Bush dodges appearance by Assange, who couldn't possibly come, and cancels speech in Denver.
Former President George Bush is at it again: making up non-existent threats. This time the target is Julian Assange and once again, Bush’s intelligence is completely wrong. According to the Denver Post:…
Article comments
26 - Robert Weller
Yes. Some publications do allow writers to withdraw their name. I had that for 35 years as a writer and editor for the Associated Press. Up above I made mistake. When I pointed out that the Bush release did not come from the White House, I meant to add that it certainly did not come from Obama. As for attribution, i gave attribution. I said Bush's flack has released a statement. It is ridiculous in a day of crowd sourcing to treat a statement as if it was something unique, and the rights to use it must it be obtained. There were more than 40 websites that had it.
27 - Christopher Rose
Alan, I can't do anything about your - in my view - inaccurate view that the editors are a privileged class, unless you mean simply that they have an ability that others don't.
Whether that is a privilege, a burden or simply the case that editing is a necessary part of the process of running a site like this is for every individual to decide for his or her self.
As far as I know, the editors have the roles they do by demonstrating a passion for the subject matter of the section of the site they work on, an ability to turn in well written copy that follows the BC format and a certain amount of level headedness.
That latter quality was probably far less common in the initial wave of editors when they were first introduced but as time has passed it has become more important.
troll, there are many things that Technorati would do well to introduce with regard to Blogcritics and if you, or any other person whose participation is outside the editorial group, had any idea of how we deal with things, you would know that these issues get brought up, if not resolved, quite frequently.
Personally, I am extremely frustrated by many things that we could be doing far better and have a long list of things I would like to see introduced to make the site more interesting.
Gaining any traction for these ideas with the owners or any resources with which to implement them is anything but simple.
I wasn't aware that Technorati had ever considered the role of a ombudsman for Blogcritics and don't really see what benefits such a role would bring, particularly when literally anybody who can string coherent English together can become a BC writer and have the same access to the editors and managers as anybody else.
Developing the community to empower the participants in various ways is just one of many improvements and upgrades that I would like to see introduced but I refer you back two paragraphs...
I would welcome any and all thoughtful suggestions, so if you - or anyone else - has anything of substance to contribute, please do feel free to email them to me.
28 - roger nowosielski
Robert Weller, I'm glad you haven't disappeared altogether. Please accept my apologies for having confused you with another BC contributor. Regardless of your dispute with BC editorial staff on this particular issue, I sincerely hope you'll reconsider your decision to sever your relationship with BC and return.
Roger Nowosielski
29 - Robert Weller
Robert: that is very kind of you. Before I would consider returning I would want to know that I can deny permission to run my story. Sometimes at AP they would go ahead and run a story but remove my name. That was a clue to AP members that something was wrong because AP managers were intent on getting as many bylines out there as possible.
30 - Robert Weller
Roger, sorry. I meant the above for you. And to be honest the only reason I criticized you was because I was angry.
31 - roger nowosielski
I gathered as much, Robert. And I sure hope you'll be able to iron our your differences with the editors. Thank you for your graciousness.
32 - Robert Weller
there are places to write without gatekeepers. allvoices, a startup, is one. you might even make money. they have turned things around in recent months.
33 - El Bicho
Hope you are not counting Saleski in that list of six since your behavior in the comments was one of the things that he said drove him away from BC.
Further speaking to Mr. Weller's professionalism, or lack thereof, is his republishing this article at allvoices without attributing that it was published at BC first. While the logic of his piece is still flawed since people can share forums without being in the same city or country, the presentation is certainly no ringing endorsement for doing without gatekeepers.
34 - Alan Kurtz
El Bicho (#33), as usual, you're blowing it out of your ass. Mark is a former associate of mine at jazz.com, where I was his editor. After he left BC, I emailed him regretting his departure, and he assured me that my commentary had nothing to do with his leaving. Please tell us where, as you falsely claim, he ever said I played any role in driving him away from BC. You are, sir, a liar.
35 - El Bicho
Jerome (#34), as usual, you run your mouth without knowing what you are talking about and demonstrate a complete lack of self-awareness.
I already know of your association at jazz.com from Mark and the reasons he left BC, which we discussed in emails between us. I don't doubt he assured you that you had nothing to do with his leaving, but just because someone assures you of something doesn't mean they are telling the truth or we have a lot of innocent folks in jail. Considering what a relentless jerk you can be, as frequently demonstrated here in the comments, did it not occur to you he may have no longer wanted to be bothered by you so he told you what you wanted to hear?
36 - Alan Kurtz
No, that never occurred to me. I believe Mark Saleski to be a man of integrity who speaks the truth. Unlike some people I could name.
37 - Dan(Miller)
Robert E. Lee is thought to have said,
A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.
Dan(Miller)
38 - Robert Weller
El Bicho. Because Blogcritics published an article in a manner that violated my trust whatever obligations existed were gone. Now I can see why Blogcritics scores have gone down under the new Google algos.
39 - Alan Kurtz
Dan(Miller) (#37), in this context, that is an ambiguous quotation. Does it relate to this article's topic of President Bush cancelling his speaking engagement? Or did you mean it to somehow relate to this commentary thread? It leaves me wondering if General Lee ever said anything memorable about being needlessly cryptic.
40 - Robert Weller
El Bicho. What kind of name is that. Did you used to be a closer for the Yankees. Why not come out and use your real name? As Eric Schmidt of Google said we have a right to privacy but non anonymity.
41 - Dan(Miller)
Re # 39. I don't see anything at all ambiguous about it. Please interpret it as you will.
Dan(Miller)
42 - Alan Kurtz
OK, then, my interpretation is that Robert E. Lee was as lousy a writer as he was a general. He looked good on a horse, but in terms of his strategic decisions during the Civil War, he was a horse's ass.
43 - Dan(Miller)
Re # 42 -- see # 37.
Dan(Miller)
44 - Alan Kurtz
Re # 43 -- see # 39.
45 - roger nowosielski
More likely, he was a pervert.
46 - Alan Kurtz
Robert E. Lee was a pervert? If you're in Lee County, Kentucky, you'd best not say that aloud.
47 - Glenn Contrarian
Editors are a privileged class--privileged by their censorial power over writers and commenters. In my opinion, however, Blogcritics' editors are privileged not by virtue of having earned it, but merely by having achieved it, through means that are anyone's guess.
And editors are given grief again and again and again. Their lot is no fun...particularly if they're not paid. Been there, done that, and it sucks, really. Why? Because each and every doggone contributor to the site has a different style, a different skill level, a different set of assumptions and expectations...and nearly every one of them gripe and moan and complain about what the editor has or hasn't done.
As for myself, in the years I've been writing and commenting on BC I've made a few complaints, and save for a couple of global-warming articles being placed in science rather than politics, I've made ZERO complaints that weren't answered to my satisfaction, and quickly.
The wise writer - though he might butt heads with the editor on a daily basis as Clavos and I do - knows when to shut up and be grateful for the editor's efforts. Besides, you're playing on THEIR turf by THEIR rules, and they have the final say with one hundred percent of the vote. If you think the game is rigged, then it's YOUR fault for continuing to play their game. So either learn to have some gratitude for the editors' efforts...or pick up your toys and take them elsewhere.
48 - Dan(Miller)
Re # 45 -- Elaboration? Source? Definition? See # 37.
Re # 47, If you think the game is rigged, then it's YOUR fault for continuing to play their game. So either learn to have some gratitude for the editors' efforts...or pick up your toys and take them elsewhere. -- quoted for wisdom.
Dan(Miller)
49 - El Bicho
"I believe Mark Saleski to be a man of integrity who speaks the truth."
That makes two of us...for now
50 - Alan Kurtz
I am reconsidering my opinion about Mr. Saleski's integrity. His refusal to clarify, either publicly or privately, what he supposedly said about me forcing him to quit Blogcritics is not the response of an honorable man.
51 - Robert Weller
El Bicho honorable men use their real names and do not hide behind nicknames. I talked with a woman on the phone in Tripoli about what was going on there. She gave me her real name. I withheld it for her safety. Are you afraid someone is going to squash you.
52 - Clavos
El Bicho honorable men use their real names and do not hide behind nicknames.
So, if an individual uses a handle on the internet, which is a prudent thing to do, that individual is dishonorable?
Whatev.
53 - El Bicho
of course you are, Alan, but your statement is not entirely accurate. And is hysterical to see you complain about hearsay when that's all your charge against the editing staff was based on.
"El Bicho honorable men use their real names and do not hide behind nicknames."
Not that I consider myself in the same league, but I'll make sure to pass that info onto Bob Dylan, Kirk Douglas, Woody Allen, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, the writers of the Federalist Papers and the countless others who disprove your ridiculous statement.
And pray tell where's the honor is writing an article that attacks Bush's intelligence by using false information?
54 - Alan Kurtz
Robert Weller (#51), there's no secret to the identity of either El Bicho (#53) or Clavos (#52). Each is an "editor" here at Blogcritics. El Bicho (translation: The Bug or Insect) is Gordon Miller (Film) and Clavos (translation: Cloves) is Nils Florman (Politics). The latter in fact "edited" your article, as indicated in comment #4.
55 - Dr Dreadful
"Clavos" means nails, not cloves, Al.
You're welcome.
56 - Alan Kurtz
Rob Knaggs, I thought Nils means nails. What does Knaggs mean?
57 - Clavos
Not that it's any of your business Al, but from my childhood in México, my bilingual friends, as children are wont to do, morphed my name and Clavos stuck.
Nils ---> Nails ---> Clavos
58 - Costello
This site has bizarre rules. Why is it okay to argue off topic subjects but my critique of an article gets censored without explanation?
59 - Alan Kurtz
Which critique was that?
60 - Irvin F. Cohen
RE # 58
Silly. Because you evidently are a victim of the arbitrary and capricious whims of the Alice-in-Wonderland, Mad Hatter, fickle and petulant Queen thereof, therein; crypto-fascist machinations of the Comments Editor-in-chief of utterly fascistic censorship. That's why silly.
But if it is any consolation to you, this post of mine will also be deleted in its entirety within, oh I would say, roughly five to ten minutes - just enough time for the Comments Editor to see my name. He doesn't even have to read it. All that is necessary for him is to slightly glimpse "Irvin F Cohen" - and he is programmed to automatically push delete button. Because the Comments Editor, gee what's his name, dare I mention it, dare I say Christopher Rose, is not only a crypto fascist but he is also a petty martinet whose time has come and gone and just like Ben Ali, Hosni Mubarak and Muammar - he should step down and voluntarily disappear himself.
61 - Alan Kurtz
IRC, where the fuck have you been? It's about time you weighed on this. Sadly, you're right of course about the survivability of your comment. It won't outlive the hour.
62 - Alan Kurtz
Sorry, make that IFC.
63 - Alan Kurtz
Incidentally, Sarge, I found a new online photo of you. It's overly flattering, of course. But it's still an uncanny likeness.
64 - Nails
Sadly, you're right of course about the survivability of your comment. It won't outlive the hour.
Wrong again, Al. It already has.
65 - Costello
As I have at other sites, I stated my distaste at the charlie sheen coverage.
66 - It Means a Rocky Outcrop, Shorty
Actually, no, Clav. The comments timestamp is on Pacific Time...
67 - Alan Kurtz
So Nils is now officially posting as Nails, and Knaggs is now officially posting as It Means a Rocky Outcrop, Shorty. Oh, no, wait! That last is an answer to my question!
68 - Nails
Actually, no, Clav. The comments timestamp is on Pacific Time...
I knew that, Rocky, just testing to see who's on the ball and who isn't. :-)
69 - Dr Dreadful
Mmm-hmm...
70 - Shorty
Beneath every Rose is a Rocky Outcrop.
71 - Clavos
You're awfully cynical, Doc...
72 - Irvin F. Cohen
Nails RE your # 64 and my # 60;
You win, the hour expired over 24 hours ago.
But do not be so sanguine in your loyal but mindless and vile toady-like defense of him - as I see it, he must be in a coma or have been abducted by arab terrorists or Somali pirates, or I know, as he formerly discussed with Cindy at great length, he must be occupied and all-consumed with breeding with aliens from outer space.
73 - Irvin F. Cohen
Correction, not # 71, but rather your # 64.
My boo-boo, my bad, my fucking error, goddamn mistake.
See how fucking humble I be!
74 - Irvin F. Cohen
Dear Baronius [edited],
As to your # 11, the "gov" ain't my type. However you can easily find my ideal Ophelia-esque "type" in my (brazen plug here) recent article entitled "Discontented and Mad as Hell in Cheese Whiz Land" page 2.
Now as for your #s 17, 23, 39
I must reluctantly and most begrudgingly address you as Bah-right-on, right-on, right-fucking-on, ah-ronius!!!! Way to go, get some, take names and kick some commie ass too!