Welcome to the Purge
I read that Charles Johnson at Little Green Footballs (with whom I still occasionally correspond) was also exiled and delinked from Hot Air. Apparently he had at least the ironic courtesy of being … initially … moved to the “Left Links” gulag prior to liquidation … I went straight from “Affiliate” to bung-hole.
Frankly, I haven’t visited Hot Air in a while … my karma’s a lot cleaner for it, I can tell you. What the hell is going on over there?
I think LGF dismissal is entirely linked to CJ’s incessant diatribes about intelligent design- an issue that is far down the ladder of importance to the polcies that are set to change (damage)the U.S. He also began to set out and excoriate anyone on the right that disagreed with his philosophy. What was once a refeshing site that always exposed the left for its glaring hypocrisy and ill- advised legislature, he seemed to change course and target the right. Thus, I don’t blame Hot Air for delinking his site, given his shift and his sometimes spurious arguments about Hot Air and its followers. He really took it personally and his reaction is testament to that.
Not sure why your site was jettisoned. I visit every 3-4 months, but haver always enjoyed your pictorial comments. Plus, I am very concerned with the anti-Israel sentiment that seems to permeate the Obama administration. After all the support he received from the Jewish Community, you would think that think he somehow recognize a very important facet of his constituancy. But, alas, if the voters had only read his web site, read his book, listened to his speeched and studied his voting record BEFORE he announced his presidential run, they would have realized where he stood, or didn’t stand, on specific issues.
Keep up your work. I truly believe that Israel is an indisputable snd loyal ally in the Niddle East. I am appalled at the anti semitism that exist in our own congress that is completely ignored by the media.
Nevertheless, give Hot Air a ring. I don’t think it would have any issue with your cause. I’d be real surprised and completely disappointed if they do.
Thanks for the support!
I know what you mean about Charles. Still, he’s been very loyal to me and my site … linking to about 95% of my posts and generally promoting me as a source of info. For that I’m grateful. Plus, we have friendly if sporadic email contact. And he’s still a good friend to Israel.
The problem I have with Hot Air is different and profound. When Michelle started Hot Air … actually, BEFORE she started Hot Air … she contacted me personally (we arranged to meet at a local event) and asked if I would get on board her new project as and Affiliate. I was of course profoundly flattered and said yes.
What followed was several years of profitable association between me and Hot Air. I was Hot Air’s official “DC Affiliate” and whenever there was a lefty protest, or other kooky event of interest, I’d cover it and she’d link to my coverage … usually both at Hot Air and on her own personal blog.
However, after she turned it over to the new management things started to change. They came to finality when I took offense at a post which seemed … at least to me … to make fun of Chassidic Jews. After reading some of the comments to the post, which also seemed borderline anti-Semitic, I wrote an email to Michelle expressing my concern and stating that I would rather not be associated with Hot Air if that was going to be the new tenor of the site.
Surprisingly (to me), instead of assuaging my concerns, my link was removed … the next day. So there was my answer. Hot Air was going to tolerate those comments and insinuations and shove my link overboard rather than, frankly, show even a minuscule recognition for several years worth of personal loyalty, as well as providing at least a part of the entertainment value for their site.
I did see that post about the Amish and Hassidic Jews. I can, however, see both sides of the argument. Nevertheless, I don’t agree with HA’s response to your concern and completely understand your reaction given the history between you and Michele. Frankly, I find their reaction rather rude and dismissive and don’t understand why they couldn’t simply address the issue.
Hopefully things may change. Our side needs to congeal at this time and not fractionalize into disparate groups. But it appears that the ball maybe in HA’s court.
I don’t blame Hot Air for delinking his site, given his shift and his sometimes spurious arguments about Hot Air and its followers