Comments on: Political Blogs Stagnating?

By: Soccer Dad

Soccer Dad — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:12:02 +0000

If ... you must 02/08/2007...

If you haven't read Are Political Blogs Stagnating at Outside the Beltway; you must. I do think that the wave of the future is toward group blogs and away from individual blogs. If you haven't read Saudi Arabian influence in England ... at Daled Amos...

By: bains

bains — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:07:32 +0000

For what it's worth, I much prefer the less trafficed blogs - their authors are much more likely to respond to comments. And the comment threads at highly 'popular' sites are much more likely to be populated by echo-chamber aficionados whose desire for honest debate is... non-existent. Further, on the rare occurrence where comments top 50, unless I've been a participant in 1-20 (having a real life, that necessarily means at least a 24 hour time frame) it's usually not worth it.

By: Gayle Miller

Gayle Miller — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:26:35 +0000

I think what's really at play here is that even the political bloggers are EXHAUSTED by the non-stop politicking going on. The November elections were over one day and the 2008 election cycle started the next morning! That's just too much - people are weary.

Also - the tone has become increasingly hostile (especially on the left - but I have to admit I've had my hissy fits recently as well) and just plain nasty and that is a major turnoff! It will be more interesting to see what happens after the first of the year!

By: Conservative Cat

Conservative Cat — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:37:26 +0000

In Which I Make a Completely Unselfish Suggestion That Has Nothing to Do With......

James Joyner of Outside the Beltway has an article about the stagnating growth of the political blog. Of course, the original research he cites is very limited (because it does not separate cat-oriented......

By: Conservative Cat

Conservative Cat — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 14:37:26 +0000

In Which I Make a Completely Unselfish Suggestion That Has Nothing to Do With......

By: Don Surber » Blog Archive » Quick hits: Poor Hawaii!

Don Surber » Blog Archive » Quick hits: Poor Hawaii! — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:30:31 +0000

[...] 4. James Joyner wondered if political blogs have jumped the shark. More like the ”Joanie Loves Cha-chi” spinoff. [...]

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:45:37 +0000

I also think that judging political blogs based on the number of hits they generate and going from a high right after a presidential election to 20 months before the next presidential election is called short term thinking. That's fair enough. The problem is for the "blog as a business" model. Advertising rates have gone way up as have revenues but the sales are very cyclical.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:41:17 +0000

I think a specialty blog (e.g Durham in wonderland) can easily be launched and thrive today (assuming there is interest in the speciality).

I also think that judging political blogs based on the number of hits they generate and going from a high right after a presidential election to 20 months before the next presidential election is called short term thinking. This would be like counting number of words on political issues published in the MSM from 1/2005 to 1/2007, comparing it to 2004 and then concluding that MSM political coverage and importance is declining because the amount published has decreased.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:27:42 +0000

For some reason my comment was garbled. The blogger I was referring to in the comment above was Michelle Malkin.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:26:44 +0000

While I agree that there's a consolidation phase going on in the political blogosphere, I think that this

The days when an individual blogger can start a new, solo website and make a big national splash are probably over.

immediately soared to the top of the Ecosystem on a combination of name recognition, effort, talent, and raw meat. I see no reason that someone else with real name recognition couldn't do the same today if he or she had the inclination to do it.

As to an unknown doing the same I think that's been difficult for a long, long time.

By: Rodney Dill

Rodney Dill — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:22:14 +0000

I think the next election will see a resurgence of the political blog. The real tell will be after the next Presidential election, that's when the major 'transformation' will probably occur.