"This was the voice of moderation until 13 Sept, 2025"
Edward _ How do you discredit a former Administration insider who blasts the Administration after their departure? In the case of former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill , it’s really quite easy to portray him as unable to reach those juicy grapes himself, leaving it to the public to imagine that’s why he considers them sour. But Clarke’s … Read more
The election ballots in New York City have always confused me somewhat. For example, our current Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, a previous Democrat who turned Republican to run for office, also appeared on the ballot under the Working Families Party (and probably a few others as well…I didn’t vote for him, so I didn’t pay … Read more
Let’s just cut through all the mini-scandals and get right to “Karlgate,” shall we? I mean, we could spend years debating each of the following (and note the links are just overviews, not the definitive analysis on each): Medi-gate Hunting-gate (which is really Energy-gate, when you get right down to it). Enviro-gate WMD-gate Plame-gate Enron-et … Read more
So who you gonna believe? McCain: Asked on NBC’s “Today” if he thought Kerry was weak on defense, McCain said: “No, I do not believe that he is, quote, weak on defense. He’s responsible for his voting record, as we are all responsible for our records, and he’ll have to explain it. But, no, I … Read more
I think I can always be counted on to expect the worst of the Bush Administration, so I’ll admit I smelled a conspiracy when I first read: National parks told to cut services quietly Is this another attempt to hand public land over to Bush’s buddies? Are they gonna restrict entrance into the parks until … Read more
New Bush appointee Scott J. Bloch, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, whose mission it is to protect federal whistleblowers and government workers from retributions in the workplace, recently updated his Office’s website. The updates removed references about sexual orientation discrimination from a complaint form and an educational pamphlet for federal employees. Four … Read more
If at first your over-simplified arrogant taunts don’t succeed, try, try again: Terrorists are killing “innocent life in order to get the world to cower,” [Bush] said. “These are cold-blooded killers. They’ll kill innocent people to try to shake our will . . . They’ll never shake the will of the United States.” I know … Read more
Various other blogs (for one good example see Bird Dog’s essay on Tacitus) are debating whether Spain’s Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has already given the world a good indication that he’ll be soft on terrorists because he said: My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism. The exact phrase causing … Read more
There’s been some general dislike of Jame Joyce expressed around these parts as of late, and although I fully support the freedom of expression it represents, I’d like to submit, on this snowy St. Patrick’s Day (in New York City, anyway), as evidence of why he’s considered the genius he is, this final passage from … Read more
A shorthand has developed recently suggesting that going after the terrorists on our terms is the “right” way to fight them. That to “ignore” or “appease” or “satisfy their grievances” is the “wrong” way. Hidden in that assessment as it’s unfolding in the US Presidential campaign is also the implication that to “ignore” or “appease” … Read more
It’s supposed to snow in New York tonight, so we’re looking forward to that old-fashioned tradition we all love and know so well: A White St. Patrick’s Day! Er….yeah. Anyway, it would’t be St. Paddy’s if I didn’t find a good pint of Guinness to celebrate, but this year, when I’m watching those tiny bubbles … Read more
Across the blogosphere opinions about what led Spanish voters to change course and elect the PSOE party rather than the previously sure-thing Popular party are missing one essential message that Spaniards are saying again and again: they voted against Aznar & Co because they lied…because despite contrary evidence, and apparently for political purposes, they tried … Read more
In the first few days after 9/11 a well-meaning, deeply liberal friend of mine from Italy sent an email to dozens of US citizens offering words of comfort. At the end of his email he also asked that we consider why this happened. As was appropriate at that time, he was blugeoned with angry emails … Read more
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero says he plans to pull 1,300 Spanish troops out of Iraq in June. Spain PM-elect: Troops out of Iraq “I think Spain’s participation in the war has been a total error,” Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told a news conference Monday. Although I would have fully supported Spain’s decision not to send … Read more
This just in: France: Bin Laden Nearly Caught in Afghanistan Osama bin Laden has escaped capture in Afghanistan several times and may be linked in some way to the Madrid train attacks that killed 200 people, France’s chief of defense staff said Monday. Gen. Henri Bentegeat said about 200 French troops were operating with U.S. … Read more
I have this recurring dream where I find an extra room in my tiny Soho apartment that I sort of always knew was there, but didn’t really utilize. And it dawns on me as I watch it get bigger before my eyes in that zoom-out-reverse-dolly way things do in movies that I could make this … Read more
Two days ago an as-yet-unnamed enemy shattered the peace and broke the heart of a great city, a great nation, and a lovely people. I’ve been to Spain three times. Once in the mid 80’s, once a few years later, and then again just last year. The transformation there since the mid 80’s has been … Read more
Bush Unveils Negative Ads Vs. Kerry Meeting with congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill, Kerry dismissed the ads, saying they “have nothing to do with health care for Americans, nothing to do with jobs for Americans, nothing to do with education for our kids, nothing to do with cleaner air or cleaner water, nothing to do … Read more
I’ve long supported reform within Islam. An “enlightenment” that would advance the collective perception of the value of the individual would serve all Muslims well, I believe. Much has been written about grassroots efforts that pre-date 9/11 (and hence cannot be attributed to Wolfowitz’s plan), and the New York Times is running a two-part series … Read more
Before the primary in New York, I endorsed Edwards, mostly on the believe that he alone (more than Kerry and more than Bush) stood the best chance of uniting the nation….something I believe should be a national priority during times of war. But perhaps there is another way… Sen. McCain Open to Being Kerry’s VP … Read more
From Marshall: Lest we miss any opportunity to give the White House a hard time over Friday’s disappointing employment report, let’s not overlook this important detail. None of those 21,000 new jobs came from the private sector. They were all the result of increased government sector hiring. And then there’s this “The numbers … reinforce … Read more
The White House has changed its mind (must be “Kerry’s flip-flop” influence…at least I’m sure it’s not Bush’s fault) and decided that the 9/11 panel won’t be limited to hour with Bush. McClellan’s comments suggested the administration had undergone a second change of heart about the commission. Bush originally had opposed the panel’s request for … Read more
Hans Blix has a book coming out in which he claims it’s probable that Bush and Blair “were conscious that they were exaggerating the risks they saw in order to get the political support they would not otherwise have had.”
Choice quote:
It is understood and accepted that governments must simplify complex international matters in explaining them to the public in democratic states.
William Safire’s op-ed piece today notes how the times are changing. How the right is now embracing the NEA in its nearly 40-year-old mission of “bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education.” From Safire: Remember the hoo-ha a while back about the funding of edgy art, offensive to some taxpayers, … Read more
There are several definitions for “war” in my dictionary. The one that seems most appropriate with regard to the “War on Terror” is A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious: e.g., the war against acid rain. One definition that does not seem appropriate, but is actually a … Read more
As Moe, Von, and Katherine have cruelly ignored Sidereal, who declared “an open thread revolution” for the Wingistanians who have “too long suffered under a dictatorial regime that brutally withholds a sufficiency of open threads,” and as I believe diplomacy should be fully exhausted before resorting to violence (not that M, V, and K don’t … Read more
Would you buy it with a dime? Would you buy it for some time? Would you buy it if you’re poor? Would it make you write much more? If e-mail was no longer free (something geeks around the world are debating, mostly as a response to the scourge of spam), how would that change the … Read more
So if one of the most compelling arguments for the FMA is to prevent judges in Massachusetts from legislating what happens in New York, where does this fit in? A state judge on Friday barred the mayor of a college town from performing more same-sex marriages for a month, saying Jason West was ignoring his … Read more
Not for Martha, anyway… Martha Stewart Is Guilty of All Charges Pertinent Paragraph: Conviction on the charges against Ms. Stewart would carry a possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison, but federal guidelines could reduce that to about a year. OK, so this time, I’m serious…I’m shocked.
Asked why he later backed down from emploment predicitions in a report he signed, Bush reportedly said “I’m not a statistician. I’m not a predictor.” He’s not someone who can run an effective campaign on the job-creating effects of his tax-cut program either, obviously. U.S. employers added just 21,000 positions in Feb. Pertinent paragraphs: America’s … Read more
From the New York Daily News Or as Joey once said on “Friends” (oh, save the judgements, will ya…): “You’re so far past the line, you can’t even see the line….the line’s a dot to you.”
There’s one thing I know about losing a loved one to an unexpected tragedy. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about it…all the thoughts you might have about what happened are valid, no matter how disloyal, no matter how unfair they may seem. In my large family, we form a protective circle around … Read more
Via three different blogs, but starting with TBogg comes this insanely entertaining idea*: Bill Clinton for Kerry’s Running Mate *At least if you’re a Democrat.
On the Today Show, this morning, Tim Russert said that if, in the 2000 election, it was “Florida, Florida, Florida,” this time around it’s “Ohio, Ohio, Ohio.” Hailing from the Buckeye state myself (which I’m currently very upset with for its recent DOMA, I must admit), I’m perhaps more aware than most of what’s been … Read more
There’s an old line about protesting (can’t remember the source) that goes something like: Q: Why are all the protesters you see on TV always liberals? A: Because all the conservatives have jobs! I like to think it’s also because none of them can make puppets…but I digress… If extreme rightists were to suddenly take … Read more