From the neocon vanity newspaper the New York Sun:

Commentary’s Transition

New York Sun Editorial

October 16, 2007

While the Republicans are arguing about the meaning of their party and their philosophy, one of the clearest-thinking journals in America, Commentary magazine, is signaling that its own transition will be true on matters of principle. It announced yesterday that its next editor will be John Podhoretz, who will take over the monthly in January 2009. Mr. Podhoretz will be only the fourth editor of Commentary in the magazine’s 61-year history, succeeding one of the finest editors in journalism, Neal Kozodoy, who has been with Commentary since 1966, served as editor since 1995, and made the magazine the gold standard of what has come to be called neo-conservative thinking — and a showcase of enterprising journalism, offering scoop after scoop on the beat of ideas.

… Mr. Kozodoy also guided the magazine to its independent ownership in a new not-for-profit corporation, leaving its long-time home in the American Jewish Committee. …

In John Podhoretz, who has been writing a brilliant column for the New York Post, Commentary is turning to a leading voice of the younger generation at the same time that it continues its connection to the intellectual tradition that has brought so much to our city and country. It’s an inspiring transition for those of us who cover the battle of ideas, and who recognize the enormous impact that a relatively modest publication can have. It is something to think about for a Republican — or any — Party that is trying to find its footing in a turbulent time.

JPod is, of course, the son of former Commentary editor Norman Podhoretz.

This tradition of giving magazines to the offspring of first generation neoconservatives is getting out of control. I mean, William Kristol, who runs The Weekly Standard, may not be quite right in the head, but he at least looks presentable. John Podhoretz, in contrast, is a notorious buffoon. If the younger Kristol is evidence for the theory of regression toward the mean, JPod represents regression below the mean.

Charles Murray, the last of the neoconservative data-crunchers, should begin looking for a new outlet.

By the way, Podhoretz’s brother-in-law is convicted criminal Elliott Abrams, who during the first term of the current President, “filled the post of Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director on the National Security Council for Near East and North African Affairs.” In other words, he was the President’s adviser on Israel. “At the start of Bush’s second term, Abrams was promoted to be his Deputy National Security Advisor for Global Democracy Strategy” -- Wikipedia.

These two stories are part of the same phenomenon:

Is city’s felons policy unfair to black cops? :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: News

RULE 47 | Cop is warned after letting convicted man drive car

October 14, 2007
BY FRANK MAIN Crime Reporter/fmain@suntimes.com

An African-American Chicago Police officer contends that a rule barring cops from associating with criminals discriminates against black officers.

The officer argues the rule is more restrictive on black officers because of the disproportionate number of African Americans who have had contact with the criminal justice system.

and

El Paso Times - Hispanics wary of effort to regulate home colors in Dallas suburb

By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 10/10/2007 05:46:24 PM MDT

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas—Some residents of this Dallas suburb that tried to ban apartment rentals to illegal immigrants now want the city to regulate which colorful hues people can paint their homes.

Although the City Council hasn’t decided whether to consider any house paint restrictions, Hispanic leaders say it’s yet another effort to target Latinos in the city.

“I believe controlling the color you paint your house is basically profiling the Hispanic community,” said Elizabeth Villafranca, whose family owns a Mexican restaurant in Farmers Branch. “We all know who paints their homes tropical colors.”

Two residents requested the council discuss mandatory exterior color standards for buildings.

I could prove that a red or pastel house may annoy neighbors even in a community where the people are all white and the houses are all kind of house colored. See Paint of View –The color of a house is a sign of owner individuality—and a test of neighborhood tolerance. , By Virginia Postrel, The Atlantic Monthly, June 2007. Or read, as Virginia Postrel suggested, the classic children’s book Mr. Pine’s Purple House.

Nor is the rule against associating with felons uniquely a problem for the black community–if you saw the movie Prince of The City, (based on the real-life experiences of Detective Robert Leuci) you may remember it features a character named Daniel Ciello who’s a policeman, and whose family includes a bunch of crooks. Everyone is Italian, and very white.

But it’s the “disparate impact” theory again, in which any complaint about social pathologies which “happen” to be be worse in a minority community must be attributed to racism.

They don’t want any Hazleton’s in California:

New law prevents cities from turning turning landlords into immigration police
By Jessie Mangaliman
Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News
Article Launched:

As cities across the country grapple with illegal immigration, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new state law Wednesday that prohibits county and municipal governments in California from enacting local laws that would require landlords to ask a tenant’s immigration status.

California may be the first state in the country to use state legislation to deal with a growing national trend that began in 2006 when the city of Hazelton, Pa., approved a city ordinance that penalized landlords for renting to illegal immigrants.

“These ordinances are a result of a larger problem,” said Francisco Castillo, a spokesman for the governor. He cited “the failure of Congress to enact meaningful immigration reform.”

The bills’ sponsor, Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon, D-City of Industry, and leaders of a state association of apartment owners, hailed the new law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, as a civil rights victory.

“It’s important legislation because it’s the beginning of a trend we’re seeing throughout the country as cities begin to try to establish their own foreign policies,” Calderon said.

“Only the federal government can do that,” he said. “It’s important that we don’t have vigilante justice.”

You now, it would be nice if we could have some kind of justice. And waiting for the federal government to deliver is going to be a lengthy process.

I was recently contacted by a reporter for NHK: Japanese Public TV. NHK is looking for a few US people to interview and unfortunately they haven’t had much luck finding a candidate that meets their criterion. The purpose of this newsletter is to reach out to all of you to see if there is someone out there that might fit their needs. This is a very good opportunity to showcase to the world how H-1B, outsourcing, or other types of white collar job loss affects Americans.

NHK is backing up against a deadline, which explains why they would be desperate enough to contact me!
I had an interesting conversation with the reporter, and then I got hit with a question that’s still gnawing at me–“if there are so many high-tech American workers that have been forced into a downward economic spiral, then why can’t we find one to go on Japanese television?”

OUCH! That was a tough one! About the only plausible theory I could come up with is that there are a lot of Americans who fear going on camera to tell their stories. Or perhaps it’s a cultural thing–Americans don’t like to go public with their failures. Or perhaps NHK just doesn’t know how to reach out for stories like this.
Of course it could be that there really aren’t that many Americans that have been really pushed down in the way NHK is looking for. Personally I have a tough time believing that to be true.

I’m not including contact information for the reporter for a very good reason–because I want to screen out those of you that would try to contact NHK without reading this entire newsletter first. Please folks, if you don’t have the time or desire to read everything below, delete this email and move on. I really don’t enjoy being the point person for efforts like this because they usually end up taking lots of my time while providing disappointing results. Please save your time and mine by taking the time to study all the details about what is required to be on their documentary.

STOP HERE AND READ VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE GETTING STARSTRUCK WITH THE IDEA OF BEING ON TELEVISION!

Doing an interview with NHK is more like doing a reality TV show so please don’t think all that will be involved is driving to a studio for a short interview. They will practically live with you and your family for a few days. If you can’t make that kind of commitment, or your family can’t, don’t go any further because NHK probably won’t be interested in talking to you.

I have been told by a person who went through a similar documentary with NHK who said that the Japanese TV crews are top notch, and are totally respectful. He said the video crews were more like family friends than reporters.

One more qualifier–please do not contact me until you have watched the entire NHK documentary on my website, and until you have thoughtfully read the email below. Before you get stars in your eyes the video will give you a very good idea what their style of reporting is and what will be required of you.

To watch the NHK video go to this page and scroll down to this video:

2004–Worldwide Unemployment

The email I received below by the NHK reporter refers to “IT or high tech worker”. After some questioning the reporter clarified the term to a broader category–ideally it could be almost anyone in Computer/IT, science, and engineering–or maybe even academia. What they really are looking for is a geek!

Probably the most important thing they are looking for is somebody who has been forced out of their field into a “blue collar” type of job. They are television, after all, so they would much rather see a former computer geek digging ditches than working an $8 office job, although without doubt both stories could be equally tragic. They are definitely looking more towards somebody with a family that is having money and/or psychological problems as a result of declining income and status.

If any of you out there are interested, send me a brief email explaining why you think you would qualify to be on NHK along with your contact info. I’ll pass all good cases to the NHK reporter. Filming will probably start within days or a week.
[Email below the More Tag]
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