The Reaction in review (March 13, 2009)

A week's Reactions that deserve a second look:

Just this week -- Note that (See also-dates) refer to another post by the author that is related, or also well worth reading.


Friday
By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Reflections on the Stewart-Cramer interview" -- The interview really caught a lot of peoples' attention and Michael analyzes its true impact in a very effective way. (See also 3/12)


Thursday

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Laura Ingraham, asshole extraordinaire" -- Michael, and rightly so, takes on a right-winger's cheap criticism of Meghan McCain, blogger daughter of Senator John McCain. (See also 3/9)

By LindaBeth: "WaPo blogger Cillizza implies Obama's Council on Women and Girls is not addressing gender issues" -- This well-done piece takes apart Cillizza's shallow, dismissive and stereotypical thinking, point by point. (See also 3/13)

By Creature: "Metaphors instead of policy" -- This succinct post absolutely "nails" the idiocy of Republican criticism of President Obama's current policies and actions.

By Libby Spencer: "How to win the war on some drugs" -- Libby argues that the only way to end the turf war is to shut down the black market by legalizing drugs and treat addictions clinically, as a public health issue.


Wednesday

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Trouble in Palin's Paradise: Bristol and Levi split up" -- Michael concludes, ". . . it's hard not to think of this whole sad, sorry affair as yet another case of the inevitable breaking through the facade of right-wing moralism and hypocrisy."

By Michael J. W. Stikings: "Just another day in the life and death of Iraq LXXXVIII, and LXXXIX" -- Michael explores the "enormous task" faced by the Iraqis when U.S. troops leave this "deeply divided and deeply violent place."

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Good riddance, Chas Freeman" -- This very well done post makes sense of the controversy surrounding Freeman's withdrawal from consideration to serve as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council, concluding "liberals everywhere should have objected to his nomination."


Tuesday

By Carl: "Just a coincidence, I'm sure" -- Carl raises some interesting questions about what really happened in the car crash in Zimbabwe that killed Mrs. Tsvangirai, wife of the man who is supposed to join a Robert Mugabe unity government. (See also 3/9)

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "In with the new, out with the signing statements" -- In this thoughtful post Michael argues for something more than "just trusting" any President Obama signing statements.

By Mike McNerney: "Justice at Gitmo: An eyewitness account of the military commissions process" -- Our guest author from the Truman Project writes from a fascinating and unique perspective about his observation of the Gitmo military commissions.


Monday

By Mustang Bobby: "Had enough?" -- Bobby, with a very well written post about the dust-ups in the Republican party, makes this important point, ". . . I'd rather have the discussion and debate in this country be a fair match rather than giving into one-party rule." (See also 3/13)

By Carol Gee: "No one is above the law" -- This post discusses the dilemmas faced by Justice Department lawyers, who may be on shaky ground as they make arguments supporting Bush's previous legal positions.

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Around the World: Darfur/Sudan, the United Kingdom, France, Iran, and Turkey" -- Michael rounds up a number of very interesting tidbits from faraway places.

Creature Feature: "By the numbers" -- 18 (% of lost American wealth-2008); 30 (% up, foreclosures in Feb.); 39 (% happy with Congress, up 20% since Jan.); 587 ($ in billions current net bank losses in mortgage derivatives).