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via Pandagon

London is not burning

Well, I woke up to the news of London’s tube & bus bombings.  And I am dazed.  I’ve seen reports & blog posts playing the attacks down as "not that bad, not a big deal, it’s not like 9/11, the Brits are not impressed …" and the like.  Well, fine, you can believe that if you want.  I don’t – the people of London are under stress; they will carry on with the business of life, but they are under stress.  I’m not a Londoner, so maybe I’m stepping over someone’s boundaries here, but GODDAMIT. 

There is no way to secure subways & busses one hundred percent.  If it could be done, London would do it.  They are one of the most security-conscious cities in the world.  Perhaps THE most security conscious.  I remember looking around for a garbage can for at least half an hour at Paddington Station so I could throw away my coffee cup (no litter bug, here).  I asked the gal in the Victoria’s Secret kiosk – she said, "Oh just leave it out there.  Someone’ll be along to pick it up."  No trash bins in public spaces, particularly in transport hubs – IRA bombers used to drop their packages and walk away.  There are security guards and police officers around, always.  There is a presence at all times.  Passengers on rail, tube, bus, and in airports are constantly reminded to be vigilant and aware of items that seem to not have owners -  packages left on chairs, backpacks left in the restroom.

On my first trip to London, in 1998, it was disconcerting to hear the PA announcements with such regularity (it might have been every quarter-hour) at Victoria Station & Gatwick Airport.  "Please report any strange packages to security.  Be aware of abandoned suitcases or packages."  Or the like.  Sure, it was routine for the locals & regular travelers, but the it’s-routine-let’s-carry-on-with-business attitude doesn’t mean it isn’t STRESSful or upsetting.  I would hope Americans would not look to stoic Brits as being unconcerned or unaffected, and thus assume they (Americans) have no need to be sympathetic or saddened by today’s events.  Because, unfortunately, I’m already seeing some of that out there. 

I don’t know if I’m making a lick of sense. 

Because the Congressional Agenda is so totally totally empty …

… why shouldn’t they just blow a few daysweeksmonths investigating flippin’ STEROID USE IN BASEBALL???

Link:  Congress Opens Hearings on Steroid Use in Baseball

Ultimately, I have two comments to make on this topic.

One:  Steroid use is killing baseball.
Two:  Doesn’t Congress have at least one or two items on their collective TO DO List that they ought to check off before they move on to the high-stakes world of celebrity athlete humiliation?

Or have they already ‘checked off’ Iraq & Social Security?  You know, figuratively speaking …

Sigh.

Ssssnickerrrrr

Zing!

Link: Electrolite: President Sissy..

We have a President who’s afraid of being heckled. By Canadians.

So. Arnold’s in.

And Gary Coleman, too.

I think I can now safely say that I live in a banana republic.

Really, this whole thing is just so embarrassing. 2% or less of the voting population can overthrow the government. Just how stable *is* representative democracy, folks?

So, it has begun.

And how do we feel?

Demolition Men

What I’ve been wondering, is … what is it that the Israeli government hopes to accomplish by demolishing the homes of Palestinians?

And, BTW, I’m seriously asking. I’m not presuming Israel is randomly evil, nor am I presuming Palestinians are all terrorists. I’m looking for a sane response. Thank you.

Oh YES – Well said, Sir!

NOW: Transcript – Bill Moyers Talks with Chris Hedges | PBS

MOYERS: I believe that George W. Bush tonight as you and I talk is convinced he’s about to do good. A necessary act that he thinks is making a moral claim on the world. Do you believe that?

HEDGES: I believe that he feels that. But I think anybody who believes that they understand the will of God and can act as an agent for God is dangerous.

Emphasis mine, of course.

Where’s your War on Terra now?

HoustonChronicle.com – Van crashes into Houston Planned Parenthood

A Houston Planned Parenthood clinic sustained its first violent attack in nearly five years today, only days after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a ruling that had shut down aggressive anti-abortion demonstrations at clinics.

– snip –

Bird, a well-known Houston abortion protester who served a one-year federal prison term for attacking a doctor outside another Houston clinic in December 1994, told a deputy constable the crash was deliberate, to “stop the killing.”

Raise your hand if you think the next van will probably have explosives in it.

Thoughts while watching the Bush News Conference

‘Weapons of Terror’? I smell a new meme coming on.

Who are you looking at? You’re not looking at the camera … you’re not looking at ME … you shifty-eyed little so-and-so …

‘Wealthy patrons of terrorists’, eh? Are we invading Saudi Arabia?

Wipe that smirk off your face.

All right, Steve! You asked about North Korea! So it’s a regional thing?? Well, then, isn’t Iraq a regional matter, too? I don’t see why there’s a difference … nukes are nukes, WMD’s are WMD’s, state-supporters of terror are state-supporters of terror, etc. etc. etc.

Ooh, good question from the Bloomberg guy.

No. Saddam’s not deceiving anyone. No one pities Saddam or thinks he’s a victim. It’s just that you’re not deceiving anyone, either – millions upon millions of people recognize that your motives are not pure.

‘We’re a battlefield’?? ‘MY government?’ What the HELL?

‘You and your allies’, says the reporter. So, we seem to have a subconscious understanding here that Bush and the American People are not members of the same society.

Yes, you swore to uphold and protect the CONSTITUTION. And you’re doing that HOW? Hello?

Why won’t you answer the questions? This damned things scripted, isn’t it? Don’t your talking points cover this stuff?

Well, of COURSE the other nations will ’support’ action once war begins. They’ll be afraid you’ll bomb the shit out of them, too. Sheesh.

Grrr. It’s not that these other nations dismiss Saddam’s threat. It’s just that they know you’re lying about what you want. Reframing it as ‘others seem to disagree that Saddam’s a threat’, is disengenuous at best – deceitful at worst.

‘Liberty is God’s Gift to Every Person.’ Unless you get to ‘em first, right, Big Guy?

Why can’t you answer the questions? Why do you even have them ASK, if you won’t answer? Oh, yes, you are this generation’s Ronald Reagan. He never gave straight answers, either. Criminy.

Aaaarrggghhhh!!!! ‘The Enemy’? I do not understand this kind of simplistic thinking. People who – a’la Reagan, again – can only find purpose if there is an Enemy on which to focus. In the face of no enemy, they’re lost. They only think in terms of something to fear and fight. The Enemy is at the center of all. Good vs. Evil, The Light vs. The Darkness, Holy War, etc. etc. etc.

Hm. Seems rather flippant about North Korea, even while mentioning ‘dictators who give nukes to terrorists who might use them’. Frankly, he seems bored or disinterested by Asia as a whole. Why is that?

My, the press is deferential to this man. Good for them. But he & the gang don’t really return the favor, do they? ‘Thank you, sir! May I have another?’

OK, so meanwhile, we’re in ‘hot pursuit’ of Osama bin Laden and there’s no mention?

Weird day.