Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Watcher's Council Nominations, 11/01/06




Every week, the Watcher's Council 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 our fearless leader's site Watcher of Weasels


1. J O S H U A P U N D I T: Rats in the Kitchen: A Parable This week, I chose to relate a cautionary tale on dealing with a hostile invasion in one's territory and how one deals with it...draw your own conclusions. One interesting reaction I got concerned how one tells the harmless rodents from the harmful ones, and the rodents from the pets...the answer of course, is not to hide behind sophistry but to merely looks at their actions.


2. Gates of Vienna: Female Genital Mutilation in Georgia: Who is the Perp? Dymphna examines a case of Islamic genital mutilation in Georgia that occured when the child was at the tender age of two.

3.Done With Mirrors: You Would Weep Callimachus comes up with a gem. He relates the story of
William Eaton, who captured the city of Derne in the fiefdom of the Barbary Pirates with a handful of marines against all odds during America's early 19th century confrontation with them over the piracy of American ships and the enslavement of our sailors - only to be forced to withdraw after `diplomacy', leaving his Arab allies who had backed the US to the mercy of the Tyrant of Tripoli.

Callimachus likewise relates this to our abandonment of the Vietnamese and the proposed abandonment of the Iraqis. Well done, Calli...

4. Soccer Dad: The best hasbara In a fine essay, Soccer Dad examines the concept of hasbera, a Hebrew word used to describe the stating of Israel's case before the world. I totally agree with him. No nation should have to make a `case' for its survival when surrounded by genocidal enemies. All nations, including ours, live by the sword - and the Israelis would be better served by aggressively asseting their rights rather than by trying to accomodate those who mean it no good.

5. AbbaGav :: Cheney Pimps for Torture? Abbagav cleverly examines the furor over Vice President Cheney's comments on so-called `torture'. One almost wishes that some of these writers could spend a little time with the Islamic fascists they shill for so they could get a dose of what REAL torture consists of. A fine piece of writing by AbbaGav.

6. Right Wing Nut House:ENOUGH IS ENOUGH This week Rick Moran writes on the sleaze surrounding the Virginia Senate campaign between Jim Webb and incumbent George Allen. In particular, Rick is disgusted by Allen's use of XXX rated sections of webb's novels as campaign fodder. I agree with him, but I also must point out that Webb ws perfectly willing to allow a bogus `race card' to be used against Allen, something Webb should have disavowed from Day One. If you willing to sling mud, you shouldn't be surprised when some of it richochets.

7. The Sundries Shack: John Kerry Says Soldiers Just Aren’t That Smart Jimmie Bise writes on Joh Kerry's remarks. One thing, as he mentions, to note in November..if the Democrats win either house, Kerry's influence will be inhanced..in the middle of a war.


8. Rhymes With Right: Gays Win In New Jersey -- GOP Handed Winning Issue Greg looks at the recent NJ Supreme Court decision and its impact on the midterms...

9. ShrinkWrapped: Reproaches of Our Fathers ShrinkWrapped uses the recent Clint Eastwood film, `Flags of our Fathers' as a metaphor to examine changing attitudes on patriotism and country.

10. The Glittering Eye: Day book, October 23, 2006 Dave looks at two aniversaries - the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution against the Soviets in 1956 and the murder of the American Marines and sailors in their Beirut in 1983.

11. The Education Wonks: Enter The Knife: Legislative Buffoonery In Florida EdWonk has harsh words for Florida legislation decriminalizing the possesion of knives on school campuses after a stabbing incident.

12. AMERICAN FUTURE - The Least Bad Choice Is how Marc characterizes his decision to support a GOP majority in both houses. I mostly agree with him..although there are a small number of Democrats who deserve re-election because they are sane on national defence and right onthe War on Jihad. I wish that were true of more of them.

That's this week's lineup..enjoy!

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