“He didn’t live up in the eyes of some to what he might have been,” drones the man for all reasons, David Gergen, on CNN. Yassir Arafat? No. Yassir is a river to his people, remember, despite the Father of Modern Terrorism’s failure over 40 years of tyranny to lead the Palestinians to the promised land. In fact, Mr. Gergen is speaking of Colin Powell, a mere mortal, the mild-mannered military man who announced he will step down after four years as GW’s secretary of state.
What a ridiculous double standard -- and how unwittingly condescending towards Arab leadership -- in the way the talking heads of the MSM assess the relative accomplishments of a world-class thug and a towering statesman. Moral equivalency is a travesty. You've probably heard how several French municipalities governed by communist and left-wing majorities are considering naming a street or a square after Arafat.
Even so, for whatever reasons, Colin Powell continues to enjoy some of the highest approval ratings ever amongst the citizenry. That fact tells us something inchoate but deep and true about the fundamental goodness of the American people. Even amongst the left both here and abroad, Colin Powell is respected despite his being associated with the hated Bush cabal. Or is it because he is perceived as disagreeing with the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz wing of the White House? Probably. 'Wonder what history will say of him?
Damn, damn, damn. Typepad is non-functional again. 6 a.m. EST. Ready to publish our first blogpost of the day -- "The general diminution of botheration," referencing a James Lileks essay -- and guess what? "The page cannot be displayed." Adding insult to energy, when you click on their Help function, you get "The page cannot be displayed." Ahrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 16, 2004 at 06:28 AM
6:35 Typepad woke up, and we back in business.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 16, 2004 at 06:37 AM