A Swift-Moving Story

"The bloggers occasionally provided powerful commentary on the actual confirmation hearings. They also dedicated plenty of space to experts ignored by the mainstream media, which is among the praiseworthy functions of blogs.

"But the bloggers let pass a rare opportunity to grill senators and top officials about topics that matter to the bloggers. They let their sources set the agenda. Scott Johnson of Power Line did pursue one personal mission -- identifying who is responsible for delaying an unrelated judicial nomination -- but he appears to have been the exception to the rule.

"The sessions revived, and arguably legitimized, criticism that at least some right-leaning bloggers are tools of the GOP. The events also raised questions about where, if at all, lines should be drawn between political parties, party-focused blogs and sometimes-journalistic blogs."

Hillary's blast at Congress as being run like a "plantation" brought this scathing headline from the New York Post: "BUSH GIVES HILL HELL."

"In a rare attack, President Bush's spokesman yesterday said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was 'out of bounds' when she used the racially charged term 'plantation' to blast Republican leaders in Congress."

Okay, so it was only Scott. And it wasn't quite hell. But why ruin a good headline?

Ed Morrissey asks the following question about Hillary: "Is she out of her mind? First her husband decides somehow that he is an African-American by claiming to be the 'first black President' because he comes from a broken family. Now Hillary, who by the way carpetbagged her way into the Senate by running for election for a state in which she'd never lived, now claims she's a slave because the Democrats can't get a majority in either house of Congress . . .

"That victimization and self-pity for a group of rich idiots like Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Clinton herself, and the rest of the incompetent boobs of the Democratic power structure typifies the worldview of the loony left wing. Their lack of ability simply can't be their own fault, and their lack of connection to voters can't have anything to do with their failed policies and empty, hysterical rhetoric. It must be the fault of eeeeeeeeeevil Republicans, the 'slavemasters' of Congress who actually won more elections, got more votes, and continue to grow their majority status despite the absolute self-assurance of Democrats who think they should be granted control despite the outcome of the elections."