More Polanski

This has really gotten under my skin in a "Mussolini made the trains run on time so he wasn't that bad" kind of way. From an invited contributer on NY Times editorial page today we find this:

"Of course what happened cannot be excused, either legally or ethically."

But he objects to -

"[t]he almost pornographic relish with which his critics are retelling the lurid details of the assault ."

Meaning, he objects to anyone actually reminding people of the reprehensible nature of Polanksi's actions. And then there is this:

"His past did not bother me . . . "

I guess that he was not bothered like Frank Sinatra was not bothered by the bad acts of the Mafia guys with whom he associated.

And as I mentioned in an update below, Woody Allen has now spoken. A film producer who married his daughter defending another film producer who is a child rapist. I wonder if they have some sort of secret society.

I say, again, what is wrong with these people? He is a convicted rapist and fugitive who gave the finger to the justice system. How can there be two sides to this story?

UPDATE: "The French" don't seem to agree with their Culture Minister, whatever the heck that job is.

Seven Days in May

I really liked Seven Days in May. But this guy, who apparently worked in the Johnson and Carter administrations, is nuts.

Roman Polanski

I used to respect Anne Applebaum's opinion. Not any more. Polanski is a pedophile who drugged and raped a 13 year old girl, pled guilty to the crime, and then fled the country before sentencing and has been living the very good life in France ever since. "We should just let bygones be bygones" is a pathetic argument in his defense. And to call his arrest "outrageous" is, well, outrageous.

UPDATE: Link.

"To see him thrown to the lions and put in prison because of ancient history — and as he was traveling to an event honoring him — is absolutely horrifying," French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand said after Polanski was arrested upon arrival in Switzerland to attend the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to receive a lifetime achievement award. "There's an America we love and an America that scares us, and it's that latter America that has just shown us its face."

There is a France that we love and a France that disgusts us, and it's that latter France that has just shown its face.

And Whoopi Goldberg says that it wasn't "rape-rape." That might be true; it was child rape.

What is wrong with these people?

UPDATE 2: Woody Allen wants Polanski released. That changes everything.

That was fun

Link to game winning touchdown video.

Plus: Harvin to the house. It looked like he was twice as fast as anyone else on the field.

Stupidity

Here is the definition.

"You have got to be kidding me" category

This might be the dumbest public relations strategy that I have ever seen. Also, finding a sympathetic jury might be a wee bit difficult. For Pete's sake, even Barney Frank is against you now.

All Day

Today's highlights. Not gaudy numbers, but the man is a football player. Check out the play that starts at about 00:24. Rather than just step out of bounds, he decided to punish the defender.

Missile defense

For missile defense supporters, hold the hyperbole. If you don't trust Obama, trust Gates.

"This new approach provides a better missile defense capability for our forces in Europe, for our European allies and eventually for our homeland than the program I recommended almost three years ago," said Gates, who was defense chief in the last two years of the Bush administration and stayed on when Obama took office.

Dumbass

Michael Crabtree could be the dumbest guy ever born. The NFL pays by a slot system. The number 9 pick makes more than the number 10 pick, and the number 10 pick makes more than the number 11 pick. You don't get to change the rules by having a temper tantrum. So Crabtree is playing chicken, threatening to sit out a year (and not get paid) and to re-enter the draft next year (where he will drafted much lower and, therefore, paid much less, because he will have established himself as a confirmed prima donna). The stupidness and greed (he has been offered $28.5 million with almost $18 million guaranteed) is astounding. He needs the NFL much more than the NFL needs him. He does not seem to grasp that fact of life.

Federer

You don't have to be a tennis fan to appreciate this amazing shot.

He's Back

Video highlights from today's game.

Never forget

Every year I Google to find and re-read this piece.

Hypocrisy

The true believers almost always turn out to be exposed as hypocrites. Time to expose another.

Popular right-wing blogger: "Debating public policy issues is not "bickering." Disagreeing with a proposal to radically change one of the largest sectors of our economy is not a "game." This kind of gratuitous insult--something we never heard from President Bush, for example--is one of the reasons why many consider Obama to be mean-spirited."

Bush, 2001: "It is time to set aside the old partisan bickering and finger-pointing and name-calling that comes from freeing parents to make different choices for their children."

I'm sure that if I invested the time, I could find many more similar quotes. The point is, I can't stand it when either side takes a self-righteous "we have never done and would never do such a thing" attitude. It is all bullsh*t.

__________________

P.S.: Popular right-wing blogger's past proclamation: "It must be very strange to be President Bush. A man of extraordinary vision and brilliance approaching to genius, he can't get anyone to notice. He is like a great painter or musician who is ahead of his time, and who unveils one masterpiece after another to a reception that, when not bored, is hostile."

I concur