Cole is a good blogger when he's on, and I really have a lot of respect for the guy for engaging visitors in his comments. I can't stand bloggers who have comment sections, but never participate in them.

That said, John's style has always been confrontational, hell, he's Misha's blog father. I'm sure his concerns regarding the recent actions of the Republicans are no more heartfelt than those of other moderate Republicans, but his blogging style tends to push those concerns in your face.

There are a lot of moderate Republicans out there who don't agree with everything the party does. I'm one of them. There are also a lot of moderate Republicans out there who feel they are forced to be more partisan than they would normally be because of the Democrats partisanship. That's just the political environment of the day, and it may change, or it may not.

I don't see any benefit in bashing the Republicans for every misstep they make, primarily because the thought of the Democrats profiting from my bashing my own party makes me sick to my stomach. Conversely, I don't find anything wrong with John Cole bashing the Republicans - it's his blog, and if that's what he wants to do, more power to him.

Some folks think Cole is simply pimping for hits by attracting lefties to his site to glory in his Republican bashing - hell, the guy has been favorably quoted on Kos, Oliver Willis, and DU, the prime lefty moonbat sites. I don't think that's the case, but I think it's a good example of what happens when you try to be reasonable with a bunch of unreasonable people. Personally, I don't want to be used as a club to beat my own preferred party with.

That said, John's style has always been confrontational, hell, he's Misha's blog father. I'm sure his concerns regarding the recent actions of the Republicans are no more heartfelt than those of other moderate Republicans, but his blogging style tends to push those concerns in your face.

Yeah, but I can't control who inspired me. And, in my defense, when I started to blog, I was still in a frothing "Kill them all and let God sort them out" mode with 9/11 having just occurred. I have calmed down since.

Personally, I don't want to be used as a club to beat my own preferred party with.

Me either, but somebody has to beat some damned sense into these people. It is my party, and I helped get us here, so I am responsible.

As it is, I wonder how much of a moderate 'Republican' I really am anymore, despite having been a Republican my whole life. I certainly don't seem to share the same value system anymore.

And another reason I am linked by lefties- I am friends with them. I have known Kos since his site had 500 visitors a day. I wrote for him for Political State Report. I chat with Oliver Willis and Matt Yglesias online every now and then. In general, I don't think they are evil- just wrong much of the time. Lately, I think they are right abuot some issues of importance to me.

At any rate, have a good day.

John,

No need to defend you blogging style - I enjoy it, or I wouldn't keep coming back for more. I'd point out as well that I'm not making any accusations about your motivation for attracting the left wing comment horde -- I've seen comments on Balloon Juice from Ricky West and a couple of other folks accusing you of boosting your hit count with the Republican bashing, but I don't think that's the case. Nevertheless, you got another big link from Kos today, so I think you may be in danger of Sullivanization from the righty blogs.

I mentioned on my blog that I'm still mulling this over before I write anything else - Jack and I are old friends, and I'm well aware that his thought process is pretty close to yours these days. I don't want to add to the knee-jerk chorus, so I'll be a little slower in posting on this than others might be.

Regards,

I really like KOS's blog. I get so wrapped up in reading it, that I run out of time to make comments. There is just NOT enough time in the day. However, I think it is often right on target, not that I agree with everything posted there. If you think KOS's blog is seriously left, then you haven't been to some of the sites I have. Right now, and I am a liberal, I want to dump all but about 2 people in the senate and congress, of all party affiliations, as long as they take Karl Rove, Bush, Chaney and the rest of them along for the ride out of town with the same lack of cheer and fanfare with which they rolled into town.