Soccer Dad: Submitted 01/10/08

January 10, 2008

Submitted 01/10/08

The new Watcher's Council nominations have been submitted.

My usual approach is to offer my synopses of the Watcher's Council nominations right away, but this week is different. Being a member of the council is not hazardous, but a former member undertook hazardous duty. The posthumous musings of former council member Maj Andrew olmsted are up. Additionally Obsidian Wings offers How to help remember Maj. Olmsted - by supporting the fund established for the children of the soldier who was killed along with him. The Watcher took a break from his administrative duties and offered his thoughts too.

The Cop on the Beat - The Glittering Eye considers America's role in the world.

Even if the cop on the beat is fat, lazy, sometimes unfair, and even occasionally corrupt, he�s better than turning the city over to the criminals.

Growth Potential - Done With Mirrors wonders if a candidate needs to be ready for the presidency, or if he/she just needs room to grow. He writes:

But I think George W. Bush proves that there is a little time and room, at least. He confounded me; I expected him to grow into the job, but, for better or worse, he seems to be exactly what he was in 2000.

I disagree. When he ran for President he scoffed at the notion of nation building. After 9/11, nation building and its success or failure became the hallmark of his presidency.
Closed Loop or Branching Streams? - For those of you who missed the MIT time traveler convention The Colossus of Rhodey.Hube investigates the nature of time travel. If you still want to attend it's never too late.
Britain's Prosecution of The Blogger Lionheart for Criticism of Islam - Wolf Howling lays out the case of British blogger who is facing criminal charges for expressing his negative opinion about Islam. Surprised? Don't be. This is England after all.
Honor Killings? What Honor Killings? - In a similar vein, Cheat Seeking Missiles looks at the media reticence in the United States to report on the killing of two Texas teenagers by their father.
Death and the Moonbat - Bookworm Room considers the role of religious belief in one's willingness to serve in the army. On the surface the idea makes sense - one who believes in an afterlife would be more willing to risk this life for an important cause - I'm just not sure that experience bears that out.
Major Andrew Olmsted, R.I.P - Joshuapundit offers his gracious tribute to the former Watcher's Council member who was killed in action last week in Iraq.
Dixville Notch This! - The Education Wonks objects to the weight given the early primaries.
Major Papers Oppose Justice For Murderers - Rhymes With Right castigates major American papers for their opposition to the death penalty. He also slyly gets in a secondary dig: he notes the percentages of American who approve of the death penalty. It's a number missing from these paper coverage of the issue. (If the editors and reporters agreed on an issue with the American public, you can be sure that the polling numbers would saturate the coverage.
Nix On "Negative" Nomenclature - Big Lizards explains the difference between negative campaigning and explaining the difference on the issues. And it's not that negative campaigning is a critical ad by a politician you oppose.
The Cotton Candy Candidacy - After recounting a brief but fascinating history of the the New Hampshire primary, Right Wing Nut House pinpoints what bothers him about Sen. Obama's campaign.
Getting a "Clue" - I sorted through contradictory reports to figure out if a woman on hajj was killed by an Israeli soldier. Later reports support my conclusion.

Read, Enjoy. Be Informed.

watcher's council.