The Economist Challenge:):):):):):):)...What to do with Iran and North Korea?:):):):):):):):):)...

All of those smileys are dedicated to J. Marquis, the defender of all that is Good and Apocalyptic in the Republican Party and beyond this life:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Speaking of which:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

If you haven't visited Frontpage Magazine:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...News Central for the COMING APOCALYPSE:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) (why are you smiling, you heretic?:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...don't you know that the end is near?:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Sadly:):):):):):):):):)...and HILARIOUSLY:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

David Horowitz becomes a sad, self-parody of HIMSELF:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

With his new book...that I don't think is SUPPOSED to be a joke:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...but sure seems like one, nonetheless:):):):):):):):):):)...

The omininously titled:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

THE END OF TIMES...

Now David has TRULY joined the leagues and intellectual circles of Jack Van Impe, Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart, :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

And the fools who fall for this bullshit DESERVE David Horowitz as their half-mad, half-intellectual, half-old-time-preacher, half-megalomaniac heir:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

I'm listening to:

The Beatles...Lonely People (and:):):):):):)...as my good friend, Brian White, would subtitle this song:):):):):):):)...Fucking liberals...fucking liberals:):):):):):):):):):):) (Brian...if you read this:):):):):):)...I just want you to know that I SING THOSE IMPROMPTU LYRICS TO THAT SONG EVERY TIME I HEAR IT SINCE OUR DAYS IN COLLEGE:):):):):):):)...funny stuff:):):):):):)...you may just have to be there for it:):):):):)...

Harry Connick, Jr.:):):):):):)...and his BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS cover of "If I only had a Brain":):):):):):):)...I think I'm going to have that song played at my funeral and the lyrics inscribed on my tombstone:):):):):):):)...along with the last 15 minutes of Monty Python's the Life of Brian, of course:):):):):):):)...

The Decemberists:):):):):)...My Mother was a Chineze Trapeze Artist:):):):):):):):):):)...my FAVORITE Decemberist song, I think:):):):):):):):):)...and a DEFINITE MUST for anyone interested in either VERY INTELLIGENT or POLITICAL or FAR, FAR LEFT-WING POLITICAL music:):):):):):):):):) (this song is about some SERIOUS LEFTISTS:):):):):):):)...socialists...communists...something WAY OUT THERE:):):):):):):):):):):)...and it is SO FUN and SWEET and EXCITING to have such intelligent lyrics in contemporary music:):):):):):):):):):)...I patiently seek and await similar REALLY CRAZY AND INTELLIGENT conservative lyrics:):):)...and David Allan Coe, though amusing, DOESN'T COUNT IN THIS CATEGORY:):):):):):):):)...but Rush DEFINITELY WOULD:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...although the last Rush album I saw looked much less libertarian than hippy and liberal, really:):):):):):):):):)...their war protest album, I think:):):):):):):):):)...

...but...for now...Hank Williams Sr. and Little Jimmy's 1952 version of the Old Country Church will have to do:):):):):):):):)...damn, did that guy have a twang, huh?:):):):):):):)...I LOVE IT:):):):):):):)...

OK:):):):):):):)...enough of the music celebration:):):):):):):)...

Onto the show:):):):):):):)...

I dedicate this blog to the wonderful little conservative forum at Ala's ... Blonde Sagacity, which you should check out when you get a chance:):):):):):):)...

The challenge, originally, is from the editors of href="http://www.economist.com">The Economist
magazine:):):):):):):)...

The Return of the Axis of Evil: Iran and North Korea

The challenge is issued as such:

If you want a multipolar world, do something

Should either or both of these events come to pass, note please that it is the world and not just America that will have to rise to the challenge. A lot of Mr Bush's critics will not see it that way. They will take satisfaction in his failure to achieve an aim he put at the forefront of his foreign policy in 2002—and they will argue that the
example America made of Saddam Hussein turns out to have fed rather than curbed the nuclear appetite of Iran and North Korea. But that argument is magnificently beside the point. The point now is that both Iran and North Korea are unpredictable regimes whose possession of nuclear weapons would be dangerous in its own right and might also persuade other countries in their neighbourhoods to go nuclear as well.

Whatever can reasonably be done to stop this proliferation nightmare should be done. And this, for all the talk of a unipolar world with one superpower, is not a job that America should have to do, or probably is able to do, alone.

You should DEFINITELY check out the rest of this article which has many important observations about the situation that it wouldn't do much good to repeat here...I'd just check out what they have to say:):):):):) (link above:):):)...

And their conclusions -- in favor of economic sanctions and against the use of force or military threats to coerce less militaristic aspirations of these two countries...and soon -- are GREAT in ONE VERY IMPORTANT RESPECT...they are critical, rightly, of the President's failure to accomplish much and the backsliding of the North Koreans and Iranians in reaction to his most recent moves to threaten military options if the countries do not do as the White House bids...

Let me say, up front, that EVERYONE -- the Administration...the Economist...the New York Times...the Wall Street Journal...the Guardian...the Globe and Mail...the Mail and Guardian...the Times of London...the Financial Times...Pravda...Democrats...Republicans...Tories...Labour...Liberal Democrats...Socialists in France and Spain...and Gualists and Conservatives in both countries...Christian Democrats...Social

Democrats...

EVERYONE...make no mistake about it...EVERYONE:):):):):):)...except for maybe the more militaristic, self-centered, suicidal, and foolish in each of these countries...like the folks over at Frontpage Magazine here in the good ol' U.S. of A.:):):):):):):):):):):)...and, quite likely, in the leadership among Iranians and North Koreans...

EVERYONE ELSE:):):):):):)...EVERYONE ELSE:)...wants to find as peaceful means as possible to prevent aggressive rogue regimes from threatening their neighbors and the world with serious nuclear weapons:):):):):):):)...

Meaning...especially in America:):):):):):):)...I want us to take a deep breath:):):)...exhale:):):):):)...

And remember that WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM, HERE:):):):):):):)...

And we ALL have an interest in a more peaceful, less threatening world:):):):):):):)...especially from the likes of leftist dictators like Kim Jong Il and Iranian theocrats who control parliament next door to Israel, Iraq, and other places that we need be concerned about:):):):):)...

Which is EXACTLY the point of the Economist editorial, if a bit shrill in its alarm at the situation:):):):):):):)...

As I pointed out in an earlier post:):):):):)...

The Economist, itself, acknowledges that North Korea -- the more erratic of the two regimes, I believe:):):):):)...my conservative friends can nod their heads and say, "But, of course:):):):):)...it IS the Leftist regime, isn't it?:):):):):):):)...why I bet that Bill Clinton and Jane Fonda consumated their secret, traitorous affair right there on the Big Bear Rug of the North's Communist Palace there in the center of Pyongpang:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Maybe:):):):):):):)...Jane Fonda IS looking sexy, these days:):):):):):):):):):):)...I have to say:):):):):):):)...

The Economist acknowledges that North Korea can flatten Seoul with NO MORE weapons upgrades, whatsoever, at this point...

So...the real problem is CHILLING EVERYONE OUT, right now...including the Economist:):):):):):)...if they can do SERIOUS DAMAGE to South Korea's capital AT THIS MOMENT, it doesn't make much sense getting all worked up about MORE DESTRUCTIVENESS, necessarily...maybe just beginning to deal with the current destructive potential of that regime is enough for us to bite off, right now:):):):):):):):)...

And Iran is a VERY DIFFERENT CASE, I believe, that should be treated, differently, I believe:):):):):)...the MOST IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE, being, of course, not only that Europeans were briefly persuasive in getting Iran to hold back on its nuclear plans for about 6 months (an important success to build on:):):):):):):)...

But MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY:):):):):)...Iran is a DEMOCRACY...and one that recent dealt with a MILLION PLUS protest in its capital against the current leadership:):):):):):):)...a theocratic leadership that has proved itself to be TERRIBLY manipulative in its pursuit of power in Iran, including a slightly ramped up version of Pope Benedict's somewhat similar moves at power in the Catholic Church, purging moderates who veer from the leadership's view of Iran...in the Pope's case, his power is -- LUCKILY -- limited to the archaic institutions of the Catholic Church:):):):):):):)....in Iran's case, the conservative leadership purged moderate candidates who might have unseated them in periodic elections:(...

But Iran is a democracy, nonetheless...allowing for more openness to change and shock and adaption to circumstances and ability of the electorate to have influence --as it recently did in a MUCH, MUCH LESS democratic Lebanon -- that a more straightforward autocratic dictatorship like North Korea does not share with its autocratic democratic world neighbor:):):):):):):)...Islamic theocrats look more like their Christian theocratic brethren here in the States, in many ways, than they do the ugly and parasitic dictatorship of North Korea...

My friend, Kenny, has a REALLY WONDERFUL suggestion, I think...

In the case of North Korea and Iran, the President could start by de-linkinng the two countries, which are very different...

He could then pursue non-threatening bi-lateral and multi-lateral talks with them that don't take already paranoid actors and have them ambitiously pursue nuclear materials because they are afraid that you might invade and they clearly want to keep you out, making them MORE DANGEROUS, as the Economist points out, rather than LESS DANGEROUS,
which, if you take a moment away from just defending the President and his actions and just look at what they are doing in response to the President's actions...which is REALLY THE GOAL, isn't it?...I'd also -- in this case and with Iran, specifically -- build on MANY, MANY STRENGTHS in this Administration...including:

1) A SERIOUS respect for Islamic religion, cultures, and institutions...is EVERYONE losing their minds on this story TOTALLY forgetting how much effort the Administration and the military went to avoid hitting Islamic mosques in Iraq and rebuilding ones that got caught in crossfire or where fighting couldn't be avoided?...I would add a serious respect for the constructive priorities of leaders in
Iran and North Korea, including a vague desire to care for the needs of their peoples...given...it's a STRETCH of a compliment:):):):):):)...but I think this is a better start than just criticism alone:):):):):)...which gets us to the SECOND important strength of this Administration, I think:):):):):):):)...

2) President Bush's forthright criticism of autocracies and rogue regimes...this is where I and many of the President's critics in the media SERIOUSLY DISAGREE...I DO agreee with many folks -- and the bulk of the international policy scholarly community...conservatives -- like Henry Kissinger and Robert Kagan -- AND liberals -- like Joe Nye and
Thomas Friedman...that the President should stop trying to bully the world and should work WITH multilateral institutions, like the United Nations and NATO, and with democratic and non-democratic partners to engage such issues...with open and honest disagreement, to be sure...but not trying to win the upper hand, politically, and not expect consequences that none of us want, on the back end...

And I think that trying to SCARE North Korea and Iran into giving up their pursuit of weapons is CLEARLY NOT WORKING BY ANY OBJECTIVE MEASURE of the situation, which is EXACTLY why the Economist is so
RIGHTLY critical:):):)...

I think we should focus on bilateral and multilateral talks...and in doing what the President and John Bolton have SAID, recently, that they want to do with the U.N...which I think would be encouraging if they are being sincere...which is to ENGAGE it...to recognize and acknowledge it's value...as the President does so well with, say, American businesses...but which he needs to do better, I think, with the U.N...AND to criticize it...especially its record of allowing serious human rights abusers tell the rest of the world what constitutes a human rights abuse...I am ALL ABOUT INCLUSION as a means of engaging aggressors in a democratic context -- as has CLEARLY been a success in Great Britain with the IRA and the Ulster Unionists -- but there also needs to be voices of reason who say that Syria is not the best country to tell ANYONE what is constituted in a human rights
abuse:):):):):)...and out of that democratic engagement, I think, we give autocrats experience with the BENEFITS and HONESTY and GOOD FOR THEIR COUNTRIES AND FOR THE WORLD that come with democratic engagement, which is EXACTLY why Gerry Adams -- a spokesman for a former terrorist group now-turned-political-party -- worked so hard in the last couple of years to KEEP THE PEACE IN IRELAND ON TRACK, a REMARKABLE development, to say the least, from a time when Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein RATIONALIZED murder for political ends...

So...there is MUCH PRECEDENT to believe that such a strategy could besuccessful...as well as the Europeans BRIEF success in squelching the Iranians' pursuit of nuclear weapons which was SADLY COMPOUNDED by a boisterous U.S. threatening war with it...what a foolish mistake:):):):):):):)....

And...it's just a mistake:):):):):):):)...and...like
Newsweek:):):):):):):)...the quicker the President recognizes that:):):):):):):)...the quicker we get to BETTER solutions:):):):):):):)...

3) The President's and the Administration's GENUINE concern for America's interests in global affairs:):):):):):):)...and their hopefully moving past the illusion that somehow their just going to be
able to BEAT world opinion in their direction:):):):):):):)...a foolish bet, that's for damned sure:):):):):):):)...and the Administration's willingness to point out the shortcomings in international institutions like the U.N.:):):):):) (though I somehow doubt going after Kofi Annon will do very much more, at all, than increase the shrill of Bush sitting for war-crimes talk amongts liberals:):):):):):):) (which is a pretty serious risk for the President who DID violate international law over the course of this war:):):):):):):)...I don't think it will go this way:):):):):):):)...but going after Kofi Annon will surely INCREASE that likelihood, rather than decrease it:):):):):):):)...and likely do NOTHING to promote the welfare of those hurt by the mistakes in the oil-for-food program -- except bring general awareness of the issue -- and do MUCH to undermine conservative credibility on the issue, as it already has with me...

4) Making the case that though America's willingness to lead military efforts when they are needed might, at times, make them a bit TOO EXCITED to take on such missions:):):):):):):)...that the resistance to sharing the burden equitably on such missions by the Japanese and Germans and French, etc., undermine THEIR CREDIBILITY AS WELL:):):):):):):)...a truism that gets MUCH DISCUSSION in the U.S...especially amongst conservatives:):):)...but less and needed discussion in places like the U.N.:):):):):):):)...

...and saving the talk of militarism for when it is more useful...like
in the case of a REAL IMMINENT THREAT from the North or Iran on Seoul or Israel...like if North Korea or Iran is OVERTLY THREATENING IMMEDIATELY OR VERY SOON TO RAIN NUCLEAR IN SEOUL OR TEL AVIV...or to otherwise attack, with missile technology or ground troops, their more democratic neighbors:):):):):)...

5) Sanctions will almost inevitably beconsidered...and the Administration will almost inevitably support them (though they have PLEASANTLY SURPRISED me at times...as with their pleading with Ariel Sharon to back off more aggressive moves in Palestine)...so I have to include them...I don't have much hope that they will work, given what we know about the psychology of the insular, paranoid, seriously-controlling and repressive, militaristic, and seriously manipulative leadership in both Tehran and Pyongyang...Iran is democratic and, thus and on its own merits, less dangerous, I think, than the megalomania of Kim Jong Il...and has fewer capabilities to threaten democratic countries than does the North Korean leadership, according to this Economist article...

Though the Economist suggests them...they will likely have a similar, less serious consequence as the current policy, I'm afraid (I would love for them or war or ANY POLICY to work, frankly...but they just aren't likely to, I'm afraid, given who we are dealing with...and with human nature's tendency to DEFEND itself from perceived attacks, for good or for ill:):):):):):))...

I think bilateral and multilateral talks and inclusion of these countries into institutions like the United Nations are MUCH MORE LIKELY to create changes in their leaderships' behavior (with a VIGOROUS AND ENGAGED debate and discussion about the direction and purposes of the United Nations and other international institutions by conservatives, liberals, and even rogue regimes...this doesn't mean that Kim Jong Il's philosophy of democracy is equally as valid as that of democratic countries like the U.S. OBVIOUSLY:):):):):):):):)...it just means that, like Gerry Adams...the more he's TALKING AND THINKING about democracy...the more he absorbs its values...and the better for ALL OF US, as a consequence...as the truism of contemporary political science that the President has been repeating to President Putin and his neighbors, recently...the more democratic countries are...the more likely that they DON'T go to war with one another...and that they act less aggressively with one another...which, at its root, is the FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE of our policies towards Iraq, Iran, and North Korea...not declaring war...or imposing sanctions...these are only tools...that either get us CLOSER to that goal...or, as is the unfortunate case today, get us FARTHER AWAY from that goal...

6) The VERY SAVVY and IMPORTANT work and suggestions of the brains behind much of the work in Iraq, right now, that I'm ashamed that I forgot about when I posted very similar versions of this writing on
Ala's blog...

Paul Wolfowitz...

Very soon after the commencement of the Iraq war...As Paul was -- FAR AHEAD of the pack of the very reflective re-thinking of the war going on inside the Administration:):):):):)...ahead Condi's VERY POIGNANT rethinking:):):):):)...and Don Rumsfeld's second thoughts:):):):):)...and Colin Powell's and Tom Ridge's and Richard Clarke's POST-CABINET re-thinking that would have been FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY ENGAGED if it would have had an audience while they were STILL WORKING FOR THE PRESIDENT:):):):):):):)...

Very soon after the war started, Paul suggested that Americans support more open, democratic, and liberal -- "small l" classical, free-thinking, free-expressing liberal, in this sense -- values by financially and otherwise supporting SCHOOLS in Islamic countries like Afghanistan and Iraq to support the nurturing of these kinds of VERY IMPORTANT VALUES in Islamic cultures...

And that suggestion is not only a BRILLIANT ONE -- which the Administration, generally, and Paul, specifically, deserve much credit for:):):):):):):)...

But it is one that should be extended, as much as possible to autocracies and dictatorships like Iran and North Korea:):):):):):):):):)...

This would make an IMMENSE DIFFERENCE, if it were possible to implant these institutions in places like North Korea and Iran...But they will ONLY BE POSSIBLE if these states and cultures DO NOT FEEL THREATENED by the Administration and the Western and civilized and democratic world...

A VERY, VERY, VERY good reason to NOT ENGAGE IN A POLICY THAT EMPHASIZES THREATS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THIS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD...for goodness sakes:):):):):):):):):):)...But THAT IS OK:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...because MISTAKES GET MADE:):):):):):):):):):):)...and that is the nature of international and domestic policy:):):):):):):):):):):):)...

It is not only OK that mistakes get made over the course of these very difficult policy choices...it is COMMON and NORMAL in ON-GOING AND NEVERENDING learning curve of international (and domestic) policy:):):):):):):)......and acknowledging that instead of assuming bad faith is MUCH MORE CONSTRUCTIVE, I believe, to preventing similar mistakes in the future than trying to get folks' heads...

For the President:):):):):):):)...and for Newsweek:):):):):):):)...and, this time, the President needs to follow this media organization's lead, I think:):):):):):):)...

That would be THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION I would have for the President...it's not his strength, unfortunately...and, as I've written earlier, it is VERY DIFFICULT to do, publicly...so I TOTALLY feel for George in this respect:):):)...but I'd do it anyway...

Apologize...

Apologize to the world for trying to make it do your bidding just because you say so...and because you're arrogant enough to believe that you know what's best for the world without consulting it...Apologize to Iraqis and American soldiers and international relief workers and other service-people, Iraqi law-enforcement, non-profit workers, commercial workers, and to the families of those whose lives were lost over the course of this world...whose lives were ALL put in FAR TOO MUCH UNNECCESSARY RISK, as a consequence of the President's arrogance to believe that forming substantial international coalitions
and consensus did not/do not matter...for disregarding international institutions, like the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council...as well as important NATO allies, like France and Germany:)...

Apologize to the North Koreans -- the leadership and the population -- as well as the Iranian leadership and people for persistently THREATENING them, militarily, to get our way on a whole host of matters
-- specifically, the renunciation of nuclear programs -- that has CLEARLY BEEN COUNTERPRODUCTIVE to anyone REALLY CONCERNED WITH DEALING HONESTLY WITH THIS THREAT...and not just defending the President and his mistakes...a policy of threats that leads those cultures, populations, and states to CLOSE DOWN, DIG IN, and PREPARE FOR BATTLE...not the state that you need so same folks in to learn and
support and nurture the values of free and open and liberal ("small l" classical liberal ) and democratic cultures:):):):):):):):):):):):)...

And apologize to the American people...for both giving deceptive reasons for going into Iraq...and for not being more thoughtful about how such a war might be engaged to ensure that many, many, many fewer American, Iraqi and other lives would be lost over its course...and to American liberals, in particular, for treating them like opponents, at worst, and less than equitable partners, at best, when developing international and domestic policy:):):):):):):):)...

I would then work with international relief organizations, fundraising, and other groups to fund emergency food relief for North Koreans, specifically, during bilateral and multilateral talks...to make clear that such talks and efforts in the region are AUTHENTICALLY about how much Americans CARE about the North Koreans -- and about themselves -- and not about how they want to SCARE or REPRESS THEM STILL FURTHER THAN THEY ARE ALREADY REPRESSED (learning the lessons from the very serious problems we've encountered in Iraq:):):)...

I would also continue to offer up as much free and paid for and otherwise supported access to both Iranians and North Koreans (there is more precedent for Iranians enjoying American culture...but if there's a way to get it to North Koreans, then I am all for it:):):):):) to products and media of American culture:):):):):)...the pink fashions and rap music that Iranians have, reportedly, been indulging in:):):):):):):)...and rebelling against their parents and their parents' generation with:):):):):):):)...the access to American, British, South Korean, Egyptian, Iraqi, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Scandanavian, Swiss, Italian, Nigerian, Kyrgyz, Russian, Christian and other missionary (my South Korean friends tell me that Christian missionaries have been VERY IMPORTANT ambassadors to South Korean culture from America...and might have similar influence in the North, though, as with China, with significantly more risk, I'm sure, in a Communist dictatorship...and other more democratic media, movies, music, books, scholarship, and more open culture:):):):):):):)...

As Joe Nye -- the Dean of the Harvard School of Government and my FAVORITE international policy scholar -- makes clearer in his most recent works:):):):):):):)...

While hard power -- in the form of military and economic force and sanctions -- can be useful in international diplomacy (and I would add...for some purposes...that have important tradeoffs with other purposes...meaning they are discreet tools for certain efforts -- like limiting regimes' access to weapons of mass destruction -- while distorting relationships needed for other efforts -- for democratization, for instance...or for extradition of or for reducing or removing support for terrorists....or for trade...or for improving openess and linkages for American and Western and democratic and non-democratic media, music, books, scholarship, internet, etc...or for solving A WHOLE HOST of serious international problems...that require
STRONG OVERALL RELATIONSHIPS, first and foremost, to tackle so many important and necessary issues, simultaneously, without trading off issues of importance with one another...rather than DISCREET and often COUNTERPRODUCTIVE efforts at forcing regimes' hands on issues that are not of immediate and truly imminent threat, as I see no evidence, thusfar, including from this Economist article, that Iran or North Korea really are...

As Joe makes clear...

Soft power -- or more direct diplomacy, study abroad programs -- especially programs that allow young folks from these countries to study in America in AS BIG A NUMBERS AS POSSIBLE and that sharing and genuine exchange of our more open culture and even others' more closed cultures -- are FAR UNDERVALUED in the current context...and need to be revisited by American and world leaders, generally...but definitely in situations of the most serious risk of escalation, as Iran and North Korea and Iraq are proving to be:):):):):):)...

And soft efforts to encourage, teach, share, and otherwise nurture democratic values in these countries...through schools -- as Paul Wolfowitz, the current World Bank chairman and one of President Bush's most important intellectual advisors over the course of this war in Iraq suggested VERY, VERY, VERY WISELY in Islamic countries...like Iran, say:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...through open and as freely accessed as possible...internet...press...and other news media (the Economist making its premium content freely accessable is a WELCOME AND WONDERFUL MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION:):):):):):):):):):)...I've been waiting to brag on them about this ever since I encountered it:):):):):):):)...music...movies...television...advertising (as much as this just PISSES OFF LIKE ALL HELL traditionalists in developing and autocratic and repressive cultures:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...fuck 'em, I say:):):):):):):):):):):):)...I don't have ANY FUCKIN' PROBLEMIN THE FUCKIN' WORLD with Islamists and Communists and various autocrats and dictatorships and closed and more traditional cultures being pissed off with Americans and others using and celebrating their First Amendment Rights:):):):):):):):):)...I also happen to think that Afghanis can learn to tolerate desecration of the Koran, as well, by the way:):):):):):):):)...even as Americans also learn to respect, preserve, and appreciate the Koran, Islamic tradition and culture, and Arab and South Central Asian cultures, generally:):):):):):):)...but that's for another post:):):):):):):):)...

And if we NEED to use weapons and sanctions...We can still do so when we might think we might need to...but not LEAD with such a policy, thus playing trump cards that we cannot quickly replace or get back and, in doing so, at each turn, REVERSING a VERY
IMPORTANT GAME called, "How to facilitate ALL OF HUMANITY adopting the HIGHEST VALUES of ALL OF HUMANITY":):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

I am listening to Rachel Yamagata's I Want You, by the way, which is REALLY, REALLY FUN, by the way:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...especially for Rachel, who is, generally, so MELANCHOLY and MAUDLIN:):):):):):):):):):):):):)...definitely check her out:):):):):):):):):):):)...

I'll keep working on it, everyone:):):):):):):)...

I'm sure everyone is TERRIBLY RELIEVED that I am on the case:):):):):):):):):):):)...who else could write and talk about the possibilities of nuclear capacity with so many GODDAMN SMILEYS, YOU SMIRKY, DISRESPECTFUL, RECKLESS, YOUNG SUM BITCH:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

:):):):)...

Yup:):):):):):):):):):):)...

That's me:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

International policy scholar/problem solver/swiss army knife of intellectuals extraordinaire:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

If you got to the end of this post, by the way...

I REALLY ADMIRE YOUR TENACITY:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...and DETERMINATION:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

To get to solutions in tough international and domestic policy and people issues:):):):):):):):):):):)...

Just like me:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

If you've never heard the Walela Cherokee drum version of Amazing Grace, by the way:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

You are REALLY MISSING OUT ON LIFE:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Have a OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD DAY, EVERYONE:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

What have I done wrong, do you think?...An open forum:):):)...

I would do this on Tripod, where folks don't have to register to post comments:):):)...

But I can't reliably post on Tripod these days (it takes between 1 and 15 posts of a single posts, generally, to make sure that a post gets up and doesn't just disappear on me:):):)...Blogspot posts stuff late (which is why I have the RSS/Newsfeed link up, so people can see posts more in real time:):):):):):)...but at least I know that it will post every time:):):):):)...

I'll try to post this on Tripod, too, when I get a chance:):):)...because I REALLY want feedback on this:):):):):)...

OK:):):)...here's the deal:):):)...

I feel like such a fuck-up with this whole situation with my friend, Brandi...

I don't know what I did to fuck up...

I just know that she's not talking with me right now...

And hasn't been for more than a month, now:(...

So:):):)...

Here's the deal:):):)...

Brandi stopped talking with me...for the most part...after a conflict that we had about her husband...

Brandi and I have grown farther apart -- to my total dismay -- since Greg and her started dating...

Which is REALLY UPSETTING to me since I've worked SO HARD to work through jealousy and doubts and anger and frustation with the situation to be as ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE OF HER AND HER MARRIAGE AS I CAN POSSIBLE MUSTER:):):)...

I've never met Greg...which is a decision by Brandi that has made it INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to be more supportive...

Especially when other than the VERY AND CENTRALLY IMPORTANT FACT that she repeats OFTEN AND SINCERELY that she REALLY LOVES HIM:):):):):):)...

Other than this VERY IMPORTANT QUALITY OF BRANDI'S FEELINGS FOR GREG:):):):):):):)...

That...other than that...she's said NOTHING, for the most part -- other than the fact that he would change lightbulbs without her asking -- NOTHING very positive AT ALL about him:(...

Now...at the time that Brandi told me this...I told her that I thought she should go find someone who really inspired her and who would REALLY make me jealous:):):):):):)...because he would be such a STELLAR CATCH that I would KNOW FOR SURE AND WITHOUT A DOUBT (AND SHE WOULD TOO:):):)...that she was TOTALLY, HEAD-OVER-HEELS, WITHOUT A QUESTION, TOTALLY IN LOVE with the guy she was going to marry:):):):):):):)...

Brandi didn't take that advice, obviously:):):):):):)...

Much of that, I think, being that Brandi loved Greg, in many ways, because he was NOT ME:):):):):):):)...so WHY IN THE WORLD, she must be asking herself, would she follow MY ADVICE:):):):):):):)...when she is looking, primarily, for someone who is NOT ME:):):):):):):)...

So...

Anyway:):):):):):)...

I've TOTALLY and SINCERELY and AS AUTHENTICALLY AS I CAN/COULD MUSTER tried to support Brandi and Greg and their marriage...

DESPITE...

1) That I've never been able to meet Greg...a decision that Brandi -- and I assume Greg -- have made for as long as Greg has been in Brandi's life, which I have been around for, the entire time:)...

2) That Brandi has said VERY FEW GREAT things about Greg (other than the TERRIBLY AND VERY MUCH IMPORTANT FACT that she REALLY LOVES HIM:):):):):):)...which I TOTALLY SUPPORT:):):):):):):)...and hope grows for as long as both of them shall live:):):):):):):):):):):)...till death do they part:):):):):):):)...if possible:):):):):):):)...

3) That I wasn't invited to the wedding despite working harder than probably ANY EX-BOYFRIEND ON EARTH:):):):):):):) to support her and a husband-to-be-now-husband-for-life-hopefully:):):):):):):)...and all of the choices that they make with those lives:):):)...

4) That I've not been able to SEE BRANDI PERSONALLY for MORE THAN A YEAR now:):):):):)...despite the fact that I've worked harder than Brandi, by far, and than most ex's, I'm sure, to support both her marriage and our friendship than most...

I've had MANY FRIENDS tell ex's that they can't talk with them after they get married...

And every time I've heard it I've thought WHAT A PATHETICALLY INSECURE BASE ON WHICH TO FORM A MARRIAGE:):):):):):):)...either you got love, baby...either you've got REAL TRUST :):):):):):):)...which doesn't have to shut ANYONE out:):):):):):):)...

Or you got nothing:):):):):):):)...you've got a relationship and/or a marriage based around fear and insecurity and desperation and a lot of quicksand:(...

So...

Despite these things...I've done everything I've known how to do to support Ms. Fisher...and her marriage...

And EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY EVERYTHING I DO gets interpreted as JEALOUS EX-BOYFRIEND SEEKING TO UNDERMINE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP...

It gets REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY OLD...let me tell ya...

So...

I talk with Brandi about this...or, rather, I email her:):):)...

I tell her that despite ALL OF THE BULLSHIT that I've dealt with her and with Greg on this one, that I have still completely and as unconditionally as I can muster (given so many obstacles put in my path) have supported her and Greg and her marriage:):):):):):):)...

AND...that I am tired of eating the bullshit on this one...

That Brandi needs to get over or deal with WHATEVER insecure/jealous bullshit is going on in her relationship...

And learn to be A GROWN-UP and have close friendships with guys even when she is married...and that Greg needs to learn to be a GROWN-UP TOO...

And for about a month, now, Brandi will not email or talk with me...

And I am TOTALLY AT A LOSS...

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?...

I know...I know...nothing...

Either Brandi and Greg BOTH learn to grow up on this one...

Or I'm just stuck with a best friend who can't learn to be a mature, secure, married woman who can trust herself and whose husband can trust her that she is NOT GOING TO CHEAT with her ex-boyfriend...

And I just have to learn to live with that fact of life...that very sad, pathetic, unreflective of Brandi's or ANYONE's highest, best self...

And wait until she figures this one out THE HARD WAY...and then wait to talk with her then (which I'm pretty sure, on both counts, will happen, if she doesn't deal with this with ME, first and foremost...and with Greg, importantly to her relationship, I would assume)...

I know...I know...why would want to continue to work at being friends with someone when they treat you like this?...

For several reasons...

First...

Brandi was my BEST FRIEND -- long before we dated...and then while we dated...and then AFTER we dated -- for almost 9 years, now...we started hanging out in the summer of 1996...

I told her more and shared more with her than anyone else -- including my parents and my best friends other than Brandi -- than I told or shared with ANYONE else...

And so...when you get that close to a person...it hurts LIKE HELL when they pull away...

Which is EXACTLY what's happened here...

Even though I've felt/still feel that the sharing I did was EXACTLY the kind of sharing that Brandi needed to hear...

ESPECIALLY since it meant that she was SHITTING ON ME so that she and Greg would not have to deal with the fucked up parts of their own relationship that I HAVE NO SERIOUS OR CONTROLLING INFLUENCE OVER, that I know of...

So...I don't talk with her...I don't email her...I give her TOTAL space for almost a month now...

DESPITE...

And this is A REALLY BIG FUCKIN' DESPITE for me...

DESPITE THE FACT that when I share with her that my grandma that I am closest to...and that Brandi was WELCOMED (and is STILL WELCOMED) with open arms by, as my friend, as much as my ex-girlfriend that spent several Thanksgivings and Christmases with her...

That this grandma is dealing, now, with a terminal illness...and would probably like to see her, at some point, when she's in Wichita (which was pretty frequently, the last time she and I talked about it, since her mom and grammy and family are in Wichita)...

And that I was doing MY BEST to deal with the fairly difficult fact of life, as you can imagine, that I was going to lose the grandmother in my life that I have been closest to, since I've EVER been able to remember...a woman who I LOVE DEARLY and WILL MISS TERRIBLY...

Brandi says nothing...

Not a thing...

Not a couple words of sympathy...

Not, "I'll go check on her as soon as I can"...

Not, "I'll see what I can do"...

Nada...nothing...not a fuckin' word...

Despite the fact...that NO MATTER WHAT GRUDGE Fisher has with me...for whatever bullshit or good reasons that she might have...

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THIS EXTEND TO MY GRANDMOTHER...who loves her...and who may be dying...and who'd probably VERY MUCH like to see her, when she gets a chance...

...or my stepmom...who is opening a coffee shop...a venture that Brandi talked about, looked into, and researched for almost as long as I've known her...and probably would really appreciate whatever help Ms. Fisher might be able to offer...

Look...

Brandi...if you're reading...

For the last and final time, Fisher...

I'M NOT TRYING TO UNDERMINE YOUR MARRIAGE...

I TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY SUPPORT YOU AND GREG AND YOUR MARRIAGE...so MUCH so that I was hurt that I wasn't invited to your wedding...I've been hurt that I can't meet Greg...or see you or you two together...or just be a NORMAL part of yours and my life:):):):):):):)...

I feel like the fag in the family who all the bigots won't let meet their children for fear that if I'm a homosexual than I must be a pedophile too...or WHATEVER STUPID FUCKIN' RATIONALIZATION that people have for being such insecure, scared, fragile little bitches...

I am your friend, Brandi...and I've been trying to be your friend since day one that I met ya...and sometimes being a friend means telling you shit that you don't like to hear...

In fact, THAT IS EXACTLY how you know that someone is a friend...that they tell you WHATEVER is on their minds...good...bad...ugly...I listen to it, too...

And...in this case...not only am I NOT TRYING TO UNDERMINE YOUR RELATIONSHIP...

I'm trying, honestly, to shore up the places in OUR FRIENDSHIP that you have let slip so that you can do whatever the fuck it is that you and Greg are doing with your relationship...

I love you, hon...I love you as my best friend...and not as a boyfriend...I love you EXACTLY as a best friend or a good friend or a friend that has known your whiny little ass for as long as I've known it...is supposed to love their friends...

Meaning...that if I think there's something up...in OUR FRIENDSHIP, if not in your relationship...

Then I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT, FOR GOODNESS FUCKIN' SAKES...

THAT IS WHAT FRIENDSHIP LOOKS LIKE, GODDAMNIT...

And not being able to tell you that shit means that I can't be an honest, more authentic friend to you...

And I just can't fuckin' do that, Fisher...

I gotta be real...to you...to me...to Greg...to everyone...

I gotta be real...

And I need you to be real with me, too, and CUT OUT THE BULLSHIT, Brandi...

Now...

This is where I need feedback...

What am I fucking up, right now...

And Brandi...since you know the situation better than anyone else...you can be the first one to offer up advice:)...

And everyone else too:):):):):):)...

You can comment at the bottom of this post:):):)...you can email me at the emails on my profile...which are benfrankln@yahoo.com and bfrankln@hotmail.com...you can comment on my tripod blog at Building a Better World

You can call me:):):):):):)...at 785 840 9289:):):):):):):)...

You can send me mail:):):):):):):)...or visit me:):):):):):)...at 541 Michigan, Apt. 2, Lawrence, KS 66044:):):):):)...

You can communicate with me HOWEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT (short of sending me Unabomber and/or anthrax mail:):):):):):):)...

And please share your thoughts/feelings/impressions/opinions:):):):):):):)...good..bad...ugly...opinions that are supportive:):):)...opinions that SLAM me:):):)...opinions I'll like:):):):):):)...opinions I won't:):):):):):):)...

Just share them:):):):):):):)...

Please:):):):):):):)...

Cause if there's something I'm not seeing, here, on this one:):):):):):):)...I want to see it:):):):):):):)...

Thanks:):):):):):):)...

I'll await your ideas:):):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

Rose just reminded me why I LOVE MY FAMILY -- ALL OF THEM -- my mom, my dad, my step-mom, my siblings, my nieces:):):):):):)...everyone:):):):):):)...

If you haven't had a chance yet, definitely check out...

JustRose's Anonymous Rowhouse:):):):):):)...

Rose TOTALLY reminds me WHY I LOVE MY PARENTS AND TEACHERS -- all of them...elementary, junior high, high school, Sunday school (thanks, Dennis:):):):):):):), college, grad school, and all of the folks in my life (thanks, Brandi:):):):):):) who taught me so much about life:):):):):):)...

Why I love them SO GODDAMN MUCH:):):):):):):)...and why I want to give MAD PROPS and BIG SHOUT OUTS to them:):):):):):):)...

Because they nurtured me in SO MUCH OPENNESS to life:):):):):):)...probably FAR MORE OPENNESS than they experienced or were nurtured in for their own lives:):):):):):)...

And I love them TERRIBLY for it:):):):):):)...

Rose posts yesterday both on her dad:):):):):):) (another really AMAZING AND LOVELY post by Rose:):):):):):)...and on a rune set that she just bought and her very first rune reading:):):):):):)...

For those of you NOT familiar:):):):):):)...I am only vaguely familiar with them:):):)...though I know I've seen them probably many times before, since I grew up in pretty liberal, new-Agree, metaphysical, open-minded, open-hearted, loving church and family circles:):):):):):):):)...

What Rose's post reminded me of, though, was not the runes, per se:):):):):):)...but the really WONDERFUL open-minded, open-hearted circles that I grew up in LARGELY because of the searching and openness and questioning and unashamed and unneedful to be so uncertainty of my wonderful, exploring, wisdom-seeking parents:):):):):):):):):)...

My mom and dad left the Catholic Church when I was around 5 or 6:):):)...I was baptized Catholic, as my grandparents and my parents, at the time, I'm sure, would have wanted it:):):):):):)...

But, from about that time on:):):):):):)...I was raised and nurtured in the most WONDERFUL, SWEET, INCREDIBLE liberal church and political circles in Unity Church in Wichita, Kansas:):):):):):):)...

I was definitely raised in the also wonderfully open, more libertarian conservative Republican circles of the extended Sutherland family:):):):):):)...my grandma and grandpa Sutherland:):):):):)...my Aunt Kathleen:):):) (who, for many years, was like ANOTHER MOM to me:):):):):)...so I guess I've had at least THREE moms in my life:):):):):)...and several more if you count my dad's girlfriends and his second wife, Jan, and his lovely women-friends when we were growing up:):):):):):):):)...my Uncle Paul and Uncle Tommy:):):):)...and their wives:):):):):):)...my Aunt Kristy:):):):):)...and my Aunt Johnna:):):):):)...my Uncle Timmy:):):):):):)...and his wife, Diane:):):):):):)...and her family:):):):):):):)...my Uncle Danny:):):):):):):):):):):):)...my Aunt Bernadette:):):):):):):)...and my Uncle Mike:):):):):)...and, of course, my Aunt Linda and my Uncle Tom:):):):):)...and my cousins Carla, Roseanne, Valerie and the rest of the Ward girls who I ABSOLUTELY ADORE:):):):):):):)...

And the less libertarian, more conservative circles of my grandma Miller (and more liberal:):):)...the three oldest daughters in the Miller family -- my mom, Marcy, my Aunt Bonnie, and my Aunt Connie, were/are and their families were/are all VERY LIBERAL:):):):):):):):):):):)...my more hippy-when-he-was-younger-conservative-Catholic-when-he-was-older:):):):):) (my, oh my, are we gonna have some COLORFUL conversations about the new Pope this Thanksgiving/Christmas:):):):):):):)...my more conservative though-chilling-out-considerably Aunt Sharon:):):):):):)...and Uncle Jim:):):):):):):)...and their really WONDERFUL little family:):):):):)...

But I have to say...

With all the SHIT my family has gone through:):):):):)...

With all of the PITY that many of my extended family have probably RIGHTLY felt for my sad, drama-filled little family:):):):):):):):)...

I would HONESTLY -- not just SENTIMENTALLY, since they are my only family, after all:):):):):):):):):) -- I would HONESTLY not trade my little liberal, new-agey, crazy, drama-filled, open-conflict, loving, stick-together-through-it-all, wonderful, terrific, bright, open-minded, open-hearted, creative, forgiving, sweet, fun, openly hypocritical, openly searching and striving, openly WONDERFUL family and church-family circles that I grew up in...

EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...EVER...

If you paid me a FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS and promised to fulfill all of my sexual, emotional, intenstinal, thrill-seeking, travel-hungry, and even book-and-theater-and-movie-and-music-and-art-oriented needs for the REST OF MY FUCKING LIFE:):):):):):):)...

I would NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER give them or my life with them -- crazy and imperfect and drama-filled and topsy-turvy -- I would trade my life with them EVER...EVER...EVER...

I love them...

And Rose helped me remember WHY I love them SO MUCH:):):):):):):)...

Because they raised me and were raised with me in such LOVING, OPEN-HEARTED, OPEN-MINDED, OPENLY-LIVED circles together:):):):):):):)...

And I love them all for it so much my heart could burst:):):):):):):):):):):):)...

Thanks, Rose:):):):):):)...

You remind me why I love the people close to me SO MUCH, Rose:):):):):):):)...

Have a great day, everyone:):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

P.S. Please check out the Dixie Chicks' I Believe in Love when you get a chance:):):):):)...and They Might Be Giants' Backyardigans and I, palindrome, I:):):):):):):):)...and the Decemberists' Grace Cathedral Hill:):):):):):):):):):):)...

The Economist and George Bush:):):):):):):):)...

The Economist is SMOKIN' this week, with some really exciting articles about conservativism in America and Britain:):):):):):)...and a really positive review for a book that Ala alerted me to called Freakonomics, by Michael Levitt:):):):):):)...

WHEW:):):):):):)...

The Economist SLAMS -- and I emphasize SLAMS -- President Bush's international policy in Iraq, North Korea, and Iran, and it's impact on the nuclear ambitions of the latter two of President Bush's designated axis of evil...

Return of the Axis of Evil

They not only point out the obvious -- that President Bush's policy vis a vis North Korea and Iran has MISERABLY FAILED:):):):):):):) (both have SIGNIFICANTLY STEPPED UP, rather than holding even or reduced, their nuclear ambitions...a SERIOUS concern for all of the world, they and I both very much believe)...

They give modest endorsement to the not wholly successful but much more successful efforts of the Europeans to keep some check on Iranian nuclear ambitions...effectively limiting Iranian development of weapons-grade uranium...

This is a BIG BLOW to the Bush Administration to be so SOUNDLY and RIGHTLY criticized by the most prestigious conservative magazine in the world for it's VERY SERIOUS international policy mistakes...

I'm quite sure that the President's mistatements -- to be quite generous about the issue -- in Riga and the Baltics, this weekend, could not have improved the confidence of the much smarter conservative editors of the Economist magazine with President Bush's leadership:):):):):):) (he did imply, after all, that one of the greatest conservative leaders in Britain's and the world's history, Winston Churchill, who was PRIMARILY responsible -- by everything I've read -- for negotiating the Yalta Agreement -- has, ESSENTIALLY, BETRAYED Eastern Europeans that, as Lord Conrad Black argues, rightly, in his Globe and Mail editorial on the subject, Britons and Americans and French and other allied soldiers had RISKED THEIR LIVES to save...though the policy cards were just not in their hands to protect them from the evil clutches of the Soviet Empire...

...and as the current American President disregarded the much superior reasoning, by my lights, of America's foremost conservative military leader, at the time, and later political leader -- and a much more sober and thoughtful man than the one currently in office, it would appear -- Dwight Eisenhower, that the numbers it would take to either engage in a limited attack in Eastern Europe or a more full-scare war on Russia itself -- and win overwhelmingly, to fully overcome Russian resistance -- would be FAR TOO HIGH to legitimately call such an exercise a liberation...it was for this VERY REASON that the phrase "Better Red than dead" became such a popular phrase in European circles at the time...and may have much to do with the much more serious comfort that Europeans feel with leftist politics (to the sad and manipulative benefit of far too many communist, socialist, and radical political organizations in Europe...especially France and Scandanavia...and less in Germany)...

But the Economist is DEFINITELY no home for Socialism or Communist sympathies in Europe...it is a wonderful and thankfully VERY INFLUENTIAL little oasis of free-trade and free-thinking committed conservatives committed to a world that is authentically safe as well as free...

And who can see a VERY SERIOUS problem in the active pursuit of nuclear weapons by governments who have demonstrated VERY LITTLE little to trust that, should they have them, that they would use them for any good purpose when they see it...

And who don't have any qualms at all SLAMMING -- for good goddamned reason, goddamnit...god knows it's not because of bad intentions...there are plenty of good intentions in the Bush Administration...but they are very quickly and publicly paving a path to hell for everyone in the world to take with them with their good intentions and it is TERRIBLY REFRESHING, I must say:):):):):):), to see a conservative publication take on their failures with such OPEN and DESERVED criticism:):):):):):):)...

Good for the Economist:):):):):):):)...

And equally living up to their reputations as more authentically fair and balanced than Bill O'Reilly or Fox News could ever dream of being in their wildest fantasies of being more thoughtful journalists...

The editors of the Economist submit a challenge to critics like me -- conservative and liberal -- of the Bush Administration's policy to come up with something better...

WAY FAIR ENOUGH...

And I and the Economist and the world will need to step up to this challenge to better reassure the world that North Korea and Iran will not do something crazy with a lot more serious weaponry...

So...

Here goes:):):):):):):)...

First...let's all just chill for a second, shall we?:):):):):):):)...

The Economist article makes one VERY IMPORTANT observation about North Korea that, in many ways, applies to Iran (and applied and may still apply to Iraq as well:):):)...though having a substantial proportion of a country welcome efforts to free them is SIGNIFICANTLY different that dealing with captive populations of people that may or may not be so friendly to U.S. or Western overtures:)...

The North Koreans TODAY "is capable of flattening South Korea's capital even without using the nuclear bombs it may already possess"...

Moreover...as a caution to the President -- who's remarks about Yalta and their implications for current American policy toward rogue states should make EVERYONE VERY NERVOUS:):):):):):):)...let's hope the President was just speaking off the cuff, here:):):):):)...and not trying to take America and the world with it down a VERY DARK AND DANGEROUS ROAD of rationalizing some pretty ugly tragedies to rationalize its own international policy failures -- the Economist editors also remark WISELY that "(A)s for North Korea...there is no military means of disarming it that does not look prohibitively dangerous."...

Meaning...Mr. President...if you are thinking about reversing the more peaceful efforts to disarm seriously dangerous Communist and other autocratic regimes like the Soviet Union and North Korea -- and scrapping almost 70 years of wisdom about such efforts by American, British, and other conservative and liberal and independent military and political history -- YOU BETTER HAVE ANOTHER THINK COMING...you are sounding AWFULLY GODDAMN DANGEROUS, these days, Mr. President...and you leave folks like me wondering whether to be scared shitless that you might be DUMB enough to engage in such a foolish and dangerous rationalization -- avoiding the BIG NEON SIGN on your Administration for all 5 years of its terribly overbearing presence -- THAT YOU ARE NOT NEARLY SOBER OR SMART OR THOUGHTFUL OR REFLECTIVE enough for this job that does seem TOO BIG FOR YOU FAR TOO MUCH OF THE TIME, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

Though...it is important to note...it is the job that YOU and ONLY YOU have, now, George...and so we all depend on you to lead us out of wilderness, Mr. President...

Because...at this moment, George...though many conservatives and liberals and all kinds of folks -- including and especially me -- would LOVE to fantasize and imagine that it could be otherwise...

We depend on you, George...completely...noone else can make these calls, Mr. President...except for you...which is WHY we're all so critical, Mr. President...because we care SO MUCH about the quality with which you do your job, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

And the one REALLY IMPORTANT silver lining in your remarks in Riga this weekend is...

That it is much more clear to me today than a week ago...

That it REALLY MATTERS to you to get history right:):):):):):):)...to take seriously INTELLIGENT perspectives on history:):):):):):):)...and to, hopefully, take seriously intelligent praise and criticism for your very important work, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

Which is good, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

Because -- for better or for worse, George:):):):):):):)...

You're the one with the job:):):):):):):):):):)...and NOTHING is going to change that for the next 3 years, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

And I for one am TOTALLY ROOTING for you to do an AMAZING JOB in the time you have left, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

You still have time for that, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

But it's going to take some doing...and you're going to have to do the REALLY TOUGH WORK here in the coming days and weeks, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

To face up to the very serious mistakes you've made on the international scene, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

My concern will likely give way to the better instincts that I think I more have on this one, Mr. President...

...that you're just kind of simple man trying your best to work through difficult and dangerous issues in the world...as a part of that effort, you sometimes stick big shoes in what can sometimes be an even bigger mouth:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...

This is the more generous and accurate interpretation of your remarks, I think, W:):):):):):):)...and I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt on this one, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

That though you've SOUNDED an awful lot like the new god-awful head of the Catholic Church these days, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

That you're not Pope Ratzinger:):):):):):):)...

That you're the President of the United States...

And that like Ike (who we all like:):):):):):):)...when push comes to shove...

You will step up into the gravity and sobriety of that role:):):):):):):)...

And that you will do the right...the better...the more thoughtful...the more sober...

And the FAR MORE DIFFICULT and CHALLENGING thing to do, George:):):)...

You'll own up on this one:)...

You'll -- very quietly, I imagine:):):)...at least for now:):):):):) -- begin to signal to the world that you will acknowledge that you're international policy is not going as well as you would have liked:):):):):):):)...that you may have VERY UNINTENTIONALLY and WITHOUT ANY MALICE IN THE LEAST, I don't believe, caused unnecessary death of American and international soldiers and aid workers, Iraqis, and others, that your concurrent policies toward North Korea and Iran have apparently SCARED THE SHIT out of some already very paranoid regimes...and had QUITE THE OPPOSITE effect than you intended:):):):):):):)...that you have, in some ways -- by pursuing Al Queda and talking honestly and working honestly to challenge international terrorism and by, haphazardly and with all kinds of VERY SERIOUS mistakes along the way:):):), removed the regime of a dangerous and bloody tyrant in Iraq:):):)...for which, though it has happened with far too many unnecessary costs and tragedies in the lives of Americans, Iraqis, and others, the world and Iraq should be grateful (with ALL KINDS OF VERY SERIOUS qualifications:):):):):):):)...

And...that you are sorry for the mistakes you've made:):):):):):):)...

And that we -- meaning the world that has to live with the consequences...bad AS WELL as good...of your policies, Mr. President:):):):):):) -- will not have to worry that you will use your criticisms of the Yalta agreement as a means of rationalizing a serious threat that you are willing to back up of nuclear or ground warfare in either North Korea or Iran...or anywhere else for that matter...at least for the time being and given similar circumstances:):):):):):):)...

And in the meantime, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

I would GLADLY and with a serious sense of HONOR, Mr. President, be willing to sit down:):):):):):):)...and have a beer or a coffee or a hot chocolate or a frappachino or an orange juice or a Coke or whatever the hell you drink these days, George:):):):):):):)...Ibut preferably a beer, if you're not too worried about drinking alcohol after struggling with alcoholism earlier in life, Mr. President:):):):):):):)... would LOVE to sit down with you, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...and commiserate with just how GODDAMNED DIFFICULT that the job that you signed up for twice really is, Mr. Bush:):):):):):):):)...

Seriously:):):):):):)...no bullshit...

No bullshit and really pretty lame and mean-spirited "I told you so's"...no lecturing you about what you should have done...or what you should not have done...or what you should do...or what you should not do:):):):):):):)...

And no bullshit or lame giving you all kinds of hell about how goddamned stubborn you've been on this one:):):):):):):)...despite ALL KINDS of evidence that this approach was not working:):):):):):):)...

None of that bullshit, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

If I'm confident that you really feel bad for how you've handled things:):):):):):):)...

Then you and I can sit down:):):)...and have a beer:):):):):)...maybe over a Rangers game:):):):):):):)...Bigandmean can locate a schedule for us:):):):):)...or maybe over a Royals game:):):):):):):)...

Or whatever you want to do, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

And we'll just talk...

About how hard it is to be President:):):)...about how INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT it is is make SUCH COMPLICATED and IMPORTANT and HIGH STAKES decisions in front of the WHOLE WORLD:):):)...warts and all:):):)...

And how, sometimes...we just make bad choices, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

We all do:):):)...

There is not some fairy-tale time when we STOP making bad choices, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

Bad choices are a part of learning how to make BETTER choices, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

In fact:):):):):)...as my hero and patron saint, Abraham Maslow, argues:):):):):):):)...

Making BAD CHOICES is the only way that we can know better how to make BETTER CHOICES:):):):):):):)...

Because it is the ONLY WAY that we can tell the difference, better, between the two:):):):):):):)...

So...in the BROADEST, BIGGEST, MOST INSIGHTFUL GRAND SCOPE OF THINGS, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

Though you did make some very serious mistakes that risked and probably cost the lives of MANY, MANY people...

They were just mistakes, Mr. President:)...

You did your best:)...

And sometimes our best just doesn't work out:):):)...

You're not a bad man IN THE LEAST, Mr. President:):):):):)...

To the contrary:):):)...you are a VERY GOOD MAN:):):):):):):)...

You are just a man...a person...LIKE ANY OTHER, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

You made mistakes in the course of doing your best like ANYONE ELSE, George:):):):):):):)...

And I, for one:):):), would be PROUD and HONORED to sit down at Jeffersons here in Lawrence:):):):):):):) (Peace, Love, and Hot Wings:):):):):):):)...one of my favorite little sports bars here in town, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

And you and I will just sit:):):)...and talk:):):):):)...and drink a beer:):):):):):):)...

And commiserate about just how GODDAMNED DIFFICULT that job of yours is, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

You're a very good man, George:):):):):):):)...

I'm convinced of that, for sure:):):):):):):)...

And now...you are getting prepared to be a MUCH BETTER AND MUCH BIGGER man, George:):):):):):):)...

And do what Brandi's Aunt Dory praised me for learning how to do so often and so readily earlier in my short little life, Mr. President:):):):):):):)....

You're going to say acknowledge:):):)...probably in smaller ways more than in bigger ways, right now:):):):):):):)...

That you were/are wrong, Mr. President:):):)...that you were/are sorry:):):):):):):)...and if you could do ANYTHING to bring back any one of those soldiers or aid workers or reporters or Iraqis lives back...you ABSOLUTELY WOULD:):):):):):):)...

And I know you would, George:)...you don't have to worry about that:):):)...

Just...sometimes:):):)...a more ideal world -- at least in the immediate moment:):):)...but not foreclosed for the near and not-so-distant future:):):):):):):) -- is not fully or even, too often, somewhat, within our grasp:(...

And that's ok, Mr. President...

Because we CAN'T be perfect, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

It's JUST NOT POSSIBLE:):):):):):):):):):):)...

And then we'll finish our beer:):):):):):):)...

And talk about the Rangers:):):):):)...and the Royals:):):):):):):)...and those Damn Yankees:):):):):):):)...

And about how great Toby Keith's most recent album was:):):):):):):)...and about how it's probably his best yet:):):):):):):)...and what's with that song about smoking marijuana with Willy Nelson?:):):):):):):)...and..."Oh, Mr. President:):):):):):):)"...I'll say:):):):):):):)..."...virtually ALL younger people:):):)...conservative or liberal:):):):):)...these days:):):)...smokes marijuana:):):):):):):)...no big woop:):):):):):):)...and don't worry, George:):):)...it ain't your fault:):):):):)...the sexy Mexi is just feels WAY TOO GOOD for most mere mortals to resist:):):):):):):)...

:):):):):):):)...

And then we'll bullshit about politics:):):)...about how important tort reform is:):):)...about your proud legacy of reintroducing faith discussions back into public service and into political discussions:):):):):):):)...about the well-intentioned but not-thoroughly-considered-enough proposals to limit political speech should be blocked not just because they disadvantage your Republican party most:):):):):):):)...but because blocking them is THE RIGHT TO DO for free speech and free thought everywhere:):):):):):):)...and about what an ASSHOLE Robert Byrd is:):):):):):):)...

"...and same goes for that Harry Reid:):):)...and that Nancy Pelosi:):):)," you'll say:):):):):)...

And I'll say:):):)...ok, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...to be fair, Mr. Reid IS blocking some REALLY AWFUL judges to the bench:):):)...but, you're right:):):)...he should probably just let an up or down vote go for them, George:):):):):):):)...and HOPEFULLY the worst of them will get the DOWN vote by thoughtful and serious Republicans and Democrats:):):):):):):)...

And John Bolton, Mr. President:):):)...

Are you sure you couldn't come up with someone better, Mr. President?:):):)...

Someone more along the lines of David Gergen:):):)...or David Brooks:):):)...or Andrew Sullivan:):):)...or even Condi Rice, who's social conservativism start to look almost like Colin Powell's moderate conservativism, in contrast?:):):):):):):)...

You sure, Mr. President that you can't find someone to fill a role as important and serious as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. who doesn't have a reputation of firing people who disagree with him on important policy matters?:):):):):):):)...I mean, surely you, Mr. President, of all people, would realize JUST HOW IMPORTANT it is to have people around you who disagree with you and challenge you to develop better ideas than the ones you already have:):):):):):):)...given that about 2/3 of your cabinet -- former Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge being only the most recent:):):):):):):) -- has so OPENLY and HARSHLY:):):):):):):) -- criticized your Administration AFTER they left office:):):):):):):)...

(Apparently conservative popes and politicians believe their own bullshit, by the way, that liberals will NEVER AGAIN come to power and fire their lame little asses for being such pricks when conservatives had power:):):):):):):)...I CERTAINLY and SINCERELY hope they don't...and will be yelling to rafters, if they do...since it makes for such bad leadership, poor ideas, and poor form:):):)...but what in the fuck are conservatives thinking, for God's sakes?:):):):):):):)...you only want jobs when Republicans are in power, you fuckin' morons?:):):):):):):)...welp:):):)...here soon enough:):):):):)...you may get those:):):)...in statehouses all over the country:):):):):):):)...and, somehow, I have a feeling that A LOT of conservatives will rediscover their faith in federalism again:):):):):):):)...

Maybe go back to drawing board on that one, George:):):):):):):)...and if he gets past Congressional hurdles:):):):):)...then Godspeed to him:):):):):):):)...and hopefully he means it when he says he wants to criticize the United Nations to strengthen it:):):):):):):)...because that is something that we can ALL RALLY AROUND:):):):):):):) (though, if that means self-righteously defending poorly considered and crafted U.S. international policy under this Administration and all of the really scary consequences it has had for the world stage:):):):):):):):)...then John Bolton can FUCK OFF:):):):):):):)...and I'll support every limey British, French frog, and German kraut to tell you the same, too, in as many different languages from around our small little world as you need to get the fuckin' message:):):):):):):)...

Perhaps it might be better to just be the bigger person, on this one, George:):):)...put your tail between your legs:):):):):):):):)...

And:):):)...as Ann and Rud Turnbull have up in one of their offices at the Beech Center at the University of Kansas:):):):):):):)...

No matter how far you've gone down the wrong road:):):):):):):)...

Turn around:):):):):):):):):)...

Also, Mr. President:):):):):)...

You might check out two other REALLY EXCITING articles from the Economist this last issue, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

One is on the future of British Tories:):):)...that I have not read, but which looks REALLY good:):):):):):):)...and really relevant to discussions about the future of conservativism that I think are VERY RELEVANT to your own thinking, Mr. President:):):) (which, no matter what, you'll have a lot more time to work on much more substantially in 3 years or so, Mr. President:):):):):)...

And the other is on an article on an economics book that my friend Ala turned me onto, Freakonomics, by Michael Leavitt:):):):):):):)...it's gets a surprisingly good review from the pages of the Economist:):):) (with plenty of qualifiers:):):)...and looks like it is a wonderful little book of politically-incorrect theses and considerations of evidence by an up-and-comer out of the University of Chicago:):):):):):):)...the land of milk and honey for conservative economists, Mr. President:):):):):):):)...

The hypothesis that Ala and the Economist both mention at length is Michael's argument (with some evidence to support it) that falling crime rates most significantly correlate with the legalization of abortion:):):):):)...SURE to piss off an awful lot of folks on the right:):):):):)...which this books seems, largely, to be a product of:):):):):):):)...

Alright, everyone:):):):):):):):)...as much as I love listening to the crooning of Jack Johnson:):):):):):):):)...I've got to get some sleep:):):):):):):):):)...

Have a great night, everyone:):):):):):):)...

Say goodnight, Gracie:):):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

The fascinating discussion/debate about the heart of conservativism:):):)...

There is a TERRIBLY FASCINATING debate/discussion going on right now about the heart of conservatism that I have been following for some time, now:):):)...

Andrew Sullivan has been hosting a REALLY WONDERFUL and LIVELY discussion about conservativism on his website that you've got to check out:):):)...

Andrew Sullivan's Crisis of Faith: A Debate (about the heart and soul of conservativism:):):)...

Please check out his most recent email of the day, today, by the way, to see a REALLY BRILLIANT little commentary from a reader about the elements of less than ideal liberalism and conservativism in the context of that conversation on his website today, by the way:):):):):):):)...

...or just read it below:):):)...

"Your description of the real faultline in American politics is right on the money. What's troubling is that so many people on the left have lined up with the Theocrats on the same side of the faultline without even realizing it. By deeming empirical and inferential truth as ultimately subjective, the postmoderns and multiculturalists have essentially conceded that all values constitute a leap of faith. Logic and reason have been effectively removed from public debate. This plays right into the hands of fundamentalists, who are perfectly willing to wage the battle on these grounds: If the left is only willing to offer a kind of watery faith in a secular welfare state, the religious right is happy to rebutt them with a profound faith in Judeo-Christian tradition. Individual freedom then becomes a kind of collateral damage: In arguments of faith, neither side brooks heretical points of view. The real key, as you suggest, is a return to the healthy skepticism of liberal democracy. Damned if I know how to accomplish that, however. There are so few of us on this side of faultline. Every time I try to steer discussions over to skeptical ground, the two faith camps accuse me of spying for the other side."

BRILLIANT:):):):):):):)...BRILLIANT:):):):):):):)...

...and ANY and ALL of David Brooks' work:):):)...but especially this brilliant little NYT piece about sexual freedom and the culture wars:):)...

As I said at the time:):):)..."David Brooks' BRILLIANT -- BRILLIANT!!!!!!! -- commentary in the New York Times:):):)...Andrew Sullivan...you've got competition:):):)"...

...or David's commentary on the no-win for either liberals or conservatives looking come out of the culture war as heroes:):):)...

David Brooks on why neither liberals or conservatives will come out of this thing as heroes:):):)...

Also:):):)...I, AGAIN, highly recommend the book that I've been reading and borrowed from my very, very good more liberal, and still more very open and broad-minded friend, Ned Robertson, The Right America, by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge:):):)...two BRILLIANT conservative writers for Great Britain's and the world's, likely, most respected and celebrated conservative periodical, The Economist magazine:):):):):):):)...it is the MOST IMPRESSIVE and BROADTHINKING analysis of conservativism in America THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE:):):):):):):) (and I've read AN AWFUL GODDAMN LOT about conservatism and American conservatism:):):):):):):)...William F. Buckley:):):)...eat your incredibly intelligent and broad-minded little heart out:):):):):):):)...

...and be sure to check out this BRILLIANT little article by John Derbyshire which references Mickelthwait's and Wooldridge's book:):):) (I'm hoping tha Mickelthwait and Wooldridge become a part of my memory as easily and readily as SO MANY American contemporary conservative authors that I so easily recall because I so regularly turn to their ideas and writings to learn more about the world:):):):):):):)...

John's newest piece I found on Andrew's site:):):) (Andrew Sullivan, that is, who's Derbyshire Award has traditionally used John as a poster-boy for homophobia and far right conservatism:):):):):):):)...but a John Derbyshire who has been writing BRILLIANTLY, as of late:):):):):):):)...

...and his piece can be found:):):)...here:):):)...

John Derbyshire's soul-searching (kind of:):):) brilliant piece on the heart of contemporary conservativism:):):)...

...and please be sure to check out John's post-mortem on Pope John Paul II, another BRILLIANT little piece on Catholicism -- especially contemporary Catholicism -- and, at it's heart, conservativism:):):):):):):)...

John Derbyshire's BRILLIANT critique of the legacy of Pope John Paul II:):):):):):)...The Rearguard Pope:):):)...

...and George Will's best piece in a long time:):):)...

George Will:):):)...The Christian Complex:):):)...

...and, of course:):):)...please check out other really wonderful conservative blogs/forums on the internet:):):)...

Like Ala's Blonde Sagacity:):):)...

Ala's Blonde Sagacity:):):):):):):)...a wonderful little conservative blog and forum:):):):):):):)...

Dean Mundy's Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative:):):)...

Dean Mundy's Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative:):):):):):):)...New and Improved:):):):):):):)...

And, Bigandmean's and Jen's ~Relatively Unbalanced~:):):) (what a FANTASTIC TITLE for a very thoughtful and tongue-and-cheek conservative blog:):):):):):):)...I love these folks:):):):):):):)...

~Relatively Unbalanced~:):):):):):):)...Jen and Bigandmeans' really WONDERFUL, and TERRIBLY SWEET:):):) father and daughter joint blog:):):):):):):)...

And the blog of one of my best conservative friends, Brian White, who I can't quite find at the moment but, who, if I find, I'll post (if I think he'll be ok with that:):):)...but who's review of The Red Masque's 2001 album, The Death of the Red Masque (Brian is a HUGE progressive rock, fan:):):)...here:):):)...

Brian's review of The Death of the Red Masque...The Red Masque's 2001 CD release:):):)...

...and, of course, Glen Reynold's wonderful little conservative political blog, Instapundit:):):):):):):)...Instapundit:):):):):):)...Glenn Reynold's great little conservative political blog:):):)...

...perhaps a more public discussion/debate about liberalism (and academic and activist and somewhat theological one has been going on for some time, now:):):)...and always does, really:):):)...that's the great thing about a largely more liberal academia:):):) (and by liberal, I mean "small l"...meaning both liberty loving:):):)...and, by definition, an ongoing open discussion/debate/argument about the nature of humanity:):):)...

...often a more "big l" liberalism is present in academia, too:):):)...meaning a more POWER-FOCUSSED and TOO POWER OBSESSED liberalism:):):):):):):)...though academia, generally, is a more open community to diversity, in my study and experience, than almost any other institution, period, nevertheless more conservative institutions, like, say, the military or law enforcement or business, especially it's most conservative institutions, like banking and insurance:):):)...

...save conservative media, academic and philosophical circles, which also overlap with liberal media, academic, and philosophical circles, largely BECAUSE of a more "small l" liberal commitment by most or all of these folks to open debate and discussion:):):)...that's where the life of any society is at:):):)...and I am SO UTTERLY PROUD to be a member and a heartfelt proponent of that kind of liberalism/conservatism/whatever the hell you want to call it:):):):):):):)...

It's my favorite place in society:):):)...the ongoing, more open, more free thinking and speaking, more engaged, more insightful, more free thought and expression defending, more thoughtful, more scientific and empirical, more decent, more honest, clearer, more humble and apologetic and forgiving, more positive, constructive, responsible, optimistic, and hopeful...

...the BETTER:):):)...

...circles of discussion and debate and disagreement and free thought and speech and writing and expression and communication:):):)...

...that make up what I think of as "small l" liberalism and perhaps what conservatives might identify as "small c" conservativism...and what we all just might call the GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HUMANITY:):):):):):):)...

I have to say that Joseph Campbell's celebration of "The Open Life," as one extended interview/semi-biography of him that I read on end in graduate school is titled...and Abraham Maslow's and many others' celebration of an open society:):):)...and classical conservativism's celebration of classical liberalism:):):):):):):)...

All of these things are what have so endeared and sustained me in the intellectual, open debating/discussing worlds of liberalism, conservativism, Marxism, anarchism, libertarianism, radicalism, environmentalism, feminism, civil rights, gay rights, disability and mental health rights, fiscal and economic conservativism, media-based and philosophical conservativism, and even Evangelical conservatism:):):):):):):)...

...is the BIG, BROAD, OPEN discussion...writing... reading...engagement...in each and between and among these circles:):):):):):):)...

It's one of my life's finer delicacies, really, to be able to go to a book store or look at a magazine rack:):):)...or turn on the internet, more often these days:):):)...or go to a library:):):)...or borrow or lend or give a book from/to a brend:):):)...or to discuss at length with a friend...any and every friend:):):):):):):)...

To live life by talking about it:):):)...and reading about it:):):)...and discussing it:):):)...and disagreeing about it:):):)...and agreeing about it:):):)...and changing one's mind:):):)...and changing it back:):):)...and changing it back, yet again:):):):):):):)...

THINKING:):):):):):):)...I LOVE IT:):):):):):):)...

And I love what's happening in contemporary conservative circles these days:):):)...

And I think it could/should inspire more and more public and more open discussion similarly about liberalism...and about open societies...and about liberal/conservative/other overlaps in those circles/discussions:):):):):)...

And about humanity:):):)...and it's nature:):):) (the grounding around the answer to that question that is THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON, really, for why I identify as a liberal, rather than as a conservative:):):)...because, fundamentally...down deep...down really, really deep:):):):):):):)...in addition to being COMPLETELY and UNCONDITIONALLY committed to free and open and engaged and perpetually imperfect and learning and growing and developing thought and speech and discussion and debate and conversation:):):):):):):):)...

I love...and trust...and see and trust and actively nurture and support and work to enlarge the overall growth and learning and progress in humanity:):):):):):):)...and in a freer, more open, more engaged, more intelligent, more talkative:):):)...more authentically human and humane form of humanity:):):):):):):)...

I love humanity:):):)...I love learning:):):)...I love thinking:):):)...and talking:):):)...and engaging:):):)...and disagreeing:):):)...and agreeing:):):)...and disagreeing and agreeing some more:):):):):):)...and some more still:):):)...forever and forever:):):)...without end:):):)...without any final victor:):):):):):)...without any one person dominating the rest:):):):):):):):)...

I love the idea and the thought and the reality of a more authentic humanity:):):):):):):)...one where WE ALL take these ideals more and more seriously:):):):):):):)...

The one that I watch become more authentic -- almost on its own accord:):):)...almost ORGANICALLY, you might say:):):)...and still with human will and volition and responsibility and constructiveness and need behind it as well:):):):):):):)...

I am TOTALLY celebrating humanity at it's finest, today:):):):):):):)...it's open, engaged, perpetual, neverending, always more free, always more thoughtful (and mistaken:):):)...and thoughtful:):):)...and mistaken:):):)...and thoughtful:):):) conversation about itself:):):):):):):):):):):)...

Amongst conservatives:):):)...amongst liberals:):):)...amongst us ALL:):):):):):):)...

I have been talking and celebrating and acting like a boyish mad-man today:):):):):):)...ask Melissa:):):):):):)...I've been CRAZY:):):):):):):)...all day:):):):):):):)...

Loving life:):):)...loving humanity:):):)...loving thinking and writing and talking and discussing and debating and disagreeing and agreeing and being uncertain and being certain and being uncertain and being certain and having doubt and having faith and having doubt and having faith:):):):):):):):):):):)...

I have TOTALLY BEEN CELEBRATING BEING HUMAN ALL DAY LONG:):):):):):):):):):):)...

As The Great and Mighty Molly Shannon might say:):):):):):):)...

"I love it...I love it...I love it...I love it...I love it...I love it":):):):):):):):):):):)...

Here's a GREAT BIG SMOOCH to humanity, at this moment:):):):):):):)...

And here's a great big smooch to conservatives, everywhere:):):):):):):)...ESPECIALLY conservatives engaged in the kind of free and open and engaged and thoughtful and disagreeing and agreeing and full of doubt and full of faith introspection that so many conservatives are engaged in today:):):):):):):):):):):)...

Gracias, senor y senora y senorita conservativos/as del mundo:):):):):):):)...Thanks to the conservatives of the world:):):):):):):)...

For the keeping the discussions and debates OPEN and HONEST and AUTHENTIC and ENGAGED and FREE and THOUGHTFUL and REAL and supporting the learning and growth and development of all us:):):):):):):)...humanity:):):):):):):)...

...EVERYWHERE:):):):):):):)...

And for doing so amongst conservatives as much as amongst all of us:):):):):):):):):):):)...

What does it mean to be a liberal?:):):):):):):):):):):)...

Keep reading:):):):):):):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

P.S.:):):)...if you haven't heard the Decemberists, yet:):):) (I've been listening to tunes like 16 Military Wives:):):) and Los Angeles, I'm Yours:):):)...The Engine Driver:):):)...Here I Dreamt I was an Architect:):):)...and definitely try to listen to the original Decemberists song that TOTALLY sold me on this brilliant little left wing political band:):):)...My Mother was a Chinese Trapeze Artist:):):):):):)...

I have to blog about another blog:):):)

{Listening to: The Dixie Chicks:):):)...Top of the World:):):)...More Love:):):)...Godspeed:):):)...and just about ANYTHING Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz I can get my hands on thanks to Rose:):):):):):)...}

I spent all evening at work thinking about this brilliant little post that I was going to write on how President Bush and Pope Benedict (as my conservative friend, Thomas, reminded me was the "PROPA" way to refer to ol' Ratzy:):):)

...how they both teach HAVE ONE REALLY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW:):):):):)...

That being conservative means that you NEVER have to say you're sorry:):):):):):):)...(Pope Ratzinger oversaw the BIGGEST COVER-UP in modern Vatican history, and he has the fucking gall to fire Father Thomas Reese?...the implication being that it was liberals like Reese who created the climate for pedophilia in the church...and not the COVER-UP of top officials in it, like Ratzinger...what a disgusting pig, frankly...Pope Ratzinger has A LOT OF FUCKING GALL, I have to say...and so do conservatives and conservative Catholics who defend him...

But I don't want to blog about the Pope and the President quite yet:):):)...I'll get to them:):):)...don't worry:):):)...

Because even though I SPENT ALL NIGHT THINKING ABOUT WRITING THIS POST:):):):):):):) (especially when my conservative friend, Thomas, DEFENDED the Pope's decision to fire a liberal Catholic of conscience precisely because he was liberal -- do conservative Catholics realize just how INCREDIBLY ARROGANT AND UGLY a move like that is/was?)...

Even though I thought about it all night:):):)...

I got to my blog and my email and the internet this morning:):):)...

And I visited one of the sites I visit first every morning that I sit down at my computer:):):)...

Rose's GORGEOUS little blog:):):)...Anonymous Rowhouse:):):)...

I've REALLY, REALLY, REALLY enjoyed blogging and visiting blogs:):):)...and getting to know folks through the internet:):):) (Melissa and I MET through blogging:):):)...she lived in Milwaukee, safely behind her computer, there, going to school and knowing NOTHING about our beautiful little university town, Lawrence, Kansas -- which she now calls home and has met a REALLY GREAT friend of mine -- before I found her blog:):):):):):):)...

And I've made A TON of REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GREAT FRIENDS through blogging:):):)...and chatting:):):)...the internet:):):):):):):)...

But I don't think I've ever read a blog that quite moves me like Justrose's Anonymous Rowhouse...

Ever...

That's for you to know, more than anyone else, Rose:)...you write BEAUTIFULLY, hon:):):)...and you need to hear it:):):):):)...

I had a friend in Seattle:):):)...Sarah Sweeney:):):)...who's blog...

Laughsingsmile, Sarah Sweeney's My Thoughts on the Matter:):):):):):)...a REALLY BEAUTIFUL BLOG:):):):):):):)...

...she stopped writing in last October:(...to the TOTAL disappointment of very big fans like me:):):):):):):)...and Sarah's writing did/does move me INCREDIBLY:):):):):):):)...

Sarah...if you're reading this:):):)...I still promise to be THE VERY FIRST PERSON to buy one of your novels, if you ever publish one:):):):):)...

But Rose just is something special altogether that I think you'll find equally impressive:):):):):):):)...

She wrote two entries in the last day or so that I was just TOTALLY FLOORED by:):):):):):):)...

Please check Rose out when you get a chance:):):):):):):)...I GUARANTEE you that you will not regret it:):):):):):):)...

I'll write more on the President and the Pope, later:):):)...

For now:):):)...

Just Rose...

Go check out Rose:):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben

A Day in Iraq:):):)...

Michael is the first name/psuedonym? of the American soldier who writes the BRILLIANT and REALLY TERRIFIC online journal of events in Iraq...

..in his really awesome blog, A Day In Iraq...

...a military blog that my friend, Ala, from Blond Sagacity, who's AMAZING conservative blog and forum for discussing and debating hot political issues I will give as much publicity as I can:):):)

Blond Sagacity...Ala's blog:):):)...

I spent my morning with Michael's blog, today:):):)...and it was an honor:):):)...I must say:):):)...I've thought for about a year and a half about signing up:):):)...and Michael's blog was DEFINITELY the most reassuring blog to reinforce that thinking:):):):):):)...

It is VERY ENCOURAGING to see that I might some company amongst other generous and caring soldiers:):):):):):)...soldiers whose concern about the Iraqi people transcend politics or differences of policy:):):):):):)...

Michael's description of New York is almost EXACTLY as I remember it when Brandi and I visited there almost 7 years ago, now:):):):):):)...brilliantly lit:):):)...exciting:):):)...filled with adventure:):):)...and ALWAYS something of interest:):):)...I told Michael about Brandi's and my trip to see the Broadway musical, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown:):):)...how I was afraid that it would epitomize EVERYTHING I HATED about musicals, at the time:):):):):):):)...but how it turned out to be a really AMAZING experience:):):) (if you haven't seen You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, you definitely should:):):)...and if you have kids:):):)...you definitely SHOULDN'T miss it:):):):):):):)...

What struck me most about Michael's blog...in addition to his generosity with water and with needed money for Iraqi children selling swords to make money for their families to buy food and basic needs...

Was Michael's description of walking through New York giving money to homeless folks, there:):):)...

When Brandi and I lived in Washington D.C. for the three months of the summer that I visited her in Summer of 1998 (the same summer that we took the quick trip to New York City:):):), I would get ENDLESS shit from our friends, Alex and Mike, about how I always wanted to give money (and still do give money whenever I can:):):), to the homeless folks, there:):):):):):)...

And it was SO SWEET to read Michael's really wonderful story about the mix of feelings anyone always has when giving money to homeless people:):):)...especially when you are giving so absent of expectations for how that money is spent, as Michael did and as I do:):):):):):)...

Michael's story of finding a way to get Iraqi soldiers water even though they're not technically allowed to give their own bottled and purified water, since it is in short supply and often leaves them asking for water from their fellow soldiers, and arranging with a higher up to get unpurified water for them is REALLY HEARTWARMING:):):):):):)...that one soldier will show that kind of decency and risk the face with his commanding officer to make sure that soldiers in the desert without water can get it is a real testament to the most genuine compassion and concern that should and often does drive American soldiers as they work to liberate ordinary Iraqis:):):):):):)...and bring freedom and democracy to a people that are long overdue for it:):):):):):)...

His story of giving money to Iraqi children who sell swords from old bayonets to help feed and house and clothe their families is really very beautiful:):):):):):)...

And Michael's story of searching -- desperately -- for anything of substance...to read...or listen to:):):)...and finding Johnny Cash's album where he cover's Trent Resnor:):):) (and Depeche Mode's My Own Personal Jesus:):):):):):):) (THAT is why I LOVE Johnny Cash:):):):):):):)...this Pope could learn A LOT from the example of Johnny:):):):):):):):):)...and from Michael:):):):):):):)...

Michael is an excellent example of what kind of ideals need to lead this war:):):):):):)...and many Americans would do well to heed the example of this heroic young man:):):)...

Please take a moment to check out Michael's blog:):):)...you won't regret that you did:):):):):):)...

I also want to give mad props to Rose's Anonymous Rowhouse:):):)...the sweet and beautiful blog of the woman who found my blog and got me in touch with such a really lively and wonderful little crowd in New Jersey and throughout the blogosphere:):):)...

http://anonymousrowhouse.blogspot.com/

...and, of course, Colby Buzzel's really wonderful military blog which he has had to stop posting personal narratives to because, military personell say, of security concerns...but which still includes many articles about the situation and words of support from fans of Colby's blog:):):)...

My War...Spc. Colby Buzzell's military blog

Thanks, Michael:):):)...for your service and risking the ultimate sacrafice to bring peace and freedom and democracy to peoples' in desperate need of them:):):):):):)...

And thanks, Ala, for working so dilligently to keep folks like Michael and Colby near to our hearts:):):):):):)...

Have a good everyone:):):):):):)...

And when you get a chance:):):)...check out Josh Turner's Long Black Train:):):):):):):)...the brilliant little country ditty that I'm listening to right now:):):):):):):)...

Have a great day, everyone:):):):):):)...

Love,
Ben