By the way, it is worth going here now. I thought it had all blown over and was going to let it go.
One of the things Ben Smith wrote was:
A leading conservative blogger and commentator, Erick Erickson, said he shifted his stance in a key Senate race because the company that publishes his RedState.com is “socially connected” to former Virginia Senator George Allen.
I never “shifted” my stance on the race. And certainly do not desire to or intend to support George Allen.
Second, here’s the back story I can now confirm on this — and it will no doubt leave your head scratching in a “WTF” moment.
Last week, after Streiff wrote a post on Gardasil and had some choice words for Michele Malkin, a guy named Dan Riehl decided if I did not apologize for Streiff’s actions, he would burn me to the ground.
Actually, he direct messaged one of our front page contributors on Twitter and I received this email recollecting the conversation:
On the phone call he told me in no uncertain terms that it was his intention to “burn Erick’s integrity to the ground” if some sort of retraction isn’t made regarding the statement by Streiff that Malkin “left her integrity and intelligence at the door”
He claims to have the support of fellow “prominent” conservatives who feel the same and support him.
He made clear that he would “burn Erick’s integrity to the ground” by way of revealing certain things he claims to be privy to that shows that Erick “will not support certain issues and candidates at the behest of his bosses at Eagle.”
I told him that i would pass along this information but could in no way guarantee it’s outcome.
I certainly wasn’t going to apologize for something Streiff did on the front page let alone be more or less blackmailed into an editorial position (this, by the way, is the second time in a year Dan has made a similar threat like this). I’d already put up my own views on the matter that clearly disagreed with Streiff.
Anyway, I emailed some mutual friends to see if they could calm Dan down. Dan took that as me trying to have him fired, which was definitely not the case. Next thing I know, friends of mine are getting text messages and phone calls that various conservative radio show hosts, etc. are going to come after me.
I’m guessing Dan latched on my emailing our mutual friends, convinced himself I wanted to get him fired instead of just calmed down, and decided to go all junior high cat fight on RedState and me. While I was out of town this past weekend a war of words on Twitter ensued with Riehl suggesting our founder, Josh Trevino, had sex with sheep, and the inevitable back and forth.
I can now confirm Dan Riehl is the original source to the Politico regarding the Radtke story.
Well played, Dan. Well played. The Radtke campaign owes you big time.
Sometimes the collective forces of the internet act like junior high school girls.
UPDATE: As an aside, and I think it is worth pointing out, the most disappointing thing about all of this was Dan’s willingness to drag others into this fight from Michele Malkin to others. I get he’s upset and/or jealous of RedState and thinks, I suppose, that we should be in the tank for Palin or should not have let Perry announce at the RedState Gathering or whatever the reason du jour is. But I think in these fights it is horrifying to drag in other prominent conservatives or to drop their names or have others drop their names — particularly using something like the apology he demanded as pretext to do what I’m sure he’d been waiting to do anyway.
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Dan Spencer
Jeff Emanuel
Neil Stevens
To Mr. Riehl
runner12 (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:05PM EDT (link)We are Conservatives. We believe in the value of the individual to think for themselves. We should not blackmail and coerce someone just because they will not do what we want them to do. That is a tactic of the Left, and is truly beneath us.
The Left demands that a group think mentality exist among their members. Common talking points and being in lock-step with the Party is a prequisite for membership. Not so with us, Sir.
If you did not like the comments, why not just say so and end it at that. We have one of the most destructive Presidents in U.S. history sitting in the WH and you are taking swings at RS and Erick? Your priorities are out of line.
Let us stop the childish nonsense and focus on defeating Obama in 2012 and begin the path to restoring this great nation.
Radtke Staff **HAD** To Record This...
Shaun Kenney (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:33PM EDT (link)…after all, they sent their principle out to the RedState Gathering for this important event using campaign dollars.
So… why won’t Radtke’s staff release this video?
That should put the whole thing to bed
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 7:33PM EDT (link)Where is the Radtke campaign video of her speech. There is no question that if it was in any way a positive promotion of her speech, it would be playing across the networks in VA. I’d love for it to be slipped to the Allen campaign, however, why would Allen punch down as has been coined here, I believe.
I demand to see the video of the "drunken ramblings" of Radtke that Eric says happened
pineros Wednesday, August 24th at 1:15PM EDT (link)Eric Erickson has no choice but to release the video clip of the speech that Radtke made in introducing Steve Bannon at the Red State gathering.
Eric quotes a number of anonymous sources that say Radtke was drunk and gave a disasterous speech priot to The Undefeated.
I want to see the video.
Considering that Eric is all over the place on all of this, in order for me to make up my own mind on whether Radtke was drunk and idiotic, I would really like to see the video clip of it.
There is video of everything else at the Red State gathering…. where is that video please. Post it up on Red State ASAP so we can all make up our own minds.
I’m a Canadian who was already banned for trolling, but is so obsessed with RedState I came back again to keep trolling.
I wasn't there
Erick Erickson (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:16PM EDT (link)surely someone has it.
Who will stand on either hand and keep this bridge with me?Follow @EWErickson
Demand! Demands I tells ya!!!
Darin_H (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:21PM EDT (link)Aren’t we a product of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”?
A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there’s a victim on TV – Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls
To paraphrase UNCF ads:
funwithknives Wednesday, August 24th at 1:35PM EDT (link)“A Mind, CAN BE A Terrible Thing.” (per Eddie Murphy, on SNL). While none on this line are mere ciphers, if Eric and present co. state through numerous sources that it occured, S’good e-nuff for moi’.
NO Choice? MY-MY, aren’t We in a Huff? Can someone invent keyboard Symbolism for stamping your feet ,stationary? Then pass it on to this impatient gent. A S A P !!!
I can attest that the emails I received from those there...
Jeff Emanuel (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:24PM EDT (link)…sent during the speech fully support Erick’s description. They were painful to read.
JE
Must be a video clip of this
pineros Wednesday, August 24th at 2:48PM EDT (link)Considering it was described as a rambling, almost 30 minute drunken disaster, surely there must be a video clip of this.
With all those people in the room and I would assume most with video ability, you mean no one caught it ? Apparently a bunch of them were emailing about it re the post above.
Come on.
This upsets me…. Eric puts up a post quoting many anonymous people claiming she is a dolt drunk rambling on for almost 30 minutes of gibberish or something and not one of them managed to catch any of it on video?
Like I said before, I remember the “they shouted the N word 15 times” episode that did not exist. Just because some people “say it” does not make it true…. as we all have found out many, many times before. Thank God for video to at least cast some light on some of these things.
To believe the story at this point, I think the video would settle it for everyone. Lets see the video.
I’m a Canadian who was already banned for trolling, but is so obsessed with RedState I came back again to keep trolling.
You've had two eye-witness acounts.
gekster (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 2:53PM EDT (link)Let me help you out.
whup, whup, whup, whup
c’mon silver, get up you dang nag.
whup, whup, whup, whup
what’s wrong with you, get up
whup, whup, whup, whup
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
I’ve gone from
“Hope and Change” to
“Hopeless and Changeless”
Calm down. Surely something will come out.
Locked and Loaded (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:18PM EDT (link)In the meantime, you can either turn on your local newscast or find an ambulance to follow.
No GM, GE, or any GSE for me.
Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?
Matthew 20:15 NIV
Pineros, the difference is, we weren't trying to catch Radtke on video and play gotcha games...
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:33PM EDT (link)We were eating our dinner in a low lit room waiting for The Undefeated to come on.
Your logic is seriously lacking any basis in reality.
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
Follow @Aaron_RS
pineros, my observations as an attendee.
Melody Warbington (rwm52) (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:34PM EDT (link)Here’s a summary along with full disclosure of what I’ve previously said about Radtke, and let me point out that I took a few pictures, but no video of anything at the gathering. None.
On August 17, 2011, I stated on another diary here that I was impressed with Radtke. That statement was based on spending a few minutes talking with her in the hotel lobby before her speech. She sounded like a conservative, and I knew that Erick had noted her candidacy earlier in the year. Like E.F. Hutton, when Erick speaks, I pay attention because he has a clear record of endorsing and supporting conservatives.
On August 18, 2011, I posted my diary about my time at the redstate gathering
here.
Therein, you will note that I simply said that Jamie Radtke introduced Mr. Bannon. I purposely did not include a critique of Radtke’s speech because I had paid little attention to it since I was eating dinner and chatting with a group of other attendees with whom I was sitting toward the back of the room. I do remember noting that her speech was longer than expected for an introduction. Nobody at my table was filming. We were busy eating dinner.
In the time between my 8/17 comment (which I wish I could retract – scope, you were obviously right) and my 8/18 diary, I discussed various speeches with some of the folks I met at the gathering (just other attendees like myself), including Radtke’s. The general consensus was that Radtke rambled on “incessantly” and one person noted that she seemed “rattled.” Another that she wasted an opportunity. We were too far away to know whether or not she was intoxicated.
As for video, I would counter with why doesn’t Radtke have film of her own speech? If she’s so quick to post her other speeches on her website and youtube, why not this one? Could it be she doesn’t want it out there?
The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things. (John 4:25)
gag
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 7:02PM EDT (link)seriously? No one videoed anything at Red State? Get a grip..Eric is pissed his comments about being pressured were released…
A/L/K
I thought that your last post was at 7 PM.
Moe Lane (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 7:06PM EDT (link)Can’t help yourself, huh?
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
heh
Doc Holliday (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 7:18PM EDT (link)when he says it is double secret last post, then I will believe him.
Molon Labe!
drunken?
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 7:03PM EDT (link)Puhleese Eric…grow up! You are mad because you have been busted in truth…Shame on you!
A/L/K
I was there. I introduced her.
Leon H. Wolf (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 10:02PM EDT (link)I gave her what I thought was a rousing introduction. The speech was an unmitigated disaster.
And I would be shocked if there WAS video. Everyone was eating. They were expecting a 3-4 minute introduction for the producer of The Undefeated. No one was expecting a full-on stump speech (plus about 15 minutes). Even if someone had a Flip camera handy, at some point they doubtless would have figured out the speech was never going to end and put down their camera so they could eat their food.
Again, the length of the speech was disrespectful, and its content was rambling and vapid. I was happy she got the chance to make her case, and she bombed.
————
We can’t stop here. This is bat country.
I know a someone who saw it first hand
Rob Taylor (Diary) Thursday, August 25th at 1:58AM EDT (link)And even before this kerfuffle I got a phone call telling me how horrible the speech was. I think she’s just a bad speaker but the rambling part was what I heard.
Riehl is a purist of the worst sort
charlesmartel Wednesday, August 24th at 1:16PM EDT (link)I used to frequent his site, but just got too turned off by his near-constant anger and attacks on people on both sides. That, and his site is ridiculously ugly. I could see him going around the bend LGF/Charles Johnson-style sometime soon.
no more red state
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 7:00PM EDT (link)last post here..this site has hit the skids
A/L/K
I hope this rhetorical blood-letting ends soon
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:22PM EDT (link)No offense to Erick or anyone else personally, but we’re fighting against time here. IMO, it would be a better use of our time to focus on convincing the general public that conservatism is the best option to turn this nation around rather than engaging in adversarial contentiousness within the ranks of conservatives.
Remember the fate of the Roman Senate
civil truth (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 1:34PM EDT (link)…and the outcome of its squabbling.
In other words, I’m seconding your comment.
The greatest evil…is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voice. Hence, naturally enough, my symbol for Hell is something like the bureaucracy of a police state or the offices of a thoroughly nasty business concern. -C.S. Lewis
Agreed. (n/t)
Finrod (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 2:17PM EDT (link).
PETA and the ASPCA are pure evil. See here and here.
Thirded.
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 5:02PM EDT (link)nt
“It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money.”
-P.J. O’Rourke
agree
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 7:00PM EDT (link)agree
A/L/K
I read Dailykos every day
suzieQ (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 2:29PM EDT (link)Because I find it to be the most accurate depiction of how the left thinks. They have their finger on the pulse of the democratic party and the left-wing activists.
I read Redstate for the exact same reason. This is where conservatives come to talk. This is where conservative ideas are expressed. I live in Utah and I can easily picture any of my neighbors or co-workers posting on Redstate. Redstate is where the right-wing activist movement is. It is where true conservatives come for ideas.
I keep hearing about other right-wing blogs. But I cannot find another one that does exactly what this one does so well. That being said, anyone wanting to go after Erick would be up against several waves of just regular guys. You never want to find yourself facing down wave after wave of just regular guys (and us gals too!)
– Meh – Romney. I guess we’re stuck with him.
except he did state he was being pressured
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 6:59PM EDT (link)The only problem here is that Eric DID state he was being pressued..SO why should Jamie or anyone else have to deny or lie about this?
A/L/K
Typical Riehl Histrionics...
AyeChihuahua Wednesday, August 24th at 2:39PM EDT (link)This is another stellar example of the typical histrionics that Riehl engages in.
At one time I was a frequent reader/commenter at his site and I even went so far at one point to call him out on his dishonesty.
Needless to say he didn’t take too kindly to that. Oh well.
His site, and its comment section, have become nothing more than a perpetual low brow food fight which is unworthy of my time.
Agreed- The Riehl World View
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:11PM EDT (link)site is as painful to read, as was Radtke’s speech apparently to listen to. The site only revolves around Riehl’s attacks on other bloggers and/or talking heads, or on the flip side, shilling for Palin.
Yes, I read there for awhile, but, got really tired of the posts from those such as the poster “barfo.”
ps- Forgot to add
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 3:13PM EDT (link)Dan Riehl isn’t big enough, or important enough to worry about. His site was bad enough, and only deteriorated more when he got a writing gig for Big Government. Seems that his head grew disproportionately after that.
Dan Riehl, If you're reading this...
jstjoan (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 5:28PM EDT (link)I have un-friended you on Facebook and I’ve removed the link to your blog from my bookmarked links.
Erick and RedState have done more for the conservative cause than any other forum on the web and you should be grateful he has given average people like me a place to learn from and connect with other conservatives in this country.
Shame on you for bad-mouthing Erick and RedState because by doing so you are insulting all the contributors here.
Three questions that destroy most Liberal arguments according to Thomas Sowell:
1. Compared to what?
2. At what cost?
3. What hard evidence do yo have?
And I unfollowed you on Twitter
jstjoan (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 5:30PM EDT (link)Suggesting others do the same.
Three questions that destroy most Liberal arguments according to Thomas Sowell:
1. Compared to what?
2. At what cost?
3. What hard evidence do yo have?
Eric is pissed off
alkmetro Wednesday, August 24th at 6:56PM EDT (link)Eric is pissed because he DID state that he was being pressured, and now that it has been released, he wants to back track….What kind of journalist/blogger would let himself be pressured? Sounds to me like he is mad more at himself that Radtke, admitting that he said these things….All in all, Red State is going off of my favorites list!
A/L/K
If you want to throw accusation like that around
Kyle-MI (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 7:06PM EDT (link)you need to provide some proof like links. It would help everyone to judge the context and make their own determination instead of just taking your word for it.
Well, bye (nt)
Neil Stevens (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 9:59PM EDT (link).
RS contributing editor and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Sheepshagging????
pdigaudio (Diary) Wednesday, August 24th at 11:59PM EDT (link)I have to confess I’ve used that one myself, but only for #p2 lefty trolls on Twitter right before I’m about to smack them into Never-Never Land. Something along the lines of “@(name of troll) is all wee-wee’d up because he strikes out on a regular basis at Singles Night at the Sheep Barn. Even farm animals have standards.”
So what?
Raven (Diary) Thursday, August 25th at 12:00AM EDT (link)Who cares? Radtke bombed her speech. Allen’s a better candidate anyway (if he decides to actually run a campaign this time). Allen has a good record.
Riehl’s a tantrum-throwing whiner of the Democrat sort.
Can we move on to things that matter?
“If you do not have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
Luke 22:36