Has Bush Gone Soft?

Unloading Cargo Ship

I was surprised to find out that a British shipping company that manages several American ports was being sold to Dubai Ports World, a state-owned business of the United Arab Emirates. It seems like a lapse in security to allow such crucial commercial influx to be controlled by a country that was implicated in the 9/11 tragedy. DPW doesn't conduct the actual security searches, but they can hire all the crane operators, stevedores and port terminal operators that perform critical cargo functions.

My surprise increased when I saw that the Democrats and Republicans were both in agreement -- baffled at the stupidity of this sale. Susan Collins, Republican head of the Homeland Security Senate Committee said on the morning news that the Senate had been blindsided -- had no chance to investigate the sale before it was announced. It's a weird day on the planet when Susan Collins, Hillary Clinton, Bill Frist and Dennis Hastert are all in strong agreement about something; that day was yesterday.

The weirdness only multiplied, upon finding out that our President, the Flying "W", is totally in favor of the port transaction. He said he will veto any emergency legislation that tries to block the sale. No one has ventured whether Congress will have votes to override his veto. The Bush position doesn't totally surprise me. UAE borders Saudi Arabia -- shares much of same religion, culture and oil economy. Bush and his father have a close affinity with Saudi Royals -- a favorite Saudi friend is even nicknamed "Bhandar Bush". The Bin Ladens are friends of the Bushes and were given safe exit from the US on 9/11. Imagine: Between Osama Bin Laden and George W Bush there are only two degrees of separation. Why are the Bushes so lovey-dovey with the Saudis? Who knows? When "Bring it on" Bush is speaking in politically correct blather and acting against 9/11 sensibilities, something is really wrong. It helps that the Bin Ladens have disassociated themselves from their errant brother, but all of us have to wonder, "Has Bush gone soft on terrorism?" As it stands, there may be a 45-day Senate inquiry to examine the risks involved with this sale. Funny that the Bush administration didn't think of this until yesterday. But as previously said, yesterday was a weird day on the planet.

A-Hunting We Will Go

Russert, ready to grill

'Meet the Press' on Sunday (2/19) was spirited to say the least. Was almost certain that I was going to witness a cat fight between Mary Matalin, defender-of-all-that-is-conservative, and liberal author Maureen Dowd, whom Mary dubbed "the Diva of the Smart Set". Meow! Maureen smiled at the description but kept hers claws sheathed right then.

Another good moment was when David Gregory, the boyish-looking journalist who represents NBC in the White House press corps, made a very sincere apology for calling Scott McClelland, White House Press Secretary a "jerk" in an off-camera exchange. 'Meet the Press' can sometimes calm choppy political waters, as with Mr. Gregory, but it's so much more fun if it yields a perfect storm as with Mary and Maureen. It's also fun when Tim puts someone in the hot seat. Tim Russert doesn't play political favorites, but if you're his guest you'll be held ruthlessly to account for any public word or deed from the past that makes you look silly or self-contradictory. Statesmen and public figures must "Meet the Press" much as they "Meet their fate" -- usually in a desperate attempt to win a losing election or rehabilitate an already-battered image. They must figure they have nothing to lose by facing the music of Tim Russert.

This past Sunday, there was no one physically in the hot seat, although Dick Cheney's hunting mishap was under discussion. Cheney was the hot seat person, in absentia. Maureen was clearly still mindful of Ms. Matalin's "Diva" snipe. Maureen opined thusly (excuse the paraphrasing):

"Over the years, I've been hunting many times, and many times with Republicans".
"It is always the responsibility of the shooter to be mindful of where his hunting party is, before pulling the trigger".
"It is amazing that Mr. Cheney used up 4 days (from shooting to FOX interview) to try and place blame on the victim".

Meow and swipe! Her delivery was succinct and correct -- the shooter should be mindful of all his hunting group, and should not be under the influence of intoxicating beverages. ("Beverage alcohol" as the late TX Senator John Tower would've called it). Had Cheney made his report immediately, he still would have caught grief along the lines of what Bush caught when he encountered a pretzel. But his delay tactic became a story all unto itself. A word of warning about this to future politicians -- you may face the wrath of the American public, and even worse, the interrogation of Tim Russert. You can't make it to the show? Then Mary and Maureen will have to take it to the mat for you!

Time Waits for No One

Macabre Illusion

I was 24 when I noticed the first wrinkles on my forehead, probably 30 when I noticed a gray hair. I wasn't pleased, but neither was I that bothered. In my subconscious mind, I was Dorian Gray -- the first mutant of humanity that would never age. By 35, my waist had expanded to 33" and my hairline was starting a very noticeable retreat. Dorian was fading fast. Now, 35 is looking good to me. I require reading glasses, must take Metamucil and my internal metabolism has slowed down to a crawl.

What human affairs and finances do to you may be deplorable; what your own physical body does to you over time is the ultimate outrage. Listening to the Rolling Stones' song, "Time Waits for No One", you feel the irony of it all. The bad boys of Rock'n Roll look positively geriatric and only an eye blink from when they were at the top of their game. If you've had a crummy life with lots of setbacks, will Time wait for you then? Maybe give you a 10 year dispensation for drug rehab or a misspent youth? Afraid not. Time is ruthless. We all have ATDS -- acquired time deficiency syndrome. It will kill us dead, as surely as RAID kills a roach. You might even live to be 114. The last 74 years of that will be as a less attractive non-youth; the last 20 will be in a wheelchair and the last 5 will be as a blind person pushing a world record and probably wishing for death.

On my grandmother's 86th birthday, she was nonplussed. "Can you believe I'm 86?" I couldn't believe it; being middle-aged myself, I could easily remember when she was an active woman close to my age now. She did pass away at 93. She outlived her husband by 28 years and most of her other friends and relatives by a good 5 years. Her life was rich and full, but a clock on the wall drained away its vibrancy in the end. I hear the Clock ticking now...think maybe I’ll go digital.

Should I rush madly about, to do noble deeds and make up for time lost? Nah, it would make me a nervous wreck and part of what I enjoy in life is lazing about. Where do we go when we make the ultimate transition? According to my father, you go back to where you were before you were born. (Thanks Dad -- that tells me a lot). He's there now, wherever it is. Can diet, exercise and face cream forestall the hands of Time? They’ll make you look better, but genes play the biggest role in longevity, not lifestyle. George Burns made it to 100 having a daily night cap and a cigar. Shall I be cremated or buried whole? I know that I hate claustrophobia – maybe just set me out somewhere. Tonight I’ll probably apply some eye cream made w/ bee’s wax. Will this force Time into retreat? Dorian is vainly hoping so, because neither he nor anyone else, despite ferocity of religious beliefs, knows what lies in the beyond.

Brokeback Blog

I wish I could quit yew

I've now read various critiques of "Brokeback Mountain" -- the story of two gay, cowboy lovers in Wyoming in the 1960's. Most of the reviews I'm thinking of (with one notable exception) are from political, social critics rather than the entertainment sector. I'm amused by the unusual, oft judgmental lenses that the movie seems to pass thru, depending on the viewer. Gene Shalit, a mild-mannered NBC movie reviewer suggested that the character Jack was a "sexual predator". For this, he received quite a bit of flak from the Gay/Lesbian community. Having seen the movie, I can't imagine either of these men being seen as predator or prey. Mr. Shalit must be grappling with concepts of legal age and consent. His words hark back to the Anita Bryant crusade, when gays were viewed as highly efficient recruiters.

Two columnists at the Dallas Morning News had similar takes. Rob Dreher thought that the two men exemplified immaturity and unwillingness to live "as grownup men". On a similar plateau, Mark Davis implied that the men got what they were asking for, playing with nature the way they were. The two DMN columnists suggest that the cowboys' preferences are either chosen or so vile (as those of a child molester) that they should be forever suppressed.

A woman writing for DMN (can’t recall her name so will leave that open) opined that the men ignored their women, and the women were portrayed as whiny, pathetic nags. Well, on the first point, the men were gay – they wouldn’t focus on the wives the same as they focus on their love objects. I don’t think either woman came off as this DMN columnist described them. Ennis’ wife had mixed feelings of betrayal and a lingering affection for her gay ex-husband. Jack’s wife was portrayed as a fairly aggressive, assertive woman – nobody’s victim.

“Brokeback Mountain” got us past a couple of clichés. No character was dying of AIDS, nor was the topic ever brought up. The two gay cowboys were masculine but also vulnerable. Movies with gay subplots sometimes try to eschew the effeminate stereotype by going too far the other way of Marine Corps macho. Nobody has to wrestle an alligator or fight Mike Tyson here. Prospective viewers should know there is no graphic, only implied sex in the movie. The movie has been a watershed of sorts – it’s provided joke fodder to standup comedians and cartoonists for a couple of months now. The fact that the mere mention of the title elicits giggles and nervous laughter says something about our collective angst. And the fact that so many otherwise quiet essayists have an opinion about this movie says it did the noble work of all good writing (and screenplay adapting) - it made us think.