Bush: mystified by the orgy of xenophobia

* Brithume (carl cameron) did a story on the UAE port thing, and they explained that the ports were previously managed by P&O. In an exquisite piece of hackery, as part of the story, they showed a photo of Blinky in front of an adoring crowd with some P&O containers in the background - cameron helpfully pointed to the containers as an explanation for who P&O is, but it was just a transparent excuse to show a photo of Blinky touching hands with Bush Cultists. amazing, but not surprising.

* froomkin: "Not once in Bush's five years as president has he gone to Plan C -- a veto. And while Bush threatened one yesterday, using his very first veto in the face of so much public flak would be a dramatic political defeat. Having that veto overridden would be a debacle."

* froomkin: "New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd (subscription required) writes: "Mr. Bush is hoist on his own petard. For four years, the White House has accused anyone in Congress or the press who defended civil liberties or questioned anything about the Iraq war of being soft on terrorism. Now, as Congress and the press turn that accusation back on the White House, Mr. Bush acts mystified by the orgy of xenophobia.""
(and dont forget the CNOOC takeover bid)

* juan cole:

"I think the peace movement has a real opportunity here to make a push for much heavier United Nations involvement in Iraq. I say, let's make up placards calling on Kofi Annan to get involved, and calling on Bush to let the UN come in in a big way, with proper protection.
Here are the advantages:
[snip]
7. Bush invaded Iraq in part in order to destroy the United Nations. Forcing him to bring it in to Iraq would be a blow against American unilateralism and rightwing American aggression for decades to come."