March 2004

Clarke’s Subtle Criticism

ArchPundit March 29, 2004 2 Comments

I haven’t been talking much about the ongoing hearings, though I certainly have a few things to say about a former Illinois Governor’s performance during them, but one thing that strikes me about Clarke’s point isn’t how explosive it is, but how the actual criticism is very subtle.

Most of the focus on his testimony has focused on his specific charges against the Bush administration. Of those, his claims that they ignored or at least put terrorism on the back burner are the most focused upon.

This shouldn’t be surprising to the American public though. Americans weren’t concerned about large scale terrorism despite having a federal building blown up just a few years ago. Bush ran a campaign that focused on strategic threats of nation-states. In fact, this is one of my many criticisms of his candidacy in 2000. It was a foreign policy borne out the past where nation states were the primary security threat.

Worse, was the choice of Condi Rice for national security. While a very bright and competent woman in her field, her field is the problem–Kremlinology. Kremlinology is a word used in Political Science to deride those who studied the Kremlin and its personalities more than using the scientific method. While Kremlinology was somewhat useful in conducting foreign policy, it wasn’t really a useful field. It was outdated by 2000 on top of everything else.

All that said, the American people don’t care about the above. They didn’t vote for Bush or Gore because of their foreign policy except for a small portion of the public. They didn’t see a threat and so foreign policy was a secondary debate amongst political junkies and the foreign policy establishment.

I doubt most Americans care much if Bush did not put terrorism on the frontburner after the 2000 election. The people didn’t so why should he? Obviously we hope our leaders stay ahead of the curve, but in general, Al Qaeda seemed like a distant threat while more traditional nation-states had been tremendous problems and were projected to be tremendous problems in the future.

So taking 8 months to develop a nearly identical policy to that of the Clinton Administration isn’t that bizarre of a move. Silly and petty yes. Unusual or careless–not really. Every administration thinks they will be far more effective than the last and they think they can come up with solutions that are far superior. The reality is that in the complex world, the options chosen are usually the least worst under the constraints imposed on a nation and inevitably the same least worst solutions are found.

What is subtle about Clarke’s claims as I interpret them is that everyone failed and that is horrible, but it happens. What he seems truly upset about is that Bush is now running on his record of combating terrorism when Bush was ineffective in Clarke’s view. Clarke seems to accept that such things happen, but then can’t believe the chutzpah of running on an ineffective policy.

So far, the news media has avoided what I think is a subtle, but perhaps more damning argument from Clarke, that while Bush made a mistake, that is forgivable, but running on that mistake is bizarre.

And People Thought He was Dumb

ArchPundit March 23, 2004 No Comments

Dan got there first, but Emil Jones shows his wit again.

Senate President Emil Jones ? who backed Obama ? wasn’t as cordial when asked later about Rush’s attendance: “I should have told him not to come: Bobby ‘Price is Right’ Rush.”

Emil had the line of 2003 when he addressed Phyllis Schlafly during ERA hearings:

“My only regret about bringing up this proposed constitutional amendment is that it has resurrected you.”

Joyce Watch

ArchPundit March 23, 2004 5 Comments

No, not the Chicago Fire Commissioner, but the loony Illinois Leader environmental commentator

This week, Ms. Morrison complains that reintroduction programs are causing changes to the environment and we shouldn’t mess with mother nature.

Okay, who gets the irony here? If you read her column, you realize in one instance she isn’t even talking about reintroduction, but even more importantly–it is messing with mother nature that caused a need for reintroduction. Unless she wants to treat every bit of development as ‘nature’ than her entire column falls down on its own logic. Nothing, new, but kinda funny.

The funniest bit is the Panther siting in Hardin. Having spent some time–especially some nights in Hardin, let me guess—someone had been drinking at the Barefoot Inn for a few too many hours and saw a big pink panther…..
On a more serious note, non-native species often due find their way to areas because mother nature has been messed with through spraw. But Morrison would never suggest that. I think we might be on our way to another black helicopter column. In a previous column she suggested black helicopters were part of a plot to discredit critics of the UN–so the black helicopter conspiracy theory is created by the UN to discredit conspiracy theorists..I couldn’t make this stuff up if I wanted to.

Breaking!

ArchPundit March 23, 2004 No Comments

Drudge style for a Drudge like report,
Via Tim Blair
Why did Morgan Fairchild give to Howard Dean, Dick Gephardht and John Edwards, but not the man she once dated, John Kerry?

Is there some dark secret from that relationship we don’t know about?

Developing….

Jack Ryan’s divorce woes just won’t die

ArchPundit March 23, 2004 5 Comments

That isn’t even me, that is the headline to an article in the Post-Dispatch from Sunday’s edition. I had planned on dropping this, but the regular media isn’t so…..

Let me make this clear, we don’t know much about what is in the sealed portions of the file. We do know that Ryan tried to have it sealed apparently due to embarrassing portions that might have an effect on him politically, and we know that a rival campaign has claimed that some very bad things are contained. We also know that Jeri Ryan didn’t want the records sealed, at least at first.

The larger point, as has been made in comments is that whether there is damaging information or not, the story will continue and for as long as that story is out there Ryan will never get to address the issues he wants to use to define the race. Right now that is critical to getting initial favorable impressions for voters. While it goes on, it allows Obama to deplore the negativity while defining the election in his favor.

Now Edgar has suggested he needs to get the files out there, as has former Edgar aide, Mike Lawrence. One complaint to the P-D about this, they should have identified Lawrence as an Obama supporter for the interview. While Lawrence is as honest as they come, this is a conflict readers should know about.

The undercurrent of much of the reporting is already who might replace Ryan on the ticket if he melts down. Errrr….this is not the way to use your honeymoon after a fairly decent victory in a divided primary.

Now to get on to the speculation, who might replace Ryan? Not Topinka or Edgar. Topinka has little desire to go to D.C. and if she is to go for higher office it’ll be in a final showdown between social conservatives and Combine Republicans over the Statehouse. Edgar seems to like his life and a Senate race is more than he wants to go through from all indications I’ve seen.

My guess if the party replaces Ryan? Rauschenberger–squeaky clean and popular with both combine elements and with social conservatives. I know, I know, I always overestimate how well Rauschenberger will do. It is hard to imagine such a campaign overcoming the craziness if Ryan were to drop out, but it might raise his profile over O’Malley and others providing a more sane alternative that is still conservative for the Governor’s race.