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- One regrettable side effect of the mainstreaming of political blogging is that it has amplified the worst tendencies of political journalism, such as writing attention/link-grabbing headlines like "Democrats are dropping like flies" that provide zero contextual analysis and aren't even factually accurate. Then the pack mentality sets in, and you get nonsense like "Wave of retirements speaks to uncertainty about 2010 elections." Yesterday I said that 2010 was less predictable than your run-of-the-mill midterm election because of the state of the opposition party. By comparison the electoral consequences of Dodd and Dorgan are all but certain.
- Speaking of the unique set of obstacles confronting Republicans in an election year that would otherwise be very favorable to them, it's a pretty big deal that the RNC's finances are worse off now than a year ago, when chessmaster Michael Steele took over. Moreover, look at what spending $90 million (!) in 2009 netted the Republican Party: two governor's mansions and the loss of five special congressional elections. And most significantly, the NRCC only has enough cash on hand at this point to finance a single congressional race in 2010, a year in which the GOP should be competitive in dozens of districts. Add to the mix the fact that the grass-roots energy (read: money) is being directed toward futile tea party jamborees, and it's easy to see why this is all more politically interesting than the usual "liberal schism" storyline.
- Remember, implementing effective policy isn't sufficient to deal with the threat of terrorism. As only the conservative mind can understand, you must first denounce terrorism to assure everyone that you are morally prepared to confront evil. Second, you must be tough, because projecting toughness -- whether it's telling the terrorists to "bring it on" or letting them know that you will torture them -- is the only language they understand. Finally, and perhaps most important, you must use the words "terrorists" or "terrorism" in your commentary on a regular and sustained basis, because this has guaranteed American security since time immemorial. To call this a childlike approach to national security would be an insult to children.
- Remainders: Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) has a lot to learn about political cybersquatting; health-care reform will formally skip conference committee, push back the State of the Union address until the beginning of February; America is up to the task of rejuvenating itself, American political institutions not so much; time is running out for reaching out to youths in the so-called Muslim world; I'd love to see Republicans actually defend their slash-and-starve approach to government before the court of public opinion; and Medicaid needs an administrator.
--Mori Dinauer
