All That Is Necessary

Month: October 2008

  • Postscript

    I finally read the WSJ “Liberal Supermajority” editorial that Pete told me about. It was OK. Because it covered so many issues, it couldn’t really do much in the way of persuasion on any given issue — each section seems to start out assuming that the reader already understands and agrees with the editorial board’s […]

  • My BFF "Pete Robinson" (Unwittingly) Helps Me Shill For My Consulting Business

    As I write these opening words, it’s a little after 2 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, October 17. I mention this by way of setting up a whiny rant about how hard it is for a new blogger to get noticed. There’s an editorial [free link] titled “A Liberal Supermajority” in today’s WSJ [today’s!! I’m […]

  • Joe the Plumber Becomes Collateral Damage

    Obama talks with Joe Wurzelbacher, who should not have had any reason to fear that his life was about to change.(Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP) The snap judgment about Wednesday night’s Presidential debate, according to headlines all over the Internets, was that “the big winner of the debate was Joe the Plumber.” The line […]

  • Stick a Fork in Mac, He’s Toast

    Something not quite right metaphorically in that headline, but I’m too tired to figure it out. To win, Obama needed to refrain from burning an American flag onstage, and he more than met that challenge. He looked more Presidential than McCain. I’m trying as hard as I can to find reasons to stay on the […]

  • In Praise of Milbloggers, and of the Iraqi Air Force

    “Ask any of these three brand-new pilots if the Surge worked.” (Photo Credit: TheDonovan.com) The financial crisis has sucked all of the oxygen out of the news media, but it’s good to remember that there’s a war going on — and going well. From a “DV” (distinguished visitor, not otherwise identified) at the first graduation […]

  • A Surprise: Hitchens Endorses Obama

    Christopher Hitchens, by far the biggest Iraq War hawk on the nominal Left, has endorsed Obama for President. I have to say I was stunned to see it. Three weeks ago, Hitch’s Slate column was headlined: “Is Obama Another Dukakis? Why is Obama So Vapid, Hesitant and Gutless?” Does Hitchens now plan to wear a […]

  • The Allure of Going Nuclear in the Late Innings

    Losing the Presidential race has to be even worse than losing the World Series. If you lose the World Series, you at least get to put up a banner proclaiming that you were the League Champion for the year. Your hometown throws you a consolation rally, and you start talking about the future (“hey, we’re […]

  • In Defense of "Wall Street Greed"

    The titans of Wall Street gathered this morning at the NYSE to discuss the ongoing crisis. The writeup of the gathering in the WSJ Deal Journal blog is well worth reading, once you get past the inexplicable opening links to poetry and “Error 404”. (Blogging famously involves publishing without an editor, and here we see […]

  • McCain’s Town Hall "Advantage"

    Before the debate, we heard a lot about how good McCain is in a town hall format. There wasn’t much evidence of that last night. Time’s Swampland does a good job of explaining why: In the classic McCain town hall, differences of opinion are expressed, and McCain works to build a conversation, so that everyone […]

  • What I Learned from Tonight’s Debate

    Senator Obama and Senator McCain are both left-handed. McCain, God bless him, looks older than he is, especially when he walks around. Moderating a debate is a no-win proposition. Brokaw (whom I mostly like) just seemed like a scold about the format and the clock. Both candidates did fine. I can see either one of […]