially if they feel helpless to fix the problem) by first shooting the messenger, then blaming the victims for being, well, victims! This is a very effective strategy because the majority of Americans have never victimized as a disaster victim, or a messenger. So a percentage of them naturally throw up their hands and say "I can't relate to this or fix it, so it must be someone else's fault!?" Of course the end result is that the victims don't get desperately needed assistance while the argument rages.

The mayor of The Big Easy does not come across well, I don't know if he is a good guy or bad guy. And the governor, same deal. But I do know this for sure: there is only one entity in the USA capable of providing significant relief to people in a disaster of this magnitude, and that is the Feds. You can sort out later who did what to whom, and why. The real folks need help now.

But what the stiffies miss, with their ultimate "christian" compassion, is that life is real for some people; misery needs relief right now, not after some commission exonerates the righties of accountability. For them its all about ideological spin, not real life.

One of the other successful mantras of the stiffies (which the bleeders still don't get) is that the more you repeat a "talking point", the more it is true. Thank god an organization recently printed the TRUE ACTUAL chain of events, lest we be misled again by the extreme right:

Timeline

Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.

Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared giving federal officials the authority to get involved.

Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. President Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be "uninhabitable" after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.

Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.

Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.

Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in "medieval" conditions. President Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.

Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a "Desperate SOS" to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.

Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials—despite their repeated requests for help. Bush stages a photo-op—diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for president's visit and White House press corps.

Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.

Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.

What Am I Missing??!

OK, I'll admit I don't have a horse in the Gay Marriage race (other than being supportive of human rights). But I'm struggling with two things.

First, the righties complained that "activist" judges were usurping the will of the people by enabling gay marriage outside of the legislative process. Now California lawmakers have voted to support such unions, and the rightie celebrity figurehead of the state has threatened veto, saying this is a judicial, not a legislative matter. I guess its still the ideology, not the reality, that counts. BTW, California represents nearly 12% of the nation's population.

The second is more complex. Why does one feel that a shift in the traditional definition of marriage threatens the "sanctity" or value of his or her own marriage? Isn't my own marriage my partner's and mine to define and mold? If I own a $2M showcase home, is the value of it to me diminished if someone describes their tree-fort as a home? Or do I even have the right to define another's home as merely a tree-fort? I guess this fits with the rightie need to force their beliefs on others.

An Easy Target

OK, I can't resist publishing this photo of John Roberts acting as a pallbearer for the man he's proposed to replace; I understand why he is there as a former Rehnquist clerk. But it still has irresistibly partisan political undertones.........

UPDATE: I mean no disrespect to Chief Justice Rehnquist. He was a classy and caring conservative. But the media display we have seen puts all opinions in play.

Lunch Meat

Unfortunately, this blog has become the target of what's known as "comment spam". I have 3 choices at this point: One, let it be. Two, restrict comments to registered folk or three, require word verification for comments. I have chosen word verification as the best option, I apologize for the inconvenience.

First Things First

The rightie online "media" and bloggers are abuzz regarding Katrina, gleefully defending their dolt in D.C. ("American Left Admits Bush is God, Responsible For Hurricane!") and just as gleefully summing up the problem in their typical simplistic ideological ways: Black Mayor failed his black constituents. Lawlessness like this has never happened before in natural disasters. Sure its bad, but crime cannot be justified. Something must be basically wrong with the residents of The Big Easy. And my fave, the liberal media is not showing us the positive pics from the Gulf Coast, just the negative (couldn't they at least put some makeup on that corpse first??).

But there's some truth to some of the questions raised and John Tierney more intelligently raises them in his column today. Ray Nagin and Governor Blanco should and will face their day in court for their utter lack of adequate planning and pre-storm execution.

However, he misses the point. Once it became apparent that this was a major catastrophe and people were suffering and dying (like, monday afternoon??), FEMA and other federal assets should have been in the mayor's and governor's face. But instead what we heard was the familiar litany of bureaucratic excuses and fingerpointing, and laments about the inaccessibility of New Orleans (should have hitched a ride with the "news" organizations). And lets not even talk about the fact that 40% of the local national guard and 50% of their equipment are in........ mess-opotamia......

Pet Peeve # 276

People who thoughtfully leave their garbage in shopping carts (coffee cups, doughnut wrappers, used Kleenex etc.). "Hey, I'm done with it!".

Walking the Talk, Part I

Pet peeve # 447:

The original expression made sense: Do you walk the talk; that is to say, do your intentions mirror you words? Do your actions support your rhetoric?

From there it degenerated into a lazy "if you talk the talk, do you walk the walk?". And then, a meaningless "he walks the walk and talks the talk!"

Walking the Talk, Part II

For nearly 4 years about half of the USA has been successfully hoodwinked by well organized rhetoric surrounding "national security" and the infamous "war on terrorism". They have willingly given up traditional rights believing this was the only way to protect us against the "tearists" ("the government must know what's right!". Can you say "1930s Germany?"). They have willingly spent hundreds of billions of dollars invading a country which posed absolutely no threat to the US, and turned a blind eye to the death and misery visited upon its innocent citizens in their name. And they cheered approvingly as the US government turned upon traditional allies simply because their leaders tried to help a friend see that they were going down the wrong path.

This half gladly supported these and other dangerous and immoral policies because they believed two things would result: First, Iraq would become a stable democracy whose influence would spread through the region. This would be done with minimal cost (paid for by Iraqi oil revenues) and minimal loss of US soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians. Second, we would be safer at home.

The half of us who knew from the beginning that this smokescreen was pure criminal folly watched in shock and horror as the other half voted twice in support of this.

A portion of the dark side will always blindly support W's policies, unless reality suddenly invades their ideological trance (such as losing a loved one in Iraq). But something is gradually happening with the rest. For months now the horror and disaster that is Iraq has begun to dawn on more people. $200B+, 2,000 US soldiers and 100K innocent civilian deaths later Iraq is as or more deadly and chaotic than it ever was. People are beginning to realize that happy talk from the Ws does not jibe with the reality on the ground in Iraq. And homeland security? Well, witness the third world situation the developed in the good ole' US of A last week as the federal government remained virtually paralyzed last week for 4 days after hurricane Katrina after it laid waste the gulf coastal areas of Mississippi, leaving thousands to suffer and die with no hope.

This inexcusable failure to respond (indeed the poorest response to a national tragedy in recent history), plus the recent revelation that they have also been dismantling the Army Corps' levee reinforcement program for southwestern Louisiana could not better demonstrate what the Ws have been up to despite their assurances to the contrary: the dismantling and mismanagement of programs and agencies which provide necessary services to real people (like FEMA, which is a skeleton of its former self). And the cynical response since demonstrates that we can expect continue to expect the engineered decline in social and humanitarian to continue for the foreseeable future.

The Worst of Times, the Best of Times

Lots of fingers will be pointing over the next few months about whether the W's diverted SELA funds away from the Army Corps' ability to protect the wonderful, delicate city of New Orleans to fund their adventure in Iraq. And there will be endless recriminations regarding the confusion and delay in the government response to this disaster. "Homeland Security" seems to have taken a BIG step backward since 9/11.

Already the righties are showing their true compassionate and sensitive colors: Rightie columnists condemning the French for not offering assistance (not true, though I think the actual hurricane may have formed off the coast of France....), Speaker Hastert publicly questioning the wisdom of rebuilding the city (worth raising, but not two days after the event while people are still suffering and dying), FEMA Director Michael Brown saying residents who did not heed the mandatory evacuation have themselves to blame (again, see response to last comment; plus, many simply could not or had nowhere to go), and of course the usual plethora of nonsense from W (one of my faves was in response to the looming national fuel shortage, "Don't buy gas if you don't need to"; tres inspiring!). All that's missing so far is a quote from Pat Robertson that god is punishing The Big Easy for its hedonistic culture....

But as always, regular people come through. Millions of dollars have been donated this week, millions more will come. People have been opening their homes to the displaced. And scores have sacrificed their time and comforts so that others' pain and discomfort may be lessened. Will the pols be inspired? I suppose if Terri Schiavo showed up in a New Orleans hospital, maybe........

The Brooks Factor

Well finally, the more intelligent and considerate of the righties are now moving into the real world. Although I've always considered David Brooks to be a progressive who felt he could make a better living posing as an intellectual rightie (oxymoron?), he has nonetheless consistently made considered, factual (in some cases), and non-emotional cases for the Bushies, complete factual context notwithstanding. He's different from most righties, preferring to lay out a series of intellectual arguments against the progressive thought rather than a series of goose-stepping rants about god, country, liberal weakness, and "tearists", "hard work", aid to the enemy, etc. (like the Michael Moores of the right). He recognizes that you can't put any more lipstick on this pig called Iraqi occupation. But unlike most stiffies, I welcome him; I don't see this as a soft underbelly to exploit, a weakness to exaggerate. I see it as a step toward sanity.

His latest column reflects the recent "the emperor has no clothes" epiphany that a number of moderate righties (some no doubt preparing for the 2006 mid-terms) are having lately regarding the W administration's foreign policy, or lack thereof, specifically about the debacle in Iraq(where the hell were you last November??? What information did you lack????). While he is careful to remain a constructive rightie, there's no doubt as to his concern that the present course is off-course, and is unlikely to change soon. Also missing is the drumbeat notion that "liberal" opposition to war endangers the American people and troops. And lastly, the fact that the last election was less a strength of John Kerry, and more an-anybody-but-Bush has turned into a "did we miss something about national security" issue. We certainly have a lot more useless "security", a lot less freedom, and much less guarantee of safety.

Slip Slidin' Away

For those following world events beyond the White House Press briefings, an Iraqi fact has become painfully clear: the situation in Iraq may have now slipped beyond the point of return. There have been many articles and op-ed pieces reporting on the deteriorating situation over the last 6 months (after the breast-beating declarations of victory for the "elections"), but the following two pieces do a good job of framing it: Baghdad Mayor & Porn Biz . The US military is increasingly at risk, services are getting worse, not improving, only about 10% of the Iraqi militia forces envisioned by now are trained and ready (with scores being slaughtered weekly), and the fragile governing infrastructure is collapsing. Secretary of State Colin Powell warned W 2 1/2 years ago "you break it you own it". Even the best rightie spin cannot put lipstick on this pig now; we broke it, but we're not owning it.

Look for major US military withdrawals just prior to the midterm elections next year, regardless of the chaos in Iraq.

Why Am I So Serious?

So why am I so serious? Should I lighten up?

Children Love Fairytales!

It is a very sad direction for the state of education in our country, that some school districts should be compelled to teach fairy tales as possible fact; And now this "museum" to bolster it.......

Enough Already!

If it wasn't so tragic it would be comical. The space shuttle Discovery returned to space last week after a 2 1/2 year break, and its crew is now performing a series of repairs to ensure its safe return. And the shuttle program is back on hold again. Maybe some sharp legislators will start to see this ridiculous program for the sham it is and call for its merciful end. As John Tierney points out in a recent column, while space exploration may be a noble cause, the shuttle program is not exploring. The whole purpose of the program seems to be getting the thing safely up and down, and performing what he calls "high school science experiments". The technology is outdated, hopelessly complex (requiring a complex bureaucracy to run it), and seems to have no other purpose than to supply the Internation Space Station (and the ISS seems to exist solely as a destination for the shuttle). It flies a fraction of the times it was designed to, and costs 30-50 times more per flight projected. It seems to be NASA's PR tool to keep the funding coming. The US has not had manned space flight beyond LEO (low earth orbit) since the early '70s and the end of the Apollo program. Lets take the opportunity to put this suffering beast out of its misery, and focus on real space exploration. The only ones who won't benefit are the contractors making billions off this useless and dangerous project.

A Man for all Seasons

I know nothing about newly anointed Ambassador John Bolton beyond the differing views I'm told to adopt by the stiffies and the bleeders. This much I do know, however: W's recess appointment of such a controversial figure to such a sensitive position is yet one more example of the current administration's disrespect for the United Nations, its refusal to acknowledge the UN's potential promise and the administration's positive vision for its future. It is one more of many examples of its unilateral, negative approach to real problems. I hope the American people are learning at last.

A Very Sad State of Affairs

Yesterday in a federal courthouse in Seattle, convicted would-be millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the plot. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour took the occasion to comment on the success of the trial in proving violent extremists can successfully be processed through our normal, time-tested, humane legal system. Said Judge Coughenour:

"The tragedy of Sept. 11 shook our sense of security and made us realize that we, too, are vulnerable to acts of terrorism," he said in a voice edged with emotion. "Unfortunately, some believe that this threat renders our Constitution obsolete. ... If that view is allowed to prevail, the terrorists will have won."

He went on, noting that Ressam received a vigorous defense, and his guilt was determined "in the sunlight of a public trial. There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite detention, no denial of counsel."

I applaud his wise words, and hope there are more in power like him.
For the record, the good Judge was appointed by the late President Reagan......

Downing Street Memo

Here's a link to the infamous "Downing Street Memo" for all those interested who have not been able to find it. I don't understand what all the fuss over it is all about; there has been a plethora of evidence out there for years now that the current administration had as one of its goals from the outset the military overthrow of the Iraqi regime, and W still got 60M folks to vote for him last November. I don't know what crowing about the DSM now is going to accomplish.

Armed to the Teeth

A Swedish think tank (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI) recently came out with a study on global military spending trends. Among the findings:

• Global military spending rose 11% in 2003 to nearly $1 trillion (about $154 per person on the planet)
  
• The US accounts for nearly 50% of that amount (or about $1,600 per citizen of the US)
  
• Japan is next at 5%, followed by Britain, France, and China with 4% each
• The large increase is due in large part to the "war on terror" (they include Iraq)
• The current ramp up of spending is probably not economically or politically sustainable
• While the US willingness to launch preemptive attacks may give some aggressive nations pause, it may prompt others to increase military capabilities to prevent forced regime change
• Instability in Iraq could lead to civil war in neighboring states

So, while the US makes up just 4.6% of the world population, it makes up 48% of military expenditures. China, which makes up 20% of the world's population, has a military budget one-twelfth that of the US.

More........

The Ultimate Watergate Irony

As usual, the Head Chutzpah prize goes to a Rightie. Gordon Liddy, convicted felon for his role in planning the Watergate burglary and subsequent coverup, had the following to say about the revelation that Mark Felt was the era's infamous "Deep Throat":

"[Felt] violated the ethics of the law enforcement profession" by going to the newspaper rather than the grand jury at the time.

I'm happy we have such a stalwart of ethical behaviour to guide us.

What a pompous ass......

Witticisms Part II

Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, when describing Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (who is battling cancer): "He's a moderate Republican, which is the same thing as a regular Republican only he's sick, or knows someone who is".

Unknown author: "For Righties, life begins at conception and ends at birth".

Previously.....

The New Watergate Conspiracy

Now the liberal medias would have us believe that this nobody, this "W. Mark Felt" is the real Deep Throat of Watergate fame, rather than Haig, Holbrook, or Kissinger. Sorry, we're not buying.........