Looks like it’s me who has a godawful sense of timing. Assuming that we don’t get summarily DQ’d, which I suppose could happen at any minute, we can count on the complaining from the rest of the rightwing blogosphere to start any minute now. As far as I’m concerned that’s a good thing for any number of reasons beyond bending Michelle Malkin even more out of shape than usual. It also sets the terms for a discussion about conservatism that strikes me as long overdue. As far as I’m concerned John wholeheartedly deserves to make that list, but then by any traditional definition of conservatism the list of blogs that deserve the title just isn’t that long. Sullivan, the Volokh community, Daniel Larison, The Commissar and Greg Djerejian stood up against expanding unsupervised government power even when it served their own party. Most of the rest kept their cars hitched to the Bush Movement long after it unambiguously jumped tracks from conservatism to naked authoritarianism.
This post won’t resolve that debate, if that’s even possible*, but the value of having it strikes me as justification enough. Although John and I both have a pragmatist’s short patience for ideological navelgazing few things strike me as more important than highlighting the profound unreality of political discourse today. See for example concise little gem by Jim Henley. It seems clear that the conservatives of 2000 would be shocked and appalled by the perfectly quotidian, mainstream positions of “conservatives” today. What changed? Some people didn’t. John stayed the same, Sullivan didn’t go anywhere, and I think that a fair case can be made that the holdouts deserve the title more than the larger number who ran off to a darker place and took the term with them.
(*) Note added in update – there is no reason to think we will succeed where Sullivan and his book have failed.
The Other Steve
I CAN HAS CHEEZBURGER?
John Cole
From my perspective, I just want to do anything I can to make them whine.
And hey, them bitching about me not belonging will distract them from our obvious underhanded plans to brainwash children with Nickelodeon.
Dreggas
Well there’s a reason why Sully’s book didn’t make much of an impact. Don’t get me wrong I like Sully a lot but the reality is he was already discredited by what passes as the right today because he is gay. That’s not a bash on him but a simple fact given todays republican party. Furthermore anyone who disagrees is banished, that is all there is to it. There is either unerring fealty or being banished.
Dug Jay
WOW!! I’ve seen a lot of misguided and downright absurd comments from the hosts here over recent months…but this comment is a clear sign of some form of dementia that has seized the minds of many on the left side of the blogosphere.
DR
To Dug Jay: Explain yourself, or shut up. Your comment makes no sense, and will not have an impact, unless you make clear what you consider “absurd”, “misguided”, or “dementia”.
As for John Cole being on the “left” side of the blogosphere, read his posts: it’s only because the “right” side has gone completely bonkers. I don’t think he would have had issues with the Repug party if it had stayed Reagan’s party (I, on the other hand, have to puke anytime his name is uttered [BLEAAAAAARCH]).
I’m a lefty; John Cole is not. Sorry dude…
Punchy
J0NZ IN URE KATAGORY, K/LL/N URE CHANC3S
D-Chance.
Well, the category IS “Best Conservative Blog”, not “Best Republican Blog”. The Weblog folk will get a ton of harsh feedback, especially if B-J threatens to come anywhere close to winning the thing; but go ahead, let them crank up the conversation on Conservative vs Republican vs Bushism. Long overdue, although I’m not sure if the eyes haven’t been blinded, skins thickened, and minds closed beyond hope by now…
Jake
How could such a debate take place? You can’t talk to people who respond to anything they don’t like by shrieking SHUTUPYOUTERRORPINKOCOMMIEFASCISTAMERICASOLDIERTROOPFREEDOMHATER [eleven hundred exclamation points]
Libby Spencer
I LOVE it. It will certainly make it easy to choose who to vote for. I’m predicting B-J will run away with first place.
JGabriel
John Cole: “From my perspective, I just want to do anything I can to make them whine.”
On the other hand, if you win, it might be an instructive moment for the right wing blogosphere, teaching them how the general public and thinking people define ‘conservative’ as opposed to how the Republican party uses the term.
Not that they’d learn that lesson – most likely, they would just scream ‘media bias’ or ‘ballot stuffing’ and move on after a suitable period, say one or two weeks, of bitching, kvetching, whining, and overhyping it.
Personally, I hope Balloon Juice wins that Best Conservative Blog award. The ensuing discussion over what ‘conservative’ means could be enlightening. At worst, it would entertaining and provide endless snark opportunities.
Let the games begin!
jcricket
Fixed.
DragonScholar
What happened to the conservatives? I’d actually say what happened was what they wanted – but not what they wanted.
First of all, Republicans set out to win quite some time ago, and results be damned. They became the say-anything, do-anything party. I was worried about pandering to the religious right nearly two decades ago (and then even some Republicans I knew were – man the things I heard said about Pat Robertson back then).
However, playing say-anything meant nothing was too low. Not racism, not scaremongering, not kissing up to the religious right, nothing. The Republican party kept spinning illusions to get votes.
Two decades later, the party is ALL illusion. One just has to look at the bizarre, insane statements by the current Republican candidates like Gulliani and Romney. Double Gitmo. President of Iran invited to a Democratic Inaguration. What was the province of talk radio a decade ago is presidential campaign material now.
There’s no one home, no soul, no real meaning. A giant magic show of playing to the lowest common denominator. Once it was a tool – now it’s all that’s left. All that’s left, in the end, is playing to the crowd, pushing buttons, and keeping the madness going.
Conservativism, for my money, hasn’t meant anything for about fifteen years. It’s a buzzword used by a bunch of people who talk less government while wanting more war and spying, who talk sexual morality while cheating on their wives, who talk against gays while wearing panties under their business suits.
Conservatives I see and know are split between:
*The disillusioned who realize it’s changed. This is a minority.
*The reformists who think they can save the party. This is an incredible minority.
*The bandwagoneers who are glad to go along with the party as long as the fear and hate gets whipped up, and they’re told Jesus wants us to bomb brown people to stop socialized medicine. This is a majority.
*The people who benefit from the system and just use the bandwagoneers. Some of them are in charge – among the deluded.
Conservativism will not save itself. People have to ask what’s important to them, toss out all party affiliation and labels, and then see what they truly want, truly believe, and what truly achieves that.
I’m not holding my breath.
Zifnab
Ok, that’s just totally wrong. I refuse to believe that the John Cole of 2007 is the same John Cole of 2003. I mean, he’s still a Steelers fan, and he still loves him some Hola Fruta, but we are looking at a guy who was one step off from Dan “Hillary Eats Babies” Riehl and who now verbally bludgeons his former Republican Overlords with zest and passion.
This is a guy who was only liberal when it came to shouting “Democrats did it too!” and generally went along with the Bush Tax Cuts AND a pre-emptive unprovoked invasion.
John Cole has done a huge 180 since his conversion. He voted for Robert Byrd for christ sake.
AkaDad
Before we vote John, I think your readers have a right to know if you’re teaching yoga to your students…
jcricket
I’d say John’s done at least a 540, if not a total 720. He’s that impressive.
Jake
And he stuck the landing!
Tim F.
Zifnab, you’re simply wrong about that. John hated Dan Riehl, Michelle Malkin and Hugh Hewitt since he began blogging and was never the least bit shy about saying so. Search through the archives if you doubt it.
John has always said that he voted for Democrats because it’s the only way to force the losers who disgraced his party out of office. It certainly isn’t because he suddenly decided to support nationalized healthcare.
Dreggas
Boy John, you really know how to give the bedwetters something to cry about LOL.
Pb
Tim F.,
Note that Zifnab never said that John Cole liked Dan Riehl, just that he wasn’t too far off at one point. I don’t know that I agree even with that, mind you, but one big difference I see is that John Cole has always been a pretty thoughtful person who can change his mind over time, whereas Riehl is a straight-up partisan hack crazy person.
Billy K
Just reading over the nominees for the first time, and here are my thoughts for anyone who cares (or doesn’t)…
– How is it The Editors didn’t get nominated for funniest?
– Is Captain’s Quarters really that popular?
– How is it Atrios is not nominated for something?
– Fark for best online community? Really?
-Pandagon? Really?
– Real Clear Politics for best coverage? OK, now I know this is not a “real” list…
– And if Fluxblog, Stereogum and MOKB are still getting moninations….Lord…
P.S. Sullivan should not be eligible for anything until he opens up to comments. I like his blog, but come on…
John Cole
I know this is a weblog, and as such, a bastion of navel-gazing and vanity, but I am really sick and tired of talking about me. I am what I am.
Mr Furious
“You Love Me! You Really Love Me!”
Or, not so much… I was listed as a Weblog Awards Finalist for “Best New Blog” this morning, but I’ve been blogging for years, and pointed out that there’s been a mistake—either I’m in the wrong category (nominated as “Individual”) or they meant Mrs. Furious.
Yup. it was a typo. Mrs. Furious is the finalist. I’m out…
But, I’m the man behind the woman, so go vote for her when the time comes!
Mr Furious
I am really sick and tired of talking about me.
But are you REALLY sick about us taking about you? ;-)
Seriously John, I’m glad you got placed in the Conservative category, because if you win, it will schadefrorgasmic to watch what ensues…
It’s gametime, bitches.
The Populist
I just like seeing Michelle and her whiny counterparts cry whenever the facts are presented. This site does a good job at challenging these authoritarians by throwing the nonsense back in their face.
Billy K
I was wondering when you’d finally say that – since you are TEH AWESOMIST GUY ON TEH INTERTRONS!!!
Seriously. A guy switched parties. Happens all the time. Move along, now folks.
The Other Steve
I wish you guys would stop trashing on my good friends Dan Riehl, Michelle Malkin and Hugh Hewitt.
They are arguing in good faith, after all.
jcricket
Closeted repressed homo about to be caught in a sex sting with underage black TV star? During your break from indoctrinating the college students at your liberal Jew-niversity, of course.
jcricket
Just perused the list of finalists and this made me spew my morning coffee, under best Comic.
Seriously? The unfunny cut-n-paste rantings of Chris Muir? Best comic?
Dreggas
Ok John since you are sick of talking about you let’s talk about me and the fact that I have now been a non-smoker for over a month :D
Krista
Yay, Dreggas! How do you feel???
mds
I’d say John’s done at least a 540, if not a total 720. He’s that impressive.
This also seems to suggest that he’s a fermion. I’ve long suspected. Most so-called “conservative” blogs, on the other hand, are staffed with complete bosons.
ConservativelyLiberal
Fixed.
Dreggas, congrats on the stopping smoking! I know my time to do so will come too, but right now you just reminded me that it is time for a cigarette.
Damn you Dreggas! ;)
John, I am still waiting for the pictures (with detailed dimensions!) of your countertops. Obviously you have something to hide.
Oh, and trim the hedges outside your home.
Dreggas
Honestly I feel fantastic. Using the subliminal messaging thing really did the trick. No joke I used that for one night and I haven’t smoked since, I listened to it when I went to sleep for two weeks after and now I am good to go
Dreggas
CL,
It’s not as scary as I thought and honestly I feel so damn good having quit.
Billy K
Dreggas, I’m sick of you stealing my spotlight on this issue. I’m gonna go Obama on yo’ head.
6 weeks, not a single cigarette here.
Books are so 1998. No one reads books. Especially by whiny, fence-sittin’, flippity-floppin’ Brits.
P.S. Hope the ellipses didn’t throw ya.
Krista
Yay for Billy K, too! Proud of you guys. I quit in September of 2002, and it was tough at times, but totally worth it.
Billy K
Thanks, Krista.
I’m just now starting to feel really “normal” again. I had no idea how many parts of my life the vile weed had infiltrated (answer: all of them). In many ways it’s been like learning to be a different me. My sleep schedule was in turmoil the first month, and that was the worst part. Now that there’s some separation, I’m really looking forward to just stepping on the gas and putting as much distance as possible between myself and that lousy part of my life.
P.S. Anyone out there thinking of quitting, I cannot recommend highly enough, “The Easyway” by Allen Carr. God Bless this man and his book.
Dug Jay
Balloon Juice has been removed from the list of finalists for the “Best Conservative” blog category. Better luck next year in the “Best Fruitcake and Moron” category.
Dreggas
Yeah I had the audio version and it helped BIG TIME too. Although I do find irony in the fact he died of lung cancer…
Dreggas
we know you will provide stiff competition in that category along with Hewitt, Malkin et al.
Billy K
YIKES!! I didn’t know that. But it makes sense, sadly. Quitting only stops the damage; it doesn’t reverse it. At least he’s helped a lot of people who won’t suffer the same fate.
Bombadil
“But enough about me — let’s talk about you. What do you think of me?”
Psycheout
Blogs 4 Brownback didn’t make the cut. I DEMAND a recount! Sigh, at least we were nominated. Better luck next time, John.
Dug Jay, what category were YOU nominated in?
Bombadil
What the hell are “TTLB Ecosystem Categories” and why is Balloon Juice in one?
Bombadil
Never mind — found it.
Jake
God or Popeye?
crack
He may not of defended Malkin, but Goldstein he defended for a long time.
chopper
least likely to have a point?
Dreggas
Actually given enough time the damage does start to reverse itself. It depends on many factors.
Jess
Great new word! Can’t wait to use it in conversation…which should be any moment now.