Translating the President

Yep, like many I had hoped that what with all the demonstrations around the world this weekend, the public opinion—here and abroad—might do a little to change the administration's mind about the war effort. How silly of me. Bush seems so deadset on doing what he wants to, regardless of public opinion. That ain't leadership, it's dictatorship.

Yesterday, the eloquent one proclaimed the following to which I’ll add my interpretation gratis.

Text:

"Democracy is a beautiful thing," Mr. Bush said. "People are allowed to
express their opinion, and I welcome people's right to say what they
believe."

Translation:

"Democracy is a beautiful thing. If it were a dog, I would pet it. So
anyways. People are allowed to express themselves, and I welcome people's
right to say what they believe. But then I'm gonna go do what I wanna go do.
Yee-haw."

How dangerous is a small mind when it’s set so sturdily upon its goal.


This is the patent age of new inventions
For killing bodies, and for saving souls,
All propagated with the best intentions.

Byron

Be the change you wish to see in the world. - Gandhi

If you've made it to this point in your life thinking Bill O'Reilly is anything other than a belligerant fascist misanthrope, this transcript should remove the scales from your eyes. In it he berates the son of man who died 9/11 for daring to criticize American foreign policy. Apparently, he cursed at the guy off air. What he said on air is unprofessional enough--never mind that--*hateful enough** that his show should've been yanked immediately. Unlikely though, considering this is Fox "News."

This isn't a free speech issue. I'd go to jail for O'Reilly's right to assert his asinine beliefs. If the government jails you for something you said, that may be an infringement on free speech. But if a network shitcans you for being an idiot, that's just appropriate. I should be able to stand on a street corner and espouse whatever hatred I'd like, post it on my web site, crank out flyers, whatever. But, depending on how violently intolerant I am, if I take it into the workplace, I should be canned for expressing my views on the job. O'Reilly's job is to interview people on television. He should owe them *some* level of respect--especially if he's going to label the tripe he serves up "News." The fact that Fox allows this creep a show reveals much about their agenda.

On a lighter (light to the point of fluff) note, I've fallen prey to wondering is my Blog HOT or NOT? I'm figuring, not.

It's a splendid example of self-fulfilling prophecy: the Bush administration warns of non-existent links between Iraq and al Quaida. That same administration threatens to attack Iraq. Bin Laden calls the U.S.-lead attack on Iraq an attack on all Muslims and encourages violence against the U.S. Viola! There's your link between the two camps. Bush and company must be relieved--despite the fact that the link has been forged by their own jingoistic policies.

If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed. - Thomas Hardy