Wednesday, December 10, 2003

James Baker: King of Iraq Josh Marshall's been doing great work lately on the James Baker appointment to oversee finance issues for Iraq.  Actually, that's probably not Baker's official title, but Marshall's read on it is that Baker could be the single most important factor in how Iraq actually moves into statehood, because of the overwhelming importance of their debt situation.  Baker's job, at least as far as we seem to know, is to try to work with the Saudis and other governments to get Iraq's debt relieved or restructured.  Baker's tight with the Saudis, having been to many of the all-night coke and pool parties the Kingdom is so famous for. Of course, there are also other countries which Iraq owes a crapload of money to, some of whom happen to be the same countries that Paul Wolfowitz decided yesterday couldn't participate in the bidding process in Iraq.  So basically, Baker's job is to go to some of these countries and say, "Hey, why not just let Iraq slide on all that money they owe you?", while at the same time that country is being told by another arm of the U.S. government that they can't get in on the bidding to rebuild Iraq, because they didn't help us out the first time.  Given that Baker and Wolfowitz apparently don't like each other and have nearly opposite approaches to politics and force, I'll bet there were some interesting conversations between their groups today. Redgarding Talking Points Memo: This is, hands down, the best site I read every day.  It's a very quick read, very to the point with multiple daily updates, so it's quite easy to stay abreast of his posts.  The amazing thing is the content.  First, yes, he's a Democrat, and that alone is going to color his writing in a certain way.  But in every case, I read his material as being highly informed (as in, he knows a lot of people in some pretty interesting DC places), and highly objective.  If he's speculating, he'll tell you.  If he feels he's veering into "unobjective Dem" territory, he'll tell you why.  More than anything, he gives context and background and always makes sure to link to his sources when possible, so you can get a feel for the wider discussion.  I know of no better place to get a highly informed and skeptical (and I mean that in the best way) view of the election, Iraq, and a host of other items.  I can't recommend his site highly enough. 3:52:26 PM    Say what?[]

Quick List: 5 Cool Cities West Of The Mississippi Tucson, AZ-Beautiful red rocks, made more red by sunsets that amaze every night.  Also, a treasure trove of bird species you just can't get in the Midwest. Seattle, WA-Forget the rain and your grunge stigma.  Whether your vice is the mountains, rain forests, the ocean, great restaurants, or Canadian drugs (prescription and non-prescription), it's all in Seattle. Manhattan, KS-Ah, the Little Apple.  Enjoy the beauty of the Flint Hills by day, then take in the strange confluence of frat boys, football players, army troops and cowboys in Aggieville by night.  And wear the big belt buckle... San Francisco-The most beautiful city I've ever been to.  It's not even close. Minneapolis-All the generic big-city trappings like museums, sports, restaurants and the like, without being too big.  Also one of the few cities in this country where you can get a full helping of every season of the year.  2:44:09 PM    Say what?[]

I Pledge: I recently made a promise to myself to try to improve my life in some specific ways.  One was to have less interaction with people, generally.  Another was to take pride in my yard, at all times.  Unfortunately, I arrived at this goal in the midst of the season's first serious snowstorm, a couple weeks ago.  At the time, I lapsed into my old lazy way of thinking: "Oh, well.  Too bad it's snowing and I can't really do anything about my yard till at least July.  Maybe I'll just play Madden again."  But then I caught myself, and realized that, dammit, I was going to take pride in my yard all year long! And so I shoveled like a madman that night.  My pledge?  To always keep the walks, driveway, steps and back deck shoveled, so help me God, or whichever non-specific being or entity or other such thing might have the power to invest legitimacy in my pledge. I undertook this pledge with a solemnity usually reserved for pet funerals and very bad gambling days.  And I intended to keep it.  I stood in my driveway each night, shovel at the ready in my hand, with pavement ice-scraper and broom in reserve.  I watched the skies.  More than once, I whispered into the wind to the Forces of Snow: "Bring it." And then it was brought. The last 36 hours have seen 6 to 10 inches of snow dumped on our fair cities.  It was the biggest December snowfall in the Cities in 20 years, and with it came the opportunity to renew my pledge.  I attacked the snow in a frenzy, a whirling dervish of force and action and hot-blooded machismo resulting in a virtual snow hurricane, with the top of my hat and the occasional steely glint of my shovel visible in the eye of the little storm.  Maxine the dog stood and barked at this strange Snowy Tasmanian Devil as it wound it's way through the walks, the steps, the driveway, the deck, pausing only briefly to taste the sweet nectar of nearly frozen Brita-filtered tap water. The hours passed.  I experimented with new shoveling techniques, new methods of snow-throwing and sweeping, all a stunning success!  Finally, the job was done, the pledge upheld for another night.  But lo!  The snow continued to fall from the skies well past the hour of completion.  Maxine and I awoke this morning to find our work from the night before was now under a fresh new blanket of three inch-deep snow. At which point, I decided this pledge was probably just a giant load of bullshit. 11:45:32 AM    Say what?[]

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