Electric Politics

President Laughingstock

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:00:35 -0500

By this time it's fair to say that Mr. Obama is not merely a right of center politician, but a right-winger. There's nothing "centrist" about him. I wonder, though, whether it's becoming fair to say that he's a Manchurian Candidate, a plant, extreme in his support of the establishment which, by definition, is an oligarchic dictatorship? One sees the dawning recognition — from Harry Shearer ("President Obama speaks to New Orleans From Planet Zarg") to David Letterman ("He'll have plenty of time for vacations when his one term is up") — the comedians being, as usual, ahead of the curve. And I can't imagine that Mr. Obama's speech last night impressed anybody except, of course, his courtiers in Versailles on the Potomac.

Up Where We Belong

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:27:48 -0500

Lonesome Road

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:23:30 -0500

Fever-Tree

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:33:11 -0500

As a little kid in the Belgian Congo I drank a lot of tonic water. I don't know what brands, or how it was made, but I've had a taste for tonic water ever since. The problem is, most tonic waters — one might say all major brands — are crap. I seem to remember that as a teenager there were some here in the States that weren't too bad, but now, Blech! So the other day I was shopping in the new Whole Foods near here and noticed a brand I hadn't seen before: Fever-Tree. It's hideously expensive but I figured, what the hell, and tried some. It's great!! Out of this world great!! A real thirst quencher. And, to be honest, the 200 ml bottles are a good size. Most highly recommended.

Compromised Supply Lines

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:17:03 -0500

According to yesterday's New York Times Pakistan's floods are affecting the U.S. supply lines into Afghanistan. Well, yeah... I'd been looking at maps recently to try to figure what might be going on, and I've also noticed that until now there haven't been reports in the mainstream press. My guess is that the military has been discouraging reporters from writing up the story — note that Carlotta Gall's piece doesn't say a word about how constrained supplies to Afghanistan might affect operations. Of course, it will.

Chronicle of a Water War Foretold

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:46:12 -0500

Over at Common Dreams yesterday, Gwynne Dyer has a very thoughtful piece about Pakistan's water problems. Not the floods, but chronic and sure to become worse water shortages. A quick Google search turns up similar pieces here, here, here, and here. I hadn't realized how serious the situation already is, or that India and Pakistan are squaring off over proposed Indian dams. Grim. On my mental scorecard I'm upping the odds that Pakistan may fall apart in the medium term.

Of Mosques and Men

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 03:10:33 -0500

To be honest, I don't give a damn if Muslims build a mosque near ground zero. Even if I didn't think that 9/11 was an inside job it wouldn't bother me. Faith works in mysterious ways. If some Muslims want a mosque in lower Manhattan, well, OK. Would that be the same as the Germans building a monument to fallen Nazi soldiers at Omaha Beach? No, not by a long shot. Are Muslims irrelevant in today's American society, such that they should be steamrolled whenever politically convenient? No, and, by the way, have you checked your local hospital for Muslim physicians lately? So, what's up with President Twinkie's tap dance, and Harry Reid's disgracing himself? Skittish, and pathetic!

Spiked

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:00:39 -0500

Fifteen years ago, or thereabouts, when I was on the other side of interviews, I had to get used to the idea that sometimes, when I'd taped an interview, the media person who'd asked for it might not use it. I recall, in particular, many times being interviewed by Andrea Mitchell up at NBC's studio in northwest DC (not far from me), but her later using maybe only one out of four or one out of five of them. I never asked for, and never got, a good explanation of why sometimes interviews don't get used, but over the years of producing the EP podcast I've learned that not all interviews should be broadcast, or webcast, or whatever it is that one calls it.

Further Parsing "Birthright"

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:20:39 -0500

It's amusing to watch Keith Olbermann's artificial outrage against those who question birthright citizenship. And the more sincere outrage of other, non-professional leftists. The meaning of the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment — if they stopped for a moment to think about it — did not, when it was ratified in 1868, absolutely and unambiguously allow birthright citizenship and, therefore, the Amendment's commonly accepted meaning having changed over time, those who defend birthright citizenship must be prepared to argue why their reading of the 14th Amendment is correct. Simply saying "the meaning of the words is obvious" begs the argument.

In Praise of Pickles

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:45:24 -0500

Bread and butter pickles. Yum! Good on sandwiches. Good as sides with things like hot dogs. For that matter, good on hamburgers. I suppose that the industrious among us make their own, no doubt deliciously. But in the supermarket it ain't easy to find exceptional bread and butter pickles. Most brands — including organics — taste pretty much the same. Bland. Then there's McCutcheon's. Their bread and butter pickles have both taste and snap. Zesty. Practically perfect. If you're in the DC area there's a good chance you can find McCutcheon's in a local store as their factory is in Frederick, Maryland; probably they distribute to a wider region, I don't know. Otherwise you could order from their website, which is, well, antique. I recommend their bread and butter pickles without reservation but other McCutcheon's products can be uneven. If you order a variety of samples on impulse you're on your own.

Logicomix

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:01:48 -0500

Rescue Me

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:19:17 -0500

Birthright Ballyhoo

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 22:55:59 -0500

In resisting birthright citizenship reform the Democrats have jumped the shark. Except, obviously, for Hispanics, most people understand and disapprove of "anchor babies." At the same time, most people don't understand the 14th Amendment and are hopelessly confused about the constitutional issues at stake. Republicans, betraying their chronic lack of intellectual firepower, are pushing for an Amendment to the 14th Amendment, which is constitutional overkill when simple legislation could provide a fair solution. Charitably, one might ascribe an abundance of caution to the Republican strategy except that it's pretty clear few of them have bothered to read through the relevant texts. Yes, it's a chore, but that's what legal precedent is all about.

Some Observations About Pizza

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:46:39 -0500

By all accounts pizza originated in Naples. In 1889 the Neapolitans added cheese, and in 1905 the pizza pie crossed the Atlantic, with Lombardi's opening in Manhattan. For a foodstuff so potentially delicious it's a relatively simple recipe — you'd think that restaurants usually get it right. But, no... it's impossible, for example, to find a good pizza in the Washington DC area.

Pakistan's Floods

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:25:53 -0500

It isn't to be found among the top stories of the New York Times, although, to its credit, the Washington Post has noticed. From outward appearances neither the State Department nor the Pentagon have thought much about its ramifications. But floods in Pakistan are a huge deal, extremely relevant to whatever it is that the U.S. wants to accomplish over there. Our non-provision of substantial emergency aid could well have lasting consequences for the stability of Pakistan's government.