Monthly Archives: September 2006

Another Transatlantic Experience Goes Bad

Posted on September 17, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

I was detained in Frankfurt.

Not in the sense of being arrested, but in the sense of being delayed: the plane had some sort of mechanical problem with the pilot’s window, and it took many hours to repair. By the time we arrived in Chicago, the last flight to Miami was long gone, so I am stuck in an airport hotel. And very very tired. And have to get up very early to make the 6:30 am flight to Miami.

On the bright side: since my luggage was lost for more than a day on the way out, I still have a full set of clean clothes…

The ICANN NomCom activities that took me to Frankfurt are covered by a very strict confidentiality agreement; when the official statement issues about this weekend’s meeting (tomorrow?) I’ll post a link to it. The actual results of our deliberations won’t be public for some time.

Given all these travel woes, I do feel I have been suitably punished for this unpaid volunteer activity.

Posted in Talks & Conferences | Comments Off on Another Transatlantic Experience Goes Bad

Dan Froomkin Has A Question

Posted on September 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

In addition to his column, my brother does occasional online Q&A sessions at Washingtonpost.com. I think they might even be better than his columns. Here’s my favorite bit from the most recent one:

Va.: If you could ask Bush one question and he was forced to give a straight answer, what would it be?

Dan Froomkin: Precisely how do you define torture?

A most excellent question. But unfortunately, I think we know the answer.

Posted in Dan Froomkin, Torture | Comments Off on Dan Froomkin Has A Question

In Which I Commit An Act of Recklessness

Posted on September 16, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

I’ve agreed to take part in the first-ever Miami Bloggers: Cross Blogination being organized by Greener Miami for September 19.

My guest poster will be from the comprehensive community site, Miami Beach 411, and I have to come up with something appropriate for the super-cool Critical Miami. Ouch.

Posted in Discourse.net | Comments Off on In Which I Commit An Act of Recklessness

Will the US Legislate Torture

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

The headline of today’s editorial in the Washington Post says almost all of it: A Defining Moment for America – The president goes to Capitol Hill to lobby for torture.

Here’s the political snapshot: the house has fallen into line and has voted to give the president unreviewable authority to torture. The Senate has balked, and has voted an alternative bill that is merely very very bad rather than despicable. Senator Reid, the Democratic minority leader, has indicated that Bush’s version would be filibustered if it made it to the floor. President Bush has vowed to veto the Senate bill if it gets to his desk (but I personally predict this is a hollow threat). There have been some heavyweight letters on all sides which I haven’t the time to summarize while at these meetings.

No bill at all would be the best outcome, and there’s at least some hope of it. But I’m not hopeful yet.

Posted in Torture | 11 Comments

Year Four Begins

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

I started this blog three years ago, accurately noting that, “The world needs another weblog like a hole in the head.” Early on, I was already feeling pretty unhappy about the administration — but, ever the optimist, while I was starting to grasp the full horror of their constitutional vision, I never imagined how incompetent and corrupt they would turn out to be.

I know people who treat their blogs as an important part of their professional career: as a way of making their name in their field, or as a way of creating a media presence in order to build a profile that might let them influence public policy, or as a serious scholarly endeavor. I’ve toyed with those ideas, but my goals are more modest. I’m having fun, I’m taking part in some small conversations, and I will have something to show to my children if they ever accuse me of being the 21st century US equivalent of what the last generation called “a good German.”

Let the record show that many of us cared about torture, about our rights and liberties, and battled against the destruction of our fundamental institutions. And if enough of us care, perhaps we can ensure that it will all seem like quaint over-reaction to the next generation.

Posted in Discourse.net | 2 Comments

Political Ads: What Works, What Doesn’t

Posted on September 14, 2006 by Michael Froomkin

For reasons I can’t articulate in my current jet lagged (and lost-luggage) state, this moveon.org ad trying to blunt the GOP’s Rovian exploitation of 9/11 just doesn’t seem that effective — even though I agree with it:

In contrast, this ad from votevets.org targeting Sen. George Allen seems just about absolutely perfect:

Do you agree? What’s wrong with the first one?

Posted in Politics: US: 2006 Election | 11 Comments