Housekeeping note
Just a reminder, as we discussed earlier in the week
, today is the last day I’ll be posting content to The Carpetbagger Report. Starting first thing in the morning, I’ll be writing exclusively for the Washington Monthly’s Political Animal blog. It’s right here.
A couple of other quick notes. First, my friend “Morbo” will have a sign-off item on Saturday morning
, so be sure to stop by.
Second, a lot of you asked about whether the Carpetbagger archives will still be accessible. They will, and they’ll be available by week and month. What’s more
, the search function will still work, and the email address you have for me will also remain active.
And third, many of you had very helpful suggestions and ideas about changes you’d like to see to Political Animal. I’ve been pulling all of the recommendations together, and promise to see what I can do. I’m hesitant about being the new guy, coming in and wanting to make a bunch of changes, so I hope readers will be patient. (Most notably, those readers who want to see a full-post RSS feed will be pleased to know one is available here.)
My most sincere thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback and encouragement. I hope to see all of you tomorrow morning in the new place.
Paula
says:I’ll be there. Thanks for giving Morbo a chance to post. Hopefully he’ll tell us he’s doing something else we can all read! Best to you and Mrs. Carpetbagger.
The Answer is Orange
says:1. CAT. BLOG.
2. Last one out has to clean up the mess!
worriedaboutthis
says:Looking forward to continued high quality posts at a slightly different location.
amy
says:Will there be a note on the door in the morning? I’ll probably forget…
wvng
says:I hope you get up earlier and start posting by 0700 EST, now that you will be gainfully employed. No more slacking, he says to the most prolific and thoughtful blogger on the web.
See you tomorrow morning. 0700 sharp.
And see you soon on Rachel’s show, and doing analysis for Keith!
Iowa Victory Gardener
says:Steve, I’m really going to miss this place (infrequent commenter that I may be), but I read you faithfully every day. At least I don’t have to miss you, just the old homestead you so skillfully built over the past few years.
I’m glad Morbo will have another chance to post, because I’ve come to treasure his viewpoint as well. Can’t you sneak him in somehow at the new place? 🙂
All the best to you and Ms. Carpetbagger!
Michael
says:First you, then Maddow…I don’t know. All these liberals getting promoted to higher-profile venues…I fear for our Democracy.
Best of luck at your new gig, and many congrats. One suggestion – keep the Official McCain Flip-Flop List prominently displayed there as well.
Orange is the color of my true love’s orange….
Maria
says:Hold on there, wvng. Steve may want to pretend he’s posting from California, in which case he could sleep in.
Bye, Steve! See you on the flip side!
MsMuddled
says:The jig is up!
Insane Fake Professor! Reveal yourself!
retr2327
says:Best of luck, and parting suggestion/request to all:
I’d really like to see a montage of various Bush officials, starting with Gonzales, testifiying that they don’t recall, ending with McCain not remembering his positions on several issues or the number of houses he has. Closing line: “Eight years of an Administration that can’t recall. Can America afford four more years of the same?”
Any takers?
comstock load
says:it’s been a great run so far. looking forward to the next step and wishing you all the best from the beautiful comstock mountains.
Ms Carpetbagger
says:wvng wrote:
I hope you get up earlier and start posting by 0700 EST
I guess you haven’t seen Digital Pamphleteer? 🙂
(see left sidebar under “More Steve Benen”)
Maria
says:How come I don’t know about Ms Carpetbagger? I’ve only been posting here for six months or so, but everyone but me seems to know all about her. Who is this shadowy figure? Are you the spring in Steve’s step, the yin to his yang, the power behind the throne, Ms C?
chrenson
says:Dude, thanks: for your voice of reason in a dark and scary wilderness; for amassing some of the greatest commentors the Internet will ever know; for leading the discussion with curiosity, civility and intelligence; and for allowing me to post my tiny thoughts with the big dogs, without fear of being censored or having to log-in or sign-up or any of those things other blogs do to keep riff-raff like me out.
Congrats and best of luck. It truly couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. On your first day, be sure to wear something nice. Like a flag pin.
To everyone one else, my 10-year-old daughter wants me to add: “Orange you glad you don’t have to type ‘orange’ anymore?”
Curmudgeon
says:“…today is the last day I’ll be posting content to The Carpetbagger Report.” – CB
WAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
*sob*
*sniffle*
*dabs eyes with hanky*
taritac
says:Congrats! I will miss CR, but I will gladly follow you over to Washington Monthly.
sduffys
says:Format, community, and rest will be missed. I just hope that the PA folks are nice to us! But of course…
…hey – just because this is the last day, does not mean that there should not be an end-of-day Mini-Report…you, you slacker you!!!
NOT!!!
thank you, thank you, thank you…good luck…see you over there
zeitgeist
says:I believe IFP was revealed earlier this week. . . but there is no reason IFP can’t show up at the new place.
Steve, thanks for this great forum and community and all of your hard work and good words – and now for leading us all on a new adventure as we try to capture this lightening in a bottle twice.
I saw on the goodbye thread for Kevin that a long succession of WM writers had made the jumps to Really Big Media within about 2 years of starting at WM, so while I’ll gladly follow to WM, I’ll remain ready to follow to WaPo next 🙂
Maria, I don’t doubt for a moment that Ms. CB is the spring in Steve’s step and all of those things, but most important she is the one that rebuilds crashed servers, debugs dead databases, and wrangles Word Press using nothing more than leftover bioemergency precaution duct tape and a spork!
hab
says:My favorite house is closing down. Fortunately, I have 5,10, or 20 more to visit
John
(thanks for all your effort)
hab
Rielle Lovechild
says:Great run, Steve. The Carpetbagger Report was the first one that I read, then read regularly, then read daily. A Change is good sometimes. An Orange is always good. See you at PA tomorrow – my new daily read.
avi
says:Can Mrs. Carpetbagger take over this place? She can blog about what it’s like to be married to the newest member of the Washington Monthly…
Oh also, can we still call you the Carpetbagger at TPA?
Congrats, but I’m going to miss it here, even though i don’t post much, I read TCBR every day and now I’ll have to adjust my eyes to read that little serifed typeface at TPA.
🙂
doubtful
says:Sad face.
I love this place, and I will miss it.
I can’t imagine the whirlwind of emotions Steve must be going through. It’s such a great opportunity, and couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person, but this place must feel like home to him.
And since we’re all sci-fi nuts, this reminds me of JMS in the final episode of Babylon 5. I imagine Steve walking aborad an empty TCR, looking around while slowly exhaling, and pulling the switch on something he devoted over five years too.
Thanks for the consistently good read, Steve.
Thanks for the great community, everyone.
Alex C
says:> I’m hesitant about being the new guy, coming in and wanting to make a bunch of changes, so I hope readers will be patient.
OTOH, you know that the first 100 days is the only time a new President has a chance to implement his agenda, right? Seize the reins early or you’ll never grab them back.
Thanks for the link to the full RSS feed. And Godspeed! Catch you on the flip side.
Dee Loralei
says:Zeitgeist, where was the real IFP shown? I faihtfully read all the comments on this blog, heck I learn so much from you guys. and I totally missed it.
Yea, I’ll be following to PA.
And MsCB, I expect to see you around there as well, and do tell me and MsJoanne what you think about Primeval.
slappy magoo
says:If there is a Lord, you’re doing His(?) work. Best wishes.
Maria
says:Maria, I don’t doubt for a moment that Ms. CB is the spring in Steve’s step and all of those things, but most important she is the one that rebuilds crashed servers, debugs dead databases, and wrangles Word Press using nothing more than leftover bioemergency precaution duct tape and a spork!
I did not know that! Then I lead a round of applause for her sterling efforts. Thanks, Ms C!
I believe IFP was revealed earlier this week. . . but there is no reason IFP can’t show up at the new place.
Only if Mary continues to troll there. Otherwise, doing IFP was loads of fun, and thanks, everyone, for all the encouragement…especially the esteemed TR, who jumped in immediately and cracked me up with his or her “dialogue” with my little parody.
BuzzMon
says:WM – PA comments aren’t numbered!
Will we have to poke at the trolls & trust other commenters will be able to backtrack properly?
Well, we will see you there, Steve. And to all of you folks that tolerate my crappy snippets, thanks. I will miss this place.
J. Kingston Pierce
says:Good luck on your new gig, Steve. I’m a regular reader of The Carpetbagger Report and look forward to following you over to the Political Animal blog. Maybe you can work on the designers there, though, to clean up the clutter on the PA page. The Carpetbagger Report is much better designed.
Cheers,
Jeff
Edo
says:And see you soon on Rachel’s show, and doing analysis for Keith!
I second this notion!
Also,I, too, am a faithful reader yet missed the revealing of IFPs identity. Is it doubtful? Steve? …
please let us know!
Edo
says:Aha! So it was you, Maria. Outstanding parody work over the last several months! Thank You!
I don’t know if you are up for continuing those efforts, but even if Mary doesn’t make it to Political Animal, there are plenty of other trolls that would provide more than enough fodder for your brilliant (albeit deranged 🙂 ) mind.
doubtful
says:Edo,
I appreciate that, but that level of satirical genius is beyond me.
If you could see me right now, though, you’d see I was not-so-subtly scratching my nose in an effort to point you towards comment number 26.
Dustin
says:I know it’s been said before but that line right there is probably one of the saddest things I’ve seen all day, and I just got done watching this weeks Eureka episode… 🙁 Thanks a bunch Steve.
But really just keep up what we’ve grown to expect and appreciate and all will be right with the world. One questions: do we have license to rip apart the Political Animal’s resident trolls when we take over the place?
mishanti
says:Good luck on the new job and I have marked it so I can read you there. This is the one site I go to daily before I read any other. I will miss coming here and am hoping that your next ones are just as good.
MsMuddled
says:Maria!
Thanks for the insanity! My keyboard managed to survived it all.
hark
says:Good luck. See you at the other place, but I will miss the intimacy of the Carpetbagger, and the superiority of the comments section over any other I’ve encountered, and that includes format, ease of use, and, of course, the high quality, intelligence and knowledge of the commenters themselves.
Don’t forget to leave a note on the door: as a long time reader, I’ve noticed that some commenters take occasional sojourns and sabbaticals away from the site, and then return.
doubtful
says:I still want a TCR t-shirt, though. We can call it a throwback jersey.
Chad
says:What the heck am I going to do now? I guess I’ll have to heckle on some other site that doesn’t crash my computer at work. I know you all will miss my insight and wisdom, and remember, vote experience this November. The Oval Office is not someplace you learn on the job, you actually have to have experience, so please remember that when going to the booths.
KJ
says:I found you through Political Animal, and will follow you (and Kevin) to your new digs. I am looking forward to the continued multiple, insightful, and long format posts I truly appreciate.
Best of luck.
KJ
Prup (aka Jim Benton)
says:To repeat a post from yesterday’s Open Thread:
– THANK YOU, STEVE BENEN
For 16639 posts that could be edited into a history of American politics over the past few years;
For providing the most visually attractive political blog;
For providing an atmosphere that made us all feel like family as soon as we showed up;
For giving the opportunity for such great satirists as Mary, Mother of Odd, and The McCain Blog Outreach CoOrdinator;
For having such a high standard that even most of our trolls were pleasant — if annoying — companions;
For being relentlessly fair, even to people you disliked;
For knowing — and caring about — your regulars, and (in my case, at least) remembering them when they disappeared for months;
For attracting a collection of talented,individual characters that could disagree like crazy and remain friends;
For your ability to produce so many high quality posts every day — and still have time for family, cat, friends, and — wonder to behold — even being able to write elsewhere;
For THE CARPETBAGGER REPORT — a major accomplishment standing out among many great political blogs.
And for teaching us what color an orange is
– THANK YOU, STEVE BENEN
Prup (aka Jim Benton)
says:I should have added Insane Fake Professor — and Maria, my highest compliments for that.
I have been skeptical about the new place, but I hope this is one time I’ve been totally wrong — yes, Maria, one of many.
petorado
says:Those poor commenters over at PA won’t know what hit them tomorrow. While I’m sure we’ll become a Brady Bunch one day as Kevin’s crowd and the Carpetbagger family melt together, this sure was a fun place to hang out with everybody. Someone at Political Animal raised the concern that Steve’s posts were “excessively wordy.” I’m hoping they aren’t all such Philistines over at the new place.
Anybody else a little creeped out about having to post a live link to their e-mail address? It’s one thing to have to deal with trolls in the comments section, it’s another thing to give them my e-mail address.
Ms Carpetbagger
says:zeitgeist wrote:
“but most important she is the one that rebuilds crashed servers, debugs dead databases, and wrangles Word Press using nothing more than leftover bioemergency precaution duct tape and a spork!”
Ha! You make me sound awesome…but, um, reality is much less exciting! I’ve had a regular job that pays the bills while Steve does his blogging. Yes, I’ve taken care of some of the back end stuff, but I’ve had help and we paid someone for this last redesign (check out Blogging Expertise link in the footer!).
So thank you very much for the sentiments, and I’m teary eyed over here too. “I love you, man!”
doubtful
says:petorado,
I think you can comment w/o giving an email address, or at least a valid one. Personally, I think I will be orange@orange.org.
🙂
2Manchu
says:Man, losing this place is like losing a good bookstore.
TCBR was the first and last place I went to on the Internet, because I knew it would cover the news I wanted to read about.
I’ll miss it dearly. Thanks for everything.
TCG
says:AWESOME NEWS on the RSS feed.
I was thinking that the WM feed was gonna be a real let down.
Good to see this.
Will subscribe tomorrow
Maria
says:Thanks, Edo, doubtful, MsMuddled.
Someone at Political Animal raised the concern that Steve’s posts were “excessively wordy.”
I think that was some drive-by arsehole. I’d never seen that person before.
And no, you don’t have to give a real email address (nor do you here, for that matter). In fact, because of a glitch in PA’s system, you don’t have to give any email address right now.
Megalomania
says:For me Steve Benen,
You’re the best, even allowing my wordiness and somewhat disconnected mind.
Heck Steve, America has been shafted and we have a place to vent, I feel the same as many do here and miss the whole ideal that you will be gone, that you are moving on. But such is life that’s part of change and to be able to embrace it is the challenge. It appears you have the courage and the will, but what shows the most is your diligence in open reporting to that limit that reaches to the truth, more than spin.
Your insight and the comments by many in this blog have expanded my personal knowledge so I like to acknowledge that to you all those commentators too. The Carpetbaggers news was very often ahead of the political power curve as was expressed by many of your articles. It’s more than luck Steve; you are definitely blessed with a gift in your writing and an honorable person too.
That Grace be with you.
locanicole
says:Old habits die hard and I’m sure I’ll be doing a big “Doh!” in the morning by trying to come here, but I’ll learn… eventually…love this place and PA will become my new regular 1st hit…here’s to seeing everyone in the Am…congrats again!
phoebes in santa fe
says:FRIDAY CAT BLOGGING, Steve.
I certainly hope you and the Ms have a couple of photogenic felines to display to us every Friday….
See you all tomorrow at the new “digs”.
Lance
says:Good luck at the new digs SB. I’ll see if I can stand the atmosphere.
station agent
says:Congrats Steve. Carpetbagger is leaving behind a proud legacy. I’ll make Political Animal a regular stop now. God luck, not like you need it.
doubtful
says:Everybody remember this?
Mark Gisleson
says:Bless you for the new feed link. I let my PA feed go years ago because Kevin was just a little too moderate for me. When you announced the move I started up a new RSS feed and cringed when I saw the truncated feed. It’s their right, it makes business sense, but it’s funny how few blogs I read that use truncated feeds.
Sorry, too lazy to read through all the comments in this and the other threads where readers have been throwing well-deserved garlands your way, but I’m guessing no one’s really given you the tribute you deserve.
I’ve been blogging since 1999 and have started up, taken over or helped with about a dozen blogs since then. In 2003 I started up City Pages’ blog community, a great idea that died from lack of promotion but, yes, I’ve been paid to blog.
All by way of establishing bona fides because I want to stress that my assessment of Steve’s work over the years is qualified and not some fanboy comment.
With The Carpetbagger Report (and his aggregating work at Salon and various guest blogger gigs), Steve has demonstrated a remarkable record of dependable news blogging. His objectivity has been even more remarkable. As a former intern for Hillary Clinton, his even-handed coverage and occasional criticism of HRC was impressive to me. Had he veered in her direction, I probably would have stopped reading him because it took commitment to keep up with his prodigious output.
Prodigeous, but not gaseous — as most of us are when we pound out a lot of posts in short order. The uniformity of Steve’s posts was always remarkable. It’s as if he doesn’t know what the meaning of a “bad day” is. On the rare occasions when I thought he was off, he usually announced in his next post that he was taking a sick day.
Steve has been a gem among bloggers and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t keep an eye on him. I don’t know how many of Kevin Drum’s fans will change their reading habits when Kevin leaves, but I do know Steve will be taking a lot of readers with him to his new gig. The Washington Monthly was a trailbreaker when they hired Kevin, and they’re showing equally good sense by replacing him with Steve.
Good work dude. Not many people can make a living from blogging. You are an elite among the elite, a fellow well traveled and balanced beyond measure, deserving of success and worthy of greater things.
Steve
says:I’m hoping they aren’t all such Philistines over at the new place.
Philistines are for smiting. I still have an old glass mustard jar full of pencils with a label that reads “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” It’s probably at least 10 years older than some of the kids fighting in Iraq right now, and my kids use it for their school-work.
It’s been a good run, Mr. and Ms. Benen—but when you finish a book, you don’t give up reading. You place it back on the shelf, bid it aloha, and reach for another book.
Such is the case tonight—TCBR’s “last night out.”
Now don’t stay up too late, folks—we’ve got ourselves an invasion to begin, bright and early tomorrow morning.
‘Til tomorrow, Steve.
***fade to black w/ Copeland’s Appalachian Spring playing in the background—and l’ellipsis finis…
MsJoanne
says:Here’s wishing both of you the best of everything that life has to offer.
That said, god, am I going to miss this place!!!
TuiMel
says:To Steve and my “fellow travelers” in the comments,
Bon voyage.
Bon chance.
Merci.
I am hopeful that the community from TCBR will infuse Political Animal with the intelligence, wit and civility that kept me coming here day after day to see what Steve and others had to say about the insanity that passes for political discourse in this country. I will look for you all; keep dropping those mental bread crumbs for me so I don’t lose my way.
Re: Cat Blogging
Is there no love out there for dogs?
chrenson
says:CHAD #37: I know you all will miss my insight and wisdom…
Damned if I didn’t miss it completely!
By the way, I wonder if you were just as concerned with George W Bush’s lack of foreign policy experience when HE took office. Cheers, mate. And don’t forget to vote on Wednesday, November 5th!
TeeMc
says:Looking forward to seeing you at Kevin’s old place! Thanks for hanging in there.
stevie
says:good luck at the new job and please have a chat with the graphic designer at washington monthly the layout there sux.
stevie
TG Chicago
says:Best wishes. And one other comment…
Please keep the McCain Flip-Flop list current or hand it off to another prominent blogger to ensure that it stays alive!
Thanks!
Jen
says:I go off on a vacation without cell/internet access (except here in the pay for it McDonald’s to which I have to drive every few days) and THIS is what happens?!
I’ll follow you, of course, but heavens, it sure changes my feelings about vacations.