If he can find Osama bin Laden and promptly turns him in to the F.B.I. --- Saddam had two weeks to get it done.
A friend -- who is aware of my love for stories about the heartland of America (past and present), but who was unaware of my disdain for Mr. Rather -- gave me Rather’s book, ‘The American Dream: Stories From the Heart of Our Nation’ last Christmas (I hope he found it in the 'cheap book bin' at Cosco’s, rather than paying full price).
I glanced through it -- knowing full well that I would never read the entire thing, considering its author -- and was dismayed (although certainly not surprised) to find that, rather than focusing on warm American stories of hard work/success/nostalgia, the book instead focuses almost exclusively on people who achieved in spite of the inherent wrongs that the American system represents (as a result of our misguided, white, Anglo Saxon founders, I’m sure …. although I have to admit that I didn’t read far enough to determine whether they were cited as the usual culprits …. it’s just an educated hunch). The greatness (once) embodied in this country is maligned by Rather -- through both gross inattention to positives, and glaring exaggeration of negatives.
As for this article …. shame on the Wall Street Journal for publishing such garbage. And shame on me for reading (at least the first part of) it, before I came to my senses and realized that I have better things to do …. like washing my hair, or polishing my nails.
Who in God’s name cares about Mr. Rather’s amateur psychoanalysis, or droning physical observations, of this ‘Latter-Day Saladin’ (excuse me while I choke on that particular reference)? Mr. Rather needs to climb down off of his self-constructed imperious podium, stop pandering to maniacal madmen, and take a course in patriotism (and humility).
I, for one, don’t care if Hussein’s footsteps sound sharp reports that reverberate off the hard tiles to the high ceilings above (and, by the way, waxing poetic in describing the physical movements of a degenerate, insane, megalomaniacal, paranoid butcher, should be considered a capital crime), or if he has stiffness as a result of back problems. Nor do I care what his body language intimates.
The only thing that is worth my consideration where Saddam Hussein is concerned is pleasant contemplation of the exact date and time of his death.
As for Rather’s remark that ‘he [Hussein] will somehow endure this present test, and whatever lies after, …. two observations:
(1) Hussein himself, single-handedly, composed this test, and, in doing so, he drew up the blueprint for his own destruction.
(2) Not only will he not endure this present test, but those who still value truth (not to mention life and liberty), despite their civility otherwise, will be cheering his demise.
Do me a favor please, Mike and Brian? The next time I think about reading something (anything) written by Mr. Rather, remind me how many more pleasant things there are for me spend my time doing (like sticking a hot poker in my eye).