Rambling Rhodes

Ryan, the voice of the whiny right, has probably linked to his own comment here in half the rightie blogs out there.

That comment looks like English, and it sounds like English when I read it out loud; so how come it doesn't make any sense?

Aw, thanks! Not surprisingly, I've never read a one of them lefty blogs you mention. Maybe I should start. I've been wondering what opinions I should hold.

I don't read any of them with any regularity but I did read Oliver Willis alot during the election season. I think you do him a disservice by basically calling him a parrot. But that's alright, you're entitled to your opinion, for now.

Talking Points is a good source for information. Your criticisms of his blog revolve around his middle name? And Micah is short for MacKenzie usually, I have a cousin named Micah. Come on, Ryan, you can do better than that.

Johnny, Talking Points Memo is actually one of the most pretentious, self-important liberal blogs of the bunch I listed. His posts just drip with "better than you" nonsense that is incredibly difficult to take seriously when you basically feel as if you're being insulted all the while. And then he puts you to sleep to boot. So, I end up feeling insulted AND tired. Not a particularly good combo. I guess I could have posted all of this rather than rip on his middle name, but his inclusion of his middle name and the pretentious title of the blog are both pretty indicative of the content he produces, so it seemed appropriate.

Johnny Huh?: Micah is not short for MacKenzie... are you serious? Micah is a biblical name, MacKenzie is a scottish clan. I can't fathom how you could even try to make that claim, especially since people generally don't use shortened nicknames for their middle name.

On a different note, flamingbanjo, have you ever heard of the directive, "if the shoe fits, wear it"? I think we're all happy you don't read Kos, but the fact remains that it is by far the most well-known and -visited liberal blog in the world. Please, continue to not read it, as I assure you that there is nothing of value there. Seriously.

I'm actually a bit heartened that you don't visit it... it shows that SOME liberals try to avoid the echo chamber. In fact, after looking at your blog, I think you seem like a pretty cool guy. Good stuff, keep blogging, but don't expect that everything you read on another blog is a personal affront to you. You'll lose more hair that way. ;)

Sean, I made that statement because I do, in fact, have a cousin who's called Micah when his full name is MacKenzie.

So, it may be a biblical name but its also my cousin's nickname. It is possible for us to both be right since I'm absolutely positive that I am.

I did read Talking Points a long time ago and thought it was pretty well written but I've not been back in well over a year so I have no recent experience.

>>>I don't read any of them with any regularity but I did read Oliver Willis alot during the election season. I think you do him a disservice by basically calling him a parrot.

How can u tell he's not a parrot if u don't read the other blogs?

Yeah, my blog has been around in various incarnations since 1999, and it used to be much farther to the left than it is today. Yet the entire time I would hear people whine that "there are no leftist/progressive blogs".

What they meant, and what Ryan has bought into, is that Leftist/Progressive means focusing soley on electoral politics and cheerleading the Dems while making up bullshit scandals and trying to whip people up into a frenzy over nothing.

You know, pretty much what all of the "right-wing" blogs do but for the Republicans, or Repugnicians, or Repuklicans, or whatever the fuck "clever" name the Atrios types have come up with.

The worst thing is watching two people immersed in this blog culture have an argument. Neither of them makes a point, they just reiterate stupid catchphrases and insults they think are clever. "drink the kool-aid" "tin-foil hat" etc etc.

Anyway, I really wouldn't call any of the sites you listed "leftist" by any stretch of the imagination. None of those folks were in Seattle in 99, or on the streets of DC on April 16th, 2000. None of those folks protested outside the DNC in 2000. None of those folks have been to the World Social Forum, or are involved in grassroots community organizing. Fuck I don't think any of those folks have ever walked a picket line. Folks can disagree with those of us on the left, but please don't lump us in with whiny-assed liberal democrats.

The only "political" blog I ever read is Nathan Newman (http://nathannewman.org). I can't stand any of the ones you mentioned, and don't think I've ready any of them more than twice in my life.

Anyway, I really wouldn't call any of the sites you listed "leftist" by any stretch of the imagination.

Nevertheless, they're the major spokesblogs for those who perceive themselves to be Democrats, at least the mainstream understanding of what Democrats are, i.e. those who watch Jon Stewart and think it's an actual news program.

This blog can't be serious... right? Please tell me I didn't just see Zak822 say the "Whiny Right". The Left has been whining since I can remember. As presented in this, and many other equally inane and asinine blog, the Left has concluded that "If you can't beat 'em, make fun of 'em". The Blogger formerly known as Mar"Kos" is now 0-16 in backing political candidates, The Democratic Underground hasn't vomited up one original thing (except for some outstanding "conspiracy" theories) since it's inception, and let's not even begin on Air(head) Americ-uhhhhhh.

The Left is pathetic. As shown this past Tuesday, and by Hilary Rodham Clinton with Lime, the ONLY way the Left can even BEGIN to think about getting ahead in a poll, let alone an election, is to put on their blinkers and begin to slowly merge into the right-hand lane.

And no, Karl Rove didn't put me up to this.

McCain in '08!
Giuliani in '16!
Romney in '24!

Heh. I still get a kick out of "Carroll." WTF were your parents thinking?

Romney in '24? What's he going to do between the end of his current term and then? He certainly can't get reelected as governor of MA.

I'm confused as to why Ryan reads blogs that he claims have no worthwhile content. I think that Atrios sometimes manages good work on economics, which I believe is his area of knowledge, whereas part of the weakness of many of the blogs criticized in the original taxonomy is that they do what most blogs (including mine) do: talk too much about things they know little about. The Volokh Conspiracy generally is an exception, as the contributors write mostly about law and can claim to be experts in that topic.

And why no criticism of Washington Monthly/ fka CalPundit? Surely Kevin Drum has more of a name among liberals, particularly now that he's being sponsored by a print magazine, than Oliver Willis does. Ditto Matthew Yglesias and Crooked Timber (or would CT also be too "pretentious and boring"?).

Ryan,

Nice one. But...

The reason Josh Marshall's site has a "better than you" vibe about it is that he's a journalist. His posts sound unlike most other blogs because they are often the outcome of phone calling or having lunch meetings with significant sources. His forums are full of guest writings by public officials and authors. He's not just a kid with a blog.

Or in other words, he is better than you, hence that vibe you so rightfully describe. But you got him on that middle name thing. He can't defend that. You told him.

But touche on the others. While I don't think you're actually right about any of them - except perhaps Atrios, somewhat; he has been doing this a really long time and might be slightly on auto-pilot these days - it is apparent you can read and form numbered lists.

So nice work, taking someone else's idea and replicating it in a post a third as witty and at least 7% as accurate.

If you want to respond, you'll have to write to me. I'm sure the minute I leave this site I'll forget I was ever here and won't have the chance to see your clever response. It's apparent from all the responses you made in your own comments above how defensive and ego driven this whole thing is.

Keep on truckin....

So, Ryan, not to make myself the victim of your witty repartee, because god knows, you certainly have some pointy arrows in your rubber arsenal...but if I may ask a question of you...

Why aren't you enlisted and serving in Iraq?

For thirty years we listened to the whiny Right whine on about how they were 'strong on defense'. And now look, you all display a yellow streak a mile wide...tapping away on your camo keyboards. Have you got a plastic gun and plastic Jesus next to your computer too?

Semper Fi, there, proud member of the 101st Fighting Keyboardists...

America Blog saved the world by exposing Jeff Gannon. That's all you need to know.

Thanks for the tip on America Blog.

"Join the Fantasy"

If only!

Ha! I can't believe the whiny kids we used to pick on think they are the shit because the man they like is in the whitehouse. Give me a f*ckin break. You're a bunch of freakin lemmings. In between giving your man a BJ, check out these sites and then pucker up before I whoop ya again!

1) Billmon
2) The PoorMan
3) Jesus' General

And yes, you're right, you should never feel insulted for being the dumbass you can't help being. It's just your nature. You're lucky the liberals are liberals cause the day is coming when the right is gonna have to trim the fat and believe me, you're not even chopped liver. But don't worry kids, we won't let daddy take you behind the woodshed. But damn, you sure ain't gettin no sugar!

Uh... hey Sticker...

So what you're saying with the enlisting thing is that because he's not a soldier he has no authority to speak about Iraq. Aha.

So, if you're not a minority, you have no right to speak or hold an opinion on race.

If you've never lived below the poverty level, you have no knowledge whatsoever about poverty (hey, we just eliminated Congress in its entirety!).

Unless you're a doctor (or maybe an insurance broker) you have jack shit to say about the health care industry.

Have you ever _been_ an abortion? No? Then you have no right to speak about abortion. Judging from _what_ you write, however, it's not too hard to imagine that your brains have in fact been sucked out the back of your skull.

And again... did a leftist just accuse the right of being "whiney"??? Whining about things has been the ENTIRETY OF THE DEMOCRAT PLATFORM FOR THE PAST FORTY YEARS!!!! How blitheringly ignorant can you possibly be???? (See last sentence of previous paragraph.)

In case you didn't notice... politics is violence. "Mere" words are the first line of assault, literally pulling a trigger is the last; but in the end it's all much the same thing.

Having taken a peek at your website, I see that you're one of those who prefers the type of political philosophy that fits on a bumper sticker. Figures. Try actual complex thought some time.

Strider, you're my hero.

And, yes, I mostly commented just now so the number of comments = 20.

"Having taken a peek at your website, I see that you're one of those who prefers the type of political philosophy that fits on a bumper sticker. Figures. Try actual complex thought some time."

When I figure out how to put the contents of a manifesto on the back of a moving car for everyone to read, you'll be the first to know.

In the meantime, I've got stickers in 41 states, so I get the message out as best I can using the means availiable.

Besides, all I'm doing is what conservatives taught me...using short, memorable phrases: "Family values", "Strong on Defense", "Fiscal Responsibility", "Small Government", Prayer in Schools", Defense of Marriage".

You see, it doesn't matter if all that stuff Republicans say isn't actually true or applicable to them. They are liars, but they repeat it again and again, in every medium they can, and millions of people believe what is in fact, utter bullshit.

So I'm taking a page from their playbook, but using a little bit more truth than they usually do. Forty-one states and counting...

At least I'm doing something to stand up for what I believe in.

But send me a postcard when you get to Baghdad, and try not to breathe in too much of that depleted uranium our military is using.

cheers...

Sticker
http://www.sticker-shock.org

Seven (short) paragraphs to refute the tossed-off cheap shot at the tail end of my comment, and then repeating the idiotic statement that was pretty thoroughly shot down in the bulk of my comment. Of course.

How silly of me. What a waste of breath.

You "pretty thoroughly shot down" his statement?

That's the problem with you people. You're so fucking stupid you can't even understand when you've won or lost an argument. Arguing with you is like punching someone who can't feel pain. You spout off a stream of incoherent nonsense and then pat yourself on your bitter, angry little back and say "Man, I showed him!"

Ryan, I always enjoy this site. Thank god all conservatives aren't as retarded as "Strider".