Will bloggers be able to keep the feet of politicians to the fire like newspapers think they do? From a short time reading blogs, I'd say yes.
The criticism is bloggers write from a point of view, likely conservative or liberal. The newspaper people are supposedly neutral, and thus a better fit to play the role of watchdog.
But when there's lots of bloggers, several will usually focus on the same issue. With their different viewpoints, an incorrect or biased view will almost immediately be smacked down. It won't last long enough to become conventional wisdom.
As a Republican watching the pro-Moran and pro-McAuliffe sides go at it, there's nothing that will surprise the well-informed reader. Besides giving Bob McDonnell's team plenty of opposition research, these bloggers are combing over past records and future promises. The debates between sides are much more vigorous than a few political reporters at a few big papers looking at the same information.
With these bloggers, the reader knows where the bias comes from. And there's always someone looking to make a name for themselves, who will work harder and dig deeper if there's something there.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
International incident
Earth Hour is over for this year, but the internet searching for the "Official Song of Earth Hour Protesters" continues.
I just got a hit from Croatia looking at Trace Adkins' "Every Light in the House is On." That's after getting hits from Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico over the weekend.
I just got a hit from Croatia looking at Trace Adkins' "Every Light in the House is On." That's after getting hits from Vietnam, Malaysia, Canada and Mexico over the weekend.
A sad day
The Staunton News Leader has announced it will no longer print its paper in Staunton, but use the press in Harrisonburg instead. So now, the Waynesboro paper is printed in Lynchburg, the Charlottesville paper is printed in Richmond and Staunton will be done in Harrisonburg.
The newspaper presses are the coolest things. It's what makes a newspaper a newspaper to me. But I guess if they usually run just two hours a night for a nightly press run, sharing a press makes sense. (I know there's maintenance and setup time, but the basic job is pretty quick).
When I started working at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, once a week we had to wait for the press to roll to check on the finished product. About 30 minutes after the last page left the newsroom, you'd hear the warning noises as the press warmed up to run.
We'd get a pile of fresh papers brought to the newsroom, and we'd look at the headlines and ads to make sure there were no major mistakes. Something the L.A. Times could have done recently.
Then it was time to go home, carrying a fresh newspaper that would still be considered fresh seven hours later when the town woke up for the day.
The newspaper presses are the coolest things. It's what makes a newspaper a newspaper to me. But I guess if they usually run just two hours a night for a nightly press run, sharing a press makes sense. (I know there's maintenance and setup time, but the basic job is pretty quick).
When I started working at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, once a week we had to wait for the press to roll to check on the finished product. About 30 minutes after the last page left the newsroom, you'd hear the warning noises as the press warmed up to run.
We'd get a pile of fresh papers brought to the newsroom, and we'd look at the headlines and ads to make sure there were no major mistakes. Something the L.A. Times could have done recently.
Then it was time to go home, carrying a fresh newspaper that would still be considered fresh seven hours later when the town woke up for the day.
Monday, March 30, 2009
NOW you're in trouble
Augustafreepress reports on Governor Kaine's decision to allow a "Choose Life" license plate and NOW's response to the news as the first comment.
Whoever thought of those "Choose Life" plates was brilliant. How can you not choose life? The best politics is when you tie your opponents in knots and let them fight amongst themselves. If the liberals could just let "Choose Life" slide, it wouldn't get them into trouble. Now NOW is putting out press releases questioning the Democratic party's commitment to their issue.
Allowing "Choose Life" license plates could be part of the Obama/Kaine mission for post-partisan, calm and methodical look at the troubling issues that have divided us. Or it could be another decision that brings forth angry and wild accusations. Choose wisely.
Whoever thought of those "Choose Life" plates was brilliant. How can you not choose life? The best politics is when you tie your opponents in knots and let them fight amongst themselves. If the liberals could just let "Choose Life" slide, it wouldn't get them into trouble. Now NOW is putting out press releases questioning the Democratic party's commitment to their issue.
Allowing "Choose Life" license plates could be part of the Obama/Kaine mission for post-partisan, calm and methodical look at the troubling issues that have divided us. Or it could be another decision that brings forth angry and wild accusations. Choose wisely.
Interesting take
Chris Graham at Augusta Free Press wonders if the Democratic leadership is going too far left instead of working on the program he thought he voted for with Obama and Mark Warner. Since he lets his Democratic leanings known, it's interesting to see the struggle - what I'm getting is not what I thought I'd get. He wanted Warner's "Radical Centrist" and is getting radical instead.
Take a whack
Linked by ToM. Thanks.
The other McCain takes a whack at David Frum on the Spectator's blog this morning. I'll join in.
He quotes Frum:
But on environmental issues, we have to follow the evidence where it leads -- and on social issues we have to take our society as it is. If the world changes, we have to change with it.
There's a word for such thinking, and it's not leader. It's follower. Follower of conventional wisdom. Follower of the crowd. Not leading the crowd where you think it needs to go.
Right now, the majority of the American public sees President Obama as a Jackie Robinson symbol of hope and change. But conservatives have seen his flaws. He can't hit the curve ball. He can't field his position. He's a utility infielder, not an All-Star or Hall of Famer.
The people are ready to be led, just look at the Tea Parties and the 9-12 project. Those things aren't following the Obama path. Republicans shouldn't either.
The other McCain takes a whack at David Frum on the Spectator's blog this morning. I'll join in.
He quotes Frum:
But on environmental issues, we have to follow the evidence where it leads -- and on social issues we have to take our society as it is. If the world changes, we have to change with it.
There's a word for such thinking, and it's not leader. It's follower. Follower of conventional wisdom. Follower of the crowd. Not leading the crowd where you think it needs to go.
Right now, the majority of the American public sees President Obama as a Jackie Robinson symbol of hope and change. But conservatives have seen his flaws. He can't hit the curve ball. He can't field his position. He's a utility infielder, not an All-Star or Hall of Famer.
The people are ready to be led, just look at the Tea Parties and the 9-12 project. Those things aren't following the Obama path. Republicans shouldn't either.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Choice of a new Glenneration
The big New York Times profile of Glenn Beck is out. Can't wait to hear what he has to say about it Monday morning.
Why we love SUVs
With the Detroit automakers struggling, the Obama administration wants to wean them from big SUVs to smaller, green cars for the future. But why are SUVs and vans such a big part of the inventory of our automakers?
How about a little government intervention?
As the safety requirements have added up, the cars driven in the 60s and 70s couldn't cut it. You couldn't pile the kids into the back of the station wagon since everybody needed seat belts and eventually car seats.
With vans and then SUVs, customers had the space they needed to comfortable carry their two kids and their stuff around. The cars were bigger than the 70s and the families likely smaller, but parents felt safer driving these cars.
When we found out our second child was coming, it was off to Toyota to buy a van. With only one child, we could get by with a two-door Toyota Paseo with no passenger side air bag to cart him around town. Add a second child and it would have been a major pain to strap the infant in a rear-facing seat in the small back seat that car offered. If we put the infant seat in the passenger side front, the older child would have had to go through the driver's side door to get to his booster seat.
The Democrats think increasing the mileage of cars would help the automakers survive. But that's piling on another burden to the long list of requirements already there. GM and Chrysler look unliking to handle the extra weight without collapsing.
How about a little government intervention?
As the safety requirements have added up, the cars driven in the 60s and 70s couldn't cut it. You couldn't pile the kids into the back of the station wagon since everybody needed seat belts and eventually car seats.
With vans and then SUVs, customers had the space they needed to comfortable carry their two kids and their stuff around. The cars were bigger than the 70s and the families likely smaller, but parents felt safer driving these cars.
When we found out our second child was coming, it was off to Toyota to buy a van. With only one child, we could get by with a two-door Toyota Paseo with no passenger side air bag to cart him around town. Add a second child and it would have been a major pain to strap the infant in a rear-facing seat in the small back seat that car offered. If we put the infant seat in the passenger side front, the older child would have had to go through the driver's side door to get to his booster seat.
The Democrats think increasing the mileage of cars would help the automakers survive. But that's piling on another burden to the long list of requirements already there. GM and Chrysler look unliking to handle the extra weight without collapsing.
Lack of regulation or not enough procreation?
Why is the world economy in such a mess? In the view of the Obama administration, there was not enough regulation of banks and the markets. With their new regulations, things will get better.
But what if that's not it. What if it boils down to Mark Steyn's sentence - Four grandparents have two children have one grandchild.
For an asset to have value, you need someone to sell it to. For the past 25 years, a large number of people have been bidding up the value of assets - stocks and houses - in hopes of having a good retirement. Now the baby boomers are starting to retire and needing to sell those assets. If there's fewer buyers and too many sellers, the value of the item goes down.
Instead of regulation, the Obama administration should encourage procreation. In 20 years, they can buy our houses and stocks. And work to pay down our debt.
But what if that's not it. What if it boils down to Mark Steyn's sentence - Four grandparents have two children have one grandchild.
For an asset to have value, you need someone to sell it to. For the past 25 years, a large number of people have been bidding up the value of assets - stocks and houses - in hopes of having a good retirement. Now the baby boomers are starting to retire and needing to sell those assets. If there's fewer buyers and too many sellers, the value of the item goes down.
Instead of regulation, the Obama administration should encourage procreation. In 20 years, they can buy our houses and stocks. And work to pay down our debt.
Exclusive overload
Watching Saturday's NCAA tournament coverage, CBS was touting an exclusive - President Obama's first Sunday morning interview.
Didn't he just have an exclusive on 60 minutes last week? And a press conference? And a web-based press conference with questions from the people?
And the inbox has a note from the Financial Times. Monday, they have an exclusive with Obama - his first interview with a global publication. When you're talking to everybody, how is it an exclusive? When bits of your interviews spread across the internet like wildfire, where's the exclusive? It's not like he's saying different things to different publications.
I need to try to get my exclusive interview with the president. I would be the only Virginia blogger who shares his birthday to interview him.
Didn't he just have an exclusive on 60 minutes last week? And a press conference? And a web-based press conference with questions from the people?
And the inbox has a note from the Financial Times. Monday, they have an exclusive with Obama - his first interview with a global publication. When you're talking to everybody, how is it an exclusive? When bits of your interviews spread across the internet like wildfire, where's the exclusive? It's not like he's saying different things to different publications.
I need to try to get my exclusive interview with the president. I would be the only Virginia blogger who shares his birthday to interview him.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Lessons for Obama
Just got home from watching the movie "Monsters vs. Aliens." The president is voiced by Stephen Colbert. I guess Dreamworks sent President Obama a copy before the inauguration and he thinks that's the way to be presidential.
In stores now
My niece's birthday is next week, and in the card section I found American Idol greeting cards. Paula Abdul and Ryan Seacrest were out front. My niece deserves a nice Paula card.
I couldn't find a Simon Cowell card. And my brother's birthday is coming up soon.
I couldn't find a Simon Cowell card. And my brother's birthday is coming up soon.
Thanks, Smitty
My blog reading list now includes the Other McCain, since I expect him to stick around now that he's reached a million hits.
(btw, Don Surber is nearing four million hits. I wonder if there's a prize for putting him over that number. I know I'll be hitting the refresh button when the time is near.)
McCain's key contributor Smitty provides a weekly roundup of bloggers who link to the blog. And I've made it two weeks in a row without mentioning Jello wrestling.
(btw, Don Surber is nearing four million hits. I wonder if there's a prize for putting him over that number. I know I'll be hitting the refresh button when the time is near.)
McCain's key contributor Smitty provides a weekly roundup of bloggers who link to the blog. And I've made it two weeks in a row without mentioning Jello wrestling.
Quote of the day
Mark Steyn looks at the looming regulation of everything, with the best and brightest in charge. (At least they think they are the best and brightest).
The challenge they face:
When the Bolsheviks chose to introduce Russians to the blessings of a "command economy" 90 years ago, they were dealing with a relatively simple agricultural society largely contained within national borders. Obama and Geithner are trying to do it with a sophisticated global economy in which North American consumers, European bankers, Asian suppliers, Saudi investors and Chinese debt-holders are more tangled than an octopuses' orgy.
The challenge they face:
When the Bolsheviks chose to introduce Russians to the blessings of a "command economy" 90 years ago, they were dealing with a relatively simple agricultural society largely contained within national borders. Obama and Geithner are trying to do it with a sophisticated global economy in which North American consumers, European bankers, Asian suppliers, Saudi investors and Chinese debt-holders are more tangled than an octopuses' orgy.
Official song update
I like checking sitemeter to see where my blog visitors are coming from. Overnight, I had a visitor from Hanoi, Vietnam.
Why would someone from way over there check my little blog? Because Google had my link for anyone seeking Official Song of Earth Hour. Hope I didn't disappoint.
Why would someone from way over there check my little blog? Because Google had my link for anyone seeking Official Song of Earth Hour. Hope I didn't disappoint.
Elite Eight update
The President got five of the Elite Eight right, but his overall standing in ESPN's bracket challenge remains in the middle of the pack. And he lost one of his Final Four picks - Memphis.
I lead in the small pool sponsored by Augustafreepress.com. Why? I picked the highest seed in each contest. No pride in picking upsets, but no setbacks when an upset I thought would happen doesn't.
I lead in the small pool sponsored by Augustafreepress.com. Why? I picked the highest seed in each contest. No pride in picking upsets, but no setbacks when an upset I thought would happen doesn't.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Indiana Sarah and the Staffers of Doom
Some former McCain staffers are still upset about Sarah Palin. Surprise.
Palin mentioned that no one would pray with her before the vice presidential debate. The staffer think she is throwing them under the bus.
She is just like Indiana Jones. When someone tries to throw you under the bus, you use your leverage to knock them under the bus. Nobody complained when Indiana Jones got the better of his foes.
Palin mentioned that no one would pray with her before the vice presidential debate. The staffer think she is throwing them under the bus.
She is just like Indiana Jones. When someone tries to throw you under the bus, you use your leverage to knock them under the bus. Nobody complained when Indiana Jones got the better of his foes.
Eric Cantor's choice
People sure are making a big deal about Rep. Eric Cantor attending Brittany Spears' concert the night of President Obama's press conference. Lip sync vs. teleprompter. What's the difference?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Bummer
The blog supposedly written by Rush Limbaugh's microphone has been removed. I guess four posts were all it was good for.
You can still check out the blog for President Obama's teleprompter for important updates.
You can still check out the blog for President Obama's teleprompter for important updates.
Please check your schedule
So Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. What else is scheduled for that time period?
Nick has the Kids Choice Awards. The Jonas Brothers will probably be singing between 8:30 and 9:30. Go ahead and turn off the TV. They won't mind.
CBS has NCAA college basketball, something big enough that ESPN asked for President Obama's bracket. The second game will be ending around 9. The Earth Hour people are hoping for a blowout and not a repeat of the Heidi Game.
And please, don't go to the movies Saturday night. They are awfully dark when all lights are off for an hour.
Nick has the Kids Choice Awards. The Jonas Brothers will probably be singing between 8:30 and 9:30. Go ahead and turn off the TV. They won't mind.
CBS has NCAA college basketball, something big enough that ESPN asked for President Obama's bracket. The second game will be ending around 9. The Earth Hour people are hoping for a blowout and not a repeat of the Heidi Game.
And please, don't go to the movies Saturday night. They are awfully dark when all lights are off for an hour.
Gone to pot
Instapundit points out a Politico story about today's Obama on-line press conference. Seems what the people are really interested in is marijuana. How about a 90 percent tax on marijuana users?
Official song of Earth Hour protesters
Don't want to participate in Earth Hour this weekend? Here's your song.
If you need to see it, here's a fan video.
If you need to see it, here's a fan video.
Maryland history
NRO's Corner reminds us that 375 years ago this week, the first colonists landed in Maryland. And it provides a link to calls to change the last verse of the state song. What, they don't like "Huzza. She spurns the Northern scum?"
Our College Republican group produced a newsletter, and when we were almost finished there was a small spot left. Just big enough for three verses of Maryland, My Maryland. We picked the first two and the last.
I hear the distant thunder-hum
Maryland my Maryland
The Old Line's bugle, fife and drum
Maryland my Maryland
She is not dead, nor deaf nor dumb
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She burns! She'll come! She'll come!
Maryland my Maryland
Our College Republican group produced a newsletter, and when we were almost finished there was a small spot left. Just big enough for three verses of Maryland, My Maryland. We picked the first two and the last.
I hear the distant thunder-hum
Maryland my Maryland
The Old Line's bugle, fife and drum
Maryland my Maryland
She is not dead, nor deaf nor dumb
Huzza! She spurns the Northern scum!
She breathes! She burns! She'll come! She'll come!
Maryland my Maryland
They beat me
I tried to write a Tea Party anthem. Then Suzanna Logan had the idea of a Lady Godiva aspect of the tea party protest. And it sparked another parody.
I bow to their wit and wisdom.
I bow to their wit and wisdom.
Your bottom three?
Dialidol predicts Scott, Megan and Michael are the bottom three after this week's show. Votefortheworst continues to encourage people to vote to keep Megan on the show, and at this stage of the competition, it may be enough to save her.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Official song of Barack Obama
Behold, it's Cold as Ice by Foreigner. Inspired by Associated Press. And the band name is a favorite for those following the birth certificate story.
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