I think I'm going to start stealing a page from Ezra Klein and doing a daily requests thread. I put up the thread, you guys suggest topics you'd like to see me blog about or questions you'd like to see me answer, and then the next day I answer the request. It seems to me like a feature that's worked well for him, so why not here? So -- what would you like to read about?
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Requests
11 Jun 2008 11:52 am
Comments (116)
I'd like to read about the "trust-fund scumbag" culture.
Questions which occur to me about the topic are .... Does the "trust-fund scumbag" culture really exist?
Can you give examples of members of the culture (aside from Paris Hilton)?
What makes a trust-fund kid scummy? Do any trust-fund scumbags reform and turn out well?
How do they differ from other non-trust-fund scumbags?
After giving the basic demographics the political considerations would be next. What makes trust-fund scumbags unable to be real Democrats? How does their elitism get in the way of progressive politics? Can they EVER be trusted?
I'd like to read a post about basketball that doesn't dwell on the statistics. I appreciate that stats can tell us a lot about the game (and I also appreciate your interest in and aptitude with statistics in general), but it's only one aspect of analyzing the game. More abstract factors are also at play, such as style of play, team chemistry, etc. Your insight on such factors would be welcome, I think, by the NBA fans in your audience.
Is Coldplay coming out with a new album? Please apply investigatory journalism to confirm or deny.
Just in general, more philosophy. I think you posted once on population ethics - more on that.
Curt M makes a good point: you're going to get some of that, but I'd expect a lot more TLB-style "Why don't you fear teh Mexican hordes more?" requests.
A question I'd like to see you address: By what standard will we define a successful Obama 1st term?
You've tackled this in bits and pieces, but I'm looking for something definitive.
My sense is that if the Obama Administration delivers on a non-catastrophic withdrawal from Iraq, then he's a success, even if he doesn't manage to fulfill the hype on the economy, energy, and health care.
i asked Ez this, too. if Obama wins, can he declassify Bush's illegal back-room dealings on issues like Iraq, torture and Plame, or can Bush lock everything up that might incriminate him in his presidential library forever, essentially proving that a modern president can do whatever he wants and get away with it?
Are you willing to confirm or deny the existence of a Clinton-style personal list of those people who are "dead to you" and will not be receiving appointments, favors, etc?
hey matt,
i've been reading political blogs for a while now, and staying abreast of political news for even longer, but i'm still not nearly as familiar with the players in congress as you and ezra and all the other bloggers seem to be. your posts often make references to these characters -- feinstein, rockefeller, reid -- whose names i recognize, but whose relationships i don't understand. who are the influential senators? who talks to whom? how much does chairing a committee matter? how much do seniority and tenure matter? what about the house? is anyone important besides pelosi?
basically what i'm asking for is a quick breakdown of the power and relational dynamics of congress, so that when you make references to clandestine romantic trysts between dole and sununu, i know more about what's at stake.
or maybe, instead of describing 100 personalities in painstaking detail, you could just put up the URL of a good intro site. i certainly couldn't find any.
thanks!
Austan Goolsbee -- is he a serious economist or is he a hack? How much influence does he have with Obama?
I'd like to get your opinion on the fact that McCain has released no energy policy.
He talks a lot about trying to end our dependence on foreign oil, but the only specific policies he's endorsed are the gas tax holiday and his weak cap-and-give.
Compare Obama's energy plan with McCain's non-existent one (or his senate record), and then try to figure out why nobody seems to care that he hasn't put out an energy plan.
After reading a ridiculous AP article yesterday that tried to assert that special interests are as much a presence in Obama's campaign as McCain's (because of random endorsements and fundraisers) when any influence equivalence between the campaigns is obviously fallacious when you consider the fact that McCain's campaign staff are nearly all lobbyists and the degree to which his campaign is influenced by special interests is far greater.
So my questions are -- 1) is the AP moving to the right? 2) Just as in 2004, is the Obama campaign going to be increasingly victimized by the point/counterpoint style of modern journalism, which tries to give balance between Democratic and Republican perspective, even when one side is lying?
I'd like to read about how the republicans are screwing up foreign policy and how foreign policy screws up the dems. Someone should write a book about that. I bet it would sell very well
Well, I always appreciate science. And I'll echo the more about these players whose names I recognize but not much more suggestion.
Brian Schweitzer as veep prospect. Nate Silver I think had a useful take, but he's my current favorite and (see item 2) not someone we know much about.
Hey Matt,
How about something along the lines of one of your last Prospect blog posts on baby boomer's. I thought it spawned some fantastic comments back and forth.
Here is a piece in the Weekly Standard that is in serious need of mockery. The whole premise of the piece is based on an embarrassing factual error.
In this piece Joscelyn claims that the recently released Senate Intel report demonstrates that Bush was right that Saddam was "harboring" al Qaeda, and as evidence he cites this sentence from the recent report:
"Postwar information supports prewar assessments and statements that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was in Baghdad and that al Qaeda was present in northern Iraq."
He's confusing the confirmation of Zarqawi's presence in Iraq with confirmation that he was harbored. The '06 Senate Intel report found that Saddam *did not harbor* Zarqawi (it uses the exact word "harbor") and, in fact, was trying to capture Zarqawi once he found out Zarqawi was in Iraq. Furthermore, as you surely already know, northern Iraq was under the control of the Kurds, not under control of Saddam.
The sentence in the new report that Joscelyn cites is within a section which is intended to re-summarize what was found in the '06 report (p72). So there's no question that it's just reiterating what was found in '06. The '06 report found that "postwar information indicates that Saddam Hussein attempted, unsuccessfully, to locate and capture al-Zarqawi and that the regime did not have a relationship, harbor, or turn a blind eye towards Zarqawi." (p109).
2006 report:
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2006_rpt/srpt109-331.pdf
New report:
http://intelligence.senate.gov/080605/phase2a.pdf
I'd like to see you take apart this atrocious Robert Samuelson column. It might be the falsest thing I've ever read.
"For the party faithful, this is a sweet moment. They have their candidates and, whatever the obstacles, can still imagine victory in November." This is a sweet moment for Republican party faithful? Really
"Championing centrism would disappoint many ardent Democrats. Pleasing them would betray his conciliating image." Why does conciliating mean centrism? Why doesn't it mean persuading people to embrace a better policy? Didn't Reagan supposedly do that?
You know, that sort of thing.
Is Obama's $4000/yr tuition grant in exchange for civil service a pander, substantial, or neither? That is, is $4000/yr a reasonable or effective considering existing tuition rates?
civic service
-edit DryEraser @12:24
Give a monkey a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a monkey to fish and it is the beginning of the monkey uprising. Wait till they learn to fish with their robot arms!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/10/AR2008061000707.html
Which candidate's positions are more compatible with Parfit's philosophy, and why?
I request a written reflection on the value of proper spelling and grammar in contemporary society.
Thank you.
I would like to hear more on your thoughts regarding Obama's proposal for ending the Cuban embargo. Good policy to the end the embargo contingent on Cuban human rights (specifically, political prisoners) progress? Bad policy? Better to end it immediately, without conditions?
I'm curious as to where you get your urban planning and transit policy information. Any blogs or think tanks in particular that are worth reading and inform your view as to the theory, the politics, and the policy objectives that cities should pursue?
Is Hillary really a figher, aside from fighting for herself?
What has she fought for in the Senate? I'm sure there's something, but I don't know what it is.
I would like to hear more on your thoughts regarding Obama's proposal for ending the Cuban embargo. Good policy to the end the embargo contingent on Cuban human rights (specifically, political prisoners) progress? Bad policy? Better to end it immediately, without conditions?
One thing I'd like to see addressed is the ways in which a spread-out, low-transit city could transition into a more walkable, denser city. Low density cities tend to be stuck in a vicious cycle, where everyone drives, prompting every business to have a huge parking lot so that people visit their business, prompting even more driving because walking across miles of parking lot is a huge pain. I'd like to hear what you, or even better, someone who is an expert on that sort of thing, think can be done to make the transition for such cities.
1) A post about Obama saying he would be working with Elizabeth Edwards on his healthcare plan, mocking Petey for being such a one-note dick.
2) Your thoughts on peak oil and energy generally. Since, you know, modern human civilization is based on energy, primarily fuel derived from fossil fuels, it's a rather important topic.
3) Your predictions for November, and why. Here are mine: Obama will win by more than 5% of the popular vote and win the EC easily. Dems gain at least 5 seats in Senate and 10 seats in House. I don't have to explain my reasoning. It's not my blog.
FREEBIRDDDDD!
I would like to explore in a little more detail your relationship with Ezra Klein. Besides linking to each other's posts incessantly and copying each other's ideas on a regular basis, how else are you totally inseparable for a couple of straight guys? Do you check what each other's wearing before you leave the house (when you leave the house)? Do you steal each other's girlfriends? Who is smarter? Who has a better jummp shot? Please be specific.
The future of identity politics.
As a non-PC libertarian the "You're a racist!" "No, You're a sexist!" slant to the Democratic primary has been fascinating for me to watch. How are left wingers going to decide who gets the racial/gender/sexual orientation/religious background spoils in conflicts that involve non-white/non-East Asian males in the future?
For example, in Europe and Canada, so far being Muslim trumps women's rights. One is allowed to be misogynistic (and racist and homophobic) as long as one is in the privileged status of Muslim.
As another example, who will win in future conflicts between majority Mexicans and minority blacks within our cities such as LA?
What type of bike do you ride, and how/why is it superior to the other types of bikes?
It would be nice if you actually researched the topics you post on at the moment.
Obama strikes me more as a boxers kind of man while McCain strikes me more as a tighty whitie kind of man.
Are we finally coming to the end of the left-right boomer match ups and into one between the wearers of boxers versus the wears of tight and white underwear?
What are the Knicks prospects now that they have a new General Manager and new coach?
My vote would be the question of which is the more important issue for voters: the war or the economy, and whether or not the two can be treated distinctly by the candidates.
Something about alternative energy and peak oil
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/11/11464/2982/965/533979
Andrew Lias above me, polling has already established the economy as the primary issues on voters' minds. Energy is itself one of the top national security concerns.
(a) If Obama is elected and the economy really tanks, can he avoid being a Carteresque one-termer?
(b) Would it really be desirable for the Democrats to win both the WH and a veto/filibuster-proof majority in Congress in the November elections?
Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear?
Ou sont les neigedens d'antons?
I am extremely interested in understanding what things states can legitimately do and what things states cannot legitimately do. I am interested in this because it seems currently that there are almost no limits on what states can do and be considered legitimate.
Since power comes from the people (consent of the governed and all that) how do states get powers that no individual could have delegated to the state since no individual possessed such a power in the first place.
Take nuclear weapons for instance. The effects cannot be limited to an "aggressor" and hence would seem to be inconsistent with notions of self-defense that are pretty well established in law. Since I don't have a right to toss a grenade into a crowd of people at the mall simply because one of them is trying to kill me, how do states come by a right to nuclear weapons, even if ostensibly just for defensive purposes?
I don't understand this point and would like to.
Just a Dude, don't you read TLB? LA is going to be incorporated into Mexico, along with the rest of the Southwest, as soon as the Mexican government gives the infiltrating hordes the secret signal.
What I want to know is, who will win the inevitable showdown between Greater Mexico and the Caliphate?
I am extremely interested in understanding what things states can legitimately do and what things states cannot legitimately do. I am interested in this because it seems currently that there are almost no limits on what states can do and be considered legitimate.
Since power comes from the people (consent of the governed and all that) how do states get powers that no individual could have delegated to the state since no individual possessed such a power in the first place.
Take nuclear weapons for instance. The effects cannot be limited to an "aggressor" and hence would seem to be inconsistent with notions of self-defense that are pretty well established in law. Since I don't have a right to toss a grenade into a crowd of people at the mall simply because one of them is trying to kill me, how do states come by a right to nuclear weapons, even if ostensibly just for defensive purposes?
I don't understand this point and would like to.
Heads in the Sand! Heads in the Sand! Stop being so bashful and tell us about your book.
Also, since it's once again in evidence here and I just experienced it myself: why do the Atlantic servers suck so bad when it comes to posting comments? Is anyone even looking into it?
Could you comment about the officiating in the NBA playoffs? I'm not a regular season NBA watcher, so I have nothing to compare it too, but the officiating in the playoffs seems both really bad and really inconsistent. Any thoughts?
Your NBA observations are always welcome, but you don't talk much about college basketball. How about some discussion of the NCAA tournament, the one-and-done rule's effects on both the college and pro game, or Duke's seeming inability to produce NBA-championship-quality players? (Okay, granted, Elton Brand is a total beast, but he's won exactly the same number of championship rings as Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Carlos Boozer, JJ Redick, Shane Battier, Shelden Williams, Chris Duhon, Luol Deng, Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Corey Maggette, Cherokee Parks, Josh McRoberts, and Trajan Langdon combined--in other words, zero.)
Summer reading post:
Good books on relevent public policy issues, but especially those that don't get talked about a billion times in the blogosphere.
One I am looking for: a good read on contemporary transportation policy. Streetsblog provides me with adequate news clippings, but I'd like a comprehensive review of what current transportation policy looks like, how it got there, and where it should go in the future.
Could you comment about the officiating in the NBA playoffs? I'm not a regular season NBA watcher, so I have nothing to compare it too, but the officiating in the playoffs seems both really bad and really inconsistent. Any thoughts?
Mark Halperin: cancer on our political system or just a funny looking wart?
Summer reading post:
Good books on relevent public policy issues, but especially those that don't get talked about a billion times in the blogosphere.
One I am looking for: a good read on contemporary transportation policy. Streetsblog provides me with adequate news clippings, but I'd like a comprehensive review of what current transportation policy looks like, how it got there, and where it should go in the future.
Could you comment about the officiating in the NBA playoffs? I'm not a regular season NBA watcher, so I have nothing to compare it too, but the officiating in the playoffs seems both really bad and really inconsistent. Any thoughts?
Robert Wright's 2000 book Nonzero claims that peer-to-peer information exchange will lead to more non-state terrorist activity which will then lead to a more-or-less permanent willingness among democratic electorates to give up more civil rights. We have already seen this to a significant extent. However, he also says that the importance of political autonomy will decrease in favor of the relative importance of economic liberalization. How will these factors effect future political theory?
Tips for young professionals moving to DC - where are the good neighborhoods? How much should one expect to pay in rent? Nightspots/dive bars/miscellaneous stuff?
I have two questions that I've been thinking about.
1) Has anyone commented on the irony that the people most likely to be hit by a terrorist attack are the least likely to support the hawkish politicians and vice versa. Why does someone in rural Idaho fear al Qaeda as some existential threat that needs to be confronted aggressively?
2) Why is no one calling McCain out for the logical conclusion his opposition the Webb GI Bill leads to, that if we offered soldiers access to the most sought after product in today's global economy, education, they would logically leave the military for the more prestigious and economically rewarding occupations that an education would make possible?
It seems McCain is admitting a couple of things.
1) Military life is not all that desirable and
2) We shouldn't offer the soldiers, many of whom are from a poor background, an opportunity for a better life for fear that they might just take us up on it.
I have the nagging sense that one of the ways we've buggered the thing in Iraq is by spending huge sums of money, with virtually none of it getting to where it might have done an enormous amount of good. Every time I hear that we're spending some number of millions per minute, or whatever, I wonder "where, specifically, and in what proportions, is that money going?" We tend to get really pissy when we learn of our favorite charity that only 20 cents of every dollar we send them is turned into rubber that ever contacts a road surface, but I expect 20 productive cents on the dollar would be a ridiculously optimistic estimate for our current collective endeavor. And we could substitute Katrina, etc for Iraq above...
I have to think someone is bird-dogging this, but don't run into nearly enough the kind of digestible anecdotal stuff that might make it into casual conversation, leading to collective outrage, followed by perp-walks all round and ultimately, if we're really good and do our homework before we watch TV, some benefit reaching the people who are actually suffering.
What is the view from your window in the room Sullivan has you locked you up in? Are you in PTown or DC? Do you need any assistance escaping? Do you even want to escape?
I'm asking you the same thing I've asked you for years:
"I really wish you would comment on the fact that you are now a part of the "blog establishment", your name now under the Atlantic masthead, and the way in which the supposed democratization of Web 2.0 (or whatever) has just devolved into the same old rigidity and structure. (I believe every single blogger under the Atlantic's imprimatur has a degree from an Ivy league university, for example.) I also wish you would talk about this weird wall between yourself and your readership, where sometimes you respond to comments and to reader feedback, but often you don't, and seem to selectively "hear" different comments. (And don't answer emails, for that matter.)"
The relation of peak oil to beards.
And: poetry.
More posts about beer, pizza and hamburgers. Or maybe you could do a post on why Americans are so fat.
Why a union-skeptic like me should support trade unions. (Especially public employee unions.)
Views on compulsory military service or
compulsory national service.
More specifically to the more philosophy comment above, a response to Will Wilkinson's "we're all market liberals now/early hayek loved social safety nets post". Also posts about how to manage time conflicts between your book-signing tomorrow and other simultaneous committments. If petey promies to show up and call you a trustfund scumbag, it'll make resolving the conflict easier.
I like this idea of taking questions from readers, but in practice I doubt it works very well - in part, of course, because your high readership will make it impractical to post on all the questions you'll get.
Anyway, rather than a question about a substantive issue (although I'd appreciate your thoughts on the Donaghy allegation and what the NBA should do to build trust with its fan base), I'm curious about how you see your role as a blogger in the campaign - do you see yourself as a commentator who happens to prefer Obama and hopes he gets elected, or do you see yourself as an extension of his campaign by actively trying to convince people to vote for him? Sites like Daily Kos seem to me to tend toward the latter, where periodicals like the Atlantic (or whatever) I would think often tend toward the former. Howabout you? Or do you not see a difference?
What do you think about Al Franken running for Senate?
On current trends Democrats will win the Presidency and Congress, but might fall 2-3 Senators short of the 60 currently needed to pass major legislation like (semi) universal healthcare. However, during the 'nuclear option' discussion last year, it was suggested that the party holding the majority and the Vice-Presidency could eliminate the filibuster.
Question: could & should the Democrats include a promise to abolish the filibuster in their campaign this year, in order to allow the passage of healthcare and other key initiatives?
What do you think about Al Franken running for Senate?
Physics
I'm also interested in the long term economic impacts of permanently high oil prices.
It should impact transit, but also food, manufacture, transport of goods, etc, etc.
If it stays as expensive as it's been, what are the 'big shocks' and when things level off, what's 'gotta give'?
A few questions for MattY:
1. Do you realize that not being intellectually honest harms your reputation, such as it is?
2. Have you considered asking people outside the cocoon for their take on the issues you discuss, and then a) accurately representing their concerns and b) offering a valid counterargument (if possible)?
3. For instance, take one of the points from my first comment here, and see if you can come up with a valid counterargument:
matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/the_false_promise_of_restricti.php
John McCain is anti-earmark, which got him into trouble wrt Florida Everglades. This raises two questions for me.
1. How does John McCain propose to deal with issues like that? Does he want to leave the spending decision with a government bureaucrat (gasp!) OK with me, but not sure that he's asking for that extra money anywhere.
2. I'm curious what you think about the relative merits of earmarks (usually serve a narrowly defined community) vs any other bill that serves a narrowly defined subset of people (e.g. foreclosure relief, which doesn't help many people here in Seattle). Is the process the problem? Or the spending itself?
So far: Final Crisis or Secret Invasion?
Matt (if that is your real name):
There seems to be a trend toward having states develop their own rail systems (I know North Carolina is big on this, Georgia has its own logn-term plan). I'm all for developing our rail system, but shouldn't it be less fracutured by state boundaries, not more?
Concerning Iraq: the choice presented to us is binary, to either just pull out - send plane tickets to all the troops, bundle up the tanks, humvees, munitions, and send them home via UPS - and get the whole package back to the US; or stay for the next century as McCain would have it.
It seems to me that this can be thought of as a larger problem: how is the world community going to deal with broken nations - obviously Iraq, but there’s also Zimbabwe, the Sudan, the Congo, Myanmar, nations that not only treat their citizens cruelly but are also dangers to their neighbours. And, given that this is a problem for the globe as a whole, then there is only one institution with a global mandate - the UN. A revivified UN, with the US’s amplified support, with an expanded Security Council, with the ability to reach out to such moribund groups as the Arab League, with real power, then planetary scale problems, such as the above, such as global warming, could be addressed.
Does this coincide with what you call "liberal internationalism" in HITS?
Anyway, something i’ve been thinking about and something Obama should dwell upon when he has a moment.
Throw out some more band recommendations. Stars was a helluva tip - hooked!
So if you haven't - check out the new Redwalls album, the new Phantom Planet, and the latest from the Black Keys...
Should bloggers like yourself continue to write about topics more in-line with their expertise or should they become more like your traditional MSM op-ed contributers who seem to think they can write about anything they see fit and still be considered credible?
Concerning Iraq: the choice presented to us is binary, to either just pull out - send plane tickets to all the troops, bundle up the tanks, humvees, munitions, and send them home via UPS - and get the whole package back to the US; or stay for the next century as McCain would have it.
It seems to me that this can be thought of as a larger problem: how is the world community going to deal with broken nations - obviously Iraq, but there’s also Zimbabwe, the Sudan, the Congo, Myanmar, nations that not only treat their citizens cruelly but are also dangers to their neighbours. And, given that this is a problem for the globe as a whole, then there is only one institution with a global mandate - the UN. A revivified UN, with the US’s amplified support, with an expanded Security Council, with the ability to reach out to such moribund groups as the Arab League, with real power, then planetary scale problems, such as the above, such as global warming, could be addressed.
Does this coincide with what you call "liberal internationalism" in HITS?
Anyway, something i’ve been thinking about and something Obama should dwell upon when he has a moment.
the latest black keys is pretty good.
I've realized that there's a certain genus of people- let's call them, say, the goyim- who put mayonnaise on everything. what the hell is wrong with these people? don't they know it's disgusting and that they are making me want to vomit?
... or if thats not your cup of tea a post on Gordon Brown would be nice
Matt,
I've been reading your blog for a long time and am interested in the following issues:
1) Why is David Brooks so damn sexy???
2) Robots and the ignorant hubris of the scientists and engineers developing them.
I'd like to see a thread about why Obama's VP pick must NOT have voted for the Iraq War and why therefore a pussy like Joe Biden can be ruled out summarily.
That would be a good thread and a step in the right direction for you Matthew.
I'll ask you the same thing I asked Ezra: Is Jason Furman a believer in right-wing style "entitlement reform"? (There was a hint of this in a Steve Clemons column.) I'm aghast at the possibility that Obama could jeopardize the Dems' very successful strategy of defending Social Security from spurious GOP claims of "crisis."
I'll ask you the same thing I asked Ezra: Is Jason Furman a believer in right-wing style "entitlement reform"? (There was a hint of this in a Steve Clemons column.) I'm aghast at the possibility that Obama could jeopardize the Dems' very successful strategy of defending Social Security from spurious GOP claims of "crisis."
beckya57
"I'll ask you the same thing I asked Ezra: Is Jason Furman a believer in right-wing style "entitlement reform"? (There was a hint of this in a Steve Clemons column.) I'm aghast at the possibility that Obama could jeopardize the Dems' very successful strategy of defending Social Security from spurious GOP claims of "crisis.""
Neither Paul Krugman or Jared Bernstein (of EPI) are worried about Furman. I wouldn't worry if I were you.
Obama has also asked Elizabeth Edwards to help advise on health care. Obama > Clinton > McCain
Summer reading post:
Good books on relevent public policy issues, but especially those that don't get talked about a billion times in the blogosphere.
I'm going to second this. Recommend and talk briefly about some books not written by yourself.
I'll second the previous complaint about the Atlantic post server--it's awful, very slow and often doesn't work at all. Note it posted my comment above twice.
Thanks for the input, Peter. I hope you're right. Krugman and Bernstein are certainly reliable sources (Krugman especially because he's an Obama critic). I couldn't believe Obama would get caught in this, but Clemons' comment about Furman being interested in the need for entitlement reform (not the exact words, but something like that) scared the hell out of me.
I second Don's request on continuing bits about the personal and structural workings of Congress.
I'm also interested in the debate about the politics of the recent California legalisation of same sex marraige and the strategy going forward. Mostly, I'm interested in more on the lessons from the miscegenation debate that everyone brings up. Also, on NPR here in LA his morning they had a lawyer from the ACLU on talking about their joint request with the Lamba legal defense fund and a bunch of other groups that gay couples not bring lawsuits against the federal government or other states to try to force recognition of CA same sex marraiges elsewhere. Have you heard about this? Is this anything other than a political strategy call by those folks deciding more time for normalization in MA and CA is needed before it's politically a good idea to try to force the issue elsewhere through the courts?
Does Vice President Cheney still have a financial stake in Halliburton?
I thought I had read that he had some stock, but donated it to charity. If that's the case, did he permanently give up all possible claim to that potential money? I'm ignorant about how these things work. Thanks!
(I believe every single blogger under the Atlantic's imprimatur has a degree from an Ivy league university, for example.)
We-ell, Megan went to UPenn, which is sorta second-tier, low-rent Ivy.
1. Be yourself, don't emulate Ezra.
2. Convince not-Jonah Goldberg to engage you in a debate on Iraq and the I/P conflict for a must-see Table episode.
3. Threaten your Atlantic IT guys with bodily harm unless they fix your buggy comment system.
3. Threaten your Atlantic IT guys with bodily harm unless they fix your buggy comment system.
CHHUUUUURCH!
1. Brian Schweitzer for VP?
2. What could an Obama administration realistically do to most help Africa?
3. What will it take to get the MSM to finally start calling out John McCain's non-sainthood?
4. Implications of the Mormon grassroots mobilization if Romney gets picked to be McCain's VP. I say it makes Nevada and Colorado tougher for the Democrats to pick up, and Michigan also, though not so much for the LDS factor.
It seems to me like a feature that's worked well for him, so why not here?
Ezra gets a lot less commenter traffic than you do, so if you really did do this daily you'd be totally swamped (you're close to 100 responses already in this thread). Maybe make it weekly, or occasionally.
as an architect with some experience working on transportation and infrastructure projects (and unabashed urbanist), I really enjoy reading about the way these issues intersect with political issues. I'd really like to see more on this theme. Specifically (I think I've commented about this before) I'd like to get your thoughts on the High Speed Rail project that will be on the ballot in California this year (SF to LA in 2.5 hours, at 230 MPH).
Matt is really a fucking asshole.
I've been posting my two questions on Iran for MONTHS now, and now he wants to take questions?
Fucking asshole.
"It would be nice if you actually researched the topics you post on at the moment."
Got that right.
And get off your fat ass and call somebody at the Atlantic IT staff and get the fucking Web server fixed.
i'd like to see a recommended book list. your top political/historical books, and any other genre for that matter.
This may not be a blog request, so much, but I'd be interested in seeing you and Ross Douthat go a couple of rounds on where the American Dream is heading. Douthat seems, from shorter posts in the past, to accept the equation of the American Dream with home ownership, preferably in a suburb.
You declare yourself a "Jewish progressive" yet you parrot ziocon lies on Israel/Palestine, Hamas, and Hezbollah. No mention of the Finkelstein arrest because you're afraid of being associated with someone who's actually had a positive impact. There's lots happening in the effort to marginalize the Jewish Lobby but other than the occasional paen to "J Street" you're scared and hesitant to talk about them. Now, I'm not suggesting you become Frick to Phil Weiss's Frack, just that you stop trying to have it both ways. Zionism is The Evil of our Time - it's adherents may yet get another War to further its aims and yet - you take no stand on the issue. If we do attack Iran and it goes very badly - do you really expect there'll be no consequences for Jewish supporters of it this time around?
I'd like to read about the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. What policy effects could we expect to see from a switch to electing a President by popular vote?
I second the motion for a recommended book list. Make it a permanent link or whatever on the site that you can click and see anytime. Add to it as you go along.
OK, there's been a tiny, but highly significant, bug up my ass since the Iraq Marketing Campaign days.
After the anthrax attacks on the Senate Office Building, both the office building and the post office were shut down for something like six weeks while the world's most advanced detox teams cleaned it up, creating a huge, highly visible footprint as they did so. After six weeks of this the inspectors came in and the building still wasn't clean. Yet Saddam supposedly had magical invisible detox teams who could comletely clean a site or mobile lab in the time it took for UN Inspectors to drive to the place.
Did anyone ever put two and two together and demosntrate how this clearly disproved the chemical weapons case even as Colin Powell was making it?
Matthew,
I'd like you to talk about the candidates' stands on deficit reduction. Have either of them pledged to balance the federal budget? If so, by what date? What do objective analysts say about their plans. And what are the effects on the economy?
I'd like a sandwich: turkey, pesto, cranberries, provolone, and banana peppers, toasted on sourdough.
But on to the blog...
I hate to admit this, but you know why I started reading this blog? The NBA coverage. Not that I think it's particularly insightful (Lakers the better team? Really?), but after hours of reading progressive politics (this was fall '06, when I was super-political and blog-obsessed) it was a nice breath of fresh air. It's also the first time I EVER hopped on a comment thread.
So along those lines, I like the random, pop-culturally stuff. We're about the same age, and it's a good age to be as far as taste-making goes. This blog brings together a fairly wide cross section of educated society that's still kinda youth-based, and I think that makes a good forum.
Two people upthread mentioned books and music. I think it's a good idea to blog about these. I also like hearing about what's happening around DC, especially on topics that allow people from other urban areas weigh in on their experience
It'd also be nice if you picked a few threads to come on and talk back to the commentors. While the level of discourse has been slipping the last few weeks (I imagine b/c summer started and primaries ended), I think this blog probably has the best comment section outside of Sadly, No!, (even if the personal vendetta level is rather high). It's what's kept me coming back all year. You should jump in the pool occasionally and hang out with us. Non-political threads are probably the best way to do this w/o getting bogged down in flame wars or endangering your credibility.
Finally, someone a while back linked to one of your posts on TAPPED (?) from '04. It was really, really good. Satirical, insightful, and well-crafted. Not that I don't enjoy this blog, but I was kinda stunned by the quality of your writing. So I would encourage you to more long-form, even if only once and a while. Posts that aren't article-length, but more than a couple of paragraphs. Maybe something you put a couple of days effort into.
And yeah, I know, HITS, but maybe if you demonstrated your long-form skills, people would feel more comfortable throwing down cash for your longer tomes. ;)
[FWIW, I totally disagree that you should research your topics before posting. Some of the best threads come about from commentors who have actual experience on your subjects hijacking the threads and educating the rest of us. It's nice when you're not totally wrong, but otherwise I think your role is more of a discussion-starter rather than expert.]
Oh, and proofread your shit, dude, or hire someone who will. I'll do it for cheap!
Matt is really a fucking asshole. I've been posting my two questions on Iran for MONTHS now, and now he wants to take questions? Fucking asshole.
I'd also like to see Hack start smoking weed. Richard Steven, smoke some weed! It'll make you feel better. You live in San Francisco, you have no excuse!
When you hang out with all the bloggers who appear to be many in two or three houses, is it non-stop wonkery, or do you guys talk about fantasy football and taking advantage of women?
Sorry, Scythia, I have never done any drugs whatsoever (aside from megavitamins) - unlike virtually ninety percent of the US population - and ninety percent of the crack smokers here...including Matt.
I know - nobody believed me in Federal prison, either. But it's true.
In fact, I've never drank either - except for a bottle of Danish beer on a Shell oil tanker in Vung Ro Bay in Vietnam, and a glass of red wine at the late naturalist Ivan Sanderson's place - and both tasted exactly the same to me.
And I don't smoke.
I DO overindulge in ice cream, popcorn, all-meat pizza, ham salad sandwiches, and other crap.
Actually I'm generally very relaxed and laid back. In fact, I have very low blood pressure - so low that when a doctor or nurse puts the cuff on me, they ask me if I'm on low blood pressure medicine.
"You should jump in the pool occasionally and hang out with us."
He doesn't have the balls. Learned that from his mentor Josh Marshall, who relies on drive-by snark and banning people behind the scenes.
Gutless punks, the lot.
Matt, This isn't actually a topic request, but as long as you're taking suggestions here's mine:
Can you put a clue in the header of posts that are abour sports rather than politics? I totally line up with you on your political, policy and even pop culture interests but I just don't know anything about basketball. So I find myself reading the basketball posts cluelessly thinking that they actually are about politics and then feeling embarrassed when I realise.
But seriously, superficially it's hard to tell the difference - you site statistics, argue tactics and highlight particularly strong or weak individual performers for both areas. I live overseas, so I don't get frequent news reports on Basketball and therefore don't pick up right away the significance of the names.
Yes, I am an idiot. But have some sympathy for idiots - a lot of us are your fans.
Matt, This isn't actually a topic request, but as long as you're taking suggestions here's mine:
Can you put a clue in the header of posts that are about sports rather than politics? I totally line up with you on your political, policy and even pop culture interests but I just don't know anything about basketball. So I find myself reading the basketball posts cluelessly thinking that they actually are about politics and then feeling embarrassed when I realise.
Superficially it's hard to tell the difference - you site statistics, argue tactics and highlight particularly strong or weak individual performers for both areas. I live overseas, so I don't get frequent news reports on Basketball and therefore don't pick up right away the significance of the names.
Yes, I am an idiot. But have some sympathy for idiots - a lot of us are your fans.
Are the nominations closed? I'm dying to see if David Brooks' "lottery class" figures stand up to fact checking. Do those making less than $13K really spend 9 percent of their income on average on lottery tickets?
RE your announcement that you're taking requests: blog this:
The dollar is crashing, oil prices are spiking, prices are rising globally (food especially)—and pundits are dusting off the I-word: INFLATION. "All Things Considered" just had a segment (Wednesday June 11, 2008) just aired the following segment:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91392927
It looks back(via interesting Q&A w/ Arthur Kahn, Carter's Chief Economic Adviser) to the inflation crisis of 30 years ago, "reporting" by the way that it happened because back in those bad old days, "powerful unions" meant that workers were too well-paid. (Nothing ideological about *that* claim, eh? From an epitome of our "liberal" media?)
Which raises an issue I wanted discussed back in the day, and seems relevant again now: the difference between inflation (over-supply of money) and rising prices (under-supply of goods). The two things are (yes) related, but they are emphatically not the same. Nevertheless, much punditry and "news" confuses them, often in ways that seem (to me) systematic, or if you've a tooth for deliberate oxymoron, outrightly obfuscatory. I'd like to see you blog (educate the public) about this.
Also: looking to submit this just now (I'd composed it offline): you need a "Blog This" button.
RE your announcement that you're taking requests: blog this:
The dollar is crashing, oil prices are spiking, prices are rising globally (food especially)—and pundits are dusting off the I-word: INFLATION. "All Things Considered" just had a segment (Wednesday June 11, 2008) just aired the following segment:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91392927
It looks back(via interesting Q&A w/ Arthur Kahn, Carter's Chief Economic Adviser) to the inflation crisis of 30 years ago, "reporting" by the way that it happened because back in those bad old days, "powerful unions" meant that workers were too well-paid. (Nothing ideological about *that* claim, eh? From an epitome of our "liberal" media?)
Which raises an issue I wanted discussed back in the day, and seems relevant again now: the difference between inflation (over-supply of money) and rising prices (under-supply of goods). The two things are (yes) related, but they are emphatically not the same. Nevertheless, much punditry and "news" confuses them, often in ways that seem (to me) systematic, or if you've a tooth for deliberate oxymoron, outrightly obfuscatory. I'd like to see you blog (educate the public) about this.
Also: looking to submit this just now (I'd composed it offline): you need a "Blog This" button.
You mentioned the other day that you think the US handles the work/leisure tradeoff better than Europe. I'd like to hear why.
You mentioned the other day that you think the US handles the work/leisure tradeoff better than Europe. I'd like to hear why.
What other pop-culture "dog whistle" references should Barack make in public v. McCain. Just remembering the "dust your shoulders off" moment, and thinking that he should pull out "99 problems". Perhaps a broader analysis of the intersection of Jay-Z/hip-hop and politics.
I've subscribed to the blog on and off, soon to be off again. This post nails why I'm about to unsubscribe again.
Write what you know a lot about and are passionate about. You're good when you do that. Your posts on foreign policy are almost always worth a read.
Some of your posts imply that you've come to believe your own hype and that you've got something important and interesting to say on any subject. It ain't so.
Comments closed June 25, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
What is the impact of the problems in the Iraqi oil industry, even compared to 2002, on the price we're paying at the pump? What are the medium-term (3-5 years) prospects for more Iraqi production, and how might that affect oil prices?
Posted by Dave from Raleigh | June 11, 2008 12:00 PM