Watcher's Council Nominations

Each week, the members of the Watcher's Council nominate one of their own posts and a second from outside the Council for consideration by other council members in a contest for best post. The Watcher publishes the results each Friday morning. The Watcher also has a process for anyone who would like to submit one of their posts for consideration as part of the weekly contest. You can find out more about that here. This week's nominations are:
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Council Nominations:

1. Soccer Dad - Dear Mr Hoyt
This is an open letter from Soccer Dad decrying not mere media bias, but media willingness to unquestioningly accept spin and report false news on behalf of Palestinian causes and their unwillingness to even acknowledge this practice despite the mountains of evidence. He raises several examples, including that of the infamous al Dura affair.

2. Done With Mirrors - In Which It Gets Worse
I have heard of the dumbing down of America, but the personal example DWM gives from his observation of his son's American History class is simply incredible - and not in a good way. I wonder how we increase teacher performance across the spectrum of our public education?

3. Wolf Howling - Cowbama Diplomacy and Iran
Obama's plans for unilateral, Presidential level diplomacy combined with his complete lack of undersanding of the Iranian regime portend an existential disaster.

4. Rhymes With Right - An Honest Assesment of the MSM's Problem
Thank God for the even handed and responsible journalistic ethics . . . of bloggers to balance out the sensationalist MSM.

5. Hillbilly White Trash - Reflections on the State of the Republic
What would it take for there to be blood in the streets? This is an interesting question and while I think we are far and away from such a tipping point in this country, I look at Britain today and ask myself, why isin't there blood in the streets over there?

6. Bookworm Room - Why Jews Are Right To Suspect Obama's Advisers
An insightful post from BR that hits the nail on the head. You can evaluate the strength of her argument by her opponents responses - labels and rhetorical devices to end the debate.

7. The Colossus of Rhodey - Will History Redeem President Bush?
CoR thinks that history will not treat George Bush kindly because he chose to stay in Iraq after no WMD's were found. I always thought at the time that the WMD argument was less a convincing reason to go into Iraq than the necessity to establish a reasonably functioning and secular democracy that may well alter the trajectory of the entire Middle East. I could not disagree more with CoR's reasoning or conclusions on this one.

8. The Glittering Eye - Strange Device
A fascinating and thorough review of some of the major themes in a book by Walter Mead, God and Gold. I have not previously read Mead, but I now intend to do so.

9. Cheat Seeking Missiles - Peacekeepers Raping Children... Again
A very troubling post on an oft repeated problem - UN Peace Keeping forces out of control and engaging in the rape and sexual abuse of children without any repercussions.

10. The Education Wonks - Say Goodnight, Hillary
EW has had more than his fill of the Clinton clan.

11. Joshuapundit - Looking At The Last Full Measure Of Devotion
JP ponders what drives our soldiers towards sacrifice in war and asks us to remember the benefits conferred on us by all who have served.

12. The Razor - Memorial Day 2008
The Razor honors our war dead and those who served on Memorial Day by looking at the actions of one who served in WWII.

Non-council Nominations:

1. Iowahawk - Return to Sender

2. Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal - Deep Thoughts with Biggie Smalls

3. Pajamas Media - An Open Letter to Senator Obama on Iran

4. UrbanGrounds - Democratic Congress Votes to Defund the Future of Military Prepardness

5. The Brussels Journal - The State of Englishness

6. The Paragraph Farmer - Over Red Coffee Cans and Cigarettes

7. The New York Sun - Siege of the Ivory Tower

8. The Moderate Voice - Madonna of China: Chinese Policewoman Saves Orphan Babies' Lives by Breastfeeding Them

9. Bottom Line Up Front - Obama Excludes Military Service as Way to Serve Country in Memorial Day Weekend Commencement Speech

10. Classical Values - Remembrances

11. Big Lizards - All the Views They Spit Into Print

12. Outside the Beltway - Libertarian Party Embraces Big Tent

13. Eternity Road - Unavoidable Sadness

14. Dodgeblogium - Google Earth Mysteries