Comments on: EASTERBROOK FIRED http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:51:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Matthew http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7154 Matthew Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7154 I find it sadly comic that Reynolds, who is ever ready to say tout the power of the Blogosphere, runs away from the fact that in a very short time, he, Roger Simon, and Charles Johnson directly and indirectly encouraged hundreds, if not thousands, of angry voices to shout, without basis, that "Gregg Easterbrook is an anti-Semite!" and voila, the man gets fired. But it's just spillover at ESPN from Limbaugh, right? I find it sadly comic that Reynolds, who is ever ready to say tout the power of the Blogosphere, runs away from the fact that in a very short time, he, Roger Simon, and Charles Johnson directly and indirectly encouraged hundreds, if not thousands, of angry voices to shout, without basis, that "Gregg Easterbrook is an anti-Semite!" and voila, the man gets fired. But it's just spillover at ESPN from Limbaugh, right?

]]> By: Meezer http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7155 Meezer Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7155 Years ago I thought that hate-groups that complained about being harrassed or refused parade permits deserved what they got. I ignored their threats of "It will happen to you, too." Now it's like being nibbled to death by ducks. Years ago I thought that hate-groups that complained about being harrassed or refused parade permits deserved what they got. I ignored their threats of "It will happen to you, too." Now it's like being nibbled to death by ducks.

]]> By: Rhesa http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7156 Rhesa Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7156 Matthew: why are you just pointing at Reynolds when even Roger Simon, who played a bigger part in taking Easterbrook to task about that remark than Reynolds did (IMO), thinks ESPN firing the guy over it is disturbing? I think it IS spillover from the Limbaugh thing. Reynolds, Simon etc raised awareness about the wrongness of Easterbrook's remark, but they definitely weren't advocating his removal from the cable network. That's all ESPN - their loss of a nice guy who used the wrong choice of words. Matthew: why are you just pointing at Reynolds when even Roger Simon, who played a bigger part in taking Easterbrook to task about that remark than Reynolds did (IMO), thinks ESPN firing the guy over it is disturbing? I think it IS spillover from the Limbaugh thing. Reynolds, Simon etc raised awareness about the wrongness of Easterbrook's remark, but they definitely weren't advocating his removal from the cable network. That's all ESPN - their loss of a nice guy who used the wrong choice of words.

]]> By: Matthew http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7157 Matthew Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7157 Rhesa, I included Simon as well as Reynolds. But I mentioned Reynolds I just think that if this was someone who really deserved to be fired, Glenn would've been waxing triumphal about the power of the Blogosphere. But I don't really focus my ire on bloggers per se. If you re-read my comment, what concerns me are blog readers and commenters, who, on high-traffic blogs, run wild and crazy during spectacles such as this one. Like the Moxie affair and some attacks on Venomous Kate, I have a feeling that a few cranks who read blogs regularly -- but not the bloggers themselves -- worked overtime to try and get Easterbrook fired. Yes, ESPN's bad experience with Limbaugh may have led to them to enforce a zero tolerance policy, but who brought Easterbrook's ill choice of words to light? Bloggers. Who said Easterbrook's apology was "too little, too late"? Bloggers. I ask you to consider that the Blogosphere is a mass movement, and like all mass movements, it can be either a positive, revolutionary force OR a lynch mob, and I think Gregg Easterbrook was lynched. I don't used the word "lynched" lightly. An anti-Semite is a person who demonstrates a pattern of behavior which is biased against Jews. An anti-Semite is not someone who writes one horrible and anti-Semitic-sounding sentence in a bad blog post driven by his intense dislike of violent Hollywood movies. Every commenter or fringe blogger or phone caller or e-mailer or faxer who called Gregg Easterbrook an anti-Semite lynched him. And Easterbrook's high-tech lynching stands to grossly undermine REAL efforts to fight REAL anti-Semitism, which is the most damning aspect of this whole affair. Rhesa, I included Simon as well as Reynolds. But I mentioned Reynolds I just think that if this was someone who really deserved to be fired, Glenn would've been waxing triumphal about the power of the Blogosphere. But I don't really focus my ire on bloggers per se. If you re-read my comment, what concerns me are blog readers and commenters, who, on high-traffic blogs, run wild and crazy during spectacles such as this one. Like the Moxie affair and some attacks on Venomous Kate, I have a feeling that a few cranks who read blogs regularly -- but not the bloggers themselves -- worked overtime to try and get Easterbrook fired.

Yes, ESPN's bad experience with Limbaugh may have led to them to enforce a zero tolerance policy, but who brought Easterbrook's ill choice of words to light? Bloggers. Who said Easterbrook's apology was "too little, too late"? Bloggers. I ask you to consider that the Blogosphere is a mass movement, and like all mass movements, it can be either a positive, revolutionary force OR a lynch mob, and I think Gregg Easterbrook was lynched.

I don't used the word "lynched" lightly. An anti-Semite is a person who demonstrates a pattern of behavior which is biased against Jews. An anti-Semite is not someone who writes one horrible and anti-Semitic-sounding sentence in a bad blog post driven by his intense dislike of violent Hollywood movies. Every commenter or fringe blogger or phone caller or e-mailer or faxer who called Gregg Easterbrook an anti-Semite lynched him. And Easterbrook's high-tech lynching stands to grossly undermine REAL efforts to fight REAL anti-Semitism, which is the most damning aspect of this whole affair.

]]> By: Matthew http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7158 Matthew Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7158 There should be a "because" after the first Reynolds . . . And "used" in the first sentence of the third graf should be "use" . . . Bah, I'm too tired to proofread anymore. There should be a "because" after the first Reynolds . . .
And "used" in the first sentence of the third graf should be "use" . . .
Bah, I'm too tired to proofread anymore.

]]> By: Paul http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7159 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7159 [I could make fun of the fact that someone from a lefty rag got caught this time but that would hide my true feelings... This just has me annoyed, so I'm in rant mode.] I was thinking about this as I roamed Walmart today... I am growing quite tried of this whole routine. Some famous person says something and there is an outrage over the fact that what they said "OFFENDS" someone. Well, who the hell cares? Kevin Drum offends me when he spouts off about stuff he nows nothing about. Hillary Clinton offends me every other time I see her on television. And Chuck Schumer offends me by simply breathing. Should they all be fired because they offend me? NO! (well I think so but apparently I don't count ;-) Point is: To those offended... Get the hell over it. I get offended, you will to. If you don't want to get offended, quit listening. Take the "N" word.... Is anyone on this planet *REALLY* offended when they hear it... NO. It is used as a billy club. If someone types "I hate all niggers" are they really causing some great pain in someone's life or are they proving themselves an ass? Maybe I'm be more politically correct tomorrow, but this really is getting tiring. (close rant mode) Paul But having said the above... When people in power like the PM of Malaysia say things that will cause one group of people to kill another that is a different thing. That is a case where his speech is an ACTION. (shouting fire in a theater) You can hardly make the case Limbaugh, Easterbrook et al are in that league with their comments. [I could make fun of the fact that someone from a lefty rag got caught this time but that would hide my true feelings... This just has me annoyed, so I'm in rant mode.]

I was thinking about this as I roamed Walmart today...

I am growing quite tried of this whole routine.

Some famous person says something and there is an outrage over the fact that what they said "OFFENDS" someone.

Well, who the hell cares?

Kevin Drum offends me when he spouts off about stuff he nows nothing about. Hillary Clinton offends me every other time I see her on television. And Chuck Schumer offends me by simply breathing.

Should they all be fired because they offend me? NO! (well I think so but apparently I don't count ;-)

Point is: To those offended... Get the hell over it. I get offended, you will to. If you don't want to get offended, quit listening.

Take the "N" word.... Is anyone on this planet *REALLY* offended when they hear it... NO. It is used as a billy club. If someone types "I hate all niggers" are they really causing some great pain in someone's life or are they proving themselves an ass?

Maybe I'm be more politically correct tomorrow, but this really is getting tiring.

(close rant mode)

Paul

But having said the above... When people in power like the PM of Malaysia say things that will cause one group of people to kill another that is a different thing. That is a case where his speech is an ACTION. (shouting fire in a theater) You can hardly make the case Limbaugh, Easterbrook et al are in that league with their comments.

]]> By: Katewerk http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7160 Katewerk Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7160 Total and final responsibility for the firing lies with ESPN. Not Reynolds, not the "blogosphere", not anyone else. ESPN signs his paychecks. Just as responsibility for writing the column lies with Easterbrook, responsibility for the firing lies with ESPN. I'm on the fence over this one. Freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. I have a hard time seeing a lot of difference between the firing of Easterbrook by a private corporation, than I did the refusal of private radio stations to play Dixie Chicks tunes. Kate Total and final responsibility for the firing lies with ESPN. Not Reynolds, not the "blogosphere", not anyone else. ESPN signs his paychecks. Just as responsibility for writing the column lies with Easterbrook, responsibility for the firing lies with ESPN.

I'm on the fence over this one. Freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. I have a hard time seeing a lot of difference between the firing of Easterbrook by a private corporation, than I did the refusal of private radio stations to play Dixie Chicks tunes.

Kate

]]> By: Rhesa http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7161 Rhesa Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7161 Matthew: Hmmm - food for thought (for me), I suppose. I ain't a member of the "Power of the Blogosphere" camp, but I see your point(s). Matthew: Hmmm - food for thought (for me), I suppose. I ain't a member of the "Power of the Blogosphere" camp, but I see your point(s).

]]> By: SportsBlog http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7162 SportsBlog Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7162 <strong>ESPN Fires Esterbrook</strong> Roger Simon is reporting that Greg Esterbrook has been fired from ESPN. That means no more Tuesday Morning Quarterback, at least on ESPN's Page 2. ESPN Fires Esterbrook
Roger Simon is reporting that Greg Esterbrook has been fired from ESPN. That means no more Tuesday Morning Quarterback, at least on ESPN's Page 2.

]]> By: Begging To Differ http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/easterbrook_fired/comment-page-1/#comment-7163 Begging To Differ Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=3629#comment-7163 <strong>THE EASTERBROOK DUST-UP: SEGUE TO A RANT</strong> For those of you who are unfamiliar with the recent events involving Gregg Easterbrook, let me recap. (Everyone else may skip ahead a few 'grafs to the rant.) Gregg Easterbrook is a man of many interests and opinions. For his... --- THE EASTERBROOK DUST-UP: SEGUE TO A RANT
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the recent events involving Gregg Easterbrook, let me recap. (Everyone else may skip ahead a few 'grafs to the rant.) Gregg Easterbrook is a man of many interests and opinions. For his...

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