The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

In Defense Of BlogBash And CPAC

Posted on | March 16, 2013 | 39 Comments

by Smitty

Noting Jerry Wilson’s disdain for BlogBash, “An event such as BlogBash could prove valuable if it led to greater networking, encouragement and support for all bloggers, not solely those in attendance,” I don’t think Jerry is fully briefed on the goals of The National Blogger’s Club, which really aren’t bad at all.

I had gone to the President’s Dinner with Allen West, and then popped in to Blog Bash for about an hour with Da Tech Guy. Then it was time to get home, as  (a) really loud music and (b) heavy partying (I drank an O’Doull’s) are done for me in that time. I did catch the awards portion. It was jolly good and quick.

An even more strident criticism, of CPAC in general, is from Richard Mgrdechian:

I have one simple question for the organizers (and the profiteers) of this political farce: how does anything being done at this event help promote American values of hard work, integrity and gratitude in any way? The answer is, it doesn’t. There is no take away whatsoever.

Two points, gents:
Failure doesn’t age well. Forty years of steady growth in CPAC attendance belie the notion that it is a ‘farce’. BlogBash/The National Bloggers Club is an order of magnitude younger, but it’s still a growing concern, as noted by the increasing harassment received.
People don’t scale. With growth and success come the critics. And I’ll point you to the Man in the Arena speech and suggest that, in a capitalist society, competition is the ultimate rebuttal. That is, I’m not sure any of the proffered criticisms don’t apply to many large gatherings of people, but I’d sure like to see a rounder wheel if you can spin one.

Ronald Reagan’s mug dominates the wall behind the main CPAC stage, not that hero-worship excites me. What does excite me is having a concentrated place for the ideas that Reagan embraced and promoted, in that one eight year pause amidst our Progressive decline, to get transmitted from the establishment fogies decried by Wilson and Mgrdechian, to the college generation.

Is CPAC enough? Let’s call it necessary, but not sufficient. The ditch on the other side of the road is say “They should just let CPAC die because they haven’t done enough to fix. . .” which forms a non-falsifiable, moving goal line. The more criticism heads that way, the less constructive it is.

I like going to CPAC and trying to make the speeches a little more accessible than just a 20 minute shot of YouTube. I guess that’s my criticism of it. The bandwidth at National Harbor is also wretched, though, I guess if I was sponsoring the event I may have better joy. That many people at once is always just a drain for me.

As a suggestion, guys, why not organize a Christian music concert nearby, for one of the CPAC evenings? National Harbor is crawling with dogs & cats, goldfish & clownfish from all over. CPAC has gathered a great audience for you. You could leverage that for a jolly good, edifying outing of your own. Just sayin’.

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Category: CPAC, Goldfish & Clowns

Comments

  • http://knappster.blogspot.com/ Thomas L. Knapp

    “the goals of The National Blogger’s Club”

    … appear to have something to do with the advancement of Engrish:

    “The National Bloggers Club will work to give educate, provide access, and further equip citizen-journalists without robbing them of their independence for those who advocate for economic and individual freedom.”

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    BlogBash sounds like fun. I am glad it went well for you all. So far CPAC seems like it is doing well too, although I wish the controversy before CPAC with Geller and Spencer did not happen. That was unfortunate.

  • http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/ M. Simon

    I look forward to the left hitting the right with this. I’m egging them on:

    Endocannabinoids A Video

    There are more cannabinoid receptors in the body than any other receptor type.

    The endocannabinoid system is a major regulator in the body implicated in almost all diseases including cancer.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I am all for like minded conservatives and libertarians charging the batteries and meeting each other. It need not be once a year. And it can be as Jerry proposes (I do like the one on ones and small groups too) or medium sized event, or large events. That is frankly healthier and more grass roots.

  • http://wizbangblog.com/ Adjoran

    Heh. Can’t wait for Smitty to answer THAT argument!

  • http://wizbangblog.com/ Adjoran

    Remember, it’s a fundraiser, nothing more. Norquist and his terrorist-supporting pals bring more cash than Geller & Spencer.

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    Waitaminit! I bought you a $20 FREAKIN’ O’DOUL’S? On ST. PATTY’S DAY WEEKEND?! W T F’in F!

    On the other hand, yes, I’m sure people like Jerry Wilson prefer unofficial unapproved things unhappening. Does he seriously suggest effective networking never took place over an open bottle?

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    Is Jerry seriously making the suggestion that a group that bans groups from attending and gives out made-up awards (CPAC) is morally superior to a group like BlogBash that invites selected guests and gives out made-up awards?

  • http://www.lisagraas.com Lisa Graas

    I have no interest in attending, but to each his own. The only movement I’m interested in is spiritual in nature. All this political stuff is just “extra.”

  • http://www.lisagraas.com Lisa Graas

    This person commented on my blog today, too, claiming the failure to legalize marijuana is a “crime against humanity.” This doesn’t really jive with Catholic redemptive suffering, but anyway…….is this a troll? Or a mutual friend of ours? Strange.

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    I believe it is some form of small canned meat.

  • http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/ Jerry Wilson

    No. They both have little if any value/redemptive qualities.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I know money talks.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I am going to guess a concern troll.

  • http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/ M. Simon

    It was me. Jews don’t believe in redemptive suffering. In fact they take the lead in the Medical Cannabis movement.

    My former Rabbi: Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    I’m just pretty much a tee-totaller, even when I don’t have to drive.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    But there are plenty of explicitly Christian outfits to meet and greet, too.

  • SDN

    Actually, no, he isn’t. He is a libertarian with a particular focus. I happen to agree with most of what he’s saying, except for the part about a reluctance to treat someone smoking pot and thereby in an impaired state as the results dictate. And, of course, the freedom of association to be allowed to not hire, place his kids under the custody of, etc. anyone who uses it.

    As for redemptive suffering, God never struck me as a sadist. And since the properties of pot were Created by Him, and then the Creation placed not as a thing good or evil in itself, but only made so by what the humans placed in it chose, I don’t see anything in Scripture that would forbid its’ use.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.org Bob Belvedere

    My objections to CPAC have to do with those who are in charge of it [paging Grover 'The Dhimmi' Norquist']. However, it is a good place for bloggers to gather and meet each other and form friendships. It is a, in a sense, a gathering of members of the hundreds of Committees Of Correspondence. Such events are good for our cause of restoring freedom and liberty.

    Often an event is less important than what goes on at it in the hallways and bars and rooms.

    And thank you once again Smitty for your coverage, which helps provide context and background on the events I’ve watched on C-SPAN and the Internet.

  • http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/ M. Simon

    So I’m wondering – do Catholics generally get surgery without anesthetics so they can suffer?

    Do they like letting others suffer for the redemptive value? Do you let people die so they can get to heaven sooner?

    Well Jews don’t believe in any of that. We call those types of things (if they can be ameliorated or prevented) crimes against humanity. We believe we were put on earth to save lives and relieve suffering and to do otherwise is the gravest of sins. And in our religion the gravest sins are those you do to other humans.

    If God is going to make some one suffer that is his business. If I can relieve that suffering it is mine. And if God doesn’t like it he will answer to me. I won’t put up with it. If you don’t keep the Head Office in line sometimes they will do the most monstrous things. I’m told humans are co-equal with God. I intend to live up to that to the best of my ability. I will not sit idly by.

    Medical Marijuana prohibition is a crime against humanity and a violation of the religious precept – heal the sick.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rob5136 Rob Crawford

    Love all the slams you worked into your “defense”.

    Go out and do it better.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rob5136 Rob Crawford

    So you’re an expert in having little if any value/redemptive qualities.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rob5136 Rob Crawford

    “He is a libertarian with a particular focus.”

    No, he’s hag-ridden by his addiction to pot, and thinks that what it gives him is insight.

  • http://deadcitizensrightssociety.wordpress.com/ rmnixondeceased

    The release of endorphins by sado-masochistic behavior also blocks pain. It is inhumane to those who do not assent to it, thus regulating it would seem to be antithetical to this person as well. Legalize forced sado-maschocism and marijuana use! What an asshat!

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    That money was for beer and bail. It said so specifically in the donation memo. O’Doul’s ain’t beer. There’s a cop. You know what you gotta do…

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    There is nothing redemptive in suffering for suffering’s sake. Catholic redemptive suffering is certainly not that.

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  • http://wizbangblog.com/ Adjoran

    Yep, the hard-shell Baptists have to turn themselves into the cops and serve the hard time. Catholics have to confess under seal and usually say some prayers.

    Plus, we can drink, dance, and gamble.

    Of course, we must also understand and feel compassion for the judgmental who drink light beer themselves and then scoff at O’Doul’s, as if there were a difference. So it ain’t all rosy.

  • http://wizbangblog.com/ Adjoran

    Mr. Justice Stewart was challenged in oral arguments to define pornography. He replied, “I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it.”

    Jerry is also entitled to use his life experience in such evaluations.

  • http://www.facebook.com/eric.ashley.58 Eric Ashley

    He’s a social conservative hater as well. ‘The GOP would win if we only kicked those socons to the curb’ type.

    That said, he raises some interesting points about drugs. However, its pretty much all he knows how to talk about.

  • http://thefatguy.com Scott

    So I bit, and went to take The National Bloggers Club seriously. But it only exists as a Facebook page? That seems fundamentally unserious. Has it been DDOSed to death?

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    I was thinking he had to get drunk and punch a cop. It’s St.Paddy’s, what am I paying him beer and bail money for?

  • http://twitter.com/richard_mcenroe richard mcenroe

    Not that Justice Stewart’s argument was upheld, IIRC…

  • http://marezilla.com/ Zilla of the Resistance
  • http://marezilla.com/ Zilla of the Resistance

    I give out made up awards.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    I was thrilled to get one!

  • http://marezilla.com/ Zilla of the Resistance

    And I was delighted to give it to you!

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