The Candidates
People may have have noticed my absence from the site lately. Hardware problems have kept me from blogging or even checking on the site except for very early in the morning or very late at night, or perhaps for a minute or two now and then throughout the day.
So Alex Knepper’s post “Sarah Palin Facts” came as a complete surprise to me when I logged on today. I would have never allowed such a post to stay up on the site for longer than a minute had I had access to a computer. I find the fact that this was posted at a time when Alex knew that I was away from my computer for the day says all that needs to be said about Alex Knepper.
I want to apologize to every Race42008 reader for Alex’s Post. I thought I had made it clear to Alex in conversations yesterday that it is totally unacceptable for frontpage posters to actively work to undermine the ticket’s success in November. As a consequence, Alex is no longer a member of the Race42008 team.
I am deeply sorry that a frontpage poster used the forum that I have worked so hard to build to disseminate the Democrat’s talking points to destroy our ticket’s chances for victory in November.
I ask that all of Race42008’s readers, the Republican Party, and Conservatives everywhere accept my most sincere apology.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Thank you Kavon!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
WOW!!! I guess that’ll make for an uncomfortable rest of the trip. I don’t think anybody, or at least myself, wanted to see the kid banished. I was merely interested in his motives.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Don’t worry Kavon. We still love the site.
I would say that you should give Alex a second chance, but knowing that he did this purposely at a time when he knew you couldn’t remove the post is obviously grounds for removing him from the site.
It’s too bad that he made that choice and forced your hand because even though I almost always disagreed with Alex, I enjoyed reading his posts.
Finally, I hope you contact Gary Matthew Miller to make sure he stays on as a contributor. Earlier he stated that as a result of Alex’s post he would no longer contribute
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Kind of ironic really, if you think about what he was calling for.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Kavon, any chance you can move the open thread up to second (after this one) as soon as the speeches start? Thanks.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
My problem was his tone. He went from questioning her to seeming not to want her to succeed. Many people here have disagreed with the choice but have said they hope she proves them wrong. He did not do that.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Have any front page posts criticized McCain since he more or less wrapped up the nomination on Super Tuesday? If so, perhaps they warrant apologies as well.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I don’t begrudge Alex for having his views. But this is a Republican site and a damn good one. Race 4 2008 is probably the best GOP-leaning website on the internet. Alex is free to voice his opinion and I for one welcome it (even if I disagree with his position). But voicing one’s opinion and using someone else’s reputable website by abusing front-page priveleges to advance one’s own agenda is where I take offense.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thank God! McCain/Palin ‘08!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Thanks Kavon. Better late than never!
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I am very very sorry to hear about Alex’s removal from posting privlidges. He always had good insights and I looked forward to his posts.
I understand your position and respect it, although I do ask for a second chance for him. Maybe after the convention is over?
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Your blog, your choice. But get ready for the “no dissension allowed” chorus from others in the blogosphere.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Thank You! What a little dip weed. Race42008 is the best Repub site on the web.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Well done, Kavon. I hope that as Alex grows and matures, he starts to realize that, as his man Rudy liked to say, your 80% friend is not your 20% enemy.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Brett has a good point. You will have to judge how malicious Alex’s intentions were in posting when you would not see it, but I would like to see him continue as a contributor if possible. I think a “suspension” with a warning might be a fair compromise.
If however, you decide that isn’t a workable option then I respect your view. You have done a great job with this site and I trust that you will continue to do so.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
David A B,
I wouldn’t worry about that. Everyone here has ample slack on their own leash. Go over to Daily Kos and see how they treat opposing viewpoints.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
8 Adam
Well said. By the fourth or fifth post saying the same thing (never mind the insulting image), he wasn’t engaging in debate. He was simply whoring for high comment numbers at the expense of the principles 90% of the commenters at this blog care about.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Alex, like the Democrats on Iraq, is invested in defeat.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I dont think his views were a problem but to be happy he was syndicated on C-SPAN’s blog, knowing he was adding fuel to the liberal fire and fodder to the KOS made me sincerely question his motives.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
yeah Alex was clearly concerned about the ticket, the problem was that he had been drinkning the MSM koolaid on Palin
but I don’t think his motives were malicious, but his words were having that effect
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Kavon, I am disappointed by your decision. While I think Alex’s posts may have been slightly provocative, I believe that tolerance and consideration of “dissenting” points of view are absolutely critical to the success of any political party, especially the GOP.
Do you really believe that turning your blog into a “spread the Kool-aid” McCain-Palin lovefest is the best way to get McCain elected? I don’t believe it is.
FWIW, I am a libertarian-leaning independent voter. And I am utterly disgusted by herd mentalities.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I don’t think his motives were malicious either… I think they were self-serving.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
You people are bordering on USSR-style speech controls here - you want to shoot anyone who holds a different view, and who doesn’t share in the sheep-like bind loyalty to the party.
Whether I like Alex’s stances on issues like abortion or not, the suppression of thought and speech is wrong.
Alex can contact me if he would like an authorship position on my blog.
mburn16@yahoo.com
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Yes, thank the Lord! I can already feel my IQ rising a few points.
Kavon W. Nikrad, you are a true humanitarian.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Thank you Kavon.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Freds,
Alex was herding with the MSM, and was already invested in defeat for McCain/Palin, so he couldn’t be any more objective than Michelle Obama. He was not “loyal opposition,” but an ambitious blogger who hitched his wagon to McCain’s loss so that he could prove his “genius.”
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
This was the only way it could end. What’s more I’m certain Alex fully well knew what the consequences of his actions would be from the moment he resolved to write that post.
It was self-martyrdom.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Kavon- much appreciated.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
“the problem was that he had been drinkning the MSM koolaid on Palin”
Oh yeah, right - anyone who questions the ability of Sarah Palin to lead the country is deffinately drinking the “MSM koolaid” - or maybe they just don’t believe that being mayor of some one-horse town and governor of the smallest state in the country for a year and a half make you qualified to be President.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Wow…I thought it was ironic…Alex fell into the Republican trap of attacking Sarah (not a bad thing if you are a Republican)…We will see tonight if it worked…
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
“You people are bordering on USSR-style speech controls here - you want to shoot anyone who holds a different view, and who doesn’t share in the sheep-like bind loyalty to the party.”
Well, hell, why not let DailyKos have half the content? There is a difference between having a sight dedicated to Republican opinion working towards a common goal, and communist thought control. For one, you don’t have to be here.
For two, this site serves a purpose, which Alex was undermining. If the RNC doesn’t give a couple hours to Maureen Dowd does that mean the Republican Party is totalitarian communist?
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Act,
“Oh yeah, right - anyone who questions the ability of Sarah Palin to lead the country is deffinately drinking the “MSM koolaid” - or maybe they just don’t believe that being mayor of some one-horse town and governor of the smallest state in the country for a year and a half make you qualified to be President.”
Oh, stop it. All you care about is Romney ‘12.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
#26 Actually, I think that hope for a McCain victory was precisely the motive behind Alex’s loathing of Palin. I don’t think he fully understood the impossiblility of winning an election after withdrawing a VP candidate, and he definitely had selfish reasons for his tone, but I think respecting viewpoints such is his is absolutely essential if Republicans want to win the election.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I agree with Fredsfighter in 33. However, I don’t know all the details involved in this, so that is as far as I will go.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
The purpose of the site is to push for the GOP candidate, whatever incompetent, underqualifed, show-off pick they put up?
Thats funny, I thought the goal of the site was to cover the GOP, allow free discussion, and work to make conservatism and the party stronger - neither of which will happen if we become the party of underexperience and affirmative-action picks.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
It’s truly disappointing that he apparently abused your trust, Kavon. And to think he was criticizing Palin for her dishonesty…
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
finally…thank you Kavon……..alex your choice is supporting Palin or helping to hand over the country to someone who floats in university marxist circles so easily (and who has) it makes me sick….get it together
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Again, if you want to see USSR speech controls then take a look at Daily Kos.
And ACT, you’re better than that. Alex could have advocated beastiality in the comments section and no one would have cared but he deliberately incited a riot by abusing his status as a front-pager to serve his own self interest. I don’t blame Kavon for it one bit. He did what he had to do.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Act,
But you are right to feel threatened by Palin. She will destroy Romney in the primaries in 4 or 8 years.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Thank you Kavon! I was very affended with the tone. He truely underminded the suppourt we are giving to our success in November.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
I must have missed some of his posts on Sarah Palin. I don’t think I saw “Sarah Palin Facts”.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Act,
As Peggy Noonan noted today, most conservatives can tell their own. They can tell a true conservative from a phony.
Palin is the real deal.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:48 pm
“All you care about is Romney ‘12.”
I would have supported Portman, or Pawlenty, or some other pick who I thought was actually qualified enough to do the job.
I don’t think Palin is, and I’m scared to death of being stuck with her (and her lack of experience) as our nominee in four years.
Yeah, I am concerned about 2012 - If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t give a flip about who the VP was.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
When i read Alex post i honestly thought ‘now it’ll be nice for everyone to feel the way Romney supporters felt that last year.’
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
#42
Peggy Noonan also said something else about Palin today, but it can’t be repeated here.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Um, what if most of us happen to disagree with your general assessment and are perfectly satisfied with the candidate? We simply don’t see it that way.
Besides, the Veep choice hasn’t been a “majority rule” decision since the early days of the republic, when the VP was the runner-up from the general election.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
MWS,
That is very funny about Palin and Romney. If they win in November, you are absolutely right and Romney wouldn’t run. If they lose, then I am quite certain she won’t be the nominee in 2012.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
This post didn’t bother me as much as the one about taking her off the ticket. That had absolutely no place on this blog. Thanks Kavon.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Dskinner,
I wouldn’t be sure. Palin is turning into the new Huck as the darling of the socons. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the frontrunner in 2012, if we were to lose this year.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I apologize for the tone of my responses to Alex… but they came from the knowledge that the homosexuals and pro-aborts will only undermine the “big tent” Republican Party.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I don’t question Palin’s positions - her positions are great. She is deffiantely a real Conservative.
My problem is that she doesn’t have the experience to be president.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Tommy,
You might be right. I guess I was assuming she would take part of the blame for losing this year. If that were the case then I think she would be in trouble in 2012.
I think she is a much bigger threat to Huckabee than Romney if all three were to run in 2012.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
She is a bigger threat to Romney. She has something Romney will never be able to sell.
Authenticity.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
“She is a bigger threat to Romney.”
No. She is a bigger threat to the country and the GOP - which could very well be saddled with her inexperience and underqualification within the next four years.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I don’t want to start in with this, but I think this election taught us that each Republican interest group is going to have someone they are satisfied with. The same way Thompson and Huckabee couldn’t both succeed, Huckabee and Palin won’t both be able to succeed.
Her extremely conservative position on abortion will turn off a lot of people.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pm
“the knowledge that the homosexuals and pro-aborts will only undermine the “big tent” Republican Party.”
Sorry, Sam. That’s called an opinion - not knowledge
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Big S,
“Peggy Noonan also said something else about Palin today, but it can’t be repeated here.”
Read her column again. The part I think you are referring to was directed at the media. Noonan said nothing about Palin that “couldn’t be repeated here.”
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
MWS,
He’s talking about THIS.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/palin_means_its_over_peggy_noo.html
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
He didn’t even contact me before doing this.
When I posted this, I didn’t even take his absence from the site into consideration.
I had already made it clear I’d be supporting the ticket from the second she accepted the VP nomination.
I was looking for open, honest debate about Palin from a Republican perspective. It’s not like we’re not going to hear everything that I said repeated over the next two months.
I’d be glad to come back on board, should he offer it, but I’ll be looking around elsewhere, too. Race42008 has an expiration date, anyway; it came a couple of months early for me.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Like I said, Alex, give me an email. My site isn’t nearly as big or popular…but I’m not going to supress free speech.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Alex give it a rest. You obviously weren’t looking for “open, honest” debate. You were providing left wing talking points that were regurgitated on CSPAN and CNN as proof of Republican dissent.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Oh, and for what it’s worth, I’m stuck in my hotel room in St. Paul and Kavon isn’t returning my calls.
So he’s insulting me on the front page, but…
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Alex give it a rest. You obviously weren’t looking for “open, honest” debate. You were providing left wing talking points that were regurgitated on CSPAN and CNN as proof of Republican dissent.
Oh, shut up. I take no joy in taking on Sarah Palin. I wanted open, honest debate and you have no reason to believe otherwise, especially since I made abundantly clear that I was going to stop the jihad once the nomination was a go.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
There’s a difference between banning someone who’s expressing opposing viewpoints and banning someone who’s self-aggrandizingly contrarian and wilfully disrespectful of the site. I think Kavon is right to restrict Alex for displaying the latter tendency. He can claim “open and honest” debate, but when anything positive was said about Palin he told people “not to drink the KoolAid” (as if there were *nothing* positive about her) and many, if not most, of the arguments he made were either demonstrably skewed or downright false. It’s not “censorship” because Alex is free to express his views anywhere else, and I’m sure he will.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Generally people looking for honest debate don’t call those who disagree with them Kool-Aid drinkers and post the hear/see/speak no evil monkeys. Furthermore, they don’t revel in their posts being picked up on liberal sites.
You knew this would be the consequences of your actions and you only became more shrill as the controversy grew. It’s time to take your punishment.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Seth, everything said about me was that I was “out to get Palin” and “disseminating Democratic talking points”.
See no evil, hear no evil. Just like the monkeys in my illustration.
Don’t think that you’ve heard the last of those points. They should bother you as a conservative.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Generally people looking for honest debate don’t call those who disagree with them Kool-Aid drinkers and post the hear/see/speak no evil monkeys. Furthermore, they don’t revel in their posts being picked up on liberal sites.
What liberal sites picked up my stuff?
And you’re not refuting the points by saying that they were picked up by liberal sites, you know. It was either true or it wasn’t. Was it? (A: Yes.)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
You know, this really confirms all my suspicions about this site. It has nothing to do with honest and decent analyzing of the 2008 presidential race from the Republican point of view. It’s all about bending the facts and repeating the same kind of hollow political party cheerleading slogans over and over. Just so long as your party wins. Kavon, you and your cronies have completely abandoned all principle are no better than the Obamazombies in this regard. I should have seen it back in the primaries when this site might as well have just been called Rudy&Romney-4-2008. You’ve lost my readership, Kavon. Not that anyone will miss me and my constant harping about the Constitution and sticking to principles. I leave you all to your airheaded Mickey Mouse campaign games. Have fun ruining this country.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
This Mitt Romney is my personal hero! Great stuff! Red meat, yumyumyumyum…
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Hey Alex,
I was just going to ask Kavon Nikrad (I love his name BTW!) if you were banned from blogging AND posting, too, but now I
notice you are posting.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Wrong thread for me…
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Alex,
I hope you understand why Kavon reacted this way and when you do talk to him I hope you two can work it out because I would like to see you continue as a contributor on this site.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Alex, I’m frankly uninterested in having the debate with you. I will say this though:
Even if everything you said about Palin was true, it gives me little pause about voting for her. I have greater issues with McCain himself.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Alex, I don’t call myself conservative, I’m unabashedly libertarian. As a result, I think BOTH parties are majorly fucked up, but the Republican far less so. And Palin represents far better than any other Republican the potential–potential–to move the Republican Party away from it’s current nightmarish fiscal policy and I remain to be convinced that she’s going to use the government to push her social views. If she doesn’t appeal to me, I’m not opposed to voting Barr/Root. But I’m willing to allow her and McCain to prove themselves; I’m not going to let the media define them for me. Palin in particular hasn’t had any chance to rebut the vitriol being launched against her, and it’s utterly tasteless for a self-righteous teenager to pretend like he knows more about the world than everyone else. You can blame me for “see no evil, hear no evil” but it’s no better to “see no good, hear no good”. Closemindedness is a double-edged sword.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Really? I mean of course his post was contrary to the general sentiment on this blog, and yea the overall purpose of the blog. But it’s not like he was just spamming anti-GOP bs… he was presenting what he believed as truth because he doesn’t like Palin, and it’s everyone else’s job to dispute his claims. That can be done without total censorship.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Upon further review of the old and new media coverage of Palin (including Alex’s writing at other sites-http://politics.theeagleonline.com/?p=283 and the CSPAN bit come to mind), it appears that criticism of Palin in the face of Republican masses became Alex’s calling card. His chance to make a name for himself quickly, and he went for it. Maybe it will work. Good luck kid.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Palin in particular hasn’t had any chance to rebut the vitriol being launched against her, and it’s utterly tasteless for a self-righteous teenager to pretend like he knows more about the world than everyone else. You can blame me for “see no evil, hear no evil” but it’s no better to “see no good, hear no good”. Closemindedness is a double-edged sword.
Why would I make lots of posts declaring her good points? Everyone else is doing that. It’s pointless.
Attacking me for my age refutes none of my claims.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Haha, who needs the MSNBC feud when we’ve got this melodrama!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
“But I’m willing to allow her and McCain to prove themselves”
I think this is the primary difference between others, and Myself and Alex - you people are willing to take a gamble on someone like Palin. You have no problem having her as VP because she can “prove herself”
The only problem with that is that, whether she can “prove herself” to be a strong, effective, and capable leader or not, she will be the frontrunner for the nomination in 2012. It will be extremely hard - if not impossible - to unseat a sitting VP in four years, no matter how poor of a job they do.
Thats a gamble I have a very hard time taking.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
When have *you* ever actually refuted anyone else’s claims? Posting pictures of monkey’s hardly counts as “debate” no matter how much you like to pretend it does. Calling people “KoolAid drinkers” and lauding yourself for your “intellectual honesty” doesn’t make your arguments valid. I get so fucking sick of hearing you harp how “no one’s refuting my claims”, which means little more than, “I don’t *like* your refutation of my claims”. I didn’t “attack your age” in the sense that your age is *the reason* that your claims are wrong, but I do think your youth gives you a far narrower world-view.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
80 was @Alex, btw.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
When have *you* ever actually refuted anyone else’s claims?
Huh? What claims? Of Palin’s good points? I haven’t. Palin has lots of good points. But that’s what everyone else is talking about. There’s no point in adding onto it.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
ACT - I’m not going to gamble away my money and my daughter’s future just so you might get a chance to vote for someome you like better in 2012.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Kavon isn’t answering his phone. I’m stuck in my hotel room in St. Paul.
He’s attacking me on character, so I figure it’s fair game to say that.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
ActBlog, if I decide I don’t like McCain/Palin, I’m voting Barr/Root. I’m not a Republican ideologue… if I have a political ideology at all, it’s Libertarian. Really, I’m just a pragmatist. Which ticket is going to do less harm? At this point, I say McCain/Palin. If they don’t fuck things up, I’ll vote for them. If they do, then why do I care if they win? But I’m not going to sit here and villainize a woman I don’t know and who can’t be any worse than the others simply because she *might* be damaging to McCain. And what’s to say that by 2012 she wouldn’t be perfectly capable and acceptable as the POTUS candidate? I’m no Romney fan. I HATE HATE HATE Huckabee. Pawlenty’s a moron. Palin at least has far more potential than the rest, who have all proven themselves in my eye’s to be utterly incompetent and incapable. Palin at least deserves the chance to redeem herself.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
God Alex, grow up. Kavon took a huge chance on you, giving you the opportunity to post on the front page of the leading GOP election blog despite your age and unorthodox views, and you completely blew it. Quite frankly, I’m surprised Kavon has been as restrained as he is, given how many people you’ve alienated the past several days.
If this upsets you so much, go start your own blog where you can bash the Republican ticket to your heart’s content.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
But I’m not going to sit here and villainize a woman I don’t know and who can’t be any worse than the others simply because she *might* be damaging to McCain.
Villainize? Who on Earth ‘villainized’ her? I simply pointed out her record.
She will be damaging to McCain. Just wait. You have not heard the last of what I pointed out.
This brings me no joy. But I try to see things as they are, not as I want them to be.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
But Alex, if someone says, “Palin has a right to question whether or not the War in Iraq was for oil,” you’ve consistently responded, “Anyone who thinks that is an idiot.” Which is not a refutation. If people try to explain her earmarks for Alaska, you say, “McCain’s against ALL earmarks therefore Palin’s anathema.” Which is not a refutation. The fact is, Alaska has survived for SO LONG on federal earmarks that she wouldn’t have been able to govern at all without them, realistically, and she’s the first governor who has made a concerted effort towards self-sufficiency in the state. You simply assert your talking points and call people idiotic Palinbots if they don’t immediately bow down to your “wisdom”. That’s why everyone hates you right now.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
88 was in response to 82 btw.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
God Alex, grow up. Kavon took a huge chance on you, giving you the opportunity to post on the front page of the leading GOP election blog despite your age and unorthodox views, and you completely blew it. Quite frankly, I’m surprised Kavon has been as restrained as he is, given how many people you’ve alienated the past several days.
Well, it’s not my views so much, but my style. I’m more confrontational and look at things from a highly detached perspective. There are plenty of others on this site — MetroRepublican and Aron Goldman come to mind — that share my ideology. I’m from the foreign policy wing of the party. It’s not like I’m that out there.
If this upsets you so much, go start your own blog where you can bash the Republican ticket to your heart’s content.
I figure that I can use this to show my independent/contrarian credibility and use this as a stepping stone, given that Race42008 has an expiration date, as it is.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:49 pm
No Alex, you didn’t point out her record, you repeated outright lies about her record… the same lies about her record circulated on dailykos and other sites.
Seriously, from someone who old enough to remember what it was like to make an ass of himself on the internet… turn off the computer, go watch the RNC, and don’t come back to this site for a few days. The posts you’re making right now in your defense are doing anything but helping you and you’re just going to regret it later when you Google your name 10 years from now and see this stuff come up.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Alex, you need to chill. You’re far too young to be so pompous.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Thank you Kavon, I had posted rebutting what Alex had said, but was zonked. Post never appeared. I was soured on Race42008. Thanks for restoring my confidence in you guys!
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
No Alex, you didn’t point out her record, you repeated outright lies about her record… the same lies about her record circulated on dailykos and other sites.
Do you think that if something conflicts with your pre-conceived worldview, it is false? Do you think that there are no flaws in her record? Please.
This cult of personality around her needs to end.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Its odd that criticising Palin is now banned. Alex is not the only Republican who has been critical of the Palin pick.
There was another example just today, of Noonan & Murphy trashing her (they thought it was a commercial break).
However, in this era of airbrushed candidates & unthinking loyal support, I guess its to be expected that Alex is being punished for saying what he thinks.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I figure that I can use this to show my independent/contrarian credibility and use this as a stepping stone, given that Race42008 has an expiration date, as it is.
I think that says it all about your character right there. Funny, I don’t think any other contributor to this blog (or even Kavon himself) views this blog as a “stepping stone” to anything other than getting a Republican elected in November.
Send Andrew Sullivan your resume, maybe he’ll take you on as an intern.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I think that says it all about your character right there. Funny, I don’t think any other contributor to this blog (or even Kavon himself) views this blog as a “stepping stone” to anything other than getting a Republican elected in November.
Then you don’t know Kavon very well.
And I have been unabashed about the fact that I want to be a political commentator.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I’m making lemonade out of lemons/finding the silver lining, here.
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Alex, Kavon made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate efforts to attach the Republican ticket after the VP was picked.
You crossed that line and you got what deserved. Perhaps you should have considered that you were breaking Kavon’s trust in you by using _HIS_ blog in ways he had already said were not allowed?
You asked for this Alex. Time for you to suck it up and take responsibility. The victimhood shtick just looks pathetic (poor pitiful Alex stuck in a hotel room). I’m surprised Kavon is still allowing you to comment after knowingly betraying him and abusing your privileges on his blog.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
This blog is all about the Race 4 2008. The media is full of stories of Palin, which is understandable given she hasn’t featured in the national media before. So its also understandable that this blog is full of people analysing her, and either praising or condemning the choice McCain made (and the process he took to make it).
The value of this site is that there are able to be contrarian beliefs, and mostly rational discussions between people about them. (e.g. Romney is the greatest since Teddy Roosevelt, or he’s the biggest charlatan since the Serpent).
To turn the website into an unabashed cheerleading-only site is to render it as a mere GOP Daily Kos. Which isn’t ideal, surely?
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I’m surprised Kavon is still allowing you to comment after knowingly betraying him and abusing your privileges on his blog.
Oh, give it a rest. I did no such thing and you know it.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
To turn the website into an unabashed cheerleading-only site is to render it as a mere GOP Daily Kos. Which isn’t ideal, surely?
Yes it is, man. No criticism of Sarah Palin will be allowed, because she is perfect.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Off topic, but this is my last hurrah, not a stepping stone. I’m got back into politics because of one man, and after the election is over, I’m retiring. Unless Fred runs again, and it seems that it may happen
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I know I’ve been gone a few days, but when did Kavon suspend free discussions?
Apparently the GOP’s claim of being a “big tent” party where criticism is accepted doesn’t extend to this website.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Tommy you’re going, that’s a shame sir. Your man ended on a high note at the RNC though!
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
“Unless Fred runs again, and it seems that it may happen.”
Really? Did he say so or is these rumors from his former team? In any case, that would be a pleasant surprise.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Kavon,
If your memory serves you correctly, I think you will recall that I am probably the only reader/commenter who has been consistently with your site since November, 2006. I remember the days of posts by Woodrow Eisenhower and was here long before every front-page poster with exceptions in the forms of you, DaveG, and LJ. I completely understand your reasoning in removing Alex from the Race42008 team. However… I do find his removal bordering on near-inexcusable censorship. I know better than any how much effort and time you have put into this site, so regardless of what your final decision on the matter is, I will support it as exactly that: your decision.
But it would be untruthful to say I agree with your decision. I ask you as a long(est)-time reader who welcomes all points of view to give Alex a second chance. His post was near-vile, but I believe his intentions were based on a desire to give McCain the best chance possible at POTUS. Was his post constructive when the decision had already been made? Did I agree with any of points? No and no. But Alex strikes me as an intelligent person and with this belief I ask you to consider allowing him back onto your well-assembled team.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Jay,
After the election I’m going, not the convention. However, Fred is leaning towards running again, and if that were to happen, then I’ll be around for a lot longer.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I’m in favor of keeping alex, but I don’t know the whole story, so I’m not going to go any further.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I don’t know the full story either.
But the front page is not just a cheerleading center. We have had negative comments from DaveG worrying about the brand of the GOP in America. We’ve had staunchly pro-Romney comments bordering on the hilarious. We have had criticisms of potential VP choices (are posts that say “McCain must pick Rudy/etc” retrospectively removed as they are implicitly criticising Palin?). We have had analysis of the success of Obama.
All this is perfectly acceptable, in the spirit of free speech. They tend to be swamped by pro-McCain, pro-state of the GOP, pro-Palin posts anyway, and when they are posted they are vigorously debated in the comments section. No bad thing, diversity of opinion.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Whether Alex gets privileges back is Kavon’s call.
I think we ought to leave that choice to him. I’m fine either way as long as the vile attacks against Governor Palin stop.
Criticism is fine but smearing our own candidates with half-truths and innuendo is a bridge too far.
Alex could have stated his opinions in a responsible mature fashion. He didn’t choose that path.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
What is half-truth? In the current partisan climate something the Democrats describe as “true” is an “unfair sexist Media hatchetjob and Obama should be ashamed of himself” to the GOP.
(The Dems use the same method, except replace sexist with racist, Media with right-wing, Obama with McCain)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
2012 could look very similar to 2008, whether McCain wins or loses. He is unlikely to run for a second term, and Romney, Huckabee, and Giuliani all seem read to run in four years. Add in Palin, Jindal, Crist, Thompson, Thune, maybe a couple others….
it could be an even busier year.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 pm
^ that makes it hard for truth to be defined. And insisting that the front page is reserved for things that are unquestionably truth would turn it into nothing more than the latest poll results.
Mind you, there would be no more “Romney is VP”, “Sources: Pawlenty is VP”. So some good would come of it
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Good.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Thank You!
Apology Accepted. Goodbye, Alex.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
You’re a good man Kavon. No need to apologize. I always visit your blog after Drudge and Fox to get informed on politics. It’s a great resource.
I’m sorry Alex wasn’t mature enough to handle the privilage of posting on your site.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The thing I have always enjoyed about this blog is the display of different opinions and factions within the GOP. Even though I consider myself a liberal, I found the Race42008 postings to be generally insightful and thought-provoking. Being able to hear (generally) rational right-wing debate.
In that context, race42008 has gone a long way towards making me more conservative. Before I found this website, I was 100% ready to vote for the Democratic candidate; now, I’m leaning Republican.
But I absolutely will not read a website that censors its posters for expressing valid opinions. Goodbye.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
A wise decision. Very well done!
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hey! Thanks webmaster for making my screenname pointless.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I don’t think Alex has handled being removed from the front page well at all, and until that changes I would vote against bringing him back.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Anyone taking bets that he’s going to defect to Media Matters and become David Brock’s “friend”?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Thank you Kavon.
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
It’s Kavon’s website; go by his rules or you don’t play.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
I will just say that I have no problem with Alex and his self serving opinion. Each personality creates a better team and he stretches it the direction I don’t care to go. But it does push all of us to think and fight for what we believe is right. Many of times I have disagreed with Alex and it has made me stronger in my beliefs. I wish him well in his path and we are so different it probably won’t cross again. His mistake though, was choosing to do something that was in the gray area of what Kavon asked not to have on his website. He needs to just take a small dose of humility, accept that for once he may have made a mistake, and let things take it’s course.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
108:
Where’d you hear Fred would run again?
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
May I email you too? I have a lot to say about Romney and his demonstrated lack of fitness for any public office. To say no would constitute prior restraint of my right to free speech. (Apparently you don’t understand the concept of free speech but whateverz.)
BTW, Romney tanked tonight. Mark Shields and David Brooks were laughing at him. So was I. What loon. He also got totally upstaged by Rudy, Huck, and Palin.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Is that you, Alex?
C-ya! Buh-Bye. Bygones and all that.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Dotan,
I would say neither Mitt nor Mike’s speeches were in the category as Rudy and Sarah’s tonight. But at the same time, all four speeches were strong. I was impressed by all, but Rudy and Sarah I thought were a head above tonight.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Start your own blog, Alex. It’s fun and easy.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I concur, effendi. Rudy and Sarah ruled the evening. But Huck had a few one liners that had my family in hysterics.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
As far as I can tell, Sarah Palin took out Huck, Hillary, Obama and possibly Romney. She’s certainly a force from the looks of her now, but anyone can give a good speech. I don’t think it’s wrong to question her qualfications and her actions as governor. More info is going to come out and anything can happen in 60 days. The future of the party just got a lot more interesting, though.
There is no doubt she’s not as qualified as Romney, but she’s bringing something totally different which is rather refreshing. I think 2012 is going to be interesting indeed. Don’t forget Jindal!
September 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
It’s unfortunate that Alex had to go out the way he did.
As a front page poster, I know neither Alex nor Kavon personally. Kavon took a risk on me EXACTLY one year ago, when I was no more than a commenter - just like Alex was when Kavon took him on. And I have not posted as often as I might have liked. But, I have never, ever been censored in any way, nor has any poster been removed as a result of infrequent posting.
Those of you who read my “Correction?” post know that I agree a great deal with Alex and tried to engage him in a mature debate.
I hope that, someday, Alex will gain the maturity to post only SUBSTANTIATED facts, rather than the garbage rumors and innuendo that he posted today. The fact that I stayed at work for an hour when I didn’t need to just to post my reponse should speak to how annoyed and offended I was by Alex’s poor effort at “neutral” perspectivce.
Therefore, I certainly cannot blame Kavon for booting Alex as a poster. This is not a forum for scurrilous gossip, or half-assed reporting to make a name for oneself.
BUT, I’D ASK KAVON TO CLARIFY FOR OUR READERSHIP THAT OUR POSTERS ARE FREE TO DEBATE FACTS REGARDING OUR CANDIDATES AND OUR OPPOSITION, AND THAT WE ARE FREE TO DEBATE PARTY DOGMA, CHARACTER, CREDIBILITY, EXPERIENCE, AND ALL THE REST.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I hope that, someday, Alex will gain the maturity to post only SUBSTANTIATED facts, rather than the garbage rumors and innuendo that he posted today. The fact that I stayed at work for an hour when I didn’t need to just to post my reponse should speak to how annoyed and offended I was by Alex’s poor effort at “neutral” perspectivce.
Therefore, I certainly cannot blame Kavon for booting Alex as a poster. This is not a forum for scurrilous gossip, or half-assed reporting to make a name for oneself.
BUT, I’D ASK KAVON TO CLARIFY FOR OUR READERSHIP THAT OUR POSTERS ARE FREE TO DEBATE FACTS REGARDING OUR CANDIDATES AND OUR OPPOSITION, AND THAT WE ARE FREE TO DEBATE PARTY DOGMA, CHARACTER, CREDIBILITY, EXPERIENCE, AND ALL THE REST.
Are you kidding? The only reasonable rebuttal anyone gave to me was over the earmarks-per-capita issue.
None of the other points have been rebutted.
It’s not gossip. It’s debating the issues, and the direction of our party, and where our ticket will take it.
Kavon has said himself that he won’t tolerate dissent from the ticket/party line. It is an utter farce to say that we’re not allowed to debate the merits of John McCain and Sarah Palin.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Thanks Kavon. Good riddance to bad blubber.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I will not pretend to know what went on behind the scenes but Kavon seemed forced to make an unfortunate and I’m sure a difficult decision, at least for now. -2cents
September 4th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Alex, this all could have been avoided with a small dose of humility and civility. I know that confrontation is your calling card, but what wore thin for so many people here wasn’t your criticism of Palin, but the breathless pomposity and rudeness you deployed doing it. I mean, I could be wrong, but I (and others, I’d wager) got the impression that you really don’t think much, if anything, of the intellect of anyone else on here. I’ve never once heard you say something genuinely complimentary, that didn’t have a flippant edge to it, to anyone else on here, despite, I hasten to add, the many supportive and laudatory things said about you.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Thank you, Kavon. Completely understood. Does this mean that Alex is on probation, or disinvited to be a frontpage writer?
But may I take this opportunity to thank Alex, and for all the other naysayers in the media, from Keith Olbermann to Sally Quinn to Daily Kos, for making Sarah Palin’s debut speech to the nation a huge hit. Without all the stink and filth they threw at her the past six days, there probably wouldn’t have been much of an audience outside of loyal Republicans. Instead, a lot of Independents and Democrats tuned in, and they got to see the Mother of All Political Homeruns tonight. So thanks for your contribution to a very successful night.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:10 am
#4. Yeah, he was predicting Palin would be dropped from the ticket, and instead, he’s dropped from Race42008. I love irony.
Hope you filled your scrapbook with happy memories of these past few days, Alex. I’m sure you can find a receptive audience at DemocraticUnderground.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:16 am
“Its odd that criticising Palin is now banned. ”
—
I didn’t read anywhere on the line or between them that banned criticizing Palin, the tone and demeanor sound like (and appeared to me) the problem.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:31 am
A few thoughts on all the drama. Unfortunately it seems I must have missed alot of Alex’s posts. I was pretty much busy with school( I have take a break from politics every now and then to not totally ruin my chances for having a sucessful semester) from last night to early this evening.
First of all one thing I have to respond to is the idea that somehow this is a censorship of free and fair speech. I mean I think by now people would have noticed that all of the front page posters are supporters of the McCain ticket. This isn’t a non-partisan site. And if Alex Knepper is being deprived of free speech rights than think about all of us posters who are being deprived of free speech for not having been put on the front page. Here’s the deal, Kavon could ban people for being Christians and he wouldn’t be banning free speech. You can always go to another site or build your own site- nobody’s speech is being banned by taking them off a website. A site is private property, and you have a right to let in who you want just like in your house. This site has always been pro-Republican so it makes sense to take off anti - Republican posters from posting on the front page. Another thing is I think people have compared this to the bashing of Republican primary opponents. That was when we we’re in a primary and our purpose was debate and find the right guy. Obviously our purpose has changed now, and the site should be expected to be more united. Finally there’s a lot of sites that don’t tolerate the kind of dissent we see on here in their comment sections, let alone on their front page.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:35 am
141 - Correct. Ultimately, this is Kavon’s site. This isn’t censorship. This isn’t depriving me of free speech rights. It’s his site, and if he wants the front-page posters to be nothing but cheerleaders, well — that’s his right.
I didn’t read anywhere on the line or between them that banned criticizing Palin, the tone and demeanor sound like (and appeared to me) the problem.
Nope. That’s not why. He’s never had a problem with my confrontational style. It was the fact that I was criticizing Palin.
#4. Yeah, he was predicting Palin would be dropped from the ticket, and instead, he’s dropped from Race42008. I love irony.
I did not predict it. I called for it. I never gave it more than a 25% chance of happening.
I’ve never once heard you say something genuinely complimentary, that didn’t have a flippant edge to it, to anyone else on here, despite, I hasten to add, the many supportive and laudatory things said about you.
You’re kidding me! I love Aron Goldman and MetroRepublican in particular, and I also very much like DaveG, Michael Stubel, Adam — those are just the particulars that come to mind. I love this community and the whole cast of characters.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:51 am
The all-caps are a nice touch. Very emphatic. BTW, the Republican party by definition doesn’t have a “dogma” unless you use the term figuratively. You can vote on a platform or a program; these are historical, socially negotiated sorts of things. Hence: they are the antithesis of dogma. Party doctrine would be more like doxa, which is a Greek term like dogma; it means informed opinion, and reflects the goals, norms, and values of a community, in this case a political community.
Moral: Before you order people around with all-caps please get your terms straight because you will most likely offend the hell out of those of us who value clarity.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Here’s a link.
She later said her words were “taken out of context” but she’s just covering for herself to try to maintain a little credibility in her column.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:59 am
It’s too bad this site has turned into an echo chamber to reiterate the latest GOP talking points. I liked this site best when it had that debate from various conservative points of view (and I know there is more than one view). I’m not a conservative and I live in an area more or less devoid of traditional conservatism–only liberals and libertarians here–so I liked keeping up with your guy’s view points. Alex’s posts were provocative and welcome. So were the endless Romney/Huckabee tirades and the hand-wringing over McCain’s positions. Oh well, there are other blogs out there.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:00 am
And Alex Knepper has seemed to do an amazing job of ticking people off. He’s united people from all corners of the party against him. He was finally put into a position of debating the whole party since it was all pretty much united at this point. And thus everybody got to be on the end of his arrogant confrontational method of his arguing - something I think we Social Conservative had allready experienced.
I will say I think he may have thought that he could stop McCain from going ahead with the Palin pick, and that was actually going to be a good thing. I think showed extreme political naivete, and arrogance - but I don’t know that his motives were bad. However, he did hijack the site from its very mission and that was unacceptable. And he should have apologized.
It’s one thing to criticize, It’s another thing to join the left side to viciously attack your own half of the ticket, and to think he used someone’s site which is devoted to the opposite to do this!
Alex, I think you have some good writing skills. But learn some humility. You can be wrong, and you need to open yourself up to that possibility.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Oh, btw what happened to the daily polls? I hope they have been omitted for space/time consideration and not because they are showing Obama further out in front than many on this site would hope for.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:21 am
“It’s his site, and if he wants the front-page posters to be nothing but cheerleaders, well — that’s his right.”
There’s something in betwen cheerleading and going on a “Jihad” (your words) against the ticket this site supports. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this site only has people on it who support the Republican side, if you don’t like that then when why did you take the position in the first place.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Alex supports the Republicans strongly, as far as I can tell. He even said that he’d support McCain-Palin. He just thought that McCain was walking off a cliff (not with him, but with the general electorate) when he picked Palin. There’s a BIG difference there.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:39 am
PeaJay on the polls my guess was cause they’re wrapped up in the convention at the moment I do hope they return over the weekend good bad or indifferent.
“It was the fact that I was criticizing Palin.”
Well I guess then you’ve talked to him, otherwise you wouldn’t make that statement, which is good and means you probably have a ride to the airport and perhaps can discuss the issue more.
September 4th, 2008 at 2:44 am
149, Once John McCain picked Palin, he had to stick with her - Palin was the pick. Attacking only helped the other side. There was no way McCain was going to dump Palin. Therefore an all out attack on Palin was an all out attack against the Republican side. Constructive criticism ( For, example Dave G’s post about Palin clarifying her stance on birth control) is aceptable. Using this site to go on an all out Jihad against our ticket and spreading all across the web is not acceptable.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:28 am
#151 I agree, just hope Alex can see that or have it explained to him in a personal setting, particularly give the events of the last week, if he can see that I’d like to see him back (live and learn), if not then so be it.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:20 am
PeaJay, I think Kavon’s commenting about not being able to blog explains why the polls haven’t been going up.
On the post’s theme, perhaps Alex posted something beyond what I already read (I wasn’t on anytime Wednesday), maybe something was said/done that we don’t (and shouldn’t) know about. That said, I don’t think yanking Alex was the right thing to do for posting his concerns of Gov Palin. I think he’s wrong on the issues, not wrong for raising them. However, there was more than one commenter who made comments I’d consider worthy of banning that went after Gov Palin and her family…
Alex, concerning the thought that she should be yanked from the ticket, one thing I think you fail to realize is that ANY candidate would have been attacked in a similar way (different issues, but attacked nonetheless). Your youth prevents you from having experienced the media attacks in the ’80’s and ’90’s. This isn’t new, and it’s not likely to sink the election unless Gov Palin lets it (and her speech didn’t sound like she’d let it).
September 4th, 2008 at 5:39 am
I’ll share something with you. Seven months ago I was a blogger over in electromneyin2008.com. When McCain soundly won on 2/5 I did some quick math and realized my candidate had lost. The next day I posted my thoughts, congratulated Romney on a great race, and said I would swallow my pride and support McCain. Problem was, Romney was still in the race (Romney came to the same conclusion and dropped out himself a day later) and the blog’s stated goal was to nominate and elect Romney. Some of my fellow bloggers felt that if I stayed I would defend my position and basically start a frontpage fight as you have (I had no intention of doing this). So, my membership was dropped. Did I stick around complaining about how unfair it was? No. I knew (as you must have) when I made the post it would be upsetting. And I knew, despite being unquestionably correct, I might get in trouble for it. I hoped I wouldn’t and they’d understand, but people will react as they do and they felt they couldn’t work with me. I called up the site’s founder, thanked her for the opportunity and walked away on what I hope were good terms.
You’re not a victim here Alex. Kavon allowed you to post your thread suggesting Palin be dumped. But you continued on and your tone became more self-riteous and shrill. You had to be removed because you were being disruptive for the sake of being disruptive (no matter your original intent). There was no choice but to remove you.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Dems tried to railroad Clarence Thomas too. And Sam Alito. They always try to eliminate ideological opponents. The only time it ever actually works is when Republicans just bend over and take it.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I’m done here. I like the polling data, but if discussions are censored, posts are much less likely to give me something truly new or thought-provoking to read. You all might not mind, since I am an Obama-leaning independent in a swing state — not exactly the target audience. On the other hand, it might be worth thinking a little harder about how to reach and convince voters like me. Censorship won’t. Sean, I wish MyElectionAnalysis would come back.
September 4th, 2008 at 8:31 am
There is a difference between being a devil’s advocate and being a troll. Devil’s advocates inspire spirited discussions. Trolls create uproar. Devil’s advocates get put on the front page. Trolls get banned.
Where exactly that line is is often in the eyes of the beholder. Since this is Kavon’s site, he gets to draw it. Alex crossed it.
You may choose your actions, but you cannot choose the consequences. Alex chose to deliberately break the rules after being warned not to do so. He therefore got the penalty.
Welcome to life, Alex.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Knepper deserves no second chance.
September 4th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Whenever I start feeling impressed with my own wisdom and intelligence, I try to remember the last public speech Benjamin Franklin gave a few short weeks before he died. In it lies this gem:
I think Alex’s mistake was failing to appreciate this little pearl of wisdom. This is a very common trait of youth. Everything is black and white and anyone who thinks different is in error. Alas, I fear it is a common trait in far too many adults as well, myself included.
September 4th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Free speech and anti-censorship doesn’t proscribe people like Kavon keeping trash off this site. Kavon needed to clean up the front-page and I congratulate him for doing so. As part of this community, I agree with his actions. If you don’t abide by the regulations of the community then you can go get your own blog and see if anybody will read it along with all the other trash that fills up terabites of server space.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I’ll register my dissent.
Telling Alex to tone things down is one thing, but booting off the team is something else. I understand the idea of pushing for a McCain victory in November, and I share that objective myself, but we aren’t doing outselves any favors if we turn this place into an echo chamber.
September 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
“Telling Alex to tone things down is one thing, but booting off the team is something else.”
Sean: I agree up to a point. Neither of us know the full story, but isn’t a major part of the issue that Alex WAS told to tone it down, but instead ramped things up? I understood that Kavon had talked to him after the first anti-Palin posts.
The Ben Franklin quote is very good. Like him, I’m found as I get older that I am much less sure about almost everything.
In the 60s, when I was Alex’s age, I was absolutely sure that the Vietnam War was a disaster — today I still think it was a mistake, but I recognize that the people who disagreed with me back then were not villains and knaves, but merely (IMO) mistaken.
September 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Perhaps it would have been better if Alex had been put on “probation” instead of out-and-out banning…
September 4th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I think we can all agree that Alex Knepper is the worst person America has to offer, right?