Every week the members of the Watcher’s Council nominate the posts they think were the finest of the previous week. Here are this week’s Council submissions:
Soccer Dad, “Puncturing Peretz’s balloon x 3”
Soccer Dad is surprised that Martin Peretz is surprised that in the foreign policy area and, especially, with respect to Israel Barack Obama is acting as president pretty much consistently with what he’d been saying as a candidate.
The Glittering Eye, “The Sleight of Hand Man”
In my submission for this week I consider the excellent job of misdirection the Obama Administration is doing since taking office. The hand is quicker than the eye!
Rhymes With Right, “The Arrogance Of The White Liberal”
I’m afraid I don’t find the paternalism that Greg points out in Janeane Garofalo’s and Keith Olbermann’s comments about Michael Stelle quite as outrageous as Greg does. Paternalism has been the attitude of the self-styled progressives towards black folk for generations.
The Colossus of Rhodey, “How did I get a bad grade? I was here!”
If the salt loses its savor with what shall it be salted? Hube reacts to an article about grade inflation, the sense of entitlement, and A’s for effort in the absence of mastering the material. If you give A’s to students who try hard, how do you distinguish them from students who actually learned the subject matter?
Mere Rhetoric, “The “Iran Lobby†Moves Into The White House”
Just as those who complain about the influence of the Israel lobby are a bit over the top, I think that Omri is a bit over the top in complaining about the influence of an “Iran lobby” on the Obama White House. The relevant question in both cases is what are the interests of America?
Right Truth, “Republicans Drinking the Kool-Aid”
After reading John Boehner’s op-ed in the Washington Post this morning it’s a little hard for me to give too much credit to Debbie’s complaint that Republicans aren’t taking Barack Obama on enough.
Cheat-Seeking Missiles, “Class Warfare”
I’m not sure I’d call the simultaneous disdain and aspiration for wealth expressed by the woman whose book excerpt Laer comments on “class warfare”. I think it’s a more sour grapes, a fashionable sort of hypocrisy. Envy is one of the Seven Deadly Sins because it hardens the heart.
The Provocateur, “Reporting From Chicago’s Chicago Tea Party”
Mike gives a firsthand report from the Chicago “Tea Party” demonstration. I think I share James Joyner’s view of these: of themselves they don’t mean much. However, if some sort of political organization emerges from them it could be a different story.
Joshuapundit, “Obama…Wading In It Hip Deep”
Freedom Fighter critiques President Obama’s speech before Congress last week.
The Razor, “Pandora’s Box Opened by Democrats, Obama”
Like Scott, I think that President Obama’s “talking down” of the economy will come back to haunt him. And us. Consider Bill Clinton’s comment a week or so ago that Obama should be a little more cheerful. He was as tactful as he could be but considering the source and the circumstances it was like a slap in the face.
Bookworm Room, “The codependent liberal party”
Bookworm considers the process of hooking the American people on government handouts. The idea of bread and circuses to keep the plebs in their place goes back a long while.
Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for this week. Which posts would get your votes?
