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You are here: Home / Humorous / Welcome to the Blogosphere, Wimp

Welcome to the Blogosphere, Wimp

by John Cole|  January 9, 20072:43 pm| 53 Comments

This post is in: Humorous, Blogospheric Navel-Gazing, General Stupidity

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New blogger Joe Klein writes a nasty post about ‘leftists’ and Paul Krugman and is surprised to find people saying nasty things about him:

I love it! First day of Swampitude and the left-wing blogosphere–which is overpopulated by illiberal leftists and reactionary progressives–is already attacking me: 24 mostly mingy comments about my Left Behind post, many of which seem to be steaming off a post by Greg Sargent, who writes a blog called The Horse’s…Mouth.
The illiberal left just hates it when I point out that the Democratic Party’s naivete on national security–and the left wing tendency to assume every U.S. military action abroad is criminal–just aren’t very helpful electorally.

Only twenty-four? I have commenters who can generate 24 nasty comments on a thread about… Little Miss Sunshine.

You got nothing, Joe Klein.

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Reader Interactions

53Comments

  1. 1.

    ThymeZone

    January 9, 2007 at 2:50 pm

    Se we can add blogging to the list of things Klein is clueless about.

  2. 2.

    fwiffo

    January 9, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    Don’t worry, the waaahmbulance is on the way, I can hear the sirens already.

  3. 3.

    David

    January 9, 2007 at 2:55 pm

    Wow, that one post has managed to utterly destroy any vestige of respect I still had for Joe Klein. What a smug, self-satisfied douchebag. It’s like he thinks that 1) nobody has ever accused liberals of rooting for the terrorists, and 2) this is a withering charge that will make all critics of the war realize what horrible people they are.

  4. 4.

    Zifnab

    January 9, 2007 at 2:59 pm

    I like how he can’t spell liberal. Maybe he should just got and hide out at Red State where he can have a dozen little forum monkeys shout you down before someone comes through with the ban stick.

    Back to your echo chamber Mr. Klein, the unwashed masses may despoil your virgin ears.

  5. 5.

    Joe Klein

    January 9, 2007 at 3:05 pm

    Golly, all I did was say that the President’s political opponents sound like ill-informed dilletants and fools, and then accused them of wanting America to lose a war, and suddenly everyone got all MAD at me.

  6. 6.

    Tim F.

    January 9, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    The illiberal left just hates it when I point out that the Democratic Party’s naivete on national security—and the left wing tendency to assume every U.S. military action abroad is criminal—just aren’t very helpful electorally.

    The Dems just won an election that was primarily about Iraq. If the Dems worshipped at the altar of Joe Klein they would have what, won the Supreme Court and three Secretary positions? Smug has more of an impact when it isn’t also retarded.

  7. 7.

    Pooh

    January 9, 2007 at 3:07 pm

    What a whiny little bitch. It’s amazing that there is room on that blog for the other three, Klein and Klein’s ego. Your liberal media at work.

  8. 8.

    Pooh

    January 9, 2007 at 3:08 pm

    Also what Tim said.

  9. 9.

    Steve

    January 9, 2007 at 3:13 pm

    He seems to have taken a page right out of Michelle Malkin’s victimology book.

  10. 10.

    maf54

    January 9, 2007 at 3:30 pm

    To Joe Klein:
    I’m not into bears. Sorry.

  11. 11.

    Jimmy Mack

    January 9, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    Hey, it’s not just leftists that hate Joe Klein. His weaseling about the war makes John Kerry look like Winston Churchill. Right-leaning independents like me hate him too

  12. 12.

    Keith

    January 9, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    You know what the illiberal left really hates? Projecting your opinion on another’s thoughts and presenting it as the unified thoughts of an entire group. They also hate when you write perjorative posts. And while I haven’t gotten around to asking the entire illiberal left, it’s a FACT (I love that one) that they’ll respond with perjorative comments.
    BTW: Only 23 more shopping day until Rich Victim’s Day, so all you weak, unpatriotic, elite secularists need to start thinking about what you should buy Joe to make the hurt go away.

  13. 13.

    yet another jeff

    January 9, 2007 at 4:13 pm

    Is it just me or is it getting harder and harder to tell Joe Klein from Bob Novak?

  14. 14.

    Kimmitt

    January 9, 2007 at 4:23 pm

    Why the hell is this goddamned moron in charge of a major newsmagazine? Seriously, did he win a contest or something?

  15. 15.

    Teak111

    January 9, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    The more irelavant the right bocmes, the louder they scream. First, Hannity gets a Hit List. Then Michele shows everyone she’s packing big ones and goes off to Iraq. And now little Joe is whining about meany comments from lefties. Boo_fucking_ho.

  16. 16.

    chopper

    January 9, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    You know what the illiberal left really hates? Projecting your opinion on another’s thoughts and presenting it as the unified thoughts of an entire group. They also hate when you write perjorative posts. And while I haven’t gotten around to asking the entire illiberal left, it’s a FACT (I love that one) that they’ll respond with perjorative comments.
    BTW: Only 23 more shopping day until Rich Victim’s Day, so all you weak, unpatriotic, elite secularists need to start thinking about what you should buy Joe to make the hurt go away.

    jesus, what a load of illegible garbage. they don’t make right-wing nutbags like they used to. sigh.

  17. 17.

    Mike

    January 9, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    Joke Line.

    ’nuff said.

  18. 18.

    b-psycho

    January 9, 2007 at 4:54 pm

    Geez, the way he acts you’d think a giant “liberal” assraped him in a dark alley when he was little…

  19. 19.

    Steve

    January 9, 2007 at 5:02 pm

    jesus, what a load of illegible garbage. they don’t make right-wing nutbags like they used to. sigh.

    Yeah. Actually, I think that commentor plays for our team.

  20. 20.

    feral1

    January 9, 2007 at 5:23 pm

    John,

    I think Klein got a lot more than 24 comments, but they are are being severely moderated. He would be run off that blog if they allowed anything close to unmoderated comments. I made a civil (mostly) comment to one of his later posts, which has yet to see light of day. And most of the posts have 0 comments and you know that’s not right.

    I’ll add that as much as I have disagreed with you in the past (not so much now that you’ve become a dirty fucking hippie), I always gave you credit for free hand you gave to your comments and your willingness to slug it out down in the trenches.

  21. 21.

    chopper

    January 9, 2007 at 5:45 pm

    Yeah. Actually, I think that commentor plays for our team.

    you’re right. i, for one, blame the booze. speaking of which…

  22. 22.

    Krista

    January 9, 2007 at 5:48 pm

    Dear Joe,

    Don’t write cheques that your ass can’t cash.

    Lovingly,

    The Left

  23. 23.

    Steve

    January 9, 2007 at 5:56 pm

    Leave it to Krista to assume that The Left spells like a can00k.

  24. 24.

    Jake

    January 9, 2007 at 6:16 pm

    Why the hell is this goddamned moron in charge of a major newsmagazine? Seriously, did he win a contest or something?

    Yeah, it involved sucking the paint off trailer hitches. Or something.

  25. 25.

    Elvis Elvisberg

    January 9, 2007 at 6:25 pm

    This guy has made a career out of projecting his own flightiness onto Democrats and the electorate.

    He’s so freaked out that someone from the right might criticize him for being soft that he will resolutely avoid evaluating the president’s proposal.

    Those on the left who actually do look at the numbers and criticize Republicans risk being criticized by Republicans, regardless of the facts, so Joe Klein must preemptively criticize them. It’s pure Liebermanism, harmful to America due to its indifference to reality. It’s a fifth column within the Democratic party that, thankfully, is dying out, thanks in large part to blogs.

  26. 26.

    SeesThroughIt

    January 9, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    Leave it to Krista to assume that The Left spells like a can00k.

    Yes, the United States WILL WIN the Grammar War. We cannot accept defeat-o-crat proposals for cutting and running to safer shores of lax grammar standards.

    Ah, who am I kidding. I know firsthand just what a grammatical nightmare America has become. Can’t nobodie doo no good speling and gramer anymor.

  27. 27.

    Judy

    January 9, 2007 at 6:59 pm

    I’d loved LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE only because it made me laugh, and there is not a lot of those moments these days. I also read the Horse’s Mouth today.. Am I the only person that thought the Horse’s Mouth was talking to the horses ass.. Excuse me but Joe Klein is suppose to be a journalist and he comes up with statements like some people want Iraq to fail, wouldn’t a paid journalist actually say who. You know some people think Jesus is coming back tomorrow, but I bet they don’t get paid for that thought.

  28. 28.

    The Other Andrew

    January 9, 2007 at 7:59 pm

    Not wanting to get into crazy, self-destructive wars = naive, apparently. Who knew?

  29. 29.

    Bob In Pacifica

    January 9, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    Joe Klein. Didn’t he write a book?

  30. 30.

    Krista

    January 9, 2007 at 9:24 pm

    Leave it to Krista to assume that The Left spells like a can00k.

    Sorry. Upon previewing it, I considered spelling it “your” way, but thought that it might seem forced.

    By the way, I watched the first episode of “Little Mosque on the Prairie”. Not bad. Not bad at all. It got a couple of really good laughs out of me.

  31. 31.

    bonkydog

    January 9, 2007 at 10:02 pm

    “illiberal” is to “liberal” as “Democrat Party” is to “Democratic Party”

  32. 32.

    ConservativelyLiberal

    January 9, 2007 at 10:10 pm

    feral1 Says:

    I’ll add that as much as I have disagreed with you in the past (not so much now that you’ve become a dirty fucking hippie), I always gave you credit for free hand you gave to your comments and your willingness to slug it out down in the trenches.

    John has become a dirty hippie? Wow, now I know I am in the right place! ;)

    Welcome to the hippie section in the bleachers of life John! No need to only watch the game, the entertainment is pretty lively in the bleachers alone. The hotdogs and nuts are to the Right, bathrooms and parking are to the Left, and I am sure that like any dirty hippie, you have brought your own personal stash. If not, look me up and I will be glad to share…

    I have been a ‘dirty hippie’ for almost 50 years now, and it is a pretty interesting life to lead. The anti-hippies and clean (eg: PC) hippies may not like me, but unlike them I can care less what someone thinks or says about myself or my beliefs. From what I have read here, neither do you…

    “Joke Line”, I love it! No need for any serious discussion other than speculation on the amount of Methane he produces…

  33. 33.

    Jonathan

    January 9, 2007 at 10:39 pm

    I was browsing Salon today and one of the authors had misspelled horde as hoard.

    Chaps my nads when people who should know better do that.

  34. 34.

    Robert Furs

    January 10, 2007 at 1:14 am

    Joe Klein, gee, I’m not a fan of this guy. He’s not “helpful” in any sense of the imagination, either.

    On a related note, why does he look like he just escaped from the morgue in the picture (http://img.timeinc.net/time/columnist/105_thumbnails/105_klein.jpg) on his blog?

  35. 35.

    Helena Montana

    January 10, 2007 at 4:57 am

    Nothing can dent Joke Line’s overweening self-importance. It always amazes me that people who have so little can believe they have so much.

  36. 36.

    Barry

    January 10, 2007 at 7:01 am

    Elvis Elvisberg Says:

    “This guy has made a career out of projecting his own flightiness onto Democrats and the electorate.

    He’s so freaked out that someone from the right might criticize him for being soft that he will resolutely avoid evaluating the president’s proposal.

    Those on the left who actually do look at the numbers and criticize Republicans risk being criticized by Republicans, regardless of the facts, so Joe Klein must preemptively criticize them. It’s pure Liebermanism, harmful to America due to its indifference to reality. It’s a fifth column within the Democratic party that, thankfully, is dying out, thanks in large part to blogs.”

    He’s also so used to being part of the Kewl Kidz elite who decide the buzz on the issues, that the fact that peasants might now have influence eats at his ego. Which is huge, but puffy, and so doesn’t actually have much substance.

  37. 37.

    Jill

    January 10, 2007 at 9:31 am

    John Cole…I’m sure there are many more comments waiting i the queue but Time or Klein are being selective in making the comments public. I have tried to post a few comments and not all of them have aired.

  38. 38.

    Tulkinghorn

    January 10, 2007 at 10:27 am

    Klein? Ignore him. He is the original, professional concern troll.

    The true left thinks less of him than they do of George w.. If someone posts a link to that article on DKos Time’s servers will collapse under the email load.

  39. 39.

    Hyperion

    January 10, 2007 at 11:33 am

    Nothing can dent Joke Line’s overweening self-importance.

    what’s really sad is that there is no shortage of self-important folks. i am a bit comforted by the current spate of outrage now at those who pimped the war.

    however, Klein, Bush, and Berger are symptoms IMO. i don’t think most folks appreciate that the REAL problem in the US now is rising incompetence and the inability to recognize it beforehand. we used to be a can-do country. now we are supremely confident while simultaneously being incapable of basic math/reasoning.

    what happened?

  40. 40.

    Jonathan

    January 10, 2007 at 11:53 am

    what’s really sad is that there is no shortage of self-important folks. i am a bit comforted by the current spate of outrage now at those who pimped the war.

    Over on Salon there is a 390 post flamewar going on over… wait for it….. circumcision.

    Meanwhile an article on the Iraq war that is even older than the circumcision article has all of eight posts, two of which are mine.

    I think that pretty much sums up what is wrong with the liberals at least, they would much rather fight among themselves than stand up to the conservatives.

    I used to think that liberals were smarter than conservatives, now I’m really starting to wonder.

  41. 41.

    demimondian

    January 10, 2007 at 12:15 pm

    Why on Earth would you think that liberals are smarter than conservatives? Good Lord in Heaven! It isn’t like we don’t have our own share of moronic blunders to own up to. (Admittedly, they haven’t typically included the avoidable deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, but cases could be made for our culpability in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Dresden, and many of Sherman’s maneuver’s during the Civil War, depending on whether you claim Lincoln as a liberal or not.)

    And if you think that some smart conservatives aren’t *really* smart, then you’ve spent too much time reading the Kewl Kidz on Powerline. There’s plenty of intellectual heft on the right, it’s just that the folks who could contribute there are currently in power, so they don’t get a chance to be smart.

  42. 42.

    feral1

    January 10, 2007 at 1:07 pm

    It’s interesting. More comments on Klein’s posts are slowly being let through and there is still not a single comment in support of anything he has posted. I can only conclude that even with extreme cherry picking Klein is not able to manufacture even the appearance of support for his idiotic bs.

  43. 43.

    Krista

    January 10, 2007 at 1:19 pm

    Over on Salon there is a 390 post flamewar going on over… wait for it….. circumcision.

    It’s up to that many already, is it? Last time I had checked, it was just a little over 100. About one-third of the comments were from people telling the author that his mother is an overbearing bitch, and the rest were either freaking out about how circumcision is mutilation, or alternatively, freaking out about the people freaking out.

    When it comes to how to raise one’s kids, NEVER underestimate the number of people who are more than willing to leap in with their opinion.

  44. 44.

    chopper

    January 10, 2007 at 1:48 pm

    I think that pretty much sums up what is wrong with the liberals at least, they would much rather fight among themselves than stand up to the conservatives.

    there are plenty of conservative blogsites that do the same thing. it isn’t a political thing, it’s human nature.

  45. 45.

    Jonathan

    January 10, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    Well, the mother _is_ an overbearing bitch if the story is true. And in my opinion, circumcision is indeed mutilation, albeit of a not particularly vicious kind. Of course my opinion may be prejudiced because I’m an anteater. ;-)

    There’s a fair bit of religious nonsense going on in the thread too. Jews claiming anti semitism, atheists claiming religion is superstitious twaddle, etc etc. I’ve read it more in a kind of horrified fascination than anything.

    There are a few rational voices, but not all that many.

  46. 46.

    Jonathan

    January 10, 2007 at 2:03 pm

    And if you think that some smart conservatives aren’t really smart, then you’ve spent too much time reading the Kewl Kidz on Powerline. There’s plenty of intellectual heft on the right, it’s just that the folks who could contribute there are currently in power, so they don’t get a chance to be smart.

    Hmm.. Just about every conservative I’ve read up until quite recently seems to think that Bush is a genius and the Republican party can do no evil.

    I was plenty upset with Clinton over a number of things and had no problem stating so, NAFTA comes immediately to mind as does his support for and escalation of the war on some drugs.

  47. 47.

    Krista

    January 10, 2007 at 2:05 pm

    Of course my opinion may be prejudiced because I’m an anteater.

    Thanks for sharing. That was special.

  48. 48.

    Jonathan

    January 10, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    And if you think that some smart conservatives aren’t really smart, then you’ve spent too much time reading the Kewl Kidz on Powerline. There’s plenty of intellectual heft on the right, it’s just that the folks who could contribute there are currently in power, so they don’t get a chance to be smart.

    Hmm.. Just about every conservative I’ve read up until quite recently seems to think that Bush is a genius and the Republican party can do no evil. Frankly, that alone disqualifies them as having “intellectual heft” in my mind.

    When I was a kid I used to think William F Buckley Jr was smart because he used a lot of big words. Then I realized that he doesn’t always use those words properly and changed my opinion.

    I was plenty upset with Clinton over a number of things and had no problem stating so, NAFTA comes immediately to mind as does his support for and escalation of the war on some drugs.

  49. 49.

    Zifnab

    January 10, 2007 at 3:29 pm

    And in my opinion, circumcision is indeed mutilation, albeit of a not particularly vicious kind. Of course my opinion may be prejudiced because I’m an anteater. ;-)

    For the record, circumcision doesn’t actually cost you any length, it just trims the foreskin. And its a cleanliness thing. And it’s also Jewish tradition.

    It’s no more “mutilation” than getting a tatoo or having your ears pierced a bunch of times.

  50. 50.

    TenguPhule

    January 10, 2007 at 4:54 pm

    There’s plenty of intellectual heft on the right, it’s just that the folks who could contribute there are currently in power, so they don’t get a chance to be smart.

    Spoof of the day!

  51. 51.

    Jonathan

    January 10, 2007 at 7:24 pm

    It’s no more “mutilation” than getting a tatoo or having your ears pierced a bunch of times.

    Or getting a joint of your pinky finger cut off.

    I mean, what do really use that last joint on your pinky for anyway?

  52. 52.

    Bob In Pacifica

    January 10, 2007 at 11:07 pm

    Joe Klein is responsible for me being circumcised? And all this time I blamed it on my parents.

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  1. The Moderate Voice » Blog Archive » Opening Ceremonies says:
    January 9, 2007 at 5:58 pm

    […] John Cole welcomes Joe Klein to the blogosphere. Posted on January 9, 2007 | Permalink | Categories Uncategorized | | View blog reactions […]

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