I think I’ve beaten to death the topic of being “ideologically pure.” I’m quite sick of it, but I need to chime in a few more thoughts before I close the book on this particular subject. I don’t understand why readers feel betrayed when their favorite political blogger says something they don’t agree with. There is a clear difference between establishing a rapport with your audience, in blogging, and pandering to them.

It pains me to see Conservatives and Liberals having to clarify that “despite my conservatism or liberalism, this is what I think and it might piss you off.” This is to the readers of politically focused blogs out there: how much have you invested, intellectually and emotionally, in a particular blogger to think for you? Is this why (and yes, my example has almost always been this guy) Kevin Drum gets blasted for posting non-conformist views? Is this why Bill Quick (who I don’t regularly read either) has to say something like this?

[...]just as I irritate some of my readers no end by refusing to countenance multi-ton religious monuments erected inside state supreme courthouses, I will no doubt further irritate many of them by saying I wholeheartedly approve of this decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

I’m trying to get to the bottom of things here. If blogging is considered independent punditry — at least in my case and that of many — what would possess a blogger to echo talking points? Or are they even talking points? I need to ask it differently instead: How much of what sounds like echo-chamber politically-motivated scripted opinions that bloggers on any point of the political spectrum actually produce are written in Complete And Good Faith?

Are there actually any of you political luminaries out there who have entries on the cutting-room floor, gathering dust because it might not reflect well on your political affiliation?

How much of what you write is written to hold your audience, whether it is twelve, or twelve hundred in a day?

I find such disclaimers and warnings unnecessary, for anyone. I understand that our opinions have attracted readers, and just as they have been attractive, they too, can be offensive for some, and thus may cost us readership. Despite the presence of such disclaimers on certain blog entries that I see, I do admire those who still go ahead and bravely speak their minds out. I think this is one character of blogging that puts us beyond Big Media, and if growing up means losing that character, I’d rather stay where I am, thank you.