November 3, 2007

Uh-oh.

I'm in a contest.

UPDATE: I see John Cole has attempted to pick up Kevin Drum's meme, and he begins his list of worst posts ever with:
1.) My first selection is Ann Althouse video wineblogging, but I am not sure whether to put that in my top five best post list due to the sheer joy it brought me, or the worst because of how truly awful it was.
Later he crossed this out and wrote:
Disqualified because it looks like she sobered up and edited out most of the drinking. Damnit.
Uh, John, maybe you sobered up. These videos were never edited after they were posted. I have various vlogs where I hold a glass of wine and take perhaps a sip or two (while talking about something other than wine). But thanks for making your own mental distortions so crushingly clear.

And I hate the spelling "damnit," you damned nit.

UPDATE 2: John Cole writes that he's sorry for writing that my video was edited. Bizarrely, he goes on to grovel in an apology to Juan Cole for something entirely unrelated. He has a 353 word post and exactly 20 words of it are the apology to me, and he only says he's sorry for saying there was editing, not for smearing me with statements about drunkenness. Moreover, he titles this post with my name and uses the word "wineblogging" to further insinuate that I was drunk, which was always a lie.

Writing about his smearing of Juan Cole, John Cole says:
I have no excuse, and the only explanation I can come up with is that I was still completely un-moored regarding my politics at the time... and I lashed out at what I felt was a safe target. It is embarrassing, because I like to think of myself as a good person despite my launching pointed barbs from time to time, but this truly was a shameless and vicious post. That post had the potential to do real damage to someone’s integrity and reputation, it was completely unwarranted and baseless, and I am truly ashamed for writing it.
John Cole is unconcerned with my reputation. For him now, I am a "safe target." Maybe if he switches political sides again, I'll get the abject, groveling apology some day. For now, it's to his political advantage to suck up to Juan Cole, so here he goes. And watch his clueless commenters laud him for his impressive humility. Enjoy thinking of yourself as a "good person." You pathetic hack.

UPDATE 3: In the comments here, Reader Iam writes: " Cole's never gotten over Thanksgiving 2005, and other events November and environs that year (no typos there). That's clear." I'd totally forgotten his role in that little blogstorm, which is explained in this old post of mine. Here's the part about John Cole:
And what about this character, another PJM insider? He writes about my post, saying I'd "lost my mind" and titling the post "Ann Althouse's Integrity"? All for a little old "Yikes"! Oh, I see, he was over here commenting and I deleted his comment. Yeah, because it was too abusive. Now, on his own blog, he's calling me "a liar ... spreading malicious untruths." Where's the lie? He thinks it's a lie to have written about the accident in this post when I wasn't watching the parade on television!

Let the historians of blogging judge who's lost their mind....
Truly pathetic. Nursing his hurt feelings for 2 years. Is that what the good people are doing these days? Loser!

UPDATE 4: To the other loser who posted to note there are edits in the video, I never said the video wasn't edited. It was edited before it was posted and never edited thereafter, contrary to what the pathetic hack John Cole lied.

65 comments:

Ruth Anne Adams said...

And now "Let's Take a Closer Look at those..." has become an Althouse snowclone.

MadisonMan said...

...and how many voters have read and actually understood your post? Blinded by the breasts.

James Salsman said...

Looks like you're coming in 2nd at the moment.

When I read the post in question the first time, I thought it was intended as satire. I still very much wish it was.

Simon said...

Let's (not) take a closer look at those vapid ADS-addled lefty bloggers... It's all just too persistently dull. Whaddyaknow, it turns out that ADS has an anaplastic form too. Dicks.

Revenant said...

This is their quote from Glenn Reynolds:

"Maybe we should rise above the temptation to point out that claims of a 'quagmire' were wrong....Nah."

That's an odd quote to lap a "wingnut" label on when the consensus is that things are improving in Iraq.

ron st.amant said...

Oh plaheeeese....with Malkin, Derbyshire and Hewitt on the list...Ann those are professional wingnuts...you need to really dig down deep if you want to reach THAT level of winguttery.

Ron said...

In the immortal words of Groucho Marx; to be insulted by some people is no insult.

Simon said...

Ron -- Exxxxxactly.

jane said...

Exxxxactly, simon.

Queens who won't have their beer insulted.

jeff said...

"And thanks to help from my commenters, plus commenters over at FDL and John Cole's place, we now have an official list of nominees."

Oh, that's funny. The insane nominating the wingnuts. Talk about satire.

Eli Blake said...

At least they didn't nominate your post where we had the debate about whether Padilla might try blinking his eyes at the video camera during a secret trip to the dentist. Actually maybe that one might make a nomination for 'worst discussion thread.'

Look at it this way, Ann:

You are up against Glenn Reynolds and Jonah Goldberg, two of your favorite bloggers (not.)

TitusUK said...

There is no contest. Assrocket talking about Bush's brillance is super special. In a class all to itself.

TitusUK said...

I tricked tonight and I can still smell the sex on my hands and I showered.

TitusUK said...

Polyester's on IFC and Divine is maturbating right now...I miss Divine.

Randy said...

You might want to consider campaigning for the honor.

"It's publicity. Free publicity. And the take is vast"
-Phantom of the Opera

TitusUK said...

By the way Maureen's editorial is absolutely perfect this week and I am sure will pull on the heart strings of Althouse-guaranteed.

Gray said...

Congratulations, Althouse, you're on position three now. Of course, I voted for you, you conservative diva, you! :D
However, it will be extremely hard to beat hindrocket with his praise of Bush as a "A man of extraordinary vision and brilliance approaching to genius"...
Bwuahahahaha!

rhhardin said...

The photo is in the children's math primer for two, in cultures that count only one, two and many.

JackDRipper said...

I voted Althouse for the win!

But Kim du Toit: "The Pussification of the Western Male" included this line of simplicity and genius:

I want our literature to become more male, less female. Men shouldn’t buy “self-help” books unless the subject matter is car maintenance, golf swing improvement or how to disassemble a fucking Browning BAR. We don’t improve ourselves, we improve our stuff.

Ann Althouse said...

Eli, you're distorting. Someone said something was utterly impossible, so it was refuted by identifying one possibility, however unlikely. If you say that's stupid, then you are confessing to the stupidity of not understanding logic.

James: "When I read the post in question the first time, I thought it was intended as satire."

It had humor but also a sharp edge. Some people just flip out and see what they want to see. They don't have the composure to read and absorb something before forming an opinion. I was serious, however, in criticizing the breast imagery in the logo and elsewhere on a supposedly feminist blog, and I was serious in criticizing the way feminists gave Bill Clinton a pass and sold out feminism. I also mean to mock bloggers who gush over a politician when they get to meet him. I think these sharp edges hurt and they were meant to hurt. The fighting back — which of course I provoke — is almost entirely in the form of saying I'm "stupid." In other words, they can't engage with the substance.

gkenny said...

"I think these sharp edges hurt and they were meant to hurt."
Yes, do go on thinking that. Because clearly, that's where Kevin Drum is coming from—a place of deep, deep hurt.

Bissage said...

(1) Mary, welcome back to the vortex.

(2) “The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.”
-- Francis Bacon

(3) “Mmmm . . . bacon.”
-- Homer Simpson

Unknown said...

Ann, darling -- you still don't get it.

There's a reason people call you the Miss Havisham of Wingnuttia.

But they're being kind. You're actually a lot closer to Blanche DuBois....

Ann Althouse said...

"Because clearly, that's where Kevin Drum is coming from—a place of deep, deep hurt."

The "hurt" in question is damage to the Clintons and I think Drum and a lot of other people are vigilant about that.

Ann Althouse said...

Christopher: You are a sexist and an ageist and a marriageist. Some liberal.

Unknown said...

Ann Althouse said...
Christopher: You are a sexist and an ageist and a marriageist. Some liberal.


See, that's why we love you Ann.

Your total lack of self-awareness.
You have no idea that you're a figure of fun....

It's charming in its insanity....

Palladian said...

It's funny to think of these "liberals" sitting up a 3 AM reorganizing their many, many lists of "wingnut" blog posts, searching and searching for just the right one. Night after night.

Get a fucking life. Beyond the horizon-blocking towers of Babel that you call Kos or Kevin Drum or Huffington Post, there is a land stretching out into the invisible distance where most people never heard of you, never heard of Glenn Reynolds or Duncan Black, who don't remember something Kim Du Toit wrote on his blog in 2003 and who would be a little mystified why you spend so much time thinking about it.

And chrissy, honey... don't refer to yourself in the third person plural. It's creepy.

Unknown said...

And chrissy, honey... don't refer to yourself in the third person plural. It's creepy.

9:41 AM


You know what's really creepy?

A gay guy who who doesn't realize that the Republican Party hates his fucking guts.

Unknown said...

Annie sez:

I was serious in criticizing the way feminists gave Bill Clinton a pass and sold out feminism

Wow, that's so true. Actually, what Hillary should have done is gotten divorced and remarried multiple times like Rudy.

Paco Wové said...

"...don't refer to yourself in the third person plural. It's creepy."

Not as creepy as the royal "we" stuff.

Ralph L said...

I was your 666th vote. Looks like you'll have to settle for second place, since you can't compete against BDS with feminism, Clinton, or breasts.

The Pussification essay was funny. I thought "Kim du Toit" was his (ironic) real name, until I realized how it could be mispronounced "twat."

john said...

Christopher/(Lucky):

"You know what's really creepy?"

Well, I am and I don't.

Palladian said...

"Speaking of, shouldn't you be busy making some little queen dolls? Lol."

Beats constantly stalking one's former law professor, doesn't it?

Simon said...

Eli, your original assertion was that "[t]here [wa]s no reason at all to make the accused wear a blindfold on the way to the dentist." That statement is plainly indefensible, and is falsified by offering any reason for it that could rationally be held by Padilla's custodians; what you meant was that there was no reason for making Padilla wear a blindfold that you would accept as valid, which is an entirely different proposition.

Paco Wové said...

"...clicking from home..."

and clicking...

and clicking...

and clicking...

nope, no obsession there...

Randy said...

I'm still tempted by the thought of Ann actively campaigning for the honor and then highlighting the award on her sidebar.

Unknown said...

john said...

Christopher/(Lucky):

"You know what's really creepy?"

Well, I am and I don't.


You're gay and you DON'T think the Republican Party hates your guts?

Get a clue, pal.

john said...

Chris,
No you dummy, you read it wrong. And what's with the swearing, and the put downs? Is Palladian such a threat to you? You shouldnt have to feel so insecure, you know.

Bye for now, I need to take that Sunday drive, and so should you.

Regards,

I'm Full of Soup said...

Palladian said "few know who many of these people are"..

Very true. I have heard of Drum and Cole but never found them of interest so don't really know who they are until I read this post.

Ann- what the heck is Balloon Juice anyway? And why doesn't your blog have a catchy name? Like "Must Protect The House!" or "Liberals Must Wipe Their Drool Before Entering".

Randy said...

On second thought, it just isn't worth campaigning for, honor or not. Rather juvenile and not something I expected to see from Kevin Drum, whom I enjoy reading. IIRC, Ann had some type of run-in with Drum many years ago. I guess he never forgot it.

John Stodder said...

Cole is a complete yahoo. What's the correct term for a left-wing redneck? That's Balloon Juice. The name of his blog is nauseating. I gather some of the new and really dumb commenters on this thread clicked over from there. Yeesh.

Trooper York said...

Cosmo Kramer: I know. Let’s have a contest. Let’s see who can have the most self congratulatory masturbation fest online in our own little website. We can have voting and everything. We can see who is the most wing nutty of them all.
Jerry Seinfeld: That’s a horrible idea. People are different on different issues. No one is all of a piece. Why should you categorize someone, it’s so limiting.
George Costanza: I know the feeling. I can’t decide who I am. One episode I’m Jewish and the next I’m Italian. There’s just no telling how the writing will come out.
Jerry Seinfeld: Besides I know I am the most conservative of us all. I’m very rich, dress neatly and don’t have to work. I stole my wife from another rich guy and now spend my time checking my investments and counting my interest payments.
Elaine Benes: That’s not fair. I am the most conservative. I am one of those conservative women writers who lecture everyone. And I am the only one with a true vortex here. And it’s shaved.
Cosmo Kramer: Nigger, Nigger, NIGGER!
Jerry Seinfeld: George Costanza: Elaine Benes: You win.
(Seinfeld, The Contest 2007)

TitusUK said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Palladian said...

You're a tiresome clown, Titsuker. I asked you to ignore me, but of course you can't do that.

Given your painfully boring, strictly-by-the-Style-supplement aesthetics, I relish your aesthetic reprobation. The rejection of my work by such august art critics as you, a fake urban homosexual gadfly, and mary, the creepy stalker woman failing at a law career in Left Testicle, Wisconsin, can only mean that I've entirely succeeded in the aims of my project.

I know that, of course, the height of your aesthetic expectations is a pretty doll but I'm afraid that my sculpture is neither of those things. I am sure, if you require a pretty Elizabeth Tudor doll, there are a surfeit of them available online. And although the aged Elizabeth the first wasn't pretty at all, I understand given your stunted emotional development and general tendency towards fabrication why you would expect a
doll of her to be pretty. There's actually quite a lot of similarity between you and the aging Tudor, besides you both being hereditary queens. Something about the childless, loveless unmarried spinster, distributing misleadingly youthful portraits of herself to her subjects while back at Whitehall she grew ever more sunken, wrinkled and toothless. The difference between you and her, however, is that 400 years after her death people still remember her.

So keep talking about your "rare" shit-eating dogs and your pathetic, repetitive sexual encounters. For some reason, you seem to amuse Althouse. Most everyone else around here doesn't even notice when you're gone.

As for your other allegations about me, I have nothing to say. I don't generally choose to bandy my life around in the comments section of weblogs. If you feel the need to impose a narrative onto me, I can't really stop you. I can understand why you do it; when you make up so much boring crap about your own life, it must be tempting to do the same about the lives of others. I just wish you were a more fabulous fabulist. Your range is really tiresomely limited.

Chip Ahoy said...

Ann, I thoroughly enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing the pics of your trips. It's made me start appreciating my own camera more. Sometimes this comment section, however, gets taken over by the dullest sorts, but that's meant to impune everybody.

Titusdj said...

Palladian, contrary to the myth of those that are coupled I don't see myself as a depressed single spinster.

I enjoy being single and am surrounded by love from friends and family. I happen to like my life. I don't care whether you believe my sexual experiences-they are true. I also don't care if "most" don't like me here. "Most do like you here because you are the perfect republican homosexual-quiet, complicit and supportive of the republican party-nothing wrong with that.

If it wasn't for some of those evil liberals gays in most states would be discriminated in housing and employment.

Unknown said...

Maybe if he switches political sides again, I'll get the abject, groveling apology some day.

So you're finally admitting you're a right-winger.

Unknown said...

I think Balloon Juice is one of the best blogs out there, right up there with Sadly No!

reader_iam said...

Huh. Cole's never gotten over Thanksgiving 2005, and other events November and environs that year (no typos there). That's clear.

(Editor's note: Reader_iam is not reflexively anti-Balloon Juice, despite the circumstance(s) under which she came to read that blog. She continued to read him thereafter, in ebbs and flows, truthfully having mostly to do with her circumstances, not his. And she's been know to mix with people who admire him. And to have found him wickedly funny, more than occasionally.

Still.

She stands by what she just wrote.)

reader_iam said...

Also, now that I think about it, I linked his blog on my old slumbering blog almost from the beginning.

Still.

reader_iam said...

(Probably shouldn't bother, either, to say that the "closer look" post wasn't one of my personal favorites here. Pretty sure that this comment, along with the others just previous, is just so much flotsam and jetsam.

You know, sorta like "wingnuttiest blogpost" contests, which, in context of our times, focus on blogosphereteapottempests, of all damn things.

Oh. For the record. I'd have the same reaction to a "moonbatbloodsucking blogpost contest" that focused in like-minded fashion on corresponding blogosphereteapottempests, of all damn things.

zuzu said...

Honey, drunk vlogging is your best defense. I suggest you run with it. The only alternative is that when sober, you are one supercilious twit.

zuzu said...

Honey, being drunk in that vlog would be your best defense. I suggest you go with it, 'cause the alternative is that when sober you are one supercilious twit.

reader_iam said...

Am I the only one who, almost reflexively, hates comments in this sort of context that start with "honey, ..."? Talk about scratching wet glass.

Zuzu--honey--your spectrum of the possible is severely truncated.

(I do this knowing that "Z" won't know, or bother to discover, RIA's own context--but, so be it. Honey, that's how it goes!)

Randy said...

No, you aren't the only one who finds it objectionable. It is an obvious attempt to make the addressee feel small and vulnerable. Doesn't usually work, though, so it is surprising how many times people try using it. Zuzu doesn't care though, because zuzu's insult made zuzu feel self-important and that is all that matters to zuzu.

zuzu said...

Right, because her vblog was so full of self-aware witticisms.

But very well.

Ann, you pathetic hack ...

reader_iam said...

Petals and wings, and bell's a-ringin'

That's why little hack-callers are are all a-singin'

Unknown said...

ann, the reason cole spent so many words on apologizing to the other cole was that his accusation towards him was far more of a smear.

i can't imagine why you'd expect anywhere near as much an apology over an accusation of editing a video vs being accused of rank anti-semitism. the latter requires quite a bit more groveling than the former.

Ann Althouse said...

Charles, that doesn't add up. He needed to apologize to me in response to my post alerting him to the fact that he was wrong about a factual assertion about me. He was actually probably afraid of me at that point. He chose to do the least he could get away with, then made a show of apologizing to someone else for something that had happened long ago. There was nothing happening now related to that, even if it was a worse smear.

Actually, in legal terms, it's not a worse smear, however. Saying he saw me drunk in videos was a lie. What he said about Juan Cole was just political opinion.

Unknown said...

I don't get it.

You looked insane on the vlog, so Cole (giving you the benefit of the doubt) thought you were drunk.

You should be happy he said you were just drunk.

Randy said...

Petals and wings, and bell's a-ringin'

That's why little hack-callers are are all a-singin'


Ooh! I like that! I'll have to remember it for future use (with attribution of course ;-)

El Presidente said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
El Presidente said...

Eli,

Sorry for the delay but I spend the weekend at my dacha drinking Cuba-Libre's with Desi Arnez.

I'm the one who brought up the blink code to rebut you. You ignored the second part of my post:

"A better guess is that it is harder to assault the guards when you can't see or hear them."

I see that you aspire to be as accurate as Cole and Drum.

Unknown said...

Charles, that doesn't add up. He needed to apologize to me in response to my post alerting him to the fact that he was wrong about a factual assertion about me.

i didn't know there was a blogosphere rule on exactly when you apologize for something.

He chose to do the least he could get away with, then made a show of apologizing to someone else for something that had happened long ago. There was nothing happening now related to that, even if it was a worse smear.

actually, cole brought up his smear of juan cole several times, all with regards to the current 'best/worst of the blogworld' thingy that many of his recent posts have been on. in fact, many of his commenters have taken him to task over the comment to juan cole precisely because it was such a nasty smear. obviously, it deserves a bit more penance than what he said about you.

Actually, in legal terms, it's not a worse smear, however.

"legal terms"? it's a blog post FFS.

i know i'd rather be accused of being drunk than being an anti-semite any day.

seriously, this whole discussion is idiotic. boo hoo, some blogger didn't apologize hard enough. big deal.

zuzu said...

Dear Ann the Inane:

Saying he saw me drunk in videos was a lie.

I look forward to the day you introduce those into evidence.

Res ipsa, hon. Res ipsa.