It’s not like he’d be the first example of such a thing.

http://www.merdeinfrance.blogspot.com/

is simply reacting to the virulent anti-Americanism in France. We should wonder how this American, who has a French wife and family, and who’s lived in France for over 20 years, came by his opinions. By all indications, he seems to be quite an average family man. Perhaps it’s the hostile environment that shaped his opinions?

It’s not about political tribalism. I’m pro-Iraq war, and all for amking it easier to fire people, lower taxes, globalization, etc. I’m not a leftist.

It’s not as if you’re talking about, say, concentration camp guards, or assassins, or secret police. You’re talking about people venturing opinions, like you, me, and everyone posting here.

Eh, it seems the bad guys will win this one, but that’s okay becuase we get lots of hits and expsure. It’s flattering to be nominated.

Well I think this reflects a style of thinking, which is of course lamentable. Let’s just call it spoilt kid syndrome.

I think the blogzone remedy is in sight, and is just about to come racing round the corner though.

“Brad deLong being considered a “liberal.”"

I think there is a confusion of terminology here, liberal in the UK and US has one connotation - middle of the road, mildly progressive, and in continental europe it has acquired another meaning: something like Cato Institute economic liberal, which of course Brad definitely isn’t.

“I’ve never won anything in my life.”

Don’t worry David, there’s a lot of it out in front, and we’re going to change this.

I’ve made a rather lengthy post about the poll here, by the way. I might suspect it’s possible I’m the unnamed “snarky” blogger David refers to, but perhaps not. Of course, any snarkiness on my part is merely “faux,” “ironic” snarkiness, which I have devilishly constructed in layer upon layer, and which I, yet, choose to immediately explain to you here, because that’s the best way to do irony, as everyone knows. Not that Americans can be ironic, of course.

I noted, myself, that I thought trying to sort people into only two political categories was problematic, and naturally, even those folks who might be relatively easily tossed into “leftish” and “rightish” bins can be argued about by anyone, but I’m rather unclear as to what the precise objection is to Brad deLong being considered a “liberal.” I realize I’m behind on the memos, but could someone explain what tenets of liberalism Brad has been savagely violating?

I think the 20 nominees are compiled from user submissions. And the amphibian thing is probably intended to help them grow in an adverse, often powerlaw structured environment.