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Last night after the President's speech, the networks ended their coverage, and I was looking for some more analysis and commentary (we don't have cable), so I went over to PBS. Jim Lehrer had on four historians giving their perspectives. I should say, three were giving historical perspectives, one--an old lefty named Howard Zinn--was giving hysterical invective!

It was pretty amazing. The other three were doing what they were supposed to do--provide some level-headed, thoughtful discussion--and here was this Howard Zinn jerk making a speech, basically. He was obnoxious in the extreme. At one point, you could hear the discomfort in Jim Lehrer's voice, and he tried to get Zinn to wrap up his comment so he could move on to the next panelist, but Zinn said, "just one more sentence"--only then he went on for three or four more, before Lehrer could get him to stop.

Here's the link if you want to listen to the segment in RealAudio

I, like you, stumbled onto the Lehrer newscast after Bush's speech. And, Zinn was just beginning to emit his 30 foot rope of drool.

Well, maybe it was more than 30 feet long. It had reached that length before I couldn't hack it any longer and mashed the mute button half-way into the remote.

Zinn's We are concerned about terrorism. War is terrorism.

No it is not, Zinn. Terrorism is the slaughter of innocents during undeclared war and by non-State perps. The slaughter of innocents during declared war between nations is called a "war crime."

He calls himself a historian. He's a moron.

The book "The Peoples History of the United States" is used as the standard text at the local high school. It is a horrible piece of agit-prop, dripping America-hating and socialist theory on every page. I eventually bought a copy of the excellent "History of the American People" for my daughter, who read and enjoyed it. I have found the public schools an excellent teaching too ... the ridiculous leftist cant is so omnipresent and over the top that it verges on self parody. Kids know when they are being indoctrinated, and resent it. That 'alternate' history book I bought my daughter got passed around to her friends. Who would think a weighty tome called "The History of the American People" would be interesting to them. They also seemed to enjoy "More Guns, Less Crime".

As for the text of the president's speech, while saving a copy for my files off the Fox News Website, I noticed their version of the text did not contain the following significant paragraphs:

"Last September, I went to the U.N. General Assembly and urged the nations of the world to unite and bring an end to this danger. On November 8, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441 finding Iraq in material breach of its obligations and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm. Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed, and it will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power.

"For the last four and a half months, the United States and our allies have worked within the Security Council to enforce that council’s longstanding demands. Yet some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced that they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it.

"Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace. And a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just demands of the world. The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours."

I e-mailed them about their error.