Volume 2 Issue 27

March 11, 2003

Censorship...the American Way?

God and the French, More March Madness problems, and what ever happened to civility in Washington?

So today I got a news release from the House Administration committee that announced that the House cafeterias would now be selling "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom Toast" instead of calling them by their normal name. And the guy behind it, Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), seems pretty happy with himself too - http://www.house.gov/ney/freedomfriespr.htm

This brings up an interesting point for discussion. Remember when George W. Bush was running for President in 2000, he pledged to bring "civility" back to Washington? At the time, with Washington still smarting from Clinton's budget battles with the Republican Congress and the whole Impeachment thing (see below on that one today!), it seemed like a good line, and a good idea. Instead of viewing each other as armies on a field, Democrats and Republicans should view themselves as partners in a business, with normal disagreements on what is to be done.

Except we never really saw that civility. Bush quickly froze most Democrats out of the policymaking decisions, and treated them like they weren't even there or didn't matter. Of course, there were exceptions, such as his partnership with Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to get the "No Child Left Behind" act passed. After September 11, this civility seemed to return for a while during a period of national unity, but as the war in Iraq approaches, it has vanished again.

The french fry thing is just one of the many ways where if you take a position opposite that of the administration, you suddenly are an enemy of the State. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay recently even said that people who spoke out against the war should be charged with treason for providing "aid and comfort" to the enemy. (Mr. DeLay seemed to not think so when he made similar comments during the Balkan Campaign - http://slate.msn.com/id/2079324) Since when did disagreeing with someone on an issue become such an offense to the nation? It's funny how we are supposedly going to Iraq to bring freedom and democracy, when our own democratically elected leaders are calling for a suppression of dissent. Can't normal people disagree on important issues? The most disturbing thing is that very few people actually disagree on the substance of the Iraq issue...it's the methods they decry. I'm sure there are very few folks out there that think Saddam should stay in power, and we should leave him alone. But there are many out there who think keeping him in a box and trying to take him out through other means would help us to focus on winning the war on terror, and preventing the greater threat of North Korea from getting worse. If this is the way the Bush Administration wants to run the country, I can only imagine the intimidation of those in the administration when they try to offer different ideas or disagree at meetings...and that should worry everyone.

Kudos to the French by the way, for saying nothing other than a statement that french fries...are actually Belgian.

News today that if war happens, CBS will obviously move the NCAA tournament to a cable channel it owns. It's decided not to go with MTV, because it says it doesn't want to have beer commercials and the such on that network because it has young viewers. Wouldn't they either a)not be watching anyway because they know the videos aren't on, or b)would have watched CBS to see the game anyway? Oh, and which channel may they move them too now? Nickelodeon. Yeah, because no kids watch that.

One additional thought to yesterday's thing on the college basketball scandals. As I look at the ones in Georgia and as St. Bonnies...doesn't it seem that all of these big scandals (the Villanova thing was widespread, but it was small-time) involved a son of the college President or head basketball coach in some official position at the school?

On to Tuesday's Insanity:

Iraq Watch: The UK is trying to set up a new resolution, that would have a longer deadline and specific benchmarks for Iraqi compliance -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2838607.stm

In a shocking foregin diplomacy development, Bush is treatening to create an alternate world body to the UN. Do we want to be on another planet? I mean, that's where his foreign policy must be made up but geeze. And, don't start with the Rwanda shit, George...it was the US that kept the UN from dealing with that issue then -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/international/middleeast/1 1IRAQ.html

The US was forced to stop U-2 flights (under UN command to assist the inspectors), after Iraq tried to shoot one down -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/international/11WIRE-U2.html

Another diplomat has resigned, saying that he couldn't represent the US anymore -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8089-2003Mar10.html

The Army is worried that the post-war occupation won't go well, especially because they don't have the manpower, and reserve enlistments have fallen to almost zero. Yet another compelling reason to restart the draft... -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7867-2003Mar10.html

The US tested one big-ass bomb today -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/11/sprj.irq.moab/index.html

And Gene Weingarten had a good quote today about W, from an online chat -
Also, I would respectfully request that W stop telling us about his faith in God, and his firm belief that the deity is on his side. It's not that I doubt his piety, or his sincerity, but the guys who flew into buildings were also pretty darn sure of what God wants. This sort of certitude emboldens people to act in exceedingly decisive fashions. I'd much rather that a president express extreme uncertainty and anxiety about what God would want. Concern for the fate of one's mortal soul is good, when -- right or wrong -- you are about to kill a lot of people.

The Economy...or what's left of it: Consumer spending may be slowing, which could plunge the economy back into recession -
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/Primetime/economy_03 0311.html

OPEC says it will not increase oil supplies now, but will do so if an Iraq war drives up prices. Except it takes like 6 weeks for these decisions to actually come into the market. I'd fill my car up this weekend if I were you...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2838735.stm

Princeton Economist Paul Krugman seems to think that the worst is still ahead of us -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/opinion/11KRUG.html

And analysts say that it looks like at least 1, maybe 2 airlines will go out of business in the event of war. Maybe it's time to spend some money on diversifying the transport system in America. Like, short distance trains kids?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7698-2003Mar10.html

Toughest Job in the Government: A State Department office that tries to correct foreign reports about US policies has reopened. Good luck guys! -
http://www.adn.com/24hour/politics/story/800852p-5709127c.html

Payback? Some House Democrats are saying to be planning to introduce articles of Impeachment against President Bush once war begins -
http://nationalreview.com/comment/comment-enrich030603.asp

Look Who's Running for the Senate: Jerry Springer didn't do too well in the first poll about his potential Senate bid -
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0303110293mar11,1,3945848.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2Dhed

Dumb White Men: The Air Force brass has a solution for the widespread rapes at the Air Force Academy...segregating the men and women into separate dorms. Because, yeah, making women even more isolated from normal life will really help that. Sounds like it's time for a series of firings to me...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7818-2003Mar10.html

The IM revolution? Instant Messaging is making its way into the business world. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? Speaking for myself, I'm sure I'd get little done if I had it here!
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/technology/11MESS.html?8hp ib

The Show will go On! The Broadway strike has been settled, after NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg intervened -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/nyregion/11CND-STRIKE.html

But the disturbing trend towards making Broadway shows like rock concerts will likely continue -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/11/arts/theater/11PURI.html

The Television Debate: The reviews for the first Clinton/Dole debate on 60 Minutes aren't fantastic, though the ones for Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live are...didn't see either though, so can't judge -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2079845/
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/70388.htm

Wacky Weather: I was only mildly surprised to find another unexpected snow event this morning here in DC, considering that it's supposed to be 60 degrees tomorrow, perhaps it's our last. But the cold and long winter will mean the famed cherry trees won't bloom until after the annual Blossom Festival -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7652-2003Mar10.html

Bad Prime Minister: Tony Blair failed to register his car for the new Central London Congestion Charge -
http://www.adn.com/24hour/weird/story/799691p-5701906c.html

March Madness: In a strangely honorable thing, Bobby Knight has returned his $250,000 salary to Texas Tech because he thinks the team didn't do well enough. -
http://espn.go.com/ncb/news/2003/0310/1521422.html

A great column on the St. Bonaventure scandal -
http://espn.go.com/ncb/columns/wojnarowski_adrian/1521342.ht ml

And now Georgia...
http://msn.espn.go.com/ncb/news/2003/0310/1521316.html

Here's the CBS moving the tourney article -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/11/cbs.reut/index.html

When Animals Attack A cat went bonkers and trapped a Canadian man in his bathroom. -
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_759319.html?menu=news.l atestheadlines

And a Norwegian man has his skull fractured when he was hit by a decapitated sheep's head at a rock concert -
http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20030311/D7PMSN600.html

Rich people are nuts -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8198-2003Mar10.html

Buckle your seatbelts kids, it's time for your Iditarod 31 Update!

As of this writing, Robert Sorlie remains your leader, almost 3 hours ahead of Ramy Brooks. Both have left the checkpoint at Shaktoolik for the 48 mile run to Koyuk. Jeff King is in 3rd, and is still resting at Shaktoolik. Jessica Hendricks continues to lead the rookies, though she has dropped now to 21st place. (List of checkpoints and mileage - http://www.iditarod.com/fairbanks-miles.html) The field is at 52, with 2 more scratches over night. It's looking like the first musher into Nome will be sometime late tomorrow night or Thursday, but anything can still happen! Some press today below about Sorlie's commanding run so far, as well as a human interest story from ESPN...which proves to those of you out there complaining that this is truly a sport!

Standings - http://www.iditarod.com/2003standings/data/include/details.h tml

Can anyone stop Sorlie?
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2751930p-2801689c.html

If he can't be stopped, the contest becomes who finishes where and for how much money -
http://www.adn.com/iditarod/news/story/2751935p-2801680c.html

One musher is using a blind dog as a leader -
http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/0310/1521281.html

And finally, your Iditarod Photo of the Day:

I knew we shouldn't have taken Southwest...

Have a great day!