… from Charles about the literacy of our friends at the Daily Kos. Perhaps Mr. Zuniga is a secret admirer of the great Dr. Johnson, as recorded by Boswell:
Mr. Elphinston talked of a new book that was much admired, and asked Dr. Johnson if he had read it. Johnson said, “I have looked into it.”
“What?” said Elphinston, “Have you not read it through?”
Johnson, offended at being thus pressed, and so obliged to own his cursory mode of reading, answered tartly, “No, Sir, do you read books through?”
But somehow I think it’s more serious than that.
the comments at dailyKos are astoundingly paranoid and have the palpably excited vibe of a 14 year old planning to do something new and mischievous. it is disappointing. the level of discussion is so unreal, and i suspect, given my location here in Santa Monica that these people are not unusual among many angry leftists. it’s worrisome. i don’t agree with much among Republicans and the WH besides Security. and with these guys in the opposition, who’s going to keep things in balance? i’m not as worried as i would be if the situation was reversed. but we probably are better off with viable input from a broad spectrum of ideas. but these guys are out.
The fact that they do not read would not be so bad if they did not insist on calling Bush a chimp.
pompous fools.
Roger:
The Kosacks are so desperate for a scandal that they take any crumb of info and blow it up into a grand conspiracy that defies logic. I think it is possible that Gannon was either a plant for softball questions or was let in everyday on a day pass because he did ask softball questions. But because at worst this is bad form and not impeachable they began constructing this insane mega- conspiracies that make people forget the original possible tacky behavior and it boomerangs back on the rabid accusers. It reminds me of the time that Rep. Burton took the pumpkin into his back yard and shot it and shouted “See, this proves Vince Foster was murdered!” In their pathologocal hate of Bush they appear so strange that people are more scared of them then they are of anything that President Bush may have done. They are like a muttering homeless person in the street. Even if he said something truthfull you wouldn’t believe it because of the matted drool in their hair.
Kevin:
I think that whole Gannon thing is silly. Considering the crap Bush has had to take from the press a few soft balls questions are not going to make that much difference. So I doubt the Bushies would have bothered.
Terrye ó and bottom line, there was no reason for a plant. You cannot tell me they could not find ONE reporter in the White House press corps who would not have asked that question (hell, who would not have barked like a trained seal) in exchange for a personal 15-minute sitdown with the President…
Terrye:
I was trying to make the point that even in the worst case scenario regarding Gannon it is no big deal. The nature of the blogs leads to speculation and guessing but in their desire to find something to hold congressional hearings on their speculations border on the absurd. I don’t think Gannon is part of any grand Rovian conspiracy but I think it is possible that he was let in on a daily basis because someone in the communications dept. wanted to balamce out the ideological scales in the press room. I doubt it myself but it is in the realm of the possible. I find it comparable to the Armstrong Williams situation.
But the Kos fanatics have taken what could be possible and they have jumped the shark. They prattle on about national security. I don’t know about you but I don’t think “possible” male escorts are high on the secret services danger list. I think they look for people who are violent, not kinky. Now the head of the Kos hive has created a bizarre connection of Gannon to both the Plame case and the TANG forgeries and Rove. His evidence, Roger Stones wife has a cuban accent! Aha, of course, how could I have been so blind not to connect the micro dots! I don’t think you could sell this drivel in a Hollywood pitch session and they have incredibly low standards. I think most of us have done some speculating on this site but it usually has some connection to reality.
“…their speculations border on the absurd”
Yes, but usually this means that they are still in the realm of reasonable speculation. In this case, they’re across the other border – both feet planted firmly in the insane.
Given a few days to cool off, their speculations may well retreat into “absurd”.
For some unknown reason Kos’ last name is not Zuniga; it’s Moulitsas. Not surprised he doesn’t read much in the way of books; he doesn’t seem very reflective.
Kevin,
The nature of the blogs leads to speculation and guessing but in their desire to find something to hold congressional hearings on their speculations border on the absurd.
Oh yes, I would love to see such hearings. PBS could hold town meetings moderated by Jim Lehrer where we could all demonstrate our “maturity” regarding gay prostitution. Or maybe not, maturity may be a matter of whom it benefits.
Anyway, if Gannon was trying to do something better with his life, good for him. This whole thing is rediculous and won’t do the Democrats any good if it gets tied to them.
Kevin,
ìI don’t think Gannon is part of any grand Rovian conspiracyî
How can you doubt that Rove is the Jedi Master controlling the Universe?
I think your decoder ring needs adjusting. Play the solitaire and all will be revealed!
ÖÖÖÖÖ
What theÖ. Help! I think I am being pulled into Mother Ship by a green energy beam.
Hmmm.
Frankly I thought the primary reason that Gannon got in on daily passes was that he was the only schlub that regularly applied for them. I assume most people prefer to go the credentialed route, so they wouldn’t have to stand outside the WH gates every day, so the number of times most people would apply for a daily pass would be limited.
By necessity the people involved with approving daily passes would be different from those associated with the hard (permanent) passes. After two years I’d find it hard to imagine people not getting to know one another.
If you’re a decent person, not a hard case over-egoed jackass, and is willing to act like a human being. I could easily imagine people being happy to help out.
*shrug*
ìIf you’re a decent person, not a hard case over-egoed jackass, and is willing to act like a human being. I could easily imagine people being happy to help out.î
The central concern of the White House staff is the protection of the President. You can take for granted that every journalist is searched for weapons. Who cares that Gannon might have been a prostitute? What does that have to do with safety issues?
A number of years ago, some people made a big deal about serial killer John Wayne Gacy getting close to First Lady Rosalyn Carter. This concern was greatly exaggerated. Gacy, dressed as a clown, was hardly in a position to attack Mrs. Carter.
Belmont Club has a good thread on the booklessness of the modern left:
A good point.
(Though given the fact that all his comment threads wind up being about B-list poets and crank theology, perhaps it could be said that we conservatives read too many?)
Frankly I thought the primary reason that Gannon got in on daily passes was that he was the only schlub that regularly applied for them.
It occurs to me that he did this in order to avoid an embarrasing background check. Sort of rules out some of those fly way over the shark pond theories, unless you are so far out as to figure out that they set it up this way to encourage my theory.
Hmmm.
Actually the background check never got into play. The reason why Guckert didn’t apply for a White House “hard” press pass is because he couldn’t meet the minimum standard, which is getting a Congressional press pass. The Congressional press pass requires approval by a sitting board of professional journalists, who didn’t approve Guckert’s application.
Soooooo.
No Congressional pass, no hard pass, off to the daily pass. Without the Congressional pass, Guckert doesn’t even warrant the detailed background check.
*shrug* that’s it. The only conspiracy I can see is the one where professional big journalists are preventing journalists for smaller venues from getting a level playing field.