Opinion: Bloggers blogging about blogs, and op-eds

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The Times’ Opinion Manufacturing Division cranks out blog posts, editorials and op-eds daily, and we like to check periodically on how readers take our thoughts and run with them. Here are some of the latest responses we’ve snatched out of the blogosphere:

Scott of the Environmental Republican blogged about how Obama’s planned ‘Recovery Summer’ isn’t panning out to be everything he had hoped for, citing the regulations that the Obama administration has imposed on businesses as reasons for his policy’s failure. Scott linked to Jon Healey’s July 16 blog post, which compares the financial-industry regulatory bill with the government’s settlement with Goldman Sachs.

Yankeemom took issue with a June 14 op-ed by Benjamin Friedman and Christopher Preble that said America’s military could endure budget cuts because the size of America’s military isn’t necessarily related to its effectiveness. Yankeemom argued that such thinking does nothing to help our military and is, in fact, anti-military.

John Hawkins of Right Wing News commented on Stan Cox’s July 18 op-ed on the toll that artificial cooling systems have on society and the environment. Hawkins said Cox’s reaction was nothing more than ‘climate alarmism,’ and that Cox’s suggestions on how to avoid use of indoor air conditioning was downright archaic. His advice for those who favored Cox’s approach: ‘Why don’t you envirowackos try it first?’

Tom Madigan of National Journal remains skeptical of Tim Rutten’s claim in his June 9 op-ed that Mayor Villaraigosa’s 30/10 transit plan is as significant and innovative as Rutten suggests. Madigan questioned the merits of the plan and raised the issue for discussion on his blog.

On IntLawGrrls, Diane Marie Amann brought up Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s July 20 op-ed on trials for terrorism suspects, disagreeing with many of Feinstein’s points. Feinstein’s assertion that there wasn’t enough debate about the subject was unfounded, Amann said, especially after the Washington Post had written two editorials on the subject within the week. Amann went on to rebut a number of Feinstein’s arguments, including her contention that some detainees should be tried before military commissions. That kind of gray area, wrote Amann, creates an even greater opportunity for unlawful proposals.

-- Emilia Barrosse