Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Some brief thoughts for today
- I have to admit I didn’t watch much of the Alito hearings as I was, obviously, working during the time that they were taking place. I did read a little bit of the question and answer interchanges and really think the whole thing was rather useless.
a. I am tired of the concept that the Democrats somehow made Mrs. Alito cry. I was clearly Senator Graham using the term bigot in reference to Judge Alito that began the tears. I am not accusing Senator Graham of anything but come one.
b.I have my concerns about putting Judge Alito on the Supreme Court. I really have no defined reason for this as I really don’t know that much about him other than what I have heard on the radio/TV, but my instinct tells me that he is going to make a very bad justice. I plan on taking time to e-mail the members of the Senate Judicial committee, likely tonight, to express my ‘discomfort’ with Judge Alito.
- I am more than moderately upset with this administration and their apparent disregard for the Constitutional protections that are afforded the citizens of this country. I have heard/seen numerous ‘comparisons’ to the fascist regimes of the 1930’s. While I am not sure this is precisely an accurate comparison, there are some things that are definitely making me nervous about the actions that they are taking. I said once, at a very young age, that there were similarities to the US and the Rome. (Late pre-imperial era) I have been thinking about this more in recent weeks. If/when I have time I will get much more into this. I have some research I would like to do before I get into the actual comparisons.
- On a less political note. Battlestar Galactica returned for the second half of its season this on the 6th. If possible the show is getting better and more impressive. The writers continue to come up with unexpected solutions to situations that seem to have no out as they set things up.
- ‘24’ returned this past Sunday and Monday. I haven’t seen the 2 hours that was broadcast on Monday yet. (Yet another thing that is on my schedule to accomplish this evening if time permits.) The first 2 hours were very well done and got the season off to a very good start.
- Back to some politics. I have been following the developments in Israeli politics since the middle of last year with something akin to amazement. I was surprised that withdrawing from Gaza didn’t get delayed in any way, shape or form. I was just as surprised by the year end moves made by the Portly PM. Then, just as it seems that things seem to be calming down, Ariel goes and has a massive stroke. After some brief email interchanges with Jameel from The Muqata, and my own thinking about the situation the following are my current thoughts:
- I am fairly sure that Kadima will be the majority party in the Kenneset after the up coming elections in March. (This could change depending on how the campaign goes.
- I am not completely comfortable with Ehud Olmert as PM, but I don’t really see that as the worst thing.
- I am fairly sure that if Labor head Peretz becomes the PM it will be a complete disaster for Israel.
- Of the 3 major candidates, my personal first choice would be Bibi. This is probably because he has experience as PM and I feel that I have some clue as to how he is going to operate in the position.
- I was very shocked to hear APM Olmert make his ‘aggressive’ statements toward Iran and the resumption of the Iranian nuclear power program. (I think they are going to see what the international community can do, but that having been said, they do have American bunker buster bombs that I believe were probably acquired for exactly this situation if it ever got out of hand.
- I am not happy with the situation in Hebron, but I am not exactly sure why this action is being taken at this time.
- I am marginally interested in the out come of the Palestinian Authority elections. Actually I will be interested in if the elections actually occur. I have the distinct impression that Mahmoud Abbas would love to find a way to give the appearance of elections with out actually having elections. Basically, he wants to retain power without actually appearing to be ‘seizing’ power with out the mandate of the people.
I am sorry for the odd look to this post. It was originally written in Word and published directly form there use the Blogger for Word tool bar. It was very well organized and pretty in word. For some reason when I published it, it got all screwed up. Oh well the thoughts are still there.
