Monday, August 30, 2010

Cue the Flyover at the Beck “Restoring Honor” Rally

Just as the music was starting to kick off the Glenn Beck “Restoring Honor” rally, there was a really cool flyover. Beck said on his TV show today that they wanted to have a traditional flyover, but as most people know, flyovers are not allowed over Washington, DC air space. Apparently God didn’t agree. At 9:59 AM, as if on cue, the flyover began and continued directly over the Reflecting Pool all the way to the Lincoln Memorial.  Every time I watch this, I get goose bumps.

My Computer Woes

Well, I guess I should be celebrating as I’m actually posting this from my computer instead of struggling with my Blackberry. Yes, I managed to get my computer to boot up after a 21 hour marathon session.

First, I reformatted the harddrive not once, but three times. Then I ran the Recovery Disk and reloaded all the basic files and operating system. That done, I then had to reload my email client, Firefox and a couple of other programs with several more to go. All of this has given me access and the ability to use the computer, but I’m not fooling myself since it is obvious that my harddrive is failing fast and I certainly have neither the time nor the willingness to spend 21 hours every few days to reload everything to escape the multiplying bad sectors.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do next as I do not have the money to buy a new or even a refurbished computer.

I learned something. Windows Vista backup does not allow a full system backup. What could possibly be the thinking in eliminating this from the operating system and not only eliminating but making it impossible to back up program files? It has me infuriated and I’m sure I’m not alone in my disgust and anger. I learned something else after calling almost everyone I know to see if they might have an older computer lying around that still works and is not being used - most of the people I know are computer illiterates and have never owned a computer. I find this mindboggling.

What I do next is entirely dependent on finding a new or used computer with wireless capability that someone will either donate to me or sell to me for payments of no more than $50 a mo., my max affordable payment.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Louisiana Voters Pick Bush Over Obama in a Crisis – 54% to 33%

Just because our national media has their heads up their asses doesn’t mean that Americans do. If anyone has the experience to judge, it is the people of Louisiana.

• Louisiana Voters Pick Bush Over Obama in a Crisis – 54% to 33%

• Polling on the Spill

Restoring America Rally Draws Crowd Estimate of 500,000 Plus Sarah Palin

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

• Bummer. Al Sharpton’s Counter Freedom Rally Attracts Only 3,000 Supporters

• RESTORING HONOR RALLY – 500,000 Patriots Gather to Honor America

Lots of links for you:

• ‘Restoring Honor’ at the Lincoln Memorial; Update: Live Stream Included

Lots of pictures for you:

• Honor And American Pride Come To DC . . .

And even more links and pictures for you:

• Glenn Beck Rally Picture Guaranteed to Drive Media Crazy

NOTE: I am still without a working computer, so please forgive both the lack of posts and the brevity of the few I have been able to get up using my Blackberry Storm phone.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Deficits

Sources: CBO and U.S. Statistical Abstract.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

My Computer has Died

Posting from my Blackberry sucks.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Gound Zero Includes Proposed Mosque Location

This aerial photo of April 20, 2010, shows the New York city block, lower right, where a 13-story mosque is planned for construction two blocks north of the World Trade Center site, center left. The visible destruction of the top two floors of the Burlington Coat Factory was caused by the landing gear from one of the planes that flew into the WTC towers.

RELATED:

• Why Is Ground Zero Mosque Connection to Sharia Law Push Being Ignored?

• Boycott The Construction Of Cordoba House

• State Department’s Imam Rauf Touts Iran’s Clerical Regime

• Newly Discovered Tapes Reveal Imam Rauf’s Support of Wahhabism & Elimination of Israel

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Ground Zero Mosque: Salt in the Wound (Video)

The Mama Grizzly vs Complete Idiots (Video)

This has got to rank up there with the dumbest and most offensive ad I’ve seen in a long time and hooray for Sarah Palin for lighting these embarrassments up in her inimitable way.

Palin Tweets:

Who hijacked term:”feminist”?A cackle of rads who want 2 crucify other women w/whom they disagree on a singular issue; it’s ironic (& passé)

“Cackle of Rads” - love it!

Then Sarah Palin turned to Facebook and did what she does so well:

First, ladies, it’s hard to take a critic seriously when they lecture you wearing a bear suit. So, it’s difficult for me to drum up much outrage at this latest ad. But, really, lying about a sister while wearing an Ewok outfit is no way to honor our foremothers on the eve of the 90th anniversary of their victory. But, that aside, I’d love to know where you got those get-ups. Halloween is just around the corner, and Piper and Trig would look adorable as little grizzly bears.

Have I mentioned lately that Palin is my kind of gal? Now if I could only find my own Todd.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Extreme

Extreme: of a character or kind farthest removed from the ordinary or average; farthest from the center or middle; outermost; endmost

Mr., Mrs. and Ms. Main Street America, the dems would like to make you think you are the “extreme” ones. You are far too smart to buy into their juvenile crap and the numbers are on your side:

A Time for Choosing:

The names have changed, but the American principles remain the same.

Come and Get Me Nancy Pelosi, I Oppose the Mosque at Ground Zero

Nancy Pelosi: “There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque is being funded.”

I oppose the building of this mosque at that location. My only outlet for voicing my opposition is this blog. So c’mon readers, how ‘bout clicking on the donation button to help me fund my opposition, because it would be inconceivable that any person could have made up his or her own mind and used whatever personal resources they may or may not have to voice their disapproval of building this particular mosque at the WTC site. This is not a political issue, it is not a religious issue, it is an appropriateness and/or need issue. No one says they don’t have a right to worship as they will, no one is trying to abridge any religious freedoms, but apparently close to 70% of Americans agree with me that there is no justifiable NEED to build a mosque/community center at this particular location other than to be an in-your-face eff you to America.

Let’s roll Nancy. Investigate me if you want. I have a grand total of $4.72 in my bank account right now and I’m still going to tell you that I am opposed to this mosque being built at Ground Zero and I’m still going to post blog posts voicing that opposition. Join my bandwagon, donate a dollar or more and show this Botox broad that Americans don’t need to be puppets on the dime of some nefarious big money funders, such as the proponents have. Let’s raise enough $1 donations to fund an ad that we can run. I’ll take the heat.

WE WILL NOT FORGET! Every single day this blog appears, we voice that sentiment in the side bar under the category of the same name. WE WILL NOT FORGET!

RELATED:

Ed Morrissey:

Of course!  What better way to defend the First Amendment freedom of religion than to have the Speaker of the House ask the federal government investigate those exercising their First Amendment right to free speech?  Nancy Pelosi just guaranteed at least two new news cycles for a story, tossing even more gasoline on the fire than Barack Obama’s pas de deux this weekend:

[...]

One might think that Pelsoi would want a peek at where the Park51 will be getting its funds to build the mosque, especially since the State Department is footing the bill for a tour conducted by the imam at the head of the project.  Instead, Pelosi wants the power of the government directed at people taking political positions.  That goes well beyond any supposed extremism by the mosque’s opponents, most (but not all) of whom acknowledge that the property owners have the right to build on their lot anything that meets code, but want to express their opposition to the plans.  Pelosi would take this opportunity to use the government as a thought police to silence dissent.

The Cordoba House developers refuse to meet with Governor Paterson.

And when you read that the proposed mosque/community center is two blocks away, with the added claim that in NYC, 2 blocks is a big distance, remember that the building in question was destroyed when the landing gear of one of the planes that hit WTC plunged through the roof of the building. A flying missile that came out of the sky and plunged two floors deep at the proposed site.

September 11, 2001

Mosque location per Park51 website

• Unreal. New York Officials Refuse to Allow Christians to Rebuild Church Destroyed on 9-11

Now I know we’ve entered some weird alternate universe or something:

• To save Obama, Left cries out for … George W. Bush?

How badly did Barack Obama fumble the mosque controversy last weekend?  No fewer than three media columnists now want Obama rescued by George W. Bush.

• Ground Zero Bus Ads Hit NYC Streets

UPDATE:

Krauthammer: Sheer lunacy

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Bill Whittle: Ground Zero Mosque (How Moral Cowardice is Driving the Proponents)

As Judge Walker would say, it is “beyond debate.” Obama and his minions and those so adamant that we must all be tolerant toward the building of a Victory mosque/community center on an American battleground/burial site are driven by their own cowardice. I feel absolutely no compunction to be tolerant toward any who make it abundantly clear that the only good American is a dead Amercan.

RELATED:

• Ground Zero Mosque’s Hidden Websites: Follow the Shariah

Listen and read. Don’t take the cowardly lead of Obama and those who hate America. Stand up and let your voices be counted.

Monday, August 16, 2010

“Those Voices Don’t Speak for the Rest of Us”

Appeals Court Says No Gay Marriages Pending Appeal Outcome

Who woulda thunk it, coming from the 9th Circuit?

• Court halts Calif. gay marriages pending appeal

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal appeals court put same-sex weddings in California on hold indefinitely Monday while it considers the constitutionality of the state’s gay marriage ban.

The decision, issued by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, trumps a lower court judge’s order that would have allowed county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Wednesday.

Lawyers for the two gay couples that challenged the ban said Monday they would not appeal the panel’s decision on the stay to the Supreme Court.

RELATED:

In a nutshell:

• Prop 8 Lawyers “Smackdown” Judge Walker in Appellate Motion

Pat Condell: No Mosque at Ground Zero (Video)

“Is it possible to be astonished, but not surprised?”

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Jackie Evancho - Remember Her Name, She is Destined to Be a Megastar!

If your reaction wasn’t WOW! then there is something wrong with you.

Think she is a one song wonder, well here she is with no musical support, in a stadium, at the age of only 9.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

If It Is Sunday, It Must Be Time for Funnies

It has been awhile since we highlighted the Sunday Funnies. I know, I know, it has been awhile since there has been any serious blogging going on here. I’m sorry for that. It has been awhile since healthwise I’ve been up to doing much of anything. I’m still on the tail end of a Summer cold, the coughing stage, but at least the pain from my broken ribs and my back are under control and I’m getting around a whole lot better. So enjoy some levity today and as usual, you can see all the Sunday Funnies at the link:

• Sunday Funnies

Friday, August 06, 2010

RED ALERT: Unanimous AFL-CIO Vote Demands Obama Administration Stop Setting Illegals Free

Doug Ross writes:

Are you tired of getting riled up by a new affront each day?  So am I—believe me.  But gird your loins, dear reader, because the two of us are about to experience new levels of progressive depravity.

It was unanimous.  That is, 259 of 259 representatives of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm of the AFL-CIO voted to demand the removal of President Obama’s DHS immigration heads.  100%.  And, surprisingly, you won’t read it in your beloved daily fish wrap.

[...]

Providing numerous facts the media and public have not been privy to, the letter relates ICE leadership dishonesty and failure to abide by their oath to uphold the law. The letter also outlines the importance of local law enforcement referrals to ICE, and the striking symbiotic relationship between local enforcement and ICE on immigration matters. Exemplary are these two bullets:

I encourage you to go and read the entire piece:

• RED ALERT: Unanimous AFL-CIO Vote Demands Obama Administration Stop Setting Illegals Free

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Gary ‘Big Hands’ Johnson Dead at 57

For those of you who do not live in Charger country, the death of Gary “Hands” Johnson is probably not of much interest, but it is a sad day for Charger fans.

• Gary ‘Big Hands’ Johnson dead at 57

Gary Johnson died Wednesday in his hometown of Shreveport, La., never recovering from a stroke he suffered July 20. He was 57. And if anyone expects to hear anything negative about arguably the best defensive tackle in Chargers history, you’re going to have to travel to the ends of the Earth, and that may not be far enough.

“Damn,” Dan Fouts, the Hall of Fame quarterback and Johnson’s teammate for years, was saying from his Oregon home. “That’s the thing about Hands; I was just telling my wife. Everybody liked Hands. He was just a gentle giant, a great guy — although I’m sure opposing quarterbacks didn’t think that highly of him. Hands was a real smart guy. Just a huge loss.”

The news comes shortly after the death of Don Coryell, the head coach during much of Johnson’s time with the Chargers and architect of the most exciting run in franchise history.

“Gary Johnson … boy, a great football player and a great guy,” said Willie Buchanon, who played cornerback for the Chargers during that era. “He was like a brother. Too young. Too young. The Chargers family has taken a pretty big hit this past month.”

A star at Grambling, Johnson was the Chargers’ first pick in the 1975 draft, widely considered one of the best in NFL history. Conducted by head coach Tommy Prothro, that draft also included Hall of Fame defensive end Fred Dean, defensive tackle Louie Kelcher, cornerback Mike Williams , offensive tackle Billy Shields, safety Mike Fuller and running back Rickey Young, who later would be traded to Minnesota for Pro Bowl guard Ed White.

“The Chargers remain the only team in history to have three defensive linemen (Johnson, Dean and Kelcher) start in a Pro Bowl,” Fouts said. “What a defensive line that was, when you think about it.”

Johnson played with the Chargers from 1975-84, before being traded to San Francisco , where he won a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers. He was a first team All-Pro for San Diego in 1980 and ’81 and made the Pro Bowl four times (’80, ’81, ’82 and ’83). In 1980, he recorded 17½ sacks, still a Chargers record.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

71% of Missouri Voters Say a Resounding No to Obamacare

In any other administration, this vote would be a gigantic wake up call.

• Show Me State Shows Obamacare the Door — In a Rout!

MISSOURI VOTERS REJECT OBAMACARE!

Prop C passes in Missouri!

Over 70% of voters reject the democrat’s nationalized health care plan.

Take Me Back

The Sixties for me went from the happiest times of my life to the most horrid times of my young life. The turning point 1967 and all down hill from there.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Personal: For the Record

That cold I had last week and that seemed to get better over the weekend came back in full force yesterday and is even worse today. Just for the record, I’m really really sick.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Handcuffing the States

• Handcuffing the States

Friday, July 30, 2010

Andrew Klavan: The World’s Funniest Klavan on the Culture Bloopers

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Shiloh, Israel’s Capital for 400 Years, Being Uncovered

The discoveries just keep coming proving that Israel has every right to claim this land as their homeland. (Pictures of excavation at link.)

• Shiloh, Israel’s Capital for 400 Years, Being Uncovered

As Israel’s enemies attempt to deny the nation’s connection to its homeland, archaeologists keep digging at the facts.

In Shiloh, north of Beit El, excavations are currently being carried out under the auspices of the Archaeological Staff Officer for Judea and Samaria in the IDF Civilian Administration Antiquities Unit and the Binyamin local authority.

Shiloh was where the Holy Sanctuary – precursor to the Holy Temple – stood for about 400 years during the era of the Judges. It is first mentioned in the Book of Joshua, which also states that the Holy Sanctuary was built there. In the Book of Samuel, Shiloh is mentioned as a religious center, where Elkana and his family go to give sacrifices to G-d. During that pilgrimage, Elkana’s wife, Hana, asks G-d to give her a son – and eventually gives birth to Samuel the Prophet.

[...]

Archaeological findings indicate that a Jewish presence continued at Shiloh until the year 722 BCE, when the Kingdom of Israel was defeated by Assyria. According to the Book of Judges and the Mishna, unwed Jewish women traditionally went to the vineyards of Shiloh to dance on Tu B’Av.

Health Care Law Confirms What Many Fear, that Reform Morphed into a Monstrosity…God help us all

• AMERICA’S NEW HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REVEALED
  Updated Chart Shows Obamacare’s Bewildering Complexity

Washington, DC – Four months after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously declared “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it,” a congressional panel has released the first chart illustrating the 2,801 page health care law President Obama signed into law in March.

Developed by the Joint Economic Committee minority, led by U.S Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the detailed organization chart displays a bewildering array of new government agencies, regulations and mandates.

“For Americans, as well as Congressional Democrats who didn’t bother to read the bill, this first look at the final health care law confirms what many fear, that reform morphed into a monstrosity of new bureaucracies, mandates, taxes and rationing that will drive up health care costs, hurt seniors and force our most intimate health care choices into the hands of Washington bureaucrats,” said Brady, the committee’s senior House Republican. “If this is what passes for health care reform in America, then God help us all.”

[...]

In addition to capturing the massive expansion of government and the overwhelming complexity of new regulations and taxes, the chart portrays:

• $569 billion in higher taxes;
• $529 billion in cuts to Medicare;
• swelling of the ranks of Medicaid by 16 million;
• 17 major insurance mandates; and
• the creation of two new bureaucracies with powers to impose future rationing: the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the Independent Payments Advisory Board.

Brady admits committee analysts could not fit the entire health care bill on one chart. “This portrays only about one-third of the complexity of the final bill. It’s actually worse than this.”

Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Arizona Law SB1070

What I glean is that the judge issued a preliminary injunction against enforcing some provisions of the law without throwing the whole thing out. Of course, it will now go to the ultra-liberal 9th Circuit for a permanent ruling.

• Federal Judge Blocks Portions of Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked some of the toughest provisions in the Arizona illegal immigration law, putting on hold the state’s attempt to have local police enforce federal immigration policy.

Though the rest of the law is still set to go into effect Thursday, the partial injunction on SB 1070 means Arizona, for the time being, will not be able to require police officers to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton also struck down the section of law that makes it a crime not to carry immigration registration papers and the provision that makes it a crime for an illegal immigrant to seek or perform work.

You can read the ruling HERE.

RELATED:

• Judge: Public Has No Idea What Its Interests Are

You know, if you want to hold your own citizenship cheap, that’s fine. But when you start holding others’ cheap, including those who’ve immigrated legally, then I’ve got a problem with you.

• Gov. Jan Brewer Should Ignore Judge Bolten – Declare State Emergency**Bolten Errs, It’s Still Illegal not Carry Immigration Documents

UPDATE: Spoke to a border town law enforcement official. Nothing in the ruling prohibits them from asking for immigration status, only that it’s not required. They plan on asking when suspicious of status.

Additionally Bolton’s ruling is illegal. No matter what anyone says officers can still arrest immigrants for failing to carry immigration papers.
Title 8 of the U.S. Code. Section 1304e requires that “every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him.” Those who fail to comply will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will be fined $100 and can be imprisoned up to 30 days.

All local law enforcement officers throughout the US can enforce this law as they can any other federal law in the performance of their duties. Judge Bolten’s ruling should be vacated on this point immediately, it’s in error.

• Andy McCarthy More than Critical at Judge’s Ruling

The judge also employs a cute bit of sleight-of-hand. She repeatedly invokes a 1941 case, Hines v. Davidowitz, in which the Supreme Court struck down a state alien-registration statute. In Hines, the high court reasoned that the federal government had traditionally followed a policy of not treating aliens as “a thing apart,” and that Congress had therefore “manifested a purpose ... to protect the liberties of law-abiding aliens through one uniform national system” that would not unduly subject them to “inquisitorial practices and police surveillance.” But the Arizona law is not directed at law-abiding aliens in order to identify them as foreigners and subject them, on that basis, to police attention. It is directed at arrested aliens who are in custody because they have violated the law. And it is not requiring them to register with the state; it is requiring proof that they have properly registered with the federal government — something a sensible federal government would want to encourage.

Judge Bolton proceeds from this misapplication of Hines to the absurd conclusion that Arizona can’t ask the federal government for verification of the immigration status of arrestees — even though federal law prohibits the said arrestees from being in the country unless they have legal status — because that would tremendously burden the feds, which in turn would make the arrestees wait while their status is being checked, which would result in the alien arrestees being treated like “a thing apart.”

The ruling ignores that, in the much later case of Plyler v. Doe (1982)......

Read much more

Is everyone really confused yet, no, well read this:

• What Judge Bolton’s Injunction Doesn’t Say—By: NRO Staff
  

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

What Is Going on with Our Weather?

According to the local TV news report, there is a giant mass of cold water off the coast of California, about the size of the United States, that is giving us such cold weather. It is noon of July 27th and it is 64 degrees out. The chart shows what the average temps for Temecula are normally. So far, we have had only three days since the start of Summer that are even close to the normal range. We are even under the average temps seen in January. So much for that glowbull warming.

“We’re not that far removed from what most Americans are going through”

So says Obama. I say BULLSH!T. At this moment, I have a grand total of $7.36 in my bank account. I cannot even afford to drive across town, let alone take 3 very expensive vacations in one month to places like Spain, Florida, or Martha’s Vineyard. If it weren’t for the generosity of a couple of readers, I wouldn’t have been able to pay my yearly service provider fees to keep this blog going or even to continue my Internet service. I live with two people where one is working for half wages in order to work at all and the other saw her job go South due to business closure. I can’t refill my blood pressure or bone medicine for lack of funds. Blood pressure medicine the doctor says I need, but I know is needed because of the constant financial stress we are under. No President Obumbler, you are very far removed from what Americans are going through. I’ve got plenty of skin in the game, certainly a hell of a lot more than you and all your scamming pals.

Real Reporters Compete — They Don’t Collaborate

Yesterday I asked, “Where has old-fashioned journalistic competition gone?” I love it when I get my question answered in less than 24 hours.

• Unlike the Partisan Hacks Masquerading as Journalists on the ‘JournoList,’ Real Reporters Compete — They Don’t Collaborate

Real journalists will talk among themselves about ideas and bounce stories off colleagues they can trust, but to form a club with a clear political agenda is something mobsters would be proud of. As General George S. Patton said, “If everybody’s thinking alike then somebody is not thinking.” There’s a lot of people here not thinking.

I think it is a given that the majority of leftists are extremely immature, almost like middle school children. Is there a parent alive who hasn’t heard her child grouse, “Mommmmm, everyone else is doing it!”? And how many of us have retorted with, “Would you follow everyone off a cliff because ‘everyone’ is doing it?” I think it is obvious that these Journolistas would since their immature brains figure they are invincible and as long as Mommy and Daddy don’t find out, they are home free.

This collaboration will be discounted by each of those on the list. They will ignore, deflect and discount their participation in this cabal. The only hope of the JournoListas is that their uninformed viewers/listeners/readers don’t find out, or don’t care, that they plot their agenda driven dribble with other media to work as copy machines for Democrats. They are media people who want always to be seen and heard, but on this issue, blindness is golden.

UPDATE:

Oh no, there is another one.

• JournoList 2: the TownHouse Listserv?

But let’s forget about the JournoList for a moment and turn our eyes to another listserv out there in Google.  I’m referring to Matt Stoller’s private, invitation-only TownHouse listserv.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Stoller, he’s a progressive blogger-turned-senior policy advisor for Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL).  Now we all know what we can do besides teach with a history degree, but I digress.

According to SourceWatch:

Townhouse provides the online equivalent of a political backroom for Democratic Party-aligned advocates, consultants and lobbyists. On this closed listserv selected liberals — including bloggers Glenn Greenwald, Markos Moulitsas and Atrios; film maker Robert Greenwald; leaders of liberal think tanks such as Robert Borosage of Campaign for America’s Future; Wes Boyd, Tom Matzzie and other leaders of MoveOn; and other Democratic campaign and PR consultants — can confidentially discuss and debate their issues, strategies and tactics.

An article on Salon reports: “Townhouse began after the disastrous 2004 election, when young Democratic activists began meeting on Sundays for beers at Townhouse Tavern, a subterranean watering hole in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood…

Through it all, Stoller controlled the membership. If you stayed in his graces, and met the group’s qualifications, you got yourself a ticket to both the electronic and the alcoholic conversations. At all times, the whole enterprise was declared off the record, to be spoken of in hushed tones only with others who knew the proverbial secret handshake. … the public introduction of Townhouse now presents the big-name bloggers and online activists with a transparency dilemma. On the one hand, bloggers like to talk of themselves as a democratic, grass-roots movement. (Moulitsas often conflates himself with the entire ‘people-powered movement’ in his blog posts.) On the other hand, the blogosphere boasts an emerging leadership elite, which is increasingly profiting on its insider status in both the Democratic Party and among one another.”

And via Instapundit:

Peter Wehner: JournoListers Risked Their Integrity. Risked? “What we have, in short, is intellectual corruption of a fairly high order. From what we have seen and from what those like Tucker Carlson and his colleagues (who have read the exchanges in detail) say, Journolist was — at least in good measure — a hotbed of hatred, political hackery, banality, and juvenile thuggery. . . . Journolist provides a window into the mindset of the journalistic and academic left in this country. It is not a pretty sight. The demonization and dehumanization of critics is arresting. Those who hold contrary views to the Journolist crowd aren’t individuals who have honest disagreements; they are evil, malignant, and their voices need to be eliminated from the public square. It is illiberal in the extreme. . . . Those who participated in Journolist undoubtedly hope this story will fade away and be forgotten. I rather doubt it will. It is another episode in the long, downward slide of modern journalism.”

and

• What Does It Take To Be A “Hero” Of JournoList?