The Nation has a fine article by E. L. Doctorow entitled The White Whale. It is his keynote address to the April 2007 joint meeting in Washington of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society on the theme of "The Public Good: Knowledge as the Foundation for a Democratic Society." This theme is at the center of the failure of a significant portion of our society to recognize the bankruptcy of the Bush administration as far as ideas are concerned. There is a deep side to this and Doctorow is one of the only people I know about who sees it so clearly. Look beyond the break and see what he has understood so well.
A totally crazy Tuesday-morning thought: Wouldn't George W. Bush make an awesome super hero? Wouldn't it be something if his post-presidential life would up being that kind of post-service service? How's that for a model? Who needs policemen, firemen, and high-end secret service security? How about the Justice League? (Or wherever?) Reach out and touch the young (non-sexually, of course!) before they are hurt or killed by bad guys, and by giving them a hero to root for, he can break them of the cynicism pop culture and possibly their parents have passed down to them. Whatever you think of President Bush, he's a likable guy in love with himself who looks great in an ironman or Batman suit with a monster codpiece.
Sen. John McCain's plans are gradually unfolding for the Republican National Convention in September as he tries to walk a tightrope between conflicting demands.
First is the question of how to give President Bush a forum as the party's two-time nominee but at the same time keep McCain at a distance from the unpopular incumbent. The answer, according to McCain aides, will be to have Bush give a speech on the first night of the convention—a Monday—and let him have the moment to himself. McCain isn't scheduled to arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the convention site, until Tuesday at the earliest, after Bush leaves, which means that, at this point, the two men won't be seen with each other that week.
Can't you just picture the unnamed McCain aides selling Bush on this plan?
"Really, Mr. President. You're so important, so magnificent, so ... historical, you really shouldn't have to share a stage with anyone. Why, the nominee would be so overshadowed by your presence, he might as well not even be in the same building as you. In fact, we're going to make sure he's not even in the same city ... just so you have this wonderful moment all to yourself. Completely alone in all your incumbent glory.
"Rest assured, Mr. McCain wouldn't want to intrude on your final partisan bow in any way ....."
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Ok, I'm absolutely bored and frustrated at work, completely burned out reading and contributing to the diaries about supporting Obama or chastising him for FISA, and nearly falling asleep in my chair so I guess it's time for a short and sweet diary.
After propping up and backing up Nouri al-Maliki for years, the Bush administration was handed its worst nightmare when the Iraqi Prime Minister called for a timetable for troop withdrawals.
How did they respond? The White House fell back on its own old tricks, calling Maliki "misinformed" on Iraq and that he does not understand what it's like to see his own people die.
As Governor of Texas, the Presidential hopeful warned us. If we were to select him as Commander-In-Chief he would not send mixed messages. Americans might have read George W. Bush's lips. Pressure would be applied in abundance. A thousand points of light illuminated the path the then possible Chief Executive proposed. Yet, no one wished to believe a prominent person, the son of a former President of the United States could be so cruel.
Our intrepid G8 politicians have gathered on the beautifully serene lake Toya, in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido for a round of cosy talks on such pesky subject matters like food shortages, climate change and various modern ills.
The global food shortage was not evident as the G8 leaders tucked in a "working lunch" of white asparagus and truffle soup followed by kegani crab salad, a supreme of chicken and cheese and coffee with exotic petit fours. Alongside bottled mineral waters, crates of Chateau Grillet 2005 was on offer for those who felt like a tipple as African leaders urged the G8 to tackle spiking oil and food prices, warning the crisis threatens to aggravate an already desperate plight in the continent.
Personally, I have known for some time that these "power summits" - concocted some thirty years ago in a fireside chat at Rambouillet - achieve little, if anything it provides some mental masturbatory moments for weary leaders and a promise of top notch repasts. If some of you have better information on past G8 feats not feasts, do tell.
Now that Iraq's national security adviser has joined the Prime Minister in calling for the US-Iraq status of forces agreement to include a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, it's time to place these remarks in context.
Nouri al-Maliki is trying to win an election. He wants to outflank the Sadrists who have been resisting the US occupation for some time. There have been massive demonstrations among the Shiite community to drive the occupiers out. It's significant that the NSA, Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, made his comments in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, and after discussions with the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, no less.
But the actual withdrawal proposal put forth by Maliki and the Iraqi government is far less than it seems.
After spending years propping up Nouri al-Maliki as a fair, unbiased and effective leader for Iraq, the country's Prime Minister committed the Bush administration's worst nightmare yesterday when he called for a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Predictably, Bush changed his mind on the talents and vision of what was once his puppet leader, bashing him today in a speech. The MSM should be out with this soon, but some sources already have the story running.
A day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from his country, President Bush shot back with a sharply worded retort, calling the Iraqi leader "naive" and "fundamentally misinformed" on the situation in the struggling democracy.
I have a word of warning for the Democratic Party and Senator Barack Obama. The Republican Party most likely has big plans for a large troop withdraw announcement right after the Republican Convention in early September.
I believe General Patreaus is to go before Congress again in September.
What better way is there to get the Iraq war off the table politically, but to promise troops are coming home before Thanksgiving or Christmas?
My goodness, why would they want that, all of the sudden--if things are "going so well over there, these days?" The "Iraqis want a timetable" story is a top story on the Yahoo's Most Viewed news page right now.
I have a theory about the timing of the Iraqi government's "request," but first here's the story and the link, from earlier today:
76,000 people jammed into a stadium in the late summer warmth of a Colorado evening. Storm clouds spared the mile high city. Thunder and lightning were seen in the distance above the front range, but the city is a glow as the sun sets toward twilight.
Cue the microphones. Hello Denver! Hello Denver !! says the MC, a prominent Democratic representative from Colorado. Let me introduce you to a couple of artists that Barack Obama admires and a couple of artists that admire Barack Obama. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Ben Harper! Mr. Stevie Wonder! Mr. Bruce Springsteen!
There they are in the sky boxes all the pundits and newshounds, all the muckrakers and beat reporters, international, local, waiting for history.
The lights go down. Twilight takes over. But the crowd roars. Denver, America and the world are a glow in the light of community coming together for a celebration!
