Eric: NHL, surveliance, up late

NHL Game

Tonight I am going with my girlfriend (more information about her to come later) to her work’s Christmas party. They have a party suite at the Savvis Center for tonight’s Hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and the Philadelphia Flyers. As a transplant from the East Cost (Delaware) I will be rooting for the Flyers – in high school I would watch their playoff games with buddies at a restaurant after class. But the real fun is meeting all of her coworkers. I’ve not been to an NHL game, but I will be able to say that I have been to the 4 major sports now (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA). Now if I can just get NASCAR tickets- or not.


Big Brother

I am not sure what to make over the revelation that President Bush authorized the NSA to intercept communications without a warrant following 9/11. It is good that the President came out and admitted it today though, because the publicity on this was terrible. The Bush White House has been coming around to the fact that the best defense is a good offense and has been trying to more aggressively stand up and make its case on these issues of Iraq and security. If the upcoming Supreme Court nomination of Alito is handled correctly, Bush has a chance to rebound early next year and rescue his otherwise wilting presidency. In the short term, the revelation further hurts his relations with Congress (which is claiming it was left in the dark) and will mean the PATRIOT ACT is unlikely to be reauthorized, at least the way Bush wants it.

We are fighting a war with Islamist extremists and terrorists; it is a battle we must win. I don’t get upset that sometimes unseemly actions must be taken. War is the ultimate expression of “uncivilization”; trying to apply rules to it is somewhat counterintuitive. I say sometimes the rules will have to be broken, and so break them. But what bothers me is the attitude that I think this administration has had, that tries to argue that specific actions were not “necessary evils,” but rather were a positive good, while denying the illegality of the acts. That is what hurts our Constitution, faith in government, and our moral standing. When unjust things are done, the worst thing one can do is claim it was just, and actually believe it.


Up Late

I was up really late last night at a friend’s house just hanging out. Since I have been going through final exams, and dating, it felt good to just stay up late with some of the crew. It is kind of a strange feeling not having to worry about any assignments, papers, or tests. I hope the next four weeks go by slow!


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