Soccer Dad

Submitted 11/13/08

Watcher Council submissions for the week are up!

But first of all I'd like to welcome new Watchers, The Provocateur and Mere Rhetoric to our ranks. I first noticed the Provocateur through LGF's linkviewer and found his posts on economics very enlightening. I've been following Mere Rhetoric for a lot longer and enjoy his takes on the politics behind events in the Middle East.

That 'ol "kindred spirit" argument - The Colossus of Rhodey points out the logical fallacy behind Ward Connerly's detractors.
A Prospective Obama Administration (Updated) - It rarely happens but this The Glittering Eye made me laugh. He used movies to illustrate the different possibilities of how the Obama administration might operate.
Reaching new demographics - Bookworm Room points out the difficulty Republicans have reaching blacks and Hispanics. I know that there are those who are pushing for Michael Steele to run the RNC. In 2006 he ran against Ben Cardin for Maryland's Senate seat and lost. The most striking aspect of this loss was that he lost the black vote 74 to 25. While blacks will overwhelmingly support a Democratic black candidate, they don't support Republican black candidates with the same intensity.
Noted Democratic Shill Begs Nutroots Not To Viciously Attack Emanuel For Being Too Jewish- Mere Rhetoric points out the antisemitism that pervades a significant portion of President-elect Obama's supporters.
The Great GOP Civil War - Hillbilly White Trash outlines the battle lines for control of the Republican Party.
Overcoming idiocy - I wrote about Timonth Noah's column arguing that the election results still show that whites have a racial problem with voting for a black man.
From The Beginning- Joshuapundit argues that despite his comforting words, President elect Obama will most likely govern from the extreme Left rather than make any real attempt at bi-partisanship. I agree. When you have a candidate who hews to the politics of the Nation, I don't believe that you can expect him to govern from the Center. Obama didn't simply adopt discrete policy positions, he subscribes to a complete political philosophy.
Valor and Patience- Cheat-Seeking Missiles writes about an impressive grass roots efforts to help the citizens of Iraq and one dissenter who questions those good works.
Return to First Principles - The Razor also has policy prescriptions for the Republican. He advocates a less intrusive government.
Fraud, Corruption, and Power: What Our Bailout Tax Dollars Are Really Going To - The Provocateur outlines some other disturbing aspects to AIG's corporate behavior.
Something That Must Be Said - Rhymes With Right senses an effort to silence political speech.

Outside of blogging what do us watchers do? Well a number of us were included in a National Journal survey of political bloggers. Among others, fellow Watchers, Bookworm Room, Colossus of Rhodey.Hube JoshuaPundit and I were asked for their takes on the election.
Polling results are not yet final pending the final results from Minnesota. Overall my predictions were quite off, reflecting an irrational optimism on my part. I still think that my comment was on target.

Read. Enjoy. Be informed.

watcher's council.