Let’s don’t say goodbye. I hate the way it sounds
posted at 7:21 pm on May 15, 2015 by Noah Rothman
It was just under a year ago that I had the great fortune of being asked to take over for the capable and talented Erika Johnsen when she moved on from the site to pursue a law degree. Though my time with the site has been lamentably short, today will be my last day blogging full-time for HotAir.
Working with and learning from the best at HotAir has been a career highlight. I will always treasure the time I spent honing the craft of political analysis on such an important and visible platform. Working alongside such well-known talents as Ed Morrissey, Allahpundit, Jazz Shaw, and Mary Katharine Ham has been a dream.
I owe a special debt of gratitude to all of them, as well as Townhall’s Guy Benson, for having faith in my work. Being able to call myself a member of a team that includes such Townhall greats as Katie Pavlich, Matt Vespa, Christine Rousselle, and others was an honor and a privilege.
The team at Salem, including Jonathan Garthwaite, Amanda Munoz, and Chelsea Courson also deserve a special thank you for taking me on, making me feel welcome, and helping me to navigate the company.
But I owe the greatest debt to HotAir’s readers and commentators. Your support, engagement, and criticism have made me a better writer and a more cautious thinker. I regret that this is a debt I will never be able to repay, but I hope that you will be able to see the mark you have made on my work moving forward.
And speaking of moving forward, I won’t be gone from the blogging universe long. Beginning on Monday, I will be joining the incredibly talented team at Commentary Magazine as the publication’s new assistant online editor. There, I hope to modestly fill some of the void left by Seth Mandel who recently joined The New York Post as its opinion page editor. I hope you will continue to follow my writing there and on my Twitter account.
Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all my colleagues and my readers. I will miss you all, but the business of political blogging is a small world. We will see each other again soon.
Blowback
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Does the photo mean you will now turn into a conservative Incredible Hulk in your next gig?
Here’s hopin’.
profitsbeard on May 16, 2015 at 3:01 PM
Hey HA, bring back Robert Spencer, or get Pam Geller.
Either would be awesome.
Rebar on May 16, 2015 at 3:08 PM
An extremely gracious way to say
good-byesee ya later.I wish you well, Noah.
itsnotaboutme on May 16, 2015 at 3:13 PM
HotAir, since a large part of your audience (not to mention your comment posters) are evangelical Christ-followers, please consider adding one of us to the HA team. :)
itsnotaboutme on May 16, 2015 at 3:15 PM
I nominate Schadenfreude and Constantine to take over for Noah.
Just sayin…
FNH57 on May 16, 2015 at 3:24 PM
Please don’t.
DarkCurrent on May 16, 2015 at 3:33 PM
Those cheery two… mass suicide might follow
DarkCurrent on May 16, 2015 at 3:36 PM
Those cheery two… mass suicide might follow
(I like Schad, but he can be kind of a downer sometimes. Constantine brings no value at all.)
DarkCurrent on May 16, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Looks like about 3/4 Bill Bixby and 1/4 Clint Eastwood.
VorDaj on May 16, 2015 at 3:50 PM
I know speaking truth to Islam can be dicey, but I never understood why they tossed Robert Spencer. He certainly does own a one-trick pony, but I thought it was an important one. Quite a worthwhile pony there. It’s a big decision, and colors the whole site. So, think about it. He’s hasn’t even posted here since the late 2000s. At least give me some occasional blog privileges.
LashRambo on May 16, 2015 at 3:55 PM
Good luck to you!
gophergirl on May 16, 2015 at 3:56 PM
“It’s a hell of a thing, canning a blogger. You take away everything he’s got, and everything he’s gonna have.”
or
“A man’s got to know his limitations”
LashRambo on May 16, 2015 at 3:58 PM
“Well I guess he had it comin'”
“We all have it comin’, kid”
LashRambo on May 16, 2015 at 4:03 PM
First scan, I read that as caning. Wishful thinkin’, I guess.
ElectricPhase on May 16, 2015 at 4:04 PM
Schadenfreude on May 16, 2015 at 4:22 PM
All you cheerleaders, it’ll never happen, aside from no interest. They’ll never hire a true liberal, in the old sense, ever again.
It’ll be Guy Benson (it’s the era) or Matt Vespa.
Schadenfreude on May 16, 2015 at 4:26 PM
… At the risk of getting banned… knowing this place…
GOOD RIDDANCE!
IMO you brought little to nothing to this blog, and I came to the conclusion early on that reading your posts was a waste of time.
I’m glad you’re going away and I won’t miss you at all.
Wing Chun Man on May 16, 2015 at 4:30 PM
I nominate Eon. A cogent, erudite, and concise writer and thinker.
Gebirgsjager on May 16, 2015 at 4:32 PM
My mom said to always be nice and if I don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.
So “Good luck Noah!”
Here’s what I didn’t say:
I’m late to this party. But I won’t be as nice as some….Noah was an embarrassment to this site and to Conservatism in general. He is everything that is wrong with the youth of today. Poor grammar, atrocious analysis, never an apology or attempt at excellence. And he’s being kicked up to an editing position? What a joke.
Flame me if you want; I speak the truth. Sometimes it needs to be said.
BierManVA on May 16, 2015 at 4:34 PM
I nominate ajacksonian.
Schadenfreude on May 16, 2015 at 4:36 PM
I do enjoy his posts.
Noah, if you ain’t in over your head…you ain’t learning how to swim. Enjoy the leap. You will be better for it.
HonestLib on May 16, 2015 at 4:44 PM
Off topic: just installed Ad Block for Chrome and in the first 5 seconds I got these reported over here on good old Hot Gas:
..believe in capitalism as much as the next guy, but this is a little over the top.
The War Planner on May 16, 2015 at 4:56 PM
I do all of my commenting and reading this site in “desktop view” using an iOS mobile device, and I don’t get any of the annoying ads. The other day, for the first time in a very long time, I tried viewing the site using a web browser on a PC, and I was shocked at how aggravating the experience was. Now I know what everyone is complaining about.
bluegill on May 16, 2015 at 5:00 PM
I’m not too familiar with Matt Vespa, but pro-amnesty Guy Benson would be an absolute slap in the face to the conservative readers here, especially after Noah. (By the way, best wishes to Noah in his new endeavors.) And I’m not talking about Benson’s gayness. For a long time I have posted about Guy Benson’s shameful support for illegal alien amnesty and his tendency to always side against conservatives and in favor of the RINO establishment.
Guy Benson is Noah Rothman without the typos and with better grammar.
Why would they want to hire yet another anti-conservative RINO who would just be like a mini Ed? Have they not learned their lesson? Why not hire a conservative for the main blog who would actually differ from mushy Ed Morrissey and be willing to stand up for conservative principles?
bluegill on May 16, 2015 at 5:10 PM
I gotta say this, for good or ill. Noah may have been persona non grata for some, but his leaving sure did create a spate of comments. Maybe that was the point?
vnvet on May 16, 2015 at 5:24 PM
Wait, you’re going to be an editor?! Lol. Stop playing.
Politricks on May 16, 2015 at 5:36 PM
I’m pretty sure that if you know how to read your site stats, you’re aware that nobody had read your posts, just as nobody reads Jazzie’s.
AP is the only traffic magnet this site has. All others bring neither analysis nor scoops – just boring OP-eds by unimaginative kids Salem finds somewhere in the blog trashbin and recycles here.
Masih ad-Dajjal on May 16, 2015 at 5:47 PM
Allahpundit’s cat as Noah’s replacement.
Aizen on May 16, 2015 at 5:56 PM
Doubtful.
I am not familiar with any cat bloggers, all of the bloggers that I have ever seen are human.
That would be a big risk IMO, to hire a cat for this role.
Redstone on May 16, 2015 at 6:37 PM
All the best Noah…
… Now, I hear Brian Williams has some time on his hands.
Seven Percent Solution on May 16, 2015 at 7:37 PM
Resist We Much!
Jeff Weimer on May 16, 2015 at 7:54 PM
Yeah, but on the internet, nobody knows you’re a cat. No, wait–
de rigueur on May 16, 2015 at 8:08 PM
For the same reason Roger Ailes re-hired Shep Smith (knowing FNC viewers can’t stand Shep) about two years ago: because they can and to stick a finger in conservatives’ eyes.
bw222 on May 16, 2015 at 8:22 PM
Salem probably couldn’t afford him and Hotair may not be his kind of venue,but Mark Steyn would bring in the traffic and he loves the give and take with commenters.It’s just a thought, maybe not a very good one, but I’m on my seventh beer.
celtic warrior on May 16, 2015 at 8:35 PM
Mark Steyn would be great…
pc253 on May 16, 2015 at 8:53 PM
Schadenfreude would be gr8. We wouldn’t need trolls any more. He could just repost all their crap as headlines instead of comments. Joy! No, seriously, he’s prolific, but a detriment to the site.
Constantine, on the other hand, would be an excellent choice.
Arnold Yabenson on May 16, 2015 at 8:58 PM
Let’s face it: Blogging at Hot Air is an arduous, thankless job.
What aspiring writer or reporter would want to write 6 blog posts a day, 5 days a week, and in “real time?” That’s 30 deadlines a week, plus prepping Lord knows how many Hedalines thread teasers.
Very few would want that, and they will all be very young. And they will be millenials who just ain’t that Conservative.
The fact that Erika Johnson gave up this job eventually to go to law school is instructive.
Emperor Norton on May 16, 2015 at 9:32 PM
Not if I can help it.
The Peter Principle strikes again – first at Hot Air, then at Commentary.
bgoldman on May 16, 2015 at 10:03 PM
And Axe.
Best wishes M. Rothman, and thanks for mentioning the exemplary Ms. Johnsen.
Also, INC.
wolfsDad on May 16, 2015 at 10:21 PM
The only thing that comes to mind that he’s written is when he (foolishly) trashed the convention of the states process for amending the constitution. I was not a fan.
That said, he seems like a class act. Even if you disagree with someone you don’t have to trash the guy in the comments on his farewell post.
Noah, good luck to you sir.
(And read Levin’s Liberty Amendments)
MikeRuss on May 16, 2015 at 11:04 PM
Good luck, Noah! I liked your writing; you were a good addition to the staff here!
LancerDL on May 16, 2015 at 11:23 PM
Au revoir, Jacques Brel.
FrankT on May 17, 2015 at 2:48 AM
You have not spent much time on a farm, have you Bluegill? The feed is given to the cows. The crap from the cows are given to the pigs to eat.
This is not unlike politics. The congressmen get pennies for the dollar in kickback from special interests, to help maintain their incumbancy. In turn, “conservative bloggers” get a small fraction of these pennies for “access” to the GOP. That may sound bad, that they are eating crap, but let’s flip this around. Isn’t what measly dollars the “conservative bloggers” get for access more than what they get from us? We are a cheap date in comparison. GOP’ers can’t eat on “principles.” They will settle for eating crap.
FrankT on May 17, 2015 at 2:59 AM
I think that’s true.
Redstone on May 17, 2015 at 2:59 AM
And I hate the illiterate sound of “let’s don’t”!
Al in St. Lou on May 17, 2015 at 7:33 AM
Noah who?
Galtian on May 17, 2015 at 8:01 AM
Blessed Sabbath, y’all!
If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under. – Ronald Reagan
My take: http://wp.me/pSio7-3oc The War Against Christianity: Will Christians Face Prison For Being “Intolerant”?
kingsjester on May 17, 2015 at 8:34 AM
“‘Deserve’s’ got nothin’ to do with it…”
Akzed on May 17, 2015 at 9:23 AM
LOL! After reading the headline, I started wondering about NR´s next destination within the insular conservative information bubble. Would it be NRO, TWS, the DC Examiner, or perhaps the Free Beacon. So it´s Commentaru magazine whereas the risible Seth Mandel is joing J-Pod & co. at the NY Post.
mlindroo on May 17, 2015 at 9:24 AM
Least subtle paralipsis evah.
Akzed on May 17, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Let’s don’t say goodbye
I hate the way it sounds
So if you don’t mind
Let’s just say, ‘for now’ -Jason Aldean, See You When I See You
Akzed on May 17, 2015 at 9:29 AM
The Peter Principle only applies within a single organization, as I recall.
Akzed on May 17, 2015 at 9:32 AM
While technically correct, the concept is still there. His new employer would have definitely read Noah’s work (and comments here) before hiring him. That they could see such sloppiness and still make him an editor speaks volumes. I have never been to their site and now with this, I know there is no reason to.
BierManVA on May 17, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Failing upwards.
lowandslow on May 17, 2015 at 10:19 AM
You are great, Noah.
MayBee on May 17, 2015 at 10:24 AM
Good Luck Noah..I enjoyed your blog posts..:)
Dire Straits on May 17, 2015 at 10:34 AM
In the words of an old Martin Mull tune;
♫ It’s too soon to say ‘Au Revoir’,♫
♫ So let’s just say ‘Hors D’oeuvres’♫
thelastminstrel on May 17, 2015 at 11:15 AM
Be nice.
Good luck, Noah!
Timin203 on May 17, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Around the time that Noah started:
rogerb on May 17, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Luck is all he has, he has little talent.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no personal animosity towards Noah. I know there is a place for him somewhere. Probably at HuffPo or something.
I have fired many incompetent people in my life and built organizations of good, solid professionals along the way. It’s never personal. As I have done so, I have seen peers of mine in other organizations paralyzed with fear and unable to get rid of under-achievers.
It takes skill and competency to hire good people (and to fire them). It’s more than looking at a resume and seeing schooling and assignments, etc. Sadly, most people do not have that skill. Case in point: his new employer. For there is no way they could read his analysis, atrocious grammar, etc and hire him for his body of work. They hired him because his resume said “HotAir”.
BierManVA on May 17, 2015 at 12:27 PM
I second this.
Plus a Roving Reporter of Boobies would be good.
After all, MyPetJawa has the Ministry of Boobies.
Perhaps Howie can work two gigs . . .
Bubba Redneck on May 17, 2015 at 1:06 PM
So did Noah
Not to Noah (though he needs to look up a dictionary occasionally), but to you tyrannical azzhats from the so-called right…
dicktionary, look it up, for you don’t know the meaning of some words.
Schadenfreude on May 17, 2015 at 1:45 PM
Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!
Just kidding. But really. Good luck, Noah!
Kenosha Kid on May 17, 2015 at 1:45 PM
Better late than never, been on the road for a few days and thought I’d chime in.
Noah is very much a millennial, he was and is very good on social media (his twitter feed is actually quite funny and almost, gasp…conservative). I’m no expert but just some guy in the ethers who happens to read conservative blogs and my opinion on Noah is that he was over his head on HA. Wish him no ill will and hope he grows conservatively.
D-fusit on May 17, 2015 at 4:09 PM
Hater.
And for the record, my spelling, grammar and syntax are much better than those of that Millenial troll who bids us adeiu?
nonpartisans tabbycat on May 17, 2015 at 4:27 PM
Except, sometimes, my left claw does hit the question mark instead of the period when I’m using the IPhone.
And at least I recognize it when I make a mistake.
nonpartisans tabbycat on May 17, 2015 at 4:29 PM
:)
Schadenfreude on May 17, 2015 at 11:14 PM
Good bye, Noah. Good luck.
dogsoldier on May 18, 2015 at 7:40 AM
Farewell Noah and best of luck. We’ll all fondly remember the “Eerie Canal”.
MajorKong on May 18, 2015 at 9:18 AM
Best of luck, Noah.
verbaluce on May 18, 2015 at 9:25 AM
It’s French. It’s barely even a real language!
nonpartisans tabbycat on May 18, 2015 at 9:36 AM
Though I was one of your persistent critics, I wish you well in your new endeavors Noah.
Immolate on May 18, 2015 at 10:05 AM
That was a classy and professional “goodbye” post.
Best of luck in your new role/job, Noah!
Thanks for your contributions to Hotair while you were here.
Nineball on May 18, 2015 at 10:08 AM
That aside, cat, you mis-spelled it. I guess that does qualify you to take over Noah’s job :)
Schadenfreude on May 18, 2015 at 11:26 AM
The antecedent of “it” is “goodbye.”
Al in St. Lou on May 18, 2015 at 2:11 PM
That’s hard to believe considering the truly pitiful abilities of the anonymous raghead dipshit and morrissey.
Good luck Noah, and here’s some advice – forget anything you think you may have learned from morrissey. They guy is a moron, and he sure as hell can’t write.
earlgrey on May 18, 2015 at 2:21 PM
Al in St. Lou, this part was not for you :)
Schadenfreude on May 18, 2015 at 3:04 PM
Best of luck, Noah. I got busy over the weekend, and didn’t even see this post until Sunday, and only now am catching up.
I’ve been critical on occasion, and for reason, but I do wish you well.
Since you say you’ve gained from the comments — and criticism — of readers, I’ll throw in my two cents as well.
I think your strength is in media analysis and criticism. At least, those are the best posts I’ve read from you. I think your weakness, ironically, is in absorbing the same attitude of some of the media. I think that tendency actually detracts sometimes from your media analysis, because you tend to assume that their viewpoint is largely correct, and that they’re perhaps just a little too extreme sometimes.
Granted, I generally start from the perspective that the media is probably getting it wrong, which may be too critical, but events bear out my suspicions far too often.
At any rate, my impression is that you tend to assume that this is the way the “smart” people think, which leads you to assume that some conservatives are just stuck in the past. But as I said, that’s my impression. It may be off a little, or a lot.
But I do want to point out that, as Hot Air has drifted further leftward, it has lost some of its steam. And regardless of your own opinion of the comments, good or bad, it’s the comments that keep me personally coming back.
So, as always, take the criticism that’s good, spit out the part that’s bad, and best wishes on your new job.
There Goes the Neighborhood on May 18, 2015 at 4:44 PM
As do most of us, I think. Don’t worry about paying back, things like this aren’t supposed to be paid back, they’re supposed to be paid forward.
No to put too fine a point on it, that’s an ambitious burden to take on considering how many times commenters have griped about you needing a proofreader.
Please understand that this is not meant to belittle your ambition nor your ability. See above, about paying it forward. I’m sure there is a mighty host of people who think you bit off more than you can chew in accepting that position. I look forward to how you deal with the challenge of proving them wrong.
GrumpyOldFart on May 18, 2015 at 9:09 PM
A last bit of advice: Stay caught up on your Shakespeare.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
GrumpyOldFart on May 18, 2015 at 9:13 PM
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