Ah, c'mon. It's fun being stuck between a rock and a hard place. I eman, either we go with European style fascism, or we can choose Islamic fundamentalism ... Now there's an interesting spot to be in.

And while we're going through that decision here, the rest of the world has been swayed into believing that we're attempting to take over and turn the entire planet into a U.S. colonial empire, for some reason.

Definitely time for something to change. Yiiii. Although, I'm somehat encouraged (maybe I need stronger glasses, though) by some of the commentary from Captiol Hill after the S of the U address. There seems to be a consensus of sorts that the far right is the only group not willing to at least try working cooperatively. It ain't a big step, but it's a step. Meanwhile, I sure hope that WSJ reporter makes it back O.K.

Or Islamic fundamentalism vs Christian fundamentalism.

And how about the best metaphor of the week. Asscroft the puritan having to spend $8,000 to have a statue covered up!! It's perfect. The administration covering up the symbol of Justice.

I think selecting John Asscroft will come back to haunt Bush. Maybe not now while the country is out to lunch. But at some point, having a psycho fundamentalist extremist will cost him.

i'm thinking ashcroft should have saved the money on the drapes and just asked karzai to bring a burka with him for the statue.

Yeah, well. Near as I can tell, the far right and Christian Fundamentalism are pretty much synonymous in this country -- n'est pas?

The statue being covered up represents -- Surprise! (or not) -- <u>the Spirit</u> of Justice. Talk about your metaphors ... Give them time. They have her behind her velvet wall for now. A burka will only be necessary when she's being seen in public ...

Did anyone see the piece NBC Nightly News did on it? They actually weren't allowed to film the offending statue, although it's supposedly only being covered up for certain occasions. (Those 'occasions' being the entirety of Bush's term, no doubt.) The sculptor is livid about it. (Those artists. They sure are touchy, aren't they? They get so upset over the littlest things...) There was something gratifying about hearing Ashcroft dubbed "immature" on network news, I must say. And I love how Ashcroft's office got around their initial flat denial that drapes had been ordered. They claimed (afterwards) that they hadn't lied about it at all. No, no: It's just that only Ashcroft and his personal assistant knew about it, and no one thought to ask them. Right.

I'd <u>still</u> like to know what those drapes are made of to be worth $8,000.00. That's two years total income, for me.

I think that we get fucked so often by the government that ALL goverment statues should have an exposed penis, so at least we can see it coming.You know, truth in advertising? Ya know what I'm sayin'?

Larry, I believe they made their intentions abundantly clear with the Washington monument ...

As for Bush: OK, so he rose to the occasion and aquitted himself reasonably well in the face of an emergency. I was fine with that, not being a vindictive sort. I was even glad to see it, given his position and how much he can affect my life. However: Think there's a chance he won't let it go to his head, or that he won't start believing his own PR? Or is it -- alas -- way too late to salvage whatever vestiges of dignity he may have aspired to?

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