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 Colossus of Rhodey, “It’s Going To Be One Interesting “Race””
Hube considers the role of race in the Democratic primaries. I think the discussion that’s emerging is long overdue, particularly in light of the loyalty that black voters have shown to the Democratic Party.
Bookworm Room, “Philip’s Complaint, or Liberal Political Thinking in a Nutshell”
Bookworm fisks an interview with Philip Roth in Spiegel Online. I’ve honestly never understood why anyone interviews artists. If they’re not saying whatever it is they have to say through their art, then their art is that much less, and they’re less worthy of an interview. If they are, why interview them? This observation isn’t novel to me. Socrates made it of Sophocles.
The Glittering Eye, “The Balance”
In my submission this week I muse on biofuels, global warming, and the balance between national interest and the interests of all human beings.
Wolf Howling, “Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and McCain Derangement Syndrome”
GW continues his consideration of conservatives who oppose McCain. I can only add that, unfair as it may be, conservatives will be judged by their most strident and visible spokesmen.
Rhymes With Right, “The Problem of Double Standards In Political Speech/Contribution Limitation Laws”
Greg reflects on issues of free speech and campaign financing. I think I may disagree with Greg in that I think the issue is less one of principle than it is of pragmatics. Perhaps that’s because I think that speech is speech and neither conduct nor money is.
Cheat Seeking Missiles, “America In a Six-Word Slogan”
Laer is looking for a national slogan for the United States in six words or less. I’ll give him one in a four word headline: “Wretched refuse makes good”.
Joshuapundit, “None Dare Call It Murder”
Should the Palestinian Authority be held liable in U. S. civil courts for attacks against American citizens by Palestinians in Israel? How about when the attacks can be connected to the Palestinian Authority? Freedom Fighter says “Yes” and urges you to do the same. I don’t really know and suspect that the situation may be somewhat more complex. What is the nature of the connections? I gather that Arab society is highly networked. Everything and everybody in the Palestinian territories is likely to be connected to the Palestinian Authority in one way or another. Further, I’m suspicious of lawfare on principle. I don’t have a fixed opinion on this matter. Persuade me.
The Education Wonks, “Trying a Child For Her Own Murder: Legalistic Idiocy”
When I read about cases like the one that EdWonk has taken note of here in which a 7 year old child is tortured and murdered by her stepfather as discipline for bad behavior, I really despair about our species.
Big Lizards, “How the Democrats Will Attack McCain… and Fail Miserably”
I tend to agree with Dafydd ab Hugh’s assessment of why reported strategies for attacking John McCain are likely to fall flat.
Done With Mirrors, “Complex”
Callimachus comments on Susan Eisenhower’s endorsement of Barack Obama and her grandfather’s famous observation about the dangers of the “Military-Industrial Complex”, IMO no more (or less) dangerous than the Medical-Industrial Complex or the Academic-Industrial Complex.
Soccer Dad, “Of Israel, the Palestinians and the United States”
While I agree with Soccer Dad that Zbigniew Brzezinski’s presence among Barack Obama’s foreign policy advisors does not bode well for the foreign policy of an Obama presidency, I’m not sure that the prospects are quite as dire as he implies. I tend to believe that regardless of whom is elected president, political expediency will continue to be a powerful force in American foreign policy and, bottom line, that means that we won’t be abandoning Israel wholesale. Retail, maybe.
Right Wing Nut House, “Mandate Me, Baby”
Rick Moran analyzes health insurance mandates. In the at least moderate likelihood that either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton becomes president in 2009, there are a couple of words with which you should become familiar early: mandate and regulation. Fiscal constraints being what they are it’s pretty unlikely that new federal programs will take the form of massive new transfer payments.
Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for this week. Which posts would get your votes?
