Just a quick note to say hey and thank you for your generous welcome, everyone! I’ve been a fan of HotAir since its launch, and a fan of Ed’s and AP’s since almost the beginning of their blogging careers. It’s truly a privilege to work with them and the rest of the crew here.

As Allah noted, I’ve worked for a few conservative organizations during my career— The Heritage Foundation, Townhall, the Weekly Standard, the Daily Caller, and a morning radio show on Washington’s conservative talk station. It was near the beginning of that career that Michelle Malkin, the Boss Emeritus as she’s known around here, was kind enough to let me fill in for her in the early days of HotAir, recording a couple episodes of her daily video blog, Vent. It was my first attempt at online video, and I’m sure it was pretty goofy, and not entirely intentionally. You HotAir veterans know what I’m talkin’ about.

Ever since then, HotAir’s always made me feel like an honorary part of the team, and many in the HotAir audience apparently agreed. For years, I’ve been running into people who assume I work for HotAir, so I’m glad we could make it official.

Around here, I’m just hoping to add to the talent on hand and keep y’all entertained. I’ll be blogging, appearing on The Ed Morrissey Show, doing some video, and possibly a little podcasting.

Thanks to the team here for being so inviting and to the team that got me here for being so good to me. Without Michelle and my other bosses (Jon Garthwaite, Hugh, Tucker and Bill Kristol, lookin’ at you!)— most of whom I’m lucky to still work with— taking a chance on me and my occasionally Peep-themed work, I wouldn’t get to have so much fun doing what I love for you guys.

As for what I’ll be able to accomplish here, I think we can safely say that we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the time – when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.

I just ask that you never hold me accountable for any of that. Cool? Cool.

Follow me on Twitter @mkhammer!