Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Watcher's Council Nominations, 1/28/09



The Watcher's Council is a group of some of the most incisive blogs in the`sphere. Every week, the members nominate two posts each, one of their own and one from outside the group for consideration by the whole Council.

So, let's see what we have this week....and do check out the Watcher's take on Obama and the new Congress's first week in office...


COUNCIL

Joshuapundit - Obama’s ‘Change’ In The Middle East President Obama made a number of moves this week that are a clear indication of where his Middle East policy is heading, and his recent interview on al-Arabiya underlined this trend.


His position is obviously that the Arabs and Iran are reasonable people who can be cajoled, appeased or bribed out of jihad. I see absolutely no evidence of that fact, and I examine why I think Obama's misunderstandings in this area will end up being extremely costly ones.

The Glittering Eye - Let’s Have a Constructive Discussion -Dave Schuler at the Glittering Eye wants to hear a real argument in favor of the proposed economic stimulus. So do I.

The answer perhaps is that the stimulus is not intended for economic benefit as much as a poitical one for the current administration and his party.

Cheat-Seeking Missiles - What, Indeed, Did We Win? - Laer argues the case for the Iraq war.

Rhymes With Right - Tom Hanks’ Non-Apology For Anti-Mormon Bigotry - Actors are people who make a living doing and saying what other people tell them to. The vast majority of them should stick to that and bless the good fortune that allows them to be paid so handsomely for simply following directions.

Tom Hanks is a case in point. After gratuitously insulting the Church of the Latter Day Saints as 'un-American' because of their support of California's Prop 8 defining marriage as between one man and one woman, Hanks decided to back track a little bit. But as Greg points out, it wasn't exactly an apology.

Bookworm Room - Offensive “charm” - It's interesting to see a woman's perspective on President Obama's reputed charm, considering how over the top so many of Obama's acolytes have been on the subject. I noticed the trash talking and crude behavior a long time ago,( does anyone recall Obama subtly giving Hillary Clinton and John McCain the finger during speeches on the campaign trail?) and undoubtedly Ms. Bookworm did too.

My own impression of our new president is that he is a sociopath, in the classic sense of the word. His parents abandoning him at an early age might have something to do with it.


Soccer Dad - Ob-eds - Like me, Soccer dad was struck by President Obama's choice of venue fo rhis fiorst official presidential interview. As he points out al-Arabiya is hardly moderate in its content, to say the least.

The Provocateur - The Shadow Government of the Obama Administration - Mike has an interesting post on Obama's huge phalanx of advisers and 'czars' behind the scenes.

The Razor - I Won? No Mr. President, Howard Dean Won - Scott credits Howard Dean's decison to be kingmaker rather than nominee with the Democrat's success in 2006 and 2008, and sees a lesson therein on how the Republican party can get its groove back. I largely agree with him.

Right Truth - First Post-Inauguration Interview Goes To Al-Arabiya and Keeping America and Israel Safe - Debbie Hamilton likewise comments on Obama's al-Arabiya interview and the apppointment of George Mitchell as Middle East envoy.

The Colossus of Rhodey - Is this a surprise? The News Journal says “race still an issue” - Hube takes on an article on the subject in his local paper. He's right of course...race will remain an issue both because you can't legislate what's in someone's heart and because there's money in it.

Mere Rhetoric - NJDC Tool Aaron Keyak Helpfully Illustrates How Liberal Activists Sneeringly Cocoon Themselves In Asinine Arguments And Dishonest Smears - Omri dissects a hit piece by a member of the New Jersey Democratic Committee.


NON-COUNCIL

Submitted By: The Glittering Eye - American Digest - Abortion in America: A Personal Journey

Submitted By: Cheat-Seeking Missiles - Jules Crittenden - Gaia re Gaia

Submitted By: Joshuapundit - Rants And Raves - Israel and anti-Semitism, decision time

Submitted By: Rhymes With Right - Debbie Schlussel - No Surprise: Iraqis Prefer U.S. Jailers to Iraqi Ones

Submitted By: Bookworm Room - Power Line - How Things Look to a Democrat

Submitted By: Soccer Dad - Elie’s Expositions - Aaron’s Birthday 2009: 22 And Not Counting

Submitted By: The Provocateur - Jerusalem Post - History’s Tragic Farce

Submitted By: The Razor - Covert Rationing Blog - We Have Enough Primary Docs After All

Submitted By: Right Truth - Prison Planet - Blackjack Part 2: Telegraph Continues To Run Vulgar Propaganda

Submitted By: The Colossus of Rhodey - Spiked Online - After Gaza: what’s behind 21st-century anti-Semitism?

Submitted By: Mere Rhetoric - Daniel Pipes - George Mitchell’s Return to Middle East Diplomacy


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