Month: May 2006

Jonathan Zasloff makes an interesting point here:

US national security politics has become Israelized.

That phrase refers to the old saw about what the Israeli electorate wants from its government: a Labor policy carried out by Likud. Israeli voters recognized that Labor was right; that holding onto the territories was (and is) madness (both for strategic and moral reasons), and that ruling over millions of Arabs was not in Israel’s interest. But they never trusted Labor to actually do it properly without exposing the public to violence. That had much to do with Labor’s rhetoric than anything else. The one exception to this was Yitzhak Rabin, whose gruff manner and record gave him the title of "Mr. Security". (As Labor leader, he never lost an election).

The same thing has happened to the Democrats. The public recognizes that the Democratic approach on Iraq is correct, and that we are going to have get out soon. But they don’t trust Democratic instincts on national security. They would prefer someone who is too willing to use military force to someone who is not willing enough. In short, they might not like George W. Bush, but they would rather have him than Jimmy Carter (who is the real culprit behind the Democratic image, not the Vietnam policy).

In other words, Americans are looking for the equivalent of Kadima. Isn’t McCain the obvious Sharon? And when did the Democrats last have a Rabin?

Up to 70 people have been arrested in Moscow for marching in a banned gay right’s parade. In the new "democratic" Russia, there is no right for gays to organize in public. The organizer of the march there, Nikolay Alexeyev, has been detained by the police. The BBC reports that several foreign gay marchers were attacked by thugs.

A reader writes James Dobson about his group’s use of astro-turf, identikit letter-writing programs to lobby Congress on the Marriage "Protection" Amendment. It’s a beaut:

Why do "Christians" reserve the right to lie, cheat and steal when it suits their purposes, while turning around and decrying situational ethics and denial of truth?

I am referring to you and your organization’s organized plagiarism campaign. Focus on the Family, under your direction, is encouraging people to copy material from its website, assemble it into letters and submit the letters to the editors of various newspapers under their signature.

Webster’s Dictionary defines plagiarism as to "present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source." This is exactly what someone who copies material from your website, fashions it into a letter and submits it as their own work does.

When you tell people that what they’re doing isn’t plagiarism, you are lying. But then you‚Äôre a "Christian," and as such you believe that the rules apply to everyone but yourselves. How sadly typical.

Yeah and Dobson can bench-press a zillion pounds as well.

There’s now a slide-show of some of the Window photos up on Time.com. Congrats to those who made the photo editor’s cut. A million thanks to those who didn’t. I’m thinking about what to do with the dozens of worthy photos I downloaded but didn’t post. A book, maybe? The project ends tomorrow.

Charlottesville, Virginia, 5.45 pm.

We are constantly told that there is no religious test for high office in the Bush administration. No theocrats there, we’re assured. All hysteria. Calm down. And then you read stories like this in which a Texas Supreme Court judge gave over 120 interviews on the down-low to leading Christianists reassuring them of Harriet Miers’ evangelical credentials. Money quote:

When asked by an unnamed White House adviser, Hecht also agreed to speak to James Dobson ‚Äî an influential social conservative, radio host and head of the organization Focus on the Family ‚Äî about Miers’ views on religion and abortion, the [State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s] admonition says.

Sworn into office in 1989, Hecht is the most-senior member of the Texas Supreme Court, the state’s highest civil court. His reputation as one of the body’s most conservative justices also lent credence to his views.

As many conservatives rebelled against Bush’s nominee, Dobson became one of Miers’ most vocal supporters, cryptically hinting on his radio program that "when you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn’t know, you will understand why … I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice."

So Rove got Hecht to persuade Dobson that Miers was theologically correct. And these people expect us to believe that their sole crietrion for the highest court is judicial restraint. Hooey.

Washington, DC, 7.30 am.

Topeka, Kansas, 5.45 pm today. It’s from the press room at Heartland Park during the NHRA Summer Nationals.

Dorian Yates is a big guy. Really big. Big and strong. Check out his quads. He’s been Mr Olympia several times. But, alas, he hasn’t tried Pat Robertson’s protein shake. And he hasn’t accepted Christ as his personal savior or donated to the 700 Club. So he’s stuck with a maximum leg press of a piddling 1,265 pounds. 76-year-old Robertson can leg-press 2,000. And he wouldn’t lie. He’s a Christian. I tell you. When God is on your side, anything is possible.

(Photo: DorianYates.net.)

Cambridge, England, 3 pm.