Challenge yourself, indeed

True hero athlete / Day's theme: Challenge yourself: "

Just when we thought we had a pure and simple hero, a millionaire athlete who gave up wealth and fame to become the ideal patriot, to make the ultimate sacrifice, his friends and family complicated everything. They turned Pat Tillman into a human being . . . .

Damned good column.

Here's a local reporter who won't know about the next time Bush is in town

From the Didn't They Get the Memo About Not Having Bad News files, comes this story from the (Dubuque, Iowa)Times Herald. (Ninth paragraph and onward.)
Big props to the old vet who wanted to "ask Bush a few questions." Especially when so much of the press won't do it for him.

Good question. Good f&*#ing question.

From the NY Times Op-Ed page Op-Ed Columnist: Where by Paul Krugman:

Still, the big story isn't about Mr. Bush; it's about what's happening to America. Other presidents would have liked to bully the C.I.A., stonewall investigations and give huge contracts to their friends without oversight. They knew, however, that they couldn't. What has gone wrong with our country that allows this president to get away with such things?

You see, Paul, the Republicans have finally captured all three branches (not to mention a growing share of the fourth estate). Now they'll likely do pretty much anything to retain power. Besides, only crimes against the party matter; let the hoi polloi fend for themselves.

Salon.com | The blue dress of Baghdad

From Salon.com | The blue dress of Baghdad

Now, can we talk of impeachment? The rueful admission by former chief U.S. weapons inspector David Kay that Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction or the means to create them at the time of the U.S. invasion confirms the fact that the Bush administration is complicit in arguably the greatest scandal in U.S. history. It's only because the Republicans control both houses of Congress that we hear no calls for a broad-ranging investigation of the type that led to the discovery of Monica Lewinsky's infamous blue dress.

Impeachement?
Surely you jest.
That, like taxes, is only for the little people, Democrats and other nonhuman enemies of the GOP.

An example of the problem

SelectSmart.com Selectors:

1. Your ideal theoretical candidate. (100%)
   
2. Green Party Candidate (97%)
   
3. Dean, Gov. Howard, VT - Democrat (86%)
   
4. Sharpton, Reverend Al - Democrat (82%)
   
5. Clark, Retired General Wesley K., AR - Democrat (80%)
   
6. Socialist Candidate (79%)
   
7. Moseley-Braun, Former Senator Carol, IL - Democrat (79%)
   
8. Edwards, Senator John, NC - Democrat (78%)
   
9. Kucinich, Rep. Dennis, OH - Democrat (77%)
   
10. Gephardt, Rep. Dick, MO - Democrat (76%)
    
11. Kerry, Senator John, MA - Democrat (70%)
    
12. Lieberman, Senator Joe, CT - Democrat (47%)
    
13. LaRouche, Lyndon H. Jr. - Democrat (31%)
    
14. Libertarian Candidate (26%)
    
15. Phillips, Howard - Constitution (12%)
    
16. Hagelin, Dr. John - Natural Law (4%)
    
17. Bush, President George W. - Republican (1%)
    

First, these selectors are interesting things.
Second, from Kerry to Dean is only 16% difference, making the choice very difficult. I'm excluding 3rd-party candidates--I think unseating Bush and stopping the bleeding is too vital to consider a candidate without a chance. I don't think Bush won the last election, but I do think (somewhat) that third-party voters like myself made it close enough to steal.

Judge Chooses San Mateo County as Site of Murder Trial

From Judge Chooses San Mateo County as Site of Murder Trial:

By DEAN E. MURPHY
January 21, 2004
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 20--Tourism officials in San Mateo County cheered wildly on Tuesday when a judge announced that the murder trial of Scott Peterson would be moved there.

Alas, for my republic, which has fallen so far as to cheer a murder trial for the money it brings!

Global War on Terrorism Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal
The odd thing is, I might be eligible for this depending on the criteria. Damn shame the administration is trying to use a military decoration to conflate the war on terrorism with the Persian Gulf War(s).

NYT Op-Ed: One Nation, Under Secularism

From One Nation, Under Secularism By SUSAN JACOBY

"Today, many voters, of many religious beliefs, might well be receptive to a candidate who forthrightly declares that his vision of social justice will be determined by the 'plain, physical facts of the case' on humanity's green and fragile earth. But that would take an inspirational leader who glories in the nation's secular heritage and is not afraid to say so."

As much as I would like to believe this, I think Ms. Jacoby overstates the case. Too many Americans fear the reprisals some, and probably most, Christians would hand out as a result of even supporting someone of faith who dared support secularism.