April 03, 2006

4/1: Cannibalistic Bloggers Ahead

It seemed to be a busy news weekend, and the blogosphere was busy acting like sharks in a feeding frenzy. Jill Carroll's return, Rep. Cynthia McKinney's (D-GA) presser, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) "MTP" appearance and Kevin Phillips' Washington Post "mea culpa" all inspired outbursts, but sometimes those outbursts were not directed at the subjects or authors. This is one weekend when bloggers seemed to prefer the taste of each other. One conservative blogger seems to teeter perilously on the verge of "ex-communication," as one blog expert put it, for her role in trashing Carroll. The Carroll controversy also brings up a mini-debate within the blogosphere about its self-appointed position of MSM watchdog.

Meanwhile, AMERICAblog's John Avarosis takes some flack for questioning the role that two prominent liberal groups played in defending McKinney. Adam Nagourney's piece on the blogosphere's part in the political process, though, proved plenty of fodder for those in the blogosphere looking for their latest MSM scapegoat.

JILL CARROLL: The Blowback

The furor over statements made by rescued reporter Jill Carroll has taken a new twist now that Carroll has returned home and repudiated her appearance on an insurgent video in which she said that her captors treated her well. The statements, she said, were part of a deal to let her go free, and that claim is forcing some on the right who attacked her for her supposed anti-American sentiment to rethink their immediate reactions. The debate in the blogosphere has developed into two seperate discussions: A number of those on the right still believe Carroll is symptomatic of the American media in Iraq, which is anti-Pres. Bush and focuses only on negative stories. The majority of the blogosphere, however, takes Carroll at her word and sees the entire incident in a negative light for the blogosphere itself.

Donklephant sums up the situation: "The Jill Carroll story someday will be told in full, but already it's offered a painful (I hope) lesson for a great many right-side bloggers and talk radio hosts. When the kidnapped reporter's final recorded statement in captivity popped up on an Islamist Web site, the ant-Iraq War, anti-Bush, pro-insurgent rhetoric of it fit many people's preconceived ideas about U.S. media in Iraq. And so they jumped the smoking gun." == The Moderate Voice calls attacks by the right "a black eye to blogging," and Instapundit thinks everyone went too far during the story, including the MSM. == Rantingprofs wants everyone -- bloggers and the MSM -- to respect Carroll's privacy.

The left remains upset by Carroll's treatment and sees parallels in earlier blogswarms. In Search Of Utopia : "I am reminded of the swiftboat job on John Kerry, and how his wife was even dragged through the mud." == The case also brings up questions about the role the blogosphere serves as the MSM's watchdog. PoliPundit thinks Carroll's case is sympotmatic of the blogosphere simply looking for the next journalist's head they're able to bag.

Righty Power Line absolves Carroll, but not the lefty blogosphere. Righties Macsmind and Debbie Schlussel, who'd criticized Carroll's statements, remains convinced that Carroll is anti-American. Schlussel's comments are cause for attack themselves, and Florida Cracker, Middle Earth Journal and Decision '08 jump right in. Beth at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy goes after Schlussel full-force. Don Surber and Schlussel exchange emails.

A Blog For All sums up, with links to more points of view.

In response to the incident earlier last week in which McKinney was accused of assaulting a Capitol Police officer, McKinney held a presser at Howard University to respond to charges 3/31 p.m. AP's version of the presser was the most popular among bloggers linking. While in other cases a debate between the right and left might be expected, most bloggers stand firmly against McKinney. Lefty State of the Day who sums up most reactions: "Rep. McKinney, knock it off. Admit you were wrong. You were wrong to not wear your required lapel pin. You were wrong to not stop after several verbal requests. You were wrong to immediately hit an officer of the law who grabbed your arm. You were wrong to discuss this at a politically, racially, and sexually charged news conference. You were wrong to make this a racial incident. You were wrong to make this a sexual incident. You were wrong to say you were touched inappropriately." == The Daily Brief gives the Capitol Police officer "some benefit of the doubt." == Norwegianity notes this isn't the first time McKinney's run afoul of the Capitol Police.

Aravosis thinks McKinney's got some unfortunate allies, representatives of which attended the presser: "If you ever needed proof of how irrelevant the big-monied liberal advocacy groups have become, we got a lovely demonstration today when the NAACP and the National Organization for Women spoke at a press conference on behalf of the nutsy-cukoo Democrat from Georgia, Cynthia McKinney." Andrew Sullivan and Bark Bark Woof Woof quote Aravosis verbatim. == Seeing The Forest and American Street, normally allies of Aravosis, disagree, but focus more on Aravosis' classification of the NAACP and NOW as "irrelevant."

Some saw the presser as attempted intimidation, including Riehl World View, who calls the it "your typical brown shirt tactic of a" gov't "official attempting to use governmental authority to intimidate." And the debate took on a hint of a racial tinge as Media Matters notes syndicated radio host Neal Boortz's controversial comments about McKinney. Pam Spaulding is less diplomatic in her criticisms of Boortz.

Kevin Drum wonders: "[W]hy does Cynthia McKinney refuse to wear the member's pin that identifies her as a member of Congress to Capitol Hill police and allows her to bypass security? Are there any other congress critters who also decline to wear their pins? What does this pin look like, anyway? And how much does it cost to buy a fake one?

REPUBLICANS: GOP Is A Great Acronym

Washington Post ran an op-ed from Kevin Phillips 4/2. He thinks the GOP has become "the first religious party in U.S. history." Alternate Brain: "I could have told you that close to 15 years ago, when I left the Republican Party for just that reason. That's when 'Newt and the Boys' started talking 'moral and family values', code words for the Jesus freaks." The People's Republic of Seabrook sums up many feelings on the left: "Too many Republicans, and too many Christians, honestly believe that God has determined that they are best-suited to wield the reigns of political power in this country. What gives these arrogant trolls the sense that God is on their side is beyond me." Shakespeare's Sister wonders how far the right and left can diverge before something snaps, and The Heretik gazes into an unfriendly vision of the future. Firedoglake posts a cartoon from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's esteemed David Horsey that is appropriate to the situation. Gun Toting Liberal also offer thoughts supportive of Phillips' argument, but The Great Eric disagrees and sees a marriage of convenience between fiscal conservatives and religious conservatives. Random Thoughts, among others, point out Phillips' own role in creating the GOP's Southern Strategy in the 1960's. == On the right, Betsy's Page takes offense to Phillips' conclusions: "Certainly, there are conservatives whose political views are guided by their religious values. But I think that our history has always had people whose political beliefs were shaped by their faith. Read the founders on their writings about mankind's inalienable rights. Where do you think they thought those rights came from? Even Thomas Jefferson, held up as the oracle on separation of church and state, believed that those rights came from the Creator. Read the Declaration of Independence again." Webloggin agrees, and attacks Phillips: "Isn't it interesting to see how revered ex-republicans are once they turn on President Bush and the GOP? Attack those of faith in the same breath and you become exalted." Unalienable Right thinks a meeting of conspiracy theorists is in order.

Reuters reports on the WH's new "Let Bush Be Bush" strategy. Georgia10 at Daily Kos: "[L]et Bush be Bush. Let him try to explain away the number 2,332. Let his press conferences be carried live so Americans can see the face of the man who betrayed their trust. Let Bush be Bush. And let's see if he hits 30%."

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) appeared on NBC's "Meet The Press" 4/2 to discuss, among other topics, his upcoming commencement speech to Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Crooks and Liars has video and a transcript of the juicy bits. The left expresses two sentiments about McCain's perceived shift to the right. The first is disappointment, as many who consider themselves moderate use phrases like "just another politician" when describing McCain's cozying up to Falwall. The second is "gotcha," as the phrase "flip-flop" come up, thanks to the AZ Sen's previously contentious relationship with Falwell. == Among those disappointed with McCain's shift, Taylor Marsh thinks that "Mr. Maverick has drunk the Kool Aid." Nicholas Beaudrot, posting at Ezra Klein's blog, says McCain is "selling his independence down the river for a shot at the Republican nomination," and lists five more questions Russert should have asked. Preemptive Karma: "And so his transition to the Dark Side is complete." DailyKos' Georgia10 at once commends host Tim Russert's questioning and hits McCain for his answers. Taylor Marsh: "For me, McCain's move right is blatantly obvious and tremendously clumsy. McCain isn't even making an effort at his ungraceful religious conversion based on convenience and calculation." AMERICAblog, Think Progress, Truthdig and The Daily Sandwich and Huffington Post's Rachel Sklar all see McCain as changing positions he once held. Even The Moderate Voice wants a name change from "Straight Talk Express" to "White House Talking Points Spin Commute." == GOPBloggers comes to McCain's defense, while Poliblogger's Steven Taylor takes the opportunity to sum up McCain's '08 fortunes, from a number of directions. RedState thinks "the senator did fine." They, along with Captain's Quarters, focused more on McCain's discussion of Russia and the G8 than on any move he's made with regard to WH '08.

Meanwhile, Machiavel counters some of the insider CW on '08 that has McCain as a frontrunner, and offers his own "Note"-like ranking. "This has more to do with the MSM projecting their desires on the primary electorate than it does with a pragmatic read on the conservative base. And just as we shouldn't allow Democrats any influence over our nominating process, we shouldn't give ABC News or The Hotline the same courtesy, for reasons that should be apparent to us all."

An Instapundit reader believes Clinton may well follow her husband's path to the WH, thanks to another significant third-party challenge. "An articulate public figure could turn an issue like immigration into a rallying cry for Jacksonian and Reagan Democrats. Perot did this with the NAFTA issue. It could happen again."

Via Michelle Malkin, FreeRepublic plans "Take an American Flag to Work Day" 4/6.

Meanwhile, Mickey Kaus doesn't believe Time's immigration poll showing a majority in favor of a guest worker deal, and he notes the date it was released: "I was going to do an April Fool's item in which I parodied Time's comically biased wording, but I accidentally printed the the actual wording they used. I apologize for the error."

Hugh Hewitt discusses the increasingly public GOP divide on the issue: "Time for Senators Frist and McConnell, Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner, and the president's senior team to hudle, agree, and execute the end game on border security/immigration reform. ... [G]et it done. Or prepare to welcome Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid." == Right Wing News sounds the same warning cry: "Here's a reality check for the Republicans up on the Hill: If you can't even count on the readers of a blog called 'Right Wing News' to vote for you in November, you're in deep trouble. Do the right thing on illegal immigration or there will be hell to pay at the ballot box this year and that will benefit no one except the Democrats."

CENSURE: Dems Hammer GOPers On Clinton

McJoan at Daily Kos reviews 3/30's censure hearing, focusing on GOPers' claims that the discussion was undermining the POTUS in a time of war. Referring to the Senate impeachment vote in '99: "Remember Republicans chose to send a 'perverse and false message' of presidential weakness to Slobodan Milosovic and thus 'make the jobs of our soldiers and diplomats harder and place them at greater risk' just before the Kosovo conflict." == Also at Kos, Armando is disappointed with Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL): "He is a good man and a good Democrat with the potential to be a great man and a great President. But he is wrong in his analysis of Senator Russ Feingold's censure resolution. Not necessarily wrong on opposing censure (though I think so). But in how he arrives at his opposition."

New York Times' Adam Nagourney writes on how blogs and Internet technology are changing the nature of campaigns. Candidates and parties "are responding to, and playing catch up with, bloggers who have demonstrated the power of their forums to harness the energy on both sides of the ideological divide." IP & Democracy is about the only blog that likes the piece all the way through. Jeff Jarvis calls the story "quaintly late": "The problem is that they still think the internet is something the powerful use to affect the rest of us. Wrong. It's what the rest of us use to affect the powerful." JustOneMinute comments as well.

The left, however, gets upset with Nagourney's statement that Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is a "moderate" Dem. AMERICAblog and WA-based Horse's Ass make that point, but Atrios isn't as kind.

Power Line takes note of an al Jazeera report that al Zarqawi "has been booted out of his leadership role" in Iraq. "If this report is accurate, Zarqawi's role has been limited to 'military action,' which I suppose is a euphemism for terrorist attacks that are directed against Iraqi and coalition forces."

Instapundit: "Bush's problem on the war is that he's losing the Jacksonian base, which is no longer confident that he's willing to do whatever it takes to win, regardless of foreign or public opinion."

Jonathan Singer criticizes Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) for missing a vote on port security. "Given the fact that Rep. Johnson was able to make it to the House floor for the vast majority of the other votes held that day, it's difficult not to come to the conclusion that she purposely and consciously avoided the critical vote on increasing funds for port security." Singer also worries that Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) loses the OH 02 primary, making it harder for Dems to win.

Finally, Singer makes connections between the Bush admin and OH coin dealer/embezzler Tom Noe.

Conservative Ramesh Ponnuru writes at The Corner: "Republicans are preparing to bring the Federal Marriage Amendment to a vote. So I guess the plan from now on is to do this in all even-numbered years, and then throw the idea aside in odd-numbered ones? I know a lot of people support the FMA for principled reasons, but a decisive number of Republicans are clearly just picking on gays for political profit." == John Hawkins: "Calling this 'picking on gays' is the sort of ridiculous nonsense you expect to hear from someone like Andrew Sullivan, not a conservative like Ponnuru. ... Bottom line: Ramesh Ponnuru should know better."

In honor of today being the true Opening Day for Major League Baseball, we take note of the major controversy in the sport: steroids. More specifically, Barry Bonds' approaching Hank Aaron's career home runs record while under a cloud of suspicion. Captain's Quarters takes note of famed L.A. Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully saying Bonds' 756th home run would be an "awkward moment." "Normally, Vin Scully likes to remain positive when talking about baseball. ... Even to use the understatement of 'awkward' shows the disdain Scully feels about Bonds and his chemically-enhanced performance in pursuit of Aaron. Scully has made a career out of announcing some of the most dramatic and historical moments in baseball, and for him to wish that history could be broken on someone else's watch demonstrates the overall mood towards Bonds this season."

So we're a little late, but happy April Fools' day.

And, for those of you whose Sunday nights are defined not by "The West Wing", "The Sopranos", "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy" but by a far superior show, we don't blame you if you weren't able to sleep last night thanks to "The Simpsons"' stunning announcement.

Posted by at April 3, 2006 12:32 PM