Wow...
McCain Calls Obama's Race Card Bluff
In Iowa today, Team McCain had the audacity to state the obvious:
The McCain Campaign's remarks came in response to Sen. Obama's fundraising speech yesterday during which Sen. Obama, well, played the race card:
Team Obama later 'clarified' the Senator's comments to reference his Washington outsider status- though, how a person's physiognomy is actually related to being a beltway-outsider the Obama Campaign neglected to explain.
From this corner, that Sen. Obama has played the race card in this election is a given. To wit, the only reason race has been an issue in this campaign, at all, is because Sen. Obama is so apt to bring it up.
Hat tip to Sen. John McCain for calling a spade a spade. America's racial diversity is done no service by Sen. Obama's vitriol.
Sen. Obama played the race card.
[Link]
The McCain Campaign's remarks came in response to Sen. Obama's fundraising speech yesterday during which Sen. Obama, well, played the race card:
"Nobody thinks that Bush and McCain have a real answer to the challenges we face. So what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me," Obama said. "You know, `he's not patriotic enough, he's got a funny name,' you know, `he doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills.'"
Team Obama later 'clarified' the Senator's comments to reference his Washington outsider status- though, how a person's physiognomy is actually related to being a beltway-outsider the Obama Campaign neglected to explain.
From this corner, that Sen. Obama has played the race card in this election is a given. To wit, the only reason race has been an issue in this campaign, at all, is because Sen. Obama is so apt to bring it up.
Hat tip to Sen. John McCain for calling a spade a spade. America's racial diversity is done no service by Sen. Obama's vitriol.
Slate on 'Romneymania'
Slate is far from my cup tea when it comes to finding amusing commentary.
But yesterday's rundown of Presidential also-ran Mitt Romney was too fun to pass unnoticed. It isn't quite Gerard Baker. But it is pretty.
Slate blogger Bruce Reed describes one reason why Mitt would be a terrible pick for John McCain:
As the French might say: touche, Slate. Touche.
But yesterday's rundown of Presidential also-ran Mitt Romney was too fun to pass unnoticed. It isn't quite Gerard Baker. But it is pretty.
Slate blogger Bruce Reed describes one reason why Mitt would be a terrible pick for John McCain:
In a few short hours in Paris, Obama claimed the president as a convert. Romney spent two whole years in France and converted no one whatsoever.
[Link]
As the French might say: touche, Slate. Touche.
Team McCain's Message Problem
CNN sat down with perennial TV personality Ben Stein and asked him to weigh-in on the campaign of Sen. John McCain. While Mr. Stein is a Republican, it may come as a surprise to some that his comments were no a paean to the Senator's campaign prowess:"'Mr. McCain is running the absolute most pathetic campaign I have ever seen in my whole life,' Stein said in his unmistakable monotone delivery. 'His campaign is just heartbreakingly pathetic. He is a very impressive guy. He is a brave guy, but he is running the most lackluster campaign I have ever seen in my entire life. I would have thought Bob Dole's campaign would have set a record for poor campaigns, but this one is even worse. I mean it is shocking.'"
[Link]
I will not condemn Sen. McCain's campaign in quite the same terms as Mr. Stein. But I agree that the Senator needs to hone his message if he hopes to win.
The town hall-style campaign stops favored by Team McCain have obviously treated Sen. McCain well over the course of the primary. But with the general election here, such events are too freewheeling to communicate a consistent message needed to win.
From my experience on the Bush Campaign in 2004, many of the President's events were boring because he repeated the same stump speech ad nauseum. From small town NH, to small town NH, volunteers heard the same speech over, and over, and over again. But eventually, the message stuck. One might have disagreed with the President, but it was abundantly clear where he stood on the issues. This is good politics.
Sen. Kerry, by contrast reversed, 'refined,' 're-assessed,' and 're-tooled' his message at the whim of each new poll. By the time November rolled around, voters were no longer sure whether he was for the $87 Billion dollars, or against it. Accordingly, Sen. Kerry was swift-boated right out of the election. While verbal finesse may work well in the Senate, Americans reward decisiveness, and Sen. Kerry's indecision made him appear weak. This is not good politics.
A similar funk has arguably befallen Sen. McCain. The town hall events favored by the Senator simply do not lend themselves to the type discipline necessary to get one's point across. Instead, the message becomes a jumbled, swirling mass of chaos because the audience dictates the message and tenor of the event. Everyone knows that Sen. McCain is ill-suited for teleprompted orations. But a well-rehearsed speech will more clearly communicate his message to voters, than disparate remarks made across a swath of sundry locales .
Mr. Stein's solution? Bring in Karl Rove.
Mr. Rove orchestrated both of the President's campaigns and managed a convincing win against Sen. Kerry in 2004. He is known as the consummate political operative, and understands the rigors of keeping a candidate on message.
There have certainly been worse ideas.
Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe.
Sen. Coburn Evokes Democrat Ire
The NYT ran a feature-length story on Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn in today's edition. In brief, the article discusses the Senator's resounding defeat in the Senate's perpetual congeniality contest.
The problem?
Sen. Coburn has held up some $10 Billion in bipartisan spending by placing a hold on no less than 35 bills pending passage by unanimous consent. (Senate-speak for passing the bills without debate).
[Link]
The crux of Sen. Coburn's opposition is that any increase in Government spending should be accompanied by efforts to reducing spending in other areas of Government- with special emphasis on reducing the discretionary spending accounts enjoyed by the Federal Government's largest departments and agencies.
Naturally, Democrats favoring government expansion have taken umbrage at the Senator's stand. Majority Leader Harry Reid will look to pass a catchall, omnibus bill aimed at forcing Sen. Coburn to withdraw his holds.
The rough plan is to situate measures such as the "Protect Our Children Act" amid broader legislation that includes all of the measures with which Sen. Coburn takes issue. The Democrats reason that no one would dare to vote against such popular bills. After all, who really opposes protecting our children?
While the effort is sleep inducing to many, Sen. Coburn's efforts have earned him the respect of this Oklahoma son. There is no reasoned justification for the Senate to shirk its deliberative faculties for want of easy government spending. Better bills result when measures are given appropriate consideration through debate.
While Sen. Coburn may not win the Senate congeniality award, I am confident that his efforts will endear him to voters in Oklahoma when he is up for re-election.
The problem?
Sen. Coburn has held up some $10 Billion in bipartisan spending by placing a hold on no less than 35 bills pending passage by unanimous consent. (Senate-speak for passing the bills without debate).
[Link]
The crux of Sen. Coburn's opposition is that any increase in Government spending should be accompanied by efforts to reducing spending in other areas of Government- with special emphasis on reducing the discretionary spending accounts enjoyed by the Federal Government's largest departments and agencies.
Naturally, Democrats favoring government expansion have taken umbrage at the Senator's stand. Majority Leader Harry Reid will look to pass a catchall, omnibus bill aimed at forcing Sen. Coburn to withdraw his holds.
The rough plan is to situate measures such as the "Protect Our Children Act" amid broader legislation that includes all of the measures with which Sen. Coburn takes issue. The Democrats reason that no one would dare to vote against such popular bills. After all, who really opposes protecting our children?
While the effort is sleep inducing to many, Sen. Coburn's efforts have earned him the respect of this Oklahoma son. There is no reasoned justification for the Senate to shirk its deliberative faculties for want of easy government spending. Better bills result when measures are given appropriate consideration through debate.
While Sen. Coburn may not win the Senate congeniality award, I am confident that his efforts will endear him to voters in Oklahoma when he is up for re-election.
McCain Hits Back
After weeks of wondering whether Sen. McCain would ever take off the gloves, his campaign has finally decided to take team Obama to task for its misguided priorities.
Sen. McCain is running the ad below criticizing Sen. Obama's decision to scrap visits to injured service men and women while on his campaign swing through Europe.
The ad will run in a smattering of battleground states including CO, PA, and VA.
Sen. McCain is running the ad below criticizing Sen. Obama's decision to scrap visits to injured service men and women while on his campaign swing through Europe.
The ad will run in a smattering of battleground states including CO, PA, and VA.
Fox News Video Features Reading of Obama Satire
Yesterday, Times of London Editor Gerard Baker wrote a hit satirical piece that made its way around the interweb by storm.
Today, Mr. Baker's reading of the column as featured last night on Hannity and Colmes offers an amusing imagery to the terrific work.
The video appears in full below. Enjoy!
Today, Mr. Baker's reading of the column as featured last night on Hannity and Colmes offers an amusing imagery to the terrific work.
The video appears in full below. Enjoy!
Satire at Its Best
The New Yorker cover fiasco is like a bad episode of Saturday Night Live compared to Gerard Baker's terrific op-ed lampooning the media's love affair with Sen. Barack Obama. Baker's piece reads like a veritable, modern incarnation of Jonathan Swift.
For those still skeptical, here is sample from Mr. Baker's wonderful, column:
For those still skeptical, here is sample from Mr. Baker's wonderful, column:
When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: "Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?"Mr. Baker is the Assistant Editor at The Times of London. His piece can be accessed on the Times website in full, here.
In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.
True Priorities: Obama Scraps Time With Wounded Troops
Sen. Obama's international campaign swing was once justified as a fact 'fact finding mission' by the Obama Campaign. Having given up the Kabuki theater, the trip has now been re-tooled as a 'campaign-funded journey.' As such a journey, team Obama has no longer found it politically expedient to spend time with America's troops.
Isn't one three-point shot enough?
Accordingly, Sen. Obama 'scrapped' today's trip to thank America's wounded veterans for their service. The photo-op in Berlin was clearly the more pressing engagement of the 'campaign-funded journey.'
[Link]
Naturally, the move speaks volumes to the calculating nature of the Obama campaign. I cannot say that Sen. Obama has no core values. But because Sen. Obama's priorities shift on a daily basis, it is almost impossible to say what these core values are.
On the up-shot, not all Europeans are as blinded to the hype as the American media. German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that many Germans left Sen. Obama's speech with mixed reactions:
(Via Temple Night Owl)
Isn't one three-point shot enough?
Accordingly, Sen. Obama 'scrapped' today's trip to thank America's wounded veterans for their service. The photo-op in Berlin was clearly the more pressing engagement of the 'campaign-funded journey.'
[Link]
Naturally, the move speaks volumes to the calculating nature of the Obama campaign. I cannot say that Sen. Obama has no core values. But because Sen. Obama's priorities shift on a daily basis, it is almost impossible to say what these core values are.
On the up-shot, not all Europeans are as blinded to the hype as the American media. German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that many Germans left Sen. Obama's speech with mixed reactions:
Anton Kliegl, however, a 50-year-old managing consultant from Regensburg, didn't see things that way. "In general I have to say I was a bit disappointed," Kliegl said. "The coverage of the primaries created this impression that he was an amazing speaker who could carry away his audience. He didn't do that tonight. I really expected more."Given that Sen. Obama places politics above our troops, those of us Stateside should expect more too.
(Via Temple Night Owl)
Oklahoma City's NBA Nickname
Regardless of their name, I will be a loyal follower of the new Oklahoma City NBA franchise.
And I suppose the team's arena opening with Garth Brooks would be pretty cool.
But, seriously, can't we come up with something (viz., anything) more creative than the "Oklahoma City Thunder?"
[Link]
And I suppose the team's arena opening with Garth Brooks would be pretty cool.
But, seriously, can't we come up with something (viz., anything) more creative than the "Oklahoma City Thunder?"
[Link]
Obama Readies Transition Team?
I understand that Sen. Obama is much beloved in Germany. Recent news events also indicate that he is the darling of the American media as well.
But with the election still some 103 days away, isn't it hubristic of Sen. Obama to be readying his White House transition team?
[Link]
Contrary to European druthers, only Americans will vote in this race. News may travel slow to Berlin, but the latest, stateside polls show that the race is narrowing...
But with the election still some 103 days away, isn't it hubristic of Sen. Obama to be readying his White House transition team?
[Link]
Contrary to European druthers, only Americans will vote in this race. News may travel slow to Berlin, but the latest, stateside polls show that the race is narrowing...
Arctic Oil Projections Bolster McCain's Energy Plan
Yesterday, the AP reported on newly released oil projections for the Arctic Circle. The early numbers forecast that the Arctic contains some 90 Billion barrels of recoverable oil- enough to meet world demand for three years.
Russia, Canada and Denmark are all poised to exploit the region's black gold.
[Link]
Oddly, Sen. Obama remains opposed to drilling. For a campaign premised on hope, the Democrat Nominee seems strangely pessimistic when it comes to developing America's oil capability.
By contrast, Sen. McCain's energy plan offers a sensible mix of alternative energy ideas, while also allowing for the development of America's domestic oil capabilities. I argued along similar lines back in May.
Sen. McCain would do well to emphasize this issue in all of his town hall meetings. It is a fundamental mistake of Sen. Obama to forestall conversation about developing America's domestic oil capabilities- particularly when so many Americans are hurting at the pump. A do nothing Congress and a do nothing candidate will not endear themselves to Americans demanding action on rising fuel costs.
While such a position will not resonate with working Americans, it also will not aid America's long-term National Security interests. If the United States shirks from the Arctic's rich oil deposits, we can rest assured that the Russians and the Chinese will not.
Russia, Canada and Denmark are all poised to exploit the region's black gold.
[Link]
Oddly, Sen. Obama remains opposed to drilling. For a campaign premised on hope, the Democrat Nominee seems strangely pessimistic when it comes to developing America's oil capability.
By contrast, Sen. McCain's energy plan offers a sensible mix of alternative energy ideas, while also allowing for the development of America's domestic oil capabilities. I argued along similar lines back in May.
Sen. McCain would do well to emphasize this issue in all of his town hall meetings. It is a fundamental mistake of Sen. Obama to forestall conversation about developing America's domestic oil capabilities- particularly when so many Americans are hurting at the pump. A do nothing Congress and a do nothing candidate will not endear themselves to Americans demanding action on rising fuel costs.
While such a position will not resonate with working Americans, it also will not aid America's long-term National Security interests. If the United States shirks from the Arctic's rich oil deposits, we can rest assured that the Russians and the Chinese will not.
Lolcat of the Week
I have no pets here in Tucson. But if ever I got a cat, I hope it would have this expression often.
more cat pictures
more cat pictures
Parsing Obama's Health Care Plan
Can this be? An analytical piece on Sen. Obama that is less than effusive?
Or perhaps the NYT is just doing a little triage after its editorial rejection snafu from earlier this week.
It is one of the most audacious promises in a campaign that has been thick with them.The article reads as if Messiah Obama's halo has suddenly vanished. This must surely be a sign of the apocalypse.
In speech after speech, Senator Barack Obama has vowed that he will lower the country's health care costs enough to "bring down premiums by $2,500 for the typical family." Moreover, Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised that his health plan will be in place "by the end of my first term as president of the United States."
Whether Mr. Obama can deliver is a matter of considerable dispute among health analysts and economists. While there is consensus that the American health care system is bloated with waste, eliminating enough to save $2,500 per family would require simultaneous and synergistic solutions to a host of problems that have proved intractable for decades.
[Link]
Or perhaps the NYT is just doing a little triage after its editorial rejection snafu from earlier this week.
Coffee and Campaigns
I am not unfamiliar with the phrase latte liberals. One plucky journalist, from the UK no less, even went so far as to read into one's coffee choice a reflection of one's values.Being an honorary New Englander, my sympathies firmly support the position that Dunkin Donuts's coffee is the best in America.
Naturally, what comforts me most in light of the above is that John McCain's Straight Talk Express is laden not with the filth that is anything Starbucks, but good old Dunkin Donuts.
In response, the Weekly Standard makes the case:
If coffee is a heuristic for the presidential election, the McCain campaign is in good shape. While Starbucks is in the process of closing 600 locations, Dunkin' Donuts is opening dozens. Because Americans are pessimistic about the economy, they're more likely to spend only a buck or two on a cup of coffee than they are to splurge on the mocha chip frappuccino. There is also some dignity in being able to say small, medium, or large as opposed to tall, grande, or venti. Customer surveys also show that Dunkin' Donuts is out pacing Starbucks for the first time in years.With rational analysis like that, and a most agreeable conclusion, how can I disagree? (Of course, I make it a habit to say small, medium and large even when I deign to enter Starbucks so it is appropriate to consider the source).
[Link]
Moreover, Dunkin Donuts had the good sense to hire Rachel Ray as their spokesperson. That alone, would be enough to earn my loyalties- if only to see the commercials.
Song of the Week: A Better Rain
The monsoons have finally arrived here in Tucson. After a long, sun-parched summer, and with a trip to Oklahoma looming, I can think of no better song of the week, for this Tuesday in particular, than George Strait's A Better Rain.Taken from the 2006 album It Just Comes Natural, the melody of the song mixes pensive and optimistic sounds to create a wistful tribute to life and change. What makes the sound unique, in a style specific to George Strait, is its simple use of the fiddle and acoustic guitar. Few instruments are more evocative of such melancholic emotions.
But what really makes the song special is its lyrics. All country lyrics tell a story. Yet, the story in this song happens to be especially true to life. Sung in the first person, it tells the story of a love gone wrong, and likens the end of the relationship to the dark, foreboding rains of a storm. The troubadour muses about life's complexities, and then concludes by wishing the woebegone lover 'a better rain' to wash away the grime of pain.
In response, the mood and music of the tune lifts as the singer encourages the lover to recall the good times- 'before the flood, once upon a time in love, a beautiful us.' The recollection becomes a prelude to the rainbow still to come.
As 2L year peaks over the horizon, the song reminds me how we are each indelibly shaped by our pasts. The music seems to embrace this point. In the song, as in love and life, we have little choice but to forge ahead. Change is inevitable. And so the lot falls on each of us to embrace the rain- to expect that the clouds will pass, and to anticipate the streams in the desert.
Few people go through life having never loved and lost. For those among the masses of people who have done both, the message of A Better Rain will strike a chord.
The photo at right of the Tucson monsoons appears courtesy of yours truly. Feel free to use as you would. A terrific user video of A Better Rain appears below. Lyrics follow after the jump. Enjoy!
A Better Rain
By George Strait
Baby, what do you say when love comes down on you
Rainin' the blues on you
Like it's never gonna end on you
And all your dreams like leaves in the gutter go floatin' by
No, baby, I don't know why all God's children cry
I'll miss your skin, as golden as your wheat-field hair
And where you go, I hope you find out there
A better rain
The kind that comes in off the coast and paints the sky
And lets you know that God's alive
A better rain
That'll wash me from your eyes so you can smile again
And be all right again
In a better rain
Someday is gonna find you in a sweeter place
Long after time has erased
All the words like razor blades
You'll remember you and me before the flood
Once upon a time in love, a beautiful us
I can see you on some stretch of sand
Spinin' round in circles barefoot dancin' in
A better rain
That'll leave behind a rainbow in the sky
Let you know that God's alive
A better rain
That'll wash me from your eyes so you can smile again
And be all right again
In a better rain
A better rain
That'll leave a rainbow in the sky
Lets you know that God's alive
In a better rain
A better rain
McCain - Jindal Rumors Fly
Word on the street yesterday (at least according to Bob Novak) is that Sen. McCain is set to pick his Vice-President sometime this week.
Bloggers at the Washington Post are reporting that Sen. McCain will confer with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Wednesday.
[Link]
Hmm... Coincidence? I hope not.
Regulars here on our corner of the web know of my appreciation for the Bayou State Governor. My summary of Gov. Jindal's pros and cons can be found here. Some might recall that I split hairs with Bill Kristol (and Sonny Bunch) over the Governor here.
Suffice it to say, I will settle for a draw, and hope we are all correct.
Bloggers at the Washington Post are reporting that Sen. McCain will confer with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on Wednesday.
[Link]
Hmm... Coincidence? I hope not.
Regulars here on our corner of the web know of my appreciation for the Bayou State Governor. My summary of Gov. Jindal's pros and cons can be found here. Some might recall that I split hairs with Bill Kristol (and Sonny Bunch) over the Governor here.
Suffice it to say, I will settle for a draw, and hope we are all correct.
Media Bias Thickens: NYT Rejects McCain Op-ed
Sen. Obama's campaign swing through Iraq was supposed to have dominated the headlines today. Instead, the New York Times's petulant editorial policies have stolen the Senator's thunder. The Drudge Report and CNN released virtually identical stories this afternoon, detailing the way in which the NYT rejected a McCain op-ed that was poised to rebut Sen. Obama's Iraq essay from last week.
Even for a partisan such as David Shipley, NYT Op-Ed Editor, one would think that running Sen. McCain's essay would have had fewer consequences than rejecting it. Now, the rejection has created a firestorm of controversy over what was otherwise a fairly innocuous piece. Sen. McCain's rebuttal, at best, corralled the arguments he made at various town hall meetings across the country.
The controversy is likely to fuel extant criticisms of media bias in favor of Sen. Obama levied over the weekend (including those discussed here, earlier this morning).
Update: I will work on appending a photo that captures the degree to which the NYT issue has dominated the news cycle.
Obama Media Bias
The AP ran the following, surprising headline today about the 2008 election coverage:
Is media playing fair in campaign coverage.
Their conclusion in a word: no.
Is media playing fair in campaign coverage.
Their conclusion in a word: no.
"No matter how understandable it is given the newness of the candidate and the historical nature of Obama's candidacy, in the end it's probably not fair to McCain," [Tom Rosenstiel, Director of The Project for Excellence in Journalism ] said.I'm not sure which is worse, the latent media bias toward Obama from the press, or that they openly admit it.
[Link]
Obama to Meet with American Commanders in Iraq
The AP anticipates that the meetings will take place sometime today.
[Link]
While the sentiment is worthwhile, the context of the meetings seems a bit askance. Sen. Obama laid out his plan for Iraq a full week in advance of his 'fact finding' visit. That the Senator's mind is already closed on the matter makes one wonder how awkward Sen. Obama's meeting with the commanders will be.
Further, how the Senator can lay out plans for Iraq without first hearing the commanders' advice (to wit, 'finding the facts') remains a mystery. Naturally, the press has not been interested in pursuing the incongruity.
Perhaps Sen. Obama's monopoly of "hope," also imbues him with the abilities of clairvoyance and divination.
Some Thoughts on HBO's John Adams
Having become well acquainted with Netflix over the course of a lazy Tucson summer, the buzz surrounding HBO's oft lauded 'epic mini-series' John Adams became too tempting. The series has already racked up some 23 Emmy nominations, good for the most of any program. The awards will be handed out in early September.
Given the clamor, this past week I had shipped to me the entire, three disk set, and found it absolutely riveting. So much so, that I watched disks one and two in one sitting. I would have watched the third disk, but I assumed that pulling an all nighter during the summer was simply too much- even for me.
For the history buffs among us, the series stays remarkably true to the eponymous biography written by David McCullough. I read the McCullough biography when it was still fairly new back in 2003. On watching the HBO iteration, I was surprised to see many of the thoughts triggered by McCullough's volume re-conjured while watching the film.
Specifically, what makes Adams a compelling figure is his relative obscurity vis-à-vis the other Founding Fathers. Grossly overshadowed in nearly every way, Adams is portrayed as a vain, petulant man who is ill at ease among the courtly presence of Jefferson, Washington, and the royalty of Europe.
Paul Giamatti (of Sideways acclaim- another favorite of yours truly) captures the role with a particular authenticity. When Adams humanity is contrasted on screen with the apotheosis of Washington, and the reticence of Jefferson, it is difficult not to see a bit of one's self in the portrayal. Among the law student set, bruised egos and self-confidence have been the respective bane and embodiment of social graces for the balance of 1L year. Viewing Adams in this light (another lawyer), reminds me that such personal vanities have long been ingrained into the profession. For better or worse. More broadly speaking, Adams's feelings of under appreciation, and concern for his public perception resonate well with anyone who has felt slighted for their contribution, or wondered what another person thinks of them.
The role of Abigail Adams played by Laura Linney is another well cast part. Linney comes across as a strong woman, eminently loyal to her husband, and eminently apt to give him advice. Linney manages to portray the role convincingly, while deftly navigating the strength of Abigail Adams's character without being overbearing. Would that there were more such women.
I should also add that the HBO series captures well the social mood of the period, and fairly depicts the original patriots lives in shades of gray. The first episode does not clearly identify any saints, or sinners. In fact, the mob mentality of the Boston Massacre scene shows both the inflamed passions of the MA colonists, and the comparative restraint of the British forces. The subsequent scene of the Boston Tea Party also leaves the issue of good guys and bad guys open for debate. One could easily call the mob insurrectionists, and the tea merchants victims.
On the other hand, this tension is firmly settled in the series during the convention of delegates in Philadelphia. As both sides wrangle over the costs and benefits of war (not unlike Congress today), the side of the Patriots is sympathetically portrayed in a bit of high drama during the Second Continental Congress, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
In sum, the hype over the John Adams series is well founded. For every modern Patriot, the program comes with my high recommendation. To whet your appetite, a portion of the film showing the editing of the Declaration of Independence appears below. Enjoy!
Given the clamor, this past week I had shipped to me the entire, three disk set, and found it absolutely riveting. So much so, that I watched disks one and two in one sitting. I would have watched the third disk, but I assumed that pulling an all nighter during the summer was simply too much- even for me.
For the history buffs among us, the series stays remarkably true to the eponymous biography written by David McCullough. I read the McCullough biography when it was still fairly new back in 2003. On watching the HBO iteration, I was surprised to see many of the thoughts triggered by McCullough's volume re-conjured while watching the film.
Specifically, what makes Adams a compelling figure is his relative obscurity vis-à-vis the other Founding Fathers. Grossly overshadowed in nearly every way, Adams is portrayed as a vain, petulant man who is ill at ease among the courtly presence of Jefferson, Washington, and the royalty of Europe.
Paul Giamatti (of Sideways acclaim- another favorite of yours truly) captures the role with a particular authenticity. When Adams humanity is contrasted on screen with the apotheosis of Washington, and the reticence of Jefferson, it is difficult not to see a bit of one's self in the portrayal. Among the law student set, bruised egos and self-confidence have been the respective bane and embodiment of social graces for the balance of 1L year. Viewing Adams in this light (another lawyer), reminds me that such personal vanities have long been ingrained into the profession. For better or worse. More broadly speaking, Adams's feelings of under appreciation, and concern for his public perception resonate well with anyone who has felt slighted for their contribution, or wondered what another person thinks of them.
The role of Abigail Adams played by Laura Linney is another well cast part. Linney comes across as a strong woman, eminently loyal to her husband, and eminently apt to give him advice. Linney manages to portray the role convincingly, while deftly navigating the strength of Abigail Adams's character without being overbearing. Would that there were more such women.
I should also add that the HBO series captures well the social mood of the period, and fairly depicts the original patriots lives in shades of gray. The first episode does not clearly identify any saints, or sinners. In fact, the mob mentality of the Boston Massacre scene shows both the inflamed passions of the MA colonists, and the comparative restraint of the British forces. The subsequent scene of the Boston Tea Party also leaves the issue of good guys and bad guys open for debate. One could easily call the mob insurrectionists, and the tea merchants victims.
On the other hand, this tension is firmly settled in the series during the convention of delegates in Philadelphia. As both sides wrangle over the costs and benefits of war (not unlike Congress today), the side of the Patriots is sympathetically portrayed in a bit of high drama during the Second Continental Congress, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
In sum, the hype over the John Adams series is well founded. For every modern Patriot, the program comes with my high recommendation. To whet your appetite, a portion of the film showing the editing of the Declaration of Independence appears below. Enjoy!
Europe's Obama - Kennedy Fixation
The estimable AFP reports that across the pond 'Obamania' is manically in vogue. According to the report, newspapers in the old countries have lauded Sen. Obama as the "John Kennedy of our time."[Link]
As I have observed before, one might question whether Europeans are being uncharitable to the Democrat nominee.
Though his wife is a bit off color, we haven't any reason to suppose that Sen. Obama is a womanizer, nor have we any reason to suspect that he will lead us to the brink nuclear war.
Given the benefit of the doubt, I see no need for Europe's insulting comparison. Sen. Obama is no John Kennedy, and this is in America's best interests.
Pregnant at 100
Scientists at the Institute of Medical Biology in Singapore have predicted that pregnancy at age 100 could be possible within the next 30 years thanks to advancements in medical technology.
The news reminds me of the words of St. Paul:
The news reminds me of the words of St. Paul:
"Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive."I cannot think of a less beneficial, or a less constructive medical advancement than a pregnant centenarian.
[Link]
Media Bias and Obama's Iraq Trip
Sen. Barack Obama's up-coming campaign swing through Iraq was bound to raise eyebrows.
Yesterday, Washington Post columnist Howard Kurtz observed that no less than three network news anchors will accompany the Senator to assure that this is so.
[Link]
Oddly enough, when Republican Sen. John McCain made a similar trip to the region last March, nary a word was mentioned on the major networks about his trip. In fact, CBS refused to send any correspondents at all.
While the above is a stunning example of media bias, the resounding cognitive dissonance of the matter comes from Sen. Obama himself. Despite the overt fawning of America's media elite, Sen. Obama still seems to think that the press is 'conservative,' and that 'they' are out to get him (and his wife).
[Link]
Yesterday, Washington Post columnist Howard Kurtz observed that no less than three network news anchors will accompany the Senator to assure that this is so.
[Link]
Oddly enough, when Republican Sen. John McCain made a similar trip to the region last March, nary a word was mentioned on the major networks about his trip. In fact, CBS refused to send any correspondents at all.
While the above is a stunning example of media bias, the resounding cognitive dissonance of the matter comes from Sen. Obama himself. Despite the overt fawning of America's media elite, Sen. Obama still seems to think that the press is 'conservative,' and that 'they' are out to get him (and his wife).
[Link]
Dowd on Satire and Obama
In what must surely be a sign of the apocalypse, I find myself in full agreement with NYT columnist Mauren Dowd twice in one week.
Dowd's latest op-ed takes aim at Sen. Obama's New Yorker Magazine 'kerfluffle'. The publication's monthly cover depicts the Senator in traditional Muslim garb with his wife wielding an AK-47.
Naturally, team Obama was apoplectic. Yours truly plans to buy at least two copies when time allows.
Nevertheless, Ms. Dowd opines that the Senator's reaction to the magazine reinforces notions of the Senator as being humorless, and his campaign airless (both true). The best part of Ms Dowd's op-ed appears below:
Here's hoping America's comedians rise to the challenge.
Dowd's latest op-ed takes aim at Sen. Obama's New Yorker Magazine 'kerfluffle'. The publication's monthly cover depicts the Senator in traditional Muslim garb with his wife wielding an AK-47.
Naturally, team Obama was apoplectic. Yours truly plans to buy at least two copies when time allows.
Nevertheless, Ms. Dowd opines that the Senator's reaction to the magazine reinforces notions of the Senator as being humorless, and his campaign airless (both true). The best part of Ms Dowd's op-ed appears below:
When I interviewed Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for Rolling Stone a couple years ago, I wondered what Barack Obama would mean for them.Politicians have been lampooned from the earliest days of our Republic. There is no reason that satire should cease just because Sen. Obama is running for President- and perhaps a bit dour.
"It seems like a President Obama would be harder to make fun of than these guys," I said.
"Are you kidding me?" Stewart scoffed.
Then he and Colbert both said at the same time: "His dad was a goat-herder!"
[Link]
Here's hoping America's comedians rise to the challenge.
Iran: The Case for Military Action
Today's Wall Street Journal op-ed by John Bolton, America's former UN Ambassador, outlines the rationale for military strikes against the Iranian regime.
It may surprise some, but Mr. Bolton does not advocate air strikes by America. Rather, he argues that the U.S. should support Israel's efforts to disarm Iran's nuclear program through strategic air strikes- regardless of impact on oil prices.
The crux of the argument follows:
Perhaps they are.
But I think it is misguided to blindly support Israel's lead without first considering the costs of American acquiesce.
Specifically, I think Mr. Bolton's argument pays too little attention to the costs of gasoline that may result from such an attack. Given the economic impact of a major, attack-induced price hike, the implications for the United States could be dire. Based on this context, oil prices must be considered as much a function of National security as would a nuclear armed Iran.
Such caution provides a compelling reason to ramp up domestic oil production and to begin exploring alternative energy sources. But it is also a compelling reason not to support air strikes carte blanche.
It may surprise some, but Mr. Bolton does not advocate air strikes by America. Rather, he argues that the U.S. should support Israel's efforts to disarm Iran's nuclear program through strategic air strikes- regardless of impact on oil prices.
The crux of the argument follows:
Thus, instead of debating how much longer to continue five years of failed diplomacy, we should be intensively considering what cooperation the U.S. will extend to Israel before, during and after a strike on Iran.Mr. Bolton seems to assume, with a certain fatalism, that strikes are an inevitability.
[Link]
Perhaps they are.
But I think it is misguided to blindly support Israel's lead without first considering the costs of American acquiesce.
Specifically, I think Mr. Bolton's argument pays too little attention to the costs of gasoline that may result from such an attack. Given the economic impact of a major, attack-induced price hike, the implications for the United States could be dire. Based on this context, oil prices must be considered as much a function of National security as would a nuclear armed Iran.
Such caution provides a compelling reason to ramp up domestic oil production and to begin exploring alternative energy sources. But it is also a compelling reason not to support air strikes carte blanche.
Tony Snow, Dead at 53
Given the recent deaths of several political figures, I have so far opted to remain silent about their passing. It makes sense to me that the many people who knew them should laud their excellence.But today, Tony Snow has passed away at the age of 53, and this loss leaves me unable to keep silent.
[Link]
I never knew Tony Snow. Although I was fortunate to meet several politicos as they trekked through the State of New Hampshire, Tony Snow was among the Washington officials who remained beyond my six degrees of separation.
But as an ardent follower of all things political, I feel I got to know Mr. Snow while watching his daily pressers. When it was first announced that Tony Snow would take over for Scott McClellan, I cannot recall being more excited about a new White House Press Secretary. Even then, history was writing Mr. McClellan's political epitaph. Any contrast to his bumbling style was welcomed.
As a result, I remained convinced in the Spring of 2006 that the fundamental problem of my Party was the ability to communicate our ideas in a civil, intelligible way. I knew that Tony Snow could help us do both. I was not disappointed. Mr. Snow's performance on the job, though lasting only 17 months, was the stuff of legend. His grandiose reactions to inane questions, and his rhetorical ability to challenge a question's premise was unequaled. It is unfortunate for us that he did not remain in the post longer.
But in my mind, what made Tony Snow a standout Press Secretary is that he took on duplicitous questions with a velvet hammer in an agreeable, charming manner. Given an age of partisanship and lambasting, the Republican Party needs more Tony Snows to guide us along the way. Scott McClellan double-talk does us far more harm than good.
The Tony Snow I grew to know from afar reminds me of the need to be polite, to be civil, and to be direct.
And perhaps most importantly, to punch with a smile.
Photo courtesy of Fox News.
Maureen Dowd on Picking the Right Spouse
It is true that in the past I have referred to NYT columnist Maureen Dowd using indelicate language. Unfortunately, the word spinster comes to mind.
But for the single and the seeking, Ms. Dowd offers an interesting homily of sorts about picking the 'ideal husband.' I would argue that the advice from Father Pat Connor can equally apply to men and women. Even though it 'eliminates' everyone.
It also makes this blogger realize that perhaps I judged Ms. Dowd a bit too soon. The article is a good read. Enjoy!
[Link]
But for the single and the seeking, Ms. Dowd offers an interesting homily of sorts about picking the 'ideal husband.' I would argue that the advice from Father Pat Connor can equally apply to men and women. Even though it 'eliminates' everyone.
It also makes this blogger realize that perhaps I judged Ms. Dowd a bit too soon. The article is a good read. Enjoy!
[Link]
Pickens Plan? It's Blowing in the Wind
Oklahoma Billionaire T. Boone Pickens made an unexpected visit to the air waves here in Arizona. While watching Fox News yesterday evening, a TV ad aired discussing the current energy crisis, and purporting to offer a solution from Mr. Pickens.
Somewhat intrigued by the Holdenville, OK accent, if not skeptical, I decided to take a look at the website to see what Mr. Pickens plan was. The website provided a brief summary:
I am far from the idealist that Mr. Pickens would seek to inspire. I can no more envision wind energy factories buttressing the Great Plains' economies than I can envision the conclusion of the war on terror. But as noted here, and here, I am not opposed to developing a long-term solution to America's energy crisis that includes renewable, alternative energy sources.
The problem with an all or nothing approach as suggested by Mr. Pickens is that it overlooks the potentially cost-saving policy of exploiting and developing America's domestic oil reserves. My view is that a mix of domestic oil development combined with revamped efforts to make alternative energy sources marketable is the wiser course to follow. Why pick one, when you can do both? Partnerships between the public and private sectors could easily provide a double-front for attacking the dilemma.
Some on the left have argued that we should invest in alternative energy sources so that we can move away from oil based energy sources permanently. But this is a different argument than the one made by Mr. Pickens. His point seems to be that we have need to develop alternative energy sources due to the National security implications brought on by our reliance on foreign sources of oil. Given the latest headlines, I am not inclined to disagree. Of course, there is also a pecuniary aspect to Mr. Pickens proposal. As the majority interest holder of BP Capital Management, Mr. Pickens stands to earn a pretty penny should his alternative energy policies be adopted.
Nevertheless, it remains an impressive proposal advocated by Holdenville, Oklahoma's only Billionaire. For those interested, the commercial appears below.
Somewhat intrigued by the Holdenville, OK accent, if not skeptical, I decided to take a look at the website to see what Mr. Pickens plan was. The website provided a brief summary:
The Pickens Plan is a bridge to the future — a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives, and buy us time to develop even greater new technologies.In brief, the T. Boone Pickens plan for America's energy pickle is the wind. Well, wind energy, and an amalgam of domestic energy alternatives to oil.
Building new wind generation facilities and better utilizing our natural gas resources can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports in 10 years. But it will take leadership.
On January 20th, 2009, a new President will take office.
We're organizing behind the Pickens Plan now to ensure our voices will be heard by the next administration.
Together we can raise a call for change and set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.
You can start changing America's future today by supporting the Pickens Plan.
[Link]
I am far from the idealist that Mr. Pickens would seek to inspire. I can no more envision wind energy factories buttressing the Great Plains' economies than I can envision the conclusion of the war on terror. But as noted here, and here, I am not opposed to developing a long-term solution to America's energy crisis that includes renewable, alternative energy sources.
The problem with an all or nothing approach as suggested by Mr. Pickens is that it overlooks the potentially cost-saving policy of exploiting and developing America's domestic oil reserves. My view is that a mix of domestic oil development combined with revamped efforts to make alternative energy sources marketable is the wiser course to follow. Why pick one, when you can do both? Partnerships between the public and private sectors could easily provide a double-front for attacking the dilemma.
Some on the left have argued that we should invest in alternative energy sources so that we can move away from oil based energy sources permanently. But this is a different argument than the one made by Mr. Pickens. His point seems to be that we have need to develop alternative energy sources due to the National security implications brought on by our reliance on foreign sources of oil. Given the latest headlines, I am not inclined to disagree. Of course, there is also a pecuniary aspect to Mr. Pickens proposal. As the majority interest holder of BP Capital Management, Mr. Pickens stands to earn a pretty penny should his alternative energy policies be adopted.
Nevertheless, it remains an impressive proposal advocated by Holdenville, Oklahoma's only Billionaire. For those interested, the commercial appears below.
Wiffle Ball, Lawyers, and Common Sense
The New York Times story about a brewing dispute in Greenwich, CT caught my attention yesterday evening. While the story does not indicate whether a suit has been filed, the suggestion is that one could be filed soon for the most innocuous of things: teenage kids playing wiffle ball.In brief, a group of plucky adolescents decided to build a small wiffle ball field in a public lot designated as a drainage space. This being Connecticut, the locals bristled at the thought of miscreant teens sullying their otherwise plush neighborhood of $1.25 Million homes.
The field cost the kids all of $200 for green paint.
[Link]
One lawyer for the disgruntled neighbors complained:
"The field of dreams has turned into a nightmare for them," said Tom Heagney, the Greenwich lawyer for about six neighbors of the field.In response, the Greenwich Time, Greenwich's local newspaper, opined in favor of the kids:
[Link]
It would be a terrible shame if the end result of this dispute is the field being taken down. What the young people achieved there is remarkable. About 10 to 15 teens spent three weeks clearing the lot of dense thickets and erecting plywood fences in the outfield, including a replica of Fenway's Green Monster. They painted the fences green, put down bases and hung a large American flag from a tree in foul territory down the left field line.While I am not sure that teenagers building a wiffle ball field is all that remarkable, I do agree that it would be a shame for the field to close. The NYT article raises the specter of negligence liability as a reason to close the field, but this position is myopic. The matter at hand is less about tort law, and more about the power of communities to find common sense resolutions to trivial problems.
[Link]
In the grand scheme of things the negligence liability argument is a straw man. The broad definition of negligence is roughly any conduct that creates an unreasonable risk of harm to others (resulting in some actual harm). The general duty of care to avoid negligence liability can be roughly described as a general duty to exercise the care that would be exercised by a reasonable and prudent person under similar circumstances.
Given those wide parameters, it is difficult to imagine any conduct that would pass the test. Under the right confluence of circumstances, there is no conduct which cannot pose some risk of harm to others. From walking in a crosswalk (particularly in downtown Tucson), to riding a bike, to falling in a field playing wiffle ball, virtually anything we do in life includes some 'unreasonable' risk of harm. As for the reasonable person standard, were such a person to exist the individual would bear a striking resemblance to Seinfeld's 'bubble boy,' socially isolated, in-doors, and living with his parents.
Applying the standards above to the situation up in Greenwich, CT provides a powerful clarion for common sense. Shouldn't we allow kids to play without the risk of a lawsuit? Being a liberal rag, the NYT article concludes the opposite:
All kids deserve a Huck Finn summer. We perhaps have lost our collective minds about our overscheduled, overstressed young. But, in the end, maybe there was a reason that Kevin Costner built that Field of Dreams in Iowa and not in Greenwich.Here, I suppose I agree with the NYT. There was a reason that the Field of Dreams was built in Iowa: folks in Iowa still have common sense. But in places like Greenwich lawyers have aided Americans in losing 'our collective minds.
Hope remains. So far, the city's Selectman, Lin Lavery, has put plans to scuttle the field on hold.
NYT on McCain's Health Care Plan
The New York Times ran an interesting headline on Sen. McCain's health care plan today.
The Times headline ominously read:
Perhaps an article on Sen. Obama's plan is forthcoming, but for now the silence is deafening.
The Times headline ominously read:
McCain Plan to Aid States on Health Could Be CostlyWhile the headline may or may not be true, it seems naïve to suppose that Sen. Obama's plan for universal health care will not be similarly cost prohibitive.
[Link]
Perhaps an article on Sen. Obama's plan is forthcoming, but for now the silence is deafening.
Assessing Team McCain
I have before described Dick Morris as being a bit whiny and perhaps even a dash petulant.
But his latest rifling of the GOP nominee is spot on. In conjuring a response to Sen. Obama's latest round of advertising, Mr. Morris argues as follows:
The gracious, bipartisan Senator bit might fly in the cloak room, but Sen. McCain needs to set the record straight on a number of issues in this general, Presidential election.
But his latest rifling of the GOP nominee is spot on. In conjuring a response to Sen. Obama's latest round of advertising, Mr. Morris argues as follows:
A good tag line for the ad would be: "John McCain: when you have real experience, you don't need to exaggerate."Bottom line, Sen. McCain needs to get mean.
But, if McCain doesn't answer, or just replies with his own positive ad, he will let Obama move to the center, a key mistake from which he may never recover. If Obama can hold his 5-10 point lead until the conventions, he will have set in place a pattern that will be very hard to change. With his new ad, Obama could even elevate his lead to double digits
[Link]
The gracious, bipartisan Senator bit might fly in the cloak room, but Sen. McCain needs to set the record straight on a number of issues in this general, Presidential election.
Lolcats: I Play No Game
Just to complete our Sunday roundup, here's another amusing photo from Lolcats.
It's my motto too.
more cat pictures
It's my motto too.
more cat pictures
Dartmouth Hits New Low: Colbert Featured in Alumni Magazine
For such a revered institution, it amazes me how Dartmouth can sometimes be so stupid.
Somehow, our alumni magazine found a way to surpass itself by plastering liberal comedian Stephen Colbert across the cover.
[Link]
For those interested, the article can be found here.
For those not interested, your alumni donations that would otherwise have gone to Dartmouth can be better invested here.
Somehow, our alumni magazine found a way to surpass itself by plastering liberal comedian Stephen Colbert across the cover.
[Link]
For those interested, the article can be found here.
For those not interested, your alumni donations that would otherwise have gone to Dartmouth can be better invested here.
Explaining Bush's Fundraising
The Washington Post went to great lengths yesterday to try and account for the prodigious fundraising abilities of President Bush. Specifically, the piece made effort to explain why, despite the President's low-approval ratings, he remains a veritable Midas at GOP's fundraisers.
The story can be summarized in brief:
It would be a point of particular irony if the President's fundraising prowess proved to be the weighty counter-punch to Sen. Obama's bid to buy the Presidency.
The story can be summarized in brief:
To look at it another way: Since the start of 2007, Bush alone is responsible for raising more money than the entire Democratic National Committee.While the President's poll numbers may be down, his fundraising numbers look to be as strong as ever. Not bad for a President long written-off for dead by the Democrats and the press.
[Link]
It would be a point of particular irony if the President's fundraising prowess proved to be the weighty counter-punch to Sen. Obama's bid to buy the Presidency.
Obama's Iraq Fallout
Sen. Barack Obama continued to try and blunt the political fallout emanating from this recent position flip on Iraq.
According to CNN, Sen. Obama claimed consistency in his Iraq policy:
Such faux surprise seems a bit of a stretch given that Sen. Obama's campaign has hitherto rested on his ability to have 'finely calibrated every single word.'
According to CNN, Sen. Obama claimed consistency in his Iraq policy:
"I wasn't saying anything that I hadn't said before. That I didn't say a year ago. Or when I was a U.S. senator. If you look at our position, it's been very consistent. The notion that we have to get out carefully has been a consistent position," he said.The Senator added that to the extent he had not been consistent, it was the media's fault, and expressed surprise at the attention paid to his reversal.
[Link]
Such faux surprise seems a bit of a stretch given that Sen. Obama's campaign has hitherto rested on his ability to have 'finely calibrated every single word.'
Happy Independence Day
In the summer of 2001, I had the opportunity to climb Pikes Peak, a 14,110 ft. mountain majestically located outside the Colorado hamlet of Maintou Springs. What made the trip memorable, aside from the miracle that I actually made the climb, was the beauty of the ascent. Being but a recent high school graduate, I knew somewhat of the history associated with Pikes Peak, but it was difficult to appreciate Katharine Lee Bates' 1893 hymn America the Beautiful without having had the benefit of my own trek up the mountain.
After a visit to the mountain top, I can say with memorable conviction that the words of the song aptly sum up everything we celebrate about America today. From our amber fields to our gleaming, alabaster cities, the song offers a true message of pride that all Americans can appreciate and tuck away into our National conscience.
In a few hours, the crowds will begin filling the Charles River Esplanade up in Boston, lining the East River in New York, and converging upon the National Mall in Washington, DC. The strains of Yankee Doodle Dandy, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic will fill the air. Mouths will gape at exploding colors of red, white, and blue. Here in Tucson, the festivities may be a bit muted by comparison. But even as the sun sets behind the Catalinas painting the desert sky, the annual celebration of America is warmly and fondly shared.
To mark the day, there is no better version of America the Beautiful than the rendition performed by Ray Charles. For those unfamiliar, Ray Charles was the blind son of an unwed couple that scraped by stacking boards and fixing cars. His impecunious lineage notwithstanding, Ray Charles would go on to become one of America's all-time music legends. The Ray Charles story reminds us that anything is possible in our great and blessed land. His version of our National Hymn reminds us why this is so.
On most days we duke it out here at Pax Plena between the left and the right, but timeless songs like Bates' hymn to America remind us that there is much to celebrate in the greatest Nation on Earth. So, here's three cheers from Pax Plena for the fifty-six, impudent men who signed our Declaration of Independence. Their bold 'expression of the American mind' remains the definitive sentiment of free people, across the ages.
After a visit to the mountain top, I can say with memorable conviction that the words of the song aptly sum up everything we celebrate about America today. From our amber fields to our gleaming, alabaster cities, the song offers a true message of pride that all Americans can appreciate and tuck away into our National conscience.
In a few hours, the crowds will begin filling the Charles River Esplanade up in Boston, lining the East River in New York, and converging upon the National Mall in Washington, DC. The strains of Yankee Doodle Dandy, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic will fill the air. Mouths will gape at exploding colors of red, white, and blue. Here in Tucson, the festivities may be a bit muted by comparison. But even as the sun sets behind the Catalinas painting the desert sky, the annual celebration of America is warmly and fondly shared.
To mark the day, there is no better version of America the Beautiful than the rendition performed by Ray Charles. For those unfamiliar, Ray Charles was the blind son of an unwed couple that scraped by stacking boards and fixing cars. His impecunious lineage notwithstanding, Ray Charles would go on to become one of America's all-time music legends. The Ray Charles story reminds us that anything is possible in our great and blessed land. His version of our National Hymn reminds us why this is so.
On most days we duke it out here at Pax Plena between the left and the right, but timeless songs like Bates' hymn to America remind us that there is much to celebrate in the greatest Nation on Earth. So, here's three cheers from Pax Plena for the fifty-six, impudent men who signed our Declaration of Independence. Their bold 'expression of the American mind' remains the definitive sentiment of free people, across the ages.
Obama Flip-Flops on Iraq
Nary a year ago, Democrat Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama said:
Today, the Senator's tune was piquantly tweaked as follows:
In fact, Sen. Obama's new position sounds a lot like Sen. Hillary Clinton's position. As Ripley might say, believe it, or not.
On the other hand, Sen. Obama's flip-flop teaches us much. Suddenly, the Senator's naive campaign slogan makes sense. Change we can believe in actually refers to Sen. Obama's ability to change the definition of words. For Sen. Obama, "now" means now only insofar as we can broaden its definition to include Sen. Obama's shifting policies.
We have to begin to end this war NOW! Not tomorrow. Not the next day. Not six months from now. But now.The Senator's remarks can be found in the official Obama Campaign video here:
Today, the Senator's tune was piquantly tweaked as follows:
“I’ve always said that the pace of withdrawal would be dictated by the safety and security of our troops and the need to maintain stability. That assessment has not changed,” he said. “And when I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I’m sure I’ll have more information and will continue to refine my policies.”"Always is a very broad word. A quick look at the campaign video above shows a conspicuous absence of any cautions about troop security and stability. Always, indeed.
[Link]
In fact, Sen. Obama's new position sounds a lot like Sen. Hillary Clinton's position. As Ripley might say, believe it, or not.
On the other hand, Sen. Obama's flip-flop teaches us much. Suddenly, the Senator's naive campaign slogan makes sense. Change we can believe in actually refers to Sen. Obama's ability to change the definition of words. For Sen. Obama, "now" means now only insofar as we can broaden its definition to include Sen. Obama's shifting policies.
Colombian Rescue Details Emerge
CNN ran a fun, interesting story on the Colombian hostage rescue this past week.
According to accounts from the Colombian Government:
The story had a slightly political element as well. GOP Presidential Candidate Sen. John McCain was briefed by Colombian President Uribe before the operation took place. The Senator was actually in Columbia highlighting trade policy and brandishing his National Security credentials. While the rescue had little to do with the Senator's influence, the classified briefing did allow for Sen. McCain to demonstrate the trust placed in him by other Heads of State.
[Link]
Personally, I think the happenstance offers a nice foil. Sen. Obama may come up with a cute 'Obamadential' seal, but it is Sen. McCain who has classified briefings with other Governments.
According to accounts from the Colombian Government:
The agents gained the rebels' trust and rose to the top of FARC's leadership council as well as a team assigned to guard the hostages.The story has a happy ending for former opposition leader Ingrid Betancourt who spent a number of years in captivity. In the end, old fashioned, human intel trumped the sophistry of modern reconnaissance technologies.
When the time was ripe, the moles used the authority they'd gained within the group to order the 15 hostages moved from three separate locations to one central area, and the game was on.
[Link]
The story had a slightly political element as well. GOP Presidential Candidate Sen. John McCain was briefed by Colombian President Uribe before the operation took place. The Senator was actually in Columbia highlighting trade policy and brandishing his National Security credentials. While the rescue had little to do with the Senator's influence, the classified briefing did allow for Sen. McCain to demonstrate the trust placed in him by other Heads of State.
[Link]
Personally, I think the happenstance offers a nice foil. Sen. Obama may come up with a cute 'Obamadential' seal, but it is Sen. McCain who has classified briefings with other Governments.
Oklahoma Bound: Sonics and Seattle Settle
The landlord-tenant dispute between the City of Seattle and the Super Sonics NBA Basketball franchise was set to wrap up today with the Judge issuing her ruling this afternoon.Instead, the parties settled at the 11th hour, and Oklahoma City will get its team in time for the 2008-2009 NBA season!
The AP reports:
The SuperSonics will move to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season as part of a settlement with the city of Seattle, ending a contentious relationship that resulted in a trial in which the judge was due to issue her ruling Wednesday.Oklahoma City's new team will be getting the heck out of Dodge starting tomorrow. After months of legal wrangling, the win has to feel good for owner Clay Bennett and the Oklahoma-based Professional Basketball Club.
The settlement calls for Sonics owner Clay Bennett and the Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay up to $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the KeyArena lease between the NBA team and the city.
The team’s name and colors will be staying in Seattle.
[Link]
The Sonics colors were ugly anyway.
Make no mistake, this Blogger will be a proud supporter of the new team as soon as tickets become available. The team, generally, will be a tremendous boost to both the Oklahoma City economy and community alike. The city's downtown revitalization effort begun nearly a decade ago is paying many an unexpected dividend.
Now that the trial is settled, it's time to call out a particular individual for his foolishness.
Almost two years ago CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel sagely prognosticated:
If you're NBA groupie Oklahoma City, you're comforted that Tampa did finally get its expansion team, and Washington, D.C., did finally get the Expos. But compare those cities to OKC. No comparison, know what I mean? The sunny Tampa Bay market beats the crap out of dusty OKC. Washington, D.C., is one of the leading cities in the world, while Oklahoma City is one of the leading cities in Oklahoma.Oklahoma City will get its team and join some of America's finest cities in boasting its own NBA team. Here's hoping Doyel enjoys covering Oklahoma City's new team at the local Motel 6. We have nicer hotels but they probably exceed Doyel's expense account.
[Link]
I hear on good authority from Dan Rather that the crow tastes especially good at CBS.
Trial docs from the Federal Court in Washington can be found here.
The latest headlines out of Oklahoma City can be accessed here.
Detroit Hurt By Fuel Prices
An article in the New York Times yesterday highlighted the pinch Detroit is feeling by rising fuel costs. The 'slowdown' was typified as follows:
While I feel the pain of blue-collar workers, I do not feel sympathy for the companies. The lesson for Detroit is that fuel efficiency is in and largess is out. There is no mistake that Honda's fuel efficient sedans outsold the others' fleets of SUVs and trucks. My hunch is that the American market for these vehicles has not suddenly vanished, but that consumer demand for more fuel efficient vehicles is on the rise.
Given this, the obvious way for carmakers to recoup their losses is to make more fuel efficient vehicles. In some ways, the ratio between gas prices and CAFE standards represents a sort of perverse inflation. Whereas fuel prices have increased dramatically, vehicles efficiencies have not kept par with the price increase.
I suspect most Americans would mind the price increase less, if their gas purchase would take them further down the road. With environmental types howling about global warming, this would seem to be a natural policy solution that all sides could find agreeable.
The economic slowdown and high gasoline prices hit the carmakers hard last month.First, describing the sales slump as a 'slowdown' is a bit like calling the war in Iraq a 'snafu.' The comment is easily in the running for understatement of the year. The reality is that when Ford, Toyota, and GM all see sales plummet, while Honda's smaller, more fuel efficient fleet posts a sales record, the circumstance is less likely to be a 'slowdown' than a market shift.
Honda’s lineup of small cars helped its United States sales climb to a record for the second consecutive month, but its major competitors reported significant declines in June, the worst month yet in a miserable year for the automobile industry.
[Link]
While I feel the pain of blue-collar workers, I do not feel sympathy for the companies. The lesson for Detroit is that fuel efficiency is in and largess is out. There is no mistake that Honda's fuel efficient sedans outsold the others' fleets of SUVs and trucks. My hunch is that the American market for these vehicles has not suddenly vanished, but that consumer demand for more fuel efficient vehicles is on the rise.
Given this, the obvious way for carmakers to recoup their losses is to make more fuel efficient vehicles. In some ways, the ratio between gas prices and CAFE standards represents a sort of perverse inflation. Whereas fuel prices have increased dramatically, vehicles efficiencies have not kept par with the price increase.
I suspect most Americans would mind the price increase less, if their gas purchase would take them further down the road. With environmental types howling about global warming, this would seem to be a natural policy solution that all sides could find agreeable.
As the World Turns Redux
Many thanks to Ms. Joyce Pines and our friends at the Kalamazoo Gazette for giving Pax Plena a plug in last week's opinion section.
Ms. Pines commented on our post here regarding the June 21st, AP wire piece by Alan Fram and Eileen Putman:
I cannot begrudge Ms. Pines her view- particularly since she kindly (if sarcastically) offered a link to these humble environs. But I do think her assessment misses the point.
While it's true that there is a distinction between opinion pieces and news stories, the conflation between the two in the Fram/Putman piece is exactly the type of unhealthy mix that our post took to task.
Simply put, the prescriptive element of the whole things is that the two need to be clearly distinguished. While I will offer my kudos to the Kalamazoo Gazette for marking the line for readers as Ms. Pines indicated, the AP failed to follow Kalamazoo's lead.
Regarding the opinion offered, our post argued vehemently against it, called its analysis misguided, and then dismissed it as un-American- correctly, I think.
How this misapprehended the difference between news and analysis as Ms. Pines indicated, I'm not quite sure.
Ms. Pines commented on our post here regarding the June 21st, AP wire piece by Alan Fram and Eileen Putman:
Hey, it's just a story. Many of the bloggers apparently failed to understand that the piece was an analysis, which meant it contained opinions and that it wasn't a straight news story. The Kalamazoo Gazette clearly marks such pieces "analysis."Ms. Pines, then, subtly turned the conversation by introducing a video of Cookie Monster's appearance on the Colbert Report. Her natural message being, 'it's just a story,' and perhaps that Americans should eat more cookies.
[Link]
I cannot begrudge Ms. Pines her view- particularly since she kindly (if sarcastically) offered a link to these humble environs. But I do think her assessment misses the point.
While it's true that there is a distinction between opinion pieces and news stories, the conflation between the two in the Fram/Putman piece is exactly the type of unhealthy mix that our post took to task.
Simply put, the prescriptive element of the whole things is that the two need to be clearly distinguished. While I will offer my kudos to the Kalamazoo Gazette for marking the line for readers as Ms. Pines indicated, the AP failed to follow Kalamazoo's lead.
Regarding the opinion offered, our post argued vehemently against it, called its analysis misguided, and then dismissed it as un-American- correctly, I think.
How this misapprehended the difference between news and analysis as Ms. Pines indicated, I'm not quite sure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
The Conservative Blog Network
