Dr. Frank's What's-it

Eric Alterman attacks! In this

Eric Alterman attacks! In this article, the Nation writer attempts to "take down" Andrew Sullivan and blogging in general. Alterman has a point that Sullivan's repeated attempts to brand mainstream Democrats as "anti-war" tend to ring hollow. But to be mistaken isn't necessarily to be "irresponsible," as Alterman implies. Nor is it "dangerous" (though I'm sure most bloggers would take that accusation as a high compliment.) Quite the contrary.

Alterman doesn't "get" blogging. What most offends him about Sullivan's blog (the stridency, the personal slant, the immediacy, the lack of editorial distance) are precisely why people read blogs. And as so often, there is a hint that it is somehow unseemly for Sullivan to propound views (or, in this case put up links) outside the bounds of the demographically-determined attitudes he ought to have as a homosexual.

You don't have to agree with the sentiments or approve of the links to appreciate a great blog. In fact, it's when you disagree that it becomes most interesting. Lots of left-leaning Nation readers are also devoted readers of Sullivan's blog. Perhaps that's what Alterman finds so "dangerous."