Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Yes, it's another Pat quote. This absolutely incoherent screed promising big (but vague) changes to his all-but-invisible blog contains not just his usual stupidity, but some of the worst writing I've seen in a long, long time. I'm not sure who would cringe more at this paragraph, a psychologist or an English teacher:
This is possibly one of the hardest of articles, which I have ever had to write in my entire life -- much less in my time since becoming a political blogger and commentator. Nevertheless, because I do believe in total and transparent honesty, I must not be lack in being forthright with you all.
Which is worse, the tortured grammar ("must not be lack"?) or the grandiosity with which he announces why he's announcing something he imagines to be terribly important? I'll leave that to your judgment. He seems to be promising to be more moderate, whatever that may mean to him:
First, let me say that I have never written dishonestly on this blog, ever. I have written what I felt was the truth in all of my writings here in this blog. However, what I have done is taken my true feelings on a subject and turned up the intensity level to eleven on the amplifier scale. (I hope someone gets that rather humorous reference.) When I first stated writing as a "Right of Center" Blogger, that sort of writing was extremely fun, and I thought to be what I enjoyed doing as apolitical writer. However, here as of late, I have been seeing some very disturbing trends in the Right Wing Blogosphere and in the Conservative media; that I am just not very comfortable being associated.When I first started PoliticalByline.com after the hacking of my previous Blog, which was at thepopulistblog.com, I started this blog on the premise that neither of these political parties were political or moral absolutes and I still feel that way now. Yes, my friends, I am a truly a moderate Conservative and I make no apologies for that, at all. What disturbs my greatly at the moment, is that the very word "moderate" within the continuum of the school of Conservatism, is basically a death-keel to anyone who disagrees with the far left. I find this fact to be extremely troubling. I just cannot find it with my realm of reasoning to understand why, if someone like me does not subscribe to some of the more extremist rhetoric emanating from the far right, that somehow I am not considered a bona fideConservative.
More atrocious writing. More randomly capitalized words and pointless punctuation. More faux-complex turns of phrase -- "cannot find it with my realm of reasoning" -- intended to make him sound like a deep thinker but failing miserably. More nonsense phrases ("death-keel"). I think the English teacher just took the lead over the psychologist.
Having said all of the above; let me also say this, my philosophy towards those on the right that I disagree with is this -- Do no harm. What I mean by this that is this -- even though I do not agree with those, that I have put into my sections called "To the right of me" and "To the Left of Me." I will not be a thorn in their side, because I happen to believe; that everyone is entitled to their opinions, when it comes to Conservative politics. I might blog on the fact that I disagree with their politics, but it will be a fair and non-personal assessment as to why.
Ah, yes. He believes everyone is entitled to their opinions when it comes to conservative politics. For anyone not a conservative, presumably, that rule does not apply. Of course, he still has this weird notion that criticizing someone violates their entitlement to their beliefs. And could you even begin to diagram that first sentence? What in the world is the semi-colon doing there? And don't even get me started on "by this that is this."
I did not start this blog to engage in Blog wars with anyone, of any political stripe. I simply started this blog to give my take on the political events of the day. I also created it to be a direct challenge to those of the far left and their socialist mentality; of which why I switched sides and dropped this idea that I was some sort of a populist.
I think just the use of random capitalization puts Pat in the far right category. That's just such an archetypal trait for that group. At least that's "of which why" I think that.
Therefore, this is how things are going to change at this blog. First, I am going to write from a more honest approach. No more seeing what other people, who are Conservatives, and then writing from that standpoint. From here on out, I will be writing how I feel about a subject and that alone -- no matter the consequence. Second, you will notice that I did add a blog roll category, and changed one. I have added a "Left of Me" Blog roll, which I do intend to fill will sane voices of those who are to the left of me politically. I also added a category of those who are to right of me politically. This is not to be considered a bad thing at all; this list is just a category of those who I consider to be politically further to the right or left of me. I will be also adding other categories as well; so to distinguish Websites from Blogs.From here on out, I hope this blog to be less about extremism and talking points and a bit more intelligent and intellectually honest. I want this blog to be a bit less Sean Hannity and a bit morelike me or a bit less like Michael Savage, and bit more like me.
Uh huh. Good luck with that, Pat. What really cracks me up is the effort he put into this breathtaking announcement. He actually said that he had been up all night thinking about this. I think he's having delusions of mediocrity - and relevance.
Politics
Comments
It's official: Pat is the new Gribbit.
Posted by: Wes | December 7, 2009 9:27 AM
(I hope someone gets that rather humorous reference.)
And yes Indeed; let me say unto you this day that Indubitably I did chuckle most Heartily at the reference heretofore referentialized beforehand.
I need a lie down now.
Posted by: Captain Obvious | December 7, 2009 9:32 AM
"Death-keel" sounds like a great name for a horror novel about pirates and sunken treasure.
Posted by: Imrryr | December 7, 2009 9:34 AM
What's your point, Ed? I only see tasteless bashing of a cripple, just because you can, not because he actually said something worth taking down.
Posted by: william e emba | December 7, 2009 9:34 AM
And I thought my writing was bad.
Posted by: Goldbrick4 | December 7, 2009 9:36 AM
Holy crap, when he said he's turning the amplifier up to 11 he was alluding to a movie! And then he pointed out that his joke was funny and you should laugh! Hahahahah, oh wow, somebody give this man a sitcom. Razor wit of this variety must be shared with the world.
Seriously, if you have to say "I just made a joke" after a saying something intended to be funny...its probably not a good joke.
Posted by: Bob The Biologist | December 7, 2009 9:38 AM
"Seriously, if you have to say "I just made a joke" after a saying something intended to be funny...its probably not a good joke."
think about pat's intended audience.
Posted by: dean | December 7, 2009 9:53 AM
Yawn.
Posted by: Treppenwitz | December 7, 2009 9:58 AM
Is Pat actually Sarah Palin blogging pseudonymously?
Posted by: JohnV | December 7, 2009 10:02 AM
This fruit hangs 6 feet under. 'Tis truly time to move on.
-TTm
Posted by: Ticktockman | December 7, 2009 10:06 AM
While I obviously have no credibility on Pat given I originally thought there was some hope for the guy; this could be a sign that he's considering the criticisms thrown at him and rather than doing what most conservatives do - ignore it, he seems to be considering it. (I wasn't voted class optimist for no good reason!)
Given the lack of development regarding the state of his emotional intelligence, he's has neither the integrity or capability to concede he's wrong and will do better. Instead he seems to be attempting to adapt to a better position where he assumes we can't see how transparently lame is justification is for doing so. We need to admit this may be better than nothing, results required prior to taking a position.
I think our arguments got under his skin. Let's hope for Pat's reform though I'm not putting money on that bet.
Gribbit on the other hand has shown absolutely no ability to reason, so I keep Pat in a different category while remaining glad neither exists in my ideological camp.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 7, 2009 10:10 AM
What disturbs my greatly at the moment, is that the very word "moderate" within the continuum of the school of Conservatism, is basically a death-keel to anyone who disagrees with the far left.
I've got a wonderful mental image of Malkin and Beck keel-hauling suspected RINOs.
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | December 7, 2009 10:14 AM
Like I said before - you're sharp as a marble, Pat. Please keep writing - you're value as court jester is immeasurable!
Posted by: TGAP Dad | December 7, 2009 10:30 AM
@EB
(emphasis added)Which raises the question: Why give him more visibility? As Ticktockman #10 said, time to move on.
Posted by: bcoppola | December 7, 2009 10:33 AM
If you have to point out your own attempts at humor, you're not funny.
Posted by: catgirl | December 7, 2009 10:41 AM
This is a very strange post by Pat, for all the reasons Ed mentioned and more. The garbled, incomprehensible writing makes it difficult to glean any meaningful information from the screed, but as Michael Heath said, my guess is that Ed's Pat-related posts and our subsequent comments have really struck a nerve. I have a very hard time believing that Pat is going to seriously reconsider his poorly-thought-out beliefs and attitudes, though.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | December 7, 2009 10:44 AM
Could it be that Pat is trying a "Stephen Colbert", but does not have the stomach for it. I imagine that the only reason that Colbert keeps it up is because he gets paid.
So who are the "good bloggers" to the left of Pat? Ed? PZ? Andrew Sullivan? Michael Heath?
Posted by: KeithB | December 7, 2009 11:06 AM
I can see the point in mocking Pat when he maligns Ed (especially here on Ed's own blog), since that is self-defense of a sort. Even a mentally challenged attacker needs to have his attacks neutralized.
However, I really don't see the point in going after the guy further, since it is obvious that he has mental problems --- and, unlike such deranged public figures as Pat Robertson, Sarah Palin, Lou Dobbs, Sally Kern, Don Imus, Michelle Bachman, Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, and Rush Limbaugh (to name just a very few who come to mind right away), he is not in serious danger either of greatly influencing public opinion or of shaping public policy.
I'd prefer to concentrate on exposing and mocking those who not only should know better, but who pose a real threat.
~David D.G.
Posted by: David D.G. | December 7, 2009 11:13 AM
Somebody needs to point Pat at this tshirt: http://www.despair.com/yourblog.html
Posted by: a different phil | December 7, 2009 11:15 AM
As other people have said, it's seriously time to move on. True, it was funny when the dumbass quote was coming from him in the comments section on this blog, but going to his own site and mocking it is pushing it. It'd be understandable if he whored it out here in every post, and linked directly to that article, but unless that's the case this seems a bit much. That, and i'm sure there's a lot more dumbasses out there you can quote.
Posted by: RandomPasserby | December 7, 2009 11:16 AM
No more seeing what other people, who are Conservatives, and then writing from that standpoint. From here on out, I will be writing how I feel about a subject and that alone -- no matter the consequence.
Seriously, good for him.
Posted by: Molly, NYC | December 7, 2009 11:18 AM
True, Ed is practicing a bit of dumbass favoritism. The world is surely not short of dumbassitude (or is it dumbassery?) of every flavor. As the saying goes, there are many more dumbasses in the sea.
Posted by: Gretchen | December 7, 2009 11:23 AM
Bcoppola wrote:
And the lulz? What about the lulz?
Posted by: Valhar2000 | December 7, 2009 11:23 AM
Oy. I just read my post and noted the misuse of "you're." Bad writing (actually proofing) indeed! Mea culpa.
Posted by: TGAP Dad | December 7, 2009 11:30 AM
I'm new here and oblivious to any history you might have with Pat (did he run over your dog?) but going after someone like this, in the way you go after him - mocking his writing, for gawd's sake, and for our consumption - seems smug and bullying and preening. As does the whole dumbass quote thing, popular though it may be.
Posted by: Madison | December 7, 2009 11:39 AM
I can understand those who say it's time to move on from poor Pat, who has the IQ of a turnip and all the charm of an ebola virus. But he's my pinata du jour and I'm having too much fun swinging away. Someone else will come along soon to distract me, I'm sure.
But for those who claim I'm being a bully to Pat, you're wrong. Pat IS the bully, or at least he wants very badly to be one even if he can't quite pull it off. He's the one who publishes people's addresses (or what he imagines them to be) and threatens to beat them up or have others do it, and throws around idiotic lawsuit threats. Pointing and laughing at bullies is not bullying; it's how you put bullies in their place.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 7, 2009 11:45 AM
Madison stated:
I suggest you do some research first prior to making a judgment. Your point is equivalent to a judge ruling on a case without having considered all the evidence by the prosecution, or the Defense's entire response for that matter.
Pat has earned the contempt and ridicule he's generated while those that argue 'enough about Pat' have an arguable point as well.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 7, 2009 11:51 AM
While this is an example of truly bad writing, in this instance I'm not seeing anything particularly offensive or worthy of mockery--at least not beyond the usual grandiloquy and melodrama Pat likes to indulge in. In his own inarticulate way, Pat's trying to say he wants to break away from the destructive group-think of most conservative commentators. Well, if he's serious, good for him. Whether he can actually manage that or not remains to be seen. But let's not mock and insult someone needlessly--it shows the same lack of class and dignity as the enemy.
Posted by: gary l. day | December 7, 2009 11:53 AM
Madison said:
Oh, I vehemently disagree with that. Ed doesn't generally just point out dumbass quotes, but dumbass quotes which are also hateful and harmful. Those are very important to locate and highlight, so that we know who is making them and exactly what is so wrong with them.
Ed said:
Very true. If Pat would prefer not to be mocked for saying ridiculously horrible things, he could do well to just stop saying ridiculously horrible things.
Posted by: Gretchen | December 7, 2009 12:00 PM
If Pat's a bully, go after him for that, hard. His lousy writing or pretentiousness has nothing to do with that. Mocking this other stuff detracts from the points you're ostensibly more concerned with. Ridiculing is too easy. We can hoot and feel superior, but it only makes it harder to reach whomever Pat's reaching. Maybe it embarrasses Pat, but at the cost of making our side look something like a smarter, smugger version of Pat.
Posted by: Madison | December 7, 2009 12:06 PM
"First, I am going to write from a more honest approach. "
So he admits that he has been lying up to now :-)
(Sorry, I just couldn't resist)
Posted by: Fred | December 7, 2009 12:09 PM
Madison-
If someone out there is dumb enough to be "reached" by someone as monumentally idiotic as Pat, they are way beyond the reach of any rational person anyway.
Posted by: Ed Brayton | December 7, 2009 12:10 PM
@30
I agree, it's fun and all to say "oh ha ha look at how stupid he's being" but just mocking him without pointing out why he's so wrong in what he thinks, just saying he's a uber-conservative and not why being that is stupid, just seems pointless. I can understand wanting to bash Pat, I agree, he's a fuckin moron, and a particularly aggressive one, but make a point with your mocking, don't just make fun of him.
Posted by: RandomPasserby | December 7, 2009 12:11 PM
Rethinking is a good thing. Planning to be more honest is a good thing. A bit of increased self-awareness is a good thing. So good for Pat!
And, as a former English teacher, I can't resist just a small comment on the grammar, punctuation, and spelling. When a person who has difficulty with writing really concentrates on the content, thinking hard and trying to reason through the subject, the writing tends to get worse (at least in the first draft). So the fact that the writing is worse than ever actually encourages me to believe that Pat may be seriously considering change for the better.
Posted by: JuliaL | December 7, 2009 12:18 PM
@32
I don't know, that seems a little contradictory. The people that would take influence from this idiot are close to, or the same people that would be influenced by the likes of Palin and all the other far rightwingers in the current culture and you've made multiple posts about how and why they're wrong. Saying they're too far gone is giving up on a surprisingly large section of the population, and even if 99% of them are too far gone, why not still say WHY they're idiots in the hopes that someone that sees your posts that agreed with who you're bashing miraculously changes their mind? Just getting through to a few people is better than nothing.
Posted by: RandomPasserby | December 7, 2009 12:18 PM
There is nothing wrong with laughing at the machinations of those less intellectually able than oneself, when the recipient of the mocking is acting in an unjustifiably self-important fashion. Pat is a pretentious little twerp who thinks he is writing some Randish type screed for public consumption.
Posted by: Rob | December 7, 2009 12:31 PM
I must disagree with those who say it's time to move on from Pat. I personally love the Pat posts. This isn't one of the most interesting ones because it lacks the all out crazy generally seen in Pat's screed, but it's still a fun take down. Pat has deserved everything he has gotten.
Posted by: penn | December 7, 2009 12:33 PM
Pat is, at best, a Dunning–Kruger outlier. For him to become a valuable contributor to any discussion, he would have to transform into a completely different person. If Ed's taunting can shock him into that transformation, great. But we know the odds of that happening asymptotically approach zero -- from the negative side.
Posted by: xebecs | December 7, 2009 12:47 PM
Addendum to me @38: We will be in for a major onslaught of Irony Meter spoinging when the right wingers discover Dunning-Kruger.
Posted by: xebecs | December 7, 2009 12:50 PM
Posted by: a different phil | December 7, 2009 12:54 PM
I suggest you do some research first prior to making a judgment. Your point is equivalent to a judge ruling on a case without having considered all the evidence by the prosecution, or the Defense's entire response for that matter.
You're right, I don't know what's going on. I just stumbled on this, which is how many will find it. I have to wonder then what the point is? Is it just to make fun of Pat? If so, then ok, Ed has hit the mark. If he's also trying to entertain his readers, he's probably succeeded. But I suspect that what he's trying to do by calling out people who say harmful stuff is to win over those who are closer right now to Pat's outlook. I suppose the theory is that by mocking them, they'll be less willing to open their mouths next time. Is that right, Ed?
The most potent fuel that Palinites have is resentment, the sense that they're not respected. Being called a dumbass, even when it's deserved, reinforces that feeling. It's never easy to change someone's mind. The vast majority will tune out us no matter how sweet and rational we are. I see this kind of thing as making the wall higher and thicker.
Posted by: Madison | December 7, 2009 1:08 PM
a different phil @40: I was suggesting that we can expect the right wingers to accuse US of suffering from Dunning-Kruger.
Posted by: xebecs | December 7, 2009 1:10 PM
I'm another one who loves the Pat posts. Hooting and feeling superior is, like, 80% of the reason I hang out here.
Seriously though, I hope Michael Heath is right and this is a sign that Pat might be taking some recent criticism into consideration, if only superficially. Good on him if he's serious. But I won't believe it until he stops making such silly arguments like equating mockery with supression of speech. I don't really see that happening...
Posted by: peaches | December 7, 2009 1:19 PM
Madison,
Pat thanks you for helping to return civility to this raucous debate. He agrees that Ed has overstepped the boundaries of proper etiquette.
ps. He's out of Cool Ranch doritos, can you add them to the shopping list? Also, where did you put his good World of Warcraft t-shirt? You know how he hates it when you put it in the wrong drawer.
Posted by: Schmeer | December 7, 2009 1:28 PM
To those who are concerned about Pat being piled on by Ed:
There was a time when a certain mroberts used to frequent these threads, spewing his bilge. Finally, he went away, right around the time that Pat started showing up--hey, just one damned minute!
Posted by: democommie | December 7, 2009 1:31 PM
I agree wholly with Ed. I have zero sympathy for Pat, and as long as this blog belongs to Ed, I'm perfectly content with him swinging away at Pat as long as he likes.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | December 7, 2009 1:37 PM
ps. He's out of Cool Ranch doritos, can you add them to the shopping list? Also, where did you put his good World of Warcraft t-shirt? You know how he hates it when you put it in the wrong drawer.
Tell him not one more bag of chips until he cleans up that room. No wonder he can't find his shirt.
Posted by: Madison | December 7, 2009 1:39 PM
democommie is right. I have never seen mroberts and Pat at the same time...
Posted by: MikeMa | December 7, 2009 1:41 PM
"Of which why" is the new "like such as".
Posted by: Benjamin Geiger | December 7, 2009 2:26 PM
Speaking of cranking it up to 11, xkcd.com
Posted by: Pieter B | December 7, 2009 2:48 PM
As I have said so many times: Wingnuts are your best Internet entertainment value.
It will be especially fun now to watch Pat's posts carefully after his heartfelt vow to be totally honest. Who wants to bet that Pat is back to lying his ass off within a week?
Posted by: meatbrain | December 7, 2009 2:59 PM
Pat is mildly amusing, I followed Ed’s link to the post and thought what the heck and looked as some story about Sara Palin. Pat says, “Sarah Palin’s God-awful grasp of the English Language aside.” Interesting.
Posted by: Owen | December 7, 2009 3:16 PM
Okay - I understand about the need to point at bullies and laugh. I even get the need to share the idiocy that you have the stomach to actually read through. But for Pete's sake (okay for my sake) would you consider making a separate category for Pat (Pat's DAQ of the Hour) and start providing some DAQs from actual news makers ? Sarah Palin is out promoting her book. Climategate ? There is meat fruit out there. Please, please, please start sharing it again. I don't have the time to read through all of the sources and I really miss the DAQ's that were coming from members of Congress and other people of whom I had actually heard. I miss this much needed source of amusement. Pretty please ?
Posted by: pHred | December 7, 2009 3:29 PM
Posted by: James Hanley | December 7, 2009 4:25 PM
I thought Pat had already established beyond any doubt (both reasonable and unreasonable doubt) that he's a Dumbass Extraordinaire. Can we forget about that pathetic little troll now? I'm getting pretty sick of seeing "Pat this, and Pat that, Pat my ass if you're gay."
Posted by: MadScientist | December 7, 2009 4:55 PM
Madison, If the the phrase "meat-headed negro" is any indication of Pat's intent...or shall I post the veiled threat he made toward me and my wife and kids? Or shall I post the threats of lawsuits, arrest by the FBI, or maybe just the vile language he used in adressing me(which I never used toward him). Oh yes, dear lady, he has it coming. Just go to www.yellowelephant.blogspot.com for an eye-opener. Thanks, James
Posted by: James M. Phillips | December 7, 2009 6:22 PM
I think Pat should be disqualified from future DQDs, because pretty much every word out of his mouth is a shoo-in, and he deprives other more relevant, but less moronic, candidates from winning the prized title.
Posted by: Twewi | December 7, 2009 6:39 PM
Actually Michael, Pat insists that he is a moderate, claiming that he is in your camp. ;o)
Of course I firmly believe that you and I have a completely different definition of "moderate" than Pat has.
Posted by: dogmeatib | December 7, 2009 7:12 PM
By all means keep reporting on Pat for us. He is a dim bulb in a thousand points of dimness.
Posted by: Rob Jase | December 7, 2009 7:14 PM
I don't know about other candidates being less moronic, but otherwise I agree. Everything the man says is stupid as poo. Too easy!
Posted by: Leni | December 7, 2009 7:16 PM
Hello, Madison. Nice segue into the local environment here.
Pat has indeed been threatening and boisterous around here. Thing is, he wasn't very good at it and I think he is realizing it. Likely because of getting slapped up side his head by Ed and numerous others.
My optimism concerning human beings, with a nod to Michael Heath, directs me to consider the notion that something very interesting is going on inside of Pat's skull. It could be that a much larger change in his outlook might be in the works and he may one day reappear with a new, healthier attitude. Or he may not. Regardless, I feel some empathy for him since I have supported irrational notions myself. (Not often, of course. Oh, no. Long, long time ago, too.)
I don't think it's worth holding one's breath for, but maybe, just maybe a cog is about to slip within Pat. Some cam or lever deep within that part of him where his self tries ways to integrate with wider horizons, differing views and the manifold definitions of Truth, Success and the American Way, will catch, maybe burn a bearing or strip a thread and there will be a great screech accompanied by smoke and sparks and then, lo! A new person, reborn, after a fashion. Or maybe not. Part of me really wishes something wonderful happens to him that would garner him respect on venues like this.
It probably won't but wouldn't it be something?
Here's looking forward to hearing more from you, Madison. Welcome.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | December 7, 2009 7:33 PM
Madison: Resentment of what? Their own stupidity?
If that's it, then fuck 'em. They're better off as Soylent Green.
Posted by: Katharine | December 7, 2009 7:41 PM
Death-keel?
The SNL sketch The Adventures of Miles Cowperthwaite sprang to mind. "Chapter Two: I Am Nailed To The Hull".
Posted by: Moon Jaguar | December 7, 2009 7:46 PM
Let me just add my name to the list of people who would like to see you move on. I really enjoy reading this blog as a way to keep up on politics. There are certainly more pressing issues to focus on than Pat's grammar.
Posted by: Eric R | December 7, 2009 7:51 PM
For the record, I do not oppose ridiculing Pat for his grammar. I'd just hate to see other deserving talent miss out.
Posted by: Leni | December 7, 2009 8:10 PM
This Pat guy makes Gribbit look like a fucking genius by comparison. For some reason it makes me nostalgic for the old days of this blog, when Gribbit would show up and get all ITG on our asses, only to be subject to derisive laughter and ridicule, which in turn would decrease the size of his e-penis and make him lash out more.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | December 7, 2009 8:18 PM
Tyler - I think Gribbit has a complete inability to adapt. I don't think that's true with Pat. Whether he has the discipline, willpower, and character is another matter and only he can answer that. The conservative cocoon reminds me of mainlining a 50/50 mix of corn syrup and transfat; a tough jones to kick.
Posted by: Michael Heath | December 7, 2009 8:30 PM
WOW! If it had a bit more folksyness to it, I would wonder if it was written by Ms. Palin. Seriously though, reading this was sad; that's all, just sad.
Posted by: kathequa | December 7, 2009 8:45 PM
Ah, Mr Heath, It's refreshing to read of your misty-eyed optimism & faith in Pat's heretofore unnoticed humanity. I think it's more likely that Pat ate some of his own cooking (mom was out playing bingo last nite?) and had a taste of his own mortality. I'm sure that by next week he'll be feeling better & sharing his bile & vitriol with the world like the Pat we've all come to love to hate.
I'm of mixed feelings about mining quotes from Pat's own blog. On the one hand, it's true he's free to say anything he wants, no matter how moronic he shows himself to be, barring calls for violence, and I'd rather edify myself with intelligent analysis of the Culture Wars. On the other hand, it's always good to read the comment strings under these posts and sample the intelligent & well-considered (mostly) responses that invariably follow. A little Pat dropped in here & there adds spice to the soup and serves to remind us that there REALLY ARE complete idiots in the world who can't feed themselves without help, but are still allowed to vote & voice their opinions.
Posted by: Artor | December 7, 2009 9:10 PM
@Michael,
Perhaps, I've seen worse people change for the better. It is a rather rare event though. More likely in Pats case he's just regretting knocking around the hornets' nest.
Posted by: Tyler DiPietro | December 7, 2009 9:13 PM
Tyler DiPietro:
"Perhaps, I've seen worse people change for the better."
In the case of folks like Pat, death is usually the agent of change.
Posted by: democommie | December 7, 2009 9:51 PM
Ummm, I think Pat has become to easy of a target. I'm now considering the possibility that he is some new species of Poe.
Posted by: Ed T | December 7, 2009 10:00 PM
I had a point I forgot to make... If Pat is going to stop listening to other people's viewpoints & just "shoot from the hip," I think we can expect to see even more insane, inane drivel than we have ever seen before. Unhitched from the sane, moderate influences of those "To the Left of Pat," like Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck, Coulter, etc., he's likely to really go off the deep end. I only hope we don't all hear about Pat in the headlines when he finally snaps & goes on a shooting rampage. (A rampaging Pat brings to mind the record-throwing scene from Shaun of the Dead. I hope someone gets that rather humorous reference.)
Posted by: Artor | December 7, 2009 10:56 PM
While reading the letter from Pat, I kept feeling like I'd somehow heard the voice in the letter before. Then it came to me. Any of you ever heard a recording of L. Ron Hubbard "lecturing"? You can actually hear him making stuff up, kind of like when your neighbor's kid describes the time a monster ate his homework.
If you read Pat's letter aloud, in a suitably pompous tone, it sounds eerily like the self-important rambling of Hubbard . . . without the Fifth Invader Force or Thetans or Xenu, but still disturbingly close. If this new "Moderate Pundit of the People" schtick fails, maybe Pat should consider starting a religion . . .
Posted by: Pareidolius | December 8, 2009 1:32 AM
Is anyone else suddenly terrified at the thought of being blogrolled by Pat?
Posted by: Circe | December 8, 2009 6:43 AM
These posts are beyond dull, just ignore this Pat character ffs.
Posted by: Duggie | December 8, 2009 12:10 PM
What exactly is the point of this? Someone has a blog and Ed is going to do grammar checking every time he posts? 99.999% of the world doesn't care what Pat has to say. So why does Ed?
Posted by: Tom | December 8, 2009 12:50 PM
I personally love the analysis of Pat and Gribbit. It's true that those morons aren't influential newsmakers. But they do provide something else - something very valuable: a look inside some of the minds that form the backbone of the far right in America in 2009. There are millions of people who listen to talk radio, watch Fox News uncritically, buy books by Sarah Palin and Sean Hannity, and vote against gay rights in referendums in various states every couple of years. We can point out the stupidity of the leaders and demagogues of the tea party movement, but it is also useful to see first hand the thoughts and motives of the foot soldiers and the consumers of right wing propaganda. There are literally millions of Pats, and they are united not by any positive ideas about policy or culture but by a shared hatred of everything they see around them. We need to pay attention to them.
That, and Pat's comments give us extremely good comedy. Seriously, I want an uneducated, possibly deranged acolyte of Sarah Palin to please explain to me why certain improper nouns in the middle of a sentence written in (a kind of ) English in 2009 in North America deserve capitalization.
Posted by: Chuck | December 8, 2009 1:15 PM
If someone released a movie called "Death-Keel" about either a sentient boat that kills people by running them over or a giant snail that deals death using the sharp ridge or edge at the shoulder or the center of periphery of the whorls of its shell, I would totally watch that.
Posted by: Awesome McCool | December 8, 2009 1:45 PM
Excellently stated, Chuck. I for one don't want to see the Pat posts end anytime soon.
Posted by: Sadie Morrison | December 8, 2009 2:06 PM
Hmmm, not a bad idea....
Posted by: James Sweet | December 8, 2009 2:24 PM
The most potent fuel that Palinites have is resentment, the sense that they're not respected. Being called a dumbass, even when it's deserved, reinforces that feeling.
Any sensible thing you say to them will "reinforce that feeling," if it's worth saying at all. The point of all this is not to win over people who are set in their bigotry and aren't listening; it's to win over more moderate folks and remind them that: a) we see through the extremists' BS and aren't afraid to stand up and say so; b) this BS is being called out and ridiculed, so if you want to be taken seriously, avoid the BS.
If we can't convince the extremists, we can isolate them from the mainstream; and mockery is one useful tool for that task.
Posted by: Raging Bee | December 8, 2009 3:41 PM
"Me fail English? That's unpossible!"
Posted by: Coryat | December 9, 2009 5:33 AM