Our Lady of the Magic Dolphins

Since she’s already managed to convince herself that the Iraq invasion is going swimmingly, the Bush economy is exceeding all expectations and that God sent a squadron of dolphins to protect little Elian Gonzalez after the boat sank — there were 40 other Cubans in need of assistance on that boat, including the poor boy’s mother and stepfather, but I guess the Almighty was short on cetaceans that day — it’s no surprise that Peggy Noonan can write a column bemoaning the decline of civility in public discourse, and blame it all on liberals.

Normally, I would read such a column, sigh and limber up my shoveling arm in preparation for a long session of clearing away yet another steaming pile of winger commentary. But my savior Eric Boehlert, author of the fine book Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush, has already taken on this John Henry-level task. Read him and see how the pros do this kind of thing.