Archive for the ‘internet/free speech’ Category

…this really bothers me:

The likes of Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and Moveon.org have launched assaults against not only this site, but against us personally. Against us as private citizens and individuals. They are costing us work, harassing us at home, making physical threats against us, and doing everything they can to shut us down. emphasis mine

Trying to cost them their jobs and livelihood, particularly in this economy? That’s way over the line!

It is one thing to go after someone politically. If you are going to be in the marketplace of ideas you have to be prepared to take some bruises. It’s quite another when you try to take away a person’s livelihood. I’ve seen this before and the same word applies now as it did then.

Dishonorable!

that one MSNBC host might have considered this:

worthy of public critique.

We have many strong personalities with differing, passionate opinions, but it is important to remember that we are all on the same team. I want to reiterate my long-standing policy: We do not publicly criticize our colleagues. This kind of behavior is unprofessional and will not be tolerated. emphasis mine

And what was that unprofessional behavior that crossed the line, I hesitate to post it, but here it is:

Obermann calls Brown a “homophobic racist reactionary” who “supports violence against women.” How reckless and how sad.

How unprofessional! How inflammatory, how disruptive!

The real issue here is that MSNBC’s evening lineup is designed for a niche market. That niche is a far left market and its viewership and ratings reflect it. Morning Joe audience is much more mixed and tends to appeal to both sides of the aisle. Mr. Scarborough also has a radio program that precedes Rush Limbaugh on the air and has a different demographic and frankly temperament.

There is nothing wrong with niche marketing, you can make a good living off of it, but niche markets usually have specific wants. As long as MSNBC’s profit is dependent on that niche market what is considered “unprofessional” and what is considered “passionate” will be defined by said market and might cause some confusion when viewed by people outside of it.

Update: Daily Gator links. Thanks.

And although Olberman, (and likely Griffin) would disagree, it has been a good week hasn’t it.

…thus even Charles Johnson’s (peace be upon him) sudden reverse of direction was not enough for them to give him the type of undying love that those who leave the right normally get.

In fact when you have Robert Stacy McCain & Patterico on the same side concerning this you know it must be bad news for Johnson.

Well he still gets 250x the traffic I get and I’m actually pleased to read he has a fiancée since as I’ve said the right woman makes all the difference in one’s life.

So Johnson is making a living off his site; it is coded well and he’s welcome to it. I’ve covered the Johnson/McCain fight closely which resulted in my own banning, and Peg’s and ironically led to my friendship with Stacy resulting in the rather exciting events of the last week. For all that the bottom line is the same as before: Johnson’s attacks on individuals were dishonorable.

I do have to disagree with Patterico on his third Update. If Johnson hadn’t been hitting them the Times in the past they would have fawned all over him. To suggest that the NYT would normally accurately cover the story requires a willing suspension of disbelief. The irony is that the Times showed its bias this time by simply telling the truth.

Update: Pam Geller comments in the same restrained way she dances in a chair when celebrating.

A MU-ik Videoh! Well we central mass Rednecks are outraged thar! That rock and roll stuff leads to a wiggling and a gyratin and next thing you know you end teaching kids to go ’round with near nutton on ‘tal!

You know I was always under the impression that our friends on the left were supposed to be more well “liberal” about this kind of stuff. I’m sure they must believe this music video disqualifies her from her position at WCVB.

The media here is pretty liberal but I’m wondering if the people at Chanel 5 are rethinking that. They know Gail, they know she kept quiet as things were said about her husband and daughters, I think this is going to backfire. It certainly isn’t going to endear the Huffpo to people who have watched her locally for many many years.

If knowing him made a difference to voters then knowing her will make a difference to local reporters.

One word: Dishonorable.

Update: The Lonely conservative is wondering why he posted on the subject. Why so I would link back of course! The real question is why Robert Stacy hasn’t posted on the subject yet. If there is one thing I’ve learned about him in the last week it’s he has an eye for a beautiful girl. Meep (who I mistakenly thought was Dan’s wife) at POWIP says this:

I find the whole thing very puzzling, in that these people pride themselves as being very knowledgeable, but cannot figure out what would be actually offensive to Massachusetts voters, even the conservative ones. We might be social conservatives, but we’re not the group who thinks females ought to be covered in black tents. These people keep crowing about eschewing stereotypes, and then invent some cardboard cutout idea of what a conservative is.

Yup that’s pretty much it.

Update 2: Pirate’s cove has a point:

I’m convinced. Scott Brown is not qualified to be a U.S. Senator. Next thing you know, we’ll find out that he had sex. With his wife!

He Just doesn’t fit in.

Update 3: Robert Stacy Links me all over. The fact that some people are making what they are of this say a whole lot more about them then it does about Scott Brown. (And yes this is identical to the other update, I’m cheep when it comes to pixels too.)