The past couple of weeks I have taken to writing my essay for Top Comments the day before I post so I can spend the entire day comment mining. After reading quality diaries all day I felt my little story sounded pretty lame after a momentous day like today with so much action and excitement on the political front. It was a piece of fluff compared to important issues covered today. So I set it aside and started over to pay tribute to the talented writers of diaries and comment this day.
Several very excellent diaries where up on the recommended list today and for very good reason. Two live thread diaries, Walter Reed Hearings Live Thread and Walter Reed Hearings - Panel ll Live Discussion covering the congressional hearings on the Walter Reed mess were helpful for those of us who couldn't watch the live coverage.
One particular Kossack did an outstanding job for the bulk of the day transcribing the dialogs: Ellicatt. Her fingers must be sore and her mind nearly fried, but she was super today and deserves many accolades for her dedication to bringing us all up to speed on who said what. Several other Kossacks provided 'color commentary' and background research for an in-depth experience that rivaled any MSM outlet in those threads as well.
Chimes of Freedom wrote a beautiful diary, Half the trees are dead or dying about a recent painful journey through the Gulf Region. Please take the time to read this excellent diary.
testvet6778 had another in a string of fine diaries, Dana Priest and Anne Hull Hit Another Homerun citing the on-going battles to get proper care for veterans. We have learned a great deal in the past few months about tv's struggles with his health and his healthcare. We have also learned a great deal from him regarding the duplicitous nature of the DoD in turning their backs on those they have used in such an egregious manner.
Fredrick Clarkson diary, What Does It Take to Get a Big Story Told? started with a question and received many replies in his diary today. I learned a great deal from the commenters in this diary.
Jesselyn Radack's diary, The Backpedaling Begins was another winner in her string of recent diaries. Her personal knowledge of her subject shines through. She will be very instrumental in the coming days parsing the hearing on the firing of the U.S. attorneys.
lukery's diary, Two FBI Whistleblowers Confirm Illegal Wiretapping of Govt Officials, Support Sibel Edmonds Claims was a bombshell today dropped in the middle of an already busy day. Much discussion ensued on what may be happening in the coming days. This could be the blockbuster of the year.
Even makes you think's off-beat diary, Fine line between trolling and dog whispering had many good points and a few funny moments.
MissLaura's front page article, CREW Files Ethics Complaint Against Domenici drew some in-depth comments that expanded on the topic.
mcjoan front page article, First DOJ Official Resignation over Prosecutor Flap? covered some late-breaking news that kossack's once again fleshed out in detail.
So after mining and coding I decided my little story could wait for another day because the diaries and comments are center stage in my mind today. It was a good day to be a Kossack!
On with the show~
My Selections
Diary: Dana Priest and Anne Hull Hit Another Homerun
By: testvet6778
murrayewv quotes Paul Krugman and puts in his opinions, too!
llbear's blistering rant.
madhaus cites some other sources with more in-depth explanations.
dadanation's take on the administration's level of 'concern'.
bayside on the one name that is always popping up.
Diary: What Does It Take to Get a Big Story Told?
By: Fredrick Clarkson
moiv on the power of middle managers with millions at their fingertips.
Bobjack23 on a republican power couple's ability to wreck havoc.
Crashing Vor's eloquent depiction of the damage done by 'little guys'.
adios has some more deep background.
duckpin136 on how his persistence paid off.
Diary: The Backpedaling Begins
By: Jesselyn Radack
ivorybill on the replacements!
lecsmith on a growing problem.
joanneleon on how they can lie with a straight face.
GreyHawk brings and excellent resource list for background.
Diary: Fine line between trolling and dog whispering
By: makes you think
makes you think asks for a book on 'wife whispering' and gets plenty of advice in this thread! Funny.
inclusiveheart 'gets it' on two fronts.
Diary: Half the trees are dead or dying
By: Chimes of Freedom
lgmcp on another forest dying from indifference.
Mad Kossack reflects on the weather and the coming hurricane season.
Billy Bova on a voting experience in the heart of Lott country.
boofdah has a heartbreaking update.
Diary: Walter Reed Hearings Live Thread
By: Buckeye BattleCry
Ellicatt on the mass exodus of qualified personnel due to privatization. Ellicatt did an outstanding job throughout the threads reporting on commentary. Thanks, Ellicatt for all your hard work.
I makes a passionate plea!
Zwoof has some outstanding questions to throw into the mix.
hockeyrules on a feature of Republican policy.
Zwoof with a stunning statistic!
bumblebums quotes Van Hollen in a remark that smacks the insurance industry too.
mdgarcia provides a good summary of the morning testimony.
Diary: Walter Reed Hearings - Panel ll Live Discussion
By: LeftofArizona
Ellicatt is on the job again with succinct reporting.
Ellicatt with more updating.
Ellicatt with further testimony By Kiley and Weightman.
Ellicatt transcribes the Hodes/Kiley exchange.
Ellicatt last update as coverage switches over to radio.
Zwoof suggests some excellent follow-up questions for the committee.
strengthof10kmen has a righteous rant!
Diary: Two FBI Whistleblowers Confirm Illegal Wiretapping of Govt Officials, Support Sibel Edmonds Claims
By: lukery
Valtin speculates and cogitates.
lukery cites Greenwald's opinion.
think blue asks a question that lukery answers. Good background for those not familiar with the case.
swoosher, a newbie, is excited to see that this is starting to gain traction.
Front Page: CREW Files Ethics Complaint Against Domenici
By: MissLaura
Panda has the Domenici pajama backstory.
Dallasdoc cites some additional fallout for Heather Wilson.
deaniac explains CREW's scope and power.
arkdem supplies some interesting information about Iglesias's background.
Front Page: First DOJ Official Resignation over Prosecutor Flap?
By: mcjoan
MJB starts off this thread with some digging into where Battle is going. Cushy landing!
OneCrankyDom cites an email from TPM.
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From noweasels
Frederick Clarkson's hilarious riposte to mcjoan's comment about his diary regarding Wade Horn which should be in the category of having to be read to be believed -- unless you've lived through six years of the Bush regime.
From OrangeClouds115
Good reply to the comment that Edwards is wasteful for sending campaign DVDs to 70,000 Iowans.
From madgranny
IndyScott has a good statement for Harry Reid to make. The comment ends with a great one-liner.
Diary: Action Item: Senator Reid, Don't Legitimize Fox News
From wiscmass
buhdydharma has a comprehensive linked list to all the constitutional dairies. Too bad you can't hotlist a comment!
From wiscmass's diary, Restoring Our Constitution: Backtracking on Incorporation
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Top Mojo provided tonight cskendrick! Thank you, csk ;-)
Top Comments - No Tip Jars
1 - Nah, I don't believe in that
..Chimes of Freedom
..152
2 - What really makes me happy
..MBNYC
..104
3 - I think volvodrivingliberal
..inevitibility
..97
4 - Read Paul Krugman....
..murrayewv
..93
5 - Nope...everyone that wrote the emails and made
..VolvoDrivingLiberal
..75
6 - Coldblue, One Bite-
..station wagon
..66
7 - If I didn't have to get up so early
..anastasia p
..66
8 - Edwards is playing this well
..inevitibility
..65
9 - The Criminal Here is Spector
..MrMichaelMT
..62
10 - I think the whole damn site gets a big round
..Pager
..59
11 - I don't doubt
..AlyoshaKaramazov
..57
12 - As Jeff Sharlet wrote
..moiv
..54
13 - Wow! Look how little time it took
..jct
..51
14 - Good packaging of a complex issue.
..llbear
..49
15 - We're really filling up their plates,
..mcjoan
..49
16 - No Speculation
..Jesselyn Radack
..47
17 - I asked yesterday and she replied to me
..OrangeClouds115
..47
18 - more from pk
..hester
..46
19 - Keep rocking the boat
..Grannus
..46
20 - Short version
..RequestedUsername
..46
21 - Get a cat
..freelunch
..45
22 - As an atheist, I don't usually stop by
..Dallasdoc
..45
23 - For Karen...
..ThaliaR
..42
24 - yep!
..Frederick Clarkson
..41
25 - And the left is unhinged....
..cometman
..41
26 - I worked hard for Webb's election, and
..feelingsickinMN
..41
27 - I'm sitting with General Clark right now
..WesClarkJr
..40
28 - We need to form an...
..jbou
..39
29 - Precisely
..chumley
..39
30 - I'm not sure.
..pastordan
..39
Top Comments - w/ Tip Jars
1 - Tips?
..MBNYC
..323
2 - Hey, Congressional Dems!
..Frederick Clarkson
..249
3 - tips flames and anything else you can think
..testvet6778
..234
4 - Tip Jar
..Jesselyn Radack
..233
5 - John McCain's been courting John Hagee
..Troutfishing
..159
6 - Sorry to rock
..Big Tent Democrat
..158
7 - Nah, I don't believe in that
..Chimes of Freedom
..152
8 - A request:
..RenaRF
..137
9 - Stop war with Iran
..beachmom
..110
10 - Extraordinary Diary
..shanikka
..105
11 - What really makes me happy
..MBNYC
..104
12 - tips?
..makes you think
..103
13 - Yeah!
..KnowVox
..97
14 - I think volvodrivingliberal
..inevitibility
..97
15 - Read Paul Krugman....
..murrayewv
..93
16 - Nope...everyone that wrote the emails and made
..VolvoDrivingLiberal
..75
17 - Tip Jar
..LeftofArizona
..73
18 - Tip Jar
..AAbshier
..69
19 - If I didn't have to get up so early
..anastasia p
..66
20 - Coldblue, One Bite-
..station wagon
..66
21 - Edwards is playing this well
..inevitibility
..65
22 - I think the whole damn site gets a big round
..Pager
..59
23 - I don't doubt
..AlyoshaKaramazov
..57
24 - Your action will be appreciated
..jasmint53
..55
25 - Tip jar
..kellogg
..55
26 - CNY CnJ
..redlami
..54
27 - As Jeff Sharlet wrote
..moiv
..54
28 - Moonbat's feeding bowl
..Unitary Moonbat
..51
29 - Wow! Look how little time it took
..jct
..51
30 - We're really filling up their plates,
..mcjoan
..49
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