As you may have noticed, the presidential campaign--which was the
focus of this blog when it launched in late 2007--has ended. The
forward momentum of the election fallout and the transition has
propelled Noam and me into the New Year. But now it seems that the
rationale for doing our own thing, segregated from our beloved
colleagues over at The Plank, has ended as well. Everyone at TNR will
be obsessively watching and reporting on and writing about the new
administration, and we've decided it's best if we all do it under one happy, bustling,
constantly-updated URL. If you're already a Plank reader then you can
just delete this bookmark, which will soon redirect over there. If not,
update your bookmark so you can find us, and the rest of the TNR gang,
at http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank.
We'll
probably have a couple more posts before the switch tomorrow--and Noam may say his own adieu, print deadline allowing. But before I finish here I
want to sincerely thank everyone who read us through the campaign--and
especially those stuck with us after the voting was
over. It was particularly gratifying to run across Stump readers in unexpected places (most memorably when I ran into commenter "jet" at a John Edwards event in Iowa). Extra thanks to all the regular commentators who made things
fun and lively, and that includes both those who called me in the tank for
Hillary and the ones who said I was a Hillary hater. And triple thanks
to the friends, sources and readers who sent in tips and ideas for
items. (I think I've promised a couple kegs worth of thank-you beers
that I still haven't delivered--but I will).
Thanks again, everyone--see you all at The Plank.
--Michael Crowley
Print
COMMENTS (35)
So long Stump.
You and Noam did a great job Mick. I particularly enjoyed linking all of the TV ads during the campaign. Very enjoyable election blog that kept me so ahead of the TV news curve that I stopped watching it.
So long Stump.
You and Noam did a great job Mick. I particularly enjoyed linking all of the TV ads during the campaign. Very enjoyable election blog that kept me so ahead of the TV news curve that I stopped watching it.
Thank you all for your invaluable work. Although I rarely commented, I have been an avid reader, checking this blog several times a day, and am better informed for it.
See you at the Plank!
Thank you all for your invaluable work. Although I rarely commented, I have been an avid reader, checking this blog several times a day, and am better informed for it.
See you at the Plank!
I've loved it. Thanks for all of the hard work. This has been a daily habit (does that qualify as an addiction?). "The Plank" has been fun, funny, infuriating, boring, but most importantly, very often very informative. You'll be missed!
I've loved it. Thanks for all of the hard work. This has been a daily habit (does that qualify as an addiction?). "The Plank" has been fun, funny, infuriating, boring, but most importantly, very often very informative. You'll be missed!
Oops, I meant farewell to "The Stump". My fingers were doing the thinking.
Oops, I meant farewell to "The Stump". My fingers were doing the thinking.
You means the ones who mistook you for someone in the tank for Hillary and the ones who recognized the obvious. I want Bells, or the surprisingly good rebirth of Schlitz.
You means the ones who mistook you for someone in the tank for Hillary and the ones who recognized the obvious. I want Bells, or the surprisingly good rebirth of Schlitz.
Thanks for all the effort that you guys put in. 2008 was quite a year. I look forward to a Plank that is double its normal size. See you over there.
Thanks for all the effort that you guys put in. 2008 was quite a year. I look forward to a Plank that is double its normal size. See you over there.
No, big mistake, too many posters will be on the plank, any thread that gets going will be shortened because it will be pushed down the page or even sent to the next one. You don't have to call it the Stump, but is it really so difficult to have two seperate sections so as to give readers time to read what you are writing? For petes sake Marty has a blog to himself and if you go there you can see the comment section is very long for some threads.
Here is a suggestion, do a section soley devoted to the White House, you can call it the Beat or Obamaland or whatever the hell you want.
No, big mistake, too many posters will be on the plank, any thread that gets going will be shortened because it will be pushed down the page or even sent to the next one. You don't have to call it the Stump, but is it really so difficult to have two seperate sections so as to give readers time to read what you are writing? For petes sake Marty has a blog to himself and if you go there you can see the comment section is very long for some threads.
Here is a suggestion, do a section soley devoted to the White House, you can call it the Beat or Obamaland or whatever the hell you want.
I will miss The Stump. I am a Plank devotee too but I sure wish that there continued to be at least more more alternative to The Spine....
I will miss The Stump. I am a Plank devotee too but I sure wish that there continued to be at least more more alternative to The Spine....
Play your inside baseball as you please, I usu. couldn't tell the difference between the Plank and the Stump, though I enjoy them both.
Play your inside baseball as you please, I usu. couldn't tell the difference between the Plank and the Stump, though I enjoy them both.
Yep, all the thanks and praise redoubled from here, too. You and 538.com kept me in just the right state of informed exhilaration/nausea that makes for good democracy. Nice job!
Yep, all the thanks and praise redoubled from here, too. You and 538.com kept me in just the right state of informed exhilaration/nausea that makes for good democracy. Nice job!
And a string of events that week it was Mike (I was exhausted from running to the different events, I don't know how you and Noam kept up with it all). I've enjoyed the Stump as others above have posted. Welcome back to the Plank.
And a string of events that week it was Mike (I was exhausted from running to the different events, I don't know how you and Noam kept up with it all). I've enjoyed the Stump as others above have posted. Welcome back to the Plank.
loved it, you guys did great work-see you at the plank
loved it, you guys did great work-see you at the plank
Thanks Mr Crowley to you, Noam and Eve for the Stump. Amongst other things, I found it and the comments it engendered extremely useful in scoring some great points in impromptu political debates with friends and co-workers. BTW for consistency and symmetry with 'Journal of Politics and the Arts', why not have a separate blog for the Arts.
Thanks Mr Crowley to you, Noam and Eve for the Stump. Amongst other things, I found it and the comments it engendered extremely useful in scoring some great points in impromptu political debates with friends and co-workers. BTW for consistency and symmetry with 'Journal of Politics and the Arts', why not have a separate blog for the Arts.
I agree with blackton! Too many posts per blog = not enough time for people to read my brilliant commentary.
Stumpy we hardly knew ye.
I agree with blackton! Too many posts per blog = not enough time for people to read my brilliant commentary.
Stumpy we hardly knew ye.
What blackton wrote.
Or, maybe you two are getting canned and doing away with your classification wasn't a big enough hint. If not, check out Wolfson's space at The Flack. I hear real estate is real cheap.
What blackton wrote.
Or, maybe you two are getting canned and doing away with your classification wasn't a big enough hint. If not, check out Wolfson's space at The Flack. I hear real estate is real cheap.
thanks so much to all the well-wishers. apologies to those who would prefer two blogs but on balance we think this makes sense. Mike C.
thanks so much to all the well-wishers. apologies to those who would prefer two blogs but on balance we think this makes sense. Mike C.
I started coming to TNR.com right about the same time as The Stump was launched, so this is going to be a shock to the system. You and Noam were my most trusted source for this race (tied with Nate Silver). Thanks for the hard work, and I guess I'll see you at The Plank.
I started coming to TNR.com right about the same time as The Stump was launched, so this is going to be a shock to the system. You and Noam were my most trusted source for this race (tied with Nate Silver). Thanks for the hard work, and I guess I'll see you at The Plank.
Dude, are you serious? You're going to take the walk to the Plank? What 'bout those YouTube commentaries, dude? You gotta archive that stuff, some of it is priceless, memorable in ways nothing else before or after could ever be!
Noam, we love you too, really, we all do. You guys are...I'm sorry, I can't say any more, it's just too painful.
Best to you both, and thank you. ;-)
Dude, are you serious? You're going to take the walk to the Plank? What 'bout those YouTube commentaries, dude? You gotta archive that stuff, some of it is priceless, memorable in ways nothing else before or after could ever be!
Noam, we love you too, really, we all do. You guys are...I'm sorry, I can't say any more, it's just too painful.
Best to you both, and thank you. ;-)
I totally agree with Blackton and others. There should be two political blogs on the site outside the Spine, which is its own unique animal. Once topics are out of site, no one comments on them and they die. At least, expand the visual so that posts stay visible for longer. Don't go!
I totally agree with Blackton and others. There should be two political blogs on the site outside the Spine, which is its own unique animal. Once topics are out of site, no one comments on them and they die. At least, expand the visual so that posts stay visible for longer. Don't go!
Problem would be solved if the home-site had a graphic showing who had last commented on which blog. A common feature, and it helps me know where the action is.
Problem would be solved if the home-site had a graphic showing who had last commented on which blog. A common feature, and it helps me know where the action is.
I think only one blog would work, BUT ideally there should be some way of managing the entries so that those attracting a lot of posts/discussion don't get bumped to the second page along with the dross. Surely it can't be impossible to set up a system that marks posts getting over, say, 30 or even 50 comments and keeps those accessible on the first page. Yes, you can!!
I think only one blog would work, BUT ideally there should be some way of managing the entries so that those attracting a lot of posts/discussion don't get bumped to the second page along with the dross. Surely it can't be impossible to set up a system that marks posts getting over, say, 30 or even 50 comments and keeps those accessible on the first page. Yes, you can!!
[williamyard goes through the gate and up the path to a nondescript, weatherbeaten cottage in an obscure section of Washington, D.C.]
[He reads the sign next to the door, "Stump Clubhouse" and another next to it, "Foreclosure Notice--Sheriff Department."]
williamyard: Guess this is the place.
[He knocks on the door and it swings open before him on creaking, rusted hinges. He enters.]
williamyard: Wow, look at this place. What a dump.
[The main room is littered with empty beer cans, crumpled wadded Kleenex, and a few used condoms. Burn marks dot the cheap green carpeting. A large plastic bong festooned with a "Huckabee 2008!" sticker sits forlornly on a filthy coffee ... view full comment
[williamyard goes through the gate and up the path to a nondescript, weatherbeaten cottage in an obscure section of Washington, D.C.]
[He reads the sign next to the door, "Stump Clubhouse" and another next to it, "Foreclosure Notice--Sheriff Department."]
williamyard: Guess this is the place.
[He knocks on the door and it swings open before him on creaking, rusted hinges. He enters.]
williamyard: Wow, look at this place. What a dump.
[The main room is littered with empty beer cans, crumpled wadded Kleenex, and a few used condoms. Burn marks dot the cheap green carpeting. A large plastic bong festooned with a "Huckabee 2008!" sticker sits forlornly on a filthy coffee table.
[A small "weiner dog" waddles in from a side hallway.]
Dog: Hi, I'm Naomi, the Talking Weiner Dog. You must be williamyard.
williamyard: Uh, yeah. How'd you know?
Naomi: This is the Stump, isn't it? There's nothing that isn't known around here.
williamyard: I've had that impression. Say, wait a minute: you're talking--dogs can't talk!
Naomi: Normally, no. But on the Internet, anything can happen, real or not. For example, some people think of "The Stump" as a real place that is going away. But how can something go away when it never existed except in cyberspace?
williamyard: I never thought of it that way before.
Naomi: Look, I'm going to let you in on something. There's no Crowley and no Scheiber. They're just two of my sock puppets.
williamyard: Hold on: They appear in public, in person. On TV and stuff.
Naomi [throws back head, laughs] TV! That's rich! Those guys are just actors I hire to play the parts.
williamyard: Yeah, well, I don't believe you.
Naomi: Okay, "williamyard," whatever you say! Just remember who signs your paycheck, pal.
williamyard: Um...okay, Naomi. Sorry, I...I just...
Naomi: Hey, don't worry about it. We're all under a lot of stress. Hell, Madoff hit me for seven figures--more than Marty, even.
williamyard: So...back to the Stump. This place is going away?
Naomi: Yep. Figment of your imagination. Just like the equity in your home.
williamyard: And what about...you know...
Naomi: Oh, "Crowley" and "Scheiber"? They're still useful to me. You can't have too many pseudonyms. I'll keep them busy at the Plank.
williamyard: The Plank?
Naomi: Yeah, another little figment of your imagination.
williamyard: Like you?
Naomi: Whatever you say, "williamyard."
Thanks for all the work that you and Noam put in. In principle, I agree that it doesn't make much sense to have two separate blogs talking about the same thing, and there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the two even during the campaign season, but it would be nice to figure out some way to deal with potential overflow
Thanks for all the work that you and Noam put in. In principle, I agree that it doesn't make much sense to have two separate blogs talking about the same thing, and there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the two even during the campaign season, but it would be nice to figure out some way to deal with potential overflow
You know of course there are rumblings out there about 2012, not to mention 2016.
You know of course there are rumblings out there about 2012, not to mention 2016.
The Stump has been my favorite TNR addiction and you guys did a really great job. I look forward to everything you guys write.
Even Naomi the Wiener dog says so.
The Stump has been my favorite TNR addiction and you guys did a really great job. I look forward to everything you guys write.
Even Naomi the Wiener dog says so.
Thanks Stump! I wish you guys were getting rid of the Spine instead :(
Thanks Stump! I wish you guys were getting rid of the Spine instead :(
man, I will really miss The Stump. What a great blog. I still think that it should continue; hell, we are all going to start talking about Midterm Madness in about 6 months anyway.
Just create another blog. Call it anything, Thar She Blows or whatever, and focus on the first 100 days and how long it will take before the Democrats decide that instead of consolidating their power, they'd rather piss on the party and their president. Who will be the first Dem Senator to "oppose" Obama? Take bets...
Oh yes, why is the masthead missing from the magazine now? That is weird.
man, I will really miss The Stump. What a great blog. I still think that it should continue; hell, we are all going to start talking about Midterm Madness in about 6 months anyway.
Just create another blog. Call it anything, Thar She Blows or whatever, and focus on the first 100 days and how long it will take before the Democrats decide that instead of consolidating their power, they'd rather piss on the party and their president. Who will be the first Dem Senator to "oppose" Obama? Take bets...
Oh yes, why is the masthead missing from the magazine now? That is weird.
Thanks for the memories
The good times, the bad
The Happy, the Sad ...
Great timing for the departure, as I have just started a new job where I have next to no internet access, and absolutely no time. I'll still enjoy the TNR in the only timeslot open - 8-830 in the morning and 11 at night, while I watch Law and Order reruns. (Y'all remember the episode where Lenny makes a wisecrack about a dead body?)
Good luck - been nice knowin' ya.
Thanks for the memories
The good times, the bad
The Happy, the Sad ...
Great timing for the departure, as I have just started a new job where I have next to no internet access, and absolutely no time. I'll still enjoy the TNR in the only timeslot open - 8-830 in the morning and 11 at night, while I watch Law and Order reruns. (Y'all remember the episode where Lenny makes a wisecrack about a dead body?)
Good luck - been nice knowin' ya.
thanks everyone this is so nice to read! -- Mike
thanks everyone this is so nice to read! -- Mike
My output at work suffered dramatically in FY 2008, in large part because of this blog. So my employer salutes your decision.
My output at work suffered dramatically in FY 2008, in large part because of this blog. So my employer salutes your decision.
Well, at least this is one fewer blog that I'll have to obsessively check. Though, admittedly, I don't have to check quite so obsessively now that the election is over. So I salute your decision, and I'll look forward to my continued obsessive relationship with The Plank. You guys did great work.
Well, at least this is one fewer blog that I'll have to obsessively check. Though, admittedly, I don't have to check quite so obsessively now that the election is over. So I salute your decision, and I'll look forward to my continued obsessive relationship with The Plank. You guys did great work.
Thanks for the fantastic work on what was my favorite blog during the 2008 presidential season. Looking forward to your contributions on the Plank. Yaaarrgghhh.
Thanks for the fantastic work on what was my favorite blog during the 2008 presidential season. Looking forward to your contributions on the Plank. Yaaarrgghhh.
Not a bad job overall guys and gals, boosted you're standing a bit I think.
And Mikey, those commenters were rather accurate in their assessment, you went from being in the tank for Hilary, to being maybe not a Hilary hater but certainly in the tank for Obama, I watched your metamorphosis quite clearly. :-) And you did cut loose a few times I believe, scared us all a bit. Gods man, don't start acting like Marty now. :-)
The Drinky Crow Show
www.adultswim.com/.../indexpage.html
Not a bad job overall guys and gals, boosted you're standing a bit I think.
And Mikey, those commenters were rather accurate in their assessment, you went from being in the tank for Hilary, to being maybe not a Hilary hater but certainly in the tank for Obama, I watched your metamorphosis quite clearly. :-) And you did cut loose a few times I believe, scared us all a bit. Gods man, don't start acting like Marty now. :-)
The Drinky Crow Show
www.adultswim.com/.../indexpage.html
Terrific blog during an incredible campaign. Thanks.
Terrific blog during an incredible campaign. Thanks.
Noam and Mike
Many thanks for a great run. You guys outdid yourselves, and it showed.
I would also like to thank some of the commentators - such as WilliamYard, Blackton, Liberal Reformer, ratnerstar, thejauntyboulevardier etc. All of you are worth reading, and some of you are laugh-out-loud funny. Do you all actually have day jobs, or is this your day job (just kidding ;) )
BTW if you ever hold a "meet-up" for posters (say at the Irish Times Near Union Station), I'll be the first to arrive, and will buy the first round. Meet-ups are something that folks who post at the Guardian Website did a couple of times . Popular places were the Hawk & Dove, Hote ... view full comment
Noam and Mike
Many thanks for a great run. You guys outdid yourselves, and it showed.
I would also like to thank some of the commentators - such as WilliamYard, Blackton, Liberal Reformer, ratnerstar, thejauntyboulevardier etc. All of you are worth reading, and some of you are laugh-out-loud funny. Do you all actually have day jobs, or is this your day job (just kidding ;) )
BTW if you ever hold a "meet-up" for posters (say at the Irish Times Near Union Station), I'll be the first to arrive, and will buy the first round. Meet-ups are something that folks who post at the Guardian Website did a couple of times . Popular places were the Hawk & Dove, Hotel Washington and of course the Irish Times.
Just as an aside, TNR has a great website, as defined by the quality of the commentary. But there must be a way of giving greater prominence to threads that are active, as well as being able to see 'replies' to comments . Too often threads fall into a black hole, never to be seen again