Movies and TV shows - is there a difference
A movie that is said to be anti Kerry will be shown on several TV stations this month.
This is the website for Stolen Valor: http://www.stolenvalor.com/foia.HTM
A movie that was obviously anti Bush was shown in numerous movie studios 3 months ago (and will be shown on pay for view later this month). The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is trying to have the broadcast of the TV stations stopped.
Is this hypocrisy?
First off, it is not clear to me whether there is a legal difference between a movie and a TV show. Secondly, it is now much closer to an election than when the movie came out. The DNC action is based on the argument that the TV show is an in-kind contribution to the Bush campaign. The DNC does not address (at least not yet) the issue of whether the movie was an in-kind contribution to the Kerry campaign.
I'll wait until they address this before I think this through the rest of the way.
- Ultimately the anti Kerry program wasn't shown on TV - I went to the site and watched a few minutes - the movie did not have good production values and probably wouldn't have been very effective.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Zell Miller - Occupation vs Liberation
In his speech yesterday, Senator Zell Miller (who by the way was the first person to be the keynote speaker at both a Democratic and a Republican convention), said that when Senator Kerry referred to American troops in Iraq (I think he meant Iraq) as occupiers and not liberators, it made Miller angry. It has been documented that President Bush also used the phrase 'occupiers'. Now:
1. I can't remember Kerry ever using the expression and Miller didn't say when he said it
2. When Bush used the phrase 'occupiers' it was before an Iraq govt was sworn in on June 29.
I doubt that Miller is actually angry about the use of the word 'occupier'. Miller knows that our troops were both liberators and occupiers (although the latter was done out of necessity because of the former). Thus he is undoubtedly a hypocrit.
Furthermore there were other things Miller said that were either clearly things he didn't believe or else greatly exaggerated. A site that gives a summary is at:
http://www.slate.com/id/2106119/
However, the only thing this shows is that he was angry. Frankly, his presence and his demeanor were more angry than his words. Thus the hypocrisy only rises to a level 2.
In his speech yesterday, Senator Zell Miller (who by the way was the first person to be the keynote speaker at both a Democratic and a Republican convention), said that when Senator Kerry referred to American troops in Iraq (I think he meant Iraq) as occupiers and not liberators, it made Miller angry. It has been documented that President Bush also used the phrase 'occupiers'. Now:
1. I can't remember Kerry ever using the expression and Miller didn't say when he said it
2. When Bush used the phrase 'occupiers' it was before an Iraq govt was sworn in on June 29.
I doubt that Miller is actually angry about the use of the word 'occupier'. Miller knows that our troops were both liberators and occupiers (although the latter was done out of necessity because of the former). Thus he is undoubtedly a hypocrit.
Furthermore there were other things Miller said that were either clearly things he didn't believe or else greatly exaggerated. A site that gives a summary is at:
http://www.slate.com/id/2106119/
However, the only thing this shows is that he was angry. Frankly, his presence and his demeanor were more angry than his words. Thus the hypocrisy only rises to a level 2.
Friday, August 27, 2004
NY Post on the 527 Hypocrisy
The NY Post today had an article titled "Hypocrisy, thy name is Kerry" which has more details on the people in the Kerry Campaign who have connections to the 527 organizations. This relates to my post yesterday on this subject.
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/27551.htm
A more comprehensive article on the same thing, also today, is at:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Vote2004/527_groups_040825-1.html
and a followup op ed in the Washington Post at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50985-2004Aug31.html
The NY Post today had an article titled "Hypocrisy, thy name is Kerry" which has more details on the people in the Kerry Campaign who have connections to the 527 organizations. This relates to my post yesterday on this subject.
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/editorial/27551.htm
A more comprehensive article on the same thing, also today, is at:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Vote2004/527_groups_040825-1.html
and a followup op ed in the Washington Post at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50985-2004Aug31.html
Thursday, August 26, 2004
527s
Yesterday, former Senator (and current board member of the Ex-Im bank- appointed by GWB no less) went to Texas to complain about the ads that the SwiftVeteransforTruth was running and to complain that the group is a tool of the Bush campaign. As has been noted by several bloggers, most notably NZBear of http://www.truthlaidbear.com/ in his Aug 24-26, 2004 postings, the 527 organizations that support Kerry have spent about 100 times more money than the SwiftVets and furthermore, the connections between the Kerry campaign the the anti Bush 527s is far more robust than the connection between the SwiftVets and the Bush campaign.
So we have a slamdunk case of the Kerry campaign complaining about tactics that they use themselves (and use more than the stuff they are complaining about).
So what type of hypocrisy is it?
Well, I'm thinking it is about a 2. Many people, maybe most, can see the hypocrisy. In some ways it is completely self correcting because it shows the flaws of the campaign reform act that allowed the 527 loophole (the number being the clause in the law allowing these organizations to place TV ads).
Yesterday, former Senator (and current board member of the Ex-Im bank- appointed by GWB no less) went to Texas to complain about the ads that the SwiftVeteransforTruth was running and to complain that the group is a tool of the Bush campaign. As has been noted by several bloggers, most notably NZBear of http://www.truthlaidbear.com/ in his Aug 24-26, 2004 postings, the 527 organizations that support Kerry have spent about 100 times more money than the SwiftVets and furthermore, the connections between the Kerry campaign the the anti Bush 527s is far more robust than the connection between the SwiftVets and the Bush campaign.
So we have a slamdunk case of the Kerry campaign complaining about tactics that they use themselves (and use more than the stuff they are complaining about).
So what type of hypocrisy is it?
Well, I'm thinking it is about a 2. Many people, maybe most, can see the hypocrisy. In some ways it is completely self correcting because it shows the flaws of the campaign reform act that allowed the 527 loophole (the number being the clause in the law allowing these organizations to place TV ads).
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
The US Government is Advising Me on Being a Hypocrite
at: http://www.theantidrug.com/marijuana/sayno.asp
is an article that begins, "Marijuana: How to Tell Your Kids to Say No, Even if You Didn't"
The article basically says that even though parents took marijuana, they should tell their own children not to take marijuana. The article goes into some detail about what to do when the next generation calls the previous generation 'hypocrites'.
" ...What if you are afraid of sounding like a hypocrite? "Do as I say, not as I do" has never been a good method of parenting. Parents can emphasize that this discussion is about your child's future, and not about your past. Even if you..."
First thing to realize is that if I now believe they shouldn't smoke marijuana and say "I believe you shouldn't smoke marijuana", that is not hypocrisy. If I believed that smoking marijuana was not harmful and said "it is harmful", now that would be hypocrisy.
The other thing to say about the ad is that it states that marijuana now is stronger than marijuana back in the 60s and 70s. I've heard this said but I have no way of verifying it. Thus, frankly, on this subject, I am too ignorant to be a hypocrite, no matter what my government thinks.
at: http://www.theantidrug.com/marijuana/sayno.asp
is an article that begins, "Marijuana: How to Tell Your Kids to Say No, Even if You Didn't"
The article basically says that even though parents took marijuana, they should tell their own children not to take marijuana. The article goes into some detail about what to do when the next generation calls the previous generation 'hypocrites'.
" ...What if you are afraid of sounding like a hypocrite? "Do as I say, not as I do" has never been a good method of parenting. Parents can emphasize that this discussion is about your child's future, and not about your past. Even if you..."
First thing to realize is that if I now believe they shouldn't smoke marijuana and say "I believe you shouldn't smoke marijuana", that is not hypocrisy. If I believed that smoking marijuana was not harmful and said "it is harmful", now that would be hypocrisy.
The other thing to say about the ad is that it states that marijuana now is stronger than marijuana back in the 60s and 70s. I've heard this said but I have no way of verifying it. Thus, frankly, on this subject, I am too ignorant to be a hypocrite, no matter what my government thinks.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Kerry and Energy Independence
Apparently, Sen John Kerry is making speeches about the US achieving energy independence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/07/politics/campaign/07energy.html?ei=5090&en=022a8d4b7907d6c0&ex=1249531200&partner=rssuserland&pagewanted=print&position=
Obviously this is a case of hypocrisy since his advisors realize he doesn't mean it (they say so in the article). The fact that this hypocrisy is acceptable is a sign that, yes, people are willing to admit that some hypocrisy is innocuous.
Now if this were the only Kerry hypocrisy I would agree. Unfortunately it isn't.
Apparently, Sen John Kerry is making speeches about the US achieving energy independence.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/07/politics/campaign/07energy.html?ei=5090&en=022a8d4b7907d6c0&ex=1249531200&partner=rssuserland&pagewanted=print&position=
Obviously this is a case of hypocrisy since his advisors realize he doesn't mean it (they say so in the article). The fact that this hypocrisy is acceptable is a sign that, yes, people are willing to admit that some hypocrisy is innocuous.
Now if this were the only Kerry hypocrisy I would agree. Unfortunately it isn't.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Dem vs. Rep Hypocrisy
Michelle Cottle had an article in the on line version (June 18, 2004)of the New Republic back in June. I have just gotten to it and today I can't find it on line.
The article states that people in the D and R parties have different ways of looking at hypocrisy. Democrats think of it as the worst of crimes, i.e., Rush Limbaugh can not be criticized for doing oxycontin; instead he must be criticized for preaching against drug abuse on the radio while abusing drugs in his own life. Republicans don't care as much about hypocrisy; they care more about people's views on sin.
The article is well reasoned and well written but I think wrongly premised.
The premise that democrats think hypocrisy the worst of crimes would lead to a criticism of Ralph Nader for violation of campaign finance rules. Cottle notes this and says 'it will be interesting to see... will cause him any lingering grief. Now, after more than a month, it is clear that it hasn't caused Nader any grief whatsoever. It seems the premise, namely, that Democrats think hypocrisy the worst of crimes, is not true.
What seems more likely is that Democrats think hypocrisy in Republicans is the worst that they can be charged with but think hypocrisy in Democrats, unless it is obvious, is unimportant.
For example (this is in Demthink), George Bush's budget busting actions are horrible while John Kerry's views on abortion, while I think obviously hypocritical are unimportant.
Similarly, Republicans think hypocrisy in Democrats is a serious crime (maybe not as serious as sin itself), but that hypocrisy in Republicans is unimportant.
For example (this is in Repthink), John Kerry's views on abortion are hypocritical and awful, but even worse is his support for abortion. George Bush's budget busting actions were necessary and the dems would have done it anyway.
Michelle Cottle had an article in the on line version (June 18, 2004)of the New Republic back in June. I have just gotten to it and today I can't find it on line.
The article states that people in the D and R parties have different ways of looking at hypocrisy. Democrats think of it as the worst of crimes, i.e., Rush Limbaugh can not be criticized for doing oxycontin; instead he must be criticized for preaching against drug abuse on the radio while abusing drugs in his own life. Republicans don't care as much about hypocrisy; they care more about people's views on sin.
The article is well reasoned and well written but I think wrongly premised.
The premise that democrats think hypocrisy the worst of crimes would lead to a criticism of Ralph Nader for violation of campaign finance rules. Cottle notes this and says 'it will be interesting to see... will cause him any lingering grief. Now, after more than a month, it is clear that it hasn't caused Nader any grief whatsoever. It seems the premise, namely, that Democrats think hypocrisy the worst of crimes, is not true.
What seems more likely is that Democrats think hypocrisy in Republicans is the worst that they can be charged with but think hypocrisy in Democrats, unless it is obvious, is unimportant.
For example (this is in Demthink), George Bush's budget busting actions are horrible while John Kerry's views on abortion, while I think obviously hypocritical are unimportant.
Similarly, Republicans think hypocrisy in Democrats is a serious crime (maybe not as serious as sin itself), but that hypocrisy in Republicans is unimportant.
For example (this is in Repthink), John Kerry's views on abortion are hypocritical and awful, but even worse is his support for abortion. George Bush's budget busting actions were necessary and the dems would have done it anyway.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Kerry and Abortion
Senator, and presidential candidate, John Kerry announced that he believes that life begins at conception.
see the Washington Post story on this at:
http://is1.websearch.com/websrch.iepan.full/search/inc/results/web/framed.htm?display-url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fac2%2Fwp-dyn%2FA27920-2004Jul4%3Flanguage%3Dprinter&qkw=kerry+conception&nextid=di13:1089749489368&frame=http%3A%2F%2Fclickit.go2net.com%2Fsearch%3Fpos%3D11%26ppos%3D10%26plnks%3D10%26uplnks%3D20%26cat%3Dweb%26cid%3D239170%26site%3Dsrch%26area%3Dsrch.noncomm.inktomi%26shape%3Dtextlink%26cp%3Dwebsrch.iepan.full%26cluster-click%3D0%26pd%3D0%26coll%3D0%26query%3Dkerry%2Bconception%26rawto%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fac2%2Fwp-dyn%2FA27920-2004Jul4%3Flanguage%3Dprinter
Senator Kerry has a record of support for abortion rights and choice groups. He has made numerous speeches to such groups harshly criticizing people who support restrictions on reproduction rights, harshly criticized restrictions on federal funding of abortions, etc. He hasn't once announced that he believes life begins at conception prior to this year.
I think everyone in the abortion rights movement thinks that Kerry is lying when he says that he believes that life begins at birth. I also think he is lying.
So, this is a case of hypocrisy - saying something one doesn't believe in.
The question becomes what type of hypocrisy is it.
Well, the law on the subject is quite stable. The Supreme Court decision prevents States from infringing on a woman's right to an abortion in the first 6 months of pregnancy and the Partial Birth law (Kerry voted against this; at the time he says he thought it punitive; he now says he would have voted for a softer version of the bill with a clause about woman's health) effectively prevents States from funding abortions in the last 2 months and makes such persons performing such abortions prosecutable.
I think Kerry's hypocrisy on this issue is pretty inconsequential from a legal standpoint. I worry however. Many of the people supporting Kerry on this are doing so because they believe he is lying. What else might he be lying about?
Senator, and presidential candidate, John Kerry announced that he believes that life begins at conception.
see the Washington Post story on this at:
http://is1.websearch.com/websrch.iepan.full/search/inc/results/web/framed.htm?display-url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fac2%2Fwp-dyn%2FA27920-2004Jul4%3Flanguage%3Dprinter&qkw=kerry+conception&nextid=di13:1089749489368&frame=http%3A%2F%2Fclickit.go2net.com%2Fsearch%3Fpos%3D11%26ppos%3D10%26plnks%3D10%26uplnks%3D20%26cat%3Dweb%26cid%3D239170%26site%3Dsrch%26area%3Dsrch.noncomm.inktomi%26shape%3Dtextlink%26cp%3Dwebsrch.iepan.full%26cluster-click%3D0%26pd%3D0%26coll%3D0%26query%3Dkerry%2Bconception%26rawto%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fac2%2Fwp-dyn%2FA27920-2004Jul4%3Flanguage%3Dprinter
Senator Kerry has a record of support for abortion rights and choice groups. He has made numerous speeches to such groups harshly criticizing people who support restrictions on reproduction rights, harshly criticized restrictions on federal funding of abortions, etc. He hasn't once announced that he believes life begins at conception prior to this year.
I think everyone in the abortion rights movement thinks that Kerry is lying when he says that he believes that life begins at birth. I also think he is lying.
So, this is a case of hypocrisy - saying something one doesn't believe in.
The question becomes what type of hypocrisy is it.
Well, the law on the subject is quite stable. The Supreme Court decision prevents States from infringing on a woman's right to an abortion in the first 6 months of pregnancy and the Partial Birth law (Kerry voted against this; at the time he says he thought it punitive; he now says he would have voted for a softer version of the bill with a clause about woman's health) effectively prevents States from funding abortions in the last 2 months and makes such persons performing such abortions prosecutable.
I think Kerry's hypocrisy on this issue is pretty inconsequential from a legal standpoint. I worry however. Many of the people supporting Kerry on this are doing so because they believe he is lying. What else might he be lying about?
Monday, July 05, 2004
Bad AQ today
Today, I called a friend of ours. We shop for her some since she is in a wheelchair.
She said that she was thinking of going to a store near her today but the air quality was too bad.
She smokes cigarettes.
I almost responded with a sarcastic quip but didn't.
Is this hypocrisy (surely she realizes that the air outside is much better for her than apartment air with cigarette smoke - and btw, the air quality was actually pretty good today)dangerous at all.
No. She probably just wanted to justify to herself a decision. Definitely a type 1.
Today, I called a friend of ours. We shop for her some since she is in a wheelchair.
She said that she was thinking of going to a store near her today but the air quality was too bad.
She smokes cigarettes.
I almost responded with a sarcastic quip but didn't.
Is this hypocrisy (surely she realizes that the air outside is much better for her than apartment air with cigarette smoke - and btw, the air quality was actually pretty good today)dangerous at all.
No. She probably just wanted to justify to herself a decision. Definitely a type 1.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Hypocrisy and Reagan's Death
Among people who didn't like former President Reagan, there were a number of reactions.
Some people simply said what they didn't like about him. The three anti-Reagan writers on Slate did this.
see
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101842/
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101829/
and
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101835/
This was honest but mean spirited.
Some people who didn't like him had a kind word followed by some colder thoughts. Former President Carter had comments like this. This also came out sounding mean spirited.
However, Senator John Kerry (a google and nexus search of Kerry's comments about Reagan reveals that Kerry disliked Reagan and Reagan's policies) had a fairly long and warm thought about Reagan. This was probably hypocritical but comes out sounding nice and statesmanlike.
Kerry's announcement is at: http://is1.websearch.com/websrch.iepan.full/search/inc/results/web/framed.htm?display-url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2Farticles%2F2004%2F06%2F05%2Fkerry_calls_reagans_optimism_an_example&qkw=kerry%2bon%2breagan&nextid=ms15:1086658482562&frame=http%3A%2F%2Fclickit.go2net.com%2Fsearch%3Fpos%3D3%26ppos%3D0%26plnks%3D0%26uplnks%3D20%26cat%3Dweb%26cid%3D239170%26site%3Dsrch%26area%3Dsrch.noncomm.inktomi%26shape%3Dtextlink%26cp%3Dwebsrch.iepan.full%26cluster-click%3D0%26pd%3D0%26coll%3D0%26query%3Dkerry%2Bon%2Breagan%26rawto%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2Farticles%2F2004%2F06%2F05%2Fkerry_calls_reagans_optimism_an_example
A victory for hypocrisy - at least type 1.
Among people who didn't like former President Reagan, there were a number of reactions.
Some people simply said what they didn't like about him. The three anti-Reagan writers on Slate did this.
see
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101842/
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101829/
and
http://slate.msn.com/id/2101835/
This was honest but mean spirited.
Some people who didn't like him had a kind word followed by some colder thoughts. Former President Carter had comments like this. This also came out sounding mean spirited.
However, Senator John Kerry (a google and nexus search of Kerry's comments about Reagan reveals that Kerry disliked Reagan and Reagan's policies) had a fairly long and warm thought about Reagan. This was probably hypocritical but comes out sounding nice and statesmanlike.
Kerry's announcement is at: http://is1.websearch.com/websrch.iepan.full/search/inc/results/web/framed.htm?display-url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2Farticles%2F2004%2F06%2F05%2Fkerry_calls_reagans_optimism_an_example&qkw=kerry%2bon%2breagan&nextid=ms15:1086658482562&frame=http%3A%2F%2Fclickit.go2net.com%2Fsearch%3Fpos%3D3%26ppos%3D0%26plnks%3D0%26uplnks%3D20%26cat%3Dweb%26cid%3D239170%26site%3Dsrch%26area%3Dsrch.noncomm.inktomi%26shape%3Dtextlink%26cp%3Dwebsrch.iepan.full%26cluster-click%3D0%26pd%3D0%26coll%3D0%26query%3Dkerry%2Bon%2Breagan%26rawto%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.boston.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2Farticles%2F2004%2F06%2F05%2Fkerry_calls_reagans_optimism_an_example
A victory for hypocrisy - at least type 1.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Lack of Hypocrisy Accusations
The campaign so far is notible for the lack of hypocrisy accusations. The Bush people are focusing their anti Kerry mantra as 'he flip-flops', which is probably a good idea for them because 'flip flops' are a type of beach wear and can be help up at Kerry events.
The Kerry people have no single focus of their anti-Bush chants but, to my knowledge, they haven't yet accused him of hypocrisy.
The campaign so far is notible for the lack of hypocrisy accusations. The Bush people are focusing their anti Kerry mantra as 'he flip-flops', which is probably a good idea for them because 'flip flops' are a type of beach wear and can be help up at Kerry events.
The Kerry people have no single focus of their anti-Bush chants but, to my knowledge, they haven't yet accused him of hypocrisy.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Terrorists execute a hostage - cite abuse of Iraqi prisoners
Today, the terrorists holding an American contractor hostage executed him (and posted the images on a website) citing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Not a single newspaper has yet pointed out this as a case of hypocrisy, although its obvious the terrorists aren't really concerned with the abuse (which has been general knowledge since January, apparently although the pictures are new).
If I were a newspaper editor I also would not point out the hypocrisy. That's because terrorism is worse than hypocrisy; much, much, much worse. The hypocrisy is insignificant compared to that.
A Reuters article on the execution is at: http://">http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5108202
Today, the terrorists holding an American contractor hostage executed him (and posted the images on a website) citing the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Not a single newspaper has yet pointed out this as a case of hypocrisy, although its obvious the terrorists aren't really concerned with the abuse (which has been general knowledge since January, apparently although the pictures are new).
If I were a newspaper editor I also would not point out the hypocrisy. That's because terrorism is worse than hypocrisy; much, much, much worse. The hypocrisy is insignificant compared to that.
A Reuters article on the execution is at: http://">http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5108202
Monday, April 05, 2004
More on the DailyKos hatespeech post
A good narrative on the follow up to the original dailykos post was at: http://berrysworld.blogspot.com/archives/2004_04_04_berrysworld_archive.html#108116036761252544
It turns out that there are layers and layers of direct and indirect hypocrisy here.
In addition to the non-apology apology, there is the non-report report where a friend or ideological soulmate of Dailykos intentionally downplays the 'hate' part of the hate post and then says, in effect, "why are people persecuting poor dailykos?"
How harmful is this? Well, it seems to me that the people harmed are the people who do the 'non report report' and the 'non apology apology', but maybe their readers are also affected. I'll have to think about this.
A good narrative on the follow up to the original dailykos post was at: http://berrysworld.blogspot.com/archives/2004_04_04_berrysworld_archive.html#108116036761252544
It turns out that there are layers and layers of direct and indirect hypocrisy here.
In addition to the non-apology apology, there is the non-report report where a friend or ideological soulmate of Dailykos intentionally downplays the 'hate' part of the hate post and then says, in effect, "why are people persecuting poor dailykos?"
How harmful is this? Well, it seems to me that the people harmed are the people who do the 'non report report' and the 'non apology apology', but maybe their readers are also affected. I'll have to think about this.
Sunday, April 04, 2004
John Dean vs. GWBush
At: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/04/wnix04.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/04/04/ixportaltop.html
John Dean, the former chief counsel (and convicted perjuror) to Richard Nixon blasted the Bush administration for being corrupt because (as I understand it) they won't let national security advisor Rice testify in public to the 9-11 commission. It seems the word 'corrupt' actually means 'secretive' but wait a minute, Rice is going to testify in public. So John Dean isn't being hypocritical just very, very sloppy and very, very behind the times and very, very hysterical.
Oddly, the actual hypocrit here is the President who, at first said that public testimony by Rice would badly damage the executive's ability to get honest advise, then said, 'oh well go ahead anyway.' Obviously either he didn't mean what he said when he won't let Rice testify or he didn't mean what he said when he did let Rice testify. In either case, however, this is a pretty inconsequential piece of hypocrisy and in fact, the President, is, I think, supposed to get huffy when he executive perogatives are challenged.
At: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/04/wnix04.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/04/04/ixportaltop.html
John Dean, the former chief counsel (and convicted perjuror) to Richard Nixon blasted the Bush administration for being corrupt because (as I understand it) they won't let national security advisor Rice testify in public to the 9-11 commission. It seems the word 'corrupt' actually means 'secretive' but wait a minute, Rice is going to testify in public. So John Dean isn't being hypocritical just very, very sloppy and very, very behind the times and very, very hysterical.
Oddly, the actual hypocrit here is the President who, at first said that public testimony by Rice would badly damage the executive's ability to get honest advise, then said, 'oh well go ahead anyway.' Obviously either he didn't mean what he said when he won't let Rice testify or he didn't mean what he said when he did let Rice testify. In either case, however, this is a pretty inconsequential piece of hypocrisy and in fact, the President, is, I think, supposed to get huffy when he executive perogatives are challenged.
Kerry and hip hop
Last week Kerry made some positive and cautionary comments about hip hop music. The theory is widespread that he actually knows nothing about the subject. This is more or less innocent pandering but its amusing none the less. A good read on this is at: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_04/003612.php
Last week Kerry made some positive and cautionary comments about hip hop music. The theory is widespread that he actually knows nothing about the subject. This is more or less innocent pandering but its amusing none the less. A good read on this is at: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_04/003612.php
The Daily Kos's manuvers
A few days ago dailykos (a popular left wing blogger - up to 3M hits/day) posted some thoughts about some civilian American causalties. He basically celebrated their death by mutilation deaths. Shortly thereafter, dailykos eliminated the post and had it eliminated from one of the google archives. Others, however, noticed. One of these was John Kerry who, up until that point was advertising on dailykos. Some of Kerry's fans posted anti-link elimination messages on Kerry's site.
Dailykos then posted a non apology apology and blamed others for illuminating his earlier post.
By doing this latter post he basically admitted that his removal of the earlier post did not mean that he disbelieved his own words. This is about as clear a slamdunk case of hypocrisy as you will ever see. Now, it turns out that this hypocrisy is not very important because those who are dailykos fans are not influenced by the fact that it was hypocrisy and neither are the anti dailykos people. Dailykos marginally loses some revenue from the Kerry campaign.
A good place to read the various ins and outs of this is at: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_04/003612.php
A few days ago dailykos (a popular left wing blogger - up to 3M hits/day) posted some thoughts about some civilian American causalties. He basically celebrated their death by mutilation deaths. Shortly thereafter, dailykos eliminated the post and had it eliminated from one of the google archives. Others, however, noticed. One of these was John Kerry who, up until that point was advertising on dailykos. Some of Kerry's fans posted anti-link elimination messages on Kerry's site.
Dailykos then posted a non apology apology and blamed others for illuminating his earlier post.
By doing this latter post he basically admitted that his removal of the earlier post did not mean that he disbelieved his own words. This is about as clear a slamdunk case of hypocrisy as you will ever see. Now, it turns out that this hypocrisy is not very important because those who are dailykos fans are not influenced by the fact that it was hypocrisy and neither are the anti dailykos people. Dailykos marginally loses some revenue from the Kerry campaign.
A good place to read the various ins and outs of this is at: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2004_04/003612.php
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Tax Policy
I think the most egregious hypocrisy of the presidential campaign is in the tax policy area.
Candidate Bush ran on a platform of cutting taxes because of a projected surplus. When the projected surplus disappeared, by then President Bush had taxes reduced three times to avoid recession. It seems clear that whatever the situation cutting taxes is the solution. When we had unanticipated expenses because of the 9-11 attack or the Iraq war or the prescription drug benefit these didn't require raising taxes. Its obvious that President Bush simply believes that lower taxes are a public good no matter what the situation. He has, however, not said this. Instead we get doubletalk.
If anything, Senator Kerry is worse. During his nearly two decades as a Senator he never once mentioned the corporate tax rate or the deferral of taxes on income abroad as an issue. Nor did he mention them as an issue when running for the Democratic nomination. Just last week he announced a policy on both of these. He even implied that they would produce 10 million new jobs. Now Senator Kerry realizes full well that these twin initiatives, if implemented, would have only a minimal impact on jobs (and no one can even confidently predict what that would be other than it would be minimal). He also would not have proposed these initiatives during the nomination contest because their complexity, their amibuity, the fuzziness of assigning exeptions to the overall policy would have been impossible to defend during the nomination contest. It seems obvious Kerry does not believe in his own initiatives and is just proposing them to make himself seem like a combination of fiscal conservative and anti off shoring knight.
I think the most egregious hypocrisy of the presidential campaign is in the tax policy area.
Candidate Bush ran on a platform of cutting taxes because of a projected surplus. When the projected surplus disappeared, by then President Bush had taxes reduced three times to avoid recession. It seems clear that whatever the situation cutting taxes is the solution. When we had unanticipated expenses because of the 9-11 attack or the Iraq war or the prescription drug benefit these didn't require raising taxes. Its obvious that President Bush simply believes that lower taxes are a public good no matter what the situation. He has, however, not said this. Instead we get doubletalk.
If anything, Senator Kerry is worse. During his nearly two decades as a Senator he never once mentioned the corporate tax rate or the deferral of taxes on income abroad as an issue. Nor did he mention them as an issue when running for the Democratic nomination. Just last week he announced a policy on both of these. He even implied that they would produce 10 million new jobs. Now Senator Kerry realizes full well that these twin initiatives, if implemented, would have only a minimal impact on jobs (and no one can even confidently predict what that would be other than it would be minimal). He also would not have proposed these initiatives during the nomination contest because their complexity, their amibuity, the fuzziness of assigning exeptions to the overall policy would have been impossible to defend during the nomination contest. It seems obvious Kerry does not believe in his own initiatives and is just proposing them to make himself seem like a combination of fiscal conservative and anti off shoring knight.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Supreme Court Justices
An article in the NY Post at: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/21011.htm
documented the cases of VP Cheny and Justice Scalia who duck hunted together and Justice Ginsberg who lends her name to fundraising activities of the National Organization for Women.
He states that people accuse Scalia of conflict of interest but not Ginsberg. He says that is hypocrisy.
The problem with that claim is that it implies that people are knowingly accusing Scalia but knowingly not accusing Ginsberg. Of course, the fact is that virtually no body knows about the Ginsberg case. It may be that you could claim that the media is deliberately not reporting the Ginsberg case, but I didn't think the NY Post actually makes that claim.
An article in the NY Post at: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/21011.htm
documented the cases of VP Cheny and Justice Scalia who duck hunted together and Justice Ginsberg who lends her name to fundraising activities of the National Organization for Women.
He states that people accuse Scalia of conflict of interest but not Ginsberg. He says that is hypocrisy.
The problem with that claim is that it implies that people are knowingly accusing Scalia but knowingly not accusing Ginsberg. Of course, the fact is that virtually no body knows about the Ginsberg case. It may be that you could claim that the media is deliberately not reporting the Ginsberg case, but I didn't think the NY Post actually makes that claim.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
More on Campaign Ads
A number of new Bush and Kerry ads are out.
An analysis of them is at: http://slate.msn.com/id/2097241/ (the two analysts are both relatively left of center). As expected they don't like the ads much (they dislike Bushes more). Personally, I also dislike political ads but only because they are less entertaining than product ads. However, I noticed that neither analyst claims that either Bush or Kerry is being hypocritical. Instead they are 'misleading' 'vacuous' or 'lying'.
At this point, it seems the analysts have pretty much conceded that it doesn't matter whether the candidates believe what they said, only that the ads be less disgusting (although they both concede that might make them less effective). Bush and Kerry, both being politicians for a number of years, no doubt realize that effective messages must be kept simple and since politics is not simple, the message will always be somewhat misleading. I also feel that both of them are able to believe contradictory proppositions (e.g., Bush can believe that Kerry's health care proposal will require a dollar for dollar tax increase even though Bush's drug insurance proposal required not a single dollar of tax increase). Thus neither candidate's ads could reasonably be said to be hypocritical.
A number of new Bush and Kerry ads are out.
An analysis of them is at: http://slate.msn.com/id/2097241/ (the two analysts are both relatively left of center). As expected they don't like the ads much (they dislike Bushes more). Personally, I also dislike political ads but only because they are less entertaining than product ads. However, I noticed that neither analyst claims that either Bush or Kerry is being hypocritical. Instead they are 'misleading' 'vacuous' or 'lying'.
At this point, it seems the analysts have pretty much conceded that it doesn't matter whether the candidates believe what they said, only that the ads be less disgusting (although they both concede that might make them less effective). Bush and Kerry, both being politicians for a number of years, no doubt realize that effective messages must be kept simple and since politics is not simple, the message will always be somewhat misleading. I also feel that both of them are able to believe contradictory proppositions (e.g., Bush can believe that Kerry's health care proposal will require a dollar for dollar tax increase even though Bush's drug insurance proposal required not a single dollar of tax increase). Thus neither candidate's ads could reasonably be said to be hypocritical.
Sunday, March 14, 2004
Campaign Ads.
President Bush has placed a campaign add that strongly implies the Recession began when he first took office. This is almost certainly not hypocrisy because even though current impartial analysis indicates that it began in March 2001 (still could be adjusted), Bush almost certainly believes that the recession was underway in Jan 2001. In any event, its hair splitting. Bush also, in a speech (not an ad), said Kerry introduced a bill to cut the CIA's budget by $1.5 billion; that this would have weakened the agency; and, that the cuts were so egregious that no one even in the Democratic party would co sponser this. This is certainly misleading since at the time the CIA was underspending its budget in one area by $1.5 billion over a 5 year period and Kerry's bill would, essentially have simply taken away unspent funds. The reason no one supported it is that another Democrat had a Republican co sponsor to adjust the budget in a different (more flexible and thus more acceptable to the CIA) way. This probably doesn't reach the hypocrisy threshold only because Bush probably wasn't told all the facts by his staff. If, however, I'm wrong and Bush was told the facts, it would count as hypocrisy since Kerry was not 'weakening the CIA' and Bush would have known it.
President Bush has placed a campaign add that strongly implies the Recession began when he first took office. This is almost certainly not hypocrisy because even though current impartial analysis indicates that it began in March 2001 (still could be adjusted), Bush almost certainly believes that the recession was underway in Jan 2001. In any event, its hair splitting. Bush also, in a speech (not an ad), said Kerry introduced a bill to cut the CIA's budget by $1.5 billion; that this would have weakened the agency; and, that the cuts were so egregious that no one even in the Democratic party would co sponser this. This is certainly misleading since at the time the CIA was underspending its budget in one area by $1.5 billion over a 5 year period and Kerry's bill would, essentially have simply taken away unspent funds. The reason no one supported it is that another Democrat had a Republican co sponsor to adjust the budget in a different (more flexible and thus more acceptable to the CIA) way. This probably doesn't reach the hypocrisy threshold only because Bush probably wasn't told all the facts by his staff. If, however, I'm wrong and Bush was told the facts, it would count as hypocrisy since Kerry was not 'weakening the CIA' and Bush would have known it.
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