TheAgitator.com
Gossip Post
Tuesday, October 28th, 2003Brooke Oberwetter and I are not dating. Nor were we making out at the blog party. Nor were she and Gene. Nor, for that matter, were Gene and I.
We are all, however, members of the “Gene’s Couch” crowd, a hip, hugely influential group of libertarian opinion-makers who will likely sway the 2004 election through our love of Howard Dean, and our ability to intimidate neophyte conservative bloggers with vicious put-downs and witty one-liners.
All that said, I do seem to remember Matthew Yglesias attempting to give Jim Henley a hickey, but I might have dreamed it.
Dean is a socialist–the exact opposite of what you are supposed to stand for as a libertarian. I’m one of those guys hoping that once Bush wins a second term, he will do all kinds of politically unpopular libertatrianesque things. Or maybe i’m just completely insane. But go with Dean and we’ll have universal health care and an insanely high unprecedented tax rate, but do what u must.
All your linking in that post crashed my browser. Way to go.
Instead of “Gene’s Couch”, why don’t you call your group something like, say, the “Popular Front”.
In memory of that other great example of comradeship, solidarity for a cause and foolishly sticking your head in a collectivist bear trap.
Let’s see…you can play the role of Andrés Nin to the little Stalinists of the Democrat Party. Except (in keeping with the famous notion of rerun-history-as-farce) there’s no Franco – just irresponsible stupidity as inexorable Nemesis. (And really, to be honest, Nin’s shared leftism made his collaboration far less of a betrayal than your proposed collaboration with Howard Dead and the Democrats. So much for wonderfully principled libertarianism.)
Are you all really that foolish, that naive?
“Nin’s followers were also removed from the government. In June 1937 Nin and most of the leadership of POUM were arrested and sent to a Soviet camp at Acala de Henares near Madrid. Andrés Nin was executed on 20th June 1937.”
That’s the way Popular Fronts end up, for some reason. Have fun with your new Democrat pals. Better not turn your back on them, though.
Radley: This site needs a special FAQ for the irony-challenged.
While we’re at it, who developed the mascot? I’d call it the most effective logo for a blog that I’ve seen. Well, ok, it was until Hot Liberty came around.
Okay,maybe I went too far implying that Radley Balko is the Andrés Nin of libertarianism. He’s actually the indy rock Andrés Nin.
Why not link up with that other set of Bush-haters as well – the paleo-conservatives? Then you all could help Justin Raimondo plan pogroms against the “neocons”!
Not that any of this matters much. To quote Bob Black on another topic: “The Platform may have had great influence on those who have not had great influence.”
J “irony challenged” S
I’d love to invite all you potential Dean lovers up to Vermont for a pitcher of beer at happy hour. Oh wait, pitchers of beer and happy hours are banned in Vermont. Well, then mabye a beer and a shot. Ooops…. only one drink at time in Vermont. I’ll buy you a beer then. Oh wait, I can only get one beer at the bar, if I touch a second one and hand it to a friend, even in sight of the bar tender, I’ve been “served” two drinks and broken the law.
David -
Man, even Ohio isn’t yet screwed-up that badly. (Although Gov. Taft sure has been trying…)
Some parts of Texas are dry, but I don’t think I’d attribute that to Dubya.
Did Dean have anything to do with those laws?
Yes, you’re all so witty and ironic. Can anybody direct me to a Libertarian weblog where they actually talk about relevant things? The inside joke threads, catfights with other bloggers threads, the “if you don’t live in the ‘Beltway’, you won’t get this..” threads, baby picture threads, Radley’s new favorite pansy-ass Indie Rock band of the week threads, etc. are starting to wear a bit fucking thin. Go ahead and ban me now, fratboy.
Geotech,
I thought it was all very entertaining, but now that I’ve read your post I realize how much time Iâ??ve been wasting. I think we need a blog more along the lines of a libertarian NPR, you know, serious smart stuff. I would suggest: the slope of the taxation curve, the marginal rate of return on education dollars, or perhaps pension-reforms in various countries around the globe. Who wants to read all this other silly stuff anyway?
Geo –
If it’s wearing thin, stop reading! Honestly. It isn’t as if your computer forces you to this site.
This is my weblog. I pay for the design. I registered the domain name. It’s my name that’s associated with it. If you don’t like it, for goodness sake, don’t read it.
I’ve never promised this would be an exclusive discussion of politics and policy. It is my weblog, that more than half the time deals with politics and policy. But it is also, in many ways, a vanity site. It is most certainly an “ego vehicle.” I’ve made no pretense otherwise, and I’m sorry if you were misinformed. I’ve said from day one that the purpose of this website is to promote me. Radley Balko.
Therefore, when a friend of mine has a baby, I will link to the baby pictures. When I want to post an inside joke that only ten people reading will understand, I will do so. When I want to settle a grudge on this site, I will do so. When I want to recommend a band I like, I will do so. When I want to boast about hanging a damn fine shelf, I’ll do that, too.
You’re under no obligation to read this site. You don’t pay for it. It isn’t publicly subsidized. It’s a blog by Radley Balko, about stuff that Radley Balko likes. And stuff that Radley Balko dislikes. And I’ve invited a few people who Radley Balko thinks are interested to contribute as well.
I don’t know why this is so hard to understand.
Radley,
I’m glad you responded.
It seems a lot of people can’t see the difference in this site, H&R, instapundit, etc. I think there is a clear difference.
This is a personal blog, you post what is on your mind. This isn’t a magazine. Typos, rants, music reviews, etc. are all welcome.
Funny how you can open up to people on the net and they yell at you for what you think, isn’t it? Oh well, maybe they’ll understand one day.
Can’t we have just one day of stuff just Geotech likes?
Now that it’s been brought up, I have to ask…
How is that shelf going anyway? Has it needed a dusting yet? Are you satisfied that it has sufficient surface area to meet your needs?
Geotech is right… I’m too damned lazy to come up with my own blog, but I DEMAND that you cater to MY desires, to the sublimation of your own. Just where would one find a Libertarian site that would do that? Maybe I should check over at ‘aynrand.com’ and see if they have anything up my alley.
[Gee, Geotech, I hope that wasn't too ironic for you...]
I read this site for all of what is available. I don’t read that in which I am not interested. I think that method works pretty darn well for me.
I will say that I do come to this site nearly every single day.
Radley,
As I am sure you are well aware of, these blog sites are just like message boards in that people will always find something to bitch about. It is always a reflection of them, and not the site or the blogger/poster they target. So, no worries. People have meltdowns all the time. Sometimes it just happens to coincide with the latest thing they have read online.
I read a lot of message boards, as well. It is probably a very bad habit. There are so many emotionally hampered people out there. (Sarcasm alert) More people should take naps.
Can I be added as a contributor to the site? I’m sure that I can link to all kinds of moronic shit that will drive Geotech to suicide or at least to go away permanently.
Chris
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