Ok, it's not a big deal, but since I study the crusades, it ticks me off when people are way, way too general in their comments on the crusades.  This op-ed in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, basically sumamrizes Andrew Bacevich's new book about American miltarism, but still misses a crucial point.  Robinson points out the quasi-Manichean -- dualistic -- view of the world by some/ many Christian fundamentalists but he neglects the apocalyptic aspect of this world-view.  

From the lyceum

From the lyceum

Ryan Lizza, one of my favorite journalists, has a new piece @ TNR about the rush to succeed W.  It ends with this sobering bit:

Here's an idea for a general Democratic Party TV and/or print ad:

This report by CREW is interesting.  It lists the 13 most corrupt members of Congress (excluding the trifecta of Delay, Frist, and Rove who seem to top the list) and offers explanations as to why these 13 were chosen.  

I'm disappointed that 2 Dems made the list, but reading their summaries, I can certainly understand their inclusion.  The summaries of these 13's influence-peddling is disheartening, to say the least.  Check out, for example, Roy Blunt (R-MO) the new House Majority Leader.  God; it's like a devil's resume.  

This site is quite obviously by-and-large a Democratic one.  I, personally, believe in what the party stands for and I want to fight for it to regain its stature in the national consciousness.  But I love my country more.  People like these 13, even the Dems, should be nowhere near public service.  Investigate the hell out of all of them (and anyone else too), regardless of party affiliation.  They do a disservice to those they represent and the rest of the country.  Their corrupt actions dishonor this country and its democracy.  


From the lyceum.

Hat-tip to TPM on the BeyondDelay site.  

From the lyceum

Well, gotta give the Army National Guard for putting their finger on an essential truth about America.  Dude, freedom does rock!  But funny how the National Guard's picture shows nice, affluent-looking white people frolicking (perhaps on a beach), rather than some poor schmuck in crapsville, Iraq scared for his life, fighting an enemy that he can't see with inadequate supplies.  Funny that.

Update [2005-8-23 17:7:6 by mattgabe]: (also posted @ DailyKos)

Update [2005-8-23 17:19:22 by mattgabe]: Although it's not online, this plays into the recent article in this month's Vanity Fair about the horrors that military recruiters are having to endure nowadays to "make mission." Really disturbing stuff -- stuff that honorable men like our soldiers shouldn't have to endure.

From the lyceum:

Isn't this the sort of anti-woman crap that NARAL should be running ads about?  How about kicking in the $ to cover these poor people's $3,000 bill?  You'd think it wouldn't be necessary to charge a serviceman's wife for a needed medical procedure, right?  This could freaking bankrupt them.  

Does the reactionary right realize that their blanket moral pronunciations destroy a family's ability to make decisions for themselves, or do they just not care?  

Ok, so I open up this morning's SF Chronicle, and am scanning along as normal.  I get to the opinion page though and begin to quickly look over the letters to the editor.

9 letters to the editor
8 from conservatives -- generally pro-Roberts

Yup, that's 8 of 9 letters to the editor from conservatives in the SAN FRANCISCO Chronicle.  Not many might actually read these letters, but the editorial staff do read them and it can influence their writing.  

So, my question is this: where are our voices?  Should the blogosphere start some real-world-osphere concerted action?