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   Memo: The way forward on health care reform in 2010.
 A dark legacy of the Vietnam War is creating a whole new set of problems.
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September 16, 2009
By: THE ATLANTIC 50... The Atlantic has just published a list of what it considers, based on a very involved set of metrics, the 50 most influential political commentators in the country. Guess who ranks #44, one spot behind Ron Brownstein and one ahead of Lou Dobbs? Our own Steve Benen! Congrats Steve! —Paul Glastris 12:51 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (59)Comments
way to go Steve! (but there are some truly reprehensible human beings you're associated with on that list...) Posted by: neill on September 16, 2009 at 12:56 PM | PERMALINKCongrats, Steve, an honor well deserved! Posted by: BrklynLibrul on September 16, 2009 at 12:57 PM | PERMALINKYou're number one in my book Steve. Congrats! Posted by: Chris on September 16, 2009 at 12:58 PM | PERMALINKOnly one ahead of Lou Dobbs? Well, congrats anyway! Posted by: Allan Snyder on September 16, 2009 at 1:01 PM | PERMALINKsweet jesus! Well done, Steve! Think how high you'd be on that list if this were a measure of quantity in addition to quality.... Posted by: Windhorse on September 16, 2009 at 1:04 PM | PERMALINKWow, Congratulations! Thanks for bringing some sanity to that list. Posted by: Dave Munger on September 16, 2009 at 1:06 PM | PERMALINKThe vast majority of that list is entirely predictable, and large portions of it are tragic. I'm glad to see Benen and Yglesias (though the latter isn't too surprising). Bob Herbert still gets no respect. Posted by: Ahistoricality on September 16, 2009 at 1:06 PM | PERMALINKAmazing job, Steve. I guess you don't need to do nightly coverage of the immigration scourge to gain notoriety! ;-) Posted by: tom_oftheplains on September 16, 2009 at 1:08 PM | PERMALINKCongrats, Mr. Benen. This is still the best place to go to get an current and unbent progressive take on the news. May you never become part of Mora Liasson's social set! Posted by: Midland on September 16, 2009 at 1:09 PM | PERMALINKIt's unfortunate that conservative women like Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter failed to make the list. Posted by: Al on September 16, 2009 at 1:10 PM | PERMALINKCongrats Steve, but really a rather depressing list. Gratz,Steve...methodology seems odd 'tho; the more one talks about what everyone else is talking about,the higher the ranking. Kinda promotes a weird feedback loop for opinionmakers. Posted by: grape_crush on September 16, 2009 at 1:17 PM | PERMALINKYay, congrats, CB. Now to work your way up... Posted by: Frak on September 16, 2009 at 1:18 PM | PERMALINKI love what Steve does every single frikkin' day. He's amazing and I'm pleased to see him getting some well-deserved recognition. Well done, Mr. Benen! Posted by: gyma on September 16, 2009 at 1:18 PM | PERMALINKI have been reading Mr. Benen's political observations since the Carpetbagger Report days. I think they are thoughtful, have a breadth of substance, and serve nicely for thread commentary. Bravo Mr. Benen! -Kevo Posted by: kevo on September 16, 2009 at 1:20 PM | PERMALINKPaul Krugman THE most influential pundit? E.J. Dionne more influential than Bill O'Reilly? I'd love to think so, but I just don't see it. This country would be a lot less f***ed up place if people were listening to Krugman and Dionne. Posted by: kth on September 16, 2009 at 1:20 PM | PERMALINKCongratulations! And keep writing...just keep writing... Posted by: Varecia on September 16, 2009 at 1:22 PM | PERMALINKExcellent news, and I was also glad to see Josh Marshall, Matt Yglesias, & Ezra Klein on the list. But the best was seeing Glenn Greenwald (#22) sixteen places ahead of Joe Klein (#38). That said, the nutburger right still holds too many of the top spots. that is one of the most f***ed up lists / rankings that i have ever had the misfortune of clicking thru to. holy wah !!! the atlantic obviously smokin' waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much crack these days ..... Posted by: Klown Shoes on September 16, 2009 at 1:25 PM | PERMALINKmethodology seems odd 'tho; the more one talks about what everyone else is talking about,the higher the ranking. Kinda promotes a weird feedback loop for opinionmakers. If you mean the "Hot Topics" bar graph to the right, I don't think that was part of the methodology. They say it's a combination of influence, reach (ie, audience size), and web engagement. While unfortunate, it's hard to deny that folks like Beck and Limbaugh should be near the top of the list. Posted by: ibid on September 16, 2009 at 1:28 PM | PERMALINKWhooo! And I can say I knew him back in the day before he was famous, just another punk kid clutching the Congressional Record and wanting to be a blogger. Way to go, dude! Posted by: Morbo on September 16, 2009 at 1:33 PM | PERMALINKI'd like to think the thoughtful commentary on your blog has had some influence on your success, but, as commentors, we all know better. Posted by: Scott F. on September 16, 2009 at 1:42 PM | PERMALINK"While unfortunate, it's hard to deny that folks like Beck and Limbaugh should be near the top of the list." - ibid Only if you accept them as political commentators, which they arguably aren't if you add but an ounce of intellectual honesty to the job description. Posted by: Vokoban on September 16, 2009 at 1:43 PM | PERMALINKLook at how productive Steve is comparatively! Keep those numbers up, and we'll take Dick Morris down a peg next year! Oh, and TR is right, suck it, Dobbs. Way to go Steve, way to go Washington Monthly! Posted by: doubtful on September 16, 2009 at 1:43 PM | PERMALINKYeah Steve !!! I've noticed you've been quoted in The Week. Very impressive. Posted by: coral on September 16, 2009 at 1:45 PM | PERMALINKFrom Steve's bio: What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Republican dedication to free markets extends only as far as it can help them screw people over. After that, it's no-bid contracts all the way. Posted by: Doctor Biobrain on September 16, 2009 at 1:51 PM | PERMALINKCongrats to Steve Benen, who is whip smart. My only complaint? he should be in the top 10. Instead we have George Will, Rush, Beck, Bobo Brooks, Krauthammer etc. in the top 8. Not a single one of them is ever right about ANYTHING. It's exhibit A for what's wrong with America. Posted by: fourlegsgood on September 16, 2009 at 1:54 PM | PERMALINK"Republican dedication to free markets extends only as far as it can help them screw people over. After that, it's no-bid contracts all the way." - Dr. Biobrain Well, if a market is free of competitors - now that matches the republican definition of a free market... Posted by: Vokoban on September 16, 2009 at 1:55 PM | PERMALINKWe can say we knew you when, Mr. Benen. Do you suppose Dobbs now might start covering news that sane people are interested in? Love ya Steve, but you are not more influential the Lou Dobbs. Dobbs at 45, that is too funny, I am sure he will blow a gasket over that and blame immigrants. That list is whack. George Will is at number 3, please. Noonan more influential the Rachael, no way. I bet Keith is pissed about being behind BillO, but that seems reasonable. Maybe I am off in thinking that TV personalities have far more influence then print/blog personalities. And for the record, Steven should have been up closer to Josh in the low 30's. I think Stephanopoulos, Gregory, and Mitchell should have made the list. Posted by: ScottW on September 16, 2009 at 2:07 PM | PERMALINKCongrats, Steve. I'm so glad SB got ahead of Lou Dobbs. In years past, he seemed populist and anti-corporate enough that I semi-admired him, but now he's gone sour. But this makes my heart soar: Paul Krugman is number one! I don't know how they got that, since it seems they rate influence and not quality (nowadays, so often in inverse relationship!), but it's great to see him at the top! I wonder how much practical effect he will have. Sad to see Kevin Drum and David Sirota didn't make it. So many boobs too, like G. Will, Samuelson, Kristol (not even counting the gutter trash) you know ... Posted by: Neil B ♪♫ on September 16, 2009 at 3:20 PM | PERMALINKOn the whole, that's one scary-ass list. Sure, it starts off with Paul Krugman, who's great. Then look at the next six slots: three genuine nutcases (Limbaugh, Beck, and Krauthammer), one partisan hack with an undeserved reputation for brains (Will), and a couple of worthless excuses (Friedman and Brooks) for intelligent liberal and conservative pundits. And on the whole, it doesn't get much better, despite some guys like Yglesias, Benen, and Ezra Klein in the lower reaches of the list. There are nine or ten absolutely toxic guys there (besides Rush, Beck, and Kraut, I'm thinking Rove, Hannity, Billo, Kristol, and Dobbs, for starters), plus a whole lot of "why would you read this guy/gal if you actually wanted to know or understand more about anything" types: besides Will, I'm thinking Broder, Noonan, Dowd, Samuelson, Dick Morris, Richard Cohen, Jonah Goldberg, Ruth Marcus, and Anne Applebaum. The list says a lot about the sad state of American punditry. Posted by: low-tech cyclist on September 16, 2009 at 3:37 PM | PERMALINKJust the starting point. Steve is one of the best and I honestly think that every knowledgeable progressive politician (or his/her assistant) checks in at PA periodically during the day. Well done!! Posted by: bdop4@yahoo.com on September 16, 2009 at 3:42 PM | PERMALINKvery well deserved. quantity + quality. thanks for all your hard work. Posted by: Travis on September 16, 2009 at 3:46 PM | PERMALINKCongratulations, Steve. Now do yourself (and Mrs Benen) a favor and take a weekend off to celebrate. Seriously, unless you're superhuman, blogging seven days a week, every week most be recipe for burn-out. Your work is appreciated too much to risk that. Posted by: SRW1 on September 16, 2009 at 3:48 PM | PERMALINKCongratulations Steve but, as others have noted, on the whole its a damned depressing list. And even most of the ones who aren't outright certifiable are pretty lame - Friedman, Brooks, Broder, Klein, etc. Good to see Glenn Greenwald on there though. Posted by: AndrewBW on September 16, 2009 at 3:51 PM | PERMALINKSteve, that is awesome! Congratulations!! As a fan from your Carpetbagging days, this pleases me to no end and I am so very happy to see you recognized. Alas, there are too many nutbags on that list. (sigh) Posted by: MsJoanne on September 16, 2009 at 4:03 PM | PERMALINKEvery day when I read the news I come to the point that I say, "I wonder what Steve thinks about this?" Posted by: Dale on September 16, 2009 at 4:25 PM | PERMALINKWell done and well deserved! I too am I fan from the Carpetbagger days. Glad you are recognized! Posted by: Guy on September 16, 2009 at 4:40 PM | PERMALINKwow, that list was so bad it was worthy of Rolling Stone. speaking of which, it was missing one Mr. Matt Taibbi...and lots of other people... Posted by: onceler on September 16, 2009 at 4:41 PM | PERMALINKMost excellent! Hear, hear!! From the humble days of anonymity at CarpetBaggerReport to this! Way old-insider comment: Where's Swan when you need him? Privately - its probably due to Mrs.CarpetBagger's efforts! HAHA Posted by: sduffys on September 16, 2009 at 4:53 PM | PERMALINKWhere's Swan when you need him? -sduffys Probably off with jkap being unintelligible. Posted by: doubtful on September 16, 2009 at 5:04 PM | PERMALINKYeah, but look at the top 25 on the list. There are only four or five I would want to be found on the same planet with. Most of the top 25 are trash, whether cable, MSM or blogger. Posted by: jmano on September 16, 2009 at 5:09 PM | PERMALINKCongratulations, it is a well deserved recognition. Posted by: KJ on September 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM | PERMALINK
Political Animal From a loyal reader since the CBR days, congradulations, Mr. Benen. Cue "The Jeffersons" theme. Posted by: 2Manchu on September 16, 2009 at 11:15 PM | PERMALINKSince you're one step above Lou Dobbs, could you defecate on his head for us? We'd really appreciate it. Posted by: Sarah Barracuda on September 17, 2009 at 12:12 AM | PERMALINKif only we could excise 10 names from that list... Posted by: hazmat on September 17, 2009 at 4:37 AM | PERMALINKWTG, Steve. Personally, I think you should be ahead a ffew on that list! Posted by: purplehawk on September 17, 2009 at 1:41 PM | PERMALINKwhile i'll echo the many comments about the conservative dominance and epic fails at the top of the heap, there is a conspicuous absence of conservative BLOGGERS on that list...a reason to be optimistic going forward....they got nuttin' Posted by: dj spellchecka on September 17, 2009 at 3:34 PM | PERMALINKPost a comment
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