Kerry's Majority, Gun Control, Disgusting Yoo, Bush, Cheney, And Co-Conspirators Support Communist Devised Torture As Interrogation Method

Kerry's Majority

First, it was the Ukrainian Orange Revolution, supported by the U.S. because of the disparity between exit polls and reported results. This spring (culminating in the "sham election" last week) it was Mugabe in Zimbabwe whose lies were exposed by the equivalent of exit polling. Is there no one with a sense of irony, or a memory that extends back to the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in 2004?

A lot of analysts have been quoting the "fact" that a Dem has not won over 50% of the popular vote since about 1976 and only once since 1944. This is incorrect.

Over 50.1% of the vote was cast for John Kerry in 2004--if all the votes cast were actually counted.

The liberal blogosphere, and the Democratic Party, has been unwilling to unable to realize or acknowledge that simple fact; the facts were established by reporting independent of exit polling. The facts were also established by the national exit polls

***

Gun Control

Justice Scalia's majority opinion in the Second Amendment case is a stunning example of activist judges legislating and re-writing the Constitution. It is also a stunning rejection of the so-called "Originalism" doctrine which Scalia had been smilingly offering and unctuosly proffering in a farcically reassuring manner as a facade for his judicial activism. This excuse was on display just a few days earlier on PBS. For purposes of his tortured reasoning, he erased the first words in the 2nd Amendment ("A well regulated milita being necessary to the security of a free state" - those words no longer exist in the 2nd Amendment - courtesy of Karl Rove, Al Gore, and John Kerry). Here's an artist's rendering of that action.

Save on gas this summer, instead of visiting the Wild West, just go to Washington, D.C. - remember to bring all of your guns. The Founders could not possibly have had in mind banning personal use of weapons based on fizz and fuse. So, remember to bring yours, it's what the Founders intended.

Disgusting Yoo

I am disgusted that I pay John Yoo's salary with my California tax dollars. Hhe "teaches" law (!!???!) at the University of California, Berkeley. Here's a man who wouldn't know a straight answer if it bitch-slapped him. Asked if it is legal for a president to bury someone alive as part of an interrogation, Yoo responded, "No president would do that." Now, I don't know about you, but where I come from, that doesn't answer the question. But, apparently, it is legal for a president to inflict any pain that is not the equivalent of death or organ failure, according to a memo which Mr. Yoo helped draft. Also, apparently, he does not know the meaning of the word implement, judging from his sworn testimony to Congress. I don't know about you, but I don't want my lawyers trained by a man who doesn't know the meaning of the word implement. Or, for that matter, the meaning of the word "torture." Gosh, I hope no enemy of the United States ever captures Mr. Yoo; I wouldn't want to be there when he's interrogated.

***

Pick your headline:

Bush Supports Communist-Devised Torture As Interrogation Method
Republicans Support Communist Devised Torture As Interrogation Method
Bush, Cheney, And Appointees Support Communist Devised Torture As Interrogation Method
Bush, Cheney, And Co-Conspirators Support Communist Devised Torture As Interrogation Method

Here's the headline the New York Times chose: China Inspired Interrogations At Guantanamo

Guantanamo interrogators trained to use methods in chart of techniques used by Chinese Communists during the Korean War to obtain confessions, many of them false, from American prisoners.

The third paragraph was the so-called "money" graf. Kudos to Times which usually puts what passes for news in the last paragraph. "The recycled chart is the latest and most vivid evidence of the way Communist interrogation methods that the United States long described as torture became the basis for interrogations both by the military at the base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and by the Central Intelligence Agency."

McCain votes to enable/support this conduct while saying something quite different; actions speak louder than words. One wonders why the Times did not hold this story until 2009 out of fear it might affect an election (i.e., inform the electorate). Remember the story about warrantless wiretapping held from October 2004 to December 2005).

Sen. Carl Levin (D. - Mich.), current chair of the Armed Services Committee, voted against the Authorization For The Use Of Military Force Against Iraq. He therefore was opposed to this conduct from the start; he has standing to comment. He said, after reviewing the evidence, "every American would be shocked" by the torture chart. He also said: "What makes this document doubly stunning is that these were techniques to get false confessions. People say we need intelligence, and we do. But we don't need false intelligence."

It has been previously reported that at least one U.S. military intelligence training officer began each class by deflating those who were about to become intelligence officers in one of the U.S. military services by reminding them: "There are three kinds of intelligence: human, animal, and military. In that order."

***

Briefs
  • The Real John McCain
  • Electoral Vote Map: Looking Good, but still close enough for the GOP to steal, again.
  • Nuclear weapons: you CAN set them off by hitting them.
  • Andrew J. Bacevich is professor of history and international relations at Boston University. His new book is "The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism." He wrote an op-ed piece for the Boston Globe, What Bush hath wrought
  • Welsey Clark was Not impugning McCain's patriotism or record--just pointing out that being shot down and imprisoned is not a qualification for the presidency, any more than Obama's lack of military service is a disqualification.
  • Milt Bearden, a 30-year veteran in the CIA's Directorate of Operations, served as senior manager for clandestine operations. He is the author, with James Risen, of "The Main Enemy: The Inside Story of the CIA's Final Showdown With the KGB." For the website Washington Independent, he wrote Truth Is Out on CIA and Torture: Spy Agency Continues to Carry Out White House Policy

July 04, 2008 in Politics |

Political Briefs

June 29, 2008 in Politics |

Women for McCain? Papoon for President. Thoughtful Conservative Blogger

Women for McCain?

From Tom Lasusa:

I think as time progresses, you're going to see alot more of these emails coming from me. I truly believe that a vote for John McCain is a vote for Bush version 2.0. And we simply cannot afford that.

That's why I am so amazed at how many former Clinton Supporters are now saying they will vote for John McCain instead of Obama. While this article is directed more towards feminists, the message can be applied to anyone who feels this way: You're so angry that Hillary lost you would rather vote for the individual who supports few if any of the ideals you hold rather for candidate who shares the same values as you?

If you know someone who intends to vote this way, please ask them to read this article.

Feminists, the choice is obvious
By Susan Jhirad

...Let me get this straight; you consider yourself a Democrat and a feminist. Yet rather than vote for a man who supports a woman's right to choose, children's healthcare, and an end to the war in Iraq, you would vote for a man who voted against all of these things...

Also from Tom: McCain calls Putin the President of Germany

***

Papoon for President

Parodists have taken over talonnews, but it was still fun to get this email from the Firesign Theater.

Infamous Republican propaganda website www.talonnews.com, which used to employ Republican closeted gay prostitute Jim Gannon as a journalist and send him to White House press conferences to pitch softballs at Scott McLellan, has endorsed George G. Papoon for President!

http://www.talonnews.com/news/2008/june/0608_papoon_for_president.shtml

Help spread the news! The mainstream media are ignoring the tremendous implications when a longstanding Republican propaganda website endorses a fictional character created by the Firesign Theatre! Name-drop Papoon online, in blogs, chat rooms, and podcasts! Digg him, StumbleUpon him, and Technorati him, whatever the hell THAT means!

Remember....

HE'S NOT INSANE!

The site has also been plugged at the Huffington Post.

***

Thoughtful Conservative Blogger

From my friend Chuck Carroll: the link to his BLOG on the last three Presidential candidates. It is titled Hold Your Nose Vote. I certainly don't agree with it, but it is provocative and well-written. Also:

It is another presidential election; candidates and pundits are once again getting all wound up. After the election, as always, little good will come. I may have discovered the cause of this perpetual disappointment. And I offer a solution.

When I was barely old enough to read, I learned that elections are dark contests. Outside my hometown in Illinois a billboard said "Home of Adlai Stevenson, but We Like Ike!"

Now, 14 elections later, we are getting the same emotional combat. Candidates issue sound bites about solving problems, but once elected they rarely deliver. They seem to be just pretending, as if they are performing a charade.

As a uniquely free and open country, we deserve better. So I composed The Great Charade.

***

Briefs

June 22, 2008 in Politics |

Briefs

June 08, 2008 in Politics |

Where is the Anger?; A Memorial Day Thought

Where is the Anger?

The Republicans often asked "Where is the anger," when they were trying Bill Clinton in the kangaroo court that was the lame duck U.S. House in the fall of 1998. Let's see how many ask where the anger is when it comes to a Fox commentator. I mean, it took them months to catch onto Hagee.

For a stressed, tired from non-stop campaigning, confused, Hillary Clinton to engage in "unfortunate" comments is one thing (and way beyond the pale as noted by Rep. James Clyburn (D. - S.C.), for alleged journalist Liz Trotta to say, on an alleged news program on Fox:

"and now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Os--Osama--um, uh--Obama. Well, both, if we could..."

This incident should probably end any federal broadcast licenses held by Fox (Fox news is a cable outlet, but its work frequently appears on Fox broadcast stations) as well as bring a serious visit from the agencies responsible for maintaining law and order and the health and well-being of federal officials and candidates. A lame smiling apology a day or so later does not come close to sufficing. Will someone please explain why it is in the public interest, convenience, or necessity to allow a comment such as the one made by the alleged journalist on Fox to be made on publicly owned TV or radio airwaves? Given this broadcast, will someone please explain why it is in the public interest, convenience, or necessity to allow Fox any future access (whether through stations they own or through their network) to publicly owned TV or radio airwaves? Note that there is no first amendment issue here, Fox can publish such reprehensible garbage in as many newspapers as it can publish subject to being held liable for any crimes or civil wrongdoing it incites.

***

A Memorial Day Thought

The men and women of Lockheed Martin on Memorial Day finally recognize that voter and vote protection is a national security issue. In a full page ad in The Washington Post (p. A18 on May 26, 2008) they stated the America people are "Free to cast our votes." This leaves unstated the implicit understanding that each vote will be counted accurately and that no person entitled to vote will be dissuaded or prevented from doing so for any reason of any type kind or description. Like former chief justice Bill Rehnquist's discrimination against blacks in Arizona in the 1960's. Or the Supreme Court's recent decision that Indiana can disenfranchise as many old and poor people as it can deny drivers licenses to.

We, along with the men and women of Lockheed Martin, remember the courage, dedication, and service of those in the American military who gave their lives to protect the high ideal of freedom and forever honor the supreme sacrifice each of them made. So, any effort to infringe on that freedom (as for example by arranging a dishonest vote count or by disenfranchising through racial discrimination) serves to dishonor each person who died in the military service of the United States and severely undermines out national security.

Here's the ad:

Think for a minute about America. We're a country with more than 301 million people. Free to speak our minds. Free to cast our votes. Free to pursue our dreams. Now think about why we are free. It is because of the brave men and women who served in America's military forces. Men and women who laid down their lives in the service of that high ideal - freedom. We remember their courage. Their dedication. Their service. And we forever honor the supreme sacrifice each of them made . . . To protect the freedom we hold so dear.

At the bottom is printed: "A Memorial Day message from the men and women of Lockheed Martin"

* * *

Briefs

  • If this is supposed to be news reporting, the Mickey Mouse network (masquerading as ABC News) has, unsurprisingly, yet another faux journalist as revealed by Jake Tapper's comment about Sen. Harkin's alleged "Goldilocks" view of military service (7th paragraph) in what should be a straight news report. If this is an editorial, do let the readers know.
  • The Daily Mail thinks Tony Blair is immensely popular in the U.S. for aiding and abetting one of the largest disasters in US foreign and military policy. Wonder if they think the earth is flat too?

    He also said no one's last wish was that they had one more day in office. Unless he is speaking solely about the post of English PM, many informed American observers can think of at least six Americans who would contradict Tony (starting with Paul Wellstone, Mel Carnahan, and Hale Boggs).

June 01, 2008 in Politics |

Political Briefs

May 26, 2008 in Politics |

Bush Attacks Obama From Israel

Dan Grobstein pointed out that Bush in Israel quoted isolationist Sen. Borah as saying, in 1939, "Lord, if only I could have talked with Hitler, all this might have been avoided.'' The quote was used to denigrate Obama's plan to talk to our enemies. There is some controversy about whether Borah ever said any such thing.

So much for politics stopping at the water's edge. Wonder whether Shrub will have the courage to imply Obama is an appeaser in front of an American audience.

Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: "Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided." We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history. (Applause.)

Also Obama responds to Bush accusations of 'appeasement']

Elsewhere: One hopes that Chris Matthews will remember how to conduct an interview the next time an alleged government official is on his show: Matthews slams radio host defending Bush 'appeasement' jab. Matthews talked with right-wing radio host Kevin James who defended Bush’s comparison of Obama’s foreign policy position with the appeasement of Hitler. James doesn't know what appeasement means.

And this, children, is why you should pay attention in history class. These guys really do just memorize the talking points, don't they. I mean, even my 8th graders know you should never give an answer if you don't know its meaning.

The same advice might even go for Bush. Does he really want to open the can of worms of who helped Hitler during WWII? Frank Rich suggests maybe not...

In a political speech to the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset), George W. Bush "implied that Mr. Obama would have enabled the Nazis even more foolishly than his own grandfather, Prescott Bush, did in the 1930s when he maintained "investment relationships with Hitler’s Germany," as Kevin Phillips delicately describes it in "American Dynasty."

---

Briefs

  • This must be politically incorrect, or in bad taste, or something, but how about a list of things that are younger than McCain... and then turn the list into a song!
  • The New Republic writes about Hillary: What Went Wrong (assuming anything did)
  • ABC News:

    As previously reported by PSACOT, various poseurs (Shrub, Shooter, McCain, Chertoff, Rummy, Condi) purporting to understand "national security" have absolutely no idea what the term means or how to promote, preserve, or protect it:

    Domestic Spying Program Could Aid Terrorists, Experts Say
    Domestic Wiretapping Could Pose 'An Awesome Risk' to National Security
    By JUSTIN ROOD
    Feb. 1, 2008—
    Although the Bush administration calls it a vital weapon against terrorism, its domestic wiretapping effort could become a devastating tool for terrorists if hacked or penetrated from inside, according to a new article by a group of America's top computer security experts.

May 18, 2008 in Politics |

Acknowledging the Race Chasm, Deafening Silence on Analyst story, Superdelegates: Threat or Menace, Developing the Green Zone

Acknowledging the Race Chasm. David Sirota looks the race issue in the face. Obama wins white states because race isn't an issue, and he wins black states because he gets 90% of the black vote. What about inbetween? Sirota calls the states with between 7% and 16% black votes the Race Chasm. Since he didn't publish the underling data, I've looked up the Census bureau numbers. Guess which states are in the gap? Kentucky, Oklahoma, Indiana, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Arkansas, New York. In short, a perfect list of the battleground states the Democrats must take to win the election.

--

Deafening Silence On Analyst Story

What we should hear (but won't) on Meet the Press

Tim Russert: So tell us Brian Williams, why did you allow all of these "experts" who were in fact Pentagon flacks to masquerade as independent military experts on the NBC News broadcasts for which you were and are Managing Editor?

Brian Williams: That's a good question Tim. Another good question is why did you swallow hook line and sinker and repeat everything these "experts" and others (for example Dick Cheney) were saying.

Russert: Good question Brian. We'll be right back after these messages.

---

Superdelegates: Threat or Menace?

Self-described "old friend" of McCain who McCain said he took "pleasure" in meeting planned to murder a journalist (though the intended victim was not physically harmed)

Susan Estrich [strategist during the masterful 1988 campaign of former president Michael Dukakis]: Beware What You Wish For. Present for the birth of the superdelegate idea, attacking it still, since she equates "superdelegate" with "middle-aged white guy." Me, I am as big a feminist as you will ever meet (credentials available on request), but I equate superdelegate with "someone who has managed to get himself elected, either to public office or the Democratic National Committee." Who do we want selecting our nominees: wild-eyed radicals (and no, Susan, that doesn't just mean women) or men and women with skin in the game, who want a nominee who both wins and enables them to run successfully for re-election. I liked the idea of superdelegate then, and I like it now.

--

Developing The Green Zone

How much did the taxpayers spend so this officer could work on a  development plan? Who decided to let him spend his time on this rather than on fighting enemies or preparing to fight?

US-backed plan sees shiny future for embattled Green Zone.
Green Zone makeover? US blueprint looks beyond war to envision high-end hub in Baghdad
BRADLEY BROOKS and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
AP News
May 04, 2008 13:25 EST

Forget the rocket attacks, concrete blast walls and lack of a sewer system. Now try to imagine luxury hotels, a shopping center and even condos in the heart of Baghdad.

That's all part of a five-year development "dream list" — or what some dub an improbable fantasy — to transform the U.S.-protected Green Zone from a walled fortress into a centerpiece for Baghdad's future.

Briefs

May 11, 2008 in Politics |

Political Briefs

May 04, 2008 in Politics |

Hagee; News You Should Know, Ralph "Blind Pig" Nader finds truffles; President Could Pardon Himself; Public Servants At Work: Bear Stearns; The Truth Will Set You Free (Maybe)

Hagee News of the Week

As new outrageous statement's by McCain supporter Hagee continue to be uncovered, and McCain continues to refuse to repudiate them, I'm going to keep up the drumbeat here. You think Wright is bad? Check out Hagee.

News You Should Be Reading/Hearing

The McClatchy newspaper Washington Bureau is amazing; you should visit it every day if you really want to know what is going on. Whatever will we do when there are no more newspapers? Until then, Cheney cites 'phenomenal' Iraqi security progress as bombing kills 40. At the Associated Press and United Press International, they told us to strictly avoid causality; something didn't happen "after" something else or "because" of something else, unless it was obscenely obvious. The general construction was "meanwhile," or "elsewhere" or "at the same time" or "later that day." Fortunately, McClatchy is under no such restriction.

I know about McClatchy because they are quoted frequently--almost weekly by Harry Shearer. Why yes, that Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap, The Simpsons). The podcast (harryshearer.com) of his weekly KCRW program Le Show features some of the best political commentary available anywhere, delivered in an entertaining format. This week, the podcast features "Dick Cheney Confidential," which includes the line, "It is tough to talk to people about how the Enterprise Society creates winners and losers when most of the people you're talking to are losers." Alas, if it were only that simple.

***

Even Ralph "Blind Pig" Nader finds truffles

Let's be clear. I love Ralph Nader when he is doing good. I think Unsafe At Any Speed, along with Silent Spring, The Jungle and Uncle Tom's Cabin was one of the most important books ever written in this country. Most of what he's done for the last 45 years has been important and useful. His presidential campaigns have harmed America in deep and abiding ways--the Iraq War is Ralph Nader's fault. All of which doesn't mean he can't be right now and then. Even a blind pig can find truffles.

Ralph Nader: George Bush a 'recidivist war criminal'
Quote: In the piece entitled "Country of Laws," Nader blasts Bush for fictionalizing his Iraq war actions and for saying that he'll leave office with no regrets. While Spitzer resigned within days of his admission to indiscretions, "Bush remains," writes Nader, "disgracing his office for longtime repeated violations of the Constitution, federal laws and international treaties to which the U.S. is a solemn signatory." Unquote

***

Your Public Servants At Work: Bear Stearns

Food for thought. JPM paid (or is trying to pay if they ever close the deal) $2 per share ($236M) for Bear Stearns and is getting a building worth $1B and a bundle of other assets. The Federal Reserve has given a guarantee worth $254 per share ($30B) to convince JPM to do the deal. The Fed is getting nothing tangible in return with the possible exception of some paper that once upon a time had a face value of $30B. The Fed gets no equity in Bear Stearns.

What is going on here? Another blot on the record of GWBush and Dick Cheney. Between them, the presidents who failed to support policies which would have prevented the Fed from being in the position of choosing between putting up a guarantee worth $254 per share to a private corporation or setting off a major markets (plural) meltdown.

***

The Truth Will Set You Free (Eventually)

The New York Times:Fateful Choice on Iraq Army Bypassed Washington Debate, by Michael R. Gordon

a. Too bad Michael Gordon failed to get this story from Doug Feith until Feith needed publicity for Feith's new book. (By the way of a non sequitur in a wholly unrelated matter, don't buy books by crooks.)

b. If this article is to be believed the Iraqi Army was disbanded by special envoy L. Paul Bremer III with the knowledge and acquiescence of George W. Bush. This came a few months after George W. Bush gave his full support to a plan to use the Iraqi Army to secure post-invasion Iraq.

Who was involved? The chain may have started with an unnamed and probably forever unknown member of the staff of then Lt. Gen. David D. McKiernan (U.S. Army) (senior American military commander in Iraq at the time). This person reportedly lied to Col. Greg Gardner (U.S. Army - retired), a member of the staff of Walter Slocombe. Slocombe, in turn, was an aide to special envoy Bremer. Either that or Col. Gardner lied to Slocombe who then repeated the lie to Bremer.

***

You read it here first Department:: How A President Could Pardon Himself

Suppose there is a hypothetical almost two-term President of the United States. Suppose her complicit and mendacious Vice President happens to hold the view that the President is almost (or should be) all-powerful and subject to essentially no control by any other branch of government. The VP believes that any control (for example by the Constitution) on the President which happens to exist should not exist because it is bad for the country. There are many other government officials appointed by the President (some subject to Senate confirmation and some not subject to Senate confirmation) facing substantial criminal and civil liability for things they did (or did not do) while in office. How would the President minimize her liability?

The hypothetical President could still face criminal liability and an unresolved question as to whether a President of the United States may issue a pardon to herself. So how could a President solve this problem of potential criminal liability?

The President would instruct her Secretary of State to be at the White House in the Oval Office at 8:45 a.m. on the morning of the January 20th when the President was scheduled to leave office. The President's chief of staff would ask a friendly federal judge to drop in at about 8:45 a.m. at the White House for a late breakfast. Then, the first order of business would be for the outgoing President to issue a full, complete, and absolute pardon for any and all offenses against the United States to many, many people. He could start with the Vice President and continue with the Secretary of State and the entire Cabinet. He could pardon down to the level of the lowest level technicians at the telecommunications companies, companies supplying private military contractors, various intelligence agencies, and military departments.

All this would take place at about 9:00 a.m. on January 20th. Then she would resign and deliver her resignation letter personally to the Secretary of State. That would complete the resignation process. The Vice President would be sworn into office as President about 9:15 a.m. on January 20 by the federal judge. The new President would then issue a full, complete, and absolute pardon for any and all offenses against the United States to the now former President at 9:30 a.m. Then the new President (with or without the now former President) could welcome the incoming President-elect to the White House for the traditional pre-Inaugural cup of coffee at 10 a.m. Then the new President and the incoming President-elect could ride to the Inaugural ceremony in the Presidential limousine. The now former President could ride in the limousine reserved for the ex-Vice President (who is now President for about 3 hours). Everyone can appear at the Inaugural ceremony. The White House press office can release news of the resignation and the pardons at about 11:30 a.m.as the new President and the incoming President-elect leave the White House for Capitol Hill. One wonders how the press corps (in particular the network anchors, correspondents, and producers planning on following a carefully timed script all day long) would deal with two Presidential Inaugurations inside of three hours. One also wonders which of the ex-Presidents will be allowed the use of Air Force One (by the person inaugurated for a full term at noon) for the ride out of town.

These pardons would be in full compliance with the U.S. Constitution

Some may wonder if such pardons would provide sufficient motivation to amend the Constitution. The idea would be to remove the pardon power from any President from roughly the last October 1st of the term through the end of the term. A re-elected President would regain the power when inaugurated for the second term. A President seeking re-election or leaving office after two terms would thus be placed in the position of letting his employers know before the election about any pardons they might wish to consider in determining who would receive their vote for President). While there might be some definitional problems, the Congress might also think about ending the pardon power for anyone who has announced (but not yet completed) their resignation from the Presidency.

***

Briefs

March 23, 2008 in Politics |

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  • Keith Colquhoun: Beyond Reason

    Keith Colquhoun: Beyond Reason
    Well-written, fast-paced, entertaining, and, like his other works, endearingly eccentric. If you are interested in a good novel that doesn't read just like every other novel, and some thoughtful chatter about the state of religion, wrapped into an entertaining package, you'll like Beyond Reason. (****)

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    Sven Birkerts: The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age
    This collection of essays alternates between hopeful and depressing as it soberly considers the future propspects of the act of reading dead-tree media. In this re-issue, the author admits to succumbing to electronic creation, but clings to reading on paper. A reasonable compromise? I think so. Thoughtful and engaging. 1/07. (*****)

  • Harry Shearer: Not Enough Indians: A Novel

    Harry Shearer: Not Enough Indians: A Novel
    I love Harry Shearer. Always have. Always will. His "Le Show" weekly broadcast is hysterical, his film work is phenomenal, and he is both Smithers and Mr. Burns. How cool is that? This is a great comic novel. You can clearly hear Shearer's comedic voice in the dialog. The plot's a bit thin, and the book is episodic, but it is also hysterically funny, first page to last. (*****)

  • Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner

    Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner
    Kite Runner is the story of an Afghani-American coming of age in Afghanistan as well as Fremont, California, it is well-written. Trite but true: it is hard to put down. You want to know what happens next. Vivid descriptions, compelling plot. (*****)

  • Christopher Buckley: No Way to Treat a First Lady : A Novel

    Christopher Buckley: No Way to Treat a First Lady : A Novel
    Christopher Buckley's 9th novel, is one part parody political novel and nine parts parody of the "trial of the century" industry. It is 10 parts fun. (*****)

  • Christopher Buckley: Florence of Arabia : A Novel

    Christopher Buckley: Florence of Arabia : A Novel
    Christopher Buckley is a great American humor writer. Here, he imagines what would happen if the U.S. tried to teach the Arab women to liberate themselves. Buy it just to laugh at the fake hyphenated names of British characters. (*****)

  • E.J. Kahn: The World Of Swope
    A clever and well-written 1965 biography of Herbert Bayard Swope written by E.J. Kahn: The World of Swope. Swope was probably the single most important editor of The World, which was, in turn, one of the most important New York newspapers. Kahn renders Swope with tub-thumpingly good writing. (*****)
  • Keith Colquhoun: Killing Stalin

    Keith Colquhoun: Killing Stalin
    Killing Stalin is an elaborate and imaginative tale of Joseph Stalin's last days. Was Stalin killed? Even in the Soviet Union, it seems unlikely the event was committed to paper. But perhaps the oral history of a reliable observer... overheard by a journalist at a bar and made into a novel... (*****)

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Favorite Movies

  • My all-time favorite movie:
    Groundhog Day. I have created a fan site that is universally acknowledged to be the best on the Internet dedicated to this work of art.

    All the rest of my favorite movies (Deadline USA, The Paper, CitizenKane) are Journalism movies.

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