Tonight, I was prepared to, at best, declare that coverage of the right wing local blog,Delaware Politics, would no longer be a part of Around the Horn, or at worst, end this column, which provides coverage of the Delaware blogosphere. Why? Because of the attempted outting of Kavips by Dave Burris at Delaware Politics, and the ironic subsequent outtings of MJ, El Som, and Donviti in that thread at Delaware Politics by an ANONYMOUS commenter. As of this writing, that post by Burris has been removed, along with the offending comments and David Anderson has told his commenters to calm down. In the end, David Anderson did the right thing. Hence, I, and Delaware Liberal, are stepping back from the brink as well.
Look, I consider David Anderson, despite our strong, vehement and mutual political disagreements, to be a good person. I say that despite saying explicitly that I think his political opinions are delusional and idiotic. Actually, no, to be honest, I do call HIM an idiot and delusional whackjob. Is that a personal attack, to call the person whose political positions you consider idiotic and delusional an idiot and delusional? I ask that because that seems to be the justification for outting or for accepting outting as, as one commenter said this week, the normal evolution of the Delaware blogosphere? The rationale is that if I cannot control my hyperbole, than I should not be able to control my identity.
It is an assine justification, and I will tell you why: because all you have to do in response to an insult is to insult me right back. And you right wingers do that all the time. We here at Delaware Liberal are called loons, fascists, Nazis, idiots, baby killers, etc. We are not going to complain about the names you call us, so long as those names are not racist or sexist.
And what to we do in response to those insults? Have I ever tried to out Hube whenever he insults me? No. And I don’t even know if Hube’s identity is known, because I have never cared to find out. Why? Because when he insults me, I just insult him right back. Done and done. Yes, it is not ideal. We shouldn’t be calling our opponents’ names. But passions get the best of all of us, and I think we all would much rather vent our anger by virtually insulting someone than by getting out our guns and killing each other.
No, outting is not about responding to what you perceive to be a personal attack. The only reason you try to out someone is to intimidate or silence them. It is an attempt to silence someone’s freedom of speech. It is an attempt to stifle debate and dissent. I find it quite shocking that some local libertarians tried to discuss outting in a rational way this week given the real aim of outting. To each their own. I will say this, as long as Delaware Liberal exists, outting will be considered a cardinal sin in the blogosphere, not an evolution of the blogosphere. When this weapon is used against us or anyone, we will retaliate. Not in kind, but by 1) removing all links to the offending site from our blogroll, 2) banning the offender from our site, and most importantly 3) we will continue whatever activity that led to the outting tenfold. For example, Burris used outting to silence Kavips and his opinions of CRI and those involved with it. We will now be increasing our coverage and criticism of CRI. The acceptable response to that criticism and coverage is to deride it if you wish, defend CRI if you want, or to call us name. The unacceptable response is to silence the criticism by outting the pseudonymous critic.
So the lines are drawn. As the person who writes this column every week, I like to think of the Delaware blogosphere as a community, albeit not a civil one. Politics, despite our best intentions and wishes, is not a civil arena. It is hot in this kitchen. I like linking to posts by my political opponents in this column, if only so that we are all informed of each other’s opinions so that we can offer a counterpoint if we wish, or, in the rare instance, agree with our opponents. And, let’s be honest, this column allows traffic to flow from all of our blogs to one another. It provides us all with blog traffic. If outting is to become an acceptable response in our community to criticism, then this will be the last Around the Horn. And you better say goodbye to our blogroll while you still can. It is your choice. We can let the heat from the kitchen burn the house down, or we can just stay in the kitchen and tend the oven.
Now on with our regularly scheduled program. And I will not provide links to the outting controversy and any reaction thereto.
SENATOR BOOTH
Election Day Open Threads by the Mourning Constitution, Delaware Politics, and Delaware Liberal.
Brian also liveblogs his activities on Election Day. Good job on both the blogging and your efforts in the election, Brian.
The results and reaction at Delaware Politics, Delaware Liberal, Delaware Liberal again, Common Sense Political Thought, Delaware Politics again, Delaware Watch, and the Mourning Constitution.
Redwaterlily’s letter to the Department of Elections on their performance in posting the results of the election. Brevity is sometimes best.
Polly Adams and Herman Holloway, Jr: Separated at Birth?
ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION IS COMING.
Have you noticed that since the rise of the blogosphere in Delaware in 2006, we have had an inordinate number of special elections since then? I think they schedule them just to give us something to write about.
John Tobin is already crunching the numbers in the 37th RD.
David Anderson does not enjoy the prospect of Democrats winning in the 37th and getting a super majority.
And he withdraws an endorsement I was unaware he made in what is becoming a free for all crowded primary for the GOP in the 37th.
THE CAESAR REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE
Kavips on Garrett Wozniak of the CRI. Now, if you don’t like this column, insult Kavips. Don’t out him.
LiberalGeek on the CRI posting individual state employees and their salaries.
Steve Newton reacts
KAVIPS AND STEVE NEWTON
Both had a series of connected posts that I really think you all should read without commentary from me.
Healthcare: It is about who gets the money … by Kavips.
Indirectly, at least, a homage to Kavips … by Steve Newton
More of the same …. by Kavips
AND THE REST…
Last week’s Around the Horn
Joe Biden said that?
Both Tyler Nixon and Dana Garrett think each other gets pwned by commenters concerning Dana Garrett’s opinions on libertarianism. This may be the ultimate insult or the ultimate compliment, but…. the more I read Tyler Nixon, the more he sounds like a Libertarian Delaware Dem. 😉
Bulo’s Read all about it Sunday Papers column
Steve Newton on the Delaware Student Torture Program.
When you mess with the House Majority Leader, you get the horns.
Cassandra on the Brandywine Drive of a Lifetime.
Delaware Politics covers the ratings of our local schools.
Steve Newton on the ridiculous notion of having cell phone jammers installed in our cars.
Our reaction (here and here) to Mike Castle’s passing of the torch.
Brian Shields on stimulus spending, DelDOT, and his non-stereotypical nonaversion to government services as a libertarian.
David Anderson answers a want ad. (Read the comments).
Inside Bill Colley’s Warped Mind, by MJ at LSD
CR on Greg Lavelle FOIA-ing Vince Meconi. That’s Elbert provides more coverage.
LiberalGeek made Hawaii his home for the last 11 days, and, like the Geek he is, he followed local Hawaiian politics while on vacation. LOL.
Finally, let’s follow our President’s excellent example, and cool our differences this week over a beer, while helping a good cause at the same time! Buy your tickets now.