I concur. From what I've heard he already makes thousands ea month. If he thinks that he spends more time and money on his site than many of us do he's been smokin' that stuff far too long.

He and his clique (aka Mr. Instapundit et al) play the link merry-go-round amongst themselves to inflate their traffic ratings and justify financial support. He's sounds more like a Sunday morning TV show than a blog owner. Some people have no shame.

I'm not a big fan of Sullivan's work and I disagree with almost everything he says, but here's the difference: He's a real journalist and he's a BETTER blogger than those who will read this topic. His time produces more worthwhile writing than most bloggers' would and his education (Oxford doctorate), editorial experience (The New Republic), and access to newsmakers and sources make his blog more important than yours. I know blogging is supposedly all about the DIY ethic, but his "blog" is an example of quasi-journalism rather than amateur blogging since it would be read by many of the same traditional newsreaders who frequent Slate, Salon, and Drudge. The fact that he can publish ideas in a wide variety of media also means that his "writing time" is more valuable a commodity than an amateur blogger's endless hours on his/her site.

That being said, it's cheap and tacky to beg for money on a "serious" website. RJ's right about that. But then Sullivan has shown that he's not above acting beneath his principles.

One word: barebacks.

In fact, one might argue that the reason Sullivan even HAS a blog is because of the damage done to his reputation as a journalist by some of the choices he's made.

That is all.

All fair points, Bob. Sullivan is a smart guy and an ace writer and editor, and the majority of bloggers won't deliver in a year what he delivers daily. But Sullivan's excellent blog also epitomizes the standard problem with this new medium: how do you make a living at using your talents in this way WITHOUT begging or charging? I don't know if there's an easy answer yet.

I am not unbiased, but I think Sullivan's best writing can be found anywhere but on his blog, which tends to dwell on personal trivia and idiosyncrasies that I find far more annoying than enlightening. This approach to fundraising emphasizes Sullivan's hubris and narcissism. But people pay - I give him credit for that.

I'm sorry, but if you can't make a profit off of something that's probably a sign you shouldn't be doing it. Or you aren't doing it right.

Why doesn't he get some advertisers?

Nyx, easy to say -- when you haven't tried something yourself.

Nyx: "...if you can't make a profit off of something that's probably a sign you shouldn't be doing it."

Funny, the older I get, the more I think it's the just the opposite. One of the few benefits of age, I suppose...

I'm with Shark on this one. I've been known to say that I love working but I hate working for money -- so much so that my husband and law partner regularly nags me to actually bill the clients.

I had no idea Sharky was that old.

"Nyx, easy to say -- when you haven't tried something yourself."

Hah! I make a profit from my site. Do you? Way more than enought to cover hosting. In fact I make about as much as blogcritics does and I have a third of the trafffic.

Ya'll won't even listen to me about the advertising. You beg for money when you won't even put a banner at the top of the page.