Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Watcher's Council Nominations, 8/08/07




Every week, the Watcher's Council members nominate two posts each, one from the Council members and one from outside for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week's Council nominations can be found at the site of our fearless leader, Watcher of Weasels


Do take the time and check out the non-Council links..they are always rewarding.


Here's this week's Council lineup:

1. JOSHUAPUNDIT - Olmert Evicts Jews From Hebron I really don't mind if you sit this one out.

I wasn't up to nominating anything this week..probably because nothing affected me personally quite as much as this and I really didn't want to nominate this, but this is what the Watcher chose. In a way,I'm sort of glad he picked it..G-d knows why.

There are no grand solutions or big ideas in this one. Sometimes when you see evil slowly destroying something you care about, and have the ability to peer around the corners a bit and see what's coming, all you can do is document it - if nothing else, to be able to tell yourself afterwards that you saw it for what it was and to let the people affected by it know that their pain didn't pass unnoticed.

2. Done With Mirrors: Tancredo And Tonic Callimachus examines Tom Tancredo's position..that we should let potential jihadis know that if there's another terrorist strike on the US, Mecca and Medina will be scheduled for some Shock and Awe. Cal looks at this honestly and concludes, not suprisingly that when you get down to it, this might be the only deterrent that means anything to these people.

I agree with him...except I'd add Qom, Karbala, Tehran and certain oil fields to the list.

3. Soccer Dad: Agents of Influence *UPDATED* Soccer Dad has a charming post this week on blogging...why we do what we do, and does it really matter?

4. The Glittering Eye :How Do You Know When A Bridge Needs Attention? This week, The Glittering Eye's Dave Schuler reflects on the bridge collapse on I-35W and draws from it a conclusion about government: corporations plan ahead for future needs and maintenance and so do families..but government rarely does.

Good stuff as always from Dave.

5. Bookworm Room: Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life Ms. Bookworm expands on her fine American Thinker article about the traits of responsibility and accomplishment in our leaders, and compares the GOP frontrunners with their Democrat counterparts.

Needless to say, the Democrats are found just a little bit wanting in these qualities...

6. Rhymes With Right: Grading Policies Having three educaters in this group (as far as I know) gives both myself and the readers a unique glimpse into the Belly of the Beast that is public education.

Greg writes about a blatant case of grade inflation where a math professor was overuled by the administration into giving a student a passing grade she wasn't even close to deserving.

7.Colossus of Rhodey: I Didn't Do Squat, Now Give Me A Passing Grade Hube continues the conversation on this, referencing Greg's piece...y'see,it's all about self-esteem for some educrats, not education or acheivement.

I just cut a check for my two children's private day school tuition for next term. Nonsense like this reminds me how glad I am that my children are no longer part of the public school system, even if it means I have to pay for a failing school system I'm unable to use.

8. Cheat Seeking Missiles: The Racists, Classists At Mother Jones Laer writes scathingly and well about a surprisingly common type...the knee jerk Liberal who turns into a ferocious NIMBY when someone actually wants to bring something like low cost housing to HIS wealthy neighborhood in Marin!

These people consistently `vote for progress' as long as it's progress somewhere else,at someone else's expense and on somebody else's turf, don't they? Heil Gaea!


9. Newsweek Attacks Global Warming Deniers at Okie on the LamThis week, Okie writes about a blatant example of agenda journalism in `News Weak' attacking anyone who would dare question the mantra of man-caused global warming.

He does a nice job of pointing out the elitist presumptions in the News Weak piece, and the lack of any cogent arguments to the contrary.

10. Right Wing Nuthouse: My Excellent Adventure At Yearlykos Rick's fine piece is a bit of travel and adventure writing, an account of his sojurn to one the darkest, depraved, G-d forsaken corners of the earth on behalf of Pajamas Media.

I'm gratified that he made it back alive, and has rightfully attracted attention and notoriety for his brave expedition. You'll like this one.


11.The Education Wonks: Is This How To Build A Better NCLB? EdWonk takes on No Child Left Behind this week, and the attempt by the chairman of the House education committee, George Miller (d-CA) to dumb down the accountability and test results provisions of the bill when it's scheduled to be renewed in September. Full and embarassing disclosure..I actually helped this tool get elected years ago to Congress in Contra Costa County. And believe me,his votes on other issues are just as putrid, if not more so.

Mea Culpa..

12. Big Lizards: Gonzales, Intelligence, and Perjury: The Penultimate Word Big Lizards examines the AG Gonzalez fuforall.

Pretty obvious to me that he's a stepping stone for the Democrats on the way to President Bush.

That's this week's lineup..enjoy

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