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Charles Blow and Frank Rich are Pitiful.

OK—I’m sure that most of you remember New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s infamous “minstrel show” column—you know, the one where he complained about how many white people were at the Dallas Tea Party. In that awful column, Blow also wrote that the minorities who spoke at the Dallas Tea Party were “putting on a minstrel show” for the white man, and he accused them of trying to prove to the predominately white crowd that they were “the good ones”. Now, I remember being absolutely outraged after reading Blow’s “minstrel show” hit piece—but, I think that was only a natural reaction. I mean, after all, his column was outrageous. So, being in a state of shock and outrage, I wrote a diary responding to Charles Blow where I called him a “racist idiot”. (I feel no remorse about that diary—Blow definitely earned the title.)

Now, Mr. Blow wrote another column this past Friday that was equally as outrageous as the “minstrel show” one. In this column titled, “Trying to Outrun Race”, Charles Blow, again, accused the Tea Party of Racism (big surprise there) with little facts to back up his assertion, and he also called the Tea Party “a Frankenstein movement”. (Classy, huh?) However, this time around, for some reason, I just wasn’t as livid as I was after initially reading the “minstrel show” column. What I felt more than anger was simply boredom. I mean, the guy is just so predictable—he says the same things over and over and over again. In other words, in order to be outrageous, the element of surprise has to be there. I think that Robert Stacy McCain summed up Charles Blow perfectly when he wrote the following—

  • The Tea Party movement is anti-Obama;
    • Obama is black;
    • Ergo, the Tea Party movement is racist.

However, if you will permit me, I would like to read between the lines and sum up what Mr. Blow really meant when he wrote his last two columns (and what he is really trying to say in every column that he will write for next six months)—

“God, I hate those bitter, gun-clinging, racist, redneck “Deliverance” cast members that attend those stupid Tea Parties. When I was attending the Dallas Tea Party, I felt like I was trapped in an episode of “Hee Haw”. In fact, I hate them almost as much as those Uncle Toms that get up and do a minstrel show for those teabaggers in order to get their approval. I don’t know who is worse.

Yeah, yeah, I know that I caught some grief for writing that the minorities speaking at the Dallas Tea Party were “putting on a minstrel show”, but hey, I’m a brilliant writer for The New York Times (they must think that I’m brilliant, because I’m really a graphic designer, and yet they let me write about politics—I know, it’s a great business model), so I have to call it like I see it. And, I know that I also caught some grief from Laura Ingraham when I admitted on her radio show that I didn’t talk to a single person at the Dallas Tea Party (remember—I am not not a journalist after all), but hey, why should I lower myself and go converse with those troglodytes? They’re all a bunch of stupid hillbillies and Uncle Toms. They don’t like Obama, so it’s only logical that they are all racists or self-loathing blacks, right? Besides, they are totally unlike me. I am an enlightened beacon of tolerance who would never judge a person by their appearance without getting to know them first. They wouldn’t know a true racist if he was staring at them in the mirror”.

Now, about Frank Rich. Well, he is a little simpler to dissect than Charles Blow—and even more predictable (if that’s possible). Put it this way—Frank Rich detests the Tea Party and conservatives so much, that he makes Charles Blow look like an amateur in the hatred department. For instance, in one Frank Rich’s recent columns, he stated that all opposition to Obamacare is rooted in race hatred. In fact, Frank Rich hates the Tea Party with such a passion, that he, literally, hallucinated and wrote in that same column that he “watched goons hurls slurs at John Lewis”. Well, we all know that would have been impossible, because no video has EVER surfaced of ANY protester at that infamous DC Tea Party shouting any racial slurs at any of the black congressmen (even though Andrew Breitbart offered a $100,000 reward to anybody who could produce one).

So, I bet you are now asking yourself if Frank Rich ever apologized to the DC Tea Party protesters for slandering them? No such luck. Instead, he wrote another column where he admitted that no video had ever shown up of anyone shouting racial slurs at black congressmen, but still managed to insist that the Tea Party movement was based on racism none the less. Now, I bet you are wondering on what evidence did Mr. Rich base his insightful deduction that the Tea Party is based on racism? Well, in his column Frank Rich claimed that the Tea party is racist because Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell decided to bring back Confederate History Month. Now, I agree that might have been a kind of tone deaf and insensitive move on Governor McDonnell’s part (and McDonnell has since apologized for not mentioning slavery as part of Confederate History Month). However, I don’t know what in the world Bob McDonnell and Confederate History Month have to do with the Tea Party. That’s a whole six degrees of Kevin Bacon that I simply can not follow.

And what’s more unbelievable, is that Frank Rich has become so predictable with his race baiting, that he’s even starting to bore liberals with it (and my friends, that’s quite an accomplishment). Liberal Daily Beast columnist, Lee Siegel, wrote the following about Frank Rich and his perpetual obsession with the Tea Party—

“Frank Rich portrays them as democracy’s most powerful nemesis in just about every column he writes. “

“They’re racists, concludes the ever sanctimonious Frank Rich, and you come away from one of his complacent squibs feeling that you’ve met the enemy, had him analyzed and explained to you, and now you—and all decent-minded people—have your work clearly cut out for you.”

Anyway, it’s been my experience in life that people will forgive you for being stupid (stupid people are at least entertaining); however, they will not forgive you for being boring.

Now, since I’ve already analyzed what Charles Blow was really thinking when wrote his nasty columns, please indulge me and allow me to crawl into Frank Rich’s head as well—

“OK—I freely admit it. I am totally unqualified for this job (I am really a theater critic, not a political analyst), and I see racist people. Now, the reason why I see racist people is because all of my liberal friends at The New York Times, who claim to know so much about politics, tell me that everyone outside of Manhattan and Hollywood is a racist (even Massachusetts voted for a teabagging pick-up truck driver). As previously stated, I really know NOTHING about politics or about people who don’t run in my narrow circles, so I just assume that my colleagues are correct. Furthermore, my colleagues at The New York Times and my liberal readers really seem to love it when I scream “RAAAAACIST!!” in every column, so I say if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Besides, “Cats” ran on Broadway for almost twenty years—so, if they could run the same show night after night for that long, and people didn’t tire of it, then I should be able to write the same column week after week.”

“Oh, and one more thing. I have a serious man-crush on Obama. I mean, the man just radiates awesomeness; therefore, racism HAS to be the only reason why someone could not like him. It couldn’t possibly be his policies (which I really don’t know much about anyway), because everything he does is just so magical. No, if someone doesn’t like Obama, it MUST be racism dammit! Well, I’m telling you that there are racists all around America (heck, America is a racist country—my friends all tell me so), and so I’ve made it my raison d’etre to root them out.”

“There are racists on my floor, there are racists at my door. There are racists at the bar, there are racists under my car. There are racists under my bed, there are racists in my head. There are racists here and there, there are racists EVERYWHERE!!”

“I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am—but, I really don’t like eating them with RAAAAACISTS!!”

So, in conclusion, yes, I used to get outraged whenever I read one of Charles Blow’s or Frank Rich’s slanderous columns—now, I just feel like I’m in the movie “Groundhog Day”, because they both write the same columns over and over and over again. I’m sorry, but I can’t help but be reminded of Chris Rock’s stand up when he jokes about how exasperating it is to listen to someone tell the same story over and over again—

“Hey, honey, did I tell you about the time I….”

“Yeah, you told me about that time you…!”

“Okay, well, then, honey, did I tell you about the time I….”

“Yeah, you told me about that time you…”

“Well, how about the time I…..”

“YEAH YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THAT TIME! NOW, WHY DON’T YOU GO OUT AND GET KIDNAPPED OR SOMETHING SO YOU HAVE A NEW STORY TO TELL ME!”

Please don’t get me wrong—I am NOT hoping that Charles Blow or Frank Rich will get kidnapped. Unlike them, I am not dripping with hatred. I just wish that they would totally lie and make up a story about getting kidnapped, so that I wouldn’t have to read the same boring and predictable drivel every weekend in The New York Times. However, knowing those two, they would probably even find a way to screw that up and make it boring by race-baiting. I can see the headline of their columns now—“I was Kidnapped by a Pregnant, Racist Teabagger Wearing a Sarah Palin Shirt who was Screaming Racial Slurs”. But, I digress.

Anyway, my point is that after much soul-searching, I realized that I actually feel sorry for Charles Blow and Frank Rich (gasp). They are, literally, pitiful. I mean, it must totally suck having to walk around with that much hatred for your fellow man (and fellow Americans) bottled up inside of you. Oh, and one more thing—it must really suck to be that boring. Come to think of it, I also feel sorry for their friends and family. Could you even imagine having to hang out with either one them for an extended period of time and having to listen, repeatedly, to them rail on about how the Tea Party is a racist militia group that’s trying to ruin America?!

And, what’s more is that what makes these guys even more pathetic than they already seem, is that they are completely oblivious to the fact that they are pathetic. They think that they are awesome! I hate to unleash my inner mean girl here, but they seem like the kids in high school who think that they are so cool, but don’t realize that everyone is either laughing at them or feeling sorry for them. (The video that I embedded below totally reminds me of Charles Blow and Frank Rich—and pretty much the entire New York Times op-ed page with the exception of Ross Douthat. I think that it should be their theme song.) Tonight, before I go to bed, I am going to say a prayer for Charles Blow and Frank Rich. First of all, Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. And second of all, these guys need all of the prayers/help that they can get because they are just brimming with hatred, which is extremely unhealthy—oh, and they are really, really BORING!

PS—Thanks for reading. You guys are DEFINITELY AWESOME!!   ;-)

This diary was originally posted on The Minority Report.

COMMENTS

  • penguin2

    straightened out. I wonder if deep down inside they know they are irrelevant and they have to repeat themselves over and over again for reassurance. They stay inside that safe cocoon with like minded regurgitators; outside of it, they would crumble and blow away in the breeze.

    I will have more pity for them when they are no longer in a position to cause so much harm to the psyche of this nation. Their vile and dishonest diatribes against fellow Americans are part of the Left’s machinery to destroy us.

    Excellent post, Susannah. Normally, I am not so negative and try to find something good to say about others…..but the media is malignant, and the damage they have done is lethal. It remains one of my biggest concerns that the public can still be swayed by these distortions. By public, I include the inside DC-NY elitist crowd of politicians and those that hang with them. I have no doubt there are a few of our own party in there as well.

    • Susannah

      ….Oh, and great comment! :-)

      I particularly loved this point that you made–

      “I wonder if deep down inside, they know that they are irrelevant and they have to repeat themselves over and over again for reassurance.”

      That was an excellent insight!

      X0X0, Suzi

    • From ME to You

      we should wait a while and then make them an offer to buy it and turn it into an honest newspaper!

      • Susannah

        ….I’m totally on board with that. :-)

  • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

    Hatred, debt, and union thuggery are all the left have going for them, so they can’t write about that, Instead they are forced to write about their opponents.

    • Susannah

      ….Thanks for sharing them. :-)

  • jeffdunetz

    Rich wasn’t even a good theater critic

    • Susannah

      Agreed! :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

  • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

    I made the same comment about Charles Blow three days ago.

    I’m noticing that some people are ignored, while other people on Red State can say the same thing, days later, and be praised for it.

    I don’t understand why people recommend by the name and don’t read the content.

    This was old news–every blog covered the Charles Blow column by Monday.I wrote about it on Saturday morning.

    A little Red State kindness and understanding to others goes a long way.

    • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

      is like peeing in a dark suit. It feels good, but nobody notices.

      • gekster
    • Achance

      the list because there are fewer people here. Especially since it showed up at 4:30 AM on a Saturday, anybody coming along at a more common morning log on time would have just pushed you down the list too. Sometimes things just get swallowed up.

    • Susannah

      ….But, you don’t have to take it out on me. You are being incredibly rude by throwing a temper tantrum on my blog and implying that I’m some sort of plagiarist. By the way, I will turn the other cheek and say that I just now looked at your diary, and I think that it’s very good. The reason why I didn’t rec it on Saturday, is because I wasn’t ON Redstate on Saturday–I was studying (but I would have if I had seen it–it was very good).

      Second of all, I just looked at your diary, and other than mentioning Charles Blow, your diary is NOTHING like mine. This first half of your diary is spent discussing the NYT editorial board op-ed about the AZ immigration law. The second half of your diary is spent dissecting the polling/evidence in Blow’s most recent column (and you make some nice arguments), whereas I don’t do that at all–I concentrate more on the race based language that he uses, and him calling the Tea Party a Frankenstien movement. Furthermore, the second half of my diary is spent discussing Frank Rich–who you don’t even mention!

      The ONLY things that we have in common is that we both mention the “minstrel show” quip, and that Blow says the same things over and over. Well, guess what Captain Obvious? A lot of people throughout the blogosphere–not just you–noticed that (sorry, but you can’t patent that observation). Look at my diary–I cited one of them (RS Stacy McCain–did you rip HIM off by not giving him a hat tip?).

      Oh, and if you want to get technical about this, I wrote a diary about the “minstrel show” column over TWO WEEKS AGO! Oh, and I mentioned Blow’s comments on Laura Ingraham’s radio show then (and linked to her show as well). Here is the link to my diary.

      http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2010/04/20/zo-respnds-to-blow/

      Furthermore, go look at my blog. I have been writing diaries here criticizing The New York Times for OVER TWO YEARS!! I have written two columns about Maureen Dowd, one column about David Brooks, one column (recently) about Linda Greenhouse and her column about AZ’s illegal immigration law, one column about Bob Herbert, one column about Nicholas Kristoff, and now, TWO columns about Charles Blow and Frank Rich (I wrote my first column about Frank Rich over a year and a half ago).

      Below is a link to a diary that I wrote over A WEEK AGO making fun of two New York Times op-eds–one written by a woman named Linda Greenhouse (that took up most of the diary), but I also linked to the editorial board op-ed about AZ in that diary as well.

      http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2010/04/30/a-response-to-linda-greenhouse/

      Oh, and here is a link to my blog, so that you can go back and look at all of the diaries that I’ve written about the NYT over the last TWO YEARS. So, if we’re going to get technical about this–well, I could say that you copied me.

      http://www.redstate.com/susannah/

      However, I won’t go there, because guess what Skippy? Neither you, nor I, own the rights to Charles Blow or The New York Times. Anyone here can write about them as much as they wish–as long as they don’t steal other people’s ideas, exact words, or insights and plagiarize. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are many categories listed at the top of the FP of Redstate–like “Media”, “Culture”, “Tea Party”, “Democrats”, “Barack Obama”, “Sarah Palin”–need I go on? This is due to the simple fact that more than one person here at Redstate might choose to write about the same topic or occurrence.

      Anyway, now that you’ve–how shall I put this–made your presence known to me, I promise to be more vigilant in looking out for your diaries in the future (you seem to be a good writer). Until then, I ask that you kindly tone down your accusations and insults.

      Thanks and have a nice day. :-)

      Sincerely, Susannah

      PS–I wrote a diary on Friday about the TN floods that was on the FP. The link is below,

      http://www.redstate.com/susannah/2010/05/07/come-on-people-its-time-to-dig-deep-and-help-the-people-of-tennessee/

      Well, a few days later, Steph wrote a diary about the flood. By your logic, it was “old news” and she shouldn’t have been allowed to discuss it. (Here is the link to her diary, but it’s now on the rec list.)

      http://www.redstate.com/stephc/2010/05/08/a-flood-is-a-flood/

      Well, if you read the comments section of my diary about the TN flood, I TOLD her to write a diary about the flood inTN.

      PPS–In the future, if we happen to write similar diaries and, for some reason, you post at a bad time and don’t get any love, just post the link in the comments section of my diary, and I will be more than happy to update my diary with a link to your diary. (I like having different perspectives in my diaries.) I’ve done this for other people on multiple occasions. Just be sure to be polite instead of rude and accusatory next time. Thankies.

      • gekster
        • Susannah

          ..You’re a nice guy too. :-)

          • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

            “However, I won?t go there, because guess what Skippy?”

            My name is not “Skippy.” Perhaps that is the standard insult on Red State. It is not very welcome. You know that, but you needleslly insulted me, anyway.

            The fact is that we both can write the exact same thing, you can write it three days later, and10+ people will recommend your work and no one will recommend mine. It’s not because I posted on Saturday morning. It’s not because our posts were a little different.

            It’s because you will always be better than me on Red State, no matter what we say.

            It’s very discouraging.

            This has happened time and time and time again.

            If I write about GM’s fake TARP repayment no one will read or comment on it. But Erick Erickson or Jeff Dunetz can write similar points much later, and whatever they say is brilliant.

            This is not about just you missing my diary on Charles Blow’s column. It’s about certain diary writers being treated like second class citizens.

            You know it’s all about this. You know it’s been going on for a long time.

            Barack Obama just said that if you read conservative blogs, read the Huffington Post. I don’t necessarily recommend that, but I do read all sides.

            If you’re reading Red State, read the subjects. Don’t skip over everybody else because “Susannah” wrote something.

            For example, I just posted on Lena Horne, a civil rights pioneer. I’m sure that more than one person had something to add. I’m sure if ‘Susannah” had written the exact same post, more people would have added their viewpoints.

            There’s a Red State search box. If someone is going to write about a Saturday Charles Blow column (or Saturday Night Live skit) here on Tuesday, just check the box for a second or two. Someone probably got to it earlier.

            When I previously commented that Labor Union Report made the exact same Red State SNL post, there was no apology or acknowledgment to LUR in the front page post. I was told, “We have a life, Skippy!” No, it’s more like, we don’t care to check the diaries for three seconds, and diary writers aren’t respected here, and while we’re at it, here’s an insult just for you.

            A little kindness and understanding and thoroughness and even-handedness, and a little less name-calling, goes a long way. Both on Red State and in life.

          • Richard Mullins

            Because in a sort of way that seems to be happening. I really don’t worry if someone comes back later with a Diary that seems quite similar to what I wrote(I don’t do much on that front) I just move on. Being bombastic in a sense isn’t going to help win over people. I hope you understand.

            P.S. skippy is a lighthearted way of saying that you might want to calm down.

          • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

            Guess the lady shouldn’t have called you a name, but Guess what, you are getting NOWHERE with this, I repeat NOWHERE.

            If you want people to read and comment on your diaries then it takes
            (1) time
            (2) patience
            and
            (3) it helps a lot if you have something important to say, and write well.

            I have been on here twice as long as Susannah and have written dozens of diaries, and I still get maybe two or three comments on most of them. But I have had a few that were front page for over a week. SO, be patient, and be respectful

          • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

            and it’s not any different than welfare or subsidized writing

            Popik, you keep bitching about your “copyrighted” material, and it’s grossly unfair that you came and crapped on Susannah’s post.

            She didn’t have to expalin anything to you, nor did anyone else.

            Complaints like these belong to the directors, write them and see if you’re heard.

            Redstaters — anyone– can have their preferences, it’s a free country and you’ve no monopoly on any of the material out on the internet.

            If this is your line of thinking, then sign up with Obama. He wants to clamp down on the internet and start enforcing copyright rules.

            You’re also drawing a line between the old guard and newbies that come here and may want to post and present new information.

            What kind of impression are you trying to present to newbies and established members??

            That newbies are whiners and need “recommended welfare”?

            That established members are a bunch of a-holes of they write about the same thing you did?

            What are you doing?

            Sorry — I keep seeing your little hissy fits, beginning way back when when you called out Beck for not getting some quotes right.

            I mean, c’mon.

          • http://seekingliberty.wordpress.com fmaidment

            …that prefer you don’t repost on a subject somebody else wrote, but rather comment in their thread, RedState is a (wait for it)…

            BLOG!!!

            The whole point of a blog site is that dozens, hundreds, even thousands of people get to express their viewpoint! Often on the same subject! Frequently, there are multiple front-page diaries on similar subjects on the same day! Within the realm of the limits of good taste (which vary by site), each member gets to have their say, even if somebody else already covered it.

            I posted a cartoon I found on YouTube maybe a year ago. It got a few recommendations and a couple of comments. A few months later, somebody else posted it and it topped the Recommended Diaries list.

            Sure, I felt a little slighted that I’d posted previously, but them’s the breaks.

            So guess how much sympathy I have for you?

            You’re comment is sour grapes, it’s entirely inaccurate (Susannah did not post the “same” diary you did) and it’s really insulting that you think you somehow deserve recommendations for your work.

            I’ve posted work that I thought was utterly brilliant, but nobody noticed. I’ve put up things I felt was utter schlock and it got promoted to the front page. I’d really like to think that I’ve got some name recognition around here of my own, but reality is that I’m a bit player like you.

            So just because you write it doesn’t mean anyone else has to like it or even notice it.

            You want kindness and understanding? Offer up a little of your own.

          • Susannah

            ….In fact, I think that you are The Hill’s favorite diarist on TMR. Anyway, everyone knows that you’re the bomb. :-)

            X0X0, Suzi

          • http://seekingliberty.wordpress.com fmaidment

            …but I know my place. You’re the “hot stuff” around here!

          • mbecker908

            I think Putz is a more appropriate term.

            Art is absolutely right, post on the weekends and stuff sometimes gets lost. We’ve pretty much all had it happen. Oh well.

            In your case, the “rule” you should be concerned about is the one where you bounce in an make a complete ass of yourself and when called on it you remove any doubt that our initial impression might have been harsh.

            We’re going to have fun with you BarryPutz on slow weekends.

          • redneck_hippie

            attracted by those who have earned respect. And comments that as bs says cement their writers’ position among those who are ignored.

            Bottom line is, few have time to read everything on RedState. I will be more than pleased to read your heartfelt apology, People with a selfish ego do not do well here. You have impressed me as somewhat of a know-it-all. You should have made your complaint and stopped there. I was thoroughly amazed that you kept going on the same line. You’ve got to be kidding yourself that your chest-puffing is winning you any respect. It is the opposite.

            Redstate is a democracy where the reco list is the voice of its members. You began your career here as a whiner and a complainer and I chose to ignore you, as is my right. We shall see whether a leopard can change his spots. I would hope so, since you, like all other members, have something to say.

          • redneck_hippie

            Sorry not to spell it out more clearly. Susannah, you have improved in your diary writing as time went by. You’ve won my respect by your consistent level of style and your hard work clearly shows. Don’t fret over the peanut gallery. I’m glad you called him Skippy. Somebody needed to tell the emperor his backside was showing.

          • Susannah

            ….I appreciate the support and the kind words.

            By the way, I LOVED it when you wrote the following—

            ” I?m glad you called him Skippy. Somebody needed to tell the emperor his backside was showing.”

            Hilarious!! :-)

            X0X0, Suzi

          • Susannah

            You can imply that I’m a plagiarist by falsely stating that I “wrote the exact same thing” as you “three days later”–and, you state that my diary is “old news”, because I wrote it three days after Blow wrote his column. However, I’m the one that’s “needlessly hurling insults” because I responded by simply calling you “Skippy”?!

            And then, I even offered to help you–AFTER you threadjacked my diary and implied that I was a plagiarist–but, you say that I’M THE ONE who needs to show a little kindness? I’m the bad guy here?!

            Man, this is really rich.

    • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

      I largely ignore your posts because, in the beginning, you spent a lot of time critiquing others’ work if it wasn’t to your liking or historically inaccurate in some ways, like your Glenn Beck diatribes. Now, when I see a post with your name on it, I tend to not bother.

      It might help if you would spend some time interacting with others on the site a little more, let people get a feel for your work and opinions in a neutral spot besides your diaries… all things considered, that is.

      Coming here and complaining because Susannah said the same thing you did is like me complaining every time I say something that becomes a post or diary or newspaper article instead of a nice GMTA moment. It’s not likely to endear you to those who might otherwise, eventually, find their way to one of yours.

      Susannah is a respected and well known member of this community. Naturally others gravitate to her diaries because of that.

      That doesn’t mean that you can’t get the same kind of attention but you do have to join and engage… and earn it. You don’t seem willing to do that. For an example, look at Vassar Bushmills. You’ve been here the same amount of time but he is consistently in the top 10 recommends with multiple diaries.

      • http://www.barrypopik.com barrypopik

        “It might help if you would spend some time interacting with others on the site a little more.”

        i do that. A lot.many people know that I’ve interacted here for many months.

        “Now, when I see a post with your name on it, I tend to not bother.”

        I’ve realized that.

        My posts are on many different topics. New York City. Texas. Financial issues. Israel. Breaking news, like the Polish president’s death or Lena Horne’s death. It’s noi all about the emdia, such as Fox News and Glenn Beck or The New York Times.

        People know or should know by now who I am. I’m a registered Republican, with conservative-libertarian leanings.

        I’m a scholar of American history. I’m a consultant to the Oxford English Dictionary and the Yale Book of Quotations. When people in the media who are paid a lot of money (I’m penniless) get elementary things wrong again and again, it bugs me. I have offered to help Glenn Beck for free, but he has yet to respond. FYI, I recently corrected Newshounds (a Beck critic) on a fake Samuel Adams quote. Although the writer immediately correctly a small spelling error that was pointed out by someone else, this was not corrected, nor the writer’s insulting use of “teabaggers” in her Beck critique.

        I recently praised Glenn Beck’s work on exposing Crime Inc. I planned to discuss it again; Beck promises to discuss it on today’s show.

        You and others here may not read it, but I feel it’s important. If people aren’t reading anything I say, maybe I won’t waste my time here. I have two young children and there are always other things to do. I write here because I care very deeply about them and this country.

        • http://hillbillypolitics.com Steph C

          I do understand perfectly.

          Perhaps it’s your style that gets you in so much trouble. In a few short paragraphs you succeeded in telling us that you’re an expert and what you write is important and the rest of us have nothing else to do and we’re only doing it to pass time and we don’t care. Whether that’s how you mean it, that’s how it comes across and what I’ve seen of your diaries do the same, which is why I now don’t bother.

          I never questioned your party affiliation… at least not since that first run in with you when I may have, where you reminded me of the same things you’re reminding everyone of now.

          I’m practically penniless, too, and my house was flooded just recently, for which I’ll get no help repairing from my insurance or anyone else, so, of course, I have nothing better to do than spend all my time on RedState. I also care for my grandsons who live with me. Two small children at my age, being the youngest two of 7 total, you know?

          Others here are likewise occupied with either their own or with family members in need. Don’t assume that you are the only one so positioned.

          RedState is a team effort and prima donnas tend to get short shrift and leave if they don’t like it much. You can learn something from this or you can continue being angry at everybody. It’s your choice.

          • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

            …but I see no reason to expel you.

            I didn’t read that as a complaint of plaigiarism, but rather a complaint against the rest of us for not noticing and giving you the ol’recco treatment. My first post here Lady Penquin nearly took a 2-iron to me. One of my earliest comments on the front page peesed off a lot of people.. Art in Alaska, Richard Mullins, and others laid out the why’s of your little freshman error very well. (I don’t know your age, just guessing. You could be much older and simply the victim of poor potty training. I’ve known such things.) Most people aren’t here on weekends. You’re timing was bad. And the subject matter was well worn, by one of the best researcher-writers here. Susannah is very good. Also a freshman mistake not to have done the background on the subject matter.

            But do stay with us. Our job is to defeat the Left, not turn bright minds over to them for further matriculation.

            Cheers

        • blooch

          don’t write a diary about the Courageous Restraint Medal.

      • JadedByPolitics

        and when people whine others tend to IGNORE their writings, that is their fault and BTW Conservatives who do NOT like it here at Redstate have other options. I cannot believe you even had to respond a TRITE and CHILDISH reaction!

        • JadedByPolitics

          When Barry’s diaries start getting picked up by The Hill then perhaps he can crow until then he is just JEALOUS because you do!

    • http://stixblog.com Black River Wolf

      that no one saw it on Saturday. Many of us here are doing things on Saturdays and some good posts get lost in the shuffle. Saturdays are usually slow days for posts and people areusually spedning time with family or friends.

      I went and read it and thought was good and recco’d it.

    • penguin2

      respond, Barry. But to be fair to you and Susannah, the diaries are not really alike at all. She had written two weeks ago about this guy, and has a long and extensive history of writing these types of diaries. It happens to be her style. I just read yours and you covered other things that did not reflect the kind of post that this one does. Yours is good too, and sometimes it is just the different writing styles that catches one’s eye.

      I like your posts and comments; I read as many diaries as I can here at RS, even if a reco is not there, does not mean that folks haven’t read them.

      Susannah has a unique style – we all have our own. She is also a very generous person, and IMHO, would never have intended for someone else to be slighted by her work. I see below that she has let you know this.

      It also was Mother’s Day and many were on minimally, if at all. I will look out for your work in the future. It helps to get different perspectives.

      • http://www.laborunionreport.combrand/brhttp://www.laborunionreport.blogspot.com LaborUnionReport

        that diaries get overlooked due to the fact that there’s a lot ot read and many are busy writing along with other tasks.

        You probably shouldn’t take offense. As I mentioned when this came up regarding a post a couple of weeks ago, it just happens on occasion.

        • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

          This is like the 3rd or 4th time he’s complained like this.

          I expect him to come after me for doing a similar write-up.

          It’s unconscionable, and I guess I say this b/c I deal with bratty kids all day and I call them out on disrespect, whinyness and general misbehavior.

          And I woudln’t tolerate this in internetland if someone nagged at me or my husband or personal friends.

          And I like Susannah.

          I just want to say I see y’alls patience and it’s well-noted. A very nice example. I wish Popik would “get it.”

          *smooths ruffled feathers*

          • Richard Mullins

            and it’s not sinking anywhere close to his level. I think I gave a good outline on how to handle him. A measured approach is what’s needed but I’m sure that might not be excepted. I won’t push my method in your face and I only hope that you see that something is wrong when replying to him.

          • Common_Cents

            I’ve only been around for a few years, making a few diaries but mostly sarcastic comments. My advice is directors need to be aware of any cliquishness and go out of their way to make RS feel open to new contributors.

            I have seen many times that diaries and breaking news get repeated often times even by directors. I understand a certain topic will necessarily generate several angles and different diaries. Breaking news, not so much. It is understandable that multiple breaking news type posts would be issued w/in a couple minutes of each other but not so much 15-30min to an hour or two later.

            Directors and regulars on RS should go out of their way to take a peek before posting and give a lil credit or reference where its due. It’s not only the right thing but also cuts down on the extra fluff to read through here. I do not think there is major intention here at all on perceived infractions, but just a reminder for some courtesy.

            I’ve had a few comments from newer conservatives that RS is a bit clubbish by regulars.

            You can take this observation as whining or you can take it as a heads up to the future success of RS. There are some good core contributors here but we conservatives need a few hundred thousand more to even think about making a dent in the future of our country.

          • Richard Mullins

            Somewhere there seems to be a disconnect here. I don’t do diaries and frankly I don’t plan on starting anymore for a while. The impending Chinese meltdown is my mind and while I would love to write a Diary on it, get good links that are free is hard to find. No biggies, I’m not worried at all. At times, I think that there should be a Spain/Portugal(Reminiscent of the 16th Century) split of the world as far as Economic concerns on RS(Let Francis focus on Europe and I take China). A lot of time I feel that RS is way too inclusive and country-club like. That doesn’t help on perception outside of here.

          • Common_Cents
          • Richard Mullins
          • lineholder

            I have to admit that this thought has crossed my mind as well a few times when I’ve read various posts on RS.

            I haven’t been connected with RS for very long. I’ve learned a lot from the posts on this site, and I genuinely admire the passion that commenters have for politics. My own passion lies on the issue of human character. I think it is the most fascinating subject in this world and I love talking about character issues.

            Politics and character do go hand-in-hand, but it’s almost as if the subject of the post isn’t entirely about politics, people on this site aren’t interested. I’ve seen others posts that leaned more to the side of character issues that didn’t receive much response, so I just guessed that this was symptomatic of this particular site. I don’t take it personally at all. People are different. But there are people out there who might be put-off by it.

          • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

            Mullins, but why are you responding only to me?

            Many others have called out Polpik.

            Is there a reason why you’re singling me out with “I won’t push my method in your face”?

          • Richard Mullins

            That never works at all. I know you want to knock the guy silly but there is a handle things. This isn’t so much a singling you out as much as you and others here. It’s sort of reminding people. I guess next time I’ll have to insert other names as well. Don’t take it personal(that’s what Barry does well).

          • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada
          • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

            …our side was a little heavy in the overkill.

    • Bill S

      Hearken back to the last time you pitched a fit about this, won’t you? Get the freaking chip off of your shoulder. No one has it in for you. The others here have done a stellar job of explaining to you where you’re messed up, so I won’t waste the electrons repeating what they said.

      Now if you had just made this comment and stopped after your first sentence, and maybe even complimented Susannah’s post, you would have not received the reaming out that you just got here. This kind of comment ain’t making you any friends, and frankly, you may have cemented your spot as a “second class citizen”, because no one likes a crybaby…and you’ve staked your claim as such.

  • From ME to You

    for reading the NYT so I don;t have to!

    Photobucket

    • Susannah

      I just LOVE those lobsters! They are so darn cute!!

      Thankies! :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

      PS–It’s great to see you around.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

    “Tonight, before I go to bed, I am going to say a prayer for Charles Blow and Frank Rich. First of all, Jesus said, ?Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?.

    And second of all, these guys need all of the prayers/help that they can get because they are just brimming with hatred, which is extremely unhealthy?oh, and they are really, really BORING!”

    This was my favorite part.

    Very Susannah! This distinguishes you from anyone else. :)

    Thanks for the great read.

    • Susannah

      …..I’m verklempt (eyes watering).

      X0X0, Suzi

      • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada

        and I’m really, really sorry about the hijack, and my part in it.

        None of it seems fair to you, to happen in your diary.

        But when someone tries to put someone else in a position to have to explain feeling slighted by the Redstate Phantom …

        You go, Susannah.

        • Susannah

          In fact, I really appreciate the support. :-)

          X0X0, Suzi

  • SusanAnne Hiller

    I consider myself a relatively new writer at RedState (and was welcomed very quickly at RS), and have been on a self-prescribed hiatus since healthcare passed (which caused me so much exhaustion). However, I must say that Barry, you need to realize that people here don’t hijack one another’s work. You also need to realize that it is actually good to have somewhat duplicate posts on the same subject matter to either get another view or more exposure on the topic. To have a fit over another’s work is a waste of time and unproductive to the RS community, and, frankly, to your reputation in the blogging community. Now, back to my scheduled hiatus. (I shall return shortly to RS and elsewhere.)

    • Susannah

      ….Long time no see. I’ve missed you. I’ll look forward to your return. :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

  • SusanAnne Hiller

    I’m looking forward to coming back!! Keep up the great work!

  • spainishirish

    Dear Lord, spare me the on-line sociopaths and give me a few more Susannahs. Seriously.

    • Susannah

      It’s always great to see a friend when you’ve had a stressful day. :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

  • ocleverone
    • Susannah

      I appreciate it. :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

  • elrayb

    candidates for Congress in the 2010 elections? He fails to mention that. He is just a elitist liar who is allowed too say what he wants because the NYT has no ethical standards.

    Who is really reading it anyway besides people who would agree with this idiot anyway.

    Here is some other stuff he should talk about if he is going to be a real journalist. Viewer warning http://laruelive.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/27/freedomworks_releases_hatemail_viewer_warning.thtml

    Very well done i wrote a couple of articles on another blog:

    http://laruelive.blogtownhall.com/2010/05/10/why_is_charles_blow_such_a_racist.thtml
    http://laruelive.blogtownhall.com/2010/04/19/mr_blow_was_it_a_minstrel_show.thtml

    • Susannah

      Thanks you so much for posting them. :-)

      Oh, and I really loved the column that pointed out that the Tea Party is fielding 32 African American candidates for congressional races (it’s the second column that she linked to, in case you’re wondering). Thanks you so much for pointing this out.

  • oldcrank

    for a slow-witted person just catching up with Red State. I had no idea what those little blurbs out to the side of the page were, or that y’all wrote “diaries” and were a community. I wonder if someone would tell me what the ubiquitous “n/t” means.

    • Achance
    • Susannah

      …Yes, RS is a community blog. If you like a diary, you just click the recommend button near the top of the page and the diary will move up the list, or get on the list. What’s so great about Redstate, is that Redstate is a democracy. It took me a while to figure this out myself. I was here for a couple of months before I started reccing diaries and commenting on them, because I didn’t know that I could. Diarists write in the “member diaries section” (and anyone can write a diary), but only contributors can write on the front page.

      Oh, and n/t means “no text”, or basically that there is just a statement or heading to the persons response, but no actual comment written in the comment box.

      Oh, and in case you’re wondering, “Kowalski” is when a person is responding to their own comment–usually because they thought of something else that they wanted to add. It is named after one of our famous and excellent diarists, Kowalski, who is famous for responding several times in a row to his own comments.

      Anyway, if you have any other questions, just let me know.

      And, again, welcome to Redstate! :-)

      X0X0, Suzi

  • oldcrank

    and you’ve prompted another question: what is a “contributor” and where is the front page? Yes, I did wonder about Kowalski… would never have figured that one out. Also, does the Reply-To-This box do anything special?

    • Achance

      you can keep straight who’s answering who. You didn’t hit it, so your comment to me and to susannah is standing alone, I did hit it, so my reply is threaded to your comment.

      Click on the Red State logo at the top and you get the front page rather than member diaries or comments. A contributor is someone who has been granted front page privileges.

      • oldcrank

        n/t

    • Susannah

      ….Art beat me to it.

      Oh, and one more thing. Sometimes a regular diary can be promoted to the FP if it’s breaking news, or a contributor finds it to be unusually excellent.

      Anyway, feel free to ask any more questions if you think of some more that you would like answered.

      Take care. :-)

      X0X0, Suzi