March 28, 2006
3/28: Fence Sitting
Sometimes bloggers have a knack for being ahead of the curve. But as we find today, they just as often reflect the prevailing CW on the day's dominant story. The reemergence of immigration as a dominant topic nationally, especially after this weekend's mass demonstrations and yesterday's developments on Capitol Hill, has provided a flashpoint again. And while there are some key distinctions between the left and right on policy, no one seems quite sure just how much of an impact any moves will have come 11/06, or whether the issue itself is a decisive one among voters. But these things have a way of working themselves out, so perhaps better indicators are to come.
Elsewhere, today is another day where any number of subjects compete for second billing. Andy Card's resignation as WH CoS is sure to be big talk. The Ben Domenech blogswarm has died down, as AP finds itself scrutinized for its supposed policy not to cite blogs. Also: developments in the Moussaoui case raise some questions; FEC makes moves on regulating the blog world; Antonin Scalia's finger gets some love, and don't miss our latest Blogger Spotlight.
IMMIGRATION: Hot Topic Du Jour
Late 3/27, the Senate Jud. Cmte. voted on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The cmte's bill, which passed 12-6 and heads to the floor today, is widely seen as more moderate than a version the House passed in '05. In the wake of this weekend's massive protests around the nation (see 3/27 Blogometer), immigration remains a hot topic in the blogosphere. Joe Gandelman at The Moderate Voice covered immigration issues as a reporter and shares his views on the whole spectrum of issues immigration brings up. 
Reaction on the left was mostly upbeat, as Dems felt like they'd beaten back amendments that were perceived as anti-immigrant. Polimom was one of the optimists, and offers a breakdown of the issue through several issue lenses. She concludes: "The Senate did the right thing yesterday when they put the brakes on this emotional roller-coaster." Ezra Klein sees a move away from "the failed, moralistic, xenophobic policies of the past." Lefties had a fun time debating the politics of immigration as well. DailyKos' Georgia10 thinks the debate helps Dems by hurting GOPers: "Republicans want to make immigration a 'wedge' issue for the midterm elections -- but it appears it is acting as a wedge for the Republican Party itself." The Left Coaster: The bill "will be too much for conservatives, but Democrats are able to get this to the floor now. All eyes turn to Frist now to see if he will blow this up." Everything Between and The Democratic Daily offer similar political analysis. Meteor Blades at The Next Hurrah criticizes Dems for their lack of a coherent position: "I have no hopes that, even if they could, elected Democrats would follow the Iroquois model of looking ahead seven generations in evaluating the possible effects of any policy decisions they make in this matter. Can I at least suggest they look beyond the November elections in choosing a stance?" American Street's Kevin Hayden and Low On The Hog think eliminating the word "illegal" will take the wind out of GOPers' sails. Several conservative blogs follow Meteor Blades' lead, but criticize GOPers in the Sen. John Hawkins, of Right Wing News: "Sometimes, you just have to scratch your head and wonder what goes on in the vast empty space between the ears of some of the Republicans in the Senate." The bill passed, he said, "might as well have been written by Vicente Fox." Jawa Report's Bluto: "Presumably, the Republicans are motivated by the prospect of dirt-cheap labor, while the Democrats hope to harvest votes from the illegal immigrant 'community'." Red State's California Yankee blames the four GOPers who joined Dems to pass the bill out of cmte. Hugh Hewitt blames Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). But Mickey Kaus thinks the issue will work for Republicans. "1) Voters say it's an important issue; 2) A majority wants some sort of border-control action; 3) The GOP base feels intensely about it; 4) Many Congressional Democrats are -- by ideology or interest group pressure -- locked in to a pro-immigrant, non-tough stance (or if they strike a tough pose it seems just that). In all these respects, immigration resembles welfare reform, a key hot-button base-mobilizing issue for Republicans in the 1994 midterms." Glenn Reynolds calls immigration on the whole "poison for both parties." For his part, Wizbang wins our Creative-If-Futile Idea of the Day award with his proposal to scrap the 13th Amendment. Mark Noonan at GOP Bloggers is still peeved about the weekend's demonstrations: "The more these illegals and their foolhardy allies demonstrate, the more likely the House immigration bill (the one that makes it a felony to be in the US illegally) will eventually be signed into law." Euphoric Reality's Heidi thinks L.A., where 500K people protested over the weekend and thousands more walked out of school 3/27 and today, "is fast becoming a Third World dump." Michelle Malkin wonders about Pres. Bush's "shadows" rhetoric in light of the eye-popping number of demonstrators.
This a.m., AP broke news that WH CoS Andy Card resigned. Replacing him will be OMB dir. Josh Bolten. Surprisingly, perhaps, few celebrated Card's tenure. Macs Mind, one of the few offering a handshake on the way out: "Thanks Andy for the service." Other GOPers greeted the news happily. RedState, citing Harriet Miers, the Dubai ports deal and other fiascos, is pleased: "It is about time Mr. Card resigned." More, on the new CoS: "Mr. Bolten has been a forward thinker and we welcome him to the job." Decision '08: "The President has been the victim of poor political handling, beginning at least with Katrina and perhaps before. Anything that will change the personnel dynamic can only be a good thing at this point." But some on the right don't think Bolten will make for much change: Power Line header: "Yawn." More: "I doubt that the change will make any difference, except maybe cosmetically, but it may satisfy some of those who have been demanding 'change' in the administration." Outside The Beltway notes: "Unless Bolton comes up with some bold new policy initiatives, it is unclear how this move will bolster the president's sagging poll numbers." The Moderate Voice: "The Card resignation which just so happens to come amid continued suggestions that Bush change his staff, coupled with the change in approach to dealing with the press, indicate the White House is moving to stem political damage and try to rebuild support in some areas." The left is at once dismissing Card and welcoming Bolten with, erm, open palms. Lefty Firedoglake welcomes the "new" guy: "Bolten has worked with Bush since his time in Texas -- nothing like looking to your circle of cronies first for someone. Wouldn't want anyone who would irritate the President with pesky truthiness or anything." More hits on Bolten from the Booman Tribune: "Since Bolten has done such a bang up job as budget director, I believe it's probably safe for all of us to put bags over our heads and pretend that the next three [years] aren't happening. Think of puppies and kittens. It's better that way." Middle Earth Journal, one of many to sound a common refrain: "Another case of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." And Georgia10 chimes in: "There's no saving this failed Presidency now." Blogging of the President also piles on.
In other news, some righties are still talking about Sen. Russ Feingold's (D-WI) censure measure. Matt Margolis: "President Bush actually fights the war on terror, and the Democrats consider that reason for censure, if not impeachment. While Feingold's censure resolution has received little support, some Democrats won't rule it out either."
WAR ON TERRORISM: Tales From An Arlington Courtroom
Convicted Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui made a splash 3/27 p.m. when he told a jury that he and convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid were to be two hijackers on a fifth plane on 9/11/01. Their target? The WH. Plenty of bloggers responded to the AP's version of the story. Moussaoui's "revelation itself isn't all that shocking. The fact that Moussaoui blurted it out in court is," says righty PunditGuy. Fellow righty Outside The Beltway: "One suspects this will not make the jury sympathetic to his cause." Below The Beltway thanks him for salvaging the gov't's case: "Before today, the government's case looked like it was a loser, especially after the fiasco with the coached TSA witnesses. After this testimony, though, I will be surprised if he doesn't get the death penalty." Instapundit thinks, however, that the testimony "underscores the damage done by the inept investigation after his arrest." Gina Cobb forsees the left's reaction: "Only the very naive or the very anti-American will be surprised by Moussaoui's testimony." Strata-Sphere agrees. Righty Debbie Schlussel takes the opportunity to bash the FBI again.
Others are skeptical that Moussaoui, who once stated that Muslims are permitted to lie in three circumstances, including in the execution of jihad, is telling the truth now. In The Bullpen's Chad Evans: "Richard Reid? I have a hard time believing that." Lefty Newshog smells a ploy: "My gut feeling is that this is a man who has given up the will to live or has discovered the will to die. He is trying to force the jury into making him a martyr." Viking Pundit reaches the same conclusion. Righty Ace of Spades, A Blog For All and Confederate Yankee are likewise skeptical. Captain's Quarters: "I'm rather suspicious of the testimony today, and in the absence of corroboration, I'm inclined to chalk this up to a streak of egotistical, suicidal idiocy on Moussaoui's part." Gates of Vienna also questions Moussaoui's veracity through the lens of a paradox written by Epimenides, a 6th-century Greek prophet and philosopher.
IRAQ: Interviewing The Interviewer
Democracy Project talks with retiring Knight Ridder military editor Joe Galloway. He says the U.S. military has, in Bruce Kessler's words, "painfully earned successful experience that's coming to bear," but the problem is: the "American people are fed up with it." Asked to compare Saigon with Baghdad, Galloway says South Vietnam had a "semi-orderly" military dictatorship, compared to the "not even semi-orderly" early democracy in Iraq.
Daily Kos' SusanG cites Reuters' report that the ruling Shiite majority wants U.S. forces to return control of security to the Iraqi gov't after the latest mosque attack. She the refers to Bush's 1/05 statement, that he'd withdraw forces from Iraq if the new gov't asked him to. "Mr. Bush, Can We Go Home Now?"
Not content with expressing his views on a case yet to be argued (see 3/27's Blogometer), SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia responded to his critics by flipping them off. Boston Herald reports. Lefty No More Mister Nice Blog comes out firing: "If Ted Kennedy had done something like this thirty years ago, they'd still be attacking him for it." The Carpetbagger Report makes a similar point: "Classy guy. I wonder what conservatives would say if Ruth Bader Ginsburg had done something similar." Two Glasses and The Washington Note make similar points while calling for Scalia's recusal, and AMERICAblog, which first started talking about the incident, wants an apology for "every Christian." Stop The ACLU: "So what if he did [flip the bird]? They deserved it."
Going back to yesterday's argument about whether Scalia ought to recuse himself from Hamden v. Rumsfeld, Joe Gandelman of The Moderate Voice changed his mind and doesn't think Scalia should step aside.
BLOGS VS. THE MSM: Plagiarism The New Black?
Brad DeLong wants WashingtonPost.com exec. ed. Jim Brady to provide examples of Ben Domenech's work that justified his hiring. "I haven't gotten an answer. Somehow I don't think I [will]." Meanwhile, INDC Journal has posted a poem to mark the occasion. But elsewhere, the topic seems to have died down completely.
The AP, apparently, doesn't value blogs as much as their other sources. That, predictably, has bloggers mad. When Raw Story ran a piece 3/13 claiming the Bush admin was changing certain rules relating to granting security clearances, especially based on sexual orientation, several GLBT groups approached the authors and asked for their notes. Given the notes, those groups went to the AP, which followed up with an article of its own. The problem: AP didn't bother to cite Raw Story or the authors who wrote the piece. The AP told one of the authors, Larisa Alexandrovna, that they don't credit blogs. She provides a breakdown of the situation at Huffington Post. Roger L. Simon writes: "This is more than picking on the small fry. This is fear of the small fry -- the media class struggle in its MSM vs. blogs essence." Matt Stoller, Jim Lindgren, Majikthise and L'Ombre de L'Olivier call AP's actions either stealing or plagarism. Captain's Quarters: "After seeing the pillorying that Ben Domenech received -- and rightly so -- for plagiarism, this arrogant dismissal of outright theft by the supposed "professionals" of the mainstream media puts the whole issue in perspective. This implicates not just the AP, one of the world's largest newsgathering organizations, but every client of the AP that runs their stories on their sites and in their newspapers."
The FEC ruled 3/27 to exempt blogs and other internet communications from political advertising laws. Those weighing in were resoundingly positive. RedState, as always, has coverage of the meeting, complete with remarks from FEC chair Michael Toner. Wizbang called the new rules, which were approved on a 6-0 vote, "excellent news for all those who opine about politics and politicians on the internet." DailyKos' Adam B: "The netroots have won."
In other campaign finance news, Tim Chapman, one of the bloggers on a conference call with top GOP members discussing 527 reform, concludes that, instead of properly regulating 527 groups under McCain-Feingold, "I think in their zeal to come up with a 'temporary fix' to a real problem," Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Tom Price (R-GA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Patrick McHenry (R-NC) "have chosen more regulation instead of less." Hugh Hewitt agrees: "This seems like a cough syrup nastier than the cough." Of note, Club For Growth is adding the bill, HR 4975, to their "key vote" list. They're calling a "No" vote one that is pro-economic growth.
BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT: Comments From The PunditGuy-llery
Today, the Blogometer talks to Bill Nienhuis, also known as the PunditGuy.
What is your full name?
Bill Nienhuis
What is your age?
40.
Where did you grow up?
Northwest Washington State.
Where do you live now?
Same.
What is your occupation?
Director for an electronic book publishing company.
Have you ever worked on a political campaign or for the mainstream media?
No.
When did you start blogging and why?
I started blogging in October of 2004 because I was interested in the '04 Presidential Election.
What has been your favorite post, or favorite story to write about, in that time?
2005 Tsunami, because I was one of only a couple of bloggers to post amateur video of the destruction as it happened.
Describe your typical blogging schedule.
I blog in the morning, then sporadically as stories develop during the day.
And what is your average output?
More or less, 4 to 6 posts per day.
Who is your favorite political blogger?
Favorite non-political blogger?
Who is your favorite mainstream media columnist?
Charles Krauthammer.
What is your favorite television news program, either network or cable?
Meet the Press.
What MSM-produced websites (i.e. newspapers, magazines) do you visit on a daily basis?
The Washington Post and Yahoo! News.
What non-MSM websites (i.e. blogs) do you visit on a daily basis?
25 to 30 different blogs, mostly political or current event focused.
How often, or do you ever, read a newspaper in its dead-tree (i.e. print) form?
Only when I'm on a flight (USA Today).
How do you see the new media and old media affecting and influencing each other in the next five years?
Old media is learning to react to stories faster, and they're now browsing the blogosphere in order to gauge what the "buzz" is as news happens. Bloggers who are serious about what they write are trying to be as thorough and accurate as possible so they can gain recognition among the MSM. Some hope that they'll be picked by MSM sites to submit regular editorial pieces, etc.
Today's elections in Israel is expected to bring out two-thirds of registered voters -- a mark called low for average Israeli elections. Roger L. Simon is blogging from the U.S., while An Unsealed Room and IsraellyCool liveblog from Israel. So is The Guardian. Of note, Vital Perspective is reporting that ex-PM/Likud party head Benjamin Netanyahu is expressing concern about winning just 14 of the Knesset's 120 seats.
Mark Tapscott pays tribute to ex-Reagan aide Lyn Nofzinger, who died 3/27 at the age of 81: "It's just not possible to try to put into words at such a moment what Lyn represented, either to America or to hundreds of us who worked with and for him during the Reagan years. He was the truest and the toughest of the Reaganauts. And so much more. For many of us, Lyn was also father, confidante and friend and we would walk through fire for the man. Even now years later, tears are being shed all over America by those who knew and loved him." Tapscott includes links to obits from major papers.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY: We're All Patriots
George Mason is one of the top searches at Technorati, proving perhaps that everyone in the blogosphere can rally around the underdog. Power Line breaks down the tournament and why he almost didn't watch. And The Volokh Conspiracy's writers -- most of whom are George Mason U. profs., are beside themselves at the "stunning, breathtaking results, and magical games."
LEST WE FORGET: Wallowing In Wealth
The New Editor links to an IL Daily Herald report, on Univ. of IL researchers who "may have learned how to turn pig manure into crude oil more efficiently by using a continuous reactor." Ace of Spades HQ reads on with interest, and provides this ironic twist of fate: "Let's see. Muslims have most of the oil. Muslims use the oil weapon against us. Muslims hate pigs, considering them 'unclean' because they root in their own feces. Pig feces can be used to make oil. I love it when God decides to get funny."
Ace also does a funny breakdown of the top 10 differences between Sen. John Kerry's and VP Cheney's riders. Number 3: "For exercise, John Kerry requires a yoga mat and aerobic "step" platforms; Dick Cheney requires a set of nunchucks and a kidnapped hobo."
Posted by at March 28, 2006 12:44 PM
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