Department of Changing the Subject

I'd missed this Pew report from a little while back. It's music to my ears, even if the numbers reflect winger blogs as well as liberal ones. Here are some choice parts:

-31% of Americans used the internet during the 2006 campaign to get
political news and information and discuss the races through email.

-Relatively young broadband users say the internet is a more important
political news source than newspapers.

Read below the fold...

Really, I just can't. As CJill says, "branding isn't a substitute for reality-based foreign policy."

I guess the arrogance still shocks me. It boggles my mind that anyone could think that by placing a story about the rape, torture and murder of innocent civilians in the "business pages" that story is somehow less "impactful" and forgettable. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that people tend to remember that kind of horror, no matter how many Disney movies they see. Read below the fold...

Oh ye of little faith. Thinkest thou that thine tasks set before thee surpass thy merit? Nay. Seek, and ye shall find, ask and ye shall receive:
Read below the fold...

So, out of left-field, a Fox-news watching software engineer I work with says: "Can I ask you a political question? How do you feel about the money the US gives to the UN being used to support terrorists?" Read below the fold...

Chris (and in an embedded link, Sirota) knocks one out of the park. Simple question for you: when was the last time someone in your life, while discussing politics, said, "Gosh, I wish Democrats could be more bipartisan. It's the biggest problem facing America today." Exactly. Nice work, Chris. This is so simple even the Beltway 500 will perceive that we see their lack of clothes. Read below the fold...

To make up for my recent crankyness, here's 160 of "the world's leading thinkers" who are optimistic about something. Happy New Year. (Via Memorandum)

Now here's some Country Wisdom from my friend Mr. Bird:

What's the definition of an optimist?

Show them a room full of shit and they'll ask: "Where's the Pony?"

Read below the fold...

Vastleft's comment downstairs made me wonder-

Who is more likely to be President of the US first: a woman, a black man, or a single Jewish guy? As you answer, tell me why you think your choice is the right one.

sob Come back, Russ! If it's the Time of the Other, you're the one I'd pick. You earned my undying loyalty when you met, in person, with Brad

. Read below the fold...

Here is a useful discussion that drives home a couple points I like to make whenever we discuss what "our options" are in Iraq, and in dealing with emerging Islamic powers around the world. Here is a sample, I encourge you to read the whole thing:
Read below the fold...

This is one of several pieces I've read recently that have some bad news for people like me and Mr. Schaller, as we argue for the "new coalition" of states and seats that will bring Democratic majorities to Congress:
Read below the fold...

Here is a good short discussion about our continuing failure in the "war on drugs." The money quote:
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When it comes to rhetoric, he totally kicks my ass. Still, he's smart, he pays attention, and he reminds us why we need to keep an eye on all those little corners of the blogosphere in which real news and useful information may be found. Such as this:
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I've got a guest in town, so light blogging for a couple of days. But I wanted to tell everyone to go to the National Galleries when you have the chance. To my shame, every time I came to DC before moving here, I was always too busy with protests and parties to take in any culture. Read below the fold...

You probably know how I much I dig Tom Schaller, and his most recently discussion with the FDL gang just shows how much cool, class and intellect he's got. I can hardly believe such a lucid mind is employed by the Academe /I keed, I keed/. Read below the fold...

Sean-Paul has got the goods. He's the expert when it comes to Iran; I don't claim to know too much about internal Iranian politics, but from what I can tell from his post and links, the results are a "mixed bag." I hope the Iranian people can find what they're looking for in their newest elected officials, and I'm glad that at least some reformers and "progressives" were both allowed to run, and victorious. Read below the fold...

Ntodd thinks just because he's a professor of computer science, he knows more than I do about Net Neutrality. I'm not going to read it, because whatever he says is just his way of asking me to use the bigger strap-on during his next session in my dungeon, but perhaps you can make some sense out of his prattle.

In all seriousness, I've not yet thought about his arguments or investigated them, but I do think it's worth considering what he says, even as I may still end up disagreeing. Share your own thoughts. Read below the fold...