All posts by Rand Simberg

That’ll Help

Al Gore is defending the Dixie Chicks. Here’s a stupid quote.

“They were made to feel un-American and risked economic retaliation because of what was said. Our democracy has taken a hit,” Gore said. “Our best protection is free and open debate.”

Our “democracy has taken a hit” because some fans decided to spend their money on music made by a non-ditz instead of on hers.

Black Lists! Censorship! Oppression! McCarthyism!

Mr. Gore apparently subscribes to the notion of freedom of “speech,” but not freedom of CD purchases. If we don’t pump more money into Natalie Maines bank account, democracy has failed.

Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.

That’ll Help

Al Gore is defending the Dixie Chicks. Here’s a stupid quote.

“They were made to feel un-American and risked economic retaliation because of what was said. Our democracy has taken a hit,” Gore said. “Our best protection is free and open debate.”

Our “democracy has taken a hit” because some fans decided to spend their money on music made by a non-ditz instead of on hers.

Black Lists! Censorship! Oppression! McCarthyism!

Mr. Gore apparently subscribes to the notion of freedom of “speech,” but not freedom of CD purchases. If we don’t pump more money into Natalie Maines bank account, democracy has failed.

Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.

That’ll Help

Al Gore is defending the Dixie Chicks. Here’s a stupid quote.

“They were made to feel un-American and risked economic retaliation because of what was said. Our democracy has taken a hit,” Gore said. “Our best protection is free and open debate.”

Our “democracy has taken a hit” because some fans decided to spend their money on music made by a non-ditz instead of on hers.

Black Lists! Censorship! Oppression! McCarthyism!

Mr. Gore apparently subscribes to the notion of freedom of “speech,” but not freedom of CD purchases. If we don’t pump more money into Natalie Maines bank account, democracy has failed.

Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.

Wishful Thinking

Here’s an article by James Moore at Harvard Law that fantasizes that the Internet will create the “second superpower” that can stand up to the US. He’s got it half right, in that the web will help promote various political causes. However, it ignores the fact the web also provides the means to rapidly spread the word about the kind of transnationalist nonsense that he promotes…

[Thanks to emailer Bill Gerrard]

After You, I Insist

The Saddamite regime is having trouble finding local volunteers for suicide missions.

According to Western intelligence, Iraq has failed to find its own volunteers for suicide missions against coalition troops.

Whitehall security sources have told the BBC they have reliable information from inside Iraq that a trawl for volunteers amongst the ruling Baath Party failed to find any takers.

No surprise there. Ba’athists are more into killing other people than themselves. They have a solution, though.

According to the sources, a decision was taken to use remotely-detonated bombs in vehicles without the drivers’ knowledge.

That’s probably how they did the job in Najaf on Saturday, according to the article.

(I don’t know if that’s a permalink, but for right now, scroll down to the post at 1051GMT)