Why I Believe That We Deserve to Win the Weblog Awards’ “Best Political Coverage”
By SusanUnPC on January 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM in Current Affairs
Update: If you don’t see your comment, it probably means that it got caught, wrongly, in the spam filter. Please e-mail us at susanunpc at gmail dot com and larry_johnson at earthlink dot net. We’ll fish your comments out for you. Thank you!
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VOTE HERE. VOTE EVERY DAY. Why should you? Here are but a few reasons:
Our 14 writers include nationally known experts on counterterrorism, foreign policy, the Middle East, Europe, India/Pakistan, the Far East, economics, intelligence, legislation, gay rights, feminism and misogyny, racism, the Democratic and Republican parties, culture (music, art history, film, literature, and non-fiction books), marketing, and more. All of our writers are committed to writing fact-based, verified commentary on the most critical subjects of our time, and we give “no quarter” to any excuse or any enemy. We have one of the best political cartoonists in PatRacimora. Our “guest writers” are many, from Joseph Wilson to Mel Goodman to Steve Clemons to Valerie Plame Wilson to Patrick Lang, and several more important voices.
Our 6 radio show hosts are experts in economics, feminism and sexism, politics, media bias, racism, global politics, culture and sports, gay rights, global market conditions, and several have insiders’ knowledge of how the media operate in this country.
[NOTE: Oh, you don't like what Larry is writing about the Gaza crisis? Here's what you should do: Write a rebuttal to Larry's posts. We gladly accept posts that disagree with us. All we ask is that the post not be, for lack of a more kindly term, "propaganda" ... i.e., that it be fact-based and offer interesting commentary. E-mail your rebuttal to me at susanunpc at gmail dot com. We ALLOW dissenting viewpoints! You do not have to nod your heads in unison at No Quarter.]
Did you know this blog is an “endangered species”? Ask yourself why some blogs did an overnight switcheroo to supporting Obama, but we did not. Why might that be? Could it be about money? Is that why so many blogs were the beneficiaries of expensive Obama ads, while we never got a single offer from any political campaign? THINK about the blogs where you used to go for “honest” coverage, but suddenly you were only hearing one side of the story. We elect to be unaffiliated with any political party or group. We are not beholden to any advertiser, any lobbyists, or any sponsors. We refuse to “toe the line” and we insist on “telling it like it is,” as we see it. We abhor dogma and propaganda. We readily acknowledge our ability to change our minds. Recently, Larry Johnson and our writers have admired many of Barack Obama’s cabinet picks, and we’ve said so. And every time President Barack Obama makes a good decision — as we hope he will — we will be with him 100%. When he makes serious errors, we will criticize him.
That’s because we do not have to rationalize bad decisions in order to please anyone including our other writers and our readers, but our own consciences. Our writers know that too. That’s why Nocturnal Warrior wrote a piece in disagreement with Larry’s position on Gaza, and that’s why we printed Warrior’s piece.
1) We have one of the nation’s top experts in counterterrorism, terrorism, military affairs, international crises who has appeared on CBS, ABC (including Nightline), NBC, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, Air America, and Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now! Larry Johnson’s sole affiliations are to his conscience, his knowledge of the facts, and the highly informed advice of his countless expert friends, with whom he speaks daily.
2) We have one of the top bloggers at Daily Kos, MyDD and BooManTribune until she had the audacity to support Hillary Clinton. I was willing to vote for any qualified Democrat and solely required that Barack Obama get more experience before running for president. SusanUnPC (aka SusanHu) is known as an expert on extraordinary rendition, detainee mistreatment, Democratic party primaries and politics, the environment and wildlife, and much more. In 2005, Susan ranked #2 out of 11,000 diarists at Daily Kos.
3) Several of our writers — both male and female — write regularly about the under-reported crisis in feminism in today’s political scene. We speak out against every instance of sexism and misogyny. We rail against the mistreatment and subjugation of women worldwide, including those subjected to female circumcision (which is ongoing in Kurdistan).
4) We support gay rights, and speak out against every instance of prejudice against gays and lesbians.
5) We constantly monitor the media, including television, radio and print. We never hesitate to call out the media when it fails to cover stories, or demonstrates biases.
Most of all, while we are constantly passionate, we are always rational. We refuse to allow emotions to take rein when the facts are not yet present. That is why, for example, we have not yet covered some stories eschewed by “anti-Obama” groups. When the facts are fully presented, we will do so.
We strive at all times to provide a “safe harbor” for people who wish to discuss issues with reason and facts. We do not countenance overheated emotion or attacks on fellow writers and readers.
We never live up to our own standards. That is because we are 1) human and 2) we do not have enough hours in the day to cover every issue, find every bit of evidence, or catch every inappropriate comment that should be placed in moderation or deleted.
But we never give up on trying to meet our own standards.
Since we are one of the very few blogs that never has to please its sponsors — because we are financially independent, and insist on not accepting ANY donations that require our support of any group or politician — you can look forward to years to come of our giving every issue and every politician “no quarter.”
It takes no more than 5-10 seconds to vote. And you can do it every day. No registration is required. Just go here and cast your vote.
We ARE the best blog that provides the most comprehensive and honest political coverage.
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
No need to present your case to me, Susan.
You have my vote, and I wish I could vote 100 more times.
Thank you! And, if you can, please vote every day. I know it’s a drag, but it’s alarming how few blogs, these days, are independent of their advertisers and financial backers. There is very little “free thought” anymore on blogs. It’s all about writing whatever will ensure large donations. Ugh.
Not a drag at all! I love you guys!
Agreed - Its a pleasure to vote for you guys.
And you are ahead of Kos right now - so I for one am very happy!
I voted and posted the link as soon as I saw them over at RD’s place via myiq2xu. I voted for UppityWoman too and The Confluence.
voting every day,
Voting early, and often. (But I guess it only counts once-a-day.)
I’m just glad this isn’t a caucus vote. We could never compete with the busloads of Daily Kos fanatics bussed in from who-knows-where.
I don’t think it is true, I voted once and clicked and just got the tally for the day. So, if it allowed double or daily voting, they have fixed it. My little vote will only count once just like the last election.
LOL, another reason to vote is because it feels good to deliver a good kick to some of those blogs that shall remain nameless but are well known for their bad manners and verbal violence towards women over the past year.
just voted as well, and will continue to do so every day. Thank you for what you do and for providing such excellent coverage in every area.
I also just made a donation to NQ. I urge others to do so as well, if you haven’t already. Thank you again, Susan and Larry, for all you do.
I voted this morning, Susan, and I will vote everyday. I come here everyday to see what is happening and read the great articles and comments. It just doesn’t get any better than NoQuarter.
Ok, I voted…..NQ! Please remine us, I do chk in, almost every day for my news from! Vote.
remind….
I may not always agree with what I read here but that is what is so good about freedom….I will vote.
Thanks for the reminder — I forgot about the vote every day feature of this poll.
Uppity’s blog is doing very well — YEAAAAA — and she is just one of the many great writers DQ can boast about!!
WELL SAID SUSAN…
I agree on every point you made…about No Quarters Menu…it is Five Star all the way…Gourmet Menu and Top Notch Chefs and Sou ~Chefs…there is something for everybody to Chew on Here…and the Converstation is Stimulating..
Lots of great Desserts and Drinks too…
Proast and Toast..
Here is to First Place for the NO QUARTER Blog..!!
Vote early..everyone…everyday…
I’m biased, but I think NQ has some of the best, edgiest writing in the whole blogosphere .
I like blogs that are well-written, fact-based, and thought-provoking. All reasons I have turned to NQ everyday since I found it. Thanks for all your hardwork and standing up to the beat of the Obama drum.
We need a safe place for dissent, and NQ is definitely that place for this political junkie.
I voted and I will vote every day.
I visit every day–need my NQ fix. I admire all the writers–even the ones that piss me off from time to time. This site is REAL. And that’s what is lacking elsewhere.
I will vote for NQ but have to say the recent remarks by Larry Johnson make me want to give pause. The other day he used the F word toward someone and today he was equally as rude. Threatening to ban someone from blogging at NQ. All the recent calls for respect of others and, others opinions were tossed by the wayside by the founder of this website.
This site would have deserved an award for the great work that was done here in the months leading up to the elections. Unfortunately Larry has let his hate for Israel get the best of him these last couple of weeks.
Go ahead delete this comment too.
Please point out specifically where it says or shows that Larry HATES Isreal?
I for one find his expert analysis a definite perscription for real peace if some of his common sense ideas are tried!
Are you aupset that Larry doesn’t have strong biases or that he holds a more rational and global viewpoint?
Please remember Larry’s history - he is and always has been about protecting America first and then attempting to inject ideas that are win/win for both sides of any conflict.
For those head over heals in love with a thing, all other positions on that thing must be seen as hate.
sounds just like the obama lovers.
sorry but that was a stupid comment. where has larry shown hatred towards Israel?
Free speech, I say — and that’s why I’m voting daily.
Voting early, voting often and voting on multiple computers at different times each day helps. I just have to remember which computer voted at what time.
I voted and will everyday! Love NQ and all the writers & comments. This is a safe haven from the craziness of the world. I like the way you tell it like it is. It is refreshing to get my “news” here!
Keep up the great work!
Keep voting. Gotta do it every day!
Get your dog to vote. Go to the cemetary and get dead people to vote.
After all, they all voted in November!
How do you remove those damn headstones???
I pulled out a TON of comments from the spam filter the past couple of days. I think it is pulling a lot that have swear words…(which there have been a lot of.. haha) as well as insulting words, and it also filters really long ones, and super short ones. And ones with lots of links.
Sara, I’m convinced the Almighty Spam Filter just enjoys its own omniscience and pulls whatever it wants whenever it wants just to please itself. When we mortals look for rules underlying its decisions, it is greatly amused.
haha I just went back in now, and found a bunch more. man, it is ugly in there!
Voted for NoQuarter yesterday and today. Good luck.
I voted for NQ, also, and will everyday.
I check this Blog several times a day. It is very informative. I would not have known about “the Birth Certificate Fraud” early on and other important news, if not for NQ. I notice other Blogs post information after NQ has.
Thanks, for all the hard work.
I am appalled by Nancy Pelosi and Susan explained it well.
Correction: I am appalled by Nancy Pelosi and Susan explained it well.
Should be: Sonic Ninja Kitty explained it well. I will be referencing and using it on other Blogs.
I just voted for NQ! No I don’t agree with Larry’s point of view on Gaza/Israel but I continue to visit, read and post comments accordingly. There is ALWAYS a fair and balanced discourse here at NQ. I couldn’t have gotten through this election without NQ.
Thank you Susan and Larry. Also thank you for making it easy to vote every day. Is there any way that you can create a daily reminder window/link?
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You’ve got my vote for all the reasons listed above, but I still have issue with this line:
We readily acknowledge our ability to change our minds. Recently, Larry Johnson and our writers have admired many of Barack Obama’s cabinet picks, and we’ve said so. And every time President Barack Obama makes a good decision — as we hope he will — we will be with him 100%. When he makes serious errors, we will criticize him.
I understand that you will critique policy as you see it, but as you know, Obama is only in the position that he is in due to fraud, intimidation and manipulation. He is illegitimate. How does that square with giving him fair consideration? It’s a genuine question, not a criticism. The violation of our fundamental democratic process–as in the well-documented (if totally unreported) caucus fraud, suppression and manipulation of the FL/MI delegates, and the rigging of the Convention were anti-democratic to the core. That doesn’t even include the use of racism and sexism as tools of alienation and division. I feel the same way about him that I felt about Bush when he illegitimately “won” the presidency through the voter manipulation in FL & the Supreme Court’s decision. He is not legitimate, and does not represent me.
Why does every other post I write get eaten???
Because life is unjust and arbitrary, and the Spam Filter is just reminding us of that.
This site would have deserved an award for the great work that was done here in the months leading up to the elections. Unfortunately Larry has let his hate for Israel get the best of him in the past couple of weeks. And you can delete this comment as you did with my last one for all I care.
ER,
You need to get a life. Criticism of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians does not equal hate for Israel (or Jews for that matter). Are you really that out of touch with reality? Truly pathetic.
Larry,
You criticism is laced with quasi knowledge of military and in intelligence affairs. One example is your claim that there are systems that can effectively deal with the rockets. If so, name them, I mean those that are tested and are ready to be deployed. I guess war on terror is OK for the US after one major attack on civilians, (I know you oppose the war in Iraq) but Israel should take a different road. If you could only understand the agony of which the state of Israel and the public there has gone through in order to make this most difficult decision. If you could listen to mothers of wounded Israeli service men, sitting at their bed sides calling radio stations and than signing off with well wishes and hope for the safety of both the Israeli and Palestinian populations. If you only saw the atrocities committed by Hamas against their own Palestinian brothers. Don’t tell me to get a life, you go educate yourself before you make your phony moral judgments. Offer one good solution and the whole state of Israel will jump on it. Your claim that someone told you the people shooting rockets do so because they need money and can be bought, is plainly bizarre.
Susan,
Just a word of thanks for giving us a sanctuary to escape this past year. This blog is unique in addressing the issues of loyal democrats who were disenfranchised and cheated out of their vote to nominate a candidate with far less experience and dubious associations rather than the natural superior candidate in Hillary. Only because she was a woman and Obama knew the art of the Game was she denied her historic role to save the country.
I hope for the best..
However, the CHANGE we may have may look more like what Gerald Celente predicts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46MEqEgdLTg
Susan and Larry,
Thanks for not only the besy political blog, but the best all around blog.
NQ is and always has been mentally stimulating and a great place for generally great conversations.
Of the few who aren’t anonymous:
Larry Johnson is arguably a “nationally known expert.” Patrick Lang actually seems to be more expertly qualified than Larry, but not as well known (at least to the general public).
Lynette Long is a garden-variety psychotherapist and a former mathematics educator. I find no indications of her alleged national prominence on the topic of misogyny — which, like “culture,” “marketing,” and odes to deceased pets, doesn’t seem to make for a very strong bid in the POLITICAL category.
Susan Hudgens…”nationally known expert” in what field?
Clara Frenk…nationally known for having appeared in “OutFoxed,” but a recognized expert in what? Television program production? I don’t think any media studies experts would consider her a peer.
Who is the nationally known expert on the major parties? And why are most of these 14 renowned experts blogging anonymously?
The information on this website is generally horrible. Time and time again you have been proven wrong and frankly been incredibly offensive.
The site is largely based on innuedo, speculation, terrible analysis, slander, etc. etc.
If the award is for that then maybe you win.
There is also zero balance and you guys have been know to be pretty quick at erasing comments that take the opposite view point.
The only value is in Larry’s international security comments and analysis. Stick with that, as that is what you do best.
Or focus on getting some real writers that actually know what they are talking about. Focusing on birth certificates is a joke and so little.
Does this mean we can’t count on your support at the polls?
NQ is open to guest posting. perhaps if you have something to contribute, you can submit a guest post.
(NQ focuses on the birth certificate?)
And I disagree that they delete opposing viewpoints.
It’s happened to me. I’ve seen happen to others, and I’ve seen others say it’s happened to them. And I recall an article in which Susan was encouraging people to come back to NQ, and admitted that the moderators had gone overboard in the past in deleting posts and banning people.
This happens, I think, because there is a very large NQ constituency that will not brook any disagreement with their views, and which labels all disagreement as trollery.
This is not just limited to the many, many commenters who routinely say “troll” to anyone who disagrees with them. NQ writers do it, too. NewHampster once put up an article from The Economist that referred to Hillary’s feminist credentials. The first comment responded on topic by criticizing Hillary’s feminism, which prompted a long and spirited thread. NewHampster reacted very badly to that, posting a long and bitter article the next day about how a “troll” had hijacked his thread, how all the comments were the “wrong” comments as a result, and how NQ readers should ignore “trolls” like the one who disagreed with him. He even claimed that Obama paid that reader to come here and disagree with him.
NewHampster’s demand was this: don’t disagree with me or talk to anyone who does. That attitude is so commonplace at NQ that no one should be surprised that dissenting views are deleted by an undefined group of moderators who act anonymously and surreptiously.
More accountability and transparency would help. Require moderators to identify themselves when they edit comments, and to acknowledge and explain their deletions.
I’ve voted, but I can’t access the link now. Anyone else having problems loading the page?
Beener can you explain why BOBO won’t produce original documents related to his past? None, zip, zilch, nada.
He couldn’t even be hired to be one of the 16,000 security personnel working the “Festivities of the Fraud” on January 20th. Doesn’t that bother you?
While it looks like fivethirtyeight may take the award, NQ is always the first place we check for real information.
Will vote again after the 24 hour time is up.
I voted for No Quarter for Best Political coverage, and endorsed you to others. You had the best for the election.
Please vote for Ace of Spades for Best Conservative, Day by Day for best cartoon, and F— You, Penguin for best Pet blog.
Vote for Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) for best celebrity blog. Yeh, I feel dirty endorsing that twerp, but I don’t want Margaret Cho to win.
I like No Quarter because Larry was the First Prominant Member of the Intel Community to Expose the Bush Administration on it Abuses of Power..On Its Iraq Policy..On its efforts to Lie and Alibi to the American People by Dummying up the Intel and Politicizing Our intel Agencys……On Bush’s lack of Leadership….9/11 happened on his watch and The Intel we had made 9/11 preventable…and The Bush/Cheney use of Quasi Dictitoral Methods to circumvent Constitutional cntrols..
He Further Exposed the Abuses done to Valorie Plame nd Joe Wilson…(God Bless Them) and many other items of extreme interest have been reported here before they even became Main Stream Media issues..
Larry has never been an ASS KISSER…
He and Susan and Many here are My Kind of People…STREET FIGHTERS…
Larry has Championed Equal Right..and brought in the Outstanding Talents of susanUnPC..UppityGal..and so many other great People…His blog has attracted a wide Range of Multi Talented Peole…
Sure…Larry gets BLUNT…what you see is What you get..I like that…In the REAL WORLD.where Larry has Been….Life is Blunt..tragic…Dirty..Cut Throat..
Competitive..Dangerous…and the Game is DEADLY SERIOUS..Whwere People Die…and people use Blunt Language..Like Fuck..Shit..God Damn it..Bastards..and they see people Die and other People trying to Kill before being Killed…
If You can’t handle that…Grow Up…
I will drink a beer with larry and Susan and Light Larrys Cigar and Say..Thank You for your Service Larry anytime..
More than I can Say about…Bush..Cheney..Rumsfeld..and thier NEO~CON
CO-CONSPIRATORS…who have left our Nation In a Shambles..
…
Oh…and who GREEN LIGHTED Israels HEAVY METAL Armored and Air Attack of Gaza…Leaving the Middle east in More Turmoil and a Large Burden on President Elect Obama…or else why did Bush and Isreal pre plan this Operation…??
Its Overkill as usual..Indiscriminate..Senseless REVENGE..
Just Who Infiltrated Palestine in 1948 and terrorized the Palestenians in the First Place..??
Who Put them on thier RESERVATION now called GAZA..??
Israel Did…The Zionists…There is No Difference between what they have done there to the Palesteians…and what The American Army did in the United States to The Indians at Wounded Knee..
A Lot of hatred and Resentment have been Created and in reality..It is really Understandable..
Manifest Destiny..?? I dont know..I’m not god..
Thats REALITY..Larry is a Realist and has the Guts to Speak the Truth and Challenge Issues and Institutions..Exposing other Sides and Points..
Thats Why I LIKE him…and No Quarter..
I consider Larry a guardian of the gate..and of Our Constitution..
long Live free Speech…
PS - Wonkette apparently hired ACORN to place votes for her as Best Liberal Blog. She’s also directing who else to cheat for.
I voted for The Confluence for Best Liberal Blog on advisement.
Please consider Michael Yon for best Milblogger
I voted for Hot Air for Best Blog, but for some strange reason Andrew Sullivan is winning. Giving him Best Blog is like awarding a Pulitzer for stories about UFO abductions.
OMG–I’m going over to vote against that phony right now. Seeing him win “Best Blog” would be almost as bad as seeing Chris ‘Tweety’ Matthews elected to the senate. “Defeat the Tweet!”
Haha! Agreed!
Am voting for NQ everyday.
By the way, for those of you who haven’t heard…the site “Wonkette” is on a vendetta against puma sites. They have urged their readers to vote against Uppity Woman (for Best New Blog) and vote instead for a site they never read themselves, but thought the name was “cool”. (I can’t remember the name)
Wankette is up against the Confluence, and their website is busy trashing anyone who is not an obama worshipper. Their arrogance is really breathtaking, they apparently think they have the power & right to control the voting process.
So don’t forget when you vote, to support Uppity Woman for Best New Blog & the Confluence for Best Liberal Blog!
Larry, Susan; Congratulations on your new CMS, your re-design — and your Weblog award nomination.
You have done so much with just raw talent and passion, and the rapid evolution of this site and your audience is astounding.
I voted for you, and will ask my friends out here to do so, too.
Paul Kaihla
Soul’s Code
San Francisco
Yes! I vote No Quarter!
[...] us. There’s no registration. It takes about two seconds to vote! Every day!) REMEMBER THIS: Blogs like NoQuarter and Uppity Woman are “endangered species”; we are two of the few blogs left who haven’t been bought by special interests, political [...]