Volume 2 Issue 24

March 6, 2003

Bill, you ignorant slut!

Should we bring back the draft, appropriations wars, and geting even with your computer

In January, Congressman Charlie Rangel introduced legislation that would restart the draft, noting that only one member of Congress that approved going to war had an son or daughter that was an enlisted member of the services, and therefore didn't really appreciate what it meant to send Americans to die in battle. While nothing much came of the idea, other than some Don Rumsfeld idiotic statements (boy has his stock fallen fast), Rangel does bring up a good point...should we re-start national service?

Mention this to someone of the baby boomer generation, and you'll likely get a violently opposed response. I was amazed at how vehemently opposed my parents were to the idea when we talked about it once. Once of the reasons for this is that folks from that generation lived through the Vietnam draft, which was very unfair and poorly run. But talk to members of the World War II generation, and many will note that it was a common bonding experience that helped firm up people's identity as Americans. Rich kids and poor kids all together had to serve, and while some could defer it, no one got out of it. It also allowed people to see things they may not have seen. Someone once told me about how on his first night in the Army, he was fascinated by a kid staring at his uniform boots. When he asked him about it, the kid replied that it was the first pair of shoes he had ever owned in his life. Getting that type of exposure to all Americans is really invaluable, and in our "rich get richer" society, something that is badly needed. Perhaps the wealthy wouldn't be pushing for their tax cuts at the expense of social programs if they actually got to know folks that used them.

Of course, today's military is highly specialized (though the Army recently had to allow high-school dropouts to join because it couldn't meet its enlistment goals), and making every 18 year old join the armed forces probably wouldn't work. Furthermore, there is something to the idea that the armed forces should be professional folks who chose to be there, instead of a force cobbled together. But lets face it, there's lots of desk work, and even peacekeeping work that could be farmed out to draftees, leaving the professional army ready to fight. I mean, if we do invade Iraq, is it really good to have the entire Army have to stay there for 5 years? And while this Army is deployed, who's watching the homeland? Couldn't draftees do homeland security things like inspecting ships and manning response centers? Any new draft would have to not be limited to military applications, but also national service as a whole. Draftees could choose to teach in the inner cities, help clean up neighborhoods, build houses for the homeless, and so on. Many high schools now require some community service for graduation, and a national service requirement would be a simple extension of that. And no deferments...everyone would have to serve, but you could choose what you did. That way no one gets advantages in careers or education by not performing their service. Perhaps it would be all 18-20 year olds, or we could make it 22-24 year olds (after college).

Now, here's the funny thing: most Americans, as well as both parties, pretty much support the idea, with the exception of Conservative Republicans. Even a draft critic recently said that he thought National Service was an issue that, properly framed, could sweep the Democrats back into power. President Bush came close to making national service a reality with the "Freedom Corps" he announced in 2002, but he failed to follow through, and a bipartisan bill that would have done it died in Congress. With the nation looking for a way to feel more unified, to more fully understand the differences between rich and poor, and to more fully take on the consequences of our actions at home and abroad, national service could be an important part of the American identity in the 21st Century.

The Washington Monthly has long advocated national service, and ran two articles this month on how to bring it about -
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0303.just.htm l
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2003/0303.glastris .html

So...onto the insanity!

You want Democracy? This is Democracy, you dope! The Turks are annoyed that the Bush Administration is pissed at them for democratically deciding not to allow an invasion force to be based in their country. Hey, we said we want Iraq to be a democracy, we said nothing about Turkey -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48091-2003Mar5.html

Another Veto: China is on board with vetoing any force resolution at the UN -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2825519.stm

And Here's a handy scorecard for the UN Vote -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2798279.stm

I thought we were the monkey: Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegates to an Islamic conference got into a bit of a shouting match yesterday -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48052-2003Mar5.html

Dissing God: Bush rebuffed the Vatican's emissary yesterday -
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030306-21340268.htm

Many Catholics are faced with the decision to support the President or the Pope -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/national/06CHUR.html

War Plans: Gregg Easterbrook has a good look at the weapons and tactics that would be used in a 2nd Gulf War -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2079667/

Can War Correspondents truly be objective? Should they be?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2079703/

And what is up with all the people in Iraq having Stalin-like mustaches?
http://slate.msn.com/id/2079699/

Art Buchwald compares Bush to the Capitan of the Titanic -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48731-2003Mar5.html

And Bush will preempt your Must See TV tonight -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/politics/06CND-PREXY.html

Finally on the war, this article is not really too interesting, but I love the photo of a student at my alma matter, AU, destroying a van with a sledgehammer. I'm sure media relations was real happy about that one -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48259-2003Mar5.html

The Other Country: Democrats have started to pick up on the North Korea thing. Could this be a big issue for them over the next few months?
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-koreas6mar06,1,5000614.story

Where's Osama? Apparently he met with the guy we just captured last month in Pakistan -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/international/asia/06OSAM. html

And...should we torture that guy?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48626-2003Mar5.html

Keeping the panic: Oh, and um...there's this superbug that used to just be in hospitals but now is spreading to the cities in the US...but don't panic or anything...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-601135,00.html

Coming soon to a television near you: Bill Clinton and Bob Dole have signed a contract to restart the old "Point/Counterpoint" series on 60 Minutes on CBS. They will do 10 broadcasts before the end of the season, starting this Sunday. The "Point/Counterpoint" segment was part of the show for a long time, but is better known for the satire segment done by Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live, "Jane, you ignorant slut." Hmm...maybe Bob Dole could use that line too. Oh, and do you realize both of these candidates from the 1996 election are now the husbands of Senators?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48695-2003Mar5.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/business/media/06TUBE.html

Here's Dan Aykroyd: WAV MP3

Don't Piss off the Appropriators: Many Republican Congressmen are still steamed at the President's criticism of them for not fully funding Homeland Security, while at the same time urging them to cut spending -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/politics/06CONG.html

Look Who's Running for President: The first poll to say that George Bush will not win re-election was issued today, with the Quinnipiac University poll stating that Bush would lose to an unnamed Democrat. As to who that Democrat would be, Lieberman is in the lead, with Gephardt close behind. -
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x5010.xml

Look Who's Running for President 2: Gary Hart gave the last of his 4 "policy brief" speeches yesterday, calling for a $1,000 gift to every newborn, to be put in a fund for college or a home purchase. This is actually an idea I've heard before, and it shows that Hart could bring some unique stuff to the trail if he decides to get in. No word on when he'll make a decision though -
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E64%257E12209 37,00.html

Look Who's Running for President 3: A wacko conservative is convinced Hiliary will run for President. Of course, that poll up there says she could easily win the nomination...but I think the ultra-right folks are just deluding themselves -
http://theamericanprowler.com/article.asp?art_id=2003_3_4_23 _15_59

Look Who's Voting for President: A good look at the Democratic Primary Scramble -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/politics/campaigns/06CAMP. html

Look Who's Voting for President 2: Iowa isn't fazed by DC's posturing -
http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/20661533. html

Republican Environmentalists? From Roll Call today...is a GOP Congressman, Appropriations Chairman John Young, about to get a 5.4 cent increase in the gas tax for new highway projects? Wow. Of course, long time readers will know that I have advocated increasing the gas tax to help start a national rail system, but the fact that Republicans are talking about it is still good. Here are some quotes from the article (Roll Call has gone evil, I mean subscription only) -

"With a potential war in the Middle East looming and gas prices already above $2 per gallon in some parts of the country, many Republican insiders were surprised by the audacity of Young's proposal and by his aggressive tactics, which some sources said have included threatening junior lawmakers' pet projects in order to ensure their support."

Torn Governors: Yet another Governor has come out against a budget that he proposed...first New Jersey, now Pennsylvania. Must be something in that Philly water -
http://www.postgazette.com/localnews/20030306statebudget0306 p2.asp

Getting Around: New York will become the latest city to up transit fares, moving to a $2 base fare -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/nyregion/06TRAN.html

And in New Jersey, the most pointless transit line in the nation gets ready to open -
http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m030603a.h tm

Sore Sport: Come on Dick, can't take a little satire?
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/nyregion/06PARO.html

Who Wants to go to Jail? A British winner on the TV program Who Wants To be a Millionaire is accused of cheating, where an audience member helped him win the million pound prize by coughing when he needed help with an answer -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2826219.stm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-601230,00.html

But can the rats shovel snow? A Washington Times columnist takes the DC government to task for still not collecting the trash, and continuing to blame it on last month's snow storm. Actually, we only missed one trash collection, but I don't think they've gotten the recyclables anytime since then. -
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20030306-16007170.htm

And as if the weather related problems in the DC area recently couldn't get worse...major commuter routes in Georgetown were closed today by a mudslide -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50588-2003Mar6.html

I'd like to do this 10 times a day: A bar owner went to jail when he got pissed off at his laptop computer...and blew it way with a gun. The best part of this short wire piece is that the police spokesman's computer froze while he was talking to the reporter -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46611-2003Mar5.html

And you thought I'd forgotten...that's right boys and girls, its time for your Iditarod 31 Action!

Robert Sorlie has increased his lead to over 3 hours over last year's champ, Martin Buser. As of press time a pack of 6 had set out from Galena toward the next checkpoint, Nulato, which is 52 miles down the trail. Conditions are cold, with temps around Zero Fahrenheit, and some light snow. The field has narrowed to 61, with 2 racers forced out at Tatana, and one forced out at Manley due to sickness in his dogs. Neither Sorlie, or Buser, or any in the front pack have yet taken either of their mandatory layovers. In addition to the time spent at each checkpoint or on the trail feeding and resting the dogs, racers must take a mandatory 8 hour and 24 hour break at two different checkpoints to rest, as well as to fix the time differentials from varied starts.

Here are the current standings -
http://www.iditarod.com/2003standings/data/include/details.h tml

And some press accounts of the race from this morning's papers -
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2724736p-2772207c.html
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2724523p-2772052c.html

And, your Iditarod Photo of the Day!

I specifically requested my meat done medium. This is rare. What kind of joint is this anyway? And you expect me to run how far?

Have a great day!