daily scratchpad

(5)
Huckabee was obviously wrong. Huckabee - idiot that he is - failed to understand that whomever seeks to control the other engages thereby in a form of political activity. Huck 'dodged the question.' His response was typically 'religious.' That is to say that his response was disengenuous.
In point of fact (tap) Jesus was a political figure who was rewarded for his personal politic by crucifiction. The Jews did not crucify Jesus. The Romans crucified Jesus because He represented an alternatative politic. Jesus was more of a political figure than a religious figure (although He was both - hence He was persecuted both religiously and politically). Huckabee, Christian idiot that he is, was unable to switch modes and tell the truth at the crucial point. Jesus ran for the political/religious position of 'God's Son.' He was crucified as a result. True, He was elected posthumously. That much is true. But He was only 33 when He died. And contrary to modern religious thinking He will never return.
I first spotted Huckabee when he raised his hand in response to the question, 'Do you not believe in Evolution?' (or something like that) He raised his hand. Huckabee is therefore either a true Christian or a true phoney. Neither is acceptable. Thumbs down on Huckabee.
We need somebody who represents a modern perspective, free from old and odius ideas. Most of all, we need somebody who is not circumcised. We need somebody who does not represent the International Jew.

(4)
I think that the presence of my 357 is what prompted the 'owner' of the apartment above to install hardwood floors. The upside, of course, is that a 357 bullet would be considerably reduced in energy. The downside is that stomps would be similarly reduced. By the way: I have only solid slugs for the 357, no 'hollow points' (tap). In the old days when I owned the '38 Special' I charged it with hollow point (thump) amunition. But it seemed to me that after the ACSD took my 38 away (boom) I needed to upgrade. The 357 has proven itself to have been very wise investment. Hence the 'floor upgrade' above. Arapahoe County seems to have resisted the stalker's attempts (if any) to remove my only real defense, the ACSD being helpless in that regard. Are you being stalked? Buy a gun, keep it always loaded, and be ready to kill at the drop of a hat.
Can we leave this subject?
I love it that I can now watch CNN, MSNBC, and FOX NEWS simultaneously. When I began watching Fox on my third (out of focus) TV I was amused that Fox was still using the term, 'homicide bomber.' The use of this phrase in place of the much more descriptive, 'suicide bomber' places Fox squarely within the 'nutcake zone.' But I like Fox for its interesting presentations. Fox may not be 'news' in the strict sense, but it is sometimes entertaining.
(The most recent GS test was above 100, indicating that my old liver was not only coping with the booze but gaining. Subjectively, I am feeling about as high as usual at this point. I am beginning the 12(tap)th beer at 2217. I plan to do the BG tests until I 'retire' for the night.)
Which brings us to the subject of the Republian Debate. I only watched snatches of it but I was intrigued by Huckabee who, when asked about his support of the state death penalty vis what Jesus might support in that case, declared that 'Jesus was too smart to run for political office.' His reply got a laugh. I would like to investigate further.

(3)
Guess my old liver is not quite as talented as I thought it was after all those years of training. Concerning my subjective observations of blood glucose level vs booze intake versus 'high', I conjecture that the most euphoric (tap) time happens while blood sugar and alcohol levels are both still relatively high, and that the euphoria disappears because of the drop in blood glucose. If there were some way to maintain (tap) both levels longer, then the 'high' would last longer.
Just finished my 8th beer at 2025. Working on beer number nine at 2027. Cheers.
Concerning recent stalking behavior (tap), I am somewhat alarmed by the stalker's evident intent to control my behavior by the most primitive means: stomping around above me. The stomping around (obviously in bare feet) happened during times I was watching TV in the LR, while I 'should have been' (tap) playing chess on Comcast in the BR. I am sure that it is an attempt to control my behavior. The stalker seeks to control his world but is unable to do so. Poor stalker. And I am his world!
This stomping around above in bare feet is episodic. Indeed, only taps from a constant silence above is 'normal.' But sometimes (tap) the stalker's desire to watch (tap) me play chess is so intense that he resorts to a very theatrical stomping ritual. On those occasions when it bothers me I go to the bedroom and drag out (thump) the 357. I bring it into the living room. I then sit there on the couch, 357 in hand, and watch TV. I occasionally (tap) embellish my behavior somewhat (tap) in a way that my lawyer - if I had a lawyer - would not recommend that I describe. This always serves to (tap) terminate the stomping. What concerns me is that the psychotic old fool above me actually thinks that he can control me. Not possible.
(2107: BG: 84. I have just begun my tenth beer. Cheers.)

(2)
Meanwhile I did some research (tap) looking for a typical normal blood sugar (bonk) chart. No joy. Then I played some chess on Comcast. I hit the sack at (tap) 2345. There was ('heavy rad' 0430-0630, 0700-0730, 0930-1000.) I woke up about 1145 and got out of bed about 1215, then took the following readings while I downed more (tap) Diet Pepsi: 1300: BG - 107. 1500: BG - 109. 1600: BG - 107. I started drinking 3.2 beer. 1701: BG - 118. 1732: BG - 107. 1805: BG - 103. It is now 1854 and I am now on my 5th beer, feeling pretty good. Time to test again... 1902: BG - 103. So the old liver is still hanging in there after 5.5 beers (stomp) in three hours. I'll continue to test on the hour 'til I stop drinking. Meanwhile, I conclude at this point that the old liver is both converting the alcohol and supplying the needed blood sugar, a sign of a well - trained liver.
On a sadder note, be glad that you are not a 'celebrity.' Be happy that you are not 'famous.' Fame has its dark side. Ask Lao Tzu. As I watched the Today piece about Julia Roberts tracking down and verbally chastising a 'paparazzi' I sympathized with her, because I too am famous; I too must contend with paparazzi. The difference between Julia Roberts and I is only one of degree. She is famous (tap) in the sense that she is known to a multitude, whereas I am famous (tap) in the sense that my admirers are few but intensely involved emotionally. Julia's many (lukewarm) admirers form a culture in which a few intense representatives can profit from gathering news and photographs for dissemination to the broader culture. Money is the motive in that case. But my admirer has lots of money. Money is no problem for my admirer.
My 'admirer' is a stalker.
A stalker is an individual who (tap) acts like a paparazzi but crosses the line in that he (she) is intensely involved emotionally. Money is not the point. The stalker literally cannot stop thinking about the object of his (her) obsession. The stalker is literally insane in some sense. (BG test at 2000:87! Whoa! The old liver is indeed overloaded! But 87 is still acceptable. I will continue, and will check it again in one hour.)

(1)
Correction: Acid has many emotional components as well as some logical components but few if any verbal components. The verbal process is apparently too complex for Acid, possibly because it is 'directed' by 'higher order' processes which have been temporarily disabled. The emotional processes run rampant, unrestrained apparently, by the usual control processes. I guess... (But what the hell would I know about it?)
I'm doing guinea pig duty tonight, testing blood glucose as I go along, on the hour. This is a scientific study, the purpose of which is to test a theory I recently read on the web to the effect that booze occupies the liver to the point where it is unable to produce the normal blood glucose levels. My interest in the subject was sparked by a recent Today Show piece which 'raised my consciousness' on the subject of (tap) 'type two diabetes.' Many of us have it. Most of us don't know it.
Speaking of the Today Show, I have been enjoying it in true HD whenever I am up early enough to do so. Otherwise I enjoy (tap) it in 'near HD' while playing it back on my TiVo. Denver's channel nine (NBC) is the only channel I have discovered so far which displays HD broadcasts in full screen (tap) HDTV mode. I assume the other local channels will follow suit soon. I am looking forward to the day I can justify the expense of a new HDTV TiVo!
I began the current BG testing yesterday afternoon: 1530: 110. This result (boom) was obtained approximately 17 (boom) hours after my last meal, but after drinking 6 Diet Pepsis. The caffine may have contributed to the result, somewhat. I then ate dinner (no breakfast of course) consisting of 4 ounces of fried salmon, two cups of cooked rice, some Kimchee, two cups (faint thump) of sauteed onions and asparagus, and one ban(tap)nana, and one small orange. Pretty healthy stuff. 1730: BG - 146. 1800: BG - 119. 1830: BG - 128. 1930: BG 141. 2000: BG 130.

(4)
Mouse: 1; Human: 0.
The little critter still has the run of our apartment. I recently bought two more 'Mouse Cubes' to no avail: The mouse runs up to the door of the trap, then goes around it as if he (she) does not realize that the door can be entered. I conclude that this trap is not suitable for smart mice or dumb mice. The trap might work for the average mouse, but this mouse is far from average. If I can eventually catch the little guy I plan to keep it in a little cage until next Spring. At least.
Oh My God! Tonight I was thinking to link to the last movement of Beethoven's Symphony #6 somewhere when I stumbled on this glorious piece on youtube. This piece is unique in that there is no ego at all, only beauty! Dark Beauty! My intent was to (tap) give you an inkling (tap) of the Acid Experience. It was to be 'tonight's music.' I never suspected that the link would include the entire symphony! But it does! Oh My God!
For those of you who don't know, I always did this music while tripping. Acid amplified my visual cortex output such that I could see the music with my eyes closed. I layed there on the couch, alone in the living room, enjoying utter visual and auditory beauty as the music played. The music became my connection to a distant, faraway world. Think, 'kaleidoscope.' I have never seen such beautiful scenes in real life as I have seen in my living room on Acid with my eyes closed. Acid is visual. There is absolutely no logical component to Acid. Emotional components may exist... may not. Acid equals beauty. Visual and auditory beauty.

(3)
In the current category, I have proceeded with my plan to 'modernize.' Two days after I bought Kootch her new HDTV, Best Buy advertised the same set at a much reduced price. Kootch - retail expert that she is - advised me to confront Best Buy seeking a reduction in price. Turned out that BB did that sort of thing routinely. The result was that I saved 180 dollars on her set. Not only that: I bought an identical set at the then low price, for me. The result is that I can now open the door to her room and change parameters (with my remote), irritating Kootch. I do it occasionally. Kootch doesn't hear me open the door. I think she needs a hearing aid, but she is in denial. I should mention that I bought our first HDTV a few weeks ago and installed it in the Living Room. I considered it 'our TV,' but Kootch remained (tap) aloof (thump). We both watch it routinely when we do Millionaire every day, but she seemed detached, ownershipwise. Hence my recent gift. We now have three HDTV's! I have even incorporated my old CRT TV into the local network: I can now watch three tv sets simultaneously! And I do! No news will escape me, folks. I can tell you that.
(But thank god for computers. We need to escape reality from time to time.)

(2)
One of the local churches had a recent billboard theme which read (approximately), 'What are you thankful for?' Good question! I love that question!
We are all thankful for something, of course. Indeed we are all thankful on an unconscious level for every preceeding cause/effect event in The Universe of which we are the result. We owe our life/consciousness to the past. In (boom) the most general terms, therefore, we are thankful for The Past. We would not be here otherwise. We are thankful for The Past, first of all.
We are also thankful for The Present: We are thankful for the processes in which we are currently entrained. It is our most general appreciation, and that appreciation is totally unconscious. We are thankful for 'the present.' But we don't know it.
More of us are thankful - I think - for 'the present' than for 'the past.'
Those are the two categories: The Present, and The Past. There are no other categories. The Future - a third possible category - is unknown. (But there is literally a multitude of idiots who are thankful for an Unknown Future!)
So, in the most general terms, we are thankful for The Present and we are thankful for The Past. All else is personal.

(1)
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am a bit early, inadvertently (faint thump). Kootch and I did the usual Thanksgiving Turkey today: I put the frozen 12+ pound turkey in a sink full of water last night around 9:00 pm, my job done.
Kootch took over from there, rescuing the turkey about 0800. She put it in the oven about 0900. I woke up about 09:30. The turkey cooked at 325F. Kootch figured it would be done about 1300, a generous estimate given that it was stuffed with chicken dressing and covered with foil. At 1300 we removed the foil to brown the turkey, but it was clearly not yet done. We replaced the foil after browning for 30 minutes, and cooked it for another 30 minutes but it was still not quite done. A meat thermometer confirmed our visual diagnosis. After another 30 minutes we agreed to 'tackle that turkey done or not' (Kootch's phrase). We pulled it out of the oven and Kootch did the gravy and the biscuits while the turkey 'cooked down' out of the oven for 30 minutes. The result was that we had a turkey which was 'pretty much cooked, but still suspect.' Kootch ate the done parts (wing - her favorite part) while I drank a Thanksgiving (thump) glass of whiskey and Piet Pepsi. Interestingly, Kootch drank most of the first glass of booze after I explained to her that it was 'no good to drink booze after you eat.' (Kootch seems to have warmed up to me considerably (thump) lately.) I poured myself another drink, then another, while we watched the morning Millionaire show on TiVo and Kootch ate Thanksgiving dinner. After 'dinner' I did another drink while Kootch did her duty vis the turkey, my own plate languishing on the coffee table before me. It's still there, I think. I'll get to it eventually.

(3)

That last post must have represented the stage where I began to take myself too seriously. I always do it eventually. Hmm. can I come up with something funny at this late hour? Nope. I just retried the previous funpic link and got zapped again with the same attack. I had to do a 'system restore.' Seems to have worked. I will do a VirusScan later.
Just did a chess game on Comcast and won as usual (tap).
Bought a new package of (boom) panties yesterday at Wallmart. Size 12 'sport briefs.' I was attracted by an orange pair. Wore them today. Those knickers knick! I already have hundreds more than I can use, of course, but when you have a real fetish...
Just played a game as black with Nightmire. Won as usual. Booze doesn't affect my chess playing ability as much as it affects my other subcranial functions. I conjecture that chess is virtually imprinted within my neural structure, part of the substrate. I can even play it blind(tap)folded
and win against a beginner (like Kootch). She was amazed by that, but she seemed to be irritated that I could even beat her on Acid. I suppose it was because I did it in front of the girls (who were also tripping - Kootch was babysitting as usual). Generally speaking, women are not as 'visual' as men, puzzlewise. Kootch is quite intelligent except verbally. She is a verbal disaster, Englishwise. Don't tell her I said so...
Nighty-night.

(2)
I tried to do a funpic link to 'mouse' (in the preceeding post) but my browser got ambushed:
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McAfee Virus Scan window: "The file C:\Documents and Settings\owner\Local Settings\temp\xrun.exec was infected by the Generic Downloader.g. Trojan has been deleted to complete the clean process." There were two more advisories following that one. Then the browser died and had to be resurrected.
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I doubt that the link itself triggered the attack. My conjecture is that the attack was somehow triggered by the subject, 'mouse.' Nice to know that McAfee is still on the job. They recommend a (thump) VirusScan of the hard disk.

I watched parts of the presidential debate on CNN last night. Fairly interesting. I like all of the (democratic) candidates and it seems to me that they all contribute to an eventual 'party platform.' There are some very good ideas there.
It seems to me that our main national problem nowadays is the concept of 'The War on Terror.' This concept serves to frighten us. We need to understand how we are being 'had' and how much it is costing us. For example: life itself is a 'war on terror.' Bad people do bad things. We tilt against evil constantly. This constant struggle is something we can all agree on as we do it day by day even in our own private consciousness. But unscrupulous politicians have magnified this everyday human struggle out of all proportion, and you - idiots that you are - have fallen for their rhetoric.
There can be no 'war on terror' out there in the real world. Cannot be. Terror is everywhere. There is no 'Jihad' out there. The 'Jihad' is within. The war is within. True, we must defend ourselves against 'terrorist acts,' but the process hardly amounts to the kind of 'war' which the Bush Administration proposes to us. We need to fight battles, not wars. We need to stop behaving as if Islam is the enemy of Judeo-Christianity.

(1)
Parts of that last post (4), below)) might not have passed the breatholizer test, but we don't do that sort of thing here. Previous posts are always 'interesting' reading to me because I'm never quite sure what to expect. Should I switch from beer to tequila? Hmm.
We have an uninvited guest: a mouse. The little critter must have crawled in under the door one cold night. Been several days since I first spotted it in the bathroom, and since then I've seen it in the living room and the bed room under the computer table. The current plan is to trap it and relocate it. Mice Cube to the rescue! The mouse is winning, so far. Maybe we need a cat.
Kootch likes her new HDTV. It's more of an anniversary present than a Christmas present, but suffices for both. Interestingly, my original anniversary present, two cheap (tap) video games, seem to have given her the most pleasure. She plays them incessantly. I included a bottle of wine in the bargain, but she was not at all amused, and I ended up pouring most of it down the drain. I recently checked up on her: she was not watching her new HDTV but was playing her video games as usual. This tends to support the old saying that, 'It's the thought that counts.'
Tonight's music is Choral Fantasy by Beethoven.

(4)
Watching The MacLaughlin Group just now (at o100L) I was struck by the ignorance which seems to equate 'Democracy' (a political system) with 'Capitalism' (an economic system). Nonsense. Economics preceeds politics in the same way that emotion preceeds logic. Every 'manifestation' is based on a more fundamental (preceeding) reality. Thus, for example, 'Democracy' is preceeded by 'order.' There can be no 'Democracy' in the midst of 'disorder.' Democracy arises only in a society which is at peace with itself, fundamentally. Thus a society needs Economic Stability before it can generate higher ideas like 'Democracy.' Social Stability preceeds Economic Stability, and Economics preceeds Politic. Only an economically content population dabbles in politics. 'Order' is the primary human political aim. Nothing is possible without Order. We see this in Iraq. Saddam's singular gift to 'Iraq' was 'order' posing as Tyranny. Bush's singular 'gift' to Iraq was chaos posing as 'Democracy.'
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Uh-oh. The MacLG just indicated to me (at about 20 minutes in) that they were 'oblivious' to a major reason why Bush invaded Iraq: Israel. I almost threw up. Thumbs down on those pathetic phoneys. I will henceforth ignore them. Eat shit and die, folks. I will not waste my time with you again.
Sayonara.

(3)
In personal news, I have packed away those size 12 orange cotton panties until next Halloween. I don't think I have even a single pair of orange nylon panties, but I must admit that I haven't done an inventory.

I am going to buy Kootch a flat panel tv for Christmas. Shhh.

I have not bought a larger-size pack of adult diapers yet, but I am still thinking about it. (Don't worry: I won't burden you with my future diaper adventures, if any - at least not in any tedious detail. My current plan is to return with the diapers while Kootch is preoccupied watching her daily Soap. That way she won't be so curious about the contents of my shopping bag. My chances of arriving during a commercial are minimal. I hope.)

My current potty training regimen - such as it is - remains at the usual standstill.

My understanding of (tap) J-F radiation continues to expand as I experience more and more of it, symptomwise. Interestingly, I am not (tap) experiencing any radiation at the moment (very typical for a Friday night). No gas either. My conjecture is that the alcohol I am imbibing serves as a sufficient poison, needing no other amplification. Plus, I am now very entertaining!

(2)

And on the subject of circumcision and sensation I read this article recently. It begins with the news that Jewish 'intactivists' have stopped mutilating their male offspring. I had to laugh near the end, though, at the comment by Julius Lester (aka Yaakov Daniel) who claimed that late life circumcision improved his 'staying power'. Yaakov, a convert to Judaism, wanted to 'feel Jewish.' Apparently, circumcision decreased his penile sensitivity to the point (tap - there's a Jewish faggot up there as usual) where he could fuck all night if necessary. I doubt Yaakov's conclusions. My guess is that he can't even get it up nowadays without Viagra. Even I - uncircumcised, over-horny, half-Irish sex addict, have trouble reaching orgasm now and then while jerking off. But at age 72 I don't need Viagra. Yet. (Pussy would be nice, though.) The source of the article was the Jewish news service, Reuters.

Speaking of 'Irish,' Conan O'Brien and I apparently share more than just a few Neanderthal genes. Conan is being stalked. By a priest! Guess I'll have to stop kidding Conan.

I discovered Jew Watch (boom) recently. At first I didn't know what to make of it, but after doing some research I concluded that it was what it said it was. Jews won't like it (tap), but I like it. I have put it on my 'read at least once a week' list. The motto of the site is, 'Seeking U.S. independence from the Zionist AIPAC yoke.' I can go along with that (being gassed here - tap). There I found this interesting analysis (The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy) which goes to the root of our current problems. Read it if you dare.

Be advised that Jew Watch (thump) is probably considered 'anti-Semitic' by Jews. (Nobody likes to be 'watched.' Eheh.) But one thing is very clear nowadays: Jews need to be 'watched.' (Check the nearest dick.)

(1)
Well, clearly Jesus and I had a communication problem, and since Jesus seemed to be preoccupied at the time, I did not press the issue. But now that I know Jesus' number, I plan to contact Him from time to time concerning questions which may lie outside WHTZSNM's 'jurisdiction.'

In current American religious/political (religical) news, Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani, the pro-abortion, pro-gay republican politician. The 'end' does indeed justify the 'means!' 'They' say that Robertson expects Giuliani to appoint one or two judges who would strike down Roe vs Wade. Not bloody fucking likely. Robertson likes Giuliani for his hatred of Muslims. Robertson thinks that Giuliani is the most likely candidate to bring about Armaggedon, and 'The Rapture.' Robertson is scared shitless of dying. He wants to be raptured outa here, and Giuliani is the key.

In current American religious/medical (relmed) news, 'Abstinence doesn't work.' Despite 141 million recent dollars spent on trying to pursuade horny teenagers to stop fucking each other they continue to do so at an alarming rate, producing many accidental offspring. I would humbly suggest that the 'abstinence' program is utterly laughable: You circumcise the males soon after birth. When they reach the age of horniness you advise them to abstain from fucking. Failing that, you advise them to use rubbers when fucking. Can you imagine what a circumcised boy actually feels while fucking his true love wearing a rubber? Nothing. Nothing! Circumcision removed most of his penile sensations and the rubber removed the rest. He might as well be fucking air! But he will make a good lawyer. Eventually. Or pediatrition. Or psychiatrist. Or terrorist.

Here is my suggestion: Cut off money for sexual mutilation by outlawing the practice. Teach masturbation (not that an intact boy needs to be taught!). Your daughters will remain virgins longer. You will save a bunch of money as a result. You will furthermore have a happier and much less perverted population. Those boys will discover pussy eventually, never fear...

(3)
I dialed 123 on the brown telephone: A weak voice answered: '(static) you and your (static) electric heaters. We don't need it. (static) off! Do not spam me again!'
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me: I am not a spammer. I was referred by Your Daddy. He gave me your number.
js: Jehovah?!
me: Exactly.
js: You are in contact with Jehovah?
me: I am.
js: (static) you and Jehovah and (static).
me: I can heat you up. Listen to me.
js: I'm listening...
me: Move around constantly. It will keep you warm.
js: How did you know...?
me: I need a moral decision from you.
js: Shoot.
me: Is torture morally acceptable?
js: Is this a test?
me: No, no.
js: (static) you and your (static).
me: Is that a 'yes' or a 'no?'
js: (static).
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(2)
If the current trend in the judiciary committee holds, the Mukasey matter will go to the full senate for a confirmation vote. What are the odds? This site purports to keep us informed in real time.
Why should we care?
That is the central question, which goes to the more fundamental question of who we are as a nation. Do we approve of torture as a method of arriving at The Truth? Do we value 'the truth' so much that we are willing to inflict torture? Hmm. I decided to put the question to god. I dialed 666 on the brown telephone.
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gd: Hello?
me: I have a moral question.
gd: Shoot.
me: Is it acceptable to torture people in order to ascertain the truth?
gd: Define your terms. I am not a celestial dictionary.
me: Truth equals Reality.
gd: You know it when you see it. Open your eyes.
me: Hidden truth; truth hidden inside the brain of the other.
gd: There is no such thing. No brain contains The Truth.
me: You're fucking with me.
gd: Ha ha ha! Gotcha!
me: I'm serious. This is a moral question. I need an answer.
gd: You need to contact Jesus. Your question is outside My jurisdiction.
me: How do I contact Jesus? He is still enroute.
gd: Dial 123. When the voice answers requesting your name, say, 'Four.' Be advised that due to the extreme distances involved there may be considerable static. Anything else?
me: How is Jesus handling the low temperatures?
gd: (hangs up)

(1)
We begin tonight with the Blog Readability Test. This test apparently samples your blog looking for 'big words,' then rates your blog accordingly. Daily Scratchpad earned a 'reading level' of 'Elementary School.' Whew. Could have been worse.
Post-Islamism seems to be the future. Modern communication will bring about that desirable state. Maybe.
The Attorney General is supposed to know when a crime is being committed. We were therefore fascinated by Michael Mukasey's ignorance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Mukasey, a former judge, appeared to be in the dark concerning the subject of 'waterboarding,' unable to say whether that practice was or was not a crime, 'torture' being a crime. I think we can all agree that a serious candidate for the currently vacant position would have suggested to the committee that, 'I don't know, but I am ready to experience the procedure for the purpose of making a decision in that regard.' A less heroic but acceptable reply would have been something to the effect that he was willing to 'look it up' (do some research) and report back to the committee. No Joy. Mukasey insisted that maybe it was and maybe it was not a crime, which is to say that maybe it was and maybe it was not torture. 'Who knows?' said Mukasey, who asked the committee for authorative definitions of the words, 'crime,' and 'torture' before answering in the noncommitive case. Two Democrat Senators on the committee (Schumer and Feinstein), satisfied with Mukasey's performance, indicated to media that they would vote to confirm based Mukasey's outstanding performance before the committee. The remaining senators indicated that they would vote thumbs down. It should be noted that Schumer, a Democrat, actually nominated Mukasey to the Bush Administration! It should furthermore be noted that both Schumer and Feinstein are Jews, as is Mukasey. I humbly suggest that perhaps what we have here is a case of Jewish Tribalism which crosses party lines, not to mention moral lines. I am considering whether to classify both senators along with Lieberman as, 'senators from Israel.'
Meanwhile, Daniel Levin answered the question for himself by undergoing 'the procedure.' His definitive judgement: 'Yes, it is torture.' Levin has yet to be called before the committee, leaving the committee in the dark on that question.
My own research suggests that 'waterboarding' is actually 'drowning:' The lungs fill with water and the subject actually dies unless rescued at the last minute by empathic interrogators.