Posts

So this is farewell, of a sort.  I've chosen to stop posting here regularly.  It's not because of any person or persons, nothing so trite.  It's just time for a change, to paraphrase the likely new president. 

It's been nearly 23 months, and in that time I can't say I've seen much improvement in my writing.  What I think I'll take away from this blog is the firm commitment to conservatism that has developed over the last two years.  I've internalized a healthy mistrust of large government, which takes you pretty far.  If you ask yourself whether something can be done on a local or state level rather than federal, that's your inner conservative.  I've learned to trust that impulse.

I'll still be here, of course.  I'll be reading people and making comments, and if anyone should comment on one of my past entries I'll certainly respond.  But I think I've run out of things to say. 

The biggest breakthrough for me in the course of writing these entries has been the realization that anyone who takes the time to write their opinion down and publish it on the Internet has no interest in changing said opinion.  I used to think I could change people's minds here, but I've abandoned that hope.

Perhaps I'm wrong to think that way, but as a cynic I am rarely disappointed.

Goodbye, and Godspeed to those who stay.

Here are a few posts that I thought were particularly worth reading.  Some are worth it for the content, others the commentary discussions.

Proper Execution?  Dec. 30, 2006

QOTD: Happy President's Day!  Feb. 20, 2007

Damn the Senate!  Mar. 27, 2007

Virginia Tech Massacre.  Let's Talk.  April 22, 2007

I Served.  May 27, 2007

For All You Non-Interventionists Out There.  Jul. 23, 2007

P.O.V.  Oct. 29, 2007

The Benefit of the Doubt.  Jan. 22, 2008

Saw McCain Today.  Feb. 8, 2008

Barack Obama's Appeal Is...What, Exactly?  Feb. 18, 2008

Not Public, But if I Change One Setting it Will Be.  Feb. 25, 2008

Sex, Violence, Profanity are Fine, but Don't You Dare Pretend to be Another Race.  Mar. 7, 2008

Bigotry and the Common Blog.  Apr. 3, 2008

The Impossible Obama.  May 9, 2008

The Obama Supporter and You Or, How to Succeed at Voting Without Really Thinking.  Aug. 28, 2008

There are a bunch of other posts on random topics.  Feel free to browse.

Lopez: What is a conservative?

Noonan: Thank you for asking. I think this is something we should talk about more, and something I would urge NR to address with a greater force or breadth. Bill Buckley and his hardy band — James Burnham, Jeffrey Hart, etc. — brought to their task a certain missionary zeal. They thought they had to explain this thing, conservatism, to an American public that had just come through 25 years of the New Deal and had not heard or seen conservatism announced, put forward, or explained in a coherent way in more than a generation. (Russell Kirk of course was very much a part of this project, in perhaps a broader way.) Let me tell you, everyone wants to talk about politics, and the kind of ad McCain should cut, but what about the philosophies that animate our politics? But briefly, my views. You can debate whether conservatism is a philosophy, a program of settled ideas, a school of thought, a way of seeing the world. I tend to see it, to experience it, as a way of being, a way of understanding the world and responding to it. I cannot help but think that knowing there is a God is the start of all conservatism. (Apologies to agnostic friends who are various kinds and flavors of conservative.) Once you know that you know something big. From there you go on to knowing man. “If men were angels . . . ” They are not, so you don’t want to give them too much governmental power. I’ll throw forward some words and phrases meant to be shorthand for a lot. Prudence. A sense of reality. Understanding limits. Respect for tradition — it didn’t happen by accident. The long view. Respect for the individual and his rights. A knowledge that life is worth living, we’re lucky to be here. I would add or emphasize, for me, a Catholic sense of mystery — we don’t know all, can’t know all, must do our best. I think of ideology as some abstract thing dreamed up by intellectuals and squished down on the heads of human beings — “You will conform your actions to my ideological assumptions and expectations!” I see philosophy as something that rises up from human beings who observe and live with human beings. Conservatism is not an ideology. That’s the last thing it is.

This is taken from an enlightening interview with Noonan.  Going forward from this current political situation, she shares her view that Conservatives need to begin focusing on what makes America...and she is clear that Washington isn't it.  It's worth reading the whole thing. 

Tonight I'll be dressed as Jack the Ripper, and I'll be ripping into some party snacks at a friend's house.  I may upload pictures if I don't look too ridiculous.

Last year I went as a zombie, and put together an intense gore-fest of a costume.  I had this eye-thing crafted out of cotton balls and liquid latex so it looked like my zombie eye had swollen and popped.  Another cool effect was using toilet paper and sticking it on my face with the latex to create a ripped and rotten skin effect.  I'm also pretty sure I accidentally left blood all over a friend's house.  No pictures, which is a shame because it was a great costume.  So this year, less gore and more photos.

In the meantime, here's a cartoon that I found online.  Pretty scary!  And technically that's not a "thought" about the election so my last post holds up.

Anobamahalloween

I'm rapidly running out of ways to criticize Barack Obama.  Over the past two years, I've been lamenting at various times (and in no particular order): Obama's inexperience, questionable associations, stated policy goals, inept assessments of world events, pandering to abortion extremists, Chicago-style thug politics, indiscriminate acceptance of donations, effete inability to relate to rural voters, hypocritical vice-presidential pick, nebulous and disingenuous center-left talk and finally his irritatingly frequent mental pauses when off the prompter.

At first, I went with inexperience.  Up until the Democrat primaries, I remained convinced that Clinton would get the nomination.  This was primarily because I had faith in the commitment to reason of my Democrat countrymen.  Quite frankly I believe that a Clinton ticket might have taken on Obama as VP and sailed to victory, while still acknowledging the political realities of our current situation (this isn't to say that I would have supported such a ticket, rather I think it would have simply been less awful).  Despite a late comeback from Clinton, Obama walked away with the nod.  Despite the same dirty politicking which gave him his Senate seat, and one very memorable use of the race card (Bill Clinton is a racist now?) the Democrat constituency decided to give Obama the opportunity to lead this country.

I thought then, foolishly, that we'd begin to see the press digging through his record in the Senate.  They'd form their narrative of his rise to prominence and fill in the gaping holes left by his campaign narrative.  Nope.  This is a separate issue, but the press has championed this man's candidacy from the start, downplaying serious concerns and trumpeting the story that Obama's people want told.  In a year that favors Democrats, with a candidate like John McCain agonizing over how honorable he must be instead of trying to win, and the race being within 4-7 points...imagine today's headlines if the so-called journalists in our news media had deigned to investigate Obama with half as much energy as they devoted to Sarah Palin...or Joe the Plumber.  Within days of daring to ask Obama a hard question in which the candidate revealed his socialist leanings, Joe's garbage had been thorougly rifled through.  They can't do that to a candidate for President?  They won't, and they didn't.

Over the next few months I would identify an issue, follow its progression through the mainstream news and through the blogs, and inevitably watch it die a limping, somewhat befuddled death.  So many times, I saw what I thought could not be ignored.  I thought each of these issues would finally begin the process of seriously investigating this man who wants to lead a federal government that I know he intends to grow dramatically.

Each issue was glossed over, roundly ignored, outright denied or rationalized.  I swear I saw Obama change his position and contradict himself, yet his supporters barely noticed. 

The cult of personality which has developed around this man is nothing short of alarming.  Do you remember the fainting?  The Berlin rally?  Try criticizing this man in front of people who have cheered themselves hoarse for a vision they can't even articulate.  They're roaring their approval for a cloud, a man who changes shape to become what people want to see. 

Nothing, no issue has stuck to him for more than a few days.  Not Jeremiah Wright, not his socialism, not the corrupt donation process on his site, not the voter fraud perpetrated on his behalf, not his idiotic foreign policy declarations...nothing.  And he is poised to assume the Presidency in what will be an historic, and historically bad, moment. 

This election may see a permanent leftward shift in our country.  Permanent.  You understand, of course, that the more power you give to government the less you have yourself?  And what it is given it rarely if ever gives back willingly?  This means that if universal healthcare doesn't work, we're stuck with it.  This means that if you work hard and become rich, you'll be taxed and your money given to those who don't work or who simply aren't as successful.  And you'll be stuck with that. 

I believe there has already been a shift in this country.  We used to be a nation of independent spirits, distrustful of the government and anyone telling us what to do with our property.  We've become, over the past 50 years, a nation of people asking "where's mine?" with an outstretched hand.  We've voluntarily sewn ourselves up in red tape.  We've seen our taxes increase to our detriment and decrease to our prosperity, yet we've learned nothing.

Maybe Obama really is the president this country wants.  Maybe he is the President this country deserves. 

I like to think of myself as fairly grown-up.  I can easily turn down the childish pleasures in which many of my contemporaries (or, less grandly, my "age-group") seem to lose themselves so readily. 

But there are certain things that I find I must own.  I develop what feels like a small void in my chest and abdomen.  For want of this thing, I stew, obsess, research and finally capitulate.  The process can take weeks, months...even years.  Usually, though, it's a matter of days. 

Four days ago, I began to see advertisements for a video game called Fable II.  It is a role-playing game, sequel to a 2004 release.  The main draw of this game series isn't just that you play in a fantastically realized fantasy setting and go on adventures.  What makes it interesting to me is that one's character can affect the game world by how one plays.  Morality is a factor in this game, as is appearance and communication style.  The appearance of a character gradually changes based on combat wounds, eating habits, skill sets and level of good or evil.

In this sequel, not only are public interactions counted towards your overall morality, but what you do in private counts too.  For instance, the game strives for realism in a lot of ways.  You can get married and have children...and you initiate the action which precipitates children.  Now, in Fable I you could have a bunch of mistresses (or boy toys, the game allows homosexuality) as long as they didn't find out about each other.  There wasn't much of an effect on your overall status as good or evil.  But in this game you are rated on purity and corruption.

One minor annoyance from the reviews:  Having unprotected sex is a corrupting influence, wearing a condom is a purity thing.  They'll hit you with VD or a kid too.  Well, as a Catholic I suppose I can console myself by simply not letting my character fornicate until he gets married.  Look at me, I've already decided to buy the game...so much for that "could take weeks to succumb" jive.

What I find so intriguing about this game series is that if I play without a set goal in mind, it can be a tool for introspection.  If I play the game as I would live the events in the game, I can see what I suppose the game designer would think of me.  It's like one giant Internet quiz.  With magic.

So, today the big focus is on how you can make fake donations to the Obama site that still take money from your account.  As in:

So I went to the Obama website this afternoon and clicked on the "Donate" button.
 
I used my real MasterCard number (but was not asked for the 3 digit security code).

Used the following information and it was accepted...
 
First name: Fake
Last Name: Donor
Address: 1 Dollar To Prove A Point
City: Fraudulent
State: AL
Zip / Post: 33333
Email Address: allmyinfoismadeup@mediabias.com
Phone Number: 2125551212
Employer: Mainstream Media
Occupation: Being in the Tank
 
And incredibly, my $5 donation was ACCEPTED!!!
 
I then went to the McCain site and used the exact same information (and WAS asked for the 3 digit security code for my MasterCard).  There, my contribution was rejected with the following message: "Your transaction was not approved for the following reason(s): Invalid data", and then: "We have found errors in the information that you have submitted.  Please review the information below and try again."

Well, my reaction is that Obama is from Chicago...why are we surprised?  The man has built up his political career by relying on the efforts of crooked politicians and leaders.  He is at his best a dissembling shit, and at his worst a deceitful political thug.  I know such talk offends, but John McCain and his supporters have endured a worse sort of casual contempt from followers of Obama.  One side of the political debate seems to always be guardedly assessing the other's stupidity.  Guardedly, I say, for when they see the first sign of an intelligent critique of Obama the guardians of PC drop in to accuse the critic of abject racism or bigotry.

Then there is this:

Turning the Page from Campaign Finance Fraud . . .   [Andy McCarthy]

What is the deal with Obama's birth certificate and citizenship status?

Pamela Gellers at Atlas Shrugs raises some apparent shenanigans with the birth certificate the Obama campaign previously produced. Meanwhile, Philip J. Berg, a former Deputy AG of Pennsylvania and a professed Hillary supporter, filed a lawsuit claiming Obama is not constitutionally eligible to be president; instead of simply clearing up any questions — which you would think would take about five minutes — Obama's lawyers moved to dismiss the suit and failed to file a timely answer, meaning that, under the applicable rules (according to Berg), Obama is legally deemed to have admitted Berg's allegations that he is constitutionally ineligible to be president.

Admittedly, I've ignored this issue up until now on the theory that if there was anything here worth looking at, surely the Hillary and McCain campaigns would have raised it. But this all seems very strange. It's not just a matter of whether Obama was born in Hawaii — Berg claims he wasn't, but most others seem to agree he was (though the publicly available proof seems shaky at this point). There is also the question whether he was also a citizen of one or more other countries (Kenya? Indonesia?) and whether that means, as a matter of law, that he could not be a "natural born" citizen as required by the Constitution.

Has anyone around here looked into this? Is it a serious issue, and why does Obama seem to be so squirmy about it?

I'm not sure if this smells of desperation or if this issue really has legs.  I actually hope it does.  Our Constitution is pretty clear that you must be a natural born citizen to be President.  If Obama is in fact not eligible for the Presidency, expect a whole lot of talk about how the Constitution is a living document and it evolves over time...apparently enough to mean the opposite of what it says.  Well, now's definitely not the time to be polite.  The best opportunity to bring up this question happened to be 2 years ago.  But there's no time like the present.

"No person except a natural born Citizen(Obama's status now in doubt), or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution(these people are all dead), shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years(Sign of the times, huh?  Barely out of college these days), and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States(again, these are all dead)."

Some of you may have seen the news recently that Blackwater is putting together a crew to act as escort for ships in the Gulf of Aden.  This is an encouraging development, as efforts by regional and US forces to counter the pirates have been only somewhat successful.  There simply aren't enough resources being dedicated to the effort to do more than scare the pirates away.

You may recall the example of the Ukrainian vessel Faina, which was seized with 30 Russian tanks onboard.  Piracy has the potential to seriously affect not only world economies but also regional conflicts.  So, here's hoping we kill some of them soon.

Weekly Piracy Report
14-20 October 2008

The following is a summary of the daily reports broadcast by the IMB's Piracy Reporting Centre to ships in Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions on the SafetyNET service of Inmarsat-C from 14 to 20 October 2008.

ALERT

Gulf of Aden
Masters using the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) while transiting the Gulf of Aden are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24 hour look out using all available means to get an early warning of an approaching threat. Early indication of a piratical incident will enable the master to contact the Coalition Navies, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre and respond appropriately to prevent boarding.

Nigeria
Violent attacks carried out by pirates on board vessels at anchor and vessel carrying out STS operations. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution in these waters.

Chittagong anchorage, Bangladesh
The number of attacks has reduced since 2006. However, the area is still listed as a high risk area and mariners are advised to be cautious especially while approaching the anchorage and while at anchor at Chittagong

Suspicious crafts

None reported

Recently reported incidents

16.10.2008: 1700 UTC: Posn: 12:44.0N – 045:52.0E: Gulf of Aden. A VLCC underway noticed, via radar, the echo of three high-speed boats approaching. Master increased speed, commenced evasive manoeuvres and altered course to prevent the speedboats from getting closer. Master attempted to contact the coalition warship via VHF Ch. 16 but failed to get any response. Later coalition warship responded and advised master to take evasive manoeuvres. As the speedboats approached the vessel, master noticed one speedboat with three men armed with machine guns. The evasive manoeuvres of the vessel prevented the boats from coming closer and later the speedboats aborted their attempt and disappeared.

15.10.2008: 0409 UTC: Posn: 13:33.92N – 050:10.70E: Gulf of Aden. Armed pirates in speedboats boarded and hijacked a bulk carrier underway along with its 21 crew. The pirates are sailing the vessel to an undisclosed location in Somalia. The vessel was enroute from Aqaba, Jordan to a port in China.

13.10.2008: 0600 LT: Posn: 10:14.6N - 107:26.3E: Vung Tau anchorage, Vietnam. Robbers boarded an anchored container ship unnoticed by crew. They stole ship’s stores and escaped. Crew on routine patrol noticed store padlock was broken and ship’s stores stolen. Authorities informed.

10.10.2008: 0900 LT: Posn: 15:10.0N – 051:45.0E: Gulf of Aden. Armed pirates in a speedboat chased a bulk carrier underway from astern. Master increased speed and made evasive manoeuvres to prevent boarding and contacted coalition warship on VHF Ch. 16. Later, the boat aborted the attempt. Coalition warship was monitoring the situation.

09.10.2008: 1700 UTC: Posn: 014:04.52N - 050:52.24E: Gulf of Aden. Armed pirates in speedboats boarded and hijacked a general cargo ship underway. They hijacked the vessel and sailed it to an undisclosed location in Somalia. Eleven crew members taken hostage. The vessel was enroute from Salalah to Bossaso, Somalia when hijacked. Further details awaited.

Piracy prone areas and warnings

Mariners are warned to be extra cautious and to take necessary precautionary measures when transiting the following areas:

S E Asia and the Indian Sub Continent

• Bangladesh : Although the number of attacks has fallen, the area is still listed as very high risk. Pirates are targeting ships preparing to anchor. Most attacks reported at Chittagong anchorages and approaches.
• Indonesia : Anambas/Natuna island area, Belawan. Pirates armed with guns and knives. Generally be vigilant in other areas. Many attacks may have gone unreported.
• India : Kandla. Most ships were attacked while at anchor.
• Malacca straits : Although the number of attacks has dropped due to the increase and constant patrols by the littoral states relevant Authorities since July 2005, ships are advised to continue maintaining a strict anti piracy watch when transiting the straits.
• Philippines : Manila - Pirates target ships at anchor.
• Singapore Straits : Only one reported incident in the last quarter, but vessels are advised to continue to be vigilant and maintain anti piracy watch. In the past pirates seen attacking ships while at anchor and underway.

Africa and Red Sea

• Lagos & Bonny River (Nigeria) : Pirates are violent and have attacked and robbed vessels/kidnapped crews along the coast and rivers, at anchorages and ports. Vessels advised to be also vigilant in other areas in Nigeria.
• Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) : Pirates are targeting ships in port and anchorages.
• Gulf of Aden / Red Sea : Somali pirates are now attacking vessels in the northern Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden. These pirates are firing automatic weapons and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) in an attempt to board and hijack vessels. Once the attack is successful and the vessel hijacked, the pirates sail towards the Somali coast and thereafter demand a ransom for the release of the vessel and crew. All vessels transiting the area are advised to take additional precautionary measures and maintain strict 24 hours radar and anti piracy watch using all available means. Watch keeping crews should look out for small suspicious boats converging on vessel. Early sighting and accurate assessment will allow Master to increase speed and manoeuvre to escape pirates and at the same time request various Authorities/Agencies for assistance.
• Somalian waters : Recent incidents indicate that attacks have spread to the northern Somali coast. The Somali pirates are now attacking vessels in the northern Somali coast in the Gulf of Aden. Somali pirates are dangerous and are prepared to fire automatic weapons at ships in order to stop them. Occasionally they fire RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) launchers at ships. Pirates are believed to be using “mother vessels” to launch attacks far from the coast. These “mother vessels” proceed far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack and hijack passing ships. Eastern and Northeastern coasts are high risk areas for attacks and hijackings. The IMB maintains its advice that vessels not making scheduled calls to ports in Somalia should keep as far away as possible from the Somali coast, ideally more than 250 nautical miles until a more permanent and encouraging sign is seen. Mariners are advised to report any suspicious boats to the Centre.

South and Central America and the Caribbean waters

• Brazil : Although the number of reported attacks has dropped in Santos. Ships are advised to continue to be vigilant.
• Peru : Callao

Rest of the World

• Arabian Sea : Sightings and calls from suspicious small boats. In some cases, boats chased the ships with unknown intent.

Since the topic has been coming up lately, I submit to you this piece.  I found it reinforces my own views.  Since I am not interested in making a substantial post of my own, you must subsist on my regurgitations.  How's that for imagery?

Obama’s New Tax Welfare
Behind the 95.

By Peter Ferrara

Barack Obama says he plans to cut taxes for 95 percent of American workers. That sounds terrific, but there are three problems. One, it is meant to draw attention from the real core of the Obama tax plan: proposed increases in every major federal tax. Two, the structure of the cuts will create perverse incentives. And three, many of the people receiving “tax cuts” don’t pay taxes to begin with, meaning they’ll be in effect getting welfare.

The first point requires but a simple list. Obama proposes to raise the top two individual income tax rates by 25 percent or more, through both explicit rate increases and the phaseout of personal exemptions and all itemized deductions for upper-income earners. He’ll increase the capital-gains tax rate by 33 percent, the tax rate on dividends by 33 percent, and the top payroll-tax rate by 16 to 32 percent. He’ll create a new payroll tax for national health insurance, estimated at 7 percent. He’ll reinstate the death/inheritance tax, which is being phased out under current law, with a new top marginal rate of 45 percent. He’ll increase the corporate tax burden by 25 percent “by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens.” He’ll even increase tariffs through his protectionist trade policies.

Obama argues that only higher-income workers and rich corporations will suffer these tax increases, and they can afford it. But tax and economic policy is not about who “can afford it.” Increasing these marginal tax rates greatly harms the economy — when more of the money earned goes to the government, there’s less incentive for “the rich” to work, save, invest, and create and expand businesses. This affects people trying to start businesses with investment money from wealthy folks. Not to mention people looking for jobs, which usually come from businesspeople with money.

This isn’t just a theory. Ireland adopted a 12.5 percent corporate tax rate 20 years ago, when it suffered the second-lowest per capita GDP in the European Union (EU). Its economy boomed as a result, and today Ireland enjoys the second highest per-capita GDP in the EU. Ireland, with its 12.5-percent rate, raises 50 percent more corporate-tax revenue as a percent of GDP than the U.S. does with its 35 percent rate. Yet Barack Obama laughs at McCain’s proposal to reduce that corporate rate to 25 percent, the minimum needed to restore international competitiveness for U.S. companies and employers, mocking it as still more tax cuts for rich corporate fat cats.



Obama’s tax plan is exactly the opposite of the supply-side economics that Reagan adopted, which produced the astounding boom of the 1980s. That boom, in fact, lasted 25 years, from 1982 to 2007, as Art Laffer and Steve Moore discuss in their new book, The End of Prosperity. Laffer and Moore explain that more wealth was produced during those 25 years than in the previous 200 years of American history.

Obama’s tax plan is also exactly the opposite of President Kennedy’s, which produced another astounding boom in the 1960s. Pursuing the exact opposite policies from Kennedy and Reagan will produce exactly the opposite results.

(Note also that Obama’s tax increases will not produce nearly enough revenue to finance all his lavish spending proposals, as shown by a brilliant new paper from Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute. And by the way, Bill Clinton campaigned in 1992 promising a tax cut for the middle class — after he was elected he dropped that idea, adopting tax increases for people making as little as $20,000 per year.)

Finally, Obama’s “tax cut,” if he follows through with it, will often be a simple giveaway. As it stands right now, roughly one-third of income earners pay no federal income taxes. Many actually receive payments from the income-tax system — these payments total 3.8 percent of all federal taxes paid. Simple arithmetic holds that if one-third of earners don’t pay income tax, it’s impossible to cut taxes for 95 percent of earners.

Obama’s “tax cut” is, in reality, a $500-per-worker refundable income-tax credit for workers making up to $75,000 per year, and for families making up to $150,000. The term “refundable” means that if the worker does not have enough tax liability to take advantage of the credit, the government sends the worker a check to cover the full amount of the credit anyway. It is like George McGovern’s 1972 promise of a $1,000 check for everyone, which the American people rejected as a crass vote-buying scheme.

Besides the $500-per-worker credit, Obama proposes a slew of income-tax credits targeted toward low- and moderate-income people, also refundable. Obama proposes such tax credits for child care, education, housing, retirement, health care, welfare, etc.

Though the people receiving these credits will spend the money, the programs will probably hurt the economy on net, because the credits will be phased out at higher income levels. This, in effect, constitutes yet another marginal tax on high-income earners, and thus another blow to their incentives to be productive.

These programs alone would cost $1.3 trillion over ten years. I call it The New Tax Welfare.

— Peter Ferrara is director of entitlement and budget policy for the Institute for Policy Innovation, and general counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He formerly served in President Reagan’s White Office of Policy Development, and as associate deputy attorney general of the United States under the first President Bush.