November 24, 2004

Because the Base wouldn't want to see a fairy up there

Posted by Kieran

Lynne Cheney Tops National Christmas Tree.

Posted on November 24, 2004 05:51 AM UTC
Comments

Jeez, get some perspective. You’re talking about Lynne Cheney while a revolution is going on in Ukraine that could help decide the future of much of eastern Europe.

I’m shocked to see nothing about Ukraine here. You guys blather on about Iraq, Israel, and points farther on, but have nothing to say about Ukraine?

This could easily turn into another Tiananmen, and you have nothing to say?

Posted by Hektor Bim · November 24, 2004 06:23 AM

Jeez, get some perspective.

Likewise, Hektor.

I’m shocked to see nothing about Ukraine here.

When we feel like we have something worthwhile to say about what’s happening in Kiev — i.e., something more than “Woah, look at what’s happening in Kiev, yeah I bet you saw it on TV as well” — I’m sure we’ll say it.

Posted by Kieran Healy · November 24, 2004 06:29 AM

Ok, the site is yours and you are welcome to comment on whatever you wish, but I’ve been very surprised by American coverage in particular of the events in Ukraine.

The coverage has been extremely light - AP stories and short stories regularly bumped down the page. It’s shocking really - this is a major news story and it isn’t being reported very well.

I checked the usual suspects of left and right leaning blogs, and no one is really touching this. I have to go to fistfulofeuros.net to get any kind of reasonable coverage. Your lack of coverage seems to be of a piece with this, and it would be nice to know why there is virtual unanimity in much of the American political blogosphere that there is not much to say here.

I’m just surprised at your choice of topics. Maybe I shouldn’t be.

Posted by Hektor Bim · November 24, 2004 06:54 AM

Maybe I shouldn’t be.

You shouldn’t. As everything else on this site, this is a blatant attempt to lull the masses, to distract the American and European working people from archi-important events of our times and thus to play into the hands of foreign spies, saboteurs, terrorists, Arabs and other enemies.

Posted by abb1 · November 24, 2004 08:16 AM

Abb1, is that your final answer? :)

(For the record, what my last sentence meant is that I perhaps misunderstood the topics that Crooked Timber is interested in. After some reflection, it seems clear that CT’s coverage of international affairs is indeed spotty, so perhaps I was wrong in my original statement and should in fact, not have been shocked.)

What explanation do you have for the lack of comment on Ukraine by blogs in general? Do you consider it not that important, important but only of limited interest, or that people just don’t feel like they have anything worthwhile to say (not that that ever stops your average blogger).

Posted by Hektor Bim · November 24, 2004 08:31 AM

Perhaps “tops Christmas tree” references this previous post which linked to an article about an Olympic swimmer titled “Phelps Tops Himself at Trials”, which communicated an unintended meaning to many readers.

I thought “topping a tree” meant cutting off its top to promote branching. But hey, if Ms. Cheney’s going to do the Simon Stylites bit this holiday season, more power to her.

Posted by bad Jim · November 24, 2004 09:05 AM

You know what? I’ll be straight with you, I really don’t effing care about Ukraine. Got my own problems.

Posted by John · November 24, 2004 10:58 AM

When asked why his Dictionary had defined “pastern” as “the forepart of a horse”, Dr Johnson replied:

“Ignorance, madam, pure ignorance”

That’s certainly my current excuse for what I will agree is a pretty shocking show on coverage of the Ukraine; I suspect that this may be true of the rest of the blogos.

Posted by dsquared · November 24, 2004 11:05 AM

MaxSpeak has a good summary.

Posted by abb1 · November 24, 2004 11:37 AM

Fistful of Euros (blogrolled in “the lumber room”) is doing a very good job on Ukraine.

As someone who owes her sanity to the Daily Show—I don’t think any world crisis should make it impermissible to crack a joke.

Posted by Katherine · November 24, 2004 03:53 PM

I think it is very broad minded of the administration to reach out to the Germanic pagans of the nation by engaging in their Yule tradition of decorating evergreen trees at the winter solstace.

Posted by Njorl · November 24, 2004 03:56 PM

“Veterans groups and churches around the country will send ornaments to decorate the trees”.

Photographs of the dead?

Posted by David Tiley · November 25, 2004 02:02 AM
Followups

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.