Chomksy

I don’t know that much about Chomsky’s political writings. I don’t like his linguistics that much. I haven’t really read much of his political stuff; what I did read more or less made sense but I didn’t consider myself competent to judge it.

A little while back I followed a link somewhere to an interview with Chomsky which made him look like kind of an ass. I thought, “huh. Guess he’s kind of an ass.” Didn’t think that much more of it. Turns out that the interview was a total hatchet job, and the interviewer downright lied about a lot of what she said in the interview — including lying about things she claimed Chomsky had written.

So says this article anyway. I thought it was interesting mainly because I had read, and believed, the original interview, so it was personal.

Found both on Reddit.

Update: The Guardian apologizes & admits the interview completely misrepresented Chomsky.

Update 2: This is apparently in response to an open letter to the Guardian by Chomsky pointing out countless misrepresentations and inaccuracies in the article, and making a good case that it was intended as a hatchet job.

Cheney vs McCain on Torture

In the news today: reports that the pro-torture stance of the military since 2001 came straight from Richard Cheney, and at the same time a vow from John McCain to add a torture ban to every significant piece of legislation to leave the Senate until Bush gives up on vetoing it.

Makes you wonder where we’d be right now if McCain had got the nomination and won in 2000.

I’ll take any decent Democrat over McCain, but I’d take McCain over the current crew in a New York minute.

Both links via Reddit.

CNN.com – ‘Can I quit now?’ FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged – Nov 3, 2005

CNN.com – ‘Can I quit now?’ FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged – Nov 3, 2005

You know, people are outraged about this but I can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. He knew he was not close to competent to do the job he’d been given. He wanted to get the hell out but felt trapped, as everything was falling apart around him. He was a normal weak human being and retreated from responsibilities that overwhelmed him. I completely feel for the guy.

I bet when Bush said “Brownie, you’re doing a heckova job” he wanted to punch Dubya right in the face.