April 19, 2006

4/19: Can't We Get These Crazy Kids Together?

After all the vitriol the blogosphere normally throws at the MSM, and after all the pretention the MSM throws right back, it's nice to see Columbia University's Pulitzer awards prompt an all out MSM-lefty-blogosphere love fest. Old media stalwart Bill Bennett's labeling of New York Times Pulitzer winners James Risen and Eric Lichtblau as traitors "worthy of jail," has reminded the lefty blogosphere of how valuable a friend the MSM can be. Meanwhile, an MSM article from across the pond extols the power of bloggers and warns politicians and corporations alike to ignore them at their peril.

But don't send out the engagement announcements quite yet. Righty blogs are still unhappy with the MSM in general and the Pulitzer award winners in particular. And lefty bloggers are not about to start cutting the MSM any slack; especially when it comes to Iran. Lefties believe the MSM completely failed them on Iraq and they're determined not to let history repeat with Iran.

Jeffrey Lewis atTPM Cafe calls out the New York Times and AP for their recent coverage of Iran's nuclear capabilities: "A couple of news organizations -- I am looking at you, New York Times and the Associated Press -- have gotten all hot and bothered over a parenthetical reference to Iran's research on the P2 centrifuge. ...These news organizations bit the spin -- Iran's research on the P2 was probably disclosed in Iran's additional protocol declarations -- and missed the real story about the IAEA Additional Protocol: What it is, why it is important and what it means for negotiations with Iran." Fred Kaplan writing at Slate also focuses in on the P2s: "If the claim is true, it suggests that Iran has a second, secret nuclear program separate from its main nuclear facility at Natanz. If we don't know of the existence, much less the location, of crucial nuclear facilities, even an otherwise well-executed campaign of air strikes will have little effect. ...In other words, [Pres.] Bush should commence direct talks with Iran not because they offer a hopeful chance for peace and good will, but because they're a necessary prelude to an international campaign of economic pressure--and because more drastic military pressure would likely backfire. TPM Cafe'sIvo Daalder believes talks are not only the better but also the probable route: "The emerging consensus in Washington and the blogosphere appears to be that war with Iran is just a matter of time. But is war with Iran inevitable? I'm not so sure. ...the main reason I'm not is that the circumstances that enabled Bush to go to war three years ago are now pointing in the opposite direction. ....The context for war is very different today than it was in 2002-03. Then, the president was still riding high in the polls, and the American people looked to him as a trusted, competent, and strong leader. Now, Bush's approval ratings have collapsed and Americans have lost faith in his honesty, competence, and leadership." At Huffington PostCenk Uygur takes a sarcastic bent on the President's Iran policy: "President Bush says he won't take nuclear war off the table. He reserves the right to use nuclear weapons against a country that didn't attack us - and couldn't possibly build the weapons to attack us for another 5-10 years. So, why stop with just nuclear war? ... Are we weaklings not really willing to impose our will on this rogue country that refuses to listen to our demands? Let's go all the way. I think we should keep genocide on the table. In fact, it would be weak not to."

Meanwhile Captain's Quarters sees import in Iran's recent fall out with the United Nations: "Kofi Annan has publicly scolded Iran for its financing and involvement with Hezbollah and their interference with the new democratic government of Lebanon. ...This clarification by the normally supine UN leadership reveals an increasing impatience with the mullahcracy's defiance of the UN over its nuclear program. ...If Teheran loses the UN's benificence, then they have truly miscalculated and gone too far. The mullahcracy may have done what the West couldn't quite accomplish: motivate the UN to actually take significant action against Iranian intransigence."

After Bill Bennett labeled New York Times reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau as traitors "worthy of jail" on his radio show yesterday, lefty bloggers lept to their defense. Liberty Street writes: "I take it as a given...that journalists are essential to a free and democratic society, precisely because their obligation is to the public's right to know and not to the government's right to keep secret. ...the public certainly has a right to know that the president unilaterally authorized a government agency to spy on Americans' telephone and e-mail communications without a search warrant. When Risen and Lichtblau wrote that article, they were doing what journalists are supposed to do." Justin Gardner at Donklephant turns his guns on Bennett: "to hear this type of intellectually dishonest hackery from people like Bennett...is what pisses me off the most. Treason? Really? For alerting Bush a year before this story was published? Treason? Really? For reporting that Bush was going around laws that were put into place specifically to prevent the things he was doing?" The Carpetbagger agrees: "Look, I realize that the story is a dreadful embarrassment for the Bush White House. The president was caught circumventing the law and arguing that he can do literally anything under the guise of national security. The NYT's reporting on this exposed an extra-constitutional scheme that involved spying on Americans without oversight, a warrant, or any checks and balances. But to call these reports treason isn't just wrong; it's silly."

Some righties were quite convinced that the nation would agree with Bennett and not Columbia University. Noel Sheppard at NewsBusters writes: "To be sure, this year's Pulitzer Prize announcement has generated quite an outrage. Almost universally throughout the conservative blogosphere, the revelation that three of the recipients wrote stories about top-secret military information that conceivably compromised America's War on Terror met with shock and dismay. As is typically the case when the normally unflappable Bennett gets so riled in public, his disgust with this awards announcement is likely shared by many Americans irrespective of party affiliation." Flopping Aces was not surprised at all by the selection: "Some on the right have appeared surprised at the announcement of three traitors to our country getting the Pulitzer for their work. I'm not in the least. I was expecting it, I mean this is the award for the MSM ... what else would you expect? They are all patting themselves on the back as if anyone listens to them anymore. Their importance is declining second by second and this is just another nail in the coffin."

While some people will say that, in many ways, the Big Boy never left, Taylor Marsh at FireDogLake reads possible presidential ambitions into Monday's news that Gore has hired former aide and Dean campaign manager Roy Neel to help promote the global warming cause: "Gore's been out promoting his new environmental movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," which was received so warmly at Sundance. But does he have larger ambitions to go along with it? ...Gore still contends he's not focused on '08 and isn't thinking about running right now. But come on, what does that actually mean in political speak? The only thing I haven't heard from Gore is that 2008 is a lifetime away in political terms." Some DailyKossers are in a tizzy over a possible Gore run. TeresaInPa writes: "By now everyone knows I am the number one fan of the idea of an Al Gore presidency. I think we need him not just because he is the best and brightest but because he has an innate decency and humanity rare in politicians. He is smarter than almost everyone, he is decent, he is experienced and he has great character. Oh, and by the way.... I don't give a damn if he has gained some weight." Other Kossites just want to promote the movie and the cause, Patriot for Al Gore: " With An Inconvenient Truth coming out on May 26, I think it is very important for all of us to promote this movie. However, I believe it is even more important for those of us who are parents to do so to inspire our children to become stewards of this planet, as this generation is failing at that task." Bob Geiger and Matthew Yglesias are also excited about possible presidential hopes.

John McCain still is generating buzz across the blogosphere with some on the left sensing bipartisan opportunity. At TNR OnlineJonathon Chait lays out a lefty case for the Arizona Senator: "In the first two years of George W. Bush's presidency, McCain became, in the words of one prominent Democrat, "the leader of the loyal opposition." McCain voted against both of Bush's major tax cuts. In addition to shepherding campaign finance reform through Congress--against the administration's efforts to kill it quietly--he co-sponsored a patients' bill of rights...co-sponsored...a measure to allow the importation of generic prescription drugs; co-sponsored...legislation to raise auto emissions standards; and co-sponsored legislation...to close the "gun-show loophole" On all these things he sided with Democrats against the White House and virtually every Republican. ...Go ahead, senator, flip-flop away. I know you're with us at heart." Ezra Klein looks at McCain's record and concludes otherwise: "Maybe. But I think that's a tough sell. In the end, if you're looking for a liberal, go with a self-identified one, not the heir to Barry Goldwater's seat who's racked up an 83 percent from the American Conservative Union. Given McCain's monstrous popularity and undeniable personal appeal, it's tempting to make him an ideological Rorschach, blowing up his moments of progressivism and downplaying his conservatism. It's a temptation liberals should resist." Matthew Yglesias has a slightly less harsh take: "My Big Correct Debate-Changing Observation about this is that the disagreements here are less about McCain than they are about liberalism. For people who were fairly satisfied with the policy outputs of the late Clinton era -- balanced budgets, strong GDP growth, reality-based environmental policies, etc. -- McCain's views on economics are going to look a lot better than standard Republicanism. If, on the other hand, you want to see dramatic health care reform, big improvements in public services, and a serious effort to curb economic inequality, then Bush's differences with McCain look relatively trivial. ...Now, even if you share the leftier views on both of those questions, I think you ought to concede that McCain really is less pernicious than the median Republican."

Jonah Goldberg finds the lefty debate over McCain "enlightening and entertaining," while fellow Cornerite Rick Brookhiser has already made up his mind on the subject: "Liberals are going after McCain--is he one of us, is he one of them? For conservatives, wouldn't it be easier to accept a candidate whose liberalism and conservatism are open, obvious, and distinct? Giuiliani will not surprise you, and will not let you down. I believe his errors are very grave. That is why I didn't vote for him in 1993. Since then I came to see the virtues of his virtues."

The Guardian'sBobbie Johnson stirred up the blogosphere with a piece on blogger influence. Riehl World View quotes the piece: "Bloggers and Internet pundits are exerting a "disproportionately large influence" on society, according to a report by a technology research company. Its study suggests that although "active" web users make up only a small proportion of Europe's on line population, they are increasingly dominating public conversations and creating business trends." Self congratulation appeared across the political spectrum: Security Watchtower: "Apparently you and I have been helping frame opinions and setting trends in news coverage out here. I know we've help alter Dan Rather's view of his journalistic reality." The Democratic Daily: "Of course we will continue to use our powers for good. While those nasty right wing bloggers use their power to spread misinformation, such as that Saddam had WMD and ties to al Qaeda, we will use our powers to fight for truth, justice, and the American way."Decision '08 had perhaps the best take: "The Guardian has a story on research that shows *give money to Mark Coffey* that bloggers and other active Internet participants *you've got more than enough* are influential far beyond their numbers *why not send some cash to Mark Coffey?*. I don't know about all that, but I do pledge *give money to Mark Coffey* to use what little influence I have *really, do it!* only for the good of my fellow man *have you sent money to Mark Coffey yet?* and not for personal gain... " Others with thoughts: The Adventures of Chester; Dr. Sanity; Blue Crab Boulevard; and Cosmic Variance.

Righty bloggers refused to let the immigration debate fade away after the AP reported on Mexico's immigration policy. Blonde Sagacity got the ball rolling: "I can't believe after ALL this debate we are having here in the US and all the pressure Fox has put on our President and Congress...he is the biggest hypocrite ever. Illegal aliens (or "undocumented workers") are considered felons in Mexico and hunted down like dogs...Why don't we tell El Presidente Fox that whatever he does for his illegals, we'll do for ours... It's only fair right?" Kesher Talk was also not happy: "New details show how Mexico plays the game within its own borders. Illegal immigrants in Mexico are protected, employed, have the right to hold mass demonstrations, are free from assaults (particularly the women), and are universally seen as hard-working people seeking a better life. Wait a minute. I forgot the word "not" in all those clauses." Under a header "Undocumented Workers Face Fear, Harrassment, And Police Corruption... In Mexico" Ace of Spades notes: "I'm sure this is somehow Bush's fault. He was governor of neighboring Texas, after all. So, there you have it. You have people waving Mexican flags and demanding US voting rights who silently (or more than silently) support a Mexican government that treats migrants as opportunities for robbery, rape, and even murder."

Not to be outdone Michelle Malkin highlights a disturbing incident from a student immigration walkout: "From the Santa Barbara News Press, some not-so-peaceful, open borders students wreak havoc on an elderly couple's home:

"A peaceful school-sanctioned protest march in support of illegal immigrants turned ugly Monday when students from Santa Barbara High pelted the home of an elderly couple with rocks and eggs. ..."We were out there and there they come with their shouting and shaking their fists," she said. "We were just saying stay in school, learn English, you know? They didn't like this." "They all lined up there and at the command of one of the girls they threw eggs all of a sudden," she said. In all, nine eggs were lobbed at the home."

And, again, lest you think the reconquista agenda is relegated to Mexican elites and fringe sympathizers in academia, pay attention to the last sentence: "This state used to be Mexico," he said. "We can't make it illegal for them to be here."

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Show Us Your French Quarter!

Garfield Ridge spotlights New Orleans Mayoral candidate Kimberly Williamson Butler's website, which, until recently, featured a beautiful picture of the French Quarter. That's the French Quarter in Disneyland, mind you. The author offers a hat tip "to my brother, who will show you his chest for beads."

LEST WE FORGET: Now That's Just Gross

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had a baby, which is the subject of endless gossip in certain quarters of the Hotline's office. Others think it's just weird. Fortunately, no matter your interest in celebrity birthdays, now we know exactly what he's been eating, courtesy Roller Coaster of Hate.

For those of you with squeamish stomachs, we recommend something more in line with most bloggers' life styles. The New Yorker's Jonathan Stern offers the "Lonely Planet Guide To My Apartment." Sure sounds like our rooms.

Posted by Conn Carroll at April 19, 2006 12:37 PM