The World Turned Upside Down

2003-01-10T00:07:00.000-08:00

Bless Me Father, For I Have Blogged

Online confession? We'll maybe it will cut down on the molestation!

2003-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

Ariana, You Ignorant Slut

Everyones favorite wack-a-doo, Ariana Huffington, has put out obscene ads claiming that anyone that drives an SUV supports terrorism. I guess her dons at Oxford didn't teach her anything about logic. The 9-11 hijackers used bank accounts too--should we therefore ban banking as a result? I've never been impressed with Ariana's writing and opinions and this solidifies my opinion.

2003-01-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

2002-- The (Belated) Wrap-up

In my personal life, I thought 2002 was a decent year--no major events save my surprise birthday party, but also thnkfully, no tragedies or major complications. The world, however, continued to be screwed up. I look forward to keeping this blog going so I can have a really good review of the 2003 next year.

2003-01-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

Bloated

After two plus weeks of holiday indulgence, I've just about had it. Back in SF, I will spurn almost all food and alcoholic beverages and try to cleanse the toxicity from my system!

2002-12-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

I Heard I'm Going First Class!

Well folks, I will be flying home to NYC tomorrow and I don't know how often I'll be able to blog. I wanted to do some year end wrap-up, like Esquire's Dubious Achievement Awards, or something but I don't know if I'll be able to find thr time. 2002 has been a blur. Anyway, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

He Did The Right Thing!

No, he din't buy drinks for everyone, but Trent Lott announced he will not be majority leader for the next Congress and will also not resign his Senate seat. Now if he would just manumit his slaves, he's hit a Grand Slam! Just Kidding!

2002-12-21T00:42:00.000-08:00

I Am The Warrior

'Twas my first time at a Golden State Warrior's game and wouldn't youy know it, they lost by 2 points at the buzzer in overtime. And then a great fight broke out, including some guys in the stands. I've convinced that the NBA is a group of thugs.

2002-12-18T20:59:00.000-08:00

He Just Had To Put His 2 Cents In

Of course, it was only a matter of time before Bill Clinton weighed in on the Lott affair. The Democrats smell blood, but I'm not so sure--I think they are going to overreach and show themselves to be for a leftwing reverse racism. Remember, it was the conservative bloggers that brought Lott's comments to the national forefront (someday, maybe this little journal will too!). And remember, the KKK was a Democratic organization.

2002-12-18T20:52:00.000-08:00

We Can Rebuild Them, We Have The Technology

I'm glad to see the new proposals for the World Trade Center site have a little more oomph to them than the previous proposals. While mindful of the 3,000 that lost their lives at their site, we can't allow terrorist scumbags to think they can keep us from building skyscrapers. While it's is presumptious for me to speak for the dead, I just can't believe that the businessmen, fireman, and cops who died there would want us to mawkishy dwell on the death that occured that day in lieu of the tremendous heroism that so many exhibited. Every time I go home to my native city, I feel a twinge of grief when looking at the broken Manhattan skyline and I will never forgive those bastards for what they did. But bringing the tallest building in the world back to New York City will go a long way in healing a still grieving city and nation.

2002-12-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Mary, Mary, Why Ya Buggin?

Mary Matalin is leaving her position as VP Cheney's PR advisor. Mickey Kaus reports that she wanted to slide into Karen Hughes spot but that Bush doesn't like her. I agree with Kausfiles take--W. want sto keep at arms distance anyone associated with running his father's 1992 campaign. And it would probably be a good idea to not let Pat Buchanan anywhere near the 2004 convention, which I'm hoping will be in NYC.

2002-12-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

Now That Gore is Scratched, How Do We Handicap This Horse Race?

Gore wisely pulled a Richard Nixon and decided that the next presidential race after a loss was not his to win as George W. Bush, War Leader, is impossible to beat by an increasingly leftward lurching Democratic Party. I also think that if Gore ran, he would have to face up to how inept the Clinton administration was in counterterrorism and foreign policy (the Carter deal with N. Korea for example). And yes, I know about the parallels to Gulf War I and the 1992 election but this is different. I think we forget how divided the country was on going to war with Iraq in 1991---remember how many prominent Senators opposed it. 9/11 was something completely different. All but the really kooky left know this is a war and that the enemy will try to hit us again. So I think W. can get a pass on the economy if the GOP Congress can hold down spending and he can be seen as at least doing something, about the economy, unlike his father who was seen as out of touch.

It will be a prmary between Kerry and Edwards with Kerry getting the nomination. Davis will not run--Enron is yesterday's news and his mismanagement of the power crisis can't all be blamed on Kenny Boy. Here in California, Davis is still very unpopular--he only won reelection because Simon was an inept first time candidate with little real political experience. Harold Ford is too young and too unknown to be on the ticket but he is a rising star. Dems will be hurt by Al Sharpton and campaign finance reform.

2002-12-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

No More Gore?

So what's with his decison not to run in '04? My guess is that he is calculating that '04 is not going to be a Democratic year, much like Richard Nixon decided that there was no way the GOP would in in '64 after the Kennedy assasination. You heard it here first--Al will run in '08.

2002-12-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

I Wonder Why They Put The South So Far South?

Unfortunately, there is a lingering sentiment among Southerners that the Confederacy really won the Civil War (oops, sorry, I mena the War Between the States). Southerers love to talk about how the war was all about freedom loving people fighting the tyranny of higher tariff's and how the South Will Rise Again, yada, yada, yada. And yet they completely ignore slavery as having anything the least bit to do with it. If I had time to do a history Ph.D, I think it would be interesting to research how the Confederacy still influences Southern and American political life--witness the naming of US Army bases after confederate generals, (weren't these guys traitors?) the battle over state flags that incorporate the Stars and Bars, etc.

2002-12-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Big Trent of the GOP

I hope we invade Iraq soon so we can keep this guy off the front pages and the blogs. Too bad nobody resigns anymore--I think since Clinton, nobody feels that they have to pay any price for their mistakes. So now he's gonna stick it out, and will likely, as David Frum suggested, make all sorts of concessions to Democrats.

2002-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

Live From New York, It's Al Gore!

Gotta admit that Al was pretty funny on last night's SNL, As posted before, I think SNL has become completely unfunny, but last night was at least a reprieve. What made the show funny is that the skits all played to Gore's personality--c'mon, Gore and Lieberman in the hot tub doing a goof on The Bachelor? Classic! And Stuart Smalley counseling Gore on his "Shame Spiral?"--fantastic! For some reasons, liberals I love to hate are really, really funny on SNL--remember Jesse "The Question is Moot?" Jackson (Who Keeps the Car? I keep the Car! Why? The question is moot!).

2002-12-10T23:13:00.000-08:00

Take My Daughters, Please!

I don't think Slate Magazine's Explainer has it quite right about the Bible containing no mention of "sodomy" amongst the residents of Sodom. Genesis 19: 4-11 talks about how the residents of Sodom wanted to have sex with the angels that Lot was hiding--in fact, Lot offers his virgin daughters to them instead! In later Biblical books like Isaiah, Ezekial, and Jeremiah, the account of Sodom's demise changed to general sinfulness, neglect of the poor, etc. Just wanted to clear that up!

2002-12-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Scrutinizing Scruton

British Philisopher Roger Scruton had a piece in yesterday's Wall Street Journal about conservatism being more a temperament than a philosophy. Like a lot of Scruton's pieces I have read, he almost gets it right but then loses it somewhere. First off, he doesn't understand the concept of rights, although most people on the left do not either. Rights per se have not caused an erosion of responsibility---rather it is the improper use of the term "right" as synonym for "desire" that's caused the problems of the welfare state.

Scuton goes on: "At the heart of every conservative endeavor is the effort to conserve a historically given community. In any conflict the conservative is the one who sides with "us" against "them"--not knowing, but trusting. He is the one who looks for the good in the institutions, customs and habits that he has inherited. He is the one who seeks to defend and perpetuate an instinctive sense of loyalty, and who is therefore suspicious of experiments and innovations that put loyalty at risk. So defined, conservatism is less a philosophy than a temperament..."

This piece does conservatism a great disservice because he cannot really answer why there ought to be a conservative temperament and not a liberal one. Without a grounding in philosophy, Scruton will have no answer except to appeal to the past, religion or culture, all of which are vague terms that mean different things to different people. Should a conserative be for segregation because that's how it was in the past? (If you're Trent Lott, maybe you are!) Can an atheist or agnostic be a conservative? Rather than "temperament," conservatism can best be grounded in a theory of rights, although certainly not the welfare state "rights" that Scruton rightly considers as having fostered a culture of dependency

I think Scruton needs to reevaluate his defense of conservatism---it does much more harm than good. Tacitus speaks about how conservatism is such a big tent that people with widely varying views on subjects like race and different philosophical grounding. Ayn Rand ( I knew I would mention her in this blog one day!) did not think conservatves had an integrated philosophy, i.e. one that developed its politics from it's metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics, other than a vague religous base. Maybe this is the reason that conservatism is seen by Scruton as just a temperament, which again begs the question, why a conservative temperament than a liberal one.

2002-12-10T21:37:00.000-08:00

I want My Juman Rights, Like Zhou Prezident Yimmy Carter Says

Carter's been a failure as both a president and an ex-president, Nobel Peace Prize or Not. Too bad he didn't threaten to do to Iran what George Bush is going to do to Iraq--maybe this whole Islamic Fundamentalist thing would have been nipped in the bud.

2002-12-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks A Lott

What an idiot! Just when the GOP was gaining some momentum, this Big Southern Dummy has to say that Strom Thurmond, who ran for President in 1948 on a segregationist platform, should have been elected president . But hey, at least he didn't say it wearing blackface.

2002-12-06T21:55:00.000-08:00

Internet Gambling

Who wants to bet against me that at least one of the freed Central Park "wilders" will commit a violent crime within two years after release from prison. Of course, the liberals will say it was prison that made them do it.

2002-12-06T21:53:00.000-08:00

Here We Go A Wilding

As a native New Yorker, I remember well the Central Park Jogger case and how it came to symbolize all that was wrong with the pre-Giuliani city. Now, Manhattan DA Morgethau has asked a judge to vacate not only the rape convictions, but the convictions for "wilding." Ann Coulter has written a few good columns on what was wrong with Morgy's decision, not the least of which was that the original prosecutor was never interviewed--it seems that her office rival was in charge of the recent re-investigation.

I'm no lawyer, but does anyone know if they could have retried the case instead of just vacating the judgment?

2002-12-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Fundamentalist Hypocrites?

Andrew Sullivan says that "One of the things that befuddles me about some Christian fundamentalists is why they don't call for public executions of homosexuals. They say they believe in the Bible literally. And Leviticus clearly calls for the death penalty for sodomy. So why do they refuse to follow the Bible? Or are they cafeteria fundamentalists?"

My take is that there are ample passages where Christ forgives those who have committed sexual sins, the most important being John 8:1-12. The Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus and say that according to the law, Moses ordered such women to be stoned. But Jesus replies "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. They leave, and Christ tells her that she is not condemned and to go and sin no more.

I'm not a fundamentalist for many reasons, but I don't think they're being hypocrites when they don't embrace Leviticus' call for the killing of homosexuals or blasphemers---rather, I think they are taking this passage to heart in believing that "sinners" (whether you agree with their concept of sin or not) are for converting not killing. But even if Falwell, Robertson, et al. are hypocrites for not calling for the death of unbelievers, homosexuals, blasphemers, etc., I'm happy to live with that hypocrisy.

2002-12-03T20:26:00.000-08:00

John Kerry, Oh So Very

A reader writes: I confess that I get my hair cut once a week, too. At the PX. Costs a
whopping $4.75 for a #1 flattop. Plus tip. Then again, I didn't marry my colleague's wife, while his body was still
warm in the grave, and spend vast swathes of her $600,000,000 fortune on political campaigns. So what do I know of the hair care options available to the rich and famous?

Seriously, John Kerry is a pompous fraud. Remember that he made a big production of throwing his Vietnam campaign medals and ribbons over the White House fence in protest -- but not his Silver Star, Bronze Star or Purple Hearts, so as to ensure that he could subsequently claim them during political campaigns.

Further, his 1971 testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as a leader of the odious group Vietnam Veterans Against the War, was near-treasonous: he literally accused US forces in Vietnam of genocide.

Finally, where does he get that ridiculous Brahmin lockjaw accent? He's (nominally) Irish Catholic with middle-class roots, for Chrissakes. Even President Kennedy, for all his WASP pretensions, didn't have such a grating accent.

If Michael Dukakis' lieutenant governor and Ted Kennedy's junior colleague is the best that the Dems can do in '04, President Bush should sleep well at night.

I agree about Kerry being a fake, but as for W. sleeping well at night, remember '92. If a womazing failed governor of a redneck state who dodged the draft could beat George H. W. Bush, then we can't sleep until after election day (or until Florida does another recount in '04!)

2002-12-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

Back To Life, Back to Reality

Enjoyed my Thanksgiving back home in New York City, where, unfortunately, Michael Bloomberg just enacted the largest tax hike in NYC history, but hey, I waasn't fooled that he was a Republican, or even a Rudy Republican.

I even got to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but I realized I was getting old when all the balloons were of cartoon characters I never heard of (like Little Bill). Now, I'm waiting for an Eric Cartman balloon!

2002-11-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

Now Vee Vill Get To Ze Bottom Of Dis

Henry Kissinger has been appointed to a new independent 9/11 probe. My favorite Realist will get to the bottom of this, if Christopher Hitchens doesn't try to arrest him for war crimes first.

2002-11-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

OUCH!

I will never use a laptop again!

2002-11-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

Glory Hound

Scott Ritter is an arrogant, media hungry, phony. Check out this NYT article on him.

2002-11-24T00:58:00.000-08:00

Depressing As Hell

Louie Anderson is supposed to be a comedian, but his work is so suffused with sadness that he makes me want to cry, not laugh. Well, OK maybe not cry, but you get the drift. That's why he's hosting Family Feud and still playing third-rate hotels. Whatever happened to the fat jokes?

2002-11-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

Me Fail English? That's Unpossible!

The blogger behind The Dilenttante's Corner has taken me to task for too many spelling errors in this humbel (just kidding!) blog. Alas, my typing sucks and there is no spell check on Blogger.com. Besides, I think it's charming, kind of like the journals of Lewis and Clark. And, I'm still waiting for Dilettante's pieces on Russia, the '92 election, et al, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

2002-11-19T20:30:00.000-08:00

This Week with George F. Will

That would be the alternative according to Mitch Berg since Stepenclintonloverbackstaberdemocraticapologist is a disaster as host. Watching George Will on This Week is like watching the first Gulf War--you root for him even though it's a total mismatch and you almost feel pity for his inferiors because you know they are clueless and helpless against the onslaught. I remember poor Sam Donaldson would try to make some banal liberal point and George would just hold his head in his hand, not believing such idiocy can be espoused by a functioning human, and then verbally eviscerate him. Even now no pundit, liberal or conservative, is anywhere near his intellectual equal, except for perhaps Charles Krauthammer. And even when you don't agree with him, you realize he's clarified the issue just by speaking. Even though it's on at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, I would get up to watch Will as host (or at least tape it.)

2002-11-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

Rooney? This is Sergeant Peterson!

So the guy who played Ed Rooney in Ferris Bueller's Day Off was busted for kiddie porn with Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Ruebens. Didn't you always know that Pee Wee was going to get busted again for something?

2002-11-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

SNL Sucks

I tried to watch Saturday Night Live last night and eventually turned it off to go to sleep. The writing over the last couple of years has been horrible. Where are the sketches that we're supposed to be talking about at the water cooler on Monday mornings? Where are the characters spouting national catch-phrases? I think the last SNL sketch that was funny was the "Schwety Balls" skit with Alec Baldwin./ Alas, SNL has Jumped the Shark

2002-11-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

Democrats and National Security

Good article by a former speechwriter for Clinton and Albright about why Democrats can't do national security.

2002-11-16T22:39:00.000-08:00

Girls Kick Ass!

Isn't it ironic that a bunch of Taliban guys, who wouldn't even allow women to go to school, got bombed by a red -blooded American gal? Read the first paragraph from Tom Friedman's article.

2002-11-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

Kipling Was Right

There's been a lot of Kipling quotes in the blogosphere lately, particularly from the poem Tommy. "Tommy Adkins" is the British version of G.I. Joe (no, not the 1980's action figures) and Kipling uses Tommy as the generic soldier who is unappreciated in peace but thrust to the front in wartime.

2002-11-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

The US Catholic Bishops Have Come Down Against....

--any invasion of Iraq, but still don't get it about pedophilia.

2002-11-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

A Face Only A Monkey Could Love

Pathetic.

2002-11-12T20:56:00.000-08:00

The Wellstone Eulogy

Pretty funny parody.

2002-11-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

Arf Arf!

Isn't it good, Norwegian boobs.

2002-11-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

War Bet

The proprietor (if hat's the right term) of The Dilenttante's Corner and I have a bet about when the war with Iraq will start. I say it will commence in mid-December--the Dilenttante says mid January--we'll say the 15th counts as "mid." A steak dinner is riding on the outcome. Winner is determined by who is closest.

2002-11-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Freedom? Thank a Vet

Sign this online Thank You to thank all our veterans for putting it on the line.

2002-11-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Bush Makes Daschle An Offer He Can't Refuse

This cartoon is great.

2002-11-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

USA! USA
I'm glad a real American finally stood up and punched out an anti-American scumbag for saying the US deserved 9/11. The fact that the puncher is a Hollywood "artistic" type makes it even better! (Can you tell I'm in a jingoistic frenzy today?) John Wayne not dead--he is, as Denis Leary says, in cryogenic storage, waiting for us to find a cure for cancer.

2002-11-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

When the Moon Hits Your Eye, Like a Big Peace-A-Sign, That's Amore

Florence was the sight of a huge antiwar rally, and by all accounts it was relatively peaceful. But the fact that it is the Communists behind most of the anti-war protests should give everyone pause: Communism did not fall with the Soviet Union---rather, it went dormant and will once again rear it's ugly head--maybe not in it's previous guise and in the same manner, but it will be back. And we need to prepare ourselves now: Let's start by bringing back HUAC!

2002-11-07T23:08:00.000-08:00

How Did My Election Predictions Go?

I was right about Davis winning by 5%.
Wrong about Lautenberg losing by 2%
Wrong about Mondale winning by 5%
Right about Jeb winning, but not the %
Right about Sunnunu winning but not the %
Underestimated GOP in senate
Got House pretty much right

I'm glad my Mondale prediction didn't work out!

2002-11-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

Letter to Andrew Sullivan

Andrew,

I have to disagree with you on the reason why Simon lost to Davis. Simon wasn't running, as you stated, a religious right campaign--hell, he wasn't running any campaign! As a California resident, I hardly saw a Simon commercial (granted, I live in San Francisco, not exactly GOP territory), and knew nothing about him besides what Davis told me. And still, he only lost by 5 points! I spoke to many people who stated they hated both Simon and Davis and were either going for the Libertarian candidate or staying home. As Arnold Steinberg points out in NRO, it was a poorly run campaign that did Simon in. Could Riordan have done better? Who knows--remember, he ran a lousy primary campaign as well.

Keep up the good work,

The World Turned Upside Down
updownblog@aol.com

2002-11-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

What's Up With Princess Di's Butler"

Normally, I don't take much stock in Brit Royalty, but something stinks about this whole butler business. Why was this guy almost in the dock before someone bothered to ask about his access to Diana's stuff? Thank God (and the blood of American patriots) that we don't have these people running our country.

2002-11-07T22:09:00.000-08:00

It's Amazing What Victory Will Do

Bush is revitalized and ready to take on Saddam. All the handwringing from the from the foreign Left has come to naught. Our President knows he has a job to do and now that the elections turned out so well, we can get going. Any idea when?

2002-11-06T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Unsung Hero

Let's not forget who really set the stage for this victory--Newt Gingrich, the man that many from both parties love to hate. While his flaws and mistakes may have been legion, it was he who engineered the 1994 GOP Congressional victory that gave us a Republican House in the first place, and for that alone, he deserves great praise and thanks. So what if he dumped his sick wife and married his math teacher? Imagine the Clinton years with a Democratic Congess:

2002-11-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Day After

So Fritz lost, and the Dems are licking their wounds and trying to spin this as a defeat for W. Ain't working folks. Rush Limbaugh is right in saying that the GOP can't misinterpret this election as they did after '94---they must govern, not gloat. I hope at least some of them will heed this advice.

2002-11-06T19:33:00.000-08:00
I Know You Have To Be Careful What You Wish For..

butthe fact that my Congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi, seems poised to become House minority leader seems to good to be true.

2002-11-05T21:37:00.000-08:00
What Will This Mean for Dems in 2004?

They need to run to the right of Bush on Defense/Homeland Security mixed in with some old time Dem populism on economic issues. Gulf War II's successful outcome will make Gore' sposition, as he made clear in his San Francisco speech, will hurt him in the primaries. Besides, I think people are tired of Gore, and he's not even in elected office. So who can do it for the Dems?

2002-11-05T21:31:00.000-08:00
Election Coverage

Donna Brazile on MSNBC is trying to put her best face foward but it ain't working--Dems are losing big time and she looks silly. At least James Carville was intellectually honest enough to put a garbage can on his head. Begala, that weasal, is saying that the Dems have to turn left--I hope they take his advice! And Peggy Noonan--ah Peggy, I can listen to your melodius voice all night.

2002-11-05T21:21:00.000-08:00
To Be Spanked Any Harder, The Democrat's Would Need A Dominitrix

Wow, it's looking like a strong night for the GOP. Even the California Gubernatorial race is looking very, very close. The reasons for GOP success:

1. Bush: The President took a risk and campaigned hard, even when counseled to stay in D.C. and look "Presidential." One wonders what some races would have been like (i.e. California) if Bush had spent more time.

2. War and Homeland Security: Face it--the people just do not trust the Democratic party with national security issues. Not since Sam Nunn left the Senate has a Democrat been seen as being pro-defense and for a foreign policy geared towards America's self interest. We're in a war, and getting ready to expand it and Daschle can't get a Homeland Security Bill through. The Dems better clone Scoop Jackson if they are to have a shot in 2004

3. Dem's Distasteful Campaign Tactics: Throwing Oreo cookies at the Black nominee for Lt. Governor in Maryland; the Wellstone funeral turned convention--all these things showed the Dems to be shallow, crass, and having no class.

4. Not standing for something: You can't just be against an idea or a candidate, especially when there is really not much idealogical differences between most candidates. The Dems offered no alternative on economics, defense, homeland security and lost big time.

2002-11-04T23:02:00.000-08:00
Vote Early and Vote Often

Problems with the ballots in Florida and South Dakota, but hey, democracy ain't perfect. Don't like it? Go to Iraq! As for me, I've got too much democracy here in San Francisco, CA. There are at least 30 different state and city propositions to vote for, most of them for some dopey bond measures. My feeling towards most of those measures echoes Groucho Marx: "Whatever it is, I'm Against It!" However, I will be voting for Care Not Cash in SF.

2002-11-03T11:03:00.000-08:00
Rudy Giuliani is the Candidate For Me

I actually heard such a ditty when I voluntered for the Giuliani campaign. Rudy's been stumping for candidates and appearing on talk shows and everyone wants to know what political job he'll want next. I would strongly urge him to burnish his foreign policy credentials with a job such as DCI, so that hell be better prepared to run for president in '08, although being a Republican, his foreign policy/defense credibility will be taken for granted.

It's also amazing how the press is ignoring Democrat Alex Sanders of South Carolina anti-gay slur against Lindsey Graham. Sanders said the following "If you want to talk about liberals, we can talk about Lindsey Graham's association with Rudy Giuliani. I suppose that makes (Graham) a liberal. We all admire what he did after 9/11. But Giuliani is an ultra liberal. He supports gay rights. He supports banning all handguns. He supports abortion. His wife kicked him out and he moved in with two gay men and a shitsu. Is that South Carolina values? I don't think so."

Now imagine the outrage if a Republican said that. BTW, doesn't Two Gays and a Shit-zu sound like a great sitcom? "Right after Will and Grace here on NBC!"

2002-11-03T10:52:00.000-08:00
New Respect For Gephardt

Representative Gephardt was asked on This Week about the Nation magazine's claim that his and other Dems support for the Iraq resolution weakened them politically after Labor Day. Gephardt basically said that what mattered was doing the right thing not the political thing. Good for him, although I'm sure he's thinking about his own Presidential chances in '04.

2002-11-02T19:10:00.000-08:00
A Joke To lighten Up Your Day

Pat and Mike were doing some street repairs in front of a known house of ill repute in Boston. A Rabbi came walking down the street, looked the left, looked to right, and ducked into the house. Pat paused a bit from swinging his pick and said "Mike...will you look at that! A man of the cloth, and going into a place like that in broad daylight!". A bit later, a Baptist minister came down the street, looked to the left, looked to the right, and scurried into the house. Mike laid down his shovel, turned to Pat and said "Pat! Are you seeing what I'm seeing? A man of the Church, and he's giving that place his custom!" Just then, a Catholic Priest came down the street, looked to the left, looked to the right, and slipped into the bawdy house. Pat and Mike straightened up, removed their hats, and Mike says "Faith, and there must be somebody sick in there."

2002-11-02T18:05:00.000-08:00
Congratulations NYC!

I'm glad NYC won over San Fran as the USA's choice for the 2012 Olympics, although I think it will be hard to get the games back in the US anytime soon. San Fran screwed up by trying to be cheap about how much it would cost to host them, and to be honest, the wack-jobs in this city would really tried to screw things up (just imagine all the protests!). I just hope that if NYC is chosen, that by that time, we will have an awe inspiring monument to 9/11 in the form of some huge towering structure.

2002-10-30T21:16:00.000-08:00
Political Predictions:

Davis wins in California by 5%

Lautenberg loses in NJ by 2%

Mondale wins by 5%

Jeb wins by 5%

Sununnu wins by 4%

US Senate: GOP 50, Dem 49, Indy 1

House: GOP by 20

Pray for rain

2002-10-30T21:01:00.000-08:00
Am I Boring?

Another reader weighs in: Your posts, although intelligent and well written, are boring. Try and spice it up a little.

What can I say to that?

2002-10-30T20:59:00.000-08:00
So Tonight I'm Gonna Party Like It's Wellstone's Funeral

What can I say--it's a disgrace but nothing surprises me anymore.

2002-10-29T20:18:00.000-08:00
Maybe There Are Episcopalians in Foxholes

A few years ago, National Review asked if there were Episcopalians in foxholes. A reader responded to an earlier post about Catholicism and the war that may answer the question.

Actually, during the Kosovo War, I happened to attend an Episcopal service (a baptism for the nephew of a certain ex-gf) and there the minister railed at Clinton for not committing ground troops. If America is unwilling to shed blood - that is, at least put troops in harm's way vice flying supersonic craft at 20,000 feet - than we shouldn't be fighting, he preached. With Clinton, it was easy for him to launch a few cruise missiles, and pretend the problem was gone. The President to-day is more willing to commit the US to the problem at hand by putting US forces on the ground. That is a very different approach than his predecessor. I think wars are just when you are willing to at least expose yourself to danger. That shows that the goal of fighting the war is just, since you are willing to sacrifice your own to achieve victory.

Well said. I'm happy this blog has at least one reader!

2002-10-29T20:09:00.000-08:00
Thank God I Was Never an Altar Boy

So Bishop Daily, while a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, knew that Father Paul Shanley had gone to NAMBLA meetings (No, I don't think I'll link to that site, thank you!) and espoused pedophilia, but did nothing about it. Reading the entire transcript of the deposition will sadden and enrage you and lead to no other conclusion than that Daily has got to resign as Bishop Of Brooklyn.

You can see several reasons how this scandal was allowed to fester for so long when you read Daily's deposition in it's entirety. The first reason is plain old ass-covering--gotta keep everything quiet so as not to cause scandal. But all that did was delay the scandal until it couldn't be covered any longer, all the while allowing several lives to be destroyed . Second, there seems to be the belief that pedophilia was more of a psycological disorder than a sin, and even if Father Shanley was wrong in thinking that "kids sometimes seduce adults", he's entitled to his opinion. Third, Daily seems, like many in America, to have internalized the US legal system's "innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt" doctrine as a way to deal with every area of uncertainty in life. That doctrine is a means to prevent the state from capriciously and recklessly depriving a person of life and liberty. Thus, Daily reasoned, (and I'm paraphrasing) just because Shanley went to NAMBLA meetings and espoused man-boy sex, that doesn't provehe was molesting kids, does it. No Bishop, it doesn't prove that--what it does is give a DAMN STRONG INDICATIONthat there might be something wrong with the guy and that at the very least, he shouldn't be around kids.

Daily doesn't even seem to be too bothered by the suffering these poor kids had to endure. Why isn't he wearing sackcloth and fasting to atone for his sin of willfull ignorance?

I understand that there can false accusations against priests for a number of reasons (extortion, revenge, delusions, etc.) and the Church needn't overeact to such accusations. What it should do is hire some ex-cops to do a preliminary investigation and if facts then warrant, the police can be brought in. Maybe each diocese can have an investigator, just like they have an exorcist. But it appears even Rome under JPII is unwilling to do what it takes to clear the smoke of hell from the vestibule of the Church.

2002-10-29T19:07:00.000-08:00
Die, Terrorist Bitches!

Scroll down the article to the photo of the dead terrorist chicks from the Moscow hostage crisis---the Russians don't play around, do they?

2002-10-29T18:56:00.000-08:00
What We're Fighting For

I first found about the Institute of American Values via the Weekly Standard. It seems that the Institute is making waves in Europe and Saudi Arabia by publishing open letters clearly enunciating why the war against terrorism is just and then replying, in a very reasoned, objective, focused way, to the criticism's that the Goose-Stepping Germans and Towel-Headed Saudi's make. (Hey, I never said I was reasoned, objective, and focused!) Seriously, the website is worth looking at and I hope they go on to publish deeper analyses.

2002-10-28T22:11:00.000-08:00
Romper Room in the Dugout

I can't help but think that part of the reason the Giant's lost the World Series is that they were just too preoccupied with all their kids in the dugout and on the field. And it looks like Major League Baseball, after no doubt reading this blog, may institute a ban on kids in the dugout. Good for them--do it before somebody gets hurt.

2002-10-28T22:05:00.000-08:00
The United States of Europe

I believe it should be the policy of the United States to prevent such an entity from ever coming into existence, even if the possibility of a USE seems remote at this time. Such a consolidation of power will be the greatest challenge we have ever faced, if not militarily, than economically and not for the better. Such an organization will be run by the French and Germans, and we know how much they love us and Israel. Also remember that Europe is quite willing to play footsie with Iran, Iraq, etc, if they can get a little money out of it as well as allow Muslim radicals to set up camp inside their borders. I hope we have the sense to prevent with vigourous diplomacy what Hitler tried to achieve through war. I for one don't want to spend my fifties being squeezed between Beijing and Berlin.

2002-10-27T22:23:00.000-08:00
Putin's Gas

It seems the congratulations for the way Moscow handled the hostage crisis might be premature, although it remains to be seen what the alternative they had against determined would-be suicide bombers. Personally, I would rather have my countrymen take me out while getting the terrorists than let some terrorist vermin (to use Putin's words) make me an unwilling martyr.

2002-10-27T22:16:00.000-08:00
The Catholic Church and the Coming War

My roomate tells me that a priest last week denounced any war with Iraq from the pulpit. He also referred to the President and his father as George W. and George , respectively. I'm sure we wouldn't hear any such nonsense in a certain Brooklyn parish, but it seems anti-war sentiment is rampant in the Catholic Church. Now, I understand that Christianity, if read literally, is completely pacifistic, and if a priest were to hold that position, I would disagree but maintain a certian amount of respect for the position. But it seems the anti-war message preached from the pulpit is selective in its choice of what to condemn--where were the denuciations of Clinton's actions in Kosovo?

2002-10-27T20:59:00.000-08:00
Giant Loss

Oh well, they put up a good fight but it just wasn't good enough. But in the end, the Angels didn't beat the Giant's--they beat themselves--they had games 2 and 6 in the bag and just screwed up. But it was one of the best series I've seen in a while (and I don't want to hear about any Yankee blowouts) and I'm looking forward to next year. LET'S GO METS!

2002-10-27T11:41:00.000-08:00
SF Anti-War Protest

Looks like yesterday's protest went off without any violence or damage. Can't say the same about these poor guys though.

2002-10-27T11:25:00.000-08:00
Why I Never Wanted to Be A Doctor

2002-10-27T01:28:00.000-08:00
Armed Vermin

Vladamir Putin addressed his country regarding the Moscow hostage crisis: "Dear compatriots! These days we have, together, gone through a terrible test. All our thoughts were with the hostages, in the hands of armed vermin. We hoped for the best outcome, but each of us understood, that it is necessary to be ready for the worst. Today the rescue operation of this morning is done. It was possible to do almost the impossible - to rescue the lives of hundreds, hundreds of people. We have proved that Russia cannot be put on her knees. But now I first of all want to address the families and relatives of those who were lost. We could not rescue them all. Forgive us. Let the memory of the victims unite us. I thank all the citizens of Russia for their endurance and unity. Special gratitude to everyone who participated in the rescue operation. Special thanks to the employees of the special divisions who, without hesitation, risking their own lives, struggled for the rescue of the hostages. We are grateful also to our friends all over the world, for their moral and practical support in our struggle against the same enemy. This enemy is strong and dangerous, brutal and severe. It is international terrorism. While it is not defeated, anywhere in the world, people can not feel safe. But it should be defeated. And it will be defeated. Today in the hospital I talked to one of victims. He said to me, 'It was not that terrible - there was a confidence among us, that the future of the terrorists is not enduring.' And this is the truth. They do not have a future. We do."

Would any US politician risk calling terrorists "armed vermin?"

2002-10-27T01:20:00.000-08:00
Giant Disappointment

Just goes to show you that a 5 run lead doesn't mean anything against a team like the Angels. It's been a great series--too bad the rest of the country doesn't care! I watched the game at Pat O'Shea's, there swere ome unruly Angel's fans that started a fistfight. But I didn't see anything, I was, ahem, in the bathroom. Anyway, it ain't over yet. Maybe Bond's will learn how to field by tomorrow.

2002-10-26T00:31:00.000-07:00
Frank Lautenberg, RIP

C-Span showed an interview of Lautenberg on some local Jersey channel--he's pathetic. I thought the allegations of his meandering thoughts and speech were just partisan bromides but the guy is really senile--he said something to the effect that Colin Powell voted against the first Gulf War resolution in 1991. Okay, Frank, Bingo's at 7:00. The whole Torricelli/candidate switching debacle was disgusting. Only one solution: RUDY! This would set him up beatifully for a future presidential run: RUDY/RICE in '08!

2002-10-26T00:17:00.000-07:00
Oh When I Came Home on Friday Night, As Drunk As Drunk Could Be

Started at at The Last Day Saloon, Van Morrison's daughter Shannon often sings there, Tonight it was dead.

Headed next to the Plough and the Stars , They pour a great pint but atmosphere wise it was also dead, except for the 40 year old Texas gal who had a 1940's hairdo and chatted up my roommate.

Then headed to Ireland's 32 where we saw a pretty decent Police cover band. Roooooooxxxxxaannnne!

After that, got a slice of Pizza at Nizario's (hey, it ain't New York pizza, but in a pinch...)

And dat's dat

2002-10-25T21:14:00.000-07:00
Hats n Bats, Part II

Another big protest planned in San Francisco tomorrow, this time part of what they say will be a global antiwar rally. Word is that some of the bad guys from Seattle will be there. Hey, you want to protest, fine, but don't start a riot and then claim brutality when you get clubbed like a baby seal. As for me, it's Breeder's Cup day, so I'll be at the track.

2002-10-25T21:04:00.000-07:00
Russia's Islamist Problem

It appears the hostage situation in Moscow has ended, but the immediate problems for Putin and Russia are far from over. Russians will now feel the same sense of vulnerability that Americans felt after 9/11 in regards to Islamist terror. It will be interesting to see how were these people able to a) get in the country with vast amounts of explosives b) perform the necessary intelligence gathering for such a complicated operation, c) conspire without being detected by the security services, and most importantly d) where are the other conspirators (reports are some escaped) and what are they planning next? For ten years Russia has been trying to get her bearings and find it's place in the post-Cold War world. Now the point has been made that Islamists can strike Russia's capital, despite the vast resources of the FSB and SVR as easily as the 9/11 hijackers did in the US. Will Putin now unleash the army in Chechnya, and the Islamic former republics of the old Soviet Union? Maybe we'll get that security council vote against Iraq after all.

2002-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00
Where should I go drinking tonight?

So many bars, so little time.

Pat O'Shea's

Kells

Cozmo's

Balboa Cafe

2002-10-25T19:12:00.000-07:00
Paul Wellstone, RIP

Although I disagreed with almost every policy position he had ever taken, by all accounts Wellstone was a decent man who stuck by his convictions even when wildly unpopular. I would take such a man as my president before Al Gore or Hillary Clinton anytime. Rest in Peace

2002-10-25T00:17:00.000-07:00
WWBD?

What Would Breshnev Do regarding the hostage situation in Moscow? Can Putin rebound from this embarrasment or will Chehcnya be Afghanistan all over again? This situation should underscore the difficulties a free society has in fighting terrorism--remember that Russia still has internal passports for her citizens. The US media has mostly ignored this story, and CNN is calling the hostage-takers "rebels" instead of "terrorists." I wonder if Reuters is calling them "alleged rebels."

2002-10-24T21:33:00.000-07:00
Damn! I was Looking Foward to the Free Taco

Get a life guys!

2002-10-24T21:25:00.000-07:00
It's My Third Party, And I'll Cry If I Want To

Great satire by The Onion.

2002-10-24T20:54:00.000-07:00
Children Should Be Heard In the Stands, Not Seen On The Field

What is it with ballplayers and managers having their kids in the dugout and on the field during games? It was one thing when Mark McGuire has his kid meet him at home plate when he broke the homerun record, but this is the World Series for crying out loud! J.T. Snow had to clear Dusty Baker's kid from homeplate after he scored so the kid wouldn't get plowed over by the next runner . (Digression: And what is Dusty doing having kids at his age anyway?) One of these days, some tot's going to get plowed over and everybody will wring their hands and wonder why Major League Baseball didn't do anything. CNN and MSNBC will interrupt with "Breaking News" as "Dusty Baker's son critically injured at World Series Game 5" scrolls underneath. Keep the kids off the field!

2002-10-24T20:38:00.000-07:00
Can't Anybody Here Announce This Game?

Can the Giants hold on? This series has been a real slugfest and a great series, although I know it's not drawing ratings outside of California. Could that also have something to do with Tim McCarver? I should get a restraining order, as he has followed me from New York, where he announced Mets and Yankees games, to SF where he's now the Giants regular season analyst, and now with FOX for the World Series. I was at Game 3 and he was resoundly booed by the crowd at Pac Bell when they showed him on Astrovision. Yes, the guy is knows baseball, but he annoyingly overanalyzes the simplest plays and after a while, you just get sick of him.

Blogging: It's Not Just For Homosexuals Anymore

Great minds think alike. Introducing Karl's blog , the Dilettante' s Corner. Although often tilting at windmills that aren't there, you'll always learn something new by reading him. An international businessman, Karl has lived in Eastern Europe for the past few years and has traveled the world--think of him as a modern day Rick Blaine, substituting a cafe in Casablanca for a hotel in Sophia.

2002-10-23T22:12:00.000-07:00
Hats and Bats

Check out how the protestors at the SF Federal Building a few weeks ago claim these guys beat them up! Poor Hippies!

2002-10-23T22:01:00.000-07:00
Simon Sez?

Fire Gray Davis! Two seperate polls put GOP challenger Bill Simon between 3 to 10 points behind Davis. National Review thinks that W. should come out to California and campaign hard. I think Simon has a shot given Davis' high negatives, but why have I only seen a few Simon commercials in the past few weeks? I thought this guy was rich? I'm wondering if there are any debates scheduled?

2002-10-23T21:53:00.000-07:00
World Series 2002

I was one of the fortunate few who was at the first World Series game played at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Too bad the Giants lost, although they evened the series tonight. I was also there for Barry Bonds 600th homerun. It's been a good year for baseball--thank God there was no strike. Now, hopefully the Mets can get a decent manager.

2002-10-23T21:44:00.000-07:00
High On the Blog

I finally decided to try the blog thing. I figured it would be a good way to reach more people on more topics without a lot of hard to follow E-mail threads.
Blogger.com does all the technical work and it's free if you're interested. There are also Team Blogs thet allow more than one user to contribute posts--maybe something to think about down the line.

Special thanks to KSB for suggesting the name after weeding out some bad ideas--he gets a consulting fee of one pint! The World Turned Upside Down was the song that the British Army was said to have played when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown. It seemed a fitting name given the times we live in.