Thursday, May 15, 2003

A new website, Democrats for National Security, argues--hat in hand--that "Democrats need a new approach to national security that will both address the national security challenges facing the United States in the 21st century and help to rebuild the confidence of the American people in our party's ability to keep us safe." All of which is no doubt true, but before I fork over my unemployment- benefit check, who-what-when-why-where questions are very much in order.  Saying that democrats are perceived as weak and vacillating on the topic of national security is one thing: coming up with solutions is another. Who are the likely gurus for this. . .Gary Hart and Wesley Clark?  Sam Nunn and Joseph Lieberman? None of the above? Are we looking at a long-term, think-tank approach to post-911 or a glib repackaging of the Dubyas strategy (I can already hear the swing voters muttering: Why should I vote for Neocon-lite when I can have the real thing)? Isn't this a bit like ordering a school tie before you've written the curriculum? The effort is just too vague--and we need to know more. Reminds me of the old Hollywood moguls who used to come running into the studio proclaiming: "I've got a fabulous idea for a script. . .Let's make a movie about. . .Russia!"   9:54:39 AM    comment []

"We've always been at war with Oceana." - George Orwell in his novel 1984. "It's the battle of Iraq, not the war of Iraq. This is part of the war on terrorism." - Karl Rove at a May 7 press conference in New Hampshire. 911 changed everything. . .well, certainly some things. But framing a monumental intelligence failure as the opening salvo in an endless war certainly does make a difference. Why is it that America seems to be playing along with this grim script rather than barking "get me rewrite!" or at the very least considering a cast change? It's the medication, stupid! suggests Tina Brown in her Paxil Americana column.   So Orwell and Huxley--with his zoned out Soma addicts in Brave New World--were both right. . .With Perle and Paxil America can have endless war without the pain of war. As a Nuremberg defense it's pretty lame, though. . .(we weren't responsible for the war because we were too busy watching The Matrix Reloaded and virtually costarring with Keanu Reeves).  Or, as young Dick Cheney said of his youthful decision to give the Vietnam War a pass: "I (we) had other priorities."     8:09:05 AM    comment []