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Election Central Commenters Make News!
Note to all you hard-working commenters: You done good.
The Washington Times today published an article that's partly about...you.
Take a look. It's fun.
Which gives us a chance to thank you for your loyalty and all your efforts, as painful as they are to read on occasion.
But beware -- WashTimes is watching you...
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Greg, can you please add automatic gramma check?
""This IS a Democratic blog, and as such, it would seem to me that there SHOULD be SOME bias with regards to how YOU report of McCain's craziness, as opposed to treating his ranting and attacks with a sort of dignity they and he DO NOT deserve," wrote one emphasis-abundant reader."
I sound illiterate.
;-P
May 16, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Joshua, you're way more literate than the reverend moonie's newspaper.
May 16, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, I thought you were ruining the site, like me.
May 16, 2008 10:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is pathetic.
I think the word you are trying to think of in your kool aid infested mind is "grammar".
I am shocked, shocked, they did not quote me.
May 16, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it has something to do with your avatar and the comments you make.
For what it is worth I long for the day when we are on the same side, hopefully that will be soon.
May 16, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
goatlife is a troll. He's not a Clinton supporter bur instead is here to make trouble. He'll never be on your side.
Remember: DO NOT FEED THE TROLLS!!!
May 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually Gotalife redeemed himself the other day.
Check his posts on this link:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/15/president_bushs_despicable_att/#comments
May 16, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
You might also be shocked, shocked! to learn that it apparently only surprised you.
May 16, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am also shocked Gotalife - I quote you all the time!
I am 100% behind Gotalife in his grammar statemetn. If anyoen know the lanugaed English more - 'tis him (x2)!
Once again GL - I am with you EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Until the stars fall from the sky - or you stop posting.
May 16, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I loves me some me.
May 16, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
So I guess our critical comments are not hurting the site, huh Greg? ;)
Joshua, not to worry - you are wonderfully literate and we love you!! :)
May 16, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well I glad YOU think so, but THIS SITE is much MUCH more than any ONE individual, INCLUDING it's noble EDITORS.
;-)
May 16, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed! It's a symbiotic thing, isn't it? True democracy (with a small "d") at work!!!
May 16, 2008 10:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think accusations of bias against Greg and Eric are unwarrented, but I can see how others might not agree.
That said, this Godzilla/mila/dogzilla/racist-sexist-inbred-twit that keeps popping up with his stupid spam needs to be hunted down and killed with extreme prejudice.
May 16, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg -
Put down the cocktail weenie and back away from the McCain open bar. He has totally seduced the MSM.
You guys are vulnerable - I'm so not kidding.
May 16, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
you kidding? he'll say all sorts of stuff in the comfortable environs of the conservative blogger calls...it's a good way of getting the jump on what the GOP attack will be later.
May 16, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I actually agree, I do with the MSM (of which I don't consider TPM to be a part of) would cover McCain's numerous bumbles and misstatements though.
For instance didn't, just yesterday, McSame say that Reagan never negotiated with the Iranians? What the hell was Iran/Contra all about? Why is this not a big deal?
May 16, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
link to that?
May 16, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
“I believe that it’s not an accident that our hostages came home from Iran when President Reagan was president of the United States. He didn’t sit down in a negotiation with the religious extremists in Iran, he made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.'’
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/mccain-agrees-with-bushs-remarks/
May 16, 2008 10:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good catch
and good work
iran/contra - Jeez'um crow, I doubt they meant to bring that back up, what with the concerted effort to re-fashion reagan as some sort of hero, over the last couple of decades.
May 16, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ollie North endorsed McCain back in February, too. What that association gets less scrutiny than Ayers is beyond me.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/02/12/mccain_camp_touts_ollie_north.html
May 16, 2008 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget G. Gordon Liddy. If he can just get Scooter Libby to endorse him, he will have collected a complete set of the pardoned GOP bagmen!!
May 16, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
IRAN CONTRA. IRAN CONTRA. IRAN CONTRA.
Reagan traded Missiles for hostages. He did negotiate with hostage takers. He send Oliver North to Iran to meet with the Ayatollahs, and send them a cake and bible as gifts.
Check your history before you start spreading your Chicken Hawk War Mongering Crap on here.
For the record: Guess which country provided the Missiles that Reagan sent to Iran in exchange for the release of a small number of hostages. Answer: Israel.
May 16, 2008 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
There you go!
♪♪♪
May 16, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Reagan the Appeaser as it were - we must strive to keep the nom de guerre in play ;)
May 16, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd love to see that statement come out on top in this cycle. Reagan the Appeaser. Excellent!
May 16, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just repeating what the man said as per Greg's request. Anyone who took American History in high school knows McCain's full of crap on that.
May 16, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/15/14913/5301/320/516310
May 16, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is a beautiful line of attack!
May 16, 2008 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno... looks like you're appeasing with the MSM.
;)
May 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
I definitely agree with you on this one, Mr Sargent. I am most obliged to you for keeping us abreast of the McCain camp's talking points. It is indeed important to know what the enemy is saying.
May 16, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Completely agree. Not only that, but sites like this play a huge role in driving what the cable news covers.
May 16, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree Greg, stay on those calls and let us know what storms the McCain camp are trying to brew up.
Thanks for helping to keep us informed!
May 16, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg: You are doing a wonderful service. And you take the hits a lot better than I could. BTW, no problems logging on. Thanks.
May 16, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
as long as you don't sleep with the enemy...
May 16, 2008 11:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amen to this.
And I got quoted!
May 16, 2008 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena, I don't think Greg's in any danger of falling under a McCain spell. And hell, even if he was, he's got us to slap some sense back into him on a daily basis. ;-)
I think it's important to have good people listening in on these calls, so we can know what's being said without having to go through the filter of the right-wing sites. It's a tough and dirty job, but I'm sure Greg and Eric are up to.
May 16, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
And lest we pat ourselves too hard on the back, let us remember who owns the Times: Rev. Sung Myung Moon.
May 16, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Washington Fishwrap.
May 16, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll bet TPM has more readers than that tripe.
May 16, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
The number of otherwise respectable-looking people reading that rubbish on the metro would probably shock you. Luckily those folks are going to get chased out of town come november.
May 16, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
No offense to JoshuaBlog, but of all the comments on that thread, they had to pick his? What about FotW's brilliant response to the nonsense charge of "appeasement"? That journalist has no taste if he can pass over a gem like that without a mention (of course, what do I expect from the Washington Times?).
May 16, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are correct. But their choice does actually prove that this is a true "democratic" blog - and not just an echo-chamber. Their readers may not know the difference!
May 16, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I too cringed when I saw which comment they picked. TPM has always been happy to report muck regardless of the perpetrator's party affiliation, and to criticize blatant stupidity and failure to uphold the basic democratic values no matter which side of the aisle that comes from.
But, sad to say, FOTW's brilliant comment would have been inappropriate for that story, anyway, which was about McCain's development of lines of communication with the non-conservative bloggers and the reaction to that outreach. The actual substance of the call was pretty much irrelevant, except to the point that McCain had just given the bloggers something to ask about, and thus demonstrate that access does not always translate to answers.
May 16, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the Washington Times. They probably picked that quote because it showed "liberal bias" while at the same time containing mistakes which made it look semi-literate. I think that they're hoping that in pointing out the exchange, they also send a message to Greg and Erik that someone is watching the context that TPM uses with regard to McCain while they have this access.
It is interesting that they keep tabs on the comments here though.
May 16, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck you, Moonies! (how's that?)
May 16, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
F-ing perfect.
May 16, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
We Iranians, as other Middle Easterns, are really worried of the continuation of war if Sen. Mc Cain gets elected. I have made a short clip about your presidential race from the perspective of an Iranian. Take a look and promote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuVYlGZmtYg
May 16, 2008 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg - I agree with you at the moment - I think it's great. But this is how he does it - he has a great way of pretending to give the press complete access and it is seductive.
And I do think bloggers are walking the razor's edge. The more mainstream the whole thing becomes, the further it moves from what made it what it is, IMO.
But don't mind me; I'm ancient and behind the curve, no doubt.
May 16, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
I for one do think you are raising a worthwhile point. The McCain campaign is trying to seduce the bloggers - telling them how important they are ("opinion leaders"), giving them special privileges (access to the conference calls), and so on.
We've already seen how the relationship between a journalist and a source, or "access", can become valued to the point that it becomes a factor in how the information from that source is reported. (Think White House Press Corps; Judith Warner; etc., etc.) Then there's the fact that simple repetition of ideas or frames really does influence how people see the world. Keeping a critical distance requires constant vigilance.
For many of us, it appeared that Greg was perhaps spending a little too much time listening to the Hillary channel, and was starting to lose his critical perspective at times. (I wouldn't go so far as to say it was bias). So I believe Tena is making a valid point, that Greg is not immune to being "seduced" by the McCain's PsyOps. I do believe as well, however, that he is capable of resisting the seduction - and so I look forward to his coverage of McCain's Blogger Outreach Initiative, but with the the caveat:
Constant Vigilance!
May 16, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here we think for ourselves.
But the repubs want "rent a general" and now it's "Rent a conservative blog!" I'll shorten that: Rent a Con-Blog!"
May 16, 2008 10:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans are conmen and conwomen.
I do not want Greg and others to forget that for one damn minute. Anytime they make nice - check your goddamn pockets. Take any generous gesture with a great deal of skepticism.
Ye gods!
May 16, 2008 10:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
They will never be able to forget it. cuz we'll keep em straight!
May 16, 2008 11:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
well, once in law school I brought my pet monkey Thurgood with me to class, but I dressed him up in a little suit and tie. It was really cute : )
anyway, that same day famous Critical Race Studies "scholar" Derrick Bell was visiting the school. So about two dozen people come up and say "welcome Professor Bell." And when Thurgood would start jabbering away, it would take about two to three minutes before people realized, hey! That's not Derrick Bell, that a monkey in a suit!
May 16, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
can we hope that when obama is elected you'll slit your wrists? cause that would be sweet. and just.
May 16, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
oh I will laugh my ass off, just as I did both times you Americans elected W : )
May 16, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Arrrghhh, the stupidity, it burns!!!!
May 16, 2008 11:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Greg, do comments like this one above drive readers away from this site? I've never seen you take a position on this crucial matter.
Thanks for taking this into consideration.
May 16, 2008 12:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this a Democratic blog? It doesn't say so anywhere on the site.
They certainly haven't done anything to show that they're Democrats with their coverage of this election.
May 16, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Its a kool aid drinking, Obama blog.
They do hate the Clintons like the readers of the Washington Times.
Unity, if you will.
May 16, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Presidential Punch.
May 16, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly Gotalife I dislike this blog so much that I refuse to use apostrophes also.
I think Gotalife would agree with me that we have NO PLACE on this blog - and should resign in protest!
May 16, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans will come to see that Evolution does exist. Because of some... throwbacks... who keep posting the same thing over and over. Obsessed with their own kind, I guess.
May 16, 2008 11:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
that was a reply to the chimp-obsessed.
May 16, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey if McCain wants to bypass the MSM who are we to disagree? In the article a blogger asks him how his his seeing most US troops out of Iraq by 2013 is not date setting? The kind of date setting Republicans criticize Dems for. It's just one instance but when was the last time any MSM reporter asked him such a pointed question.
Greg don't ever expect to be called on. You're one of the juvenile delinquents sitting in the back of the class to these clowns.
May 16, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
I read the article and I found that revealing that when asked if that was a timetable. He said no, you did not understand or you did not read it.
And then I thought. He is saying 2013, after the end of his first term. He is in all likehood a one termer. So, what he is saying is that the Irak war won't end in his presidency.
May 16, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, screw YOU greg!
Just kidding. Sometimes...
May 16, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Congratulations Greg from the HeManHillaryHater's Club
May 16, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the problem with responding to McCain is that he tells so many untruths that it would take all day just to correct each and every one. And that also means you have to listen to him and worse, watch him speak. OMG, he is the MOST boring, insomnia remedy to hit the market. He inspires one to stop watching TV. And he is a truly immoral ass.
May 16, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
The failed to note our wonderful Sweetie thread, nor did they say 4 times how biased Greg is. Where's the love?
May 16, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
It was destroyed by your self hatred.
May 16, 2008 12:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
the Harvard physics department. 62 faculty, of which:
women: 4
AAs: 0
http://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/faculty.html
May 16, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
We're electing Obama to operate our supercollider?
May 16, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
O man, I wish.
I was really sorry that got cancelled. I heard any number of scientists interviewed who were bitterly disappointed and I thought it was going to be really good for America's scientific standing in the world.
And very very interesting! Dammit!
May 16, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
We could've built several of the damn things with the money we've sunk into conquering Mesopotamia.
May 16, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep.
Bastids!
May 16, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
no, I'm just observing that at least in the academic world, AAs are incapable of making the grade, so to speak, in any seriously difficult field, they only succeed at make-believe subjects like "critical race theory" and "AA studies."
It's sad, it's pathetic.
May 16, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
You showed statistics from one department at one university. Your incoherent, unsupported argument displays more about your own ignorance and stupidity than the race you're seeking to slander here.
May 16, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, and how many inbred, toothless racists do they have on staff?
Maybe you should go looking for a job? You'd have to leave your cushy job at Taco Bell, but I'm sure they could find somebody else to clean the bathrooms during the night shift.
May 16, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Running for President of the United States:
Woman: 1
AA: 1
White Male: 1
There's your 2008 America Fuck-nuts now go away!!!
May 16, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troll alert.
milorad/Godzilla/mila/dogzilla/racist-sexist-inbred-twit.
Greg Sargent
Your blog will make the news (about which you seem so giddy) better if you have a report abuse function for such trolls because it is obvious that you don't have a moderating team.
May 16, 2008 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well we did put Bill Foster (IL-14) a Fermi Lab scientist in the US House so it's not all bad. It's good to have analytical thinkers in office.
May 16, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well see, going mainstream entails all kinds of different considerations, like censorship on the threads.
*sigh*
May 16, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
This was my favorite bit:
That, in a nutshell, is why liberals and Democrats have completely swamped the wingnuts in the blogosphere, no matter how often Time magazine or some other old media outlet declares them "most influential" or "blog of the year." They want blogs to be about "opinion leaders" who tell their sheep what to think, just like Rush and Fox News. And they can be used that way, as the most of the right-wing bloggers do, but it quickly hits a wall in growth and power.
It is about mass communication, but not in the way that Mr. All is thinking. The only two modes he's considering are "broadcast" mass communication and "opinion leader" narrowcasting. The liberal blogosphere is built on a different model, call it massively multiplayer. It's mass communication, but not one-way mass communication.
However, to use that model, you have to be willing to trust people to question, to self-organize, to have their own opinions, to choose their own actions. You can ask them to do things, but not order them to. The conservative movement is all about control, so they'll never be able to take advantage of that.
May 16, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to mention that we are so much smarter than they are.
And I'm only half-kidding. Statistically, the higher your education, the more liberal you are apt to be.
May 16, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I applaud this article from the Reverend Moon's Washington Times, as publicising TPM on such an outlet for loudmouthed neoconservatives will only lead to better and more unhinged and semi-literate trolls.
Let the floodgates be opened.
May 16, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
One hand washes the other
TPM Featured at BarackObama.com
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBlCY
May 16, 2008 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink