August 30, 2005
8/30: The Day After Tomorrow ... Er, Yesterday
Whenever there's a big story out there, at the Blogometer we look to the front page of Technorati to see whether the posts we read correspond to what people are looking to read about. Earlier this a.m., as many 6 of the top 10 searches were hurricane related, including the top 2. Along with variations of the hurricane's name there were searches for "New Orleans," "Biloxi" and "Superdome."
Anti-war mom Cindy Sheehan remains a big story -- though well below her previous Technorati dominance (see 8/18 Blogometer) -- as her supporters work to get the word out about the upcoming move out of Crawford, expanded campaign and bus trip for what's expected to be a large anti-war rally DC next month. Meanwhile, a few conservative blogs try to stir up some controversy about VA GOV candidate/Dem LG Tim Kaine's authenticity as a sportsman, relating to comments he'd made to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Iraq, Judy Miller, Ann Coulter, Jonah Goldberg and various WH'08 contenders all find themselves debated in today's edition as well.
Plus, the Blogometer looks at where all the John Roberts coverage has gone, and we present our latest Blogger Spotlight.
HURRICANE KATRINA: When The Levee Breaks
CNN.com's report about levee break and subsequent flooding gets plenty of coverage, as blog automated aggregators BlogsNow and Memeorandum show. Brendan Loy and others post a Google Maps image of where the breach occurred. Loy: "Long story, but I never really ended up going to bed. Argh. Anyway, it's very difficult to tell how serious the situation with the levee breach is. The tone of the media coverage certainly doesn't suggest that this is the beginning of the inexorable lost-city-of-Atlantis flood that we've been fearing all along, but then again, I'm not sure I trust the tone of the media coverage."
Daily Kos' regular "Cheers and Jeers" contributor Bill in Portland Maine dedicates the above-the-fold section of his post this morning to posting the Red Cross' website and phone number.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune's home page announces: "Today the paper is being distributed electronically only." The Times-Picayune's NOLA View hasn't been posted yet today, but last p.m. put up an eerie photo of the Superdome, taken from T-P HQ.
Univ. of Chicago's Daniel Drezner calls attention to an '03 post at A Perfectly Cromulent Blog decrying TV news' coverage as "hurricane porn." A Small Victory's Michele Catalano agrees, posting images of news websites calling the hurricane "our tsunami" (see 8/29 Blogometer) and New Orleans the next "Atlantis." Instapundit and others reply that Katrina was "worth the hype." Drezner updates: "Valid arguments.... except I've been so inured to prior hurricane porn that it's now tough for me to distinguish between a genuine menace to mankind vs. some weathermen breathlessly claiming that some tropical depression could be huge." Below the Beltway: "I think its fair to say that nothing like this has ever happened in a major American city and it may be a long time before things are back to anything approaching normal."
CAP's Think Progress coins a phrase: "The Superdome Society": "In New Orleans, many ... low wage earners have congregated at the Superdome. Their stories reveal the conditions faced by the poor in America," including "Fending For Themselves" and "Families Dependent on Gov't Assistance." Both points are illustrated with excerpts from a story in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Liberal Chris Bowers sees a different effect at work: "Is it just me, or was the subject already thoroughly changed from the war to the hurricane? The news seems to have changed dramatically over the past two days, and I am having difficulty finding things to write that are related to politics."
WHITE HOUSE '08: They Could Be Contenders
Conservative Ace of Spaces HQ argues that ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) being pro-choice won't kill his chances with social cons: "That was in New York. He will not bring a pro-abortion agenda to the federal level." Plus, Pres. Bush is "well-liked by social conservatives, but he is not the most forward-leaning on the pro-life position. Alan Keyes is strongly pro-life, and he has no chance of winning." More: "It's just not true that social conservatives do all the compromising. If it feels that way, it's largely just because people of course are most aware of when they're not getting what they want, and less aware of when others aren't getting what they want."
Starting 8/29, ret. Gen. Wesley Clark is blogger-in-rotation at TPM Cafe's Table for One. From his first post: "Not only do I disagree with the premise by which this Administration started the war in Iraq, I also disagree with their current strategy of urging American 'resolve' and fighting in Iraq in an open-ended manner. Simply 'staying the course' is not an option, and neither is cutting and running. Too much is at stake. ... I'd like to read some more of your ideas here at the TPMCafe, so don't be shy." In the 24 hours since the post went up, it has collected 165+ comments.
The Corner's Tim Graham, on VA Gov. Mark Warner's (D) announcement that he won't challenge VA Sen. George Allen (R): "Warner, touted as a Southern moderate despite raising our taxes in Virginia, must be serious about running for president, since he's already hired the obligatory Howard Dean-loving Internet specialist from MyDD to make him look less moderate."
PoliPundit's DJ Drummond takes strong exception to the validity of Patrick Ruffini's GOP-oriented WH'08 poll, for not being weighted, for not guarding against multiple votes, and for listing "several qualified candidates" as "fantasy" candidates. Ruffini replies in the comments, Drummond responds in a subsequent post, and Ruffini eventually files a post at his own blog.
BLOGS VS. THE MSM: Photoshop Til You Drop
Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum compares an AFP photo as it ran in the Los Angeles Times, BBC's website, and New York Times. The NYT's is darker than the rest; the LAT's is definitely the brightest. He compares them against what seems to be the original photo at Yahoo, and concludes the NYT probably "ran it straight."
The Left Coaster rejoices: "It is clear to me that the spirit of True Conservative Barry Goldwater is walking the state whispering into the ears of those conservatives who still have functioning cranial organs. How can I tell? The Arizona Daily Star publicly declared: No more Ann Coulter!" The dropping of her syndie column comes as part of a general overhaul of the op-ed page; the Daily Star's David Stoeffler attributes significant criticism of Coulter to conservative readers. In his first piece for the Huffington Post, Crooks & Liars' John Amato takes on Coulter for calling NYCers "cowards." The Moderate Voice's Joe Gandelman adds: "There is a bigger issue here than an Ann Coulter ... and a Michael Moore ... The issue is the deterioration of public discourse in our country -- and Coulter is symbolic of it."
IN THE STATES: Just Shoot Me
Alexandria Falls Church resident Patrick Ruffini notices VA LG Tim Kaine (D) telling the Richmond Times-Dispatch that "he occasionally takes his two sons shooting while visiting the Greenbrier and Homestead resorts." Ruffini posts links to and photos of the Greenbrier and Homestead, which are expensive and swanky. Ruffini, on this fact and a couple similarly-revealing Kaine quotes: "There's a campaign-ending moment in there somewhere." Commonwealth Conservative: "Even if he were trying, I doubt Kaine could sound like more of an elitist."
ROBERTS: Why Isn't Anybody Picking On Me?
For several weeks, the Blogometer included a dedicated section for coverage of SCOTUS nominee John Roberts. We haven't done one lately because, well, there isn't much controversy these days. This is sure to change as hearings get under way next month, but we thought it might be interesting to check in with several of the SCOTUS-focused blogs, and find the last post where they mentioned Roberts. This isn't to say that nobody is discussing Roberts: clearly some are, but for a few who had hung their shingle on the Roberts fight, they have obviously scaled back their efforts. We've organized them from most recent to least:
- RedState's Confirm Them: 8/30
- National Review's Bench Memos: 8/30
- Washington Post's Campaign for the Supreme Court: 8/29
- Conservative Underneath Their Robes: 8/29
- NWLC's Nomination Watch: 8/26
- TPM Cafe's SCOTUS page: 8/25
- Liberal Balkinization: 8/25
- Goldstein & Howe firm's Supreme Court Nomination Blog: 8/23
- Libertarian Prawfsblawg: 8/17
- CAP's Supreme Court Extra: 8/13
One early salvo in the expected resurgence of the Roberts fight is the new site StopJohnRoberts.com, which is launching an new ad against his nod. One of the organizers announces it in a thank-you post at MyDD: "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone here for your help in producing this new ad opposing the nomination of John Roberts. The script was developed off suggestions and ideas from feedback from bloggers and netroots activists. We wanted to produce an ad that could be shown in red and blue states and put pressure on Senators around the country to oppose Roberts's confirmation."
SHEEHAN: Cindy Arafat?
Sheehan quotes Lennon/McCartney for the title of her latest cross-posted message to the public. Sheehan includes the text of a letter she will send to all 535 members of Congress, and calls on her supporters: "Now we need your help. We are taking Camp Casey to Congress. We plan to hold rallies and meetings in key Congressional districts (Democrats and Republican alike), where the incumbent is weak on the war."
Liberal BradBlog posts a photo of Iraq vet/Army Spc. Tomas Young (and wife Bree); Young was paralyzed from the chest down in Iraq, and wants to meet with Bush.
Axis of Logic posts details on the 9/24 anti-war protest in DC.
A new BlogAd promoting the Rightalk online radio network -- which counts among its hosts both establishment conservatives and bloggers -- appearing on conservative blogs portrays Sheehan as Yasser Arafat. Liberal Blogtemps posts a partial copy and singles out frequent liberal-target Michelle Malkin, on whose site this ad was found: "Obviously Michelle Malkin supports this advertisement on her blog and mind-boggling demonization of Cindy Sheehan. Shame is the word for such divisive arrogance. Shame on the advertiser, shame on the publisher."
Conservative The Political Teen puts together a montage starting with "all the video I had of Sheehan" and took out clipworthy pieces." And conservative satire blog Huffington's Toast posts an imaginary book cover for an imaginary romance novel.
BACKLOG: The Goldberg Files
Over the weekend, Jonah Goldberg called attention to the neo-Nazi elements who were traveling to Crawford to join Sheehan's protest, writing at The Corner: "GOOD FOR CINDY! She's rallied the Nazis to her cause (obviously unintentionally, but it's interesting how her message resonates in such quarters nonetheless)."
At Daily Kos, Armando called Goldberg's snark "A New Republican Low": "Let's be clear here -- Cindy Sheehan detests Neo-Nazis. Not only will she not embrace them, she will run them off. Republicans, on the other hand, seek the bigots out and make them part of their team. Despicable Republicans. Despicable Goldberg." He also observed that RedState "joins the detestable conduct" for writing: "Ah, White Supremacists and Democrats together again -- they haven't shared the same talking points since when? 1861? 1963?" And Atrios posted an excerpt about National Review from the Chicago Reader on how U.S. periodicals misreported and editorialized against the civil rights movement.
Posts like these apparently provoked a flood of e-mails, and Goldberg posted a clarification: "I think Sheehan has absolutely no sense of proportion or responsibility when she calls Bush a terrorist and a murderer or when she ascribes comic-book-villain motives to the administration. ... If you leave yourself no room, rhetorically speaking, between yourself and the crazies don't be surprised if the crazies respond to your rhetoric."
IRAQ: Running The Time-Tables
At TAPPED, liberal Matt Yglesias considers Sen. Ron Wyden's (D-OR) "Late Edition" appearance this weekend, and observes, it seems he is "creeping toward timetableism": "Obviously, Democrats are looking for some kind of political sweet spot here. Unfortunately, it's not clear that whatever middle ground Wyden's looking for is really there." Armando at Daily Kos: "Maybe a little push for Wyden on this? Senator Wyden, consider blending General Clark's approach in there with yours."
Liberal Juan Cole, at Informed Comment: "Parliament has abdicated its responsibilities toward the constitution and put it in the lap of the October 15 national referendum. Al-Hayat aptly said that the Iraqi constitution has been delivered by caesarian section. It was plucked from the womb of the drafting committee before the latter could give birth to it naturally. Sunni negotiator Salih Mutlak called it 'a minefield.'"
Conservative Betsy Newmark points readers toward a new Weekly Standard piece: "For a while now, Stephen Hayes has been beating the drum of the connections between Iraq and Al Qaeda. He must feel like no one is listening."
ROVE-PLAME-MILLER: Cry For Me, Argentina. Cry?
An 8/29 New York Times editorial titled "Free Judy Miller" drew derision from the left and right. Conservative Tom Maguire snickers at the part where the Times mentions a petition in was signed by "European writers, journalists and thinkers" including filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. Maguire: "Perhaps the Times is under the misapprehension that John and Teresa won last fall." Arianna Huffington, at her Post: "Which do you think is more likely, that" the signees understand the case, or "someone put a petition in front them and said 'The Bush administration is throwing reporters in jail, please sign!'" More Huffington: "[F]ar from rallying support for Miller, today's pitiable plea instead calls attention to how little support for Miller there actually is ... even among the Times' own op-ed columnists. Not one of them has written a single word" about Miller since she was incarcerated." Pandagon's Jesse Taylor: "There's a really simple way to make sure that the continual national embarrassment of having Judith Miller be the longest-imprisoned reporter in the history of the United States no longer continues. Fire her ass."
GREAT DEBATES: Mission Krep
GMU prof Andrew Krepinevich's Foreign Affairs essay "How To Win In Iraq," aka the "oil-spot strategy," suggests the U.S. focus on providing security for Iraqis rather than hunting down insurgents, and then expand those zones over time. On 8/28 it got a favorable mention from the NYT's David Brooks, and it's still being discussed. It's received a cooler response in the blogosphere, from conservatives such as Garfield Ridge to liberals such as Matt Yglesias.
- Neoliberal Eduwonk thinks the strategy has domestic application: "Isn't this basically the same strategy that education reformers should pursue in the cities? Instead of just supporting often isolated politicians who are constantly under attack or fighting hopeless guerilla warfare inside bureaucracies, establishing some oil spots in big cities, winning victories, and establishing some proof points ... seems like a more promising strategy."
- Radical centrists Mickey Kaus and Andrew Sullivan agree, with the latter adding: "I feel the same way about equality in marriage. Let's leave Massachusetts alone, let's build the case for gay marriage by showing how it works in a handful of places and then work from there."
Just as the NYT's Paul Krugman and a number of bloggers have been re-arguing the WH'00 FL debacle (see 8/29 Blogometer), recently other bloggers have been re-arguing an even older debate -- the one over the '98 book "The Bell Curve." The debate comes up as co-author Charles Murray publishes a new essay in Commentary. Titled "The Inequality Taboo," it is largely about the recent controversy surrounding Harvard pres. Larry Summers. The Blogometer isn't going to wade into it, but a few of the pertinent contributions are here: Steve Sailer; TPM Cafe; Brad DeLong; No Speed Bumps; Eschaton; Andrew Sullivan; Lawyers Guns & Money.
BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT: In The Adesnik Of Time
Today the Blogometer talks to David Adesnik, who contributes to the long-running center-right group effort at OxBlog.
What is your full name?
Ariel David Hauptman Adesnik. (I go by 'David' to minimize the gender confusion.)
What is your age?
28
Where did you grow up?
Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Not far from Matt Yglesias, although I never met him until two years ago.
Where do you live now?
Charlottesville, VA. I'm just finishing up a year as a fellow at UVA's Miller Center of Public Affairs and will be moving to Washington at the end of the summer.
What is your occupation? Have you ever worked on a political campaign or for the mainstream media?
I am looking for jobs right now. If you want to offer me one, please contact me at oxblog@yahoo.com. When I was fifteen, I spent two weeks working on a Senate campaign in New York. In college, I wrote a twice-a-month column for the daily student paper.
When did you start blogging and why?
In September 2002, because I realized how little I knew about current events even though (or precisely because) I was getting a Ph.D in international relations. After 9/11, that didn't seem like an acceptable state of affairs.
What has been your favorite post, or favorite story to write about, in that time?
I rarely write about my personal life, but I did post a tribute to my mother after her ordination as a rabbi just over two years ago. That will always be my favorite post.
Describe your typical blogging schedule. And what is your average output?
In general, I only blog after finishing my day's work on my dissertation. I'd say I put in around ten hours a week on the blog, although that has fallen somewhat as I approach the final stages of my dissertation. My output is unpredictable. Even I don't know what my instincts will tell me to write.
Who is your favorite political blogger? Favorite non-political blogger?
The answer to the first part of that question is a tie between Dan Drezner and Phil Carter (who joined the 101st Airborne earlier this summer -- I wish him all the best.) As for non-political blogs, I don't read'em.
Who is your favorite mainstream media columnist?
Jackson Diehl at the WaPo. He understands democracy promotion as an idea and as a policy better than anyone else I've read.
What is your favorite television news program, either network or cable?
I don't have cable and I only watch the networks because they show reruns of "The Simpsons" and "Seinfeld." But my mom has a huge crush on Jon Stewart, so I'll say "The Daily Show."
What MSM-produced websites (i.e. newspapers, magazines) do you visit on a daily basis?
My homepage is www.washingtonpost.com. I usually give the Times a look, as well. Then I read blogs.
What non-MSM websites (i.e. blogs) do you visit on a daily basis?
My top three are Glenn Reynolds, Kevin Drum and Matt Yglesias.
How often, or do you ever, read a newspaper in its dead-tree (i.e. print) form?
I have a subscription to the Washington Post because you can't rest a bowl of cereal on a website.
How do you see the new media and old media affecting and influencing each other in the next five years?
I believe in convergence. The first thing is always tell people (especially journalists) is that the blogosphere is not trying to replace or overthrow the established media. With a few exceptions, bloggers provide opinion and analysis, not original coverage. The blogosphere is basically a virtual op-ed page.
Nonetheless, the blogosphere is a threat to the MSM, but only because we insist that it live up to its self-professed standards of objectivity and impartiality. However, I think journalists are pretty open-minded (especially compared to politicians) and have begun to integrate new media approaches into their own work. I expect that this convergence will only increase in coming years. Of course, I may be totally, catastrophically wrong about that. (It wouldn't be a first.)
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Cracking The Code
Picking up on conservative Will Vehrs' attempt at a Blogging Code of Ethics -- inspired by a debate at UVA's Sorenson Institute Summit on Blogging and Democracy in the Commonwealth -- liberal Raising Kaine tries its hand at spelling out a list of good-blogger rules:
- "Fully disclose," unless there is an "overriding ethical or legal reason."
- "Do not lie or knowingly disseminate false information."
- "Properly attribute the source of information, photos, etc. -- do not plagiarize."
- "Do not attack private individuals, including fellow bloggers. For public officials, make sure that whatever you say is factually based, and ... avoid going ad hominem if at all possible."
- "Obey Will Vehrs Rule #5. 'If I perform the work of a newsgathering journalist in the course of my blogging, I will endeavor to follow generally accepted codes of journalistic conduct, including shielding sources when the reason is explained.'"
- "Obey Will Vehrs Rule #6. 'I will not censor or edit the feedback I receive except for foul language or malicious intent. I will endeavor to be accessible to my readers and to respond to their complaints and suggestions.'"
- "Have fun."
LEST WE FORGET: But It Still Isn't The Dullest Blog In The World
The Agitator's Radley Balko declares 6/27/05 as "The Day Blogging Ceased to be 'Edgy.'" This was "the day the Air Conditioning Contractors of America started its own official blog. I give it another three months before those bastards from the oscillating fan industry start trolling the comments section with snarky rejoinders."
Posted by at August 30, 2005 12:41 PM
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