North . . Dogma

If you’re pro-war, go download “Have you forgotten” by Darryl Worley. If you’re anti-war, whatever you do, do NOT listen to that song (I warned you).

Which is the bigger bomb?

WASHINGTON (CNN)— The U.S. Air Force Tuesday tested the biggest conventional bomb in the military’s arsenal, dropping the new 21,000-pound device on a test site at
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, U.S. officials said.

The Pentagon hopes the test will pave the way for use of the bomb—should there be a war in Iraq—against critical targets on the surface and underground.

OR

Just as there are thousands of things that I’ve said or done in my life that I wish I could take back (particularly during arguments with my wife – sometimes the bed can get cold) I sure wish I
hadn’t written this somewhat glowing review of Bill Maher’s new HBO show.  Well, it wasn’t exactly glowing, since I gave
the show a 6 on a scale of 10, but it’s still something that I wish I had done differently.

Well, it’s time to revisit.

The last show had a few high points, primarily D.L. Hughley, and a buttload of low points.  Basically, it was a bomb.  Much like the Roy Jones, Jr. versus Ruiz fight from a few weeks ago,
the entertaining part could’ve been condensed into about 6 total minutes & the rest should’ve been scrapped.  The beginning sucked, the middle sucked and the ending sucked.  Don’t get me
wrong, there were times that I actually laughed out loud – mostly due to the aforementioned Hughley.  IMO, the guy can get across an insulting quip about someone while making everyone howl with
laughter.  He was great.  The token right-winger was Michael Graham, who actually did his part of arguing points fairly well….except the show isn’t supposed to be a "Firing Line" rip-off,
but rather a comedy/topical show.

Normally I’d say that Maher was the worst part of the show.  How bad has he been?  How about this review, from the
New Yorker:

Ouch.  The thing is, the reviewer (Nancy Franklin) is right.  Maher, as I said in the earlier post, is nothing but a walking & talking left-wing talking points reciter.  Which would
be fine, except he’s not even trying to add nuance to the same arguments (mainly about the impending war) that we heard back in November.  As an example, in response to a comment from a panelist
that the USA has made some positive steps in the WOT & that it should be noted that there haven’t been any Al Qaeda/terrorist attacks since 9/11, Maher’s best retort was "well, they’re just
reloading".

As I’ve often posted (I’m proud, what can I say), I have a lovely 5 year old little girl & a 3 year old boy.  I often have witnessed my daughter to using
a more advanced level of ingenuity when she gets in trouble ("well, Daddy, I think Jared did it, not me") and at least she looks cute when she does it (it must be the blue eyes that she has that can
melt my heart).  Am I being too tough on Maher?  Maybe not, when you consider what’s next.

The worst part of the show was (and has been) Ted Rall.  I don’t care what one’s politics are, if you can logically discuss something, you can garner respect.  Rall cannot.  Rall is
a loon.  I honestly (and I mean honestly) think that there are some commenters and posters at eschaton or DU who are less loony, and you can find more reasoned rhetoric on
mediawhoresonline (and folks, I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to come up with that comparison/contrast).

I said last week that Larry Miller was the glue that held the show together and it looks like I was right.  Hughley couldn’t rescue that bomb that was presented on Friday.  I also
predicted that without Miller the show would be a 3 on a 10 scale….chalk up another error for yours truly on that one.  It was a 1.5 and without Hughley it would’ve been a .5.  The ending
skit was the marijuanalogs, a parody of the Vagina Monologues (which I tried to watch & had to stop because it was simply brutal) & it caused a few chuckles.  But, I’m not – and have never
been – a pot smoker, so the many catchy references and quick one-liners simply went over (or maybe under?) my head.

Based on last week’s show (especially minus Hughley), it appears that Maher may have been reaching out to his target audience – stoners.

I’ll keep watching from time to time because there are going to be some interesting guests and, well, I’ve got HBO and the Sopranos are on hiatus.  But, I’m certainly not going to turn this
blog into a weekly fisking of that show because Maher has now officially removed himself from any and all cogent affiliations with the term ‘knowledgeable political commentator’ and straightening out
the audio speaker wires in my car is a more effective use of my time.

How many days is it until the Dennis Miller special, again?

Country music has now reached the entire spectrum.  Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks was quoted telling the press/audience in Germany that "just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.".

Something tells me that won’t go over quite so well with the country fans.  They’re a different sort than the types with Barbra Streisand’s complete catalog.

Update: It appears that Earl is worth killing, but not Saddam.


Update II:

The story, from the Guardian:

Ah, yes, go to another continent and tell them you’re ashamed of the President. 

That’s fine.  Many said the same thing when Clinton was holding the highest office.

I’d like to see them try that at a club in Texas.

Update III:

From the Dixie Chicks:
“We’ve been overseas for several weeks and have been reading and following the news accounts of our governments’ position. The anti-American sentiment that has unfolded here is astounding. While we support our troops, there is nothing more frightening than the notion of going to war with Iraq and the prospect of all the innocent lives that will be lost.”



Maines further stated, “I feel the President is ignoring the opinions of many in the U.S. and alienating the rest of the world. My comments were made in frustration and one of the privileges of being an American is you are free to voice your own point of view.”

It’s good that the French are keeping the world away from cowboys with quick triggers who would be too quick to bomb radicals.  And the folks who are the first to admonish anyone who bashes the French are at the first of the
line to praise their restraint.

Interesting, though, how soon some folks forget the Rainbow Warrior.

Then again, this incident does reflect the extent of the French military might.