August 08, 2005

8/8: Signing Off

Note for web readers: To go directly to the SCOTUS coverage (or what there is of it) click here.

Whether one was a fan or detractor of ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, many in the blogosphere find something nice to say about him this a.m. Of all the kinds of stories that attract blog swarms, obituaries tend to be among the least substantive, as there isn't always a clear news hook besides noting the somber milestone. This is mostly the case with Jennings obits, although more than a few reflect on having watched Jennings in the days before the Internet, and a few even share detailed stories.

Elsewhere, various intricacies and questions surrounding Patrick Fitzgerald's CIA leak investigation heads into its 2nd month as a major blogosphere preoccupation. Most discussion centers on Robert Novak's evacuation from "Inside Politics" on its penultimate episode. Additionally, a new report suggesting that VP Cheney CoS Scooter Libby might be Judy Miller's source gets some play itself.

And while many Dems and liberals claim a partial victory in the OH 02 special election decided last week, liberal discontent with the DCCC actually seems to be on the upswing. While some liberals criticize the DCCC's actions prior to the vote, others poke holes in a post-election memo from the cmte. And we'll probably see more of this before long.

TRACKBACKS: Peter The Great

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

• >> On late 8/6, TV Newser and a few others started hearing rumors that ABC affils. had been told to "prepare for" Jennings' death. The Political Teen reports: "Matt Drudge was addressing rumors of the death of former ABC news anchor Peter Jennings around 11pm eastern, however he couldn't confirm them. The AP officially broke the story around 12am eastern." The Disney Blog heard the same, but "refused to post anything about it" at the time.
  
  

  >> After his passing the next evening, reactions ran the gamut, from shock -- The Corner; Ranting Profs; Outside the Beltway -- to mere mentions -- Alarming News; AMERICAblog; Southern Appeal; PoliPundit -- to career retrospectives -- Wizbang; The Moderate Voice; Michael King -- favorable recollections of his 9/11 coverage -- The Talking Dog; Protein Wisdom -- admittances of rarely or never watching -- Dan Drezner; Volokh Conspiracy; Outside the Beltway -- and for some conservatives, acknowledgement of disagreement with Jennings' supposed politics, but respecting him regardless -- Damian Penny; Protein Wisdom; Power Pundit; Rhymes With Right. Newly-minted ConservaGlobe: "I am on the right side of the political spectrum, and I had my disagreements with ABC anchor Peter Jennings. However, Mr. Jennings did a lot to cement my interest in world politics."
  
  

  >> Many bloggers simply offer condolences -- The Anchoress; Right Wing News; Ranting Profs; Skippy the Bush Kangaroo; Patrick Ruffini; Fafblog; GOP Bloggers; Legacy Matters; Daily Inklings.
  
  

  >> Conservatives Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrissey both disapprovingly note that anti-smoking group ASH sent out an e-mail "to tell people that it predicted the likelihood of his death when Jennings first disclosed his illness." A few others offer references to Jennings' smoking -- Ace of Spades HQ; La Shawn Barber's Corner.
  
  

  >> A contributor to Christian blog Oh How I Love Jesus writes about learning English by watching Jennings' broadcasts. The View From My Chair is upset that NBC broke into the final segment of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (on the West Coast) with news of Jennings' passing: "Eulogies for Peter Jennings are appropriate for his contribution to the MSM and they will be on all newscasts this evening and tomorrow. Interrupting regularly scheduled broadcasts should be reserved for critical news announcements only."
  
  

  >> Some posts are more critical of Jennings. Brothers Judd cites a specific grievance. Baldilocks writes: "I really hate it when someone I merely dislike dies a painful death like this, because I want them to be healthy and well so I can dislike them with a clean conscience."
  
  

  >> Related: the ABC news story on his passing · Crooks and Liars re-posts Jennings' 4/5 announcement of his illness · click here for Jennings' appearance on "The Daily Show" · Jennings' ABC bio · initial reactions from ABC brass and talent · TV Newser has a round-up of reactions from Jennings' colleagues · Jennings' Wikipedia entry.

NOVAK: Drama Prince

Journalist Robert Novak's 8/4 early departure from the set of "Inside Poltics" -- and subsequent indefinite suspension from CNN -- was the talk of the blogosphere late last week; The Political Teen and Crooks and Liars both have video.

Josh Marshall asked Novak sparring partner James Carville about the scene, and reports back that Carville "had no idea why it would have set Novak off." He quotes Carville: "At the time I thought it was like a 2.5 (on the scale on pundit show smackdowns). But when I heard it again later, I thought, no, it's more like a 1.5." Marshall notes that Novak "stomped down to the 9th floor to talk to the CNN brass after he left the set." Marshall thinks the "real money quote isn't the barnyard epithet that sent Novak to the CNN penalty box, but the 'Just let it go!' he barked at Ed Henry as he started to bolt the stage. To my eyes that line seemed to have a lot more uummmph behind it than the BS headliner." TAPPED wonders if Carville's on-air comment to Novak about needing to "show the right wingers that you are a stand-up guy," suggests that Novak "already named names": "If so, is the VRWC silently sharpening their knives in the event that Novak's spilled the beans?"

Mystery Pollster's Mark Blumenthal points out that the large book visible on the desk before Henry was "Who's Who in America." Mickey Kaus, on why Novak wouldn't "want to say whether he in fact got Plame's name from Who's Who": "[B]ecause the truthful answer would be 'no.'" Wizbang posts Plame husband/ex-Amb. Joe Wilson's "Who's Who" entry.

Washington Monthly's Amy Sullivan, who interviewed him in late '04, writes that Novak "has threatened to immediately terminate any interview in which such questions are raised ... I'm almost certain (although I could never get anyone at CNN to confirm it for me) that he threatened to walk off the set if anyone at the network asked him about Plame." NYU j-prof Jay Rosen sums up his thoughts: "Old Novak rules: sorry fellas, can't talk. New rules: Novak chooses. This, I believe, is the cause of what happened on air. The legitimacy of Novak's exemption from questioning had collapsed earlier in the week. Ed Henry was ready with that news. Novak was not ready to receive it."

ROVE-PLAME-MILLER: The Libby Factor

At the American Prospect, journalist Murray Waas reports that Miller met with Libby 2 days after Joe Wilson's 7/03 op-ed in the NYT. Daily Kos' Armando, a previously grudging admirer of Miller's refusal to testify (see 7/8 Blogometer) adds, "if Libby was Miller's source, and she was honoring her pledge of confidentiality, then Libby is a douchebag for not personally releasing her. And, then Miller was doing the right thing by not breaking her promise. In other words, LIBBY, RELEASE MILLER! FREE JUDITH MILLER!" JustOneMinute: "It is not up to Libby's attorneys to open private negotiations with Ms. Miller's team about the circumstances under which she will testify -- folks would have good reason to scream 'Collusion!' On the other hand, if Fitzgerald orders Libby to negotiate and/or oversees the effort, any resulting deal may (Miller might argue) be viewed as coerced. A conundrum." JOM also continues to promote the theory that Russert issued a too-specific denial re: Miller, and so should still be considered a possible source. Arianna Huffington speculates that Miller could face another contempt charge for requesting to serve her sentence at home on account of her husband's ill health, only for him to depart on a Mediterranean cruise upon her jailing.

Newsweek's Michael Isikoff reports that the DoJ official overseeing Fitzgerald's investigation is leaving, and that one possible replacement is a member of Skull & Bones, like Pres. Bush. The Left Coaster notes that this news is actually more than a week old, and links to a 7/29 post on the matter. Talking Points Memo focuses on the absence of phone records: "My understanding is that this issue is become a key one for whatever it is that Fitzgerald is trying to prove. But is this credible?"

Mark A.R. Kleiman puts more stock in a Los Angeles Times report that Bush "sacked" the prosecutor originally investigating disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and writes, this matter "calls for a Resolution of Inquiry, which is the first step toward impeachment and which is a privileged motion that must be brought to a vote on the floor." He adds, if the GOP wants to "support corruption and cover-up, make them vote for it. Again, and again, and again."

At the Huffington Post, ex-Clinton adviser Paul Begala predicts that Bush will end up pardoning dep. CoS Karl Rove.

DEMOCRATS: The Don't-Get-Along Gang

Jesse Lee, blogger for the DCCC's Stakeholder, fires back at Swing State Project's Bob Brigham, who attacked the DCCC for being slow to support OH 02 Dem candidate Paul Hackett (see 8/4 Blogometer). Lee disagrees with a fundraising claim Brigham made on "IP" last week, adding: "Congratulations to Bob Brigham for his first lie on national television." In an update after speaking with Brigham, Lee pulls it back a bit.

On an unrelated note, Dem activist David Sirota criticizes the DCCC's reaction to the OH 02 race: "Incredibly, [the memo] makes not one mention of the Iraq War and its effect on the election. Not one. It is as if the party is going out of its way to deny the importance of Democrats taking a strong position against the war, or making the war a serious issue in their campaigns." Sirota makes the memo available in PDF form: page 1; page 2. MyDD adds that the memo-writer mixes up rural counties with suburban and exurban counties.

Ron Brownstein's National Journal cover story on the Internet and the left is released in its entirety to Daily Kos. Armando disagrees with a comment by DLCer Ed Kilgore, who tells Brownstein: "If we put a gun to everybody's head in the country and make them pick sides, we're not likely to win." Armando: "Ed, this is simply not true. And once you realize that, you will see why we are right and you are wrong. When we make folks pick sides against the GOP Extremism of Dobson and the committed support to a policy of making sure the government leaves you alone in your private decisions advocated by Liberals, they will pick our side, in droves. Don't fear that fight."

BLOGGERS VS. BLOGGERS: There's Something About Malkin

Volokh Conspiracy's David Bernstein takes issue with the "taxonomy" of conservative bloggers at Fables of the Reconstruction (see 8/4 Blogometer), in part because of personal attacks on Michelle Malkin. He writes: "Attacking Malkin in this way comes with especially poor grace from the left blogger community, which -- dare I note -- includes, as far as I'm aware, no female, nonwhite blogger nearly as prominent as Malkin."

Lefty UT-Austin law prof Brian Leiter defends the post, despite being "more vulgar than funny on the subject of Malkin, though I much prefer his vulgarity to her different brand..." On the other hand, liberal Sivacracy writes: "I can hardly believe I'm defending Michelle 'Japanese Internment During WWII Was Peachy' Malkin, but for" Fables blogger Mithras to "label HER a bigot after calling her an 'affirmative action hire' [and worse] is beyond hypocrisy, and really sickening."

Wizbang's Jay Tea argues that conservatives can count more "serious essaysists" in the blogosphere than can the left.

AIR AMERICA: Still No Love From The Times

Expected '06 Dem GOV candidate/NY AG Eliot Spitzer is investigating Air America's financial situation, according to the New York Post.

Meanwhile, conservative bloggers are pleased to see the Arizona Republic weigh in on the Air America story, editorializing: "You don't have to be a Columbia School of Journalism grad to sense that this developing story might have legs." RedState notices.

Michelle Malkin continues to ask: "How much longer will Air America's cheerleaders at the New York Times remain silent?"

IN THE STATES: First OH, Then The WH

At The Has Been for Slate, DLC's Bruce Reed calls the OH GOV race the "most important contest in America" in '06. Govs "have the power to appoint a network of political allies to jobs across the state and the proximity to maintain it" -- which would be very useful in capturing OH's 20 EVs in '08.

SENATE '06: Rosalind Kurita, Jump A Little Lighter

Jerome Armstrong encourages readers of MyDD to donate to Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV): "Byrd is our truth-teller, and will nail [potential '06 opponent/Rep. Shelley Moore] Capito to the wall over her pro-privatization statements in support of Bush's attempt to dismantle Social Security." He adds: "The entrance of Capito into the US Senate race would also open up the toss-up 2nd CD of WV, where ex-state party chair Mike Callaghan is ready to gain the seat for Democrats.

MyDD's Scott Shields, on the anti-Frist blog ads being run by '06 TN SEN candidate/state Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D): "Wisely, she's trying to take advantage of netroots disgust with Frist to raise some much-needed funds. Two, these ads aren't just running at progressive sites. They're running at the Tennessee newspaper sites and the conservative blogs Instapundit and BillHobbs.com. Kurita knows that to beat the nationally recognized Ford, she needs to raise her profile."

Crooked Timber's Ted Barlow takes exception to a claim by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) that the fed'l tax rate "for the average family has gone up from 2% (in 1950) to 27% today" and that "income from a second worker simply replaces the money that the family pays in increased federal taxes." Barlow is "rather sure that this isn't true," and elaborates.

MISCELLANY: Rime Of The Accident Submariners

• Gateway Pundit live-blogged the weekend rescue of the bathysphere-bound Russian sailors. Former submariner Ultraquiet No More offers perspective.
• Conservative Stop the ACLU promotes a report from Christian org. Reclaiming America that the FL Supreme Court "is responsible for helping to fund" the FL ACLU.
• A number of liberal blogs link to a page at the Truth Caucus with photos from a recent College GOPer event at DC's Old Ebbitt Grill. "Guests of the party are seen passing around a trophy cup full of liquor as if it's a '70s-era bong."
• In a post titled "The Republican Noise Machine Enters Local Blogospheres," MyDD's Chris Bowers notes links between PoliticsNJ/PoliticsPA/PoliticsNH/etc. are linked to the conservative Claremont Institute. Noting that liberal bloggers often turn to PoliticsPA for political news, Bowers declares: "Enough is enough. No wonder conservatives dominate local blogospheres. It's time to pull the plug on Politics PA."
• A diary promoting ex-GOPer/Navy veteran Eric Massa's (D-NY) House candidacy gets front-paged at Daily Kos. Over at RedState, Mike Krempasky is skeptical of Massa's explanation of his break with the GOP; at different times, he appears to have given different answers.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Mild Thing

Univ. of TN law prof Glenn Reynolds reflects on the evolution of Instapundit on the eve of his 4th blogiversary: "I think that the tone has gotten milder. This was never a rantblog, but I decided over a year ago, during the election runup, to try to be extra-conscious about word choice, and to avoid name-calling as much as possible. Over-the-top hysterics on other blogs turn me off even when they're from someone I agree with, and I suspect many people feel that way. You can have strong opinions without strong language, and they're usually more persuasive that way, or so it seems to me."

LEST WE FORGET: Bet Letterman Regrets Never Copyrighting The Phrase "Top Ten"

IMAO presents the "Top Signs Your Corporation is stealing from the Boys and Girls Club"

SCOTUS SPECIAL: Kids

What the blogs are saying about Pres. Bush's pick of John Roberts for the SCOTUS:

ASSESSMENTS: For Bloggers' Eyes Only

UCLA law prof Eugene Volokh obtains permission from "solid liberal" atty Ken Karst to reproduce an e-mail Karst sent to colleagues. Writes Karst: "I am one of those liberal law academics whom Justice Scalia sometimes blames for the Supreme Court's straying from the True Path. Even so, I believe the Senate should confirm Judge Roberts's nomination. By all accounts, he is a first-rate lawyer, who listens carefully to arguments, even when they go against his initial inclinations. He seems to me to be a true conservative, who sees the judicial role as one in which courts conserve."

Conservative bloggers at Confirm Them and Patterico's Pontifications scoff at a letter from Carter-appointed fed'l district judge Marilyn Hall Patel urging Roberts to denounce his supporters' ads and request they be discontinued, while not specifically asking that his opponents discontinue theirs.

NEW YORK TIMES: Kidding Around

Matt Drudge's report that the New York Times was investigating the Roberts' adoption turns out to be mostly correct.

Times Public Editor Byron "Barney" Calame is still on vacation, so St. Louis' own Joe Plambeck from the Office of the Publisher sends out emails to inquiring readers. His e-mail quotes a "senior editor" at the Times: "We did not order up an investigation of the adoptions. We have not pursued the issue after the initial inquiries, which detected nothing irregular about the adoptions." Polipundit got the e-mail, and posts it.

Wall Street Journal's James Taranto wonders whether the adoption inquiry really is part of the "standard background check," as the Times told Drudge. Taranto: "As far as we are aware, Roberts is the only adoptive parent to be nominated to the Supreme Court in recent times, but did the Times make intrusive inquiries about the children" of Ginsburg or Breyer?

The popular conservative cartoon Day by Day contrasts the NYT's interest in the Roberts adoption with their non-reporting on Air America's financial situation.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: Thanks, But No Thanks

News that Roberts did pro-bono work in a gay-rights case brings back unserious rumors about his personal life (see 7/22 Blogometer), this time in the form of a tongue-in-cheek blog inviting other blogs to express their solidarity with him. Founding member Villainous Company explains the site's existence.

Posted by at August 8, 2005 12:30 PM