Monday, October 31, 2005
Here We Go Again
Posted by Bruce Barry on Mon, Oct 31, 2005 at 6:50 AM
Bush's Supreme Court pick is apparently Samuel Alito, a former deputy assistant attorney general (under Reagan), and a federal judge on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit since 1990. Alito is known for dissenting from a decision tossing a Pennsylvania law that required women to inform their husbands before getting an abortion. No word on whether he thinks a law requiring men to inform their wives about a vasectomy would pass muster. A bit more on him here.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Perspective
Posted by Bruce Barry on Sat, Oct 29, 2005 at 12:35 PM
The Weekly Standard's William Kristol captures with panache the preferred GOP spin on Friday's prosecutorial doings in Washington:
What nonsense. Only the most hyperbolic marginal leftoids contended that Fitzgerald's probe would discredit the case for war, unravel a "whole criminal conspiracy," or produce wholesale paralysis and disgrace for the administration. The outcome of the investigation was eagerly awaited because of its promise to show through the eyes of an unimpeachably nonpartisan prosecutor the morally repugnant lengths to which this administration will go to neutralize dissent that challenges its warmaking motives. Calling this a victory because it wasn't as bad as some concocted political horror is cheap political spin of the most transparent kind.
But it will also be political spin of the most effective kind if Democrats don't learn how to anticipate and demolish it. The lies Libby is said to have told may seem like modest exaggerations of information flow in the name of political advantage, but the ball on which Dems need to keep their eyes is not minor malfeasance in political strategy, but the corrupt process of mixing intelligence and foreign policy into a contrived case for war. The issue is not how Libby lied, but why Libby lied, and what it says about how this administration sees the act of governing. It's not an easy argument to make in moron-friendly soundbites, but it's one that Democrats need to figure out. Quick.
It may sound odd to call this good news for the president. But go back and read the fevered anticipations and lethal expectations of Bush's critics over the last month. This was going to be the moment when the case for war was discredited. This was going to be the moment when the supposed venality and corruption of the Bush administration was going to be exposed. This was going to be the moment when the whole criminal conspiracy would unravel. This was going to be the moment of paralysis and disgrace for Bush and Cheney and the assorted warmongers in their employ.
What nonsense. Only the most hyperbolic marginal leftoids contended that Fitzgerald's probe would discredit the case for war, unravel a "whole criminal conspiracy," or produce wholesale paralysis and disgrace for the administration. The outcome of the investigation was eagerly awaited because of its promise to show through the eyes of an unimpeachably nonpartisan prosecutor the morally repugnant lengths to which this administration will go to neutralize dissent that challenges its warmaking motives. Calling this a victory because it wasn't as bad as some concocted political horror is cheap political spin of the most transparent kind.
But it will also be political spin of the most effective kind if Democrats don't learn how to anticipate and demolish it. The lies Libby is said to have told may seem like modest exaggerations of information flow in the name of political advantage, but the ball on which Dems need to keep their eyes is not minor malfeasance in political strategy, but the corrupt process of mixing intelligence and foreign policy into a contrived case for war. The issue is not how Libby lied, but why Libby lied, and what it says about how this administration sees the act of governing. It's not an easy argument to make in moron-friendly soundbites, but it's one that Democrats need to figure out. Quick.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Out of Control
Posted by Bruce Barry on Fri, Oct 28, 2005 at 8:18 AM
Will a RovLib indictment come down? Are Democrats making Fitzmas celebration plans? Will the White House eventually be held Plameless? Wherever one stands on these weighty questions, it's hard to read this story published yesterday by the National Journal and not come away with the conclusion that our democracy is fundamentally broken. An executive branch that sees fit to obstruct a Congressional investigation into an intelligence failure that led to a rush to war and the deaths of tens of thousands of people is beyond appalling. The arrogance of power on display here is breathtaking.
UPDATE: Fitzgerald has scheduled a news conference at 1 pm CT. The NY Times reports that details will be posted on the Special Counsel's web site at 11 am CT. Could get some traffic.
UPDATE: Libby indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and two counts of making false statements.
UPDATE: The Smoking Gun has the indictment document. As, of course, does the prosecutor (pdf).
UPDATE: Statement by Libby's lawyer here (pdf). "To say we are disappointed is an understatement."
UPDATE: Fitzgerald has scheduled a news conference at 1 pm CT. The NY Times reports that details will be posted on the Special Counsel's web site at 11 am CT. Could get some traffic.
UPDATE: Libby indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, and two counts of making false statements.
UPDATE: The Smoking Gun has the indictment document. As, of course, does the prosecutor (pdf).
UPDATE: Statement by Libby's lawyer here (pdf). "To say we are disappointed is an understatement."
Thursday, October 27, 2005
enlistment campaigns
Posted by Jim Ridley on Thu, Oct 27, 2005 at 12:50 PM
A pair of interesting movie lists. (I can't help it: as reductive as list-making is, I'm just a sucker for these things.) First is the reliably lame Premiere's not-so-lame list of the 25 most shocking moments in movies. Yeah, yeah: Psycho, The Exorcist, blah blah blah. But Once Upon a Time in the West is an inspired left-field choice. When I saw it last year at the Belcourt (and there's been talk of bringing it back), the moment in question made my blood run cold. And don't even read about this one, maybe the sharpest and most obscure choice in the batch. Just watch it without knowing a single thing about it, stay with it when nothing seems to be happening—then seek therapy.
The other is Scott Tobias' cool list of the decade's most underrated movies in the Onion AV Club. Underrated/overrated is usually a parlor game for snobs, but Scott's piece isn't the usual dick-measuring exercise. He's not out to settle old critical scores, just to bring to light some unfairly maligned movies (and some that went on to become cult sensations after their initially cool reception). And in many cases the list following each year's selection is even more tantalizing than the entry, if only because it's tough to find anyone who underrates the likes of Office Space anymore.
The other is Scott Tobias' cool list of the decade's most underrated movies in the Onion AV Club. Underrated/overrated is usually a parlor game for snobs, but Scott's piece isn't the usual dick-measuring exercise. He's not out to settle old critical scores, just to bring to light some unfairly maligned movies (and some that went on to become cult sensations after their initially cool reception). And in many cases the list following each year's selection is even more tantalizing than the entry, if only because it's tough to find anyone who underrates the likes of Office Space anymore.
May I Be Recused? (Revised Title Courtesy of Frequent Commenter FSW)
Posted by Roger Abramson on Thu, Oct 27, 2005 at 9:20 AM
Well, as everyone knows by now, she bailed (and/or was pushed).
This may well be the president's big he's-officially-the-Republican-LBJ moment. Will he understand the need to make a proper and qualified pick for the highest court in the land and do so, thereby slowing his slide, or will he hunker down and make an I-know-better-than-all-of-you-so-up-yours pick? Recent events don't fill me with confidence. But I'll try to be optimistic.
UPDATE: There seems to be a meme making the rounds among some Democrats that the "religious right" (or "radical right") killed the Miers nomination (C.f., this link (via NIT). I'm sure that's a pleasant thought to believe from their perspective, but it's really not true, and Democrats would be wise not to fall for it. At best, the "religious right" was, as far as one can tell, lukewarm about the nomination. James Dobson made some positive noises at the beginning, and some felt an affinity with her culturallly (because of the church she attends, etc.).
This may well be the president's big he's-officially-the-Republican-LBJ moment. Will he understand the need to make a proper and qualified pick for the highest court in the land and do so, thereby slowing his slide, or will he hunker down and make an I-know-better-than-all-of-you-so-up-yours pick? Recent events don't fill me with confidence. But I'll try to be optimistic.
UPDATE: There seems to be a meme making the rounds among some Democrats that the "religious right" (or "radical right") killed the Miers nomination (C.f., this link (via NIT). I'm sure that's a pleasant thought to believe from their perspective, but it's really not true, and Democrats would be wise not to fall for it. At best, the "religious right" was, as far as one can tell, lukewarm about the nomination. James Dobson made some positive noises at the beginning, and some felt an affinity with her culturallly (because of the church she attends, etc.).
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The People Have Spoken
Posted by Roger Abramson on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 at 12:42 PM
I have to admit: I had an energetic stuff-the-ballot-box write-in campaign for "Best Local Political Writer". It consisted of one friend of mine who came up to me a while back and "Roger, do you want me to write your name down on my Best of Nashville ballot for 'Best Local Political Writer'?" To which I responded,"Um, I don't know. If you want to, go ahead I guess."
This vast and determined "grassroots" effort seems to have landed me in third place for the second year in a row. I'm not sure what I get for that. Last year, it wasn't anything, so I presume the same thing applies this year.
But there's are two things that bother me. First, in both years, I've been beaten out for second place by Scene colleagues Matt Pulle (last year) and Liz Garrigan (this year). Which causes me to ask: why am I even writing a political column for the Scene when there are apparently people superior to me already at the paper? (I know, I know, you've probably asked yourself why I write a political column for the Scene on many occasions. Go ahead and get it out of your system in the comments.)
This vast and determined "grassroots" effort seems to have landed me in third place for the second year in a row. I'm not sure what I get for that. Last year, it wasn't anything, so I presume the same thing applies this year.
But there's are two things that bother me. First, in both years, I've been beaten out for second place by Scene colleagues Matt Pulle (last year) and Liz Garrigan (this year). Which causes me to ask: why am I even writing a political column for the Scene when there are apparently people superior to me already at the paper? (I know, I know, you've probably asked yourself why I write a political column for the Scene on many occasions. Go ahead and get it out of your system in the comments.)
overlooked classic
Posted by Jim Ridley on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 at 12:13 PM
Last week's mystery trailer went over so well, here's another. (Apologies to anyone who's seen this already.) Toby Leonard at the Belcourt sent this preview to a warm family drama the theater will be showing this weekend. Sounds like a mistake booking this feel-good fare for Halloween, but that's why I don't run a theater.
Wielding the Access
Posted by Bruce Barry on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 at 9:13 AM
A classic debate over the role of government looms in the issue of providing broadband internet access to all -- the subject of a new Metro government task force. At-large council member David Briley, who is spearheading the drive for wider access, sees public spending on a municipal fiber optic network that covers the entire city as a worthwhile investment in Nashville's future. Universal access is a worthy goal, although it's hard to see why Briley's emphasis wouldn't be on wireless. (I say that realizing that Briley is talking about a broader telecommunications concept than just internet/web access.)
2000
Posted by Bruce Barry on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 at 8:23 AM
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Lit Crit for Dummies*
Posted by Claire Suddath on Tue, Oct 25, 2005 at 12:52 PM
Some guy compiled a list of one-star Amazon.com reviews about books that made Time's list of 100 greatest novels published on or after 1923.
Here are some of my favorites:
A Clockwork Orange: In the first 20 pages, Alex and his lackies beat a guy senseless and rob him; they steal a car and trash it, they get into a vicious gang fight; they attack a couple at their home, destroy the husband's life work (his book, A Clockwork Orange), beat him and his wife senseless, and rape the wife. This really ticked me off.
The Grapes of Wrath: While the story did have a great moral to go along with it, it was about dirt! Dirt and migrating. Dirt and migrating and more dirt.
Lord of the Flies: I am obsessed with Survivor, so I thought it would be fun. WRONG!!! It is incredibly boring and disgusting. I was very much disturbed when I found young children killing each other. I think that anyone with a conscience would agree with me.
The Sound and the Fury: This book is like an ungrateful girlfriend. You do your best to understand her and get nothing back in return.
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*The nice underworked lawyers at John Wiley and Sons have cheerfully 'suggested' that we point out that FOR DUMMIESΠis a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Here are some of my favorites:
A Clockwork Orange: In the first 20 pages, Alex and his lackies beat a guy senseless and rob him; they steal a car and trash it, they get into a vicious gang fight; they attack a couple at their home, destroy the husband's life work (his book, A Clockwork Orange), beat him and his wife senseless, and rape the wife. This really ticked me off.
The Grapes of Wrath: While the story did have a great moral to go along with it, it was about dirt! Dirt and migrating. Dirt and migrating and more dirt.
Lord of the Flies: I am obsessed with Survivor, so I thought it would be fun. WRONG!!! It is incredibly boring and disgusting. I was very much disturbed when I found young children killing each other. I think that anyone with a conscience would agree with me.
The Sound and the Fury: This book is like an ungrateful girlfriend. You do your best to understand her and get nothing back in return.
----
*The nice underworked lawyers at John Wiley and Sons have cheerfully 'suggested' that we point out that FOR DUMMIESΠis a registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc.
