June 22, 2005

6/22: Red-On-Red Dawn

The Hotline's Blogometer takes the daily temperature of the blogosphere. For more information on the thinking behind this feature, go to the end of the story.

Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-IL) apology -- or to his critics, "apology" -- on the Senate floor last p.m. is the biggest story in the blogosphere this a.m. After about a week of coverage, the controversy surrounding his criticisms of U.S. detention policies may be nearing an end. Or maybe not: Neither the left nor the right seems very happy. Some pro-war conservatives say the damage is done; that foreign audiences already heard Durbin compare U.S. policies to Soviet gulags, etc. Others among them contend the apology did not go far enough. Many conservatives suspect pressure from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley figured into the apology. On the left, many are angry at Durbin for bowing to the GOP "noise machine." Many had stood by him not just because they agreed with his remarks, but also because he appeared to be standing his ground. Those who are not angry are at least disappointed.

Meanwhile, there's no shortage of interesting stories going around the blogs: New rumors are surfacing that AG Alberto Gonzales is now most likely to be Pres. Bush's pick for the next SCOTUS vacancy; Iraq, Gitmo and U.S. withdrawal are especially popular topics as of late; bloggers coordinate in advance of testimony before the FEC next week, and more.

TRACKBACKS: Durbination

Where the blog swarm is headed, who's taking part, and what they're saying:

• Owing in part to prominent placement on the Drudge Report, the AP version of the story re: Durbin's apology is by far the most-read.
  
  

  >> Conservative Captain's Quarters: "Color me unimpressed. His fellow party members will now ask us all to move along. I'll consider doing that if they now will admit that Durbin's original statement slandered the military and debased the memories of those millions of victims that truly experienced what genocidal maniacs do with their innocent captives. If not, then they are just playing word games until they discover the right combination to climb out of the box in which Durbin has put them." JustOneMinute notes that the New York Times -- which had avoided much reporting on the Durbin kerfuffle -- did not mention Daley's criticism of Durbin, only "a steady drumbeat of criticism from Republicans." Conservative Vodkapundit writes: "I can guarantee you that Dickie's energetic defenders in the MSM and leftie blogosphere are awfully unhappy right now. He just cut them off at the knees."
  

  >> Vodkapundit is right. Here's lefty Greg Saunders at This Modern World: "If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was a United States Senator responding to critics who justify the use of torture, you would most certainly believe this must have been said by a coward, a wimp, or a chicken who has proven himself incapable of defending the truth against an onslaught of right-wing badgering. Sadly, that is the case. The quote above is from Sen. Dick Durbin, who won't stand behind his own words... even when they're right." The satirical Fafblog!'s "Medium Lobster": "On behalf of all the torturers working hard today in the United States military, the Medium Lobster would like to say: apology accepted, Senator Durbin."
  

  >> Right-leaning Indepundit: "Apology accepted. Show's over, folks. Move along... It doesn't surprise me at all that I represent the minority opinion. I'll grant that it wasn't the world's greatest apology, but it's probably the best we'll get out of Durbin, and I don't see any point in rubbing his face in it any more." QandO feels the same way, as does Alexander McClure.
  

  >> Left-trending Bull Moose Blog hits on a point made by many Dems and liberals, that "the conservative mob surely knows that Durbin was not suggesting that the U.S. military was either the SS or Beria's secret police. They are merely pouncing on Durbin in order to distract us from all the bad news that envelops the GOP."
  

  >> Other disappointed lefties: People's Republic of Seabrook; Rising Hegemon; Corrente; Avedon Carol. Unsatisfied righties (and others): Michelle Malkin; Southern Appeal; Ed Driscoll; Spoons Experience; Power Line; Professor Bainbridge; Dean Esmay; The Jawa Report. The Political Teen and Jackson's Junction both post video of Durbin's apology.

WHITE HOUSE '08: Clark, Bush, Kerry ... What Is This, WH '04?

Daily Kos' Markos Moulitsas posts the final results of, and recaps, his WH '08 straw poll. Final results put Wesley Clark in front with 26%, followed by "No Freakin' Clue" (17%), then Sens. Hillary Clinton and Russ Feingold (10%) each. Writes Moulitsas: "While there's no way we can pretend that the Daily Kos community is representative of the Democratic Party electorate at large, this poll is a good indicator of where the Daily Kos community is at. The results didn't change more than a percentage point here and there from when there were 1,500 votes. ... Here's my bold prediction: the first candidate (or potential candidate) to come out for a full withdrawal from Iraq will get a huge groundswell of support. It may be one of these guys, or it may be someone out from left field. But it's clear that even among the Daily Kos community, those who voted for the Bush's Iraq War aren't being penalized. The two candidates against the war from day one -- Feingold and Clark, are only splitting 39 percent of the vote." He announces that from here on out, there will be another poll "every month (or so)."

• At MyDD, Chris Bowers comments: "With [DNC chair Howard] Dean out of the picture, [IL Sen. Barack] Obama not running, Feingold weakened by recent events, and a generally centrist field, Clark with probably maintain his edge for some time. The benefits of this position are not limited to having the largest support among the netroots, as one has to imagine that much of Clark's support comes from the "old guard" among Internet activists. This could also provide him with experience and talent unavailable to other candidates." On HRC: "I have watched over the months as she has steadily risen in these sorts of polls here at MyDD. ... If Clinton runs for President, and is the second favorite candidate online, it is really, really hard to imagine how she will not win the nomination."

A reader of National Review Online's The Buzz writes that Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) once "lived a couple of minutes from me, and to the locals in the know, they know Columba hates all the trappings of power, and that running for Senate in '06 (let alone Prez in '08) was out of the question. I've even heard that re-election in '02 was iffy for a little while. That's why I found the 'Bush-Clinton rivalry continues in '08 with Jeb & Hillary' story foolish. It was reported by lazy MSM reporters that don't want to dig too hard for what the actual story is. Even the slightest of footwork would have quickly shown that Columba would veto any run for office."

Noting a 6/21 story by the New York Sun re: John Kerry's SF-180, Power Line's Scott Johnson writes: "When the Globe's Michael Kranish reported on Kerry's records earlier this month, I noted that Kerry was either the world's worst politician or that something was missing from his records. I believe that observation still applies."

Michelle Malkin notices Ron Fournier's "Clinton, McCain 'Gorillas' of 2008 Race" story, and points out: "TradeSports says McCain has only about a 1 in 6 chance of winning the GOP nomination in '08. Virginia Sen. George Allen is rated a slight favorite. Who do you trust more: Fournier or gamblers who are putting their own money on the line?" More: "I'd like to see the look on Fournier's face when the South Carolina GOP primary results come in."

SCOTUS: Chief Justice Gonzales?

National Review's Rich Lowry, at The Corner suggests a reason why the WH is not releasing the John Bolton documents: "[T]he White House might be trying to set a precedent in advance of a fight over a Supreme Court nominee who has executive branch experience."

At TAPPED, Jeffrey Dubner comments on Lowry: "If so, it would indicate that the administration is leaning toward a Supreme Court candidate with executive-branch experience: Alberto Gonzales, possibly, but also dark-horse candidates Ted Olson and Miguel Estrada. ... For any of these nominees, a failure to set a total-secrecy precedent on Bolton would make it much tougher to keep pertinent information from the Senate."

RedState co-founder Mike Krempasky: "I hate to write this. I've heard from several sources today that Al Gonzalez has been moved onto the WH short list for the Supreme Court. Look for a couple stories in the next few days. ... Want to make sure you tank the 2006 midterms, Mr. President? Just go ahead and send that name to the Senate. I know that I've always wanted to take up golf."

Election Law prof Rick Hasen imagines what might happen if Michael McConnell were to replace William Rehnquist as Chief Justice.

BLOGS VS. THE MSM: Fox Hunting

TV Newser reports: "Multiple Fox News employees have told TVNewser that their bosses are not being forthcoming with information about recent insecticide sprayings that allegedly led to the hospitalization of an employee."

DC Media Girl fisks a column by Susan Estrich defending FNC: "So you're buddies with Roger Ailes. Excuse me, but isn't he the same Roger Ailes who played a part in sinking the campaign of your candidate Michael Dukakis in 1988, by resorting to crude race-baiting and demagoguery?"

Charles Bird at RedState wants to know why the Philadelphia Daily News and Los Angeles Times are taking at face value a report that "harsh statements" by Bush re: Iran's election resulted in "public affirmation" for the regime. Bird: "Says who? The interior minister? Considering that the legitimacy of the current Iranian regime hinged solely on election turnout, why were [the minister's] statements accepted unchallenged?"

In his online column, the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz picks up on the debate re: the organization and efficacy of the left vs. right blogospheres, including the original post by MyDD's Bowers and ex-BC'04 webmaster Patrick Ruffini.

On 6/20, The Nation's David Corn posted to Romenesko's letter's page asking, "when should one media outlet grant credit to another for first reporting news?" Corn and reporter Jeffrey Goldberg had first reported on the fact that ex-FBI official Mark Felt had been in charge of finding out Deep Throat's identity; the Washington Post's Michael Dobbs had reported the same thing days later, without mentioning Corn's scoop. Later in the day, Dobbs replied: "I didn't credit his article in the Nation for a very simple reason: it did not help me in any way with either the reporting or the writing of my own piece." More comments are added above; these posts are still available on the main page. At his personal blog, Corn follows up: "In yonder days, bigfoot media could readily ignore the work of less 'significant' outlets." Not anymore, he notes. Now, "the Post seemed to place its hands over its eyes and say, 'we can't see you, we can't see you.' Adopting that stance did not give the Post's Felt piece more punch. It made the paper seem out of touch..."

IRAQ: Americans Are Anti-Bush And Pro-Gitmo?

A USA Today poll is a bit of a Rorschach test. The Huffington Post slugs it "New Polls Dismal For Bush..." Meanwhile, Michelle Malkin, Ankle Biting Pundits and Power Line point out that it shows most Americans want Gitmo to stay open. Daly Thoughts leads with both.

The New York Times reports that terrorists in Iraq "have been fighting each other" recently -- the operative phrase is "Red-on-Red." Winds of Change has a lengthy and reasoned post on the matter. WSJ's James Taranto: "If this is right, it would seem to vindicate both Vice President Cheney's much-maligned view that the indigenous insurgency is in its 'final throes' and the "flypaper" theory that liberating Iraq is drawing in terrorists and forcing them to face the U.S. military."

First Heather Hurlburt at Democracy Arsenal, and then Matt Yglesias at TAPPED, both attempt to delineate a set of propositions re: Iraq that Dems can agree on. Yglesias decides they will have to "agree to disagree." Libertarian Jim Henley argues a withdrawal deadline is necessary to stabilize Iraq: "To the extent we have a chance of achieving a good outcome in Iraq it depends on setting a date certain for withdrawal. There are two reasons for this. First, it concentrates the mind of our more-or-less allied actors in Iraq. It removes a major moral hazard in stabilizing self-government in Iraq. As it is now, factions can maximalize their demands on the assumption that Uncle Sugar will make it all work out somehow, some way. Second, if we set a date in the future and stick to it, then we keep the initiative. A preannounced withdrawal would be harder to represent as 'cutting and running' than an extemporaneous withdrawal under the pressure of events."

Lefty Steve Gilliard posts a joke letter to Power Line's John "Hindrocket" Hinderaker, writing: "It has come to our attention that your son has just graduated high school. Has he considered a career in the United States Marine Corps? Since you are such a shining patriot and supporter of our men in uniform, we would expect that your son would be an eager enlistee for armed forces..."

REPUBLICANS: At The Movies, With Lindsey Graham

GA GOP consultant Erick Erickson: "The RNC called last night. They wanted my money. Ken Mehlman just sent me an email wanting a donation in honor of the President's birthday. Let's just say I'm not a fan of the overall communications strategy being implemented by the GOP -- and in particular the White House. Most of my Republican friends are, likewise, a bit frustrated by a failure to move the ball on the communications front."

At TPM Cafe, lefty policy wonk Steve Clemons writes about attending a dinner party at MPAA HQ where Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) chose the evening's entertainment. Graham selected "Seven Days in May." Clemons comments: "What was bizarre and important that night was Lindsey Graham's preamble to the movie, which he admitted was among his favorites. Graham said that there were similarities between the political gamesmanship at play today and in what the film depicted some 40 years ago. He said that one of the reasons he worked to undermine those who wanted to trigger the so-called 'nuclear option' over judicial nominations in the Senate is that he believed that one branch of government was trying to subordinate other branches." There's more.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE: FECund Or FECkless?

Daily Kos announces that founder Moulitsas will be in D.C. next week to appear before the FEC's hearings on regulating political activity on the Internet, and asks for assistance: "So here's a research topic if you've got some Google time: here are the six FEC commissioners, half from each party. Care to look -- on their websites, or through Google -- and post here anything you can find that they've said (or subscribed to) concerning the role of the Internet in politics or the 'media exemption'? Each commissioner has on his website a list of prior testimony and speeches given ... Look there and elsewhere, if you can, and help me compile the materials that will let us know best how to prepare for next week."

Others present will include Duncan "Atrios" Black from Eschaton, Krempasky from RedState, and Matt Stoller, who blogs for BOPNews and Sen. Jon Corzine's official NJ GOV blog, Corzine Connection.

SOCIAL SECURITY: So Much For Personal Account-ability?

RedState header: "Bush Sells Out Free-Market Conservatives on Social Security?" Comments Tim Saler: "I think I'm getting a better idea of how Bill Frist feels right about now, being yanked one direction and then another by the President."

Kerry Kerstetter, at the Club for Growth's Social Security Choice blog: "What's risky for the Dems is the chance that Bush might receive any credit for being farsighted enough to tackle this long overdue problem. They would rather we all suffer than have Bush look good.

DOWNING STREET MEMO: Granted A Temporary Stay

Righty Mark Noonan of Blogs for Bush and lefty Loaded Mouth debate the DSM. Noonan: "I fully expect that ten years from now some lefty will comment on a rightwing blog that the DSM proved that Bush should have been impeached...this is set in stone for the left." Loaded Mouth: "How is it that Republicans always find a way to not only miss the point, but then interject a few wrongheaded points of their own that have nothing to do with the discussion?"

NYU's Jay Rosen writes, there is now a "Court of Appeal in the State of Supreme News Judgment, and everyone knows the initial verdict can be reversed. Reversal on appeal came last week for the Downing Street Memo ... about 45 days after the first story broke."

MISCELLANY: Davids Washingtonprotest

Davids Medienkritik, a right-of-center blog focusing on Germany and German-language media, announces a protest outside the WH to coincide with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's visit on 6/27: "We are fed up with the hate-America mentality in German media and politics. So we have acquired an official permit to demonstrate..." More: "Did you know that recently: Americans have been portrayed as bloodsucking parasites and locusts by Germany's largest trade union and members of the Schroeder administration respectively?"

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The Truth About Hilleary

Conservative Blogging for Bryant: "Is [ex-GOP GOV nominee/'06 SEN candidate] Van Hilleary creeping towards becoming the John Jay Hooker of the Republican Party of Tennessee? ... Hilleary, in an effort to spin his historic loss to Phil Bredesen in 2002, is trying to convince voters that losing campaigns is a strength. Unfortunately, his efforts are beginning to draw snickers from many Republicans. Most recently at the TN Republican Party Statesmen's Dinner his campaign circulated a letter stating: 'Republican Statesmen Howard Baker, Lamar Alexander, Zach Wamp and Marsha Blackburn all had to run for their offices twice before winning -- each becoming stronger because of their first race. ... Instead of facing Bredesen a second time when his party has no candidate, Hilleary has chosen to run for U.S. Senate instead. When he likely loses the Republican primary, what will he run for next?"

LEST WE FORGET: That's What Friendster Is For

Fishbowl L.A.: "At least once a week, the NYT Styles section prints an article that raises the same question within the inquisitive minds of readers coast to coast. "Is [quirky social habit identified in the article] a genuine trend, or did the writer just get the idea from some guy/girl he/she knows from [fancy liberal arts college that wait-listed me]?" Fishbowl L.A. looks into a recent article by Zoe Wolff and, using Google and Friendster as research tools, determines that one person in the story, "Scarlet," is actually Alexandra Kerry.

Posted by at June 22, 2005 12:00 PM