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The First Mainstream Melee.

It's a non-blog adventure.

I.

The Washington Times: "Four years of economic expansion"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

A great, almost sarcastic op-ed that lays out the facts on America's unknown booming economy.

Super Succinct Snippet-

Admittedly, the current expansion took some time to take hold. But once it finally gained strength during the second quarter of 2003, it established itself as arguably the most steady, non-volatile expansion in 60 years.

Yay, economy.

II.

The New York Times: "House Shelves Alaska Drilling in Budget Fight"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

Who would have thought the HOUSE, rather than the SENATE, would have done this? Too many "moderate" Republicans bought the hype about a Democrat resurgence, learning the wrong lessons entirely from Tuesday's elections, which shouldn't have meant much of anything. Republican voters stayed home because of this sort of squishiness.

Super Succinct Snippet-

In dropping the drilling plan and a second provision, on coastal exploration, the leadership was trying to win over moderates in the party to enhance the chances of winning initial approval on Thursday of more than $50 billion in spending cuts demanded by House conservatives. But the decision is likely to meet objections from the Senate, where senior lawmakers are insisting on the drilling plan, a priority for President Bush.

The last-ditch effort by the leadership to avoid an embarrassing legislative defeat was the latest symptom of party unrest arising from instability in the leadership and anxiety about the 2006 elections. Those concerns were heightened by election results on Tuesday that Democrats and some Republicans said exposed the party's vulnerabilities and threatened its policy agenda.

Bad idea jeans.

III.

The Wall Street Journal: "GOP Wake-Up Call"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

Or not.

Super Succinct Snippet-

All in all, after several bad years, Tuesday was the Democrats' turn to smile. And if Republicans in Congress now start to splinter and look out only for themselves--instead of fighting for the ideas that won them power--the same could happen next year.

Hmm. Wrong lessons indeed.

IV.

Der Spiegel: "European Wine Fighting for Survival"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

A symbol of European culture, American wine is replacing European wine in and on the global marketplace.

Super Succinct Snippet-

Experts predict that 2005 could be the first year in which Europe imports more wine than it exports. So what should European producers do? Conform or resist?

Just flow with it, baby.

V.

The Washington Post: "Grassley: No Soc. Sec. Change Before 2009"

Super Succinct Synopsis-

Hmm. So, again, what have Republicans learned from the relatively meaningless elections Tuesday? Apparently, "panic." Seemingly, "abandon ship."

Wrong.

Super Succinct Snippet-

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said he's "very pessimistic" that lawmakers can overhaul Social Security during the president's second term in office. Upcoming midterm and presidential elections will get in the way, he said.

"Probably, the next bite at the apple of Social Security will come in 2009," the Iowa Republican told an audience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Who needs Democrat obstructionists, anyway, when we have perfectly good cowards on our own side who accomplish the same end result.

WILLisms.com and many other blogs sometimes focus too much on our fellow bloggers, while excluding well-done professional journalism from our posts.

The Mainstream Melee is a quick survey of five non-blog sources, coming atchya at completely random intervals. The stories are either underreported, particularly well-written, or otherwise important to the big picture. But generally there will be a theme of some kind in the choices.

Posted by Will Franklin · 10 November 2005 09:50 AM

Comments

Posted by: Giacomo at November 10, 2005 10:16 AM