This is not good news for conservatives, no matter how much you hate Dave Weigel.
UPDATE: In an e-mail to several bloggers last night, I observed:
[O]nce the WaPo axed Ben Domenech, it was more than four years before they again tried a “conservative” blog. As someone who is BCC’d said to me on the phone Thursday, Dave is “about the best we can expect” from the Post. So there’s nothing to be gained by conservatives doing a takedown on Weigel, and perhaps a good deal to be lost.
Ah, vain hope. The “No Conservatives Need Apply” policy at WaPo may now be regarded as a permanent fixture.
UPDATE II: Dan Riehl disagrees with me. But I never argue with Dan.
UPDATE III: Philip Klein at The American Spectator:
It should also be noted that he went on Keith Olbermann’s show and shot down a story about Sarah Palin committing perjury that had been lighting up the liberal blogs and defended Cato’s Michael Cannon against a “dishonest and unfair hit” by the Center for American Progress.
Pamela Geller, on the other hand:
This is the asshat who sided with chuckie the traitor, and slammed Spencer and me, among . . .
I’m not aware that Weigel “sided with” Charles Johnson, but perhaps I missed something. At any rate, in a phone conversation just now with a conservative activist/blogger, I located what may be the deepest root of my pain over this episode: Weigel’s short tenure at the WaPo will be woven into the “conservatives don’t do journalism” narrative that Matthew Yglesias and his liberal buddies have been weaving for the past couple of years.
UPDATE IV: Conservative operative Liz Mair:
[P]erhaps the Post could pursue someone like Phil Klein or Eli Lake or Jim Antle. It would demonstrate good faith towards conservatives, and help the Post continue to drive in a direction that seems to be benefiting it, in terms of audience.
Not. Gonna. Happen. However, Liz also theorizes:
A lot of leaking has been done with the clear objective (I believe) of ruining Dave’s career, and forcing his ouster by the Washington Post. I suspect it is happening because Dave committed the cardinal sin of defending Rand Paul, a figure who has become so reviled by many on the Left that it’s hard to draw a bright-line distinction between him and Saddam Hussein, by their standards (in fact, for some of them, I believe Saddam Hussein is held in less contempt). That’s a bad place for Dave to be, but he got there because he had the courage of his convictions and defending a man who many on the Right consider almost indefensible — and he did it at the Washington Post, not Reason Magazine.
Ah, well. Water under the bridge. Weigel under the bus. Ace isn’t wasting any tears on Dave. Sad to see that among the few bloggers saying anything in Weigel’s defense is . . . wait for it . . . Andrew Sullivan.
Yeah. Kiss of death. Dave who? Never heard of the guy.
(Rooster crows three times.)
UPDATE V: In the comments, Moe Lane makes a good point:
“The thing that strikes me about this is how little input in the affair actual conservatives have had.”
Exactly. News organizations don’t hire conservatives. Therefore, conservatives don’t seek careers in journalism and instead become lawyers or accountants or stock brokers or whatever.
Ergo, none of the people making decisions in MSM newsrooms are conservatives. Where set A = “employees of news organizations” and set B = “conservatives,” we see that as the closer set AB approaches to zero, the more likely journalists are to view conservatives as The Other, and vice-versa.
If you think such a situation is a good thing, then you’re obviously congratulating yourself about Dave Weigel’s downfall, and you don’t want to hear the explanation of my disagreement.
UPDATE VI: Not to say there isn’t an upside: Ezra Klein has deep-sixed Journolist as a result of the Weigel affair. Little Miss Attila says the list had become “blackmail fodder.”
I spoke to Weigel by phone this afternoon. He’s fine, and is currently deciding which of three or four job offers to accept. He admits that he succumbed to hubris, but wasn’t interested in rehashing the back-story of this whole mess. He said he was going somewhere this evening to chill out.
Ed Morrissey says “Dave and I are on friendly terms,” so there’s that, and Ed engages in the “who leaked from Journolist and why?” theorizing that is the really intriguing angle here. The more I think about it, the more I suspect that Liz Mair was on the money in suspecting that Dave’s defense of Rand Paul motivated the leak.
Matt Welch at Reason recounts the saga for the benefit of Weigel’s former readers at Reason, and Ed Driscoll has a long and excellent round-up of reaction.
Why is this not good news? Because you had a few beers with the guy? don’t get the conservative love for this douchebag.
Why is this not good news? Because you had a few beers with the guy? don’t get the conservative love for this douchebag.
Dan Riehl agrees with you. But this battle’s over, and there’s no point arguing in hindsight.
Dan Riehl agrees with you. But this battle’s over, and there’s no point arguing in hindsight.
Sad to see Dave go. I can only imagine what other type of fauxservative is going to take his place.
Sad to see Dave go. I can only imagine what other type of fauxservative is going to take his place.
Dave regularly disparaged conservatives. He’s a guy who stood for Etheridge, mocked Palin for being a bit concerned that some nutjob reporter was moving in next door to her, and has displayed nothing but contempt for conservatives. So, again, explain to me how this is bad for conservatives. I know you’re way too smart to think this guy is one of us.
Dave regularly disparaged conservatives. He’s a guy who stood for Etheridge, mocked Palin for being a bit concerned that some nutjob reporter was moving in next door to her, and has displayed nothing but contempt for conservatives. So, again, explain to me how this is bad for conservatives. I know you’re way too smart to think this guy is one of us.
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.
[…] Arthur KoestlerDave Weigel Violates Rule OnePosted on | June 24, 2010 | 23 CommentsUPDATE 6/25: WEIGEL RESIGNS.PREVIOUSLY: Rule One of Modern Journalism is, Don’t piss off Matt Drudge:“This would be […]
Who cares if anyone takes his place? The guy was actively hostile to any real conservatism. He was carried as a conservative by WaPo because he was willing to carry water for progressive Republicans. The fact that he endlessly attacked conservatives was a feature, not a bug. In what way did Weigel actually HELP the conservative cause? If Brooks were fired by NYT, would you write the same about him? “Oh no, they won’t have ANY conservative columnists at all!!!? Zomg!
I see him as a less effeminate version of David Brooks.
Who cares if anyone takes his place? The guy was actively hostile to any real conservatism. He was carried as a conservative by WaPo because he was willing to carry water for progressive Republicans. The fact that he endlessly attacked conservatives was a feature, not a bug. In what way did Weigel actually HELP the conservative cause? If Brooks were fired by NYT, would you write the same about him? “Oh no, they won’t have ANY conservative columnists at all!!!? Zomg!
I see him as a less effeminate version of David Brooks.
The thing that strikes me about this is how little input in the affair actual conservatives have had. The right-sphere has mostly said “Dave’s personally a nice guy, but we didn’t know that he was on Journolist“… and apparently that was enough to make his WaPo gig untenable.
I submit that this may say something about the WaPo gig.
Moe Lane
PS: I suspect that the Journolistie who shafted Dave is probably kicking himself (not herself; I’m given to understand that the list is not friendly towards too-self-confident women) for messing up the WaPo’s play. Still, good for keeping the rest in line.
The thing that strikes me about this is how little input in the affair actual conservatives have had. The right-sphere has mostly said “Dave’s personally a nice guy, but we didn’t know that he was on Journolist“… and apparently that was enough to make his WaPo gig untenable.
I submit that this may say something about the WaPo gig.
Moe Lane
PS: I suspect that the Journolistie who shafted Dave is probably kicking himself (not herself; I’m given to understand that the list is not friendly towards too-self-confident women) for messing up the WaPo’s play. Still, good for keeping the rest in line.
It’s not good or bad for Conservatives… hardly anyone on the right ever really embraced him as one of ours. It was an illusion for the left to act as if they could tolerate a conservative journalist. Weigel was the political equivalent of the one black friend that the racist points to prove he’s not really racist…
It’s not good or bad for Conservatives… hardly anyone on the right ever really embraced him as one of ours. It was an illusion for the left to act as if they could tolerate a conservative journalist. Weigel was the political equivalent of the one black friend that the racist points to prove he’s not really racist…
The Washington Post legitimized the concept of covering conservatives as if they were a foreign species. They have now recanted. This is good. Now we just have to get rid of Kate Zernike, Charles Blow, Frank Rich, etc.
The Washington Post legitimized the concept of covering conservatives as if they were a foreign species. They have now recanted. This is good. Now we just have to get rid of Kate Zernike, Charles Blow, Frank Rich, etc.
You should apply.
You should apply.
I had mixed views about Weigel, but he was far from the worst guy the Post could have had covering the movement. I don’t think getting rid of him is a win for us.
I had mixed views about Weigel, but he was far from the worst guy the Post could have had covering the movement. I don’t think getting rid of him is a win for us.
Sorry RSM – I disagree with you. Someone who has such contempt for conservatives shouldn’t be writing for any “mainstream” media outlet. Did you read the additional e-mails – all the rat-f*cker rants, how he hoped Limbaugh would “fail” after his chest pain incident, etc.? Sickening.
Why have a left-wing org’n like WaPo hire a token journo to cover conservative politics? They will NEVER be fair, NEVER be accurate – no matter who they hire. It’s a lost cause.
Better to let WaPo curdle on its own. We have our own sites, our own outlets, our own journalists.
I’d rather see Breitbart expand & Fox get even more viewers. What we really need is an alternative to old media in the 50 states – conservative blogs aren’t enough. Let the old media die an inglorious death.
Sorry RSM – I disagree with you. Someone who has such contempt for conservatives shouldn’t be writing for any “mainstream” media outlet. Did you read the additional e-mails – all the rat-f*cker rants, how he hoped Limbaugh would “fail” after his chest pain incident, etc.? Sickening.
Why have a left-wing org’n like WaPo hire a token journo to cover conservative politics? They will NEVER be fair, NEVER be accurate – no matter who they hire. It’s a lost cause.
Better to let WaPo curdle on its own. We have our own sites, our own outlets, our own journalists.
I’d rather see Breitbart expand & Fox get even more viewers. What we really need is an alternative to old media in the 50 states – conservative blogs aren’t enough. Let the old media die an inglorious death.
So how can we use this to goad the WaPo into actually hiring a conservative?
Is there someway to press their ombudsman or editor to look at a list of suggestions from the rightie bloggers?
Yes, who knows how many distraught conservatives will forever be jaded from going into journalism because a left-winger posing as a right-winger was fired by a left-wing rag read by an ever-dwindling number of people. This is a dark day for the republic.
So how can we use this to goad the WaPo into actually hiring a conservative?
Is there someway to press their ombudsman or editor to look at a list of suggestions from the rightie bloggers?
Yes, who knows how many distraught conservatives will forever be jaded from going into journalism because a left-winger posing as a right-winger was fired by a left-wing rag read by an ever-dwindling number of people. This is a dark day for the republic.
Matt Yglesias does journalism? Where, in the back seat? Does he use gloves?
Sorry to hear about Weigel. I’m with WJ, above. This hurts WaPo far more than libertarianism or conservatism. Hey – maybe WaPo will hire a real “conservative” such as CoNor!
Matt Yglesias does journalism? Where, in the back seat? Does he use gloves?
Sorry to hear about Weigel. I’m with WJ, above. This hurts WaPo far more than libertarianism or conservatism. Hey – maybe WaPo will hire a real “conservative” such as CoNor!
Sometimes he struck me as a little bit snide, but his blog “Right Now” (which only started several weeks ago, if I’m not mistaken) was a good source for interesting developments in conservative politics, and commentary. He’s a talented writer and it’s unfortunate to see him go. Don’t expect anybody to the right of Andrew Sullivan to replace him at WaPo.
Sometimes he struck me as a little bit snide, but his blog “Right Now” (which only started several weeks ago, if I’m not mistaken) was a good source for interesting developments in conservative politics, and commentary. He’s a talented writer and it’s unfortunate to see him go. Don’t expect anybody to the right of Andrew Sullivan to replace him at WaPo.
Boo hoo hoo.
I’m supposed to be sad because the lefty hack covering conservatives for WaPo lost his job, and now they won’t replace him with another lefty hack to cover conservatives? Sorry, one lefty hack more or less doesn’t matter, and WaPo doesn’t matter. Old news.
The kid wished death on Drudge. Good damn riddance. Nobody “took him down” other than himself and whichever fellow lefty leaked the email.
Boo hoo hoo.
I’m supposed to be sad because the lefty hack covering conservatives for WaPo lost his job, and now they won’t replace him with another lefty hack to cover conservatives? Sorry, one lefty hack more or less doesn’t matter, and WaPo doesn’t matter. Old news.
The kid wished death on Drudge. Good damn riddance. Nobody “took him down” other than himself and whichever fellow lefty leaked the email.
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.
Not true! There are still plenty of positions at the WaPo to mock and belittle conservatives.
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.
Not true! There are still plenty of positions at the WaPo to mock and belittle conservatives.
What is this place of his that has ceased to exist?
Conserative-basher? China will run out of rice before the WaPo runs out of such positions.
House conservative on news side? That post never existed, if it was fillable by Weigel.
Liberal-pretending-to-be-conservative who covers conservatives like Margaret Mead among the savages? I don’t know that position has ceased to exist. It may have but if so, it is not much of a loss. I prefer being thought of as a bigot by someone more-openly hostile.
What is this place of his that has ceased to exist?
Conserative-basher? China will run out of rice before the WaPo runs out of such positions.
House conservative on news side? That post never existed, if it was fillable by Weigel.
Liberal-pretending-to-be-conservative who covers conservatives like Margaret Mead among the savages? I don’t know that position has ceased to exist. It may have but if so, it is not much of a loss. I prefer being thought of as a bigot by someone more-openly hostile.
Or to put it another way …
I prefer not to be covered than be covered by someone who hates me.
I prefer to be covered by someone who hates me overtly than someone who hates me covertly?
I prefer to be covered by someone who hates me covertly on no pretense than be covered by someone who hates me covertly under a false pretense that he is somewhat sympathetic.
Only if one or more of those preferences is irrational is Weigel any loss.
Or to put it another way …
I prefer not to be covered than be covered by someone who hates me.
I prefer to be covered by someone who hates me overtly than someone who hates me covertly?
I prefer to be covered by someone who hates me covertly on no pretense than be covered by someone who hates me covertly under a false pretense that he is somewhat sympathetic.
Only if one or more of those preferences is irrational is Weigel any loss.
I just Checked WaPo’s Jobs Listing, no job listed under the term: “Conservative”.
I just Checked WaPo’s Jobs Listing, no job listed under the term: “Conservative”.
Our losing Dan Weigl is bad in the same way it would be for Israel to lose Pat Buchanan.
Our losing Dan Weigl is bad in the same way it would be for Israel to lose Pat Buchanan.
Au revoir Dan. C’est la vie et bon chance.
Au revoir Dan. C’est la vie et bon chance.
[…] cosmoterian Dave Weigel has been forced to resign after a storm of controversy over some leaked “private” e-mails in which he savages […]
[5. Robert Stacy McCain
June 25th, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.]
———————————————-
That place never did exist. He was a fake. The presentation of what he was all about was fake. His job was to disparage conservatives, period. He spun, misrepresented, cherry-picked and ridiculed to further that end.
There must have been a clear understanding of the true nature of his assignment between Weigel and the Post, from day one, or he never would have been hired in the first place.
The excerpts from Journo List: enough said.
[5. Robert Stacy McCain
June 25th, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
That’s just it. No one will “take his place.” That “place” just ceased to exist.]
———————————————-
That place never did exist. He was a fake. The presentation of what he was all about was fake. His job was to disparage conservatives, period. He spun, misrepresented, cherry-picked and ridiculed to further that end.
There must have been a clear understanding of the true nature of his assignment between Weigel and the Post, from day one, or he never would have been hired in the first place.
The excerpts from Journo List: enough said.