National Insecurity


January 16, 2005

What Not to Bring to the Inauguration Parade

As a bone-chilling drizzle fell on Washington, D.C., George W. Bush was inaugurated as the 43rd president of the United States, surrounded by both his strongest supporters and his most embittered detractors. In the crowd, Texans, many conspicuous in…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


November 15, 2004

Better Living in Times of Insecurity

In the coming political season, we will need to improve our tactics to defend ourselves against the rising tide of national insecurity, these tactics must not be limited to the confines of the art world, they must extend into the…

Posted by Randall | Comments (0) | TrackBack


October 2, 2004

Split Screen Decisions

Bush reacts to Kerry during first Presidential Debate The first presidential debate was a contrast in the candidates’ positions as well as their style. But how you interpreted their performance depended on which network you tuned to. I recorded…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


August 8, 2004

Terror Alerts Correlate with Dips in Bush’s Popularity

JuliusBlog has compiled a list of Terror Alerts issued after “bad news” for the Bush Administration was made public. It’s compelling but, as Crooked Timber points out: I don’t think that it’s too hackish to say that a lot has…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


August 4, 2004

DisInformation

Republican efforts to communicate disInformation to the American Public is beginning to wear thin. The manipulation of intelligence has become obvious. Do they really think we are all fools? Well, yes, many Americans are, as Bill Maher has pointed out:…

Posted by Randall | Comments (0) | TrackBack


August 2, 2004

Homeland Insecurity

Today we launched the Homeland Insecurity Advisory System, appropriately on the same day as the latest government warnings: Financial centers in New York, D.C. and northern N.J. on high terror alert because of new threats, according to the CNN report….

Posted by Randall | Comments (0) | TrackBack


July 4, 2004

In Search Of

Everyone’s talking the finer points of Fahrenheit 9/11. The Lies. The Truth. You conservative bastard. Now listen here you commie liberal. Michael Moore’s a documentarian. No, his film is editorializing at its worst! Calm down, folks. It’s only a…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


May 23, 2004

A Close Encounter of the Political Kind

The Mrs. and I were invited to the Veep’s house this past week to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Art in Embassies program. That’s Dick and Lynn Cheney’s temporary abode. The real Ambassador in Moscow: Adam & Eve,…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


April 24, 2004

Total Destruction

Vice President Dick Cheney, commenting on the current situation in Iraq and terrorism in general around the world: “Such an enemy cannot be deterred, cannot be contained, cannot be appeased, or negotiated with,” he said. “It can only be destroyed….

Posted by Randall | Comments (0) | TrackBack


March 1, 2004

The Denim Truth for World Domination

“What brings you here today, Mr. Gates?” Dr. Warner thumbed through my chart without looking up. “I think I’m growing taller,” I said. “That’s impossible, Jeff. You’re 54 years old.” It appears that Levi’s®, one of the oldest maker…

Posted by jeff | Comments (0) | TrackBack


November 24, 2003

Fear Incorporated

How can we win the war on terror? Isnít terror an indelible part of the human condition? Does anyone really think it can be eliminated? The Bush Administration, in its religious fervor to stamp out terror, is bent on stamping out terror (and winning the next election) by terrorizing its own constituency into submission. Strike three for reason. Read the full article in WeTheBlog.org.

Posted by | Comments (0) | TrackBack


September 9, 2003

When Looking Back, Remember to Look Where You’re Going

For the second year the date of awful remembrance is approaching. The day that for all of us alive today will never be just an ordinary date. September 11th is coming around again. But the anniversary this year is…

Posted by jeff | Comments (1) | TrackBack


June 15, 2003

Lying: A Government Institution

There is an alternative to governmental lying. It is to tell the truth. Or, if need be, to remain silent. David Wise I, for one, believed Bill Clinton, when he publically stated he did not have sex with “that…

Posted by jeff | Comments (1) | TrackBack


June 10, 2003

Explain Yourself, Mr. President

Regarding the situation in Iraq, it appears to this Senator that the American people may have been lured into accepting the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, in violation of long-standing International law, under false premises. Robert ByrdUnited States Senator…

Posted by jeff | Comments (1) | TrackBack


April 28, 2003

Freedom of Expression Proof of Purchase

I’ve been following the saga of outspoken Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks. Freedom of Expression is a hobby of mine. So I was particularly interested in Thursday’s 20/20 Primetime interview with the trio by Diane Sawyer. That same day,…

Posted by jeff | Comments (1) | TrackBack


April 4, 2003

Cold War II - Attack of the Clones

The general thought on the war being sold by the Administration and corporate media is that the result of the conflict is the limitation of the feared meme of the time, “Weapons of Mass Distruction” (“WMD”). However, as I sit…

Posted by | Comments (0) | TrackBack


April 1, 2003

Order and Chaos

One interesting point that has been made in the various mainstream media, especially the New York Times, is that the ideological base for US foreign policy is centered around the concept of order vs. chaos. I find this quite interesting,…

Posted by | Comments (0) | TrackBack


March 27, 2003

Secretary Rallies Artists

10:42 A.M. EST Washington, DC Randall M. Packer Secretary, US Department of Art & Technology THE SECRETARY: Thank you, all. (Applause.) Thank you, all, very much. I am really proud to be here with the good men and women of…

Posted by | Comments (0) | TrackBack


March 23, 2003

Operation Artistic Freedom

American and international artists have begun a concerted campaign ñ Operation Artistic Freedom. Our coalition is broad and from across the globe. In this declaration of war on war, our cause is just. Artists are all that stand between a…

Posted by | Comments (0) | TrackBack


March 21, 2003

We Declare War on War

“Weapons that change consciousness can call the war game into question.” ñ William Burroughs

Posted by | Comments (1) | TrackBack


March 17, 2003

National Insecurity

Under the guise of “Homeland Security,” we find ourselves today primarily a nation of insecure workers scared to death of our future, of our ability to consume corporate food at any cost, of our right to buy gas guzzling vehicles…

Posted by | Comments (1) | TrackBack