Assignment Desk
James Poulos, Ed. ·
August 9, 2010 at 12:24am
Claire's call for book topics reminds me of a great blog convention that I strangely haven't taken for a spin at Ricochet. It's called the assignment desk post, and it goes something like this: OK, ladies and gents -- tell us who you'd like to see post about what.
Have at it!
- Comment (32)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
Jun '10
Re: Assignment Desk
This assignment can't be done before August 28th, but I'd like to see somebody that doesn't care for Glenn Beck (because they fundamentally disagree with him, or just don't like his style, his goofiness) go to his "8/28 Restoring Honor Rally" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. He's hinting that he has a lot of surprises in store, beyond what's already advertised. Info: http://www.glennbeck.com/828/ And he is showman, so I believe it'll be a memorable experience. I won't be going, because it's too far away, but it would be interested to hear impressions from a Beck skeptic. What did they think of the crowd? Did Beck deliver on his promise to be non-partisan? Did he do anything to win you over, or just confirm your skepticism? I imagine the protestors will be there in force too.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Well clearly, there's a glaring gap in our coverage when VDH hasn't weighed in on Lindsey Lohan. Let's see, Dave Carter has been strangely silent on the Salzburg Festival production of Ariadne auf Naxos. Ursula's got the Waziri desk pretty well manned. Rob should explain the role that the undervaluation of the yuan plays in our economic troubles. Peter would be a natural to infiltrate the New Black Panthers (he and Tucker could work in shifts). Thinking outside the box. I volunteer to follow the trail of Michelle on the Costa del Sol. We get expenses, right?
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Dave Carter on regional and local idiosynchracies.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
A post by Mitch Daniels indicating he's decided to make a run for President of the United States in 2012.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
How about periodic dispatches from young Harry at the Ivy League? My 15-year-old expects to follow in his footsteps.
Re: Assignment Desk
I'm taking notes here.
Mesquito, excellent idea. Thank you.
Kennedy, I was wondering who would bring up this glaring omission on my part. Adriadne auf Naxos is a topic that is just too close to me personally, so I've maintained a respectful distance. If you must know, Ariadne went to my community college. Very straight-laced kid. I never could get her to tell me her full name, but she always gave the impression of having too much starch in her shorts. Now that you've given her full name, I understand why she was so stand off-ish. And now she's an opera. This explans much. Thank you.
Jun '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Does anyone besides me know who Yuri (Uri) Bezmenov is? His explanation from the perspective of an ex-KGB operative and defector explains the culture war in America and our current political crisis. His interviews are available on Youtube. You will be as fascinated as you are horrified.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
What would be cool would be a "Bughouse Square" where subscribers could post and get comments from the "name" contributors and their fellow subscribers. It would give those of us in the peanut gallery an opportunity to try out for the A team as well as get reasoned comments on our thoughts.
Jul '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I'd like to read Richard Epstein, John Yoo and others (plenty of others) delve into the possible end of the electoral college. I know the subject was addressed, but I think it's a potential game-changer. If you think 2000 was a mess, buckle-up.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I've made suggestions at Facebook, and shown that what I find interesting doesn't match the pulse of interest to the Powers, so I'll let the rest of the world take the lead.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I hear you, Dave. It just breaks your heart. You try to bring the kids up right, and then they run off and become operas. Not catchy, respectable comic operas, settling down with a nice Spanish boy, but anguished, screechy drama queen operas. It's painful to watch, and can only end one way.
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I like Nick Stuart's idea. Am not qualified to become a contributor myself but would enjoy seeing conversations started (once a week perhaps?) by some of the more erudite members of our community. Really wish Duane Oyen could become an official contributor to Ricochet. You're still short on contributors with a true flyover-country perspective and Duane is incredibly knowledgeable, witty and has a middle-America perspective. And no, I don't know Duane at all and he hasn't paid me to write this! I just find myself nodding enthusiastically when I read his posts and enjoy following his conversations as much as your regular contributors.
Would also like to ask if any of your female contributors have spent much time in small towns or flyover country... love the urban, coastal and international perspective, but would also enjoy hearing from women from other backgrounds as well. Isn't there a Davidina Carter out there somewhere? ;-)
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Too funny, Duane. Looks like our posts just crossed right now. See, Ricochet, he even has unique topics he'd bring up if he was made an official contributor!
May '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I mostly like the political mix and the personalities.
One thing that has been really fun for me is that this isn't just politics, though. Man does not live on political outrage alone.
So, count me as one that hopes we'll also see a little behind that curtain. More cocktail recipes, music, literature, and art wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.
As for politics, I’m always interested in Africa--especially sub-Saharan African politics and history. One thing that I would love to see explored is how liberation theology--christianity perverted by Marxism--really screwed things up.
I would love for someone to do a study of how many of Africa's kleptocrats and strongmen came through Jesuit schools?
Jul '10
Re: Assignment Desk
I'd like to see a discussion about how the GOP is held hostage by social conservatives. It's my belief that issues like abortion, gay marriage and drugs should be decided by the states. But no Republican can become a candidate for Federal office without passing the social cons' litmus tests.
This leaves them open to being charicatured by the Democrats as prisoners of wild-eyed, intolerant evangelicals - which has turned out to be a winning argument with moderates and independents.
I was recently talking to a 23-year-old guy. Very smart, well-informed. Very, very conservative. I asked him what his like-minded friends thought about abortion. His answer: "Wallpaper." What he meant was it's always been there, it's neither good nor bad and it's simply taken for granted. Kids like that think you look pretty silly ranting against wallpaper.
Jun '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Kenneth: I'd like to see a discussion about how the GOP is held hostage by social conservatives. It's my belief that issues like abortion, gay marriage and drugs should be decided by the states. But no Republican can become a candidate for Federal office without passing the social cons' litmus tests....
· Aug 8 at 8:09pm
Like everything else, political parties belong to those who show up at the community center on a Thursday night and run for party delegate. The conservatives are willing to do it. Moderates don't seem to show up in the numbers that it takes.
Jul '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Perhaps Ricochet could have a weekly "guest contributor", chosen by the editors among commenters who submit posts on topics of their choosing.
William F. Buckley launched the careers of quite a few conservative pundits (Rich Brookheiser, Dinesh D'Souza, Ramesh Ponnuru, Mona Charen and (gulp) David Brooks) based upon letters that they wrote to him or articles they published in college newspapers.
Call it a farm team....
Jul '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Like everything else, political parties belong to those who show up at the community center on a Thursday night and run for party delegate. The conservatives are willing to do it. Moderates don't seem to show up in the numbers that it takes.
Quite true. But just because one doesn't agree with the social cons doesn't make one a moderate.
Aug '10
Re: Assignment Desk
David Jones: IMore cocktail recipes, music, literature, and art wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.
One thing that I would love to see explored is how liberation theology--christianity perverted by Marxism--really screwed things up.
I like cocktail recipes, music, literature, and art... Not sure how easy it is to fit music and art into a Ricochet format, though. Cocktail recipes and literature are at least typewritten.
But I am really, really curious to know more about liberation theology -- what is it, really?-- and also about why it is that non-Evangelical denominations are generally so lousy at economics. What'll get the "mainline" churches to realize that some of their precious social-justice issues, like a "living wage", hurt the poorest among us more than they help?
Also, a pet interest of mine is how property rights and free markets can be used to ameliorate environmental problems. Not all environmental problems are made up, and in order to keep a legitimate environmental problem from becoming an excuse for the extension of state power these days, we'd better be prepared to show how freeing up markets and enforcing traditional rule of law offers a better remedy .
Aug '10
Re: Assignment Desk
Also, a series of "Cautionary Tales" -- real-life stories of good intentions gone horribly awry -- would be entertaining and informative. I'm sure Ricochet contributors from all walks of life -- from Richard Epstein to Claire to Dave Carter -- have humorous (if only gallows-humor) stories about the unwanted consequences of good intentions.
And I would like to know how ~Paules accidentally became a pimp.