"Dirt" - Lou Reed
- Just in case people didn't get his point, Krugman is back today with a blistering attack on his media colleagues who continue to engage in their "angry centrists" fantasy and perpetuate the notion of equivalence between the two political parties in the current debt ceiling fiasco. And in case you were wondering who might be the specific target of his broadside, Krugman uses the following analogy:
Some of us have long complained about the cult of “balance,” the insistence on portraying both parties as equally wrong and equally at fault on any issue, never mind the facts. I joked long ago that if one party declared that the earth was flat, the headlines would read “Views Differ on Shape of Planet.” But would that cult still rule in a situation as stark as the one we now face, in which one party is clearly engaged in blackmail and the other is dickering over the size of the ransom?
Now where would one come up with someone declaring the world flat as an example? Coincidence I suppose. Krugman concludes with this:
So what’s with the buzz about a centrist uprising? As I see it, it’s coming from people who recognize the dysfunctional nature of modern American politics, but refuse, for whatever reason, to acknowledge the one-sided role of Republican extremists in making our system dysfunctional. And it’s not hard to guess at their motivation. After all, pointing out the obvious truth gets you labeled as a shrill partisan, not just from the right, but from the ranks of self-proclaimed centrists.
But making nebulous calls for centrism, like writing news reports that always place equal blame on both parties, is a big cop-out — a cop-out that only encourages more bad behavior. The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that, you’re helping make that problem worse.
Once again, the whole thing is worth reading. And I guess I wasn't the only one who snickered with delight that at the bottom of the column, the following appears:
David Brooks is off today.
My immediate thought was "what do you mean today?"
- I see Larry Klayman is back to reclaim the title of craziest lawyer in America from Orly Taitz. Klayman claims that "Rachel Maddow's career is over" because of a lawsuit he is bringing against her on behalf of heavy metal lunatic preacher Bradlee Dean. For reasons I don't really understand, Klayman has brought the suit here in DC Superior Court. I will be very surprised if Klayman avoids being sanctioned in this one. Were I representing MSNBC in this matter, I would go after both Klayman and Dean for attorneys' fees and costs and would nail their slimy hides to the wall.
- Michael Tomasky makes the case for Obama to use the 14th Amendment to avoid default. I think it goes against every instinct Obama has, but I could also see it happening.
- The Wisconsin Senate recall fight is getting down to its final days. It seems to me that if there is to be a leftward counter-counter-revolution, this is the place where it starts. That and the upcoming referendum on Ohio's anti-union law. If we win here it is big news. So for those of you who can, I suggest donating to Act Blue for the Wisconsin fight.
- I guess Obama is coming on the TV again. I'm not sure what else there is to say.
What will you be doing to make John Boehner cry today?
