Progressive Blogs Roundup

in the effort to provide a little balance -- and a weekly reminder that the blogs on the left end of illinois' political spectrum are intellectually diverse and highly spirited. perhaps most interestingly, at a time when scott mcclellan is providing an inside look at the lack of intellectual curiousity of this president -- and the resulting need for spin to cover it up -- mark kirk is demonstrating the same defects. i know that, if i supported kirk, i'd be wanting him to keep his mouth shut while mcclellan was all over the media talking about how republicans lied and manipulated the american media (and electorate). it would have been the smart thing to do.

some of the posts from this past week include:

* RandySF writes about Mark Kirk: Shoot Obama On Sight at prairie state blue.

* adam doster of progress illinois posts about kirk's "two weeks" fallacy. i don't know if kirk doesn't believe that the economy is incredibly strained or just doesn't think that the people who are hurt by it deserve help -- given his reaction to dan seals' point that gas costs $1.85 a gallon when kirk was first elected -- but it might be easiest to conclude that kirk just doesn't care.

* adam doster continues coverage of kirk's falsehoods on local morning radio.

* josh kalven asks when Kirk [will] apologize for his falsehoods about health care, unemployment benefits, and who's drilling in the Gulf of Mexico? kirk did, after all, apologize for his comment that barack obama should be shot on sight. it probably was that visit from the secret service afterward.

* rob nesvacil of illinois reason posts about how Mark Kirk [is] caught in more fibs on Oil and Osama bin Forgotten.

* ellen of the tenth writes a diary about how McCain and Kirk Bad for Women.

* adam doster posts about the objections mark kirk has with the constitution (or maybe just how this rather conservative supreme court interprets it).

* adam doster notes the inclusion of $400 million in federal spending devoted to science research in the recent war supplemental in House, Foster May Stave Off Fermilab Cuts.

* curmudgeon tells us that the J Street PAC endorses Halvorson.

* wegerje writes another analysis of congressional votes from a progressive perspective: FISA: Of Authoritarians, Daleyists and Obama-Dog Republicans.

* rob nesvacil notes that there is A clear choice between prez nominees on flood response.

* leo of illinois demnet posts on Obama Supporters at Montrose Ave. Beach

* the inside dope wonders Is Blago toast?

* progress illinois has had extensive coverage of the flooding. posts from june 16 can be found here, june 17 can be found here and here, june 19 can be found here and here and here. friday's post on the floods suggests that Experts Link Midwest Floods To Global Warming.

* dave barrett diaries on Flooding on the Bike Trail in Moline.

* will reynolds writes more about the plans for Waverly ethanol plant.

* eric bell of illinois deserves the truth writes that the Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Hits Home.

* ellen of the tenth posts about the foreclosure crisis in Illinois: "One of the most troubling aspects of the housing crisis is its affect on seniors. Seniors are also more likely to be victims of predatory lending and mortgage rescue fraud. Even wealthier and more sophisticated seniors are having trouble sell their homes at prices that will help pay for needed assisted living situations."

* josh kalven writes about Life On The Line for those involved in the five year old strike at the congress hotel.

* adam doster posts about the record lows for youth employment this summer.

this week's big loser: mark kirk, who seems to be suffering from foot in mouth disease at the wrong time in the election cycle. OR, maybe this is why kirk has been staying inside the beltway so much. less contact with illinois voters means fewer opportunities to show them how you really think!

one word: none of these blogs (afaik) are currently represented on illinoize, which is why i chose to write about them here...