“Vidal has a good word for anyone who likes the sound of “a final all-out war against the ‘System,’ or “deliberately risks-and gives-his life to alert his fellow citizens to an onerous government.” In the end, McVeigh and bin Laden are pikers. “Most of today’s actual terrorists can be found within our own governments, federal, state, municipal.” “Municipal” is a particularly nice touch: perhaps Vidal means police departments, though for all the care he takes he might just as well be alluding to death squads at work under cover of sanitation departments. If you wonder what might be a better society, Vidal helpfully offers up what he calls “Tim’s Bill of Rights,” which includes (a) no taxes, (b) metal-based currency, and (c) low legislative salaries. So much for political theory.” – Todd Gitlin, decrying the Bush administration in Dissent, but also exposing the idiocy and moral callowness of some now on the left.
SONTAG AWARD NOMINEE: “I’m not sure if enough people in America have gotten wind of what’s about to happen now – and, if it does happen, whether it’s right or wrong. That may be the only difference. But we certainly have criminals in the White House. These are even more successful than the last time. I mean, Nixon and company were kind of petty in their ambitions. These guys are ruthless beyond belief, and boy, are they pocketing a lot of money.” – Terry Gilliam, the Onion.
FISKING PELLETIERE: The New York Times sank to a new anti-war low last weekend publishing the theory of one Stephen C. Pelletiere, claiming that the gassing of Kurds in Hallabja was the work of Iran not Saddam. The New Republic’s Spencer Ackerman does a splendid job dismembering it.
The Dish 