Joho the Blog
An Entry from the Archives

But David, you have those precious *convention credentials* :-)!

Surely you aren't telling us that a multimedia spectacle works better via media (watching on TV) than being media (being there)?

Now David = Don't be crazy, definately take a break and watch CSPAN at home.

I thought you would be home already napping like the rest of us before the big Google party tonight at 10? Got your tuxedo ready?

Halley

If it weren't for the Google party, I'd watch the big media event at home on the personal media player in our living room. But I had to come in for a radio thing anyway, and it's too hard going in and out of town, so I'm here for the duration.

Halley, you know how much I like crowded, loud parties. Oh yeah. Instant depression. But I hear there are going to be lots of interesting people there, so I'm going to go.

As for the party starting at ten, isn't that when Edwards is speaking? I think the party is more likely actually to start around 11:30, i.e., 45 mins past when I get cranky.

David = You don't want to get into a contest with ME for who's crankier if they stay up past their 9:30 bedtime! I can't stand staying up late, but like you, will make this HISTORIC exception for the Google soiree. It should be fun.

I'll see you there -- I'll be the blond with the bags under her eyes.

H

Is this Google party an "elitist bad-ass-A-list-bloggers exclusive event"?

If anybody wants to do some journo, I know more about e.g. Google censorship, than almost anyone outside the 'plex.

you think you're beat. imagine the candidates. i, too, am beat--beat waydown.

You might want to listen to your body. I think it's telling you that you're around a lot of people you don't really care to be around.

That's something to ponder. I think that liberals have this naive view that life would be great under participatory democracy, because everyone will turn out to be just like them. In the real world, most people are not just like you. That's why libertarians want restraints on government power, to keep democracy from going on a rampage.

I don't trust the people. I don't trust elites. If you leave things very arms-length, and enforce a few basic rules, we can all get along. But the more you strengthen government, the more likely it is that either a populist mass or an arrogant elite will impose something on you that you don't like. That's the libertarian concern.

You are exhausted because most of the people at the convention, who are people with whom you supposedly share a political affinity, are nonetheless people who you would not want to sit down with for a one-hour conversation. Now, imagine adding into the mix just as many non-sympatico people, who in addition are conservative Republicans. There's your loose democracy for you.

Here is a post on what "the people" would vote for, if they could:
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2004/07/on_the_contradi.html

ditto! you must be my long lost bro! i, too, am beat waydown!

Arnold, I'm actually greatly enjoying hanging out with the people I'm hanging out with. Sorry about that.

I tend towards the idea that this is an over-stimulating experience...in terms of sensory data, not (alas) ideas.

I detect the familiar tendentious tones of Libertarian proselytizing. ("Are you feeling tired, run-down ... well, it's all the government's fault, so convert to *libertarianism*!)

Anyway, the logical flaw is in the siren song of "enforce a few basic rules".

Which few basic rules? The ones the Libertarians favor, of course. Why those rules? Because they're the ones the Libertarians favor, of course (all the explanations basically reduce down to that answer).

Just curious, what's the background to this round?

[Nobody's said anything to me about the Google party, guess it must indeed be an elitist bad-ass-A-list-bloggers exclusive event (:-)), oh well]

"Arnold, I'm actually greatly enjoying hanging out with the people I'm hanging out with."

But my guess is that they are people that you knew already.

I'll admit, I'm not there in your head. But the tone I caught in your original post was something other than the exhaustion one feels after physical activity or giving a speech or watching a powerful movie. It sounded a bit like a cry for help, like "I need some time with my friends, because I'm feeling disconnected here." Again, I'm not in your head, and maybe I'm reading all that into it.

I plead guilty to libertarian proselytizing. The platform of "We promise to do...LESS!!" is not as easily marketed as "we promise to pay for your kids' college education" or "we promise to protect your family from homos," so we proselytize whenever we can! Sorry.

Just a factual aside on the personal issue of who I am hanging out with: Again, no, Arnold. I am hanging out almost entirely with new friends. It's been fun in that regard.