First off, Dean e-mails "PLAY FLASH ANIMATION" of "4 More Years" and we could all probably use a good laugh. More flash animation and sound clips can be found at Dean Friedman's web site.
Second of all, I always assume we check The Daily Howler regularly but I had an e-mail today asking me if it was still up. I'd checked on Friday but hadn't yet checked today and, honestly, felt a bit of a panic as I waited for the page to load. I could easily highlight The Daily Howler every Monday through Friday (time permitting). So I'd urge you to check it out. And something I wanted to highlight this week that fell through the cracks (as so much does) was Bob Somerby's entry on Friday:
But why has Bush been so successful at getting his fake facts accepted? When [the Washington Post's E.J.] Dionne explains the process, he makes it sound like your press corps' cowardice is almost a matter of principle:
DIONNE (continuing directly): More than any of his predecessors, President Bush understands the conventions of journalism and the traditions of political debate. These require that respectful attention be paid to whatever claims the president makes. Journalists who have the temerity to question whether the claims ring true (or whether the numbers add up) can count on being pummeled as liberal ideologues, even when they are only seeking the facts.
Sorry -- there simply is no "convention of journalism" which requires respectful treatment of bald-faced misstatements. As civics textbooks tell your eighth-graders, traditions of journalism require skeptical, aggressive "attention" to such misstatements by presidents. But later in this mewling paragraph, Dionne takes us to the place where the rubber meets the road.
According to Dionne, journalists who question Bush’s fake facts "can count on being
pummeled . . . even when they are only seeking the facts" Is that what keeps them from challenging Bush? If so, there's a term for their conduct -- cowardice. But Dionne avoids such unlovely words. Indeed, by the time he finishes describing his tribe, he makes it sound like their endless group silence has been a principled act of self-abnegation.
Note that Somerby is focusing on Russert (among others) in today's post.
Third, Ron of Why Are We Back In Iraq? notes that his favorite song is the Rolling Stone's "Midnight Rambler." If anyone else didn't make the deadline, we won't be putting it on that post (it takes forever -- it may be my computer -- to pull up a post if it's not one of the 10 most recent) but we can note your pick in a post. (E-mail is common_ills@yahoo.com.)
And remember that Ron's been on the Talon "News" story for some time and that Jeff Gannon wasn't the only "reporter" at Talon "News" that needs spotlighting. Ron's confined himself to commenting on their "work." But there's a lot more to Talon "News" than is making the rounds so do yourself a favor and visit Why Are We Back In Iraq? if you're attempting to track what's going on. If you want penis shots, you'll have to go find another blog. Ron's focusing on other issues. Please, no e-mails suggesting I'd slammed anyone surfing for penis photos. Go where ever you want online. Enjoy what every you enjoy. And know, that we don't track here so your business is your business unless you choose to share it.
And on sharing. We are doing the post regarding Kit Seelye's article in this morning's New York Times. The delay is because one member e-mailed about a hideous work day that never seemed to end (I can relate) and requested a little extra time before the item posted. (I'm checking the e-mail in between items so as soon as that e-mail comes in, we're addressing Seelye. And, yes, if someone wants to charge "favoritism" it is going on with this, I'm sure. Because I too had a long, long work day that was hectic and crazy and I didn't even have time to go online. So reading the e-mail, I related tremendously.)
Let me add that I just realized that in selecting my favorite photo in Vanity Fair in the last post or the one before, I failed to note that I have met Jane Fonda. That's been noted on this site.
It's a great photo. And we'll probably be posting the link to the trailer to Monster-in-Law (two members have already e-mailed the site about it).
In fact let's do that now while we're waiting on the e-mail.
Monster-in-Law's basic story is Jennifer Lopez falls for Michael Vartan (Alias) and then meets his mother, Jane Fonda, at which point the conflict's introduced into the film.
Yahoo has the trailer to Monster-in-Law as does Hollywood.com among others.
(And no, I'm not going back to the earlier entry for "disclosure." It's noted here and it's been noted prior on this site.)
