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Of Good Blogs and Great Entries
[Editor's note: Just a reminder that The Democracy Cell Project is non-partisan. The opinion of the blogworld expressed below is the opinion of the writer. Thank you.]
I try to read alot of blogs. I am always on the hunt for who's writing something interesting, and who's offering a different take on the day's news. For fans of the former, there's the blog firedoglake, and for fans of the latter, there's Paul Begala's entry at Josh Marshall's TPM Cafe. Here's a bit about each:
Over at TPM Cafe, former Clinton advisor Paul Begala has written a very interesting piece on what it's like to be working in a White House that is 'under siege'. Here's a snippet, but it's worth going over for the whole read.
...This I know first hand: when The Boss explodes like that, there are two kinds of aides -- those who fight and those who flee. When he came to Washington, Mr. Bush surrounded himself with tough-minded people who seemed not to be afraid to stand up to him. But now his team is loaded with weak-kneed toadies, and Mr. Bush is home alone. Karl Rove, of course, is fending off a potential indictment. His prodigious brain has not entertained another thought in months. (That's why, I suspect, some months back Rove popped off and said liberals wanted to give terrorists psychotherapy after 9/11. It was a loopy, stupid, and distinctly un-Rovian, meltdown - the first public sign that the pressure was causing Karl to crack.)
Go here to read the rest.
The other blog I have been reading is called Firedoglake. Primarily written by an attorney and a former federal prosecutor (Reddhedd and Jane Hamsher, respectively), Firedoglake provides insight and context to the legal proceedings surrounding the leak investigation. They research the news exhaustively and put the pieces together in a way that is extremely helpful and understandable while steadfastly refusing to condescend to their audience.
Also, they are witty and clever without being either cutesy or mean. A perfect example is this morning's post. Everyone knows that Fitzgerald's office is leakproof. The only comment they ever have is no comment. And yet, Jane manages to get a story anyway:
"The spokesman for Mr. Fitzgerald, Randall Sanborn, refused to comment." I can't tell you how many times I've read that line. Every time I open a paper, it seems. And I'm always thinking, I want this guy's job -- he could be phoning it in from the high Himalayas for all we know.
So when I called him up the other day I expected the same thing. Since I'm working on a post on Fitzgerald, I had to do the obligatory request for an interview, which I knew he'd turn down, which he did.
"One more thing," I said. "I'd like to know if you could confirm the Viagra pen story."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
"Refresh my memory," he said.
I said I was told that Mr. Fitzgerald likes to wave a pen around in his press conferences, and that someone planted a Viagra pen in the green room prior to one of them. He picked it up and spent the entire press conference waving it around like -- well, like a Viagra pen.
Silence.
"I will confirm that Pat has been seen on occasion holding a pen."
"Okay," I said. "I've also heard that you now regularly sweep the green room for pens."
More silence. Then finally:
"I'm tempted to say something sarcastic..."
Come on, Randall, you can do it, come on...I know you've got it in you...all those pent up comments from all those years of "no comment"...
"...but I'm a non-speaking spokesman. I've got to stick to my reputation," he laughed.
Damn!
"I will confirm that it's been a while since I've seen him with a pen or any other sharp object."
Okay, Randall. Well, that's more than anyone else has gotten out of you in two years.
Now, that in and of itself would be an entertaining entry, but Jane ties that story into why Fitzgerald needs to put something out publicly by Friday. IMO, that's good blogging. And for those of you that are wondering, I have no idea why they are called firedoglake.
So...what other blogs are you reading while waiting for indictments?
its called the commonwealth conservative blog site casey. Trying to provoke some controversy in the Tim Kaine governor's election which happens in less than 2 weeks. We can only do so much speculating here who will be indicted but there are a couple of real elections in Ca. to impose Tom DeLay type redistricting in Ca. and to replace a 70% Democratic Governor with a Dobson/Bush clone called Jerry Kilgore.We can't keep our eye off the price while we wait for Rove's frog march tomorrow.
Ira:
I've got my absentee ballot here at my desk where I am checking off big "NOs" on Arnold's referendii.
The real problem is low turnout, which favors Republicans. Got to get out the vote.
LOVE the viagra pen story!!
I also check out The Washington Note (steve Clemons blog) regularly. Ever since he took Bolton on.
Posted by: Ira at October 27, 2005 05:36 PM
Ira,
I saw that in Texas they may revisit the DeLay redistricting. What are the chances of that succeeding?
PARDON ME IF I TAKE THIS IN WITH A GRAIN OF SALT THE SIZE OF AN ANTARCTIC ICEBERG. (FROM THE SOME-PEOPLE-DON'T-KNOW-WHEN-TO-QUIT DEPARTMENT):
DeLay says conservative politics being criminalized
HOUSTON (AP) — Rep. Tom DeLay, under indictment on campaign finance violations, railed against Democrats in a letter Thursday, accusing them of engaging in "the politics of personal destruction."
The letter, sent to constituents and contributors, connected his case with investigations into possible misconduct by White House adviser Karl Rove and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.
"What we're fighting is so much larger than a single court case or a single district attorney in Travis County," the Texas Republican wrote. "We are witnessing the criminalization of conservative politics."
DeLay stepped down as House majority leader after he was indicted Sept. 28 on charges he illegally funneled corporate campaign contributions to candidates for the Texas Legislature.
DeLay has launched an aggressive defense, seeking to have the judge removed because of his Democratic political activity and accusing the Democratic district attorney who charged him, Ronnie Earle, of pursuing the case for political reasons.
The letter was prepared for the Republican Party newsletter in DeLay's home county of Fort Bend. Party chairman Eric Thode said he also e-mailed it to about 2,000 Fort Bend County households and to state and national elected and party officials.
Casey:
On-topic and to answer your question:
Arianna, Josh, and WR Pitt. By the way, Sid Blumenthal has been absolutely POETIC this week.
And of course, The Onion.
These have been my bookmarks for the last few months.
Fe-what a whinner he turns out to be- "they're all picking on me-I didn't do anything...They just don't like me"
Think he had a tough childhood?
Casey the last I heard was that the Texas Democratic Party planned one last appeal to the US Supreme Court early next year. Governor Perry and our newly elected Republican state legislature (thanks to DeLay's criminal behavior) have no desire to touch that issue here locally unless you have read otherwise. t will take either Chris Bell winning an upset election or DeLay being convicted and sent to Huntsville, our state prison. Would be interesting though if DeLay was convicted if then our state leaders would then see their evil ways and reopen ReDistricting, I just don't have much hope. If you have any articles otherwise I would love to read about it as would Chuck. But we can not let Ca. make the same mistake we did here in Texas. And now La thinks that b/c thousands of Dems have relocated they can waltz into N.O. and steal some Congressional seats.
They are trying to enjoin the Onion. What a true joke Fe.
I also, from time to time I confess, read The Huffington Post but sometimes I feel I've read the People Magazine of Blogs- but sometimes, there is some great writing.
mkh:
Arianna's is the glamour blog, I know, but its an ok read most of the time.
As for Arnold, not much use for him in my neck of the woods, but going easternly in the state you find more support.
Reminds me of alot of conservatives in Congress. He's operating at a 57% disapproval level, has gotten EVERY UNION, including the trades (like carpenters and plumbers-usually conservative types) pretty pissed off by his referendum om teachers and firefighters--and he still thinks he can push his agenda through like a big bully.
"They are trying to enjoin the Onion. What a true joke Fe."
Ira:
One of The Onion's writing staff comments on the case:
"I apologize, but under advice of counsel I am unable to answer any questions regarding the White House's current prioritization of the Onion to the top of their 'to do' list for the week, as I have been told that if I do, I run the risk of being deported to some international zone where the Geneva Convention does not apply, under new laws empowering the Department of Homeland Security to protect the President from comedians."
'nuff said.
And then sometimes I'll find something like this:
Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior, so my guess is that the conservatives who opposed Miers can expect Bush to retaliate. It's his M.O. and Bush is reportedly in a bad mood. If this man is anything, he’s consistent. Keep smiling.
Posted by: YouGottaBeKidding on October 27, 2005 at 03:59pm
Kidding,
I agree 100 percent. Ms Miers will remain as counsel. Bush will see her every day and think about all RW pinheads who destroyed her reputation. Bush will not forget and will get revenge. People who think otherwise are fooling themselves.
Posted by: milkman on October 27, 2005 at 04:09pm
Is this comment abusive? spam? [flag it]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2005/10/27/bush-loses-his-mojo_n_9625.html?p=3#comments
And I think- hmmm, I hadn't considered that.
I may need to buy more popcorn.
or this:
zeppo -
- let me try to explain how most of them are.
I was raised a good Catholic and marched against abortion, etc. I can still conjure up those feelings, too, when I delve deep into teen-age memory.
The great rage comes from a feeling of total righteousness. It's a very good feeling, a purifying rage, that simplifies all questions, eliminates all doubts, and incidentally feels really good. It's a rage similar to that which many warriors use just before going into battle, or atheletes conjure up before starting a contest.
It has nothing to do with intellect or reason. It's a drug. The great rage feels good and costs almost nothing. The only use they have for reasoning is to come up with justifications for their feelings ... and humanity is very good at coming up with justifications for anything.
When you meet someone like most of the neocon trolls on this board who, day after day, make the same lame arguments, express hate in vile language, and take absolutist positions ... basically, the problem is they've never grown up.
What can be done? Well, with them, probably nothing.
Every response to the ragers should be with an eye to the audience. Some people are neutrals or otherwise susceptible to reason .... so pointing to facts can be helpful ... just don't expect the Rage Rangers to notice. Other people, perhaps a majority, are just trying to figure out which side is stronger, or funnier, or appeals to some vested interest of their own. Those are the ones for whom effective mockery of the ragers can be effective.
People who enjoy their anger end up on the Dark Side. The particular topic, be it abortion, flat taxes, or global warming, is not important -- the Rage is what they live for.
That's how it seemed to me, at least.
Posted by: rewinn on October 27, 2005 at 04:54pm
Is this comment abusive? spam? [flag it]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2005/10/27/bush-loses-his-mojo_n_9625.html?p=3#comments
If you dare, check out this kos diary...
It's pretty horrific but powerful
OBSCENITY
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/10/27/163147/91
Send this to every newspaper and media person you know and ask them why we don't see this.
A great Illinois blog that has national relevance from our own Ellen Beth...
http://ellenofthetenth.blogspot.com/
She's smart, she's funny, and she's always got something important and relevant to say.