The Reaction in review (April 3, 2009)

A Week' Reactions that deserve a second look:

Friday

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Crowded House: 'Don't Dream It's Over' " -- Michael writes a wonderfully entertaining and personal post defending one of his favorite songs of the 80s.

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Blago, indicted, and on the radio" -- Discussion of this bizarre saga's latest chapter; see also, the latest chapter of the Ted Stevens story.

By Mustang Bobby: "Equality in Iowa" -- Bobby celebrates, " I always knew that for the concept of marriage equality to really take hold in this country, it would have to come from a place like Iowa."

By Carl: "Parallel lines" -- Carl's wonderful writing shines in this very thoughtful essay, comparing a decade in the Sixties with the one that we are experiencing now.


Thursday

By Boatboy: "About that ugly GOP budget projection" -- Positing that "Barack Obama isn't the problem," this very well-done guest post thoroughly examines Republican fears of the future.

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "The truth about Joe the Plumber -- he's as clueless as he is stupid" -- Michael explains Joe's labor position, "Here is a celebrity-hero-icon-myth of the right basically admitting, with a camera in his face, that he doesn't have a ... clue."


Wednesday

By Grace: "Next step for the green movement?" -- Grace's "techie side" spotlights the new solar-powered cell phone.

By Jim Arkedis: "And now for something completely different..." -- Jim introduces himself to his readers and posts, with considerable skill and foresight, on the potential for a new direction in U.S. - Russian relations.

By Capt. Fogg: "Der Flughaven" -- Fogg chooses a wonderfully quirky April Fool post; Czech it out!

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "Minnesota Senate Recount -- update 13" -- A very useful overview of the current situation with respect to Minnesota's protracted senatorial election; see also "Senator Franken, shortly."


Tuesday

By J. Thomas Duffy: "Top Ten Cloves: Great things about Obama taking over General Motors" -- Another masterfully funny post counting down the advantages of your government running the auto industry (included at no cost, Bonus Mister Goodwrench President riffs).

By Carol Gee: "Cheney's dark deeds come to light" -- This post focuses on the revelations of investigative journalist Seymour Hersh regarding former Vice President Dick Cheney's questionable extracurricular activities.

By Carl: "Political triage" -- Carl's incisive analysis, of what could have been behind President Obama's decisions regarding General Motors and the auto industry, seems right on point.


Sunday

By Mustang Bobby: "No, thanks" -- Bobby's great post, on being forced to listen to Rush Limbaugh, garnered 15 very interesting comments.

By Michael J.W. Stickings: "The case against torture, revisited" -- Michael explores the case of Abu Zubaida, concluding, ". . . the U.S. got it horribly wrong . . . because it didn't even understand who he really was, and needlessly subjecting him to torture (not that there should ever be a "need" to torture).

By Carol Gee: "Pluses and minuses for the administration" -- After President Obama's first two months in office, this post takes stock and checks off several administration successes.


Bonus Creature Feature: Media Criticism -- There was no breach of royal protocol; 72; Because you can never make too much fun of Glenn Beck; What I learned from cable news today; Americans still like Obama and don't blame him for everything.