Around the MSM Neighborhood

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Looking over some of the columns posted on Real Clear Politics this weekend:

* John Podhoretz at the New York Post writes that “these aren't happy political days for George W. Bush”, on what appears to be no better evidence than poll numbers. Permit me to sneer at that; Dubya has always counted his merits on firmer footing, things like addressing real problems and making real changes. What the Media thinks of him has never ranked highly on his scale of concern.

* Amy Sullivan at the Washington Monthly, writes a somewhat lengthy article doubting Hillary’s chances of winning the White House in 2008. At the end of her piece, Sullivan admits, “It's too early for anyone to say with certainty that Hillary Clinton can't win the White House”. She might do well to consider that her analysis of the race, while denying it should be only about Hillary, focused on no other potential Democrat.

* John Deutch (former CIA head) writes in the New York Times, that America’s best strategy in the world is to run away. I thank God every day that such men as Deutch no longer have access to the President’s ear, or make decisions affecting the country’s direction.

* John Tierney in the New York Times writes an amusing and perceptive piece about the brou-haha conjured up by Joe Wilson. The money line reads:

“For now, though, it looks as if this scandal is about a spy who was not endangered, a whistle-blower who did not blow the whistle and was not smeared, and a White House official who has not been fired for a felony that he did not commit. And so far the only victim is a reporter who did not write a story about it.”
He also quotes Monty Python, but you should read the article to get it right in context.

* Returning to the more common, if less realistic, fare of the MSM, we see a piece by Carol Swain in the Washington Post, who sees in the light of the Senate’s meaningless apology the need for an even bigger apology, one which “would all reap enormous national and international rewards from such a goodwill gesture”. Let that be a warning to all writers to steer clear of prescription drugs before engaging in an editorial.

* Leon de Winter for the New York Times, writes a perceptive piece about the high cost of mindless tolerance, observing that the Netherlands tolerated two forces which have all but destroyed it from within: “the cultural and sexual revolution of the 1960's and 70's and the influx of Muslim workers during those years of prosperity.” De Winter observes that the Netherlands could not prevent their incipient disaster, because there “It was simply not acceptable to discuss problems relating to religion and culture.” The East and West Coast elites would do well to note that warning.

* Howard Fineman at Newsweek writes a predictable screed against his nemesis, indeed the nemesis of all political hacks and liars on the Left: Karl Rove. As usual Fineman’s pretensions die a quick death, daylight being intolerant of nonsense and paranoia.

* John Leo, writing for U.S. News and World Report, observes that “[t]he soft and squishy side of the Hollywood mind” is taking over, ruining films and ignoring History.

* And rounding out the review with some good analysis and common sense, Michael Barone at real Clear Politics writes that Joe Wilson is today’s Titus Oates. As is often the case, those who know history will catch the reference, and those who have dived off the deep end beyond recovery have no interest in history or its consequences.