February 03, 2004
Ted Barlow is a genius

I'm in awe of this idea. The only way to make it better would be to get a national columnist to write about it if and when NR prints a bogus letter. Ted, we are not worthy.

UPDATE: In case you think that this is a pointless exercise that demonstrates a complete lack of humor about people who are just expressing opinions or something like that, note that the Kerry letter that Jonah Goldberg published bears a striking resemblance to this urban legend, as someone in the comments at Crooked Timber notes. You'd think a professional writer would have heard of Google or of chain letters by now, but in this case you'd be mistaken. Perhaps someone preemptively punked NR before Ted could suggest it.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on February 03, 2004 to Other punditry | TrackBack
Comments

Well, calling Goldberg a professional is a bit of a stretch.

Posted by: Rob on February 3, 2004 10:43 PM

Pointless? Nah. Now that the dating service known as the Dean campaign has imploded, I figure plenty of folks are bored and need something to do, and why not this? Better this than blockwalking or emailing legislators or manning phone banks (from my perspective).

Of course, it's unheard of to post emails sympathetic to one's viewpoint in a blog (which is what the Corner is) without doing the usual vetting one would do in the companion print magazine founded by the meticulous Bill Buckley, or even comments for that matter. You know, like blog comments referring to "the conservatives" stereotypically. Nobody would ever condone such a horrific exercise of free speech, right? :)

People need to lighten up.

Posted by: kevin whited on February 4, 2004 6:49 AM

Yeah, I agree, people need to lighten up. Mostly those folks who are having a hissy fit over on Crooked Timber.

Posted by: Ginger on February 4, 2004 8:56 AM

I think they got John Kerry and Rick, "let us get on down the road" Perry mixed up.

Posted by: Kyle on February 4, 2004 4:15 PM