Dear John

Here's a nice letter from Barry Crimmins to John Kerry. I think he handles Kerry's vote to authorize Bush to go to war against Iraq quite nicely.

I understand the political pressure you felt, but still, you’re a brilliant guy and had to know what a load of hooey was being dumped on us. I further estimate that the hard-bitten among your insiders advised, "Look, you know we can always just say they lied to us," and considering who was trumping up this war, that was a pretty safe fall-back position. But please, you did a nice job investigating and exposing much of this crew back when terrorism was a central component of Saint Ronald Reagan’s not-so-secret foreign policy. And so when the same gang of thugs who help facilitate death-squads in Central America came forward as the defenders of innocence and champions of democracy, you should have marched right outside of the Capitol and joined the hundreds of thousands of us who were in the streets screaming, "Noooooo! Don’t do it!"

Well, Senator, we told you so.

Some of my lefty pals won’t forgive you and I can see their point. Nevertheless, I refuse to join their circular firing squad. I know how to face political reality myself, and if ever there were an occasion for compromise, this is it. I don’t value my moral purity more than the lives of countless innocents. My stridence withers when I consider how much suffering would result if the Bush regime extends beyond next January. Someday, George W. Bush’s administration will be labeled for what it brought us to: the "New Low." Under your leadership, even a slight trajectory of improvements in health-care, environmental regulation, civil liberties, and workers’ rights will have to be measured against the all-too-imaginable speed at which of these vital matters would reach even newer lows during a second Bush term...

I especially like the "New Low" for Bush's campaign slogan. I wonder if the people who write the history books are paying attention.

Yeah about this.

For the record, Kate had everybody beat weeks ago with photographic evidence of this ass-hattery.

And it doesn’t matter that it’s idiotic and wrong. It will work anyway. It will work because there are enough reptilian brains that work like this.

A) Terrorists are bad
B) Bush hates terrorists
C) Bush is good
D) Kerry hates Bush
E) Kerry is bad
F) Kerry likes terrorists.

It’s hurts that this kind of thinking is out there in the world. I remember shortly after the 2000 Election was consoling my mom with the undeniable fact that Gore won the popular vote. She said it didn’t matter because the knowledge that there were that many people out there who had voted for him made her sick to her stomach. Seeing bumper stickers like that gives me that same kind of feeling. And I wonder if it’s worth it to try to get Kerry in office. Because even if he wins he’ll have to combat the Jack Richardson’s of the world, cajoling, placating, and compromising with them just so his time in office can be a little more bearable.


Wouldn’t you love it if Kerry were asked to comment on the bumper sticker, and he just let loose with, “Jack Richardson IV is big greasy turd. Where I’m from, we flush those.”

Please God, no

[Mike Ditka]The 66-year-old former head coach of the Chicago Bears appeared on television news shows to talk about a possible bid for Senate. More than 6,000 people have signed a petition for Republicans to draft Ditka as the "people's choice" for November.

"I'm getting excited about it. I'm just thinking about it," Ditka told WGN-TV, Chicago.

Let's not take the stupid baton way from California just yet.

My aunt called from Albuquerque, NM Friday night. She was standing in line at the Hispanic Cultural Center with about 10,000 other people to shake John Kerry’s hand. In front of her was a gentleman with arthritis who had difficulty standing. He informed her that he hadn’t ventured out to see a presidential candidate since Kennedy ran. She said that Edwards was positively glowing and Kerry towered over the waving signs. She got to shake his hand. She was so excited.

The Bush-Cheney team is acting like scared rabbits and they should be. It’s hard to fight that kind of excitement when you’re also busy covering your behind.

You don't want to be on this list.

Seriously, if you live in Florida, double check.

Barbara Ehrenreich is subbing for Tom Friedman this month. Book leave my ass. That man's off in a "spa" somewhere settling his nerves. Ms. Ehrenreich should go ahead an get comfortable.

I don’t think I really need to say anything about Fahranheit 9/11 that hasn’t already been said and said better. That’s what comes of seeing the film after everyone while on vacation from blogger duties.

It was fun to read Hitchens’ piece after seeing the movie. Clearly he didn’t enjoy it mostly because images of dying children contrast badly with the tune of “The 1812 Overture” playing in his head. I won’t go through the whole thing. Rereading it will send me into a fugue state. But Chris should keep is gin-soaked paws off of Black History.

From Fahrenheit 9/11 you can glean even more astounding and hidden disclosures, such as the capitalist nature of American society, the existence of Eisenhower's "military-industrial complex," and the use of "spin" in the presentation of our politicians. It's high time someone had the nerve to point this out. There's more. Poor people often volunteer to join the army, and some of them are duskier than others. Betcha didn't know that. Back in Flint, Mich., Moore feels on safe ground. There are no martyred rabbits this time. Instead, it's the poor and black who shoulder the packs and rifles and march away. I won't dwell on the fact that black Americans have fought for almost a century and a half, from insisting on their right to join the U.S. Army and fight in the Civil War to the right to have a desegregated Army that set the pace for post-1945 civil rights. I'll merely ask this: In the film, Moore says loudly and repeatedly that not enough troops were sent to garrison Afghanistan and Iraq. (This is now a favorite cleverness of those who were, in the first place, against sending any soldiers at all.) Well, where does he think those needful heroes and heroines would have come from? Does he favor a draft—the most statist and oppressive solution? Does he think that only hapless and gullible proles sign up for the Marines? Does he think—as he seems to suggest—that parents can "send" their children, as he stupidly asks elected members of Congress to do? Would he have abandoned Gettysburg because the Union allowed civilians to pay proxies to serve in their place? Would he have supported the antidraft (and very antiblack) riots against Lincoln in New York? After a point, one realizes that it's a waste of time asking him questions of this sort. It would be too much like taking him seriously. He'll just try anything once and see if it floats or flies or gets a cheer.

Shorter Hitchens: Well somebody has to fight these wars and the blacks have always been so good at it. Moore is a racist because he doesn’t want them to succeed at their God-given talent.

Surfacing

I probably should've mentioned that I'd be on vacation this week. I'm in not-so-sunny San Francisco with this crazy biz-nitch. It's been one crazy weekend. Today we marched in the parade with Stop AIDS and handed out condoms to crazy people and little old Asian ladies. And Kerry support was alive and well.

We're going to see "Fahrenheit 9/11" tomorrow. Don't tell me what happens!

Fahrenheit 9/11

I heard from a friend who attended the premier of "Fahrenheit 9/11" in D.C. that Tom Daschle was there. I don't know what he was thinking, but he apparently didn't stand up and apologize. I guess no one gave him a heads-up that he appears several times in the film—he should be ashamed of himself. In fact, he is the most prominent Democrat in the film, so any critic who claims this documentary is just one big Democratic love fest, must've gone out for popcorn and soda more than once.

My own take on it? I think it will be an eye-opener for a lot of people who don't read alternative news sources, and even people who do. I knew there were protests during Bush's inauguration (our own Lenora was there) but did anyone see the footage of the limo being egged on CNN? or the massiveness and anger of the crowd? Even so, Michael Moore pulled his punches. He was restrained, but very effective. He limited himself to one grieving mother (very moving, nevertheless), one citizen who felt his rights had been violated by the FBI because he was critical of George Bush, when we know there are lots of angry citizens and at least 850 grieving families. Another thing missing from the reviews I've read is how sad "Fahrenheit 9/11" is, on so many levels. When contrasted with the trumped-up grief the media attributed to us for Ronald Reagan's funeral, Moore's film illustrates what the country really is mourning.

And did everybody else catch Condo explicitly linking Saddam Hussein to the attacks of 9/11?

If you missed Jon Stewart eviscerate Stephen Hayes be sure to catch it at midnight Central Time or tomorrow at 6 P.M.

Jon is national treasure. Let's save the $10 bill for him.

My Late Clinton Post

I’m watching the 60 Minutes Clinton interview on tape (Father’s Day dinner and all).

I like that he said this: “I’ve said more about my personal life than any public figure should.” I like that

This proves once and for all that countries may fall, presidents may lie about death and torture and what have you, but we as a people will forever be obsessed with Clinton’s penis.

They’re framing his beef against Kenneth Starr as though it’s a paranoid fantasy he thought up to get himself out of trouble. No corroborating evidence.

Dan Rather bites ass.

I really don’t like the way they’re doing this. Everything he says, even the stuff that can be confirmed, is presented as being subject to debate. A good news program would provide context for his statements.

I can’t believe Rather just accused Clinton of wagging the dog.

I suppose it would have been too much to hope that they wouldn’t beat us over the head with the subject of his infidelity but Jesus fucking Christ, how many times can he possibly say that, “It was awful and I’m sorry”? And there was a right wing conspiracy for anybody who cares to do the goddamn research.

It’s a hard to watch the testimony again. It takes me right back to that surreal icky feeling.

Shut up Dan, just shut the hell up

This interview was supposed to make me happy. It’s pissing me off. The funny thing is that Dan is trying his damnedest to make Clinton look bad and it’s not working very well. It’s hard to smear someone who has nothing to lose.

This is a sloppy interview. First of all there is no conceivable structure. Even a third grader knows when in doubt start at the beginning. They can’t seem to leave the flashpoints of Lewinsky, Flowers, and Jones alone long enough to do any actual work. Secondly, it’s completely manipulative. Instead of saying anything new, they’re hitting all the hot buttons, all the boring ones at that.

And Reagan even had the crash this party. “Bill let’s talk about when you die.”

Friend and frequent commentor Regina has struck out on her own. Go check her out over at Chicana On the Edge.

Salon has a good piece on Nader today. Apparently, his new schtick is to claim that his campaign is tailored to lure away disillusioned Bush supporters. Let's see.

Nader's campaign itinerary raises more questions about his professed drive to find GOP support. I was following Nader on his "Northeast Tour," which hit some of the most Democratic-voting cities in America. Visiting Amherst, Boston and Concord -- the liberal center of New Hampshire -- is a funny way of looking for Republican votes. "Well, in June I'm going to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois," Nader told me. "I'm just going to every state." (Iowa and Illinois voted Democratic in 2000.

Hmmph.

And while we're on the Nader subject I just have to say something. I'm really getting tired of being stuck on the "Kerry Voted For the War" line with these people. Yes, I was upset too. More upset because before that I was all ready to support him. And the war is going badly.

But, A)the war is not Kerry's fault. It's Bush's fault. And voting for war based on evidence that turned out to be false is not the same thing as providing false evidence so that we might go to war. And, B) if you do vote for Nader--which is your right--if Bush wins by a narrow margin and the war continues and continues to go badly, it will be your fault.

So think about that this summer. Kerry actually has a stake in turning things around in Iraq. If he wins we can reasonably assume that he will listen to reason. Bush won't. He hasn't and there is no reason to expect that he's going to start anytime soon. With Kerry there is hope.

If you really opposed this war, you will vote for Kerry. But like I said it's your choice. So go ahead and vote for Nader, and if Bush wins and the bodies keep piling up, you can comfort yourself that you voted your principles.

My one and only Reagan Post

When I was five my Kindergarten class held a mock Presidential election. Mondale won.

Is there really anything left worth saying about Reagan? Lay the man to rest already. Does anybody else find something a smidge revolting about the way they are parading his coffin around the country like some holy relic?

It's probably tasteless of us to enjoy scoring points on this the darkest of days for the right. But Peggy Noonan has had this one coming for a while.

The week has been ... something. I watched it from where I am, in the place beyond. It's wonderful here. I'm working as a lifeguard again, and I love it. It's a little crowded, though, and an awful lot of people seem to want to talk to me, which I'll get to in a minute. But first you and I have to talk. I know what you were trying to do all week, or what you sort of meant to be doing. But, Peg, it's been bad.

Peg. Please, for the love of God -- who's in the next hammock, by the way? -- shut the hell up.

For those of you don't remember, read this first.

Somebody buy this for me right now.

Kevin Hayden over The American Street was nice enough to include yours truly on his list of cool female blogs (yes I am going to make you click on all of the links until you figure out which one is me). He clearly hasn't seen my latest traffic stats.

UPDATE: Oh fine, click on the word "more".

OT: 15 Minutes of Fame

If you have time today check out the MTV News Special on R. Kelly. Not only will you see my old high school but towards the end my baby brother Greg is interviewed. 3:00 p.m Central Standard Time, re-aired on MTV 2 at 4: 00 p.m.

ADDED: I probably should add that Greg's role is strictly man on the street as-a-student-how-do-you-feel-about this blah blah. Right now family members across the country are watching a tabloid show on a sex scandal in the hopes of seeing my brother. It is a proud moment in Casa Warren.

ADDED: Greg was the second of the teen interviews.

Endless Love

Well it's been a rough couple of years but the Blair-Bush love affair has become the dysfunctional relationship that just won't die. And I just gotta hand it to them for being able to make it work for so long.

George, Tony...

...this one's for you.

UPDATED: Link fixed. It's funny, I swear.

From Frank Rich today on Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11:

Fahrenheit 9/11" doesn't push any Vietnam analogies, but you may find one in a montage at the start, in which a number of administration luminaries (Cheney, Rice, Ashcroft, Powell) in addition to the president are seen being made up for TV appearances. It's reminiscent of Richard Avedon's photographic portrait of the Mission Council, the American diplomats and military figures running the war in Saigon in 1971. But at least those subjects were dignified. In Mr. Moore's candid-camera portraits, a particularly unappetizing spectacle is provided by Paul Wolfowitz, the architect of both the administration's Iraqi fixation and its doctrine of "preventive" war. We watch him stick his comb in his mouth until it is wet with spit, after which he runs it through his hair. This is not the image we usually see of the deputy defense secretary, who has been ritualistically presented in the press as the most refined of intellectuals — a guy with, as Barbara Bush would have it, a beautiful mind.

Said my mother after reading that passage: "I think I'd rather see The Passion than that sequence."

Ewwww.

Oh unfair New Mexico

Our hearts with shame o'erflow...

In March 2003, a teenage girl named Courtney presented one of her poems before an audience at Barnes & Noble bookstore in Albuquerque, then read the poem live on the school's closed-circuit television channel.

A school military liaison and the high school principal accused the girl of being "un-American" because she criticized the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's failure to give substance to its "No child left behind" education policy.

The girl's mother, also a teacher, was ordered by the principal to destroy the child's poetry. The mother refused and may lose her job.

But, as with horseshit everywhere, it's spread farther and deeper than just little old Rio Rancho High.

Writers and editors who have spent years translating essays, films, poems, scientific articles and books by Iranian, North Korean and Sudanese authors have been warned not to do so by the U.S. Treasury Department under penalty of fine and imprisonment. Publishers and film producers are not allowed to edit works authored by writers in those nations. The Bush administration contends doing so has the effect of trading with the enemy, despite a 1988 law that exempts published materials from sanction under trade rules.

I've reformatted Korean and Arabic healthforms...does that make me an enemy combatant?
Thanks to bartcop entertainment for the link.