Over at Fighting Talk, Hamish McKenzie analyses the strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand's top political bloggers through the fiction of a "blog election". Some of the sewer-dwellers seem quite upset at being summarised by "No brains. Not even one". Meanwhile, here's what he had to say about me:
Pros:
- Scrupulous researcher.
- A committed liberal with a consistent message and broad outlook.
- Committed blogger -- almost on Farrar's scale for productivity, except with posts of substance.
Unfortunately, this doesn't translate into many vicariously allocated seats in the virtual house. Still, it's glad to know that my efforts are appreciated.
Congratulations on your bigger head. DO note he also says "just makes the grade" (paraphrased). I think it's your non-NZ postings that got you there. Your rants on NZ politics are really, really terrible. You always personalise your view. Instead of saying that something doesn't stack up, or is ill advised, you almost always go too far and call people by name and label them evil or the potential outcome of a policy is compared with disasters the like of which we have yet to experience. You certainly have a bad habit of killing the messenger to try and deal to the message, and you do it with little grace or intellectual skill. There's a challenge for you to see if next time you truly belong among the exalted instead of just making the cut-off.
ReplyDeleteActually Anon, I think the reason NRT only just makes the grade is "A solid performer with a genuine concern for the facts. Of course, these qualities will get you nowhere in politics."
ReplyDeleteFacts, of course, being undervalued in politics.
NML
"No Brains. Not even one."
ReplyDeleteFunny and bang-on the money really. I don't know what it is about blogs and rightwingers but (judging, at least, from the comments on David F's blog) it brings out the worst in them. I mean I have a few rightwing friends and they can all hold articulate arguments, yet on RW blog comments pages everything simply seems to degenerate into insults. Apparently in these rhelms terms like "politcally correct" and "tree hugger" are perfectly adequate substitutes for reasoned debate...god help us if they get their hands on the country on Saturday.
I don't always agree with you but I think you do an excellent job, NRT. Go, you!
ReplyDeleteAnd the "no brains, not even one" comment is hilarious.
NRT, if it makes you swell a little more, the only reason I knew about your blog was through that simulection (ooh, new word ;) ) so I popped over! Wow, you're famous1
ReplyDelete