Umbragosity

TW: I agree with Kinsley. Americans have fallen into an endless cycle of umbrage. The Dems are stupid for continuing to pump oxygen into Joe Wilson who at the end of the day is a buffoon. Lefty blogs only make it worse by headlining Wilson. Let Wilson constituents decide if he is sufficiently buffoonish to vote him out (doubtful in their minds).

As Kinsley points out umbrage drama is easy journalism and breeds like a virus in venues such as blogs and talk radio. Unlike serious debate on real issues which requires hard work and sustained attention from listeners/voters. Do not just blame the media, you get what you want from media. The day the ratings for NPR or the Lehrer report overtake O'Reilly etc. will be the day I eat my keyboard.

From Mike Kinsely at WaPo:
"...Why[continue with censure motions]? Is it the suspicion that Wilson's apologies so far have not been sincere? Of course they're not sincere. Nor would be any future apologies he may issue, in any posture or location. After years of obscurity, this man is having the time of his life, relishing his newfound celebrity and raking in the campaign contributions, too. The more times he is required to write "I will not call the President a liar" on a special blackboard set up in the well of the House, the bigger hero he will become to a large chunk of the population. And, of course, forcing him to grovel will not help to convince him or his supporters that the president is not a liar.

Apparently, though, it is against House rules for a representative to call the president a liar during an official session of the House, even if you sincerely think he is one. Or, for that matter, even if he really is one -- as all of them are, on occasion. The purpose of this rule is to attempt to enforce a level of civility in the political debate. The result, though, is just the opposite: It is simply another opportunity for a fusillade in the Umbrage Wars. No matter how important or otherwise the underlying issue may be, it seems that about three-quarters of American politics can now be distilled down to "How dare you say that!" Taking offense at someone else's possibly over-vigorous exercise of free speech, demanding an apology and so on has replaced much serious discussion about, oh, health care, the financial crisis, Iraq, Afghanistan, stuff like that. Umbrage is so much easier: You can do it in your sleep, or on talk radio.

Umbrage is itself, generally, a lie. The ostensible victim of the offensive remark (call him or her the "umbragee") is actually delighted at the opportunity, while the ostensible offense giver (call him or her the "umbragor") is sorry to have wandered into this thicket, or is made to feel sorry as the umbrage game plays itself out. The rules of the game are perverse but simple: I scream with pain until you cry "uncle."

Wilson is obviously a bozo. (I can say this because I'm not on the House floor.) But all the attention is making him more popular within his own constituency, not less so. Why can't the Democrats be the class act here and just drop it? Sticks and stones, and all that. "