Archive for March 2009

Under New Management

“Lenny’s reign of terror is over.” – Mr. Smithers There are an awful lot of big news stories these days; from Iraq and Afghanistan to the banking mess and general economic woes all the way down to the little stories that often get lost as a new Administration settles in to the job of running [...]

Persian Opportunities

“The elders tell of a young ball much like you.  He bounced three meters in the air, then he bounced one point eight meters in the air, then he bounced four meters in the air.  Do I make myself clear?” – Ball Ambassador “Mr. Ambassador, our people tell the same story.” – Henry Kissinger Last [...]

Happy Anniversary

“Our anniversary?  Are you sure?” – Homer Simpson “Well don’t worry Homey, this year you have an excuse for not remembering.” – Marge Simpson The sixth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War passed with little fanfare this week.  Oh sure, it was noted in a few places, but for the most part it [...]

Bound by Torture

“I need a drink and a shower.” – Mayor Quimby There is a stunning fact in Mark Danner’s gruesomely truthful article about American torture in the 9 April 2009 issue of The New York Review of Books.  According a former director of the CIA (it’s hard to tell which one, presumably either Tenet or Hayden), [...]

The Fifth Estate

“I’m really, really, really sorry.” – Edward the Penitent “I’m afraid ‘sorry’ doesn’t cut it with this pope.” – Pope Note: Today’s post wasn’t going to be about the Stewart-Cramer interview, but it turned into an even bigger event than seemed possible at the beginning of the week and a final point deserves to be [...]

The Pundits New Clothes

“I like it better when they’re making fun of people who aren’t me.” – Homer Simpson Usually it’s best to give things like this little public spat between Jon Stewart and Rick Santelli/Jim Cramer/Joe Scarborough a little time to settle before trying to figure it all out, but in this case the respective positions are [...]

A Morbidly Entertaining Thought Experiment

“I got a hankering for some pork products.” – Krusty the Klown I have seen and heard more of Rush Limbaugh in the last few weeks than I have in several years.  His recent escapades have included hoping for the President to fail, receiving obsequious apologies from nominally adult members of the GOP, and confusing [...]

Outside Looking In, Then and Now

“It’s always such a huge event, sometimes I like to sneak up to the fence and close my eyes and pretend I’m there.” – Pip I avoid the Washington gossip sites and cable gab channels like the plague.  Partly that’s because I just can’t stand their cloying self importance.  But it’s also because I genuinely [...]

Some Mindsets Change Faster Than Others

“First up is Iraqi impressionist, Tariq El-Gamal.” – Principal Mangosuthu “Thank you.  Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if Tony Curtis spoke honestly about US policy in the Mid East?  I think it might go something like this . . . Hey, whaddya think, we’re trying to take over.” – Tariq El-Gamal One of the more [...]

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