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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Late night open thread

Late night open thread

by DougJ|  August 8, 201010:57 pm| 150 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments, where principled conservatives and thoughtful progressives engaged in respectful debate without resorting to name-calling or epithets. Now look at it.

If I knew whose fault it was, I’d name them and shame them, but right now I can’t decide whether to blame you or the other front-pagers.

Discuss.

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Reader Interactions

150Comments

  1. 1.

    scarshapedstar

    August 8, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    I question the timing. Also, the patriotism of everyone involved.

  2. 2.

    JSmith

    August 8, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    1st career comment, longtime reader.

    Don’t sweat the nastiness in the comments, I’ve never read them anyway. I suspect a great bulk of the blog readers do the same – after all, anonymous internet comment forums are not typically where I go for entertainment OR education. The front page stuff is still great. Except when it goes meta into the quality of the comments.

    Keep up the good work.

  3. 3.

    John Cole

    August 8, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    I blame Tunch.

  4. 4.

    Damien

    August 8, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    I don’t recall it being like that, but I’d have to say I blame the commentators, because my own feeling in general is that liberals are getting less and less open to legit dialogue.

    I’d have to twist it a little bit, though, and say that the lunatic right is making it excessively difficult to call yourself a “conservative” and not get mocked openly.

  5. 5.

    El Cid

    August 8, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    I think there’s a bit of a problem with people who take comments to a blog named Balloon-Juice a great deal too seriously, particularly when it seems that people act as if they’re establishing turf rather than just leaving comments on a blog.

  6. 6.

    matoko_chan

    August 8, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    feh
    there are no principled conservatives.
    Kain is a porn fluffer for stinky old conservative failmemes and an enabler for the worst bad crazipants of his base.
    fetus = slave my fine white ass

    lets rumble!
    betcha you can’t even beatdown a crunked grrl.

  7. 7.

    Strandedvandal

    August 8, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    I don’t think there is much trust in anyone with an opinion they want to share having any form of “legit” viewpoint anymore. Everyone will say anything regardless of it’s semblance to the truth, so long as it furthers their chosen narrative.

  8. 8.

    Nicole

    August 8, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    No Roger Sterling in tonight’s Mad Men. Back when it was just John and Tim there was plenty of Roger. That’s how I remember it, anyway.

  9. 9.

    General Stuck

    August 8, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    Left wing ideologues are the problem here and have been since Obama was elected, and even before. They come like a creeping crud from GOS and elsewhere in the nutroots and shovel their shit endlessly like a thousand fools banging the bongos. A hand full of Obots are stinking up their movement, or something, and it cannot stand. Some were here already and now that we don’t have the wingers in power to pound on, it has to be Obama or dems in general. It is like a giant blob of stupid that now has even conflated the Afghan war with Iraq as both were illegitimate equally, from the git go.

    It is a wave of stupid, and I am guessing that Cole bringing Kain in was some attempt to diffuse the increasing intolerance of factual argument in lieu of group think pony wrangling from left wing warriors who piss their pants and play victim the minute any one calls them on their bullshit.

    If you give me a minute, I will tell you what I really think.

  10. 10.

    Corner Stone

    August 8, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    This may be the best spoof you’ve written in a long time.

  11. 11.

    jeffreyw

    August 8, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    It’s all my doing. I come with nothing but pictures of food and birds and dogs and cats. No arguments, no lengthy comments on “why oh why have ye forsaken me, ‘bama”.

  12. 12.

    Joseph Nobles

    August 8, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    I don’t have time to be mad at anybody here but myself. I finally heard what the dog whistle of slamming Michelle Obama for her vacation is summoning all the racist wingnuts out for. It’s a picture of Michelle as First Welfare Queen. I’m about to lose my composure.

  13. 13.

    matoko_chan

    August 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    @General Stuck: lawl.

    the Afghan war with Iraq

    well….both wars are being tabletopped by the fucktard COINdinistas aren’t they General?

    c’mon, Doug wont battle meh!
    u do it…..i’ll tie one frontal lobe behind my back!

  14. 14.

    RareSanity

    August 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    Gee Whiz…I went on vacation (physically and from the interwebz) for a couple days, and all hell breaks lose…

    I thought the comments in ED’s first post where just rookie hazing and that things would calm down…

    John, it’ll calm back down, just growing pains.

    I only have one complaint…gotdammit DougJ, where the hell are the subtle NWA, 2Pac or Biggie post titles?

    I mean WTF?

  15. 15.

    Teri

    August 8, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    Tunch started it because he got left to tame the two damn dogs….whats a cat gotta do? Get a pus filled abcess on his ass to get a little respect? Personally I love the up and down arrow on my keyboard, comment I don’t like just scroll through it until resonable people are talking again.

  16. 16.

    DougJ

    August 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    Cannot believe Stuck bought it.

  17. 17.

    SFAW

    August 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    In no particular order:

    1) Ever since John won that $1000 bet with Pantload, he’s been smug and insufferable.
    2) I woulda blamed Tunch, but some schmoe beat me to it.
    3) It’s All Bill Clinton’s (“ABC”) Fault.
    4) I blame Society
    5) I blame myself, ’cause I was mean to wingnuts once. Well, OK, maybe 100 times, but the actual amount ain’t important.
    6) Gay marriage has made us all less tolerant of the noble right-winger.
    7) Al Franken for mocking Mitch McConnell
    8) The Great Orange Satan and the Cerulean Cherub
    9) The fucking Mets. ($500M payroll and they can’t break .500? I half expect to read that Minaya has signed Mario Mendoza, thinking he’ll help.)
    10) Al Gore

    I’m sure there are more, but I’m tired.

  18. 18.

    Dave C

    August 8, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    I don’t know whose fault this is, but I’m sure it has to be somebody who writes for the Atlantic. Damn you, Fallows!

  19. 19.

    ellaesther

    August 8, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @DougJ: Wait, this wasn’t serious?

    /crumples list of talking points, takes aim for basket

  20. 20.

    RareSanity

    August 8, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    Dood, I have to give you credit though, that comment about preferring BD Kane over ED Kain had me laughing all weekend.

    Classic.

  21. 21.

    matoko_chan

    August 8, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    Cole….
    COINdinista!

    What have we got? Yeh-o, magnificence!!
    Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi
    Went to the park to check on the game
    But they was murdered by the other team
    Who went on to win 50-nil
    You can be true, you can be false
    You be given the same reward Socrates and Milhous Nixon
    Both went the same way – through the kitchen
    Plato the Greek or David Petraeus
    Who’s more famous to the billion millions?
    News Flash: Vacuum Cleaner Sucks Up Budgie
    Oooohh…bub-bye Magnificence!!
    FUCKING LONG, INNIT?

  22. 22.

    superfly

    August 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    @John Cole:

    I blame Tunch.

    You would. Traitor.

  23. 23.

    Darrell (not really)

    August 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    Yeah, what ever happened to civility and calm, rational discussion?

  24. 24.

    RareSanity

    August 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm

    @DougJ:

    Cannot believe Stuck bought it.

    Crap…I got Doug-rolled too…

  25. 25.

    Felanius Kootea (formerly Salt and freshly ground black people)

    August 8, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    It’s all Darrell’s fault and you know it.

  26. 26.

    burnspbesq

    August 8, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    DougJ:

    This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments, where principled conservatives and thoughtful progressives engaged in respectful debate without resorting to name-calling or epithets.

    That describes Greenwald’s place in 2005, FDL in 2006, and IamTRex in 2007 and early 2008. Maybe all blogs are fated to go downhill.

  27. 27.

    Leo

    August 8, 2010 at 11:39 pm

    Stupid moderation filter ate my not-very-funny joke.

  28. 28.

    suzanne

    August 8, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments, where principled conservatives and thoughtful progressives engaged in respectful debate without resorting to name-calling or epithets.

    Yeah, it used to suck HARDCORE.

  29. 29.

    burnspbesq

    August 8, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    @RareSanity:

    Crap…I got Doug-rolled too…

    “Never gonna give you up …”

  30. 30.

    fucen tarmal

    August 8, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    no one is getting laid because you dirty hippies are either too po ass broke to afford air conditioning, or a hooker, or both, or the anniversary of jerry’s death just puts everyone on edge….

    it some where amongst that field of possible answers.

  31. 31.

    Corner Stone

    August 8, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    @DougJ: I was going to wait a while and see what all kind of flies your honey trap brought in but the football game ended.
    So, next time I guess.

  32. 32.

    Bella Q

    August 8, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    It’s too hot to be civil.

  33. 33.

    General Stuck

    August 8, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @DougJ: Didn’t even read past the first sentence due to being pissed from discussion in another thread. I bought it from being in the market at the time.

    And somebody put a lid on the drunken idjit ms Matoko. jeebus fucking christ.

    edit – and that’s alright Dougj, when you least expect it Mr. Rickroll will pop up.

  34. 34.

    heydave

    August 8, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    My personal philosophy is that any tool who says “discuss” can go fuck himself.

  35. 35.

    Paula

    August 8, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    I think that this is my second posting here. I generally don’t read the comments because it is more like reading other peoples anger and name calling than any real discussions about solutions.

    Maybe it is more about school playground politics or a political football game, but both sides participate, and so have I on occasion.

    I am new to politics as a spectator, and it is a blood sport for some. At first I felt the need to comment when I felt like someone was out of line, but now I don’t waste my time.

    I posted a comment on red state that pointed out a fact that was incongruous and was called all sorts of names and then summarily banned. What in the world was I thinking about? I should have known better. Now I do.

    All that to say, you should have thick skin if you are a blogger, or a traditional media writter, or a commenter, even on Facebook.

  36. 36.

    matoko_chan

    August 8, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    haha me too….dougrolled
    but i have an excuse!
    im crunk

  37. 37.

    KG

    August 8, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    I, for one, still want to hear what General Stuck really thinks.

  38. 38.

    kdaug

    August 8, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    HEY! I still have the pewter magical unity unicorn figurines from back in the old days. So shut the hell up, DougJ! You’re going to blow the resale value.

    Man, those times were awesome, though! Everyone loved everyone, peace and peas, curry all the way around. Frackin’ awesome.

  39. 39.

    matoko_chan

    August 8, 2010 at 11:55 pm

    @General Stuck:

    put a lid on the drunken idjit

    sho boi, id like to see yah try

  40. 40.

    RareSanity

    August 8, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    @kdaug:

    Man, those times were awesome, though! Everyone loved everyone, peace and peas, curry all the way around. Frackin’ awesome.

    I seem to remember that “myiq” person creating quite a stir in the good ole days.

    Good times…

  41. 41.

    srv

    August 8, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    @DougJ: Couldn’t you just bring back MacBuckets or do your own serious conservative troll that could be logically consistent between the beginning and end of the post?

    Think of it as a challenge – be the Republican that you want Republicans to be. We’ll play along and give you cred.

  42. 42.

    SFAW

    August 8, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    I posted a comment on red state that pointed out a fact that was incongruous and was called all sorts of names and then summarily banned.

    They must be getting mellowed-out in their dotage. In the old days, before Ericksdottir became “respectable” (i.e. CNN), they’d threaten to kill you.

    Well, either that, or the general level of stupidity combined with psychosis over there, would make you think about shooting yourself.

  43. 43.

    scarshapedstar

    August 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

    We never had these problems until we got a black muslim soc1al1st president.

    Just sayin’.

  44. 44.

    Anya

    August 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

    @John Cole: This all started to happen when Rosie arrived. Are you sure she is not a manchurian dog? Do we even know where she was born?

  45. 45.

    General Stuck

    August 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

    @KG: You wanna know what I think, uh, really. Well, I can tell you what I think – in a word. And that word is “poontang”. That’s right poontang, Suck on that awhile. :)

  46. 46.

    Violet

    August 9, 2010 at 12:01 am

    I blame the Muslins. Isn’t that who Real Murkins are blaming for pretty much everything these days?

  47. 47.

    kdaug

    August 9, 2010 at 12:03 am

    @Paula: Welcome aboard Paula.

    Expect no mercy, but stand up for yourself, argue your points well, and you’ll find allies (even if they don’t agree with you).

    Most of all, keep an open mind. You’ll find we’re an irascible, incorrigible bunch who don’t cotton to fools, but we’re alright once you get to know us.

    (Oh, and also don’t hesitate to just lurk and stay out of conversations with people where you know it just won’t end well. And if you figure out how to do that, let me know).

  48. 48.

    MeDrewNotYou

    August 9, 2010 at 12:04 am

    Meh. I mostly lurk. Must be all of you assholes’ fault. ;]

    Just watched the new Boondocks about Uncle Ruckus’s family. It was moving and I actually felt pretty bad for him. My favorite bit was learning why he introduces himself as “Uncle Ruckus, no relation.”

  49. 49.

    tkogrumpy

    August 9, 2010 at 12:04 am

    This blog used to be a place that………….It was?

  50. 50.

    ellaesther

    August 9, 2010 at 12:04 am

    @Anya: Mademesnort.

  51. 51.

    KG

    August 9, 2010 at 12:05 am

    @General Stuck: haha, I just thought it needed to be said. But it is good to know you have your mind in the right place: poontang.

  52. 52.

    tkogrumpy

    August 9, 2010 at 12:05 am

    When?

  53. 53.

    Sly

    August 9, 2010 at 12:12 am

    It is important to note that this predicament, as with all things, is equally the fault of both the extreme right and extreme left.

    Now watch this drive.

  54. 54.

    General Stuck

    August 9, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @matoko_chan:

    sho boi, id like to see yah try

    LOL, not me. You skeer me.

  55. 55.

    MikeJ

    August 9, 2010 at 12:16 am

    @Sly: Jesus fuck! David Broder posts here?

    I mentioned the other day on the GOS, if I were Chris Stamey or Peter Holsapple I’d sue the fuck out of David Brooks and David Broder for ruining a good set of initials.

  56. 56.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:20 am

    @General Stuck: be afraid. be very afraid.

    Purging is at last at hand. Day of Doom is here. All that is evil, all their allies; your parents, your leaders, those who would call themselves your judges; those who have lied and corrupted the Earth, they shall all be cleansed.

    :)

  57. 57.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:20 am

    @matoko_chan:

    HOW DARE YOU compare Gen. David Petraeus to Rin-Tin-Tin.

    A flashmob of Rin-Tin-Tin lovers is gathering as we speak, and they know where you live.

    Consider yourself warned, girlfriend.

  58. 58.

    sven

    August 9, 2010 at 12:22 am

    @matoko_chan: wow, the video is amusing but the song is truly, truly awful…

  59. 59.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:23 am

    @burnspbesq: you and your little dog too, my pretty.
    <3

  60. 60.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:26 am

    @matoko_chan:

    My “little dog” goes 145 pounds and can probably put his front paws on your shoulders with no trouble.

    You do NOT want to piss Caesar off.

  61. 61.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:30 am

    @matoko_chan:

    I’m guessing Sleater-Kinney was your favorite band when you were just a wee one. If true, I might have to reevaluate my generally low opinion of you.

  62. 62.

    Mark S.

    August 9, 2010 at 12:30 am

    Fine, Doug. You want principled conservatives, here’s Chunky Bobo, hot off the presses:

    These arguments [against gay marriage] have lost because they’re wrong. What we think of as “traditional marriage” is not universal. The default family arrangement in many cultures, modern as well as ancient, has been polygamy, not monogamy. The default mode of child-rearing is often communal, rather than two parents nurturing their biological children.

    Chunky actually had me thinking for a couple of paragraphs that he was going to come out in favor of gay marriage. But that’s not how principled conservatives roll:

    But if we just accept this shift, we’re giving up on one of the great ideas of Western civilization: the celebration of lifelong heterosexual monogamy as a unique and indispensable estate. That ideal is still worth honoring, and still worth striving to preserve. And preserving it ultimately requires some public acknowledgment that heterosexual unions and gay relationships are different: similar in emotional commitment, but distinct both in their challenges and their potential fruit.

    I didn’t know that marriage was invented by white guys, but I guess they get credit for everything. But it is worth noting that Ross doesn’t really have any reason why gay marriage should be banned, except that it’s different from the status quo. I wouldn’t respect a philosophy that said we should change everything because change is always good; why should I respect one that just wants to keep everything the same because the old ways are always best?

  63. 63.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 12:31 am

    This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments, where principled conservatives and thoughtful progressives engaged in respectful debate without resorting to name-calling or epithets.

    Funniest spoof evah!
    (1) “front-pagers’ substantive arguments” = oxymoron.
    (2) “principled conservatives” = oxymoron.
    (3) “thoughtful progressives” = oxymoron.
    (4) “respectful debate” = oxymoron (at least on this blog).
    (5) “without resorting to name-calling or epithets” = the alternate universe BJ, not the one I’ve been reading for the last 26 years.

    DougJ, you have outdone yourself (and the alternative universe Brick Oven Bill, who I still believe you are. When are you going to deny it?).

  64. 64.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:32 am

    @burnspbesq: awww wow…a dane? a wolfhound? a deerhound?
    i <3 dogs.

  65. 65.

    Objective Scrutator

    August 9, 2010 at 12:36 am

    Nowadays, this blog is comprised entirely of Helioleftists, Keynesians, and multi-fiber wearers. Back in the glory days before the Evil One was elected, at least it had preformationists, Hayekians, anti-Euclidians, and analogies elevating Joe the Plumber to the level of the detergent that cleans off underwear.

  66. 66.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 12:36 am

    @Mark S.: OMG! He actually used the word “fruit”.

  67. 67.

    Mac G

    August 9, 2010 at 12:37 am

    I blame the Optics. I mean just think of the “OPTICS!!”

  68. 68.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:37 am

    @matoko_chan:

    Great Pyrenees. The bestest dogs God ever created.

  69. 69.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:39 am

    @burnspbesq:

    I’m guessing Sleater-Kinney was your favorite band

    doubtful.
    I only heard classical until the age of seven…..my parents raised me as a field experiment in Piaget theory. Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky is more like it.

  70. 70.

    Zam

    August 9, 2010 at 12:39 am

    We need to take back our blog!

  71. 71.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:39 am

    Andrew is showing major love for Krugman. Not sure what to make of that.

  72. 72.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 12:41 am

    @matoko_chan:

    Blecch. If they were going to force-feed you Russian music, at least it could have been Prokofiev and Shostakovich. My sympathies.

  73. 73.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:44 am

    @burnspbesq: it was bubblegum classical….something i could dance to….they wanted me to be a prima ballerina.
    :)

  74. 74.

    Mark S.

    August 9, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Whoops, forgot the link

    @Chad N Freude:

    Yeah, the “fruit” is his only real argument. He also throws around “serial monogamy,” which I guess means “fucking around.” I don’t know, I find reading guys like Douthart and Mark Steyn talking about sex really creepy, and not just because they’re creepy looking guys. They don’t seem to really like women, but damn it they better be pure prior to consummation.

  75. 75.

    Andre

    August 9, 2010 at 12:48 am

    They see me trollin’.

    They hatin’.

    Tryna catch me postin’ dirty.

  76. 76.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 9, 2010 at 12:54 am

    Patricia Neal has died. Memorable actress who had a whole lot of existential shit thrown at her during her life, and threw most of it back. RIP.

    (Interesting, as a couple of us were discussing a new bio of her husband, Roald Dahl, on a BJ thread earlier this morning, so she was already looming large in my mind today.)

  77. 77.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 1:03 am

    @Mark S.: Read the link. He manages to say some very astute things and then blows himself* out of the water with “one of the great ideas of Western civilization: the celebration of lifelong heterosexual monogamy as a unique and indispensable estate”, as though the great idea ever had any attachment to reality.

    *You should be ashamed, you filthy-minded Beavis Butthead.

  78. 78.

    LiberalTarian

    August 9, 2010 at 1:07 am

    @KG: Me? Not so much.

  79. 79.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 1:10 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: That’s sad. She was always a heroic person to me.

    More sadness, Tony Judt died yesterday. Another heroic figure to me – worth googling to read about his life and philosophical evolution. Everyone here should read his last book “Ill Fares the Land”.

  80. 80.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 1:11 am

    @Chad N Freude: Sorry, it wasn’t clear: “I read the link . . . etc. “

  81. 81.

    handy

    August 9, 2010 at 1:13 am

    This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments

    yeah but then Cole turned all libtard on us and this place went downhill from there.

  82. 82.

    sven

    August 9, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Who is more likely to cheat on a test, Americans or furiners?
    What about bankers vs. congressional staffers?

    Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, discusses his findings here…

  83. 83.

    eco2geek

    August 9, 2010 at 1:15 am

    There once was a blogmeister, Cole
    Who came back home to find a hell-hole.
    Stuck was pissed off by some punk,
    matoko_chan was just drunk,
    And the moderation filter was full.

  84. 84.

    Chad N Freude

    August 9, 2010 at 1:15 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: Another Patricia Neal factlet of interest, at least to BJ frequenters: She played Dominique opposite Gary Cooper’s Howard Roark in the film version of Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”.

  85. 85.

    Yutsano

    August 9, 2010 at 1:17 am

    @burnspbesq: I am choosing to blame you for this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dMQ7m9oQ0&feature=related

    A little something for you too there Anne Laurie. And the guy who does his voice is quite attractive.

  86. 86.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 1:20 am

    @eco2geek:

    Infidel Defilers.
    You shall all drown in lakes of blood.
    Now you will know why you are afraid of the dark.
    Now you will learn why you fear the night.

  87. 87.

    LiberalTarian

    August 9, 2010 at 1:20 am

    @General Stuck: Damn. I knew I didn’t want to know. Really.

  88. 88.

    mclaren

    August 9, 2010 at 1:28 am

    It would be irresponsible to speculate that most of the Balloon Juice commentariat are ignorant kooks and cranks — the mirror image on the left of the Tea Partiers on the right.

    But it would be irresponsible not to.

    Have read E. D. Kain’s articles at the Washington Examiner, and damned if I can find anything that indicates he’s a standard movement conservative. Sounds like a reasonable guy, actually. More reasonable than most of the people on Balloon Juice.

    You people are going to have to learn to get along with sane conservatives. After the Republican party self-destructs, they’re going to be what’s left to pick up the pieces. If you think America can make it with a one-party system consisting only of people on the left, you’re dreaming. Life doesn’t work that way.

    Also, I share Kain’s discomfort with ever-expanding government bureaucracies. The goddamn DHS is turning into another Stasi, and it keeps getting worse. Everywhere you go, it’s now “I need to see some I.D.” No you don’t. Fuck off. This is America, not East Germany.

  89. 89.

    SiubhanDuinne

    August 9, 2010 at 1:29 am

    @Chad N Freude: Not only played opposite Gary Cooper, but famously had a tempestuous three-year affair with him (whic, according to the obit, included a pregnancy which she aborted).

  90. 90.

    Sly

    August 9, 2010 at 1:30 am

    @Mark S.:

    Except that heterosexual marriage, as defined in the Western tradition, was invented as an economic pact between two men: The father of the groom and the father of the (much younger) bride. It’s also worth noting that the bride had a decent chance of dying in childbirth, hence the whole “until death do you part” clause in the contract.

  91. 91.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 1:34 am

    @mclaren:

    damned if I can find anything that indicates he’s a standard movement conservative.

    guess u missed the fetus=slave stuff and teh teabaggers are not teh racist!
    :)

  92. 92.

    LosGatosCA

    August 9, 2010 at 1:35 am

    From this point forward can we just refer to the front-pagers here as the ‘Masters of the Blogosphere (MOB)?

    And where can I find the back pages?

  93. 93.

    dslak

    August 9, 2010 at 1:38 am

    There are far too many corporate whores and genteel neocons in the leadership of the Democratic party for one-party rule by them to consist of only people on the left.

  94. 94.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 1:39 am

    @LosGatosCA:

    Masters of the Blogosphere

    that would be….Masters of the Blogverse.

    By the Power of Grayskull!

  95. 95.

    Jules

    August 9, 2010 at 1:45 am

    Come on peoples, we all know that it is MoDo’s fault…..

  96. 96.

    eco2geek

    August 9, 2010 at 1:48 am

    @matoko_chan: Oh yeah? Take that.

  97. 97.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 1:49 am

    Fuckfuckfuckityfuck.

    This is an abomination.

    Just this once, Greenwald can be a shrill as he damn well pleases, and I will think it’s not enough.

    http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20100808/e450a47f-8285-4fb4-9b8b-1088d8b6b302

  98. 98.

    Bob Loblaw

    August 9, 2010 at 1:52 am

    @burnspbesq:

    What’s an “Earthlink?” Is it anything like those “Geocities” I’ve been hearing so much about? I’ll have to go consult Jeeves on the matter.

  99. 99.

    neal peart

    August 9, 2010 at 1:52 am

    Nice one, Doug. Geddy, Alex and I approve of this post.

  100. 100.

    Joel

    August 9, 2010 at 1:52 am

    Is it the heat?

    .. I’m going to take my talents to South Beach..

  101. 101.

    burnspbesq

    August 9, 2010 at 1:55 am

    I apologize in advance to anyone who is offended, but this is just laugh-out-loud funny.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/09/nyregion/09lamont.html?hp

    Pobre Janie. Que lastima.

  102. 102.

    RareSanity

    August 9, 2010 at 1:58 am

    @matoko_chan:

    standard bowel movement conservative

    I just wanted to get in on the poo flinging…

    Damn insomnia…

  103. 103.

    frosty

    August 9, 2010 at 2:18 am

    @Chad N Freude: Nice. But how’d you miss this one?

    (n) “open-minded commenters” = oxymoron

  104. 104.

    Mark S.

    August 9, 2010 at 2:29 am

    I like how the thread entitled Addicted to Hate turned into pie fights over atheism and WWII. We all would never be invited to a seminar in Aspen given by David Brooks.

  105. 105.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    August 9, 2010 at 2:34 am

    I thought the first couple of seasons were good, when Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi still commented here. It’s been downhill ever since though.

  106. 106.

    Yutsano

    August 9, 2010 at 2:35 am

    @Mark S.: We seem to never get into the best parties do we? No wonder Sally Quinn never comes to call. I’ll just have to make canapés on my own.

  107. 107.

    Mark S.

    August 9, 2010 at 2:42 am

    @Yutsano:

    I was really hurt when we didn’t get invited to McMegan and Suderman’s wedding.

  108. 108.

    YellowJournalism

    August 9, 2010 at 2:44 am

    I blame IE8.

    (Seriously, my BJ is broken, and we don’t have Firefox on the new computer yet.)

  109. 109.

    GregB

    August 9, 2010 at 2:44 am

    I blame the Chi-Coms and the Mooselim’s for the trouble here at Balloon-Juice. Maybe a touch of the gays too.

  110. 110.

    Yutsano

    August 9, 2010 at 2:46 am

    @Mark S.: I’m sure it was just an oversight. It’s not like we were ever uncivil to her. Oh wait…

    @YellowJournalism: Speaking as someone who hopes to never use IE8 again, I hope this situation is rectified quickly.

  111. 111.

    E.D. Kain

    August 9, 2010 at 2:53 am

    Hey I can take the fall for this. Always wanted to be a fall guy.

  112. 112.

    scarshapedstar

    August 9, 2010 at 2:53 am

    @mclaren:

    If you think America can make it with a one-party system consisting only of people on the left, you’re dreaming. Life doesn’t work that way.

    As a constituent of Mary Landrieu, I LOL’d at the apparent implication that the Democratic Party “consist[s] only of people on the left.”

    For the record, yes, I really do think we’d be better off with a left-wing single party government as opposed to our current right-wing corporatist single party government.

  113. 113.

    Yutsano

    August 9, 2010 at 2:58 am

    @E.D. Kain: Ha! You don’t get off that easily mister! Besides which you got a kidlet to worry about as well, we can’t in good conscience scapegoat you yet. Once the young’un hits one year though it’s on.

  114. 114.

    The Main Gauche of Mild Reason

    August 9, 2010 at 3:28 am

    @Mark S.:

    The thing that irritates me about Ross Douthat is how formulaic he is; that article is an excellent example. All of Ross Douthat’s writing:

    1) A profound logic underlies these liberal ideas; you know, conservatives are living in an insular world where they assume things have to be the way they are

    2) But this logic is cold! I’m uncomfortable with this liberal view of things.

    3) There must be some wise secret logic underlying these conservative ideas, even though they fail the rationality test!

  115. 115.

    Zuzu's Petals

    August 9, 2010 at 3:30 am

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I had just been reading an online bio of her the other day, thinking what a class act she was.

    Rest in Peace, Cookie.

  116. 116.

    Andy K

    August 9, 2010 at 3:32 am

    I blame society.

  117. 117.

    Cain

    August 9, 2010 at 4:19 am

    @kdaug:

    Most of all, keep an open mind. You’ll find we’re an irascible, incorrigible bunch who don’t cotton to fools, but we’re alright once you get to know us.

    That doesn’t explain how I can get away with it. Repeatedly.

    Losers.

    cain

  118. 118.

    SciVo

    August 9, 2010 at 4:21 am

    @burnspbesq: I’m a Rachmaninov fan myself.

  119. 119.

    Resident Firebagger

    August 9, 2010 at 4:31 am

    @MeDrewNotYou: That was a great episode. They mocked the sad part a little bit too much for me to get totally sad about it, but it was a very realistic portrayal of how Ruckus got to be Ruckus.

  120. 120.

    Pete

    August 9, 2010 at 4:51 am

    If no one’s blamed Rahm yet, I’d like to jump in there with that.

  121. 121.

    RedKitten

    August 9, 2010 at 5:39 am

    This blog used to be a place where open-minded commenters puzzled through the front-pagers’ substantive arguments, where principled conservatives and thoughtful progressives engaged in respectful debate without resorting to name-calling or epithets.

    When the hell was THAT?

  122. 122.

    Xenos

    August 9, 2010 at 6:05 am

    @RedKitten: Back when the helicopters were laughing.

  123. 123.

    Tim F.

    August 9, 2010 at 6:26 am

    Heh. It’s been three years and people still cannot bring themselves to say his name. You know who I mean.

  124. 124.

    Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army

    August 9, 2010 at 6:27 am

    Things really went downhill when Michael D. was run off the front page by a torch and pitchfork wielding mob. What happened to civility, people? Sure, each one of the 28 current front-pagers is a far better writer, but that’s no call for rudeness.

  125. 125.

    Jack Bauer

    August 9, 2010 at 6:54 am

    @burnspbesq: Krugman? He posted this last night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAMbpQ8J7g&feature=player_embedded

  126. 126.

    Ron McBee

    August 9, 2010 at 6:58 am

    I go daily to a zen blog and it has evolved into just nasty comments to the blogger who is a real zen master (priest). It’s a nasty, brutish world we live in.

  127. 127.

    debit

    August 9, 2010 at 7:40 am

    @Yutsano: Hah, I loved that episode. However, the dub is terrible. TERRIBLE. Do yourself a favor and watch the subbed version.

  128. 128.

    Leaking Geek

    August 9, 2010 at 7:57 am

    I think its time to blame all the furriners invading Arizona. It has me all in a tizzy.

  129. 129.

    Nick

    August 9, 2010 at 8:05 am

    @scarshapedstar: Everyone thinks we’d be better off, but it’s not realistically possible at the moment.

  130. 130.

    brantl

    August 9, 2010 at 8:46 am

    “…but distinct both in their challenges and their potential fruit.” I really want a satirical bumper sticker about gay marriage and “potential fruits”. Just sayin’.

  131. 131.

    ksmiami

    August 9, 2010 at 8:59 am

    I blame all the DFHs in Madison, WI. Things always fall apart when Mr. Cole goes on vacation.

  132. 132.

    ksmiami

    August 9, 2010 at 9:02 am

    @E.D. Kain: And I thought I could get away from Martyrs by abandoning the Catholic Church…

  133. 133.

    mclaren

    August 9, 2010 at 9:14 am

    @matoko_chan:

    guess u missed the fetus=slave stuff and teh teabaggers are not teh racist!

    Yes, I did. If you can point out to me where E. D. Kain said those things, I’ll rethink my judgment of him.

    Those qualify as ridiculous statements, by the way, but taken as a whole I don’t think those 2 crazy claims by themselves qualify him as a movement conservative. I know some otherwise sensible liberals who persist in denying global warming, and that by itself doesn’t make ’em movement conservatives.

    As far as I can tell, a genuine movement conservative believes the following:

    Torture is legal and should be used whenever possible.

    We need more wars in more countries, more invasions, and endless expansion of the Pentagon budget.

    Civil rights need to be shelved for the duration of the War on Terror (which will last forever).

    Gays should be discriminated against at best, exterminated at worst (preferably).

    Liberals are a cancer that need to be cut out of the body politic by any means necessary.

    The rule of law does not apply to people of color, gays, liberals, or anyone who disagrees with movement conservatism.

    We need to roll back America to the 1890s, eliminating the IRS, eliminating income taxes, getting rid of compulsory public education, shutting down all New Deal social programs, and we need to beef up the police and turn ’em loose.

    The Civil Rights Act of 1964 needs to be repealed and Jim Crow laws reinstated. Massive discrimination is required to keep minorities in their proper places, as well as women, whose voting rights should probably be repealed.

    Tax cuts for the rich and deregulation will cure the economy of whatever ails it. The Laffer Curve and The Bell Curve and trickle-down supply side economics are reliable scientifically proven economics.

    …I can’t think of a single one of these beliefs that Kain has publicly espoused. Maybe I’ve missed lots of what he’s written. If so, please enlighten me, and I’ll gladly admit I’m wrong. As far as I know, movement conservatives do not defend gay marriage or call for cuts in the U.S. military budget.

  134. 134.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 9:50 am

    @mclaren: fuck!
    my head hurrts so much.
    i hate you all even more for your intransigent stupidity this morning..if that is even possible.
    fetus=slave
    cover for the racist fucktards in the tea bag movement
    you can google a shit-tonne of movement crap like that at the League.
    look dude, Kain TOLD me he was a base panderer right before he banned meh.
    not that i care…..i only went there for Freddie.

    i think the litmus test for movement conservativism should include sneering at Avatar, magical thinking about school vouchers and trickledown economics, and states’ inalienable rights to lynch blacks and homos and brown ppl; any subset of these conditions (including yours of course) is both necessary and sufficient..

  135. 135.

    Libby

    August 9, 2010 at 9:55 am

    Damn. Apparently nobody here ever sleeps. Late though I may be, I do have the definitive answer, so I’m posting it anyway. It’s clearly Obama, the Clenis and Twitter’s fault. In that order.

  136. 136.

    Ahasuerus

    August 9, 2010 at 10:01 am

    @matoko_chan: Thank you

  137. 137.

    Poopyman

    August 9, 2010 at 10:01 am

    I was promised that this was a refuge for a snarling mass of vitriolic vicious jackals, dammit, and I will not be denied.

  138. 138.

    Poopyman

    August 9, 2010 at 10:06 am

    @E.D. Kain:

    Hey I can take the fall for this. Always wanted to be a fall guy.

    I’m not fooled. Two words: “Heather Thomas”.

  139. 139.

    pragmatism

    August 9, 2010 at 10:46 am

    tunch, why have you forsaken us? we hath become what we purport to mock.

  140. 140.

    SFAW

    August 9, 2010 at 10:56 am

    eco2geek@ 83
    Nice, but it didn’t rhyne.

    mclaren@133

    Christ, you’re wordier than I am.

    Shorter movement conservative credo:
    “Kill everyone not like me (i.e. white Christian), and tax cuts for us.”

    As digby (and others) have pointed out, they’re big into Eliminationist rhetoric and belief.

    And, just to be clear, I am NOT aware of all Internet traditions.

  141. 141.

    DPirate

    August 9, 2010 at 11:04 am

    140 belongs to me, and if anyone else posts in it I am invading a – stan.

  142. 142.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Look Cole…..i don’t mean to be a heinous bitch……oh alright i do.
    max heinous if possible.
    But Kain just has to stand and deliver to engage your commentariat.
    If he can defend, let him do that……otherwise, he should retract.

    No more welfare epics for bourgie conservatives.

  143. 143.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 11:11 am

    eeek! combox pirates!

  144. 144.

    matoko_chan

    August 9, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    142 got pirated but this is what i said.
    look…..being conservative shouldn’t be like having a disability or being a special needs kid.

    if Kain can’t defend his positions he should STFU.
    stand and deliver!

  145. 145.

    SFAW

    August 9, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    140 belongs to me, and if anyone else posts in it I am invading a stan.

    Yeahright. Put your money army where your mouth is.

    How about Wingnutistan?

  146. 146.

    Batocchio

    August 9, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I thought all BJ commenters received a set of pearls to clutch. That’s the only reason I’m here. Hey, free pearls. And swine. What more does a blog need?

  147. 147.

    SFAW

    August 9, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    I thought all BJ commenters received a set of pearls to clutch.

    No, you’re thinking of Red Stoat, and all them other wingtard sites.

    Swine we got, though.

  148. 148.

    JohnR

    August 9, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    Personally, I blame whoever uses that dadblasted strikethrough button.
    And Tunch, but that goes without saying.

  149. 149.

    SFAW

    August 9, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Personally, I blame whoever uses that dadblasted strikethrough button.

    Sheeeeiit! Golly!

  150. 150.

    Lincolnshire Poacher

    August 9, 2010 at 6:20 pm

    Yeah it used to be a nice place … people did not worry about having to lock their doors either. You could go for a walk down a dark allay without worrying about being jumped. I blame a lot of factors. People change.

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