It depends on whether you're talking about classic, TV series, or remake, because a James Franciscus is going to carry a lot more street cred than some piece of crap Mark Wahlburg.

Hey Ace, look what the NY Times published.

Today, a tightly knit and moderately self-referential cadre of D&D-literate conservatives with uniquely acerbic senses of humor, tomorrow the world!

Bwaaa haa haa ha!!!

Ape shall not wallow in a socialist nanny-state. Thus sayeth the lawgiver.

Ace - You should really try reading the source materials instead of just circle jerking other blogs.

The BBC article seems pretty level headed to me. The article includes such things as:

And just as the media and political establishment in the US found during last year's presidential election, European elites have now felt the sting of these online upstarts, the bloggers.

and

"Proponents of 'No' have said the mainstream media have been shamelessly in favour of the 'Yes'. They said the internet was the main area where the democratic debate can take place," he[M. Chouard] added.

and

Mr Magniant is not ready to say that blogs were a determining factor in the referendum, but he does believe that blogs dramatically lowered the barrier to entry to take part in political debate.

I don't see a pro-Constitution bias in the article either, but of course the article does say:

"The 'No' side, the extreme left, was very organised on the internet. The 'Yes' side has been late in taking up blogs as interactive tools," he said.

Moderately self-referential?

Okay well shoot me I guess.

This is the first VDH essay that I have read and simply cannot completely agree with.

He seems to give what I see as resurgent fascism a pass this time. I see it coming back with a vengeance.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

People don't make political decisions based on the say-so of guys who proudly display pictures of their Planet of the Apes action figure collection.

Or their Lego collection, LOL!

Circle-jerking other blogs? Is that legal?

I think it depends on which State you are in.

I don't think it's legal in Texas.

LHM

Ace,

It's not that people 'make up their minds' based on what some immature dweb says on his blog, it's that the internet allows non-big media viewpoints to be heard and it enables people to hear an actual debate (by reading mulitple sources pro and con) on an issue.

Just think about the EU constitution vote without the internet - a monolithic avalanche of pro-EU hot air from big media and the chattering overclass, with those who are opposed being frozen out the debate and those who have questions having only one source for 'answers'.

So yes, no one is going to be persuaded solely by what you might say about the EU constitution, but without the internet, the Fwench would probably voted Yes on the Constitution, because they would not have heard any alternative point of view.

Or to paraphrase your resident orc, von Kreed, the likes of you have used the internet to break up the big media circle jerk.

He seems to give what I see as resurgent fascism a pass this time. I see it coming back with a vengeance.

Where? Europe? The US? Got any concrete examples?

I don't think you and I read the same column.

Which political European web logs are popular in Europe?

LHM,

It is illegal, but it's only a class B misdemeanor.

Personally, I credit myself for my letter-writing campaign to the citizens of Leeuwarden in which I explained how their votes would affect us - and by that I mean me - here in America. Namely, that if they voted "nee", then we could all have a few laughs at the expense of those Versailles assholes, or as the Dutch call them "Versaillesholes".

Max - Yeah, that's how I read the BBC article as well.

However, and get this straight, I'm not an orc. I'm a Chaotic Good Half-Elven Ranger, or, to translate that to real world, a moral relativist hippy with good intentions.

Dang it.
Somebody asked me tonight what the road to Hell was paved with and I plumb forgot.

--Anybody know?

vonKreedorc,

You may claim not to be an orc, but it fits - namewise and acewise. :)

"blogs dramatically lowered the barrier to entry to take part in political debate" is the money quote.

And for once I think big media got it right in part - that's a major part of what blogs are all about, along with showing up, and providing an alternative to, the bias and dishonesty of big media.

And that's why I commented on Ace's snark about himself - I thought he misunderestimated what he and others are doing. But since he has ignored this thread in favor of bad movies, I guess we'll never know if he's even read it.

Sean M.

Asia including Southeast Asia.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Cue the Minutemen

Thanks VonKree-elf

I just spewed iced tea on my keyboard - you owe me a new one.

LHM