The pop culture reference came in via the whole American Idol thought process (which got pushed along by Backstreet Boys Incomplete being on Video Hits just at the moment - didn't Anthony do this song a couple weeks ago on AI?). Surprise surprise, Vonzell didn't make it to the top two this week, but a credible third, considering that since the final twelve have been set up it's been obvious that the competition was only really between Bo and Carrie - OK, OK you rabid Constantine fans, it was a three way comp until he got KICKED OUT lol.
I have been thinking that it was Carrie's competition to lose the past several weeks, but on last night's performace, Bo has it in his fingertips. And It being beyond just winning American Idol, he could run for President if he wanted to - done pot and cocaine? Just repent and find God like the latest Prez has. Slept with too many extra curricular girls? Just don't deny it under oath, and act contrite LOL. The Gen X guide to US politics perhaps...
Hmm, the New York Times is trying to make a new story out of old allegations, according to the Pentagon. Not so sure whether it is just an old story revived, when there is a 2000 page report on US military abuses in Afghanistan, that was just recently leaked to the newspaper. As almost always with war on terrorism prison stories nowadays, it makes grim reading. Since it was in the Afghan war, the Geneva convention didn't apply against Al Qaeda or the Taliban, even in spirit. As opposed to Abu Ghraib in the Iraqi theatre of operations of course.
Sounds very similar to the US policy of 'rendition' - let's send these suspects off to dodgy countries such as Uzbekistan to do the dirty work our Bill of Rights stops us from doing here in the States. Grr. I could make more comment about this good Abu Ghraib story, but there will be plenty of time in the Iraq campaign to come back to it, is just too depressing at the moment.
Ditto on the continuous ongoing stories about the US Senate getting rid of the filibuster. Don't the current Republicans know that they are not in a one party state and when the Dems get power again they will be able to trample Republicans in the reverse situation? The filibuster probably worked well enough for the Republicans during the Clinton years?
Hmm, was going to also comment on the FA Cup final, between Manchester United and Arsenal, but will take a raincheck - will be live on TV tonight, think I will watch it yay - go you Gunners :)
Pauly
I have been thinking that it was Carrie's competition to lose the past several weeks, but on last night's performace, Bo has it in his fingertips. And It being beyond just winning American Idol, he could run for President if he wanted to - done pot and cocaine? Just repent and find God like the latest Prez has. Slept with too many extra curricular girls? Just don't deny it under oath, and act contrite LOL. The Gen X guide to US politics perhaps...
Hmm, the New York Times is trying to make a new story out of old allegations, according to the Pentagon. Not so sure whether it is just an old story revived, when there is a 2000 page report on US military abuses in Afghanistan, that was just recently leaked to the newspaper. As almost always with war on terrorism prison stories nowadays, it makes grim reading. Since it was in the Afghan war, the Geneva convention didn't apply against Al Qaeda or the Taliban, even in spirit. As opposed to Abu Ghraib in the Iraqi theatre of operations of course.
'Like a narrative counterpart to the digital images from Abu Ghraib, the Bagram file depicts young, poorly trained soldiers in repeated incidents of abuse. The harsh treatment, which has resulted in criminal charges against seven soldiers, went well beyond the two deaths.
In some instances, testimony shows, it was directed or carried out by interrogators to extract information. In others, it was punishment meted out by military police guards. Sometimes, the torment seems to have been driven by little more than boredom or cruelty, or both.'
That's just the introduction, tried to make sure the extracted paragraphs weren't too graphic. But just because it is uncomfortable, disturbing to read, doesn't mean that it should be sugar coated or not told. Reminds me, I have to do my review of The Woodsman sometime...Hmm, and another great PR coup for the war on terror - in Britain today three alleged terrorists who were found not guilty by a jury on charges arising from the ricin plot are looking likely to be deported to Algeria. Where the British Foreign Office has not been able to get assurances that they won't be tortured. OK, so the source material is the Guardian, liberal wimpy leftish (and also my fave British) paper, and the accused probably aren't the nicest of people, but the whole British justice system is being disregarded it seems in this case. They were found not guilty, let's send them away to get tortured.
Sounds very similar to the US policy of 'rendition' - let's send these suspects off to dodgy countries such as Uzbekistan to do the dirty work our Bill of Rights stops us from doing here in the States. Grr. I could make more comment about this good Abu Ghraib story, but there will be plenty of time in the Iraq campaign to come back to it, is just too depressing at the moment.
Ditto on the continuous ongoing stories about the US Senate getting rid of the filibuster. Don't the current Republicans know that they are not in a one party state and when the Dems get power again they will be able to trample Republicans in the reverse situation? The filibuster probably worked well enough for the Republicans during the Clinton years?
Hmm, was going to also comment on the FA Cup final, between Manchester United and Arsenal, but will take a raincheck - will be live on TV tonight, think I will watch it yay - go you Gunners :)
Pauly
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