High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Wilsongate

It's all over the news the past couple of days. In fact it's old news by now; the story actually started last summer. This past July, retired U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson had strong doubts about the veracity of prewar allegations that Iraq, under Saddam Hussein had attempted to purchase uranium from Africa. Upon returning to the United States from a trip to Niger, Ambassador Wilson went public with his view of the unlikeliness of this scenario, the same scenario that George Bush used in a State of the Union address to help support his case for going to war. If you're a fan of Comedy Central's, "The Daily Show, with John Stewart" you may recall that John interviewed Ambassador Wilson on this very subject. [Under Stewart's adroit reign The Daily Show seems to be morphing from what he describes as a "fake news show" into a real, albeit still hilarious, one whether John likes it or not.] What you may not have known until the recent buzz of controversy, is that shortly after an op-ed piece in which Wilson stated his case was published in the New York Times, confidential information about Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame in her role as an undercover CIA operative was allegedly "leaked" to several members of the press. Columnist Robert Novak broke the story. And although Novak has publicly stated, "Nobody in the Bush administration called me to leak this," allegations of White House involvement have reached at least as high as Presidential Advisor, "Karl Rove." Personally, as a survivor of the Nixon years I must say that this feels all too familiar. [Once while I was canvassing door-to-door for George McGovern in Phoenix, Arizona a voter pointed a shotgun in my face and ordered me off of his property. I complied at once and then promptly switched to telephone canvassing.] I feel as though I'm experiencing a bit of déjà vu. Could President Bush have had prior knowledge of such, so called dirty tricks?

It has been suggested that information was leaked as a direct retribution for Wilson's actions. Ambassador Wilson remarked during an interview with Robert Siegel aired yesterday on NPR's, "All Things Considered" that he, "...thought that this was designed much more to intimidate others and discourage them from coming forward than anything to do with me." By all accounts Wilson's wife had nothing whatever to do with any disagreement of fact between Wilson and the Bush White House. But someone, somewhere reached out and put her life at extreme risk by exposing the specifics of her service in the CIA. Condoleezza Rice has been all over the media, blathering as usual, with denials and idunnos. The White House has said that it will not launch an investigation, but will cooperate fully with a proposed United States Justice Department investigation. Oh I see, the Bush White House would cooperate fully with an investigation carried out under Secretary of Justice John Ashcroft, a Bush appointee. I just felt another shiver of Watergate run through me. Senator Charles Schumer, who has described the entire affair as, "dastardly" is calling for an independent special prosecutor. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has indicated that the Bush Administration feels this is unnecessary. Apparently it was vital to install special prosecutor Ken Star to investigate President Clinton regarding issues surrounding a blow-job. But somehow issues of possible impropriety surrounding a war that threatens to bankrupt America and continues to claim countless lives is somehow of such lesser importance that it does not justify retaining a special prosecutor.

Republicans didn't invent dirty tricks; they just refined them into a noir art form. But in the final analysis, Achem's razor in hand, how likely is it really that there is a clear and unbroken connection between George Bush Jr. and the dastardly deed of maliciously exposing an undercover CIA operative? Hey wait a minute, isn't George Bush Sr. a former head of the CIA? There goes that chill again.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

Artists, Slaves, and Prostitutes

As much as I've been feeling significant, albeit self-imposed, pressure to weigh in on the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) music piracy lawsuit issue, I'm still on the fence. I didn't take a stand in my August 2003 "Intellectual Property and Digital Content Management" article for Best Practices , and I'm hard pressed to take one now. As an active participant in the lively art of writing I should have a strong opinion. But do I? Why can't I commit on this one?

When I purchase goods and services, I'm never loathe to tender the filthy lucre. I've been known to say such things as, "I don't work for free and I don't expect anyone else to either." But here I am at half-past midnight, burning the oil of the hour, Blogging my fingers to the bone... and without pay. And cheerfully so! I write for the stir of words in my soul, not for that of currency. Not that I'm against getting paid to write. Cash, check, money order, it's all good. But as artists, why do we create? Is it for money, or is it for love? But if we work and our work goes uncompensated, enriching not us but others, what is the name then by which we call that? Ayn Rand - yes stop snickering, I'm quoting Ayn Rand and I'm not stoned or in my sophomore year at NYU - wrote, in the voice of the fictional character Howard Roark, "A man who works for another man without payment is a slave. I don't think that slavery is noble no matter who makes the claim." Are we artists, slaves, or prostitutes?

So you see, I'm waffling yet. Therefore while I continue to search for ethical - if not moral - clarity in this issue, perhaps I'll take pause to borrow a line or two - to the extent allowed by "fair use" - from others who seem to have a more precise opinion on the matter.

"Music fans cannot expect... musicians to continue to produce quality albums if they are not willing to pay."

- Cheryl Crow, as quoted in
People Magazine, September 29th, 2003, Page 71.

"...won't you quit, you really make me sick with ya fraudulent behavior, you're gonna make me flip and then an army couldn't save ya ...you need to take heed and quit being such a groupie, ever since I did a little show in Guadeloupee, I neva saw a groupie like you, but what is funny is ya wanted to be down with my crew, but D-E-L is not down with any clowns or jesters, so I would suggest that ya try to impress Uncle Fester, dobolina, because ya don't impress me, dobolina, the style of dress is not the key dobolina, it's all in the mind and the heart, so you should start by remembering ya gotta pay a fee, dobalina"

- Del The Funky Homosapien, as quoted in his song Mistadobalina - one of my all time favorites, along with Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice

Wait, is Del for or against? Check it. Del rails against a smarmy entertainment industry that bleeds musicians to dry toast. A musicocracy that derides true creativity, authentic culture, and real originality in favor focus group approved, demographically proven, Wallmart selected, profit-driven, flatline continuity. That is until someone breaks through with something new that catches a wave. And then, if only for a few precious moments, something real tops the heap, while the "industry" retools to spin out copy after copy of their version of "the next big thing." An homogenized, pasteurized, inauthentic spew. Coordinated couture sold separately.

Anyway, that's what I think Del's on about in Mistadobalina. After all, what's the real difference between the suits on the top floor of Capitol Records at Hollywood and Vine and the pimps on the downlow in front of the building? Product. Right? But the light bill does have to get paid. When I was studying Art at Otis Parson's in the 1980's, my favorite teacher - Greg Dickson, who worked as a draftsman all day, and in his fine art studio all night - told me, [badly paraphrased here] "There's your art. And then there's what you do to get paid. Don't confuse the two." I've never forgotten that sage advice. So I guess that's why I'm still on the fence. And why I'm up all night writing.

I'll close with my favorite quote on the RIAA issue.

"Out of the millions of MP3 files, if someone chooses to download one of mine, I'm very flattered."

- Moby, as quoted in People Magazine, September 29th, 2003, Page 71.

Word, Moby.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

And Schwarzenegger for all?

It had been some time since my dogs and I had been to Laurel Canyon Dog Park. Our absence over the past six months or so was certainly not intentional though. They've been regulars at the park since they were pups - romping there, on and off, for over four years. We had simply been more focused on other outdoor dog activities such as Huntington Dog Beach - a bit of a drive from West Los Angeles, but well worth the time and effort. Today seemed like the perfect day to reprise our dog park days. During the short drive to the park I reminisced about many pleasant afternoons spent there. I recalled sitting in the shade eating a hot dog or two, purchased from Darrel's parkside hot dog cart, while enjoying the company of dog park regulars that often included Hollywood actors, some well known others less so. Ed Begley Jr. would show up on occasion, and more than once I noticed Tom Snyder walking his Komondor Hungarian Sheepdog.

The condition of the park had improved since my last visit. A reseeding project had apparently been quite successful, as large sections of the park that I remember as barren dusty voids are now verdant with lush turf. A mild late-summer Southern California breeze wafted through the trees. I decided to visit with Darrel and his wife, and the others gathered under the canopy next to the hot dog cart. I ordered a Jumbo Turkey Dog with Sauerkraut and Mustard. Idillic! I sat down, and opened a copy of the Los Angeles Times that I had brought with me. Suddenly I was overtaken by a booming voice that penetrated my consciousness, "Well I wouldn't believe anything I read in the L.A. Times." Apparently the discussion under the canopy was centered on California's upcoming special Gubernatorial election. The comment about the Times was a soapbox complaint that, in the opinion of the speaker, the paper's liberal slant in general and as respects Gray Davis in particular make it unfit reading. I nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity of the concept of the LA Times as the bulwark of liberalism, but instead remained silent, feigned reading, and determined to observe quietly, abstaining from participation in what appeared to be a caucus of dolts, dullards, and demagogues engaged in a mindless political discourse going nowhere good, fast. The mild summer morning was evanescing into a dog day afternoon.

I surveyed the small assembly and recognized only one "regular." Darrel was seated to my left. Directly before me was the self appointed leader of a would-be Davis lynch mob, seemingly with the singular focus of asserting the righteousness of Arnold Schwarzenegger's inevitable ascendance to the California Governor's office. Perched high on a tall director's chair, neatly groomed with the look of an evangelical Young Republican, he willfully directed the oratory among an odd mix of parishioners. To his right sat a woman that I can only describe as having the look of a "biker chick." And to his left sat a man that I believe could've passed for Charles Manson. I wondered what had become of the enlightened dog park intelligentsia, about which I had been waxing nostalgic just moments earlier. I glanced at Darrel. He had chosen also to remain silent. He glanced back with a look that told me I was't the only one there that felt as if our gentle dog park dell had been hijacked by Rush Limbaugh in the lead of an odd pack of entranced misanthropes.

The discourse went from Davis bashing, to Bustamante battering, to Huffington thrashing, and then inevitably to Schwarzenegger idolatry. The group managed to justify, to themselves, an accusation that Bustamante was guilty of statewide fiscal malfeasance or at least incompetence. They had somehow conflated Bustamante and Davis into a singular malignant statehouse chimera. I could stand no more. I interjected the fact that only ten-percent of the California budget is discretionary, the other ninety-percent having been mandated, to no small extent by initiative vote, to specific legally required entitlements. "That's not true," Mr. Young Republican snapped back. "Yes, it is," I replied. "No!" he spat. "Yes!" I returned. "Well, Schwarzenegger is the only one that can fix the current fiscal crisis in California because he is not beholding to anyone," he asserted. "No," I said, "Schwarzenegger is a meat puppet who is mostly interested in aligning himself with any political faction that he believes will best preserve his significant wealth." I stood up to leave. "Well, Schwarzenegger is going to win," came the final jab. "You might be right," I said sepulcrally, "but only if the Republicans can really get out the starfucker vote in October."

I paid Darrel for the hot dog and said, "Where's Ed Begely Jr. when you need him?" Darrel nodded in agreement.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

It's a cold, it's a flu, no... it's Mystery Virus!

I've spoken to three friends who have friends who have friends who've have it or just got over it: sick for five or six days with chills, fever, sweats, severe all-over flu-like body pain, extreme fatigue, and weakness - but NO cough, sniffles, sore throat, or digestive upset.

As for me, today is the first day I've felt like myself since last Friday. I was barely out of bed and not Blogging at all for over a week. So, I've got a whole lot a backlogged Blog [BackBlog?].

Stay tuned.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

Bye Bye Baby Bush

Wesley K. Clark Announces his bid to become President of the United States of America

Today, Wesley Clark announced his candidacy for President of the United States. It seems to me that Wesley Clark is our best chance at defeating George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. It's time to get our country back. And if it takes a Four Star General to do it, then so be it.

Sorry if I sound like a broken record on this point, but I fear for the safety and well being not only of America, but of the entire world if we don't reject the Bush administration in the 2004 election. I happened to turn on CNN today and caught the last half of "Crossfire." The Republicans are shaking in their boots. The criticisms being hurled from the Republican Right at Clark seemed to center on accusations that he has been known to be personally brash. Good! Let's send in a brash military General to toss the "dress up and play soldier" out of the White House. Clark has real military leadership and a background in investment banking. I may be wrong, but that sounds like a good choice for someone to clean up the domestic and international mess George W. Bush and his gang banger thugs have wrought upon the American people and the world as a whole.

America for Clark

Click here to visit the official America for Clark Web Site.

Click here to visit the Wesley Clark for President Store: Bumper Stickers, etc.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

Wesley Clark: Clark's Stand on the Issues

I don't know if you caught Wesley Clark's appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher last week, but I sure did.

The man made a lot of sense.

Just who is Wesley Clark and what exactly does he stand for?

Click here to read about Wesley Clark and his stand on the Issues. He may announce his presidential candidacy next week. Let's hope so. With Clark in the running we may just have some hope of getting our country back from the Texas Hee Haw currently sitting in front of the presidential seal with that sickening smirk on his face. Remember what a joke W was during the run up to the presidential race? Hitler was a national joke in Germany too, until he seized power and declared war on Jews, Gays, and the rest of the free world.

Is Wesley Clark the man to replace George Bush in the White House in 2004?

I'm just beginning to inform myself about Wesley Clark, so there'll be no conclusions from me on this question just yet. But I do know that we need to get a REAL president in the White House before the entire international community becomes convinced that we're all a bunch of shoot'em up cowboys. If we re-elect Bush it will become harder and harder for the world to distinguish America from the guy that stole the election in 2000 and is currently occupying Iraq AND the White House.

This can't wait for the 2008 election. We need to get Bush out of the white house in 2004 at the risk of irreparable damage in the court of world opinion should we give him our blessings with a second term.

Copyright © 2003 David Walske Inc

Warren Zevon, 1947 - 2003

Warren Zevon, 1947 - 2003

"I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking thru the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook's
Going to get himself a big dish of beef chow mein
Hi ho, the werewolves of London

If you hear his howling around the kitchen door
You better not let him in
Little old lady got mutilated last nite
Werewolves of London again
Hi ho, werewolves of London

He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amuck in Kent
Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair
You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out Jim
I'd like to meet his tailor
Hi ho, werewolves of London

Well, I saw Lon Cheney walking with the Queen
Doing the werewolves of London
I saw Lon Cheney Jr. walking with the Queen
I saw a werewolf dringing a pina colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect
Hi ho, the werewolves of London, draw blood"

Warren Zevon
1947 - 2003

Just in case you missed it

Just in case you missed it in print, click here to read my recent article published in FAB.

To the dogs I tells ya, to the dogs!

No New Nukes: Tell the Senate to Join the House

To see Chip explain U.S. nuclear weapons policy click one of the following links:

Real Broadband
Real Dial-Up
Windows Media Broadband
Windows Media Dial-Up

President Bush has requested more than 20 million dollars for research on advanced nuclear weapons concepts. The Pentagon says they'd be more "usable" than our current nuclear weapons, the very reason arms control advocates urge that they be stopped. In July, the House of Representatives voted against (all but 5 million of) this request. The Senate is set to vote later this month.

To send a free fax to your Senators asking them to oppose funding for a new generation of nuclear weapons click here.