This may be the best example I've yet seen demonstrating the convergence between the blogosphere and the "main stream media." Writing in today's LA Times, Matthew Yglesais takes one of the major themes of the progressive blogosphere and turns it into a traditional op-ed. And the best part is that he even managed to cite another prominent blogger in the process. An excerpt:
Given that the initial authority to use military force in Iraq was a completely bipartisan affair, with backing from the then-leaders of the House and Senate Democratic caucuses, plus the two men who would eventually make up the party's 2004 presidential ticket, and also the woman who's currently the front-runner for the 2008 nomination, one might wonder when, exactly, this partisan tussle was so fierce. To Slaughter, though, criticizing people for collaborating in policy fiascoes is part of the problem, not the solution. "In the blogosphere," she complained, "pillorying Hillary Clinton is a full-time sport." What's more, "[Barack] Obama has come in for his share of abuse as well."
It's true. I, for example, write a blog where I have criticized Clinton frequently and Obama on occasion, just as Slaughter warns. But what of it? There's a presidential campaign underway, and they're both running. What better time is there to pillory someone than when they say something you think is wrong?Meanwhile, the very elites we're supposed to trust can't seem to get their stories straight. Ignatius says everyone's looking for the exits in Iraq, and we should just calm down. O'Hanlon and Pollack want us to stay put. And as TPM Media's Greg Sargent pointed out Monday, the optimism of O'Hanlon and Pollack is at odds with the conclusions of Brookings' own Iraq Index project. It reported July 23 that "violence nationwide has failed to improve measurably over the past two-plus months," and that -- contrary to their enthusiasm about the provision of electricity and other essentials -- "the average person in Baghdad can count on only one or two hours of electricity per day," far less than they had under Hussein. More ironically still, the person in charge of the Iraq Index is none other than Michael O'Hanlon!
It really is quite bizarre that so many people in DC are so bothered by the idea of public criticism. It makes you wonder why precisely they think we have a First Amendment.
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