A Special Note Re: Yglesias
[Posted by Karl]
When he joined the Sorosphere, I noted that “terrorist chic” blogger Matthew Yglesias seemed fuzzy on the identity of his employer. He recently found out the hard way, via a “Yglesias” blog post composed by his boss — Jennifer Palmieri, acting CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. His Orwellian declaration of independence is not washing with many of his (former) readers. And he is being well-mocked by Jeffrey Goldberg.
–Karl
He used to be interesting to read. How quickly they fall.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 7:06 pmMatt is an awesome blogger. But very plausibly he could be an even awesomer blogger if he were allowed to speak his little mind.
Brainster (a02514) — 12/22/2008 @ 7:24 pmImagine if one of these sensitive types had to actually run for office! They are much better pulling strings behind curtains, aren’t they?
Patricia (ee5c9d) — 12/22/2008 @ 7:26 pmAwesome might be a bit of a stretch. At one point, he was interesting, for a Leftist. Before he became a predictable party line BDS Leftist.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 7:27 pmYou’re right, Karl, his declaration of independence isn’t very convincing. I sympathize — it’s one thing to disagree but it’s another to be patronized. There are times when we all have to watch what we say but this smacks more of sending him to his room than a professional difference of opinion.
DRJ (be6fb0) — 12/22/2008 @ 8:07 pmI did not a sense that MattY was very convincing in his Declaration of Independence. Especially since he is anything but independent.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 8:35 pmI did not get a sense …
I am not a good typist sometimes.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 8:38 pmHmm, I thought Goldberg’s post was a parody of Palmieri’s post, not Yglesias’.
However, the affair is a useful reminder that bloggers generally have jobs and financial interests which can influence their opinions, and it’s best when they’re upfront about it, and don’t try to fudge an appearance of institutional impartiality. If I want that, I could read the Times (LA or NY versions at your pleasure).
And for the past few weeks, Yglesias has been pretty much of a bore–his basic refrain is that Obama should be picking people who are more leftie than Obama’s actual choices, and that the FedGov should spend money on a stimulus package like an addict on a binge.
kishnevi (8349ff) — 12/22/2008 @ 8:41 pmI love it when they complain that the Socialist are not acting Socialist enough.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 8:54 pmJD, my awesome comment was a riff on Matt’s dopey Fourth of July post about how America was an awesome country but very plausibly we might have been even awesomer if we’d stayed a colony of the British. It was one of those posts where you blink and ask, “Did he really just write that?”
Brainster (a02514) — 12/22/2008 @ 9:00 pmMy bad, Brainster. I should have known better.
JD (037526) — 12/22/2008 @ 9:05 pmHowever, the affair is a useful reminder that bloggers generally have jobs and financial interests which can influence their opinions, and it’s best when they’re upfront about it, and don’t try to fudge an appearance of institutional impartiality
That’s exactly how I see it, kishnevi.
People should be as skeptical of bloggers as they are of any of the people bloggers criticize. That goes double if the blogger seems to be making a living off from his blogging, is employed by someone to blog, and/or has a definite political agenda.
I’ll go out on a limb and say anybody who thinks these upper middle class college grad bloggers really find EFCA to be the most important issue in the country is being willfully blind.
MayBee (fd43fa) — 12/22/2008 @ 9:21 pmWhat would be sad is if Yglesias really didn’t understand he was being hired to be the propaganda arm of an opaque political organization.
kishnevi wrote:
It is — but Goldberg’s target is the larger situation.
Karl (2491e1) — 12/22/2008 @ 9:50 pmAlso, for folks who did not read the PW link, note that Yglesias originally announced/thought he was going off to work for CAP (a 501(c)(3) think tank) when his actual employer is APAF (a 501(c)(4) political action fund). The latter type of oganization tends to be more blatantly political than a real think tank. Shocka.
Karl (2491e1) — 12/22/2008 @ 9:55 pmMatt Yglesias and Ezra Klein: Jim Henson’s Pundit Babies.
Jim Treacher (592cb4) — 12/23/2008 @ 12:00 am“Awesome might be a bit of a stretch. At one point, he was interesting, for a Leftist. Before he became a predictable party line BDS Leftist.”
Its important for folks to keep us on our toes. Like always pull out a surprise. The Obama birth certificate nuttyness provides fertile ground for someone to stand out and do the unpredictable.
imdw (e27319) — 12/23/2008 @ 5:01 am“Work for hire”, Matt. Look it up.
mojo (8096f2) — 12/23/2008 @ 9:46 amThe Obama birth certificate lawsuits were filed by Hillary supporters, imdw.
JD (e96920) — 12/23/2008 @ 10:20 pm“The Obama birth certificate lawsuits were filed by Hillary supporters, imdw.”
Like Alan Keyes? But its not just in lawsuits. Its also in blogging, where people can go off on their own and pull out a surprise.
imdw (756b03) — 12/24/2008 @ 4:27 amShorter imdw: “Look! Over there! Alan Keyes!”
Wicked good surprise, dude.
Pablo (99243e) — 12/24/2008 @ 5:02 amAnything out of Keyes is going to be good fun.
imdw (9d1392) — 12/24/2008 @ 5:05 amPull out a surprise? Like what? And what difference would it make anyway?
Mossberg500 (9fd170) — 12/24/2008 @ 5:34 am