Apologies

I just wanted to step in and apologize to my loyal readers for not yet having posted either any notes on my recent exploits in Japan or on any other updates. Current preoccupation: graduate school applications (yes, again – a holiday tradition) and general disbelief at the disbelief that everyone in Washington seems to be expressing about the antics of the Bush administration.

To digress on that last topic briefly, I’m kind of stunned that anyone’s surprised. To me, the only thing to be surprised about is that all this stuff (secret prisons, purchased press in Iraq, the Plame leak, illegal redistricting in Texas and so on) is coming out at all. I guess that just proves the point that most of the country actually fell for the garbage that’s been pumped out of the White House for the last five years which, in turn, proves several of my more unflattering points about the media and the American public which I won’t get into (and which will, no doubt, make me look very cynical.) On a more optimistic note, it also proves that you can’t get away with murder (literally) forever.

I always assumed this kind of stuff was going on. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but seriously, what did people think was going on behind those hermetically sealed closed doors? Building gingerbread houses and trying on sweaters? The President’s been clear about his messiah complex since day one AND he can’t put a sentence together with both hands and a blender. Not exactly a recipe for straightforward success in the world of complex international politics. Bring on the manipulators and the preachers: let the circus begin!

I have to admit, I’m still torn about the stupid vs. evil argument. But really, after you’ve been stupid enough to kill more than 2,000 of your own soldiers and tens of thousands of the foreign civilians you claimed you went in to liberate and protect, doesn’t the distinction get a little fuzzy?

At any rate, I won’t make a false promise that I’ll be back posting regularly before the holidays but know that I’ll do my best. I appreciate you checking back in the meantime. In my annual ritual, as I mentioned, I am yet again applying to graduate school – you know, just for kicks. The last couple of years have been more casual and production-oriented than “get me in” oriented, so, with the editorial assistance of Jeremy the Iowa Wunderkind, I’m giving it one last shot with a more professional attitude.

Once those are out of the way (the 15th through the 3rd of January) and all the presents bought and sent (don’t worry – the tree’s already up), I’ll be back in full force.