I suppose much of the honor should go to Darleen, who’s been keeping the site alive and vibrant with quality posts in my absence. So thanks for that. Great job!
Ironically, one of the (many) reasons I decided to halt daily posting — aside from the rhetorical hoarseness that comes from shouting into the abyss day in and day out — was the loss of site revenue when, eg., Newsmax dropped me as one of their newsfeed carriers, and never included me among their network of Twitter affiliates. What was once a labor of love had become merely labor — though I love my readership and continued for several years because of it, long after I’d grown despondent and recognized the futility of my efforts.
So it was a real shock to find (h/t Mike Laroche, via facebook) that protein wisdom had not only broken through to someone’s radar, after years in the wilderness, but that what it produced was being appreciated after so long a time.
A few days ago Newsmax contacted me and let me know they’d like to get me back on the payroll in some capacity. I haven’t responded, first, because when I switched phones I lost emails containing contact info, and second, because I’m not sure I am ready to start writing daily in longish form again right now. The thought gives me the jitters, honestly.
I’ve kept semi-active by posting to Twitter and facebook, but my profile on Twitter, for all I’ve produced, remains relatively low — a product of the same kind of unspoken freeze out that tried to bring protein wisdom down over the last 4-5 years. And thought I’ve been able to pick up some new followers, my abrasiveness, as it’s viewed by many Twitter-famous pundits on the right, keeps me on the periphery, with people who used to chide me and my positions as “extreme” or “unhelpful” now regurgitating the very substance they once used to justify my marginalization as both “unhelpful” and “purist.” Nature abhors a vacuum, I suppose — and opportunists are always looking to fill those voids, even ones they themselves helped nurture if not actively create.
My thoughts on coming back now are this: because I’ve learned the importance of Twitter reach in breaking through as a voice in this latest iteration of new media, I have set a goal to attract 5000 Twitter followers. If I can reach that goal — unlikely, given that I’ve been holding steady in the 3300 + range for a long time now — I’ll make a tentative return to see if I’m once again simply spitting into the wind, or if the winds have changed a bit, and my spittle finds its way to those targets who deserve, desperately, to be covered by it.
— Which reminds me: here’s a story of life in the public (pundit) eye I think might interest some of you. As I noted on Twitter, the backchannel slanders, the bizarre collecting of screen shots and seeming oppo research file of emails, texts, Tweets, etc., to be marshaled — out of context, often — really rang true to me. For reasons many of you will readily understand. CLOWN NOSE ON!
I’m not keen on re-entering this kind of online world. And yet, I still feel — narcissistically, I suppose — that I have something of value to offer the conservative movement. Or at least, that part of the movement not especially interested in procuring some mainstream gig or consultancy contract, but rather interested in saving the republic — and being willing to take on all comers, regardless of political affiliation, when there are legit bones to pick.
One of the things I learned yesterday is that John Podheretz has me blocked. About a week back I found out that some of the writers for Ace’s site had me blocked, as well. Then of course, there’s the Twitchy banishment, and the attacks by Twitter “luminaries” like Ken Gardner, who pronounce on my idiocy to their 30K + followers, citing their number of retweets as proof of their political relevancy.
It’s just another clique farm for would-be pundits, but there are enough rank and file readers — and honest opinion writers — that I still may be able to reach that I feel like maybe I should give it a more concentrated effort once more.
Of course, the fact that I announced that I may return should I collect 5K Twitter followers — which seems to be a baseline before the Twitter-famous will take you seriously or respond to your Tweets — will almost certainly lead to a decrease in followers. Because frankly? Many of the other sites on that Newsmax list — and those who didn’t make it but are closely aligned with several who did — would much rather I not return.
Doing so would ruin all their hard work — much in the same way pw’s making the list must seem to them a gigantic cockslap to the face.
To which I say 1) Thanks, Newsmax. And 2) embrace the mushroom bruise, assholes.
outlaw.
Jeff posts:
“My thoughts on coming back now are this: because I’ve learned the importance of Twitter reach in breaking through as a voice in this latest iteration of new media, I have set a goal to attract 5000K Twitter followers. If I can reach that goal — unlikely, given that I’ve been holding steady in the 3300 + range for a long time now — I’ll make a tentative return to see if I’m once again simply spitting into the wind, or if the winds have changed a bit, and my spittle finds its way to those targets who deserve, desperately, to be covered by it.”
I am thinking that you mean you have a goal to attract 5000 Twitter followers, not 5000K. Because, while 5000K would be awesome, it is, you know, 5000K, which is a LOT.
Just sayin’
5000K or bust!
Jeff wrote: I’m not keen on re-entering this kind of online world. And yet, I still feel — narcissistically, I suppose — that I have something of value to offer the conservative movement….
Nothing Narcissistic about it. You would do it out of your love for The United States and all it stands for and out of your deep sense of responsibility for our Posterity.
Your self-knowledge is lacking in these kinds of matters.
I’m only speaking from my personal point of view here so my opinion may not be representative of a potentially wider audience. After discovering the Protein Wisdom site years ago, I found myself regularly coming back to it because of its whimsicality and creativity. The Internet is awash with political discourse and one can find numerous sites in any ideological flavor one prefers, but not every site has that little spark of craziness that makes reading it a fun experience. Darleen is doing a great job and she has a wonderful sense of humor, but I miss the “what the….? Oh….OH!!” moments that can only be evoked from reading something hatched in a demented (in a good way) mind like Jeff’s.
I think it’s the charge of “demented” that in large part expedited my banishment. DEATH THREATS!
Newsmax did it because if Jeff does come back it means I won’t post any more silly short stories.
Which, I can live with that.
Everybody thinks it’s the armadillo who causes all the trouble, but those of us in the know can tell you that we’re really scared witless by the dolphin in the peacoat. Seriously, man — that dude could end you on a whim.
END. YOU.
Creativity is impossible without a playful mind.
The “alternative” media became mainstream in short order and the self-selected elite consciously or subconsciously began adjusting their message to conform with their new status. Ace is one of those among many.
There remains, however, a sizable remnant who don’t wish to parrot the relentless “Yay, Team!” mantra that so many of these sites have become. You refused to do that and became ostracized. Now, more and more people are seeing how corrupt and anti-American the current crop of politicians are, regardless of party. Those people are looking for writers who express what they feel.
And that may explain your listing on Newsmax.
Come back when you’re tanned, rested and ready. We’ll be here.
What got me here years ago was the brilliant writing of things via writing about other things.
Conversations with Billy Jack, Corey Haim’s afterlife, John Bolton’s mustache, etc.
If you came back to write nothing but those kind of sly, multi-layered bon mots, the cheers would be deafening.
he drinks a whiskey drink he drinks a vodka drink he drinks a lager drink he drinks a cider drink
jazz hands to you
As long as it doesn’t rub them on its skin.
here is the jazz hands reference it case you missed it:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/24/feminist-conference-says-clapping-triggers-anxiety/
That first link should go here: http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/conservative-blogs-newsmax-list/2015/03/24/id/634218/
It goes to the pocket full o’ liberty article instead.
Also, her name is Melissa Moore of Tampa, FL, but I don’t know her online aliases.
Thing is, Jeff, events have overtaken your putative enemies. Even ACE has twigged to “your outrage at my utterances doesn’t change what I said.”
They denounced Churchill for his warmongering until war came to England, then suddenly he was the most important man on the planet.
After the war he was summarily tossed aside, but hey: saved the world.
The viper herself: https://twitter.com/melissamoore
And here: https://about.me/melissamoore
And here: https://www.pinterest.com/melissamoore2/
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world she didn’t exist
Thanks for the hat-tip, Jeff. And I hope you reach your goal of 5,00o Twitter followers. It would be great to see you back here writing regularly!
So, Zoomies! . . . how does it feel to be the official Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, eh? Outstanding, right?
US conducting airstrikes to help
IraqIranian Revolutionary Guards Corpsretake Tikrit.And won’t it be sweet to own the annihilation of all those innocent Sunnis at the hands of the IRGC and Shiite militia? Oh so sweet to see the stacks of women and children piled up like firewood. Never has there been a more American commander-in-chief than Hajj Qassem Suleimani. Never.
world war iv news
Report: Saudi Arabia forces bombing rebel targets inside Yemen, US officials tell @NBCNews
I was a regular reader for years and I do hope you come back. With a few exceptions the conservative blogosphere is good and useful but very much the same, site after site; the same stories and same comments about those stories over and over. You and Ace and others like you made a successful go of your blogs because you have something different to offer. I came here to read YOUR commentary because I can’t get commentary like it anywhere else. Never mind the other mean girl dumbassery of the internet; you’ve got something of real value to offer.
Glenn Beck just pulled Grover Norquist’s arms and legs out of their sockets by exposing his ties to Muslim Brotherhood front groups.
Norquist was supposed to appear on today’s TV show to answer questions about the charges Glenn was making but he bailed at the last minute, after saying he would appear.
Glenn is going to make today’s show available for free, tomorrow I think, and it’s worth seeing how the right’s own snake-in-the-grass has insinuated himself into some awfully “respectable” corners of the GOP while maintaining ties with jailed and known terrorists.
allan ackbar news
Germanwings Pilot Was Locked Out of Cockpit Before Crash in France
world war iv views
The man who depicted himself as a transcendent figure on history’s stage, who described his foreign policy vision at the Temple of Hercules has been out-thought, out-generaled and completely outclassed by men with far fewer resources, but a great deal more ability than himself.
[…] a rare post today, over at his site Protein Wisdom, Jeff […]
Good for Mr. Beck.
About bloody time someone did it.
>Norquist was supposed to appear on today’s TV show to answer questions about the charges Glenn was making but he bailed at the last minute, after saying he would appear.<
norquist was thursday's show. thursday's now another expose on norquist.
Drill, Baby, Drill
Casting Crowns – East to West
for mr g. metaphorically(idiot usage perhaps)
Set Me Free
Hear him! Hear him!
do not be afraid
workplace violence
President Ronald Reagan – Liberty State Park [Pt. 1]
I blame Linda Howard.
I came here to read YOUR commentary because I can’t get commentary like it anywhere else. Never mind the other mean girl dumbassery of the internet; you’ve got something of real value to offer.
Don’t discount the value of quality mean girl dumbassery. That’s why I’m still here.
To this day, the funniest thing I have ever read on the Internet is Martha Stewart’s Prison Diary. Being unique in the blogosphere ought to be enough.
Have you ever read some of those other sites on that list? They’re so unhelpful nowadays.
Anybody happen to notice the essential similarities between Andreas Lubitz and the ClownDisaster as US foreign policy flies into the ground? It ain’t no accident.
….whereas I’ve been unhelpful for, like, forever!
If anyone would be interested in a 10th Anniversary, self-published edition of the Martha Stewart Chronicles, let me know, and please RT this: https://twitter.com/proteinwisdom/status/581115398654840832
If there’s enough interest I’ll combine them into a coffee table book.
1) Ignore twitter. Seriously. Pretend it doesn’t exist. If you must post, at very least don’t care at all about the “Big Names” echo-chamber(s).
I ignore it, and I lose absolutely nothing so doing; it’s a vacuous waste of time and anti-content.
2) As much as I like your insights and especially pieces on semiotics, Darleen’s posts do nothing at all for me.
But, then, I’m no Conservative, and the last thing I care about is Red Meat for the base, which is how those posts always come across.
Sincere red meat for the base, mind, but that nonetheless.
(On the list itself, Instapundit is still mostly good, except for the comments, which mostly aren’t.
But then, they think Glenn is … “conservative”? I mean, he doesn’t like the President’s policies or the institutional left, and I guess NewsMax can’t tell the difference? The man’s no more a conservative than I am.
[Then again, one wonders how many of the NewsMax crew even know who Kirk is, let alone read him, or have any idea about conservatism beyond “the Republican Party of myth”. I respect the conservatism of Kirk or the like, even if I don’t embrace it entire- that of NewsMax, well, it’s hard to tell apart from “the opposite of whatever the Democrats want”.]
HotAir, RedState, and FreeRepublic are “do not even bother clicking”. At least The Corner often has some brain cells and integrity; Buckley’s legacy is not entirely dead, even if most of the content is uninteresting.
Reason’s blog? Conservative? Maybe “useful for Conservatives to read”, sure. But, that’s not what the list is titled. And sadly, increasingly thoughtless, kneejerk clickbaiting. Bring back Postrel as editor.)
[…] from the Daily Caller Someone page Dr. Jeff Goldstein, STAT! Hillary Broke Same Laws As Snowden Instapundit: Talk of Campus “Rape […]
Like it or not, Twitter is a conduit these days to getting read. Part of me wants to ignore it and in fact I was a very late adopter — which is why so many of the Twitter-stars on the right, who built followings using 140-character blurbs, never heard of me or read pw. I have been attacked on there by Big Time members of the “right” Twitteratti as a fraud, a charlatan, not at all classically liberal, a Moby, an imbecile, one given to “schtick” rather than substance — the majority of them having never once read my blog, and when given a link to click, refuse even to do so.
Then of course there was the campaign against me, which wages to this day. While Ed Morrissey at HA will RT me, Allah, Jazz Shaw, et al. — in fact, just about every “conservative” lawyer, now that I think of it, save Jacobson and a few others — continue to ignore me. Ditto many of the old guard, who I’m guessing bought into the narrative about me pushed backstage by, well, we all know who.
From Malkin and Treacher to David Limbaugh and John Podhoretz; from Tammy Bruce (on whose show I once appeared) to Gabe Malor to a total bracketing by Twitchy (look, I may not be the best Tweeter in the world? But some of what I write there is pretty decent — yet never good enough to be included in collations intended to get people to follow those who the Twitchy crew wants you to follow): the movement to keep me marginalized is still going strong. And there’s a reason for that: those who bought in to some asshole’s special pleadings, behind the scenes importuning, carefully culled “evidence” of my perfidy, etc., can never, ever, admit they were duped. And because I’ve been vocally and openly critical of them, they must continue to pretend that I’m the problem, lest they are forced to admit their own mistakes.
So I have to go around them. And it’s a sad fact of today’s social media climate that unless you have a certain baseline of followers, you can’t coax replies out of many people who most certainly need them some public confrontin’.
Note that I don’t avoid publicizing them on Twitter by RT when they do work that I find interesting; that is, unless it’s someone like Podhoretz who has me blocked, making it impossible for me to RT some of the stuff from Commentary that I’d like to bring to my followers. Seems like a shitty business model, but then, I guess I do provoke strong feelings one way or another.
I’m trying to go around the gatekeepers. To become, in the sniffing parlance of the canonized, a “populist.” NewsMax, surprisingly, helped — and I honestly do thank those there who compiled the list for appreciating work that I’d long believed was no longer appreciated in any but the most narrow of circles — and yet the sad truth is there are plenty of sites left off that list that will hate me even more now for having somehow broken through their blockade.
So because I will continue to fight an uphill battle should I return, I need some momentum to convince me it’s worth coming back. Sucks, I know, but I’ve taken a 4-year-long beating, so if I’m going to tough it out again, I need to know there’s a chance I can break through, regardless of whether or not the Names continue to treat me as persona non grata.
2 new unfollows!
Jeff, here‘s (possibly non-coincidental with this thread’s call out) a micro-crack in the dam.
coffee table book.
You mean “Free Trade, Micro Financed, Warm Beverage Support Bookette”, right? Because otherwise you’re a racist carpetphobe and probably someone who thinks the arm of a sofa is good for nothing but rape.
I just clicked over to some (one) of those sites and I think you’re not edgy enough. You should go on a rant about how Evangelical Christians shouldn’t say Evangelical Christian things unless there’s no way some liberal asshole could take it the wrong way. Demonstrate this by taking the Evangelical Christian’s quote the wrong way. Fill the entire Blue Book. Open Thread. Hey, doesn’t everyone hate Cruz? Whattan asshole!
Never get out of the boat LMC… Never get out of the boat.
sdferr many of us here were like the pilot who knew what was going to happen if he didn’t get the door open. The rest are the passengers who did not start screaming until just before the plane hit the mountain.
Can’t help but say yes, you are right bgbear, we knew or at least had deep suspicions if yet those were incompletely articulated now and again.
Thing is, while time for reflection remains, what was it that was and is so wrong? What disabled the safeguards the Constitution provided? What was not imagined in the building of those safeguards?
I’d offer on a shorthand hypothesis, the “white guilt” of which Shelby Steele warned and explained before the 2008 elections came to pass, i.e., irrational and immature political motivations on the part of Americans generally speaking. Confronting these, if this hypothesis happens to be so, appears to be the task at hand. This amounts to people generally holding themselves accountable for the disaster about to take place. No simple thing, that. People seem to prefer fairy tales about their own goodness.
also, this is a repeat, I think that sooner or later someone was going to figure out that the Constitution relies on the honor system.
What went wrong was, the press — populated more and more by radicals — took sides, and the “loyal opposition” — populated by popularity-seekers — lost control of its bowels.
Of course, if the consumers of media content had punished the liars, or if the customers of the GOP had prevented the rise of pols who just wanna be popular, neither of these developments by itself would have been enough to bring such ruin.
Even so, liberty makes unheralded gains. How many states had “shall issue” CCW 20 years ago? How many today?
How many states were “right to work” in Clinton’s day, and how many now?
In 1995 what is now called “constitutional carry” existed only in Vermont. Soon Kansas will be the fifth to adopt it (if Brownback knows what’s good for him) and the momentum will continue to grow.
Grover Norquist has agreed to appear on Glenn Beck’s TV program at 5pm ET and it’s being shown for free: http://www.theblaze.com/grover/
You have to sign up but no credit card is required. You can always blacklist the spam when it comes.
Not that we didn’t suspect it already, but it’s nice to see someone name names and attempt to untangle the web of influence and money that the MBs have injected into the GOP. People like Norquist need to be outed and his enablers driven out of office.
wow, Jeff even made Twitchy today.
hmmph, that twitchy link is where I intended the link at 11:19 to go to, but evidently screwed it up.
I see your links intention now. Jeff is getting to be like Sheriff Bart in “Blazing Saddles”.
More like, Sdferr, a crack in the Goddamn.
You write, I read.
For me, it’s that simple.
Forget twitter except as an ‘ad’ place. YOUR writing may have drove as many people to stay as went away. You and I don’t agree on a couple things, but it hasn’t stopped either of us from staying in the argument – that is what principled people do. They don’t pick up their blocks and go away.
Yea, get back into the fight and bring your blocks…..
Jeff,
I’ve been a “lurker” for many years, but I want to let you know how much this site has meant to me. Yours is one of only a handful of sites I checked on a daily basis. I have particularly appreciated all of the posts on the critical importance of speakers’ intent, and what a huge mistake it is to let readers hijack an author’s content to claim that it means something that the speaker didn’t intend at all. I’ve also greatly appreciated your honesty with respect to the leadership of the Republican Part; they are not merely cowards and hypocrites, they are on the other side. The only thing that can save this country is a return to the founding principles of individual natural rights, and limited government (primarily limited to protecting those individual natural rights.
So please come back on a more regular basis. I will even consider following you on Twitter, even though I don’t tweet and don’t follow anyone on Twitter.
I suspect, Jeff, that there are a lot of Tim_K’s out there.
Thanks, all.
I’m working on an Outlaw flag – if that helps.
bgbear says March 26, 2015 at 1:08 pm
sdferr many of us here were like the pilot who knew what was going to happen if he didn’t get the door open. The rest are the passengers who did not start screaming until just before the plane hit the mountain.
Came here to say this.
Maybe it’s too late to get back in the cockpit. But those with axes most welcome.