March 2003 – Page 5 – Richard Bennett

Tee-shirt boy

It turns out that the “Give Peace a Chance” tee-shirt boy was harassing shoppers at mall, and not just doing a little misguided free expression. See The Smoking Gun for the police report. While nobody’s mentioned it, the interesting aspect of this story to me is whether tee-shirt can get a fair trial; he’s the … Continue reading “Tee-shirt boy”

It turns out that the “Give Peace a Chance” tee-shirt boy was harassing shoppers at mall, and not just doing a little misguided free expression. See The Smoking Gun for the police report.

While nobody’s mentioned it, the interesting aspect of this story to me is whether tee-shirt can get a fair trial; he’s the head of the commission that disciplines judges, so there’s an inherent conflict of interest on the part of any judge hearing the case. Fair in this case would mean he should be convicted of trespass and made to do time; you don’t harass people with your politics in a private space; that’s what blogs are for.

www.Right-Thinking.com takes a trip

Now here’s a cool way to promote a blog.

Obvious blather

Some character named Britt Blaser says I’m doomed: Mitch has had a run-in with someone who appears to be a legend in his own mind, but who probably would not thrive in an Obvious Society. What’s an Obvious Society, you ask? Why, it’s the Fourth Prophecy, right after ubiquitous video cameras talking to video phones … Continue reading “Obvious blather”

Some character named Britt Blaser says I’m doomed:

Mitch has had a run-in with someone who appears to be a legend in his own mind, but who probably would not thrive in an Obvious Society.

What’s an Obvious Society, you ask? Why, it’s the Fourth Prophecy, right after ubiquitous video cameras talking to video phones powered by Open Source Software controlled by the Mob of Peers, apparently. I wonder who would do well in such a place, other than machines, of course. Oh well.

New world order

Rajan Menon writes in the LA Times about the end of regional alliances that played such a big part in the Cold War era: New Order: the End of Alliances NEW YORK — As we await “The End of History,” Francis Fukuyama’s vision of a world governed by capitalism and democracy, we can anticipate an … Continue reading “New world order”

Rajan Menon writes in the LA Times about the end of regional alliances that played such a big part in the Cold War era:

New Order: the End of Alliances

NEW YORK — As we await “The End of History,” Francis Fukuyama’s vision of a world governed by capitalism and democracy, we can anticipate an earlier, if more mundane, transformation: the End of Alliances. It’s hard to imagine a world without NATOs and SEATOs, but it’s coming, and the change will bring both opportunities and vulnerabilities.

One of the functions these blocs served was to stimulate trade by removing barriers, and the other was to secure national defense through permanent alliances. Since we now have explicitly commercial blocs like the EU and NAFTA, the first function is obsolete, and with countries like France making mischief in alliances like NATO, the second function is less effective. We no longer have permanent allies, only permanent interests, right? Except that we do have permanent allies, with whom we share ties of culture and history, like the Anglosphere nations and the former Eastern Bloc nations of New Europe with whom we share values.

The alliance most in jeopardy right now has to be the UN, because it’s both too big and too unprincipled to do anything good, and has essentially degenerated into a Lilliputian Alliance of the Bitter and Irrelevant.

Take Sides (of beef) for PETA

Meryl Yourish’s International Eat an Animal for PETA Day would be good time to place your order for a side of grass-fed, environmentally responsible, tasty beef. You can order from Marin Sun Farms or Morris’ TO Ranch in the Frisco Bay Area, Northern Longhorn Alliance for nation-wide shipping, or any of a number of other producers across the country. Place your order in March, and you’ll be first in line for tasty beef in June, peak of the slaughter season. Then you can celebrate PETA all year long, as you eat your low-cholesterol, juicy beef.

If you have a favorite supplier of artisan beef, leave a comment.

Mercury News spins again

Yesterday, the Mercury News ran front-page story alleging a big gender split on the war to liberate Iraq. As some stats buried after the jump made clear, there isn’t a gender split: both men and women support the liberation by big margins. The story, of course, was written by the reporter who does all the … Continue reading “Mercury News spins again”

No gender `split’ on the war

A Mercury News anti-war headline (Page 1A, March 3) blares out: “Gender split on war — With invasion of Iraq looming, women emerge at forefront of peace movement.” But when you actually read the statistics, it turns out that 63 percent of women favor military action in Iraq (as opposed to 73 percent of men).

There is no headline story here. Your readers are quite familiar with your editorial board’s position on the war. Keep it in the opinion section, not on the front page.

Scott Abramson
San Mateo

The table showing the poll numbers Abramson cites wasn’t in the on-line edition of the paper, and it didn’t show undecideds either. On all polls concerning international events, more women than men are undecided, and that’s the only gender split on this issue.

Hotel surrenders

Craig Schamp reports that the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City has taken down its French flag. The Mercury News explains why: Many French in the United States say that Americans have misunderstood their country’s position on Iraq, and Americans do not appreciate that two world wars in your back yard can bring a different perspective. … Continue reading “Hotel surrenders”

Craig Schamp reports that the Hotel Sofitel in Redwood City has taken down its French flag. The Mercury News explains why:

Many French in the United States say that Americans have misunderstood their country’s position on Iraq, and Americans do not appreciate that two world wars in your back yard can bring a different perspective.

“The two world wars are still very fresh” for the French, said Sophie Ravel, a Palo Alto real estate agent who has lived in the United States since 1984. “People in America have never seen their family killed in front of their eyes.”

Before Sept. 11th, this was true, but now it’s not; it’s interesting, however, that so many French have seen American soldiers killed in front their eyes.

Back on planet Earth, Emmanuelle’s on strike against the Radio France.

Sen. Estrada (R., N.Y.)?

Writing in the Wall St. Journal (subscription required) Steven Malanga speculates on a Miguel Estrada v. Chuck Schumer race for the New York Senate seat not occupied by Hillary Clinton: Ronald Reagan once said that most Hispanics were Republicans who “just don’t know it yet.” It isn’t merely ethnic pride that would attract Hispanics to … Continue reading “Sen. Estrada (R., N.Y.)?”

Writing in the Wall St. Journal (subscription required) Steven Malanga speculates on a Miguel Estrada v. Chuck Schumer race for the New York Senate seat not occupied by Hillary Clinton:

Ronald Reagan once said that most Hispanics were Republicans who “just don’t know it yet.” It isn’t merely ethnic pride that would attract Hispanics to Mr. Estrada, but a growing sense that New York’s increasingly radical Democratic Party is out of step with the cultural values and upwardly mobile aspirations of many Latinos.

Mr. Schumer must run for re-election next year, when an Estrada candidacy in New York would be especially powerful. President Bush will be running for re-election, and the Republican National Convention will take place in Gotham. Having Mr. Bush campaigning with Mr. Estrada throughout the state’s Hispanic enclaves can give a Democrat cold sweats.

If the current Democratic jihad against Mr. Estrada fails, the Republican Party should still consider recruiting another talented Latino candidate to challenge Mr. Schumer in 2004. The party might even consider doing what the Democrats did in the 2000 Senate race: importing their best candidate from somewhere else to vie for the New York seat. Hillary Clinton showed the Republicans how to play that game. Now why not turn the tables?

Schumer is not only the most unprincipled party hack in the Senate, he’s ugly, so Estrada should consider this if the anti-democratic filibuster succeeds.

“The Americans are liberators”

Shark Blog has translated an interview with a Kurd activist from Der Spiegel: Berwari: We view the Americans and British as liberators. The no-fly zone they’re guarding in Northern Iraq has allowed the Iraqi Kurds to administer our own region since 1991. Berwari says German pacifism is not helpful, but you probably knew that.

Shark Blog has translated an interview with a Kurd activist from Der Spiegel:

Berwari: We view the Americans and British as liberators. The no-fly zone they’re guarding in Northern Iraq has allowed the Iraqi Kurds to administer our own region since 1991.

Berwari says German pacifism is not helpful, but you probably knew that.

Lobbying the UN

A lot of people are upset about the recently uncovered memo on US surveillance of UN Security Council members, going back into the Watergate slam bag by calling it a “Dirty Tricks” campaign. Dirty Tricks, of course, is a lot more than surveillance – Nixon’s campaign was about making things happen in the world that were embarrassing to McGovern, not just getting info on his plans. The NSA is simply monitoring communications between and among Saddam’s key business partners and allies on the Security Council, as well they should. The Security Council is one of the battlefields of the War on Terra, and we have to know what Saddam’s buddies are planning there just as much as we have to keep up with their plans in Iraq, the Philippines, and Israel.

Failure to monitor for lobbying purposes would actually be negligent.