Here We Go

Pre-speech:

I am switching back and forth between FOX , CNN and al Jazeera and it is a fascinating window into narrative. Fox stresses the "worry of Israel" interviewing Judith Miller and former ambassador Dan Gellerman who focus on the "existential" threat. They love authority and "stability" saying "Thank God the army is in charge!"

CNN is just a confused jumble of fear and weird speculative uncertainty but the one thing neither channel mentions is the effect of the massive strikes of the last two days. Egyptian State TV went from saying the protesters are foreign agents eating Kentucky Fried Chicken to showing protesters hugging soldiers with patriotic music in the background.

The generals showed a meeting they were holding where Mubarak was noticeably absent and announced "they would continue meeting". No one on mainstream TV has said the word neoliberalism.

Post speech:

Sclerotic is the best word I can think of. Fareed Zacharia used "delusional". It seems to me Mubarak has taken the Israeli line, "stability" and "foreign agents" and obfuscating rhetoric. His first words really said it all when he addressed the people as "my children". Now he opens the door for increased violence and he will end up with his bank accounts froze, living in Saudi Arabia to avoid the Hague. His choice I guess. First as Tragedy, then as Farce.

A few minutes later: Now I'm actually listening to Glen Beck try to wrap his head around Egypt. It's not pretty. "Arch Duke Ferdinand moment" " beginning of the New World Order". As I mentioned, there is no way for him to fit this into his frame ( logically, coherently) but that doesn't keep him from trying.