In a post from the blog The Carpetbagger, Steve Benen talks about a ‘third term’ for Karl Rove. He documents cases where the media has embraced a style of Rovian politics.

A Rovian style of politics is geared towards eliminating the substance, which is just the way major news outlets like it. The feeding frenzy is easier than actual journalism anyway.

Recently, When Wesley Clark went after McCain’s military service as a qualification to be President, the media went after Clark, instead of going after McCain. What was the real story? I say it was weather or not John McCain’s military experience really makes him more qualified to be president.

I call this style of politics not ‘Rovian” but “Orwellian”. Rove was quoted in the book “Bush’s Brain”:

“When we act, we create our own reality. While your studying that one, we’ll act again, creating other new realities.”

Rovian can be called Orwellian because it employs George Orwell’s principle of Newspeak.

The basic idea behind Newspeak is to remove all shades of meaning from language, leaving simple dichotomies which reinforce the total dominance of the State.

The substance of Wesley Clark’s comments are now gone, McCain evades serious questions as to his credibility. Problem solved again.

Technorati Tags: Clarke, Election 2008, George Orwell, Karl Rove, McCain, Obama

Tags: Election 2008, Uncategorized by Ken
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Update: Three hostages have arrived home in the United States.

15 hostages detained by FARC for six years in Columbia were freed today. The operation to free them was seemingly brilliant. It’s re-assuring to know that some good things still happen in this world. With so many news stories bringing us all unpleasent news, this is most certainly a relief. Who would have thought that from a country with such a bad reputation, something to good could happen.

What is really interesting, is that the article talks about how Betancourt said a prayer that morning, then she was notified that she was so be set free shortly thereafter. Kind of makes you wonder.

Technorati Tags: Betancourt, Columbia, Hostages, World News

Tags: Columbia, World News by Ken
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Though I am not officially a member of the Episcopal Church, I have while living down here in Baltimore been attending it. This past Saturday was a joyous occasion for the Maryland Diocese with the official consecration and ordination of the new Bishop, Rev. Canon Eugene Sutton. It was joyous as we ordained the first African American bishop for the Maryland Diocese, also it was a time to celebrate the now bright future for the church in this state. As many of you know the Episcopal Church is a very traditional denomination, worship wise. While they do incorporate new ideas for worship, the style is very true to its liturgical roots. The denomination however has become very well known in the recent times for being progressive in its beliefs, mainly pertaining to the stance the church has taken towards the involvement of homosexuals in the faith. [Read more →]

Technorati Tags: Baltimore, Episcopal Church, Gay Marriage

Tags: Gay Marriage by Matt Stufft
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