On..David Brooks

Welcome Back (Hopefully to stay)

I've enjoyed David Brooks for sometime. His book Bobos in Paradise is a minor classic, but the last few years he has become the most staunch and mythical centrist on the planet. I've had a number of conversations about him with colleagues and he has almost become a joke on how middle of the road-utopian he has tried to be. I don't know if occurred when he was hired by the New York Times to be their token "conservative" or it's simply his good guy genes. Occasionally he has a good article but he's been so centrist it's sucked the life out of his writing. He had been the post-boy for post-partisanship. I don't know how such a smart guy can belief in such magical nonsense. Obama and Rove-clone Gibbs are already using bi-partisanship as a weapon against the Right. [Isn't Gibbs just odious? He makes me physically sick.]

Well, maybe Brooks is having the avalon-snakeskin removed from his eyes. He really nails this whole GM-Obama-Big Government mess on the head in his article today.

I encourage everyone to read it. It goes nicely with the Detroit News' latest editorial.

BROOKS: CAR DEALER-IN-CHIEF

DETROIT NEWS: DeFacto Take Over

On...The Real Car Czar

Expansion of Presidential Powers: It is only beginning

We are starting to see the power the White House will wield. Be warned any person coming hat in hand to 1600 PA Ave. You leave without your hat.

GM is only the beginning. I think the people of Michigan are starting to long for W when it comes to the auto industry. Now that's scary stuff.

What and the hell does Obama know about a car-company? This is the typical elitist attitude. They know everything about everything and their Smart Team can pull purple rabbits out of hardhats all friggin' day. Making rash decisions are going to bite you. The White House now owns General Motors. If not in reality then in public perception. If GM fails now Obama will bear most of the onus in the public's eyes. He's responsible. Since when should the POTUS be worrying about a CAR COMPANY! in a 14 Trillion dollar economy. I just don't know about this. He can act all calm and high-almighty but he's in the whirlwind now. Way to deflect the AIG boondoggle by pushing Detroit off the Ambassador Bridge.

The DETROIT NEWS editorial on Wagoner's Ousting is very good and raises a bunch of questions.

MI Governor Granholm calls Wagoner a "Sacrificial Lamb." How true.

Does anyone else smell the return of Jimmy Carter? I really hope not.

FILM REVIEW: Duplicity

FILM REVIEW: Duplicity

Perhaps it was the sorta-low expectations I had going into the film that allowed me to really enjoy this movie. People had said it was confusing and had too many flashbacks, etc. These people are nuts. I guess if you're too interested in your super-large soda and burlap sack full of popcorn to turn your brain on then, yes, maybe it is confusing. But if you pay attention you will not only following what is going on you will be challenged. Yes, a few thinks don't totally make sense but by no means did it detract.

Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton) has written a well-plotted and witty script and infused it with a dash of old fashioned wordplay. I'm usually not a big Julia Roberts fan but she was quite good. I feel her maturity is a plus. It fits her. As for Clive Owen, he is one of my favorite actors. And only Daniel Craig can pull off the finely cut clothing they cover him in. I was watching the film and thinking how much I just want to have his wardrobe. Together they have real chemistry.

Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti both have crafty roles and chew on the slick dialogue with panache. They play rival corporate CEOs. Rivals puts it lightly. These guys HATE each other. They drive the plot. Roberts and Owen also play rivals, ex-spooks who now are hired by corporations to screw each other over. It plays well.

There are a few spots in the film, near the end, when the film seems to lose steam and you're not sure where it is going. However, it only lasts for a minute and events come into focus.

I highly recommend Duplicity.
RATING: 8 out of 10

From...Ross Douthat

I'm posting one of my favorite bloggers, Ross Douthat, and his recent comments about the Pope, Africa, and AIDS. He currently is employed by The Atlantic, but starting in a few weeks he's moving over the New York Times. He is one of the most solid Catholic political intellectuals I know. He also blogs on movies and baseball. He's right up my alley.

The Church, AIDS, and Africa

On...The Athenian Mob (According to VDH)

"Only the Educated are Free"

Since I've been teaching the finer points of Ancient Greece the last two weeks, albeit in a brief high school unit, this article from Greek expert Victor Davis Hanson struck a chord. We are currently seeing the more churlish side of democracy and mobocracy. I've included a couple of my favorite Greek quotes.

See article HERE

"The fool believes he is wise and the wise man knows he is a fool."

On...Economic History...Are We On the Right Route?

Contradictions

Economic Historian and author of the great book An Empire of Wealth recently wrote an article for Commentary. John Steele Gordon gives a brief rundown of US economic activity, mainly regarding the Democratic Party (see his book for more info) and what new Dem President Obama's plan may or may not produce. Food for thought.

See HERE.