Wow. Atrios shuts down all comments and disappears for the weekend, saying his much-read blog is starting to annoy him. (I’m feeling the same way, but I’m only determined to post more.)
I guess you have to understand what some of the liberal super-bloggers have been through. Atrios’ site raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for candidates he was supporting, like Joe Hoeffel in Pennsylvania. And Daily Kos raised more than half a million dollars for 15 congressional candidates. All of them, including Hoeffel, lost. To have all that work, all that effort and sacrifice erased literally overnight — I can see why they’d be shell-shocked.
1
By richard
I don’t say bush is pure evil. But he is now beholden, more than ever, to a very conservative, closed-minded group of religious fanatics (sorry, but the shoe fits, so they must wear it). He will certainly appoint two or more Supreme Court justices over the next four years — that will weigh on us for generations (hint: get your abortion now, while you still can).
You talk about the restraints that are in place. But
the frightening thing to me is how bush has at times cast aside traditional restraints, such as habeas corpus and the Geneva Conventions when they didn’t suit him. Accountability should be the greatest restraint, and by cocooning himself and holding fewer press conferences than any other president in history, he is further escaping restraint. I can go on and on on the accountability/transparency issue — it’s as though traditional restraints simply don’t apply.
I agree it’s time to put hysteria to the side. I will be a bit freaked out for a few more days, but not in the way you might think — reflective, a bit shell-shocked, angry, frustrated, hurt, frightened for America and confused as to my place within it. But I know that out of this I’ll emerge stronger and more determined, and the emotionality of the moment will subside. So be patient, and allow us a few days to deal with the shock. It’s all part of the healing process; it won’t be the end in itself.
November 5, 2004 @ 4:14 pm | Comment
2
By Tom - Daai Tou Laam
Taking a break for a few days (and shutting down my prime source for blogwhoring 😉 ) might seem extreme for a blogger like Atrios.
But honestly, I think he and the rest of us are due personal time. Some folks, like Billmon and now Tristero, have had their blogs become such time and energy sinks that it affects the rest of their lives.
This expenditure of time and energy also effects the China blog community. But I have faith that time and recharging of the creative batteries will restore that past glory.
November 5, 2004 @ 4:22 pm | Comment
3
By Brendan
I took a few days off – not from blogging, which I don’t really do as much as I probably should, but from life in general, real hiding-under-the-covers stuff – and now I’m feeling pugnacious. I hope these guys come out the same.
November 6, 2004 @ 2:42 am | Comment
4
By Brendan
Assuming that you get comments emailed to you (since this post is probably too old to get the comments read) —
The silver lining in the Hoeffel race – which was local for me – is that he did a hell of a lot better against Specter than anyone expected. Hoeffel was supposed to be the sacrificial Democratic lamb, but he ended up getting a very respectable percetage of the vote, especially for an unknown running against an established, viewed-as-moderate senator like Specter.
The good news? Hoeffel has some name recognition now, and in 2 years, with name recognition and some money behind him…I think he can beat Santorum. And that idea brings joy into my heart.
November 8, 2004 @ 6:10 pm | Comment
5
By richard
Hoffel is great, and his loss was one of the most painful to bear. I hope every word you say is true; Santorum is the antichrist.
November 8, 2004 @ 6:23 pm | Comment