Outside the Beltway's James Joyner writes about blogger burnout and writes this about comments:My least favorite part of the “blog job,â€? though, is the incivility in comment threads and the occasional cross-blog flamewar. While OTB’s comment threads are quite civil compared to most blogs of comparable traffic, there are a handful of regulars who forget the number one rule … [Read more...] about A Comment On Comments From James Joyner

Emails from readers on the right and left suggest each side is looking at the issue in a simplistic way. Is one side forgetting history? Or both? It's a highly emotional issue. Here's Newshog's point of view. … [Read more...] about Is The Middle East Debate Too Simplistic?

Apparently a top Middle East official warned about this outcome years ago — and Chris Matthews has the details and some thoughts. … [Read more...] about Did The United States War In Iraq Create An Islamic “Frankenstein Monster?”

These days it could put you in jail. … [Read more...] about Citizens Used To Take Photos Of Police

Wait...there's MORE. Deadline Hollywood confirms there was no "coverup" in the official report about Mel Gibson's allegedly not-exactly-fond-of-Jews comments when he was arrested for a DUI. And Gibson has apologized. Deadline Hollywood's update includes this:Gibson issued a statement today apologizing for his drunk driving arrest and saying he has battled alcoholism … [Read more...] about The Passion Of Mel Gibson’s Apology

...in Crawford, TX. … [Read more...] about OOPS! There Goes The Neighborhood

Dan Darling, writing in The Weekly Standard, makes the case that what's unfolding in the Middle East is indicative of a massive — potentially disastrous — failure in intelligence. Here's a key section:From the Iranian variants of the Chinese Silkworm missile to more conventional Syrian-made warheads--innovatively filled with ball bearings so as to maximize damage to … [Read more...] about Hezbollah And The Massive Failure In Intelligence

A few days ago we ran two posts showing the great Jackie Gleason, and one of them showed Gleason using his great gift of pantomime. A reader in comments noted that it was Red Skelton who was the true master of pantomime — and we have to say: he's correct. Gleason was The Great One in every respect, but Skelton specialized in pantomime, although he also did (like Gleason) … [Read more...] about Comedy Greats: Red Skelton (Legendary Rehearsal)

Journalist Nick Clooney spoke at my synagogue last night about the trip he took with his son George to the Darfur region of Western Sudan. After Shabbat evening services and a Western-style dinner, we returned to the sanctuary for Nick's presentation which was followed by a Q & A session. Since we are a Shabbat-observant congregation, there are no photos and no notes were … [Read more...] about Shout-Out on Darfur

If this is correct it sure sounds that way. … [Read more...] about “The Passion Of The Anti-Semitism”

Jodi Applegate of Fox News' station in New York City was not pleased when a standard feature interview strayed off the path as an interview subject pulled an unwelcome surprise: … [Read more...] about A Local Fox News Anchor’s Fury

Watch what you say, more than ever in Iran:Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered government and cultural bodies to use modified Persian words to replace foreign words that have crept into the language, such as "pizzas" which will now be known as "elastic loaves," state media reported Saturday. The presidential decree, issued earlier this week, orders all … [Read more...] about Iran Bans Foreign Words As Part Of Ahmadinejad-Speak

Challenger Ned Lamont relies on his own big bankroll plus smaller contributors while Connecticut's Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman gets a little help from his (well-heeled) friends. But will any of it do any good? The AP's take on the race isn't good news for Lieberman:Anti-war Democrats bailed in droves. Teachers unions left over vouchers. Men are drawn to his challenger, … [Read more...] about One Thing In Joe Lieberman’s Favor — But Will It Make A Difference?

David Honig of Hypnocrites and The Daily Pulse gave me permission to reproduce one of his cartoons from Hypnocrites: … [Read more...] about Single-Issue Jew?

Every once in awhile, Republicans get the idea that Jews are just gosh-darn irrational for not defecting to the GOP. They're defending Israel, aren't they? Why can't we see the light? Why the water's fine as a Jewish (pro-Israel) Democrat. … [Read more...] about No Thanks, I’m Fine Where I Am

Muslim man, apparently acting alone, kills one and wounds five at Seattle Jewish Center. … [Read more...] about Terror in Seattle

Do you agree with Josh Marshall? Is Bush "out of it" or not? Andrew Sullivan also has his doubts. … [Read more...] about President George Bush On The Middle East (UPDATED)

Oops. … [Read more...] about News Blooper

It's enough to cause them to recoil in horror, break out into a cold sweat, gasp with terror. So don't do it. Don't call them "moderates." From CNN's Political Editor Mark Preston:A word of advice if you speak to leaders of the Republican Main Street Partnership. Do not use the word moderate when talking about the organization's politics. Members prefer being described as … [Read more...] about Just Don’t Call Them “Moderates”

In many quarters they're going to say "Hooray! The GOP has agreed to allow an increase in the minimum wage." But wait — as the infomercials like to say — "there's more!"Republican leaders are willing to allow the first minimum wage increase in a decade but only if it's coupled with a cut in inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates, congressional aides said … [Read more...] about GOP Says OK To Minimum Wage Increase BUT