A Level Gaze

"What effect must it have on a nation if it learns no foreign languages? Probably much the same as that which a total withdrawal from society has upon an individual."
--G.C. Lichtenberg



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Bob. A damn fine comic.

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Wednesday, July 31, 2002
 
Jeff Cooper makes an excellent point about our friend Ann Coulter's logic. It also applies to Al Qaeda.


 
Ted Barlow notes that the link I provided to back up my assertion that the AEI has been active in attempting to "weaken or eliminate workplace safety restrictions" didn't back up my point very well. He is, of course, right. So here are some better examples.


 
In today's NYT, Thomas Friedman writes that a quick, successful war in Iraq will bring oil prices down drastically, as Iraq ramps up production from its current two million barrels a day to five. On the other hand, a longer, messier, bloodier war "in the world's main gas station" could disrupt production not only in Iraq, but in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as well, and push prices through the roof (the figure $60/barrel is used as an example).

When oil prices are high, oil companies make a lot of money. Bush has a lot of friends in the oil bidness. Just food for thought.


 
"In the way they're kind of writing it right now out of the Senate Finance Committee, some people could spend their entire five years on welfare - there's a five-year work requirement - going to college. Now, that's not my view of helping people become independent, and it's certainly not my view of understanding the importance of work and helping people achieve the dignity necessary so they can live a free life, free from government control."

Guess who said that. Anybody? Buehler?

It was our Edu-frickin-cation President!

Some mornings, I just want to gouge my eyes out.


 
The UN couldn't find them, we couldn't find them, and, as of yet, there's no proof that the country even has them now. But we've got to get rid of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and weapons inspectors won't be able to find them, so we'll have to invade.


 
Fortunately for all of us, there is no whistleblower protection for members of the Executive Branch. via Buzzflash


 
What possible gain is Our Great and Fearless Leader expecting from this initiative to weaken the whistleblower protections of the new corporate reform law?

In a statement that lays out how the administration will interpret certain provisions in the bill, Bush said the protection for whistle-blowers applies only to those who provide information to congressional committees conducting investigations, but not necessarily individual lawmakers.

Hmm...let me see...the protection is to apply only to people who are testifying before congressional committees. Wonder how they're supposed to get there in the first place. Does anybody think W is trying to limit scrutiny of dodgy corporate practices? No? Good. via Buzzflash


Tuesday, July 30, 2002
 
Robot Wisdom directs our attention to this "painfully prophetic" Onion article from January 2001:

Bush swore to do "everything in [his] power" to undo the damage wrought by Clinton's two terms in office, including selling off the national parks to developers, going into massive debt to develop expensive and impractical weapons technologies, and passing sweeping budget cuts that drive the mentally ill out of hospitals and onto the street.

During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.

"You better believe we're going to mix it up with somebody at some point during my administration," said Bush, who plans a 250 percent boost in military spending. "Unlike my predecessor, I am fully committed to putting soldiers in battle situations. Otherwise, what is the point of even having a military?"

...

"Wall Street responded strongly to the Bush speech, with the Dow Jones industrial fluctuating wildly before closing at an 18-month low. The NASDAQ composite index, rattled by a gloomy outlook for tech stocks in 2001, also fell sharply, losing 4.4 percent of its total value between 3 p.m. and the closing bell."


How did they know? Oh, wait, never mind...


 
Amen.

As of now, I'm officially on record as anti-DLC, though it has been coming for a while. Just being a Democrat doesn't mean that Joe Lieberman isn't a pig, and a stupid and shameless one at that. Geez, Joe, when your Republican theo-fascist buddies gravely refer to the sanctity of "Judeo-Christian values," do you think they really mean it? Do you think they won't come for you as soon as they think they can get away with it? Aw, forget it, you're worse than Sullivan.


If, through some triumph of perversity and Democratic self-loathing, he becomes the 2004 nominee, I'll have to suck it up and vote Nader.

[update 7/31/02] Whoops! I said DNC; I meant DLC


 
Oh, and in case anyone's wondering, the Bush Administration doesn't give much of a crap about miners, either. via Buzzflash


 
The Rittenhouse Review notes a particularly vile bit of scuzzbagmanship on the part of the American Enterprise Institute's Michael Novak, which might have been subtitled: "In Wyche It is Proven Beyonde Any Doute that Liberals Have No Wurth or Purpose and Shoudd Bee Killed Forthwith." It's a fabulous read.


I'd just like to add that the AEI has been quite vocal in attempting to weaken or do away with workplace safety regulations. Since miners are all conservative, though, they should have nothing to worry about.
via Eschaton


 
Anybody who thinks the namby-pamby 'corporate responsibility' laws currently before Congress are going to do anything for the stock market in the short term needs a few adjustments. They're going to lower reported profits, not raise them. Besides, our current problems stem from actions that took place last quarter, last year, the year before. Oh, and stock prices that are still far too high. Nothing in any of the proposed legislation is going to fix either of these problems.


Monday, July 29, 2002
 
Okay. I'm sick and tired of people talking about about the need for "balance" between liberal and conservative viewpoints in public forums. [sarcastic sing-song whine]"Oh no! The New York Times editorial page isn't bal-anced! They don't publish enough Christian conservative viewpoints and columnists!" [/sarc.] Bullshit! Write and publish what you respect, what you think will add something meaningful to public discourse. Just because a bunch of assholes somewhere else have differing (wrong) beliefs doesn't make their opinions legitimate, much less above ridicule. Unless you're Mickey Kaus:

"My point was only that the NYT is just as unembarrassed by its out-of-the-closet anti-Bushism, however strong or (relatively) moderate it might be. In other words, neither the NYT nor the WSJ seem to worry anymore whether their ed pages have 'balance.'"

Maybe they're worried about other things, like the truth or getting good seats in Hell.


 
Hey, I've got an idea: Let's take all of our nuclear waste and ship it to Nevada on trains!


 
This is...well, it's...I mean, where do you go to get balls that big? That shiny? What a bunch of arrogant cowards! Repeat after me: "If this had happened during the Clinton Administration..." via Bartcop


 
This report tells us one of two things: 1) the government-military axis is structurally brutal and mendacious, or 2) one or more parts of the military is brutal and mendacious and the government has neither knowledge of nor control over it/them. Either we're purposefully traipsing 'round the world, blowing things up and rewriting history behind us, or the most powerful force in the world is capable of operating without oversight. It won't be long until the Afghans tell us to piss right off, and we'll be slogging away in the mountains, comme les Russes, to save face and our "win" in the War on Terra.


Friday, July 26, 2002
 
Given Dubya's track record in business, it's not unlikely that he was complicit in Harken's shady dealings, but the idea that he was bright enough to put them together himself is a bit much.

According to a June 15, 1989 letter from Harken President Mikel Faulkner, obtained by the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, Bush frequently advised Harken management on "organizational and strategic matters."


In the letter, Faulkner praised Bush for "the positive image you have helped create regarding Harken Energy Corporation, the intuitive analysis you have provided on our various acquisitions, operating decisions at the board level and the personal suggestions and ideas you have shared with me over the past two years on a CEO to CEO basis."


"I consider the role which you play at Harken Energy Corporation to be a very meaningful and significant role and look forward to a continuing relationship," Faulkner said in his letter to Bush.



Ain't legitimacy a bitch?


Thursday, July 25, 2002
 
Is Iran ready for democracy? Reza Ebrahimi thinks so. Although hardline conservative elements are still firmly in control of the government and armed forces, change is brewing among the country's 40 million young people. The nation that demonstrated Islamic fundamentalism for the first time as a viable political system and provided much of the inspiration for like-minded movements from Algeria to Indonesia may also be the source of its ultimate unraveling.



Paradoxically, one of the greatest fruits of the 1979 Revolution was the provocation of debates on political Islam and consequently Islam’s innate harboring of moral values that deny individualism. Seemingly, the progressive democratization of Iran is on the inevitable historical path of this country and its civilization.


 
After a careful examination of government and corporate initiatives, President Bush has decided it would be more efficient for us to screw ourselves.


 
Although he lobbied against regulations that might have prevented much of the current corporate meltdown, although he hasn't even bothered to pick up a fiddle while the empire he oversees goes down in flames, SEC chairman Harvey Pitt wants a promotion and a raise. Who does he think he is? George Bush?


Wednesday, July 24, 2002
 
Avedon Carol's Sideshow is a really great blog.


 
Think we'll see any more of these in the near future? via Buzzflash


 
Isn't this depressing. Some debt forgiveness is in order, eh Mr. O'Neill? Oh, I forgot--we've got to wait for them all to abstain from sex first.


 
Ashcroft's Terrorism Policies Dismay Some Conservatives
Thank, er, god. Given Bush's hitherto-gravity-defying poll numbers, and what was portrayed as Middle America's seemingly limitless appetite for anything labeled as 'anti-terrorist,' I was wondering if there was ever going to be a backlash against Ashcroft's creeping fascism. Neil Lewis in the Times writes:

In explaining the religious right's newfound unease about Mr. Ashcroft, Paul Weyrich, the president of the Free Congress Foundation, said, "A lot of the social conservatives appreciate the stands he's taken on child pornography and the Second Amendment and a number of social issues. But there is suddenly a great concern that what was passed in the wake of 9-11 were things that had little to do with catching terrorists but a lot to do with increasing the strength of government to infiltrate and spy on conservative organizations."


I love it.


 
We’ve got to change our notion of the corporation from “a concern that produces x in order to make profits for its owners” to “a concern that produces x that is run for the benefit of a cabal.” Is this really the most efficient way to make things?


 
Y'know, given that meaningless swap trades were of such use to energy companies for hiding debt and inflating revenues, it wouldn't at all surprise me if banks did it too. There's even less of nothing to move.

I'm not saying it happened, but it wouldn't be surprising.


Tuesday, July 23, 2002
 
Why is it that anyone takes Ann Coulter seriously? The left does itself a great disservice by dignifying her with its attention. Let’s just pick a stock representative idiocy and repeat it whenever her name comes up.


 
Welcome to A Level Gaze. This blog is intended as a mental release valve in these strange, maddening days. Although I will be concentrating on politics and current events, I will also spend some time on global issues in general, and on Iran and Russia in particular. There will be few footnotes and a lot of unsubstantiated rumination, but I will try corroborate such facts as are presented.