These posts are either "jump pages" for my weblog or posts-in-process that will eventually appear there. For what it's worth, here's an archive of these random bits. The picture to the left is by a famous comic book artist.
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"I believe people have taken a step back and asked, ‘What’s important in life?’" said the nation’s chief executive Thursday. "You know, the bottom line and this corporate America stuff, is that important? Or is serving your neighbor, loving your neighbor like you’d like to be loved yourself?" These shards of clueless verbiage bring to mind his father’s brief but beautiful poem about economic distress, "Message: I care." --Joe Conason
As a friend of mine put it, "The steel balls are finally coming out of Captain Queeg's pocket."
12/31/01
Dear Robert Jensen,
I'm writing to thank you for the articles and essays you've written in the aftermath of 9/11. I live and work in the New York metro area and saw the North Tower collapse from a friend's window. The kneejerk calls for revenge and abrogation of international law in the immediate aftermath were appalling, and I took comfort in your brave words. Having lived in Texas for many years, I know such phrases aren't uttered without a price. These are hard times for progressives (and libertarians). The quick "success" of the Afghan bombing campaign made the left seem like doubters and naysayers, and I find myself abandoned on all sides by people I'm usually in accord with. Jacob Weisberg in Slate writes that "there is no antiwar movement"; Christopher Hitchens adroitly paints progressives as unrealistic ninnies that don't live in the real world. Susan Sontag's New Yorker piece (which I recently reread, and which seems quite sane and moderate) is routinely held up as a "traitorous" screed. As I believe you've said, it's difficult to formulate an alternative to the Bush/Pentagon plan that speaks to people. I've argued that it's a police matter, to be pursued through increased intelligence and economic pressure on our Saudi "allies," but that usually falls on deaf ears. I'm not a pacifist, but neither am I in favor of rolling out our huge military machine, across sovereign borders, every time we get angry or scared. I think William Safire's view that we can "civilize" the world at gunpoint is naive--talk about a ninny who doesn't live in the real world! That's precisely why 9/11 happened! Anyway, thanks again, and keep up the good work.
Best, Tom Moody
6/9/02
Dear Maureen Dowd,
Your column today contains a risible suggestion: "Maybe if Mr. Bush brings Rudy Giuliani in as the new cabinet officer, he can work magic." Frank Rich said much the same thing yesterday. I'd like to remind you that this is the same Giuliani who built the city's $13 million "command bunker" on the 23rd floor of 7 World Trade Center, equipped with fuel tanks that exploded and toppled the building. Does his post-9/11 "leadership" really erase this act of stupidity and hubris, which put the entire city at risk? I'd just as soon not have him operating at the national level, thanks.
Best, Tom Moody