I actually agree with Markos Moulitsas on something.
The blogosphere is buzzing over WaPo columnist Richard Cohen's lame attempt at humor, and frankly, a rather pathetic shot at bloggers:
A survey of political bloggers showed that 94 percent of them had never been out of the country or read anything other than a Harry Potter book.
There are a lot of different sites commenting on this, but frankly, I loved Markos Moulitsas' response the most (please excuse the language!):
Remember Richard Cohen?
First, let me state my credentials: I am a funny guy. This is well known in certain circles, which is why, even back in elementary school, I was sometimes asked by the teacher to "say something funny" -- as if the deed could be done on demand. This, anyway, is my standing for stating that Stephen Colbert was not funny at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
Ignore the fact that the guy who has to declare "I am a funny guy" never is (Stephen Colbert has never said the words, "I am a funny guy"). Let's just see that sense of humor in action:
A survey of political bloggers showed that 94 percent of them had never been out of the country or read anything other than a Harry Potter book.
He's right! He's fucking hilarious!
It never really surprises me to see beltway journalists taking cheap shots at bloggers, and especially political bloggers. We're their competition. Newspaper sales are dwindling lower and lower, and less and less people are tuning into the big networks. Meanwhile, sites like Daily Kos, Hot Air, and Instapundit, and bloggers like Michelle Malkin, are seeing their hits climb higher and higher and higher. Beltway journalists hate us for that, because the blogosphere is becoming a force to be reckoned with, and the only way they know to deal with it is by taking cheap shots at us.
For the record, I have never been out of the country, no. In my own defense, I'm 23, and not exactly wealthy enough to be able to take off on a vacation overseas whenever I choose, although I am planning a trip next year. And there are so many places I want to go: Egypt, Italy, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, India, Thailand, Australia, Greece... I could go on and on.
And as for reading, yes, I have read the Harry Potter books, but that by far is not indicative of the contents of my library at home. I started reading at four years old, and got yelled at in school all the time for propping up books behind my textbook. I'm an avid reader; everything from political non-fiction to Harry Potter to suspense to historical fiction. If you looked in my apartment, you'd see books everywhere. I love to read. I honestly couldn't tell you how many books I read every year; it'd be hard to keep track.
But, then again, what do we bloggers know? We're uncultured ignoramuses. Maybe Cohen would work with Pat Schroeder on his next column.
Others commenting: Beltway Blogroll, Mary Katharine Ham, Matthew Yglesias, Blog P.I., DailyKos, Eschaton
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Comments (12)
"Stephen Colbert h... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Nicholas | September 8, 2007 9:18 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
At least he's honest...
1. Posted by Nicholas | September 8, 2007 9:18 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 21:18
2. Posted by Diane | September 8, 2007 10:10 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
I have been out of the country...and what my travels have taught me is the only place I would ever want to live year after year, is the USA.
(There are a lot of wonderful places to visit in the world, but I wouldn't want to live "there".)
2. Posted by Diane | September 8, 2007 10:10 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 22:10
3. Posted by John in CA | September 8, 2007 10:12 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
What? There are countries other than the United States? Whoa!
Join the Navy.
They're nice places to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. As the Beach Boys sang:
I can't wait to get back in the States
Back to the cutest girls in the world
3. Posted by John in CA | September 8, 2007 10:12 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 22:12
4. Posted by Bill Faith | September 8, 2007 10:17 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Gotta admit the only place I've been was Viet Nam, and that was years back. Guess that disqualifies me from commenting on anything that has to do with national defense or our troops, right?
4. Posted by Bill Faith | September 8, 2007 10:17 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 22:17
5. Posted by Scrapiron | September 8, 2007 10:34 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I have spent too many years is seven foreign countries and lived in several states, visited many more and there is no place that can come close to the U.S. as a good place to live. Why the democrats want to destroy it by pardnering up with the communist/socialist/Islamist is beyond me. My pick in the U.S. is the Mid-South/Southeast since we don't have earthquakes, hurricanes, tornado's and not many crazies like KOS.
5. Posted by Scrapiron | September 8, 2007 10:34 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 22:34
6. Posted by 31tudor | September 8, 2007 10:36 PM | Score: -3 (3 votes cast)
Or like: Talking Points Memo, MyDD, Eschaton (Atrios), Altercation, Crooks and Liars, etc.
I know it's tough to keep supporting a failed President/Policy, look just how many of Bush's enablers who "need more time with the family".
6. Posted by 31tudor | September 8, 2007 10:36 PM |
Score: -3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 22:36
7. Posted by David | September 8, 2007 11:45 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Ok I have lived in Europe twice. So what? I took my lovely wife to Europe for our honeymoon.
Cassy, try Eurail and cheap hostels. I spent less than $3000 bucks to take my wife to Europe. Be cheap and go.
7. Posted by David | September 8, 2007 11:45 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 8, 2007 23:45
8. Posted by Jim Addison | September 9, 2007 12:30 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I've had the displeasure of occasionally reading Richard Cohen over the last quarter-century or so. I must say I have never found him funny, and only very rarely insightful in any way.
8. Posted by Jim Addison | September 9, 2007 12:30 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 9, 2007 00:30
9. Posted by kim | September 9, 2007 10:09 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
It isn't funny to say they wear pajamas anymore. This was a lame and misfired attempt to make that same joke.
A survey of political bloggers showed that 94% of them believe everything they write.
===================================
9. Posted by kim | September 9, 2007 10:09 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on September 9, 2007 10:09
10. Posted by SPQR | September 9, 2007 11:45 AM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Cassy, go to the Czech Republic. Its inexpensive, full of beautiful central european charm, the people are very friendly and they supported the US in Iraq.
10. Posted by SPQR | September 9, 2007 11:45 AM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on September 9, 2007 11:45
11. Posted by Mikey NTH | September 9, 2007 1:42 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
My library is pretty extensive, also, and I suppose Canada counts as a foreign country. Otherwise I have been working at something or another since fourth grade when I had my first paper route (local weekly newspaper).
11. Posted by Mikey NTH | September 9, 2007 1:42 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on September 9, 2007 13:42
12. Posted by LissaKay | September 9, 2007 7:47 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
TO the point being made ... the smart MSM outlets, newspapers in particular, are actively embracing bloggers. For instance, check out the Knoxville News-Sentinel. They have several reporters set up on their site, including two of the editors. And just recently, they invited bloggers to provide unbiased coverage of their lawsuit against the local county government.
Give it time. The MSM will assimilate or be vanquished ...
12. Posted by LissaKay | September 9, 2007 7:47 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 9, 2007 19:47