Law & Order: Trial by Iraqi Jury

We celebrate the fact that Saddam Hussein's trial has begun in Iraq this week. The 5-week recess requested by the defense will hold us in suspense for a while, but the fun will come soon enough. The prosecution's decision to accept the defendants' request for the recess was quite honorable, and we are confident that both sides will make the most of the time (we're rooting for the prosecution though). We agree that this trial is a great symbol of the emerging democracy that is the new Iraq. Indeed, how the Iraqi justice system handles itself during this time will be an exhibition of true independence by the Iraqi government. Basically, it's good to see them exercising their freedom without an American judge or lawyer feeding them lines and instructions. U.S. defense of the courthouse is sufficient involvement for Uncle Sam at this point. We send our best wishes to the Arab world as they take this step toward holding extremist tyrants accountable for crimes against humanity.
The conflict of views that will be brought to the surface through coverage of the trial may raise eyebrows, however. In an article we read via MSN today, one Iraqi call Saddam "the lesser of evils" in comparison to the newly established government. Another, who had been a political prisoner for a while under Saddam, stated that he hopes that "he is executed, and that anyone who suffered can take a piece of his flesh" (makes us feel warm and tingly inside). We hope that the people on each side of this debate soon realize that such disagreement is the fruit of democracy and can fuel a prosperous, peaceful society. While execution for certain crimes is a just penalty, we want Iraq to learn to manage itself through civil, non-murderous means to support justice and a safe society.
We hope that life is going well in your part of the world. For today, that's the way we see things in Chuckonia.

A Brief Bit of Chuckonian Wisdom

-For my money, Northern brand toilet paper is the best.
-Hunt's ketchup not only costs less, but it doesn't fund John Kerry's next Senate race.
-If they keep putting TV shows on DVD while the show is still on the air and making new episodes, why show them on TV anymore?
-Why does the theatre in Jackson have the electric hand-dryer in the men's room right above an unused electrical outlet?
-If you're reading this blog, you probably have more free time than I do. Trade with me!

Two Thumbs Up For Tuesday

For the combined purpose of emerging from our recent disappearance and sharing some commentary on one of this season's new TV shows, we wanted to tell you what we are now doing with the one rare free hour we have in a busy and hellish, yet typical, week.
Some call it a liberal manifesto in prime time. Some call it a not-so-subliminal plug for Hillary Clinton's future designs on the presidency. Though it may be both, we simply call ABC's "Commander In Chief" really good television. Yes, it's like many other political dramas, in that the "heroes" are the more liberal characters and the "villains" are the declared conservatives. Only two episodes have aired so far, and it still seems that President MacKenzie Allen (Geena Davis) may exhibit an occasional conservative tendency now and then. Party-wise, her character is called an Independent. And, while she was the Vice President in a Republican administration, she holds nothing back when disagreeing with the team that the dead President Bridges left her. On the other hand, she also, very thoughtfully, attempts to keep as much of that team intact as possible (Chief of Staff, Cabinet, etc.). We have faith that President Allen will, in some cases, show a dash of conservatism, but that is not to say that the writers will ever make House Speaker Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland) a hero in any sense.
Some of our fellow conservatives think it foolish that we should watch such a show as this. But, if we were to shun all television and films that present political and moral ideologies which oppose our own, we wouldn't own a TV at all. It's just good television, and the first new show that we have faithfully watched since CBS's "Family Law" went off the air (a shame to the TV world). So, to those of you who haven't experienced "Commander in Chief," which is part of ABC's Tuesday night line-up, check it out. You'll be glad you did. We are usually conducting our royal business and affairs of state on Tuesday nights, but that's why God made the VCR. So, if anyone writes in wanting to talk about the show, it may be a while before we will have seen the latest episode. C'est la vie, mes amis.