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Saturday, December 14, 2002
posted by turkeysister at 9:43 PM:
oops, I was supposed to update the French news too. Apparently Le Monde is the only major French newspaper whose website updates on Saturday, so that's the only headline we'll give. Le Monde: "Iraq: the UN scrutinizes the document and the sites." I think that one's pretty self-explanatory! Again, more later when they turkey's power is back on!* * *
posted by turkeysister at 9:30 PM:
Hi Everyone. The turkey's had a power outage, so he can't post right now. As soon as the power's back on, he'll be back with French news and more! --posted from tucson for the turkey by the turkeysister!* * *
posted by gbarto at 3:19 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "A new face for Europe." About the plans to integrate 10 former Warsaw Pact members into the West!
Le Figaro: Shockingly original headline here: "At Copenhagen, Europe draws its new face."
Libé: Even Libé gets in on the act: "A Europe 25 countries strong."
* * *
posted by gbarto at 3:13 AM:
Bush Announces Smallpox PlanPresident says he will be among first people to receive inoculation
Bet they're really checking those stats on fatal reactions now!
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posted by gbarto at 3:11 AM:
Cardinal Law ResignsBoston archbishop under fire for his role in church sex-abuse scandal
Kissinger's off the 9/11 probe.
But old helmut-hair endures:
'I Am Asking for Forbearance and Forgiveness'
Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott says he'll work to undo damage caused by controversial comments, intends to retain position as incoming Senate majority leader
So - three people who fail to bring due credit to the institutions to which they're attached. Wouldn't you know it would be the elected pol who's still around!
On the other hand, this is fitting and proper: Trent Lott does not represent the sensibilities of the United States; he represents the voters of Mississippi. If they're upset, they can recall him. If not, who are we to dictate what caliber of person they choose for representing them. - But oh, we wish he'd step down as Majority Leader.
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Friday, December 13, 2002
posted by gbarto at 2:26 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Copenhagen: The Fifteen intransigeant." The Fifteen (Les Quinze) is, of course, the current membership of the EU. They're sticking to 40.5B Euros to finance the addition of ten new members. And they're push back Turkey's app to 2004.
And check out this headline for a story we picked up on from Le Figaro last night (this is Le Monde's story):
Immunité préservée pour Chirac, "impeachment" possible
Immunity preserved for Chirac, "impeachment" possible
Nothing new to the story. The president's immune from prosecution but can be impeached. But we like the fact that Le Monde considered the Anglo-American "impeachment" as the best word to convey to French readers that Chirac could face justice from politicians if not courts.
Le Figaro leads with "How Washington sees things post-Saddam." The purpose of the article is to let us know they got an exclusive interview with Richard Perle, whose photo is featured with the caption labeling him a leading "faucon" (falcon). Is being a falcon as impressive as being a hawk?
Anyway, a little of what Perle told the French (random excerpts, hopefully not too out of context):
[his vision for the world the Bushies will leave us:] In Iraq, the Baathist regime will have been deposed. I hope it will have been replaced by a regime that truly represents Iraqi society and which has democratic institutions...Libé: "The Internet becomes surfissime." Story about the growth of the internet and its increased use, especially for shopping.
I hope that we will also have a change in Iran...
As for the Saudis, I think they will themselves modify the policies that led to the propagation of Wahhabist extremist across the world... The Saudis are on the way to understanding they have in the past tolerated the creation of forces they no longer have the means to control.
[The immediate consequence of a U.S. invasion of Iraq:] It will mean the rapid end of the Iraqi regime.
[On why the inspections in Iraq need, but don't have, a larger detail:] We would like more inspectors. You'll have to ask Chirac why there aren't more.
[On whether France is trying to mess up the inspections:] But of course! [examples are given]
[If the UN inspectors don't find anything:] UNSCOM can say it found nothing but it will not be able to say there was nothing to be found.
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posted by gbarto at 1:43 AM:
I know this is old, but this column by King Abdullah II of Jordan didn't make it to the Merc until today. Says the king of the terrorists:In fact, there is nothing fundamentally Islamic about these extremists. They are religious totalitarians, in a long line of extremists of various faiths who seek power by intimidation, violence and thuggery.He continues, further down:
So when today's terrorists target innocents, they provide direct evidence of their real agenda: power politics, not religion. In fact, long before so-called Islamic terrorists began attacking the West, they were targeting fellow Muslims. The goal was to silence opposition and obliterate the Islam of peace and dialogue.Of the Middle East, he says:
Together, we share a responsibility to prevent the abuse of religion by those who would divide us. We have a special duty to combat injustice, which is so often exploited by extremists. Nowhere is our help needed more than in the Holy Land, where Palestinians and Israelis alike are crying out for peace, stability and security. Together we must urge their leaders to hear the voices of reason and peace, end oppression and occupation, stop the violence and create a future of hope.True enough, even if I don't share his policy prescriptions.
Though the king's column is ultimately intended to push a peace plan I'm not sure is workable, it says a lot of things that it would sure be nice to hear the Egyptians, the Saudis and others saying. Including noting that extremists on both sides are killing Middle East peace, as opposed to the usual Arab assumption that the Israelis alone prevent peace by not being more helpful about being blown up by Hamas, etc. And that the 9/11 terrorists weren't misguided holy warriors but violent political extremists.
Something to build on, at least.
* * *
Thursday, December 12, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:00 PM:
Bush: Sen. Lott's Comments 'Wrong'But his apology enough for president
Bush was in a tough spot: He doesn't get to decide what happens within the other branches of government, which means that had he called for Lott to step down, he could have found himself officially opposed to a senate leader from his own party, a situation the other party would have much enjoyed. His comments were pretty much on target, making it clear that Lott's words were unacceptable and Lott was only acceptable to the extent that those words were not reflective of the man who spoke them.
Meanwhile, while I don't like him, I do give Specter a little credit.
[Said Specter,] Lott's comment should be accepted as an "inadvertent slip and his apology should end the discussion."Specter didn't have to open himself up to the potential hassles involved in defending Lott. He did so anyway, based on what he believes to be true.
"I know Trent Lott very well from working with him in the Senate for the last 14 years and can vouch for the fact that he is no supporter of Senator Thurmond's 1948 platform," Specter said.
Update: Cicero worries that he went overboard in his attack on Lott if Specter vouches for him. I'd say that if one has to wait for Arlen Specter's understanding comments to be reassured that Lott isn't racism incarnate, it speaks more poorly of Lott and his people than of the judgment of those appalled by the senator's words and subsequent actions.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:49 AM:
North Korea Fires Up Its ReactorsNuclear facilities were shut down in '94
Hmm. While I don't think we're ready for war, what if a B-2 accidentally dropped its payload someplace near Pyongyang?
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posted by gbarto at 11:47 AM:
Cardinal Law Offers to ResignEmbattled Boston archbishop to deliver letter of resignation to pope in Rome tomorrow, faces grand jury subpoena back home
This, it seems to me, is fitting and proper. And long overdue.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:51 AM:
Here's Cicero looking at the idiocies of white separatists.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:47 AM:
Lott Offers a Second ApologyRepublican leader rejects calls to step down; says his words were "terrible."
No need for him to step down. But Republican senators had best be prepared for a loooooooong two years if Lott is re-elected leader after they organize in January.
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posted by gbarto at 12:45 AM:
Iraqis Sold Nerve Gas to Al Qaeda Allies, U.S. SaysEvidence that Hussein had a hand in the sale is lacking, Bush officials say.
Well, I guess we'll have to go after the whole military-industrial complex over there instead of just Saddam. Er, wasn't that what we were talking about anyway?
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:42 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Union leadership [elections]: strong abstention and status quo." The three major confederations (groups of unions) maintained more or less the same relative strength within the National Union of Independant Syndicates but with an extremely low turnout raising the question of how much the union organizations mean to those they represent.
Le Figaro: "Europe: The Four Traps of the Copenhagen Summit." The EU is preparing for its "big bang," its single fastest expansion ever. But there's the question of financing the expansion, figuring out what to do about Turkey (it belongs to NATO but not the EU which means there's infighting over EU use of NATO assets), figuring out what to do about Turkey (it's been trying to join the EU for years but now says it will try to join NAFTA instead if Europe isn't more welcoming), the mess of the European Constitution and more (in the article we found six or seven traps at a minimum).
Libé is agitating about presidential protection from prosecution, etc., now that a commission has made some recommendations that would give Chirac a pass on a lot of questions raised in the past.
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posted by gbarto at 12:22 AM:
Lott Apologizes; Furor ContinuesSenate GOP leader calls own comments on departing Sen. Thurmond 'insensitive,' report surfaces saying Lott tried to help university keep tax-exempt status despite interracial dating ban
It might just be time for Lott to go away. This is test number one for his ability to lead the Republican caucus and be the face of Republican senators. He's failing.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2002
posted by gbarto at 12:39 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde: "Enlargement: Bush supports Turkey." According to le Président des Etats-Unis de l'Amérique, the longtime NATO member is a bona fide member of the West and should be welcomed into the European Union in order to keep it there.
Le Figaro: "France organizes its Islam." We've written about this before, but for those of you who missed, in France different religions have official representation before the French government. The organization that serve as representatives have to comply to certain guidelines for tolerance, respect for the civil code, etc. And now, Islam has a representative of its very own. We'll see if the Muslim on the street follows what has been created.
Libé: "RATP: Foreigners will no longer wait at the platform." Since December 4, foreigners have been allowed to apply for jobs in France's transportation sector, notably the national railway. The transportation unions are now starting to come to grips with the change.
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posted by gbarto at 12:23 AM:
Quizzes at Nonsensical Ramblings.* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:12 AM:
Tired of Trent Lott? Why not see what Steve Den Beste has to say about the four most important scientific/technical advances in history?* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:07 AM:
Seen at Instapundit:When results from the polls in Missouri and Minnesota in last month’s elections gave Republicans control of the Senate once again, a Republican consultant I know threw up his hands in disgust and said “Christ, this means we’ll have Trent Lott as the leader again.”Us too, which must be scary for Mr. Lott, considering that the TurkeyBlog is in the minority in saying Lott should merely be replaced as Majority Leader, as opposed to being run out of town on a rail, etc.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:03 AM:
Others (like Dave Weigel, whose research goes way beyond mine) are playing this game, so we figured, why not?Replacements for Lott:
First, people we don't want: McCain, Hagel, Specter, Domenici, Hatch, Lugar (though we don't dislike him he wouldn't be very effective), or anyone from New England (nothing against the region; there's just no one there that fits the bill).
So, who would we like?
Weigel (link above) mentions Bill Frist. He would, to all accounts, be an excellent pick. However, I read someplace (should have tagged it) that his extreme intelligence might intimidate some members, making it difficult to get the party organized.
Don Nickles, though a bit bland, would be a welcome change from Lott and as whip he's been around as a party leader a while. But being Trent Lott's whip isn't necessarily a point of pride.
If he'd accept a few conditions, we think it could be mighty amusing to make the next Republican and Majority Leader Zell Miller. But I suppose that's just being silly.
However, in our view, there is one senator around (now that Phil Gramm is departing) who can be counted on to be upfront about what he stands for, who has lots of experience working with just about every Republican senator and who knows how to talk on television without making an ass of himself. There are some folks (McCain and Hagel) who would not be at all happy, but it seems to us that one of the Republicans' unsung heroes, a person with a long track record of effectively advancing the Republican cause in the Senate is...
Kentucky's own Mitch McConnell
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Tuesday, December 10, 2002
posted by gbarto at 11:40 PM:
Hmm. Even the Family Research Council has disavowed Lott. (via Instapundit)* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:35 PM:
Is it bad news for Trent Lott that in their reader poll, 48% of respondents tell the Weekly Standard that Lott should step down as Majority Leader (7% think he should even leave the Senate which means a clear majority of respondents to that tab's little poll don't think Lott should be in charge of the Senate anymore)? The TurkeyBlog is with the 48%.* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:23 PM:
Selective Moral OutrageNotes National Review Online's Mark Levin, six weeks ago Bill Clinton honored William Fullbright, one of 19 Southern senators to sign a "Southern Manifesto" opposing the Brown vs. the Board of Education decision. He was also part of the crew that voted against the first two Civil Rights Acts and the Voting Rights Act. Levin notes that not only was there no controversy six weeks ago; there was no controversy when President Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.
Levin wonders about the double standard.
The answer is obvious.
The evolving right views equal rights as a necessary condition for a mature and civilized society. The left views it as a campaign issue.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 11:08 PM:
Documents Show Three Possible Violations in Close S.D. Senate RaceSIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Allegations of vote-buying were among irregularities reported in affidavits Republicans collected after the Nov. 5 election that gave Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson a 524-vote win over GOP challenger John Thune.Heard at a recent victory rally:
Johnson! Johnson!
He's our man!
If he can't buy the election,
Ain't nobody can!
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posted by gbarto at 11:04 PM:
Ship With Scud-Like Missiles Stopped Near YemenU.S. explosives team searches vessel carrying a dozen missiles from North Korea that was intercepted in Arabian Sea
Hmmmmmmmm. Did Bush know something when he put North Korea in the Axis of Evil. I mean, we knew they were working on nukes, etc., but was there a known Al-Qaeda link?
From the article:
It was unclear precisely what missiles were aboard the seized vessel. North Korea has built and exported at least two missiles in the Scud class: the Scud B and the Scud D, or No Dong.Any idea why the reporter included that last detail? Would Freud have snickered at the confusing implications for American teens?
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posted by gbarto at 11:50 AM:
Here's Robert George in a column that seems to have been enough for Cicero to turn completely against Lott.The other day, the TurkeyBlog said the following of the question, "Is Lott a racist or an idiot who has no idea what he's saying?":
We believe it is the latter, and that he should step down as Majority Leader in light of his long-demonstrated incapacity and unfitness for leading. Should we come upon proof it is the former, we will demand that he join the Dixiecrats, while leaving it to the citizens of Mississippi to decide whether he is fit to represent them.Mr. George has some ugly stuff suggesting it's the former. I knew Lott had some unpleasant business in his past, though I'd forgotten about the CCC mess. I am not yet ready to fire Sen. Lott as a human being, and am still uncertain whether he's a foaming-at-the-mouth racist or a Southern idiot who in his white-bread life has yet to come to grips with the reality of what really was up with the South. But the odious stench of his thoughtless comments and his inability to invigorate the Republican party to deeds that by their nature repudiate his words militate that the senator relinquish his leadership post and that other Republican leaders explain to him why now would be a very good time for him to do so. As for his senate seat, that's up to Mississippi. They are presumably aware of the sort of man the senator is - more aware than I am, certainly, and it's up to them to decide if he represents them or if they'd prefer to replace him with someone not so much in need of the benefit of the doubt.
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posted by gbarto at 10:12 AM:
Andrew's not happy with Sen. Lott's apology, and has this particular beef:Notice also the adjective Lott now uses to refer to segregation: "discarded policies." Not immoral. Not wrong. Not abhorrent. Merely "discarded."Discarded is an interesting word. Though I'm not sure Lott is clever enough to know it, the word has been used with not inconsiderable force, and rather recently. Since Lott was in the room at the time he may have remembered it. See if this phrase (tracked down here) sounds familiar:
"history's unmarked grave of discarded lies."That's George W. talking about Islamic extremism. The language is drawn on (so says my source, and I thought so at the time, myself) Reagan's "ash heap of history." While Trent Lott probably isn't capable of such subtlety, his word was a good one, placing Strom Thurmond's Dixiecrat philosophy right where it belongs, in amongst the evils of Nazism, Marxism-Leninism and Stalinism, with Islamic extremism eventually to join it - as an evil idea whose moral and intellectual bankruptcy is now obvious to all thinking people.
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posted by gbarto at 1:50 AM:
Greg says it better than I with fewer words:But I'm sorry, but Trent Lott just won't do as a Majority Leader. His unfortunate (to say the least) remarks aren't the reason for him to step down, they're a symptom of his thoroughly mediocre leadership.
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posted by gbarto at 1:40 AM:
I think this is my last on the subject. Instapundit cited David Frum:I for one do not believe Trent Lott is a racist or a segregationist. My guess is that his speechwriter gave him note cards with a few jokes, and that when Lott finished reading them, he launched himself into what he probably intended to be nothing more than a big squirt of greasy flattery.David Frum, though, doesn't think Lott thought them. At least that's what the first paragraph indicates. I don't think Lott had such thoughts either. Rather, Lott was hamming it up, got a few cheers and the mouth and brain disengaged. As the TurkeyBlog noted last night, Lott should resign his Majority Leader post, effective three or four years ago. He's long been a lousy leader precisely because the good-ole-boy pal-ing around that has just now caught up to him has for years dominated his political thinking - or lack thereof. But the remark should not prompt condemnation of Lott as a racist, too corrupt of soul to hold power. If the senator were really an evil racist wickedly scheming to turn back the clock on civil rights, he would never have made such a comment, lest it have exactly the result it has had. The senator is quite simply an ass who did not mean to give offense but was too unthinking to consider the controversial nature of the person about whom he was speaking. The senator's remarks should prompt reflection among Republicans, however, as to whether Lott is sufficiently reflective, thoughtful - even sentient - to lead. The last six years demonstrated - well before this fiasco - that he is not.
But that’s not what came out of Lott’s mouth. What came out of his mouth was the most emphatic repudiation of desegregation to be heard from a national political figure since George Wallace’s first presidential campaign. Lott’s words suggest that one of the three most powerful and visible Republicans in the nation privately thinks that desegregation, civil rights, and equal voting rights were all a big mistake.
These would be disgraceful thoughts to think, if Lott thought them. [my italics]
* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:11 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde leads with "Venezuela: Chavez seeks a resolution to the crisis." He's set an electoral timetable and everything.
Le Figaro's top headline is "The meandering course of a Europe of 25." In question, the EU's plans to expand from 15 to 25 members, the problems of financing involved, and the efforts by the lead mucky-mucks to have everything in order when a summit at Copenhagen opens two days hence.
Libé fronts "The Results of the Sarko Show." That Nicholas Sarkozy, Minister of the Interior, who is quite pleased with himself for his security planning and analysis and said so on France 2 the other night.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 1:03 AM:
Sorry Al:Dorgan: Gore Should Give Up on '04
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posted by gbarto at 12:59 AM:
(For those who are wondering, yes, we are jockeying for the "Most Unsympathetic Lott Defender of the Year" award.)* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:54 AM:
Lott Apologizes for Thurmond RemarkSenator said retiring S.C. lawmaker should have won presidency in 1948
But Gore, speaking in a televised interview," said the Senate should censure Lott. "It is not a small thing for one of the half-dozen most prominent political leaders in America to say that our problems are caused by integration and that we should have had a segregationist candidate. That is divisive and it is divisive along racial lines."Now Lott didn't endorse Strom's policies. Not exactly. As we explained last night, to infer anything from Lott's remarks is to assume that he thinks when he talks. There is nothing in Lott's six-year tenure as Majority Leader which in any way points to this conclusion. Trent Lott, in his mind, is still back at Ole Miss, calling out whatever cheer happens to be on his cue cards. Those who take him seriously do a disservice to themselves, except when they are acting disingenously, as is surely the case with the two men we've cited.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson had said Sunday that Lott should step down. "Shame on the Republican Party if it does not demote him for promoting this mean-spirited and immoral propaganda.
It is curious that Mr. Gore, who could stand by a sexual harrasser who had violated the very laws he had signed and declare said man one of our greatest presidents, has suddenly discovered scruples. As for Jesse Jackson, well, that's a little too easy.
Bottom line, as we have stated, Trent Lott is an idiot. Not a moral idiot. Not a racist bigot. Just an idiot. Now that one of his senior staffers has had time to explain to him what he said, he has seen the error of his ways and apologized. And so, in the words of Mr. Gore's former boss, it's time to move on.
* * *
Monday, December 09, 2002
posted by gbarto at 1:47 AM:
In the midst of the Trent Lott fiasco, apparently happening mostly here in the blogosphere, we would like to make it clear that the TurkeyBlog is not endorsing Trent Lott or the things he says. Trent Lott is an ass. Has long been an ass. And will, for the forseeable future, continue to be an ass.A hundred thousand years ago, William F. Buckley Jr. wrote a long essay, "In Search of Anti-Semitism," which examined whether certain right-wing commentators were in fact bigots or merely insensitive louts who framed issues in the worst possible way. We are now In Search of Racism, wondering whether Trent Lott is, in fact, a segregation-loving bigot or just an extremely unthinking and insensitive lout who, raised in the backwaters of Mississippi, still has not mastered civilized discourse. We believe it is the latter, and that he should step down as Majority Leader in light of his long-demonstrated incapacity and unfitness for leading. Should we come upon proof it is the former, we will demand that he join the Dixiecrats, while leaving it to the citizens of Mississippi to decide whether he is fit to represent them.
We oppose, however, the ejection of officials from public life other than by those who elect them, unless criminal acts have been proved. One needs only to read the newspapers for a week in order to discover some Republican or another who is purported to be a racist bigot who doesn't like kids and dogs to boot. Turn to the Washington Times or more right-wing media, and you will likewise find Democrats ready to turn the country over the the (now extinct) Soviet Communists, the Chinese or pagan earth worshippers. What happened with Cynthia McKinney this fall should be our model for democracy at work. A media council to decide which faux pas merit enough press play to drive someone from office is not.
And so our counsel:
Republicans: If you're appalled by Lott's remarks, write to Republican senators and tell them you won't be supporting their party unless, when they organize in January, they choose someone else as majority leader.
Mississippians: If you're uncomfortable with the way Trent Lott reflects upon your state, go down to the county courthouse and ask the clerk what you need to do to start a recall petition.
Everyone else: Mind your own business. If the Republican party and the state of Mississippi are willing to be tainted by association with this (circle one) (a) racist (b) unthinking nincompoop let 'em suffer the consequences two years hence.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:42 AM:
Down with Hollywood!If you've ever wondered why all the businessmen in the movies are evil, here's your short answer: if you're working in Hollywood, most of the businessmen (and women) you meet may well be evil. A Dog's Life has the latest from the place where no matter how bad the movies get the real sleaze is still off-screen.
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posted by gbarto at 12:37 AM:
Here's Greg of A Dog's Life on the idiotic Senator Lott and the Strom Thurmond comment.This man is unfit to be a Majority Leader or to represent the Republicans in any way, shape or form. His political tone-deafness never ceases to amaze.Ouch. When you're unfit to follow Viagra's leading pitchman, how much lower can you go?
The TurkeyBlog, of course, holds that if the truth were told about people at their retirement dinners, the guests of honor would stop attending. That said, Lott tends to overdo it whenever given the chance to pal around. As to whether he should step down in light of his comments, the answer is no. He should have stepped down better than a year ago in light of not only the Jeffords fiasco but also his general ineffectualness since he took the Majority Leader post in '96. If he's pushed out of the way now, Republicans must take extreme care to make sure that it doesn't set off a Democratic effort to drive from the Senate by embarrassment those they could not challenge in that battle of ideas known more commonly as elections. And given what they're finding in South Dakota (see a few items down), don't think the Democrats wouldn't seek to overturn the will of the people to expand their power base.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:28 AM:
French news round-up:Le Monde is still leading with Iraq; this time it's "Iraq report arrives at the U.N." Of note, Mr. Bush's plans to be patient with Iraq - but ready to spring at the first indication it's not disarming.
Le Figaro is running "Mobilization against the Black Tide" for its headline. Says Le Figaro, the oil spill is working its way "inexorably" toward the French coast, with small traces of pollutants being found less than 20km from shore - though larger masses of oil still seem to be somewhat distant.
Libé's top story is also the Black Tide; their story is titled, "Vigilant Committee against Black Tide." Their quick summary:
The probability for pollution on the French shore is "strong, but not certain," according to the Minister of Ecology.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 12:16 AM:
South Dakota Voter Fraud Probe ContinuesJohn Yellowbird Steele, a Sioux Indian and representative of the Pine River Reservation, denied any improprieties took place at his reservation, where voter turnout jumped 89 percent this year over the last election.And,
"Cheating and possible fraud. This is totally untrue," he said.
At Pine River, 1,559 new voters cast ballots for Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, who won the statewide election by 524 votes. Nine votes were cast for his challenger, Republican Rep. John Thune. Three Pine River precincts were the last to be counted on the morning after Election Day.
Auditors have found forgeries in five counties where there are Indian reservations. In Dewey County, fraudulent signatures were found on absentee ballot applications. In Zeibach County, two applications arrived from a dead woman. At least one was an obvious forgery.But the important thing to remember is this: the Democrats won. And that is what is important, is it not? This is, after all, the party whose former leader - and president at the time - insisted that fundraising laws had to be broken to protect the republic from Republicans. We understand that given the close margin, Tim Johnson plans redouble his efforts to work with those constituents who put him over the top in the coming term. We're looking forward to lots of photo ops in Indian burial grounds.
In Pennington County, police arrested one man who forged the names of five voters. In Fall River, registration cards arrived with incorrect birth dates, while in Shannon County, auditors said 10 percent of the absentee voter applications are under review.
* * *
Sunday, December 08, 2002
posted by gbarto at 6:41 PM:
Holy Sh--! The good Cicero points us to "the courtly Senator" Lott's mother of all gaffes. At Strom Thurmond's retirement banquet, he said the country might have been better off had Thurmond won the presidency on the Dixiecrat ticket in '48.The TurkeyBlog will not join the "flood of white conservative and libertarian commentators, in a mad rush to prove how not racist they are, [by] demanding his immediate resignation." Lott is not a racist or a segregationist. He's an ass who doesn't think through the implications of what he's saying when given the chance to play the good ol' boy. Most people who actually care what Lott does or doesn't say know this. The problem is pointed out by Cicero:
Actually, the libertarians never much liked him, anyway, for a variety of reasons. And the conservatives didn't think him aggressive enough. So this could be it for the courtly senator.Indeed, the TurkeyBlog - libertarian leaning - will shed no tears if Mr. Lott finds himself a mere Senator again. But he would suggest that Republicans anxious to prove their purity think twice before they get too sanctimonious. If we start booting senators before the next session is even seated, the left will take its cue, every Republican in a difficult state will be investigated for political incorrectness, and we'll soon be back to Majority Leader Daschle.
* * *
posted by gbarto at 6:26 PM:
Priests Join Call for Law to QuitProtest adds fuel to demands for Boston cardinal's resignation
Well, it took 'em how long to decide the earth was round? I guess this is progress.
Read a pretty scathing editorial on the subject in this morning's Merc (couldn't find it there, thought it was Ellen Goodman so checked the Boston Globe and lo, there it was, so here's your link). Most delicious of the church's idiocies is this:
Most bizarre of all is Robert V. Meffan, a priest who enticed teenage girls preparing to become nuns into sex acts by claiming to be ''the second coming of Christ.'' A 73-year-old now living out a comfortable retirement with his depraved delusion intact, he told a Boston Globe reporter, ''What I was trying to show them is that Christ is human ... I felt that by having this little bit of intimacy with them that this is what it would be like with Christ.''But wait! It gets better! Here's what Cardinal Law wrote to him when he retired:
''Without doubt over these years of generous care, the lives and hearts of many people have been touched by your sharing of the Lord's Spirit. We are truly grateful.''We here at the TurkeyBlog are not Ellen Goodman fans, but for her closing comment, we say "right on!"
In the tale of two scandals, the CEO of Enron is gone, but the CEO of the Boston archdiocese is, incredibly, still at his post. Pink slips appear regularly now on the collection plates and yet the church fathers, deep in moral debt, are deciding whether to seek financial protection against the very victims they failed to protect.
Chapter 11? They might as well close the book.
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posted by gbarto at 6:11 PM:
Want Some Coke With That?Night manager, others jailed for selling cocaine from Burger King drive-thru
Heard in the parking lot:
&()&*)^(&)(&*&)*&)&)(! I asked for hashish on my Whopper and they put LSD in the mustard instead. They never get my order right!
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posted by gbarto at 6:09 PM:
Al Qaeda Threatens Harder StrikesWeb statement attributed to terror group vows attacks on U.S., Israel
Hmm. That would seem to justify us doing whatever we feel necessary to destroy them. Doubtless, some will take this as an indication we need to play nice. Readers of the Enquirer may take it as proof that aliens really are visiting earth. Both viewpoints are to be equally respected.
You may interpret that comment as you wish.
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posted by gbarto at 6:06 PM:
Finally getting yesterday's stuff into the blogger system:Iraq Submits Weapons Report
Over 12,000 pages of text detailing country's arms activities given to United Nations;
Saddam apologizes to Kuwaitis for 1990-91 occupation
Mighty fine gesture on his part. Maybe next he'll apologize to the Kurds for gassing them. BTW, I read an editorial the other day warning that the US had to think about the possibility of Saddam gassing innocent civilians to create a chaos in which he could flee. The editorial implied we would be culpable for him killing them if we attacked too agressively. Don't remember the name of the idiot who wrote it, but since when has being a ruthless mass-murderer been justification for being left in power? Since desperate anti-Bush leftists began grasping at any and every straw to knock down our Iraq policy, I guess. Glad that's not the prevailing mindset (in the US).
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15 Killed in Bangladesh Bombings
Simultaneous explosions at 4 movie theaters leave at least 200 wounded
Anti-Muslims? Or anti-"ordinary human Muslims indulging in movies"? Or something else? There was a similar event in September, so Fox reminds.
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Landrieu keeps her seat by a few percentage points. Nasty comments coming tomorrow, probably.
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Here's a little French news for you (just Le Monde since Le Figaro and Libé don't do much on Saturdays):
Says Le Monde, "Iraq turns in its report to UN." Seems it's the mother of all reports (anyone remember that phrasing?) on Iraq's weapons, its process for disarming, et cetera. Le Monde also mentions the Kuwait apology early on.
Hows this for an "It's all about us" type news summary:
Black Tide from "Prestige" expands
The oil leakages from the hull of the tanker and the nature of fuel transported leave one to fear a black tide that could soil the whole of the Atlantic shore, notably the coast of France.
I may be being unfair here, but the only alternative reading that I see is that they needed to make it clear to readers that the whole of the Atlantic shore included the coast of France. I presume that this would not be the case for Le Monde readers.
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