No, this place is not dead. Well, almost. It's on life-support. I plan to be back soon.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Mickey Kaus is having more fun a Clarke's expense.
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Sorry about the light posting today. Lots of stuff going on, and haven't been able to spend as much time (wasting time on the Internet) providing you with valuable information as I'd like. That and very little has interested me today. But I'm not dead, I assure you.
Instapundit points over to this article on TCS. The commission probing 9-11 has uncovered some actual failures the government has made regarding terrorism.
"The hearings presented a Democratic record on terrorism that is marred by fundamental policy fumbles and ultimately fatal misjudgments. Of course, some of the errors in fighting terrorism in the 1990s could have been -- and were -- made or repeated by the Republican administration of George W. Bush. But a top-five list drawn from the testimony before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States and the reports prepared by commission staff, reveals errors that stemmed from what might be described as the post Cold War, Democratic world-view. They include:
Unwillingness to use force to retaliate against terrorism or pre-empt attacks.
Inaction in the face of legal obstacles
Animus toward the intelligence community
Fear of unpopularity in the court of domestic and foreign public opinion
Failure to improve the effectiveness of bilateral relations with Arab states and Pakistan."
I've skimmed it, and think this deserves deeper reading. Have fun.
"The hearings presented a Democratic record on terrorism that is marred by fundamental policy fumbles and ultimately fatal misjudgments. Of course, some of the errors in fighting terrorism in the 1990s could have been -- and were -- made or repeated by the Republican administration of George W. Bush. But a top-five list drawn from the testimony before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States and the reports prepared by commission staff, reveals errors that stemmed from what might be described as the post Cold War, Democratic world-view. They include:
Unwillingness to use force to retaliate against terrorism or pre-empt attacks.
Inaction in the face of legal obstacles
Animus toward the intelligence community
Fear of unpopularity in the court of domestic and foreign public opinion
Failure to improve the effectiveness of bilateral relations with Arab states and Pakistan."
I've skimmed it, and think this deserves deeper reading. Have fun.
Monday, March 29, 2004
Blogcritics is talking about the actual effect of the "The Passion" on peoples lives. It seems to have quite a number of people renewing their faith, and has even lead to a few criminal confessions.
Well, it's amazing what you find when you just start cruising at random. What we have here is Michael Barone talking about the President's thrust to frame the election as a fight for or against an "ownership society", including sections of the President's speech on the matter.
This vision is in line with changes that have been coursing through the private sector. Defined benefit pension plans (in which a big company promises you a fixed pension) have been replaced by defined contribution pension plans (in which you invest tax-free money as you wish). Section 401(k) plans and other retirement plans have enabled people, over the course of a lifetime, to accumulate wealth to the point that the average American in the peak wealth years (ages 55 to 65) has a solid six-figure net worth. In 1992, less than a quarter of voters owned stocks and other financial assets. In 2002, some 60 percent of voters had financial assets: The electorate now has an investor majority. Bush’s proposals are designed to enable more Americans to accumulate more wealth more rapidly and to gain control over healthcare decisions as well.
There's more. The article is a month old, but is a very interesting read.
This vision is in line with changes that have been coursing through the private sector. Defined benefit pension plans (in which a big company promises you a fixed pension) have been replaced by defined contribution pension plans (in which you invest tax-free money as you wish). Section 401(k) plans and other retirement plans have enabled people, over the course of a lifetime, to accumulate wealth to the point that the average American in the peak wealth years (ages 55 to 65) has a solid six-figure net worth. In 1992, less than a quarter of voters owned stocks and other financial assets. In 2002, some 60 percent of voters had financial assets: The electorate now has an investor majority. Bush’s proposals are designed to enable more Americans to accumulate more wealth more rapidly and to gain control over healthcare decisions as well.
There's more. The article is a month old, but is a very interesting read.
DRUDGE notes that Clarke also once refused to testify on grounds of executive privilege in 1999.
And apparently I misspelled Dr. Rice's name in the previous post. There are apparently two z's.
And apparently I misspelled Dr. Rice's name in the previous post. There are apparently two z's.
Powerline Blog is fisking Paul Begala on the subject of Condoleeza Rice. Link courtesy of Front Page Mag.
I'm not sure what is the Left's problem with Rice. She strikes me as a bright lady and a vital part of the Administration (course that might be why). She doesn't stand out much, and doesn't (to me) seem like a controversial figure, but the hate directed toward her approaches that directed toward John Ashcroft or Bush himself.
The rumor mill has it that the DNC is ready for a Rice Presidential run with enough dirt to do a full-scale "Contender" on her. That would be a shame, because I think the lady has a bright future.
I'm not sure what is the Left's problem with Rice. She strikes me as a bright lady and a vital part of the Administration (course that might be why). She doesn't stand out much, and doesn't (to me) seem like a controversial figure, but the hate directed toward her approaches that directed toward John Ashcroft or Bush himself.
The rumor mill has it that the DNC is ready for a Rice Presidential run with enough dirt to do a full-scale "Contender" on her. That would be a shame, because I think the lady has a bright future.
I've added a new name to the blogroll at the right.
My buddy Shawn got his Concealed Carry Permit this week-end. It's a day long affair, including a class, test and range course. It's not particularly difficult, from what I understand.
Now the funny part is, the county I live in is refusing because they say the costs of background checks is considerably more than the hundred dollars allowed to be charged by the law. The county I'm from, is charging 38 dollars. Something tells me that St. Louis county's problem is less financial than fascist (and yes, I believe that a government doing its utmost to deprive its citizens of arming themselves is fascist).
I'm thinking qualifying myself. I don't own a gun, and would be unlikely to carry one if I did, but I do like the political statement that it makes. I do however, own swords.
Now the funny part is, the county I live in is refusing because they say the costs of background checks is considerably more than the hundred dollars allowed to be charged by the law. The county I'm from, is charging 38 dollars. Something tells me that St. Louis county's problem is less financial than fascist (and yes, I believe that a government doing its utmost to deprive its citizens of arming themselves is fascist).
I'm thinking qualifying myself. I don't own a gun, and would be unlikely to carry one if I did, but I do like the political statement that it makes. I do however, own swords.
If you're like me, you're still feeling the pinch at the gas pump. However, in real terms, we had it much worse in the late seventies. From the article: Adjusted for inflation, the current price fell short of the record set in March 1981, when a gallon of gas cost the equivalent of $2.85 in today's dollars, Lundberg said.
Jay Nordlinger is, as usual, indispensible. But since the LA Times is a pain, I want to quote him, quoting someone else.
In a column by the nearly all-knowing Amir Taheri, we find the following: "The fall of Saddam Hussein closed what had become the single biggest source of funds for Hamas in the past five years. Several other Arab countries have been forced to close channels through which funds were collected for and directed to Hamas."
Someone ought to do a catalogue of all the good that has flowed from "the fall of Saddam Hussein." Hmmm. Sounds like a job for . . . no, I don't have that long an attention span. Not in this column.
In a column by the nearly all-knowing Amir Taheri, we find the following: "The fall of Saddam Hussein closed what had become the single biggest source of funds for Hamas in the past five years. Several other Arab countries have been forced to close channels through which funds were collected for and directed to Hamas."
Someone ought to do a catalogue of all the good that has flowed from "the fall of Saddam Hussein." Hmmm. Sounds like a job for . . . no, I don't have that long an attention span. Not in this column.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
I kept seeing the headline pop up, and had no idea what it meant. So here's the story of John Kerry, the VVAW, and a plot to assassinate US Senators.
Note that John Kerry is the good guy in this story, and he still lied about it. Funny.
Note that John Kerry is the good guy in this story, and he still lied about it. Funny.
The other day I posted a link to a story about a man prosecuted for defending his home from robbers. Well the story left out the part about him being a drug dealer! I still don't think the man should have been prosecuted for manslaughter, but he was hardly a poster boy for citizens rights that I made him out to be.
I can't see this as anything but politically motivated, but it's nice that DeLay is doing the right thing about it.
Wow. Daniel Drezner has the goods. on Clarke. And is pretty fair about it. I'm not going to quote it, it needs to be read in its entirety. And don't worry-it's pretty short.
I got a fun email from these guys. In looking over the site, I see that they've got quite a bit of interesting stuff, including all sorts of other Mark Pearsons. Apparently we're a prolific lot.
Welcome to the site guys. I hope you stick around. I'm definitely going to check out your site some more. I'd love to be included in your roll call of Mark Pearsons.
Welcome to the site guys. I hope you stick around. I'm definitely going to check out your site some more. I'd love to be included in your roll call of Mark Pearsons.
Which Sluggy Freelance Character Are You?
If there can be any doubt, I am...
Which Sluggy Freelance Character Are You?
If there can be any doubt, I am...
Which Sluggy Freelance Character Are You?
Happy Birthday to Norman Borlaug. He is the third living American with a Nobel Peace Prize (okay Four, but I don't count Jimmy Carter). And has saved possibly a billion lives world-wide, with his teachings of high-yield agrigulture.
Borlaug is an eighty-two-year-old plant breeder who for most of the past five decades has lived in developing nations, teaching the techniques of high-yield agriculture. He received the Nobel in 1970, primarily for his work in reversing the food shortages that haunted India and Pakistan in the 1960s. Perhaps more than anyone else, Borlaug is responsible for the fact that throughout the postwar era, except in sub-Saharan Africa, global food production has expanded faster than the human population, averting the mass starvations that were widely predicted -- for example, in the 1967 best seller Famine -- 1975! The form of agriculture that Borlaug preaches may have prevented a billion deaths.
But of course no good deed goes unpunished, and his efforts to bring similar results to Africa are mired in environmentalist fighting.
Yet although he has led one of the century's most accomplished lives, and done so in a meritorious cause, Borlaug has never received much public recognition in the United States, where it is often said that the young lack heroes to look up to. One reason is that Borlaug's deeds are done in nations remote from the media spotlight: the Western press covers tragedy and strife in poor countries, but has little to say about progress there. Another reason is that Borlaug's mission -- to cause the environment to produce significantly more food -- has come to be seen, at least by some securely affluent commentators, as perhaps better left undone. More food sustains human population growth, which they see as antithetical to the natural world.
Borlaug is an eighty-two-year-old plant breeder who for most of the past five decades has lived in developing nations, teaching the techniques of high-yield agriculture. He received the Nobel in 1970, primarily for his work in reversing the food shortages that haunted India and Pakistan in the 1960s. Perhaps more than anyone else, Borlaug is responsible for the fact that throughout the postwar era, except in sub-Saharan Africa, global food production has expanded faster than the human population, averting the mass starvations that were widely predicted -- for example, in the 1967 best seller Famine -- 1975! The form of agriculture that Borlaug preaches may have prevented a billion deaths.
But of course no good deed goes unpunished, and his efforts to bring similar results to Africa are mired in environmentalist fighting.
Yet although he has led one of the century's most accomplished lives, and done so in a meritorious cause, Borlaug has never received much public recognition in the United States, where it is often said that the young lack heroes to look up to. One reason is that Borlaug's deeds are done in nations remote from the media spotlight: the Western press covers tragedy and strife in poor countries, but has little to say about progress there. Another reason is that Borlaug's mission -- to cause the environment to produce significantly more food -- has come to be seen, at least by some securely affluent commentators, as perhaps better left undone. More food sustains human population growth, which they see as antithetical to the natural world.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Well, I made some minor changes. I've now got a cool e-mail link, so I don't have to post the email bleg all the time. And I changed my tag-line. I'm not 100% happy with it, but it will do for now.
Single life beats marriage to an emasculated man. I love that title so much I just had to post it.
An explosive device has been found under a French railway. Yet another example that it doesn't matter how much you "feel their pain", they still want to kill you.
Confused by all the talk about about Overtime? Have some real info instead of all the bad press you've seen in the papers.
Hamiltonians, Wilsonians, Jeffersonians, and Jacksonians. Interesting info from Michael Totten.
I think some of the people (like myself) who Totten labels "Wilsonian" might be a little upset to be compared with that racist fool, but in general it does make a nice title to those of us who believe in aggressively exporting American values, both for humanitarian and self-interested reasons.
The piece, however is on the Jacksonians, who might be considered the bedrock of American character. It was Jacksonian thought embodied in the serpent flag with the motto "Don't Tread on Me". Totten's question is whether the Jacksonians among us have been sated by Iraq, and their ardent fury is calmed. Do they believe we have won the War?
As for myself, someone of Jacksonian inclination, I haven't forgotten there's a war on, that battles are being fought every day. The tragedy in Madrid struck me as closely as it would if it had been an American city. But then, as I said, I'm of a more Wilsonian mind, so I may not be the best judge.
Anyway, neat article, and as always, Totten is worth reading.
I think some of the people (like myself) who Totten labels "Wilsonian" might be a little upset to be compared with that racist fool, but in general it does make a nice title to those of us who believe in aggressively exporting American values, both for humanitarian and self-interested reasons.
The piece, however is on the Jacksonians, who might be considered the bedrock of American character. It was Jacksonian thought embodied in the serpent flag with the motto "Don't Tread on Me". Totten's question is whether the Jacksonians among us have been sated by Iraq, and their ardent fury is calmed. Do they believe we have won the War?
As for myself, someone of Jacksonian inclination, I haven't forgotten there's a war on, that battles are being fought every day. The tragedy in Madrid struck me as closely as it would if it had been an American city. But then, as I said, I'm of a more Wilsonian mind, so I may not be the best judge.
Anyway, neat article, and as always, Totten is worth reading.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Reason has some interesting news about a "Democracy Caucus". I'm in the middle of it, and it already sounds promising. So check it out.
EDIT: I just had to add this. It sums up the problems of the UN so well.
"The United Nations' credibility and effectiveness are tattered, a fact that is not news to Americans. According to polling by the Gallup Organization, 60 percent of Americans rate the U.N. as doing a "poor job in trying to solve the problems it has had to face." The reasons for disenchantment go deeper than last year's tiff over the Iraq war. The most fundamental is that the United Nations is built on an obsolete premise: that countries governed by their people and countries governed by thugs, thieves, or tyrants should meet on equal terms, one vote each."
EDIT: I just had to add this. It sums up the problems of the UN so well.
"The United Nations' credibility and effectiveness are tattered, a fact that is not news to Americans. According to polling by the Gallup Organization, 60 percent of Americans rate the U.N. as doing a "poor job in trying to solve the problems it has had to face." The reasons for disenchantment go deeper than last year's tiff over the Iraq war. The most fundamental is that the United Nations is built on an obsolete premise: that countries governed by their people and countries governed by thugs, thieves, or tyrants should meet on equal terms, one vote each."
Concealed Carry just passed in Missouri. Thank God I don't live in the UK.
Thomas Nugent on how the Democratic tax increases are actually a windfall for the super rich.
Bret Stephens article in Opinionjournal has an interesting tagline. "The Palestinians want us to forget that they are human." Read the piece and see if you agree.
Monday, March 22, 2004
They've revised the Federal Marriage Amendment, this time to make clear that states will have the ability to set up civil unions with all the benefits of marriage.
Here I go again on my one man Mark Steyn public relations tour. This time we have the Telegraph.
For more than a week now, American friends have asked me why 3/11 wasn't 9/11. I think it comes down to those two words you find on Holocaust memorials all over Europe: "Never again." Fine-sounding, but claptrap. The never-again scenario comes round again every year. This very minute in North Korea there are entire families interned in concentration camps. Concentration camps with gas chambers. Think Kim Jong-Il's worried that the civilised world might mean something by those two words? Ha-ha.
How did a pledge to the memory of the dead decay into hollow moral preening? When an American Jew stands at the gates of a former concentration camp and sees the inscription "Never again", he assumes it's a commitment never again to tolerate genocide. Alain Finkielkraut, a French thinker, says that those two words to a European mean this: never again the führers and duces who enabled such genocide. "Never again power politics. Never again nationalism. Never again Auschwitz" - a slightly different set of priorities. And over the years a revulsion against any kind of "power politics" has come to trump whatever revulsion post-Auschwitz Europe might feel about mass murder.
For more than a week now, American friends have asked me why 3/11 wasn't 9/11. I think it comes down to those two words you find on Holocaust memorials all over Europe: "Never again." Fine-sounding, but claptrap. The never-again scenario comes round again every year. This very minute in North Korea there are entire families interned in concentration camps. Concentration camps with gas chambers. Think Kim Jong-Il's worried that the civilised world might mean something by those two words? Ha-ha.
How did a pledge to the memory of the dead decay into hollow moral preening? When an American Jew stands at the gates of a former concentration camp and sees the inscription "Never again", he assumes it's a commitment never again to tolerate genocide. Alain Finkielkraut, a French thinker, says that those two words to a European mean this: never again the führers and duces who enabled such genocide. "Never again power politics. Never again nationalism. Never again Auschwitz" - a slightly different set of priorities. And over the years a revulsion against any kind of "power politics" has come to trump whatever revulsion post-Auschwitz Europe might feel about mass murder.
Because I just can't go without poking a stick at the latest mole to stick its head out of the ground: Richard Clarke's Legacy of Miscalculation
Thanks Ross. A buddy of mine just sent this along to me, and it's a nice little antidote to the protectionist garbage spewed out by the Kerry Campaign.
Linky
H J Heinz & Co, the family business of Kerry and his wife Teresa, has spread its ketchup operations across the world. Of the 79 factories that the food processor owns, 57 are overseas. Heinz makes ketchup, pizza crust, baby cereal and other edibles in such countries as Poland , Venezuela , Botswana , Thailand , and most of all, China and India .
That's not all. Campaign finance reports reviewed by the Congressional publication, The Hill, reveal that executives at 25 companies identified by CNN's Lou Dobbs as prime outsourcers have contributed more than $370,000 to Kerry's presidential campaign. Among them are executives of Citigroup (who contributed $68,250 to Kerry), Morgan Stanley (gave $38,000) and Goldman Sachs (gave $50,300).
Direct investments and trusts controlled by Kerry list assets of $124,026 to $636,000 in companies that outsource jobs, according to his financial disclosures. Trusts held by Teresa Heinz Kerry hold at least $8.5 million in outsourcing companies. Among them are General Electric, IBM and AIG which have big operations in India and China .
Linky
H J Heinz & Co, the family business of Kerry and his wife Teresa, has spread its ketchup operations across the world. Of the 79 factories that the food processor owns, 57 are overseas. Heinz makes ketchup, pizza crust, baby cereal and other edibles in such countries as Poland , Venezuela , Botswana , Thailand , and most of all, China and India .
That's not all. Campaign finance reports reviewed by the Congressional publication, The Hill, reveal that executives at 25 companies identified by CNN's Lou Dobbs as prime outsourcers have contributed more than $370,000 to Kerry's presidential campaign. Among them are executives of Citigroup (who contributed $68,250 to Kerry), Morgan Stanley (gave $38,000) and Goldman Sachs (gave $50,300).
Direct investments and trusts controlled by Kerry list assets of $124,026 to $636,000 in companies that outsource jobs, according to his financial disclosures. Trusts held by Teresa Heinz Kerry hold at least $8.5 million in outsourcing companies. Among them are General Electric, IBM and AIG which have big operations in India and China .
When you're blowing up the infidels, it's important to smell good.
It's Monday morning, and all the fruits and nuts were out over the week-end to protest in their belief that they could get Tinkerbell to live again if they all just wanted it bad enough.
Or actually, they were out to screw Tinkerbell. They were protesting for Captain Hook. I'm being unfair to Captain Hook. I don't think he ever dropped nerve gas on the Lost Boys. I'm pretty sure he didn't feed anybody into shredding machines. Wendy and her brothers ran away from their parents. It wasn't jack-booted pirate crews who stole their children in the middle of the night.
That stuff doesn't happen in children's stories. It does happen in the real world though, and we got to watch a bunch of people protest that we should have left one of the main perpetrators in power to continue doing it.
James Lileks has more. Including a picture. I'm not sure how to post pictures here, so I'll just describe it. It's a man holding up a sign sayin "I love NY even more without the World Trade Center". Perhaps his next sign could be "What do you call 3000 dead Americans? A good start!"
I've got friends who tell me that the protestors care. They only want peace. Nope, they want the terrorists, the warlords, the butchers to win. To Hell with them.
Want more pictures? Here you go.
Or actually, they were out to screw Tinkerbell. They were protesting for Captain Hook. I'm being unfair to Captain Hook. I don't think he ever dropped nerve gas on the Lost Boys. I'm pretty sure he didn't feed anybody into shredding machines. Wendy and her brothers ran away from their parents. It wasn't jack-booted pirate crews who stole their children in the middle of the night.
That stuff doesn't happen in children's stories. It does happen in the real world though, and we got to watch a bunch of people protest that we should have left one of the main perpetrators in power to continue doing it.
James Lileks has more. Including a picture. I'm not sure how to post pictures here, so I'll just describe it. It's a man holding up a sign sayin "I love NY even more without the World Trade Center". Perhaps his next sign could be "What do you call 3000 dead Americans? A good start!"
I've got friends who tell me that the protestors care. They only want peace. Nope, they want the terrorists, the warlords, the butchers to win. To Hell with them.
Want more pictures? Here you go.
Friday, March 19, 2004
September 5th. I totally let the date slip. I've already had one big hiatus, due to an overwhelming case of self-pity, but I'm back on track, with 2 and a half months of (almost) daily bloggy goodness. So, here's what I wrote back on that first evening, when I sat down and a few minutes later, a blog was born. And I believe my first words were "Gee, that was easy."
Well, here we go. This is a brand new adventure for me; one I should have started long ago. But better late than never, as they always say. We'll see how often I update this little journal, and what good things I have in store over the next few days. If all goes according to plan, my opinions will soon join the thousands (millions?) of others in cyberspace, clamoring for your ears attention. It's sure to be a ride.
Well, here we go. This is a brand new adventure for me; one I should have started long ago. But better late than never, as they always say. We'll see how often I update this little journal, and what good things I have in store over the next few days. If all goes according to plan, my opinions will soon join the thousands (millions?) of others in cyberspace, clamoring for your ears attention. It's sure to be a ride.
Y'know, I didn't realize but this is the six month anniversary of this site (I'll need to go back in the archives and check the date). It's about time I turn this place into something to be proud of, which means I need to get up off my butt and get some HTML coding done (which would be a lot easier if I knew HTML-oh well, I'll wing it.).
And comments. It's been brought to my attention that I need comments. Of course that means I'll have to start actual saying things instead of throwing links at you with pithy remarks like I'm some poor man's Instapundit.
So it's time to take this puppy a little more seriously.
And comments. It's been brought to my attention that I need comments. Of course that means I'll have to start actual saying things instead of throwing links at you with pithy remarks like I'm some poor man's Instapundit.
So it's time to take this puppy a little more seriously.
If you're reading this, send me an e-mail. It'd be cool to see if anybody has noticed me. salamandyr@hotmail.com
Even on vacation, Kerry shoots himself in the foot.
The image-conscious candidate and his aides prevailed upon reporters and photographers to let him have a first run down the mountain solo, except for two agents and Marvin Nicholson, his omnipresent right-hand man.
His next trip down, a reporter and a camera crew were allowed to follow along on skis — just in time to see Mr. Kerry taken out by one of the Secret Service men, who had inadvertently moved into his path, sending him into the snow.
When asked about the mishap a moment later, he said sharply, "I don't fall down," then used an expletive to describe the agent who "knocked me over."
The incident occurred near the summit. No one was hurt, and Mr. Kerry came careering down the mountain moments later, a look of intensity on his face, his lanky frame bent low to the ground.
The bolding is mine, but the words, alas for him, are his.
The image-conscious candidate and his aides prevailed upon reporters and photographers to let him have a first run down the mountain solo, except for two agents and Marvin Nicholson, his omnipresent right-hand man.
His next trip down, a reporter and a camera crew were allowed to follow along on skis — just in time to see Mr. Kerry taken out by one of the Secret Service men, who had inadvertently moved into his path, sending him into the snow.
When asked about the mishap a moment later, he said sharply, "I don't fall down," then used an expletive to describe the agent who "knocked me over."
The incident occurred near the summit. No one was hurt, and Mr. Kerry came careering down the mountain moments later, a look of intensity on his face, his lanky frame bent low to the ground.
The bolding is mine, but the words, alas for him, are his.
Now for the other side. Kerry make some statements too. And I've got to say that was one of the most small-minded, spiteful things I've read. The biggest problem with Kerry, and the one that will lose him the election, is that there is no greatness in him. He is a small man, with small ideas. This might be forgiveable in a Republican, who can always campaign on a plan of maintaining the status quo, but in a Democrat it is the death-knell. Right or wrong, people look to Democrats to be the Progressives, to be the leaders out front. Kerry is only comfortable standing in the middle of a pack. The only way he stands out is in his height.
Read this. You know, all through the Cold War, we were asked to rationalize questionable actions by our government as necessary to win the conflict with the Soviet Union. I am so grateful that our current trials are ones we can meet with clear moral purpose.
John Samples is writing that George W. Bush is the best Democratic President ever.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
The Economist steps up with a fair bit of fiscal sanity. Been worrying about the economy? Read This.
Anxiety is turning to paranoia about jobs. Take a deep breath: most Americans have rarely had it better
Waiting for the job recovery might be a good time to take a broader measure of the material well-being of Americans. Their condition is widely held to be perilous. The economy, it is said, is being “hollowed out” by international competition and the connivance of business and political elites, creating “two Americas”, one rich, one poor. Median income of American households, commentators often say, has been stagnant, though census figures give a rise of one-fifth since 1980. Lou Dobbs, on CNN's “Lou Dobbs Tonight”, is just one media fabulist who makes his living by claiming that, as America is being “exported”, so the well-being of middle Americans is in a parlous state.
It is a good story, but false on many levels. For a start, this slow growth in median income overlaps with a scale of immigration into America outpacing all immigration in the rest of the world put together. Many immigrants have come precisely to take up the lowest-paid jobs. As a result, in the 20 years to 1999 some 5m immigrant households were added to those defined as below the poverty level. Yet among native-born Americans, poverty rates have declined steadily since the 1960s. In the case of black families, median incomes have recently been rising at twice the pace for the country as a whole.
Strip out immigrants, and the picture of stagnant median incomes vanishes. Indeed, for the nine-tenths of the population that is native-born, middle-income trends continue their improvement of the 1950s and 1960s. For these people, inequality is not rising, but falling. Gregg Easterbrook cheekily points out in his excellent recent book, “The Progress Paradox” (Random House), that if left-leaning Americans seriously want better statistics about middle-income gains, then they should simply close their borders.
Anxiety is turning to paranoia about jobs. Take a deep breath: most Americans have rarely had it better
Waiting for the job recovery might be a good time to take a broader measure of the material well-being of Americans. Their condition is widely held to be perilous. The economy, it is said, is being “hollowed out” by international competition and the connivance of business and political elites, creating “two Americas”, one rich, one poor. Median income of American households, commentators often say, has been stagnant, though census figures give a rise of one-fifth since 1980. Lou Dobbs, on CNN's “Lou Dobbs Tonight”, is just one media fabulist who makes his living by claiming that, as America is being “exported”, so the well-being of middle Americans is in a parlous state.
It is a good story, but false on many levels. For a start, this slow growth in median income overlaps with a scale of immigration into America outpacing all immigration in the rest of the world put together. Many immigrants have come precisely to take up the lowest-paid jobs. As a result, in the 20 years to 1999 some 5m immigrant households were added to those defined as below the poverty level. Yet among native-born Americans, poverty rates have declined steadily since the 1960s. In the case of black families, median incomes have recently been rising at twice the pace for the country as a whole.
Strip out immigrants, and the picture of stagnant median incomes vanishes. Indeed, for the nine-tenths of the population that is native-born, middle-income trends continue their improvement of the 1950s and 1960s. For these people, inequality is not rising, but falling. Gregg Easterbrook cheekily points out in his excellent recent book, “The Progress Paradox” (Random House), that if left-leaning Americans seriously want better statistics about middle-income gains, then they should simply close their borders.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
More on the Iranian uprising.
Mark Steyn in Australia. Hey, this guy gets around. And as always what he says ain't pretty, but it's damn true.
If Islamic terrorism were as rational as Irish or Basque terrorism, it would be easier. But Hussein Massawi, former leader of Hezbollah, summed it up very pithily: "We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you." You can be pro-America (Spain, Australia) or anti-America (France, Canada), but if you broke into the head cave in the Hindu Kush and checked out the hit list you'd be on it either way.
If Islamic terrorism were as rational as Irish or Basque terrorism, it would be easier. But Hussein Massawi, former leader of Hezbollah, summed it up very pithily: "We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you." You can be pro-America (Spain, Australia) or anti-America (France, Canada), but if you broke into the head cave in the Hindu Kush and checked out the hit list you'd be on it either way.
I'm finally inGoogle!
This is the fundamental decision we will be making on November 2.
For John Kerry, our "first responders" in the War on Terror are the people who respond to an attack with firehoses, bulldozers and cadaver dogs. For President George Bush, our "first responders" are the 101st Airborne, the Third Infantry Division, the Navy and the Air Force. They get no mention in Kerry's self-described "Agenda to Support Front Lines in America's War on Terror," which contains not a single single word about offense.
For John Kerry, our "first responders" in the War on Terror are the people who respond to an attack with firehoses, bulldozers and cadaver dogs. For President George Bush, our "first responders" are the 101st Airborne, the Third Infantry Division, the Navy and the Air Force. They get no mention in Kerry's self-described "Agenda to Support Front Lines in America's War on Terror," which contains not a single single word about offense.
Wondering who those foreign leaders are who are rooting for Kerry to win the Presidency? Here you go. Heh.
NRO's Corner has published an email documenting popular uprisings in Iran. Is this the moment we've been waiting for? I can't wait to find out. Down with the Mullahs!
Y'all will pardon me if I find these numbers somewhat more important.
In keeping with my linking of anything that catches my eye, I give you this. I'm at work, so I wasn't able to do more than give a cursory glance at the data, but I didn't like what I see. Large numbers of Muslims think Osama bin Laden is a really neat guy. Large numbers of Europeans think Osama, while pretty bad, isn't nearly as bad as that cowboy from Texas. And large percentages of people think that ridding the world of a tyrant like Hussein was clearly the wrong thing to do.
Oh well, I've never been popular before. I see no reason to start now.
Oh well, I've never been popular before. I see no reason to start now.
First they expend all their power to prop up a homicidal dictator, then they cut and run at the first sign of trouble, so is it any wonder thatsome Iraqi leaders are balking at giving the UN a greater role in their transition to democracy?
The New York Times is surprised, but I'm not.
The New York Times is surprised, but I'm not.
Come on, would your day have been complete without someAmish and Unitarian jokes?
Terry Teachout takes on Tim Robbins, again, on the subject of Robbins' play
Embedded".
Embedded".
Monday, March 15, 2004
Mark Steyn, again. Yes-he's just that good. He looks at the upcoming Death of Europe. I'm not putting that in quotes because he's right. Europe is dying. Between a falling fertility rate, and an Arab immigration that is actually colonization. And a steadfast desire to close one's eyes to the realities of the modern world, Europe is on a decline that may not be slow, but is definitely sure.
FreeArabForum has info on rioting in Syria, and some analysis as well. Important stuff, but I doubt you'll see it on the 6 o'clock news.
Can there be any doubt the terrorists won this round?
Spain is going exactly the wrong direction.
BRUSSELS, March 15 (Reuters) - Spain's new priorities are to restore relations with core European allies, rethink its role in Iraq and leave strategic dialogue with the United States to the European Union, its likely future Socialist foreign minister said on Monday.
BRUSSELS, March 15 (Reuters) - Spain's new priorities are to restore relations with core European allies, rethink its role in Iraq and leave strategic dialogue with the United States to the European Union, its likely future Socialist foreign minister said on Monday.
Well, it's all over, but if you haven't seen it yet, The Socialist party won the Spanish election, and the current government, which has been a four-square ally in the War on Terror, is out the door. I feel pretty depressed about that.
It's not so much the politics of the Socialist party, which I understand is center-left by European terms. Free nations have every right to govern their affairs without naysaying from uppity foreigners, even when they do follow policy descriptions I disagree with. No, the Socialist party chose to go for the party that has been campaigning on a platform of full-scale surrendur to the terrorists. Is that too harsh? I don't think so.
W. was right, you're either on board, or you're sitting around waiting for the terrorists to get around to you. They want to destroy us, they want us dead. It seems the Spanish felt sticking their head in the sand and hoping that if they don't make any sudden moves, the terrorists will leave them alone until they've defeated everybody else.
Or they're hoping that we'll take care of the problem without causing them undue inconvenience. Well, we will, but fie on them.
It's not so much the politics of the Socialist party, which I understand is center-left by European terms. Free nations have every right to govern their affairs without naysaying from uppity foreigners, even when they do follow policy descriptions I disagree with. No, the Socialist party chose to go for the party that has been campaigning on a platform of full-scale surrendur to the terrorists. Is that too harsh? I don't think so.
W. was right, you're either on board, or you're sitting around waiting for the terrorists to get around to you. They want to destroy us, they want us dead. It seems the Spanish felt sticking their head in the sand and hoping that if they don't make any sudden moves, the terrorists will leave them alone until they've defeated everybody else.
Or they're hoping that we'll take care of the problem without causing them undue inconvenience. Well, we will, but fie on them.
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Sky News has more on the letter claiming Al Qaeda involvement in today's bombing.
They also claim that their planned attack on the US is "90% ready". Well, bring it on.
They also claim that their planned attack on the US is "90% ready". Well, bring it on.
So after a fair bit of searching for this story, I find it a lot less than I was expecting. Justice Ginsberg's arrogance is legendary, so the idea of her flouting judicial neutrality is not one that I find hard to believe.
So the fact that Ginsberg maintains close ties with NOW doesn't surprise me, but then it doesn't upset me that much either. Ginsberg wears her liberal beliefs on her sleeve, if she has a thought in her head that wasn't approved by the NOW and NARAL councils, so how is this a conflict of interest? It's not like she was neutral in the first place.
So the fact that Ginsberg maintains close ties with NOW doesn't surprise me, but then it doesn't upset me that much either. Ginsberg wears her liberal beliefs on her sleeve, if she has a thought in her head that wasn't approved by the NOW and NARAL councils, so how is this a conflict of interest? It's not like she was neutral in the first place.
One of Carol Moseley-Braun's former aides has been accused of spying for Iraq. As if I needed any further reasons to dislike her.
Fox is saying that Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility in a letter. Not much info beyond that so far. In a way I'm glad it's Al Qaeda, it keeps things simple. We don't have to worry about more butcherous monsters. I really don't care if it was radical Ted Kazinsky followers mad at Spain for not ratifying Kyoto. I just want the perpetrators, whoever trained them, whoever funded them, and anybody who agrees with them, dead, dead, dead.
Breaking News: Police have found an Arabic language tape of Koranic verses in a van near the scene. Remember in the early hours a lot of things turn out to be false once everything calms down, but this lends credence that it Arab terrorists.
A thousand injured and at least 182 killed from terrorist bombs in Spain today. The basque separatist group ETA is denying responsibility, claiming it was more likely Arab terrorists.
I don't care. Even if it wasn't Al Quaeda, even if these people have no ties with Osama bin Laden, this is terrorism, this is what we are determined to stamp out. They attacked an ally of the United States today, a brother in arms who has stepped up to the line with us and shed blood on our behalf, and as far I'm concerned it might as well have been American citizens caught in those blasts. They must pay.
I don't care. Even if it wasn't Al Quaeda, even if these people have no ties with Osama bin Laden, this is terrorism, this is what we are determined to stamp out. They attacked an ally of the United States today, a brother in arms who has stepped up to the line with us and shed blood on our behalf, and as far I'm concerned it might as well have been American citizens caught in those blasts. They must pay.
Rather long, but if you want the definitive argument on the whole Howard Stern fiasco, this would be it.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
OpinionJournal has more info on the Bush ad controversy.
If you ever needed proof that Tim Robbins was an idiot, here it is, wrapped in a bow.
I found this in my bookmarks the other day, and can only assume that I saved it because I thought it was blogworthy at the time. It goes back a while (to December), but it might be worth reading about.
Gist: Seems there's no means testing for minority business contracts and loans in Philadelphia, or for the most part, anywhere else. What this means is that when they are turning you down for a small business loan or lucrative contract in order to increase "diversity", they may be awarding it to someone much richer than you who just happens to be the right shade or sex.
Gist: Seems there's no means testing for minority business contracts and loans in Philadelphia, or for the most part, anywhere else. What this means is that when they are turning you down for a small business loan or lucrative contract in order to increase "diversity", they may be awarding it to someone much richer than you who just happens to be the right shade or sex.
Well, it's what I thought. Turns out the 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows are only a few dozen members and are a left-wing advocacy group.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
The Corner is having an interesting discussion on the relative impact of immigration on California and Texas. Pretty good stuff.
Monday, March 08, 2004
Not all the 9-11 families are united in their opposition to President Bush.Opinionjournal has a nice article from Debra Burlingame, who points out that these "non-partisan" people are in fact affiliated with other "non-partisan" people like Moveon.org.
Friday, March 05, 2004
This is really cool.
Instapundit has some comments on the Howard Stern fiasco. As if anybody reading me isn't reading Glenn first, but I want to save the links.
As Glenn points out, if you support any kind of standard to public broadcasts, then Stern is way the hell over them. His comments were racist, sexist, and to top it off, vulgar (and the worst crime of all-he's not very funny). I do believe that public broadcasts should adhere to some minimum standard of decency, so consequently, Stern getting slapped around doesn't bother me in the least.
As Glenn points out, if you support any kind of standard to public broadcasts, then Stern is way the hell over them. His comments were racist, sexist, and to top it off, vulgar (and the worst crime of all-he's not very funny). I do believe that public broadcasts should adhere to some minimum standard of decency, so consequently, Stern getting slapped around doesn't bother me in the least.
Tony Blair defends himself, and George Bush by extension of lying in regards to Iraq.
So now North Korea has endorsed John Kerry. Wahoo! That's got to be making them feel good over in the Democratic camp. Maybe we could get Osama to say a few kind words about the Massachusetts senator as well. And I'm sure Saddam would be happy to endorse Kerry, in between bouts of "Ow, quit hitting me!"
I kind of feel sorry for Kerry, he's been doing our enemies work for years and years and just when he needs them to shut the hell up they go opening up with an "attaboy!". It's not just that Kerry's weak on defense; he's positively boneless on defense. He's never met military program that wouldn't look better with its budget slashed; never met an intelligence service that didn't need its people put on unemployment. And this was the Sandinista's A-number 1 fair-haired boy in Congress. So naturally America's enemies prefer him to George W. Bush, who for all his faults isn't kidding when he says he will take the fight to the enemy.
And in other news, or in this case, not news-it is a gorgeous day. No, really, an actual, gorgeous day. I'm not kidding this time. Go outside, go to the park, take the dog for a walk. Do something! God only gives us so many perfect days, use them well.
I kind of feel sorry for Kerry, he's been doing our enemies work for years and years and just when he needs them to shut the hell up they go opening up with an "attaboy!". It's not just that Kerry's weak on defense; he's positively boneless on defense. He's never met military program that wouldn't look better with its budget slashed; never met an intelligence service that didn't need its people put on unemployment. And this was the Sandinista's A-number 1 fair-haired boy in Congress. So naturally America's enemies prefer him to George W. Bush, who for all his faults isn't kidding when he says he will take the fight to the enemy.
And in other news, or in this case, not news-it is a gorgeous day. No, really, an actual, gorgeous day. I'm not kidding this time. Go outside, go to the park, take the dog for a walk. Do something! God only gives us so many perfect days, use them well.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
James Lileks lays it on the line.
"Let's just be blunt: The North Koreans would love to see John Kerry win the election. The mullahs of Iran would love it. The Syrian Ba'athists would sigh with relief. Every enemy of America would take great satisfaction if the electorate rejects the Bush doctrine and scuttles back to hide under the U.N. Security Council's table. It's a hard question, but the right one: Which candidate does our enemy want to lose? George W. Bush.
And some conservatives will be happy to help, it seems.
Woe and gloom have befallen some on the right. Bush has failed to act according to The Reagan Ideal.
The actual Reagan may have issued an amnesty for illegals, but the Ideal Reagan would have done no such thing. So unless Bush packs freight cars full of gardeners and dishwashers and dumps them off at the Mexican border, some voters will just sit this one out."
There's more (there's always more). And I completely agree. Bush may be wrong on a lot of things domestically. He may not be the fiscal white knight that we were all hoping for. But he's right on the War, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.
"Let's just be blunt: The North Koreans would love to see John Kerry win the election. The mullahs of Iran would love it. The Syrian Ba'athists would sigh with relief. Every enemy of America would take great satisfaction if the electorate rejects the Bush doctrine and scuttles back to hide under the U.N. Security Council's table. It's a hard question, but the right one: Which candidate does our enemy want to lose? George W. Bush.
And some conservatives will be happy to help, it seems.
Woe and gloom have befallen some on the right. Bush has failed to act according to The Reagan Ideal.
The actual Reagan may have issued an amnesty for illegals, but the Ideal Reagan would have done no such thing. So unless Bush packs freight cars full of gardeners and dishwashers and dumps them off at the Mexican border, some voters will just sit this one out."
There's more (there's always more). And I completely agree. Bush may be wrong on a lot of things domestically. He may not be the fiscal white knight that we were all hoping for. But he's right on the War, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.
Jonah Goldberg on the Bush ad kerfluffle. Appartently it's the 9/11 families complaining. I think Jonah puts it pretty well.
"I'm sorry, but while I have a great deal of sympathy for the families of 9/11 victims, I think these complaints are nonsense squared. A lot more people died during Vietnam than on 9/11 and John Kerry has been running ads with footage from there for months. These families may have a unique relationship to 9/11 but they do not have ownership of that day, politically, culturally or otherwise and it would be absurd if this administration caved on this point, even though I'm sure the media will be delighted to exploit the personal tragedies of these families. "
"I'm sorry, but while I have a great deal of sympathy for the families of 9/11 victims, I think these complaints are nonsense squared. A lot more people died during Vietnam than on 9/11 and John Kerry has been running ads with footage from there for months. These families may have a unique relationship to 9/11 but they do not have ownership of that day, politically, culturally or otherwise and it would be absurd if this administration caved on this point, even though I'm sure the media will be delighted to exploit the personal tragedies of these families. "
Beautiful, beautiful day, if by beautiful you mean grey, wet and dreary. There was a bad accident blocking the ramp I take to get to work, so I had to take the back way in. It's scenic, but rather treacherous in the wet conditions.
I've got nothing really political to talk about. Gay marriage still dominates the airwaves, and I'm heartily sick of it. Maybe that's the strategy; get America so sick of hearing about it we finally throw up our hands and scream "Enough already, get married, see if we care!" and then stomp off to drink de-caf coffee until we calm down.
Bush has released the first campaign ads of the season and they are positive. And of course his opponents are complaining. They are mad that he has shots of September 11 in his ads. Apparently the President is supposed to campaign as if the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or the Iraq war never happened. Because you know, well, that might cause people to think, I don't know, that he did a good job.
For all of me, I don't mind if John Kerry uses scenes from September 11 in his ads. I don't think it would be of too much of advantage to him to do so, but hey, go right ahead. The President should have the same courtesy. It happened on his watch, and whether you think he did a good job or a bad job, he handled it, and reminding people of that fact is perfectly fair.
I've got nothing really political to talk about. Gay marriage still dominates the airwaves, and I'm heartily sick of it. Maybe that's the strategy; get America so sick of hearing about it we finally throw up our hands and scream "Enough already, get married, see if we care!" and then stomp off to drink de-caf coffee until we calm down.
Bush has released the first campaign ads of the season and they are positive. And of course his opponents are complaining. They are mad that he has shots of September 11 in his ads. Apparently the President is supposed to campaign as if the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or the Iraq war never happened. Because you know, well, that might cause people to think, I don't know, that he did a good job.
For all of me, I don't mind if John Kerry uses scenes from September 11 in his ads. I don't think it would be of too much of advantage to him to do so, but hey, go right ahead. The President should have the same courtesy. It happened on his watch, and whether you think he did a good job or a bad job, he handled it, and reminding people of that fact is perfectly fair.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Wow. I emailed Andrew Sullivan over his post yesterday, and I figured I'd get lost among the large loads of emails he surely gets on a daily basis, but hey! he emailed me back. Which I think is pretty darn cool if for no other reason than I can brag at parties that "I know Andrew Sullivan! Oh, yeah he and I go way back. What, oh yeah, there was this one time I got on to him for saying that Republicans were out to kill him. He really listens to me!."
So, here it is, short but to the point.
mark
it was a pun, for goodness' sake.
andrew
Early this morning it occured to me that fags=cigarettes and he was probably making an attempt at a joke, which I still find in poor taste, but there you go, both sides presented in a fair and balanced fashion.
"What, hey, wadaya mean I now have to give Fox a nickel?"
So, here it is, short but to the point.
mark
it was a pun, for goodness' sake.
andrew
Early this morning it occured to me that fags=cigarettes and he was probably making an attempt at a joke, which I still find in poor taste, but there you go, both sides presented in a fair and balanced fashion.
"What, hey, wadaya mean I now have to give Fox a nickel?"
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
AndrewSullivan goes after Dennis Prager for Prager's latest column comparing gay marriage advocates to Islamic terrorists. I'm with him so far. Prager took it one step too far.
Then his next entry he accuses Republican opponents of gay marriage of wanting to kill homosexuals. If Sullivan knows of any Republicans actively trying to kill gays, he should name some names, because I wouldn't want to vote for any of those guys. Otherwise he needs to quit with the histrionics.
Then his next entry he accuses Republican opponents of gay marriage of wanting to kill homosexuals. If Sullivan knows of any Republicans actively trying to kill gays, he should name some names, because I wouldn't want to vote for any of those guys. Otherwise he needs to quit with the histrionics.
No link yet ( I just saw it over at Instapundit) but apparently they've found evidence of water outside the poles on Mars, which substantially increases the possibility that there was life at one time there.
And there is supposed to be big news today from Mars. Nasa is set to announce a major new finding about Mars today. I can't wait.
And now 'Baby Doc' Duvalier wants to return to Haiti. Geez, can we get a rule here that if you've ever been a dictator in Haiti, you're not allowed to come back!
I remember sitting in french class looking at pictures of Baby Doc's death squads massacring people in Paris Match. This is a man who will look really good as the guest of honor at a funeral.
I remember sitting in french class looking at pictures of Baby Doc's death squads massacring people in Paris Match. This is a man who will look really good as the guest of honor at a funeral.
Super Tuesday! Super Tuesday! Super Tuesday!
Y'know saying it, even saying it over and over again in that voice used by the announcers for Monster Truck events just doesn't get my excitement up. I live in Missouri and we've already voted, and I'm a Republican, so my candidate is already picked. And the Democrats have decided to wrap John Kerry around their necks. So pardon me if I find this to be about the dullest super thing going right now.
The 2004 Academy Awards will hereby be know as Oscar-the apology. RotK was probably the weakest movie in the trilogy, but since they'd pretty much ignored it for the past two years, it was now payback time. And pay they did. I'm not saying Peter Jackson didn't deserve every golden statue that will now be gathering dust on his mantle. But I'm a little disappointed; I was looking forward to the nerd riots of 2004.
Gay marriage is still the cause du jour. I realized something; I never make my electoral decisions based on social issues. Republicans believe in traditional values and Democrats pretend to believe in traditional values. And non-traditional values always win in the courts. So I just vote on economic & security issues and let the social problems go hang.
Well, work time now. Have a lovely.
Y'know saying it, even saying it over and over again in that voice used by the announcers for Monster Truck events just doesn't get my excitement up. I live in Missouri and we've already voted, and I'm a Republican, so my candidate is already picked. And the Democrats have decided to wrap John Kerry around their necks. So pardon me if I find this to be about the dullest super thing going right now.
The 2004 Academy Awards will hereby be know as Oscar-the apology. RotK was probably the weakest movie in the trilogy, but since they'd pretty much ignored it for the past two years, it was now payback time. And pay they did. I'm not saying Peter Jackson didn't deserve every golden statue that will now be gathering dust on his mantle. But I'm a little disappointed; I was looking forward to the nerd riots of 2004.
Gay marriage is still the cause du jour. I realized something; I never make my electoral decisions based on social issues. Republicans believe in traditional values and Democrats pretend to believe in traditional values. And non-traditional values always win in the courts. So I just vote on economic & security issues and let the social problems go hang.
Well, work time now. Have a lovely.
Monday, March 01, 2004
Jane jGalt digs up some dirt. It seems being a Senator is really good for your stock portfolio.
Andrew Sullivan points out the good news from Iraq. February casualty numbers were an all time low, and he links the NYT story about Iraqi oil production, which is quite ahead of schedule.
And for the Gay Marriage advocates, he gets in every possible dig he can against the Administration and the religious. Hey, it's something for everybody!
And for the Gay Marriage advocates, he gets in every possible dig he can against the Administration and the religious. Hey, it's something for everybody!
My typical occasional e-mail bleg, which I use because I've been too lazy to put a permanent link on my site.
If you're reading this, send me an e-mail. It'd be cool to see if anybody has noticed me. salamandyr@hotmail.com
If you're reading this, send me an e-mail. It'd be cool to see if anybody has noticed me. salamandyr@hotmail.com
So I watched a bit of the Academy Awards last night, which I don't usually do except that I live with a sister who loves these kinds of shows. I understand (ie I read somewhere on the Internet) that Mel Gibson did not attend and turned down the opportunity to be a presenter because he didn't feel like getting booed.
My question, during the memorial segment, how many of those who would have booed Gibson were applauding the inclusion of Leni Reifenstahl-Hitler's favorite filmaker? (He was the guy who directed the pro-nazi "Triumph of the Will"). I listened and it seemed that the applause actually got noticeably louder in that part, though that could be my imagination. Interesting.
My question, during the memorial segment, how many of those who would have booed Gibson were applauding the inclusion of Leni Reifenstahl-Hitler's favorite filmaker? (He was the guy who directed the pro-nazi "Triumph of the Will"). I listened and it seemed that the applause actually got noticeably louder in that part, though that could be my imagination. Interesting.
Tim Blair points out a little difference of perspective on the 5.7% unemployment rate.
Mark Steyn scares me. How a man can pack everything wrong with the Democratic conteders for President in one column is amazing to me. And he's funny.
The stump speech of pretty-boy Senator John Edwards, which I've heard often enough to be able to mouth along with him, has room for everything, including vivid, wrenching portraits of despair: 'Tonight somewhere in America a ten-year-old little girl will go to bed hungry, hoping and praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm.' You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be doubled up in laughter at that line. Thanks to the cheap textile imports Edwards and Kerry have pledged to crack down on, girls' coats have never been cheaper. At JC Penney, Edwards' shivering ten-year-old can get a brand-new quilted winter coat with faux-fur collar and cuffs for $9.99. At my local thrift shop, you can get a nice second-hand girl's coat for three bucks. If John Edwards can produce, anywhere in the United States, a ten-year-old coatless girl I will personally send her a brand-new one with the Spectator logo attractively stitched on the left-hand side in return for one substantive passage on foreign policy in his stump speech.
Or this:
That's because, to many Democrats, there is no war. It's a fraud got up by Bush because Halliburton were itching to get the exploitation rights to Afghanistan's supply of premium rubble. Or something like that. It's hard to follow. But Al Gore popped up the other day and summed up what Dems feel about Bush: 'He betrayed us!' Or, rather, 'He-aaah be-uh-tray-uhd uyyuusssss!' He was trying out a new accent. A bit like the one he used in 2000, when he was addressing the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People and trying to sound like Aretha Franklin but it came out like Pat Boone doing Al Jolson. This one was more like televangelist Jim Bakker leading his first pledge drive after being caught with the hooker. He endeavoured to drop an octave on the 'tray' of 'betrayed', which was a nice touch.
Read the whole thing. It's my gift to you.
The stump speech of pretty-boy Senator John Edwards, which I've heard often enough to be able to mouth along with him, has room for everything, including vivid, wrenching portraits of despair: 'Tonight somewhere in America a ten-year-old little girl will go to bed hungry, hoping and praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm.' You'd have to have a heart of stone not to be doubled up in laughter at that line. Thanks to the cheap textile imports Edwards and Kerry have pledged to crack down on, girls' coats have never been cheaper. At JC Penney, Edwards' shivering ten-year-old can get a brand-new quilted winter coat with faux-fur collar and cuffs for $9.99. At my local thrift shop, you can get a nice second-hand girl's coat for three bucks. If John Edwards can produce, anywhere in the United States, a ten-year-old coatless girl I will personally send her a brand-new one with the Spectator logo attractively stitched on the left-hand side in return for one substantive passage on foreign policy in his stump speech.
Or this:
That's because, to many Democrats, there is no war. It's a fraud got up by Bush because Halliburton were itching to get the exploitation rights to Afghanistan's supply of premium rubble. Or something like that. It's hard to follow. But Al Gore popped up the other day and summed up what Dems feel about Bush: 'He betrayed us!' Or, rather, 'He-aaah be-uh-tray-uhd uyyuusssss!' He was trying out a new accent. A bit like the one he used in 2000, when he was addressing the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People and trying to sound like Aretha Franklin but it came out like Pat Boone doing Al Jolson. This one was more like televangelist Jim Bakker leading his first pledge drive after being caught with the hooker. He endeavoured to drop an octave on the 'tray' of 'betrayed', which was a nice touch.
Read the whole thing. It's my gift to you.
