The Purges Will Continue Until the Membership Reaches Zero

Over at the Ace of Spades blogspot, the main blogger criticized Palin as a quitter - was criticized by his readers - and reacted by... quitting. The issue: the Ace blogger resented being "lumped in with David Frum."

Conor Friedersdorf offers a fascinating analysis of the counter-reaction in the right blogosphere against any recognition of what Sarah Palin did to herself on July 3. Conor is analyzing the strange nervous breakdown over at the Ace of Spades blogspot. The main blogger criticized Palin as a quitter - was criticized by his readers - and reacted by... quitting (or the blog equivalent: suspending work for a week). The issue: the Ace blogger resented being "lumped in with David Frum." Alas for him, his critics were completely justified. His post July 3 reactions to Sarah Palin did indeed reprise and amplify the kinds of things I've been saying over the past 18 months.

I am really tired of being slammed for being the guy who doesn’t just want to go along with silly fantasies and dreams because they’re pleasant… I’m sick to death of being told that my addiction to reality and aversion to fantasy is somehow cowardly or defeatist or lacking in virtue.

Sorry Ace, it's inescapable: You're lumped. So let me give some advice to the Ace blogger, elitist to elitist: don't be frightened, don't complain, and don't get weary. It's going to be a long struggle to renew conservatism and the Republican party, but the alternatives are worse: marginalization, defeat, and the continuing drift of the country in wrong and dangerous directions. Rediscovering responsible and effective politics will requre a lot of relearning from all of us, but everybody should be welcome who wishes to contribute to the project of reform. Your invitation to the next cocktail party is in the mail.