New Geneva blog
Innocents Abroad documents the frivolity that occurs daily in the world capital of diplomatic condescension and NGO/IGO self-righteousness. Check out his refutation of EU bloke Chris Patten concerning America's reasoning for opposing the ICC.
Thursday, July 18, 2002
2 plus 2 equals...
Alan Keyes is getting bumped from MSNBC's lineup, despite relatively decent ratings. Is he being silenced because of his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Alan Keyes is getting bumped from MSNBC's lineup, despite relatively decent ratings. Is he being silenced because of his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Subverting democracy "for a good cause"
I understand the desire of homosexuals to legalize gay marriage, and I can appreciate the comparison to the civil rights movement of the '60s, but I don't agree that undermining the democratic process is the way to go about establishing domestic policy. The ballot meausre to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts should have gone to the voters, not quashed by the legislature unfairly. I don't particularly care for the idea of "direct democracy" and propositions/initiatives, but if you're going to have that as part of your system, then don't thwart it illegitimately.
I understand the desire of homosexuals to legalize gay marriage, and I can appreciate the comparison to the civil rights movement of the '60s, but I don't agree that undermining the democratic process is the way to go about establishing domestic policy. The ballot meausre to ban gay marriage in Massachusetts should have gone to the voters, not quashed by the legislature unfairly. I don't particularly care for the idea of "direct democracy" and propositions/initiatives, but if you're going to have that as part of your system, then don't thwart it illegitimately.
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
Oh my God
I can't believe the blatant hypocrisy of The New York Times. I mean, I read both of the articles in yesterday's paper condemning Bush for the way he got rich off the Arlington Stadium deal, and the newspaper's owners are doing the exact same thing in NYC! That's beyond ridiculous. Where is their credibility, their integrity?
I can't believe the blatant hypocrisy of The New York Times. I mean, I read both of the articles in yesterday's paper condemning Bush for the way he got rich off the Arlington Stadium deal, and the newspaper's owners are doing the exact same thing in NYC! That's beyond ridiculous. Where is their credibility, their integrity?
The impending strike
If and when the baseball players strike, I also will strike--only mine will be permanent and thorough. Sure I haven't gone to a game in years and I don't plan on going anytime soon, but there are other ways I'll show my displeasure with those millionaire loggerheads. For one, I'll stop playing fantasy baseball, which I not only love, but I'm very good at it and usually win my leagues, too. That, however, will be out the window, and my time will be spend doing other, more productive hobbies. Also, I'll stop checking scores and news about baseball on Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, or anything else. That's one less click of traffic, one less TV viewer or radio listener, one less person buying a replica jersey or a Dodgers cap.... Sure I am only a drop in the pond, but apathy is contagious. I will mourn the passing of America's pastime, but then I'll move on, and Bud Selig, Donald Fehr, will get nothing more from me than my middle finger.
If and when the baseball players strike, I also will strike--only mine will be permanent and thorough. Sure I haven't gone to a game in years and I don't plan on going anytime soon, but there are other ways I'll show my displeasure with those millionaire loggerheads. For one, I'll stop playing fantasy baseball, which I not only love, but I'm very good at it and usually win my leagues, too. That, however, will be out the window, and my time will be spend doing other, more productive hobbies. Also, I'll stop checking scores and news about baseball on Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, or anything else. That's one less click of traffic, one less TV viewer or radio listener, one less person buying a replica jersey or a Dodgers cap.... Sure I am only a drop in the pond, but apathy is contagious. I will mourn the passing of America's pastime, but then I'll move on, and Bud Selig, Donald Fehr, will get nothing more from me than my middle finger.
Falklands flashback
Only instead of the Iron Lady, we have the wimpy Spanish, and instead of the chauvanistic Argentinean junta, we have moronic Moroccans. The end result is the same: a European power boots the imposters off the island in semi-dramatic action (more hype than substance though). Of course, this is perfectly representative of the EU, which is more concerned about symbolism than anything that actually matters like, oh, say, democracy.
Only instead of the Iron Lady, we have the wimpy Spanish, and instead of the chauvanistic Argentinean junta, we have moronic Moroccans. The end result is the same: a European power boots the imposters off the island in semi-dramatic action (more hype than substance though). Of course, this is perfectly representative of the EU, which is more concerned about symbolism than anything that actually matters like, oh, say, democracy.
Monday, July 15, 2002
Sober warning
I think this is a good reminder of why family values-type conservatives need to be careful when talking about marriage and morality. If we wish to uphold the sanctity of marriage, we have to be careful not to undermine it in other, less obvious ways.
I think this is a good reminder of why family values-type conservatives need to be careful when talking about marriage and morality. If we wish to uphold the sanctity of marriage, we have to be careful not to undermine it in other, less obvious ways.
State Dept hassling reporters?
Investigative journalism is never appreciated, especially when it serves its purpose so well. Witness the damning fallout of a recent incident that exposed how our State Department was fast-tracking visas to Saudi nationals. Make sure to get the whole story with all the background details, too.
Investigative journalism is never appreciated, especially when it serves its purpose so well. Witness the damning fallout of a recent incident that exposed how our State Department was fast-tracking visas to Saudi nationals. Make sure to get the whole story with all the background details, too.
Regime change in Iran
Thank God for Michael Ledeen's incessant harping on the need to topple the Iranian mullacracy. It seems to be paying dividends stateside.
Thank God for Michael Ledeen's incessant harping on the need to topple the Iranian mullacracy. It seems to be paying dividends stateside.
Tax history
Yeah, you really want to read this post now, eh? Are there two more boring subjects than tax policy and history? Perhaps, but try to stay awake for a moment and bear with me. This week marks a revolutionary turn in our country's tax policy history, one that killed off the hyperinflation and stagflation era in the 1970s and paved the road for the prosperity of the '80s and '90s. We should all be thankful and respect the implications by voting against tax-and-spend liberal Democrats whenever the opportunity arises.
Yeah, you really want to read this post now, eh? Are there two more boring subjects than tax policy and history? Perhaps, but try to stay awake for a moment and bear with me. This week marks a revolutionary turn in our country's tax policy history, one that killed off the hyperinflation and stagflation era in the 1970s and paved the road for the prosperity of the '80s and '90s. We should all be thankful and respect the implications by voting against tax-and-spend liberal Democrats whenever the opportunity arises.
And what about the Mizrahim?
Barbara Lerner answers that question, informing NRO readers what should be a more well-known fact that there are millions of Jews who have always lived in the Middle East and that they indeed constitute the majority of Israelis. Yet just as they were ignored for so long in their own State, so the rest of the world ignores their existence and history.
Barbara Lerner answers that question, informing NRO readers what should be a more well-known fact that there are millions of Jews who have always lived in the Middle East and that they indeed constitute the majority of Israelis. Yet just as they were ignored for so long in their own State, so the rest of the world ignores their existence and history.
Israel is actually a very socially complex, diverse state, with immigrant Jews from cultures and lands all throughout the world--not just Europe and the US. From the relatively small group of Falasha/Falishmura (sp.) Jews, to the Israeli Arabs, plus add in the ethnic divisions (Ashkenazi and Sephardi/Mizrahi--which includes Yemenite Jews, Farsi Jews, and Northern African Jews), and the religious vs. secular, Zionist vs. non-/anti-Zionist divisions, and you have quite a mixed up nation. It's no surprise then that there are dozens of parties in the Knesset. And still we try to fit Israelis onto the Left-Right continuum, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for the most part.
One thing's for sure: the more Israel feels under attack, the more all these diverse Jews pull together and cling to their Jewish identity. Hence it is downright foolish to believe that Israeli society will tear itself apart by terrorizing and isolating it; on the contrary, you will only make her people stronger and more resolute.
Amateur genius
One reason I check up on Tony Pierce's blog almost daily is because of posts like this (especially the poem). Whether or not "nothing in [t]here is true", he pumps out some of the most engaging stuff on the net with his irreverent style and random thoughts, coupled with his attention to artistic detail and poetic abilities. I have no ability to write or be artistic/poetic like that whatsoever, but I sure can appreciate it.
One reason I check up on Tony Pierce's blog almost daily is because of posts like this (especially the poem). Whether or not "nothing in [t]here is true", he pumps out some of the most engaging stuff on the net with his irreverent style and random thoughts, coupled with his attention to artistic detail and poetic abilities. I have no ability to write or be artistic/poetic like that whatsoever, but I sure can appreciate it.
Sunday, July 14, 2002
Modern spoils system?
But I think that's how politics should work. Sure it has the appearance of corruption, but when you think about it, it's a lot easier to fire political hacks from government jobs when they don't do well than it is to get rid of bureaucrats who've risen through the federal meritocracy and hence feel it should be illegal for an incoming leader to even threaten firings and shake-ups in their departments.
But I think that's how politics should work. Sure it has the appearance of corruption, but when you think about it, it's a lot easier to fire political hacks from government jobs when they don't do well than it is to get rid of bureaucrats who've risen through the federal meritocracy and hence feel it should be illegal for an incoming leader to even threaten firings and shake-ups in their departments.
Please be a hoax
I really, really, really hope this is not true. If this is not a smear by anti-Ashcroft people, I'm going to start losing faith in our AG real quick.
I really, really, really hope this is not true. If this is not a smear by anti-Ashcroft people, I'm going to start losing faith in our AG real quick.
Getting out of hand
Now Al Sharpton is on the scene, stirring up more trouble. Meanwhile, Maxine Waters and her followers are raising money for Crooks, who is now serving jail time for offenses he'd been convicted of ages ago. These people are the epitome of outrageously stupid.
Now Al Sharpton is on the scene, stirring up more trouble. Meanwhile, Maxine Waters and her followers are raising money for Crooks, who is now serving jail time for offenses he'd been convicted of ages ago. These people are the epitome of outrageously stupid.
Welch nails it
Politicians and government leaders are giving us the runaround and not telling us the truth about Hadayet and his terrorist motives. Why?
Politicians and government leaders are giving us the runaround and not telling us the truth about Hadayet and his terrorist motives. Why?
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