Finally an open thread

Rather a busy day in blogistan. Read More......

National Review finds even more pieces Washington Post ex-blogger appears to have plagiarized while working for Natl Review

The National Review Online, for whom the Post blogger wrote previously, has now found numerous questionable cases of possible plagiarism while writing for the National Review, which pretty much blows the "college indiscretion" argument out the window (Ben, the blogger, is now claiming these were mistakes when he was a 17 year old freshman, even though he's not even really admitting that he even plagiarized back then). Of course, the National Review plagiarism was after college, and he's only 24, so it wasn't that long ago.

Unfortunately, he's really proving what a hack he really is. At this point, admit you did wrong, and dedicate your life to making it right. Don't grandstand about how you've been screwed by the communist lefties. You obviously have some issues with right and wrong and as a self-proclaimed social conservative and a Christian, who has no problem lecturing others in your writings, you need to get your own house in order, as do your fellow conservatives who are still defending you.

You may be a nice guy but you can't be trusted. It's a common problem amongst your people, fellow conservative bloggers and Republicans at large. You guys profess to be good Christians, you lecture other people about their values, but when push comes to shove, your values suck, and it's not clear what if anything you actually believe in other than platitudes about cutting taxes, stopping abortion and bashing gays. And even those have gotten a bit old. What do you guys believe in, if not honestly and integrity and having a good soul?

I have to say, though, that I'm impressed that the National Review online cares enough about their credibility, and is smart enough about it, to not just investigate, but to actually tell us publically what's going on. They didn't need to inform us that they've found other cases of the blogger's plagiarism, they could have just wiped them off of their site. By going public they're doing something a lot of companies, and a lot of media companies, don't do. It's called transparency, and being honest, and letting the chits fall where they will even though it's a fellow conservative taking the hit.

Anyway, I think they deserve a bit of credit for handling this the appropriate way. Read More......

Friday Orchid Blogging

Encyclia cochleata, now called Prosthechea cochleata

I've had this one for a few years, this is mine in flower now. It's pretty easy to grow, likes to dry out completely between waterings, lots of sunlight. The thing can flower for 9 months at a time, every time it drops a flower a new one starts. Eventually I just cut the flowers off to let the plant rest and put the energy into growing bigger and flowering better next time.

Like I said, this is considered a very easy orchid, and as you can see, it's quite pretty and different. Some of them, I believe, can be fragrant, mine is not.

Anyway, it's a keeper, and like I said, it's pretty easy to grow so long as you water it well, then let it dry out before watering it well again. And, it will not flower unless it gets regular sunlight.

Enjoy.

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National Review not happy with Washington Post ex-blogger

Since the Washington Post's ex-blogger is now claiming he didn't plagiarize a thing, and is blaming "leftists" (yes, he used the word leftists - apparently he's 12 and he think this is 1983) for his fall, I think it important to note that even the National Review thinks he's a plagiarist.

You can't be a social conservative leader and a moral nitwit. Of course, in reality, sadly, you can be both, and so many conservatives are. Clean up your own house first, then lecture me about my liberal morality.

A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS [The Editors]
As the previous links on the matter mention, at least one of the pieces Ben Domenech is accused of having plagiarized was a movie review for National Review Online. A side-by-side comparison to another review of the same film speaks for itself. There is no excuse for plagiarism and we apologize to our readers and to Steve Murray of the Cox News Service from whose piece the language was lifted. With some evidence of possible problems with other pieces, we're also looking into other articles he wrote for NRO.

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Bush says he doesn't have to obey the newly-signed Patriot Act

You've gotta be kidding me.

Bush added an addendum (which he legally can't do) when signing the Patriot Act this time around, saying that he doesn't have to obey its language requiring him to keep Congress informed.

That is illegal. It's unconstitutional. You can't do that. A president can't just say he's going to ignore the law.

Every senator who voted for the Patriot Act is a chump.

When President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he inform Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers.

The bill contained several oversight provisions intended to make sure the FBI did not abuse the special terrorism-related powers to search homes and secretly seize papers. The provisions require Justice Department officials to keep closer track of how often the FBI uses the new powers and in what type of situations. Under the law, the administration would have to provide the information to Congress by certain dates.

Bush signed the bill with fanfare at a White House ceremony March 9, calling it ''a piece of legislation that's vital to win the war on terror and to protect the American people." But after the reporters and guests had left, the White House quietly issued a ''signing statement," an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law.

In the statement, Bush said that he did not consider himself bound to tell Congress how the Patriot Act powers were being used and that, despite the law's requirements, he could withhold the information if he decided that disclosure would ''impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative process of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties."

The man is dangerously incompetent so of course he thinks he can do this. He thinks he can do everything. And the Republicans who control the US House and US Senate simply don't care, they refuse to conduct any oversight at all. It's sickening.

Oh, and by the way, this is what Bush did with McCain's anti-torture bill. Bush signed it and said he didn't have to obey it. McCain's response? Absolutely nothing. Profile in courage that man. Read More......

Cliff's Corner

The Week That Was 3/24/06

NOTE: While writing this post I found out that little Ben Domenech resigned. Somehow I believe the piece is still relevant though...

Another week. More preposterousness to report.

Well some weeks the moral bankruptcy and weakness of the conservative establishment media in Washington D.C. is such that this column really just writes itself. And these days if The Washington Post is involved, it’s like leaving a top Bush aide alone in Target with unpurchased major appliances or Governor Arnie within fondling distance of J-Lo’s ass. You just know funny things are going to happen.

So maybe in a healthy media atmosphere it would be shocking that this past week The Washington Post (oh sorry, I forgot the dot com which changes everything) hired a chickenhawk, home-schooled, race-baiting, plagiarizing bed-wetter named Ben Domenech to be its new blogger. I mean I know he’s a journalist in the sense that Ron Silver’s an actor or Joe Lieberman’s a Democrat, but new boss James Brady understood that conservatives just needed a voice they currently lacked at The Post.

What with the pro-Bush editorial page's Fred Hiatt, liberal-hating ombudsman and columnists George Will, Bob Novak, Robert Kagan and Charles Krauthammer along with “liberal hawk” Iraq War supporters Richard Cohen, David Ignatius and Peter Beinhart, how ever did conservatives get by before they added the next Jonah Goldberg to the fold (no talent and right-wing hack parents with contacts, where have I seen that before)? I wonder if there is any space left for a column by Vladimir Zhirinovsky or a blog for Eric Rudolph?

But let’s get back to the gist of this story. Two points need to be made. First, the once great Washington Post, an institution in this town and really the entire country, has found a way to suck so quickly Paris Hilton’s jealous. Bob Woodward once broke Watergate, now he breaks wind on a good day. On a bad one he lies about his involvement in an investigation into the traitorous outing of a CIA covert operative by Bush Administration officials. And if it were just The Post, it would be bad enough. But CNN and Bob Bennett, The New York Times and Judy Miller, MSNBC and… well everyone but Keith Olbermann (who I must admit is just about the best journalist on television). Does Fox News even need mention here?

Again, the pro-corporate conservative establishment media is real and it is dangerous. Because it is nowhere close to representing the opinions of most Americans on a variety of issues, and can drum up invasions based on lies when so inclined. It can even try and make you forget that with enormous budget shortfalls and numerous social ills Iraq has probably become the most expensive operation since Greta Van Susterin’s face.

But Ben Domenech is the really fun part of this story. Ben is a hack through and through. A Bush speechwriter, Regnery Editor — you know the publishing company that puts out a year’s worth of Michelle Malkin’s bipolarity under such clever little titles — and blogger at RedState, which shares IQ points with Jessica Simpson and views on race with Randy Weaver. Well now Ben has been fired because he is a serial plagiarist, not because he called Coretta Scott King a “communist” on the day of her funeral or claimed the “judiciary is worse than the KKK” (Not to mention his longing to live up to his hero: Jefferson Davis). But it’s ok Ben, don’t fret. Dick Cheney will probably still order that all computers have RedState as their homepage in any hotel room he chooses to stow his heart in for the night.

You’ll recover. Just remember that as I have written many times, “the only thing you have to fear is fear itself.” Read More......

Did the Post fire the Republican blogger

Sounds like something happened, by his own words:

Domenech said he was disappointed washingtonpost.com pulled the plug so quickly after the blog was launched.

“I guess the thing that bothers me the most about this is that the Post didn’t give this a chance to either blow over or work itself out,” he said. “And I feel that if they had done that, the blog would have been a great addition to their site.”

Pulled the plug so quickly? He's been saying all day that HE quit. The only thing we know is that the Washington Post was investigating the charges of plagiarism. If they're all so innocent, as he asserts in the interview and on the RedState blog today, then how did the Post "pull the plug" if all they were doing were investigating the charges?

Sounds like something happened behind the scenes that he's not telling us about.

Then again, consider the source. Read More......

Those GOPers love Bush and his money

For all their feigned efforts to create distance from Bush, when it comes right down to it, the GOP candidates are still his lap dogs. The GOP members of Congress made the Bush failed agenda possible. And, they will never leave him cause he's a cash cow:

Many worried Republicans on the ballot in November have been pushing away from the White House, not wanting to be dragged under by President Bush's sinking approval ratings and growing anxiety over Iraq. That doesn't mean they're also fleeing his cash offerings, however.

Despite approval ratings in the mid-to-upper 30s, Bush remains the nation's most successful fundraiser. Vice President Dick Cheney, whose poll numbers are even lower than Bush's, is not far behind. Both have raised tens of millions of dollars for GOP congressional and gubernatorial candidates running in this year's midterm elections.

The traditional media, notably the Washington Post, has run several articles about how Hill Republicans are backing away from Bush. That's B.S. GOP spin. They are joined at the hip....there is no separation. Read More......

Conservatives turn on Washington Post ex-blogger

From E&P; (note, the first quote is from Michelle Malkin, who is in favor of the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, so when she finds you unethical, you know you're in trouble):

"The bottom line is: I know it when I see it. And, painfully, Domenech's detractors, are right. He should own up to it and step down. Then, the Left should cease its sick gloating and leave him and his family alone."

At the National Review's popular site, NRO Online, one of the regulars, Stephen Spruiell, commented, "This is bad. Perhaps it is not fatal, but we need explanations not just from Domenech, but also from the Washington Post on how it plans to handle this." One of the allegedly plagiarized articles appeared on NRO.

Conservative writer Rick Moran wrote today at The American Thinker site that "what simply cannot be tolerated in any venue where the written word is revered and opinions respected is plagiarism. And according to material dug up by several lefty bloggers, the shocking fact seems to be that Domenech is a word stealer of epic proportions, someone who has lifted entire articles from other sources and claimed the words and ideas as his own....

"With so many eloquent and able conservative writers, I’m sure the Post will have no problem finding someone else to take over a blog that should be espousing honesty and decency as the principles by which we on the right live by.

"Anything short of that just won’t do."

As an aside I have to say that Ben was hardly an anomaly. He's the founder of one of the top conservative blogs, was an editor at the top conservative publishing house (Regnery), was a White House employee, and a top speechwriter family-values US Senator Cornyn. He isn't the worst of the Republican crop, he IS the Republican crop. He is typical of Republican bloggers, and is typical of Republicans. That's why they defended him so heartily last night on the blogs - they know Ben and they love Ben for who he is: a typical family values conservative who tells others how to live their lives while refusing to live under the same rules.

Washington Post, good luck finding another Republican blogger who isn't a racist, who isn't a plagiarist, and who doesn't just make shit up.

And, if you insist on hiring another Republican activist while at the same time not hiring a corresponding Democratic activist to run a Democratic blog, we will continue to demand that you do your job, and will continue to hold you responsible until you do. Read More......

Washington Post Republican blogger resigns under cloud of plagiarism

Heck of a job, Washington Post.

Ben Domenech Resigns

In the past 24 hours, we learned of allegations that Ben Domenech plagiarized material that appeared under his byline in various publications prior to washingtonpost.com contracting with him to write a blog that launched Tuesday.

An investigation into these allegations was ongoing, and in the interim, Domenech has resigned, effective immediately.

When we hired Domenech, we were not aware of any allegations that he had plagiarized any of his past writings. In any cases where allegations such as these are made, we will continue to investigate those charges thoroughly in order to maintain our journalistic integrity.

Plagiarism is perhaps the most serious offense that a writer can commit or be accused of. Washingtonpost.com will do everything in its power to verify that its news and opinion content is sourced completely and accurately at all times.

We appreciate the speed and thoroughness with which our readers and media outlets surfaced these allegations. Despite the turn this has taken, we believe this event, among other things, testifies to the positive and powerful role that the Internet can play in the the practice of journalism.

We also remain committed to representing a broad spectrum of ideas and ideologies in our Opinions area.

Jim Brady
Executive Editor, washingtonpost.com

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Open thread

Has the Washington Post hired Jayson Blair as a blogger yet? Read More......

Who's the liar at the Washington Post, Hal Straus or Jim Brady?

A few days ago (or a long time ago, in Ben Domenech's world), WashingtonPost.com's Opinions editor, Hal Straus, had this to say about hiring WashingtonPost.com employees based on their political views:

Question 2: Does WashingtonPost.com have any liberal bloggers who can act as a counterpart to Mr. Domenech?

Straus: "Washingtonpost.com hires writers for their ability to add something substantive to the national conversation. As best as possible, we look for that ability regardless of political labels."

Then today Jim Brady, executive editor of Washingtonpost.com, said Domenech was hired because:

"we were completely unrepresented by a social conservative voice."

Oh, so the Republican blogger was hired because of his political label, and in fact, his socio-political label if you want to get all quota-y about it.

So, did the Post hire Domenech because he's a social conservative or doesn't the Post look at "political labels" when hiring?

Who's the liar, Strauss or Brady? Read More......

So Washington Post blogger does or doesn't think Coretta Scott King is a commie?

From today's Washington Post:

"I regret using the term because I think it's been way overblown," Domenech said. But he said King worked with organizations affiliated with communists in the 1950s and 1960s.

That's neither a retraction nor an apology. He's simply saying he regrets that his comments have been incorrectly used by liberals to stoke outrage that isn't merited, and then he reiterates the charge.

Like I said. The Washington Post felt the need to have an authentic anti-African-American voice on staff.

And one more thing, the Post blogger is also a liar. He had this to say in his defense about why he called Coretta Scott King a communist on the day of her funeral.

Some people have taken issue with an old two-line comment of mine on RedState.com where I referred to Coretta Scott King as a Communist on the day after her funeral.

And old comment? He called Coretta a communist on February 7, 2006 - that would be six weeks ago. Read More......

Senate race poll numbers bad for GOP

More political snippets from my Dem friends:

The latest survey released by SurveyUSA shows that Americans continue to lose confidence in their Republicans Senators. With Conrad Burns and Rick Santorum leading the pack, five of the Republicans facing strong Democratic challengers this November find themselves with approval ratings in the bottom fifth of the U.S. Senate. The following are the highlights of the latest survey:

Five Senate Republicans Facing Most Competitive 2006 Campaigns Are in Bottom Fifth of Net Approval Ratings.
Five of the GOP Senators facing the toughest re-election battles in November are in the bottom fifth of net job approval ratings. Sen. Conrad Burns has the lowest of all 100 Senators, with a -14% net approval rating. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

Burns And Santorum Have the Two Highest Disapproval Ratings in the Senate.
A 52% disapproval rating for Conrad Burns and a 48% disapproval rating for Rick Santorum made them the most disliked Senators in the nation. Burns (#100) and Santorum (#98) also come in at the bottom of the pack of net approval ratings - Rick Santorum with a -5% net approval and Conrad Burns with a -14%. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

Four Embattled Senate Republicans Have Approval Ratings Below 47%.
Four of the Republican Senators facing the toughest battles in November – DeWine, Kyl, Santorum and Burns – all have approval ratings below 47%. At 38%, Sen. Burns has the lowest approval rating of all 100 Senators. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

Santorum’s Disapproval Is Still On the Rise.
Sen. Rick Santorum’s disapproval rating is now 48%, a five-point increase since December and a two-point increase since just last month. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

Chafee’s Disapproval Is Highest It Has Been In More Than 10 Months.
At 42%, Sen. Lincoln Chafee’s disapproval rating is the highest it has been in at least ten Survey USA polls, the furthest back Survey USA tracks his approval ratings. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

Burns Approval Ratings Continue to Fall; His Net Disapproval Is Now The Lowest of Any Senator.
Sen. Conrad Burns’ approval ratings fell another four points this month to just 38%, leading to a disturbing mirror image for Sen. Burns. In May 2005, he had a +14% approval rating, while now he is suffering from a -14% rating, a massive 28-point swing. This also comes in a “red state” where the Democratic Governor’s approval ratings are on the rise. [Survey USA, 3/23/06; Survey USA, 3/21/06]

Menendez Has Been Incredibly Effective In His First Month, Seeing a 10-Point Jump in Approval Ratings.
In his first full month as a U.S. Senator, where he was a leader in fighting the Dubai port deal, Sen. Bob Menendez’s approval jumped 10 points, while his disapproval fell 6 points. Overall, New Jerseyans now give Menendez a strong 16-point net approval. [Survey USA, 3/23/06]

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Uh oh, time for another Republican blogger at the Post

Apparently, the Post has an online writer, William Arkin, who thinks journalists are REAL Americans (that communist).

General: 'Mr. Arkin, do you consider yourself a journalist or an American.'

I took a drink of water as my blood boiled.

Me: 'Well General, because I am an American, I cherish the fact that I can call you a f***ing idiot for asking the question.'

I do hope the Post hires someone whose job it is to inform the world that journalists are NOT real Americans. They're traitors. And oh yeah, they're the reason we're losing in Iraq, I mean the reason people mistakenly believe we're losing in Iraq.

Which got me thinking of what other new Republican blogs the Washington Post will be offering soon:

• We're winning in Iraq blog
• I hate Muslims blog
• The ex-gay blog
• George Bush, competent leader blog
• Hillary the lesbian, blog
• Bob Woodward's ethics blog
• Fred Hiatt's "The Art of War" blog
• The ongoing success that is Katrina, blog
• The successful search for WMD in Iraq blog
• How Saddam planned 9/11 blog
• George Bush, a popular president, blog
• Tom Delay's "the bitch set me up" blog
• Terri Schiavo, messages from the great beyond, blog
  

Please submit your suggestions in the comments. Read More......

What would the Bush boys do without their mommy?

Clever move by Babs. She gets a big fat tax deduction while guaranteeing business for her son. It's a win for everyone in the Bush household:

Former first lady Barbara Bush donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund with specific instructions that the money be spent with an educational software company owned by her son Neil.

Since then, the Ignite Learning program has been given to eight area schools that took in substantial numbers of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

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The prima donna Veep

Dick Cheney has his needs when he travels...and, of course, his needs include Fox News all the time. He loves his Fox. The Smoking Gun has the actual document prepared by the Veep's office to insure his comfort. These are the things your White House worries about. No need for an Iraq strategy, but dammit, make sure the coffee is decaf and Mrs. Cheney has her Perrier.

This is how the NY Times described the "Vice Presidential Downtime Requirements":

The document listed 13 requirements. Among them were these: All televisions sets in Mr. Cheney's hotel suite should be tuned to Fox News, all lights should be on, and the thermostat set at 68 degrees. Mr. Cheney should have a queen- or king-size bed, a desk with a chair, a private bathroom, a container for ice, a microwave oven and a coffee pot, with decaf brewed before arrival.

The vice president should also have four cans of caffeine-free Diet Sprite and four to six bottles of water. He must have the hotel restaurant menu, with a copy faxed ahead to his advance office. If his wife is with him, she should have two bottles of sparkling water, either Calistoga or Perrier.

For his reading material, Mr. Cheney should have The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and the local newspaper.

There's no mention of the punishment for what happens if the caffeine-free Diet Sprites aren't available. But, you think anyone is going to screw with Cheney? He shot a guy in the face for no reason. What do you think will happen if the room temp. isn't 68 degrees? Read More......

Open thread

Oh my what a day. Read More......