Saturday, September 25, 2004
Here is an unauthorized reprint of a marvelous blog known as Belmont Club. This is why the blogsphere is so popular. I agree completely with “Wretched”
Who Goes There?
Most visitors to the US know that not even a valid visa can guaranty entry into the United States. Nor is America alone in this. Generally speaking, no foreign national can enter another country as a matter of right. Louis Farrakahan found that holding an American passport did not entitle him to enter Britain in 2002. Nor is politics always a factor: bureaucrats can act in arbitrary ways.
One of Laura Bush's favourite British authors has been refused entry to the US, a day before he was due to lecture to an audience of 2,500 people. Ian McEwan was stopped by immigration officials as he left Vancouver airport, in Canada, for an engagement in Seattle. The man who was last year invited to Downing Street by Cherie Blair to meet American's first lady - who said she keeps a McEwan novel by her bedside - found himself detained for four hours before being turned back. McEwan, who recently won America's National Book Award for his novel Atonement, was travelling to the US as a guest of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Officials there told him he did not need a visa. But the immigration officer felt differently.
So when Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, declared he was going to take legal action to "undo the very serious, and wholly unfounded, injustice which I have suffered" as a result of his spectacular deportation from the United States, he appeared to be trying to refute the accusation that he was a Hamas supporter, rather than to directly compel the US government to admit him, though the second would would probably follow if the first could be achieved. "I am a man of peace and denounce all forms of terrorism ... it is simply outrageous for the US authorities to suggest otherwise." Islam has denied being a Hamas supporter, saying that his donations have always been for humanitarian causes like orphanages in Hebron. Islam's had similarly been refused him entry to Israel in 2000, before September 11. The accusations against him then and Islam's rebuttal are eerily similar to the most recent incident.
Islam, 51, who changed his name after becoming a Muslim in the late 1970s, was refused entry into Israel hours after arriving Wednesday. The former singer said he was told only that he was a "threat to national security.''
Israeli Defense Ministry officials refused to comment on Islam's case other than to say that the Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, had ordered him barred from the country. The Maariv Daily in Israel reported that the government claimed Islam had delivered tens of thousands of dollars to Hamas, a militant Islamic group, during his last visit in 1988.
"Upon my return to London, reports were already circulating that the Israeli authorities were trying to excuse their actions by linking me to terrorist groups,'' Islam said in a statement. "I want to make sure that people are aware that I've never knowingly supported any terrorist groups -- past, present or future. It's simply an attempt to cast doubt again on my character and good intentions.''
Islam has contributed sums of money to orphanages in Kosovo and Bosnia too. The US position is that while it can't prove anything in court -- it doesn't need to prove anything to deny an alien entry into the America. Colin Powell responded to accusation that Islam had been unfairly treated by saying:
"We have no charges against him," Mr Powell told reporters at the foreign press centre. "We have nothing that would be actionable in our courts, or in the courts in the United Kingdom, I'm sure. "But it is the procedure that we have been using to know who is coming into our country, know their backgrounds and interests and see whether we believe it is appropriate for them to come in," he said.
"With respect to Cat Stevens ... our Homeland Security Department and intelligence agencies found some information concerning his activities that they felt under our law required him to be placed on a watch list and therefore deny him entry into the United States," Mr Powell said. "In this instance, information was obtained that suggested he should be placed on the watch list and that's why he was denied entry into the country," he said.
The shock power in the Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) affair lies precisely in Colin Powell's tone: the cold determination to deny even the most prominent persons entry into the US if suspected of terrorist links. For decades being turned back at the US border was an indignity reserved for poor Mexicans, Filipinos and such. Visitors from Europe and especially the Transatlantic commuter set were spared these inconveniences, as were millionaires from Third World hell-holes, who had the telephone number of a high-priced immigration lawyer at their fingertips as insurance against such misunderstandings. Even the Saudis could expect to be waved past immigration in the pre-911 age, courtesy of the Visa Express program. Joel Mowbray wrote in 2002.
Three Saudis who were among the last of the Sept. 11 homicide hijackers to enter this country didn't visit a U.S. embassy or consulate to get their visas; they went to a travel agent, where they only submitted a short, two-page form and a photo. The program that made this possible, Visa Express, is still using travel agents in Saudi Arabia to fill this vital role in United States border security.
But now men traveling first-class in bespoke business suits know that neither wealth nor fame nor that immigration lawyer's telephone number can keep F-16s from popping out of the dark and escorting their flight to Bangor, Maine, from where the Mexicans might be allowed to continue, but not them. While Mr. Islam is certainly entitled to pursue legal action and may in the end be vindicated, the incident shows more clearly than any other that it's not September 10 any more. America is at war in a way that it never was in Vietnam. This one is for keeps.This is an unauthorized copy 9/25/04

Last night I watched John Kerry on David Letterman. Kerry was dull uninspiring and frankly too much the politician. He is not a leader and he bitches too much about what a bastard GW Bush is.
We already know what kind of person GW Bush is. The country is fully conscious Bush is no intellect and will never give the Democrats an honest case. Bush has a standard stump speech and he sticks to it. Kerry has a stump speech but it is not effective because he is such a stiff. Kerry is going to lose the election unless he can in some metaphysical fashion set fire the electorate.

Dan Rather should resign; allow the next generation of CBS talent to start their reign. He is old, boring, and dated.
David 9/21/04

In 1987 Lee Atwater warned: "The GOP can never win the intellectuals or the better educated but not intellectual, we can only win by juicing the working folks who are naturally suspicious of the "Elites" and the "Big College Boys" Atwater understood that most folk are busy paying bills and lack the time for complex issues and serious investigation of fact.
Like FDR and even LBJ Atwater understood that elections are 70% emotion and 20% fact and 10% red meat rumor. "KEEP IT SIMPLE"
Bill Clinton in his long draw of a book speaks endlessly about how critrical it was he answer the negative ads run by opponents in Arkansas and later throughout the country immediately, right now!
John Kerry is a blathering idiot like Mike Dukakis who thinks he can defeat street fighters by being a decent guy who tells the truth.
BULL SHIT!
Street fighters thrive on the decency of their opponents. Hitler won by telling the big lie until even the angels wondered if it might be true.
GW Bush's mantra in this election is simply: "KERRY IS A WHINING LOOSER!"
See http://www.rachellucas.com or http://www.andrewsullivan.com or try out http://www.belmontclub.blogspot.com I also recomend http://www.donaldsensing.com
All of th ese blogs show how the NRC and t he Bush Camp hustle well intentioned and sincere folk with repetition and loud noises.
Spophistry is the word and it works!
My question for my blog friends: "Do you not realize Bush and Co see how powerful Blog Sphere has become? Do you think they will allow this to continue?
In Bush Term Two, they will find a way to stiffle the blog sphere and even Rachel Lucas will gasp and slink away in to the night! Calling these predators "Asshats" will not be enough!
This Administration is a group of cynical Texas Business Interests and they will stop anything even friends to insure they get what they want.
bashing Kerry is understandable. He is an idiot. But Bush and Co are predators who have an agenda.
1. Abolish the 40 hour week and OT except for certain friendly business interests.
2. put Federal monies into the churches and corrupt them further.
3. Play the Homo Card and split the liberal left thus set the stage to defeat Hilary in '08 by portraying her as a threat to marriage.
4. Loot Iraq and destabilize Iran and then try to loot them.
5. Run up a huge deficit and bleed the Yankee government white.
6. Cripple the Broadcast Networks by huge FCC fines and alienate the public through a smear campaign of everything that is not FOX or News Corp.
7. Alter student loan program and bleed the state universities.
8. Gut regulatory agencies with poison pill rules and new outsourcing contracts.
9. Gut Federal Courts by setting poison rulings that will stumble the courts for years.
10. Gut Medicare by making it a mess of rules and contradictions.

And why not? The GOP is run by bitter southern moralist who detest Modern Times.
The failure of honest conservatives to see the scorpions in their midst is the real tragedy.
Laugh all you want. But remember I warned you.
They lied about the war and now they have the morons thinking Saddam Hussein was at 911.
They will win by telling lies.
While Blog sphere chases Kerry the Bush Camp will sucker the country into a mean and bitter future.
David 91104

The recent flap over ‘forged’ documents used by CBS and endorsed by Dan Rather are a superb example of Partisanship where there should be none.

CBS used to have a reputation for stepping away from the news and delivering facts unaffected by personal interest or political gain.

William Pailey, they man who made CBS the Tiffany Network eschewed partisanship, feeling it clouded the networks ability to have the publics respect. In the 1950s Pailey fought with Edward R. Morrow over the issue of slanting the news. Morrow was a serious thinker who loathed the antics of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (R Wisconsin) CBS was known as intellectual and worldly. To be silent and allow McCarthy to ruin the country struck Morrow as obscene. Pailey felt the average person was more than able to see through McCarthy and did not need CBS to pester them.

Dan Rather has always been a liberal partisan and he never conceals his contempt for the GOP and especially the Bush family. Read his book. "The Camera Never Blinks"
Rather is from Texas, an older, more FDR devoted Texas. He is in his 70s and has a dated way of looking at things. America has moved away from the righteous mid century liberalism toward a hard-edged moderation that seems conservative from a distance.

In truth the Bush administration is ordinary in its Doctrinaire Business mentality. Its political thinking is classic conservative even its theology is mainstream with a whiff of evangelical fervor. But so what? Liberalism is an ideology just as well. The country has never allowed any idea to poison the well. Bush Conservatism will peak out and the excesses will be removed. What congress passes it can refute by a simple vote. The truth of history is a genuine fact. The abuses at Abu Gherab have been exposed. We are all aware of the situation at Guantenamo and are watching reforms take place. The government was here before Bush and will be here long after.

The Bush Administration reflects a predictable rebellion toward rapid change and a natural fear of losing control. The Liberalism of the 1930s was a rebellion against the reactionary 1920s we survived both decades.

In 55 Months GW Bush will be gone forever and America will carry on. We survived Nixon Carter and Clinton, we will survive Bush.

Dan Rather needs to retire, allow a new generation of CBS talent to take charge and lead the Network into the new century. His refusal to vacate the stage of history in a gracious fashion is a loss for him and CBS. If Bill Pailey were around, Rather would be long gone. Les Moonvies hurts himself and CBS by not setting a date for Rathers exit.

In rgars to the election over all. John Kerry has a chance to defeat the president, and I hope he does. But Mr. Kerry must create a serious reason to do so. Not liking Mr. Bush is not enough. The Administration lies outright on the deficit as well as the war. Iraq is no longer a insurrection as it is a genione war against the US.

Kerry should seize the moment and re-define Iraq as a country at war with the United States and the Al Cedr brigades as the enemy. Kerry should hammer on the themne that we will be their three more years easily and just how many lives and treasure are we willing to lose? Ultimately the fantasy of democracy in Iraq has to be challenged.

John Kerry has such a wealth of issues to use against the GOP and he has flubbed just about every one of them.

My personal view is that the Democrats should concentrate on the Senate, there will be real power their and a means to prevent the Bush administration from damaging the Supreme Court.

I do hope Bill Clinton can affect the Kerry Campaign.

David 91004

The Kerry campaign must come to terms with cruel reality and began a detailed presentation as to why the country should endorse Mr. Kerry. Emphasis should be on the Supreme Court, the deficit, and the long term goals in Iraq.

As stated here before a true leader controls the agenda and never allows the other guy any leverage. The Kerry camp let GW Bush imply Mr. Kerry was disloyal or at the least a waffler. These are old style methods and Mr. Kerry has seen them before.

I firmly believe that the GOP is a cynical band of businessmen who stoke the emotions of the poor and near poor. So why do Democrats allow this to happen again and again? Mike Dukakis in 1988 and Albert Gore in 2000. In 1992 the GOP tred to smear Bill Clinton but he was glib enough to give it right back. He did the same in 1996.

Most Americans are not very deep politically. They have families to raise and lives to live. The Blogsphere is populated by driven minds in possession of the time to think and write. Most folks have neither.

Instead of abusing the people Kerry must develop a three line mantra: Bush endless war! Bush endless deficits! Bush endless mean judges. Simple talk big ideas.

Kerry comes across as far too verbose and he whines.

I am a liberal Democrat, I want victory. What Kerry and friends forget is that Bush has the advantage. Take it away from him and beat him up on the endless war endless deficit and mean judges. Pound the drums, "Bush is not the future, he is the past!" And mean it.

Kerry still has a chance, but it is dwindling away as people get distracted by hurricanes and the Base Ball playoffs and the NFL season.

David 9/8/04

Greetings!
August is over and I'm back. I've been working on the final draft of a novel and it wears me out easy. Here if San Francisco things are quiet. Few people here are interested in the GOP convention just as few were interested in the Democrat convention. I am pretty certain that most people have decided what they will do in November.
John Kerry must survive the first debate and in the meantime he must deflect the vicious ads about his 1971 senate testimonies concerning the Viet Nam war. My own thoughts on this mess, is that Kerry will not get past it an GW Bush will be re-elected. Kerry must develop a message that mutes the War Protester image. He has to diminish the value of re-electing the president. Very few candidates have ever defeated a president seeking a new term.
In the 20th century only Taft, Hoover,Ford, and Carter were defeated outright. GHW Bush lost in a three way battle just as Taft did in 1912.
In 1996 The GOP had Robert Dole, a genuine WW2 hero and he lost to Bill Clinton. Kerry may well be remembered as miscalculation in running on his military record. Perhaps if he ignored Iraq and terror and concentrated on the economy and the Supreme Court, he might have a bit of a chance.

I have said before that I suspect the country is tired, its been a long four years. Bush might loose on that issue alone.
As things stand, Bush looks to be re-elected unless he stumbles or Kerry gets a issue that makes him more credible.

2
Russia is going through hell. The world is ignoring it, a bad mistake. 200 school kids are hostages in the latest drama. The Chechyn Terrorist seem able to move about Russia quite freely. Mr. Putun will suffer for this.
Be sure other terrorist are watching and learning. The Chechyn's use women who have lost brothers or sons or husbands. Does the US look out for woman?
More later
David