Sunday, March 05, 2006
Oscars
Like an increasing number of things it's apparently become just another excuse for conservatives to whine about whatever the hell they're whining about. Do they ever do anything else these days? Aside from pissing themselves with fear, I mean.
As for best picture, I didn't think any of them were sublime but the 4 out of the 5 that I saw were all high quality movies. Crash was doomed to be somewhat of a failure as I think all such movies are, but nonetheless pulled it off much better than is usually the case. Brokeback Mountain was good for a lot of reasons, though ultimately long romantic movies get a bit boring no matter who is involved. Capote had great acting and was well made though the story and theme didn't interest me all that much. Good Night and Good Luck was the best to me, a deceptively small-seeming movie made extremely well, and anything that gets conservatives defending their pal Joe McCarthy from liberal smears is good for chuckle or two.
As for best picture, I didn't think any of them were sublime but the 4 out of the 5 that I saw were all high quality movies. Crash was doomed to be somewhat of a failure as I think all such movies are, but nonetheless pulled it off much better than is usually the case. Brokeback Mountain was good for a lot of reasons, though ultimately long romantic movies get a bit boring no matter who is involved. Capote had great acting and was well made though the story and theme didn't interest me all that much. Good Night and Good Luck was the best to me, a deceptively small-seeming movie made extremely well, and anything that gets conservatives defending their pal Joe McCarthy from liberal smears is good for chuckle or two.
Words Speak Louder Than Actions
Blaming the media less about deflecting ownership and more due to their own inability to see Iraq as an actual place, instead of as a square in their personal game of risk or some sort of k000l virtual reality game, and their own belief that words on the page are more important than actions on the ground. It's what allows MSNBC columnist media outsider Instapundit to write he's "tired of the war" and the thinking that allowed Andrew Sullivan to write:
Of course by participating in the public discourse one plays a part in something, but typing away from one's basement does not involve "facing down" anything. Not a single person who opposed this war was "cowardly" as it takes no actual courage to send other people off to kill and die. One does not get to bask in the reflected bravery of those who are actually doing what you send them to do. There was nothing courageous about supporting a war which was supported by the US government and almost the entire punditocracy, and aside from helping to stifle debate and demonize people who quite sensibly opposed the war their contribution to their noble cause was precisely zero.
The men and women in our armed forces did the hardest work. They deserve our immeasurable thanks. But we all played our part. By facing down the evil, the cowardly and the simply misguided, we have done a great good.
Of course by participating in the public discourse one plays a part in something, but typing away from one's basement does not involve "facing down" anything. Not a single person who opposed this war was "cowardly" as it takes no actual courage to send other people off to kill and die. One does not get to bask in the reflected bravery of those who are actually doing what you send them to do. There was nothing courageous about supporting a war which was supported by the US government and almost the entire punditocracy, and aside from helping to stifle debate and demonize people who quite sensibly opposed the war their contribution to their noble cause was precisely zero.
DeLay
With too many candidates on the ballot it's hard to imagine the DeLay will be booted out on Tuesday, but they can get him below 50% it'll get pushed to a runoff in April...
Dreamland
Of course, that very media will oblige them by inviting them on CNN, FOX, and MSNBC to explain this.
Next week on Reliable Sources: The failed Iraq war, are the media to blame?
Next week on Reliable Sources: The failed Iraq war, are the media to blame?
Bigotry!
Bush sez India can have as many nukes as it wants but Pakistan can't. The only explanation is bigotry.
Connecticut College Students
For those college students who are registered to vote in Connecticut and who are unlikely to be in town in August for the Lamont-Lieberman showdown, don't forget to request your absentee ballot.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
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