The Post & Courier replies
Dear Mr. Archibald,
Thank you for your message. I think you make a good point. At first, I
assumed that the desk used such a brief story because The Post and Courier
had published extensive accounts beforehand. I checked and found that we
have, of course, addressed the issue, but not to the extent that we could
assume readers knew the whole story. I will say, however, that this vote by
the legislature does not constitute a ban. It is just one step in a process.
I expect that, when the matter is ultimately resolved, The Post and Courier
will devote more space to the issue.
It is always helpful to hear from you.
Elsa McDowell
Public Editor
#169 (04-18)
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Gay marriage, inconsistency in coverage
The Post & Courier (Charleston, SC) owes readers an explanation, if not an apology, for giving only two and one half inches of space to the Massachusetts legislature's ban on gay marriages (pg 8A, Tues.,Mar.30,2004) after all the space and ink devoted to the same state's Court ruling late last year that gay marriage was allowed under Massachusetts' constitution. (Feedback submitted via e-mail to the newspaper this day.)
#168 (04-17)
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Another first
Last night I had another first in my life. I went to the circus and enjoyed it. This is my 72nd year and it is only three months old and already I have had two firsts: Epcot and the circus. Life is good.
#167 (04-16)
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Against All Enemies
Today I started on Richard Clarke's book, Against All Enemies, and found the opening chapter riveting as the author relates what happened in the White House Situation Room on 9/11. Media attention to the book this past week has been at the highest levels following his appearance on 60 Minutes last Sunday, release of the book on Monday and his testimony before the commission investigating 9/11 at mid-week. He has been under attack by the administration all week.
#166 (04-15)
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Remote blogging 2
The formatting for my blogs does not remain inside this Google template and I must add the HTML code to have a red title in larger point size as well as the "E-mail" link and reference to the archives.
#165 (04-14)
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Remote blogging
This is second attempt using Google and the format of my earlier blogs. Heading is red and it has the E-mail connection as well as the reference to the archives. I deleted an earlier attempt to post an entry to my blog using Google.
#164 (04-13)
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A phone call
Someone called me last night. It was a male voice and it sounded like that of one of those Indians who learned their English from listening to British businessmen and scholars busy building The Empire in the 19th Century. I assume it was an "outsourcing" call promoting some mortgage relief scam. He inquired if I was "Fraaancis." I said yes and the conversation went like this:
Caller (C): Are you the homeowner?
Me: No.
C: May I speak to the homeowner?
Me: No.
[He must have been reading from a script because he was undeterred and the conversation continued.]
C: Do the know the interest rate on the home mortgage?
Me: 22 percent.
C: 22 percent?
Me: Yes.
C: Do you know the balance of the loan?
Me: Three million dollars.
C: Three million?
Me: Yes.
C: Would you speak to my supervisor?
Me: No.
And I hung up. I wonder if this is one of those "outsourcing" jobs that some in the current Bush administration believe are good for America.
(#163 (04-12)
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Taking a bullet
When a baseball player gets beaned it is said he "took one for the team." This sort of erratic behavior was carried to a new height in Taiwan last week if you believe the shooting - one day before the voting - of the campaigning President and Vice-president was arranged to swing a close election to their favor. If so, it worked because they were re-elected by a razor thin margin. The losers have demanded a recount. The high court ordered all ballot boxes seized.
#162 (04-11)
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Presidential politics 2004
The fall of the Spanish government following the bombing in Madrid on March 11, 2004, brings renewed interest in the proposition I put forth last November that another major terrorist attack in America in 2004 could have a huge impact on the Presidential election. (See my earlier remarks of January 22 and 23, 2004, in the Archives on the left). In brief: in the event of a major terrorist attack, if the administration is perceived as "sleeping on the job" it will be bad for President Bush. There is no indication that the Spanish government was "sleeping" but voters who did not support the war in Iraq came out in large numbers and voted for change. American morale and support for the Bush administration will be tested over the next few months as never before. We have lost as many servicemen and women in Iraq to random acts of terrorism since the end of the shooting war as we did in the war. Supportive nations are going (to use Mrs. Thatcher's terminology) "wobbly in the knees," (e.g. Poland's president says he now doubts Saddam ever had WMD; the Spainards are going to withdraw their 1,300 peace keeping troops from Iraq). If this sentiment spreads, it is unlikely the United Nations will give the administration some cover (and the American people a breather) and agree to take over - from the United States - the major role of peace keeping in Iraq, after June 30, when we turn the country over to Iraqiis. If the drumbeat of bad news out of Iraq continues, a major terrorist incident in the United States could be the "huge impact" straw.
#161 (04-10)
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Happy St. Patrick's Day
And a bit of the Irish is in practically everyone tomorrow as a good portion of the world observes St. Patrick's Day. It is a time for fun, to be with family and friends and to recognize the accuracy of the belief that the problems of the world would be lessened if only the Irish were put in charge.
Enjoy the day.
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#160 (04-09)
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Obesity is shocking
I visited Disney World last week and enjoyed myself at Disney Downtown and Epcot. It is clearly evident that obesity stalks the land like a super-size order of French fries. It was shocking to see so many people, young and old, who obviously could trim down and would look better if they did so. To say nothing of the possibility they might live longer with fewer health problems. I also went to Naples, FL, for a reunion of graduates of Keith Academy, and had a good time with fellow graduates of this all-male Catholic High School.
#159 (04-08)
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Miscellany
The 2004 election is now 75% defined. Bush and Cheney will take on Kerry and a VP candidate being decided on. Gay marriages are spreading. Today Oregon was in the limelight. A mayor of a town in upstate New York faces criminal charges for having performed a marriage ceremony for gay couples. Suicide bombings continue in Iraq, as does civil unrest in Haiti. A rep from my ISP called today in an effort to ameloriate the damage done by dropping all my web site files from their server on Mon (see Tuesday below). Said he had spoken to the employee responsible. I am using a template called "sand dollar" (with some modification) as the template for this blog.
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For earlier blogs check on archives index to the left.

Web site update
Today I worked to update this web site and have my blog be the first page one sees when they log in. It has been an interesting project and one that will be ongoing for some time as I try to make the site more appealing.
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Web site
This web site has been down for the past 24 hours because someone at my ISP "dropped" all the files from their server and I have had to upload them from my computer and reconstruct the web site. Further changes will be forthcoming.


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#156 (04-05)

Fake Kerry-Fonda photograph
That picture of John Kerry and Jane Fonda together at an anti-Vietnam war rally is a bogus picture, according to The New York Times; and Jane herself on Paula Zahn Now, CNN, February 11, 2004. The picture was also discredited on Real Time, HBO, February 20, 2004, which showed how two separate photos were put together as though one.


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#155 (04-04)

Return of the Egret
Yesterday, Saturday, January 31, 2004, I awoke and went into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee and jump start my liver. I looked out the window toward my pond and saw an Egret, about 3 feet tall, standing at the edge of the pond. I rushed back to the bedroom to get my camera but by the time I could get it focused the bird flew away. Later, to my dismay, I discovered he had dined on my fish. All except two or maybe three small ones are gone. I had over 25 gold fish, some good size and they were holding up quite well in the cold weather and water of the pond. An Egret visited the pond and ate my fish in the early days of 2003.


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#154 (04-03)

al Qaeda and the 2004 election (part 2)
From The Economist Intelligence Unit, January 20, 2004, via e-mail.
"In the event of an actual terrorist attack, the advantage could quickly shift to the Democrats if the administration, or one of its law enforcement agencies, was shown to be negligent. Short of that, an attack--even a devastating one--would probably cause most Americans to rally round the presidency."


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#153 (04-02)

al Qaeda and the 2004 election

At a Sunday luncheon during the AFIO (Association of Former Intelligence Officers) National Convention and Intelligence Symposium, in Tysons Corner, Virginia, (November 1-4, 2003), I asked Ron Kessler, the keynote speaker who was discussing his latest book, “CIA at War,” whether in his discussions with informed sources as he was writing the book he picked up on a fear that al Qaeda might try to launch a major attack on the United States “next year” in an attempt to upset the re-election likelihood of President Bush. I made reference to the 1980 election when the Iranians held American hostages for almost a year and helped Ronald Reagan defeat President Carter, (who seemed to the American people incapable of dealing with the problem and the long-range threat from Iran.)

Kessler said he had not picked up any vibrations to that effect. He added that he personally doubted al Qaeda had the required sophistication to understand our election culture and timetable. I was shocked at his response as it related to al Qaeda followers lacking an understanding of American election processes.

Another attendee in the audience said to me that he also thought it unlikely and even if it did, it would help, not hurt, President Bush. I responded that if it happens again the American people will hold President Bush responsible. “After all he has had three years since 9-11 and if it happens again people are going to want to know what the hell the President has been doing for the past three years.”

This all comes to the forefront in light of a brief article in U.S. News and World Report, January 26,2004, (Washington Whispers, page 6), to wit: “The latest sign that the confident Bush-Cheney team is trying to quash talk of a runaway re-election is the administration’s whisper campaign that another terrorist attack could come before Election Day. Some see a potential attack as a genuine threat to a second term, while other say the talk is a bid to inoculate the public. FBI Director Robert Mueller tells us ‘al Qaeda would like nothing more that to replicate September 11,’ but he predicted no finger pointing. ‘We are in this together.’”

Stay tuned.


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#152 (04-01)

Bret Favre
Bret Favre won one for his father (who died yesterday at age 58) tonight with a QB rating of 154.9 out of a possible 158. Four passing TDs. A real competitor. It's what I love about the guy. And all the Packers stepped up tonight. Twelve of them caught passes from Favre.


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#151

Happy Thanksgiving
Best wishes to all for an enjoyable Thanksgiving with family and friends. To those who must work, including our men and women on active duty, so that others may have a nice holiday, a special thanks for all of you.


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#150