Morning Coffee (105)

I woke up this morning to about 4 inches of light, fluffy white stuff on my truck. No, a Cessna filled with Colombian cocaine did not explode over my house. It was snow. And it was coming down. Of course, the city hadn’t yet bothered to mobilize the legions of snow plows, so the drive into work was like being a lone merchant vessel in the North Atlantic circa 1940; just waiting to take one to the keel. It never happened though, thankfully.

Delusional Change Someone Else Can Believe In (Revisited):

Talk about beating a dead horse. I was fortunate enough to hear the Obama commercial again this morning. The cute-girl-sounding announcer nearly has me convinced to vote for Obama on primary day. “Obama has a way of brining people together.” How? Where’s the proof? Give me an example. Alas, they do not. She says, as to why one might vote for Obama, “Maybe you want to end this war.” Then some teenager kid says to me, as if to illustrate the burning desire of all young people to end this “illegal, immoral war,” “Obama was against the Iraq War from the beginning.” Great. Wow. Can you put that into context for me? For what reasons was he against the war? Was he against it for being against its sake? Would he support any war? In what ways would war be a valid option for Mr. Obama? I have a lot of questions for the freshman Senator from Illinois on foreign policy and war. None have ever been answered. (Of course us proles don’t get sit downs with Presidential candidates, even the ones who have a way of bringing people together.) Then Obama comes on, and I’m reminded of a portion of his ad that I forgot about yesterday. He says, in closing out his ad, “Believe in the dream we call America!” America’s a dream? Nobody told me! I’ve been living in a dream world my whole life and just now I find out about it. What’s worse, I’m told to believe in this “dream” in the same breath. Must America be merely a dream? Can it not be something far more substantive? I’m clearly being facetious here, but I hope you get my point. Flowery rhetoric is Obama’s forte. But what substance does he have? Is he any more substantive than the dreams of which he speaks? Obama wrote a book called, “Dreams from My Father.” Dreams is a prevailing theme in his speeches and one might think that dreams make up his entire political persona. No substance, just dreams. Dreams might make us feel good, but the do not solve or assuage reality. Sure, I like a forward thinker as much as the next man, but a man who dreams and doesn’t do…is that who we want as President? Flowery rhetoric and feel-goodery is just that.

Obama’s wife, Michelle, is apparently proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. Go ahead, read it if you want. Barack’s excuse for her is…lacking. Hers was a poor choice of words.

McCain’s 100 Years War:

I don’t even want to talk about this whole thing, because it’s stupid. Obama’s campaign has unleashed the rhetoric-monsters on a fairly old McCain bit in which McCain made mention that it doesn’t matter how long we’re in Iraq so long as we succeed and we aren’t suffering casualties; even 100 years if necessary. I’ll be the first to admit that McCain’s phraseology was stupid. First of all, if we are, as McCain states, to “maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world,” we’d be suffering casualties, probably right up until the time we left. They may be minor, but we’d still lose men and women over there. I do see his point, that being that a secure Iraq is an important goal, and a set timeline is not something that is necessarily conducive to success. But the statement was dumb. And the Democrats seized on it. Now all you read about from the spokesmen of their campaigns is how McCain wants more than 100 years in Iraq, no matter what the topic is. He doesn’t “want” 100 or more years in Iraq. And they should remember, as McCain pointed out, that we’ve been in South Korea and Japan and Germany for quite a long time. There is an overwhelming precedent for long-term deployments of US troops overseas. What annoys me so is the misleading characterization that these political campaigns make on a daily basis, and on virtually every issue (tax cuts, anyone?).

Here’s the deal. McCain wants there to be a secure, stable Iraq, no matter the timeline. Success is the measure of success. Clinton wants the measure of success to be the withdrawal of all troops within 60 days of her election to the office of the President, no matter what that might mean for Iraq or the region. Obama would like to enact a “phased-redeployment” wherein all US forces are removed from Iraq by 31 March 2008. Getting involved in Iraq may have been a poor choice, but now that we’re there, we should make every effort to finish the job. I’ve written a great deal on the reasons for doing so, as some of you might remember. Not only are the pragmatic reasons, such as Iraq being secure from outside forces (Iran), important, but the more esoteric reasons like how we are perceived by the rest of the Muslim world are important as well. I’ve contended that leaving Iraq to its own fate after having annihilated its army, economy, and infrastructure and sewn the seeds of ethnic and religious violence is a terrible idea. A terrible one. If leaving Afghanistan to its own devices in 1991 was a bad idea that netted us 9/11, imagine how Iraq might turn out for us.

Cancer, Bacteria, Whatever:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his friends get their blights confused. Last week, one of his lackeys described Israel as a cancerous growth. Today, Mahmoud has described it as bacteria. Not just any bacteria, but filthy bacteria. He says, “The world powers established this filthy bacteria, the Zionist regime, which is lashing out at the nations in the region like a wild beast.” I love propaganda. Such beautiful prose. Like a wild beast. Lashing out. Filthy bacteria. As humorous as his bloviating sounds, we should remember that most people attempt to eradicate such things as cancer and filthy bacteria. Hell, one of the chief methods of eliminating cancer is radiation. You know where you get radiation? Enriched uranium. Know what you can do with uranium? Make nukes. Nukes kill cancer. I’m unaware as to whether or not the Iranian regime is working on antibiotic-tipped missiles, but they may be doing just that. If so, we know what their intentions are, don’t we?

Ahmadinejad later says that Israel “uses terror as a threat every day, and afterwards is happy and joyful.” This in response to the actions against the pink mist that was Hezbollah chief Imad Moughniyeh. Iran doesn’t do terror. Nope. No way. Not on your life. Unless of course you consider a little thing like bankrolling Hezbollah as, I don’t know, supporting terror every day. Or kidnapping British Marines right off the Persian Gulf. Twice. Nah, Iran does not support or condone any form of terrorism. And if I get cancer, I know where I’m going: Bushehr.

Castro Steps Down:

After nearly 50 years of rule, Fidel Castro has stepped down as the President of Cuba. Castro had been in power since 1959. I haven’t really anything remarkable to add to this event, as it doesn’t appear that much will change in Cuba right away. Castro’s brother Raul will take over. There’s hope, as Raul has indicated that things need to change in Cuba, but I doubt much will happen while Fidel is still alive. Anyway, I just figured I’d mention it if some of you only get your news from the MC (which would be a bad thing).

A hearty Happy Birthday to our US Postal Service, which celebrates its 215th birthday today. The Postal Service Act was signed by George Washington in 1792. Let’s test your unofficial motto and see if I get my mail today.

Word of the Day: Ersatz (adjective): Being a substitute or imitation, usually an inferior one. We are presented with ersatz Presidential candidates.

On This Day in History: Congress proposes the Twenty-First Amendment, which will end Prohibition (1933). Good idea Congress. Movie studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies (1943). John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth (1962). Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou, a Greek politician, and current record holder for the person with the longest name to receive an MC mention was born (1963). Kurt Cobain was born (1967).

“It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.” – Epicurus.

Morning Coffee (81)

Did you know that 4 out of 5 readers prefer their Morning Coffee served with a slice of sarcasm?

On the way in to brew the Coffee this morning, I was once again listening to my massive mix CD. This time, “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen came on, and I came to the sudden realization that Springsteen might have the worst singing voice of any iconic American musician, but for some reason, you like listening to him. For some reason, when you hear that synthesized piano thing in the intro to “Born” you’re always like, “I love Springsteen.” He’s gotten better with age, but back when he did the album “Born in the USA” he just sounded like a tortured kitten with that constant yell/singing thing he did. Despite that, it’s a good album, and he’s a good musician, even if the meaning to his most recognized song is misunderstood.

Presidential Dynasties:

I’m sure by now you’ve all heard that if Hillary is elected in 2008, we’ll have had two families in our highest office since 1988. It would be even worse were she to be re-elected in 2012, which is not out of the question as the incumbent. Maybe no one has thought about this, but we could have a Bush or a Clinton in the White House for 28 years total. From 1988 to 2016. This is a very real possibility. Do we really think this is a good precedent?

Allow me to grandly hypothesize for a moment. Join me in it, because if we can’t imagine and be scared of a future, then what shall deter us from it? A worst case scenario could be a 63 year old Jeb Bush running in 2016 and serving two terms. By then (2024) Chelsea Clinton would be 44. She’d be a young candidate, sure, but she could run and serve two terms. That’d put our dynasty out until 2032. Forty-four years of rule by two families. This wouldn’t be such a bad thing if all of the above were qualified, quality candidates. But Hillary Clinton already sees herself as heir apparent, how bad would the Bush/Clinton perception of entitlement get after her terms as our President. Jeb Bush might sweep in like a savior in 2016 as a reminder of the Bush-era. Same with Clinton in 2024. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and it rarely forces one to remember accurately. And this is only the family members presently in the public eye.

When my grandchildren and their children reflect on our nation in the distant future, I’d rather not have the blight of a 44-year two-family dynasty on the political record. There are enough political blights to be ashamed of in our nation, and by then there will be more. But this, to me, would be amongst the most offensive. I grant you that this is an extremely unlikely possibility, because I do have a little faith in the people to not choose this path, but it is nonetheless a possibility. If we simply dismiss this possibility as impossible, we are then in gross negligence, and what is to stop it from becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Thus Falls the Giant:

Have you not heard? We have surrendered. We have surrendered to Ahmadenijad; conceded defeat by issuing the National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear program. Ahmadenijad says so. The NIE was a declaration of surrender. It was not an intelligence product tainted by political pandering. No, friends, it was surrender to the glory and power of Ahmadenijad. Just keep that in mind for next time. Surrenders are subtle these days.

To celebrate Ahmadenijad’s victory over tyranny and totalitarianism, his government shut down 24 internet cafes and coffee shops and arrested 23 people (11 women) in a 24 hour dragnet intended to fight immorality. You know, immoral computer games, the storing of obscene photos, and the presence of women wearing improper hijab (hats instead of scarves). Go freedom and democracy.

Since I may be called away at any time this morning, I will down the last of our Coffee and bid you adieu.

Word of the Day: Pari passu (PAIR-ee-PASS-oo) (adverb): At an equal pace or rate.

On This Day in History: The Second Battle of Trebia (218 BCE). Hannibal once again thrashes the army of the Roman Republic. In the aftermath, the Roman Senate elects two new consuls, one of which being Gaius Flaminius, who would lead the army to another defeat against Hannibal at Lake Trasimene the next year. Nothing like losing 60,000 men (killed, wounded or captured) in two battles. Also, the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified by Georgia, putting it into effect and banning slavery in the United States (1865).

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” – James A. Baldwin

“Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it.” – George Bernard Shaw

Morning Coffee (77)

Yesterday’s Morning Coffee was terrible. See, the first half was brewed with success, but then the Coffee filter developed a gaping hole, and all the incoherent grounds spilled forth into the pot. My apologies. Try as I may, one should not expect Pulitzer Prize worthy brew every day.

Ahmadine-Blog:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a fellow blogger, as reports the New York Times. This is rife with irony. The President of Iran blogging in a country where most people cannot blog at all; censorship is so widespread in Iran that Mahmoud’s own blog was actually blocked for a whole day. Interestingly, his blog allows for the posting of comments, all of which are first reviewed before being posted. Obviously. If you were to read this blog, you would notice that comments by Westerners are generally more biting than those from Iranians, which generally praise Mahmoud and his government. You’d think, “Wow, they do allow some free thought and criticism.” Then you’d think, “Wow, Iranians love this guy.” Then you’d take a sip of Morning Coffee and realize that that is exactly what Mahmoud had in mind when he started this little propaganda device. Allowing angry tirades by (inarticulate) Americans merely illustrates Mahmoud’s point that we are belligerent war-mongers, and it shows that Mahmoud is capable of standing dissent. Allowing loving Persian praise, by people that live in Iran with a firsthand perspective, shows that he’s not as bad as we make him out to be. Nothing that goes on his blog is posted without being massaged, and that is the beauty of this sort of propaganda. Frankly, all of the comments posted could have been written by Iranian officials; there’s no way to know for sure.

One of Mahmoud’s posts refers to the prodigious freedoms that average Iranians have, such as the right of students to protest. He says, “It was a joyous feeling to see a small group insult the elected president of people fearlessly amid a majority.” Look closely at that sentence. The verbiage is very interesting. “Small group; insult; elected; of people; amid a majority.” I get the idea that the protesters’ opinions are on the fringe, and that they were allowed to insult the elected leader, despite incurring the ridicule of the majority, is a great thing. These students may very well have protested fearlessly, but if that was the case it was more the result of naiveté than a genuine right to dissent. Mahmoud has an odd way of showing joy over dissent in his country; most of the students involved are now in prison.

I found one comment mildly amusing though. Ibrahim Sadegh-al thanked the president for creating more jobs with his visionary economic policies. Before these policies, there were only two gas stations in Ibrahim’s town, and only one was open at any given time. Now Ibrahim says there are 3,000 people selling fuel. Can anyone say, “black market?”

Political Nausea:

I’m really to the point where I become physically and psychologically ill when I read about politics. No, scratch that. It’s not politics with which I have a problem, since that is an abstract. It’s the practitioners of politics that make me ill. Below are a few issues, none of which I’ll bloviate about for long.

Is it me, or has the election cycle become so dragged out that it seems to have actually started before any of the candidates were born? It’s becoming analogous to Christmas: it starts earlier and earlier every year. This leaves politicians plenty of time to actually do their jobs, since they have to begin running for the next election immediately after being elected.

I read an article that stated that most of Hillary Clinton’s supporters are with her simply because of Bill Clinton. Then I thought, “Boy, I’d really feel crappy if people were voting for me because of their adulation for my spouse.” But you know what? I’ll bet it doesn’t even matter to Hillary, or anyone else seeking power, er, public office. She, for example, doesn’t seem to have an original idea in her head. She was oh-so-close to power, and now wants to experience it for herself. Whatever happened to those reluctant leaders, leaders who assumed the mantle not because they wanted power, but because they were needed? The colonies would have made Washington a virtual king, but he retired. Then you have the famous Cincinnatus, called to Roman service to save the city, he was given absolute power and could have ruled as a dictator for life, but he returned to his life as a farmer. Now we’re left with power drunk morons who will do nearly anything to gain and keep power; who would rather die in office than relinquish that power and who long ago became void of any desire or ability to effect positive change. They feel as if they’re the shepherds and we are but the flock, and it is their duty to grip and wield the power we gave them because we haven’t the ability or comprehension to do it ourselves. We have, in essence, an aristocracy. Why do you think term limits will never exist for our Congress? Fields become unproductive if crops are not rotated and the earth tilled and turned over from time to time. Leadership is no different.

The Drudge Report cites internal DNC officials who state that Mike Huckabee shall not be subject to attack ads until after he secures the nomination for President. They view him as being easily defeated in the general election, and are waiting until he is nominated to unleash their assault. They also claim to have a lot more on him than pardons and HIV faux pas. The leak could be that they’re scared of him though, and are merely bluffing. Either way, I retch.

Mitt Romney says that attacking someone’s religion is “really going too far.” Okay, maybe attacking a religion is going too far, but why is questioning someone’s religion a taboo? The majority of Americans don’t the first thing about Mormonism, and what they do know is not likely to be very objective, so it’s entirely reasonable that he get, and answer, questions posed to him about it. But we all know that beliefs are unquestionable. Same with feelings. “I know that (X), but this is the way I feel (Y)…and I believe this.” This pretty much automatically makes any challenge impossible. People must be allowed to have their beliefs and feeling no matter how illogical and/or stupid they may be. Americans have a right to know what sort of beliefs are espoused by Mormonism, and the man who aspires to be the first Mormon President has a duty to supply those answers; to articulate how his faith will “inform” his leadership.

Shooting Spree Update:

It appears that Jeanne Assam, the security guard whose pistol hand was steadied by God, might not have actually killed Matthew Murray. The coroner has ruled Murray’s death was the result of suicide, despite him being struck multiple times by Assam. It turns out Murray shot himself in the head. I am curious as to the location of the bullet wounds from Assam’s pistol. I guess God wasn’t too steadying after all. Well, perhaps steadying was God’s effort, but imparting accuracy just wasn’t his bag.

Also of note, Assam was fired from her job as a police officer in 1997 for lying during an investigation into whether or not she swore at a bus driver. Tsk, tsk.

Prior to the shooting, Murray had left messages on an internet forum stating that he wanted to kill Christians. Apparently, the language he used was almost identical to that used by the late Eric Harris. Interesting…

Word of the Day: Dishabille (dis-uh-BEEL) (noun): 1. The state of being careless or partially dressed. 2. Casual or lounging attire. 3. An intentionally careless or casual manner.

On This Day in History: Crusaders lay siege to and breech the walls of Ma’arrat al-Numan and kill about 20,000 inhabitants. Then, observing their lack of sufficient food, they decide to dine on the inhabitants flesh to ward off that pesky hunger (1098).

"But I think attacking someone's religion is really going too far. It's just not the American way, and I think people will reject that." – Mitt Romney on the “Today Show.” Said while thinking to himself that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church and that everyone in the room, and most Americans, will be unable to reach the highest levels of heaven.