Another Sunday.
First up, we thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:
The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen,
Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.
We thank them all. What did we come up with?
This was a first truest for Emily Bazelon.
This is Norman Pollack's second truest.
Helen Thomas' passing caught us all by surprise. We really think the finest piece written on Helen was Ava and C.I.'s "Media: Let's Kill Helen!" and we only realized how timely it still was when a media gadfly attacked Helen on NPR this week. Helen's work on pressing on Iraq is not to be forgotten. It really is a large part of her legacy.
Ava and C.I. wanted to cover Mistresses or Unforgettable. I (Jim) promised them we would do a feature promoting Unforgettable this edition (and we do) if they would please, please cover the wall-to-wall. I know they'd caught a healthy portion of last week's CNN, HLN and MSNBC. I also knew there was a major story here if the people could hit hard. They were iffy but worked a few contacts and learned that Nancy Grace was able to go HLN before the verdict was announced as she was being asked (on air) to but that she didn't want to go on until after the verdict was announced and that she had a major tantrum over that fact. When they had that detail -- that no one else has reported -- they figured they had a hook to write their commentary. This is mammoth. And really helped carry the edition to another level.
After I read the piece Ava and C.I. wrote (read it outloud to everyone), we went right into the roundtable. I think the influence of the commentary shows.
Short features, Dona always insists. We need short features for variety. This is one of two short features. We consider them book-ends and the title is to go along with a theme for this edition.
After the roundtable, Ty said he might do a Ty's corner. He explained that Ava and C.I.'s piece was so powerful, he wanted to elaborate on it in terms of the 'message' pouring out from the TV all last week. What was Ty's original idea became an article written by Ty, Betty, Isaiah, Cedric, Marcia, Stan and Ann.
The other short feature. Again, these are book-ends.
Adam Kokesh offers a media critique worth viewing.
Where I explain last week's edition.
The Unforgettable promo I promised Ava and C.I. that we would do.
A repost from Workers World.
US House Represenative Frank Wolf is attempting to focus on Benghazi in the final days before the Congress takes a summer break.
Mike and the gang wrote this.
What we don't have? There wasn't time for a Congressional roundtable. Dona may attempt that next week.
We'll see you next week.
Peace.
-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.