Friday, February 2, 2007

The Admiral Gets A Little MSM Love

The People's Republic will likely never become the newsmaker that is The Burgh Report, with its impressive ability to bring up important topics weeks (or even months) before they appear in the mainstream press. Radio and television appearances such as those bestowed upon my more accomplished colleagues at 2 Political Junkies are exceedingly unlikely for an anonymous blogger like myself. And clearly, I will never have MacYapper's singular ability to actually become the story instead of merely commenting on it. While many of my fellow bloggers have managed to attract their own small bit of attention from the mainstream press this week, The People's Republic has remained in the darkened wings at the edge of the stage, happily performing its own little unsung role in providing deep and verbose analysis of the local political news.

So I am frankly a tiny bit shocked to see that links to my humble little blog are actually beginning to show up on the websites of mainstream news outlets such as WTAE and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. WTAE television even warns readers of its web site that some of the blogs it links to, including mine, might contain "rough" language. To make it clear, I'm ex-Navy. The language used here isn't "rough", it's "salty". And compared to shipboard vocabulary, this blog reads like a nun discussing her latest knitting project.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this development. On one hand, everybody likes to see their efforts recognized, and in our contemporary society such recognition typically comes via the news media. But on the other hand, I never got into this blogging thing with an overarching desire to gather any popular attention. I honestly thought that it would be amazing if I could convice even my very own mother to read the excessively lengthy articles that I post on an irregular basis.

I'm only doing this because I happen to enjoy it. This whole blogging thing is really, quite frankly, all about me. I'd be doing what I'm doing even if my readership was, as I had expected, limited only to people who only pulled up the site every once in a rare a while out of nothing more than a bizarre combination of love and pity. But I am touched and honored that my words are beginning to circulate outside of the circle of my immediate family. I only hope that I can continue to provide whatever it is that makes these long-winded diatribes somewhat interesting to anyone else.

So I guess I better get back to work. Thanks again, everybody.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Burgh Report is a very interesting, well written read for sure. The author of that site is extremely well informed and it's well researched. But your blog is also well done. The People's Republic of Pittsburgh is one that I try not to miss. Kind of reminds me of one of my old favorites and one of the first political blogs to hit this town, Grant Street 99. Your anonymity adds to the mystique. Two Political Junkies is much too hyped, especially by the authors. Their blog really is not worthy of the attention it is receiving. It is my opinion that 2PJs also have a personal political agenda. And McIntire is the story because he is such a polarizing figure and because MacYapper is consistently full of half-truths. He's making the news, but not necessarily in a good way.

Anonymous said...

Your on my "favorites" list. Nice work.

Bram Reichbaum said...

A friend of mine suggested its high time we local political bloggers organized a little potlach. And maybe our frequent non-anonymous commenters. You seem like good neutral territory, and I imagine you'd have a nice house. Whaddaya think?

Maria said...

Congrats! I know that I read you daily and you deserve the recognition.

I know that I did not expect any real attention when I started blogging at 2pj and it was slow in building, but then again, we've been around for a while in terms of local political blogs.

Like you, I just had things to say.

But of course now as 'english' notes, we are nothing but publicty whores.

A pox on Dayvoe and myself, I sez!

Maria said...

Hey, english,

Just what is 2pj's 'personal politcal agenda'?

Atrios, Kos, and numerous others endorse candidates and issues.

I have endorsed many and am upfront in who I support. I have never pretended otherwise.

Is that the problem you have?

Do you have that same problem with other blogs who support/endorse specific candidates?

Hell, even the MSM endorses candidates.

Anonymous said...

I guess it's not so much the endorsing candidates part as much as it is the CONSTANT BASHING. After awile, that get's very old, even to those who actually happen to support your candidate.

Richmond K. Turner said...

I don't know that I couldn't also be accused of constant bashing, at least as it concerns Luke Ravenstahl. I try to be fair, but it's tough to resist having another go when he and his cronies keep offering up so much to write about. As long as they keep lofting these perfect set-ups right in front of the net, it's just way to easy to keep spiking it back in their faces.

And I have promised myself to write in support of any Ravenstahl policy decision that I agree with. If he ever actually manages to produce one, I swear that I will write something supportive of it.

Bram, there is no way on earth that anyone would ever want to visit our home. Most of the rooms look like a "Toys R Us" exploded nearby. But a bloggers summit at a local watering hole might not be a bad idea.

Anonymous said...

A good time to gather might be at the first Civic Duty show. It will definitely bring out some interesting folks. Sunday, February 25th, 9PM at the Shadow Lounge.

http://www.7thmovement.net/shadow_lounge/

Anonymous said...

Admiral: Resist the spotlight/the dark side...

Maria said...

english,

OK, thanks for the input.

I do have to say that I'd still be criticizing Luke just as much even if Peduto wasn't running.

I really do think Luke is just that bad for Pgh.

Even when he was just a council member, I thought he was an empty suit. Now, I fear he's an empty suit with lots of very negative, destructive people behind him.

And, obviously, I have this little problem with not shouting out my opinions. LOL

Richmond K. Turner said...

Wait a minute... spotlights are intensely bright. How can they co-exists with the "dark" side?

[NOTE: THERE WILL NOW BE BRIEF PAUSE WHILE THE ADMIRAL'S BRAIN PROCESSES THESE SEEMINGLY MUTUALLY-EXCLUSIVE CONDITIONS]

OK, just kidding. Not to worry, Anonymous. I'd love to be on the radio sometime, but I would prefer to do so as a choral singer or cellist. And frankly, my cello playing is so rankly bad that the latter possibility isn't all that possible. And as far as television goes, let's just say that I have a real face for radio.

PittsburghJack said...

A bloggers summit sounds like fun. I just hope it wouldn't end in fisticuffs, given the broad range of personalities and political preferences. A local watering hole would be good - but so would Richmond's home. Many of our places look like an imploded Toys R Us, so we may fell right at home there too. I would imagine that the Turner's would put out a nice spread, too. Somebody propose some date and time options.

Anonymous said...

Socializing kind of blows the whole anonymity thing

Richmond K. Turner said...

I'll still be anonymous if I show up wearing my Nixon mask, won't I?

Anonymous said...

What do mean when you "show up?" We're showing up. Isn't the party at your place?

Bram Reichbaum said...

Hey, it looks like Pittsburgh Bloggers is doing the heavy lifting for us ... Thurs the 22nd @ Finnegan's Wake. You're off the hook, Adm, sorry I put you on it...

PittsburghJack said...

I think we should also have a party at Richmond's place. There can never be too many get togethers.

Also, how is the issue of anonymity being addressed? Should those who wish to remain unknown wear a mask?

Richmond K. Turner said...

Sorry, but my wife won't let you guys come back here after what happened last time. It took forever to get the guacamole stains off of the cat. And whoever it was that brought the sheep owes me a new washer and dryer!