Matthews' weekend show is watchable.
Best of the Web Today - January 21, 2004
By JAMES TARANTO
Weasel Watch
The French may love Saddam Hussein and other Arab dictators, but there are some enemies to whom even they will not surrender. Chief among these, as we noted last month, are little girls in headscarves. Paris has been hard at work on a plan to banish Muslim headgear from French schools in order "to reaffirm France's secular foundations."
Of course, banning only headscarves would amount to discrimination against Muslims, so the French have chosen instead to discriminate against everyone. Under the plan, yarmulkes are also verboten, as are "large" crosses, though "small" ones are all right.
Today's New York Times reports on further refinements in the list of symbols to be banned. Apparently Sikh boys get a special dispensation; they will be able to go to school in their turbans. But their beards "might be a no-no." Says Luc Ferry, the education minister: "As soon as it becomes a religious sign, it would fall under this law." Moreover, "any girl's bandanna that is considered a religious sign (as opposed to a fashion statement, presumably) will now be banned."
France is of like mind with Mary Jane Fullam, a property manager in Boynton Beach, Fla. Orlando's WKMG-TV reports that Fullam is ordering a pair of renters to remove the flag they've hung in their window or hide it behind the blinds. "That's why we give them the blinds," says Fullam. "If we let them hang their flag, then someone else could say, 'Hey, the people at 6107 have a flag. I worship the devil, so I should be able to fly my devil flag.' "
Last night during his State of the Union Address, President Bush answered one of the most idiotic criticisms of his foreign policy:
Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, the Netherlands, Norway, El Salvador and the 17 other countries that have committed troops to Iraq. As we debate at home, we must never ignore the vital contributions of our international partners, or dismiss their sacrifices.
From the beginning, America has sought international support for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of many nations, and submitting to the objections of a few. America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.
The Democrats, by contrast, demean our true allies by demanding that America refrain from acting unless it has a permission slip from "the United Nations"--which, as a practical matter, means France. That is to say that they think America should supplicate a country whose idea of combating radical Islam is to behave like the landlord from hell.
The al Qaeda Cheering Section
The most telling moment in last night's speech came after the president noted that "key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year." In response, notes the New York Times, "some critics in Congress applauded enthusiastically." If Osama bin Laden watched the speech, one imagines him applauding too.
Perhaps the applauders were hoping to embarrass President Bush by provoking a Howard Dean-like outburst ("You sit down!"). Instead, the president let them clap, then turned toward the Democratic side of the chamber and addressed them directly when he read the next line of his speech: "The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule."
The president also had what appears to be an answer to John Kerry, the haughty, French-looking Democratic front-runner who by the way served in Vietnam. In an October debate, Kerry declared: "This war on terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering, law-enforcement operation"--in other words, that he wishes to go back to the Sept. 10 approach to terror.
The president disagrees: "After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got." Once the Dems have settled on a nominee, we look forward to the debate over this point.
You Don't Say
"Republicans Praise Bush's Speech; Democrats Skeptical"--headline, Louisville (Ky.) Courier-Journal, Jan. 21
Roe Effect Hits Dean
George Davey, a precinct captain for Howard Dean's Iowa campaign, gives Slate's Chris Suellentrop the following explanation for Dean's drubbing in the Hawkeye State's caucuses: "I think if we could blame [Dean's loss] on anyone, blame it on the 18- to 25-year-olds, because they were nonexistent."
But it isn't really fair to blame the 18- to 25-year-olds for being nonexistent. In truth, the Dean campaign has fallen victim to one of Richard Nixon's dirty tricks. In 1970 Nixon appointed Harry Blackmun to the Supreme Court, and in 1973--31 years ago tomorrow, as it happens--Blackmun wrote the Roe v. Wade decision, which established a "constitutional" right to abortion.
Between 1978 and 1985 millions of American women availed themselves of this right. Had they not done so, a lot more 18- to 25-year-olds would have been existent on Monday, and Dean's Iowa campaign might not have proved abortive.
Edge of the Ice
Jäääär! It now appears that getting killed in Iowa and then acting like "a prairie dog on speed" (former senator Alan Simpson's words, quoted by the Boston Globe) might not have been the best strategy for Howard Dean. The latest American Research Group tracking poll shows Dean leading John Kerry in New Hampshire by just 2%--and this is a three-day total, which includes results from Sunday and Monday, before Dean lost it.
"While Howard Dean has a 2 percentage-point lead over John Kerry in the 3-day average, Kerry has a 1 percentage-point lead in the 2-day average . . . and Kerry has a 5 percentage-point lead in the one-day sample on January 20." Wesley Clark remains more or less steady in third place, with between 18% and 20%. It's possible Dean will be out of the running altogether within a week--though his gullible supporters have donated lots of money, so he could stick around and keep losing for some time to come.
Clark Pulls Rank
How desperate is Wesley Clark? Believe it or not, the former lobbyist has started disparaging John Kerry's war record. On "Larry King Live" Monday, Clark was appearing with Bob Dole, who quipped, "I think just politically you just became a colonel instead of a general." Clark's response:
Senator, with all due respect, he's a lieutenant and I'm a general. You got to get your facts on this. He was a lieutenant in Vietnam. I've done all of the big leadership.
Today's Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader reports that Clark "yesterday noted he 'stayed with the U.S. Army' through the Vietnam War, setting up a contrast with White House foe John Kerry, who left the military and became a war critic":
"I stayed with the military all the way through," Clark told reporters after rallying volunteers at his headquarters. "I stayed with the United States Army through Vietnam. I was company commander there. I fought and I was hit by four rounds."
The reaction from a Kerry spokesman: "We didn't expect General Clark would question John Kerry's courage and commitment to country given his record under fire, and it's disappointing." Interestingly, the spokesman didn't use the P-word; we suppose the Kerry camp is saving the question of patriotism for the general election, when it will benefit President Bush.
This Just In
"Kerry's Course Shaped by Vietnam Experiences"--headline, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jan. 21
What Would We Do Without Professors?
"Victory Gives Kerry an Edge in Race, Professors Say"--headline, Daily Californian (UC Berkeley), Jan. 21
What Liberal Media?
This morning the Washington Post's Web site featured an online chat with Dan Froomkin, who writes the "White House Briefing" column for the site. Here's how he opened the chat:
Good morning everyone! Against my self-interest, I should tell you that I'm up against Karen Hughes, who is taking (I'll bet softball) questions over on the White House Web site.
Here's one of the "softball" questions Hughes fielded, from "Jim in Utah" (seventh question):
Did you approve of the President's gay-bashing? Is it really appropriate to use the state of the union address to bash minorities and propose constitutional amendments to take away the rights of minorities? Bush seems so small, petty, and certainly unpresidential when he stoops to such hate-mongering. When I see your face on TV I am reminded of the president's bigotry and intolerance. Shame on both of you.
Demonizing the Drill
In an item last week, we noted that Salon's Joe Conason had offered what seemed to be a bizarre conspiracy theory about how President Bush's proposed Mars mission is a sop to Halliburton and the oil industry. The Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page weighs in with a column that explains the theory in a way that at least makes a bit of sense:
Like a lot of big firms, Halliburton has had its eyes on the moon and Mars for quite a while. Halliburton scientist Steve Streich helped author an article in Oil & Gas Journal two years ago titled "Drilling Technology for Mars Research Useful for Oil, Gas Industries."
The article, unearthed last week by Progress Report, a daily publication of the liberal Center for American Progress, described the exploration of Mars as an "unprecedented opportunity" for the drilling industry and a "great potential for a happy synergy" between space researchers and "the oil and gas industry."
In other words, it's not that these guys are claiming the oil industry wants to drill for crude on Mars, as Conason's poorly written piece seemed to suggest. Rather, the point is that the Mars mission may develop technology that will be useful here on Earth. For some reason, Conason, Page and the self-styled Center for American Progress view this as a drawback.
Why Not Stick Them in the Microwave Instead?
"Pakistan to Grill Nuke Experts"--headline, Straits Times (Singapore), Jan. 21
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Beyond the Pale?
Four students at Omaha, Neb.'s Westside High School are in trouble for distributing a poster urging the school to give Trevor Richards its "Distinguished African American Student Award," the Omaha World Harold reports. Although the school refuses to say what punishments it meted out, Trevor's mother says he was suspended for two days for hanging the poster.
Trevor is in fact African-Ameircan; indeed, he's an immigrant from South Africa. But school officials say he's ineligible for the award--which is given out every Martin Luther King Day--because he's a person of pallor. One of the four students "was punished for circulating a petition Tuesday morning in support of the boys."
So not only is the school "honoring" Dr. King by judging students on the color of their skin rather than the content of their character; they're punishing anyone who dares question their policies.
Question Authority--Just Not Ours
"Republican students at the University of Colorado launched a Web site to gather complaints about left-leaning faculty members, saying they want to document discrimination against conservative students and indoctrination to the liberal viewpoint," the Associated Press reports from Boulder.
"I'm shocked the students would resort to this," says Barbara Bintliff, a law professor and chairman of the Boulder Faculty Assembly. "I'm concerned they may wind up with a blacklist." Is it really so shocking that young people would use their right to free speech and question authority?
Hugs Are for Arming
Did you know that today is "World Hug Day"? "This global 'virtual' Hug for Peace is your opportunity to show the world that 'peace begins with me,' " according to the Web site worldpeace.org.au. "So pledge now to hug your mum, hug your dad, hug your teacher, your boss, even your dog!!"
"Let's make January 21 an anniversary of peace," the site further urges. In fact, it already is an anniversary of peace. As Newswise.com notes, 50 years ago today the U.S. Navy launched the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus. Hugging your mum or even your dog is all very well and good, but nothing beats peace through strength.
Death Takes a Holiday
Yesterday we noted a BBC story about a worker in a Finnish tax office whose supposed death at his desk went unnoticed for two days by colleagues who thought he was just absorbed in his work. It appears the story, which the Beeb lifted from a Finnish tabloid, was an urban legend. Snopes.com reports that similar tales have appeared and proved false in the past several years, and it cites the Finnish story among them.
We guess we should have known better than to trust the BBC, which was among the news outlets taken in by the "Jenin massacre" hoax. That one was so obviously phony even we didn't fall for it. |
