Eye on the Watcher’s Council

As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.

The Glittering Eye, “Isolationism Watch: Let’s Alienate Turkey!”

In my submission for this week I consider the House Foreign Affairs Committee vote condemning Turkish genocide of Armenians 90 years ago. It completely eludes me what actual good can come of alienating a current ally to air our concern about injustice in the distant past. The resolution may not pass the full House but the harm has already been done.

Rhymes With Right, “Headlines Vs. Content”

Greg covers the press coverage of Gen. Sanchez’s speech last week. I noticed the same thing and commented on it over at OTB. Gen. Sanchez criticizes the Congress and the Administration but devotes much of his time to criticizing the press for undermining unity of purpose.

Done With Mirrors, “Carrolling”

Callimachus fisks an article by James Carroll both for bad ideology and bad history. A word to the wise: don’t bandy historical analysis with Callimachus.

Bookworm Room, “Catch ‘Em Being Good”

I don’t usually think of Bookworm Room as a “mommie blog” (one of the fastest-growing genres in the blogosphere) but in this post Bookworm shares what she’s learned about rearing children. It’s true in any form of training: rewarding the behavior you want to encourage is a more effective approach than punishing what you don’t. She goes on to derive a political moral from her experience. I have another: celebrate the good!

Soccer Dad, “Private Anti-Terror Efforts”

In this post Soccer Dad takes note of several private individuals and companies that have engaged in effective counterterrorism efforts. It will require a networked effort to fight a networked enemy. Despite this don’t expect our government to herald such efforts. Government officials are incredibly jealous of their turf.

‘Okie’ on the Lam, “Retired General Sanchez Blasts Press — No One Reports It, Natch!”

‘Okie’, too, posted on Gen. Sanchez’s speech and too much the same away from it.

The Colossus of Rhodey, “NY Times, Al Gore and the “Stolen” 2000 Election”

Hube is quite right in pointing out that no remedy sought by Gore/Lieberman in 2000 would have resulted in a Gore victory. When that is taken into account, the only circumstances under which Al Gore would have become president in 2000 is if Gore/Lieberman had continued to seek new remedies from the courts until he was declared victor. Would that have been the right thing to do? Is that a good model for future elections? Never one to let go of a good narrative, the NYT continues to harp on the “stolen election” story despite the fact that their own studies of the matter disproved the idea.

Big Lizards, “The Shia Awakening”

I wish I could be as optimistic about the squabbling of Shi’a militias in Iraq and people turning against those militias as Dafydd ab Hugh is. In the short term it might be a good thing but in the long term I suspect it means chaos in Iraq for the foreseeable future. The awakening I’m looking forward to is one in which Iraqis put a government that isn’t based on the militias in place. I’m not holding my breath.

The Education Wonks, “Wankerette of the Day: Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle”

EdWonk points out a decision by a federal judge blocking the construction of a border fence on environmental grounds. That’s the beauty of the common law system: where there’s a judicial will, there’s a legal way. There are traditional folk remedies for this sort of judicial overreach but I can’t in good conscience advocate them.

Joshuapundit, “Texas Gang Rape and Murder Case Puts America’s Sovereignty In Jeopardy”

Freedom Fighter comments on a particularly lurid death penalty case which, since one of the sentencees is a Mexican national, has international implications. The sentence is being contested on the grounds that the man wasn’t put in touch with the Mexican embassy.

Right Wing Nut House, “Congratulations Al Gore”

Rick Moran offers sardonic congratulations to Al Gore on his Nobel Peace Prize. I’m more sincere and, since I haven’t posted on the subject I’d like to offer sincere congratulations to former Vice President Gore on his prize. Perhaps the additional attention this will garner for the cause to which he’s devoted so much energy will produce some initiative that might actually remedy the situation. I haven’t seen any yet. A good start might be ending the subsidies for producing greenhouse gasses.

Cheat Seeking Missiles, “Gore Derangement Syndrome?”

Laer takes on a column by Paul Krugman complaining about GDS.

Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for this week. Which posts would get your votes?