Pardon our dust!
posted at 11:20 am on January 3, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Hot Air readers may notice a few interruptions in service today as we do some behind-the-scenes maintenance. We’re working to improve service, and the site may necessarily go off line a few times as we do. Keep checking back if you get error messages.
A few more notes, apropos of nothing:
- The 2008 Weblog Awards have selected the finalists for this year’s vote. Hot Air has been selected as one of the best overall blogs, and we’re up against some worthy competition. Voting starts on Monday, so you know what to do…
- Jon Swift asked a wide range of bloggers to select their favorite posts of the year. It’s a large and interesting collection; be sure to see what bloggers pick from their own archives to remember for the year.
- Should Dan Froomkin be ashamed? Be sure to read Enlightened Redneck to decide. Danny Glover’s doing a great job there.
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Hmmm, under construction eh??? Putting in a nice fireplace???? Some comfy chairs???
doriangrey on January 3, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Plas-ma! Plas-ma!
Skywise on January 3, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Andi is worthy competition? I rather call Noonan brilliant.
Spirit of 1776 on January 3, 2009 at 11:25 AM
No, he’s a liberal columnist and not a reporter. If he wants to go easier on a Democratic Administration, as he apparently wants to, than a Republican one, he’s under no ethical obligations to do otherwise.
There was some confusion when he first started as to whether he was a White House reporter or a columnist. Once it was made clear that he was the latter and not the former, the requirements of balance and fairness and objectivity (stop laughing out there) didn’t apply to his writings.
He is what he is; a liberal columnist promoting liberal policies.
If he argues otherwise, i.e. that he’s not, then he should be ashamed.
SteveMG on January 3, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I prefer to be gracious when in competition, except when Notre Dame plays USC or the Steelers play the Raiders.
Ed Morrissey on January 3, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Enlighten me.
Valiant on January 3, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Ed, as long as you guys are tearing down walls and adding windows etc. could you also remove that Sean Penn ad on the right sidebar.
I fugured it would be a passing movie ad but now that it has become a fixture I suspect the movie producers are trying to offend your readership.
Thanks in advance!
FireBlogger on January 3, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Hot Air is up for best blog, fine. You got my vote. But I was always under the impression it was pretty conservative around here. No nod for that category? What is HA’s political leaning then?
LastRick on January 3, 2009 at 11:43 AM
We’re all a bunch of liberal progressives. Pay attention!
Seriously, though, the award site says:
So it looks like they try to keep it one category per blog.
amerpundit on January 3, 2009 at 11:47 AM
AP was complaining that the Hot Air bar didn’t have Gordon’s.
MadisonConservative on January 3, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Well a wet bar would be a nice addition… ;)
doriangrey on January 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
How do we know that this message is not from some daily kos hi-jackers?
Johan Klaus on January 3, 2009 at 12:05 PM
That would explain why I was getting these weird error messages this morning.
Congrats on all the nominations Ed and Allah, you guys deserve it.
Lance Murdock on January 3, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Is it possible to make this site better? Tisk. Tisk.
Weight of Glory on January 3, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I thought that too until I saw DailyKos with two nods: best overall and best political. Not to sound bitter, just thought it should be pointed out.
LastRick on January 3, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Is there a 12 Step group for recovering HotAiraholics? I don’t think I can stand even momentary interruption without support!
Dubya Bee on January 3, 2009 at 12:20 PM
LGF is conservative? hahahaha
faraway on January 3, 2009 at 12:21 PM
a) what does LGF have to do with HotAir?
b) Yes LGF is mostly conservative.
doriangrey on January 3, 2009 at 12:28 PM
More cowbell!!!
JetBoy on January 3, 2009 at 12:35 PM
I don’t think Froomkin has anything to be ashamed about. His column is informative and sharp and yes he was openly scathing of the Bush Administration. It always was a column and an opinionated one at that. It never pretended to be anything else and the name change reflected that.
He also puts out the word on other good blogs from both ends of the political spectrum regularly and usually points readers to the ones that he thinks are similarly thoughtful. It was though his referral that I came across Captains Quarters. He is also a nice guy who takes time to correspond with readers and respond to criticism.
Good luck with the awards Ed!
lexhamfox on January 3, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Well, if you say so.
He never responded to any of my brilliant insightful critiques of his work.
As to your other point about his slant: Yes. Initially, there was some confusion as to whether he was a reporter or a commentator. Once that was made clear – he’s the latter – the argument that he needs to go after a Democratic Administration as fiercely as he went after a Republican one could be (mostly) dismissed.
On the other hand, if his argument is – and he’s made this point in his defense – that we must be ever vigilant about what our government is doing – then he should be as vigilant against an ideologically-favorable government as he is against an opposition one. If the danger is abuse of government – by human beings of any political stripe – then we need to watch “friendly” people as well as “unfriendly” ones when they run things.
SteveMG on January 3, 2009 at 12:45 PM
LGF is on the weblog awards list as conservative.
LGF is a 9/11 liberal
faraway on January 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Congrats on nomination for Best Blog
AZfederalist on January 3, 2009 at 12:56 PM
No! Not the comfy chair! Anything but the comfy chair!
Ash on January 3, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Used to like LGF until I apparently said something CJ took exception to and blocked my account. That’s fine, it’s his blog, his rules; what’s not fine is that repeated inquiries regarding just what caused the account to be blocked were left unanswered, as in total silence. That’s not cool. For all I know, it could have been something said in jest and taken wrong. The courtesy of a reply would have at least been appreciated.
LGF is CJ’s sandbox, I get that. He is free to run it as he sees fit. We all played with kids like that when we were growing up. After a while though, we usually found more fun places to go after a few such ultimatums from the sandbox owner.
AZfederalist on January 3, 2009 at 1:04 PM
+infinity!
I would’ve written “except when USC plays anyone, but that might not be gracious…
dish on January 3, 2009 at 1:21 PM
I would’ve written “except when USC plays anyone“, but that might not be gracious…
grrrr
dish on January 3, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Y’know, I should read the links before I post. That’s my resolution for the new year.
Enlightened Redneck was spot on re Froomkin. If, as Froomkin argues (repeatedly), that he had no agenda and has simply been playing the important role of press watchdog over the Bush Administration, then it shouldn’t matter whether that Administration is Democratic or Republican. A watchdog doesn’t ignore one (potential) danger over another.
While Froomkin – as a columnist – doesn’t have to be ashamed ethically, he should be ashamed professionally.
SteveMG on January 3, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Or, imo, the Cowboys…
Ed has a good shot since Kos, Huff, and Andi will split the moonbat vote.
The Dean on January 3, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Ya know what’d be really cool on HotAir, if you could find a conservative woman (perhaps a cute one too, maybe an Asian woman, know anybody like that?) to film editorials discussing the important issues of the day and call it something like, oh I dunno, “Rant” or “Vent” or something like that. And then we could post comments about it!
I know, I know, I’m a genius …
Tony737 on January 3, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Behind the scenes maintenance? So that’s why the photo of Megyn Kelly in a digital camo string bikini keeps popping up on my screen.
Not complaining. Carry on.
whitetop on January 3, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Jack Risko at Dinocrat is the best individual blogger.
Glenn Reynolds is number two.
Best group blog is Maggie’s Farm.
BigD on January 3, 2009 at 2:05 PM
I miss Michelle Malkin’s “Hot Air Vents”. Bring them back!
hadsil on January 3, 2009 at 2:31 PM
I second that motion. I appreciate how busy Michelle must be, but, if she could crank out one Vent per week, I’d love it. That request noted, great job guys, keep it up, and I’m curious to see how you think you can possibly improve the site.
flutejpl on January 3, 2009 at 2:46 PM
THIS
Even a weekly one would be an improvement over nothing.
Benaiah on January 3, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Yup, that would be extremely cool.
doriangrey on January 3, 2009 at 3:25 PM
Not so sharp, huh?
***
You’re like the sappy dork who goes whining to his ex’s friends about their break-up.
You got booted. Now pull up your panties. Get out of the car and go cry to your boyfriend.
The Race Card on January 3, 2009 at 3:44 PM
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!
highhopes on January 3, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Andrew Sullivan is still blogging? Who knew, or cared?
Sparky on January 3, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I see that courtesy is not your forte, either.
OldEnglish on January 3, 2009 at 6:15 PM
OT, Ed, but are you a Grandpa again yet? Or did I miss a posting about it?
Red State State of Mind on January 3, 2009 at 7:12 PM
True, but are you including the all important ‘dead bloggers’ vote? Liberals always seem to carry that vital demographic group.
Red State State of Mind on January 3, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Monica Crowley could easily do “Vent” if MM is too busy.
platypus on January 4, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Congrats! You have my vote!
becki51758 on January 4, 2009 at 7:18 AM
Ads are tailored to individuals. I’ve never seen that ad.
You must have clicked on something in your past visits to HA that linked Sean to you.
jgapinoy on January 4, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Your infantile replies to FireBlogger & AZFederalist (”dum-dum poopoohead” & “nanny-nanny-boo-boo”, respectively) exemplify why several HAers wouldn’t mind seeing you get “booted”.
jgapinoy on January 4, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Well done and deserved. Being selected for consideration is testament of exceptionally hard work, dedication to production of small group of innovators, motivators, who have used technology to bring both sides together to discuss or denounce a wide variety of views is it own reward.
The award is yours to lose and as far as I am concerned, being an avid reader/participant in Hot Air your the winner, hands down.
MSGTAS on January 4, 2009 at 8:36 AM
But, I don’t understand why you used the new symbol for the Democrat party? (the one with the guy shoveling B.S.)
flyoverland on January 4, 2009 at 1:34 PM
A Sam Addams on tap would certainly be nice for the refurbish!
grapeknutz on January 4, 2009 at 3:17 PM
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