The myth of Glenn Reynolds, centrist
Published September 04, 2003
But it is telling that while the 10 roughly pro-Bush stories were all linked (or referred to, in one case) by Reynolds with positive comments ("read the whole thing") or no comments, these two stories were the only Howler stories to get linked with accompanying negative criticism.
Oh, except for that one remaining Howler story that InstaPundit has linked to. That story is roughly a defense of Al Gore against false charges in the media. Of course, Reynolds felt obligated to add that Somerby's criticisms and the like are "echoes of what I heard conservatives say about Clintonian media control."
13 Howler links or references.
10 to stories roughly defending Bush, most of them linked with positive and encouraging commentary.
Of the remaining 3 links, all three entries contain some amount of commentary that indicates Reynolds disagrees with or doubts the premise of the story.
Just going by this example, which, of course, is not comprehensive, one might nonetheless call this pattern 100% consistent with a conservative point of view.
Glenn Reynolds has no obligation to link to the Daily Howler in a representative way, of course, or to refrain from exclusively criticizing those Howler stories that criticize the right-leaning press. Reynolds, obviously, can link to whatever he wants and say whatever he wants.
But when he engages in a pattern of choosing links and adding commentary that clearly come from a rightward perspective, we don't have an obligation to call that "centrist."
Conservatives can deny that they are conservative all they want. The rest of us do not have to participate in their fair and balanced denial.
Washington Monthly unfair to Bush
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/011361.php
(no critcism; 3rd plug for the series on the WM)
Washington Monthly unfair to Bush
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/011333.php
(no criticism; "First class all the way")
Washington Monthly unfair to Bush
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/011308.php
(no criticism, but criticizes the WM)
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010664.php
(no criticism; urges readers to check out more)
Defending Wolfowitz
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010593.php
(passing mention in quote; no link)
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh072303.shtml
(no criticism; "Indeed.")
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010578.php
(no criticism)
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010553.php
(no criticism)
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010521.php
(no criticism; "There's a lot more, read it.")
Niger "lie" blown out of proportion
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/010498.php
(no criticism; urges readers to "read the whole thing")
Defending Al Gore
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/005802.php
(but adds comment calling complaints about pro-Bush bias "echoes of what I heard conservatives say about Clintonian media control.")
Angry White Male Myth
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/005101.php
(along with 14 links counter to the Howler's claim)
Angry White Male Myth
http://www.instapundit.com/archives/005084.php
(but Reynolds criticizes Howler's claims at length)
Experiment 1 ("Demonstrating the Obvious") is now completed.
Experiment 2 ("Demonstrating the Obvious") in progress...
- The myth of Glenn Reynolds, centrist
- Published: September 04, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Internet, Culture: Media
- Writer: Brian Flemming
- Brian Flemming's BC Writer page
- Brian Flemming's personal site
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Comments
Really, Brian, you're SO silly. Depending on how you calibrate the scales exactly, in the current datafield of contemporary American political outlook, Glenn would probably have to rate as a little right of the mean, but easily within one standard deviation of the mean- thus a centrist. His general outlook might best be described as a conservative centrist.
So what's your problem? You just can't seem to stand dissent. No one is allowed to stand an inch to the right of Hillary without being called an evil fascist or some such.
Ignore Asinine Al and his echo, Brian. What you've said about Glenn Reynolds is something that has needed to be said out loud for the 10 months I have been familiar with the blogosphere. I remember pestering Atrios about why people were accepting Reynolds' false claim he is a centrist when I was a baby blog addict. One of my happiest achievements was helping out Reynolds along with his fellow reactionary, gun research fraud John Lott. (They were very much in bed together before Reynolds distanced himself.) As long as Glenn Reynolds is the voice of Bloggersville to most people, we have something to be embarassed about.
BTW, Reynolds has a gripe with the Washington Monthly related to it having taken down him and his gun lobby friends in a story that showed lax enforcement of gun laws by ATF is caused by Republican lobbyists, including some he is associated with, having been successful in watering down the law. If you aren't aware of the guy's involvement with those loonies, search blogs about four months ago, at the peak of the Lott scandal. Many of us wrote about it -- including me for Atrios, Calpundit, Roger Ailes and on Mac-a-ro-nies. Summary? The gun goon involvement shows Reynolds' true Right Wing colors.
To be a centrist, there has to be a center. I don't think I've ever claimed to be a "centrist." My views are more "eclectic" than "centrist."
And it's not as though those Howler posts are pro-Bush, really. Did you read 'em?
Glenn, I am the one who said you were centrist in a comment on Brian's original attack post, and your term "eclectic" is more correct. "Centrist" implies views that hew to the middle as a matter of course, my meaning was averaged together, your views come out in the middle, which is a different thing.
Brian, also, it would be helpful to make the aHowler URL listings actual links so readers don't have to copy and paste.
If Glenn is eclectic or a centrist, why isn't he associated with any causes that are not Right Wing?
Feel free to name any liberal or progressive positions Glenn supports.
Anytime Mac Diva is defending your point of view, you need to totally reassess your position.
Glenn does support some positions, such as criticism of the drug war, which are often associated with the left, but also supported by libertarians. And he's quite anti-Saudi, which is also often a left position - but Glenn, characteristically, pretends that liberals ignore Saudi abuses. He's more right-libertarian than straight conservative, although like most bloggers of that ilk, he doesn't really reconcile his love of military intervention with his disdain for large, centralized governmental bureaucracies which are about 5% as large, centralized, and bureaucratic as the Pentagon.
Good points, Alex. The whole see-no-evil stance of the Bush administration in regard to the Saudis is laughable. If bin Laden turned up sitting on a Saud's lap, they would pretend he wasn't there. And, war is as big a government event as ever happens. A weirdness (among many) of some of the Right libertarians is they hate Lincoln because he led the government during the Civil War, but love all contemporary wars. Is that a contradition, or what?
Terry, STIMULATE yourself.
Feel free to name any liberal or progressive positions Glenn supports.
Gun rights- a major and underappreciated freedom under the Bill of Rights- and perhaps the most important


If Howard Dean can be labeled a centrist, I don't see why Glenn can't. But, hey, seeing as how you're unbiased, I guess I'll just have to take your word for it. A little teeny hint: Glenn is pointing out exceptions with the Howler citations(and the "fair and balanced" meme is soooooooo last month).
Not attacking or asking questions, just stating my opinions.