Heard the funny one about Obama?

Nabobs are nattering about the dearth of jokes featuring Obama, linking the scarcity to him being African-American and most of the comedians, writers, and audience being Caucasian. As if the only possibly funny topic about him were his race! This is like saying jokes about McCain are rare because his time as a POW in Hanoi is off-limits. Instead, there's McCain's involvement in the Savings and Loan scandal, and his anger, and his (advanced) age, which young comics also feel free to joke about.

Even if limited to looks, what about the fact that Obama looks like an earnest, precocious high schooler? That may be defanged by his own jokes about same. What about Obama's politics? The New Yorker sparked a controversy by parodying the whisper campaign suggesting that Obama is a secret Muslim. Their cover shows Obama fist-bumping wife Michelle, revealed as a Black Panther, with the American flag burning in the fireplace and a picture of bin Laden over the mantle. Not very inventive and certainly not subtle, but funny and hopefully effective once the shock wears off.

No, I think the lack of jokes are due to the fact that he is admirable and cool. We want to be his friend, we want him to be our president (and savior, if truth be told), and we are not yet comfortable enough with him to risk friendship with jokes.

This Bud's for Them!

Since the Bush gang took over, the value of the US dollar has lost about half it's value, dropping from 1.2 Euros in 2001 to about 0.6 today. The New York Board of Trade's dollar index is the weakest since the gauge began in 1973.

This collapse in the purchasing power of the dollar has many consequences. It has put the entire US on sale for the rest of the world. Assets, stock, and even whole companies are being bought at bargain basement prices. Today, the Belgian brewer InBev bought Budweiser, an American icon and mainstay of St. Lewis. While foreign companies can maintain steady prices for the American consumer, American companies don't have that luxury against foreign investors.

The weak dollar is also a major reason that oil has reached record prices. After all, it takes about twice as many dollars these days for a Saudi prince to buy his Mercedes.

Plan Z for Zimbabwe

Thirty years ago, Robert Mugabe was the rebel hero fighting a civil war against the white minority power in Rhodesia. In 1980, he became Prime Minister of the renamed Zimbabwe in a relatively peaceful final transition to majority rule. Today, President Mugabe is a tyrant, using any means necessary to maintain his rule. His thugs and henchmen forced the withdrawal of Tsvangirai, who likely would've won the run-off Presidential election. What's the world to do?

Zimbabwe is a desperately poor country: 20 million people, average yearly income under $200, beset by HIV/AIDS and inequities in land distribution. No natural resources or strategic advantage will stimulate the 'humanitarian' interests of wealthy, well-armed countries. Like Darfur, where horrors have outlived the righteous chorus of “never again”, the 'plan' for Zimbabwe is to stand back and let it bleed. Call it 'plan zzz'.

Netflix fix

“You've got to live your life” passes for wisdom. Do you? Face it, your life is constrained and largely predictable. Modern technology, in the form of a cornucopia of movies, offers the viable alternative of living vicariously. Why not live many others' lives?

Imagination is a wonderful thing, so use it! By merely changing DVDs, you can be a lover in Restoration England, then a leader on a trek to the stars, and so on through the genres, characters, places, and times. Embrace 'la vie du disque': vivid colors, animated co-stars, vigorous passion, vivacious drama, and lively dialog.

Real life has no remote control. No pause, no mute, no fast forward for the boring bits, and no rewind for the really great parts.

More for me, fewer for the next guy

General Petraeus, the point (sales) man on the Bush administration troop “surge” in Iraq, is now predicting that he will call for a reduction in troops in the fall. How this plan differs from providing a “timetable for surrender”, as this administration has characterized other calls for reductions, is not clear.

The timing is especially odd, since the General is also predicting that an upsurge in violence will force a delay in the Iraqi elections. But the timing is simply perfect for the US elections!

The General didn't get to be a General without knowing how careers and reputations are made. Petraeus is scheduled to turn over his honcho-chief title to a new guy in several months. If things fall apart when the troops come home, then the next guy blew it. If things work out, then the General fixed the mess. He cannot lose! If only the war planning were as solid as the career planning.

But let's not look a gift camel in the mouth. Let's take the reduction and keep 'em coming home.

Black, White, and 'Red'

Barack Obama was inducted today into the Crow native American nation and given a name that means "one who helps all people of this land". Apparently “all the people of this land” includes its original owners. "Barack Black Eagle" should be patriotic enough for any johnny-come-latelies. "Now that I'm a member of the family I won't break my commitment to my brothers and sisters", said Obama. This man really can bring us together, yes, he can.

Protracted Wars, Prolonged Deceptions

"The first casualty of War is Truth" - author disputed, truth indisputable

Bush used the occasion of Israel’s 60th birthday to accuse unnamed ‘others’, widely assumed to be Obama, of appeasing terrorists. In Bush’s confused, twisted mind, feeling trumps thinking, posturing beats leading, contrary facts cannot challenge beliefs, and discussion is surrender.

McCain promptly added his own layer of deception. In McCain’s confused, twisted history, Iran released the American hostages on Reagan’s inaugural day because Reagan was strong and Carter was an appeaser. The illogic of this assertion is only apparent if you think (bad) instead of simply believing (good).

In fact, Iran was obviously currying favor with the Reagan administration. That favor was returned when Reagan administration broke American law to sell arms, secretly, to Iran in order to buy arms, secretly, for the Nicaraguan contras. A little further back, Henry Kissinger used 'back channel' (i.e., secret) communications with the South Vietnamese leaders to stymie the Vietnam peace negotiations, where even a hint of progress would’ve probably led to a Humphrey victory over Nixon. These Republicans went way beyond appeasement. I dare call it treason.