Me, 12 days ago: Bob Jones U Prof: `Intelligent Descend,' not Gravity

The Onion, today: Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity with 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

My point in posting this is in the comments, but check out this article!

I met up with a friend to play a match in our bowling league last night. Before we got started, we had an interesting pre-game discussion. It started with him asking me to give him seven extra "bonus frames" so he could add to his score. You can imagine I wasn't too happy about it, and there was no way I was going to accept it.

A transcript of our ensuing conversation follows...

In my mind, I've written various letters to editors, ombudsmen, etc. taking various media to task for "on-the-one-hand-ist" journalism where opposing views are presented with moral equivalence no matter how extreme or disreputable one side is. "You give legitimacy to views that shouldn't be legitimate," I write. "Just because both sides complain about something doesn't mean you are doing your job. Both sides of some arguments do not deserve equal respect," I admonish...

And there's always a line like this: "Where do you draw the line? Would you include Nazi views among those welcome in reasonable public discourse?"

But I never put any of these letters to pen & paper (or keyboard & screen) because well, first, I'm lazy, and second, because its hard to be taken seriously when you play the Nazi card or something similar to that, what with Godwin's Law certain to elicit eye-rolling dismissal at the mere mention of Nazis. I mean, whatever CNN is doing isn't like taking Nazi ideology as legitimate, is it?

"..."

Umm... is it????

As least I assume so. I better finish this diary quickly so I can go wait for Howard Kurtz's phone call...

I wouldn't have even known it if I didn't just read it on liberal oasis, but we won a legislative battle. You could even say an important one.

I am writing this to ask a question (an admittedly leading one) why so many prominent progressive bloggers engage in discussion with DLC's Ed Kilgore. It's a slight elaboration on a comment I made in Mike Stark's excellent recently receommended diary

Dear Simon,

First off, I think like most of us here, I greatly appreciate your willingness to engage the grassroots in your bid to head the DNC, and I found your letter from this past weekend ("Fellow Kossaks") with your concession and endorsement of Dean very gracious. (and ditto to Donnie Fowler)

I am mainly writing because I have a suggestion to make to you to follow up on your commitment to "make sure that our Party is stronger and that Governor Dean becomes a successful and effective Chair." It is an idea that I think would be beneficial for all of us, and one that you are in a unique position to accomplish.

 
Or Strateg(er)y for Du(DEM)mies

Hi everybody

I've seen a lot of soul-searching, agonizing, suggestions, criticism, etc. regarding the election loss and the future of the party here. There are a lot of good ideas (better policies, better "framing," speaking to values, retake the media, make our own echo chamber, etc.), but one thing I think we're missing is a framework to put them in - that is, a comprehensive strategic guide to defining whom the party is, what it stands for, and how to win.

This post is meant to help fill that void. It is nothing earth shattering. I'm sure a lot of you have worked with strategic roadmaps, game plans, or the equivalent. The leadership of any organization should have one. Sadly, it is apparent that the Democratic Party leadership either doesn't have one or they have one that is really shitty. We wouldn't have questions like "What do we stand for?" "How can we frame this?" that don't have immediate and halfway decent answers if they were okay in this department.

This is quite long. But it includes some charts.

Via Atrios/Media Matters, below is a list of institutional investors (mutual fund firms and some pension funds) that own a large piece of Sinclair.

Atrios suggests divesting. I'm trying something a little less disruptive - writing a letter to them asking for accountability for their investment decisions (which are pretty poor if they are investing in a propaganda operation) before I invest more. If you have any investments with these companies, even if your fund doesn't hold Sinclair, I'd recommend contacting them - its the same top management. There are some big names - Vanguard, Janus, Barclays, American Express, etc. And its only partial - check with your fund company to see if they own any piece of Sinclair.

If anyone who thinks its a good idea, feel free to adapt a draft of the letter here (probably best not to just copy-paste, but rather change it to reflect your circumstances).

My finance grades weren't so hot, so also feel free to correct any misuse of terms.

I fully understand the point people make when they say that it is a waste of time to throw out suggestions to the Kerry campaign on one-liners hoping they will pick them up and use them in the debate or campaign speeches.

But so what, its fun. Here are mine.

As this CNN report shows, news raised in blogs and on the internet(s) can break into the mainstream media, especially stories that they overlooked or otherwise failed to adequately cover when they first had the chance.

I don't want to spread any unfound rumors, but with all of President Bush's speeches recently in which he tries to characterize John Kerry as a wuss ("You can run but you can't hide..."), we have no choice but to open a window into related character analysis and examine a rumor that's been swirling around:

Did George Bush wet his pants during the time he sat motionless and silent on 9-11 after being informed that America was under attack?

Forget Poland?

Might as well.

Poland is pulling out next year, their Defense Minister just announced.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041004/wl_afp/iraq_poland_troops&cid=15 12&ncid=1480

I have some advice for the US soldiers ordered to report for Iraq duty who are currently AWOL. It comes from a high level military official...

Quick quiz: how many cops are killed in the US each year?

Answer below

I rip on the Dems plenty, but its good to see Terry McAuliffe at least starting to say the right things for once

Take a deep breath, relax, relax...

My latest pet peeve that is becoming CW under the radar...

"Better that we fight the terrorists in Iraq than here in the US"