Break Out the Bubbly

Sometimes, good people really do get the recognition they deserve.

First up, one of my favorite bloggers of all time, Steve Benen of The Carpetbagger Report, got snapped up by the Washington Monthly:

Now that my friend Kevin Drum has made the announcement, I can pass along the big news.

Starting this Friday, Aug. 22, Kevin will be leaving the Washington Monthly, heading over to a new blog at Mother Jones. He’ll be replaced at Political Animal by … me.

Yes, five-and-a-half years and more than 16,000 posts later, I’m giving up The Carpetbagger Report to blog exclusively for the Washington Monthly. I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity.

For years, I had this idea in mind — start a site, work hard, build an audience, and wait for some wonderful news outlet to come along and hire me. Given this, and my love for the Washington Monthly (which I’ve been reading assiduously since I was an undergrad), I’m genuinely thrilled. Joining me at Political Animal will be Hilzoy of Obsidian Wings, who, as one of my very favorite bloggers, only makes the news even better.

For Carpetbagger readers, the only thing that’s going to change is the url and the layout. I’m going to keep doing exactly what I’m doing now; just update your bookmarks and follow me to my new home.

My first day at the Monthly is this Friday, Aug. 22. The schedule will remain the same until then, but starting Friday morning, I’ll be posting full-time at Political Animal. Hope to see you there.

As you all know, without Steve, there wouldn’t be a Happy Hour Discurso. You can bet your fucking bippy I’ll be there!

(Question: does anyone here know what, exactly, a bippy is?)

Steve’s one of the hardest-working bloggers in the known universe. He’s also one of the funniest, kindest, and competent. He’s earned this, and I’m absolutely thrilled for him.

Kevin Drum had just better keep up the Friday Catblogging tradition over at Mother Jones, or I’m going to have to buy Steve two cats and a camera to compensate.

Steve’s not the only deserving person who got a better gig. MSNBC did the right thing and gave Rachel Maddow a show. I don’t watch television anymore – I barely manage to catch me some Daily Show and Colbert Report from time to time – but I might have to make an exception:

I’m very rarely encouraged by any of the decisions made by major news outlets. Yesterday afternoon, however, was a spectacular exception.

Rachel Maddow has been sounding off about politics on MSNBC so often she might as well have her own show.

And now she does.

The liberal commentator and Air America radio host, who has become a breakout star for the cable channel during the presidential campaign, is taking over the 9 p.m. slot following Keith Olbermann, whom she often subs for on “Countdown.” Olbermann broke what he called a “fully authorized leak” yesterday on the left-wing Web site Daily Kos. Dan Abrams, the former MSNBC general manager who had been hosting “Verdict” at that hour, will continue as NBC’s chief legal correspondent, become a “Dateline” contributor and serve as a daytime anchor for MSNBC.

A recent profile of Rachel in the Nation noted, “Maddow didn’t get here by bluster and bravado but with a combination of crisp thinking and galumphing good cheer. Remarkably, this season’s discovery isn’t a glossy matinee idol or a smooth-talking partisan hack but a PhD Rhodes scholar lesbian policy wonk who started as a prison AIDS activist.”

I’d just add that Rachel is, without doubt or hesitation, the best political observer on television, and her insightful analysis of the 2008 cycle has set a very high bar for the rest of the media to follow. The question hasn’t been whether Rachel would get her own prime-time show; the question has been why Rachel didn’t already have her own prime-time show.

That would be because the media moguls are fucking morons. It’s good to see them wising up a bit.

So, my darlings, raise your glasses high to two of the best people in political reporting. Salud!

Break Out the Bubbly
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Wow. Just…. Wow.

Sitemeter led me to a new delight tonight: PTET.

Leads DaveScot around by the nose.

Unleashes the Smack-o-Matic until Denyse O’Leary blubbers.

Has the same soft spot for Buddhism I do (once the religious crap’s stripped away and the philosophy’s left to shine).

I likes this blog!

Oh, and, you know, there was that really nice compliment that melted me into a soppy little puddle:

While I’m in a blog-rolling mood, props to En Tequila Es Verdad for being without question the best blog in the world today…


Wow. I mean… really… wow. That’s overwhelming, is what that is. Gracias.

But you know what? This blog wouldn’t be anything without my readers. I scribble it, but you, my darlings, are the ones who inspire it. So that compliment, there: that belongs to you.

Salud, mi amigos.

Wow. Just…. Wow.

I Wonder if PZ Will Let Me Steal His Guest Bloggers

PZ’s been off playing in the Galapagos Islands, leaving Pharyngula in the capable hands of a bevvy of guest bloggers. He’s just announced his imminent return, and I’m happy, but…

I was really starting to enjoy the variety of viewpoints.

And the long posts on various aspects of biology.

I’d grown rather fond of them, in fact. And I don’t know if they have blogs of their own. The pain of separation looms.

Unless….

I can lure them over here.

Lessee. What inducements can I offer?

  • A forum in which anything and everything can be discussed.
  • Some of the most amazing commenters in the blogosphere.
  • Post at your own convenience: daily, weekly, monthly, whatev.
  • Your very own sign-in, not this mere minion stuff.
  • Unlimited free (virtual) drinks.
  • And have I mentioned the quality of my commenters?

Is it enough? Only time will tell.

LisaJ, MAJeff, Danio, Sastra: I hereby invite you to En Tequila Es Verdad. Mi casa es su casa. Email me at dhunterauthor at yahoo dot com if you’d like a room over the cantina.

I Wonder if PZ Will Let Me Steal His Guest Bloggers

We'll Have to Keep a Weather Eye on This One

There’s a new site up called If McCain Wins

If it were a novel, it’d be shelved under Horror. With each day that passes, I’m more and more certain that a McCain presidency would be the end of this republic. We’d have another depraved, lying fuckwit in the Oval Office. The only real difference between McCain and Bush is that McCain isn’t frat-boy mean. He’s cruel-son-of-a-bitch, destroy-your-opponent mean. He’s surrounding himself with the most evil fuckers he can find. He’s willing to pander to the worst of the worst to achieve his dream of becoming Commander in Chief before he dies. And he’s got absolutely nothing to lose.

Conservative kool-aid connoisseurs may support him because they just can’t bring themselves to vote for a liberal black man. That would make their rotting brains explode. But they’re worried, too. They want reassurance. They want to know they’re not going to be responsible for an unmitigated disaster if they vote for this piece-of-shit opportunist. You could hear it in the howls of agony when McCain finished the Republicon race as the last con standing, and you can hear it now as folks on the right start searching for reasons as to why McCain’s not the epitome of evil after all.

They can head over to If McCain Wins… for a vision of what the future they’re tentatively hoping for will be. Some of them might even find some comfort in it.

Not everyone has an easy time with reality. Not everyone can see the truth.

We'll Have to Keep a Weather Eye on This One

Cruisin' the Intertoobz

My, my, I’ve missed a lot lately. Good thing I decided to lay off the anthrax post research and get out and about a little.

My beloved co-blogger and heart-sister NP just passed her 100th post. Salud! ¡Mucho más, por favor!

I had no idea Ames et al had created such a delightful side-project as this: think lolcats with pols! Brilliant. We need to encourage them to continue despite getting ripped off by the Icanhazcheezburger people. Just know I’ll be filching the occasional photo for posts here!

Cousin Avi’s remodeled VNV, and it appears he got a killer deal on snark. I must quote from today’s delight:

I feel safer. Do you feel safer?

CNN:

A U.S. military jury found Osama Bin Laden’s former driver guilty of five counts of material support to a terror organization in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

If Osama Bin Laden runs out of milk and has to go to the supermarket, the fucker will have to WALK.

[snip]

That George Bush, eh? When that little monkey fucker declares war on terror, he means business. I bet every hairdresser, driver, gardener, cook and falafal delivery guy from Afghanistan to Lebanon is burning their client lists at this very moment.

Oh, there’s more where that came from. Much. And the place looks great.

George at Decrepit Old Fool has a variety of wonderful items, including proof that rainbows = the Apocalypse, a picture you have to see to appreciate, and a gorgeous post on what gives life meaning.

And by way of George, I came across a post on A Blog Around the Clock that needs to be presented to every wavering McCain fan. Those who aren’t stone blind and deaf will realize just how devastating it is when you can use nothing but the candidate’s own words and actions to indict him for the evil, lying fuckwit he is.

That ain’t the half of what I’ve discovered, my darlings. We’d be here till next week if I had to highlight every discovery tonight.

Cruisin' the Intertoobz

Gracias, Gracias Mil Veces

(Oh, dear lord, I didn’t realize the word for “times” looks almost exactly like “feces.” Silly español. Don’t take that the wrong way.)

I just wanted to give you all a huge thank you, En Tequila Es Verdad style. I expected a few comments from the regulars, not the flood from new, old and lurkers alike, when I asked for your input on this blog’s content.

You’ve given me a plethora of fresh directions. I’m reassured that there’s something I’m doing right. And that’s going to ensure that this community of cantina commentators continues without going stale. I owe you for that. You all drink for free.

This blog is all about you guys. I know it looks like politics, religion and the occasional bit of science, but underneath it all is you. Never forget that. Keep the suggestions coming, and don’t be afraid to make demands in the future. I’ll be right here, listening to every word.

Salud, amigos y amigas.

Gracias, Gracias Mil Veces

There's Some Fun to be Had at The Coffee-Stained Writer

Had all you can stand of politics, religious inanity, and general dumbassitude for a bit? Then it’s definitely time you headed over to The Coffee-Stained Writer to play.

NP’s got a new feature called Bookmarks going. I’ll let her ‘splain – or at least, sum up:

Each Saturday I’ll post a submitted photo of a reader, submitted by you. This weekly photo is the same concept as the original carnival–submit a picture of yourself reading. You can be reading anywhere: at a library/bookstore, at home, while playing video games, at the movie theater. All I ask is that you do not put yourself in danger (any submissions that make me feel someone is in danger will not be posted). You may include a caption/explanation with your photo, as well as a bio and links to any website(s)/blog(s) you want included with your photo.


Instructions and so forth can be found at the above link. Don’t miss out on the rest of the blog – you’ve got to see what she was reading on her wedding day!

She’s also going to be soliciting a series of genre articles written by none other than YOU. Yes, you. I know there’s a few writers in this crowd, so if you want to write up a piece on how to write, let NP know your area of interest and she’ll slot you in: nicolepalmby (at) gmail (dot) com. I’ve called dibs on SF, and you’ll get to read my ravings round about the first of August. You can, of course, humbly request to follow in my footsteps by asking if you can specialize in science fiction, fantasy, horror or any of the other “speculatives” that fall under the umbrella of Speculative Fiction. ;-)

And finally, to keep you wide-awake for that genre piece you’ll be writing, and the photos of yourself reading you’ll be taking, NP has some excellent news. If you love chocolate (me), spearmint (me!) and iced coffee (ME!), you won’t want to miss this.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go sort through the bajillions of photos I have of myself reading so I can submit just the right one…

There's Some Fun to be Had at The Coffee-Stained Writer

Supporting PZ

I came across the link to this site on Greg Laden’s blog, and it’s a brilliant, beautiful idea:

People have been writing letters to the University of Minnesota’s President, Dr. Robert Bruininks in support of our friend PZ Myers; suggesting the Dr. Bruininks give the complaints againt Myers all consideration they are due. Send a letter to Dr. Bruininks and then e-mail it to me at tuibguy at gmail dot com and I will post your letter for the public.


All I can say is, it’s a very good thing indeed I didn’t stumble across this site until after I’d written my letter. John Pieret left me tongue-tied all weekend with his eloquence: I can’t imagine how long it would’ve taken to get the knots out after all of those.

Support PZ is a fantastic answer to the likes of Bill Donahue. If you’ve written a letter, get it submitted.

Supporting PZ

Look Who Dana's Sleeping With!

It’s a little hard to see, but this is what I found when I was looking for my name on the Strange Bedfellows list:

That’s right. I’m sleeping right next to this fellow:


I was delighted to discover Slobber and Spittle camped so close to En Tequila Es Verdad. We’re not strange bedfellows at all: we share many of the same viewpoints, especially regarding the outrage that is the new FISA legislation. Which is what makes us Strange Bedfellows, o’ course.

You can jump into bed with us, too. All you have to do is sign up. And there you’ll be, cuddled up with a bunch of folks who take their Constitution seriously, no matter what part of the political spectrum they happen to hail from.

Look at that face. Can you resist that face? You know you can’t.

You could do a lot worse than end up in bed with Dana, Cujo359, Glenn Greenwald, Jane Hamsher, and a whole passel of other folks who are passionate about civil liberties.

Heh. Passion. And you see the rich possibility for innuendo here, right?

Update: Slightly clearer version, courtesy of Cujo359 himself!

Look Who Dana's Sleeping With!