Journal of Post-Ralphaelite Thought

The resignation of political hack Attorney General Al Gonzales today is the latest sign we are entering (for lack of a better term) the Post-Post-9/11 era. It feels a little like waking up from a hangover after a massive drunk. The Post-9/11 era was most clearly identifiable by the cynical manipulation of fear for political purposes and the willingness to allow America to slip dangerously towards a police state in order to "protect" ourselves in the "War on Terrorism." This became the blanket reason used to justify any act, no matter how onerous or petty, including erosion of civil liberties, domestic spying, extra-legal kidnapping and torture, to name a few. I finally saw the Bourne Ultimatum this weekend; in it, the CIA is depicted as running amuck outside the law. One of the trailers included Rendition , which depicts an " extraordinary rendition " of a woman's husband and her efforts on his behalf. We can thank Al "I don't recall" ...

Alberto Gonzales finally wakes up and smells the coffee. Or his boss did. Or someone did. At this point I don't really care, as long as the slimey little bastard is gone. His boss, the decider-in-chief chided the Congress for "dragging a good man's name through the mud." Coming from the White House, whose last slinking departure included Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove, that's a little too cynical for me. But what can you expect? Given the current animosity between the petulant lame duck and the Democratically controlled legislative branch, Al Gonzales may well be Bush's last confirmed Attorney General. Let's home the flame-out we've witnessed of the current administration will serve as an object lesson in political hubris for decades to come. I'd hate to think of having to go through this bullshit again anytime soon.

This is a little after the fact. Two summer movies I saw a couple of weekends ago both had food themes (in one way or another). No Reservations - fairly predictable date film/romantic semi-comedy, though better than some reviews would have you believe. Saved by the cast: Catherine Zeta-Jone (who looks great even when not playing glamourous); Aaron Eckhart, playing a romantic lead instead of the usual sinister character part; and Abigail Breslin, last seen (by me) in Little Miss Sunshine. As with most romantic comedies, we all know how it ends -- it's all about how we get there. Waitress - by turns bittersweet and tart, even without the off-screen tragedy of the murder of the director, Adrienne Shelly. Why is it most romantic comedies set in the South inevitably end up with someone pregnant? Also a great cast --unexpected standout is Andy Griffith as the curmudgeonly owner of the pie shop. Keri Russell was never better. Nathan Fillion is now one of my wife's favorites. The end...