Saturday, December 02, 2006

Worst. President. Ever. Eric Foner, professor of history at Columbia University, in the Washington Post: “Historians are loath to predict the future. It is impossible to say with certainty how Bush will be ranked in, say, 2050. But somehow, in his first six years in office he has managed to combine the lapses of leadership, misguided policies and abuse of power of his failed predecessors. I think there is no alternative but to rank him as the worst president in U.S. history.” (Via Think Progress.) 8:54:32 PM    comment []

Bob Dylan, Anaheim, March 10, 2000 Dylan's Spring 2000 tour was a delight, with lots of surprises in the setlists and terrific performances. I was at the two shows in Santa Cruz, still two of the best Bob shows I've ever seen, and they're well worth listening to. The tour featured some firsts, such as Country Pie, and some relative rarities like We Better Talk This Over, Highlands, Hoochie Coochie Man, and more. Someone recently mentioned the early Anaheim show from the week before, so I'm listening to it today. Again, it's got a great setlist, and is a wonderful performance. The number of workhorses -- It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding), Tangled Up In Blue, and Highway 61 Revisited is limited (especially compared with 2006 shows). And the rarities -- Tomorrow Is A Long Time, Tell Me That It Isn't True (a live debut) -- are very welcome. The newer, at the time, songs -- Dignity and Things Have Changed (another live debut), are aired very nicely. The last two songs, Not Fade Away and Blowin' In the Wind are also pretty rare and both are well delivered. Finally, it includes neither Like a Rolling Stone nor All Along the Watchtower, which is pleasant. Recommended. 4:39:40 PM    comment []

Hideous Kinky: The Genocidal Fury of Thomas Friedman Chris Floyd does a great job taking down the moral midget Thomas Friedman, who's only thesis always seems to be "I was right." It seems like the thing going on now among those who supported this disastrous war is that we were right to do it, but the Iraqis are not worthy of us. We tried, but it's their fault if they don't want democracy. Floyd's piece is great, and he reprints Friedman's latest idiocy. 10:09:10 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2006 Steve Michel. Last update: 12/30/2006; 8:59:08 PM.