When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. - Hunter S. Thompson

24 July 2006

Kos's Israel Problem

Perhaps sensing that this issue could highlight just how far removed the Kos community is from the American mainstream, Moulitsas and his other front-page bloggers have opted to ignore Israel's war. Combined, the half dozen front-pagers have written exactly one post on the subject. And that post, authored by Moulitsas, simply declared that he wouldn't write anything further on the subject. So while the most important story of the year develops, the nation's leading progressive blog has chosen to focus on the Indiana second district House race between Chris Chocola and Joe Donnelly. Nothing wrong with that; it's their prerogative to blog about whatever they like.

But inside the Kos diaries, it's been a different story. The conversation in the diaries has been overwhelmingly anti-Israel--and potentially disastrous for the Democratic party.

One diarist labeled Israel 'a destabilizing force in the region' and saw 'no difference between Iran's support of Hezbollah and Hamas in the form of finances and even arms and The United States' financial support of Israel.' Before modifying this diary into a more moderate form, the author opened his essay with the declaration, 'Israel is showing the entire world why the Iranian President was absolutely right to suggest that Israel cease being a sovereign state as is.'
Kos, Hezbollah, and Israel (The Weekly Standard)

This is an interesting point: the commenters and "diarists" tend to reflect the true feelings of the community that reads a blog. The Kossacks are no exception.

This has some ugly implications on the right-wing side of the fence too, however... as anyone who has ever spent any time in the comments section at Little Green Footballs can attest.

My personal opinion is that the best response to a Pharisee was established a couple thousand years ago:
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone... (John 8:7)
Hat tip: Ann Althouse.

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