chime in here and say that this is an example of the contempt (too strong?) that conventional media has for the razor's-edge media.

"Certain cable news shows frequently copy wholesale from blogs in their stories without any credit -- something that never happens when they copy from other establishment outlets. That sort of uncredited copying is perhaps impolite though not particularly significant. But claiming 'exclusivity' for a story that others have worked on and previously reported is highly misleading."

I noted that the link was to MSNBC and, though I didn't click through, I'm guessing it was Olbermann's show. He routinely seems to cut and paste, as it were, from sites like ThinkProgress.

It's an odd psychology (or perhaps just a social allowance) that "permits" traditional media to steal from what is currently--but hopefully not much longer--an unrecognized (by intention) form of information gathering.

"That seems to be one of the worst crimes of Zionism. It has completely reshaped Jewish identity, locking Judaism into a state structure and mixing religion and politics indelibly." Perhaps others have discussed this (haven't read all the comments yet) but this is a critical point. It's a shame, truly, that so many of us find ourselves defending what we'd be, otherwise, typically loath to defend since we instinctively, naturally, seek to defend ourselves. In short, due to that conflation, that sharp edge of morality/ethics has been dulled. Or so it seems. Maybe it's only temporary. Not that this does the peoples of the Middle East any good.

"The Mainstream Media has nothing to with freedom of speech or the press."

Wow, thought that up all by yourself, did you?

But my favorite "insight" is this: You got no cred.

Fortunately for us, neither do you.

I'm trying to summon my better angels, I really am.

to find there's Frenchy talk going on around here:

"Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer."

I thought we'd done away with this when Kerry was running for President?!

as usual, but I'm wondering, who is this JimAK1 person? Let me do my typical, lazy thing and simply cite what other's have written.

Says Jim: "I believe it speaks to character and values and, yes, I would place that above 'the economy' as an issue."

Would you? Where were you when McCain was "pallin' around" with the likes of Keating? How about Singlaub?

"But character and judgment never change, never diminish. That is the truest test of a man, who he chooses for friends," you say.

Don't be such a pussy (and that's pretty harsh language for me).

That's a sorry post.

fun day, to be sure. There is a pettiness about me (obvious, I'm sure) that I seek to control, but ever fail in my efforts. I've mentioned stuff about 'better angels' but am not so sure I feel that, feel me?

My cat, too, is old. He's 16 and failing. I hope beyond hope, as most humans do, that he'll survive, but I know he won't. My goal--my duty--is to make/keep him happy and content. What else can I do?

Man, you nailed that ("Thanks for Playing").

And I couldn't embrace more fervently, without suffocating you, your "Behind the Numbers" comment.

It's true!

Yet still I read through and often find myself laughing.

It helps, of course, when one-note adnoto makes his appearance.

In the most fundamental sense, I think McCain has become a host to the parasitic aspirations of the neo-cons. The RNC and McCain are going through the motions. Sarah Palin is quite comfortably feeding off the near dead body of John McCain's bid for the presidency. My only wonder is whether this is apparent to John McCain.

Wow, that is wickedly, devilishly, nay--ghoulishly--funny. Perfect for a rainy Nov. 1 where I'm at.

I wonder if McCain knows that All Souls' Day is also known, in part, as Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed.

I got just a bit into your 2-part screed and had to stop due to laughter. Here's what I mean:

Palin is not stupid. The liberal hate-mongering media is ... if some of the mainstream media will disparage her so vigorously ...."

This is quickly followed by (from that well-regarded bastion of True, Clear Right Thinking, pajamasmedia)

"The Obama campaign declined, opting instead to fire off a hysterical Obama Action Wire email to supporters ... The email branded the mild-mannered, Harvard-educated Kurtz a 'right wing hatchet man,' and a 'slimy character assassin.'"

Ah, the power of language. The trick is to know how to use it effectively. I'm afraid I have to fail you. Let your Mom and Dad know I've scheduled a parent-teacher conference to discuss your future career with McDonald's (where, it's been said, one needs to undergo three rather than one interview).

I only rebut when the ass in question has something worth rebutting.

Timothy 3 -- may I use you as an example in my Anger Management Class ...

No, that'll just piss me off.

... how the rebuttal of last resort, to make them feel better, is to heavy-handed, mean-spirited, vitriolic, and foul-languaged-ridden statements -- only serving to further the prove they are fallacious?

Sorry for the "foul-languaged-ridden" statements, but I object to the characterization that I'm "heavy-handed, mean-spirited [and] vitriolic.

Now, if you said "petty," well that'd be me. It's something me and the angels are working on.

where are these people coming from?

Favorite snippet: Mr. Greenwald, if you're interested I am certain that Sean Hannity of Independent Fox News will be happy to show the book to you.

Yes, master, I have long awaited for the god Hannity, known to me as Dagda (to use the old tongue), to show me the light.