2003.02.03
First off, I gotta say I was probably a little harsh yesterday, re: the news coverage of the Shuttle disaster. After all, it was only the second day after such a horrific event, and there was at least some small news that emerged, the temperature readings that pointed to something involving the wheelwell.
Anyway, Slate.com has a good William Saletan article, God on our Side?, that reflects some of the discomfort I've felt about Bush being so free with all the God talk. (Heck, I guess we should just be grateful he stuck to the Old Testament this time, given that whole Israel association...) You can't have it both ways, assuming we have God's protection without then asking what's gone wrong in a divine sense in cases like these. (In a way, Falwell pointing the finger of blame at "pagans, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals, the ACLU" etc is at least a more consistent viewpoint than Bush's statement that God is on our side, even after events that would seem to indicate He isn't.)
It's parallel to the whole Christian athletes thing. "First off, I'd like to thank God for this victory..." but never say "dang heavenly beings tripped me up right before the goal line! The other side musta been praying harder." (I mean, I guess it's reasonable to thank God in general, but not for the specific victory.)
Political Quote of the Moment
There's something profoundly immoral about financing tax breaks for today's wealthiest Americans by borrowing money from the unborn.Heh, no wonder the administration so concerned about "the rights of the unborn"...that's what they see as their future cash cow!
Anyway, the article (what's an "Op Ad" anyway?) talks how the administration is not conservative in the traditional sense of the word, though I think he's glossing over the whole "social conservatism" (which they have in spades) vs. "fiscal conservatism" (which is more troublesome) gap, and the uneasy alliance between the two that makes up the USA's modern Right.
Movie of the Moment
Someone wants to know: How much money would it take for you to kill a puppy with your bare hands? And would it matter if it was an oversized novelty check? Kind of lighthearted and disturbing at the same time. (It ends in a disclaimer, no puppies were harmed in the making of this sketch.) Man, I haven't heard the song "Dead Puppies (Aren't Much Fun)" for the longest time...