Tim Blair

On a probable Kerry victory, The Guardian says a recent speech by the challenger was...

...stuffed with sentiments about securing America's aims through trust, respect, alliances, civility, diplomacy, persuasion, teamwork, listening, treaties, consensus and a host of other words that Mr Bush rarely uses...

Result now emerging from my Leftie Universal Codswallop Translator (TM)... doo-da-doo, it's still processing folks, mmm-mm-mmm, ah, yes, here we go:

"FORCES OF TERRORISM: WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND WE WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR YOUR EMERGING 'CALIPHATE' INITIATIVE;

YOUR EXCELLENCY MR SIR DR GENERAL KOFI ANNAN (CMH): YOU KNOW BEST;

TO OUR FRENCH FRIENDS: APRES BUSH, LA DELUGE, EH? HEH, HEH - SERIOUSLY, OUR PROFOUNDEST APOLOGIES;

TO OUR COALITION PARTNERS IN IRAQ: KISS MY FIRM, PERT SKI-ING AND BICYCLING-TONED BUTTOCKS YOU INCONSEQUENTIAL DEADBEATS;

TO MR BIN LADEN: MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK OH MISUNDERSTOOD CHE OF OUR TIME;

TO 'ALL Y'ALL' (A NEGRO PERSON TAUGHT ME THAT ON MY SWIFT BOAT): EVERYONE IN HAMAS, THE EU AND THE UN INVITED TO CAMP DAVID FOR A WORKSHOP AND MEDITATION SESSION ENTITLED BECOMING BROTHERS AND SISTERS - SELF-GROWTH THROUGH CAPITULATION. (HOMOSEXUAL NEWLY-WEDS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND, DISCOURAGED FROM CHATTING WITH OUR OTHER-VALUED MOSLEM FRIENDS). JUDEN!: PLEASE MAY USE SERVICE ENTRANCE."

Promising to get closer to the average 'Joe'...

Willing to think outside the square...

And Really Stuffed with Sincerity,

Your Obedient & Penitent new President,

Monsieu John F. Kerry

Well, the election's over now. The Guardian has endorsed Kerry.

What a surprise!

Tim, you ever listen to Frankens show? He's quite calm and reasonable. Though he does have a strong disliking for O'Reilly. Though that would be normal, right?

'The Seattle speech is stuffed with sentiments about securing America's aims through trust, respect, alliances, civility, diplomacy, persuasion, teamwork, listening, treaties, consensus and a host of other words that Mr Bush rarely uses or, when he does use them, that carry no conviction in his mouth.'

- The Guardian editorial on 'securing America's aims'.

Opinions please.

And opinions please on Tne Guardian's solutions.

If President Bush was assassinated by Osama Bin Laden, The Guardian would likely report:

"BUSH VICIOUSLY HEADBUTTS BULLET THAT WAS PROPERTY OF FREEDOM FIGHTER BIN LADEN!"

Stewart — The most virulent bigot I ever met never raised his voice. Made him doubly scary.

As far as Al Franken goes, I've listened. Nicely-packaged horse manure is still horse manure.

Dear The Guardian:

You have just described Kerry's proposed foreign policy as a Hallmark greeting card. Thank you for your enthusiasm, but these days Americans aren't in the mood to woo the world with notes
"stuffed with sentiments" and all those soft, squishy words you admire. We'll probably just carry on with the grit and brashness of our cowboy Bush.

Sorry about the champagne, but could we interest you in some sparkling or jug wine, instead?

Yank

Hey, sentiment is pretty much the same thing as policy, isn't it?

The end of the Guardian is, in a perverse way, correct. You just have to read it in the light of this story about how Kerry said he'd downplay democracy promotion abroad. Then you can go back and read the Guardian piece:

"It is hard to understand how the BBC could have reported... that the Seattle speech made Mr Kerry seem like a foreign policy copy of Mr Bush."
Ding. Right.
"The Seattle speech is stuffed with sentiments about securing America's aims through trust, respect, alliances, civility, diplomacy, persuasion, teamwork, listening, treaties, consensus and a host of other words that Mr Bush rarely uses or, when he does use them, that carry no conviction in his mouth."
Ding. Right again. The difference is Bush uses "rhetoric on democracy and freedom" that is "eschewed" by Kerry. Those just aren't his priorities, man. Civility, consensus, these trump freedom.
"...only a very dull observer would mistake his foreign policy for that of his challenger."
I'd say.

Seriously, it's presumptuous and risky for anyone to be writing off either George Bush or - in Australia - John Howard just yet. Second-guessing the electorate is notoriously difficult.

There is such public opprobrium associated with supporting Bush/Howard and their Iraq policy that a significant percentage of people will only express their true allegiances and intentions on polling day itself. There might be a few percentage points in their favour, which no poll will pick up.

Still, by year's end the White House and The Lodge may have new occupants. Bush's disadvantage is that people might say "9/11 has been answered and in the most awesome way - enough already." Howard's disadvantage is that the economy is strong, he's been in office for eight years and the Australian commentariat will allow no adverse story on Labor to gain traction until the election.

Kerry may rise to the prestige of the job if elected. Latham, if elected, will self-destruct because he's immature and stark raving mad.

I agree, dorkafork. Lots of wishful thinking and spin in that article - most of it worthless.

"Latham, if elected, will self-destruct because he's immature and stark raving mad."

Don't forget the Whitlam government was re-elected once.

Noted Clem.

Thing is, I don't mind the majesty of democracy doing its will but I do mind having as Prime Minister of this great country a man whose most notable public act has been assaulting a cab-driver and whose only executive experience was as a failed Mayor of some pissant municipality.

His ex-wife has said he has always been obsessed with Marlon Brando's Kurtz in Apocalyse Now and that he watched that movie over and over. She has said she was frightened of him.

Real Prime Ministerial timber, eh?

If we're to have a Labor PM, then give me Big Kim. He's strategically brilliant, a good man and he has a heart of gold.

"Pay peanuts, get monkeys. Pay money, get Al Franken". Pay long lunches and expensive wine, get Tim Blair.

Yeah, Tim. Why is everybody on Al Franken's case about the gross financial mismanagement and rhetorical imbecility of Air America? It's not like he and his fellow Dem's want to run the country or something--

As far as using words with sincerity, I think Bush does just fine with the ones he does use. Unfortunately, I don't expect Kerry to use them much or to mean them if he does.

Right on, AOG! Air America can't afford the likes of me. One lunch would close down the whole operation.

Was Indy more boring that the last F1 race? I mean the bloody highlights show was snooze inducing!

There was a decent crash with AJ Foyt IV, but the rain delay lasted long enough that they could rebuild his car and he restarted 17 laps down, didn't stick around to see the finish.

I say make em race with treaded tires. They showed video (I'm not making this up) up the track crew using washcloths to suck moisture out of the cracks before the race. Fricking ridiculous pampering. If they had to decide between slicks and treads it would add a lot to the tactical decisions.

Maybe the Groaniad staff should just invest in Milk of Magnesia. Even the people I know who say they aren't voting for Bush are also not going to vote for Kerry.

Right on, CurrencyLad. Latham's insanity is starting to scare me. Shades of Calwell methinks...

It seems like the F1 races these days are turning into reruns, and I don't just mean the guy at the front. It seems like very race, you can expect at least two of the following to happen:

-Michael Schumacher wins.

-Kimi Raikkonen blows an engine.

-Juan Pablo Montoya does something stupid and knocks someone out of the race.

I guess we only got one of the three at Monaco, but other than that...

According to our company doctor that stuff on Heart Attacks is bogus. But considering the other options you may as well give it a go. Personally I'd be trying to swallow a last beer...