It's just another day

I have sane voices and insane voices among the people I actually read in my friends list, and one of the better sane voices is vodou_chile, who today swore "Today, I will put aside partisan bickering."

That's probably a sane attitude, but I cannot share it. Never in my wildest imaginings would I believe that any administration would allow a murderer like Bin Laden to taunt his victims and survivors six years after his initial attack. No administration of any ideological bent would be so stupid, so mendacious, so calumnous, that it would allow Bin Laden to murder 3000 American citizens-- and yet let him continue breathing. No American President would be so petty as to have his imagination so fixated on surpassing his father's legacy and "finishing the job" that he would withdraw from the pursuit of Bin Laden to engage in a war of choice:

"Tenet told me he briefed the president personally," said one of the former CIA officers. According to Tenet, Bush's response was to call the information "the same old thing." Bush insisted it was simply what Saddam wanted him to think. "The president had no interest in the intelligence," said the CIA officer. The other officer said, "Bush didn't give a fuck about the intelligence. He had his mind made up."

No administration would be headed and empowered by a base so craven that it would rather throw away 4000 American soldiers' lives, destroy our international reputation, and bankrupt our children's futures, than admit it was wrong:

It was a Republican state party boss, Senator Boies Penrose of Pennsylvania, who early this century stated with notable candor the basic principle and purpose of present-day party politics. In the face of a powerful state and national resurgence of reform and the sentiments of the majority of the Republican rank and file, Penrose put up a losing slate of stand-pat party hacks. When a fellow Republican accused him of ruining the party, Penrose replied, "Yes, but I'll preside over the ruins."

This is the reason I write escapist stories; the real world is right now more disturbing and irrational than my wildest imaginings.

Back to frivolity on the double!

On a completely frivolous note, I'm a little confused by Keith Olbermann's comments about Britney Spears. Okay, yes, she phoned in her performance at the MTV Music Awards show two days ago and yes, she looked like she'd had one too many roofies beforehand. What I don't understand is the accusation that she's "fat" or "out of shape."

We've wandered deep into Mixedmessagestan to tell young girls that their bodies are okay and they don't need to look like Kate Moss or Barbie to be attractive, and then to diss Britney because her midriff is softer than an armadillo.

Britney!

I mean, c'mon. I'd do her. I mean, that is, if it wasn't, y'know, like, Britney Spears and all.