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"An army of Davids"

"Sissy Willis says there's a debating double standard. She also offers a photo of a cat. I prefer puppies, but it's a very nice cat," writes the towering InstaPundit in his first carnival at Open Source Media. Is he -- are we -- compromising our values? Only time will tell. We think it's going to be okay. Baby has his own imperatives, in this case the funny old stumped roots at the base of the Silver Maple.

"Terrorism, like schoolyard bullying, is all about psychological war," writes Eric of Classical Values in one of the 70 or so compelling posts from both sides of the aisle featured in Glenn Reynolds' monumental and historic first shot across the bow of the mainstream media at Open Source Media this morning:

We had as a nation been shaken down and had our lunch money stolen more than one time too many, and Iraq just stood there. Daring and defiant.

"I think that blogging is the wave of the future, and consequently, I think we’re going to see journalism moving from a profession, back to being an activity," writes InstaPundit himself in his OSM profile.

We used to say that a journalist was somebody who wrote a journal, and a correspondent was somebody in a distant city who wrote you letters, and corresponded. Now it means somebody with good hair and a microphone. But I think that the traditional meaning of journalism is what it’s going to be like again.

We’re actually seeing now that it’s often the case that a hundred bloggers can cover a story more efficiently than a hundred people working for one newspaper. And as a result, you’re seeing "an army of Davids" -- lots of individuals who are empowered by technology to do things that previously could only be done by Goliaths.

In a way, that’s what I think Pajamas Media is all about: the notion that you can do a lot of interesting journalism and opinion by aggregating a lot of individuals who were doing it on their own, as opposed to building up this big superstructure that you would do if you started a newspaper or a news service in the old-fashioned way.

That's exactly what Iowakhawk of A Blog for All has put his finger on in the comments at Little Green Footballs:

As for how much value it has, try comparing the carnival to the hundreds of man-hours it takes for, oh, the New York Times, to put together the Sunday editorial/op-ed page. And then note that the Times charges 50 bucks a year for TimesSelect (~1 buck a week and there are 250,000 subscribers?) Do the math.

We were the captain of our high school math team. The math is looking good. Lots of folks out there are bitching and moaning about OSM, of course, for all kinds of reasons of their own, but we're wicked optimistic about the capabilities of this Newfoundland.

Trolls cut and run

"So, you'd 'never dream of disparaging their Commander-in-Chief.' I'm sure you said that about Clinton, right? Hypocrite," writes a smugly sarcastic, fact-challenged troll in the comments to our "Cowards cut and run. Marines never do" post. Cowards also hide behind fake email addresses on other people's blogs. Still, we appreciate the opportunity to offer a quickie civics lesson for those of our fellow citizens on the Left who seem confused about this freedom-of-speech thing.  A succinct explanation from Allan Wall, a National Guardsman in Iraq writing for WorldNet Daily:

In the United States, the military is under civilian control . . . That's as it should be. The alternative is a military that makes policy, meddles in politics and can even take over the government. It's happened in other countries.

A soldier is commanded to obey, to carry out the policies of his government.

A citizen, on the other hand, has the right to question his government, and when an election comes along, to decide for whom he will vote.

When a man is both a soldier and a citizen, he finds himself exercising duties in different spheres of authority and responsibility.

Then there are citizens for whom "freedom of speech is merely a phrase to you, not something you believe in unless it applies to you," as milblogger Grey Eagle --  a 35-year-old wife, mother and US Soldier with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq -- writes in answer to hate-spewing anti-war trolls who recently hacked her blog:

If you do not share the person’s view, you justify your actions in removing the ability for them to express their opinions. In doing so, you have only displayed to me that your cause is unjust, and strengthened my resolve and beliefs in what we are doing here . . . These were men and women who actually took a stand in what they believed in, sacrificed their time with their families, and put themselves in danger simply because they believed in something. So to support your beliefs what have you done? Oh, that is right, you took away my freedom to pay tribute and mourn my fellow soldiers.

Betsy Newmark of Betsy's Place is the one who called our attention to Grey Eagle. She's urging all of us to go over to her blog -- A Female Soldier -- to offer "words of support to let her know that not everyone is a troll." Done.  Betsy herself is a fiery and dedicated history and civics teacher. It's all too obvious those trolls have never seen the inside of her classroom.

"Marines never do"

Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Danny Bubp's message to Congress, delivered by the House's most junior member, Jean Schmidt (R OH) yesterday, had Chris Matthews gasping for air on "Hardball" last night. “One thing you don’t do is disparage your Commander-in-Chief,” said Bubp at a vets-for-Schmidt event last August. "Super-soft wool one-shoulder tee" by Victoria's Secret.

"The moral authority of presidential critics is directly related to how politically useful they are to the liberal agenda," wrote L. Brent Bozell III last August. Bush Lied, People Died™ poster girl Cindy Sheehan was the prop of choice then, her moral authority pronounced "absolute" by virtue of her having lost a son in battle.  No matter that other parents and spouses who'd lost loved ones stood staunchly behind the war effort. This week, the mantle of absolute moral authority passed to "hawkish democrat" John Murtha (D PA) by virtue of his having served three decades as a Marine colonel, recipient of a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. No matter that he has never been keen on this particular war. Colleagues and media allies trumped up his resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq as proof that Operation Iraqi Freedom had failed. How could anyone question the wisdom of a former Marine? Well, someone did, and the democrats and their media allies went ballistic. You may have caught it on "the news" last night or this morning. It was played over and over. Jean Schmidt (R OH) brought down the house when she stepped to the podium and called a spade a spade:

A few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio Representative from the 88th district in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do. Danny and the rest of America and the world want the assurance from this body -- that we will see this through.

It was great theater:

Democrats booed and shouted at Schmidt as Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., charged across the chamber's center aisle screaming that her comments were an uncalled-for personal attack.

The House took a 10-minute recess as Schmidt was told to stop talking. Democrats called for her remarks to be stricken from the official transcript, but Republicans ruled that the remarks would be reported.

Afterward, Schmidt apologized to lawmakers, saying that her statements were not directed at any member of the House.

Chris Matthews, inspecting the entrails on MSNBC's "Hardball" following the outburst, suggested Schmidt's words might "choke her career," reports thespis 148 of RedState.org, who couldn't disagree more:

Tonight, we in Ohio are very proud of Jean Schmidt! . . . This statement by Chris Matthews demonstrates, once again, his partisan view of everything. Schmidt was simply relaying an email message from a consituent in Ohio!

Newsbusters watched CBS so we didn't have to. Different network, similar spin:

A night after leading with Democratic Congressman John Murtha's call for the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq, Friday's CBS Evening News painted him as a victim of unjust attacks on his “patriotism,” though CBS provided no supporting soundbite of any such accusation, ludicrously insisted he was a “leading supporter” of the war and featured clips of Democrats, including “another decorated veteran whose own patriotism has also been questioned” (that would be John Kerry), who “fired back" at the “personal attacks” on Murtha.

These Blue Staters are so touchy about their "absolute moral authority." Relatedly, we found this bit of encouraging news buried in an overwhelmingly gloomy report on a series of Pew public-opinion surveys released Tuesday, highlighting "a sharp rise in isolationist sentiment in the general public":

And while the poll found a majority (56 per cent) of the public still believes the U.S. will be successful in establishing a stable democracy in Iraq, opinion leaders, with the exception of military officers, are much more doubtful, with around 40 percent believing that Iraq will split into three countries.

We're pinning our hopes on those 56 per cent of us unwashed Red-State types plus our magnificent military officers, like Colonel Bubp, who would never dream of disparaging their Commander-in-Chief.

Note: One more thing to love about Rep. Jean Schmidt:  She signed Citizens Against Government Waste's  "Hurricane Katrina No Pork Pledge" last September.

Update:  The beautiful and talented Beth Cleaver of My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy has drawn Aaron's Queen of Clubs card by popular acclaim. Can you say totally awesome?  Can't wait to see the design he comes up with. She invites us to link to her "Weekend Link Whorage Fest Open Trackback Covered Fest Carnival Dish."

Technorati tags: jean schmidt, marines never do, colonel danny bubp

"The politicians in Washington undermining our work for their own political purposes"

"I too am a veteran, and I was deeply troubled to hear my colleague call yesterday for the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq," Rep. Joseph-Pitts (R PA) is saying in one of a series of riveting two-minute debating moments on the floor of the House this evening [Thank you, C-Span] as the Republicans finally get it together and force debate and a quick vote and swift rejection of -- as AP reflexively puts it -- "respected 30-year congressman" and "hawkish Democrat" Jack Murtha's call for an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq. The bloggers had a field day today pointing out that Murtha has been against the war from the first, but don't tell that to the MSM, who are determined to convince the populace that this is something new. Rep. Joseph-Pitts continues:

It reminded me of when I was fighting in Vietnam and we heard the politicians in Washington undermining our work for their own political purposes. This comes at the expense of our troops in the field.

Music to our ears.  The Democrats' "debating" points are lame and disingenuous. Now Gresham Barrettt (R SC) steps up to the microphone:

Don't believe all the crap you see on TV.  Don't believe all the crap you hear on the news.

Yes. The members of the Congressional Black Caucus via Mell Watt (D NC) reaffirm their desire for GW to submit a detailed plan for withdrawal of the troops from Iraq. Same old, same old. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R FL) says "Let us say very clearly that we stand with the troops, and we stand with the mission of the troops":

The message has gone out quite clearly to the world press that there is a serious diminution in support for the mission that the US has engaged in here in Congress.

As Mohammed of Iraq the Model wrote this morning, "these opposition parties and Arab policy makers are getting tired of armed confrontation with the Iraqi and US forces since this confrontation hasn’t done them any good":

However, there are still some elements that have different goals of course but they all think that they can reach these goals through pushing America to leave Iraq; I’m talking about elements like Asad, al-Qaeda and Murtha. In spite of the differences, neither is following logic and we do need to work on changing their minds (each in a different suitable way).

Back to the House floor debate, where Joseph Crowley (D NY) is reiterating the shopworn Democratic Bush Lied, People Died™ talking point (yawn):

Now when one of the most democratic Americans questions the president's policies, he is called unpatriotic.

Huh?  The only ones we know of who ever bring up patriotism -- the last refuge of scoundrels last time we checked -- are the Democrats themselves.

"We do have an exit strategy.  It's when the Iraqi people can stand up and defend themselves," notes one of the Republican gals.  Pretty cool, watching democratic debate in action. Now Rahm Emanuel (D IL, Clinton War Room):

It's a debate in how we succeed in exit, not in how we got in . . . in victory. We deserve criticism for not asking questions.

This guy is smooth.  Last time we looked, it was all about how GW had misled the nation into war.  Now it's segued seamlessly into looking for the so-called "exit strategy" and squirming out from responsibility by falling back on "we should have asked questions."  Still, it's a good thing to see this give and take of our elected representatives. Pretty darned thrilling. Let freedom ring.

Update:  Couldn't let this one go unrecorded. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has the final word for her side of the aisle:

Mr. Murtha has struck the mighty blow of truth to Bush's failed Iraq policy. His decision to speak truth to power is a great act of patriotism.

Okay, hon. So what's it going to be? Cut and run? Put your vote where your mouth is.

The big mistake was dropping trou

Pretty in pink and blue, bright lights of the former Pajamas Media say cheese at the launch of the new, improved Open Source Media the other night. The stunningly beautiful Pamela of Atlas Shrugs (right) provides the photo and a suitably provocative and mysterious caption: "Claudia Rosett, Cliff May (on my left) has the best intelligence on the web, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies." No word about the other two fellows on her left (right?).

"Nobody asked me -- even though my buddies at PJM profiled me early on -- but in my view the big mistake was dropping trou (PJ bottoms) and going with the generic-sounding OSM," we wrote in the comments at James Joyner's Outside the Beltway post, "Open Source (Pajamas) Media: An Early Assessment":

It’s poetry vs. bureaucracy. I’m still in the blogroll and glad to be, but it’s too bad they forgot that the iconic magic of words is where it’s at.

Lots of other interesting takes on OSM's launch Wednesday and what it all did mean. For the best pictures -- TigerHawk and VodkaPundit are there! -- and great on-the-spot commentary, check out Pamela of Atlas Shrugs. More psychologically true cameo insights from our blogfriend neo-neocon, who was there (you had to be). Back to James Joyner at OTB:

The thing bloggers most like to blog about is blogging itself, especially the hypothesis that blogging will one day transform the global media -- if it already hasn't. Thus, it's not surprising that yesterday's launch of Open Source (nee Pajamas) Media is among the hottest topics in the blogosphere. Of course, if you just like to read blogs, it may be the most boring topic in the blogosphere.

That's where we stand. 'Tried to listen to the livestreaming of the event the other day but started yawning.  For sure you had to be there to shmooze. Some of our faves were, and we surely would have loved to have met them in person, but wouldn't you know?  We were still in our pajamas and didn't have a thing to wear.

Update:  Evan Coyne Maloney of brain terminal explains why Open Source Media is the perfect name after all:

But over the last decade, a new media has emerged online that functions in the same way as the open source software model. And, ultimately, the open source media model will produce a news product that has fewer flaws and represents a more accurate approximation of the truth. There will undoubtedly be mistakes -- humans are still involved in the equation, after all -- but those mistakes will get corrected faster than ever before. No longer will the media's portrayal of truth be determined solely by the editorial boards of a few big media conglomerates.

We especially loved his on-the-scene take of Wednesday's proceedings:

Yesterday's launch of OSM felt like a turning point. Standing in a roomful of media revolutionaries, there was a palpable electricity in the air -- even before the open bar at the W Hotel started handing out free drinks.

We'll drink to that.

Technorati tags:  open source media, osm

"The vast majority of the blogs are just hysteric, polemical noise"

"There's no shame, really, left in American life," writes Gregory of The Belgravia Dispatch, dismissing the potential of bloggers to fill the void left by what The Cunning Realist calls "the deterioration in both journalistic standards and the industry's financial viability." TCR writes:

Now more than ever, we desperately need the type of reporter Bob Woodward was thirty years ago when -- instead of becoming venture capitalists or investment bankers -- the smartest and most ambitious students wanted to be journalists. [Really? Who knew?] We seem to be in a "tweener" period for the news media; the old guard has gone insider and abdicated for the veneer of personal and professional stability provided by corporate ownership, but nothing has quite stepped up to fill the role that is absolutely crucial to any democracy. Are blogs part of the answer?

Back to Gregory's assertion that there's no shame left. He's half right. There's no shame left on the left side of the aisle, but there's plenty of shame in that area between the right and the mugged-by-9/11 left. Witness Vice President Dick Cheney's rapier one-liner in his remarks at the Frontiers of Freedom Institute 2005 Ronald Reagan Gala last night:

I’m sorry we couldn’t be joined by Senators Harry Reid, John Kerry, and Jay Rockefeller. They were unable to attend due to a prior lack of commitment. (Laughter.) I’ll let you think about that one for a minute. (Applause.)

Gregory's problem in dismissing bloggers may be that he doesn't see beyond his mouse:

Color me skeptical, re: blogs, at least at this juncture. The most talented writers (guys like Kaus and Sullivan) can doubtless chase a story and hold people's feet to the fire. And you have interesting speciality blogs here and there adding important voices. But the vast majority of the blogs are just hysteric, polemical noise. And how that noise could credibly fill the dangerous void TCR sketches above I really don't see. You need top-flight reporters, at the end of the day, and they can't be sitting around their flats staring at the monitor. They need to be in the field, the real field, chasing down the story.

La di da. Reporters are fine, if they report rather than proseletyze.  But as far as opinion writers, you need to get out into the blogosphere more, Gregory.  You might start by checking out the "new wave of political bloggers challenging Britain's old media pundits" profiled today in the Guardian -- blogged here --  as well as the blogroll over at Open Source Media. Okay, we admit it.  We're sorry the OSM honchos dropped the original Pajamas Media name, much more colorful and memorable than Open Source Media.  Outside of the tech world, how many otherwise savvy folk really know what open source means, anyway? But beyond that, it just doesn't fire the imagination the way PJ Media does. But no one asked us.

"On the internet, everyone is famous for 15 people"

Indoors just yesterday -- like her brother last spring -- Tiny caught a mouse in the house. Outdoors last fall on his tether her brother managed to bag a squirrel, and untethered down Goomp's both Tiny and Baby are in their element, the scourge of small mammals and birds far and wide.

"On the internet, everyone is famous for 15 people," Brit blogger Adriana Cronin of Samizdata is quoted in a Guardian article on "The new commentariat: A new wave of political bloggers is challenging Britain's old media pundit," a fun read that turns the profile tables on our blogfriend Norm Geras. We were thrilled to be profiled by Norm a few weeks back, and now the rest of the blogosphere gets a glimpse at the man behind the profiles. Be sure to check it out.  Meanwhile, we love that quotation about every blogger's 15 people of fame.  In our case, catblogging seems to bring our most loyal readers out of the woodwork, as in our recent breaking-news series on Goomp's lost Lucie, who showed up at the door only after he'd brought home the new cat in town, Mr. Perkins, from the shelter:

"Speaking as a longtime (lifelong) cat owner/ownee, the indoor/outdoor thing is a trade-off:  longer lifespan and better health vs. a shorter but more exciting existence," comments reader Scott re our recent post rejoicing at the return last Saturday of Goomp's beloved outdoor feline companion, Lucie:

I recall my wife's late cat Bunny who enjoyed regular outdoor access, and I have to say it was enchanting to watch how "alive" she became when she got outside, so I can see why people do let their cats out.

But when all is said and done I choose to keep our furry kids indoors; this is basically driven by selfishness and the feeling that even a "long" feline lifespan of 15-20 years is woefully insufficient -- I'll guard every day of that like an overprotective miser. :)

We second all of that, with its unresolvable internal contradictions, and hope Goomp -- who is starting to feel overwhelmed with the hisses and growls and bad appetites of this period of adjustment between Lucie and Purrky -- will take heart from Scott's postscript:

An extra bravo to Goomp for keeping Purrky after Lucie's return! That kind of thing really brightens my day.

In our reply to Scott in the comments, we quoted Thoreau's words -- often cited here -- "The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him."

There is nothing to take your breath away like the sudden joy that overtakes Tiny and Baby when they jump out of the car at Goomp's and realize they are free once again to be all they can be.

And not just for them, but for us. As Thoreau wrote, "The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him."

And yet, and yet. I totally understand your "selfish" desire to keep them inside. Not to mention my sympathy for the moles and voles and birds who fall prey to their tooth and claw when they are free to roam outdoors. Tiny actually caught and killed -- and tried to eat before I snatched it away -- a tiny mouse in the kitchen the other night. They are true to their natures whatever their circumstances.

Let's hope -- not a strategy -- the two puddies can work it out between them. And thanks again to our "15 people of fame" for your heartfelt support.

Update:  Hey, Goomp. Check out Scott's latest comments here.

"It is fun and flirty and does not take itself too seriously"

"Here for the working girl Wednesday the stunning ankle-strap peep-toe shoe from the Marc Jacobs," writes Manolo, who explains "Like the best of the shoes of the Marc Jacobs, this shoe it is fun, and flirty, and does not take itself too seriously." Perfect for those times when you feel  like "taking a walk in the pin heels over Wonkette" (see below).

Thanks so much to our wonderful readers for your words of humor and support in our recent run for the hearts suit in Aaron's "Deck O' Bloggers 2005" competition, which closed yesterday.  We landed somewhere near the middle of the pack but -- as we gloated yesterday -- six points ahead of Wonkette. Several of our commenters report they attempted to vote for us but were intimidated by bat-swinging union workers unable to because of technical difficulties over at Aaron's, so who knows how many chads were left hanging? At any rate, in the time-honored manner of blogging, the proprietor of the Italian blog The Right Nation used our post as the grist for his own post, making a point that sounds promising to this non-Italian speaker:

Le ragazze di destra sono sempre le migliori: lo conferma Sissy Willis passeggiando con i tacchi a spillo sopra Wonkette.

. . . sensible in the human translation to English at The Right Nation:

Conservative's girl are always the best: Sissy Willis confirms that, beating up Wonkette.

. . . but far more compelling to an English-language ear in Google's literal, if idiomatically clumsy, translation:

The right girls are always the best ones:  the confirmation Sissy Willis taking a walk with the pin heels over Wonkette.

You can't beat a walk with the pin heels over Wonkette. We headed over to Manolo's Shoe Blog to pick out a pair and stumbled onto the new name of Pajamas Media, OSM for Open Source Media. They're having a coming-out-party at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center today. Since we couldn't be there live, we'll be following events online and keep you posted. We're just checking out the new site now.

Update:  Aaron is now accepting nominations for the spades suit of his "Deck O' Bloggers 2005" competition.  Having been mysteriously refused access to Aaron's comments with the ominous-sounding "Grey blacklist match: ignoring" message, we are using a trackback to this post to nominate TigerHawk for King of Spades. His blog fits Aaron's description to a T:

The theme for Spades will be blogs which “call a spade a spade” and dig deeply and primarily about a single issue. These are the kind of blogs that the high profile, high visibility and high traffic blogs use when they want EXPERTS on an issue.

Technorati tags: OSM, Open Source Media

Sissy Willis trounces Wonkette

"Frappr and nomination points look like they will be essential to the final standings and who might get the 2 or 3 of Hearts," reports Aaron as voting for the hearts portion of his "Deck O' Bloggers 2005" competition closes. We didn't know what Frappr was, either. You get five bonus points for posting your name on his Frappr map.

"Hearts voting is over!!!!" reports Aaron re the latest phase of his "Deck 'O Bloggers 2005" competition, most recently blogged here. Michelle Malkin leads the hearts suit -- as she should -- with a bevy of heavy-hitting honeys rounding out the top vote getters. Having garnered 15 votes -- we don't even have that many living relatives, so we're kinda proud -- we are well below Michelle's 341 but six above the notorious Wonkette's nine votes. Hubba, hubba. For an also-ran, that's our take-home message.  Also, we should be getting five additional bonus points for being on Aaron's Frappr map. Then there's always the possibility that the old boy will give us a tie-breaking nomination. We'll just have to wait and see, but however it works out, ain't we got fun?

Update:  Speaking of heavy-hitting honeys, be sure to check out the great posts at this week's Cotillion Ball -- available for the first time in both English and Italian -- presented by Stefania of Free Thoughts: "Ecco il mio primo Carnevale Cotillion!"

Technorati tags:  deck 'o bloggers, wonkette

"Two vast and trunkless legs of stone"

The beauty and truth of a working waterfront right across the street caught our eye in the early morning light.  Salt pile in the foreground, "double-leaf, rolling-lift through-truss" McArdle Bridge [it has its own website . . . totally awesome!] middle ground and Mystic River Bridge background. Fun fact of the day about our own Mystic River Bridge -- sometimes referred to as the Tobin Bridge -- something Tuck told us post hurricane Katrina: its engineering sisterhood with a New Orleans bridge that has its own CAM.

About that renaming of the Mystic River Bridge after Maurice J. Tobin, a former Boston mayor and Massachusetts governor: How pompous and silly and all too human. It's just like the double naming of the iconic new Bunker Hill Bridge, AKA the Zakim Bridge, after someone who apparently led an exemplary life, but no one we or Pauline Kael had ever heard of, Leonard P. Zakim. How embarrassing. Surely an outstanding citizen, but. It reminds us of Shelley's "Ozymandias":

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: `Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear --
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.'

Meanwhile, salt trucks are salting in across the street at Eastern Salt in preparation for "the coming monsoon season." Another fun fact of the day is that Eastern Salt also runs the salt piles in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. That's where we had cocktails with Chris the other day.