agitpropre: do it the hard way

RIP Dr. Hunter S. Thompson

2005-02-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

HST: Any kind of political campaign that taps the kind of energy that nothing else can reach...There are a lot of people just wandering around bored stupid.
Ed: Any kind of campaign that taps that energy would...
HST: Would generate a tremendous high for everybody involved in it.
Ed: And would ultimately for you be another paramount experience - out there on the Edge?
HST: Oh, absolutely. But you know you'd be killed, of course, and that would add to it considerably - never knowing when the bullet was coming.

Hunter Thompson interviews himself
in the final pages of Fear and Loathing:
on the Campaign Trail '72

Economics made EZ

2005-02-11T16:46:00.000-05:00

GEORGE W. BUSH:

Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.

MONTY PYTHON:

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore

Riding through the land.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Without a merry band.
He steals from the poor
And gives to the rich.
Stupid bitch.

Debt and instability

2004-11-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

From the Comments at Eschaton, a reference to an excellent, if depressing, piece on "The US as Net Debtor" (.pdf file). It's a long read but, if you have any interest in what your US$'s will be worth in the medium term, it is worth the time.

Unless you will be leaving soon...

Billmon's Back

2004-10-29T16:38:00.000-04:00

The Bar sign reads "Open" at Billmon with a tough post on National Bushism. Nice to see the bartender back on the job.

Now, get away from that computer and GOTV!

[edit] Forget it. He's gone again. And stupidity prevailed.

I don't believe in burning books

2004-10-15T15:50:00.000-04:00

...but in this case I'd make an exception.

Did Bush wear an earpiece?

2004-10-08T16:15:00.000-04:00

New shocking photo evidence...

(Click image for larger version)

The Lynching Party

2004-09-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

The legacy of Iraq is that intervention will be seen as vigilantism.

I listened to Blair being interviewed on the Today programme and was astonished anew at the arrogance of his thesis - that because action was "needed" on Iraq it was up to Britain and the US to take that action. This is, of course, nonsense. If my neighbour was accused of a crime and I responded by going next door and shooting him in the knees I would be described as a vigilante and would face the consequences. My actions would not be legal. I would not have the "moral authority" to "enforce" the threats of another duly-constituted body; I would simply be a thug with the power of a weapon.

The Blair doctrine is based on the assumption that the existing thresholds for intervention (an imminent threat to international peace or a grave humanitarian crisis) are too high to deal with many of the challenges we currently face. There are good reasons for agreeing with this view, but only if it is followed to its logical conclusion. A broader legal basis for intervention should herald the beginning of a more principled and consistent approach to dealing with human rights violations and breaches of international law.

Sometimes intervention is needed. Sometimes it is needed desperately. But unless it is ALWAYS legal there can be no genuine authority for action - except for the authority that the thug and vigilante ascribe to themselves.

2004-09-30T11:13:00.000-04:00

2004-09-30T10:56:00.000-04:00

See no evil

2004-09-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

The Guardian smacks Bush:

His claim that fighting in Iraq means "peaceful nations will never have to face [terrorists] within our own borders" will sound savagely hollow to the people of Spain and Indonesia. Tellingly, Mr Bush's attempt to maintain that the US acted to support UN resolutions was coolly dismissed by Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, who told the assembly: "Those who invoke international law must themselves submit to it."

This last concept is not one Bush even begins to understand. For him there is no god but God - and AMERIKA is his name. Bushco make and break the rules as they will, with no regard for truth or consequences. To think of hundreds of international diplomats sitting quietly watching his antics at the UN makes me want to weep. How crass can he be? Just watch this drive!

F.O. and die

2004-09-21T09:54:00.000-04:00

UK captive's brother appeals to officials

Vowing not to remain silent as "instructed", the brother of a British captive threatened with execution in Iraq has accused the UK government of not doing enough to save the situation.

In an interview with Aljazeera.net, Paul Bigley, 54, said he would not be quiet over the "frustrating" situation he and his family are in, despite the British Foreign Office issuing "strict instructions" for them to resist commenting on the capture.

As if silence was keeping any hostages alive. In fact silence is golden - if you wish to preserve the political careers of T. Blair and G.W. Bush. Otherwise - speak up!

Savage Numbness

2004-09-20T13:16:00.000-04:00

I usually stop by Tom Tomorrow for the cartoons. But this piece by Bob Harris is excellent, in a sad "I wish he was wrong" kind of way.

Without a beat, without reflection, without even a moment of minimal thought, Wolf Blitzer moves on. As do we, collectively.

And that's that. America kills innocent civilians. Lots of them. And it's no big deal now. Not controversial. No reason to ask questions or rationalize or even pretend to soul-search like the national media once did. America kills civilians. Lots of them. Just part of the fabric of things now.

Happens every day.

I wish it wasn't so. But it is.

I know nothing, nothing

2004-09-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

Bush unfazed as absence of WMDs confirmed

U.S. President George W. Bush remains committed to his controversial pre-emptive first-strike doctrine despite the complete — and now confirmed — failure by U.S. experts to unearth any Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Only hours after a draft final report detailing the failure to find Iraq's alleged arsenals of germ, chemical and nuclear-warfare programs began circulating in Washington yesterday, the President said he would have waged war to oust Saddam Hussein even if he had known Iraq had no banned weapons.

"Knowing what I know today, I would have made the same decision," Mr. Bush said.

Live and don't learn - the Bush path to success.

Time, gentlemen, please

2004-09-19T13:25:00.000-04:00

Britain to cut troop levels in Iraq

The British Army is to start pulling troops out of Iraq next month despite the deteriorating security situation in much of the country, The Observer has learnt.The main British combat force in Iraq, about 5,000-strong, will be reduced by around a third by the end of October during a routine rotation of units.

Tony Blair has finally been convinced that Iraq cannot be salvaged and is preparing to bug out. Expect lots of nice talk about 'things are under control'. And keep an eye out for low-flying pigs .