September 22, 2004

No giant sucking sounds here, folks

Just a lot of lawyerly language about decorum. That's the burden of a 32-page(!!) contract signed by the Bush and Kerry camps governing the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates. For example, No props, notes, charts, diagrams or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by any candidate. Neither candidate may reference or cite any specific individual sitting in a debate audience at any time during a debate. And if someone breaks these rules, look out! If a candidate references or cites any specific individual(s) in a debate audience, or if a candidate uses a prop, note or other writing or other tangible thing during a debate, the moderator must interrupt and explain that reference or citation to the specific individual(s) or the use of the prop, note or other writing or thing violates the debate rules agreed to by that candidate. That'll teach 'em. I can already sense fingers hovering over the buttons on TV remotes all over the country. Aaack! Get me the NASCAR channel. And both sides are praising the rhetorical skills of the other just in case their guy finds a way to flop despite all the legal, uh, props designed to hold him upright. Bush aides described Kerry as "the most experienced debater in the nation," while Kerry aides depicted Bush as an affable performer who has never lost a debate in public life. I can hardly wait to see if The Smoking Gun can land the contract "riders." Will Bush's be more like Ted Nugent's ** or Toby Keith's ** ? Will Kerry's be more like Don Henley's ** or the Dixie Chicks ** ? ** From Nugent's rider: NOTE: The 2002 TED NUGENT tour is very environmentally conscious, PLEASE refrain from using any styrofoam or polystyrene cups, plates or containers at any of your catering or dressing rooms. [Comment: That'll never fly.] ** From Keith's rider: Provide all the beer for the Toby Keith Rider, other National acts on the show and Coors Original Meet and Greet. [Nope. Gave that up. Maybe some of those red, white and blue jelly beans. No pretzels, though.] ** From Henley's rider: SPECIAL NOTE: THE PRESENCE OF ANYONE BACKSTAGE WHO IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PERFORMANCE OR PRODUCTION THEREOF (INCLUDING FRIENDS, GUESTS, RELATIVES AND BUSINESS ACQUAINTAINCES OF THE PROMOTER) WILL CAUSE THE ARTIST TO BECOME EXTREMELY UPSET AND SUCH PERSON WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. [Screen that crowd.] ** From the Dixie Chicks rider: EVENT COORDINATOR must provide six (6) tee time passes with carts at a local par 72 championship level course. Tee time is 10 a.m. [Wind-surfing follows, I suppose.] Still, this campaign has been largely bereft of real exchanges on the issues facing the country. Maybe these debates will get us there. Remember these days: Presidential: -- Thursday, Sept. 30 -- Friday, Oct. 8 -- Wednesday, Oct. 13 Vice presidential: -- Tuesday, Oct. 5 Finally, here's a link to the 32-page contract (warning: monster PDF).

Posted by tbrown at 01:13 PM

Bush at the UN: Not enough specifics?

That's the thrust of most of the analysis and criticism from abroad. I thought the president did about as good a job as could reasonably be expected in explaining a war that (IMHO) was optional. There certainly is an argument to be made that, as a general principle, promoting the advancement of democracy worldwide is a good thing. And Bush made it: In this young century, our world needs a new definition of ecurity. Our security is not merely found in spheres of influence or some balance of power. the security of our world is found in the advancing rights of mankind. *** The desire for freedom resides in every human heart. And that desire cannot be contained forever by prison walls, or martial laws, or secret police. Over time, and across the Earth, freedom will find a way." Beyond these high-minded sentiments, however, there is a real war going on in Iraq, and international observers were lukewarm about Bush's attempt to go from there to soliciting worldwide participation in Iraq. Matthew Clark of the Christian Science Monitor has a good overview of reaction to the speech here. The International Herald Tribune reports that at a practical level efforts to get the UN to come through on promised aid for Iraq are getting nowhere: It has not been an easy process," said a New York-based UN official involved with the efforts to put together a smaller force of about 150 soldiers to guard the UN compound in Iraq. "The ones that are already there are already stretched and for the ones who aren't there, it's a political decision." U.S. officials spearheading the effort to put together a brigade-sized force of soldiers to protect UN workers outside of Baghdad have met similar reluctance. U.S. officials have approached at least 22 countries to send troops to the special force, which would operate under the command of the U.S.-led multinational force, but so far have received no positive responses, despite the unanimous passage of a UN resolution this summer that urged countries to contribute troops to such a force. Some commentators, including former Bush speechwriter David Frum, also wondered why the president made no reference to the brewing confrontation with Iran over its defiance of a UN call to halt its uranium-enrichment program, which could produce material for atomic weapons. Said Frum: … there is still time to stop Iran. And the world community is at least theoretically pledged to try. As usual, many countries – including unfortunately some of the European allies – are disposed to shrug the threat off and hope for the best. Some of those allies, even the UN Secretary General, have complained that the US did not give enough heed to UN procedures on Iraq. OK then: Let’s see how they follow UN procedures on Iran. The UN speech presented an opportunity to remind those allies of their danger – and their obligations. Why didn’t the president make use of it? And while it may not have been a direct reaction to Bush's UN speech, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf – one of our key allies in the Muslim world -- made a speech of his own in which he warned that a new "iron curtain" will descend between the West and the Muslim world unless Muslim grievances are addressed: "Justice must be offered in the form of resolution of all outstanding international disputes which affect the Muslims," Musharraf said in speech to the UN General Assembly. "Action has to be taken before an iron curtain finally descends between the West and the Islamic world," he said. "The major powers of the West have yet to show movement by seriously trying to resolve internationally recognized disputes affecting the Muslim world," he said. The last iron curtain, separating the West from the Soviet empire, took a half-century to wear down.

Posted by tbrown at 01:05 PM