Cool for Cats

So 2008 starts off with fireworks in every direction, from a new frenzy of violence in the war zones to a riot of celebrity antics. And tomorrow, the New Hampshire primary.

Hepcats will notice similarities between the latest Iran-U.S. patrol boat "incident" in the Persian Gulf and the Tonkin Gulf "incident" in 1964 -- the flimsy pretext for the U.S.-Vietnam War. It would seem unlikely at this time, however, that the U.S. will begin bombing Iran today or tomorrow or anytime soon, if at all. Oil already hovers at $100/barrel anyway, no need for the barons to abruptly get even greedier.

Meanwhile, cooler cats will not be overly absorbed by the American primaries. Give it another month, though, and take closer notice, once certain mousy secondary candidates are shaken out of the race. The Clinton campaign should learn from Michael Dukakis' mistakes of 1988 -- don't overly tout "experience," but stick rather to the issues and other matters. Dukakis, some will remember, claimed, "this election isn't about ideology, it's about competence." Then he had the unfortunate tank moment (much like Howard Dean's "rant moment"), becoming a figure of fun forever after. Clinton deserves better. Obama and Edwards are fine by me, too.


Meanwhile, Sarko, President of the French Republic, is raising eyebrows and ire at home with his personal antics. Having just divorced Cécilia María Sara Isabel Ciganer-Albéniz Sarkozy last October, he may be planning to marry Carla Bruni / Tedeschi (pictured above) this February. As for Cécilia the ex-, she recently announced plans to publish a memoir about her marriage to Sarko, much to his irritation (he already had an earlier memoir destroyed by the publisher -- don't ask and he won't tell). Perhaps they all sit around listening to Ms. Bruni's latest album, No Promises (sales in excess of 100,000 copies), plotting their next moves on the chess board. Plenty more from the Pharaoh of France to come, no doubt.

Today's Rune: Breakthrough.