CSM "Apoplectic" Over ... Not Much

Update: More on the core issue here from Fausta.

I don't usually expect hyperbole from the Christian Science Monitor but that's what we've got here. There's nothing wrong with what attention the item did get but to say the "Right side of the web is apoplectic" isn't the case.

Want to know how quickly rumors get spread on the Internet? Here’s a prime example. The right side of the web is apoplectic this morning claiming that President Obama doesn’t know who the French president is.

Thirteen hours ago on Twitter someone asked if the Right was being "punked." Obviously a great many people were watching it and letting it play out. As I said at the time, I couldn't find enough outside confirmation to even note it on the blog.

I'm not being critical of people who linked it. That's how discussion happens out here - in the open. Characterizing it as more than it was, or something it was not, seems every bit as "apoplectic" to me, if one really wants to make that case.

This is "apoplectic." If one wanted to write something serious about the blogging community today, we'd all be better served as well as informed were they writing about that. And finding and citing some of the extremely well informed economic blogs for a change might be a good place to start.

Comments

[Lala]

Well, I got it from No Pasaran who linked to LeFigaro

http://no-pasaran.blogspot.com/

Confidentiel : Barack Obama
a écrit à Jacques Chirac

19/03/2009 | Mise à jour : 09:14 | Commentaires 84 | Ajouter à ma sélection
Retrouvez tous les confidentiels de la rédaction du Figaro.

Barack Obama a écrit à Jacques Chirac

Le président américain vient d'adresser une lettre «très sympathique » à Jacques Chirac, selon l'expression de ce dernier. «Je suis certain que nous pourrons au cours des quatre années à venir collaborer ensemble dans un esprit de paix et d'amitié afin de construire un monde plus sûr» , écrit le successeur de George W. Bush au prédécesseur de Nicolas Sarkozy. En évoquant le mot de « paix», Obama rend un hommage implicite à l'action de l'ancien président français qui s'était opposé à la guerre en Irak. Une intervention américaine contre laquelle le futur président américain s'était opposé comme sénateur, lors du vote au Congrès.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualites/2009/03/19/01001-20090319ARTFIG00357-confidentiel-barack-obama-a-ecrit-a-jacques-chirac-.php

[harkin]

Interesting that this meme is being pushed by the same people who bandwagoned the false 'Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country' smear and yet ignored the Biden 'stand up, Joe' and 'Obama thanks himself for invitation' stories.

[tim maguire]

It's easy to make your opponent look stupid by picking unflattering adjectives and adverbs. The Christian Science Monitor should be ashamed of itself for stooping to a smear like that.

[Mark Turner]

Tim -

The mainstream media did (and still does) it frequently when talking about Bush.

[Jumbo]

To Mark Turner:

Sir, Bush couldn't speak properly if he used someone elses mouth. The poor man couldn't walk and govern at the same time. His 'goofs' are legendary (Bushism's - look it up).

We finally have an educated adult in the WH. Why can't your side simply let him undo the wreckage of the previous POTUS? Bush brings all this upon himself, for he is the decider! You do remember that, don't you? I rest my case. Bush is your man, and I feel sorry for you for believing so.

[Mark Turner]

Jumbo -

Obama is indeed an "educated" adult, as presidents (including GW Bush)generally are, but no more astute in economic policy, world affairs, or sound government....simply a continuation of the same style of misguided wasteful expenditure and entitlement mentality that helped served to cause our economic troubles in the first place. He also has a penchant for revisiting failed policies of the past, dating back to the Carter administration and before. He's got the typical liberal mindset; nothing particularly noteworthy about that...polls tracking similarly to the previous several presidents at this point in their presidency.

[Lala]

Obama says de-fib-u-lat-or.
He's a moron.