Comments on: Andrew Breitbart was my friend http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 16:39:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jaster http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1669243 Jaster Sat, 02 Mar 2013 05:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1669243 Holy False Equivalence Batman! How did I not see it earlier? Us scorning this man even after his death is SO MUCH LIKE his actions in life. Wait...wait...no.  He was an amoral hack whose biggest achievements were spreading lies and getting good public servants fired. I can't say the public discourse has dramatically improved since his demise, for there are still too many like him continuing his efforts, but it's certainly a start. Holy False Equivalence Batman! How did I not see it earlier? Us scorning this man even after his death is SO MUCH LIKE his actions in life. Wait…wait…no.  He was an amoral hack whose biggest achievements were spreading lies and getting good public servants fired.

I can’t say the public discourse has dramatically improved since his demise, for there are still too many like him continuing his efforts, but it’s certainly a start.

]]> By: Jaster http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1669239 Jaster Sat, 02 Mar 2013 05:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1669239 Oh, FFS: It's not about his political opinions; it's about the way he represented them and himself on the public stage and the grossly negative impact he had on the public debate. To Godwin it up: No one would give a damn about Hitler's views if he'd remained a failed painter. Oh, FFS: It’s not about his political opinions; it’s about the way he represented them and himself on the public stage and the grossly negative impact he had on the public debate.

To Godwin it up: No one would give a damn about Hitler’s views if he’d remained a failed painter.

]]> By: Jaster http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1669237 Jaster Sat, 02 Mar 2013 05:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1669237 It's not a matter of disagreeing with someone; it's a matter of the tactics and tone he pushed into the national debate. And I don't see why this guy clinging to a razor-thin silver-lining on the shitbag should be given any more of a stage. It’s not a matter of disagreeing with someone; it’s a matter of the tactics and tone he pushed into the national debate. And I don’t see why this guy clinging to a razor-thin silver-lining on the shitbag should be given any more of a stage.

]]> By: Marc Mielke http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1669101 Marc Mielke Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1669101 That's pretty much what the article said: that what Breitbart was doing was monstrous, but that he was a good friend and personally very nice and the author misses him.  That’s pretty much what the article said: that what Breitbart was doing was monstrous, but that he was a good friend and personally very nice and the author misses him. 

]]> By: Alternate Snowcrash http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668741 Alternate Snowcrash Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668741 To quote Ta-Nehisi Coates "It is wholly appropriate to be sorry that Andrew Breitbart died. But in the relevant business, it is right to be sorry for how he lived. " To quote Ta-Nehisi Coates ”It is wholly appropriate to be sorry that Andrew Breitbart died. But in the relevant business, it is right to be sorry for how he lived. “

]]> By: The Sanity Inspector http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668598 The Sanity Inspector Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668598 Obviously a very personal post, sincerely felt.  RIP. Obviously a very personal post, sincerely felt.  RIP.

]]> By: John Hessler http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668558 John Hessler Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668558 Jason, my deepest condolences on the loss of a friend. I have many dear friends who are simpatico until we get to religion or politics or whatever. That doesn't make them any less dear. Sometimes, it makes them all the more special to me. Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. I hope it brings you some peace.  Jason, my deepest condolences on the loss of a friend. I have many dear friends who are simpatico until we get to religion or politics or whatever. That doesn’t make them any less dear. Sometimes, it makes them all the more special to me. Thank you for sharing your struggle with us. I hope it brings you some peace. 

]]> By: Maximilian Paul Zadow http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668423 Maximilian Paul Zadow Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668423 As someone from the UK I was more touched about what this says about friendship and people's basic humanity than worried about a figure I've barely heard of, and even then just as a Conservative Blogger, and some of those are quite interesting and basically moral (even to those from a different political stand-point.) Googling him, I was a little concerned that he was so offensive about Ted Kennedy in the hours after his death. He showed even less respect than some of the liberals here as they comment on a post about someone's grief for a friend. As someone from the UK I was more touched about what this says about friendship and people’s basic humanity than worried about a figure I’ve barely heard of, and even then just as a Conservative Blogger, and some of those are quite interesting and basically moral (even to those from a different political stand-point.)
Googling him, I was a little concerned that he was so offensive about Ted Kennedy in the hours after his death. He showed even less respect than some of the liberals here as they comment on a post about someone’s grief for a friend.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668393 Cowicide Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668393 I agree with you that these people should be condemned, but as far as them having control over themselves I think that's very debatable if you look at the science behind it (see link above, for starters). I know it's perhaps easier on the brain to think that they have absolute control over themselves, but I think it's wiser for the rest of humanity to figure out ways to recognize the true source of their disfunction and treat these harmful, mental conditions if it's possible (and humane to do so). More research: http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2004/10/65521 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/13/usa.redbox http://boingboing.net/2004/10/14/neuromarketing-soda.html http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004818 http://www.alternet.org/story/155210/why_is_the_conservative_brain_more_fearful_the_alternate_reality_right-wingers_inhabit_is_terrifying http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/01/social-conservatives-have-a-lower-i-q-probably/ http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/09/fearmongering-h/ http://www.alternet.org/story/154607/how_the_right-wing_brain_works_and_what_that_means_for_progressives http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/why-people-believe-misinformation-even-after-its-corrected.html http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-sci-politics10sep10,1,4352129.story http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2004/10/65521 <b>And more links at the bottom of my post here:</b> http://boingboing.net/2008/06/09/kucinich-begins-impe.html#comment-226562180 I agree with you that these people should be condemned, but as far as them having control over themselves I think that’s very debatable if you look at the science behind it (see link above, for starters). I know it’s perhaps easier on the brain to think that they have absolute control over themselves, but I think it’s wiser for the rest of humanity to figure out ways to recognize the true source of their disfunction and treat these harmful, mental conditions if it’s possible (and humane to do so).

More research:

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2004/10/65521

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/13/usa.redbox

http://boingboing.net/2004/10/14/neuromarketing-soda.html

http://2012election.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004818

http://www.alternet.org/story/155210/why_is_the_conservative_brain_more_fearful_the_alternate_reality_right-wingers_inhabit_is_terrifying

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/01/social-conservatives-have-a-lower-i-q-probably/

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/09/fearmongering-h/

http://www.alternet.org/story/154607/how_the_right-wing_brain_works_and_what_that_means_for_progressives

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/why-people-believe-misinformation-even-after-its-corrected.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-sci-politics10sep10,1,4352129.story

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2004/10/65521

And more links at the bottom of my post here:

http://boingboing.net/2008/06/09/kucinich-begins-impe.html#comment-226562180

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668369 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668369 Leave his culinary skills out of this! Leave his culinary skills out of this!

]]> By: social_maladroit http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668366 social_maladroit Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668366 More apropos to this thread, right after Ted Kennedy's death, <blockquote>Washington Times columnist Andrew Breitbart labeled Kennedy "a special pile of human excrement," along with epithets that cannot be printed in a family newspaper.</blockquote>(<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/08/compromise_what_pennsylvania_l.html" rel="nofollow">source</a>) Also, he <blockquote>post[ed] a series of Twitter messages in which he called Kennedy a “villain,” a “duplicitous bastard” and a “prick.” "I'm more than willing to go off decorum to ensure THIS MAN is not beatified,” Breitbart wrote. “Sorry, he destroyed lives. And he knew it."</blockquote>(<a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26475.html" rel="nofollow">source</a>) May he be accorded the same respect he gave Sen. Kennedy. More apropos to this thread, right after Ted Kennedy’s death,

Washington Times columnist Andrew Breitbart labeled Kennedy “a special pile of human excrement,” along with epithets that cannot be printed in a family newspaper.

(source)

Also, he

post[ed] a series of Twitter messages in which he called Kennedy a “villain,” a “duplicitous bastard” and a “prick.”

“I’m more than willing to go off decorum to ensure THIS MAN is not beatified,” Breitbart wrote. “Sorry, he destroyed lives. And he knew it.”

(source)

May he be accorded the same respect he gave Sen. Kennedy.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668365 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668365 I remember Cheney as being a fantastic Secretary of Defense under Bush 41 when we attacked Iraq the first time. The Dark Lord who emerged as the power behind the throne of Bush 43 is completely unfamiliar to me. I remember Cheney as being a fantastic Secretary of Defense under Bush 41 when we attacked Iraq the first time.

The Dark Lord who emerged as the power behind the throne of Bush 43 is completely unfamiliar to me.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668364 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668364 Accepting that you "don't have control" over your political orientation, I think people <i>do</i> have control over the demonization (or not) of people of different political alignments. What's characteristic of Breitbart, and seemingly the majority of the right, is their characterizing their opponents (that is, Democrats) as: Communists, Socialists, <i>enemies</i>.  Democrats and people on the left do not similarly demonize the Republicans. This he does have control over, and this is what he should be condemned for, by the rational on both sides of politics. Accepting that you “don’t have control” over your political orientation, I think people do have control over the demonization (or not) of people of different political alignments.

What’s characteristic of Breitbart, and seemingly the majority of the right, is their characterizing their opponents (that is, Democrats) as: Communists, Socialists, enemies.  Democrats and people on the left do not similarly demonize the Republicans.

This he does have control over, and this is what he should be condemned for, by the rational on both sides of politics.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668358 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668358 I would love to see the real Glenn Beck's interactions with his non-white neighbors, should he have any.  The guy shows such terror of non-whites and attributes racism to Obama at almost every turn (Limbaugh too notably). I would love to see the real Glenn Beck’s interactions with his non-white neighbors, should he have any.  The guy shows such terror of non-whites and attributes racism to Obama at almost every turn (Limbaugh too notably).

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668357 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668357 "Hire that man!"  -- Managing Editor, The Onion. “Hire that man!”
 – Managing Editor, The Onion.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668356 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668356 I think Limbaugh and Coulter might be exceptions to that rule.  Coulter especially so. However, the most touching thing you've ever seen is when Mary Matalin talks about James Carville. That woman <i>loves</i> Carville. It's beautiful and exemplifies the point you're making. I think Limbaugh and Coulter might be exceptions to that rule.  Coulter especially so.

However, the most touching thing you’ve ever seen is when Mary Matalin talks about James Carville. That woman loves Carville. It’s beautiful and exemplifies the point you’re making.

]]> By: Woodrow Wotan http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668353 Woodrow Wotan Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668353 Outlawed cruelty to animals, too. Helped invent the Volkswagen and the Autobahn. But the one thing Hitler DIDN'T DO? He never invoked Godwin on a Boing-Boing comment thread. Outlawed cruelty to animals, too.
Helped invent the Volkswagen and the Autobahn.

But the one thing Hitler DIDN’T DO? He never invoked Godwin on a Boing-Boing comment thread.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668354 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668354 It's terrible that Gore sold Current to Al Jazeera, leaving him and Current open to the charge that anti-islamophobic = pro-terrorist. When that $0.5Billion comes knocking at your door, it's hard not to answer it. It’s terrible that Gore sold Current to Al Jazeera, leaving him and Current open to the charge that anti-islamophobic = pro-terrorist.

When that $0.5Billion comes knocking at your door, it’s hard not to answer it.

]]> By: Petzl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668351 Petzl Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668351 Hitler was famously great with pets and children.  Just saying. Hitler was famously great with pets and children.  Just saying.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668324 teapot Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668324 You entirely miss the point. Jason is saying "he was an inexcusable douchebag in many regards but he did this too". No one is pretending that being a nice guy to your friends makes up for being a total dick to others, but if I was dead I'd hope at least that people talked about what I actually <i>did</i>, rather than distilling me down into a few words. IMO the tea baggers are a sad group of retirees and loons and anyone associated with them cant be far off. History is not going to forget he was mostly a dick just because Jason wrote this post. You entirely miss the point.

Jason is saying “he was an inexcusable douchebag in many regards but he did this too”. No one is pretending that being a nice guy to your friends makes up for being a total dick to others, but if I was dead I’d hope at least that people talked about what I actually did, rather than distilling me down into a few words.

IMO the tea baggers are a sad group of retirees and loons and anyone associated with them cant be far off. History is not going to forget he was mostly a dick just because Jason wrote this post.

]]> By: nicolas dayton http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668258 nicolas dayton Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668258  This seems important to me. We can be awful people without making it our *work* to be awful. I'm reminded of some of my favorite artists who were fiends in life but nonetheless made their work into something useful. But then the question becomes... is it more important to be good at what we do or just be good to those we know?  This seems important to me. We can be awful people without making it our *work* to be awful. I’m reminded of some of my favorite artists who were fiends in life but nonetheless made their work into something useful.

But then the question becomes… is it more important to be good at what we do or just be good to those we know?

]]> By: Brainspore http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668247 Brainspore Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668247 But which one is Big Dick and which is Little Dick? But which one is Big Dick and which is Little Dick?

]]> By: Woodrow Wotan http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668237 Woodrow Wotan Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668237  I will admit: YES I CAN.  I will admit: YES I CAN.

]]> By: MertvayaRuka http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668226 MertvayaRuka Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668226  And the multitudes of people whose lives have been ruined because of Breitbart, well fuck them. It all balances out because one time he helped a friend out with an adoption. Sorry, no. "He was kind to his friends" doesn't change a bit of what Breitbart did with his influence. It doesn't change the gibbering beast of a website he helped create that continues to savage the innocent people he targeted while he was alive. It doesn't change the hateful ideas he spread that live on after his passing. Jason, he may have been your friend, but he was a remorseless enemy of many of us here and he was so through his own design, through his own choices. We and others felt none of the kindness you experienced, never would have felt it from him and never will feel it. Whatever scant good he did in his life lies in the ground with him while his vile legacy continues on. That's where the rest of his time and energy was invested.  And the multitudes of people whose lives have been ruined because of Breitbart, well fuck them. It all balances out because one time he helped a friend out with an adoption.

Sorry, no. “He was kind to his friends” doesn’t change a bit of what Breitbart did with his influence. It doesn’t change the gibbering beast of a website he helped create that continues to savage the innocent people he targeted while he was alive. It doesn’t change the hateful ideas he spread that live on after his passing.

Jason, he may have been your friend, but he was a remorseless enemy of many of us here and he was so through his own design, through his own choices. We and others felt none of the kindness you experienced, never would have felt it from him and never will feel it. Whatever scant good he did in his life lies in the ground with him while his vile legacy continues on. That’s where the rest of his time and energy was invested.

]]> By: Hail Hail Threedonia http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668199 Hail Hail Threedonia Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668199  Sorry for the loss of your close friend.  My only quibble (and it's yours to ignore of course) is the characterization of his work as "monstrous".  People do things intentionally in my 44 years of experience and "monsters" do "monstrous things" or have "monstrous" goals.  Good guys and sweet personalities don't.  I agreed with some of his goals and not others though the idea of a conservative MSM as espoused by many here is laughable at best. Anyway... sorry for your loss and continued sorrow.  I hear Mr. Breitbart's mother passed away today as well so prayers for her survivors and friends as well.  Sorry for the loss of your close friend.  My only quibble (and it’s yours to ignore of course) is the characterization of his work as “monstrous”.  People do things intentionally in my 44 years of experience and “monsters” do “monstrous things” or have “monstrous” goals.  Good guys and sweet personalities don’t.  I agreed with some of his goals and not others though the idea of a conservative MSM as espoused by many here is laughable at best.

Anyway… sorry for your loss and continued sorrow.  I hear Mr. Breitbart’s mother passed away today as well so prayers for her survivors and friends as well.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668188 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668188 That's his alien conjoined twin. That’s his alien conjoined twin.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668170 teapot Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668170 Judging by the vitriol here I'm guessing we should hate Jason's daughter because Breitbart lives on through her, right? Screw you little girl! I bet if you take a look at yourself you will be able to come up with someone you like or admire who many people think is a bad person. I'd actually never heard of the guy until this post and if I knew of him during his life I probably wouldn't have liked the guy either... but all Jason is doing here is giving us his view of the guy to better colour the memory of who he was. Considering Jason actually <i>knew</i> the guy I'd say he's better positioned than most people here to make commentary on Breitbart's personality. Judging by the vitriol here I’m guessing we should hate Jason’s daughter because Breitbart lives on through her, right? Screw you little girl!

I bet if you take a look at yourself you will be able to come up with someone you like or admire who many people think is a bad person. I’d actually never heard of the guy until this post and if I knew of him during his life I probably wouldn’t have liked the guy either… but all Jason is doing here is giving us his view of the guy to better colour the memory of who he was.

Considering Jason actually knew the guy I’d say he’s better positioned than most people here to make commentary on Breitbart’s personality.

]]> By: Lexicat http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668145 Lexicat Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668145 Hmmm… Ok. It is also a public forum. Public sentiments are different than private sentiments. And also, I think I have changed my mind on poor judgement… some of the snide remarks aside, Jason has provoked an interesting conversation. Hmmm… Ok.

It is also a public forum. Public sentiments are different than private sentiments.

And also, I think I have changed my mind on poor judgement… some of the snide remarks aside, Jason has provoked an interesting conversation.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668128 Preston Sturges Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668128 I think the idea that his public persona was just an act is a horrendous amount of denial and rationalization.  When he was ranting away, sweat pouring off him, laughing maniacally, and he looked like the reanimated corpse of drowned hobo - that was just an act?  Riiiiight. I think the idea that his public persona was just an act is a horrendous amount of denial and rationalization. 

When he was ranting away, sweat pouring off him, laughing maniacally, and he looked like the reanimated corpse of drowned hobo – that was just an act?  Riiiiight.

]]> By: B E Pratt http://boingboing.net/2013/02/28/andrew-breitbart-was-my-friend.html#comment-1668123 B E Pratt Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215738#comment-1668123  I'll just leave this here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf-gh0xNvEc Makes sense if you know what she is singing about.  I’ll just leave this here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf-gh0xNvEc

Makes sense if you know what she is singing about.

]]>