Here we go with another week, y’all:
- White House restarts Guantanamo trials (WashPost) — That “close Gitmo” campaign promise (which as I recall was also made by John McCain) turned out to be easier made than kept. Which is not surprising, but is significant.
- Gaddafi forces hit key rebel town (BBC) — Outcome still in doubt. Meanwhile, Obama again warned that the West is considering military options. Meanwhile, in a related development…
- Oil Futures Soar (WSJ) — … as markets mull over the likelihood of long-term disruption of supply from Libya, and uncertainty elsewhere in the region.
- Gates upbeat about Afghan pullout (BBC) — Hey, and just in time to go into Libya, huh? Although I doubt that’s the way he meant it. The SecDef said that during a visit to Kabul.
- Haley: Charm, local pride vital to rural economy (Associated Press) — Not earth-shattering news, but I wanted something local. This was the first time a governor has attended the annual South Carolina Rural Summit. You know why, don’t you? Sanford didn’t like showing up for stuff. So props to Nikki for finding the time.
- Sheen Fired From ‘Two and a Half Men’ (WSJ) — Not the sort of thing I usually put on the front, but it’s timely, it’s a talker, and it helps my mix today.
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I’m glad you included the Charlie Sheen story. Normally I find these “Hollywood stars gone wild” stories overblown and irrelevant. But this story is somewhat different. It serves a useful purpose as a serious warning to us all. Normally the celebrity ends up in rehab and then they offer appologies and a pledge to straighten up. But Sheen is completely non-appoligetic and is downright defiant. The fact that he was fired, effectively killing a cash cow show, indicates just how far he has fallen. It’s really scary when folks as talented and fortunate as Charlie Sheen can just throw it all away so cavalierly. I suggest that anyone thinks this can’t happen to their children are simply naive. It can and does happen even to the best of families.
@bud
You can’t be for legalizing drugs and then scold Charlie Sheen. He isn’t hurting anyone but himself as far as we know.
Well, he’s certainly hurting Jon Cryer, and the others he’s throwing out of work. (Unless — and let’s hope this isn’t the case — the network continues the series in a tortuous post-Charlie afterlife, like The Andy Griffith show after Barney Fife left… that’s dreadful to contemplate.)
There is no greater fallacy in social theory than the idea that someone is only hurting himself. What we do affects other people. Coming to understand that is part of the growing-up process. Kids don’t get it, but parents do. Or should.
To go to Bud’s example — do you think this doesn’t cause Martin Sheen pain? Just for starters.
@ Doug Ross– He’s certainly seriously threatening his ex-wife and the mother of some of his children, sufficiently so that the California court has restrained him from seeing them.
But CBS is going to continue with the show “Two and a Half Men”; they’re renaming it “One and a Half Men”.
I can certainly be in favor of legalizing drugs AND be critical of Charlie Sheen at the same time. Not sure I follow Doug. He is certainly hurting others, perhaps even his children. He’s definately hurting the other members of the cast and crew of 2 and half men.
But being critical of Sheen is far different from advocating stiff penalties for drug use. I believe the illegality of drugs is a wrong just as Sheen’s behavior is wrong. And 2 wrongs don’t make a right.
Not to mention the harm to Charlie’s own children.
On the Haley story, does she REALLY think that making small towns PRETTY with some trees and paint will actually attract businesses and industries??????????? And where will the money come from to pay for trees and paint?
So Charlie Sheen MUST go to work for Jon Cryer’s sake? Should I have not changed jobs recently because it cost my former employer revenue and might cause my former boss to get a smaller bonus? Maybe now his kids won’t get nice birthday presents. Charlue Sheen doesn’t owe anyone anything.
Drugs aren’t Charlie Sheen’s issue. It is the desire to use drugs excessively that is.
And look how badly he is with drugs being illegal. Would he be worse with legal drugs?