Comic Book Round Up

I've written on comic books before but here a couple of recent purchases that I think are worth checking out.

Terra Obscura from America's Best Comics, is a little hard to describe. But take a bunch of golden age type heroes and place them in a modern world, albeit a world that was under the thumb of an alien race through most of the time they missed. This worlds "Batman," the Terror is now a completely electronic intelligence and has turned his city into a crime free police state. He has a ward, Tim, and their relationship might be the creepiest thing about this comic. It is at heart a sort of mystery, but in true Alan Moore style, it covers a lot of ground.

The Magnent. "I'm good at finding things . . . and when a man's partner's killed, he's supposed to do something about it.

Morgue attendent. "Isn't that a Humphrey Bogart line?

The Magnent. "So? It's still true."

Supreme Power from Marvel's Max line is a title I might have mentioned before. But I just got Issue 11 and it's revitalized my passion for this comic. Supreme Power is the retelling of the history of Squadron Supreme, a sort of alternate universe knock of DC's Justice League. As such they have a Superman named Hyperion, a Wonder Woman named Power Princess, and a Batman named Nighthawk. This is a very different Superman however. For one thing he's been raised by "parents" who are United States operatives working to ensure that he stays loyal to the United States of America (and completely and justifiably frightened of him). There's a chilling discussion held by a General in which he calmly discusses potential ways of killing Hyperion, over Hyperions crib. It's a dark story, but it also has a lot of humor and it works.

The Blur (to Hyperion): "You ever see one of those English Border Collies? Fast, strong, and smarter than any other dog on the planet. But you got to keep them busy, you get to give 'em homework and projects and goals.

I knew a guy had one, didn't keep it's mind occupied and over the summer it took apart his front porch with its bare teeth, board by board.

You don't give a dog like that something to do, a problem to solve, it goes crazy. And the last thing the world needs is somebody like you going crazy, you know what I'm saying?"

The Losers is from DC's Vertigo line. It's pretty testosteroni. It's about a CIA team sent into Afghanistan and betrayed by their leaders. In essence its a caper comic book, about guys who steal things from other guys. It's got great characters and great action. This one has the most distinct artwork (although the artwork in all these comic books is quite good). Strong characterization, but as mentioned above, full to the brim with masculine energy (if I can use such a new age cliche. But then again, who's going to stop me?)

Aisha (the only female character): "I was born in a desert place. War was my only mother. As a child, I moved through the battlefield and slit the throats of screaming Russian boys. I firebombed my first tank when I was twelve years old and machine-gunned the crew as the fled, burning.

And yet perhaps you expect me to be afraid of you? Tell me, what do you think?

Guy with Aisha's Knife against his ribs: "I think you have a very persuasive negotiating style."

I haven't been very diligent

I meant to post a fair amount today, but work caught up with me. I'll post on comic books tomorrow. Expect some Chuck Austin bashing.

In the meantime, a vaguely political cartoon from old Walt Kelly.

Round the Horn Part 2b or not 2b

Here we go.

The Yellow Doggeral Democrat has commentary on the story that the Bush Administration is putting pressure on Pakistan to have some major captures during the Democratic Convention.

On a similar note, Trish Wilson (Of Trish Wilson's Blog) has a letter from our president to that guy who runs pakistan. It's brilliant.

It's Craptastic has the low-down birds-eye scoop on President Bush's dissing of John Edwards political experience.

Musings Musing has even more fantabulous stuff about the Bush administration trashing John Edwards. It's so great I have to post two links (links go to different stories: here and here)

HLVictoria, over at New World Blogger, has a bone chilling story about the menace of Nepalese Buddhists with video cameras. There's also something in there about wrongful arrest of a guy who clearly is innocent; but that's the price you pay for being foreign.

Respectful of Otters has a solid round up of issues related to the nomination of John Edwards as the Vice Presidential Nominee. She's rounded them up. She's put them in the corral. All you have to do is read them.

Corrente has a lot of great stuff; one story that struck me was on how individual American citizens are Supporting the Troops and how the Bush Administration isn't.

Echidne of the Snakes has a bit on the perils of . . . well just the general peril of having ideas.

Speedkill has the 411 on how Vice Presidential people are picked, as well as a very funny letter to the NYPOst.

Chris "Lefty" Brown has some thoughts on Green Lantern, which is nice because I plan on talking about comics myself later on today.

Reality used to be a Friend of Mine

Incidently, our big catchphrase, which was haphazardly introduced and quickly forgotten, is still "Reality is Partisan." But that's a story for another day.

In 2000, Senator John McCain ran against then-governor Bush. The race was very dirty, and, of course, President Bush went on to become President (despite the handicap of having lost the election).

In 2004, The day Senator Kerry announces his running mate, Senator McCain is proud to appear in ads with President Bush, which clearly imply that he was Kerry's first choice and that he favors President Bush.

It might be instructive to remember how dirty the 2000 campaign against McCain was. The Bush Campaign ran leaflets accusing McCains wife of being a illegal drug user. The Bush Campaign ran leaflets in South Carolina insinuating that a little girl they had adopted from Bangladesh was McCain's illegitimate daughter. President Bush stood on stage with a man who called McCain a traitor and a Manchurian Candidate.

For more details check out Joe Conasons latest article, which I cribbed from. Mr. Conason has some strong questions for Mr. McCain.

This is not a sentence

Ann Coulter's latest article takes on John Edwards. For those who don't like subjecting yourselves to bile and venom, here's the short version. Edwards is a light weight and a trial lawyer, and the Democratic Party are liars.

Now for some venom and bile (notice how I reversed those two words? That's the mark of a good writer; always throwing change ups).

"I guess with John Kerry's choice of John Edwards as his running mate, he really does want to stand up for all Americans, from those worth only $60 million to those worth in excess of $800 million."

Both Dick Cheney and President George W. Bush are extremely wealthy, and President Bush was born into privilege and stayed there. He was more or less a complete washout as a business, but very skilled at being the President's son, and so managed to get bailed out by investors. They weren't investing in his company; they were investing in him and his connections.

"What is so amazing about Edwards' father being a millworker? That's at least an honorable occupation -- as opposed to being a trial lawyer. True, Edwards made more money than his father did. I assume strippers make more money than their alcoholic fathers who abandoned them did, too. This isn't a story of progress; it's a story of devolution."

Here we see the traditional Republican love of our American Justice system. I'm coming to believe that Republicans like Ann Coulter live in a fantasy world where all we need are Charles Bronson and Dirty Harry to have the power to blow criminals away and we can do away with the American Justice system all together. I mean the only purpose of the American Justice is to punish criminals, and if the cops could do that without getting Lawyers involved, so much the better.

It's not like there would ever be a legitimate reason for a person to sue a corporation or another person.

"So while Michael Moore, Al Franken, George Soros, Crazy Al Gore and the rest of the characters from the climactic devil-worshipping scene in "Rosemary's Baby" provide the muscle for the Kerry campaign, Kerry picks a pretty-boy milquetoast as his running mate, narrowly edging out a puppy for the spot."

That's just nice, isn't it? The Democratic Party as Satan Worshippers.

Anyway, that's all the bile and venom I can take today.

Left Behind

I am busy right now reading this website that is analyzing the Left Behind books in some detail. He makes this comment which I find fascinating.

"Evangelical Christianity, at its core, is radically inclusive. Evangelicals, born-againers, want everybody else to become born-again too.

Granted, this inclusivity isn't always expressed in the most winsome or persuasive manner, but it's the heart and soul of evangelicalism. As the Sunday school chorus quoted at the top of this post shows, the goal of evangelicals has traditionally been to reach out to the lost, to the "untold millions" of the unsaved.

Most evangelical fiction has conveyed this evangelistic impulse -- albeit with the unfortunate awkwardness and fecklessness that characterizes too much of their evangelism. But that's not what one finds in Left Behind. Here you find little concern -- and even less of a sense of responsibility -- for the plight of the untold millions. What one finds instead is a sense of triumphalism. Those "inside the fold" feel no sense of obligation to those on the outside -- they are bad people who are getting what they deserve and the godly remnant gets to watch, more in delight than in sadness.

Anyway if you have any interest in this subject, this website is the bees knees.

What does it mean to be an American?

Here's some comments on that subject by Archy, a fellow member of the Liberal Coalition, that are well worth checking out. I really can't add much to what he says; he's right.

Also, for good measure, here's a picture of a lamp.

More on Edwards

Nicholas D. Kristoff has an interesting article on the Edwards appeal today.

"The oddity is that President Bush manages to come across as a real guy (a triumph of marketing), while John Kerry still has the whiff of an aloof Massachusetts liberal.

This is where Mr. Edwards comes in. If you look at the Democratic ticket through the prism of places like Yamhill, Mr. Edwards, the son of a millworker and a postal worker, appears down-to-earth and trustworthy, a fellow who strikes a chord on values as well as issues. So the Democrats gain street credibility among blue-collar voters, and a leader who can help win back the Reagan Democrats."

This is a good point. The people's acceptance of President Bush as a normal down-to-earth guy is somewhat baffling, although I know he's worked very hard (or not worked at all) to give that impression. Edwards will help provide a contrast to that image.

But unlike Lieberman (who could play the religion card if nothing else) Edwards program is pretty solidly progressive. This is a guy who understands what kind of America most people live in and will fight to improve that America.

Also note the end of the article, where we have a story on Genocide occurring in the Sudan. You might also check out this post at This Modern World.

Edwards is the Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate

Here at Make me a Commentator, our top reporters bring you yesterdays big story. After it's news but before it becomes nostalgia, like an old fish.

OK, maybe I need a better slogan writing department.

Basically the consensus is that Edwards is a good pick. Even some of the Conservatives are saying that, although they are also trying to find ways to pick apart Kerry and Edwards. That is, after all, their jobs.

What is interesting is that while many democrats seem excited by the prospect of a debate between Senator John Edwards and Vice President Dick Cheney, comparatively few Republicans seem enthused by the possibility.

Instead they are trying to get him dismissed sight unseen by suggesting that the selection of Senator Edwards means that the Kerry Campaign doesn't care about the War on Terror. That's Jonah Goldberg's point.

But of course having a President in the White House who understands combat and the value of our troops lives might make a bit of a difference.

Linda Chavez compares Edwards to Dan Quayle, " minus Quayle's more impressive Senate accomplishments." The difference there is that Edwards had run an impressive campaign, giving people the opportunity to know what he stands for. I can understand how lazy conservative commentators might not know much about him, but most tuned-in Americans probably do.

Salon has an article on the upcoming vice presidential debates, with this fascinating quote.

""I can't imagine two human beings that are more polar opposites than John Edwards and Dick Cheney," said Alan Schroeder, a professor at Northeastern University and expert on presidential debates. "I see Cheney as this dour character who exists on the dark side, with a sense of suspicion and almost paranoia about him, and then you've got the sunny optimist Edwards, who was very reluctant to criticize his opponents in the primaries, never went negative, and had a message that was serious but not the least bit paranoid. There is so much that's different in their personalities and their politics; their debate could be an unpredictable, volatile mix of elements."

Should be fun.

More on Moore

I've criticized the movie. I don't think many will find the movie flawless. But I do want to point out the difference between liberal criticism such as the Daily Howler or Paul Krugman might make, and the way that Republicans are portraying such problems.

You see, Conservative Republicans, particularly Limbaugh Republicans, don't want people to see the film. They have made and are still making efforts to limit your ability to see the film, but such efforts have largely failed. So they have to talk you out of seeing it. Here's the game; Small flaws in an otherwise fine and thought provoking film are magnified to an enormous extent. Finding small things to pick apart, so that they don't have to grapple with the larger questions that Mr. Moores movie asks.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Matthew 7:3-5

Simple right?

The key problem with Mr. Moore's movie, from the viewpoint of the Limbaugh Right, is that it reminds us all of the cost of war. The Bush administration doesn't want us thinking about the cost, because then we might compare that to the reasons we invaded Iraq. Let's run down the reasons.

1. Iraq has Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Just today the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released information that the Central Intelligence Agency had been provided with evidence from relatives of Iraqi Scientists that Saddam had abandoned his programs to develop unconventional weapons. The official story is that they chose not to pass on this information to the President. I guess we know why George Tenet resigned.

2. Iraq has operational agreements with Al Qaeda.

They didn't, and nobody is claiming they do at this point. Even the Administration has backed of on this one, now claiming that Iraq merely had a relationship with Al Qaeda. Well, so did the Central Intelligence Agency. The only kind of relationship that would have justified invasion is a collaborative relationship to attack the United States. They haven't even come close to proving that. Instead they just like saying Saddam and Al Qaeda together a lot so that we get the subconscious idea that they are connected.

3. We want to liberate the people of Iraq, and give the Middle East a freedom- loving democratic state to emulate.

I wish this were possible, and maybe it is. Someday. But things like Abu Ghraib and other horror stories we've heard don't strike me as the way to accomplish this goal. Seems like it's more likely to push Iraq the other direction. I guess it would be nice if the idiots that run this country hadn't bought into this notion that Invading and holding Iraq would be a cakewalk. Our troops were able to defeat Saddam's army, but the administration has failed that effort and sacrifice by failing to plan for the peace.

Anyway I'm closing with the words of Michael Moore from a recent article, on putting out the Flag, that he posted at his website.

. . . I intend to perform what I believe is my patriotic duty. I can't think of a more American thing to do than raise questions - and demand truthful answers - when our leader wants to send our sons and daughters off to die in a war.

If we don't do that - the bare minimum - for those who offer to defend our country, then we have failed them and ourselves. They offer to die for us, if necessary, so that we can be free. All they ask in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. And with this war, we have broken faith with our troops by sending them off to be killed and maimed for wrong and immoral reasons.

I guess I'm not doing very good at being non-political. Oh well.

I'm Sick of Politics

Taking a break for at least a day.

One other point to the movie; they used Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" as the outtro music for the film, but they chopped it up something awful. I am guessing in part to make the words fit the message of the movie better? I don't know. Anyway here are the lyrics of the song. I'll italicize the one's they used in the movie.

Rockin' in the Free World

There's colors on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign
on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin'
we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan,
but I am to them
So I try to forget it,
any way I can.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

I see a woman in the night
With a baby in her hand
Under an old street light
Near a garbage can
Now she puts the kid away,
and she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life,
and what she's done to it
There's one more kid
that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
We got department stores
and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes
for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive.

Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.

Great song from a great album.

Fahrenheit 9/11

Just got back from seeing it. Very very powerful movie, even though it has some problematic bits. The section on the Saudis being allowed to fly out of the country could have been put a bit more clearly, although it is not as deceptive as Republicans make it out to be.

On the other hand the tracing of the links between President Bush and his family and Osama Bin Ladin and his family are very clear, and are not something people are as aware of as they should be. Also shocking are statements made by some in the administration early in 2001 to the effect that Saddam Hussein was being effectively contained.

I don't understand how anybody could see this movie and come away with the belief that Michael Moore doesn't love his country. The only people who believe that are the liars and sophists who want to convince us all that the only way to love America is to be conservative and those blamed fools who believe them.

The most gut-wrenching parts of the movie center around Flint Michigan resident Lila Lipscomb, and her son, who was killed in Iraq. It's hard not to watch those scenes and not be affected. Her visit to the white house grounds, where she is accused of staging her visit, and urged to "Blame al-Qaeda" for her son's death are terribly emotional.

But it doesn't answer the question of whether the war should have been entered into at all. If you believe that the war was beneficial and had good reasoning behind it, well, as painful as it is to say this, Ms. Lila Lipscomb's story becomes irrelevant. Good people have died in every war since this country was founded; people who didn't deserve to die, and many of those deaths have been needless. Civilians have been terrorized and killed in many if not most wars. It's part of war, and if you accept war as part of the foreign policy, you have to also accept the cost of war.

On the other hand, if you believe, as I have come to believe, that this was the wrong war at the wrong time, waged for false and deceptive reasons, than that cost seems unbearable. To paraphrase the current Democratic Presidential Candidate, how can we ask Lila Lipscomb to give her son for a mistake? How?

Where are the weapons of mass destruction?

Why didn't we invade Afghanistan with a sufficient force to catch Osama Bin Ladin?

Why did we let Afghanistan become a crap hole after we invaded it?

Why do we buy the idea that just having "relations" with al-Qaeda is good enough? The United States had "relations" with Osama bin Ladin, are we committed to invading ourself?

Why doesn't President Bush look at Saudi Arabia, the country where 15 of the Hijackers came from, as well as Osama bin Ladin and his family?

I don't have the answers to these questions and dozens of others. I suspect I never will.

Those Darn Libertarians.

William Safire writes an interesting piece today on Libertarians and Civil Liberties. Basically it's a pretty tight retelling of how our attitudes on civil liberties haven't been consistent over the war on terror.

He comes down hard on Attorney General Ashcroft and the White House Counsel, and the article is a sort of puckish "I Told You So," but it's worth checking out.

New Quote

From the author of the Declaration of Independence, no less. And a new Quotes Page. And a Lamp for good measure.