Bush tosses a pebble in the water and the ripples spread across the lake; the EU drops a huge rock of conventional wisdom and it sinks without trace. I’ve said before that, if America is Coke, the world could use a Pepsi. If the EU doesn’t have the will to fulfil that role militarily, it could at least try to do it intellectually, with a bit of fresh creative thinking about some of these issues. But instead it clings to 1970s terrorists, 1970s missile treaties and 1970s environmental doom-mongering. Poor old Europe: never mind walking the walk, it can’t even talk the talk.
I will not apologize to
I will not apologize to McCain- I was uncharitable about his military record, this much is true- he is a hero. That is as far as I will backtrack, however. McCain has spent the last two decades accomplishing nothing as a legislator except embroiling himself in the Keating Five and the god-awful McCain-Feingold bill. On second thought, now that I have seen some of the stuff he has sponsored and co-sponored, I should be glad he has accomplished little. He is nothing more than the token Republican for every one of Kennedy’s and Leahy’s and Dodd’s bad ideas, and has been nothing but a pompous, self-promoting, ankle-biting thorn in Bush’s side since the year 2000. And probably before.
Feel free to add him to the list below.
People who need to be
People who need to be bitch-slapped:
Anyone who mentions Enron, Global Crossing, Worldcom, and Martha Stewart in the same sentence. As much as this pains me to defend this shrill harpy and stiff martinet whose ego is surpassed only by Rush Limbaugh and Hillary Clinton, the women does not look guilty by any objective examination of any evidence I have seen. Kinda convenient for the House committee to ignore any evidence that might exonerate her.
Anyone named Bud Selig.
Anyone who has their panties in a bunch over Bush and Harken (which amounted to nothing according to the SEC- but hell, this being an election season, let’s ignore them and tar and feather those people too) but has failed to once mention Global Crossing and Terry McAuliffe. You bloggers know we can check your archives, and we do know who you are.
Whoever thought Phil Donahue needed a new show in primetime. Was Arsenio unavailable to provide thoughtful commentary?
Anyone who thought the assault on Microsoft was anything more than Clinton-era trash politics and ‘hate-the-rich’ populism. At least their earning statements are real, you prick bastards.
Bud Selig.
Hypocrite Democrats who are now attacking corporate America for defrauding investors. Are they pissed because this means fewer tax incomes because of the insidious capital gains tax? Or because this might mean less money in the even worse estate tax revenue? Or maybe it is because…. Hey- Why are they defending investors all-of-a-sudden? I thought they are the party of the poor, and according to their progressive tax strategies, anyone who makes 50k and has a moderate 401k plan is RICH. Oh yeah. This is an election year.
Anyone who claims cheerleading and figure skating are sports. No, I can not cheerlead or figure skate- but that doesn’t mean they are a sport. I can’t lay an egg or swallow a sword, either, but no one is claiming they are sports.
Al Franken.
Norm Mineta and Tom Ridge.
MLB players union.
Whoever designed popup window ads.
Did I mention Bud Selig?
Finally, Something for Major League
Finally, Something for Major League Soccer to be happy about:
Posting will be light this
Posting will be light this week (as if you did not already know this from the absence of posts), as I am out of town teaching and have very little time to post (plus I hat this 56k connection). One general thought:
The Democrats really saved us some time today. Since they attacked the President’s speech on corporate responsibility BEFORE he gave it, it should be clear to everyone that they have already made their minds up about every issue and every thing the President stands for or might in the future stand for- they oppose it.
It was a refreshing bit of honesty and openness on their parts. Now we can really dismiss anything they say as pure partisan politics. Let’s try it and see how well we can predict future Democratic reactions.
Future Bush Energy Policy:
Bush is in bed with big busiiness, he wants to put arsenic in water, we can not drill our way into a surplus of energy, there are not enough tax cuts for alternative energy programs, Bush is in bed with Detroit and will not raise CAFE standards.
Bush Judicial Nominees
This person is an arch conservative. He cuts holes into all of his white pillow cases. He gassed the truck that dragged James Byrd. If he is elected, women and minorities will lose the right to vote, and he will allow legislation to stand as constitutional that would require the jack-hammering of all handicap accessible ramps. He wants to execute retarded jaywalkers. He is against abortion even in the case of pregnancies brought on by a gang rape perpetrated by HIV infected men.
See- It is easy. Just take any position or idea Bush might have, and then insert the most ridiculous, vile, and offensive arguments you can muster or the Democrats have mustered in the past, and you have their argument before they present it. Then, when they actually present their argument, you have a humorous checklist to cross reference.
This is McAuliffe’s winning strategy for November? Perhaps I can help them with a slogan-
Democrats 2002- We Oppose!
One more thing: Why is it that anytime I hear a Senator say “Democrats and Republicans both support this legislation but the President opposes it,” I know that what the person means is “50 Democrats and John McCain support this.” Why is he even in the party anymore, and why does the press adore him? Other than his association with the Keating Five, almost failing out of the Naval Academy, smashing several government jets and being unfortunate enough to be a POW, and the HIDEOUS attempt at curtailing free-speech that was disguised as Campaign Finance, what has this man accomplished? Try to think of one piece of meaningful legislation. Yeah, I thought so. Maybe they like him for his semi-annual melanoma awareness. Shrug.
Will Warren has his own
Will Warren has his own special tribute for the Fourth of July. Here is a smidgeon:
Freedom of Speech
Born to thinking, feeling, speaking,
Each contains a universe;
Larger still the realm they’re seeking,
Forged from sparks of minds diverse.
Freedom of Conscience
All are born to own their sinning,
Born to raise their highest prayers,
Errors large or progress winning,
Most importantly, it’s theirs.
The Rule of Law
Search in vain for unchecked power
Bringing forth a lasting peace,
Freedom grows in law’s sweet bower,
Fencing out a king’s caprice.
One of the things I
One of the things I love about America is how people celebrate common holidays in their own unique way. For example:
Google has their lettering done in the style of an American Flag.
The normally black and white Drudge has red and blue lettering.
William Quick has a copy of the Declaration up.
Lileks has a wonderful bleat up about grocery stores and how we are just the best damn country in the world.
Steve Den Beste has a touching and disturbing photo montage from September 11th.
When I finally go outside and brave the god awful heat, I will be treated to flags hanging everywhere, pudgy people in tight red white and blue t-shirts, fireworks, parades, and all sorts of other displays. What a country.