December 2004On values and basic morality“The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these.” – Lord Hoffmann, UK Law Lord (Supreme Court judge). On the Law Lords' ruling against a law enabling the government to imprison foreign nationals indefinitely without charge. 16 December 2004.
Pure Kafka“[Detention without charge is] the stuff of nightmares, associated with France before and during the [French] Revolution, with Soviet Russia in the Stalinist era, and now associated, as a result of section 23 of the 2001 Act, with the United Kingdom.” – Lord Scott, UK Law Lord (Supreme Court judge). On the Law Lords' ruling against a law enabling the government to imprison foreign nationals indefinitely without charge. 16 December 2004.
Not a subject for irony“You cannot use contemporary personalities as the central figures of the Nativity…And it becomes worse—if that were possible—if the people may be of questionable moral standing.” – Vatican official. About a Nativity scene at Madame Tussaud's in London, which depicted British celebrities, the Beckhams, as Joseph and Mary, and George Bush, Tony Blair, and the Duke of Edinburgh as the Three Wise Men. 7 December 2004.
Stretching the postmodern“There is a tradition of each generation trying to re-interpret the Nativity, but, oh dear….” – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. About a Nativity scene at Madame Tussaud's in London, which depicted British celebrities, the Beckhams, as Joseph and Mary, and George Bush, Tony Blair, and the Duke of Edinburgh as the Three Wise Men. 7 December 2004.
Keeping the progressive flame alive“If every four years the progressive agenda is not placed before the electorate, then it atrophies. You have to keep the flame alive.” – Ralph Nader, candidate in the US presidential election of 2004. In a post-election interview. 3 December 2004.
How to be a political zombie“They became anyone-but-Bush. We called them viral liberals—liberals whose brain closes down to any kind of tactics, strategies and alternative ways of defeating Bush other than letting the Democrats decide. It was an absolute brain-closing—a state of being a political zombie.” – Ralph Nader, candidate in the US presidential election of 2004. In a post-election interview. 3 December 2004.
An old, familiar refrain“Missing [in US foreign policy] are strong leadership, strategic direction, adequate coordination, sufficient resources, and a culture of measurement and evaluation.” – Report of the Pentagon-commissioned Defence Science Board Taskforce on Strategic Communication. December 2004.
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