Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Tony Blair...Orator Extraordinaire...

Here is the full text of the speech Tony Blair just gave at the Labour Party conference. Now, it is long, and the first 3/4 of it I don't agree with. It is defending the Labour Party vs. the Tories on economic matters, taxes, etc.

But, as I have said before, all that stuff is tied for a distant 2nd. The danger we have in front of us is all that matters. We can sort out economic policy and social policy later...

Here is the best part of the speech:

"There are two views of what is happening in the world today.

One view is that there are isolated individuals, extremists, engaged in essentially isolated acts of terrorism.

That what is happening is not qualitatively different from the terrorism we have always lived with.

If you believe this, we carry on the same path as before 11th September.

We try not to provoke them and hope in time they will wither.

The other view is that this is a wholly new phenomenon, worldwide global terrorism based on a perversion of the true, peaceful and honourable faith of Islam; that's its roots are not superficial but deep, in the madrassehs of Pakistan, in the extreme forms of Wahabi doctrine in Saudi Arabia, in the former training camps of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan; in the cauldron of Chechnya; in parts of the politics of most countries of the Middle East and many in Asia; in the extremist minority that now in every European city preach hatred of the West and our way of life.

If you take this view, you believe September 11th changed the world; that Bali, Beslan, Madrid and scores of other atrocities that never make the news are part of the same threat and the only path to take is to confront this terrorism, remove it root and branch and at all costs stop them acquiring the weapons to kill on a massive scale because these terrorists would not hesitate to use them.

Likewise take the first view, then when you see the terror brought to Iraq you say: there, we told you; look what you have stirred up; now stop provoking them.

But if you take the second view, you don't believe the terrorists are in Iraq to liberate it.

They're not protesting about the rights of women - what, the same people who stopped Afghan girls going to school, made women wear the Burka and beat them in the streets of Kabul, who now assassinate women just for daring to register to vote in Afghanistan's first ever democratic ballot, though four million have done so?

They are not provoked by our actions; but by our existence.

They are in Iraq for the very reason we should be.

They have chosen this battleground because they know success for us in Iraq is not success for America or Britain or even Iraq itself but for the values and way of life that democracy represents.

They know that.

That's why they are there.

That is why we should be there and whatever disagreements we have had, should unite in our determination to stand by the Iraqi people until the job is done.

And, of course, at first the consequence is more fighting.

But Iraq was not a safe country before March 2003.

Few had heard of the Taliban before September 11th 2001.

Afghanistan was not a nation at peace."



And later, on his defense of his support for the US:

"Next year as president of the G8 along with action on climate change, we will try for consensus on a new plan for Africa, that not only on aid and trade but on conflict resolution, on fighting corruption, on the killer diseases Aids, malaria and TB, on education, water, infrastructure.

A plan to lift that continent in hope and lift from ourselves the shame that so many human beings live and die in misery when we know together we could stop it; and when unchecked this misery some time, somewhere in the future will threaten us.

But understand this reality.

Little of it will happen except in alliance with the United States of America.


And here am I, told by the pro-Europeans to give up on America and the Atlanticists to forget about Europe.

And yet I know Britain must be at the centre of a Europe now 25 nations reunited after centuries of conflict the biggest economic market and most powerful political union in the world and I know that to retreat from its counsels would be utter self-defeating folly.

And I know to cast out the transatlantic alliance would be disastrous for Britain."


He also addresses those of his original supporters that are disappointed in him:

"When I hear people say: "I want the old Tony Blair back, the one who cares", I tell you something.

I don't think as a human being, as a family man, I've changed at all.

But I have changed as a leader.

I have come to realise that caring in politics isn't really about "caring".

It's about doing what you think is right and sticking to it.


So I do not minimise whatever differences some of you have with me over Iraq and the only healing can come from understanding that the decision, whether agreed with or not, was taken because I believe, genuinely, Britain's future security depends on it.

There has been no third way, this time.

Believe me, I've looked for it."


Well done, Tony. You'd have my vote if I were a Briton.

Monday, September 27, 2004

Nope....No liberal media bias here...

The disbelief in the headline writer must be so overwhelming...

"Bush apparently leads Kerry in pre-debate poll"

Apparently leads?...That is funny.

Friday, September 24, 2004

Who the heck are these 'Some' people?...

And why to they whine so much? Is it just me who has a knee jerk reaction to the term "Some criticized..."? It seems to be so oft-used, but, rarely has any actual data or examples to back it up. It is as if it is thrown out there to put a spin on the story. Most of the time it is a spin that makes the Right look bad, or uncaring.

A quick Google News search of the term "Some criticized" turns up many recent examples..

About the destruction in Haiti:
The U.S. government has said it would provide more than $2 million — an increase from $60,000 that some criticized for its paucity.

On taxes in Texas:
"Some criticized commissioners for not considering a tax-rate increase."

On dealing with teens too harshly:
"Some criticized a scenario in which the mother of a 14-year-old girl wanted to send her daughter's 17-year-old boyfriend to jail after the teens had consensual sex."

On same-sex marriage:
"Some criticized the proposed amendment as an expression of intolerance."

On after-school funding:
"Some criticized the district for not allocating all the money last year."

On new dress codes of businesses:
"But some criticized the new dress code as overly expensive to workers, especially coming just after Target sold off its Marshall Field's stores, where Target employees could get a discount." Got to love the extra bonus dig at the evil capitalists for selling part of their business! Heaven forbid they engage in commerce!

On Bill Cosby:
"Some criticized Cosby for fueling negative racial stereotypes and giving credence to conservative beliefs that the problems facing African Americans are self-imposed."

On using 9/11 images in ads:
"While some criticized the ads, others who lost family in the attacks defended them as an appropriate reminder of how the president responded to the attacks."

On cuts to bus routes:
"Some criticized federal spending priorities, from the war in Iraq to space exploration." Oooh, have to slip in a little anti-Iraq jab!

On funding anti-flood projects in China (Even in China they are afflicted with the 'Some criticized' fad):
"Some criticized the timing of the move as either too early or too late." That is journalism? 'Either too early or too late'? It is like an account of Goldilocks. "While Goldilocks finally offered the bears some porridge, some criticized it as being too hot or too cold."

I could go on, but, I think you get the point. 'Some' is such a vague term, and as such, is easily thrown out to get an emotional reaction from the readers. The authors seems to know that it is almost impossible to be 'proven' inaccurate.

But, 'some' of us know better...

"Combat over Iraq"...

Very nice pics posted by Rob T. (via Instapundit) Check them out.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Hard work outlawed here in CA?

Can the 35 hour work week be far behind? Come on, Arnold, don't let us turn into a State of girlie-men!

America is Racist, France is the 'decider' of what is legal..

Right.

Can you imagine what would happen if an American politician said this? Especially a GOP one?

"Do we want the river of Islam to enter the riverbed of secularism?"

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

'Blame Canada'...

Canada is really going to put up a monument to honor the draft-dodgers?

"a larger-than-life monument depicting a Canadian helping two scared American men."

Yikes.

Friday, September 17, 2004

"You are so fired"

El Pais has (rightfully) apologized for the terrible ad campaign they launched (via Southern Watch). Apology seems legit and you get the sense someone is in deep trouble there.

"Any explanation about the chain of errors which led to the launch of this campaign is insufficient, which some of our readers rightly qualified as repugnant. We share the disgust they have expressed in numerous messages and letters to the management and we are sorry it happened.

The Prisa Group has opened an internal investigation to clarify how it was decided to launch this promotional campaign and to take appropriate measures. Effective inmediately, it has ordered the company used to send out the emails that it mails all recipients of the campaign to apologize."


They might be Socialists at the paper, but, at least they aren't really stupid ones. Maybe CBS should learn how to respond to a mistake.


Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Omar over at Iraq the Model

has translated some comments from Iraqis that posted in the BBC board for Arab readers to post after the 3rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Of course, we haven't seen any of this translated anywhere else.

A couple that are really heartwarming and show how great this country really is:

“The problem lies inside us, the Arabs; whether governors or citizens. We’re still living the era of backwardness, ignorance and crying for the past. We don’t understand how decisions are made in America and the defect is within ourselves.
I’m a big admirer of America and the progress that America had achieved in such a short period.
One more thing, those who offend America must not forget that it was America who helped the Muslims in Albania, Bosnia, Kuwait and Sudan. Where is the Arab civilization? We never saw the Arabs offer help but we all saw the food packages and flour sacks carrying the letters USA.
The problem with Arabs is that they always have find someone to put the blame on.”

Fadi-Libya.

“America offers freedom for free. It’s true that I’ve never been there and I don’t have friends living there either but I keep America in my mind and sole. Hatred was brought to us by the extremists; the enemies of mankind.
I and every true Iraqi love America because to us she represents freedom and liberation. America untied us from Saddam’s chains and also liberated Yugoslavia from her dictator and liberated Germany before that. History is full of events that support my feelings”

Hazim Al Shammari-Bafgdad/Iraq.

Read them all.

I only 'mildly' liked "The Mole", but, I do love

this smackdown by Anderson Cooper of Keith Olbermann: (need to scroll to the end)

"Kind of pathetic, isn't it? Keith Olbermann of MSNBC all but begged viewers to vote for him. He even linked his Web site to "Playgirl's." Keith, baby, get a grip. I know losing on "Jeopardy" was painful for you, but pleading for "Playgirl" votes? Sad. For all I know, Fox's Sean Hannity, who came in second, may have been moved to vote for Olbermann himself out of pity."

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

CBS needs to up its software budget





The Curt Jester shows us the new program that could have saved Dan Rather a lot of grief.

Choose or Lose...

Daniel Pipes, over at Front Page has a nice column outlining the differing responses to recent terrorism by Nepal and France.

The punch line is:

"the abhorrent Nepalese violence reflected an instinct for self-preservation – hit me and I will hit you back. In contrast, the sophisticated French reaction was supine – hit me and I will beg you to stop."

Which would YOU choose?

We have a winner!

For the Oliver Stone Conspiracy Award in the aim to explain RatherGate.

Shots Across the Bow (via Instapundit) explains all!

I do think Hillary is setting herself up to be a lead player in the 2008 free for all, but, this one seems a tad far fetched. I much prefer that is was Karl Rove and his secret cabal of VRWC members who plotted Dan-O's downfall at the end of the last Halliburton board meeting.

Zell it like it is!

More from my favorite Democrat...

Thursday, September 09, 2004

First MemoGate, now this!?

George Bush is a fake? He never existed? Oh man, how will Karl Rove spin this?!

This is great...But, too bad the man lived.

Dog shoots man. This needs to become a trend.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Take that Donald!...

Mark Cuban partakes in a bit of 'billionaire smack down'. That might actually be a cool new reality show.

Now Playing...

This is just plain weird. But, also kind of cool.

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

A movie festival after my own heart...






Thanks to the wonderful Moxie, I just heard about this festival coming to LA soon. Please, all you SoCal people go and watch as many as you can!

Friday, September 03, 2004

Hard to believe the bounce could be this big...

But, if it is...the Kerry camp must be getting worried.

52-41? Nice.