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.

Done With Mirrors, “No Place Like Home”

Callimachus is disgusted with Harold Ford, Jr. and Al From’s proposal for breaking the political stalemate in Washington on Iraq. I’ve already discussed this with Cal in the comments—I see it as a positive development, a way for Democrats to accept gracefully the policy that the next administration whether Democratic or Republican is going to adopt anyway.

The Colossus of Rhodey, “News Journal Writer Falls Prey to Media Matters”

Well, yes, Hube, there are all sorts of people on the Democratic side of the aisle whose main complaint about the professional media is that they’re not functioning sufficiently as propaganda arms for their preferred policies and occasionally letting other points of view through now and again.

The Glittering Eye, “The World Is Watching”

In my submission for this week I put in my two cents about the unfolding security crisis in Pakistan which may turn out to be the most important story in the world.

Bookworm Room, “The MSM’s Rush Limbaugh Horror Story”

I’m still trying to figure out what’s unexpected about the most recent Rush Limbaugh contretemps. We already know that lots of people including both senators and journalists who are left of center hate Rush Limbaugh. We already know that some stories are just too good to check. We already know that senators have remarkable abilities to convince themselves of what they did or did not do or intend. So, what else is there in this story? Throw in an eBay auction with the proceeds donated to charity and you’ve got it.

Soccer Dad, “Walking Back the Cat x 2”

Soccer Dad applies the device of “walking back the cat” to the September 6 Israeli attack on a Syrian facility and a reported Palestinian assassination plan against Ehud Olmert. An interesting analysis.

Cheat Seeking Missiles, “DC Coughs Up a War On Terror Win”

I think I see the House’s actions on the FISA bill a little differently, Laer. When you can take the actions you know to be the right (and inevitable) thing to do and blame it all on your political opposition, it’s perfect.

The Education Wonks, “Alzheimer’s and Education: The Bad and the Worse”

EdWonk reports on some findings on Alzheimer’s Disease that aren’t entirely surprising, namely, that people with more education develop the condition more slowly but that their deterioration is more rapid.

Rhymes With Right, “Cold Civil War”

I agree with Greg’s point on the the different political sides in the country talking past each other with increasing heat but I think he only states half the problem. Not only does the Left “reject the legitimacy of the Right” (actually I don’t think they’re rejecting their legitimacy but their authenticity, but that’s another discussion) but the Right reject the instrumentality of government (at least rhetorically) despite enormous evidence to the contrary.

Big Lizards, “An Inconvenient Demographic Truth”

Dafydd ab Hugh dissects some remarks made by John Tanner, head of the Department of Justice civil rights division, on racial disparities in live expectancy.

‘Okie’ on the Lam, “An LA Times Love Letter To Che Guevara”

I guess the reason I’ve never been as enthralled as so many of my peers with Che Guevara is that I think that, not only does the end not justify the means, the means selected are pretty darned good indicators of what your actual intentions are.

Joshuapundit, “Harry Reid’s DREAM Act Is America’s Nightmare… Joshua’s Army Alert!!”

Freedom Fighter draws attention to the prospective passage of the DREAM Act, a measure that by my reading for practical purposes would nullify enforcement of existing immigration law.

Right Wing Nut House, “Kill the Messenger! Or Is the Message Already Dead?”

Rick Moran reflects on a Guardian column in which the author speculates on the death of American conservatism. I’ve already commented on this piece over at James Joyner’s place: I think that some of what we’re seeing right now in American politics reflects the inherent contradiction of the coalition of disparate groups that has made up the conservative movement here. But I also think that principles like libertarianism or small government need to be thought of differently. They aren’t policy preferences. For a rational conservative political actor they should inform one’s policy preferences.

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