Okay, this isn't about the presidential election, and maybe no one's even paying attention, but this is a damn fine piece of writing by Roger Ebert:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/cst-ftr-passion24.html

I pick up the lead of the discussion by default. Har, har.

Another damn fine article by Frank Rich of the NY Times. Back on message. Peace out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/arts/08R...efdd4abd955&ei=5070

I really agree about Ebert's piece on "The Passion." Ebert is my favorite reviewer, 'though not because I necessarily agree with him. (For example, I won't go see "The Passion," for a variety of reasons). I like Ebert because he's a very good writer. The review of "The Passion" is a first-class piece of criticism.

I won't see the flick either. I'll go to movies I wouldn't normally go to because I love his reviews. Ninety percent of the time I'll find myself thinking,"what friggin' movie was he watching?" He is a great writer though, and so is Roeper. I love Roeper's social critiques.

Frank Rich has really gone nuts since the Times put him in the Arts section. It's been good for him to get away from pure politics, although he's one of those people (like me) who can't keep from seeing the political aspect of EVERYTHING.

I love the editorial pages, and get most of my first layer of news from them, then follow up the stories on the regular news pages. The Nation website is great for that because the editorials have direct links to the source material. I suppose that's one way of reaffirming my biases, but we're biased creatures who tend to stick to our core beliefs regardless of evidence to the contrary. Just look at the Bush administration's policies on taxes and the environment.

PS
It's nice to have some company here on the perimeter. Sometimes I feel like I'm out here raging to myself.

...As "Nero" Bush and the boys fiddle...

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17964

Be frightened. Be very, very frightened.

http://www.prospect.org/print/V15/2/kuttner-r.html

Edited by author 03-07-2004 12:13 PM
So why is it I can't feel any better about Kerry? The Republicans are going to grind him up. I just hope Bush and his cronies self-destruct. The trouble is, they know how the media and opinion works.

I remember a story once that one of the news organizations did a piece about Ronald Reagan - all the things he said he was going to do (and they showed the clips of campaign speeches) and then showed what actually happened which was often the total opposite. This, of course, is not news. The interesting thing was that the White House called the news people up and thanked them for the story. They knew (and no doubt still know) that people will remember the clips and not the facts.

Except for taking every opportunity to stand in front of a camera and comment on any subject, what has Kerry actually done?

I'm open to suggestions.

I'm actually paying attention to Kerry now. He has his flaws, but he isn't W. He'll be accused of flip-flopping, but he's been involved in politics for over three decades, and his opinions have changed as he's grown older. He went to Viet Nam and came back to fight against the war. He's not George W. Bush. I'm a Deaniac at heart, but we do have to get the idealogues out of office. Positive spin for the Dems is imperative. Anybody But Bush.

I'm in agreement. Bush needs to be sent home to Crawford - or better yet, clear over the border.

I just worry that Kerry is such a waffler that he's going to make too big a target for the Republican machine. Tell me, for instance, just what it is he believes in - not just in the moment, but forever.

He's clearly an opportunist and the rush to him over the others in the race still baffles me. We wanted Anybody But Bush and I'm afraid that's just what we've got. Anybody.

I'm less downbeat than you re Kerry, David. The reality is that the American people aren't nearly as far left as I (and you) would wish. Kucinich, for example, would be as unrepresentative of Americans' positions as is Bush in the obvious direction.

I'm fully prepared to be disappointed in Kerry -- or anyone -- once he's in office. I was sorry that Clinton wasn't more left. But Clinton stands as a bright shining beacon compared to every other president back to JFK.

So, because the alternative is four more years of Bush, I'm wildly enthusiastic about Kerry. I'll work for him, I'll contribute money. This election is crucial and we all have to come together to beat Bush.

Okay, so Bush is beaten and sent home to Texas.

Now what will be in his place?

I'm getting more upbeat about Kerry as time goes by. I will donate and work for him too. When one finds oneself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging. Getting rid of W. will represent putting down the shovel. I just wonder if the people of the US have the integrity or the courage of the Spanish people who ousted the fuckers who took them into war alongside Bush and his gang of idealogues. W. has probably unleashed the very things he told us he was saving us from, all in the name of good numbers on the NASDAQ for Halliburton.

A classic from David Corn:

http://www.thenation.com/capitalgames/index.mhtml?bid=3&pid=1321

The original article can be found on SFGate.com here:


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?.../07/28/IN244190.DTL

Sunday, July 28, 2002 (SF Chronicle)

Learning to love Big Brother/George W. Bush channels George Orwell