Well, our friend Lottakatz has certainly stirred up a hornet’s nest. Various posters on the blog have contacted me about the sudden surge of over 100 votes on Legal Satyricon to take it from just 15 votes to the lead in the ABA competition. There was a surge of over 100 votes in less than an hour. I have discouraged (and even deleted) a few postings on the issue to keep the matter civil. After all, this is just a fun distraction for bloggers and we tend to have more fun than most. However, with some sleuthing, Lottakatz appears to have found a campaign of misinformation on pro-gun sites where an alleged regular on LS claims that I am a leading anti-gun advocate. The false representation promptly made opposition to our blog as cause celebre for gun rights advocates. Given the emails from our regulars, I wanted to address the controversy.
As the poster must have been aware, I am not an opponent to constitutional gun rights. Indeed, regardless of my personal views on forms of gun control, I agreed with the historical and textual analysis in decisions like McDonald. While I felt this was a close interpretive issue and that the dissenting justices made a compelling case, I felt that the plain meaning of the amendment favored individual gun rights. For prior columns, click here and here. I am a gun owner (a shotgun I have used for skeet shooting for twenty years). I feel like I am competing against Bristol Palin and no one is looking at our actual dancing.
The misinformation was clearly an effort to generate votes and cites the need to support the more conservative editors at LS and Volokh Conspiracy. I certainly do not mind regulars on other blogs flogging for votes. I do not even mind the ideological arguments for support. We are obviously more liberal than VC which is probably the leading conservative site in the country. I do not know a lot about LS. After posting on this blog, I have very little time to surf other blogs. This is the description from the ABA:
The Legal Satyricon, aka Marc Randazza, seems to have handed over more of his blogging duties to the “Satriyconistas” of late. But the content still consistently alternates between refreshingly blunt posts on First Amendment issues and frat-boy humor.
I really do not know the politics or ideological character of the blog. Moreover, flogging one’s blog is a natural and commendable action by loyal regulars. However, a campaign of misinformation is beyond the pale of any competition.
Having said that, I appreciate everyone keeping this civil. I think that ABA does a great service in highlighting top legal blogs and nothing can protect a competition from such shenanigans. We have a great blog that combines thoughtful discussions of legal and political issues with a commitment to civility. That makes us something of a standout among the blogs. It could be worse. I could have been denounced as a war criminal or White Sox fan. Besides, my Bears ARE THE DIVISION CHAMPS. The world cannot be hopelessly dark and evil when God reaches down and leads the Bears to the triumph over the Vikings yesterday. He even arranged for the a total lunar eclipse to fall on the winter solstice (the first time in 372 years) to signal his choice for the Superbowl.
We are on our way to Chicago today in a van with four kids and a large dog. Our guest bloggers will be contributing over the holiday, which I hope is safe and relaxing for everyone — gun right advocates and gun opponents alike.
Jonathan Turley
Blouise,
Yes I am. And yes I am too. Like I’ve said in earlier conversations with Brian, some speculate that autism is a beneficial mutation for the very reason autistics find lying practically impossible. I would be one of these speculators. I enjoy his directness even if I sometimes think his truthfulness about himself does not translate to the the majority of humankind’s interactions and can put him in danger from the all too prevalent liars in society. Because he’s right about one thing: in a world full of totally honest people, there would be little need for the rule of law.
Travel mercies to the Turley family.
Flogging one’s blog is completely natural and will not make you go blind.
Buddha,
Are you reading J. Brian Harris, Ph.D., P.E.? I am getting very attached to him.
How very appropriate, Blouise.
And an honor well earned.
LK truly deserves recognition for being of service to the greater good.
Lotta is in the house and hopefully she will take a bow so that I may present her with this:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img1.eyefetch.com/p/jy/601824-6f80d420-67b6-4e36-9ece-9764c4e2236bl.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx%3FID%3D601824&usg=__i2X2baZhMYPKztO0wvBjOyAsAMM=&h=920&w=834&sz=177&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=qE9TZ63YR7IQQM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspy%2Bglass%2Broses%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1102%26bih%3D622%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=125&vpy=163&dur=659&hovh=146&hovw=132&tx=96&ty=114&ei=p9gQTbfpCYOdlgfp3eGcDg&oei=p9gQTbfpCYOdlgfp3eGcDg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
C.Everett Kook
1, December 21, 2010 at 10:25 am
Mike Appleton
probably leaves the toilet seat up…or down whichever is the bad one
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Outhouses seldom have toilet seats … said with all due respect to civility … 😉
Let’s hear it for Lottakatz, our very own Sherlockian and a damn fine myth-buster!
Some have speculated that narcissism has become so prevalent that its being removed from the DSM in an effort by insurance companies to avoid paying for its treatment.
All the things going on in the world and a yearly friendly competition takes a strange turn,I guess its only the sign of the times.
Maybe J. Malcolm can get a job with FOX News as a contributor on legal issues now. It appears he has all the qualifications one needs to work for the Murdoch Misinformation Machine.
Mike Appleton
probably leaves the toilet seat up…or down whichever is the bad one
Mike Appleton
1, December 21, 2010 at 10:20 am
You can bet that when the posters at LS and Volokh Conspiracy were kids, they cheated at marbles.
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A safe bet…
ROTFLMAO. 😆
You can bet that when the posters at LS and Volokh Conspiracy were kids, they cheated at marbles.
I would hope the ABA does the right thing an removes TLS from the competition for their material misrepresentations.
Gotta love the “sunlight”… Feeling better already.
hehehe
WOW!!
Wow! Votergate! The ABA should launch an immediate investigation and the Feds should name a special prosecutor to look into these serious allegations!!
On a lighter note, Go Bears!