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I'm the newly-appointed Future editor at Business 2.0 and the former San Francisco correspondent for Time Magazine.

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I say, old chap, you forgot the "u" in "colour."

No I didn't. I may identify as British, but I am also an American journalist writing for an American audience about mostly American issues. These two different sides of me are a constant source of tension. Nevertheless, Daily Blah will adhere to American English grammar and spelling.





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Chris Taylor


Daily Blah for... Monday, January 23, 2006

Spine Insertion Operation
Leave it to that delightful old warhorse Molly Ivins to take the best shot a columnist has taken thus far at knocking some sense into Democratic heads. Her latest column comes out defiantly against Hilary; indeed, against anyone who doesn't have the guts to tell the truth to the electorate in this tortured age. This, as she says, is not a time for careful triangulation. You want the middle ground? Bush has shifted so far to the right, the middle ground is all left. Some choice quotes:

"What kind of courage does it take, for mercy's sake? The majority of the American people (55 percent) think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out. The majority (65 percent) of the American people want single-payer health care and are willing to pay more taxes to get it ... The majority (87 percent) thinks big oil companies are gouging consumers and would support a windfall profits tax. That is the center, you fools. WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF?"
(All caps are hers)

"You sit there in Washington so frightened of the big, bad Republican machine you have no idea what people are thinking. I'm telling you right now, Tom DeLay is going to lose in his district. If Democrats in Washington haven't got enough sense to OWN the issue of political reform, I give up on them entirely."


Comments:
I have been waiting for the day that politicians spoke honestly. I doubt that Democratic Party will take up Ms Ivins' challenge. Clearly the candidates that get elected are experts at being imprecise and/or speaking out of both sides of their mouths. I have long awaited a viable third party candidate to challenge the other two with intelligent straight talk like that seen in The West Wing debates. I don't think it's going to happen. Too many old schoolers still have power. Vagueness is easy to defend. Vagueness attracts more donations. And no third party has attracted enough attention it seems.
I am registered as Independent. I tend to be liberal but get more conservative as I age. I may have voted for McCain over Gore. I too am disappointed in the Dems (not to mention the GOP). That's my way of saying that I don't care which party comes on like a breath of fresh air (the BFA Party?).
Are there some daring candidates who can say more that "down with crime," "down with terrorism," and "we need a balanced budget?"
I don't think anyone knows for sure what will work to aachieve those goals but it would be nice to hear a candidate discuss precise plans and options. And it would be nice if they got solid media attention.
 
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