Evidently I'm Not The Only One Getting Right Wing Love…

This is one of those "What the fuck?" moments that seem to come with increasing frequency from the VRWC side of the political blogosphere. You may or may not know who Moxie is, and you may or may not know who Captain Ed (Ed Morrissey) is, but if you've got a brain in your head you've got to be wondering if Captain Ed graduated at the top of his class at the Roger L. Simon School of Advanced Business Ethics, or if he's just your garden variety moron. Here's the story, as related by Steve H. Graham:

I think I'll start the ball rolling by mentioning something. Moxie has a Nowlive show. She used to have a Blogtalkradio show. I had one, too. We were both featured hosts, but then our featured status was revoked without notice, and she moved to Nowlive, and I followed. Since then she has developed a big following over there, and she has made a lot of connections. It's not the big time, but she's making good media connections, and it has taken a lot of work to grow her audience and so on.

The other day, she got an email from Ed, the guy who runs Captain's Quarters. I forget his last name. He's in charge of political programming at BTR. He told her Fox News had asked BTR to recommend someone for some kind of on-air gig. He asked if she would go back to BTR if he submitted her name to Fox.

Now I have no idea what Ed Morrissey did for a living before he started working for BlogTalkRadio, but whatever it was it most probably involved frequent use of a phase similar to, "Would you like fries with that?" He certainly wasn't involved in any sort of real, honest to gosh, actual profession… That's for damn sure.

I'm a certified public accountant, and as such I am the member of a real profession. When I am approached by anyone looking for professional help - either from a C.P.A., a lawyer, an insurance agent, a banker… whatever - I refer them to the professional most appropriate to their needs that is known to me. That's what you do when you're a professional, and you do it without first pausing to consider, "What's in it for me?" A large part of being a professional is having the personal integrity to put self-interest on the back burner when it comes to making referrals.

So when it comes to dealing with people, what a professional does not do is make referrals or utilize connections contingent on personal gain. I have a stable of professionals I refer people to, and those professionals have earned those referrals because they've earned my trust. I know that they'll provide competent services.

And understand that not all of these professionals are buddies of mine. I routinely refer people to two C.P.A.s in town that I have had a serious falling-out with on the personal side of things. (I'm sure you'll find it surprising, but very often Dennis doesn't play well with others.) One of them I haven't spoken to in over 10 years. But the bottom line is he's one hell of a tax accountant, and for someone who needs serious, sophisticated tax work, he's who I'd trust to get it right. Therefore, he gets the referral... Because getting it right as all that really matters.

The point here is that if Ed Morrissey was worth a shit - and it's clear he isn't - he'd have never even considered hitting Moxie with such a proposal. Even if one disregards just how unprofessional it was, how could Moxie see it as anything other than an insult? It's basically nothing more than the old casting couch routine. Here's more from Steve:

Now, think about that for a minute. BTR and Captain Ed did nothing for her when she had a show there. She had to leave and work up a following on another site. Then Captain Ed shows up and says, "Throw all that down the toilet, piss off everyone you know at Nowlive, wreck the connections you've made there, start over with nothing, and we'll put you on a list of names some intern at Fox News is making." Never mind that Moxie knows people at Fox and could get herself on the list, with no sacrifice, by making two phone calls. Getting your name put on a list is not hard and it's not really a big move forward.

…

What kind of moron would have taken that offer? It's like saying, "Give up your apartment, and we'll give you a raffle ticket so you can have a chance at winning a house." It's a stupid, stupid move. Ed knows that.

Actually, I think Steve is giving Morrissey the benefit of the doubt. If he wasn't a moron, he'd have never done what he did in the first place. As proof, here's how Captain Ed finished out his offer to Moxie:

Here is what I told her, and if you think it makes me an evil Svengali, let me point out that every other intelligent person she knows said the same thing. I told her to tell Ed--politely--"I can't give up what I have for nothing, but if I get the Fox gig, I'll commit to do BTR for X months." She says she did something much like that, and he never replied.

Never. Even. Answered.

That's not only being stupid and unprofessional, that's being a flat-out counterproductive. Clearly Ed Morrissey doesn't have the sort of background to know how to act appropriately when it came to trying to entice Moxie into returning to BlogTalkRadio. And because he didn't know what was appropriate, he came off acting like a horse's ass. Instead of using the Fox list as an opportunity to sow a bit of goodwill and enhance BlogTalkRadio's prestige with someone they want back in their tent, Morrissey makes himself a personal enemy while simultaneously presenting his employer in the worst possible light. Unfortunately, that seems to be the way blogosphere Conservatives and Republicans carry themselves these days

If there has been one consistent thread linking the efforts of the Conservative/Republican to grow itself, its that the people involved simply don't know what they are doing. Period. One need look no further than the God-awfulness of Pajamas Media, the silliness of PorkBusters, and the flat-out embarrassment that is One Billion Bulbs to understand that the Right Wing's talent pool is very, very shallow. Whatever you might think of Markos Moulitsas' politics, the fact is that he has created a huge online community that, in and of itself, outstrips all similar Conservative/Republican efforts combined by simply working smart and working hard. That his web site design is a thing of genius is undeniable, but do we have any Conservative/Republican bloggers attempting to replicate DailyKOS for our political ends? Of course not.

Why is that?

Well, it's worth noting that many on the Conservative/Republican side of the blogosphere are hucksters, plain and simple. It's difficult to get hard work out of this sort of person. One look at the resumes of the likes of David Horowitz and Roger L. Simon and what you see are men far more interested in turning a quick buck than anything else. Both were "committed" Leftists when it was profitable to be so, and both switched sides when they saw an opportunity to extend the half-life of their influence (and careers). It would never occur to a Horowitz or a Simon to try to build a DailyKOS… A project like DailyKOS would be too much work for the monetary return involved. Additionally, it wouldn't be the sort of thing one could sell to, say, Microsoft for a cool hundred million or so. And it certainly would never occur to either Horowitz or Simon that much of the value of DailyKOS is what it provides Progressive, Liberals and Democrats in terms of a sense of community for their movement.

If it doesn't translate into profit, it just doesn't compute.

Beyond this sort of pure con men, though, there lies a legion of opportunists… A legion that runs the gamut from hot shots like Michelle Malkin to nobodys like Patrick Poole. For the Michelle Malkins of the world, all that really matters is Michelle Malkin. She's discovered a shtick that works, and she'll work it until the day she dies… in no small part because she simply isn't bright enough to move beyond it. In that respect, she's just like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter: What you hear today is what you're going to hear ten years from now, irrespective of whether it makes sense or not. And because of that, folks like Malkin (and Coulter) are more than happy to set Conservatism and the Republican Party's interests back twenty years when policy doesn't conform to the shtick.

And if it is difficult trying to get a hard day's work out of Roger L. Simon, imagine the difficulties in attempting to get a day of smart work out of someone like Pam Geller. For people like Geller, and Debbie Schlussel, and Patrick Poole... well, they are simply second-raters enamored of the idea of using present circumstances - as well as prevailing prejudices - to carve themselves a new, more lucrative career by catering to the lowest possible denominator. They have no time to devote to broader interests because it is imperative that they do whatever it takes to be noticed. In today's climate, that seems to translate into bigotry and paranoia on a truly outlandish scale.

It takes only one quick look at these people to understand that the Conservative movement and the Republican party are means to a far smaller, and far more tawdry, end than a Markos Moulitsas could ever imagine. Given the people and the motivations involved, is it any wonder that we have no real leadership emerging from the ranks?

Of course not.

Steve sums it up best:

After Moxie sent her response, why didn't Ed follow up? She made him a good offer; the best offer a reasonable person could have made. I would have written back and said, "I completely understand that you don't want to lose what you have. I'll put you on the list, and I hope it works out." No, I wouldn't even have done THAT. I would have put her in contact with Fox from the get-go.

Hey, maybe he's working furiously behind the scenes, trying to get her the job. Maybe I'm completely wrong. But I doubt it. My money is on pettiness and a lack of vision and professionalism. Because those are defining characteristics of the conservative media. They are why we lose and why we will always lose.

Comments

[Tim Worstall]

Ed was, if I recall correctly, a telephone call centre manager.

[Dennis The Peasant]

*sigh*

[markg8]

I find it hard to imagine Special Ed as the male version of Linda Fiorentino in the opening scene of "The Last Seduction". This is a guy who has apparently read all the Patrick O'Brian "Master and Commander" books and fancies himself a protector of Western Civilization on a par with British man-o-war captains of yor. His basement is his bridge, his keyboard his tiller.

It's a dog eat dog world out there folks, especially in the realm of conservative politics where it looks like the Republican party is headed for a historic defeat and the wingnut welfare that has bolstered the VRWC is drying up accordingly. Too many forces at odds in a divergent coalition that's way too fragile to survive. The whole raison d'etre of the Republican party and modern conservatism is rugged individualism, irrational hatred for all government regulation, etc.

You couple that "every man for himself" attitude with the "head for the lifeboats" mentality and throw in the example of far ranging Republican corruption that they've already completely compromised their ethics to ignore and you're gonna get a whole bunch of people who aren't going to adhere to society's niceties as they look for safe haven. Captain Ed is no different. He's going to do whatever he thinks he has to do to keep from going down with the ship. With George Bush as a roll model whaddya expect? Maybe he can blame Bill Clinton.

[travis]

It won't end soon. Special Ed will continue to threaten everyone's sanity for the foreseeable future.

With the likely democratic majority in congress and a democratic president, people like him will still be able to profit from what they do best: incessant criticism and carping, without ever taking responsibility or ownership.

When the US pulls out of Iraq, and it goes from shitball to flaming, genocidal shitball, they'll blame the Democrats, not the guy who actually turned it into a shitball. They will never, ever blame the triumphant cheerleaders of the war who posted fearless war screeds from their safe, warm houses. It is never their fault.

[PeterUK]

"I have a stable of professionals I refer people to,"

She didn't show.

[Dennis The Peasant]

That's what you get for not phoning ahead.

So to speak.

[PeterUK]

Well I paid up front by credit cards.One expects a little more professionalism from Miss Westerville Prom Queen 1972.

[Dennis The Peasant]

You wanted Bruno?

[Tim P]

Moxie, Schmoxie.
Tempest in a teapot.

It's Christmas eve! So.... Here's wishing the best to you & yours Herr Peasant. May you have a great Christmas and may your New Year be better than the past year.

Now if you'll join me in a republican holiday song...

Oh the weather out side
Is frightful,
But the fire
Is so delightful,
We don't care
Where the homeless go,
Let it snow
Let it snow
Let it snow!

[Dennis The Peasant]

Tim-

That was beautiful. Damn near brought a tear to my eye...

[Tim P]

Dennis,

A more serious reply.

Personally, I have found more thoughtful, intelligent and well read opinions on the right side of the blogosphere overwhelmingly. You single out obvious and easy targets.

I can't disagree with you on Simon, Coulter & the like, but your argument is one-sided at best.

The Kos kiddies have had only a net negative political effect. For all the talk and bluster, show me one candidate they powerfully backed that won. Ned Lamont? Howard Dean? Compare and contrast the Swift-boat Veterans.

Furthermore, what do you mean by the genius of his web site? Are you referring to his practice of deleting dissenting comments? Perhaps you're referring to the Townhouse super-secret list of leftie uber-bloggers uniting their 'narrative'?

As for tawdry opportunism, it exists in equal amounts on the left and right sides of the blogosphere. Good God, have you forgotten Markos' stock scandal from a couple of years back?
Let's refresh our memories shall we?

From the Drudge Report referencing the New York Times we come to find some shady illegal stock insider activity by one of the founders of the Daily KOS. This is activity that is only suitable for Republicans don’t you remember? He (Kos) neither denies nor admits the charges, but apparently was willing to pay $30,000 to settle the problem. I guess sort of a Nolo Contendere on the order of Spiro Agnew. At least Spiro had the decency to step down as Vice President. Wonder if he will do the same with the KOS or MYDD.com? This is in addition to last years scandal involving KOS in an alleged Pay to Play scheme with Democratic Candidate hiring the KOS boys as political consultants for KOS support of candidacies. Tawdy enough for you?

You may be correct in the arrows you shot at Simon et al, but don't tar the republicans and more largely, conservatives with the same brush for it is just even easier to paint the leftards the same color. The in-fighting you see on the right is the jostling of many divergent opinions, it's not the hive-minded buzzing that comes from the left.

Personally, when I hear someone, anyone (left or right)speaking in behalf or the people, or telling me how to live, or asking me to sacrifice for the greater good, the first thing I do is reach to make sure my wallet's still there.

But enough already, I'll finish with a quote from my favorite Republican (who by the way suspended habeus corpus, the fascist!);

"I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."

-- Abraham Lincoln

[PeterUK]

Is Bruno a Democrat? This thread is about right wing love.

[Dennis The Peasant]

Tim-

Understand that as a Conservative/Republican, I am far more interested in seeing the problems within resolved than in engaging in a battle with people who have no interest in listening in the first place. Pointing out the faults of Markos and the rest of the Liberal/Democratic blogosphere is being done by others more talented than I... and with absolutely no effect whatsoever.

My position is that cleaning up our own house will have a far more positive effect on the opinions of undecided and independent voters than whatever bile can be generated to cover the Left. So, in my own way, that is what I am trying to do. As I have a limited amount of time to do so, I choose to zero in on certain targets. If I had more time, I'd widen the net and refine my message, but I don't so I won't.

Also:

The fine for illegal stock promotion was levied on Jerome Armstrong, Markos' partner, not Markos himself. I'd note that Jerome has largely vanished from the scene... largely due to his own limitations.

When I say genius of DailyKOS, I mean the genius of the design of the site itself, not the opinions expressed therein. Markos has designed that site in a way to encourage and reward participation in a way that is truly impressive. That's why he has a thriving community there, and why is the one - and the only - political blogger who can actually lay claim to having a degree of clout.

[bryanD]

Regarding Markos, Dailykos is a honey trap on behalf of the Establishment for the purpose of screening/ostracizing political hopefuls on the left.

Like National Review was to the right on behalf of internationalism in the 50s.

Buckley was/is CIA.

Markos is CIA.

[Tim P]

Dennis,
Well said.
Have a good Christmas,
I'm going to go have a rum
& eggnog and watch the snow fall.

[Steve H. Graham]

If the right-wing talent pool is shallow, it's because the idiots who have made it are working so hard to exclude new people, they drive them out of the game.

Tigers eat their young, and so do conservatives.

[macgruder]

Im not sure why there is the view that in certain quarters people of conservative belief have an obligation to help other conservatives. Thats nuts. Talent will out--period, full stop.

malkin has gone as far as she can go because she is solely a right wing chum baiter. She aint no Mark Steyn. Dont even get me going on all the other pony boys and girls.

Most of the people hollering for a chance to play on a larger scale in the media--which translates into wanting plum columnist spots and television commenator gigs--have done precisely d-ck to deserve it.

I like reading Moxie's stuff, and Morrissey seems like a ham-handed oaf, but she has demonstrated that outside of the pretty-girl/LA/conservative thing, she has nothing to say. whatever the hell blog thing she is doing shows that she isnt doing anything that hasnt been done before. SHe doesnt deserve to be on any FoxNews lists.

and the fact that conservatives are still treating Fox News like its some oasis of sanity, or appearing on it is a worthy goal, says all you need to know.

There isnt a ton of talent out there that really needs to be heard. The fresh and interesting voices and views, Den Beste, DTP, a few others come to mind, have kind of taken themselves out of the running, or appear to be uninterested in doing that kind of work.

I think the market is kind of working efficently on this issue.

FWIW, and i know you have a deep beef with PJM, I still like Instapundit and LGF. I see a lot of interesting and thought provoking things there, which is all i give a crap about.

cool post. do well this new year again.
macgruder.

[Guesst K. Guesst]

Selling out to The Man without talent to exchange, makes our side (and by "side", I mean Republican side, not conservative side--) ineffective.

Conservatism has become a cottage industry, with the latchers-on turning profits by marketing their wares. Blogs, TV appearances, websites, radio programs, blahblah.

The products are extremely stale. P.U.