Comments for Karma (and Charles Freeman) on the Bus

Karma (and Charles Freeman) on the Bus

2009-03-11T18:50:09Z

On Monday I recorded an episode of blogging heads with Brian Beutler on the subject of Charles Freeman. I took the position that, since Freeman had managed to become Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, AIPAC's ability to crush its critics must be exaggerated. Of course, a couple of hours after after the episode appeared, Freeman went and resigned. The timing could not have been worse.

I now know that Karma does not work in subtle ways. A few stops after I got on the 42 bus this morning, Charles Freeman plunked down across from me. He was reading an old paperback copy of Colleen McCullough's The Thorn Birds, and looking more like a high school English teacher than an existential threat to the state of Israel.

I introduced myself and told him I was sorry that he resigned. He recoiled only slightly when I mentioned I worked for the Atlantic, then smiled broadly. "Shit happens." He added a little wistfully: "I wasn't so eager to go back to the government, anyway."
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The woman next to me suddenly pieced it together. "Now I know who you are!" She hesitated for a second. "I still disagree with you." Others on the bus started to look confused, even a little worried.

Freeman smiled again, and laughed. "I guess now I'm a notorious personality." He went back to reading his novel. A few stops later, he got off the bus.

Comment from Maggie on 2009-03-11

2009-03-11T20:38:36Z

Serious disconnect - why would this "great mind" read the oh-so-trashy The Thorn Birds?

Comment from FeedTheBird on 2009-03-11

2009-03-12T01:42:04Z

Surely I couldn't be the only one to see this story and think instantly of Raymond Queneau's "Exercises in Style."

Comment from jorge999 on 2009-03-11

2009-03-12T03:58:38Z

and the point of this article is?

Comment from Conor Clarke on 2009-03-12

2009-03-12T04:00:28Z

go read the politico or something

Comment from Dan Friedman on 2009-03-12

2009-03-12T11:31:37Z

"Shit happens."

So true, Chas. We just don't need it running the NIC.

Comment from Acamere2 on 2009-03-13

2009-03-13T07:05:16Z

Ha ha ha. I totally get it. However, I had to create a username to tell you I get it. But first I had to check my email, validate the email, sign in, navigate to page, cuss at my connection (which was promptly lost when I signed in), reconnect, re-sign in, and then say, "I get it!"
Funny how the little things always bring us down. My original message refrenced Orwell in some profoundly ironic way. Something about Big Brother taking the bus, too, and how I'm glad I didn't sit next to him and recognize him.

Great moment, Connor. And thanks for sharing. I appreciated it. Belatedly.

Comment from Acamere2 on 2009-03-13

2009-03-13T07:08:01Z

Oh. And while I'm still signed in, Yay for Fallows. I so love him!! :)