Cruel Irony

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=197240&f=20

Iraq cannot get together an Olympic squad in anything but weightlifting. But after decades of war they have one of the worlds best para Olympic teams.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=197226&f=19

There really isn't much I can say about this amazing - amazing good and amazing appauling - story other than read it. That these dark pockets still exist across the globe is incredible, that it is a 10 year old standing up and leading change is even more so.

Breaking News

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=177683&f=19

The NYT continues its policy of running McCain oppo pieces against obama. Today we are told front page that Obama is surrounded by advisors with ties to the ethanol industry. Of course the only people that can come up with are Tom Daschle - whom Obama hangs out with and admires but doesn't actually have a campaign role - and a staffer who used to work at a bipartisan think tank where one of the honorary chairs is Bob Dole (surprisingly! the former Kansas Senator has ties - imagine that - to agri business).

Of course the second half does comfort me as the rest of the article is about how McCain (and based on the glowing writing the Times) think the US should buy millions of gallons of ethanol from Brazil rather than Iowa or Nebraska. All so that the price thousands of farmers get for their crop can be driven back into the ground.

Interestingly, while the oil and nuclear industry deserve big subsidies, the idea of the government investing in figuring out switch grass and creating a whole new industry that is greener, could benefit tens of thousands of farmers, and doesn't have the side effect of corn ethanol is anethema to McCain. Apparently he only believes in handouts to those industries whose lobbyists stock his war chest and staff.

Obama and Public Financing

I think the one thing missing from the media echo chamber on Obama's decision to opt out of public financing is the reality that American's who aren't plugged into the Washington political machine do think that campaign financing is broken. All those politicians who have been taking tax payer money clearly haven't been immunized from the impact of "big money". so I just don't think Obama taking money from 1.5m Americans makes him anymore succeptable to the corruption claims that everyone throws around.

As far as the "flip flop" charge some people are pushing, if people actually get to hear him speak for himself (and a big if based on the amazing out of shameless clipping being done by the media - I mean I think if youare going to use video theyshould at leastget to finish thjhe sentence before cut back to the commentator) he is convincing on why he opted out.

That said, the insiders who have the most to lose from a paradigm shift in have been doing their best to lie through their teeth on this and make it seem like not taking public financing is in some way illegal or illegitimate. Just because the politics as usual over the past three decades has said you have to take $85m from taxpayers to pay for your campaign doesn't mean you have to. And PS, it would be nice just once to hear about how McCain has been illegally funding his primary campaign after unilaterally pulling out of public financing once he realized he could earn more privately funding.

A Victory for the Disabled

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=175391&f=19

Kudos to the Justice Dept for finally giving some teeth to the Americans with Disabilities Act. While some things may seem silly - half of mini golf homes must be wheel chair accessible - these things are non trivial for the 4-5% of Americans with mobility impairments that have to stay behind or just watch when their friends and family go out to have fun.

Perhaps it is just a gambit, but that a rule aimed at helping 1 in 6 Americans has to be couched in 'support the troops' rhetoric shows how far we still have to go until people with disabilities are granted their full dignity by society.

We went to see Kung fu panda this weekend (awesome by the way) and there was a young man there in a wheel chair with cognitive issues. My first thought was to be surprised to see someone with such significant handicaps at the theater. But in retrospect I think my surprise is not seeing more people with disabilities out and about. Hopefully these rules will survive hitting by the Chamber of Commerce and help a few more people get out and have a good time.

Historic

http://m.espn.go.com/wireless/story?storyId=3440716

I was almost going to feel bad for the Lakers - I remember that pit in my stomach when they came storming back in game 2. Then I read their post game quotes and see they have the nerve to whine about the referees!

The officiating has been dubious throughout the series, with the home team (in my estimation) getting a boost in every game except 1. And I can live with that, especially since a big part of the free throw disparity has more been the aggressiveness than blatently terrible calls. But when Sasha cries that the reason he got smoked by Ray Ray is because he picked up a few foul calls - the trip in the third where they both went down and when Allen beat him back to his feet he proceeded to scissor clip him down scared the heck out of me given alll then injuries - I find I can't help but enjoy their painful demise.

Of course I also remember the historic beat down the Yankees delivered in 2004 to go up 3-0. Like Phil said, it aint over yet.

Out of touch narcissist seeking out of touch narcissist

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article;jsessionid=304F70B5FCD3E6A16266BC60794D8279.w6?a=172476&f=77

John McCain has apparently decided his campaign has too many shady lobbyists and decided he needs some disgraced CEOs. In some ways Fiorina got a raw deal. But crowing about how the company making record quarters as soon as she left seems to suggest she is on the same planet as McCain and Bush - and unfortunately that is not earth.

Matt Yglesias mentioned yesterday that it might make sense for McCain to announce his shadow cabinet to show he is different. Then again, if his cabinet includes people like fiorina maybe that isn't such a good idea.

I would also add that it is interesting the Times chose to pepper the profile piece on his one female advisor with all sorts of cheap shots. I even wonder about mccain's own line about how she used to be a secretary.