These Kids Today, With Their Internets and Their Sock Hops

David Weigel | June 23, 2006

If you haven't been following the interminable Daily Kos-The New Republic slapfight, congratulations. You're having a great week. But it's worth dipping into the fray if only to see the reaction of Lee Siegel, the Grandpa Simpson of liberal punditry.

Even beyond the thuggishness, what I despise about so many blogurus, is the frivolity of their "readers." DailyKos might have hundreds of responses to his posts, but after five or six of them the interminable thread meanders into trivial subjects that have nothing to do with the subject that briefly provoked it. The blogosphere's lack of concentration is even more dangerous than all its rage. In the Middle East, they struggle with belief. In the United States, we struggle with attention. The blogosphere's fanaticism is, in many ways, the triumph of a lack of focus.

Please, God, no one show him Fark. Or Hit and Run.

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|6.23.06 @ 10:13AM|#

DailyKos might have hundreds of responses to his posts, but after five or six of them the interminable thread meanders into trivial subjects that have nothing to do with the subject that briefly provoked it.

The problem is corn syrup, I tell you! Corn syrup rots the brain and causes threads to veer off into subjects that have nothing to do with the original post!

Anyway, I'm reading Snow Crash right now. Almost half way through. Having sat through many a traffic jam on the 405, the notion of riding a high-tech skate board between vehicles appeals to me.

I'm sorry, what was this thread about?

Timothy|6.23.06 @ 10:16AM|#

Snow Crash is a pretty good book. It's supposed to be somewhat dystopian, I guess, but the world presented in it actually seems pretty appealing.

|6.23.06 @ 10:22AM|#

I don't think that it is quite fair to take us to task for our lack of attention in a world that..

Oh man, "Don't Dream It's Over" just came on the radio. I LOVE that song.

|6.23.06 @ 10:29AM|#

MMMMMM... corn syrup!

|6.23.06 @ 10:38AM|#

"they come, they come - to build a wall between us..."

Right now on my XM, O&A are riffing on the Eric & Kathy radio show, and I can't form a single coherent thought about any real-life issues.

Whoaa! my student loans number in the high five-figures, my job doesn't pay me enough to pay rent, pay bills, and put money into savings, and my car needs new brakes.

wait, what issues was I supposed to be tending to again? I forgot, the reality of my microcosm distracted my attention from the larger issues of terrorism, poverty, and geopolitics.

"These Kids Today, With Their Internets and Their Sock Hops"

Not to mention the robots. Horny, homicidal robots.

|6.23.06 @ 10:44AM|#

Has anyone recognized that Kos looks like the love child of Gillespie and Katrina VandenHeuvel?

Thinking of libertarian themed sci-fi literature, let me plug Greg Costikoyan's First Contract. It's a very funny book about the economic effects of aliens arriving at Earth -- great pro-free trade/entrepreneurship themes in it.

|6.23.06 @ 10:46AM|#

One of my favorite song lyrics is,

"My posessions are causing a suspicion
But there's no proof."

What's this?

That's for tobacco, officer.

And this?

Just in case I get stranded and need to start a campfire.

And this?

I've beeing doing some rewiring at my house.

|6.23.06 @ 10:50AM|#

I have fortunteatly had enough of a life not to follow this story very closely. From what I can tell though, TNR seemed to have some legitimate ethical questions about the connections between KOS and various political campaigns. KOS then responded by labeling TNR as a part of the neocon vast right wing conspiracy. TNR of all things. Kos's paranoia and defensivness about the whole thing, (his complete lack of a substantive response to what TNR said) tells me that there must be some truth it and TNR must have really hit a nerve. Kos is such a twit. His ineveitable public crash and burn is going to be really entertaining.

|6.23.06 @ 10:56AM|#

the larger issues of terrorism, poverty, and geopolitics.

...Can wait until the World Cup is over as far as I am concerned.

|6.23.06 @ 10:57AM|#

Attention...?

I have chronic ADD plus I smoke...er..chronic.

There could be a terrorist attack and I wouldn't notice it.

|6.23.06 @ 11:00AM|#

joe:

Didya know the drummer from Crowded House died? He seemed like jolly chap.

Bummer.

|6.23.06 @ 11:03AM|#

I like pancakes.

|6.23.06 @ 11:04AM|#

The Wizard of Oz is cool. I'm particular towards the Tin Man.

|6.23.06 @ 11:06AM|#

"KOS then responded by labeling TNR as a part of the neocon vast right wing conspiracy. TNR of all things."

Uh, TNR has long had a reputation as being an establishment tool that functions like the liberal equivalent of National Review -- i.e., to endorse continued expansion of government and to emphasize that whatever general strategy the US government is pursuing is the correct one, but that it could be done better. TNR has endorsed every US military action since WWI (including invading Iraq in 2003), with the arguable exception of the Vietnam War about which it tended to be less enthusiastic. Indeed, Phil Ochs specifically mentioned TNR in his satiric paen to establishment liberalism "Love Me, I'm a Liberal", which came out 30+ years ago, IIRC.

|6.23.06 @ 11:07AM|#

I like pancakes.

Do you prefer them with maple syrup or corn syrup?

|6.23.06 @ 11:12AM|#

"Uh, TNR has long had a reputation as being an establishment tool that functions like the liberal equivalent of National Review -- i.e., to endorse continued expansion of government and to emphasize that whatever general strategy the US government is pursuing is the correct one, but that it could be done better. TNR has endorsed every US military action since WWI (including invading Iraq in 2003), with the arguable exception of the Vietnam War about which it tended to be less enthusiastic. Indeed, Phil Ochs specifically mentioned TNR in his satiric paen to establishment liberalism "Love Me, I'm a Liberal", which came out 30+ years ago, IIRC."

It is interesting how use of military force is becoming the litmis test for who can claim to be on the left. If you endorse it, you are the enemy regardless of one's views on any other issue. There can be no disent or rational debate on the left concerning Iraq, at least in the world view of people like Kos. I fail to see how supporting the invasion of Iraq per say makes TNR conservative much less neoconservative (as if that term has any real meaning anymore). More importantly, how does their stand on the Iraq war have anything to do with the validity what TNR said about Kos's sleazy connections to political campaigns? Again, Kos's paranoia and name calling sure makes it look like he has something to hide.

|6.23.06 @ 11:13AM|#

I've often thought H&R has good comment up until about the twentieth. That makes us about 4 times better than Daily Kos.

Having sat through many a traffic jam on the 405, the notion of riding a high-tech skate board between vehicles appeals to me.

One of the most jarring things about going to CA is seeing the insane motorcyclists split lanes. I mean, they'll fly past stopped traffic going like 60. So what's stopping you from doing that, T? The worst that can happen is that you get a noteworthy and awesome death.

If you haven't been following the interminable Daily Kos-The New Republic slapfight, congratulations. You're having a great week.

I did have a great week. Now I know the cause!

|6.23.06 @ 11:17AM|#

What's the price of tea in China?

|6.23.06 @ 11:23AM|#

I wonder how long it will take for the idiots for make those 600 meaningless responses to every post at DailyKos to realize that Kos is in this for the same reason that anyone puts any effort into anything: filthy lucre.

|6.23.06 @ 11:27AM|#

"I fail to see how supporting the invasion of Iraq per se makes TNR conservative much less neoconservative"

TNR is an archetypical example of neoconservatism (i.e., former leftists who putatively move right and support big government and militarism). From Wikipedia:

In 1975, the magazine was bought by Harvard University lecturer Martin Peretz, who transformed TNR into its current incarnation. Peretz was a veteran of the New Left who had broken with that movement over its support of various Third World liberationist movements, particularly the Palestine Liberation Organization. Under Peretz TNR has advocated both strong U.S. support for Israel and a muscular U.S. foreign policy. During the 1980s the magazine generally supported President Reagan's anti-Communist foreign policy, including provision of aid to the Contras. It has also supported both Gulf Wars and, reflecting its belief in the moral efficacy of American power, intervention in "humanitarian" crises, such as those in Bosnia and Kosovo during the Yugoslav wars.

|6.23.06 @ 11:29AM|#

In the current TNR dead-tree issue, there's a long-ish article about how pointless blogs like Instapundit are. Kos gets a single mention at the end of the article.

I like pie.

|6.23.06 @ 11:35AM|#

Now if only we had no food or water, no clothing or shelter...that'd sure get us all focused...like in the good old days, ya know?

|6.23.06 @ 11:37AM|#

This week's TNR has a very good report from the Yearly Kos convention. The descriptions of various Democratic politicians talking to the Kossacks, with some of them getting the whole "internets" thing and some, not so much, is very entertaining.

KipEsquire|6.23.06 @ 11:43AM|#

blogurus?

That's one of the former Soviet republics, right?

|6.23.06 @ 11:47AM|#

Why is "readers" in scare quotes?

|6.23.06 @ 11:48AM|#

I'm quite capable of staying on topic, thank you very much.

I prefer the word kerfuffle over slapfight.

|6.23.06 @ 11:51AM|#

None of these people have been in my kitchen.

|6.23.06 @ 11:59AM|#

"Why is 'readers' in scare quotes?"

I think he's impugning the literacy of the posters.

|6.23.06 @ 12:00PM|#

I take umbrage at the suggestion our discussion boards are unfocused.

Let's talk about libertarian problems with religion now.

John

Cranberry Pancakes

1 cup chopped cranberries
2 cups vanilla yogurt
1 cup yellow corn meal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Butter and maple syrup for accompaniment
Soak cranberries in the maple syrup overnight.
Mix yogurt, corn meal, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add cranberry mixture and stir.
Heat a lightly greased griddle or skillet over medium heat (375*F - 190*C). Griddle is ready when a few drops of water bubble and skitter rapidly around.

For each pancake, pour scant 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until surface is covered with bubbles and appear dry around the edges. Turn and cook other side until golden brown.

Makes about 15 to 18 (4-inch) pancakes.

Roger Ailes|6.23.06 @ 12:04PM|#

The blogosphere's lack of concentration is even more dangerous than all its rage.

Call it MyADD!

|6.23.06 @ 12:19PM|#

Just a small point...TNR is not "liberal" they are democrats. There is a difference. Calling anyone at TNR "liberal" is like calling Bush a small government conservative.

|6.23.06 @ 12:24PM|#

And the same goes for DailyKos. If they are liberals (vs partisan Democrats, not the same thing as a liberal), than Tony Snow really is a libertarian.

|6.23.06 @ 12:32PM|#

FARK Rulez!!!!

Or at least it did 3 years ago when I stopped reading it. Once Wil left and Asia Carrera retired it kinda lost it's appeal.

|6.23.06 @ 12:52PM|#

I think I've heard of this Kos thing before. Doesn't it have something to do with the Neolibertarians? ...or is this about those people that moved to New Hampshire?

Gilmore,
That recipe is just too danged much.

Pa's Pancakes:
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
.25 Cup white sugar (NOT HFCS!!)
1 tsp baking powder
1 chicken egg - beaten
Enough (whole)milk to make it a batter (approx 2 Cups), if you have goats make sure they haven't been eating dandilions or milkweed.

Mix it all up, dry ingredients first, don't overbeat or it they will be tough. Use cast iron as it holds the heat better. Slap a bit of oil or bacon fat in the pan, and cook until the bubbles start drying out (say about half of them form holes in the pancake) then turn to finish.

Caveat: The amounts on here are highly variable as Dad's method of cooking is "a bit of this, a handful of this, a tad bit of this and cook it till it's done".

|6.23.06 @ 12:59PM|#

The best takedown of Lee Siegel was in "A Reader's Manifesto", towards the end. It's hilarious. The author completely eviscerates him.

|6.23.06 @ 1:00PM|#

Katrina vanden Heuvel is *the* dumbest person on TV.

She is even dumber than Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity COMBINED!

|6.23.06 @ 1:06PM|#

Katrina Vanden Heuval is really dumb, but she is kind of hot and Katrina is such a sexy name. I ussually hit the mute button when she is on and have sick fantasies about her Laura Ingram in some wierd lesbian S&M relationship.

b-psycho|6.23.06 @ 2:28PM|#

Y'know what would be good right about now? A cold beer & a philly cheesesteak.

|6.23.06 @ 2:30PM|#

If you are attempting to combine dumbness do you need to add or subtract. If Bill knows nothing and Sean knows nothing and you combine them they still know nothing. If they know almost nothing, odds are the few things they know are diffent and combining the "dumbness" of the two would increase the actual intelligence level. Of course, this could only be accomplished with a meat grinder. And a pickle.

My dog likes when I pet his belly.

|6.23.06 @ 3:09PM|#

John,

I mute Michelle Malkin.

|6.23.06 @ 3:43PM|#

I actually have had a pretty good week, sitting on my ass watching the World Cup and bellowing "That's a dive, you pussy!" every time a player goes down. Good times. (I don't know what the libertarian orthodoxy is concerning soccer, but in my defense I should point out that I grew up overseas, and thus as a child played as much soccer, rugby and cricket as football, basketball and baseball.)

I like WWII light cruisers. Any faves?

|6.23.06 @ 3:49PM|#

I can't say that I blame you Joe, but she doesn't do much for me physically. I would take Katrina over her in a heartbeat.

|6.23.06 @ 5:05PM|#

sick fantasies about [Katrina Van den Heuvel] and Laura Ingram in some wierd lesbian S&M relationship.

John just made this post into my Friday Fun post. Thanks, J!

|6.23.06 @ 5:33PM|#

peachy

The Graf Spee
. . . oh, wait--that's probably a heavy.

|6.23.06 @ 5:35PM|#

The Jean Bart. ;-)

|6.23.06 @ 6:53PM|#

John and joe,

Ugh!
How can you even stand to look at her permanently "I are a lemon" bitter face!
Even when she eaks out the smallest hint of amusement (never happiness because the Bush administration let 500 children die of hunger yesterday, and how can you laugh at that Chris Matthews?!) here eyes still scream, "I hate this f'ing hick country"...
And God, to listen to her talk is to listen to the Top Graduate of the Che Guevarra School of Rhetoric, where a pleasent talk about the sky's color is an oppurtunity to attack how the rich tainted the sky from royal blue to light blue with their fatcat trust funds and $50 cigars...bleh!

In the Puritan different era, she'd be the hateful town scold...

Michell Malkin makes my ears/eyes hurt with odd voice and her odd facial expressions. But at least she can smile without anger.
And what the hell is she doing as being a writer for VDARE.com?!!? Shouldn't the presence of the thankfully late-Sam Francis or Jared Taylor on the staff at least make her aware that she's being tooled out by racists???!!?!
I guess now she's got all that cash helping stoke up immigrant fear in a lot of paranoid white guys, she really doesn't have to worry about her name still being associated with VDARE, huh?

M. Simon|6.23.06 @ 10:51PM|#

Did some one mention the drug war?

If not, I will.

Genetic Discrimination.

And if some one did mention it, consider this a response.

narciso79|6.23.06 @ 11:05PM|#

It's ironic about the VanDenHeuvel/Vietnam connection. Since her father, was part of the talent scouting committee that included Sen. Mansfield, Justice Douglas, et al;that 'discovered' Diem in a Maryland monastery, and
the rest was history.

M. Simon|6.23.06 @ 11:20PM|#

peachy,

I like the Chicago. I think it was a heavy though. I was aboard once visiting my friend Phil Lowitz.

|6.25.06 @ 4:29AM|#

I agree with John that Katrina is a damn sexy name. I couldn't stop jerking it while watching the 24 hour coverage from NOLA after Hurricane Katrina.

Also, Kate O'Beirne is much dumber than Katrina Vanden Heuvel in the ranking of pundit women based in magazineland.

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