At this point it looks like my ability to update Blog P.I. in anything like a consistent manner will be greatly limited until after the conclusion of the presidential election. It was like this last year during the Fred Thompson campaign and, more recently, in the run-up to the party conventions. Then as now, NMS is working closely with C-SPAN, this time on the Debate Hub.
Instead of other posts I may have promised in weeks past, I bring you another video featuring yours truly. In this one, VOA’s Brian Padden profiles myself and Faiz Shakir of Think Progress and the way we see things as political bloggers from opposite sides of the aisle:
Funny that it contrasts my >200 daily views with Think Progress’ <200K views; cut from my interview is the next part where I mention getting 20K views one day the previous week. Although I am not saying Padden should regret choosing me as an interview subject, comparing my when-I-have-time politech blog with the Center for American Progress’ propaganda pipe organ is hardly an even match.
I’d also have to say I’m a little weary of repeating the now well-established line about the left’s advantage online; it’s not that it isn’t still true, but that it isn’t interesting. I’ve used Blog P.I. to follow some of the ways Republicans have closed the gap over the past couple years, and once I have the time to resume blogging in something like a consistent manner, I’ll work harder to make that point more constructively.
The most accurate portion of the segment is the statement that venues of polite discourse are hard to find. No matter your political views, it is easier to learn someone else’s point of view if they aren’t upset.
Blogging can really be an effective venue to voice out your political views. Just be responsible enough.