Around The Sphere Blog Roundup October 10, 2007
October 10th, 2007 by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief
Our linkfest offering readers links to blogposts from websites of many different viewpoints. Linked posts do NOT necessarily reflect the opinion of TMV or its writers.
FROST STORY CONTINUES TO BOIL: The ongoing saga of how some of the most loyal supporters of President George Bush are going to teach 12 year old Graeme Frost a lesson by going after him and his family (even physically showing up) continues. The story is reaching the mainstream media, but it has exploded on weblogs. Those who defend trying to discredit a 12 year old boy (you just knew RUSH had to say something) think those who are shocked just don’t “get it.” But critics do seem to get it — and they’re not all Democrats.
John Cole’s widely quoted declaration:
I simply can not believe this is what the Republican party has become. I just can’t. It just makes me sick to think all those years of supporting this party, and this is what it has become. Even if you don’t like the S-Chip expansion, it is hard to deny what Republicans are- a bunch of bitter, nasty, petty, snarling, sneering, vicious thugs, peering through people’s windows so they can make fun of their misfortune.
I’m registering Independent tomorrow.
Megan McCardle looks at the bigger picture — the kids health care opposition:
I have to ask conservatives and libertarians: is this really the hill you think we should die on? I do understand your objections to the program, but an informal survey of swing voters, in their current incarnation as my mother, indicates that this is killing you with the moderates. Save it for national health care next year, is what I’m saying. This debate is framing the issue in a way that is going to make things harder, not easier, when Hilarycare is on the table again.
On the other hand, some Republicans do applaud what’s going on and consider it both fair and a kind of justice.
Democrat Ezra Klein, on the other hand sees something troubling happening to the right:
This is not politics. This is, in symbolism and emotion, a violent group ritual. It is savages tearing at the body of a captured enemy. It is the group reminding itself that the Other is always disingenuous, always evil, always lying, always pitiful and pathetic and grotesque. It is a bonding experience — the collaborative nature of these hateful orgies proves that much — in which the enemy is exposed as base and vile and then ripped apart by the community. In that way, it sustains itself, each attack preemptively justifying the next vicious assault, justifying the whole hateful edifice on which their politics rest.
It is a blessing and relief that these mobs, as of yet, do nothing more than smear, that the blood they exult in is figurative and the inflicted harm is emotional or occupational. But they are howling, braying, thirsty mobs nonetheless, and their frequent, communal savagings of chosen representatives of their enemies is ugly and unsettling. It’s impossible not to wonder when the first one will drive by a house, and then decide to ring the doorbell, and then. Indeed, it’s already come damn close.
YES. You can see this happening. We will say it flatly: the hatreds stirred up in the cause of pushing hot buttons to rally people to battle evil opposing foes and winning one for your “team” at ANY cost will end in someone losing their life one day. PREDICTION: In 2008 a lot of voters (including some Republicans) will cast protest votes. And it won’t be against the hapless Democrats.
AND WHO’S TRYING TO SPREAD NEGATIVE INFO ABOUT THE 12 YEAR OLD WHO DARED TO CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT’S VETO? Could this be one of them? (Just wondering…)
TURKEY ISN’T CHICKEN: Turkey has had enough and is getting ready to attack PKK camps in Iraq. Details on this fascinating (and important) story HERE.
MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING: Jules Crittenden looks at Salman Rushdie’s attempts to get security for Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Dutch-Somali women’s rights activist.
THE JEWISH LOBBY? We’ve had posts on this controversy but be sure now to read Oxblog’s David Adesnik (long a TMV favorite) in his take on it HERE.
DISCUSSING THAT TOPIC INVARIABLY RAISES THE ISSUE AMONG SOME OF ANTI-SEMITISM but if you want to read REAL antisemitism (WARNING TO READERS some of it is un-family-friendly) JUST READ THIS.
WHAT IS “THE FORGOTTEN, FORGOTTEN WAR”? It’s THIS.
DEAR ABBY TAKES A STAND in favor of gay marriage.
LEST YOU FORGET corruption is NOT only a Republican problem.
IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE A BLOG WITH A NEW DESIGN so it’s interesting to see the new incarnation of The Democratic Daily. TDD also has this interesting post about GWB’s poll ratings, which continue to be tepid (but, then, he has those loyal people who are fanning out now to courageously remove and neutralize The 12 Year Old Schoolboy Threat so perhaps Bush’s polls will go up soon).
ARE THE DEMOCRATS GETTING READY TO SUPPORT SPYING ON AMERICANS? Blogs for Bush’s Matt Margolis thinks so and tells you why HERE.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 at 12:30 am and is filed under Around The Sphere, Blogging. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
