Shenanigans, righteous indignation and a crock

It seems the publisher of Not Larry Sabato rather enjoys being in the middle of controversies that draw attention to his blog. So, he, who goes by the name Ben Tribbett, is only too happy to create them.

If I paid more attention to that gossip-driven blog I’d know more about some of the supposedly underhanded things other bloggers routinely accuse him of being in on. But, in truth, I already know all I need to know to decide to ignore Not Larry Sabato. Likewise, I know Democrats who have little or no respect for its publisher.

Currently, members of the Old Dominion Blog Alliance are expressing their outrage at Not Larry Sabato over its latest transgressions.

In this case, Tribbett is said to have been a party to some dirty tricks style shenanigans that sought to put the ODBA in a bad light. Yet, in their eruptions of righteous indignation some members weaken their own argument with their over-the-top language. Some seek to tar all Democrats with the dirty deeds of a few. Some can’t get over former Senator George Allen’s unraveling on last year’s campaign trail.

Sure, it may be galling that Tribbett loves to brag about his “role” in the Macaca Meltdown that did so much to deliver the victory to Senator Jim Webb. Some guys live to brag. But blaming/crediting those who helped to facilitate the widespread awareness of the incriminating video at YouTube for Allen’s own mistakes is looking at the matter with tunnel vision.

It’s over ... let it go.

On August 11, 2006, Tribbett wasn’t videotaped acting like a drunk bully and mouthing the strange word “macaca.” No, that was George Allen. And, then it was Allen’s own ridiculously bad damage control that kept the story at the top of the political news for weeks. Ben Tribbett and Joe Stanley didn’t have a hand in that series of flubs; it was Allen’s media expert Dick Wadhams who managed that folly.

To continue to blame bloggers and the liberal media for Allen’s terrible performance in the campaign is preaching to the choir at best; at worst, it’s the sort of denial of plain-to-see truth that a George Bush-led Republican Party is becoming too well known for.

Furthermore, when I read that unless I come out and condemn Ben Tribbett, or Joe Stanley, or whoever some members of the ODBA say I should condemn, that it is tantamount to my endorsement of their low-road tactics, well, that puts me off.

Here at SLANTblog, it is no secret that I’ve have pushed away from Not Larry Sabato’s doings before, more than once. However, it is not my duty to point an accusing finger at that blog, or any blog, every time I disagree with what goes on there. And, to be scolded by crackpot rightwingers who consistently write “Democrat(ick)” -- simply to be annoying -- is a crock.

Word to the wise: If you have the moral high ground, don’t lose it by tripping over your own feet by slinging careless words in every direction.