Entries from April 2004 ↓
April 28th, 2004 — impolite company
In an essay in the New York Times on the White House’s attempted smear of John Kerry’s service record, Gen. Wesley Clark defends Kerry’s “sterling record”, reminding readers that — despite later viewing of the soldier’s record through the lens of politics — at the time of the evaluation, “…there’s no ideology — there are no labels, Republican or Democrat — when superiors evaluate a man or woman’s service to country…”
He finishes his defense of Kerry (and John McCain and Max Cleland) with this wonderful paragraph (bolded text mine):
Although President Bush has not engaged personally in such accusations, he has done nothing to stop others from making them. I believe those who didn’t serve, or didn’t show up for service, should have the decency to respect those who did serve — often under the most dangerous conditions, with bravery and, yes, with undeniable patriotism.
Keep the spotlights shining!
April 28th, 2004 — the web-wide world
I’m sure there are a million ads with titles like this on ebay: SIZE 12 WEDDING DRESS/GOWN NO RESERVE. But, I’m also certain that there is only one with pictures of the dress being modeled by a big beefy guy with tattoos and a doo-rag. And I’m pretty sure there is only one with a description which starts like this:
I found my ex-wife’s wedding dress in the attic when I moved. She took the $4000 engagement ring but left the dress. I was actually going to have a dress burning party when the divorce became final, but my sister talked me out of it. She said, “That’s such a gorgeous dress. Some lucky girl would be glad to have it. You should sell it on EBay. At least get something back for it.” So, this is what I’m doing. I’m selling it hoping to get enough money for maybe a couple of Mariners tickets and some beer. This dress cost me $1200 that my drunken sot of an ex-father-in-law swore up and down he would pay for but didn’t so I got stuck with the bill. Luckily I only got stuck with his daughter for 5 years. Thank the Lord we didn’t have kids. If they would have turned out like her or her family I would have slit my wrists. Anyway, it’s a really nice dress as you can see in the pictures. Personally, I think it looks like a $1200 shower curtain, but what do I know about this.
The pictures are funny, the text is priceless and as of this moment, the bidding is up to $32,900!
April 16th, 2004 — brain-candy
Like someone else who suffered for the good of others, Mark Morford of SF Gate has taken one for the team:
I have seen the movie. I have endured the spectacle so you don’t have to. Here, then, are some counterthoughts. Nine random points of spiritual contention and pointy perspective check, a small pile of juicy karmic stones to toss at the next utterly depressing screening of ‘The Passion’ and perhaps at Mel Gibson’s very sad and deeply tormented ego.
Why? Because he deserves it. Why? Because this is not a movie. It is a sad phenomenon. It is a gross spiritual emetic. It is, clearly, a cry for help.
In his usual hyperbolic, over-the-top fashion, Morford dissects Gibson’s hyperbolic, over-the-top movie. Required reading.
April 15th, 2004 — brain-candy
Says Riverbend:
…when I hear talk about “anti-Americanism” it angers me. Why does American identify itself with its military and government? Why is does being anti-Bush and anti-occupation have to mean that a person is anti-American? We watch American movies, listen to everything from Britney Spears to Nirvana and refer to every single brown, fizzy drink as “Pepsi”.
I hate American foreign policy and its constant meddling in the region… I hate American tanks in Baghdad and American soldiers on our streets and in our homes on occasion… why does that mean that I hate America and Americans? Are tanks, troops and violence the only face of America? If the Pentagon, Department of Defense and Condi are “America”, then yes- I hate America.
We are not all tanks and guns. We are not all lying liars like W and Condi and Donald and Evil Dick. The face of our foreign policy and our adventurism and interventionism is not the true face of Americans. Our government has been hijacked by a cabal of thugs and incompetents who compound their crimes against the world by pretending to speak with the voice of all Americans.
I pray that, like this unnamed woman living amidst the terror of Baghdad, that the people of the world will be able to make the distinction between American foreign policy — the creation of a few ideologues — and the American people. It’s a distinction that is too subtle for our Idiot-in-Chief to make.
April 14th, 2004 — brain-candy
I took the Neocon quiz over at the Christian Science Monitor, and it determined that I’m a liberal.
Liberals…
- Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
- Trace much of today’s anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
- Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
- Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
- Oppose American imperialism
- Support international law, alliances, and agreements
- Encourage US participation in the UN
- Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world’s poor
April 14th, 2004 — impolite company
The crticalviewer has performed a great public service in creating A Busy Person’s Guide to the Bush Press Conference. Too bad I bothered reading the full transcript before I found this, but it does give me the capacity to assure you that exchanges such as the following are devastatingly accurate.
Q: You said the Aug. 6th PDB didn’t warn of hijacking airplanes into buildings, but just some things really close to that. Did you do anything in response?
A: I asked for the briefing and then went on vacation. The report was historical. I was concerned. If I didn’t know something its George Tenet’s fault. Nothing new in PDB. FBI was doing good. I would have acted. If only they had told me: “9/11, NYC, WTC, 8:30am” I would have been there.
