Wednesday, June 24, 2009

So Which Is It, a GOP Comeback or Ice Age?

Contrast this:

For the first time since their 2006 election drubbing, top Republicans see signs — however faint — of a political resurgence over the next year.

With this:

For the past few months, political analysts and demographers have been poring over the results of the 2008 election and comparing them with presidential results from the past two decades. From whatever angle of their approach—age, race, economic status, geography—they have come to a remarkably similar conclusion. Almost all indicators are pressing the Republicans into minority status.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Did White House “Coordinate” with Huffington Post Reporter?

The White House didn’t have to coordinate with HuffPo to know what Nico Pitney was going to ask, since he wrote this the day before the presser: “Tomorrow, President Obama is holding a news conference at the White House and I’ll be attending. If I get called, I want to ask a question that comes directly from an Iranian.”

CNN Segment on Neda (I Speak About Her Courage)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Neda’s Martyrdom and the Pitfalls of Obama’s Chronic Pragmatism

I’ve praised President Obama’s discipline and focus, his calm demeanor. He is a thinker, reflective. He considers all angles of a problem. And he is chronically pragmatic. There’s nothing wrong with pragmatism - it’s a precious commodity in a tumultuous world - but like anything else, too much of it can be a bad thing. Especially at such an inflection point in history, with climate change threatening our existence, violence and human rights abuses and hunger and disease rampant, weapons of mass carnage in the hands of despots and terrorists, and the global economy teetering on the brink of disaster while the super-rich get super-richer. Yes, pragmatism is admirable, but give me some idealism too, give me some deep-seated moral conviction and the powerful, ground-shaking words to express it.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ignoring the Bad Optics of Obama’s Ice Cream Break

What purpose does it serve if progressives have one set of standards for a Republican president and another for a Democrat? Dan Froomkin has been in the news lately (for losing his Washington Post slot), and one reason he is respected on the left is that he’s been subjecting Obama to the same scrutiny as Bush. Perhaps the ice cream story is frivolous and we should focus more on transgressions like this, but either way, intellectual consistency is a cornerstone of moral authority.

Oh Look: Puppy Pops!

Blogger Patterico followed a couple Twitter feeds yesterday; one from Change for Iran, an Iranian student protester, and another from CBS White House correspondent Mark Knoller.  What he found, and what he helpfully laid out for his readers, will help answer the question, “Why is the mainstream media dying?”

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Where’s the Social Web Revolution for Abused Women and Starving Children? (Boiling Frog Syndrome)

It’s worth noting that with all this triumphant talk about the Twitter revolution in Iran – especially when it’s about a lesser-of-two-evils candidate – we can’t summon a fraction of the energy and passion to save abused, raped and battered women across the globe. Nor can we muster the same attention and will to deal with the plight of children who are dying of hunger, deprived of the bare necessities of life.

Friday, June 19, 2009

My Interview With Channel 4 News About Gordon Brown’s Twitter Remarks

Brown said there will be no more Rwandas because of things like Twitter - I respectfully asked about Darfur and other rampant human rights abuses: has the Internet truly mitigated those?

Morbid: CBS Reportedly Polishing Ailing Cronkite’s Obit

Chicago Sun-Times: “Legendary CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, 92, long known as the “Most Trusted Man in America,” is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News sources and published reports. According to Mediabistro’s blog, TVNewser, the network began updating his obituary more than a week ago; a CBS News executive had no comment to TVNewser on the reports of Cronkite’s failing health.”  Whoever leaked that tidbit about the obituary to TV Newser could have refrained, no?

Toobin: No Bias in the Media (Except CNN’s Competitors)

During a Wednesday segment titled, “Is Fox News ‘Fair and Balanced?’” CNN contributor Jeffery Toobin made a curious point. He doesn’t believe there’s any institutional bias in the media other than at Fox News and MSNBC. The comments come as CNN seeks to revive its ratings against both cable news networks and seeks to retool itself as a straight news source…