The Journal of Left of Center Thinking :: November 09, 2003 - November 15, 2003

Next stop the Senate?

Well, they removed Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, all but insuring his entry into the political arena.

The Spin is In

I wasn't going to comment on this, because I didn't think it was worth the typing. But, as usual, the interesting part of it all is not the main topic, but the spin afterwards.

So, Jeb Bush makes a joke about San Francisco (where I live).

"It looks like the people of San Francisco are an endangered species, which may not be a bad thing. That's probably good news for the country."

"Did I just say that out loud?" the governor asked.

So, he's looking at a map, which I'm guessing shows concentrations of animals classified as endangered, or some such. He sees a high concentration in the Bay Area - and makes a joke. No worries (I'm not buying into the anti-gay suggestion made by some. Is Jeb anti-gay? I have no doubts. Was this anti-gay? Probably not).

So, why did I bother bringing it up? Well, here's Jacob DiPietre, the Governor's spokesman, explaining the comment after the meeting.

"The Cabinet was talking about endangered species and everyone knows that Republicans are an endangered species in California."

Oh...he was talking about the endangered Republicans, not the 'loony leftists' that make up SF? Then that's okay. In fact, I'm all for poking fun at Republicans... I think that Jeb has a good...wait a minute. What was the last part again?

"....which may not be a bad thing. That's probably good news for the country."

Jeb was suggesting Republicans in CA were endangered, and that it's not a bad thing? In fact, the whole country would be better off without them?

Or, and I'm just spit-balling here, maybe he was poking fun at the Liberals after all, but didn't really want to admit it. Wait a minute. If he was really so worried about the comment, that he needed to spin it, maybe it was an anti-gay joke.

Hmmmmm.....

Exit Strategy

This is the worst news of the war. Worse than the deaths and misery and chaos that have been caused in Iraq. Regardless of whether you agree with the reasons we went into Iraq, the fact is that we went in and over-turned the country. Now, it seems, we're looking for the quickest way to have the Iraqis clean up the mess we made. And it's going to be bad.

First of all, if the full might and power of the US is having trouble creating security and safety, what chance will a newly placed Iraqi government have? Yes, I understand that just the fact that the US is there is causing some of the anger, but the fact is any government we leave in place is going to be viewed as the government the US imposed, so I don't think there is going to be much of a let-up in the bombings and mayhem, just because we're now saying that the US is not in charge.

Any good that might come from this war will come only if we stick it out and create a (at least more) secure state. Yes, there needs to be a time when we turn over Iraq to the Iraqis, but the 'sooner than later' plan is one driven purely by polls, not by what's best for that (or, in the long run this) country.

And now back to the regular programming

Sorry for the brief, and unexpected, hiatus.

Work, Days off, and more work have not, an updated Blog made.

But. I'm trying to catch up with the world.