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January 21st, 2005 Surprising comments from unexpected quarters - Peggy Noonan has written an uncharacteristically silly piece about the Inauguration speech. She calls it "over the top" and "heavenish". Apparently, she has a problem with lofty goals and far-reaching visions. She criticizes the President for apparently wanting to bring about Heaven on Earth by eradicating tyranny. She makes the assertion that it is impossible to eradicate tyranny in our lifetimes. Certainly true, but that doesn't mean it can't be done in our children's lifetime, either. Bush seems to agree with this - "From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?" He perceives the goal may not be attainable before he leaves office, or even in his lifetime, but he redoubles his efforts to march to the goal, distant though it may be. Bush is setting the agenda for his second term as well as the terms of future Presidents. He does this by simply recalling our history (the Lincoln reference) and speaking to the future's expectations of us. Noonan ends with this: "The most moving speeches summon us to the cause of what is actually possible. Perfection in the life of man on earth is not." It's quite disappointing that she apparently misses the view that if something is impossible it can still be worthwhile to pursue, because the end result, though a shortfall, is better than the beginning. This was a moving speech, because it "calls us to high service, but not of the sort that increases personal station." Assaults on our values - Lileks is turning his daughter into one of the Pod People. Take a look, it'll curdle your blood. Remarkably peaceful for a Anyway, they had their signs, they had their bad clothes, they had their moment in the sun, which was sinking below the horizon when I drove by them. How appropriate. There was one girl, perhaps 20, standing in the median, banging a pot (the kind from a kitchen, not what you might suspect). She was beside a guy holding a sign that read "If you're not outraged you're not paying attention". Well, I am outraged, just not in the same way as them. I've noticed that I recently make a concerted effort to avoid taking note of foolishness like the demonstration recently. When one side of a democratic debate devolves into vitriol and accusation it degrades the nature of the debate. That's bad, because legitimate flaws in the other side go unnoticed. Of course, calling them a "moonbat collection" doesn't help, and claiming "well they started it!" is just childish. When is the left going to return to their roots and abandon the foolishness of the 1960s? Today's Cocktail - Whiskey Sour. Jennifer likes these. Take half a lemon & squeeze the juice into a shaker. Add half a teaspoon of powdered sugar. Stir with ice until the sugar is dissolved. Add two measures of whiskey and stir again. Strain over ice (or not, depending on your tastes). Serve with a garnish - mint, or perhaps a cherry. Drink responsibly. If you've had a problem with the sauce in the past, don't take this as license to try just one, because it won't be just one. The Michael Moore Gun Fiasco - For background, start here. Then proceed to here. My thoughts follow. So the guy was at one time employed as a bodyguard for Moore. He, of course, who, disgusted with the 'culture of fear' in America, makes a movie intended to scare people away from guns. The guard was doing the legal thing - declaring and checking in a weapon before traveling on an airliner. The charge stems from his carrying concealed in New York without a permit. Um, pardon me, but if a bodyguard can't get a CCW in New York, who can? The New York Carry Laws are ridiculous. The firearm was unloaded and locked, yet since it was in his baggage it was concealed. The basis of the law is that a weapon that cannot be fired, yet concealed within a bag, is still dangerous. I'll be the first to trumpet the safety rules of guns, but this is ridiculous. The charges may be legally valid, but they are predicated on a fear of firearms that is baseless. The law defining a concealed weapon is poorly written, and the law governing the issuing of concealed carry licenses in New York is overly restrictive. As to Moore, he's a hypocrite if he employs an armed bodyguard. Big surprise, expect 3-inch banner headlines in the New York Times (or not). But at least let the guard carry concealed. Have a good weekend. See you Monday. |
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This site is copyright 2001-2005 by Matthew Maynard. All rights reserved. All your trademarks, copyrights, insignia, and other distinguishing characteristics are belong to you. Sharks in suits make for good joke material. Don't leave a mess on your way out. Links to external websites are valid at the time of article authoring and may decay as time goes by. But we'll always have Paris. The opinions on this site are those of their author and do not represent anyone else's views. That is, unless and until you agree with them, at which point they become yours as well. Opinions expressed in the comments belong to the comment poster and may be edited for content. Play nice with others, since you want them to play nice with you. |
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