Redstate

Sorry to see you go trevino, you certainly spurred lots of interesting debate and discussion over issues that matter to conservatives, and while others will certainly take up your torch, you were always eloquent (if often wrong ;)).  Good luck on your future endeavors.

Can shed more light on why you are leaving?  Are you still going to blog and be involved?  Where?

with the loss of your insightful contributions as editor. Although I often disagreed with your ideology, I very much appreciated your carefully crafted posts and passionate arguments. I hope we can still expect to hear from you at RS and tacitus. Cheers.

....at tacitus.org from time to time.

As for why I'm leaving, I may discuss it more in depth in time, but now is not that time.

My meagre writing skills may not be able to express this, but I've found great wisdom in your writings for several years. I would never have found a true conservative blog environment without your writings.

Goodbye.

I may have disagreed strongly with you at times, but I thank you for your efforts, and wish you luck in your present and future projects.

Without you on the scales, the site is less one voice of moderation and that tips the place far too right for my tastes.

To hearing more about why you're leaving, because no matter how much our collective visions may have clashed, few express their vision more eloquently, passionately, and even entertainingly.  RS will be drier--if nothing else--without you.

Please don't be a stranger.

for helping found this site. I hope you will at least stay among us and contribute to our discussions.

But let me also thank you for founding RS, my new home on the web, and for all of your hard work and insight.

I too would love to understand the reasons behind your resignation, at the appropriate time and place.

-TS

I'm very sad to hear this news.  Josh, I've read everything you've written on this site since I joined and it has always been a pleasure.  You're blessed with a fine and discerning mind and express yourself with such balanced and humane eloquence; the things I write here look like hackwork compared to your pieces, and although I haven't agreed with you at every point, I've always been enriched by your writing and genuinely sophisticated perspective.

These are difficult times, and I have a sense that I understand at least a few of your reasons for choosing this moment to go.  It must be a wrenching decision.

I hope the editors can assemble all of Trevino's stories and diary entries into an easily-accessible archive so that others can benefit from them at a single click.  They are a model of clear thought, beautiful and engaging writing -- and true depth of character and experience -- that anyone would do well to consult.  My personal favorite is "That Hideous Strength" which surely represents one of the high points of first-personal journalism in the blogosphere and should by itself qualify you for the first Pulitzer awarded to a blogger.

And I also hold out the hope, Trevino, that in the fullness of time, and with an adequate period to reflect and in some ways to decompress, you'll reconsider.  In the coming weeks and months, Josh, we'll all be trying to keep up our spirits, follow our principles, pick our most important battles and fight them honorably, and try to fill your shoes.  It won't be easy.  All my best wishes.

We should be clear that "moderation" does not imply "moderate."  One of the more interesting things about Josh's postings (aside from the fact that they are uniformly well written) is that he is a conservative, but not necessarily partisan.

Best of luck, Josh.

Josh,

First, let me say that in various positions over the past few years, I have had the misfortune of having to deal with situations where one has felt "differences of vision and purpose" to where a split was required. In fact, I have been on both sides of such situations.

I commend you on the way you have decided to handle it. Yours has been one of the most dignified and civil, and that speaks to your character.

That said, I do hope I can convince you to reconsider at least one thing. You wrote, in the comment to which I am replying, "As for why I'm leaving, I may discuss it more in depth in time, but now is not that time."

There never is a really good time for such a discussion. Do you do it when things are fresh, including possibly a bit too raw? Do you wait, and find that it would be bringing up things that are now stale? It's a tough call.

Specifically to your situation, there is a lot going on in the news right now which is obviously more important. And in general, it often is better to give some time and thought into what you do want to say, what you want to accomplish with your words, and what is the best way to say them.

That said, leaving things to the imaginations of others generally leads to misperceptions. I could probably stand to strike the word "generally" there-- it simply does lead to misperceptions.

My advice is to not let that happen. Now may not be the time, but tomorrow may not be either. It sucks when differences lead to separation, and it is rarely a good time to air those differences. But it is not the choice of when that makes the best of a bad situation-- it is the choice of words and demeanor. And you have proven to me, time and again, that your instincts in those regards are solid. So instead of looking for the perfect time, make the time.

Either way, I hope that we will get the opportunity to work together again.

Thank you for doing much of the heavy lifting and spending much of the time needed to create Redstate from thin air.  Where folks--like me!--sat around and talked about the need for a site like this, you stood up, helped create it, and then helped to run it.

The fact that Rush Limbaugh, Powerline, CQ, Michelle Malkin and Hugh Hewitt have all mentioned this site speaks to its success.  You've truly built something from nothing.

The conservative movement is better off for your efforts.  

Will see you at tacitus

...and a loss to the community here at Redstate.

...I am stepping down permanently as an RS editor due to differences of vision and purpose with the Board and Community...

I find this really disappointing.  

In many ways you represent how political discourse SHOULD occur in this country.  You are a true Country over Party person.  We need more of them.

I don't know why you are resigning but I'm sure you have good reasons.  I fear that this place will suffer greatly without your involvement.  

Good luck in your further endeavors.  Perhaps I'll take a visit to Tacitus, not that you necessarily want to hear that.

I'm saddened to learn you'll be leaving us as an editor, and certainly hope you'll be willing to contribute to the site in the future.

Even when I've disagreed with you, I've never once doubted your absolute and unwavering loyalty to this country and the values it stands for. Your arguments are always principled, even when those principles are likely to lead in controversial directions.

The last thing I want to see is this site becoming just another echo chamber like Kos or (God forbid) DU. If that happens, RS won't be advancing conservatism, we'll be just another rabid voice of partisanship. We need someone who can challenge this community in an intelligent and thoughtful way - and you've done an excellent job of that so far.

Ave atque vale and don't be a stranger.

Best of luck to you in your future endeavors. Surely your contributions will be missed.

Josh, my best to you. Thank you for all you have done here at RedState. My hope is that even though you have decided to step away from the establishment here, you will drop by occasionally and write a diary here and there.

Once again, my heartfelt thanks for all the work (and love) that you have put into our little community.

Sorry to see you go Josh. You were a voice of reason here, you rose above the mudslinging and made sense, and you did so eloquently.

The site will be less relavent without you. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Trevino, while we differ dramatically in our political philosophies, I always found your pragmatism refreshing and stimulating to my own political thought.  Voices like yours are what made RedState appealing to a committed liberal like myself, not for any dissension your words might cause between the ranks but because I never once heard you mutter party line if it conflicted with your vision.  That is a rare thing on a political blog, and is something I like to think I improved at during my stay at RedState.  I don't think it's too much of an exaggeration to say I am better for your words.  

I'll definitely have to check out Tacitus again if you intend to post there regularly - I have been able to do little but lurk these past two months, but I had been planning to return more regularly in a week or two once life settles down again.  If you are the canary in the coal mine, perhaps I should reconsider.  Good luck with your future endeavors, and if you are in need of loyal opposition when you return to your web home, I'll be happy to provide.

C'mon, man. We missed you. Don't leave again.

sob

you will be missed.

I just needed to give Trevino his due before he flew the coop.  

My job starts in a week or so, and while that makes me more busy, that also puts me in front of a computer more often.  I have to admit, though, if Trevino is so far out of step with the board he feels the need to leave, it makes me feel a little wary about my own position in the constellation of posters.  

It has to do with internal questions more than anything else. And that's all I'll ever say.

It's not like Josh remained a sea of calm while we all became frothing rightwing religiofascist nutjobs.

That's my turf.

There's a thread over there regarding your resignation, and a lot of people would like to have your point of view on a regular basis.

In fact, before my time over there he was a regular poster. If you can wade through all the snarks on that thread I linked, there are a lot of comments like this:

I always liked having Tacitus around here

Many folks don't go back far enough with dKos to remember when Trevino posted here as "Tacitus."

He would royally piss people off, of course. He would be stupid and get in flame wars from time to time a la the early Armando. But in small doses, he was a useful tonic.

Maybe we should invite him back as an occasional, moderated, front-page poster. I'm serious.

by Ottoe

It must be nice to have had your post completely misread (and misrepresented) by the majority of RS and dKos.

It's not like Josh remained a sea of calm while we all became frothing rightwing religiofascist nutjobs.

Right... What I've always liked about Redstate is the well reasoned calm and open atmosphere... right.

That gun to your head must be on a hair trigger!

You are effective, experienced and eloquent.

Your unique skill sets and good heart make a real difference.

You will be greatly missed, and I know that where ever you go and whatever you do, you will do well.

If we were to ever meet, it would be my pleasure to buy the drinks.

Regards,

As someone who followed you over here from tacitus.org, back when that was a one-man show, this is sad news indeed. While faithful to conservative principle, you've never been one to gloss over or deny the failings or troubles of Republicans or the administration. It is now to my shame that I have not said more to defend you; for though some rise to denounce you as a defeatist and leftist when you have spoken of bad judgement and unpleasant realities, I and no doubt others have read them soberly and in sorrow. If our hearts have ached at such correctives, they have done so all the more because you have written them with honesty, good faith, and good judgement; and (begging their pardon) none of the other editors can fill that role as you do. We are the poorer for your departure.

I'm saying this as an old woman:

We say for better or for worse on things that matter.  There is no relationship, whether friendship, marriage, business, or political, that does not have ups and downs.  Just because you don't agree right now, does not mean that you should dissolve the relationship.

Time changes everything.  Your perspective will change, as will everyone else's.

You guys have made a great site and should form a pact to not "divorce" with anything less than a 90 day cooling off period and a pony express letter.  E-mail is way too quick.

As a matter of fact, I believe that you guys should agree to submit any major, relationship ending disagreements to an arbitration panel made up of us poor sots who are hopelessly addicted to the site.  It seems like the least you could do after providing the drug that got us hooked.

Sincerely,

Anita

... as I have learned from places I've hung out before here.

My not-so-sage advice to you is to hope that you realize that should exhaustion subside, and the passion return, there's no shame in coming back.

And while I appreciate the kind words, the idea of me ever posting at dKos -- in any capacity -- is far beyond the realm of possibility.  Not merely because of the freakshow antics of obsessives such as RedDan and JJB (the latter of whom has a weird talent for making up nutty tales from the whole cloth of his hatred); but also because I really, truly, am not somehow becoming less conservative than I ever was.  It would be deeply inappropriate.

Off topic, I shouldn't credit inanity of this sort, but for the record, I read (the real) Tacitus' Annals some years ago; I've never quit RS before; and this is wholly a product of JJB's remarkably fertile imagination.  That said, I am happy to have had Voltaire's prayer granted me: my enemies are indeed ridiculous.

that in a forum like this a board member who disagrees with and is critical of this administration is forced to resign.

This is certainly not a forum of free speach.  It is a mouthpiece.

I may be wrong about my assumption that the resignation has something to do with the diary he posted earlier today...but I doubt it.

SHAME ON REDSTATE BOARD!!!  

some pretty big assumptions there.  Remember, Josh had the vision for this sight.  I highly doubt anyone could force him to resign.

Whatever his reasons, they are his and not any of your business.  If he decides to air his grievances at a future date, then you can comment, but until then, shut up.  

I think the assumption is pretty easy to make for anyone with a brain.  I will gladly take it back if anyone on the board (who presumably could shed some light on the situation) would go on record to correct me.

I find it a little ironic that your response is to tell me to 'shut up'.  That seems to be what someone might have said right before the resignation.

You make an unfounded assertion, and expect others to come up with the evidence to refute it?

How about you either back up your statement, retract it, or get lost?

I don't think trevino said why he was leaving.  Maybe he just wants to go fishing for a while.

If he wants to say something about it he will.  In the meantime, it's probably imprudent to make assumptions.

Cheers -

You presume an awful lot, not the least of which is that you fail to notice that an entire spate of editors (myself included) had front page articles critical of Bush recently - and we further promoted a diary by docj that was much more critical of the president than Trevino was.

Trevino said what he said, and if he has more to say, he will. But it's patently absurd to assume "The Absentee" had a single thing to do with him leaving.

Hey trevino -

Sorry to see you leave here.  Thanks for the pleasure of your virtual company, you will be missed.

Hope to see you again, soon, somewhere around the way.

Best -

I know you're spouting the current dKurse wisdom, but as with most droppings from that pit, it has as much connection with reality as Markos's connection with backing the winning candidate in a single general election.

One has to wonder exactly how slow you are that you'd assume that one of the Founders of this site could be forced to resign. One further suspects that your sodium/potassium levels must be subhumanly low to have missed the fact that everyone on the freaking editorial staff has written something critical of Bush, this administration, or the Republican Party in general or in particular here.

Go back to Markos's Merry land and draw up a VRWC chart to make yourself feel better.

Hey, do what you gotta do, and I'll see you when I see you.

I made an educated assumption about what happened based on the facts that were available.  I am sure that the BoD is able to correct me if I was wrong.  At this point, I do not see anything posted from them to indicate that I was wrong.  I stand by my assessment of the situation.  If you have an alternate theory, please feel free to share it.  But the 'shut up you're wrong' mentality should at least be backed up by something!

You've been wrong, you're still wrong, and as long as you run with this idea, you will remain wrong.

Have you stopped beating children yet?