I'm scared stiff of upsetting the Grammar Police

First, you shouldn't be. Second, nothing you've written has ben incorrect. I'm unsure what you're worried about.

Second, nothing you've written has ben incorrect.

You're under arrest!!

Second, nothing you've written has ben incorrect.

I think you meant "been". Sorry, I could not resist...

Aauuggh!

to what lengths will one go to show animosity for the French?

I'd say the US administration are teetering on the edge of fascism right now, and there seems to be every indication that they are prepared to cross that line and not look back. Some of this stuff is utterly beyond belief. I've lost so much respect for the USA in the last couple of months, or at least for the administration and the majority that appears to support it.

The UK administration isn't much better, but you don't see them whipping up blood lust against an allied country that veto's our proposals. I think we may have gone as far as calling France "short sighted" over the issues - and we're EXPERTS at hating the French.

If bills such as "the repatriation of American corpses from France" make it onto the statute books, the rest of the world can be certain that the US has finally lost the plot and could well be the most dangerous nation in the world right now.

Rob

word.

Rev,

I'm curious to know if you had a chance to listen to that audio clip (if you aren't a "no-Real" purist!) and whether you think the profiles (by the Gallup pollster and the Texas newspaper gent) were fair.

Sorry, just a little leg pull, my friend!

Based round: I write advertising copy as a living, advise on English usage and ensure that the quality of English used by my creative teams is consistently high.

Surely, using the same word twice in a sentence is poor usage!

I think we may have gone as far as calling France "short sighted" over the issues

Straw seems to have gone way past that, even by the time that you wrote it.

I agree with you Rob. Our leaders on the whole are acting like a woman scorned or a spoiled brat or maybe both. I hope they come to their senses soon before they utterly destroy this country's credibility with the rest of the world.

I just checked the Fed-Ex tracking page to see where my empeg is and right at this moment it is sitting in Paris, France. Since it has touched French soil, will it be allowed in this country?

I'd say the US administration are teetering on the edge of fascism right now

I think that applying the word "fascism" to "Freedom Fries" is a bit strong, though I realize probably you aren't just referring to the one incident. This fries thing is, of course, silly and petty, but it's just that.

If bills such as "the repatriation of American corpses from France" make it onto the statute books, the rest of the world can be certain that the US has finally lost the plot and could well be the most dangerous nation in the world right now.

The bill is, of course, stupid. I don't want my tax dollers being spent on a futile gesture of hatred, nor would (I suspect) most Americans. I have little doubt this bill won't make it very far.

Oh, and at least they haven't asked us to obstain from french (freedom?) kissing yet.

Surely, using the same word twice in a sentence is poor usage!

No, but it could be poor style, which is likely to be more important in advertising copy.

or at least for the administration and the majority that appears to support it.

And I'm wondering where the hell these people are. The polls find them, but I apparently don't know more than a dozen. This is sort of shocking.

the US has finally lost the plot and could well be the most dangerous nation in the world right now

So, when did Bush "jump the shark"? Thoughts?

When he arbitrarily switched his focus from Afghanistan/al Qaeda to Iraq.

So, when did Bush "jump the shark"? Thoughts?

Right.... about.......... here.

Remember when the elder Bush said "No nation can stand against a world united."?

If not, I can help: http://eserver.org/govt/gulf-war/bush-agression-speech.txt

So why didn't shrub learn anything from his dad?

It's not like I've been going out of my way looking for reasons to demonize Bush. They falling in my lap!

He said it again just recently.

And it would be cool if shrub wasn't lying about the "we still deal with them as friends" too.

Also,
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/opinion/14KRUG.html

and, while we're at it
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/opinion/14MORR.html

[KarmaWhore]

Registration-free links:

http://archive.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/opinion/14KRUG.html

http://archive.nytimes.com/2003/03/14/opinion/14MORR.html

[/KarmaWhore]

I didn't register. My name is cypherpunks.

Just a reminder, Saturday is going to be another round of world-wide protests, including several in America. It probably won't stop Bush, but it is better than doing nothing.

International Answer:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/

March 15th protests around the world:
http://www.internationalanswer.org/news/update/031303m15intl.html

United For Peace:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

Returning to this point, I could respect Bush a lot more if he were giving speeches like this. The thing is, it's too late. His credibility is already damaged, at least in the eyes of most of the world and those in this country who are carefully watching his actions.