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Mixed Messages Vol. III

"You know, the ultimate judge about whether this government is making a difference is going to be the Iraqi people, and these elected officials know that. That's the great thing about being elected; you get a sense if people don't kind of like what you're doing, or not. And democracy causes you to respond to the people's needs. Tyrants don't have to.... This elected government is going to have to respond to the people, and that's a big change." --President Bush, speaking at today's press conference, on the new Iraqi government.

"And that's why one message that I will continue to send to the enemy is, don't count on us leaving before the message is complete. Don't bet on it; don't bet on American politics forcing my hand, because it's not going to happen. I'm going to make decisions not based upon politics, but based upon what's best for the United States of America.... And I know there's going to be different voices, and there should be different voices out of America. That's where we're great. That's what makes us interesting and great; people can say whatever they want to say, as they try to attract votes. But my voice, what you hear from me, no matter what these polls and all the business look like, is that it's worth it, it is necessary, and we will succeed." --President Bush at the same press conference, roughly 20 minutes later.

I [heart with stab wound] New York

Well, it's nice to know they're still stabbing tourists on the subways in Ol' New York. This one is from Texas. He is a nerd. A geek. A dork. A dweeb. How badly does the New York Times want you to know this, short of coming out and saying, "The victim was a pasty, doughy, frightened nerd"? This bad:

"He's a smart, very bright kid," his aunt said. "He's not violent. He's pretty passive."

The attack must have been unprovoked, she said. "It had to be a random deal," she said of the attack. "He's not that type of kid."

She described her nephew as a big science fiction and fantasy fan who used to collect Star Wars paraphernalia.

In Case You Were Wondering

As has been noted elsewhere--we're gossip-fodder!--the High-Pitched Tone and I are lighting out for greener pastures. If you're curious as to why, this pretty much sums it up:

Neal Zucker, CEO of Corporate Cleaning Services, a Chicago-based window-washing company that specializes in high-rise buildings, also pops up frequently in Chicago's gossip pages. His 40th birthday bash, Mr. Zwecker wrote in February, was "one of the best parties this town has seen in quite awhile."

Mixed Messages Vol. II

"Let me -- I want to be careful. This is not PR. PR is selling soap. This is trying to build a basis for democracy." --White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, June 8, 2006, in answer to a question about the public relations implications of the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce new products in August." --Former White House chief of staff Andrew Card, September 6, 2002, quoted in the New York Times on why the Bush Administration waited until after Labor Day to begin a public campaign to go to war against Iraq.

The Cat's Out of the Bag

If you know of any 2BR dog-friendly apartments opening up in Brooklyn, N.Y., on or around August 1, be a mensch and shoot me an e-mail.

Icky

I have no rational explanation, but that's how it makes me feel to learn that Bob Mould and Andrew Sullivan are friends.

Anderson Cooper Enters the Mancage

Anderson Cooper spent some time in something called a "mancage" on last night's broadcast of "Anderson Cooper 360." He seemed very excited about it. I think he really likes to say "mancage." I wonder which he likes better, the mancage or the manbus?

Here are the quotes:

Literally, this is what they call the mancage. It's attached to a giant crane. I'm actually going to get inside it and go over the 17th Street Canal.

A little bit later on we're going to take you up in that mancage.

I've got to put on this equipment, because we're going to go into what's called a mancage right here.

The mancage is used to take people everyday, to take the workers.

Welcome back. We've just gotten out of the mancage.