Monday, February 06, 2006



Am I a breath of fresh air, in slow motion? Our dragons started digging up records, knocking on doors, and reaching out to trusted sources. Ultimately, however, we had too many unanswered questions and decided not to publish a story. Sparing Media dragons ... CHEERS to fighting the good intentions and fight: Confidential Sources

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: Reaching for Power: There can be no rights in a democracy
Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight-- Got to kick at the darkness `til it bleeds daylight

Max Weber described politics as
a strong and slow boring of hard boards. It takes both passion and perspective. Certainly all historical experience confirms the truth--that man would not have attained the possible unless time and again he had reached out for the impossible. But to do that a man must be a leader, and not only a leader but a hero as well, in a very sober sense of the word.


• Even when people are satisfied, there is much left to do. Institutions must achieve the moral education of the citizens. By respecting their individual rights, securing their independence, refraining from troubling their work, they must nevertheless consecrate their influence over public affairs, call them to contribute by their votes to the exercise of power, grant them a right of control and supervision by expressing their opinions; and, by forming them through practice for these elevated functions, give them both the desire and the right to discharge these. The False Hope of Democracy [Full-fledged corporatism, as a system for organizing the formulation and implementation of economic policies Quasi-Corporatism: America’s Homegrown Fascism ; The introduction to David Runciman's The Politics of Good Intentions: History, Fear and Hypocrisy in the New World Order Did September 11, 2001, really change the world? ]
• · Recorded rates of assault and sexual assault in NSW have more than doubled in the past 15 years Sexual assault rates more than double ; AUSTRALIA'S biggest cities have become less affordable over the past year - tell me about it ;-PPPSydney pays for rise up world rankings
• · · The year 2006 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Hannah Arendt, one of the most prominent public intellectuals of the twentieth century ... It is appropriate to recall Hannah Arendt's contributions to Jewish politics and peace in the Middle East What the world outside saw; The New Geopolitics of Empire Australia, put simply, there are two types of Bill of Rights - a legislative model and a constitutional model. What price for a Bill of Rights?
• · · · Threaten One, Intimidate a Million: After provoking outrage in the Muslim world by publishing offensive cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, A couple of simple caricatures ; A Danish newspaper has apologized as the extent of the anger continued to mushroom. Denmark's Cartoon Jihad
• · · · · Kick me, I'm a Democrat: Michael Kinsley on the games politicians play. When Republicans lose elections, it is because they didn't get enough votes. When Democrats lose elections, it is because they have lost their principles and lost their way. Or they have kept their principles, which is an even worse mistake Everyone can play; Political donations: grubbiness tolerated
• · · · · · Urban myths "Much of what we think we know about sprawl is wrong" ; Donations avalanche -- time for reform