Green is the new Red, White and Blue

Very interesting interview with Tom Friedman on Fresh Air yesterday.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5311748

I think you should listen to the whole thing, but if you don't have time, move the cursor to about the last tenth of the interview and stream from there. Friedman talks about how Cheney and the oil folks have staked out energy "reality" by saying conservation is nice, but real men know we will need oil for the foreseeable future. Friedman then excoriates this position as playing into the hands of despots in Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, and so on, and that moving aggressively away from oil now will set the US up as the vanguard of alternative energy, which no doubt will be the industry of the 21st Century, keeping us economically relevant, oil independent, thus safer from the nutjobs who own the oil, and cleaner and greener. Good for the economy, defense and environment. Green is the new Red, White and Blue.

Unintended Self-deconstruction

Right-wing commentator Fred Barnes was on Fresh Air yesterday promoting his new book "Rebel in Chief," in which he argues W is a rebel transforming the conservative movement and America. The irony is I think Fred's right, but not nearly in the positive way he meant.

It was finished right around the time of W's second inaugural with all it's high-minded talk of spreading freedom and democracy around the world. Fred's writes about how wonderful the Iraqi elections were and how they will doom the insurgency and how the sky is the limit for George in his second term.

In actuality, the wheels have come off the Bush Presidency, and they started wobbling right after Fred finished his book. Social Security, Harriet Meyers, Katrina, illegal domestic surveillance, corruption scandals, more evidence of pre-war lies and misrepresentations have finally opened this country's eyes to the empty rhetoric and arrogance of this "rebel." Most Americans don't trust his word anymore (finally!) and most don't even think he is keeping us safe.

So it's amusing now to read Barnes' take on Bush. Only a year later, it seems anachronistic.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5306617

Bush snowed America. Now in the spring-time melt of his discontent.

Press cuts more Teeth

The mainstream press (NY Times) has finally done an in depth story on the whitehouse memo that shows Bush was intent on war even as he was claiming to be exhausting diplomatic efforts to avoid the war.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/9779

Now only the ideologically committed believe this Presidents web of lies.

But maybe replacing Andy Card with Josh Bolten as chief of staff will turn those poll numbers around. Yeah, and I got some deck chairs that need rearranging while you're at it.

Is The Press Showing Teeth?

Yes! Associate Press Reporter Jennifer Loven dared do a story (March 18) about how the President misrepresents his opponents in his speeches.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_s_straw_men

And, of course, the right-wing bloggers are all over her.

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/013465.php

Why? It is obvious bias to point out that the President is using that 12th grade debate club technique of misrepresenting your opponents position as something outrageous and then courageously knocking it down. It's the ol' straw man approach. Some are actually calling for her dismissal. While I think the AP will stand behind her, those who value watchdog journalism should rally to her defense and tell the AP what they think.

Associated Press info@ap.org

Since Katrina, the press has rediscovered their spine. That's a good thing, in this land of the free press, whether you are right or center or left.

Wow! Look at all these new features! Gonna try the bloggame again. And this time I intend to stay current. Really. Truly.