Considering the absolute horror and halt that the States experienced on 9/11, the feeling here in Oxford was almost intangible. I asked several folks out tonight what they thought, and most suggested no surprise but rather resignation as what they expected from Blair’s close ties with Bush.

The feeling of inevitablity was palpable. However, the college hijinks in this university town went on very much unabated. In fact, the clubs and pubs seemed to have the same atmosphere as the week previous.

Compared with the state of folks in the U.S. just after 9/11, the attitude seems absolutely upbeat. In fact, I feel as though the Americans I am with, and perhaps me alone, are the only ones not able to sleep tonight with visions of apocalypse in my head.

I am listening to some great American tunes that are coming this way soon and I am wondering at the character of the British nation versus our own. Maybe the IRA bombs have prepared this country far above what we were ready for, but they seem mightily accepting of recent events.

In his 2000 book, ironically titled Passion for Truth, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, wrote that: “[T]he Senate should resist, if not refuse to confirm Supreme Court nominees who refuse to answer questions on fundamental issues. In voting on whether or not to confirm a nominee, senators should not have to gamble or guess about a candidate’s philosophy, but should be able to judge on the basis of the candidate’s expressed views.” Of course, this book came from the same person who created the Magic Bullet Theory regarding the assassination of JFK, called Anita Hill a “flat-out” perjurer, and failed to truly investigate the Iran Contra affair.

Today is our Independence Day. Try not to blow up anything with your discount store fireworks.