ArchPundit

I have to wonder where

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

I have to wonder where all the whining about the UN comes from. The General Assembly has all sorts of problems, and I don’t want to excuse those. Financially, we should get them to clean the mess up and we’ve taken a lot of steps to do that.

However, when it comes to the Security Council, the UN is largely a tool of US power. Of the five member we almost always have one vote locked up, one for sale (Russia), and one that bellyaches and then is up for sale as an abstention so they don’t veto a plan, and well, then the real problem France. Admittedly, France is useless and only got the seat because of postwar politics. The Security Council is deigned to hold power in those few hands and the US with decent leadership accomplishes a great deal with it.

The Council doesn’t have deal with every small country in the world and it is empowered to act easier than any other body. Even more important, any UN Military action can be vetoed by us, thus giving us a lot of control over multilateral actions when we aren’t involved.

We’ve got it pretty good. A little massaging and we do extremely well with the Security Council except on issues relating to China or Russia. Well, that and when the French get a bug up their ass. It isn’t perfect, but it provides the US an important institutional mechanism to get world support, with very little actual support from the other nations.

This is truly outrageous. You

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

This is truly outrageous. You can die for our liberties, but Congress is going to restrict your liberty over your body.

The proper response to the

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

The proper response to the pot question was properly demonstrated by Bill Bradley on ABC This Week when he was asked. He replied that yes he had on many occasions, and then turned the question on Sam, Cokie and George Will. Sam, yes, Cokie no, and George Will drank a lot of whiskie in Illinois Cornfields, but no pot.

Blago actually answered in a straightforward manner and then let the press catch him in a series of awkward questions about whether he inhaled. He isn’t sure, and they got the headline they wanted.

Looks like the Jihad wing

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

Looks like the Jihad wing of the Kansas Republican Party is about to get a big ‘ole ass kicking. Sebelius is up 17 points and over the magical 50% mark. Kansas may get a functioning Democratic Party yet. If evolution becomes an issue again, it will promote party reallignment. Moderate Republicans like to have kids educated in science. They are funny that way.

Taking one for the team.

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

Taking one for the team. Thanks Janet. Let’s go Bill!

Long-Term stability in the Mid-East

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

Long-Term stability in the Mid-East hinges on this critical issue.

I’m pretty sure Chuch Grassley

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

I’m pretty sure Chuch Grassley doesn’t know what a lap dance is. However, he does a passable imitation of Proxmire and the article is important.

Via Conason is a link

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

Via Conason is a link about the further politicization of science by the Bush Administration. This is disgraceful.

I usually agree with Conason,

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

I usually agree with Conason, but this broadside against Leach is a bit too harsh. Leach went out on a limb, but he came back and of all the investigations, his was kept relatively respectible. Leach also never cast aspersions on Clinton’s military maneuvers.

More importantly, Leach was far from a tool of Gingrich. His refusal to vote for him on the House Floor brought down Gingrich. That refusal led to other moderate Members doing the same and Gingrich withdrew.

Leach isn’t perfect, but his handling of the investigation was far more professional than others.

A sign of the Apocalypse

ArchPundit September 17, 2002 0 Comment

A sign of the Apocalypse here and here. Charen and Ivins agreeing?

Of course, one mentions the responsible parties in both parties, while the other chooses to focus on one party–go figure.