Dispatches from the Culture Wars

President Bush stated:

We launched a global campaign to take the fight to the terrorists.

I thought Bush first said, "we lost a global campaign", not "launched", which is a much more accurate description of his legacy though I would not use either description.

President Bush also stated:

We sent a clear message, that America would make no distinction between the terrorists and those that harbor them.

And yet those that harbored them weeks after we invaded Afghanistan was Pakistan. What did we do? Respected their borders for the most part and gave them $10 billion dollars. With enemies like the U.S., who needs friends???

This President's perception remains delusional.

I would have loved to hear the perceptions in the Army War College hallways and classrooms after this event (where this speech took place).

Posted by: Michael Heath | December 20, 2008 9:46 AM

I find Maddow a superstar in the making. She's doing what Ed does on national TV, fisking those in power by going one, two, or three levels deeper to get at the root of an issue and providing evidence of how far from reality or truth the rhetoric is from the core issue. This in-depth approach is contrary to must of the airheads that pose as journalists and experts who act like they have a clue.

I think her chirpy, slightly humorous approach is necessary for the long haul, otherwise she'd eventually come across as too dreary or overly sanctimonious given the nature of her format (Olberman being the latter).

While she uses a different style, I think this is similar to why Ed's blog has been effective over the years - his years in the Comedy Industry provide some skills which defend what could come eventually be perceived by his readers as futility in terms of dealing with particular groups of people who never seem to learn their lessons and yet affect each of our lives with their idiocy. The humor aspect provides some inferred optimism I think is neccessary in dealing with idiots with actual power and/or influence.

Posted by: Michael Heath | December 20, 2008 12:18 PM

Now if she would just hold Democrats to the same level of scrutiny.

Posted by: dude | December 20, 2008 3:35 PM