“conservative” and “christian” are NOT synonyms, no matter how hard the MSM likes to work that meme.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

“No offense, but this comment makes me wonder if you’ve ever even read here. Have you actually read ANY of Bryan’s commentary either on religion or on military matters?”

No offense taken. I don’t comment here very regularly, even though I read HotAir daily. I have read all of Bryan’s commentary on religious and military matters and have enjoyed it greatly.

“His military posts are outstanding (and yes, I’m a former Marine, if it matters). And his infrequent religious posts are not at all like you describe them.”

Yes, I agree that he has posted some great military analysis posts, but they are few and far between. And my standards for military analysis have gone up quite a bit over the last few years of reading military blogs such as Blackfive, Mudville Gazette, Neptunus Lex, CDR Salamander, Dadmanly, Op-For, Small Wars Journal, Michael Yon, Michael Fumento, Michael Totten, among many others, including those found at Mudville’s DAWN PATROL by Mrs. Greyhawk. When Bryan posts, he is right in line with them, but he rarely does. I would have to verify this with actual stats of looking at the archives, but I would guess that 75%-80% of the posts on Iraq are done by AllahPundit and they have a generally skeptical, pessimistic and negative tone about them. And he rarely references military blogs such as the ones I noted above for further analysis, even though he references every poor mass media outlet for their poor analysis. So while Bryan does post some good military analysis blogs, overall I would not consider HotAir the place to go for good military analysis, since Bryan makes up only a small fraction of that analysis.

As far as his religious posts, I don’t believe that I had anything to say about Bryan’s posts (though I may have, but I am too lazy to go back up through all the comments to check). But again, as with the military posts, the majority of religious posts are done by AllahPundit. So when the majority of religious posts at HotAir have an anti-Christian bias, with a few posts addressing Christianity and Islam in an intellectual manner, this still leaves HotAir as generally having an anti-Christian bias. I’m sure that Daily Kos has some sensible authors and posts on occasion, but since the majority of their posts are loony Leftist, they are described as a generally loony Leftist site. Same goes here. When the majority of the posts are a certain way, the entire site gets labeled that way. But I do enjoy Bryan’s religious posts as they are very insightful. Though I still bypass the comments on his posts as well, since the discussion there is usually not as intellectual as his posts.

“Go check the archives. Again – these are all different people. As far as I know, Bryan isn’t AP. Some of you seem confused on that.”

Well, others may be confused, but I am not one of them. I simply hold a different opinion of this site than you and many others. That’s just my interpretation. No harm, no foul. I simply responded to highhopes with my opinion, since he seemed to be getting attacked by those who did not share his opinion, and I wanted him to know he was not alone in his interpretation. Though I did feel he was getting a bit carried away in his criticism of this post. But I don’t blame him for going a bit overboard, since he was looking at the overall history of this site and was, I believe, acting reflexively based on that.

“How long have you been reading this blog? Have you been paying attention to the bylines or just the headlines?

I have been reading HotAir since it started as I was already an avid reader and fan of Michelle Malkin’s blog prior to that (and still am). I keep track of the bylines. Though by now, it is usually pretty obvious by the writing styles and tones of Bryan and AllahPundit that I can figure out who wrote the post without even looking at the byline.

“Bryan has written thoughtfully and extensively about Christianity, especially the conservative Evangelical branch of the faith. Michelle lets slip her conservative Catholic upbringing every now and then. It’s hardly an anti-Christian blog.”

I didn’t say that it was an anti-Christian blog, but I did say that there is an anti-Christian tone here among AllahPundit and many of the atheist commenters. And I also pointed out that I did not have a problem so much with the anti-Christian tone so much as I did with the fact that many of the posts and comments are not serious discussions of religion as much as they are just excuses to take pleasure is making fun of religious people, mostly Christians.

As far as Michelle and Bryan go, they do not post enough at HotAir to really represent the website. I would have to do an actual tally to verify my hunch, but I would guess that in any given week, 75%-80% of the posts are by AllahPundit. So HotAir could be generally described as AllahPundit’s site with some guest posting done here and there by Bryan Preston, Robert Spencer and See-Dubya when AllahPundit goes on vacation. But I would guess that when people thing of HotAir.com, they think of AllahPundit, since he is by far the author of the vast majority of posts on this site.

“It’s true that AllahP likes to stir the pot with his atheist posts, but you guys oblige him by responding with a blizzard of Bible quotes and then devolving into a discussion of how to properly interpret said quotes.”

That is what Robert Spencer does as well in order to properly explain Islam to HotAir readers. I see nothing wrong with a discussion and debate on the scriptures – and the proper interpretations of them – which are the basis of religions. What I don’t like seeing is disrespect from both sides of the discussion. And I believe that this lack of respect is encouraged by AllahPundit, since in many posts he comes off as very condescending and disrespectful of Christianity and Christians. While his opinion of the religion is to be expected, since he is an atheist and, as such, probably sees the belief in God along the same lines as the belief in aliens or ghosts, there is a way to discuss religion in order to learn more about it and foster intellectual debate, and then there is what I feel happens here at HotAir from most of his religion posts, which is foster an environment of a lack of respect for one another and all out flame fest. Which then the atheists take joy in, because then they can accuse Christians of not being nice people and, therefore, “un-Christian”.

“I’ve read some insufferable comments from atheists in the discussions, but you can hardly blame AllahP for the excesses of his co-(non)religionists. He’s also a useful reminder that “conservative” and “christian” are NOT synonyms, no matter how hard the MSM likes to work that meme.”

As I just noted, I do partly blame AllahPundit, because I believe he fosters that environment here at HotAir. He doesn’t tell the atheist commentors – nor the Christian commentors – to be respectful in the debate and I have seen him join in on the making fun of Christians in many of the discussions in the comments. AllahPundit could easily warn people on both sides to keep things respectful, but he doesn’t. Therefore he is absolutely partly to blame for the excesses on both sides of the debate.

“I suggest you do what I do. Just ignore any post on religion unless it has Bryan’s name on it. I read AllahP because I like his political and humor writing, which is really what I expect when I click on HotAir. For religious writing, there is always Touchstone or First Things online.”

I suggested the same thing in my previous posts in this thread. As I noted earlier, I have changed my blog reading habits based on my displeasure with the tone here of the posts and comments. I don’t read HotAir as often and when I do, I skip over many of the posts, because I know the tone will either be an unserious analysis of the subject matter or a negative or condescending tone towards the subject matter. Maybe you were talking to highhopes with this suggestion. For me, as I said, I don’t come here for serious discussions of topics anymore. I come here for the great reporting on news stories as AllahPundit is fantastic at research and doing the digging into a story that the mass media refuses to do – or is incapable of doing. I have great respect for AllahPundit’s talents and hard work in that area and recommend and pass on HotAir articles to my distribution list regularly.

And Bryan has had some great posts about religion and the military, but he doesn’t post enough here to make it worth it to come here for those types of things. And plus my standards for military writing have gone way up after spending the last few years reading military blogs such as Blackfive, Mudville Gazette, Neptunus Lex, CDR Salamander, Dadmanly, Op-For, Small Wars Journal, Michael Yon, Michael Fumento, Michael Totten, among many others, including those found at Mudville’s DAWN PATROL by Mrs. Greyhawk. So when I want military analysis, I go there. Maybe if Bryan posted more, I would come here too, but he just doesn’t. I don’t know why, because I very much enjoy his posts when he does (I especially liked his reports and analysis after coming back from Iraq). He is a great breath of fresh air most times from the negativity and defeatism that seems to permeate HotAir’s posts and comment sections the majority of the time.

What if the “laws” of countries around the world offer the possibility of banning offensive “American” shows and movies

Have you been to Dubai?

As a non” ismist” I just know I don’t know. (and I know you don’t know either)

As far as this current issue is concerned; the Jerry Springer “opera” currently showing in the UK, I understand the thinking behind the theologian’s action to sue the producers. We are talking about a country where it is now a hate crime to make a defamatory statement about Islam and yet, the curtain goes up every night on absolute filth directed at Christianity. IMO, it is NOT TRUE that the people of the EU have free speech. Their right to express themselves has been drastically curtailed in the past decade as it pertains to various victim groups. This does not translate to Christianity however, which is free game for anyone to dump on.

Here in NY it is north of $80 bucks to get into a B’Way show. What I don’t understand is the motivation of the audience to support this filth by buying tickets.

tlynch001 on November 20, 2007 at 7:49 AM

My sarcasm meter is pegged…I hope for your sake that it’s correct.

I bought a new Intel-CPU iMac running Leopard. Now I am getting weird Java errors in Firefox. Grrr….

Anton on November 20, 2007 at 1:08 AM

Holy smoke! It was bad enough trying to remember all the specs of the various CPU’s out there. Now the Mac geeks want me to think about the animal kingdom. What’s the next Mac going to be called, the “Ark” with a “Noah” OS?

Uh oh, I’ve committed blasphemy! Dozens of the uncertain are picking up rocks and old discs to stone me! Help me AP! Help me…..!!!!

a bunch of pro-Christian pundits having a ‘go us!’ circle-jerk

So you think Christians cheer each other on while engaging in group homosexual activities?

The Christian bashing here is out of control!!!

Stop the hate, for the love of Allah, STOP THE HATE!

Allah, forgive them, for they know not what they do nuthin’.

(If you can’t tell this is sarcasm, get stuffed.)

“Again, HotAir is what it is. I have accepted that and adjusted my blog reading habits accordingly.

Michael in MI on November 19, 2007 at 11:57 PM”

I bought a new Intel-CPU iMac running Leopard. Now I am getting weird Java errors in Firefox. Grrr….

Bryan has written thoughtfully and extensively about Christianity, especially the conservative Evangelical branch of the faith. Michelle lets slip her conservative Catholic upbringing every now and then. It’s hardly an anti-Christian blog.

It’s true that AllahP likes to stir the pot with his atheist posts, but you guys oblige him by responding with a blizzard of Bible quotes and then devolving into a discussion of how to properly interpret said quotes. I’ve read some insufferable comments from atheists in the discussions, but you can hardly blame AllahP for the excesses of his co-(non)religionists. He’s also a useful reminder that “conservative” and “christian” are NOT synonyms, no matter how hard the MSM likes to work that meme.

I suggest you do what I do. Just ignore any post on religion unless it has Bryan’s name on it. I read AllahP because I like his political and humor writing, which is really what I expect when I click on HotAir. For religious writing, there is always Touchstone or First Things online.

While I find this troubling and have just lowered my standards for what I expect at HotAir anymore, AllahPundit and Bryan and Robert Spencer do a good job in posting in other areas that make coming back here to HotAir for its detailed reporting worthwhile.

Michael in MI on November 19, 2007 at 11:57 PM

No offense, but this comment makes me wonder if you’ve ever even read here. Have you actually read ANY of Bryan’s commentary either on religion or on military matters?

His military posts are outstanding (and yes, I’m a former Marine, if it matters). And his infrequent religious posts are not at all like you describe them.

Go check the archives. Again – these are all different people. As far as I know, Bryan isn’t AP. Some of you seem confused on that.

highhopes on November 19, 2007 at 11:03 PM

I like to visit Hal Lindsey’s site pretty regularly but I would never think to complain about it’s Christian bias and this site is by no means comparable in terms of any bias. Unless you count conservative bias. Respect? Identify yourself as an Atheist and see what kind of “respect” you receive from your god fearing brethren.

This stupidity aside, how stupid of me to think there is an anti-Christian bias on this forum by some of the martinets that choose the topics. Once again HotAir sets up a thread where Christians get to attack one another for the glee of Christian hating atheists.

highhopes on November 19, 2007 at 11:03 PM

Oh, c’mon. Puh-leeze.

Has Allahpundit been guilty of what you suggest occasionally? Well, maybe. Arguably. Does he enjoy the easy Pavlovian comment response from the Christians and atheists? Obviously.

But what are you complaining about HERE, in this post? He offered two ironic words of comment (“in vain,” rather apt I thought), and then posted the money quote from the article. That’s it.

And it’s an awfully newsworthy quote from an obviously important story. If you don’t think so, you haven’t been paying attention for the last decade.

Slam him when it’s appropriate. It isn’t here. Not even close. You’re responding to your own preconceptions from earlier posts. Look at what he actually wrote here, in this post.

And in your later posts in this thread, you’re equating Allahpundit with all of HotAir. That isn’t fair. I like reading here because I never know what I’ll find. Bryan, Michelle, AP, and See-Dubya (and any others) have very different takes. Don’t lump them together. That’s no different than lumping all Christians together. You have a problem with him, direct it at him alone. They’re all different people.

And for the record, I generally agree with you about these threads. I usually roll my eyes at them, or make some snarky comment and shrug. They’re admittedly too common and too predictable. (Although much, much better than the “View” threads!)

But suggestions that this place is anti-Christian are just insane. Loony. That doesn’t even come close to reality. The truth is the exact opposite: this place is quite Christian friendly. Even when I disagree with him, I admire AP for posting what he believes – and regardless of what you may think, he is generally pretty respectful, especially in comparison to a few atheist commenters.

He offered two words and a quote. What’re you bitchin’ about?

Yet, I still believe in a supreme pizza being.

I just can’t be serious about it.

This stupidity aside, how stupid of me to think there is an anti-Christian bias on this forum by some of the martinets that choose the topics. Once again HotAir sets up a thread where Christians get to attack one another for the glee of Christian hating atheists.

highhopes on November 19, 2007 at 11:03 PM

You are being more than a little paranoid. I believe most atheists of the right see Christianity as minor problem and not as the enemy. We see now as a time to join together–a time to get beyond our parochial squabbles over secularism versus Christianity. We face a brutal, savage enemy of all Western culture and we should place our anger there.

Michael in MI on November 20, 2007 at 12:12 AM

I agree. All faiths think they have the most truth. But some faiths actively seek out to destroy the faith that others have in their own religion. I am simple pointing out that the LDS do not need to destroy any one else’s faith in order to be successful. They present their message and expect the person to study and pray to find out for themselves. You will never see a website sponsored by the LDS church that demeans or attacks another faith.