THIS is simply brilliant.
Even if YouTube fails to produce a single video clip of value after this one, it will have served its purpose. I particularly enjoy the scribbling part.
Old educational films are often creepy. But they have served as the basis for so many wonderful spoofs, so I forgive them their creepiness.
(I am beginning to suspect that my sense of humor says more about me than I really want anyone to know.)
This is a great ARTICLE from Peggy Noonan. It’s also sad, because I think she feels that Rick Santorum will lose. And she knows that will be a bad thing for everyone, not just for Pennsylvania.
Personally I’ll shed no tear for the careerists of either party who win or lose, nor for the BlackBerryed gargoyles in the second row of the SUV who tell them how to think and where to stand. That means this election night will be, for me, a dry-eyed affair.
But if Rick Santorum goes down to the defeat all expect, I will feel it. Like the crusty old moderate Republican, I know a national loss when I see one.
A friend of mine recently pointed out to me why Noonan’s writing is so excellent: she talks personally, but never conveys the idea that she’s talking about herself. Sort of like a “fireside chat.” Feels like one is being written to specifically, instead of as a member of a larger group.
Brilliant style. But this one is definitely sad. I don’t want to lose Santorum.
A last bit on Kerry, before it fades forever from the national consciousness. At least until Mr. Kerry makes a fool of himself again.
Window on the Week SUMS up what I’ve been hearing from a number of folks.
John Kerry apologized for his “botched joke,” but only after fellow Democrats had pulled him off the campaign trail and distanced themselves from his remarks. It appears that Kerry actually was attempting a notionally humorous, if arrogant and obnoxious, jab at Bush when he told a crowd of students that if they didn’t do well in school they’d get “stuck in Iraq.” But he left out any mention of Bush, and the “joke” came across as a slam of the military. Any other politician would have deserved the benefit of the doubt, but not Kerry. Calling soldiers dumb is mild compared with what he did during Vietnam, when he accused his comrades of routinely committing war crimes. Outrage at that smear, of course, is what motivated the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to go after him in 2004. Unfortunately, all Kerry learned from that experience was to viciously attack any of his detractors, a mistaken lesson that he applied in the immediate aftermath of this week’s gaffe, only stoking the controversy. We doubt the incident will have any long-lasting effect, except to convince Democrats never, ever again to permit him to “report for duty” as their presidential nominee.
And HERE is Michael Novak’s piece on the Kerry-Hersh connection.
Rich Lowry has more general election THOUGHTS.
The Hot Stove is in fine FORM already.
Dodgers: General manager Ned Colletti has indicated he will not be aggressively pursuing Matsuzaka, but he does seek a middle-of-the-order bat and a starting pitcher. He is rumored to have interest in Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa, along with free agents Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee and Ramirez.
Yuck. Plus, Gagne’s GONE. (Though perhaps not for good.)
The Canada native is currently rehabbing near his Arizona home. He recently resumed tossing, but it might not be known until early 2007 whether Gagne will be ready for Spring Training or Opening Day.
General manager Ned Colletti said he expects to meet with Scott Boras, Gagne’s agent, next week to discuss Gagne, as well as other Boras clients like free-agent pitchers Barry Zito and Greg Maddux. Boras also represents Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka; however, Colletti has indicated only lukewarm interest in the right-hander, who is expected to cost upwards of $50 million in salary and acquisition fee for his Japanese club.
I like the “lukewarm interest” in Matsuzuka. That’s a good sign. But the Lee and Soriano stuff doesn’t make me feel good at all.
