Joe Sucks

Ever since Joe Lieberman claimed that in order to return dignity to the White House America needed a religious president (news flash, Joe: religious does not mean moral), I haven't liked him. Now it seems that he wants to be seen as not only really religious and moral but also really tough on terrorism: he and 3 other Democrats voted to limit the rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

This seems to me to be a very short sighted political move.

Policy wise, I can't understand the need to refuse the men at Guantanamo Bay the right to legal representation. Surely if any of the men there are of interest, either any valid information they had was obtained from them or no longer valid. If any could be threats to the US, then charge them. I can't imagine what information that would come out could jeapordize national security - they were picked up 4 years ago. Not to mention the fact that it just makes America seem like a big bully around the world. Yes, I know these are horribly mean terrorists we're trying to fight but it also seems to me that some worldwide goodwill would help a lot in the international fight against them.

Politically, too, it seems like a bad move on behalf of the Democrats. The Republicans are divided over this issue of how to treat "enemy combatants". A unified Democratic party would make it seem all the more so. Similarly, it would help if more Democrats came out and agreed that the war in Iraq was misguided and taken under false pretenses. But for some reason, Joe doesn't agree. With Democrats like him, who needs Republicans?

Fair's Fair

I guess it's fair for the IRS to question the tax status of a church where the pastor questioned the invasion of Iraq. After all, I'm sure they've done the same for all those churches where the pastors applauded the decision.

Is it me?

Am I the only one who's seen the trailer to Memoirs of a Geisha and can't help but think: Couldn't they find Japanese acresses to play the leading roles? I mean, I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to these things, but throughout the entire trailer, all I could think was why are these Chinese women wearing Kimonos?

I really hope this wasn't the conversation in some Hollywood boardroom:

"Hey I know, let's get those chicks from Crouching Tiger. That movie did really well."

"Uh, but sir, that was a movie about China. This movie's about Japan."

"Oh, c'mon. Who's going to notice the difference? I can hardly tell them all apart."

A Question for You

Since the nomination of Alito to the supreme court, there's been a lot of talk about his views on abortion, but little else about what perspectives will be lost as the Supreme Court loses half of its female representation. So here's a question for you. Other than abortion, what issues brought before the court will suffer as a result?

Diversity Checklist

Male? Check.

White? Check.

Religious? Check.

Straight? Check.

All systems go.

I can't help but wonder what Sandra Day O'Connor's thinking today. (Not that I think it's her job to fix this. Just wondering, that's all.)

Wait a Sec

This seems a little disingenuous to say the least. Quoting Scott McClennan from today's White House press briefing:

I don't think while this investigation and this legal proceeding is ongoing, that we should make such presumptions. We should let that process continue.

So, let me get this straight. For the last two years, before the indictment, he couldn't comment because the investigation was ongoing. Now, after the indictment, he can't comment because the legal proceeding is ongoing. So, the only possible situation where he could have commented was when there was no indictment. But then there wouldn't have been anything to comment on anyway. How convenient.

Can someone please stop them from getting away with this? Please?

The Big Picture

Ok, so we now know at least Libby will be indicted, but really I think the bigger question is what happened to his eyebrows? Maybe that's why Fitzgerald is thinking about another inquiry.

Canada's Katrina - No Hurricane Necessary

In case Canadians were at all feeling smug after Katrina, there's this story.

I've lived in four countries other than Canada and for the most part, I can hold my head high as a Canadian (but not get all preachy, you know, 'cos no one likes that). The one and only topic that continually causes me to cringe is our past and present treatement of our First Nations people.

What amazed me even more, when working a summer job at Customs Canada, was hearing civil servants complain about "those people" who don't even pay taxes and just lie about drunk downtown. I don't know about you but if I was forced, within several generations, to watch most of my people die of foreign diseases, have my freedom and land taken away from me, be moved to the land nobody wanted and be forced to catch up with about a thousand years of European cultural development, not to mention a possible genetic predisposition to alcoholism, I'd be a little bummed.

Bush Blinks

First, let's do away with the idea that Meiers' nomination was withdrawn because they couldn't release documentation without giving away too much information about inner White House workings. That's the convenient excuse. It was withdrawn because her confirmation hearing risked showing a fractured and divided Republican party.

I was never sure that she had all the necessary qualifications, but the fact that the religious right really didn't like her seemed a good start. I think that the withdrawal is a dangerous sign. It indicates that the ultra-conservative funadmentalists not only have a firm grip on the White House, but most of the Republican party too.

Bush doesn't seem to be a president who likes to be forced to do anything so it will be interesting to see how he reacts. That said, however, he's never faced this much opposition from his base before (his base is much more concerned about overturning Roe vs Wade than drastic overspending or rash wars). He blinked once by withdrawing Meiers. Let's see if he blinks again.