RIP Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
HST: Any kind of political campaign that taps the kind of energy that nothing else can reach...There are a lot of people just wandering around bored stupid.
Ed: Any kind of campaign that taps that energy would...
HST: Would generate a tremendous high for everybody involved in it.
Ed: And would ultimately for you be another paramount experience - out there on the Edge?
HST: Oh, absolutely. But you know you'd be killed, of course, and that would add to it considerably - never knowing when the bullet was coming.


- posted by agitpropre @ 11:57 AM 6 comments

 
Economics made EZ

GEORGE W. BUSH:

Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled. Look, there's a series of things that cause the -- like, for example, benefits are calculated based upon the increase of wages, as opposed to the increase of prices. Some have suggested that we calculate -- the benefits will rise based upon inflation, as opposed to wage increases. There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.

MONTY PYTHON:

- posted by agitpropre @ 4:46 PM 0 comments

 
Debt and instability
From the Comments at Eschaton, a reference to an excellent, if depressing, piece on "The US as Net Debtor" (.pdf file). It's a long read but, if you have any interest in what your US$'s will be worth in the medium term, it is worth the time.

Unless you will be leaving soon...




- posted by agitpropre @ 11:14 AM 0 comments

 
Billmon's Back
The Bar sign reads "Open" at Billmon with a tough post on National Bushism. Nice to see the bartender back on the job.

Now, get away from that computer and GOTV!

[edit] Forget it. He's gone again. And stupidity prevailed.

- posted by agitpropre @ 4:38 PM 0 comments

 
I don't believe in burning books














...but in this case I'd make an exception.
- posted by agitpropre @ 3:50 PM 0 comments

 
Did Bush wear an earpiece?













New shocking photo evidence...

(Click image for larger version)

- posted by agitpropre @ 4:15 PM 0 comments

 
The Lynching Party
The legacy of Iraq is that intervention will be seen as vigilantism.

I listened to Blair being interviewed on the Today programme and was astonished anew at the arrogance of his thesis - that because action was "needed" on Iraq it was up to Britain and the US to take that action. This is, of course, nonsense. If my neighbour was accused of a crime and I responded by going next door and shooting him in the knees I would be described as a vigilante and would face the consequences. My actions would not be legal. I would not have the "moral authority" to "enforce" the threats of another duly-constituted body; I would simply be a thug with the power of a weapon.

The Blair doctrine is based on the assumption that the existing thresholds for intervention (an imminent threat to international peace or a grave humanitarian crisis) are too high to deal with many of the challenges we currently face. There are good reasons for agreeing with this view, but only if it is followed to its logical conclusion. A broader legal basis for intervention should herald the beginning of a more principled and consistent approach to dealing with human rights violations and breaches of international law.

Sometimes intervention is needed. Sometimes it is needed desperately. But unless it is ALWAYS legal there can be no genuine authority for action - except for the authority that the thug and vigilante ascribe to themselves.

- posted by agitpropre @ 11:22 AM 0 comments

 


- posted by agitpropre @ 11:13 AM 0 comments

 

- posted by agitpropre @ 10:56 AM 0 comments