The end of the Dish Network spectrum involves educational programming, generally provided by various university channels, and I happened upon a talk given by Al Gore about environmental issues. This is his thing, of course, but it was a pretty good lecture. [Gore included a few neat shots of the Earth from space, included a time lapse view of it revolving.] Ah, what might have been, what should have been. Anyway, apparently when your chance to be President is stolen from you, you eat a lot of ice cream. Or, something ... the guy surely gained some weight, didn't he?
Meanwhile, now that the Cheney matter is winding down, the fact that six major ports will be controlled in large part by the UAE is the new controversy. Michael Chertoff -- who, sorry, is a bit creepy -- defended the move, but it has bipartisan opposition. The UAE is known to be friendly with anti-American groups, so such opposition to foreign control of a matter central to domestic security (akin, I guess, to if France was involved) is not surprising. The matter was addressed in the blogosphere before now, but it is now front and center. Useful, even though so many accounts have the oh so tired "he said, she said" (some say ... others are upset ...) stenographic view without actually supplying press context.
[Book Recommendation: War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death by Michael Solomon ... well, no sports to watch, so why not?]
A sort of double standard is in place ... those with anti-American sympatheties can control our ports, but democratically (but it was a close election! hmm, that doesn't work here, or maybe it does?) elected Hamas leadership should be pressured (though the Bush Administration is understandably loathe to be too obvious about doing so). In fact, kept from coming in power, if possible. The scary message this sends ... the matter leaked to the media last week ... is clear. Foolish consistency is the ... Or rather, consistency that interferes with our national policy. Democracy only for those we like. They are bad people? Well, if that is your test, watch out. People in glass houses ...
Meanwhile, analysis appears to mean to some key national leaders to mean "avowedly conservative analysis." Facts are such pesky things.