January 2008 archive

This has not been a good couple of days for someone trying to decide which Dem to back in the primaries.  Senator Obama has come out with a less-than-progressive stimulus package to stave off the impending recession.  Krugman critiques it here — hestal has a diary on Krugman here.

I was pondering Krugman’s column last night, and looking at other articles on Obama’s stimulus ideas . . . not encouraging.  I was also reflecting on something Clinton said on Meet the Press on Sunday.  That’s what I want to focus on, here.

This is an Open Thread: Ted has cleared the Tubes

Monday’s Headlines: Clinton and Obama Spar Over Remark About Dr. King: A Dark Addiction: Bush urges Arab allies to confront Iran, ‘the world’s leading sponsor of state terror’: Kenyan police ‘had shoot-to-kill policy’: Relatives of victims of Beslan siege go on trial

As primaries play out, whole world tunes in

By Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan

The Washington Post

LONDON – John Mbugua, 56, a taxi driver in Mombasa, Kenya, woke himself at 3 a.m. the day of the Iowa caucuses and flipped on CNN. He said he watched for hours, not understanding precisely what or where Iowa was but thrilled about the victory of Barack Obama, the first U.S. presidential contender with Kenyan roots.

“I have never been interested in the elections before,” said Mbugua, who also got up at 4 a.m. to watch the New Hampshire primary results. “But now everybody is watching. Everybody feels that Kenya has a stake in the outcome of the U.S. election.”

From Mombasa’s sandy shores on the Indian Ocean to the hot tubs of Reykjavik, Iceland, the U.S. primaries are creating unprecedented interest and excitement in a global audience that normally doesn’t tune in until the general election in November.

Now I’ve long since given up on the Gray Lady as an overpriced whore, but I’ll not presume to speak for all progressives.  It’s possible you have some lingering attachment or hope for redemption of a fallen angel and I’d be a heartless Scrooge indeed to encourage you to read this-

He May Be Unwelcome, but We’ll Survive

By CLARK HOYT, The Public Editor, The New York Times

Published: January 13, 2008

Kristol’s first column joined the pack in its first paragraph and wrote off Hillary Clinton with finality the day before she won the New Hampshire primary. He also misattributed a quotation that had to be corrected.

This is a decision I would not have made. But it is not the end of the world.

So why does Kristol have a job again?  Nepotism.

Clark Hoyt admits right up front that Billy Boy was selected to redress an ancient dispute between Arthur Ochs Sulzberger and John Oakes over hiring William Safire and not Irving Kristol, Billy Boyz dad.

Clark Hoyt thinks “Sulzberger and Rosenthal made a mistake.”  Out of “over 700” reactions to William Kristol’s appointment only a single one is supportive.  Sulzberger said he was surprised.

About Kristol’s assertion that his new employers should face federal prosecution A. M. Rosenthal said Kristol’s comment was “a heavy accusation that put him in a category other than a journalist.”  

But what gets me is this-

I agree with their effort to address an Op-Ed lineup that, until Kristol came aboard, was at least six liberals against one conservative who isn’t always all that conservative.

Pulleeze.

They are all Villagers.  And so are you Clark.

Steely Dan: Do It Again

Massive Attack: Tear Drop

Tricky: She Makes Me Wanna Die