Proud Member of The Moms Clean Air Force
Print This Post
Jul
30
Lopsided editorial for Lamont, home-grown for Lieberman
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
The New York Times endorses Ned Lamont in the Connecticut primary for the US Senate seat currently held by Joe Lieberman. The Hartford Courant endorses Joe Lieberman.
Let’s take a look at how they came to their decisions:
The NYT, in 11 paragraphs, mentions or makes a statement about Ned Lamont once in the second paragraph and once in the eleventh paragraph. Every single word in the remainder of the piece is a parsing of Lieberman. This is the sum and substance of how they feel about Mr. Lamont:
Mr. Lamont, a wealthy businessman from Greenwich, seems smart and moderate, and he showed spine in challenging the senator while other Democrats groused privately. He does not have his opponents grasp of policy yet.
That’s it. After the millions of words on blogs, in ads and in print, that’s all they can say about him, in an endorsement piece that runs 930 words, they only have 34 to say about this Democratic candidate.
I’ve written a few times about my indecision about whether I would give up Lieberman for Lamont, based on having grown up and lived in CT and still having family and friends there. As a Democrat and a Jew, this decision is particularly anguishing.
So, if I’m going to be convinced that I should throw the incumbent overboard, the NYT’s piece isn’t going to do it for me. Because, as a left-leaning Democrat, I’m not interested in hearing only the negative. I’m interested in turning away from producing only negative. I want to hear arguments in favor of the candidate they choose.
How often do we malign voters’ decisions based on just not voting for the other guy? And basically, that’s what the NYT editorial says to do. Don’t vote for the other guy. We can’t really tell you anything about the guy you’ll vote for instead, but just don’t vote for the other one.
Sure, we all do that once in a while. It’s inevitable in our system and given our expectations. But in a major newspaper endorsement? I expect more than that. Way more.
So let’s look at the Hartford Courant’s endorsement of Lieberman.
Out of 737 words, the Courant dedicates a higher proportion (about 78 words out of 737) to the candidate they don’t endorse (Lamont) than the Times did (34 out of 930) to the same candidate, whom the Times did endorse (that really doesn’t strike anyone else as odd?).
(Out of 16 paragraphs (several of which are only one or two sentences – not something you’ll find in the Times very often – it’s a writing style thing), the Courant’s piece has two full paragraphs that actually talk about Lamont.)
The Courant on Lamont:
His challenger, Ned Lamont, is a smart, knowledgeable, engaging candidate with a fresh face, superb campaign ads and a passionate antiwar fan club of bloggers and boomers. But Mr. Lamont has limited political experience, serving as a Greenwich selectman and finance board member some years ago.
His entrepreneurship is nothing to scoff at: He’s a cable TV millionaire. And his patrician pull toward public service — he’s the great-grandson of J.P. Morgan’s banking partner — is admirable.
But then what do they do? They don’t go getting all nasty and flamey on Lamont. They simply say look what Lieberman brings to the table that Lamont can’t and won’t and doesn’t.
Maybe it’s just the lawyer in me. But in law school, we’d call the Times’ version specious – because it’s just not based on anything that supports Lamont. And we’d call the Courant’s based on sound reasoning.
This is not to say that the Times’ doesn’t make good points about the troubling elements of Lieberman’s presence in the US Senate, as a Democrat and in general. The Times does.
But as an endorsement, it fails. And the Courant’s succeeds.
If I were voting in CT on August 8, I would vote for Lieberman. And the Courant’s editorial definitely put me over, especially in the face of the Times.
Maybe knowing that Lieberman will run as an Independent emboldened the Times to endorse Lamont in the primary. The telling time will be when the Times endorses a candidate for the general in November. Any guesses?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:43 am July 30th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
30
Deborah Solomon’s interview with A.B. Yehoshua.
Do you want to be an idea?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:22 am July 30th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
30
Editrix’ Office
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
When I finally figure out this Mac, I’ll work on separating out the blogroll entries. But for now, they are divided only by numbers, as in, every five get a space between them.
So I want to draw attention to this one that I’m adding this evening, Editrix’ Office, based in Germany. I found it this morning and wrote about it here a little. Editrix and I have exchanged a number of emails and I must say, this international aspect to blogging is really fascinating. The language, approach, and, most amazingly, the visual structure of blogging from a different country strikes me and almost wakes me up.
I wonder if, in the social network mapping that Valdis Krebs does if he’s come to observe different habits or patterns in how people of different nationalities blog. Has anyone else, who converses regularly with non-Americans? I can’t really put myself in that category – I only communicate with a few folks overseas.
Anyway – makes the world feel bigger and smaller all at once.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:16 am July 30th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Now this is what I call good crisis management (having sat in on a training session or two on the topic):
On Saturday, Gibson released the following statement:
“After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.”
Forbes has it too.
Of course the real issue is, do you buy it?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:40 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 1 Comment
Print This Post
Jul
29
Deborah Solomon’s interview with A.B. Yehoshua.
Do you want to be an idea?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:22 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
NYT Sunday Mag: A Writer in Haifa, An Idea for life
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
Deborah Solomon’s interview with A.B. Yehoshua.
Do you want to be an idea?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:22 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Editrix’ Office
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
When I finally figure out this Mac, I’ll work on separating out the blogroll entries. But for now, they are divided only by numbers, as in, every five get a space between them.
So I want to draw attention to this one that I’m adding this evening, Editrix’ Office, based in Germany. I found it this morning and wrote about it here a little. Editrix and I have exchanged a number of emails and I must say, this international aspect to blogging is really fascinating. The language, approach, and, most amazingly, the visual structure of blogging from a different country strikes me and almost wakes me up.
I wonder if, in the social network mapping that Valdis Krebs does if he’s come to observe different habits or patterns in how people of different nationalities blog. Has anyone else, who converses regularly with non-Americans? I can’t really put myself in that category – I only communicate with a few folks overseas.
Anyway – makes the world feel bigger and smaller all at once.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:16 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Now this is what I call good crisis management (having sat in on a training session or two on the topic):
On Saturday, Gibson released the following statement:
“After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.”
Forbes has it too.
Of course the real issue is, do you buy it?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:40 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 1 Comment
Print This Post
Jul
29
Editrix’ Office
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
When I finally figure out this Mac, I’ll work on separating out the blogroll entries. But for now, they are divided only by numbers, as in, every five get a space between them.
So I want to draw attention to this one that I’m adding this evening, Editrix’ Office, based in Germany. I found it this morning and wrote about it here a little. Editrix and I have exchanged a number of emails and I must say, this international aspect to blogging is really fascinating. The language, approach, and, most amazingly, the visual structure of blogging from a different country strikes me and almost wakes me up.
I wonder if, in the social network mapping that Valdis Krebs does if he’s come to observe different habits or patterns in how people of different nationalities blog. Has anyone else, who converses regularly with non-Americans? I can’t really put myself in that category – I only communicate with a few folks overseas.
Anyway – makes the world feel bigger and smaller all at once.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:16 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
(Because Woodbridge has a Jewish Community Center AND about 30% Jews)
UPDATE: From Editor & Publisher, someone in the police department has made attempts to clean-up the police report because “ higher-ups in the sheriff’s department felt it was too ‘inflammatory’ to release and would merely serve to incite ‘Jewish hatred…” Umm, Passion of the Christ? Director? Gibson? If people were going to be incited to hate Jews by Gibson, that would have happened already. Not sure how his drunken monologue would make his efforts any more transparent.
______
Early this morning in California, Mel Gibson got stopped for allegedly driving drunk. According to this account:
…Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: “F*****g Jews… The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” Gibson then asked the deputy, “Are you a Jew?”
Hattip to THEOcracy.
And really? You need to read the whole thing.
What did I just write about feeling unsteady?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:54 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
Mel Gibson apologizes
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
Now this is what I call good crisis management (having sat in on a training session or two on the topic):
On Saturday, Gibson released the following statement:
“After drinking alcohol on Thursday night, I did a number of things that were very wrong and for which I am ashamed. I drove a car when I should not have, and was stopped by the LA County Sheriffs. The arresting officer was just doing his job and I feel fortunate that I was apprehended before I caused injury to any other person. I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable. I am deeply ashamed of everything I said. Also, I take this opportunity to apologize to the deputies involved for my belligerent behavior. They have always been there for me in my community and indeed probably saved me from myself. I disgraced myself and my family with my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly regret my horrific relapse. I apologize for any behavior unbecoming of me in my inebriated state and have already taken necessary steps to ensure my return to health.”
Forbes has it too.
Of course the real issue is, do you buy it?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:40 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
View Obsession and then tell what is and isn’t terror
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
UPDATE: My bad – forgot to hattip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance, where I first saw the movie mentioned earlier today. Thanks.
You can do it right here, right now. I’ve only watched the trailer but will make the time to watch it all later. From HonestReporting.com.
About the movie from Wikipedia.
The movie’s home page. Of particular interest there is this timeline.
What did you think?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:21 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Okay. Give it to me. I’m ready.
Why is it that newspapers can wait for late evening sports scores before publishing but, when a major act of terrorism occurs in Seattle at 4pm on the West Coast, the best the Plain Dealer could do was page A8?
I know – I know – there is an explanation. And I’m all ears.
Feh. I stayed up too late finding every shred I could about what was known anyway and Technorati’d my way to far more info than the papers would have carried.
But I’m Jewish, I’ve worked at a Jewish agency and my kids attended a Jewish camp. No surprise I’d want to know and look for info ASAP.
But how about the other 99% of this country that’s not Jewish? Dontcha think it’s kind of important, in this “war on terror” that Mr. Bush says we’re fighting, that the media cover this stuff so that all 100% of the American population can see what’s going on? You know, knowledge is power and all that?
Like I said before, killers being nuts doesn’t make the people they killed or injured any less dead or hurting.
And let me just say this about the use of the word terror:
I feel terror when I see the images, read the blog posts and news stories, and hear people describing what happened in Seattle. That’s enough to make it terrorism to me. Especially given the places I frequent and the people I tend to be with, you know, other Jews.
I’ve never felt more unsteady about how Americans who have the slightest distaste for Jews or Israel might act.
Think this protest couldn’t get out of hand? Says who?
Inside Business’s most recent issue, which I just received this week, includes a spread on bringing Israeli companies, with their brains and money and technology to Ohio. Think the owners, the investors and the people who purchase the services, feel more terror today?
Honestly? Every American should feel more terror today.
YOU DON’T GO SHOOTING AT PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU ANGRY. Or people connected to people who make you angry. Or places connected to people who make you angry.
This is why I don’t support violence on the playground. This is why I didn’t support going into Iraq. This is why I never use physical discipline in my home and we don’t have a single sabre, sword or toy gun – not even water guns – in my home.
Me? Nuts? Neurotic about making sure such things are as absent as I can make them from my household (you should see how my kids scurry if they’re watching a television show we’ve prohibited – almost always because of violence)?
Maybe. But at least I’m not the kind of “nuts” that kills and then just says, “Well, I’m nuts.” Or God said I had to. Or humankind requires me to do so.
Double feh.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:04 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
Infidel Bloggers Alliance
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
Yeah, here. I found it while trying to figure out what this blog was all about, which I got to after doing a Technorati search on “seattle jewish killed.”
I either stayed up too late or these folks just use too high a level of rhetoric for me, because it’s taken me ten minutes to figure out which side they’re on.
I think it’s the up too late. Well, I hope so anyway.
Oh – and that Infidel Hunk of the Week? I approve.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:57 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 5 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
(Because Woodbridge has a Jewish Community Center AND about 30% Jews)
UPDATE: From Editor & Publisher, someone in the police department has made attempts to clean-up the police report because “ higher-ups in the sheriff’s department felt it was too ‘inflammatory’ to release and would merely serve to incite ‘Jewish hatred…” Umm, Passion of the Christ? Director? Gibson? If people were going to be incited to hate Jews by Gibson, that would have happened already. Not sure how his drunken monologue would make his efforts any more transparent.
______
Early this morning in California, Mel Gibson got stopped for allegedly driving drunk. According to this account:
…Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: “F*****g Jews… The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” Gibson then asked the deputy, “Are you a Jew?”
Hattip to THEOcracy.
And really? You need to read the whole thing.
What did I just write about feeling unsteady?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:54 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
View Obsession and then tell what is and isn’t terror
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
UPDATE: My bad – forgot to hattip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance, where I first saw the movie mentioned earlier today. Thanks.
You can do it right here, right now. I’ve only watched the trailer but will make the time to watch it all later. From HonestReporting.com.
About the movie from Wikipedia.
The movie’s home page. Of particular interest there is this timeline.
What did you think?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:21 pm July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Okay. Give it to me. I’m ready.
Why is it that newspapers can wait for late evening sports scores before publishing but, when a major act of terrorism occurs in Seattle at 4pm on the West Coast, the best the Plain Dealer could do was page A8?
I know – I know – there is an explanation. And I’m all ears.
Feh. I stayed up too late finding every shred I could about what was known anyway and Technorati’d my way to far more info than the papers would have carried.
But I’m Jewish, I’ve worked at a Jewish agency and my kids attended a Jewish camp. No surprise I’d want to know and look for info ASAP.
But how about the other 99% of this country that’s not Jewish? Dontcha think it’s kind of important, in this “war on terror” that Mr. Bush says we’re fighting, that the media cover this stuff so that all 100% of the American population can see what’s going on? You know, knowledge is power and all that?
Like I said before, killers being nuts doesn’t make the people they killed or injured any less dead or hurting.
And let me just say this about the use of the word terror:
I feel terror when I see the images, read the blog posts and news stories, and hear people describing what happened in Seattle. That’s enough to make it terrorism to me. Especially given the places I frequent and the people I tend to be with, you know, other Jews.
I’ve never felt more unsteady about how Americans who have the slightest distaste for Jews or Israel might act.
Think this protest couldn’t get out of hand? Says who?
Inside Business’s most recent issue, which I just received this week, includes a spread on bringing Israeli companies, with their brains and money and technology to Ohio. Think the owners, the investors and the people who purchase the services, feel more terror today?
Honestly? Every American should feel more terror today.
YOU DON’T GO SHOOTING AT PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU ANGRY. Or people connected to people who make you angry. Or places connected to people who make you angry.
This is why I don’t support violence on the playground. This is why I didn’t support going into Iraq. This is why I never use physical discipline in my home and we don’t have a single sabre, sword or toy gun – not even water guns – in my home.
Me? Nuts? Neurotic about making sure such things are as absent as I can make them from my household (you should see how my kids scurry if they’re watching a television show we’ve prohibited – almost always because of violence)?
Maybe. But at least I’m not the kind of “nuts” that kills and then just says, “Well, I’m nuts.” Or God said I had to. Or humankind requires me to do so.
Double feh.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:04 am July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Jul
29
[UPDATED] Why Mel Gibson shouldn’t move to Woodbridge, CT
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
(Because Woodbridge has a Jewish Community Center AND about 30% Jews)
UPDATE: From Editor & Publisher, someone in the police department has made attempts to clean-up the police report because “ higher-ups in the sheriff’s department felt it was too ‘inflammatory’ to release and would merely serve to incite ‘Jewish hatred…” Umm, Passion of the Christ? Director? Gibson? If people were going to be incited to hate Jews by Gibson, that would have happened already. Not sure how his drunken monologue would make his efforts any more transparent.
______
Early this morning in California, Mel Gibson got stopped for allegedly driving drunk. According to this account:
…Gibson then launched into a barrage of anti-Semitic statements: “F*****g Jews… The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.” Gibson then asked the deputy, “Are you a Jew?”
Hattip to THEOcracy.
And really? You need to read the whole thing.
What did I just write about feeling unsteady?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:54 am July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
View Obsession and then tell what is and isn’t terror
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
UPDATE: My bad – forgot to hattip to Infidel Bloggers Alliance, where I first saw the movie mentioned earlier today. Thanks.
You can do it right here, right now. I’ve only watched the trailer but will make the time to watch it all later. From HonestReporting.com.
About the movie from Wikipedia.
The movie’s home page. Of particular interest there is this timeline.
What did you think?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:21 am July 29th, 2006 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Jul
29
Infidel Bloggers Alliance
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
Yeah, here. I found it while trying to figure out what this blog was all about, which I got to after doing a Technorati search on “seattle jewish killed.”
I either stayed up too late or these folks just use too high a level of rhetoric for me, because it’s taken me ten minutes to figure out which side they’re on.
I think it’s the up too late. Well, I hope so anyway.
Oh – and that Infidel Hunk of the Week? I approve.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:57 am July 29th, 2006 in Politics | 5 Comments
Voted into Top 25 Political Mom Blogs
Now on sale-WLST essay included!
Posts About Pepper Pike City Council2010 WE Magazine 101 Women Bloggers to Watch
Category Specific RSS
Pepper Pike Cleveland+ Politics Women Ohio Elections Law Jewish
