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Monday, Feb 17, 2003

digging in

"I believe that the energy and the commitment that brought average people into the streets in rather impressive numbers yesterday was about mistrust of American power in the hands of this administration. Diplomacy by bludgeon, the flatulent public proclamations of �unilateralism� and �benevolent hegemony� and the ham-handed, ever changing rationales for the invasion have served to confirm in many minds that disarming Iraq is merely afirst step in a much larger global agenda. These documented ambitions (which, granted, most people only sense rather than know,) combined with a dubious election, an eccentric if not downright radical foreign policy team and a President whose childlike rhetoric and blindingly obvious lack of qualifications for the job of world leader make America appear to be slightly unstable and potentially threatening. We are the most powerful country on earth and yet something strange and unnerving is going on with our politics. This worries people."

left bunk

"A group of wealthy Democratic donors is planning to start a liberal radio network to counterbalance the conservative tenor of radio programs like "The Rush Limbaugh Show.""

hitchen post

"It was an especially frigid weekend on Mount Winchester, with temperatures dropping into the teens and the snowfall reaching approximately three feet. The solarium, as it often does during the harshness of February, cracked under the weight of snow, endangering Roger's seven prize orchids and nearly freezing our beloved cat, Mr. Hitchens. Of course, we didn't leave the house, but thanks to the Orange Alert, we had ample bottled water and tinned sea bass. I would have spent the weekend drinking wine, but I've vowed not to consume any French products until those Vichy cowards bow down to the noble dogs of war. A collective ass saved twice, apparently, does not evince gratitude from a nation of weaklings."

Friday, Feb 14, 2003

dont go making my heart

harvard squared

notes on winer at harvard blogs

licensed to quill

the vote is in (trouble)

"The question is not whether electronic balloting is a good thing or a bad thing. It is what kinds of electronic balloting have built in safeguards and checks against electronic fraud, and what kinds don�t. The recently passed Help America Vote Act (HAVA), includes $3.9 billion to help state and local goverments install hi-tech upgrades to their voting technology. What is being overlooked is that not all electronic voting systems are created equal. Some of the ones on the market, perhaps even most, have serious flaws that enable unscrupulous people to alter vote counts and commit massive electoral fraud. Some also are designed to leave no electronic backup or paper trail that would enable state officials to discover vote tampering or conduct recounts."

"This, my friends, is a disaster waiting to happen."

french kicks

well, at least they won the '98 world cup.

Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

so much to answer for

"ANSWER's nyet doesn't irk Lerner as much as the fact that Not In Our Name and United for Peace & Justice didn't oppose it. Before Lerner had been suggested as a speaker, the coalitions engineering the San Francisco event had agreed that any individual who had publicly disparaged one of the organizing groups could be vetoed as a speaker by that group. ANSWER used this right to banish Lerner. (The rabbi maintains he had no intention of using his podium time to slam ANSWER: "Why waste my three minutes on ANSWER?") Other organizers of the San Francisco event argued against ANSWER's thumbs-down but ended up abiding by the agreement. (ANSWER has not been involved in the organizing of the coming New York City protest.)"

your history

"In a recent article on HNN Professors Eric Foner and Glenda Gilmore worry that academic freedom is being eroded. While they address the McCarthyite tactics of the right, I think there may also be another interesting story here."

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