I intermittently have problems connecting to Pennywit’s blog; I have no idea why.

Today was another of those days. My newsreaders had managed to download the headlines, but I couldn’t reach the associated posts. There was a post titled “Downing Street Minutes matter” that I thought had been written by Pennywit himself, because up until now only one other person who commented or set up their own blog at Pennywit’s Drupal site had made it to the front page and the RSS feed, and I knew the other person would never, ever have a post with that title.

Upon finally being able to connect to the site, I discover that Pennywit has a new contributor with the nom de plume The Impolitic. He introduces himself with the post in question.

No problem.

Then I read the post.

His general thesis is just fine, it is not excessively partisan, although it does come from a certain point of view. However, when he asserts with no supporting statements or links, “But the DSM are not about solving the Iraq quagmire; they’re about preventing future foreign policy blunders based on corporate interests rather the public good,” I must cry foul.

I have read much of what has been posted on the documents in question, and I see nowhere in these documents or in any credible source reporting on them that they show any link with so-called “corporate interests”.

I do have concerns regarding how the energy policies of the current administration do seem to have been excessively influenced by the energy/oil industry, but I have yet to see any even marginal evidence that “corporate interests” had a large influence on the march to war in Iraq.

So, links or other supporting statements to this assertion are required to be consistent with the standards Pennywit has established by his analyses that, while originating from a certain point of view, are not without external support.

Hence my disappointment.

I hope the future contributions from The Impolitic at Pennywit do not repeat this omission.

Technorati Tags: commentary, weblogs

I’m testing something out, so ignore this post.

Or not, but there’s nothing of substance here. Less than what’s between Britney Spears ears…

—

UPDATE: Bloody Hell… it didn’t work. Even LESS to see here now.

Technorati Tags: ignore

…and if it doesn’t need to be done well, does it need to be done at all?

I’m a wee bit busy, so in lieu of a long post that I don’t have time to write well, I’ll refer you to some posts that even if you disagree with their points and politics, at the least they are well-written.

Because they are well-written, with at least some indication that time and effort were both put into the writing, I find their positions at the least worth considering and not dismissing out of hand, as I am inclined to do with a similar level of partisanship that is not well-written.

satire used to make a political point

rampant partisanship that is still entertaining to read

asking a question and not turning it into a diatribe

explaining simply why an idea is bad without name-calling

I’ll spare you the countless counterexamples of good writing that I encounter every day.

Technorati Tags: recommended reading

Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something.
   -Pancho Villa, last words

Technorati Tags: quotes