close up of goddess eyes

goddess of clarity: a blog about politics, culture, and serenity

Archive: August 24 - September 6, 2004

September 3, 2004 — 10:20 EDT

So last night was the big night for Dubya. We start with the obligatory tribute video, narrated by Law and Order's Fred Thompson. The video and voiceover don't really work for me. I was reminded instantly of those outdated video presentations they have in visitor's centers at underfunded state parks ("After the war of 1812, the Pennsylvania state house stood at a crossroads..."). Honestly, they really could use a few more "Hollywood types" in the GOP.

The video finally featured a clip of the famous bullhorn speech that we've heard referenced at least 10 to 12 times in primetime speeches. Of course, the crowd goes nuts. I really think that whatever advantage Bush enjoys over Kerry as a "strong leader in the war on terror" stems from these 12 seconds. And I don't know if it's just me, but the images in this video of the events of 9/11 have finally pushed me over the edge. They bring new meaning to the already wonderful new word "crass-tastic."

Now on to the speech, and Bush is already in smirk mode. I really wish there was something his aides could do about that because it drives me crazy at such a deep and visceral level that I'm afraid to explore it. He starts off with more 9/11 nostalgia. He must believe that he is honoring and not exploiting the people who suffered in this tragedy, but I'm beginning to believe that the president fetishizes courage. Having had no real opportunity to exhibit it himself, having always been able to rely on his powerful family to bail him out of one jam or another, he is genuinely awestruck by people who've had to take risks and face up to trying circumstances armed only with their own strength and courage.

Next he plunges into a list of domestic initiatives, some of which sound pretty good, especially when you leave out the details. My favorite line from this section is, "To create jobs, we will make our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy." Period, full stop. Movin' on, folks! Next!

Then the Kerry-bashing portion of the speech begins. The well-worn chestnuts are floated out to an appreciative crowd, who obligingly chant, "flip flop, flip flop." And he reaches high smirk mode when he reaches the "values" paragraph about abortion, gay marriage, and faith-based initiatives. He never uses any of those words, of course, but the evangelicals in the crowd know the code words and can now leave New York happy.

Ooooo, protester alert! Bush is interrupted at least twice that I could see on PBS by protesters in the hall. The crowd does their "Four more years" chant to drown them out, but the president looks thrown for a second before recovering.

And finally we come full circle back to the war on terror. He mentions Iraq and al-Queda, Saddam and 9/11 in the same paragraph -- in the same sentence! -- several times. This is so disingenuous and downright sneaky! Bush himself admitted, almost a year ago, that there was no connection between Saddam and 9/11, but then he and Dick Cheney just go about their business acting like there is, and then blaming the media for the public's confusion. Grrrr...

I didn't get a chance to watch the Daily Show last night, since the president ran long. I'll have to catch the rerun tonight. Should be good. That Zell Miller speech must be like manna from heaven for comedy writers.

And I did stay up to watch Kerry's response at midnight. I'm very glad he did that, because it means that the main story this morning will in fact be two stories: Bush's speech and Kerry's response. Given what I heard earlier, I thought it would be tougher than it was. But I think it was good. One thing I do wish: I wish Kerry would just explain once and for all why Bush's statements about his vote on the $87 billion appropriations bill are misleading in the extreme. Just explain what he voted for, and what he voted against, and why. Educate us on how the legislative process works in Washington, and how the president is relying on our ignorance when making these attacks.

—lori.

September 2, 2004 — 09:13 EDT

Tuesday night may have been compassion night at the GOP Convention, but last night was having none of that namby pampy compassion crap.

The keynote address was given by Democratic Senator Zell Miller. As he began to speak, I noticed that great Southern accent that makes him sound like some genteel colonel who just stepped out of a Ken Burns documentary. But Jesus Christ! No gentility here, no ma'am! His speech was like red meat on steroids, and the delegates lapped it up. These people boo the U.N. louder than they boo the Taliban.

The mad marine excoriated Kerry as the most wrong, weak, and wobbly public figure in recent memory, adding that Kerry would have the armed forces armed with spitballs, and therefore did not deserve to be Commander in Chief. Funny. A few years ago Miller was introducing Kerry as an authentic hero who worked to strengthen the military. Seems Republicans don't really mind a flip-flopper after all, as long as he's their flip-flopper.

Next was Vice President Dick Cheney, who brought the tone down a notch, but not the rhetoric or the lies. After a cursory mention of the Bush administration's domestic "successes" (public schools get a tepid round of applause; must be code for poor people), Dick launches straight into his favorite subject, the war on terror. A good laugh is had by all at mention of Kerry's claim that we need to be more "sensitive" in this war (nevermind that Bush used the same word in a speech to the same group just days earlier). He also repeats the line about American's not needing a permission slip to defend its interests. This drives me nuts! Who ever said we did?! Who ever even came close to saying we did?! This doesn't matter; the chattering frat boy monkey men go nuts with chants of "USA! USA!"

Dick also saved a shot for his counterpart John Edwards, saying the U.S. has the best healthcare system in the world (true, if you don't mind the fact that 45 million citizens can't access it) and that doctors would not be held hostage by personal injury lawyers. Funny, personal injury lawyers get as loud a boo as the U.N does. Good thing Republicans know who the real enemy is.

—lori.

September 1, 2004 — 09:30 EDT

I had a decision to make last night: stay at home and watch Night Two of the Republican National Convention or go out to the Dryden to watch These Are the Damned. But then I figured, hey, six of one half-a-dozen of the other, right?

So I got back from the movie just in time to see the end of Arnold's speech. He was rambling on and on about being back, or going back, or sending the president back ("Four more years! Four more years!") The crowd was eating it up. They do realize that The Terminator was just a movie, don't they? Arnold must realize that, right?

Next up were the Bush daughters, and all I could say during their whole "routine" was, "What?!" It was so painfully unfunny, so tragically and completely awkward, it was a beautiful trainwreck that you just couldn't look away from. It's all a blur now, but I remember they made mention of their "gainey" Barbara Bush, Sex and the City, their parents' pet name for each other ("Bushie"), and something about a polaroid and a hamster. Creepy, really.

And the jokes about their underage drinking? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against underage drinking (especially when I was underage drinking). But I also don't make speeches at the RNC, home of the moralistic, holier-than-thou, law-and-order party that handles it's own "family" problems privately, thank you very much. And I loved that they say they're out on the campaign trail because after graduating from college they needed to find something to do for a few years, "kind of like Dad." Awww, that's sweet. A family that underachieves together, stays together.

I watched the Laura Bush speech on mute, so I can't really comment on it beyond the fact that I think she's had some work done of the Botox variety, and the backdrop behind her was really ugly. Think public library carpet circa 1974.

And last night of course was the first night of the Daily Show's coverage of the convention (Yes! Thank you!). Line of the night: Steven Colbert describing the GOP wrapping its convention in the trappings of 9/11 nostalgia and grief as "crass-tastic." Genius.

—lori.

August 31, 2004 — 09:50 EDT

A recap of last night's major speeches:

John McCain arrives to a standing ovation. ("Thank you very much. Where were you guys four years ago?") He gets the crowd revved up with an FDR quote (nothing gets the Republican faithful going like a good FDR quote).

He goes on an extended nostalgic riff about how united we all were in the days after September 11. "We were not Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservatice. We were not two countries. We were Americans." That's true, we were. And I wonder what happened to change all that. Let's think hard...

Next, he makes the rather unbelievable statment that the president agrees with Democrats who say America needs the help of its allies to fight the evil of terrorism. But wait for the zinger: "And, as we've been a good friend to other countries in moments of shared perils, so we have good reason to expect their solidarity with us in this struggle." Take that, France!

Another reference to that Ground Zero speech. They must have shown it already when Michael Bechloss was talking or something.

McCain is good, though. He just gave the most convincing argument in favor of the Iraq war that I've heard (I still don't buy it, and it's not the rationale the Bush administration gave at the time. But still, well said, Senator). And he throws the crowd a bit of red meat by slamming Michael Moore in the process. Take that, Michael Moore! (Cut to shot of Michael Moore chanting "two more months!" as the crowd boos. Great.)

Next we hear from three women who lost husbands in the 911 attacks. I don't know what it says about me, but I find the testimonials of the 911 families in these political settings kinda distasteful. Maybe it's just the guy or guys in the crowd who keep shouting "Whooo!" and chanting "USA! USA" during their speeches.

The 911 nostalgia continues with the Singing Cop's rendition of "Amazing Grace." The Dems used this song at a similar point in their convention as well, but as an instrumental. Another indication that Republicans are more outwardly religious while the Dems are more subtle about it? Or maybe the Democrats just couldn't find their own singing cop.

Rudy Guliani appears, and in the first line in his remarks refers to that Ground Zero speech again. Sheesh, the guy has one good ad lib in his whole life, and you know they're just going to beat it to death.

Rudy gets in another dig at those fruity-tooty European nancy girls with references to the 1972 Olympic games in Munich and the Achille Lauro. Accommodation, appeasement, compromise? Take that, Germany and Italy!

Rudy then starts to go a little loopy I think, and also a bit over time. I think he's beginning to warm to the sound of his own narrative. He tells a long-winded story about a New York construction worker at Ground Zero, saying he can't tell us what the man actually said because this is the Rebublican National Convention, after all. Can't curse at a Republican Convention!? Someone better tell that to Dick "Big Time" Cheney sitting up there in his box. Rudy then compares Bush to Churchill and Reagan, attacks Kerry by name with the well-worn "flip-flopper" motif, and then makes the astonishing claim that Bush "can see into the future." Really? Can he bend the laws of time and space, too?

He wraps up with another mention of the Ground Zero speech, saying that the terrorists have indeed heard from us. "They have heard from us a message of peace through free, accountable, lawful and decent governments giving people hope for a future for themselves and their children." Oh, I'm sure that's what he meant.

So I guess last night's emerging theme was, "For God's sake, vote for George W. Bush! Your lives and homes may depend on it!" I'll see if I can muscle up the strength for Day Two.

—lori.

August 30, 2004 — 21:20 EDT

With Bernard Kerik's speech I think we've entered the "Remember Why We're Here" portion of our program. He referred to the president's speech at Ground Zero, but I'm surprised we haven't seen it yet.

He had the line of the night so far, and maybe the Bush campaign in a nutshell. "George Bush has my vote. And for the future and the safety and security of this country, I pray to God he has yours as well." John Kerry needs to start answering that claim now, I think, without mentioning his Vietnam credentials. And if he needs a place to start, he could do worse than simply referring to this week's Tom Tomorrow comic.

—lori.

August 30, 2004 — 20:45 EDT

My mom called at the start of the convention coverage, so I missed the beginning speakers, including Dennis Hastert (well, I wouldn't really say I missed it). I started paying attention again for the Ford tribute.

Speaking of, what was with that video? Was it just the way that PBS covered it, or did it really look like one of those video yearbooks the local junior high puts out each year? Help! The Republican Party needs more video artists!

And here comes George Bush the First. It must be the parade of the one-termers. Give the man his due, though. He looks great.

—lori.

August 30, 2004 — 18:26 EDT

Before tonight's festivities begin over at Madison Square Garden, I'm taking a moment to get myself in the right frame of mind by leafing through my latest copy of the Sierra Club magazine. The September/October issue has a decidedly screechy tone about it; it practically reeks of that pungent mixture of desperation and urgency.

And really, can you blame them. If you care about environmental protection at all—I mean at all!—you have to be incredibly concerned if not panicked about what four years of Bush has done, and what four more would do.

The magazine lists along the bottom of each of its 88 pages a running tally of Bush's "300 Crimes Against Nature." I had heard about many of these statistics and legislative initiatives before, but to see them lined up like that is pretty startling. Some of the notables:

I could of course go on and on. The magazine does provide one last vision that hit me square between the eyes. Under the particularly forlorn headline, "What if We Lose," appears this newspaper front page of the future...

Mock newspaper frontpage: Bush Re-elected

I think that sets the tone nicely. At that, I shall make myself a sandwich, grab a beer, and await the dulcet tones of Jim Lehrer. Let the festivities begin...

—lori.

August 30, 2004 — 09:30 EDT

Well, the Olympic flame has been extinguished, and when I went to bed last night the Greeks were still partying the night away at the closing ceremony (on NBC at least). The ceremony looked so darn festive; it really made you wish you were there. All the athletes seemed to have been issued with wheat and digital cameras, which is nice. I had no idea who any of the Greek pop stars were, but any Olympic ceremony that includes dancing on tables in its program is OK by me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Olympiad, I must say. Even NBC's coverage was improved, I think, with the notable exception of Andrea Joyce's sidelines "reporting." Honestly, if that woman said "emotion" one more time, I may have lost it. In fact, one of my favorite moments of the Olympic coverage was when American diver Laura Wilkinson basically laughed in her face during their postgame interview.

Speaking of favorite moments, I feel a list coming on ...

Lori's Top Ten Moments of the Olympics

  1. The look on Paul Hamm's face when he was told he won the gold (little did he know the firestorm that awaited him).
  2. The look on American Deena Kasto's face when she discovered she's won the bronze in the marathon, after coming from as far back as 25th
  3. The look on Svetlana Khorkina’s face when she fell off the parallel bars.
  4. Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki's speech at the end of the closing ceremony. Very classy and very fun.
  5. The medal ceremony for the men's pole vault, after Tim Mack beat the helmet-wearing guy. I love it when men cry. I think I even saw a snotter.
  6. The "celebration" of the Americans Misty May and Kerri Walsh at the end of the women's beach volleyball gold medal game. I'm sure that one will stayed Tivo'd in a lot of homes for a while.
  7. British runner Kelly Holmes winning the 1500m; I don't know how she pulled it off.
  8. American swimmer Michel Phelps winning the 100m butterfly; I don't know how he pulled it off.
  9. The American women's soccer team singing the national athem. I've been depressed with the joylessness of our anthem throughout these games, and they were the only people I saw who sang it with gusto.
  10. Watching the American male medal winners not know what to do with their laurel wreaths during the national anthem. It's not a baseball cap, guys.

So now that the Games are over, I guess I can get back to my life again. Oh wait, no I can't. The Republican National Convention starts this evening. Sigh...

—lori.

August 26, 2004 — 21:10 EDT

I got home from work this afternoon in time to catch some synchronized swimming over on Bravo, and I'm very glad I did. I know, it's just too easy to make fun of sychronized swimming, but it got me to thinking. I know we have synchronized diving, but I think we're missing an opportunity here for other "synchronized" Olympic sports. Where's synchronized weightlifting? Synchronized javelin? Syncronized marathon (now that's a challenge).

It also occurred to me that synchronized swimming is really just cheerleading underwater. There must be other relatively average activities that could be performed in unusual places and thus spun into Olympic gold. Equestrian checkers? Bicycle tennis, anyone?

—lori.

August 26, 2004 — 09:45 EDT

Everytime Mr. Goddess and I think about cancelling cable, Jon Stewart pulls us back in. I caught the rerun last night of Tuesday night's Daily Show appearance by John Kerry, and I thought both candidate and host aquitted themselves extremely well. John Kerry does have a weird laugh, which of course shouldn't matter, but you never know these days. That could be the next Republican talking point: "Well you know Bill, I don't know if the American people can trust a liberal French speaker whose laugh at times can seem a bit forced and overexuberant. What we need at this time is a president with a slightly sinister snicker, and George W. Bush has provided that type of laugh leadership for four years."

All I know is, when I'm looking for a leader in laughter I turn to Jon Stewart. And with the Republican Convention looming in the wings, it looks like I won't be cancelling cable anytime soon.

—lori.

August 25, 2004 — 13:40 EDT

You've gotta feel for Paul Hamm these days. Not only does he have the oddly receding hairline and munchkin voice to deal with, but for the last few days he's been at the center of not one but two Olympic storms that are totally not of his own making. I mean, all he did was win a gold and a silver medal. What rotten luck!

Salon's King Kaufman has the best take on the gymnastics tempest in a teacup. To summarize: gymnastics is insane, and ain't that great! I am inclined to agree, but I admit I'm a bit ambivalent about the whole thing. On the one hand, I just don't know what to do with a sport that says to the world, "Yes, we admit we made a mistake in the scoring and it cost an athlete a gold medal. But hey, too late now!" And then on Monday night, when the fiasco continued into the men's individual event finals, they actually do change an athlete's score because the crowd started booing! What the hell is that?

But on the other hand, as Kaufman points out, the very insanity of the sport is part and parcel to its appeal. It's hard enough to swallow, in the sprints and the cycling events for example, when an athlete wins or loses by a few thousandths of a second. But when they lose by a few thousandths of a point, for not pointing their toes correctly or some other imperceptible infraction? That kind of ludicrousness is the very stuff of high drama, and it's what keeps us all coming back for more every four years.

—lori.

August 24, 2004 — 18:34 EDT

If I could pull myself away from the Olympics for a moment to comment on that other great quadrennial summer tradition: the dog days of the presidential campaign.

I'm afraid I'm at a bit of a loss when it comes to the whole swift boat nonsense. How did it become such a big issue? In a year when we are fighting an actual war, a war brought about by the actions and political philosophy of the current administration, why is everyone still talking about this? Why am I talking about this!?

The best analysis I've heard as to why this issue seems to have such traction with the media comes from Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, first on NOW with Bill Moyers and yesterday on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer (click on "War Record: Discussion" to see the clip).

Basically, Jamieson points out that the truth of the allegations made in the swift boats ads is beside the point (obviously) for a couple of reasons. First of all, it can never really be known. Jamieson explains that at the time these events occurred, John Kerry was just a guy - a face in a crowd of guys. Nobody there at the time (with the possible exception of Jim Rassman, whose life Kerry saved) had any reason to remember what this one guy did or didn't do. It is only after the fact, now that they know who John Kerry is (and know that they don't like him) that they project these memories onto the past.

But more importantly, the truth is irrelevant here because the purpose of the ads is not to bring to light events that occurred 30 years ago, but to create questions about the strongest element of Kerry's biography NOW. It only takes one person to say, "I think Kathleen Hall Jamieson might be a murderer," and all the experts and evidence arrayed to the contrary won't stop people from having doubts where no doubts existed before.

This is why this particular attack is so dangerous for Kerry, and why I'm starting to fret a little at the moment. By concentrating so heavily on his war record - in the primaries, at the convention - to the near exclusion of the rest of his biography, Kerry has put all his eggs in one basket, and Bush and his chums have just pooped in the basket.

—lori.