Month: June 2004

Frickin’ French Idjit

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Via Sullivan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OK, so I’m stopping short of endorsing Freedom Fries, but Chirac (like many other world leaders I can think of) could use a good swift kick in the pants (you choose from which side). And, get me a chair, I actually agree with Bush: In remarks prepared for delivery at a Istanbul … Read more

Don’t ask, don’t tell.

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By popular (if Canadian) demand, here’s an open thread to discuss last night’s Canadian elections. Or perhaps Canalections. Or maybe Electians. Who really knows? It’s really cold up there, and some of ’em speak French. Like all good citizens of the United States, I make it my practice to know absolutely nothing about Canadian politics … Read more

It looks like I was wrong…

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…and in this particular case I won’t mind a bit: Three Turkish hostages ‘released’ THE extremist group responsible for beheading two foreign hostages was releasing three Turkish captives “for the sake of their Muslim brothers”, Al-Jazeera television said today. The Arab satellite station broadcast a videotape showing the three hostages kneeling in front of three … Read more

Godwin’s law in Action.

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What to say about the Bush campaign’s latest ad, “Kerry’s Coalition of the Wild-eyed“? Silly? Sure. Least-effective campaign ad ever? Probably. So bad that it’s destined to be screened at midnight on college campuses around the world? Very likely. The first shot in the ad is a statement that Kerry disagrees with every statement that … Read more

Fahrenheit 911

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I’ve normally found Michael Moore too bombastic and reckless. His in-your-face style of filmmaking embarrasses me normally, and his speech at the Academy Awards struck me as in poor taste.

After I saw the film last night, though, I attended a moveon.org house party where Michael Moore spoke to thousands of Americans via a national conference call. He was polite and actually quite patriotic. He had helpful advice about getting the disenfranchised back into the political system, and his response to anecdotes of reactions to his film seemed gracious and genuininely grateful.

I had gone into the film expecting to see all kinds of outrageous juxtapositions and innuendoes (and surely it’s not a respectful portrait of the president), but I came out thinking there’s nothing in there that’s any less flimsy than the constant “technically true” propaganda we get daily from the White House, so he’s essentially just fighting fire with fire.

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European Approach to Nuclear Proliferation

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Via Pejmanesque I find this article on the Iranian nuclear program: NINE MONTHS AGO, as a confrontation loomed between Iran and the United Nations over Iran’s illicit nuclear programs, three European governments staged a preemptive operation. Flying to Tehran, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany struck a deal with Iran’s Islamic regime: The … Read more

Not so Fast There, Mr. President

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Stop the Music, stop the music. Turn down that spotlight a bit, would ya? I’m willing to give the Bush team credit for a very clever early transfer of “sovereignty” as a means to deflate any plans the insurgency may have had for June 30, but I’m not about to let this stand without comment: … Read more

Don’t do this, please.

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At least not here. From Sullivan: A BLOGOSPHERE CHALLENGE: It’s been extremely difficult to get a full transcript of the Michael Moore movie. So here’s a thought: why doesn’t some enterprising blogger take a tape recorder to a screening, transcribe the narrative, and post it? Then it’s a fiskathon. On your marks, get set … … Read more