Mitch, Mitch, Mitch! If it weren't for double-standards, liberals wouldn't have any standards. As it is, they have twice as many standards.

Hee Hee. Loved the first quote. It's true, the bulk of leftbloggers are a bunch of traffic whores, quoting eachother all the time and not actually providing any original content. Kind of like those links sites that take over expired domains. All they do is repeat and embellish a few blogs like Kos. And this bozo thinks that is what blogging is about apparently. Why should anyone defend MDE? He's a better streetfighter than most of us anyway. And without some kind of institutional backing, his word is his bond. He's only as credible as his last story, unlike paid Media journalists who can do their little hit and runs from under the protection of a corporation, whether it be print or other media. And apparently there, you have to tell an amazing number of lies before they even think about firing you. Hell, you tell lies about the right people, they'll reward you handsomely.

Mitch: the only rub i see in this is possibly breaking campaign laws if his blog becomes a wing of the campaign. since you are most likely the resident expert, any laws governing blogs & campaigns?

I can understand why it might be very confusing to "concerned moderates on the fence" (leftists) hearing someone say that they're Republican, and they actually turn out to be Republican. "Being honest about who he is? What kind of strange political game is he playing...?"

Mitch, I-cannot-beleive the unmitigated gall of these little scumbags. robin marty, a paid, full time minion of one of george soros's spin-off's climbs out of the pit to accuse MDE of blogging malfeasance.

Oooooh, I feel a big one coming on, I'm going to be forced to reeeealy uncork one now...she's gonna blow tomorrow morning!

"Oooooh, I feel a big one coming on, I'm going to be forced to reeeealy uncork one now...she's gonna blow tomorrow morning!"

Thanks for sharing, swiftee, but we'd rather you keep your personal masturbation schedule to yourself.

Brodkorb's claims ""I am not now, nor have I ever been paid to blog." I'm sure that Brodkorb and his set of sycophants will say his short-lived "Campaign for St Paul's Future" wasn't a blog. Problem is it sure looked and smelled like a blog. It used typical blogging format, it referenced entries as "posts" and it used typical blog software for others to enter comments.

And he was paid for it ... briefly. It might have run longer if the sole underwriter felt it was too sleazy and didn't want to be associated with it any longer.

I suspect if you showed 10 non-partisan folks the "Campaign for St Paul's Future" blog -- er, site -- that a majority would say it was a blog.

Personal masturbation? Like your excuse for that video of you bent over the sink in the mens room at the '90's beotch?

I think not my puppet.

Mons...mons...isn't that latin for pussy?

Sure smells like one.

Being the diehard literalist that I am, I just have to point out that Latin for "pussy", if referring to female genetalia would be "cunni", not "mons".

Dang, the lack of parental supervision on this site is refreshing, Mitch.

Swiftee shows off his knowledge of Latin. It's almost as good as his political insight.

Of course, Swiftee has to hide behind a pseudonym ... can't stand to have his real name associated with his viewpoints.

Understandable.

OK, Kids. Settle down.

Rick,

The "St. Paul's Future..." site may have *used* blog technology, but Mike's point is that he's never been paid to write his *personal* blog.

The parallel is this: If I got paid to do the Northern Alliance show (and its associated site, which uses blog technology to update itself and get feedback), I'd still be doing Shot in the Dark for free as an outlet for my own opinion...

...except that CFSPF was further-removed from "MDE" than NARN is removed from SITD; NARN was a direct offshoot of my blog, while CFSPF has nothing directly to do with Mike's personal blog.

As I wrote, Brodkorb's financial ties are better-disclosed that those of, say, Robin Marty (to say nothing of those of the big leftyblogs, like Atrios and Ollie Willis, who are directly on George Soros' payroll and rarely if ever disclose it).

Mitch,

Okay, so what this means:

"I am not now, nor have I ever been paid to blog."

actually means:

"I am not now, nor have I ever been paid to publish a personal blog."

Just seems kind of strange for a group who got apoplectic over Clinton parsing what "is" is. (smile)

But I am glad that Michael is so forthcoming about his various paid/unpaid relationships with various Republican campaigns and undertakings. It's much more refreshing than his past modus operandi where he refused to acknowledge writing MDE and using anonymity as a shield.

The problem is that he seems to use truth and to be forthcoming only when he needs to or when it fits his needs. It's just my opinion but he seems woefully short of personal integrity.

Rick,

Michael has more integrity than most of the people I would associate you with (DFL hacks). Having known Michael for 6 years and worked with him at the Senate I can tell you that he is an outstanding person, a great family man and the bane of the DFL because he knows so many great ways to get you to wrap yourselves up like pretzels over next to nothing. That he's finally getting the credit he deserves in the media & the republican establishment is too long in coming. And "Swiftee" is Tom Swift, another established local blogger who is anything but anonymous. Your opinion is woefully ignorant and therefore useless in this discussion.

"The problem is that he seems to use truth and to be forthcoming only when he needs to or when it fits his needs. It's just my opinion but he seems woefully short of personal integrity."

Right..as opposed to say, robin marty, who is paid to dance on george soros' strings full time, snivelling because someone else gets paid better to write propaganda than she does.

Lefty dingleberries long ago forfeited their right to have their opinions on personal integrity taken seriously anywhere outside the fever swamp...you'll have a lot better luck peddling your opinion on any other subject there as well.

TJSwift, known far and wide by anyone and everyone who matters as "swiftee".

Swiftee, the issue is who is paying. Last time i checked Soros wasn't a politician, which is a big difference.

Fulcrm - Soros DOES have a political agenda though and paid IS paid. If you are going to slam someone for being "paid to blog" then you had best make sure that your house is squeeky clean.....

TLL, i agree with you, but I think there is a difference between blogging for Soros or a politician, when being paid by either outfit. And I want to note I was not slamming anyone...my only earlier post (which unfortunately went unanswered) dealt with blogging for a campaign and if there were laws that governed this relationship.

Off the subject, can't wait for Sunday night. I only wish I could be at Alary's for this one.

P.J. - glad to hear you're impressed with Brodkorb's integrity. Too bad his underwriter wasn't and yanked the funding for his St Paul "blog" That's what Brodkorb gets when he hires out, I guess.

Swiftee - Ah, now the identity of Swiftee is explained. I frankly had forgotten all about him. It wasn't hard.

Fulcrum, are you saying you're less concerned about it is one very wealthy individual with a history of ethicially questionable behavior trying to influence our government rather than folks with an outfront agenda like the campaigns themselves?

Personally, I don't give a rip if Robin's paid nor MDE. In both their cases they haven't much changed their behavior despite their income sources, nor has their credibility changed much.

But it is curious that the libblogs were so passionate in their defense of Kos given his documented changes in behavior based on his partner's pay. How does that jibe with this attack on MDE, whose behavior hasn't changed despite the pay? As Scott put it in the first comment, without double standards it doesn't seem the libs have standards.

"I think there is a difference between blogging for Soros or a politician, when being paid by either outfit."

So MoveOn.org, Markos "Screw" Them Moulitsas, and the odorous Ms. Huffington are complete free of any political taint?
That's good to know.