Harriet, we hardly knew ye

Look, I know that the Bush administration's hallmark has been a stubborn refusal to acknowledge any semblance of logic when making policy decisions, but even they had to know that there was no good way for the Harriet Miers nomination to end, right?

(The author shuffles nervously.)

Right?

John Roberts Confirmation Hearing

Dahlia Lithwick is reporting from the John Roberts confirmation hearings on Slate.com this week.

Dahlia is one of my favorite writers for the webzine, as she makes me feel like I just might understand anything about constitutional law on a good day.

Since the overall vibe on the hill seems to be that Roberts will breeze through a Senate vote with little trouble, he is refraining from answering any questions that might evoke even a modicum of political thought.

As it seems to be a lost cause for the Democrats, I would submit the following question to Judge Roberts before I bowed out of the proceedings, were I a relevant member of congress:

Mr. Roberts. Do you like puppies? Thank you.

They want us to leave

Fred Kaplan at Slate writes an interesting article about a point that is too often overlooked in the "War on Terror."

They don't hate our freedom. They want us to leave.

Kaplan reviews three different studies of suicide bombers which all try to understand why they blow themselves up in the first place.

The overwhelming conclusion is that suicide bombers are motivated by "a specific secular and strategic goal: to compel democracies to withdraw military forces from the terrorists' national homeland."

None of this is to say the easy solution now is to just get out of Iraq and never look back. In fact, earlier withdrawals by the Reagan and Clinton administrations helped solidify the notion in these jihadist's minds that suicide bombings were a successful tactic.

Near the end of the article, Kaplan writes

The most vital lesson Americans can draw from this sorry saga, in retrospect, is that we shouldn't initiate foreign adventures unless they involve interests worth considerable sacrifice. But a more immediate—and regrettable—lesson is that, having blundered our way into Iraq, we can't hand these bastards a victory (which is what it would be) by giving in to their demands. It would only embolden them further the next time our interests clash.

It looks as though establishing a government with a legitimate Sunni presence may provide us with the best chance for a withdrawal that cedes little to the terrorists.

In the meantime, I think it would be refreshing if we didn't fall into the same cookie-cutter patriotic rhetoric whenever there is a terror attack. Our freedom means little to the radicals in the Middle East. In their minds, it's their freedom they're fighting for.

Good-bye, Sandy D

Fighting goes both ways, but right now, the ball is in Bush's court. Now is his chance to have an inclusive discussion with Democrats before nominating a Supreme Court Justice.

Ignoring the sentiments of half the country by nominating an ultra-conservative jurist and then spouting off about up or down votes will do nobody any good.

Some Thoughts

I've been quiet for a while, but wanted to throw out some random thoughts about the political stories of the day:

1. Bush's Speech - I agree that we should put the decision to go to war behind us and look for ways to make progress in Iraq, but whenever the president links 9/11 with the invasion of Iraq, it makes my blood boil. The war in Iraq was NOT the war on terror. I'll agree that it has become that, but only because we enabled it.
2. Dean's Antics - I think that Howard Dean going all Zell Miller on the Republicans is the perfect move for the DNC. It energizes the democratic base, and allows for those running for congress to set themselves up in relation to Dean. Are you a moderate senator from a conservative state? Then you rip Dean for generalizing all red-staters. Is your jurisdiction a little more liberal? Agree with Dean's intentions but express concern with the reckless way he made his remarks. Want to win in New York or California? Let it slip that Dean "makes some pretty good points." It's a win-win for everybody.
3. Exit Strategy - I think asking the administration and the military to set firm dates for leaving Iraq is a terrible idea. Regardless of how you feel about the monumentally stupid decision to go to war (I think you know how I feel), we are there now, and leaving would be an even bigger mistake. Setting a date gives the insurgents a goal to shoot for. Outlast the infidels and anarchy is yours. It's time to accept that there will always be a military presence in Iraq, just as there will always be bases in Asia.
4. Rove's Comments - It's difficult to respond politely to Karl Rove's comments about Democrats looking to fight the 9/11 attackers with "indictments and therapy," but I'll try. The White House keeps telling us that this is a war unlike any we've ever fought before (and they are right), but they keep trying to fight it like all the wars of the past (and they are wrong). Invading countries, locking up anybody suspect, pissing off most of Europe... none of this will eradicate terrorism. Understanding why somebody will strap a bomb to their chest and kill themselves in order to make the United States look bad is hard. But, that is what we need to figure out. Glossing over it by saying they "hate freedom" is ludicrous and counter-productive.

"It's good to be the king"

CNN.com - Swazi king waits two weeks for wife No. 12 - Jun 13, 2005

LA deputies to be punished over shooting

I think what frightens me most aboutthis story is that the police fired more than 120 rounds at the suspect and only managed to hit him four times.

I can't decide if those percentages make me feel more or less safe in Los Angeles.

Villaraigosa Defeats Hahn

Of my many New Year's resolutions, one of them was to vote in every election that I was eligible for -- state legislature, county clerks and even the local sanitation commissioner. While I made it to the first mayoral vote for Los Angeles, work kept me from casting a ballot in today's run-off.

One more failed attempt at being a better person, I guess.

As is usually the case with these campaigns, I ended up feeling distaste for both candidates by the time the polls opened up this morning. Villaraigosa won, for what it's worth, but since both men are Democrats, I doubt there will be a dramatic shift in the political landscape of the city.

There was low voter turnout, which isn't a surprise given the lack of a Red vs. Blue storyline for the press to latch on to, and I'm pretty sure the 70% of registered voters who decided to skip out on they're civic duty today would tell you the same thing I know from following local coverage: Jim Hahn is White and Antonio Villaraigosa is Latino.

After that, they're both politicians. Men with money and many character flaws. The people who were motivated cast their ballots, and the machine will keep chugging along.

Paranoia for Fun and Profit

A great look at how Disney and Michael Moore split up the money from Fahrenheit 9/11.

I want to write more about this, because I have a host of mixed-feelings regarding Moore's particular brand of filmaking. For now, I'll just say that this article sheds a little more light on the fact that both corporate giants and individuals can be less than sincere when politics and money are involved.

I'm hoping to have some more coherent commentary on this later in the week. Wanted to get the article out there for those who are interested to read, though.

Iraq, Afghan wars reportedly strain U.S. fighting ability

Still feeling safer with Bush in charge, all you Dubya fans?

Joe Friday could not be reached for comment

Do the people who report the news realize they don't have to reprint the administration talking points word for word?

From today's CNN.com article:

"More than 10,000 fugitives from justice have been captured in a nationwide, weeklong dragnet, law enforcement sources said"

Fugitives from justice? Who caught them? Batman?

"'We're really amazed. We had no idea we'd apprehend more than 10,000 bad guys,' said one federal law enforcement official who asked not to be identified."

If I was a grown man who used the phrase "bad guys" when discussing the arrests of murderers, gang members and sex offenders, I wouldn't want to be identified either.

In lighter news...

I just checked the news, and it looks like the Pope is still dead.

Okay, a bad joke. Anyway, I though I'd do a quick hit on a political decision concerning player playing cards that were given away at the Angels game Saturday Night. The following people had their headshot assigned to the following playing card values:

Wild Card - Brendan Donnelly
Ace - Vladimir Guerrero

Jack - Chone Figgins

Queen - Rally Monkey

King - Mike Scioscia

2 - Adam Kennedy

3 - Darin Erstad
4 - Kelvim Escobar
5 - Bengie Molina
6 - Orlando Cabrera
7 - Garret Anderson
8 - Steve Finley
9 - Bartolo Colon
10 - Francisco Rodriguez

I would love to know which of the remaining 10 players' agents stepped up and said they wouldn't allow their clients to be called a Queen.

Enter the Monkey.

Douglas County alone rejects ban

I often tell people that if God forsakes you to live in Kansas, then you want to live in Lawrence -- where it's close to Kansas City and features an educated, forward-thinking population.

Sadly, I can't say the same for the rest of the state.

The "Sanctity" of Marriage

Great story by Dahlia Lithwick on Slate today.

Basically, she discusses how the same Conservatives who used the sanctity of marriage to fearmonger their way back into office during the last election are now trying to eliminate the binding legality of 'legitimate' marriges in the Schiavo case.

From near the end of the story:

Without any strong federal constitutional claims on which to rest, the Schindlers come back to the same old argument they have been making for years: They should have guardianship over Terri instead of Michael. But the law disagrees. The law says that when one marries one takes on a whole host of legal rights and duties that trump your parents' wishes. Marriage is a sacred and intimate promise. And the very people who keep preaching about the sanctity of marriage when defending it from gay gatecrashers used to believe this more than anyone.

The Hassle of Privatized Social Security

A nice, non-partisan quote about the new Bush plan for Social Security:

"In real life, we ignore our Social Security. That's the glory of it. We have the freedom not to think about it. With all the time I have not to think about my "private" account, I can turn on the Cubs game."

The article is here.

Hey, "God" wrote another book!

Well, it looks like the Pope has just okayed a new wave of hate crimes.

Somebody told me the other day that since I was baptized Catholic, then I'm a Catholic for life, whether I like it or not. Is there anyone who knows this for sure? Is there some kind of soap I can get to wash this off?

Bush Square to Open in Baghdad... Sometime

Richard Perle had a shoe thrown at him during a debate with Howard Dean yesterday. The assailant was dragged out of the auditorium screaming "liar, liar." No word on whether he thought Perle's pants were on fire.

As for the debate, both sides made somewhat childish remarks that did little to move the conversation forward.

Dean used a tough line about defense being "a lot broader than swaggering around saying you're going to kick Saddam's butt," and Perle countered with an observation about the Democrats choosing "a physician to lead them."

As is usually the case, the best line came near the end of the story, mere inches away from the chopping block:

Perle added, "I will be surprised, yet again, if we do not see a square in Baghdad named after this president." He did not specify a time.

Perle, of course, was the one who promised the war in Iraq would be a cakewalk, in which the Iraqi people welcomed us with open arms and that the cost would be under $2 billion for the U.S. As such, he has learned to stop specifying timelines.

Is it just me...

Or has our administration stopped even trying to be deceptive?

"The next steps are in the offing."

So says Condoleezza Rice. She follows that with "And I think everyboyd understands what the 'next steps' mean."

I... um... wow....

Bushism of the Day

I know it's unfair to expect our president to speak straight to us, but this is a little ridiculous. I mean, has he even read his own plan on Social Security?

The State of the Union

I'll leave the more in-depth commentary to people who know what they're talking about. (I'm a big fan of Slate's coverage)

For my own thoughts, two things stick out.

1. We are going to war with Iran. I think most of us with functioning brain stems have been aware of this for a while now, but Bush called them out pretty specifically last night. I'll say it over and over again, and I am 99.9% sure I won't be proven wrong: We are going to war with Iran. I just hope the President means it when he talks about building a coalition this time.
2. This line caught my fancy: "Taxpayer dollars must be spent wisely, or not at all." Of course, he used it when talking about cutting government programs that aren't getting results (how that's measured is anybody's guess) and just before he suggested pumping more money into those "faith-based" organizations that do so well.

   The thing that struck me about that line, though, was the whole "or not at all" concept. Maybe it's just me, but isn't that the kind of "lockbox" mentality that would have kept us out of this deficit in the first place?

And we wonder why they make fun of us in France

Remind me to stay out of South Dakota.

CNN has an article about the many innovative ways a strip club owner has managed to continue providing service to his patrons.

It never ceases to amaze me how much energy people will put into controlling what happens between consenting adults behind closed doors instead of looking into problems like unemployment, health care and education.

My thoughts: Covered windows and a doorman to keep minors out = more than reasonable request / harassing adults who just want to relax and look at a few pretty girls when it's negative ten degrees outside = misplaced priorities.

Dubya Does Stand-Up

Following are excerpts from the president’s second inaugural address. My comments are in bold.

At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half-century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical -- and then there came a day of fire.

“And then there came a day of fire?” Whoa. Dubya’s getting biblical in a hurry with this speech.

We have seen our vulnerability, and we have seen its deepest source. (It’s ignorance, right? Blind, ideological ignorance. No?) For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny -- prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder -- violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders and raise a mortal threat.

Forgot to mention the title of this speech: “Holy F---ing Sh!t. We’re all going to die!”

There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment and expose the pretensions of tyrants and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant. And that is the force of human freedom.

You like that word “freedom”? Sure hope so. It’s in here about thirty times.

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

Barring that. If we start a few civil wars, then they’ll all be too busy killing each other to bother coming after us.

America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the day of our founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this Earth has rights (Well, technically, we initially proclaimed that all white men who owned land had these rights), and dignity and matchless value because they bear the image of the maker of heaven and Earth.

Quick quiz: What three-letter word doesn’t appear anywhere in the Constitution, wasn’t in the original Pledge of Allegiance, and never came near our money during the first hundred years of our country?

...

This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary (Please note: If it is not necessary, then we will invade a foreign country on shaky intelligence, disposing of their leader and creating civil strife strong enough to foster the kind of hatred that makes defending ourselves by force of arms a necessity). Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen and defended by citizens and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own.

These customs are, of course, wrong. We will crush them. Methodically and without compassion.

…

The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause.

I’ll give you twenty dollars if you can find any substance in that previous statement.

…

We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation -- the moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains (Except the enemy combatants in Cuba. They love it), or that women welcome humiliation and servitude (Though, it is true their bodies belong to the religious right) or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies (Unless the bully is us).

…

And all the allies of the United States can know: We honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help (Not really, but it sounded like a nice thing to say). Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat.

…

And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well -- a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.

Again with the fire. After freedom and liberty, it appears the president is spending a lot of time discussing souls and fire. I sure hope there isn’t a connection here.

…

All Americans have witnessed this idealism and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs (Coming to a theater near you this summer!). Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself, and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country but to its character.

Should you decide not to make this choice, we will start a draft and make it for you.

America has need of idealism and courage because we have essential work at home -- the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.

Which is why we are squelching your freedoms as fast as we can with the Patriot Act, amendments on gay marriage and reductions in women’s rights.

…

In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character -- on integrity and tolerance toward others and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self.

See that? That’s chiasmus, you better-educated, know-it-all liberal hacks. My speech writers know a fancy-shcmancy trick or two. Take it!

That edifice of character is built in families (except for loving gay families), supported by communities with standards (such as one divorce for every two marriages), and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran and the varied faiths of our people. (well, actually just Christian faith, the rest is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo hooey) Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before -- ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday (like black people counting as 3/5 a person, that’s a good example from the past), today and forever.

In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by service and mercy and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love.

Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth (unless you’re a criminal in Texas, where I’ll fry your ass faster than a crawdad slips the lure). And our country must abandon all the habits of racism because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.

Ahem.

…

We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom. Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability; it is human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation; God moves and chooses as he wills.

There that God guy is again. Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a way of keeping church and state separated so that religious fanaticism didn’t muddy up the process of governing? What’s that? Oh, never mind.

…

When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still.

Actually, I believe the correct quote was “That bell sure rings funny. It sounds like it was made poorly. I wouldn’t be surprised if the thing cracks someday.”

America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength -- tested, but not weary -- we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.

May God bless you, and may he watch over the United States of America.

-----------------------
So there you have it. Long on proclamation, short on details. A lot of talk about freedom and God and… well, pretty much what was to be expected. There was one guy who yelled “boo” towards the end, and from the radio, it didn’t sound like people were applauding all that often. Maybe Republicans need something more childish like “flip-flop” to get excited. Who knows.

Most of my commentary was indeed childish as well. What can I say? I'm cranky about this whole business. I don't think everything Bush wants to do is bad. Social Security does need to be fixed. We do need to promote democratic ideals throughout the world. I just don't feel that the current regime's policies are the best suited to these tasks.

Ready for Round Two?

Looks like Seymour ruined the surprise.

I think the Bush administration wanted to wait at least another month so the WMD news out of Iraq could fade away from people's minds (most of whom probably still think it's happening).

1. Then there are a few weeks of news conferences talking tough about the weapons in Iran.
2. Then the "election" in Iraq so we can quietly back out and go after the real threat to our country: those WMDs hiding in Iran.
3. WMDs in Iran? No, we're just liberating the fine people so they can enjoy democracy and freedom like the rest of us.

And, then Dick Cheney can run as a "War Vice President."

Brave New World

Well, at least it was four or five years ago.

The national press has spoken, and "bloggers" are now considered the most influential people in the world, just after the Tool in the White House and Hindu cows. Never one to miss a trend, I have decided to expand my website - http://www.hgmiller.com/ - in order to more effectively provide content to my supporters (Mom, Kevin... thank you).

I have created three distinct blogs in order to put the incoherent thoughts spewed from my addled brain into some sort of order:

1. The H.G. Miller Blog - This will be a 'catch-all' for general observations on my life and popular culture
2. H.G. Miller Sports Blog - The focus here will be the Kansas City Royals, but I will also include commentary on the Chiefs and Jayhawks
3. H.G. Miller Political - When I feel the urge to go all 'Blue State,' I'll do so here

More information about this new setup can be found on the main website. The main page will also contain links to each of the new blogs.