Gyroscope
A newsletter
for those unmoved by spin.
No. 30, March 1, 2004
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Gyroscope A newsletter
for those unmoved by spin. |
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| by John Nordin | ||
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In
search of Lt. Bush
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An article in the NYT of Feb 27 (p. A25) goes some way to clearing up one little mystery of the on and off epic "George Bush: the Missing years." The author, Mimi Swartz, was a journalist in Texas during the years Bush rose to power. Bush had political opponents at every step of the way, why didn't they raise the National Guard issue when Bush ran against Ann Richards in 1994? Swartz points out that it wasn't just George Bush who used the National Guard as a way to avoid Vietnam, many sons of the rich and powerful in Texas did the same, including the son of Democratic senator Lloyd Benson. Attack Bush and you have to cast too bright a light on other rich kids as well. So, just not on. Well, why did it not come out in 2000? Gore had served in Vietnam, but in a noncombatant role that could be ridiculed. And then there was Clinton looming in the background with his non-service as well. So again, Bush skated by. |
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Running
commentary
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"Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind behind the September 11 plot, was granted a visa to enter the US just six weeks before the terrorist attacks" reports the Financial Times, Jan 27, p. 3. Too bad he didn't try to carry a nail file on the airplane, then we would have had him. |
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The Economist reports (Jan 24, p. 49) that the convictions of some 250 parents for murdering their children may have to be reexamined and, in some cases, overturned. Vague politically correct theories, assumptions that "most cases go unreported" and profiling based on personality characteristics rather than science have led to many instances of parents being convicted or children removed from homes based on suspicion and uncorroborated allegations. The leading advocate of the Munchausen by Proxy diagnosis in the UK, Roy Meadows, has now been completely discredited. Mothers who push doctors with questions, or have children with unusual diseases are reported to be more likely to be accused of this syndrome. "Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law." Still a good idea. |
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In order to shift the blame for the recent recession from Republicans to Democrats, Bush's council of economic advisors are trying to force the National Bureau of Economic Research to change the date of the start of the recession from March 2001 back to the fourth quarter of 2000, reports Michael Mandel in Business Week, Feb. 23, p. 48. Perhaps we could change the date of September 11th as well. |
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A woman who organizes home sales parties (think Tupperware) to sell sex toys to women has been arrested in Burleson, Texas on misdemeanor obscenity charges. The law prohibits the selling of devices "designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs" reports the New York Times, Jan 20, p. A12. Would this mandate the outlawing of televising football, selling large sports cars to men aged 40 and above and lets not even talk about beer commercials. |
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"I think we're at risk with our democracy. I think we're dealing with the most closed, imperialistic, nastiest administration in living memory. They even put Richard Nixon to shame." says that wild-eyed liberal, Gen. Westly Clark, reports Paul Krugman in the New York Times, Jan 16, p. A21 See the next item. |
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The FBI warned police nationwide to be on the alert for people in airports carrying almanacs, as the books are apparently a terrorist planning device, reports Nicole Brouder in the Seattle Times, Jan 11, p. B1. Like the General said. |
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"One of the problems with media coverage of this administration is that it requires bad manners." Eric Alterman, in the Nation, quoted by Paul Krugman in the New York Times, Nov. 25, 2003, p.A29 There's been another round of conservative comment lately about 'liberal hate speech.' I'm very ashamed that they have failed to name me as an offender. I will try harder. But the attack is hypocrisy, per the usual. Conservatives can publish books calling liberals traitors, wish the 9/11 attackers had hit the New York Times, call Kerry a traitor, etc., etc. and that is considered acceptable. But we can't make an argument that Bush is a deserter or a threat to democracy without it being 'hate speech.' |
| By the way, Kerry has not taken more special interest money than most Senators (contrary to a Bush campaign ad). Not even close. |
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Good news
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| I know that too many of these good news segments have been about people who have died. It is just what keeps coming across my desk. Annalena Tonelli, was a leader in the fight against forced female genital mutilation in the name of chastity. Tonelli, an Italian, worked in Somalia and was a key leader in a growing movement against the practice. Winner of the UN's Nansen Refugee award she had opened schools, lobbied traditional healers to give up the practice and got Muslim clerics to denounce the practice. She encountered stiff opposition but kept up her resolve. Last October, in the grounds of her hospital, she was murdered. (From a Guardian Weekly report, Feb. 12, p.26) |