The best thing I could come up with was what I call the canary in the coal mine theory of the arts. This theory says that artists are useful to society because they are so sensitive. They are super-sensitive. They keel over like canaries in poison coal mines long before more robust types realize that there is any danger whatsoever.

-Kurt V.

In case you missed it, Powell endorsed Obama.

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Shoutout to Megan McArdle’s 4th of July post. Perfect

Cuba’s state-controlled telecommunications monopoly, a joint venture with Telecom Italia, charges US$2.70 (euro1.70) per minute to call the U.S. and US$5.85 (euro3.70) per minute to Europe and most of the rest of the world. Making or receiving local calls costs US$0.30 (euro0.19) a minute.

Just more anecdotal evidence reaffirming what we already knew:

Capitalism is unequally divided riches
while socialism is equally divided poverty
-FDR

First, the compromise bill reasserts that FISA is the “exclusive means” for conducting electronic surveillance, which would require the president to ignore such language twice in order to launch an extralegal surveillance program, rather than only once, as under traditional FISA rules.

Second, it preserves prior judicial review of surveillance authorizations, except in “very, very rare” circumstances, such as when the attorney general asserts that waiting for a judge would entail delay.

Third, it contains specific provisions barring the use of authorizations targeting parties abroad as a pretext for targeting U.S. persons, presumably to be enforced by a board of psychics.

Even Obama elected to take the spineless route:

I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives – and the liberty – of the American people.

This should not be an issue, there should be no debate. The companies that elected to circumvent the original FISA laws  should be prosecuted, lose and subject to huge penalties.

The methods may be sophisticated, but the theme is anything but subtle. Position the chisel. Then hit it hard. There may even be votes just in the sharp and confident cracking sound it makes. Clarity gets attention.

“People may not agree with you,” Rove said at breakfast, “but if they know where you’re coming from, they’ll have respect for you that they will not have if they think you’re weak and indecisive.”

Looks like special interests and irrational fear win again.

“This, I believe, is the right way to go for the security of the nation,” said Senator John D. Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who leads the intelligence committee.

His support for the plan, after intense negotiations with the White House and his Republican colleagues, was considered critical to its passage but drew criticism from civil liberties groups because of $42,000 in contributions that Mr. Rockefeller received last year from AT&T and Verizon executives.

NY Times: Bush Presses House to Approve Bill on Surveillance

I understand the near insurmountable obstacles posed by such an objective. Geopolitical pressures, infrastructure renovation in the trillions, and a fleet of light trucks that consume more oil than much of the third world combined. And that’s assuming we can coerce the energy corporations into giving up a slice of their record profits.
That’s exactly whey we need a national energy policy, with teeth.I can’t propose all the details of such a plan, but I have a few ideas:

• We need a series of modest goals, all achievable in gradual steps. I use the health care industry as an example. Modest improvements (VA hospital, Medicaid/Medicare) are achievable, loftier ones near impossible (universal health care).
• It would need to echo Carter’s much ignored conservation principles.
• Gradual increases in the CAFE standards. We could look to Europe or even China for ideas on this one.

Carter tried a lot of this and failed. Why? America wasn’t ready. After the oil crisis faded away America reverted back to business as usual. There’s mounting evidence indicating that isn’t the case anymore.

Green is fashionable.

Hybrid vehicles are beginning to turn a profit. Every company now has their own line of highly efficient hybrid cars. But even more telling is marketing. If you watched the Super Bowl this year you saw GMC’s Yukon commercial… touting their newest luxury SUV as a “fuel efficient hybrid.” GMC was willing to spend three million dollars to advertise its fuel efficiency commitment to the American public. Why?
Because America is ready.

So who’s it going to be? Democrat or Republican. Man or woman. I’ll vote for whoever will set such a goal. Whoever, over the next decade, will set a national energy objective. An objective that truly will measure the best of our energies and skills. A challenge we intend to win.

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The economist summed it up perfectly.

… At his best he may be the finest public speaker of his generation: a man who echoes John Kennedy and Martin Luther King but nevertheless speaks in a voice that is all his own.

It is not just that he says it well: it is also what he says.