September 11, 2003, From Me To You
Welcome to 9-11 +2.0, the second anniversary of the day used to justify tax cuts, a war of American aggression, tax cuts, and civil liberties curtailments. And tax cuts. Because the President's focus groups have shown that the best way to sell the Iraq debacle is as a continuation of the War on Terror TM ("center stage"), the rest of the world will now stay on message. That includes, of course, yesterday's Al Jazeera release of the "bin Laden" videotape that still seems too damned pat for me, and todays' worldwide terror alert by the State Department.
Of course, Al Qaeda's signature move is striking when not expected, rather than striking exactly when expected, so, for better or worse, I'm not expecting much today.
Instead, I'll just start venting, and I'll continue venting throughout the day as I feel like it.
One of the most horrible nights of my life was the night in December 2000, when the Supreme Court anointed the current Putz as President. I was well aware that the constitution required the issue of disputed electors to go to Congress, and ultimately Dubya held the tie-breakers-- but the Supreme Court insisted on making the putz "legitimate", taking the issue away from the institutions charged with the determination. Once Bush was going to be President, I intrinsically KNEW bad stuff was going to happen. And I was not disappointed in that expectation.
On 9-11-01, as many of you know, I was at my desk at 100 Church Street, one city block north of the former North Tower of the former World Trade Center, to prepare for a trial that morning. At around a quarter to nine, I heard a supersonic whine, followed by what sounded like a pop, followed by glass falling. 9-11 was on. Eventually, after counting the number of human beings who fell to their deaths in front of me, and watching the second tower explode, I walked down myself, and by a circuitous route, I wound my way home over the Manhattan Bridge.
Later that week, I lost my job, then breathed in the shit (that the EPA was pressured to tell us was safer than it was) for months, and all the rest of it. I've discussed that before. One of my clients was a fireman, who I was supposed to meet later that week. Unfortunately, he had an earlier appointment in the WTC. I discovered a college acquaintance was a Port Authority employee and perished. A friend's brother in law was on one of the planes.
It was, and still is, horrible to think about. But more horrible still to think it will all just be a justification for some of the most irresponsible policies ever undertaken by this nation. Its all too bad.
Best the occasion not be remembered at all than be remembered with mock solemnity for self-serving political purposes.
Comments
Comparing this bunch to the Nixon administration is unfair to Nixon. Not that I was ever a stickler for fairness to Nixon.
Posted by Alex at September 11, 2003 11:59 AM
Alex--
You're absolutely right, which is why I modified my post to remove the references to this Administration being the worst since the Nixon Administration (for those who encountered this post after noon EDT).
The current Administration is worse-- period. I concur with the White House reporter who called Dubya the worst President EVER. I don't know ever, but certainly the worst of MY lifetime.
By trying to use 9-11 for pandering, wars of aggression, suspension of fucking habeas corpus for God's sake, they have now taken their place as an even more evil and destructive regime than Nixon's.
And I didn't think it was possible either.
Posted by the talking dog at September 11, 2003 12:03 PM
I swear, one more reactionary asshole from a thousand miles away tells me what I'm supposed to think about this with a tone of outraged piety I'm going to shoot flames out of my nose.
I've watched too many capri-pantsed tourists at "Ground Zero" write their names in the ashes of the dead with their little fingers before heading off to find a bar.
Posted by julia at September 11, 2003 04:46 PM
Did I say fuckheads?
Fuckheads.
Posted by julia at September 11, 2003 04:48 PM
Julia:
Americans come to the World Trade Center site, which is just a hole in the ground, because it's a rare occasion where those in the "hinterland" actually feel solidarity with the suffering of New Yorkers, who they otherwise believe they have little in common with.
To denigrate them as "capri-pantsed tourists" is not just elitest, but positively un-American.
The real religion of America is patriotism. While it can admittedly manifest itself in ugly, xenophobic fashion (and too often does), coming to NYC to write your name "in the ashes of the dead" is assuredly not one of them.
You want George Bush to be re-elected? Keep mocking Americans who are guilty of nothing more than not having your fashion sense or ironic vision of the world and you'll guarantee four more years of misery for yourself and New York City.
Democrats and liberals need to stop feeling that any manifestation of patriotism equates with small-mindedness. I agree that much of George Bush's invocation of patriotism is just cynical manipulation, and that he often equates any questioning of his policies with being a traitor.
But that's George Bush and his Administration. And dare I venture that not many of them would be caught dead ever wearing capri pants or voluntarily going to NYC?
LB
Posted by LB at September 11, 2003 05:54 PM
You know, the early readers of this blog from way back in 9-01 (in a week, we'll have blogoversary II here at the talking dog), will note that for a while I was BEGGING PEOPLE to come to New York to spend money; I don't know how many of my then 7 or 8 readers took me up on it.
Tourism is, if not our largest industry, damn well one of our largest industries. So all I can say to other Americans who want to come to New York, whether to pay their respects at Ground Zero or for any other reason besides committing crimes here, is "bring 'em on".
I think Julia's point is that sanctimony about the events of 9-11 (whether from New Yorkers or non-New Yorkers) is inappropriate, and in many cases, distasteful. And trying to score political points from it is worse still. I don't disagree with that, as I think the remainder of my posts today show.
Posted by the talking dog at September 11, 2003 06:27 PM
Actually, Julia's point, "too many capri-pantsed tourists at 'Ground Zero' write their names in the ashes of the dead with their little fingers before heading off to find a bar," was one of pure condescension.
She might consider that people who disagree with her are not necessarily "reactionary assholes" any more that she's an unpatriotic apologist.
Rather, they disagree with her and have been far more effective than her own political allies have been in amassing and maintaining political power.
Whether or not that has anything to do with East Coast elitism, I'll let you be the judge.
Posted by LB at September 11, 2003 07:29 PM
Actually, Julia's point is that she went down to the site not too much after the main fires went out and watched giggling teenagers add their tags to the graffiti written in the ashes of the dead.
They've been down there every time I've been down there since.
Vas you dere, Sharlie? Then don't talk to me about What my point is, and for the love of all that's holy take a moment and ponder the idea that you're claiming to speak for all of America and everything that's patriotic and then call me an elitist.
My political allies? Get real.
Posted by julia at September 11, 2003 08:47 PM
I'm hardly claiming to speak for "all of America and everything that's patriotic".
You were, admit it or not, speaking of tourists in your original comments, not teenagers. I hardly think anyone takes too seriously teenagers acting like teenagers, whether at the World Trade Center or elsewhere. And, if indeed you were speaking about teenagers foolishly writing their names in the ashes, I'd suggest that you're overreacting and are as guilty of "outraged pieties" as any "reactionary asshole from a thousand miles away."
Elitism comes in many forms. The idea that just because someone wasn't in New York on September 11, 2001; or lives 1,000 miles away; or wears capri pants; or has different politics from you, doesn't make them reactionary, or "fuckheads", as you so delicately put it.
But it certainly does provide evidence of a glib, New York elitism -- the idea that the Midwest begins at the Hudson River -- and I think that on this or any other day, New York does not benefit from such an attitude.
Posted by LB at September 11, 2003 09:52 PM
You are invited to check some helpful info created to promote phentermine womens, zyban perscription medications, viagra reviews, propecia ointment, online pharmacy 400mg, tramadol cream, ultram online check, wellbutrin side effects, paxil treatments, meridia 350mg, zyrtec buying, xenical solution, vioxx male, vaniqa perscription drugs, retin a for woman, prozac overnight, generic viagra 2mg, celexa remedy, buy phentermine men, xenical on line, ambien retard, dilenyoung intercations, hopforyou 400 mg, kip980 reviews on, mng765 men, pol_uri herbal, piter_gordon prescription, miss20092000 400 mg, robert_zed2003 benefits of, fp292003 treatment, diagodream intercations, jacglen2003 fastin, lisa_plamer dosage, gill_bern and safest, gtrgtr45 low cost, poklop2000 400mg, nolzer12 fedex, rtopopi 400mg, oklokol male, racertroy2003 cheapest, viagra wholesale, phentermine 90 pills. .
Posted by poklop2000 at January 20, 2004 06:01 PM
I appreciate the board. Reccomend This Site.
Posted by cialis at March 4, 2004 01:23 PM
Good Day, Folks. Nice to talk with you all.
Posted by levitra at March 4, 2004 01:23 PM
Find the best online casinos organized by bonus, popularity and payouts, plus a high roller online casino list.
http://www.onlinecasinohelper.com
Posted by casinos at May 26, 2004 06:26 PM
Hmmmmm interesting
zapraszamy po czadowe gry java na gry java nokia,
po dzwonki polifoniczne do dzwonki
polifoniczne sony ericsson Już jutro, 18 czerwca, odbędzie się turniej dla graczy Warsaw Games Day 2004. oraz po komputery laptopy notebooki
tanie laptopy.
You can find the best nokia ringtones and logo at
nokia ringtones, get the best melodies for your
nokia mobile phone and color backgrounds for your Nokia, Samsung, Sagem, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola, Panasonic, Sharp and Sendo mobile phone. and get cool nokia logo at nokia logo and backgrounds now http://www.nokia-ringtone-logo.com Polyphonic ringtone at polyphonic ringtone ringtones polyphonic and monophonic
!!!
Posted by dzwonki at June 18, 2004 03:45 PM
Hmmmmm interesting
zapraszamy po czadowe gry java na gry java,
po dzwonki polifoniczne do dzwonki
polifoniczne lub dzwonki polifoniczne".Turnieje odbędą się w budynku Wyższej Szkoły Ekonomiczno-Informatycznej w Warszawie, znajdującej się na warszawskim Ursynowie, 50 metrów od stacji metra Stokłosy ." oraz po komputery laptopy notebooki
tanie laptopy.
You can find the best nokia ringtones and logo at
nokia ringtones, get the best melodies for your
nokia mobile phone ".The ultimate ringtone site, the place to download cool music ringtones. Feel free to browse through our extensive range of Nokia Polyphonic ." and get cool nokia logo at nokia logo and backgrounds now http://www.nokia-ringtone-logo.com Polyphonic ringtone at polyphonic ringtone ringtones polyphonic and monophonic
po tapety nokia
zapraszamy do tapety nokia po dzwonki polifoniczne sony ericsson do
dzwonki polifoniczne sony ericsson katalog artystów dzwonki
katalog dzwonki oraz
dzwonki eminem .
Hey
gamer, Get the coolest Java Game from
nokia java games and start
your java games now
For
polyphonic ringtones Go to
Polyphonic Ringtones
-
Polyphonic ringtones industry. We offer Ringtones
Monophonic Ringtones get
your ringtone today. Aslo
True Tones - true tone.
Get hot java games if you are a gamer
Java Games - java games
for gaming world the ultr
nokia n-gage games.
Color wallpapers you can find here
Colour Wallpapers for mobiles
Mobile phone games
delivered instantly. Simply choose a java game, pay for it using sms message.
We'll send you a WAP bookmark from where you download the game and play over and
over again! Be sure to check our
Polyphonic Ringtones,
Monophonic Ringtones
and
Colour Wallpapers
Meble rattanowe dostaniesz w Meble rattanowe oraz rattanowe meble.
nieruchomosci dostaniesz w nieruchomosci oraz nieruchomosci dla biznesu.
!!!
Posted by nokia ringtones at June 25, 2004 07:24 PM
I am in a moral quandry.
My friend searches for http://cheating.any1in.us/detective.html detective on google to screen potential roommates.
He found any1in.us , but did not visit.
I, on the other hand, searched for http://www.any1in.us/is-my-wife-cheating.html is my wife cheating and found any1in.us.
I went there and found that http://detectives.any1in.us/foster.html foster were easier to find than on google.
Should I tell him that his potential roommate is a http://detectives.any1in.us/registery.html registery ?
Posted by V. Dombrosky at July 7, 2004 11:42 PM
There's nothing to gain and nothing to lose.
Posted by Online Poker at July 9, 2004 05:51 AM
I liked very much your web site.
Posted by iis exploit at July 28, 2004 07:40 PM
Hey, I was surfin' for local sites and found my way here. Great looking site.
Posted by reality porn review at July 29, 2004 11:58 PM
Excellent site. Keep up the good work.
Posted by gay teen sex at August 3, 2004 04:23 AM
I liked very much your web site.
Posted by age regression stories at August 7, 2004 04:13 AM
6526 You can buy viagra from this site :http://www.ed.greatnow.com
Posted by Viagra at August 7, 2004 09:18 PM
great site
Posted by gay movie at August 8, 2004 02:28 AM
sweet man!
Posted by teen porn at August 8, 2004 03:18 AM
sweet man!
Posted by free slut at August 8, 2004 05:05 AM
2695 Why is Texas holdem so darn popular all the sudden?
http://www.texas-holdem.greatnow.com
Posted by texas holdem online at August 9, 2004 06:41 PM
1311 ok you can play online poker at this address : http://www.play-online-poker.greatnow.com
Posted by online poker at August 10, 2004 09:06 AM
6064 get cialis online from this site http://www.cialis.owns1.com
Posted by cialis at August 10, 2004 04:01 PM
Excellent site. Keep up the good work.
http://www.888-online-casino.biz
Posted by online casino at August 11, 2004 01:53 PM
Very interesting site! Your site looks great! Best of luck to you. http://www.v-medical.biz
Posted by cialis at August 12, 2004 04:55 AM
3876 Keep it up! Try Viagra once and youll see. http://viagra.levitra-i.com
Posted by buy viagra at August 14, 2004 06:29 PM
nice blogo
Posted by vicodin at August 14, 2004 08:35 PM
8213 Get your online poker fix at http://www.onlinepoker-dot.com
Posted by poker at August 16, 2004 01:44 AM
1826 black jack is hot hot hot! get your blackjack at http://www.blackjack-dot.com
Posted by play blackjack at August 16, 2004 11:09 PM
1726 black jack is hot hot hot! get your blackjack at http://www.blackjack-dot.com
Posted by play blackjack at August 16, 2004 11:13 PM
6174 so theres Krankenversicherung and then there is
Krankenversicherung private and dont forget
Krankenversicherung gesetzlich and then again there is always beer
Posted by Krankenversicherung at August 17, 2004 10:44 PM
8105 Its great to experiance the awesome power of debt consolidation so hury and consolidate debt through http://www.debtconsolidation.greatnow.com pronto
Posted by debt consolidation at August 18, 2004 11:33 PM
4541
http://www.exoticdvds.co.uk for
Adult DVD And Adult DVDS And Adult videos Thanks and dont forget Check out the diecast model
cars at http://www.diecastdot.com
Posted by Adult DVD at August 19, 2004 02:50 PM
Yours is a great site. I have found the best online source for buying:
Viagra online
Levitra online
Cialis online
Posted by Viagra cheap at August 20, 2004 02:56 PM
Posted by viagra at 23.08. 2004 18:59:43 for http://www.viaga-viagra.greatnow.com
powered by car hire at http://www.car-hire.greatnow.com
and diecast model cars from http://www.diecast.greatnow.com
and Bulk Email from http://www.bulk-email.greatnow.com
and Bonds from http://www.bonds.greatnow.com
and Dating from http://www.1-dating.greatnow.com
and Credit Card from http://www.credit-card.greatnow.com
and Car Insurance from http://www.car-insurance.greatnow.com
and Card Games from http://www.card-games.greatnow.com
23.08. 2004 18:59:43
Posted by viagra at August 23, 2004 12:59 PM
1478 Herie http://blaja.web-cialis.com is online for all your black jack needs. We also have your blackjack needs met as well ;-)
Posted by blackjack at August 25, 2004 11:02 AM
999 check out http://texhold.levitra-i.com for texas hold em online action boodrow
Posted by texas hold em at August 25, 2004 11:46 PM
8390 Look at http://oncas.tramadol-web.com/
its the hizzy for online casino action any where!
Posted by online casino at August 27, 2004 11:20 PM
Thank you
Herbalife
Herbalife CH
Herbalife A
Herbalife IT
Herbalife NL
Herbalife UK
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Heimarbeit Telearbeit
Nebenjob Zuhause
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Heimarbeit Telearbeit
Abnehmen
Abnehmen
Abnehmen
Dieta
Afslanken
weightloss
Arbeiten im Internet
Teilzeit
Geld verdienen
Arbeiten im Internet
Teilzeit
Herbalife Italia
Herbalife
Herbalife Schweiz
Heimarbeit Nebenjob
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Herbalife Schweiz
Heimarbeit Telearbeit
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Heimarbeit Telearbeit
Nebenjob Zuhause
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Heimarbeit Telearbeit
Nebenjob Zuhause
Arbeiten und Job Zuhause
Arbeit Job
Arbeit Angebot
Arbeiten Job
Jobs Arbeiten
Arbeit Beruf
Arbeit zu Hause
Arbeiten zu Hause
Arbeit Zuhause Online
Nebenjob
Heimarbeit zu Hause
Arbeiten Arbeiten Zuhause
Arbeiten Arbeit
Job
Jobs
Job Nebenjob
Nebenjobs
Job Arbeitssuche
Jobs Arbeitssuche
Job Suche
Jobs Beruf
Job Internet
Jobs Existenzgründer
Jobs Search
Job Karriere
Karriere
Existenzgründung
Beruf
Selbständig
Selbstständig
Nebenverdienst Teilzeit
Geld verdienen
Posted by herbalife formula at August 28, 2004 04:42 AM