Soccer Dad

Submitted 03/19/09

Council submissions are up. And it is quite a good week. I will be changing my mind about what to vote for quite a few times.

Rethinking the Federal Reserve - The Provocateur agrees with an article in the nation that we need to change the way that the Fed is structured. He gives an idea how to do it. The Fed as it is now is too reliant on the chairman, who is fallible. The Provocateur's suggestion would require consensus before acting.

What Netanyahu Should Say About Peace To The Arab World - with a new Prime MInister poised to take over in Israel, Joshuapundit recommends that he give his vision for peace in the Middle East and allow the Arab world to respond or show that they are truly uninterested in living in peace with a Jewish state in their midst. This would have the advantage of allowing Israel to define its red lines and requirements instead of having them dictated by the Palestinians, the media and the world's diplomats. It's a great idea. It will never happen.

The Great Academic Swindle - Is college worth the price of admission? The Razor argues that the Academic-journalistic complex has been selling us a bill of goods.

Portrait of a Financial Crisis - The Glittering Eye explains some of the forces at work.

America Needs Some Leaders With Common Sense - Right Truth argues that America is going in the wrong direction.

The New York Times takes off the mask - Bookworm Room takes the NYT to task for its non-coverage of the Chas Freeman appointment. She notes what Times editor, Doug Jehl admits, the story wasn't the nomination or nominee, but the opposition to him. Bookworm Room is correct, this was malicious malpractice, not a naive error.

In Re. Bristol Palin - Ever see the bumper stickers, "She's a child, not a choice?" Rhymes With Right reminds us that Bristol Palin isn't some abstraction, but a young woman with a child and all the challenges that entails. She doesn't need to be a political football, but compassion.

Chicago ranks "high" in the 25 worst schools in nation - Last week it was the 25 best conservative movies. This week The Colossus of Rhodey looks at the 25 worst schools in Chicago, why that list is relevant to President Obama and why his choice for Secretary of Education is a good one.

Government-Linked Thugs Systematically Compiling Full List Of Venezuelan Jews, Launching Attacks On Jewish Centers Gangs - Mere Rhetoric brings attention to the official persecution of Jews in Venezuela.

If an appointee falls and there's no msm, is it still a scandal? - I looked at the lack of coverage of the Freeman nomination and suggest the real reason Freeman withdrew. I am not convinced that the opposition to him was so formidable that it would have prevented him from doing the job.

My non-council submission this week was Roger Cohen's Inexplicable Views on Iranian Jews by Roger L. Simon who skewers the NYT columnist for cluelessness.

Read. Enjoy. Be informed.

watcher's council.