perfidy

Zell Miller's speech:

Damn!

I've been watching the Republican National Convention on the news; and while I have no real desire to turn this into some sort of simulblog experience, I was struck by the tribute to 9/11 that happened immediately following McCain's speech. It was moving. One thing in particular - Deena Burnett said (I'm paraphrasing) that heroes were not created that day, but that the lifelong practice of virtue led to their actions - the decision to do something. This is true.

And we have seen over the last couple years a growing reluctance to remember the events of 9/11. It is a virtue to look reality in the face. Many have criticized the the Republicans for an expected focus on 9/11 at the convention, saying that it is almost sinful that the Republicans are draping themselves with the events of that terrible day for political gain. But as I think on it, I am truly awestruck that the entire Democratic convention made so little reference to the single most important event of the last decade - and one of the most important in our history.

Naturally, there is political gain for the Republicans in reminding America of the events of that day. And Democrats are naturally leery of bringing up a subject that will bring to mind images on the whole favorable to their opponents. But this is completely beside the point. If our elections are in part referendums on the direction our nation should take - and they should be - then discussions of 9/11 are not merely acceptable, but necessary.

But Kerry has made a thirty year old war the focus of his campaign and convention. Talking about 9/11 focuses us on the realities of this world and its future. Talk about Vietnam (from Kerry or his critics) not only tells us nothing about the future and Kerry's plans for it, but actively distracts us from it. Not talking about 9/11 creates an intentional delusion; one where we forget that we were brutally attacked without cause, forget that there is a real threat not eliminated by our many victories, and where we pretend that history has ended.

I think also that the controversy over Vietnam is strangely appropriate. Given the way the Democratic primaries played out, and the protests - there is very much a sixties feel to the left side of this election. The fact that a large part of Kerry's support looks like they are attempting to channel the antiwar movement of the sixties makes it seem important to define where Kerry actually stands on the issues of that time. But if Kerry is to make any headway and reverse his recent slide in the polls he will have to offer something more than four months of combat and saying that everything the president does is wrong.

Via Cold Fury, we learn that Alice Cooper is disgusted with liberal musicians campaigning for Kerry. Aiming a broadside at Michael Stipe, John Cougar Melloncamp and Bruce Springsteen, the Coop said:

"To me, that's treason. I call it treason against rock 'n' roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics," says the 56-year-old Cooper, who begins a 15-city Canadian tour on Aug. 20 in Thunder Bay, Ont.

"When I was a kid and my parents started talking about politics, I'd run to my room and put on the Rolling Stones as loud as I could. So when I see all these rock stars up there talking politics, it makes me sick.

"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal." [emphasis mine]

Truer words were probably never said. Ted Nugent'll probably shoot 'em all, anyway.

Patton, over at Opinion 8 has got just about the best take on the endless Kerry-Vietnam controversy that I've yet seen. Here's the money shot:

The story here, and the lesson yet to be learned, is whether and how Kerry can deal with a public relations problem, albeit a severe one. Filing a complaint with the FEC was not an encouraging sign. It won't have any likely effect before the election, it is based on wisps of smoke and innuendo in any event, and he knows this. It's a weak play of a weak hand. It's just as weak as would be a lawsuit against the Swift Boat Vets or John O'Neill (or Regnery Publishing, or any TV station who airs the ad, or, now that I think about it, me personally). As a more practical matter, Kerry might be able to make all this go away by signing the Form 180 that would authorize disclosure of his service records.

Strangely enough, I don't care whether he does or doesn't - and I believe that there's more to learn here about Kerry's qualifications to be president if he stays above the fray and simply answers the questions, posed by any and all comers. If he exaggerated his CIA/Navy Seal/Cambodia adventure, so what? Just say so (clearly, not in the mealy-mouthed manner attempted so far) and proceed with the matters at hand. The alternative, a continuation of the campaign's shrill claims indicating he doesn't feel he has to respond to the questions, and that the questions themselves are not allowed, can also provide a lesson, you see. And it's not the lesson they want to provide.

That really is the point. As I commented on his post, I reached a similar conclusion after the minor incident Kerry had on the ski slopes when he ran into the secret service agent. It wasn't that he fell - everyone falls on the slopes every now and again. It was significant to me that he had to make sure that everyone knew that it wasn't his fault.

Kerry's reaction to this controversy is not encouraging. After the Kerry campaign started loudly insisting that Bush disavow the swifties, Bush genially denounced all 527 ads. (While I have issues with campaign finance reform on free speech grounds, this was a politically astute move that took much of the wind out of the democratic counterattack - and we won't likely see a similar condemnation of moveon.org and other Soros-funded 527s anytime soon.) Moving to file FEC complaints, insisting that publishers pull a best selling book - these are exactly the kinds of legalistic maneuvers that I most particularly hate in a political campaign. If Kerry has nothing to fear, full disclosure and a sense of humor will impress more of the electorate than shrill condemnation and lawyers.

And, as a side note, I would like to once again insist that it is not an attack ad, or negative campaigning, to point out your opponent's record. This is information (with spin, to be sure, but information nevertheless) not negativism. If you want examples of negative campaigning, go back to the early 1800s, where candidates were regularly accused of all manner of immoral acts, baby-eating, satan worship and worse. Mentioning how your opponent voted on something hardly qualifies.

I don't remember how I got to it, but Ken Layne is having some fun with the linking rules established by the nasty bureaucrats of the Athens Olympic Games. Apparently, the internet department has some rather authoritarian ideas about how one should go about linking the games' website:

For your protection and ours we have established a procedure for parties wishing to introduce a link to the ATHENS 2004 website on their site. By introducing a link to the ATHENS 2004 official Website on your site you are agreeing to comply with the ATHENS 2004 Website General Terms and Conditions. In order to place a link embedded in copy interested parties should:

a) Use the term ATHENS 2004 only, and no other term as the text referent

b) Not associate the link with any image, esp. the ATHENS 2004 Emblem (see paragraph below)

c) Send a request letter to the Internet Department stating:

Short description of site
Reason for linking
Unique URL containing the link (if no unique URL than just the main URL)
Publishing period
Contact point (e-mail address)

Once the request has been mailed, interested parties can proceed to include the link and will only receive a response if ATHENS 2004 does not accept the link. All requests should be sent to: 

The Internet Department
Iolkou 8 and Filikis Eterias str.
GR-142 34 N. Ionia, Athens

On further research, Ken discovered that there are also rules about linking to the Olypic logo:

Incredible.

There are additional rules if you'd like to use one of their stupid little gifs, and Big Trouble awaits should you dare to use an image of the stupid little Olympic circles:

"Linking using the Olympic Emblem is strictly prohibited as the Olympic Emblem, Trademarks and Terms are duly registered internationally and are protected under existing legislation (as defined in article 2 of Greek law 2819/2000). Parties wishing to use the emblem are requested to contact the ATHENS 2004 Internet Department (see address above). Permission to use these properties as links will be granted only under special circumstances."

Because of his deep concern for the people making these rules, Ken created this special logo:

Some others got into the game as well.
 

posted by chicobangs at 4:51 PM CST on August 16 Chico, is that a new demonstration sport? And BTW, DrJohn, I ate an Atkins bagel today, toasted with CarbOptions Peanut Butter! -- posted by billsaysthis at 5:16 PM CST on August 16

Tasty, yet morally ambiguous. -- posted by DrJohnEvans at 9:53 AM CST on August 17

Chico, I have nothing to add except for the fact that that's the best picture I've ever seen anywhere. -- posted by Samsonov14 at 1:16 PM CST on August 17

Chico, is that a new demonstration sport?

Yes, it's called Mexican Farm Animal Stacking and the Antarcticans dominate the sport. Them penguins can stack the fuck out of some farm animals. -- posted by NoMich at 1:26 PM CST on August 17

Indeed. Mexican Farm Animal Stacking will, I think, become a very popular Olympic event. It is even possible that this man will someday win the Mexican Farm Animal Stacking gold medal: 

From the Scam o Rama files, the best Nigerian email scam ever. Ever.

Received: from [203.121.131.31]
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 05:11:32 0100 (BST)
From: Paul Jones
Subject: Nigerian Astronaut Marooned In Space!!! Please Help
To: [email]paulwhjones@yahoo.co.uk[/email]

Subject: Nigerian Astronaut Wants To Come Home
Dr. Bakare Tunde
Astronautics Project Manager
National Space Research and Development Agency
(NASRDA)
Plot 555
Misau Street
PMB 437
Garki, Abuja, FCT NIGERIA

Dear Mr. Sir,

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE-STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

I am Dr. Bakare Tunde, the cousin of Nigerian Astronaut, Air Force Major Abacha Tunde. He was the first African in space when he made a secret flight to the Salyut 6 space station in 1979. He was on a later Soviet spaceflight, Soyuz T-16Z to the secret Soviet military space station Salyut 8T in 1989. He was stranded there in 1990 when the Soviet Union was dissolved. His other Soviet crew members returned to earth on the Soyuz T-16Z, but his place was taken up by return cargo. There have been occasional Progrez supply flights to keep him going since that time. He is in good humor, but wants to come home.

In the 14-years since he has been on the station, he has accumulated flight pay and interest amounting to almost $ 15,000,000 American Dollars. This is held in a trust at the Lagos National Savings and Trust Association. If we can obtain access to this money, we can place a down payment with the Russian Space Authorities for a Soyuz return flight to bring him back to Earth. I am told this will cost $ 3,000,000 American Dollars. In order to access the his trust fund we need your assistance.

Consequently, my colleagues and I are willing to transfer the total amount to your account or subsequent disbursement, since we as civil servants are prohibited by the Code of Conduct Bureau (Civil Service Laws) from opening and/ or operating foreign accounts in our names.

Needless to say, the trust reposed on you at this juncture is enormous. In return, we have agreed to offer you 20 percent of the transferred sum, while 10 percent shall be set aside for incidental expenses (internal and external) between the parties in the course of the transaction. You will be mandated to remit the balance 70 percent to other accounts in due course.

Kindly expedite action as we are behind schedule to enable us include downpayment in this financial quarter.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this message via my direct number 234 (0) 9-234-2220 only.

Yours Sincerely, Dr. Bakare Tunde
Astronautics Project Manager
[email]tip@nasrda.gov.ng[/email]

http://www.nasrda.gov.ng/

Sweet.

For the last couple days, I've been reading William Tecumseh Sherman's memoirs. As I read, it started me thinking. (Books are cool that way.) Most civil wars throughout history and down to today have been caused by either dynastic succession or about ethnic strife. Here and there, the occasional religious civil war - which in many respects resembles an ethnic civil war. Of course, an American civil war had to be different. Ethnicity and religion had nothing to do with the civil war, at least in that both sides considered themselves equally American, and both sides were Christian, with a fairly even spread of denominations on either side.

America's civil war became an ideological war over the issue of slavery. Fueling this fight over principle was the fact that slavery was necessarily also an economic issue. Slavery is not the most efficient way of mobilizing a nation's labor force; and only a unique set of circumstances had allowed slavery to be immensely profitable (for some) in the south. Without the economic factor, slavery would not have been as divisive an issue. For example, if the north had also held slaves and if their factories could have profitably used slave labor - then only the abolitionists would have been arguing for ending the institution. They may have won that fight, but it would not have required a civil war.

Could it happen again? The United States seems the most stable of nations. Despite the recent animosity between the two political parties, we all get along much better than average. Even in the face of a full on election crisis, everyone pretty much managed to keep their heads. What could possibly motivate a significant number of our population to wage war on the rest?

To be honest, I couldn't think of many issues that are even potentially as divisive as slavery was almost a hundred and fifty years. Global Warming? Please. Social Security? Old people aren't going to take up arms against the young for their pensions. The only one that comes close is abortion, which is just as black and white; however it lacks the economic component that could potentially really get blood flowing. So to speak.

Aside from that, you have the various paranoid fantasies of the aryan brotherhood/inbred klan nutjob variety. The Jewish Zionist world government will use the black helicopters and UN controlled US forces to eliminate the mountain hideouts of the faithful. Somehow, that doesn't quite work as a nightmare scenario for me. Mostly, they're too busy ratting each other out to the ATF to be an effective core for a secessionist movement.

Economic issues, absent some sort of polarizing ideological component, will generally get worked out in a system like ours. Ideological discord, without large scale economic interests lining up on opposite sides, will remain low level bitching on the fringes, or eventually degenerate into a consensus. So we're safe, right? I was wondering if anyone had any plausible ideas for a second American Civil War - my list of worries is getting too short.

Have you ever wondered if all your brilliant ideas are derivative, clichéd and stupid? Do your friends ask, "Hey, wasn't that a Star Trek episode?" Well. just measure them against the comprehensive Grand List of Overused Science Fiction Clichés. Link blatantly plagiarized from sf author James P. Hogan's website.

Rather than waste your time adopting a local highway, adopt a sniper and help him waste our enemies. Snipers are a small part of a big army, and often do not get the equipment that they need. This is especially true now that the war on terror is forcing the army to force more and more expert riflemen into the sniper role.

So Brian Sain, a police SWAT member, has done something to ameliorate the problem. The website has a long list of gear you can buy for the snipers, including relatively inexpensive items like AA batteries and handy wipes. Or you can by mini binoculars, range finders or body armor. Or, you can make a direct donation online and let adopt a sniper buy gear for you, and pay for shipping costs. Thanks to the fabulous Michelle Malkin for pointing this out.

From the Adopt-A-Sniper FAQ:

Q: Why isn't the government buying these things?

A: The commitment in OEF/OIF is huge. Snipers need different and expensive gear than is required by many other troops. This can cause problems when the military tries to maintain a perfectly uniform dress code and the snipers end up doing without. The logistics of running the US military are staggering and snipers are just one small spoke in a very big wheel. We just try and relieve some of the burden from the snipers themselves and also from their families.

Q: How did this organization begin?

A: A group of SWAT snipers in the US were all too aware that they (the police snipers) often have to make do without the things they need to get their jobs done. Often misused and misunderstood, the police snipers correctly figured that the military snipers were operating under the same circumstances. The police snipers established contact with the various military sniper school cadre and began sending items they could spare right out of their own gear bags and also making personal purchases. An article on the organization later appeared in Stars and Stripes overseas. The military snipers began networking with the police snipers more and more and the rest is as they say ... history.

Q: I thought snipers, being specialized operators, would have everything they need. Why don't they?

A: In every war it seems that the military must re-learn the lessons of the past. The war on terror is ideally suited for the tactics of the sniper. With the convoy escorts and house to house fighting, the US military is using snipers in numbers not seen in modern history. It seems like a no-brainer but a man with a rifle that knows how to use it, is in much
demand in a war. Soldiers and Marines that have not been to a formal sniper school but who shot "Expert" on the range are being issued special rifles and basically doing the same job as the school trained snipers in some cases. Adoptasniper makes no distinction between these two types of operators and offers assistance equally. We currently support snipers on each end of the spectrum; from the very well trained and equipped who normally request smaller, specialized items to the marksman soldier with little to no support that needs "everything" to do the job asked of him ... and every variant in between.

Q: How do we know that the snipers higher ups will allow them to use the items we send or purchase?

A: Fortunately, many of the military higher ups have relaxed some of the operational needs stipulations. They realize too, that their men need things to get the job done and we have even had some officers contact us for assistance for their troops.

Q: Who is involved in this organization?

A: ALL persons directly involved are either current or former police or military snipers or both. ALL are either currently operational themselves or are directly involved in training police and military operators in the US and abroad.

Q: Can I send a monetary donation?

A: YES. We request that monetary donations be sent to Keith Deneys of Snipersonline. Snipersonline is a 5013C non-profit organization and we would prefer that all monies received be received through that entity.
The address is located on the contact page. You can also send a donation online.

One Marine in Afghanistan wrote back:

Sir,

Your package arrived at Forward Operating Base XXXXX today and was meet with great fan fair by my Marines. We are tremendously grateful for the equipment that you sent us. It is wonderful to see the support that the community enjoys from our fellow Snipers. The cleaning gear came in quite handing after our 25 straight day field operation. The mini binos will help lighten our load as we continue to spend most of our time chasing the Taliban between 7,000 - 10,000 feet. We head back out on our next field operation tomorrow after 4 days of rearming and refitting here at the FOB. The arrival of your gifts was perfectly timed.

If you are able to support the platoon further we would be more than happy to receive it. We are sitting pretty well with equipment, but I had the Marines compile a list of personal use items that they could use. Of course good stateside, Copenhagen was right at the top. Any type of Protein Bars ( We have each lost about 10-20 lbs so far), Gatorade and Poweraid Drink Mix, Dry Weapons Lubricants like Graphite ( the sand is a constant battle), Canned air, and anything else that you have access too. If you send it we will make good use of it...

Again, thanks for your support and please stay in touch.

I will keep you posted as to the status of the platoon and our operation here in Afghanistan.

Semper Fi,

XXXXXXXX
S/S Plt Cmdr
USMC
FOB XXXXXX, Afghanistan

I have lost my soul. I have started photoshopping WWII propaganda posters.

Given my pathetic photoshop skills, this is a laborious process for me. But after seeing some of the annoying liberal versions, I felt compelled to try my hand at it.

Bear in mind that this vastly overstates my opinion of Kerry's national security credentials. If I do it again, I promise I won't post it unless I think it's really clever.

And, just for enjoyment, this poster that doesn't need photoshop at all:

Kerry got a major political endorsement today, check it out. Hat tip, Common Sense and Wonder.

The fiendishly clever Murdoc has discovered a nifty online timewaster. An electoral college calulator! Oh, the fun that an off the wagon recovering political junkie can have with this!

Here's my prediction for November:

I found this cool link over at Rocket Jones. This guy must somehow have even more free time than me, because he's collected sports logos. Most of them. 

Some people seem to have it in for Chief Wahoo. But I ask you, what's wrong with this?

The Indians replaced wahoo with this Stultifyingly dull script "I." Sure, I bought the new model hat, but I hate seeing traditions trampled into the ground in the pursuit of political correctness.

John Cole at Balloon Juice directs us to a website that will decode the information stored in the 2D barcode on the back of your driver's license.

Patton over at Opinion8 grudgingly links to an essay by Stephen Green, the VodkaPundit. But it's well worth the pain, my friend, because this one is really good.

Green discusses the future for the war on terror, and makes some really good points.

If you think war has become complex, peace is messier still – and always has been.

Nobody ever knows what the peace will look like. Let's use our examples from earlier. Even as late as Appomattox, who could have predicted the KKK, Jim Crow, or Radical Reconstruction? No statesmen in 1914 knew that the war they were about to unleash would result in 20 million deaths, Russian Communism, or Nazi Germany. World War II? If you can find me the words of some prophet detailing, in 1940, the UN, the Cold War, or even the complete assimilation of western Germany into Western Europe. . . then I'll print this essay on some very heavy paper, and eat it. With aluminum foil as a garnish.

NOTE: That's what gets me about all the complaints that President Bush "didn't have a plan" to "win the peace" in Iraq. Oh, blow me. Nobody ever has a plan for the peace. Or if they do, it will prove useless. "No peace plan survives the last battle" is the VodkaPundit corollary to Clausewitz's dictum that no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.

By now, you probably know where I'm going with this little history lesson: How do we define victory in the Terror War, and what will the peace look like.

Let's get the second part out of the way first.

What will the peace look like? I don't have a damn clue. And neither do you. And if you meet anyone who claims to know, feel free to laugh at them really hard. So hard, you get a little spit on their face. Sometimes, justice can be small and spiteful – ask a meter maid. Anyway.

This is spot on. Ditto.

What we're fighting is an ideology.

First off, let's brush aside the Loser Notion that if we kill terrorists, we'll only breed more terrorists. So what? Every dead terrorist is, well, dead. And we can always build more bombs and make more bullets. For 30 years now, the US Army has trained to fight in a "target-rich environment." Bring'em on.

Now that we have defeatism out of the way, let's get on with defeating the enemy. "But the enemy is an ideology," you've been told, "and you can't fight thoughts with bullets."

Yes and no.

Some people forget (because they backed/worshipped/served-as-useful-idiots-to the other side) that we have fought an ideology before, and – we won. The Cold War was, above all else, an ideological conflict. It was the Great Civil War of Western Civilization. On the one side, you had Western Capitalism, and on the other, International Communism. Obviously, things weren't that cut and dried. The US certainly doesn't (to my constant dismay) enjoy a laissez-faire economy, and the European NATO countries even less so. And despite a totalitarian regime, even the Soviet Union tolerated a little samizdat capitalism. Nevertheless, with the exception of France, countries took sides and stayed there.

Which socio-political system was left standing after 45 years of conflict? Oh yeah, baby – despite what you hear on American campuses, the West won. We won completely. We knocked their dicks in the dirt. The bad guys gave up, in the end, without even firing a shot – like Saddam Hussein in his hidey-hole.

Go read the whole thing, it's worth your while.

Democratic governor James E. McGreevey of New Jersey has resigned, announcing that he had an extramarital affair with another man. That man, an Israeli poet, worked for the governor as a homeland security advisor despite having no security experience. Rumor is that the man, Golan Cipel, also threatened a sexual harrassment lawsuit unless he was paid millions of dollars.

Wow, he could be mayor of my home town. If he added smoking crack and blowing millions of dollars on cheap whores.

I know that many people seem to dislike our Vice President. Me, I kind of dig on his crusty manner. For example, he recently dissed Kerry's ideas for a more sensitive war on terror:

"America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive," Cheney said.

"Those that threaten us and kill innocents around the world do not need to be treated more sensitively, they need to be destroyed."

I give that idea two thumbs up. Especially in light of the fact that Europe's enlightened and sensitive, dare I say... nuanced foriegn policy got them exactly bupkis in their negotiations with nuclear wannabe Iran. Actually, less than bubkis (double plus unbupkis?) given that the Iranians started making demands.

Naturally, the Kerry camp said that the Republicans had sunk to a new low, negative, blah blah blah. And, the best part: Kerry spokesman David Wade contrasted the vice president's lack of military service in the 1960s with Kerry's record as a decorated Vietnam veteran. Three purple hearts! Three! Threeeeee!

STFU.

Cheney went on to say:

"He [Kerry] has even said that by using our strength, we are creating terrorists and placing ourselves in greater danger. But that is a fundamental misunderstanding of the way the world we are living in works. Terrorist attacks are not caused by use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness."

Loyal reader #0015 John F. informs us that there is an article up on techcentralstation (certainly one of the most awkwardly named websites around) regarding the science of global warming. Or rather, the lack of science behind the case for global warming.

Three recent, peer reviewed papers have indicated that there really has been no warming in the atmosphere, and further that much of the ground warming can be strongly correlated with economic development. That is, rich places have more warm parking lots.

Thirty years ago, many of the same people screaming that we're all going to melt now were screaming that we'd all freexze to death in a new ice age caused by - wait for it - industrialization and overpopulation. And, amazingly, the solution for these diametrically opposed problem was exactly the same: drastic reductions in energy use and industrial activity, global controls for most sectors of the economy, and general panic.

I yearn, nay quiver with anticipation for the day when this chicken little scenario will go away. Of course, it will be immediately replaced by another, but at least it will be a new disaster scenario. Maybe, if we at the Ministry along with all our loyal readers, work hard enough we can convince the professional worriers that the proper focus for their energies is to mobilize global concern for the threat posed to humanity and the ecosphere by Giant Fighting Robots. What ho?

This was on Drudge, but I have to link it myself. I have often joked about becoming one with the couch. This woman actually did.

I leave the world for two months, and look what happens. Der Komissar shows us the new lineup of Blog Stamps. Worthy of note, even in an outstanding array of filatelic art, are the following:

For Allah Pundit:

I have to say, that really kicks ass. For the USS Clueless and for Q and O, we have these:

And for the Commissar himself, this is very apropos:

I always thought that the smurfs were commies. Given that their was only one female smurf, did the workers share ownership of the means of production?