Generally a very nice post – I agree with much more of it than I expected to. I found the final minute or so of Maddow’s clip to be surprisingly persuasive (though I wish pundits everywhere would tone down the Jon Stewart smug factor – it’s been old for a while). I’m not fully convinced that there is a big, bright line between “manipulation” and “community organizing,” but I do agree that we are seeing people who are not fully informed acting hastily – though the same can surely be said of Congress.

I must comment, though, on one point with which I take some exception. Yes, a few people have used Nazi rhetoric and symbols to make a point. I believe such rhetoric is way overblown (and likely to backfire), but it’s only offensive if the protestors are making pro-Nazi arguments. Consider, it would not be offensive if people at a Civil Rights march held anti-KKK signs. Pelosi’s point implies that the “whiff of fascism is in the air” – and that protestors are invoking the symbols for ominous reasons. Quite the opposite, I think.

Incidentally, I would be remiss if I did not add that I don’t remember any mainstream journalists expressing outrage when anti-war protestors stayed up all night making up “hilarious” signs about BushHitler.

Anyway, I continue to enjoy the blog very much.