Much has been made of the Rasmussen poll on NSA surveillance I cited yesterday — from the timing of the poll (which, because polling was done over the holidays, would tend to hurt Republicans) to the absence of the word “warrantless,” which formulation would’ve advanced the New York Times and attendant media’s framing of issue moreso than the NSA / Bush framing (on which more to follow). Reaction on many
December 2005
December 29, 2005
The Politics of Intel
For those who haven’t yet seen it, here are the first set of the Rasmussen poll results regarding the NSA domestic “spying” story: Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans believe the National Security Agency (NSA) should be allowed to intercept telephone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the United States. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that just 23% disagree. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Americans say they
December 28, 2005
It’s a libertarian!
Congrats to Steve and Melissa Green on the birth of their son, Preston Davis. Wonderful times ahead—though the first few months will feel a bit like SEAL training. Which is why you’ll want to make sure John McCain knows that your sleep deprivation is by choice. Otherwise, Preston could be brought up on torture charges before he turns two months.
December 28, 2005
Ted Kennedy visits a DC McDonald’s drive-thru
Kennedy: “Yes, I’d like two Big Macs, large fries, and a large Diet Pepsi.” Drive-thru employee: “Super-sized, right?” Kennedy: “Of course.” Kennedy: “…Wait, how did you –? Kennedy: “– Okay, LET ME SEE YOUR FISA WARRANT, DRIVE-THRU GUY. NOW!”
December 28, 2005
The New York Times, the NSA, and the Ripple Effect
From the New York Times, “Defense Lawyers in Terror Cases Plan Challenges Over Spy Efforts”: Defense lawyers in some of the country’s biggest terrorism cases say they plan to bring legal challenges to determine whether the National Security Agency used illegal wiretaps against several dozen Muslim men tied to Al Qaeda. The lawyers said in interviews that they wanted to learn whether the men were monitored by the agency and,
December 28, 2005
Winning the (viral) war
A very interesing set of comments in yesterday’s thread on warring fatwas, one of which I want to draw particular attention to (though I encourage you to go read the exchange between Ric Locke and arch, as well). This is from Nishizono Shinji: The oral tradition of the Qu’ran is based on the oral traditions of the bedouin tribes. Arabic was spoken long before it was written. It is not
December 28, 2005
Because I’m determined not to start the day off with a post on the NSA domestic “spying” story
From the Weekly Standard‘s “Scrapbook,” 12/26: Former President Jimmy Carter, in an interview for the January issue of GQ magazine, reveals how, on the recommendation of then-CIA director Stansfield Turner, he once authorized a psychic to make targeting decisions–while “in a trance”–for America’s satellite surveillance system: GQ: One of the promises you made in 1976 was that if you were elected, you would look into the [UFO] reports from Roswell
December 27, 2005
My second brief conversation with my new Xmas Sonicare Intelliclean System i8500 with Crest liquid toothpaste
Sonicare i8500: “Well…? Whaddya think?” Me: “Jesus God, baby! You make Mentos feel like a french kiss from a congested nun!”
December 27, 2005
“Some Muslims Shifting Tactics on Radicals”
From the AP: It’s becoming known as the war of the fatwas: the dizzying exchange of proclamations between Islamic moderates and militants on what it means to be Muslim. The duels have been waged everywhere from pamphlets to cyberspace. Now some Muslim leaders seek to shift tactics against radicals. Their hope rests in one of Islam’s most elemental questions: Who has the real authority to make religious rulings and other
December 27, 2005
10 Worst Americans Ever
In response to a historians’ list of the 10 Worst Britons of the last 1000 years, Alexandra of All Things Beautiful has asked for a list of the 10 Worst Americans of all time. Rather than thinking this over, I’ve decided to go with my gut and name the first 10 that come to mind: 10. Steve G*rtz A musclebound bully who spent his late teens and early twenties looking