WTF Is It Now?!?

They say a smile is a gift which is free to the giver and precious to the recipient. But giving the finger is free, too, and I find it more personal and sincere.


Last Night on Crossfire:

Bowtie Boy: Our quote of the day comes from a lame duck Secretary of State, who is trying to get herself elected to the Congress. Katherine Harris, infamous for trying stop Florida's recounts after the presidential election, is attempting to further her political career by writing a book. It's title, our quote of the day, "Center of the Storm: Practicing Principled Leadership in a Time of Crisis."

Paul Begala: Tucker, I have an alternative. How about "Banana Republican: How a Maybelline Abuser Stole the Election."




'Journalism should never yield to 'patriotism'

'Are you an American first, or are you a journalist?'

Unfortunately that question - posed to a journalists' meeting in Salt Lake City in April by distinguished newsman Bill Kovach - is necessary after Sept. 11, as the few who dared critique the rush to war were attacked for being insufficiently patriotic. Too many journalists responded to the post-9/11 hyper-nationalism by waving the flag, literally and figuratively.

Even Dan Rather, perhaps the most vocal journalistic patriot after the tragedy, has had second thoughts, confiding in a BBC interview May 16 that "patriotism run amok" has led to self-censorship by journalists, himself included.

Kovach's challenge and Rather's confession are compelling, but unfortunately formulated in a way that diverts journalists and citizens from a more crucial question: Are you an American first, or are you a human being? That's the question for everyone after Sept. 11.

The answer depends on the meaning of patriotism. Two definitions competed after the terrorist attacks. One was the patriotism of President George W. Bush: "You are with us, or you are with the terrorists," meaning "get on board with plans for war, or ..." Or what? The implication was that real Americans rally around their government and traitors raise critical questions.

- Read more at Newsday.




'American tragedy as cool photo op'

We’ve all heard about the Republican National Committee’s direct-mail piece offering donors three photographs of court-appointed president Bush, including one of him on Air Force One on September 11 as he hightailed it out of harm’s way while his nation was under attack.

Kind of makes you pine for the good old days when all that might have turned up in your mailbox was anthrax or a bomb, doesn’t it?

The Air Force One shot is a rare photo — in the background, actual Bush spin doctors are concocting the very lies they told us September 12 to explain away why Bush went Barney Fife on September 11. The appeal, although distasteful, is well-targeted. A photo of Bush covering his own ass does present a certain primal allure to Republicans.

According to the GOP letter, the three pictures depict:

"... the gritty determination of our new president at his inauguration" (as he bravely appears in public without a drool cup on the day he literally takes office).

"... a telephone call from Air Force One to Vice President Cheney on the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001." (But I’m scared to come home, Unka Dick.)

"... and President Bush’s historic State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress that united a nation and a world" (in disgust over his inane "axis of evil" allegations).

In light of the shocking news that George W. Bush actually knew something (or anything), the Republican National Committee should withdraw the offer of photos of Bush on the Day He Should Have Seen Coming and add some other shots as premiums.

Barry Crimmins kicks ass - read the rest here.





Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin...

If you search out Bush's behavior that day, it is illuminating. I heard someone say that character is what is demonstrated by the actions of people under pressure. When the most colossal disaster ever hit the U.S., how did George W. Bush behave? Like a leader, a protector? He behaved like a valuable jewel, which must be saved at all costs, no matter if the world should be destroyed, this above all things must be protected.

No one seems to know what to do. It's a chain of command that runs in a circle. There is no leadership. This would be bad if the talent being handled was John Travolta or Madonna. But in this case the property being handled was the president of the United States, the man who is supposed to be the prime mover for the whole country, and he's just like some scared puppy dog that is waiting to be told what to do. The trouble is, the Bush machine pulled off a marvelous heist taking over the government, but when the country is in crisis, it is in need of leadership, and there is no trace of leadership in the Big Money politics game. George Bush portrayed by the desperate efforts of the major media as a leader isn't credible and no one really believes it. Everyone, even the people who work closely with him, know he's not a particularly bright bulb, but it doesn't matter. He serves a purpose. He's a poster boy. An actor, not much more. Bush reads some lines with something that looks enough like conviction to convince a lot of people of his sincerity. That is fine for soundbite production, for maintaining a propaganda campaign. But when it comes to leading your country out of crisis, what is needed is something extraordinary.

Anyone who has looked even casually at Bush's history - even the public, scrubbed version - knows that the lack of substance he seems to project on camera is no illusion. No profile in courage this boy. So when disaster struck - it's no great mystery -- he ran like a chicken with its head cut off.

- Read more of David Cogswell's article at BushWatch.