May 31, 2006
AMNESIA....You really have to wonder about guys like Taranto. Having a poor memory is one thing, but has he never heard of Nexis? Does the Wall Street Journal not have a subscription? Sheesh.
—Kevin Drum 12:12 PM
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Gawd, it's like Taranto reads the Daily Howler as an instruction manual.
Posted by: Tom DC/VA on May 31, 2006 at 12:15 PM | PERMALINK
The facts of the matter are for liberal losers who want to ruin a good meme.
Posted by: jimbo on May 31, 2006 at 12:25 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney,
Neither does the article cited by Taranto predict a Democratic landslide.
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 12:28 PM | PERMALINK
Of course he's heard of Nexis.
His challenge was based on the realization that most of those who share his views will just nod their heads, say "of course that's true", and never bother to check for themselves. Mission (feeding the kind of paranoia that motivates the right-wing base) accomplished.
Posted by: Common Knowledge on May 31, 2006 at 12:29 PM | PERMALINK
The Wall Street Journal is the propaganda tool of the American capitalist dictatorship. It relies upon the authoritarian personalities of its readers to accept its lies as facts.
Posted by: Powerpuff on May 31, 2006 at 12:41 PM | PERMALINK
I'm at a loss--when exactly did it become acceptable journalistic practice for people to make up their own facts? I mean, I understand that traditionally one is allowed to express one's opinon on the op-ed page, but now we're also allowed to just make things up?
Did I miss a memo?
Posted by: theorajones on May 31, 2006 at 12:42 PM | PERMALINK
Common Knowledge gets it.
It always goes like this.
A Bushlicker X says that 2+2=5.
All other Bushlickers start citiing X as proof that 2+2=5.
They continue to cite X to say that it has been proven that 2+2=5 despite numerous attempts by others to point out the stupidity of X.
Posted by: lib on May 31, 2006 at 12:42 PM | PERMALINK
Lazy is as lazy does.
Posted by: Forrest Gump on May 31, 2006 at 12:51 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney,
You are clearly adept at the trolling bait-and switch tactics. You were the one who said none of the articles cited 'predicted' a GOP landslide, not me. Then you turn around and say that wasn't Taranto's challenge. If that was not his challenge, what is the relevance of your statement? Who has claimed that the articles 'predicted' a GOP landslide? Nobody that I can tell.
As for Taranto's challenge, the articles cited by Media Matters most certainly contain much 'speculation' about the possibility of major GOP pickups in the 1994 midterms.
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 12:53 PM | PERMALINK
"Can you find a similar article . . . speculating about the possibility of a Republican landslide in 1994?"
Can you find ANYONE who predicted the degree of the landslide of the 1994 elections? Why should a news article go with a headline that it can get no one with independent credibility to back up?
Posted by: frankly0 on May 31, 2006 at 12:56 PM | PERMALINK
Taranto asked: "Can you find a similar article ... speculating about the possibility of a Republican landslide in 1994, when there actually was one?"
from Media Matters, nexis search:
Barbour said the party considered 175 of the 435 House races to be competitive, an unprecedented number. Asked for predictions, he said a GOP House takeover was unlikely but not out of the question.
"...unlikely but not out of the question" sounds like speculation about the possibility to me.
With each passing week, the still-remote scenario of Republican gains in congressional races this November winning them control of the House, the Senate, or both, is becoming easier to imagine.
"...becoming easier to imagine." Again sounds like speculation about the possibility to me.
Posted by: Edo on May 31, 2006 at 12:58 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney can you read?
"That was not the 'challenge' though - Taranto asked: 'Can you find a similar article . . . speculating about the possibility of a Republican landslide in 1994?' The MSM doesn't do those."
Here is just one example among many:
"Democrats are facing their worst congressional elections since the Reagan landslide of 1980." USA Today, 8/5/94
This goes to show that wingnuts are impervious to facts and reason.
Posted by: Catch22 on May 31, 2006 at 12:59 PM | PERMALINK
Forget this Taranto stuff. I'm still stuck on wondering why Charlie changed his nom-de-stupid to "Cheney."
Charlie/Cheney, can you help us out here?
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 1:00 PM | PERMALINK
The reality is that people are a lot more confident speculating that there may be a "landslide" in 2006 precisely because of the landslide of 1994 -- which nobody who might be objective really did predict.
Why do they feel more confident? Because at this time the numbers appear ONLY BETTER for the Dems in 2006 than they were for the Republicans in 1994.
Posted by: frankly0 on May 31, 2006 at 1:00 PM | PERMALINK
theorajones,I would say around 2001 everthing changed.It's the(Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes)syndrome. What a Bush!!!
Posted by: Then on May 31, 2006 at 1:01 PM | PERMALINK
I see, so the issue is the specific use of the term 'landslide'. Pretty thin argument if you ask me.
Oh, but wait, right here:
"With a little more than three months until Election Day, Democrats are facing their worst congressional elections since the Reagan landslide of 1980."
-[USA Today, 8/5/94]
I think that pretty much qualifies as 'speculating about the possibility of a Republican landslide'.
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 1:03 PM | PERMALINK
The Dems have put a mole in at Diebold,So yes I would say a dem landslide will happen.Not that Diebold is crooked or anything I'm just saying. What a Bush!!!
Posted by: Then on May 31, 2006 at 1:05 PM | PERMALINK
Well for Gosh sakes how long can you bend people over and expect them to keep voting for your side.What a Bush!!!
Posted by: Now on May 31, 2006 at 1:08 PM | PERMALINK
Forget this Taranto stuff. I'm still stuck on wondering why Charlie changed his nom-de-stupid to "Cheney."
Because he got tired of being reminded that he likes to make jokes about dead kids. He's one sick bastard.
Posted by: Vladi G on May 31, 2006 at 1:19 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney,
In 1980 the Republicans gained a net of 12 seats in the Senate (the largest swing since 1958) and 35 seats in the house (source: wikipedia).
So your statement that "Losing ONE seat could have qualified as "Democrats are facing their worst congressional elections since the Reagan landslide of 1980" is simply false.
It would seem the facts are biased against you.
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 1:21 PM | PERMALINK
"Cheney" is Charlie. He is a psycopath whose only interest is in wasting people's time with his idiotic bullshit.
Posted by: Don P on May 31, 2006 at 1:23 PM | PERMALINK
I'm still stuck on wondering why Charlie changed his nom-de-stupid to "Cheney."
Charlie was exposed as a bare back rider from Saddleback Church.
Posted by: on May 31, 2006 at 1:24 PM | PERMALINK
Because he got tired of being reminded that he likes to make jokes about dead kids. He's one sick bastard.
What I find particularly fascinating about Charlie's pathology -- other than his penchant for, and denial of, joking about dead kids, of course -- is that he sometimes tacitly admits his paper-thin ruse and other times -- as here and in other threads he's stunk up today -- denies it, and sometimes seems to role-play as our criminal Vice President, while other times acknowledging it as a mere nom de troll.
If memory serves me right, the "Cheney" monicker surfaced after "Charlie" promised to leave Kevin's forum, but Chuckles' particular style of dishonesty is unmistakable.
Chuckles is uncommonly skilled at hijacking threads with his disgusting and unwelcome presence, but otherwise Vladi's assessment is spot-on.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 1:25 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney,
why is this not a landslide?
Even if they don't make the net gain of 40 seats in the November elections needed to win an outright majority,
Net gain of 40 seats = landslide.
With each passing week, the still-remote scenario of Republican gains in congressional races this November winning them control of the House, the Senate, or both, is becoming easier to imagine.
"...becoming easier to imagine." Again sounds like speculation about the possibility to me.
Given that the possibility means a net gain of 40 seats, we thus see the meeting of Taranto's challenge.
Smarter trolls please.
Posted by: Edo on May 31, 2006 at 1:27 PM | PERMALINK
I am indeed having trouble understanding your nonsensical rants.
The article is clearly comparing the prospetcs for the 1994 mideterms to the 1980 'landslide' congressional victories for the GOP.
Which part of that can't you understand?
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 1:28 PM | PERMALINK
GRH - I think Charlie changed to Cheney in part because he was being forced to stand up for his sick opinions in the real world. There was a post here from someone that went to the same church as the nitwit and she said she was looking to ask him in public about his crap. One person that emailed me back in the day (Bob? or Rob?)wanted to know if I knew anyone at the law firm that employed Chuckles. When I replied no and asked why they wanted to know I was told that they worked for one of that law firm's clients and they wanted complain about Charlie possibly posting while working billable hours. I don't know if they did complain.
There are of course many other reasons for the change but those are two more.
Posted by: CJ in Wisc on May 31, 2006 at 1:29 PM | PERMALINK
For the last time, I have no idea who this "Charlie" person is.
For the last time? Does that mean you're going to slink away again, only to return with a new nom de troll and the same inimitable style? Your act is getting old, Charlie.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 1:38 PM | PERMALINK
David P,
do you get the feeling that Cheney would only acknowledge that Taranto blew it with his challenge if an article published in July of 1994 was titled:
"Possibility of a Republican landslide in the 1994 midterm elections?"
with the lede sentence being:
"Experts predict that the GOP will take back the Senate and House in a landslide at the 1994 midterm election."
and a quote from Newt Gingrich along the lines of:
"I predict that the GOP will win in a landslide in the upcoming 1994 midterm election."
Then and only then will Cheney actually suffer to admit that Taranto's challenge was met. This from a guy who will make all manner of leaps and strained connections to defend the invasion of Iraq as central to the War on Terror. Incredibly he can make those leaps but not this one. What a maroon.
Posted by: Edo on May 31, 2006 at 1:39 PM | PERMALINK
You duped dems stay happy. We have Diebold. All will be well in the end!
Posted by: Freedom Phukher on May 31, 2006 at 1:42 PM | PERMALINK
Edo,
I have no illusions that Cheney would ever admit that Media Matters had met Taranto's challenge. However, it is fun, and easy, do debunk his crazy rantings with the facts. That it exposes the absolute ability of the wingnuts to continue their beliefs, no matter how trivial the issue, in the face of logic is an added bonus.
Posted by: David P on May 31, 2006 at 1:48 PM | PERMALINK
CJ:
I think Charlie changed to Cheney in part because he was being forced to stand up for his sick opinions in the real world.
Interesting. Yes, I always wondered how long it would take for Charlie to realize that displaying his psychosis under his real name was a mistake. But I didn't know know there had been any specific incidents like this.
Of course, the fact he'd choose "Cheney" out of all the possibilities goes to show how nuts he really is. Besides feeling pity for him, I also find him genuinely frightening. You can see in his confused mental gyrations all the thought patterns that make totalitarian socities possible.
Edo:
Then and only then will Cheney actually suffer to admit that Taranto's challenge was met.
No, that's wrong. Charlie/Cheney would never, ever admit that under any circumstances. He's far too ill for that.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 1:52 PM | PERMALINK
The last paragraph in media matters, from a NYT story, is priceless:
Then there are some scholars who think that whatever it did for the country, Republican control would be good for Congress and especially the House, forcing both parties to treat each other with greater respect and showing Republicans that power imposes responsibilities and can be much less fun than booing from the bleachers.
Time to send the booers back to the bleachers where they will be happier, and letting the Congress get on with the business of governing.
Posted by: majun on May 31, 2006 at 2:12 PM | PERMALINK
Cheney must be related to rdw; first he lies, then he misuses words, then he apologizes for being inadvertently unclear when it was clearly his intent to mislead, then he confabulates to create an excuse for his deliberate twisting of the facts and issues.
Posted by: Advocate for God on May 31, 2006 at 2:16 PM | PERMALINK
yeah, quit arguing with Charlie/Cheney ... the guy has nothing better to do than to sit around trolling WM while billing the time to his clients. It's a sucker's game.
Posted by: ChrisS on May 31, 2006 at 2:16 PM | PERMALINK
By the way...
Kevin wrote: You really have to wonder about guys like Taranto.
No, you really don't. Taranto's a hack for whom no feat of intellectual dishonesty is too much in service of the right wing agenda.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 2:24 PM | PERMALINK
I read a fair selection of articles touching upon this question back in 1994: everything in the New York Times and WSJ, certainly. The polls clearly indicated that the Republicans were going to win big, probably take over both houses, and the press, on the whole, had a hell of a hard time believing it would happen. I would guess that this attitude was caused in part because they didn't want it to happen, in part becasue the Democats had held the House so long that their control seemed like a geological fact.
I'd say that the current polls indicate that the Democrats are going to win big, probably take the House - certainly if the election were held today.
Posted by: gcochran on May 31, 2006 at 2:44 PM | PERMALINK
Boy, check out this excerpt from the last 10/94 piece at the link:
Then there are some scholars who think that whatever it did for the country, Republican control would be good for Congress and especially the House, forcing both parties to treat each other with greater respect and showing Republicans that power imposes responsibilities and can be much less fun than booing from the bleachers.
Posted by: DonBoy on May 31, 2006 at 2:44 PM | PERMALINK
Taranto's a hack for whom no feat of intellectual dishonesty is too much in service of the right wing agenda.
Basic rule: if it's under the WSJ imprimatur, and you don't have to pay to read it, then it's shit. Taranto is just a shit-stirrer, a paid troll, a Wurlitzer operative. Ignoring him would be best: after all, he's not even 'professional' enough to make it onto the batshit editorial pages of the print rag.
Oh, and Taranto, like Chuckles, never admits he's wrong. Ever. It's part of the basic wingnut training.
Posted by: ahem on May 31, 2006 at 2:46 PM | PERMALINK
Aw! Poor thing! He comes crawling out of his cute little conserva-bubble only to get bitch-slapped by the real world.
Seems to be going around.
.
Posted by: Grand Moff Texan on May 31, 2006 at 2:46 PM | PERMALINK
Gregory,
You don't have to. But if influence matters you should. Taranto reaches a much larger audience. If you want to know why the SBVs were so credible when Kerry was not credible consider James. He provided very detailed and well researched data on the Xmas in Cambodia story among others shredding Kerry's credibility in the process.
Ditto for Dan Rather on memogate. There are still liberals out there making fools of themselves suggesting those memo's were 'fake but true' and many refusing to admit they were even fake.
James has a terrific sense of humor and uses sarcasm with the best of them. If you want to really understand what's happening politically you need to read blogs on both sides of the spectrum. Taranto is outstanding. He is often used for material for Brit Humes 'Best two minutes" on TV where Brit pokes fun at fools.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 2:50 PM | PERMALINK
after all, he's not even 'professional' enough to make it onto the batshit editorial pages of the print rag.
Oh, and Taranto, like Chuckles, never admits he's wrong. Ever. It's part of the basic wingnut training.
Actually he does write op-eds for the editoroal page frequently and it also a guest on the WSJ TV show. You will also periodically see a Homer Nods headline which is a correction to a previous post.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 2:53 PM | PERMALINK
rdw demonstrates that he is another hack for whom no feat of intellectual dishonesty is too much in service of the right wing agenda by calling the Swift Boat Liars "credible" and...well, and the rest of his argument-by-assertion rant, postmarked as always from wingnut fantasyland. Thanks for the chuckle, rdw.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 2:55 PM | PERMALINK
Oh, and rdw, like Taranto and Chuckles, never admits he's wrong. Ever. It's part of the basic wingnut training.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 2:59 PM | PERMALINK
Taranto is outstanding.
Other rdw judgements:
1. The Big Mac is better than dinner at Per Se.
2. Urine tastes nicer than fine champagne.
3. Ann Coulter is hilarious.
4. No-one ever got fired for buying a Corsair.
Chacun son got, as they say.
Posted by: ahem on May 31, 2006 at 3:02 PM | PERMALINK
None of the articles predicted them winning both houses. The Sunday news shows two days before the election had no prediction of anything like it. The network election desks did not believe it could happen even as the trend grew stronger and stronger..
I do agree that Taranto was asking to be contradicted. His general point was valid.
Posted by: Mike K on May 31, 2006 at 3:26 PM | PERMALINK
Gregory,
Kerry made up the entire Xmas in Cambodia story. We all know the most obvious part. The memory of listening to President Nixon denying Americans were in Cambodia on Xmas eve of 1968 was spectaculary stupid.
Kerry destroyed his own credibility. He told this unforced, unprompted lie several times. The dolts in the MSM missed it too. Then, after getting nabbed he refused to admit he was wrong. The fool let it fester at the worst possible moment.
The fact two of his 3 purple hearts were for what a 4-yr old would call boo-boo's is unseemly but not necessarily fraud. But with Xmas in Cambodia he made himelf look like another Al Gore, uncapable of not exaggerating.
I actually didn't follow the SBVs closely but I thought their ads showing Kerry calling our troops murderers was very, very effective. That plays well to libs but it's devasting among normal people
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 4:07 PM | PERMALINK
ahem,
Ann IS hilarious.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 4:08 PM | PERMALINK
Here's Taranto at his best. This is why he has such a large audience. He takes a typically over-wrought liberal eco-freak and exposes just a sliver of their intellectual vanity. Using humor he makes an ass out of them.
God on a Deadline
A Washington Post magazine article on "global warming" includes this howler:
James Hansen, the prominent NASA scientist, points out that the models don't realistically include ice sheets and the biosphere--all the plants and animals on Earth. The global climate surely has more surprises for us. . . .
Hansen thinks we have less than 10 years to make drastic cuts in greenhouse emissions, lest we reach a "tipping point" at which the climate will be out of our control.
Someone might want to take Hansen aside and explain that the climate has always been out of our control.
PS: As you cam imagine the conservative blogs are having a laughfest over Al Gore. It's so cool this C student lifelong exaggerator and slacker is what qualifies as intellectual among libs. It's so cool the Hollywood airheads are so in love with his movie and Al. He'll never stop Hillary but what fun watching Al.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 4:16 PM | PERMALINK
thanks again, rdw, for demonstrating that feat of intellectual dishonesty is too much in service of the right wing agenda. So much for the myth that Republicans honor soldiers. Your condoning -- indeed, perpetuating -- the lies about Kerry strip reveal that falsehood. Your assertions from right-wing fantasyland are amusing, rdw, but reveal that you're a poor judge of facts and truth.
And your perception of Ann Coulter as "hilarious" reveal that you're a poor judge of everything else as well. Your parroting the Bush Cultist party line at this stage is sadly amusing, but not enough to outweigh the disgust in your slander of Kerry's military service. Shame on you.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 4:19 PM | PERMALINK
rdw: Kerry made up the entire Xmas in Cambodia story.
No, he didn't.
There you go lying again, just like you did about DeWine and Strickland in Ohio.
And you keep getting caught.
But, like Bush, it doesn't stop you from continuing to lie.
It's all you have.
The fact two of his 3 purple hearts were for what a 4-yr old would call boo-boo's is unseemly but not necessarily fraud.
Pretty shameful, even for you, and proves once again you are also lying about being in the military.
I actually didn't follow the SBVs closely but I thought their ads showing Kerry calling our troops murderers was very, very effective.
Lies are often effective, just ask Hitler and Stalin, but they remain lies.
Those who rely on them and crow about their effectiveness, like rdw (aka, really dim-witted) show their moral cravenness.
Posted by: Advocate for God on May 31, 2006 at 4:21 PM | PERMALINK
Well, rdw, I have to hand it to you. That Taranto excerpt you provided was illustrative indeed.
Just not the way you think it is.
It seems you don't need humor -- except, of course, the unintentional kind -- to make an ass of yourself.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 4:23 PM | PERMALINK
Mike K:
None of the articles predicted them winning both houses.
Ah, the age-old question: are American conservatives liars, or merely idiots? Of course, these two states are not mutually exclusive.
I'd estimate rdw is 70% liar, 30% idiot. Al is probably 98% liar, 2% idiot. Cheney/Charlie is more like 10% liar, 90% idiot.
So I'm wondering what proportion of liar/idiot Mike K is. Obviously his statement here is utterly meaningless, since the AP story that Taranto used to start this doesn't "predict them winning both houses" either. Far from it.
Perhaps Mike K would be kind enough to tell us directly about his own liar/idiot balance.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 4:28 PM | PERMALINK
Here's Taranto at his best. This is why he has such a large audience.
Haha! He's like a wingnut Gallagher, complete with giant hammer of dumbness.
And as you can imagine, we can only assume that 'rdw' is either very, very dumb, or just a very, very bad liar.
Posted by: ahem on May 31, 2006 at 4:36 PM | PERMALINK
It seems you don't need humor -- except, of course, the unintentional kind -- to make an ass of yourself.
Humor is needed in politics. You can't take this stuff too seriously. Hansen is a rather easy target. Like so many self-important libs busy with the important business of saving civilization it's critical he be ridiculed.
It's fine he's considered a hero among libs. You don't matter. You win few elections. Even when Democrats do win you still don't matter. If you did Clinton/Gore would have passed Kyoto. The USA will never pass that trash. Even Al Gore wasn't dumb enough to submit it to congress.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 4:49 PM | PERMALINK
rdw: Even Al Gore wasn't dumb enough to submit it to congress.
Most likely because he wasn't president and therefore had no authority to submit it to Congress.
Your ignorance of the workings of our government is almost as vast as the number of lies you are willing to tell in abject service to the immoral god of twits, George W Bush!
[Democrats] win few elections.
That must come as a shock to the thousands of Democrats who have won tens of thousands of elections during the last 50-75 years!
Humor is needed in politics.
You should go into politics, then, rdw, since you provide more humor in your mendacity and triviality than a score of comedians!
Like so many self-important libs busy with the important business of saving civilization it's critical he be ridiculed.
Trust me, rdw, nobody, but nobody, is more self-important than you. Not even George W Bush.
Nobody is even remotely more self-absorbed and self-congratulating.
But you're still a proven liar, which makes it all very much a waste.
BTW, I saw a great bumper sticker:
"W" - The footprint of the American chickenhawk.
Funny, you have the same footprint!
Posted by: Advocate for God on May 31, 2006 at 5:21 PM | PERMALINK
'rdw' is either very, very dumb, or just a very, very bad liar.
I guessed above that rdw's ratio is about 70% liar/30% idiot. But based on his most recent comment, I think I'd have to up the liar quotient to 85% or so. He's showing all the usual signs of fatigue that appear in those who know they're lying but have to soldier on anyway.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 5:24 PM | PERMALINK
Humor is needed in politics.
I thank you for providing so much, rdw, albeit unintentionally.
You can't take this stuff too seriously.
Rest assured, I take none of your stuff too seriously.
Hansen is a rather easy target. Like so many self-important libs busy with the important business of saving civilization it's critical he be ridiculed.
Yes, it's critical that he be ridiculed, because the science he represents -- or, more accurately, the inevitable conclusions of same -- represents a threat to the corporate interest the WSJ perceives itself as representing.
It's fine he's considered a hero among libs.
Is he? I must have missed the memo.
You don't matter. You win few elections. Even when Democrats do win you still don't matter.
Nice syllogism you got there. Hate to see anything happen to it.
Posted by: Gregory on May 31, 2006 at 5:24 PM | PERMALINK
Run for Your Lives! It's a Landslide!--II
In an item yesterday we asked if readers could come up with news articles from 1994 that anticipated the Republican landslide that year. A reader named Pete said he tried and failed to do so at the time:
This comment brought to mind a senior high school project we helped our son with that year (not going to mention his name because he's in the "think-tank world"). We had collected all the New York Times print versions from Labor Day through November to look for bias in their reporting leading up to the election and after the election.
When it turned out to be a GOP landslide, we went back through, searching for articles referring to the Contract With America or other things that might have signaled dissatisfaction or what might be the preconditions leading to a landslide. We catalogued placement (first page above the fold or below the fold; national page; editorial page).
I don't have our son's paper to remember all the analysis and conclusions but here's a summary recollection:
Except for the day the Contract was announced (and even that got very little reporting, as I recall), there was no follow-up article, no article of consequence sensing any political unease or vulnerability for the Democrats, nothing indicating that the Republicans were "on to something".
I hate to give OpinionJournal's staff any work, but you might want to go back and explore the Times archives to repeat this experiment: if there was a budding landslide, the New York Times was completely ignorant of it. And after the fact, they seemed completely uninterested in what, if anything, had caused it.
The professionally indignant liberals at Media Matters, however, did uncover one Times piece anticipating a GOP takeover. Written by Adam "Major League" Clymer, the piece ran Oct. 26, 1994, 13 days before the election. MM found seven other articles speculating about the possibility of big Republican gains, including a takeover of one or both houses of Congress: one each from the Associated Press and USA Today, two from the Washington Post and three from the Christian Science Monitor.
The earliest, from the Post, ran June 26, almost a month later in the cycle than the AP "landslide" article we cited yesterday, and it was considerably more modest in its prediction: "Some [Democratic] party officials believe the Democrats are in danger of losing control of the Senate and that their losses in the House could leave the Republicans holding the largest number of seats since the mid-1950s."
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 5:30 PM | PERMALINK
represents a threat to the corporate interest the WSJ perceives itself as representing.
The WSJ doesn't represent anything other than the WSJ. They are a newspapers that reports on vatious aspects of the global news focusing on business and markets. They focus on stocks but also the general business climate including government, politics, economics, finance etc. The Editorial page, which is totaly separate from the news side, is clearly conservative with a very strong supply-side bent.
The WSJ has been killing the so-called science behind Kyoto and Global Warming from the beginning because it is garbage. They correctly ridiculed Kyoto and any scientist who professes to now how much of an effect CO2 has, what will happen down the road and what we can do about it.
They are guessing. The science isn't sufficiently advanced to profess any level of certainty above a wild guess
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 5:41 PM | PERMALINK
Taranto is not the only funny blogger toying with the eco-freaks.
KERRY WON NEW YORK
Red state/blue state differences noted:
Children exposed to intense urban air pollution while in the womb are 2.9 times more likely to be developmentally disabled at age 3, a New York study says.
The Columbia University research found 42 of 183 children exposed to the highest level of exhaust fumes from vehicles and power plants scored an average 5.7 points lower on cognitive tests administered at age 3.
Hmm. Its possible inner-city types may be inclined towards idiotic environmentalism due to their brains being polluted.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 5:44 PM | PERMALINK
rdw, quoting the WDJ:
The earliest, from the Post, ran June 26, almost a month later in the cycle than the AP "landslide" article we cited yesterday, and it was considerably more modest in its prediction
Wow! The liar/idiot question regarding rdw is more complex than I thought!
Taranto surely knows he's lying here about what the AP article says, but rdw shows the standard moron repetition of the bullshit concocted by his masters. So rdw may be less of a liar, and considerably more of a moron, than I heretofore believed.
That's why it's fascinating to watch rdw & co. flail around. They always have a few surprises up their sleeves.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 5:46 PM | PERMALINK
rdw: Its possible inner-city types may be inclined towards idiotic environmentalism due to their brains being polluted.
This from an inveterate liar.
How is Strickland doing in Ohio again, rdw?
Please enlighten us with your delightful mendacities!
Posted by: Advocate for God on May 31, 2006 at 6:10 PM | PERMALINK
rdw: Its possible inner-city types may be inclined towards idiotic environmentalism due to their brains being polluted.
I didn't write this. It's from timblair.com. He's the aussie James Taranto. Except as you might expect from down under he's more sarcastic. The aussies are most like America. They've had above trend growth for almost two decades and under John Howards leadership they've zoomed past France and Germany in per capita income. Their contempt for all things French exceeds even our own. They laughed at Kyoto as well and now have a neat little pissing contest over it with New Zealand. Seems the Kiwi's were rather nasty toward their neighbors. Now that NZ is facing a nasty bill for not coming close to their limits they're looking worse than stupid.
They are also experiencing a net immigration of citizens relocating from Europe, especially Denmark and the Netherlands. It seems they don't want their kids going to Islamic schools. There's been a steady white flight from the cities to the burbs but as you know these places are only so big.
I can highly recommend timblair.com. You'll hate it.
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 7:20 PM | PERMALINK
Now that Taranto admitted he was mistaken shouldn't those above who said he was dishonest apologize?
You honestly believe Kerry was in Cambodia on Christmas Day in 1968 as he claimed back in 1986? Even the Kerry people backed off of that claim.
Try to keep up.
Posted by: Birkel on May 31, 2006 at 7:58 PM | PERMALINK
As it demonstrated time and time again, there is no requirement for punditry that you actually know what the hell you're talking about.
Posted by: Alexander Wolfe on May 31, 2006 at 8:08 PM | PERMALINK
"Now that Taranto admitted he was mistaken shouldn't those above who said he was dishonest apologize?"
No, because he's still an idiot, even after an apology.
Posted by: Alexander Wolfe on May 31, 2006 at 8:14 PM | PERMALINK
rdw is making a strong case here that he's one of the rare breed of wingnuts who's 0% liar, 100% idiot.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 8:16 PM | PERMALINK
rdw, quoting the WDJ:
The earliest, from the Post, ran June 26, almost a month later in the cycle than the AP "landslide" article we cited yesterday, and it was considerably more modest in its prediction
Wow!
The liar/idiot question regarding rdw is more complex than I thought!
Except I didn't write a word of it. That's Taranto's post today as a follow-up to his post from yesterday. Each word is his. I added nothing.
And what is it Tarantro is supposed to be lying about? You don't give any evidence.
What is it I am lying about? This is rather silly topic to waste time lying about. Aren't you a bit paranoid?
Posted by: rdw on May 31, 2006 at 8:36 PM | PERMALINK
rdw:
Except I didn't write a word of it. That's Taranto's post today as a follow-up to his post from yesterday. Each word is his. I added nothing.
This is very, very exciting! It appears my speculation is correct: rdw is indeed 0% liar, 100% idiot. You so rarely encounter these in the wild.
The evidence is close to conclusive: those who are less than 100% idiot generally have some vestigal sense of shame. But not rdw! He will humiliate himself with the kind of gusto and enthusiasm the non-100% idiots just don't possess.
Posted by: grh on May 31, 2006 at 9:13 PM | PERMALINK