Phew. I was just wondering what Martin Scorcese thought about the Iraqi unpleasantness.
Tony Blair for Press Secretary
Tony Blair for Press Secretary
Thank Goodness for the Brits. Read some of this speech:
First, we should remain the closest ally of the US, and as allies influence them to continue broadening their agenda. We are the ally of the US not because they are powerful, but because we share their values. I am not surprised by anti-Americanism; but it is a foolish indulgence. For all their faults and all nations have them, the US are a force for good; they have liberal and democratic traditions of which any nation can be proud. I sometimes think it is a good rule of thumb to ask of a country: are people trying to get into it or out of it? It’s not a bad guide to what sort of country it is.
and
The US choice to go through the UN over Iraq was a vital step, in itself and as a symbol of the desire to work with others. A broader agenda is not inimical to the US; on the contrary. For example the US decision to back a new relationship between Nato and Russia has made both missile defence and Nato enlargement easier and less divisive.
The price of British influence is not, as some would have it, that we have, obediently, to do what the US asks. I would never commit British troops to a war I thought was wrong or unnecessary. Where we disagree, as over Kyoto, we disagree.
But the price of influence is that we do not leave the US to face the tricky issues alone. By tricky, I mean the ones which people wish weren’t there, don’t want to deal with, and, if I can put it a little pejoratively, know the US should confront, but want the luxury of criticising them for it.
and
We must reach out to the Muslim world.
This is about three things. It is about even-handedness. The reason there is opposition over our stance on Iraq has less to do with any love of Saddam, but over a sense of double standards. The Middle East peace process remains essential to any understanding with the Muslim and Arab world. The terrorism inflicted upon innocent Israeli citizens is wicked and murderous and undoubtedly will bring strong action from the Israeli government. No democratic government could do otherwise. That is not the point. The point is that unless there is real energy put into crafting a process that can lead to lasting peace, neither the carnage of innocent Israelis nor the appalling suffering of the Palestinians will cease. At the moment the future of the innocent is held hostage by the terrorists.
But reaching out to the Muslim world also means engaging with how those countries move towards greater democratic stability, liberty and human rights. It means building pathways of understanding between Islam and other religious faiths. This seems an odd thing for a politician to say – but then I am used to clerics offering me advice. But we need to engage with mainstream Islam at a theological as well as political level. Inter-faith dialogue is one important part of greater understanding. The fanatics who abuse true Islam have to be challenged by ideas and values as much as by security and arms. They will recruit new volunteers as fast or faster as we imprison or destroy the old ones, unless we are helping those within the faith of Islam who are speaking out in favour of moderation, tolerance and sense.
Again, thank god for the Brits and Tony Blair. I will take one England over the rest of the EU any day of the week.
Dick Gebhardt in 2004?
Interesting thread over at the Daily Kos discussing the fallout from Daschle deciding not to run in 2004. Some on the list have noted in Kos’s comments section that perhaps this is good for Dick Gephardt in the Iowa primary.
I do not think I could disagree more. IMHO, there is simply no chance in hell that Dick Gephardt will be the Democrat’s nominee. Why?
1.) Gephardt was utterly humiliated in every election in which he was the leader. He never regained the House, despite an exceptionally strong Dem. Presidential candidate (who won the popular vote- which would lead me to think that the Dems would have a decent chance of recapturing the House).
2.) The base hates him. He is a sell-out, he is too conservative, and he voted for the Iraq resolution. The people who decide who the Democrat candidate is will not forget that vote, nor his working with the Republicans and the Bush administration (which is seen as utter capitulation to the people who count in the Democrat primaries).
3.) Many refer to his power with labor. Folks, this is not 1960 anymore. Labor simply is not that important of a voting group as it once was. Perhaps CFR may impact that, but union membership has been declining for years. Furthermore, Unions achieved many of their goals that wed them to the Democrat party. For the most part- they do have decent wages, decent health care, decent retirement. Now, many union members feel comfortable voting on socially conservative issues, such as guns. Also, I think the importance of the friction between the environmental movement and unions should not be downplayed. Bush attempted to drive a wedge in between these groups with ANWR and other issues.
Most importantly, unless you have been visiting the Daily Kos, Eschaton, Ted Barlow, or other lefty sites frequently and for a while, you just have no idea how much the base hates Gephardt. He has no chance in hell.
Daschle Is Out Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle is not running for President. I never thought he would. His wife would probably have to quit her lucrative lobbying job.
If you want to see
If you want to see three of the nation’s most obnoxious liberals discussing media bias, tune in to Al Franken and Mario Cuomo on Donahue tonigh.- I think it is on again at midnight. There was some horribley inept conservative talk show host making little to no sense from the right, so other than Bernie Goldberg, the show was infuriating.
Mario Cuomo had the best quip of the night, though unintentional. He claimed (and I paraphrase) “Liberals like the whole truth, both sides of the argument and are more subtle and nuanced. Conservatives write their message in crayon, we use fine point pen.”
Real subtle Mario- You didn’t mean that conservatives are stupid, did you?
Slow news day, so I
Slow news day, so I have one more grievance I would like to air before I settle down to a night of hockey and reading.
Why can I only find the super-sized gourmet croutons at the store anymore. What happened to the itty bitty perfectly square ones that were hard as hell that I really like? I can’t find the damned things anywhere. And Kroger keeps hiding the plain tomato soup that comes ina can. I don’t want the pre-made stuff, I don’t want chunks in it, I just want 1950’s era add milk to the can tomato soup. How else am I supposed to eat my grilled cheese sandwiches?