Nastiest Yet: Congressman Pete Stark's outrageous remarks about President Bush earlier this week had steam coming out of my ears, so much so I stuck my head in the sand to cool off (and there are those who say that's where my head is most of the time). Bush deserves criticism, but to say he wants to send more troops into harm's way so they can get their heads blown off for Bush's "amusement" is way beyond any decent level of criticism. Stark, by the way, is the same idiot who attacked former Congressman J. C. Watts on the floor of the House in 2001 with an asinine, racist, inappropriate remark about the legitimacy of Watts' children. Stark is from San Francisco's most liberal district and has been in Congress for 35+ years. Sad.
Blogging With Meat Cleavers Part II: Civility, to some bloggers, appears to be an unknown quality. This week, as in weeks past, the level of sophomoric drivel has continued. Some liberal Oklahoma blogs are after State Senator Randy Terrill over the immigration issue, describing him in the most uncharitable of terms. It is one thing to have a clear partisan agenda; it is another to savage public officials and private citizens with language we wouldn't want to hear our children use. On some blogs, the circle-jerk goes like this: One posts an accusation. A second comments. A third expands the accusation. A fourth, now having read the first three, re-presents the accusation as a proven fact. And the rest join in. Then there are the beat-'em-over-the-head-blogs where the blogger centers attention on one or two or three individuals and repeatedly denigrates them on the flimsiest of excuses; I try to avoid that, but do make exceptions for State Senator Andrew Rice and Gene Stipe. And, of course, California Congressman Pete Stark, an embarrassment to his party, his state, his city and his district.
Twenty-seven Years Ago: It was at this time in 1980 that The McCarville Report was born. A longtime political friend, noting this anniversary, wrote, "At least, little man, they can't say you're not an equal offender of Democrats and Republicans. I remember your reporting on Claudette Henry (disgraced GOP treasurer) and David Walters (disgraced Democratic governor) and a bunch in between. And congrats also for being what I presume is the longest still-in-publication state political newsletter in the country." I'm not too sure about this latest: Indiana Insight has been around a long time. I am certain that Henry and Walters hated me with a sure passion; 15 years ago, Walters described me and then-publishing-partner Neva Hill as "political terrorists" and Henry described me as "that little shit." (And that was BEFORE her deputy treasurer went to prison!) Can't argue with the accuracy of either statement.
Pray Tell Me: How it is that we've come to a two-year presidential contest? Ye Gods, even a seasoned political warhorse and newshound like me grows weary of it after so long...and we've still got over a year to go! Turn Of Phrase: Michael Bates is as good as anyone in turning an interesting phrase or two; here he is, writing about the Tulsa World: "The hive-mind that writes the unsigned editorials from its Totalitarian-Moderne bunker on Main Street had this to say...."
Blogging With Meat Cleavers Part II: Civility, to some bloggers, appears to be an unknown quality. This week, as in weeks past, the level of sophomoric drivel has continued. Some liberal Oklahoma blogs are after State Senator Randy Terrill over the immigration issue, describing him in the most uncharitable of terms. It is one thing to have a clear partisan agenda; it is another to savage public officials and private citizens with language we wouldn't want to hear our children use. On some blogs, the circle-jerk goes like this: One posts an accusation. A second comments. A third expands the accusation. A fourth, now having read the first three, re-presents the accusation as a proven fact. And the rest join in. Then there are the beat-'em-over-the-head-blogs where the blogger centers attention on one or two or three individuals and repeatedly denigrates them on the flimsiest of excuses; I try to avoid that, but do make exceptions for State Senator Andrew Rice and Gene Stipe. And, of course, California Congressman Pete Stark, an embarrassment to his party, his state, his city and his district.
Twenty-seven Years Ago: It was at this time in 1980 that The McCarville Report was born. A longtime political friend, noting this anniversary, wrote, "At least, little man, they can't say you're not an equal offender of Democrats and Republicans. I remember your reporting on Claudette Henry (disgraced GOP treasurer) and David Walters (disgraced Democratic governor) and a bunch in between. And congrats also for being what I presume is the longest still-in-publication state political newsletter in the country." I'm not too sure about this latest: Indiana Insight has been around a long time. I am certain that Henry and Walters hated me with a sure passion; 15 years ago, Walters described me and then-publishing-partner Neva Hill as "political terrorists" and Henry described me as "that little shit." (And that was BEFORE her deputy treasurer went to prison!) Can't argue with the accuracy of either statement.
Pray Tell Me: How it is that we've come to a two-year presidential contest? Ye Gods, even a seasoned political warhorse and newshound like me grows weary of it after so long...and we've still got over a year to go! Turn Of Phrase: Michael Bates is as good as anyone in turning an interesting phrase or two; here he is, writing about the Tulsa World: "The hive-mind that writes the unsigned editorials from its Totalitarian-Moderne bunker on Main Street had this to say...."