Now They Call Him 30 Cent

My friend Brian Beutler, a liberal blogger and journo who's been reporting the hell out of the torture and FISA stories, is in the hospital recovering from a mugging in my Washington, D.C. neighborhood. A disturbed man demanded his cell phone, then shot him three times, twice in the stomach, once in the shoulder.

It's been something, watching this unfold over gchat and e-mail. The weird fraternity of young writers in D.C. has been profiled and mocked far more often than makes sense from a public interest perspctive. But as soon as we learned about this, everybody who knew Brian acted like... well, humans. Several of us (not me, yet) traveled to the hospital to donate blood. Collaboration began on a lengthy list of "Brian Beutler Facts," inspired by the (now surely played out) list of oddball stories of Chuck Norris. Sample entries: "Lance Armstrong wears a Brian Beutler bracelet." "The active ingredient in Levitra is Brian Beutler." "Meatloaf would do that for Brian Beutler."

Appreciations are also coming from reasonoid Julian Sanchez and occasional contributor Megan McArdle, who brings the sociological science:

When DC does try to "do something", it's something stupid and quasi-fascist like locking down neighborhoods instead of putting more cops on the beat and using the advanced police tactics that are now the norm in every other city. From what I know, Fenty seems like a better mayor than DC's previous disasters, but the city government remains corrupt and incompetent. No one should have to spend their lives feeling this afraid.

Largely, I agree with Sanchez that this is a better time to wish Beutler well and raise a glass to his relative good luck (he's lost his spleen but will otherwise recover completely) than to launch into a debate on Heller. 

Comments

Naga Sadow | July 2, 2008, 6:08pm | #

That would be a cool nickname. 30 cent just walked into the bar . . . 30 cent is late . . . that would be bitchin'! Hope your friend doesn't let his mugging get him down.

Paul | July 2, 2008, 6:08pm | #

raise a glass to his relative good luck (he's lost his spleen but will otherwise recover completely) than to launch into a debate on Heller.

Tempting, though it is.

too soon? | July 2, 2008, 6:11pm | #

The question is, can he resume his career as a blogger without his spleen?

Pig Mannix | July 2, 2008, 6:17pm | #

Awfully sorry to hear about Mr. Beutler. Best wishes for his recovery....

Happy Jack | July 2, 2008, 6:20pm | #

The question is, can he resume his career as a blogger without his spleen?

I would think so. I believe the spleen is like the appendix, it's only useful for those who graze in meadows.

Naga Sadow | July 2, 2008, 6:22pm | #

Happy Jack,

I thought the spleen was important for digestion purposes. Damn, A&P classes!!!

The Winter Soldier | July 2, 2008, 6:23pm | #

So cool that 30 cents is MORE then enough . . .

Erÿk Boston, J.D. | July 2, 2008, 6:31pm | #

He may still blog but we all what happens to a liberal who gets mugged.

Nevertheless, I wish him well.

Happy Jack | July 2, 2008, 6:31pm | #

Keep your facts out of my joke.

Naga Sadow | July 2, 2008, 6:40pm | #

My apologies Happy Jack. It's the geek in me that ruins moments. Sigh . . .

Bingo | July 2, 2008, 6:42pm | #

What kind of cellphone did he have and does he still have it?

Bob | July 2, 2008, 6:49pm | #

Congratulations commenters for not getting involved in a totally inappropriate discussion of Heller. The thread at TPM did not seem to go as well.

Charles Askins | July 2, 2008, 6:55pm | #

What kind of cellphone did he have and does he still have it?

Probably not one of these phones.

Jon H | July 2, 2008, 8:05pm | #

Maybe Brian can clear it up: was it the gun that shot him, or a people?

Jon H | July 2, 2008, 8:07pm | #

I betcha it was an iPhone.

In which case Brian might have been shot for telling the mugger "Why are you mugging me, moron, the new iPhones are coming out soon and this will be worthless?!?"

prolefeed | July 2, 2008, 8:38pm | #

Without getting into the Heller thing: have any of his philosophical views changed as a result of this incident?

Brandybuck | July 2, 2008, 8:54pm | #

Since I don't know the guy, I don't feel much in guilt in wondering about liberal blogger Brian's views on gun control. What law would he propose to prevent the crime that happened to him? 90 day waiting period? Fingerprints, retina scan, and semen sample? Banning anything powerful enough to kill squirrel with only two shots? Armored troops at the border of DC to prevent guns from even entering the city? He long until he goes all British on us and starts advocating the banishment of steak knives?

Julian Sanchez | July 3, 2008, 2:10am | #

Since some of us do know the guy, how about you file those clever questions away for a little while?

Art-P.O.G. | July 3, 2008, 5:02am | #

I'd just like to wish Mr. Beutler a speedy recovery.

Some of us don't know the guy, but who cares? | July 3, 2008, 5:16am | #

Since some of us do know the guy, how about you file those clever questions away for a little while?

Julian-Perhaps a discussion would be in order as to why, if one runs into circumstances which a particular law or political position could have dramatically affected, it is somehow improper to engage in any discussion of it based on someone knowing the person.

If I were to know, for example, Officer Jarrod Shivers, would that preclude discussion of no knock raids and the possible corruption of the Chesapeake PD? I would hope not. If I knew the man, I might choose to abstain from discussions personally, but that shouldn't necessarily preclude others.

What you're essentially saying is "I know the guy so don't comment on his politics in regards to his current situation", which in turn begs the question "If you didn't know him, would that be ok?", or "Is there any situation, since someone someplace knows the individual...". How about Spitzer's situation? Someone someplace cared about the guy, does that preclude discussion on him being arrested for the same crime he pursued others for? Obviously, these are intended as rhetorical so no need to brand them as "clever questions".

That said, Heller doesn't have a bit to do with what happened to this particular individual, so it's inappropriate in that regard (though the fact that the ban still stands might allow for some discussion in regards to its effeciveness), so don't think I'm trying to stir up a discussion on it.

I'm just curious as to the justification of using personal knowledge of someone to preclude discussion by the general public of that person's public record, and I'm not liking the logical extrapolation of that line of thought as it applies to public discussion.

qrwpty | July 3, 2008, 5:37am | #

it's kinda pathetic that it took one of their friends geting shot to make them rush to to the hospital to donate blood. really speaks to the humanitarian impulses of young washington writers

Guy Montag | July 3, 2008, 8:08am | #

Dave,

Sorry for your friend. Hope he recovers well.

Montag

Julian Sanchez | July 3, 2008, 8:56am | #

This is not really all that complicated, nor is it a dire threat to all public discourse: I'm just saying maybe a "best wishes to our friend" post right after the fact is not the appropriate time and place to go snarking on someone's political views. But neither do I feel like having an etiquette argument here, so hey, a suggestion; take it or leave it.

Douglas Fletcher | July 3, 2008, 9:26am | #

Gotta wonder what devil bones are buried there in the DC swamps that makes this kind of thing at best unsurprising to anyone who's lived in the DC area.

I wish him the best but as for DC, screw it, that place needs an exorcism.

J | July 3, 2008, 9:41am | #

Best wishes to him, I hope he recovers safely.

mk | July 3, 2008, 10:10am | #

I'd just like to wish Mr. Beutler a speedy recovery.

I second this sentiment.

Warty | July 3, 2008, 10:53am | #

Here's to his recovery, and here's to his mugger dying of tertiary drug-resistant syphilis soon.

We still don't know the guy, but thanks for answering | July 3, 2008, 11:02am | #

This is not really all that complicated, nor is it a dire threat to all public discourse: I'm just saying maybe a "best wishes to our friend" post right after the fact is not the appropriate time and place to go snarking on someone's political views.

I would say that "it depends". If the guy was a staunch supporter of the DC ban, and the firearm was banned, pointing that out hoping that he'd realize the extent to which his ban isn't working is one thing. Taking pleasure in someone getting shot is something else entirely. I would still submit that this is applicable whether or not you know the guy, which is what first raised my eyebrows as I thought you were advocating a different standard based on knowing someone than not.

But neither do I feel like having an etiquette argument here, so hey, a suggestion; take it or leave it.

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

I'm glad for his sake that he is on the way to recovery, unfortunately there are a lot in his situation that don't make it.

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Wee Mousie | July 6, 2008, 7:32pm | #

too soon? asked . . . can he resume his career as a blogger without his spleen?
...........................................

I have been without my spleen since 1952, and it hasn't affected my writing, yet.

One does have to look after one's liver, and take more precautions against infections, but the spleen has little effect upon one's cognitive, investigative, or communications skills.

In addition, its loss creates a slimmer waistline.